What's It Like to Have a Famous Mom?

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Since June last year, Positively Filipino has held 14 webinars on a variety of topics, from racism to anti-terrorism to hate crimes, the environment and Filipino women in the pandemic frontlines. 

For our 15th webinar next week, we will bring it closer to home with "Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Mothers," featuring Melissa Ugarte, TJ Manotoc, Nina Daza Puyat and Aika Robredo sharing stories about growing up under the wing (or the shadow) of their brave, unconventional moms. 

Melissa is the eldest child of the late Maita Gomez, supermodel/beauty queen/revolutionary/college professor, who spent part of her childhood with her mother in the underground movement.

TJ is the son of Aurora Pijuan, the Philippines' second Miss International (winning the title in 1970) who is now a strong advocate of democracy and human rights in the Philippines.

Nina is the youngest of culinary icon Nora Daza's four children and she has followed her mother's path as a food writer and recipe developer.

Aika is the eldest of Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo's three daughters and she works closely with her mother in the latter's many humanitarian involvements.

Our moderator is Paulynn Sicam, a mother herself and a veteran journalist, who has interviewed presidents,  generals and rebels alike. 

You will enjoy this session as we surely will, so please register to join.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

A Pinoy Startup with Silicon Valley Cred

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Everyone who buys online in the Philippines know how convoluted it can be. Now a startup called Paymongo claims to have streamlined the process and has in fact garnered some precious endorsement via investments from the famous Silicon Valley tech incubator, Y Combinator. Find out how four intrepid young men, including this story's author, former presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, was able to gain a foothold in Silicon Valley in "Paymongo -- A Filipino Startup in Silicon Valley."

FilAm novelist Randy Ribay, whose latest book, Patron Saints of Nothing, is longlisted for the National Book Award, offers some inspiring thoughts for aspiring authors in "Randy Ribay, The Writer as Fire Stealer," in an interview by fellow novelist Rafaelito V. Sy.

A trip to sites featured in Game of Thrones led to some interesting discoveries in  Ireland. Our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco tells us about it and introduces some Filipinos for "Pinoyspotting and Other Discoveries in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland."

Our Happy Home Cook recipe for Pompano with Chili and Pineapple comes from a new cookbook from well-seasoned chef/entrepreneur Beth Romualdez. Her book is aptly called Cooking Lessons.

In case you missed them, some links to interesting reads:

Nene Pimentel: Courageous stalwart of democracy
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/profiles/242962-nene-pimentel-obituary?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=ec43cbba1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_10_21_02_15_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-ec43cbba1c-96223989&mc_cid=ec43cbba1c&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

“You’ll never grow hungry in Tondo:” Where to eat in Mayor Isko’s ‘hood, an expert’s guide
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/10/05/19/youll-never-grow-hungry-in-tondo-where-to-eat-in-mayor-iskos-hood-an-experts-guide?fbclid=IwAR0QC-gWnghO91AxKP1zIUvVT6S0XDa9lN6JA4dlTmO11u3qlkAHLd6ZZCs

Magellan’s Death: A Detailed Description by Antonio Pigafetta
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/magellans-death-history-a00293-20190425-lfrm2?fbclid=IwAR1xppRFHokrmeEj94Be-d2jQqSWFgjPYWEFMGVmuNQLIqfA54DnRGlSgwE

Larry Itliong, Forgotten Filipino Labor Leader
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/us/larry-itliong-forgotten-filipino-labor-leader.html

Angela Dimayuga’s 10 Essential Filipino Recipes
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/dining/filipino-food-recipes-angela-dimayuga.html

Our Video of the Week is the rousing political commentary cum satire performed by the University of the Philippines Visayas cheering squad.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Don't Know Much About (Fil-Am) History?

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October is when Filipino American organizations stage some high profile events to celebrate Filipino American History Month. In San Francisco alone, two international events, involving participants from the Philippines, the US and Filipinos based in countries other than the two, are happening: the 5th Filipino American International Book Festival (Filbookfest) on October 12-13 and the 26th annual Filipino International Cine Festival (FACINE) on October 18-20. These in addition to several other happenings in other places where a substantial number of Filipino Americans are based.

So mark your calendars or set up your own celebration of Filipino presence in the US. When we started Filipinas magazine in the early '90s, we were faced with the problem of a very quiet community. Now we can't keep up!

Have a meaningful Filipino American History Month, everyone.

In keeping with the focus on art and literature this month, we feature two authors and a relatively unknown but definitely significant Filipino artist. 

Veteran journalist/columnist Benjamin Pimentel writes about journalist/author Criselda Yabes, a PF Correspondent herself, who has very impressively melded the skills of a journalist and a fictionist in her books. She will be one of the featured authors in Filbookfest. ("Criselda Yabes, Master Storyteller")

PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino focuses on Cinelle Barnes, a Filipino American author who is coming out with a book of essays this month, following her acclaimed first novel. ("Watch Out World: Cinelle Barnes, Essayist Empowered by Endurance")

From the 19th century, PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia digs up info on the life and works of Filipino master watercolorist whose recently discovered works have fetched high prices in the art world. ("Discovering a Long-Lost 19th Century Filipino Master Painter")

And to inspire you to reflect on the significance of this month, Read Again Abraham Ignacio Jr.'s historical piece on "Where Exactly Did 'Filipinos' First Land in California?" 

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is Gluten-Free Vegan Palabok from vegan chef Richgail Enriquez.

Here are our In The Know links to stories you may have missed:

Retiring in the Philippines: Pros and Cons
https://finance.yahoo.com/m/29c07c8f-d30a-38d3-acec-8ea2ef9097b2/retiring-in-the-philippines%3A.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=1_04

7 Filipino dishes you've probably never heard of (and where to find them in Manila)
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/little-known-filipino-dishes-manila/index.html

Magellan was first to sail around the world, right? Think again.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/09/magellan-first-sail-around-world-think-again/

7 Breathtaking Secret Airbnbs in the Philippines That Feel Like Paradise
https://www.townandcountry.ph/travel/hotels/secret-airbnbs-in-the-philippines-src-esquireph-a00204-20180329-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190921-fbnp-travel-secret-airbnbs-in-the-philippines-src-esquireph-a00204-20180329-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR3D6sYB9KaJuKXmS8Ig9ggdqFjhdfRQGcRhAGbpE-W2QqzlIYIn_K6MvSw

How Building Churches Out of Egg Whites Transformed Filipino Desserts
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/filipino-desserts?fbclid=IwAR0zKZrMjur-TgXyGpgO4w9kmozpFI8AZei46GJxCbCbniPXgvdJd9ixYtY

Our Video of the Week is about a little-known yet very significant fighting unit during World War II -- the Aeta Squadron 30, a historical documentary from GMA Public Affairs. 

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino