Getting Things Straight

The Philippines' national language is Filipino, not Pilipino. It's time to get that straight as our homeland celebrates Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month) this entire month of August. How and why did the F come to replace the P? Read Again poet/critic/author Marne Kilates' discussion, "Why the F in Filipino and How Did It Get There?"

And while we're at it, please also Read Again why referring to the Philippines as P.I. is just so outdated and wrong: it was a term used during Commonwealth times, meaning it got outdated in 1946 when the Philippines became an independent country. Let Professor Michael Gonzalez explain in "Please Stop Calling the Philippines P.I."

One of the busiest intersections along EDSA used to be a quiet, secluded enclave surrounded by cogon grass and sunflowers, and hosted some wayward snakes that slithered their way into the very few homes in the area. Poet/essayist Marra PL. Lanot brings us back to those days in "Of Fireflies and Firebrands."

Meanwhile, PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani takes obvious pride in jazz guitarist/composer Johnny Alegre who she describes as "one of the international greats in jazz."

Here are links to stories in other publications that you may have missed:

Duterte's Philippines is getting more corrupt
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2017/01/26/dutertes-philippines-is-getting-more-corrupt/#2775307f5a7f

The Future is Intersectional with Filipina Canadian Artist Han Han
http://blog.sterngrove.org/hanhan/

'Mexipino' combines Mexican and Filipino flavors
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/south-county/sd-se-mexipino-restaurant-20180706-story.html

How an immigrant youth is getting recognition for creating peace of mind
https://discover.rbcroyalbank.com/how-an-immigrant-youth-is-getting-recognition-for-creating-peace-of-mind/

For our Happy Home Cook recipe, we go back to the Filipino immigrant's cooking bible, Nora Daza's Let's Cook with Nora, and borrow her recipe for Orange Spareribs.

For video of the week, online comic Jeppy Paraiso continues his Tita series “Don't Tita, Don't.”

For our partner post, FilVetRep's Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret.) is calling on the community to support Jon Melegrito for AARP's AAPI Community Hero Award for his work in honoring the Filipino World War II Veterans. Deadline is August 15, 2018.

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino