At a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are facing challenges across the country, San Francisco State University's College of Ethnic Studies reminds us that some hard-won victories are worth defending. The nation's first College of Ethnic Studies was born not in a boardroom but in the streets and classrooms—through the student movements of the late 1960s, a historic six-month strike, and years of determination by those who believed that our stories belonged in the curriculum.

Among those pioneers was Filipino American professor Daniel P. Gonzales, one of the college's most colorful and influential figures. As PF resident historian Alex Fabros writes, "Gonzales' importance lies in the bridge he forged among those worlds—student activism, Filipino American organizing, Asian American curriculum, and the long-term institutional survival of the field." In "A Pathbreaker for Ethnic Studies," Fabros brings to life a generation that fought to make sure future generations could see themselves reflected in America's classrooms.

From Filipino American history, we turn to Philippine history with Mga Daso: Stories of Martial Law in Bikol. This moving new collection revisits a difficult chapter in our nation's past through stories of resistance, sacrifice, resilience—and even the unexpected moments of hope and laughter that helped people endure.

This week's Hometown feature takes us back to Masbate through the eyes of retired Filipino diplomat Maria Antonia Bosa Van Espen-Boonen. Her recollections of the province, the city, and the everyday moments that shaped her youth remind us that home is as much about memory as it is about place.

And finally, for anyone longing for a slower pace—or remembering a time before notifications and endless scrolling—PF contributing writer Claire Mercado Obias invites us to rediscover the pleasures of the "Analog Bag." Sometimes the best way to reconnect is to step away from our screens and return to the simple joys that once filled our days. You may find that what feels like a new trend is really a homecoming.

[Read It Again]

A Childhood in Pila, Laguna by Maria Clarissa Palileo

Inside the Walled City of Intramuros by Renz Mae Ladroma

[Video of the Week] The Filipino Oscar Nominee Who Walked Away From Disney To Tell Filipino Stories

In The Know

Wimbledon honors Alex Eala with Tagalog post after breakthrough win
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/content/993841/wimbledon-honors-alex-eala-with-tagalog-post-after-breakthrough-win/story/

Colorado Springs Commemorates Dr. Jose Rizal’s 165th Birth Anniversary at Rizal Monument
https://pcgsanfrancisco.org/colorado-springs-commemorates-dr-jose-rizals-165th-birth-anniversary-at-rizal-monument/

16 Michelin-recognized Filipino restaurants around the world
https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/food-travel/2026/7/4/16-michelin-recognized-filipino-restaurants-around-the-world-1616?

Fil-Am artist behind World Cup poster launches New York art project
https://usa.inquirer.net/202176/fil-am-artist-behind-world-cup-poster-launches-new-york-art-project

Bretman Rock 'waited 27 years' to tell Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson he was named after him
https://philstarlife.com/celebrity/254400-bretman-rock-tells-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-he-was-named-after-him?