Along Comes Nostalgia

As we hold our collective breaths when we watch what's happening in our homeland, let's take a needed break.

FilAms in the Bay Area, particularly baby boomers, were treated to a nostalgia trip last weekend with the Philippine International Aid (PIA) sponsoring the showing of an indie film, Along Comes Larry. Larry is Larry Ramos, the first Filipino to garner a Grammy as part of the New Christy Minstrels in 1963. He went on to join The Association, a group familiar to Filipinos who grew up in the '60s with such hits as "Cherish," "Windy" and "Never My Love." We sang along and swayed to these songs not knowing that one of the soloists was a Filipino-Hawaiian, Larry.

The documentary by broadcast journalist Rick Quan, as PF correspondent Cherie Querol-Moreno reports, was illuminating to the more than 500 guests who watched it, most of whom were hearing about Larry Ramos for the first time. But the treat wasn't just the movie -- it also included a performance by the remaining members of The Association! Grayed and somewhat frayed now, the members of the group, minus Larry who passed away in 2014, still thrilled with their harmonies. 

It was indeed a weekend that warmed hearts and souls. More significantly, it benefited the PIA, a non-profit whose 39 years of existence is not only distinguished for its longevity, but for the 70,000 or so disadvantaged children in the Philippines who have been able to go to school because of PIA.

Would that we have more -- of groups who really make a difference, of people who continue to do their part in uplifting the lives of our kababayans, of filmmakers who make consequential movies, and of music makers who sing songs that make us happy.

This Week’s Stories

Philippine International Aid (PIA) Benefit Debuts Film on Larry Ramos, First Fil-Am Grammy Winner by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

An Encounter in Florence, Autumn 2025 by Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

The Mercados of North Texas by Jocelyn Alvarez Allgood

The Strange, the Magical, and the Marvelous by Rashaan Alexis Meneses

Read It Again

Along Comes Larry by Peter Jamero

Why I Called Out the US Military on Torture by Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba (Ret.)

Ten Thousand Stories in Chicago’s The Field Museum by Rey E. de la Cruz

Video of the Week

The Human Cost of the Philippines’ Flood-control Corruption Scandal | 101 East Documentary

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In The Know

Why Cardinal David rejects Marcos-Duterte resignation call
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/why-cardinal-pablo-virgilio-david-rejects-marcos-duterte-resignation-call/

OFW who died in Hong Kong fire slated to come home for Christmas
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/968136/ofw-who-died-in-hong-kong-fire-slated-to-come-home-for-istmas/story/

Filipino cardinal: Storytelling key to mission work in Asia
https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/filipino-cardinal-storytelling-key-to-mission-work-in-asia/?

A Taste of Home in Every Bite: The Valerio Family’s Baking Legacy
https://filipinosinthe6ix.com/valerio-familys-baking-legacy/

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Better Late than Never

The US Department of Labor finally came around to honoring three Filipino American labor leaders in its Hall of Honor at the Francis Perkins Building in Washington, D.C. The three -- Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Peter Velasco -- were leaders of the 1965 Delano Grape Strike in California, a five-year struggle that led to higher wages, better working conditions and a union health plan for farmworkers. Definitely a case of better-late-than-never, the November 20, 2024 event drew a crowd of 300 including PF contributing writer Titchie Carandang, who writes about this historic gathering.

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The rise in hate incidents all over the country, but with few convictions, begs the question -- when does, say, a random public assault against another person rise to the level of a hate crime? It's complicated, apparently, because there are prerequisites involved. Since hate crimes -- of the racial, gender, sexual orientation and disability varieties -- are here to stay, it's important to understand the legalities. Prominent San Francisco lawyer Lourdes Tancinco explains.                                                  

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Liquid inihaw? Is it even a thing? For those who are not (yet) as entrenched in Filipino cooking, here's one illuminating instructional for you from innkeeper/heritage advocate/culinary history geek An Mercado Alcantara. An's essay won first prize in the 2023 Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing competition.                                                

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If you're seeking to invest in real estate in the Philippines, you're strongly advised to look beyond Manila towards certain provinces that will give you more bang for your buck. Realtor Vlad Capistrano gives a bird's eye view of lucrative regional markets.

Read Agains:

Lulu’s Fifty-Peso Christmas Gift
Elizabeth Ann Quirino 

Delicious Dishes for Your Christmas Table
Staff

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In The Know

Bishop Ambo David takes oath as 10th Filipino cardinal
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/bishop-pablo-virgilio-ambo-david-takes-oath-10th-filipino-cardinal/

Who is Sofronio Vasquez, the first Asian winner of ‘The Voice USA?’
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/things-to-know-sofronio-vasquez-the-voice-usa-winner/

Aglipayan Church, known for activism, hails Cardinal Ambo David
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/aglipayan-church-congratulations-cardinal-pablo-virgilio-david/

Wrong Guillermo: Cebu town mixed up patron saint for centuries
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/wrong-guillermo-cebu-dalaguete-town-mixed-up-patron-saint-centuries/

Jose Rizal's 'Josephine Sleeping' sculpture sells for a record P31.2 million
https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/283484-jose-rizal-s-josephine-sleeping-sculpture-p31-2-million?L8Iykw5lgVYoyIckOdOvKlBw_aem_Mqa8HG68Uc0qSbFJbDaShg

‘Bona’: A Filipina Superstar Wreaks Vengeance in a Two-Fisted Melodrama
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/movies/bona-lino-brocka-metrograph.html? 

Man accused of duping Filipino churchgoers into investing in video Covid-test tech to plead guilty 
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/man-plead-guilty-filipinos-video-covid-19-wire-fraud-rcna183428 

Kidnapped American YouTuber likely dead in Philippines
https://asamnews.com/2024/12/11/mindanao-zamboanga-del-norte-vlogger-southern/

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A Cardinal for These Times

In a largely Catholic country like the Philippines, the papal designation of a new Filipino cardinal is cause for celebration. A total of ten Filipino bishops have been elevated to the cardinalship, the latest being Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.

Apung Ambo (as he prefers to be addressed, instead of the traditional His Eminence), 65, is a standout among the nine other Filipino cardinals. Born in Betis, Pampanga, the 10th of 13 children, exposed to and appreciative of folk traditions, radicalized by martial law, honed by advanced theological studies in Belgium, tempered by his assignments to marginalized communities, the new Cardinal lives true to Pope Francis' call to "go to the periphery."

Even if the going means putting his life in danger, as Bishop Ambo soon found out when he was assigned to Kalookan, virtually ground zero for former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. For his active and vocal resistance to the extrajudicial killings, Bishop Ambo got a direct and top-level warning, "isang bala ka lang" (you're just one bullet's worth).

To know more about the very interesting Apung Ambo, PF contributor Paulynn Paredes Sicam spoke to the cardinal-designate's oldest brother, UP professor and Inquirer columnist Randy David, and their youngest sister, Marivic. Read her story here. 

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Part of the fun of Fil-Am History Month involves unearthing little known Fil-Ams who are nonetheless notable in their fields. Here we feature the artist Wayne Lacson Forte, who bills himself a "religious painter" whose reconnection to his Filipino heritage was a long but fruitful struggle. PF contributing writer Virgilio Reyes Jr. sent in this feature on Forte.   

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Last week we wrote about the Filipino food truck, Master BBQ AVL, in Asheville, North Carolina which was destroyed by Typhoon Helene. The owner/chef Paul Pike writes this week about how his small business came to be and why he is asking for help.

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Two permitted reposts from two very different publications: From KQED, a delightful story on "How a Buffalo Soldier Changed the Life of Latin Jazz Master John Calloway" by Andrew Gilbert.

From the PREDA newsletter, PREDA founder Fr. Shay Cullen presents a disturbing picture of child abuse in the Philippines and issues a call for justice for the victims.

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Our Video of the Week gives us a preview of the 3-part Emmy-nominated series by MG Montemayor, a broadcast journalist in Waco, Texas. The series honors the Filipino fighters of WWII. 

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In The Know

Biden Honors Fil-Am History Month
https://asamnews.com/2024/10/23/pinoys-filipino-americans-pride-culture-celebration/

America and the Philippines Should Call China’s Bluff
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/america-and-philippines-should-call-chinas-bluff?

Armed group abducts American in Zamboanga del Norte
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/armed-group-abducts-american-elliot-eastman-zamboanga-del-norte-october-17-2024/

Dream to reality: Kapwa Kultural Center uplifts Filipino Americans
https://asamnews.com/2024/10/19/filipino-american-cultural-wellness-youth-center-opens-in-daly-city/

Pro-China propaganda pivots, targets civil society as tensions mount 
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/pro-china-propaganda-pivots-targets-philippines-civil-society-tensions-mount/

No plastics: Recalling the early Filipino kitchen
https://verafiles.org/articles/no-plastics-recalling-the-early-filipino-kitchen

Nicole Scherzinger Gets 6-Minute Standing Ovation for Triumphant Performance at Opening of Broadway's Sunset Blvd.
https://people.com/nicole-scherzinger-broadway-sunset-blvd-standing-ovation-opening-8731178

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