Save the Philippine Eagle to Save Us All

A daring, up-close documentation of the life of the majestic Philippine Eagle entitled "Bird of Prey" is the subject of PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela's story as he talks to the people who made the award-winning film possible. In "What a ‘Bird of Prey’ Can Teach Humans," the Philippine Eagle is both a celebration of the richness of our motherland's natural resources and a strong warning against climate change that endangers not only the Eagle but a million wildlife as well.

A chance encounter in an exercise park in Hanoi led Toronto-based PF contributor Patty Rivera to write about Janice Buco Phương, a Filipina from the school of hard knocks who sang her way to the "Vietnam Idol" title in 2016. "Our Filipina 'Vietnam Idol'" is a heartwarming story of how determination, home-grown talent and a bit of luck can define one's place in a foreign country.

As we remember today the horrific tragedy of 9/11, Read Again Major General Antonio Taguba's close encounter with death on that day, 18 years ago, and his view on how it has changed the US and the world. 

Our Happy Home Cook feature this week is No-Churn Ube Ice Cream, a topping for the halo-halo of Barako Kávéház, the Filipino-owned cafe in Budapest that we featured last week. 

For your reading pleasure, here are links to stories you may have missed: 

The road less traveled: From Paris to Leyte
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/sunday-life/2019/09/08/1949836/road-less-traveled-paris-leyte?fbclid=IwAR3NDbzYeMygt0aaSXgXXdAizkE_AOicX9rv5SG-RZc1pfFSHPqJoxBzZsE

How This Entrepreneur Built A Top-Rated Asian Fast Food Empire
https://www.forbes.com/sites/annalisaburgos/2019/09/03/how-this-entrepreneur-built-a-top-rated-asian-fast-food-empire/?fbclid=IwAR1N4n_xuW0Nm_GG7JRuOfJOoAmcx1Z80UbGFA8lKCKF9o1j0wwTTiq9_zY#5147bed72394

Fil-Am R&B star H.E.R. releases 19-song mixtape ‘I Used to Know Her’
https://asianjournal.com/entertainment/showbiz/fil-am-rb-star-h-e-r-releases-19-song-mixtape-i-used-to-know-her/?fbclid=IwAR2a5dU3HL0tiaP8vUMCfBTGNw55uIUZZ9tRenc8PglsuVsfGJMgTguElgg

I’m A Filipina Who Was Addicted To Skin Lightening Products 
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/filipina-light-skin-bias-philippines_l_5d5d942be4b03b44f416572d?fbclid=IwAR1TWJO34qocmRuyJGf-qIgrOppEGgo20vtZNec-wLjSnlLGgzpJtVsWnY0&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9sLmZhY2Vib29rLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALHi8dioVYHxjQnkGYM4nI46ACukC_K7JBVSnxR0gPdVrN5MuGCQYR6t6DGo_ALvkIx-aRfGC-RBqSrpMzFOtXvRo4KjnYdE-V-fPcNxlegwetpLM_jsvnqg_KqwT7j4QQ0eRqgKZWCmf6JLPaOYMdaF1Jp4JIDzUmJHvUnDgW8J

A Domestic Helper’s Love for Photography
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=450329585565326

For Video of the Week, Eater presents Chef Sheldon Simeon as he prepares Filipino-Hawaiian dishes.

Mothers All

How would you feel if your mother is labeled a "mail order bride? First-time contributor Carolyn Prasad explores the issue as she pays tribute to the grit and courage of her mother in "The Making of a Matriarch."

Poet/author Marra PL. Lanot waxes poetic as she remembers her dynamic mother, a classical pianist and an activist who was also a fantastic cook. "My Mother, Myself" is both a tribute and an aspiration for the writer.

Another first-time contributor Amy Schlanger writes about the parallels of her approach to motherhood with her friend, Min Bernardo, who nurtured and supported the career of her daughter, Kathryn, now one of the Philippines' top movie stars. 

Aside from celebrating mothers and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, May is also Military Appreciation Month. Here are some historical stories you may want to Read Again:

The Boogie Woogie Boys written by ex-Marine, Alex S. Fabros, Jr.

The General At Ease, my exclusive interview with Major General Antonio M. Taguba, one of the highest ranking Filipino American in the US military. 

In case you missed them, our links to important stories from other publications:

Duterte’s Unrelenting Attacks on Philippine Media 
https://philippines.fnst.org/content/dutertes-unrelenting-attacks-philippine-media?fbclid=IwAR0oXGem9nACvaKBueOpqGeW0nK5Bn9LCKmtzWu85Vk0Z8c3eWlsOMkiVFs

What My Father Edjop Taught Me About Heroism 
https://thelittleagegrouper.blogspot.com/2019/05/what-my-father-edjop-taught-me-about.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR0m4Tfd0LrtgqoYm2_FEXLMWilVm605dyyXP3m95tNGrE7jzojTDL1xF3c

The most expensive resort in the world costs $100,000 a night — here's what you get
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/most-expensive-resort-world-costs-181128004.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=fb&fbclid=IwAR1JiChPiiY6m9wAV16SqaT7kh_0ieXYaJPPwBsxZUTL_aheYf6oT-jJd6E

Cafe in the Philippines Now Uses Straws Made Out of Coconut Leaves to Cut Plastic Waste
https://nextshark.com/philippines-biodegradable-straws/?fbclid=IwAR2QPTqOtaG8v9waJdkWeEY2cl1au-Sbk9Ul5NC70H2UfUT_fB04RTgotp8

For the Happy Home Cook, another recipe contribution from SF-based foodie, Voltaire Gungab: Risotto with Shiitake, Chinese Sausage and Chicken Livers.

And for Video of the Week, we feature another Andre De La Varre Screen Traveler. This travelogue film shows Cebu in the 1930s.

Basket Weaving and Home Cooking

Basket weaving in the Philippines is not just an art. It is also a means of subsistence of indigenous and rural Filipinos who sell their handwoven baskets and textiles for cash income to buy basic necessities. Former immigration lawyer turned basketry advocate Jill Stanton reports on her visit to basketry communities in the Cordilleras and Pala'wan.

A grieving daughter celebrates her late father's expertise in the kitchen and shares the recipe of his favorite quick dish. Titchie Carandang-Tiongson writes about her dad, well-known TV producer Tony Carandang in "Papa's Japanese Rice."

It has been 17 years since the cataclysmic event now immortalized as 9/11 but the magnitude of the terror remains fresh in many minds, especially those who had a close brush with death on that day. One of them is General Antonio Taguba who was in the Pentagon when the plane crashed and demolished the section he was in just a few minutes before. Read Again his account of "My Close Call on 9/11." 

As we continue to collect martial law stories and vignettes, here's another one of mine. Read Again "Creative Subversion." 

Our Happy Home Cook recipe is another one from Chef Marvin Gapultos who we featured last week. This time a complicated but surely delicious dish which will delight the Ilocanos -- Papaitan. 

Here are this week's links to stories you may have missed:

China Poised to Win Major Victory in Sea Dispute With Help of Philippine Resources Deal
https://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-and-gas-pact-poised-to-hand-china-a-victory-in-sea-dispute-1536571801?redirect=amp#click=https://t.co/iliNWX2Kc6

The Philippines' Human Rights Abuses
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2018-08-03/the-brutal-personal-costs-of-the-philippines-human-rights-abuses

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho: 11 Year-old Boy Serves as Parent to Younger Brother
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKei-sZ0iOk

Our Video of the Week: GMA's Jessica Soho brings together young basketball talent Justine Remo and his idol, three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry in this exclusive video.

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Tell Us Your Martial Law Story

We are collecting personal stories of life under Martial Law (1972-1981) in the Philippines. If you were there, you would have at least one. Did you violate curfew? Were you arrested? Was anyone in your family a political detainee or was "salvaged?" Did martial law motivate you to leave the country?  Did you benefit from it? What is your most enduring memory of that period?

In 200-600 words, join us in documenting that important era in our homeland's history. Your story counts. And if you have pictures, that would be great.

Please send to martiallawstories@gmail.com.