It's Raining Ash, But Plague of Locusts Not Likely.

As if we haven't had enough anxieties -- and it's just 15 days into 2020 -- Taal volcano, the second most active in the Philippines, spewed out ash and sulfuric smoke 9 miles or so into the atmosphere, showering Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan with deadly volcanic particulates. We dare not ask what's next in these disquieting times.

But let's not fret too much because there are some reasons to celebrate. One of them is the emergence of several groups of ice hockey teams that are working towards representing the Philippines in Winter Olympics. Huh? An ice hockey team from a tropical country? PF Correspondent Myles Garcia gives us a rundown on these audacious Pinoy and Pinay athletes in "Pinoys' Ice Rink Wishes and Bobsled Dreams."

In Ballesteros, Cagayan, a local musician named Dondon Catli dares to become the town's baker par excellence and a bakeshop named Don Catli de Ballesteros was born. Famous for his wedding cakes, Catli also doubles as organist for various bands in the area. Merlita Usita Campañano, a Ballesteros native, writes about her kabayan.

From Manila, cultural columnist Pablo Tariman fondly remembers his friend, the late iconic director of many award-winning films, Marilou Diaz Abaya in "Marilou, 1955-2012."

For the Happy Home Cook, an Ilocano comfort food with a modern twist: Inabraw na Hipon at Gulay from our resident food expert, Elizabeth Ann Quirino.

Here's a collection of stories worth reading from other publications:

In Taal’s Shadow: Dangers and Blessings
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/129/howie-severino-dangers-and-blessings-in-taal-volcano-s-shadow/?utm_source=GMANews&utm_medium=Twitter&fbclid=IwAR0L_j3lw7krgWIXXs1vXnUhQJpRszRbkXvtm0Y3wZ76GgA2e-RnGezxBQ4

Military report confirms spying risks in deal with China-backed telco
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/247306-military-report-confirms-spying-risks-deal-china-backed-telco-part-1?fbclid=IwAR3vzT2TgINeVK0J8LpZbyJUAW9Zdv5nI_pKFXfnSn9j-KBSav7HoHIyvM0

Young, and Accomplished, This Filipino Pastry Chef Is Making Waves Globally
https://hbrascend.org/topics/young-accomplished-and-entrepreneurial-this-filipino-pastry-chef-is-making-waves-internationally/?utm_source=Facebook_website&medium=website_share&fbclid=IwAR13zjL2ERmfwhtQGHxOjRFX_cd1KXfD-c3dIjt1TV4Fl5hs5mDYvfNjJY4

‘Giving Back’: Wife shares a tycoon’s life with Alzheimer’s
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/354511/giving-back-wife-shares-a-tycoons-life-with-alzheimers/?fbclid=IwAR1H41yOFKBJ-gSbt2UdXB5JImP228Gsyj2e34a6HoqTWC4dW8uA9BNOko8

Column: Here’s how HiFi, or Historic Filipinotown, got its name
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-06/filipinotown-cool-enclaves?fbclid=IwAR0K_bbmXdDdjkeAyc9mTtuOKI2PmhYNXz36YgFvLAYU--hT3VkuzyviD9w

Our Video of the Week, an informative documentary on Taal volcano's surprise explosion in 1965.

Suicide Isn't Painless

Through these days of rage and disquiet, let's face up to some important issues.

With the recent spate of celebrity suicides, do you wonder if Filipinos are just as prone to mental health issues that drive a person to choose death over life? Contributor Isabel Taylor-Escoda, who has retired in Cebu from living for decades in Hong Kong, researches the issue in "Suicide Among Filipinos."

We got this heartwarming story from a first-time contributor, David R. Rabaja, a Florida-based surgeon, about how the Rabaja clan was able to reunite in its original hometown in Cagayan. "Coming Home in Ballesteros" begs an answer to the perennial question of expats, can we really go home again?

As the immigration issue burns in the US, another first-time contributor Elizabeth Keanini-Silva tells the interesting story of Mayo Buenafe-Ze, who was brought to the US as a child, deported with her family back to the Philippines, and returned as a Fulbright scholar.

If you missed these stories from other publications, read them here in our In The Know lineup:

Manila's Mystery Red Banners
https://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/manila-mystery-red-banners/

What Does It Mean To Call Yourself Filipino, If You Can't Speak The Language?https://www.shopcambio.co/blogs/news/what-does-it-mean-to-call-yourself-filipino-if-you-cant-speak-the-language

Erica Paredes introduces ‘kamayan’ style, boodle fight to Europeans
http://www.interaksyon.com/chef-filipino-cuisine-france-erica-paredes-kamayan-boodle-fight/

LOOK: Filipino-French footballer celebrates World Cup win
http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/16/18/look-filipino-french-footballer-celebrates-world-cup-win

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is Vegan Nilaga from Richgail Enriquez. 

For video of the week, ABS-CBN News profiles Nella Sarabia, who continues the family legacy of optometry.

We're 5 Years Old!

Our first issue for 2017 also marks the fifth year of publication of Positively Filipino.To all of you who are still reading us and helping to spread the word about this site, our heartfelt thanks. It has been an exhilarating ride putting together writers and readers under a banner that is credible and deeply informative of things Filipino. We have learned as much as we have shared, and for this we thank our contributing writers. To those who are curious about who we are, please click on About Us. We'd like to hear more from you, and one way to do that is to just click on Reply to this email posting and we'll see your message. We hope to have your continued support in the years to come.

We have just gone through a very interesting year and here's our compilation of 2016's most popular stories:

10. A Home For Filipino Food In the Capital By Elizabeth Ann Quirino
9. And You Thought You Knew Everything About Beauty Pageants By Myles Garcia
8. An Open Letter to Mayor Duterte By Monique Wilson
7. Limeuil By Ofeila Gelvezon Tequi
6. She Keeps The Defense Agency Shipshape By Anthony Maddela
5. Opinion: What Happens If Bongbong Marcos Becomes Vice President By Myles Garcia
4. The Stunning Isabel Preysler By Mona Lisa Yuchengco
3. Jordan Norwood: Carrying the Ball for Filipinos at the Super Bowl By Lloyd LaCuesta and Ken Guanga
2. The Political Outsider By Randy S. David
1. How Filipinos Got Their Surnames By Penelope V. Flores

The recent award by the U.S. Congress of the Congressional Medal of Honor for Filipino veterans of WWII prompted Washington, D.C.-based community leader Jon Melegrito to write "Honoring My Dad, a War Veteran." The piece brings home the very personal story behind the long fight for veterans' recognition and equity, a cause that Melegrito himself tirelessly worked for.

Positively Filipino Contributing Writer Rey de la Cruz sent in a nostalgic story about his hometown -- Ballesteros, Cagayan, of which he has fondly written a children's book. If you grew up in a small town in the Philippines, "Ballesteros On My Mind," will trigger fond memories of childhood joys. 

After a holiday season that, of course, involved food binges, how about stepping back and making some vegan longganisa. Our vegan maven Richgail Enriquez tells us how.

For our Video of the Week, we feature a wonderful blend of spoken word, cultural beats and ethnic dance from Filipino Canadian artists Han Han, Datu and Hataw.