From Farm Worker to Warrior

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A Fil-Am kid browned and brawned by months of farm labor under the sweltering California sun realized that preparing for war is hardly a dinner party. Read what it's like to be in a boot camp as America enters the Vietnam war theater.

A multi-province introduction to unique and unexpected Filipino dishes can either whet or blunt your appetite, but it will always be fodder for interesting conversations. How can you not talk about chopped pig cheeks, fermented shrimp that emerge days later smelling rotten but delicious with roasted fish, and pork blood cooked with tamarind juice and fish sauce? How about beating a live chicken to death until its blood rises to the skin surface, before roasting the now-dead fowl -- feathers and all -- on an open flame? 

Are we hungry yet?

Not exactly palatable but a new book written by a German author about a German development worker who returns to the Philippines to look for his old love, only to be confronted by a nightmare scenario that engulfed a revolutionary movement. The novel is fiction but based on real life. Riveting story, disturbing but important reading.

Are DINKs the solution to the Philippines' rapid population explosion? Find out what they are and how they think.

Our Video of the Week is a timely anthem for unsettled times: “Di Niyo Ba Naririnig?”

[Read It Again]

Ten Lesser-Known Photos from the Martial Law Years That Will Blow You Away by FilipiKnow

What If Magellan Had Survived Mactan? by Penélope V. Flores

In The Know

‘We Haven’t Learned Our Lesson’: Victims Recall Martial Law in the Philippines
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/21/world/asia/philippines-victims-marcos.html?

What you need to know about the Love Bus, the revived 70s PUV returning to roads
https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/389025-what-you-need-to-know-love-bus?page=2

Study identifies hardwood used in Juan Luna's 'Spoliarium'
https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/283118-juan-luna-spoliarium-hardwood-used?

Sean Rhyan's toughness rooted in his Filipino heritage
https://www.packers.com/news/sean-rhyan-s-toughness-rooted-in-his-filipino-heritage-2025

The colonial mindset: A review of 'Magellan'
https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/14/the-colonial-mindset-a-review-of-magellan?

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Staff

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