Ride the Fire Horse

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We’re already in the second month of the year if you’re following the Christian calendar, but on February 17, the Chinese calendar flips the script with the start of the Year of the Fire Horse. It’s said to be a rare, high-energy year—one that shows up only once every 60 years—symbolizing bold moves, fast shifts, and fiery momentum. No hesitation, no dragging your feet.

Whatever calendar you live by and whatever traditions ground you, here’s hoping this surge of courage and change plays out with purpose—bringing progress that’s peaceful, meaningful, and good for our homeland, our adopted countries, and the wider world we all share.

For Positively Filipino, 2026—the Year of the Fire Horse—will be about both staying true to who we are and pushing forward. We’ll keep delivering the stories you’ve come to expect: deep dives into history and culture (we’ve got two historical pieces this week alone), profiles of fascinating Filipinos across generations, features on creative work, travel essays, first-person stories, and thoughtful looks at the people and politics shaping our communities.

And because we’re always down to level up, we’re adding something new: “Overseas Filipino Achievers”. This expands our long-running and ever-growing collection of short profiles spotlighting Filipino achievers—starting with FilAms, and now widening the lens globally.

That’s where you come in.

If you’re part of the Filipino diaspora outside the Philippines and the US, we’d love your help. Send us names, links, and supporting info about Filipino achievers making waves in your local communities.

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Staff

It's Been a Lot of Winter America

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It’s been a rough weekend in the US — headlines filled with tension from Minneapolis, the Alex Pretti saga (and yeah, we’re still not over Renee Good), political drama, and that brutal cold snap that had entire cities frozen over. It’s been a lot.

But even in the chill, there were some bright, almost heartwarming moments. In North Carolina, a group of Buddhist monks continued their snowy “Walk for Peace,” trekking in their bright orange robes through ice and sleet on their way to Washington, D.C. (they’ll get there in about two weeks). And across the Pacific, tennis phenom Alex Eala continues to stir up the Filipino pride wherever she plays — triggering mini stampedes of support from fans every match.

For sports fans stuck at home and missing the action, there’s something to look forward to: the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, happening February 6–22. There are two Filipinos competing for the giant slalom and slalom events: Fil-Am Tallulah Proulx, 17, and Fil-Italian Francis Ceccarelli, 22. 

Sadly, there’s no other Philippine team competing this time — not for lack of effort, though. The first-ever Filipino pairs figure skating duo and men’s curling team both came close but missed the qualification cutoff. PF correspondent and Olympic historian Myles Garcia breaks it down for us — though his feature this week focuses on a new book about the first Filipinos ever to join the Olympics, recently published by a small independent press back in Manila.

On a heavier note, there’s still no closure on the story of Filipino American activist Chantal Anicoche, who was recently found hiding in a forest cave in Mindoro after an encounter between the New People’s Army and the Philippine Army. What exactly brought her there? PF contributor Prof. Patricio Abinales, a former leftist revolutionary himself, unpacks the complex reality behind activism, idealism, and the danger of romanticizing a war that’s very much still real.

Two more stories we hope you'll enjoy: a grandson's recollection of his distinguished grandfather who was the first Filipino tobacco entomologist; and a profile of Rowena Federico Finn, a Fil-Am multimedia artist.

{Read It Again]

Ten Best-Kept Secrets of Olympic Ceremonies by Myles A. Garcia
When Spring Ran in Manila, a Sort of Book Synopsis by Amadio Arboleda

[Video of the Week] Why the Filipino Jeepney Is Dying–Here’s Why It Matters 

In The Know

Alex Eala and the Quiet Discipline of Becoming
https://joyfulwellness.ph/2026/01/27/alex-eala-quiet-discipline-wellness

Fil-Am sa Washington D.C., ipinagdiwang ang ika-109 kaarawan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FdbVt0ZEto

Manila traffic not a condition, but a lifestyle: ‘How long does it take to get there?’ ‘Depende’
https://www.thediarist.ph/manila-traffic-not-a-condition-but-a-lifestyle-how-long-does-it-take-to-get-there-depende/

Filipina DH faces child abuse rap after 4-month-old ward found with brain injuries
https://www.sunwebhk.com/2026/01/filipina-dh-faces-child-abuse-rap-after.html? 

2 Dead and 4 Missing After Cargo Ship Carrying 21 People Capsizes More Than 140 Miles from Land
https://people.com/2-dead-4-missing-cargo-ship-21-capsizes-south-china-11891129

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Staff

Loving Alex Eala

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Alex Eala (Photo by Ronald Salazar)

It was a total lovefest.

When tennis phenom Alex Eala hit the court—and took the win—in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this month, the energy inside the stadium was unmistakably Filipino. The country’s 108,000-plus strong Filipino New Zealander community (or at least a significant number) showed up loud, proud, and all heart.

Our writer Ronald Salazar was there when Alex and her partner Iva Jovic clinched their first-round victory, and he felt the moment firsthand. Kababayans filled the stands, chanting “Laban, Alex!” nonstop—so loud and relentless that the umpire had to shush them more than once.

After the match, Alex made sure to show her appreciation.

“It’s so special. If there’s one thing I learned in 2025, it’s that home is the people and not the place.”                                                               

*****

Nothing—not age, not even brutal weather—can slow down Bella Bonner.

Always down to do something she’s never done before, Bella swapped Manila’s tropical heat for Mongolia in the dead of winter last month. We’re talking minus 26°C (minus 14.8°F) kind of cold—the kind where it feels like your fingers might actually fall off.

And yet? The week-long trip landed squarely on her list of the best experiences of her life (and she's had plenty). She survived, she thawed out, and yes—she lived to tell the story.

*****

If Filipino American history matters to you, this one’s a must-see.

Now showing at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the exhibition “How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories” traces the roots of the Filipino American community in Stockton from the 1910s to the 1970s.

Using the contents of long-forgotten steamer trunks, the exhibit brings our stories—migration, labor, family, and survival—back into focus. It runs through November 2027, so there’s time to plan that DC trip and see our history reflected where it belongs.

[Read It Again]

Six or Seven Meals a Day by Ralph Semino Galán

Which Comes First, the Chicken, or the Scruples? by Albert J. Lesaca

[Video of the Week] FilAm Vegan Chef Reina Montenegro

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Staff