Reptile Dysfunction

PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia regales us with the story of Lolong, the "Largest Saltwater Crocodile in Captivity" from 2011-2013, whose capture made Bunawan, a small town in Agusan, an item in the Guinness Book of World Records. Lolong's journey did not end there: after the reptile's death in 2013, some interesting twists and turns brought its carcass to the National Museum of Natural History in Manila where it now lies. Read all about it in "Lolong, the Giant Crocodile’s Legacy is a Wake-Up Call."

A Toronto-based Filipino couple's "apo-stolic" (babysitting a grandchild) brought them to Hanoi, Vietnam, where the vestiges of war and a country's amazing recovery made for some interesting observations and memories. Patria Cabatuando-Rivera, one-half of the couple, writes about the new Vietnam in "Hanoi Diary: Vietnam's Beautiful Peace."

PF Correspondent and resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino raves about the book of chef/artist/food historian Ige Ramos, aptly titled “Republic of Taste: The Untold Stories of Cavite Cuisine.”

Savor the stories behind the tastes in "Food Historian Ige Ramos Serves Cavite’s Unsung Cuisine" and actually taste a sample with our Happy Home Cook recipe this week for Pancit Choco en su Tinta, a vintage Caviteño dish from Ige Ramos himself.

Since it's All Saints Day, let me re-share with you a story I wrote about a tragedy that was common during martial law: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/gemma/the-end-of-her-world 

Our collection of links to must-read stories, ICYMI:

She Invented Banana Ketchup & Saved Thousands of Lives. Why Have We Never Heard of Her?
https://food52.com/blog/24700-maria-orosa-profile?fbclid=IwAR2VNP3XhDZOz3jaloLRsF5zYqeZs7QJ-F_uNr6yENRNbRWnx-4jbIe7pWE

Why We Need To Remember Stockton, California’s Filipino American Legacy
https://www.buzzfeed.com/paolamardo/stockton-california-little-manila-center-vandalism-history?fbclid=IwAR2iObIf-iPIyHBiE-HuXPLMiCbC3i7bdQRdcH24IFU1Am4R7sEWqbimbcc

Being Fil-Am in the age of Trump and Duterte
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2019/10/28/filipino-american-month-essay.html?fbclid=IwAR0hFlYVj-tOht5AurOtgFxjCIc92vw0fNL9eE2LgV1YC7RDuV7CxD25uYI

In Philippine slums, meat scavenged from dumpsters feeds those short of meals and hope
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/3020306/philippine-slums-meat-scavenged-dumpsters-feeds-those-short-meals?fbclid=IwAR213NQkZ5JhEWrxnUqc-Uvp01zYwUFPWYXK1Br20WgKkagkkmjlQDL5sfU

28 Filipino Recipes That Are Absolutely Worth Feasting On
https://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/easy-filipino-recipes?utm_source=dynamic&fbclid=IwAR2fo7RXdiRQIfnJRZGm2Yg9wTdrzHfeJVUhPEj7SM6iAnLo7HduIUmM45g

For our video of the week, ANC 24/7 talks to Filipino comic book greats Whilce Portacio and Rafael Kayanan.

Living It Up to Remember the Dead

Todos los santos, araw ng patay, undas. However you call the day of memorializing the dead, it all leads to the same thing in the Philippines -- a celebration that brings clans together, involves tons of food and transforms cemeteries into party sites, candies and costumes be damned. Ghoulish? No, it's like Christmas in November, just without the gifts.

Positively Filipino Contributing Writer and food expert Elizabeth Ann Quirino remembers the November 1 practices of her childhood and tries to recapture the celebratory feeling with Asian Fried Noodles, our Happy Home Cook recipe this week. We hope you enjoy it, even if, for you, the memory it brings forth may be different.

All Souls' Day won't be complete, however, without the requisite scare so here are some Read Agains both from contributor Alex G. Paman, in keeping with the, uhm, spirit: 

The Vanishing Hitchhiker, The White Lady And Hauntings Across The Seas

Some Things Wicked This Way Come

Another of our Contributing Writers Myles A. Garcia comes up with "Six Profiles -- Five in Valor, One in Villainy," an interesting piece about lesser known heroes and non-heroes in our history.

New York-based artist Lenore RS Lim's layered life is the subject of Serina Aidasani's feature story this week.

And the scourge of lupus, the degenerative and often misdiagnosed disease that disproportionately affects women and communities of color, is discussed by Rene M. Astudillo, formerly of the Lupus Foundation in California. Astudillo puts a Filipino face to lupus as he introduces Christine Von Raesfeld, who opens up about her battle against the pain and stigma of the ailment. 

For our Video of the Week, CNN's report on "the dramatic shift in Asian-American votes," shared by the National Asian American Survey.