Calamities, Natural and Man-Inflicted

So much sadness and anger this week as the US grapples with three mass shootings that resulted in 29 deaths in different parts of the country. The Philippines, where killing is officially sanctioned, is not spared the agony of violence. Currently however, natural disasters are taking center stage there. 

The big one is the series of earthquakes in Batanes, which destroyed the solid, typhoon-resistant structures of Itbayat, one of the islands in the Batanes chain. To get a feel of what it was like and the aftermath, we called on Dorian Merina, a Fil-Am journalist who has chosen to settle in Batanes, to give us a report. Read "A Deadly Quake Tests Batanes' Tradition of Resiliency," also to find out how to help.

Back to the US, the Trump administration has started the process of revoking the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program which allows the families of Filipino veterans to join them in the US. Immigration lawyer Lourdes Santos Tancinco explains how the early termination will work and what to do if you're affected by it. (Partner Post: What the Impending Rescission of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program Means to the Veterans Families)

In the city of Markham, Ontario, a larger than life statue of Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal is unveiled, to celebrate Canada's first Filipino Heritage Month last June. The statue was created by Filipino Canadian scuptor Ignacio "Mogi" Mogado Jr., who's passionate about letting the world know about Rizal. Toronto-based writer Marisa Roque tells us the story in "Rizal Honored in Ontario."

PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia educates us on the fascinating evolution of the carnival (aka karnabal or perya) in the Philippines, tracing its colonial roots and noting its new iterations. "Did I Stay Too Long at the Fair?" is a fascinating read that you'll surely enjoy. 

It's Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month) in our homeland. Read Again poet/author Marne Kilates' "Why the 'F' in Filipino and How Did It Get There" to be updated on the new realities of the Filipino national language. 

For the Happy Home Cook this week, we borrowed a recipe from the famous chef Nora V. Daza from her book (co-authored by Michaela Fenix) A Culinary Life: Personal Recipe Collection: Ampalaya with Braised Beef. 

And our In The Know links, ICYMI:

Dark Web connects PH to mass shootings in US, Filipino pols’ vanities
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1151006/dark-web-connects-ph-to-mass-shootings-in-us-filipino-pols-vanities?fbclid=IwAR2T-QaA8ZGwP8isI2wfvyrO23pkIm4zpQaqvVyZUThIrr5rk4YL68osw3A

Care.com Founder to Step Down as CEO Months After WSJ Report
https://www.wsj.com/articles/care-com-founder-to-step-down-as-ceo-months-after-wsj-report-11565089901

Pogo workers in their midst: Notes from an ‘invasion’
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1147812/pogo-workers-in-their-midst-notes-from-an-invasion

She Was Filipino Food’s Greatest Champion. Now Her Work Is Finding New Fans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/dining/filipino-food-doreen-fernandez.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage

For video of the week, South China Morning Post featured Jollibee and how it became one of the world’s biggest companies from Asia.

Life's A Beach

How does Boracay look now after the big cleanup? First-time PF contributor Willie Vergara, who had seen the island in its pristine state in the 1980s and has returned twice since, provides an honest look-see in "Boracay in Rehab."

Another first-time contributor Dr. Aileen Soriano-Pisaturo, the Director of Palliative Care Services at Kent Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island, explains what palliative care, a new field in medicine, really means in "The Fuzzy Wuzzy of Medicine."

Batanes, the Philippines' northernmost province, has been in the news because of the twin earthquakes that caused deaths and destruction in Itbayat, one of its islands. Read Again Omar Paz's travel essay, "Batanes Beckons," and see why the islands have become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

And. for a touch of levity, Read Again Lotis Key's award-winning and very funny story, "White Men Can't Jump-Start."

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo's innovative Garlic Cloves Adobo with Mushrooms.

Our In The Know links, ICYMI (in case you missed it):

Going Back to the Philippines to Retire: A How-to Guide
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/120315/going-back-philippines-retire-howto-guide.asp?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shareurlbuttons&fbclid=IwAR00B6-pqOwn6rsOq7atDeMtEf0fvMrMaPb7tMyNvuoRHJYf8v2okaBnY4w

Why crafty Internet trolls in the Philippines may be coming to a website near you
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/why-crafty-internet-trolls-in-the-philippines-may-be-coming-to-a-website-near-you/2019/07/25/c5d42ee2-5c53-11e9-98d4-844088d135f2_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4c31350cd0e4

Where the Wealthy Go in Private Jets, From Bahamas to Barbados
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-26/where-the-wealthy-go-in-private-jets-from-bahamas-to-bora-bora?utm_campaign=news&utm_medium=bd&utm_source=applenews

Everything’s coming up roselle
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/251494/everythings-coming-roselle/?fbclid=IwAR27NPQ8efeladshXIbJN5zVUHVGA4XgkRBz4TpxI7mzylFzPapjLy_Eh9I

Why It Is Important to Know the Story of Filipino-American Larry Itliong 
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-it-is-important-know-story-filipino-american-larry-itliong-180972696/?fbclid=IwAR2Z9ZWi6PkLldomZOlLJl1hblhbt0QHo7CTWKTLNLIUp1YXJoSAi0DKDU8

For our video of the week, we feature the 2019 Little Manila Rising Community Showcase “Dawn.”

Mothers and Passings

Shortly after National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva passed in February this year, Fr. Jason Dy, a Jesuit and an artist himself, paid tribute to the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture" by dedicating his homily to Abueva's religious works. We share this homily with you to honor this great Filipino artist whose body of work is immense and timeless.

The past week saw the demise of three outstanding Filipinos and we join the Filipino nation in mourning their passing and celebrating their legacies:

National Artist for Literature Cirilo F. Bautista, 76, poet/essayist/author/critic/
columnist/literature professor and Palanca Awards Hall of Famer, died on May 6.

Architect and world-famous heritage conservationist Augusto "Toti" Villalon, 73, the first Filipino member and past president of the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), died on May 5.

Read Again our recent feature on him: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/nation-building-with-suman-and-stone

Ed Maranan, the most awarded Filipino writer (33 Palanca Awards in multiple categories both in English and Filipino) and PF contributor, passed away on May 7 at age 72.

Read Again two of Ed's pieces: 
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/postscript-my-life-before-and-after-the-first-quarter-storm

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/in-search-of-the-cupang-i-used-to-know

Amidst the sadness, it's also Mother's Day week and we're not going to let it pass without paying tribute to mothers:

PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia recalls the most memorable family trip of his life, courtesy of his mother in "Of Mom and Maritime Memories."

Millennial poet Janice Sapigao shares her heartfelt essay about her mother and their struggles together in "Me and the Little Girl Inside Me."

We compiled a variety of links for you in our In The Know section this week:

Humans were in Philippines 700,000 years ago
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/02/world/early-humans-philippine-islands/index.html

A Transgender Paradox, and Platform, in the Philippines
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/29/world/asia/transgender-philippines-discrimination.html

Back to Batanes—where there’s still no garbage on the roads
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/293094/back-batanes-theres-still-no-garbage-roads/

Christian Louboutin's Latest Bags Feature Philippine Textiles
https://www.preview.ph/ fashion/christian-louboutin- has-released-a-line-of-manila- themed-tote-bags-a00192- 20180503

And our Happy Home Cook recipe is for Krispy Pata and Liver Pate Sauce from Chef Angelo Lubiano of E + O Food and Drink Restaurant in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

Our Video of the Week is fitting for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: honoring Minerva Tantoco as one of the outstanding Asian American women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.