Our Manongs and Manangs: They're Positively Filipinos

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Last Sunday, August 24, Positively Filipino hosted the second "Building Communities: A Tribute to our Manongs and Manangs" event at the San Francisco Public Library. Here is an excerpt from PF Publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco's welcome address:

For the past 12 years, Positively Filipino has been publishing weekly, to inform the Filipino diasporic community with accurate information, about our culture and heritage, our heroes and sheroes, and issues that affect us not only in our adopted countries, but also in our Motherland.

The name Positively Filipino evokes pride in being a Filipino, wherever we may be. The name Positively Filipino is also a rejection and a reversal of the racism that Filipinos faced in the 1930s where a hotel in Stockton posted a warning sign that read, “Positively No Filipinos Allowed.” It’s been almost 100 years since then, and we have come a long way. Yet, no one doubts that we are still fighting for the recognition of our contributions to this country. 

The ten outstanding individuals we are honoring today are all of immigrant background, who left the Philippines in search of a better life in America. All of them achieved success and recognition in their own right despite the difficulties and prejudices they faced. 

This year has brought so many disruptions to our political system and challenges to our longstanding values of empathy and respect for diversity. Immigration, the very system that brought many of us to these shores, is undergoing radical changes. While all nations have the right to control their borders, the right of individuals to due process, be they native-born or immigrant, is the hallmark of a democratic society.

Unfortunately, the rules-based system we have lived in is being seriously tested by new and arbitrary policies. It doesn’t matter anymore that your grandparents or parents toiled the farms in Hawaii and California. Or if you and your family members have served in the military and died for this country. Or if you risked your life to care for others during the pandemic. With or without legal status, US citizen or not, anyone can be suspected of violating immigration laws and can be detained even “based on physical features,” according to a current border enforcement chief.

Beneath dark political clouds, it becomes even more important to honor our manongs and manangs for their contributions to this country and our community. Let it be known that they have given this country their knowledge and skills to help run farms, businesses, classrooms, hospitals, care homes, services, and government offices. We thank this country for giving them—and us—the opportunity to do so, but gratitude should flow both ways.

Let us, our community, be the first to thank our elders, among them these ten honorees, on whose shoulders we stand, for paving the way for all of us. We must continue to tell our stories as integral parts of this American life.

Our Stories This Week

Honor the Past, Uplift the Present, Inspire the Future by Lorna Lardizabal Dietz

“Community Building: A Tribute to Our Manongs and Manangs 2025” honored the legacies of our Filipino American pioneers.

[Video] Building Communities: A Tribute to Our Manongs and Manangs 2025 by Ken Guanga

Positively Filipino continues to honor Filipino Americans who have given us pride.

Cutting Asparagus in Gonzales, California — Spring 1965 by Alex S. Fabros, Jr. 

Farmworker-Soldier-Historian Alex Fabros, Jr. shares the second part of his Filipino American memoir.

Filipino Language and Its Discontents by Julienne Loreto

It’s Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) but shouldn’t it be Buwan ng mga Wika (Month of Languages) instead?

Have Books, Will Travel by Claire Mercado-Obias

A vacation reading list for those who can’t travel but need an escape.

FilAms Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 70 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Role models and achievers, some of whom you may not even know are Filipino.

{Read It Again]

When Lolo’s Debating Team Vanquished America by Liana Romulo

The Last Night of I-Hotel by Veronica Versoza

[Video of the Week]

Alexandra Eala on Tennis in the Philippines

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Staff

Light, at Last

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Positively Filipino honored famous fathers with an inspiring webinar yesterday. It featured Sylvia Lazo, daughter of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo; Lindsay Keys, daughter of Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba; Rey Banatao, son of tech entrepreneur Dado Banatao; and Vicki Nievera, daughter of popular balladeer Bert Nievera. Hosted by Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, the event was a fitting celebration of Father's Day. Watch the recording here “Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Dads”

As California, Vermont and other US states emerge from the darkness of a pandemic year, the process of reopening has triggered a slew of advice and caution, some serious how-tos on re-entering the social circuit, others offering funny cautionary tales about the post-Covid world. For seniors, undoubtedly the biggest demographic impacted by the pandemic, AARP, its trusted guardian angel, came out with a list of protocols for houseguests newly liberated to visit family. Occasional PF contributing writer Elena Buensalido Mangahas however thinks the list not too apt for Filipinos so she came up with her own, "The Fil-American Rule: Apologize Then Proceed." Do you have your own rules? 

Our series of "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous" is now on part 21, putting talent and achievements on display. 

We're at the midpoint between two national celebrations -- Philippine Independence Day (June 12) and Rizal Day (June 19) so it's but fitting to post (and repost) stories that celebrate our Motherland's history and National Hero. First off, Harvey I. Barkin reports on a recent talk by noted historian Ambeth Ocampo on Rizal's visit to the US, "Rizal in the US: He Was Not Impressed." We also have the link to the actual lecture. 

Here are other interesting Rizal stories:

"Rizal's Great Loves" by Penelope V. Flores 

"Jose Rizal, Martial Arts Warrior" by Rene J. Navarro 

Timed appropriately for these disturbing times, our Video of the Week presents a powerful, incisive short film, "Heneral Rizal." a production of Act One in the Philippines. 

And continuing our Rizal tribute, here's a repost of the recipe for Tinolang Manok or Chicken Tinola, reportedly his fave dish.

In The Know

Trese: What Netflix's new occult anime reveals about the Philippines
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57424360?fbclid=IwAR2ifQf5T8CBDgrQwVHKb-6xnVpCujzE-5XchS-pNEBpXs6Ew6PUHP6PKTI

[Dash of SAS] Second chances in the only country in the world without divorce
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/dash-of-sas-second-chances-only-country-in-world-without-divorce?fbclid=IwAR2h6pPJqxtlWwkXeZUQ7ES5u91zm2Gi7kMLxhv8h7MYn8XR8DjXLBx2wBQ

Breaking down Filipino cuisine by region is harder than you'd think
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2021/06/02/breaking-down-filipino-cuisine-region-harder-youd-think?fbclid=IwAR1WCSRmfIAsU99iR6vzUHuNBtc9j3XLMadbxsJM02hymoJS5YY6XlzEOk0

Filipino American nurses, reflecting on disproportionate Covid toll, look ahead
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/filipino-american-nurses-reflecting-disproportionate-covid-toll-look-a-rcna1112

NBA’s Jordan Clarkson restores vandalized Filipino food truck, decries Asian hate
https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/nbas-jordan-clarkson-restores-vandalized-filipino-food-truck-decries-asian-hate/?fbclid=IwAR1iGw5-gjH4zaL3_2pMJnxao80m91Qxi4g6M9DvSkbTL0vMJ7OnZv1-hzo

7 Ancestral Homes and Heritage Buildings in the Philippines Turned Into Beautiful Dining Spots 
https://ph.asiatatler.com/dining/ancestral-homes-and-heritage-buildings-turned-into-beautiful-dining-spots

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Daddies Dearest

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Time for another webinar and this time it's the dads' turn to be honored. Four famous fathers will be on the spotlight: National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, tech entrepreneur Dado Banatao, Major General (Ret.) Antonio Taguba and the late balladeer Bert Nievera. See the flyer below to get the details. Please join us and tell your friends too.

It was a proud day for Filipinos last Sunday as 19-year old golfer Yuka Saso won the US Women's Open, a major title no other Filipino golfer has achieved. (No Filipino male golfer has even come close.) Seeing the final scoreboard with the Philippine flag on top of its former colonizers, Japan and the US, was a brief shining moment but it punctuated the euphoria of the win. Coincidentally, Yuka's victory happened at the Olympic Golf Course, right next door to Daly City where more than 30,000 kababayans reside, providing her a loud, cheering audience waving Philippine flags. PF contributor and avid golfer I. Wilfredo Ver explains to us the gravitas of Yuka's win in "Yuka Saso's Golf Victory -- A Historic Filipino Triumph." [Full disclosure: the writer is my husband.]

Introduced obtrusively in the streets of San Francisco, TNT Traysikel, a brainchild of artist Paolo Asuncion and Mike Arcega, is both moveable sculpture and statement. Corin Ramos writes about the innovative concept behind "TNT Traysikel, a Social Sculpture of Protest and Solidarity."

It's Pride Month and Baguio City-based PF Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo profiles John Raspado, winner of the 2017 Mr. Gay World international competition, who has used his platform for activism in the social and environmental issues he cares most about. ["From Mr. Gay World to Community Activist"]

Belem is a city in Brazil that most of us have not heard of, but apparently it's a city of varied charms as well as being a choice starting point for cruising the Amazon river. PF contributing writer Chibu Lagman, a Latin American Studies professor and world adventurer, introduces us to the place in "Sampling La Vida Local Along the Amazon." 

For the Happy Home Cook, here's another "cook it again" recipe from our archives, perfect for summer: Ensaladang Talong (Eggplant Salad).

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino