Fil-Ams You Should Know

Aside from Mother's Day, the big celebration in the US in May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM). Why May? Because the first Japanese immigrant to the US arrived on May 7, 1843 and the transcontinental railroad was completed by mostly Chinese immigrants on May 10, 1869. Filipino Americans have their own month to celebrate - October, since it is believed that the first Filipinos to reach American soil got here on that month. Nonetheless, we celebrate in solidarity with our fellow Asians because any occasion to honor the contributions of immigrants to this giant melting pot of a country is cause for celebration.

Get to know some famous -- and infamous -- Filipino Americans in the compilation spearheaded by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco, the first of which is in this issue. ["Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous"]

Likewise, in our continuing salute to mothers this month, Lisa shares with us her tribute to her late mother, Paz Sycip Yuchengco. ["A Final Goodnight"]

Cultural writer Walter Ang introduces Cynthia Salaysay, a Filipino American author, whose first book Private Lessons, a young adult (YA) novel, is coming out this month. ["Cynthia Salaysay's Healing Heart"]

Some deaths are heavier than others as Manila-based PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes illustrates in her tribute to her good friend (and ours too), former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Fulgencio Factoran Jr. ["Jun Factoran, A Friend Forever"]

Here's a timely Read Again that will make you feel good: Liana Romulo's account of her esteemed lolo's amazing feat. https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/7/when-lolos-debating-team-vanquished-america

For the Happy Home Cook, let's dig up another comfort food from our archive: Binagoongang Baboy from Beth Romualdez. http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-happy-home-cook-binagoongang-baboy

Here are links to stories from other publications: 

Pandemic slashes remittance lifeline as overseas Filipino workers lose jobs
https://www.bworldonline.com/pandemic-slashes-remittance-lifeline-as-overseas-filipino-workers-lose-jobs/?fbclid=IwAR2ZbbTPIYw0LpqUFsh8vzsLSGFEUl7K1VkEaNvRy3tdxcMCianXJBPqeao

Five things to remember during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and beyond
https://www.adn.com/opinions/2019/05/24/five-things-to-remember-during-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month-and-beyond/?fbclid=IwAR2jZorBTiALQj6TTSuWoG8_8vvAIJqqZvwIHsZbsW7FnytFlftX4kPea6M

In the Claws of a Police State
https://thebaffler.com/latest/in-the-claws-of-a-police-state-flores-fantauzzo?fbclid=IwAR07Jk2QrkXK74CLdhFltQGC2o08EG829-Uq2Qya-59Q3fZQnw-7LLdDVN0

“Similar to Times of War”: The Staggering Toll of COVID-19 on Filipino Health Care Workers
https://www.propublica.org/article/similar-to-times-of-war-the-staggering-toll-of-covid-19-on-filipino-health-care-workers?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature

Celebrity IOU: Michael Bublé fulfills grandfather's dying wish with home for his caretaker Minette
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8287151/Celebrity-IOU-Michael-Bubl-fulfills-grandfathers-dying-wish-home-caretaker-Minette.html?fbclid=IwAR19mlzdhKtFDgjwFXybGLCl7hbynMdswyUZfA0SjGQZKjjZoMoPrHPYY0s#i-5912dad24a9fa0a6 

What Manila Looked Like The Year You Were Born
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/old-manila-vintage-photos-a00297-20200501-lfrm3?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20200431-fbnp-culture-old-manila-vintage-photos-a00297-20200501-lfrm3-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR3rDBH9HefUzse2Da5tbFqoe3AffarjJtkamXXsbO_w30FQ2bCgmdCA6H0 

For our Video of the Week, witness veteran journalist Howie Severino's documentation of his bout with Covid-19. 

"Feastivals" and Valentine Videos

A day after Valentine's Day, the social media universe of the Philippines – where some serious celebration of V-Day happens every year -- is still kilig over the three tear-inducing videos of Jollibee, titled Crush, Vow and Date. Watch them here and get your hankies ready.

Minola Oil (a Philippine product) underscores the progress of gay rights in the country with its V-Day commercial.

Another story of celebrations comes from Positively Filipino Correspondent Rene Astudillo, who has moved semi-permanently from the San Francisco Bay Area back to the homeland. “Feast-ivals of the North” introduces the food festivals of the Ilocos, a region famous for both healthy and strange dishes.

Another Positively Filipino Correspondent, Los-Angeles-based Anthony Maddela profiles Fil-Am Jeffrey Cirio, principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre in New York. Jeffrey, raised in Philadephia by his Filipino father and American mother, will be dancing in Don Quixote in May 2017.

For your expanded reading fare, here are the In the Know links for this week:

From Oprah to MoMA Catalog: Filipino Designer's Clutch is a Hit: http://www.townandcountry.ph/out-about/arts-culture/filipino-designer-carissa-evangelista-s-clutch-makes-it-to-moma-s-international-catalog-a00180-a00185-20170208

The Second Youngest Billionaire in the World is a Filipino-American:
http://nextshark.com/bobby-murphy-snap-inc-filipino-american/

Toronto Ube Desserts
https://www.facebook.com/Insiderdessert/videos/1643592859269533/?autoplay_reason=user_settings&video_container_type=0&video_creator_product_type=2&app_id=2392950137&live_video_guests=0

Bongbong to DILG? Robredo allies, ex-Comelec exec weigh in:
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/14/17/bongbong-to-dilg-robredo-allies-ex-comelec-exec-weigh-in

We go vegan again this week with Richgail Enriquez's recipe for vegetable lumpiang shanghai.

A post-Valentine Watch Again treat: “66 Years, 2 Months, 21 Days…. and Still Counting,” produced and directed by our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco.

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino