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.

Celebrating Icons

As we've been regularly doing for our last issue of the year, we have a story on Jose Rizal, our National Hero, whose execution day was December 30, 1896. This year we have a review of the latest book on everyone's favorite Filipino, titled Rizal +, an anthology edited by Alfred "Krip" Yuson which reviewer Francis Layf Custodio describes as "a one-stop shop for everything Rizal."

And for a touch of levity during the waning days of this eventful/awful 2018, PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno tells us about her recent visit to Liverpool, England, where she re-lived her adolescence as a Beatles fan. Enjoy "'Just 17' Again in the Birthplace of the Beatles."

For your New Year celebration, here are some recipes from Elizabeth Ann Quirino for the Happy Home Cook.

And if you're craving more Rizal, Read Again John Silva's "Rizal's Cook Remembers a Good Man."

Here are links to significant stories from other publications that you may have missed:

Duterte Opens Up The Philippines To Chinese Workers, As Filipinos Seek Jobs Overseas
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2018/12/23/duterte-opens-up-the-philippines-to-chinese-workers-as-filipinos-seek-jobs-overseas/?fbclid=IwAR1cSz2aGgC1pQvSjC6Bb9BAVCHGDMTeq5bCAy21xkwdgJuBSTDUPOFp9MU#30d4e4a24b28

How I Learned To Talk To My Filipino Mom About My Mental Health
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/22/669960524/how-i-learned-to-talk-to-my-filipino-mom-about-my-mental-health?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR05GIQQ7caK134gOehjD5lqvyCTE9Dk3uIq1BAMN_32bkDkSdkhJkGkuIU 

Cebuana Santa: the heiress who made her students' Christmas wishes come true
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/12/25/18/cebuana-santa?fbclid=IwAR2Wvy6a51ECImKsuuj6D_zvvPVNwyUyqPyggP1csPPpTJVch68ED6ZyHYY

There’s a Room in the Inn for Scavengers and Pushcart Families
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/318775/theres-a-room-in-the-inn-for-scavengers-and-pushcart-families/?fbclid=IwAR324KG74uflCAQP3DL4NfBhnx1Yr6ZFjemOlYhdzZBvLVOMgX_Oc3QfaM0

For our Video of the Week, we feature the trailer of Eric Liner and Neil Rettig’s film “Bird of Prey,” a documentary on the plight of the Philippine Eagle.

We wish all of you a happy and abundant Year of the Pig.