Freedom from Want

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In 1943, the celebrated Filipino American writer, Carlos Bulosan, was chosen to write an essay on Freedom from Want to accompany an artwork of the quintessential American artist, Norman Rockwell. Retired Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes Jr., one of Positively Filipino's regular contributing writers, tells the story behind the essay ["Freedom from Want: The Ghost of Carlos Bulosan"].

The full essay, which we include in the article, displays not only Bulosan's remarkable literary skills but also his prescience in "reading" the real America. His words resonate as much now in 2021 as it did 74 years ago. 

"We do not take democracy for granted. We feel it grow in our working together — many millions of us working toward a common purpose. If it took us several decades of sacrifices to arrive at this faith, it is because it took us that long to know what part of America is ours.

Our faith has been shaken many times, and now it is put to question. Our faith is a living thing, and it can be crippled or chained. It can be killed by denying us enough food or clothing, by blasting away our personalities and keeping us in constant fear. Unless we are properly prepared, the powers of darkness will have good reason to catch us unaware and trample our lives."

Read the essay, and be inspired and guided.

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Don't forget to register for Positively Filipino's webinar on Climate Change, this Friday, April 23.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

46 Years Ago

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Folks in New York and New Jersey will be the first in the US to watch the movie "Goyo: The Boy General" which has been creating waves in the Philippines. Starring Paulo Avelino and directed by Jerrold Tarog, also the director of the highly acclaimed "Heneral Luna," "Goyo" is hailed by some critics as even better than the earlier movie. PF Correspondent and cultural historian John Silva weighs in with his review. Details of East Coast showings are provided with the review.

With this issue, we begin our compilation of Martial Law Stories, as part of the growing effort to document what happened during that period. 

"Raid" by Nathan Gilbert Quimpo (excerpted from Subversive Lives: A Family Memoir of the Marcos Years) vividly recalls the heart-stopping fear many experienced when the dreaded knock in the middle of the night came.

"House Arrest" by Vin Lava relates the author's baffling house arrest which turned out to be a decoy so the safe house close by will be warned of the arrest of a top revolutionary.

"The 'Torture' of Playing for the 1974 Miss Universe" by Circus Band vocalist Ceres Jacinto gives us a glimpse of what a command performance for Imelda Marcos meant. 

And as a fitting bookend to this week's 46th anniversary of Proclamation 1081, Read Again Patricio Abinales' account of the adventures of his youth, "Note From the Underground."

This week's list of In The Know links:

To write his debut memoir, Jose Antonio Vargas went off the grid
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/write-his-debut-memoir-jose-antonio-vargas-went-grid-n905416

Philippine Miners Trapped in Typhoon: Drawn by Gold, Drowned in Mud
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/world/asia/philippines-landslide-typhoon-mangkhut.html

Philippine ex-general jailed over activists' abduction
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippine-ex-general-jailed-over-activists-abduction-091643588.html

Bank of America is asking customers to prove citizenship to access their own money https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/9/11/1794968/-Bank-of-America-is-asking-customers-to-prove-citizenship-to-access-their-own-money

'She can't see — that's why she can't drive': Asian-American woman films woman's racist tirade in parking lot
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cant-see-thats-cant-drive-asian-american-woman-films-womans-racist-tirade-parking-lot-132547635.html

For our Happy Home Cook, another pulutan recipe that emanated from prison: Tahong Especial.

For our Video of the Week, Arnel Giban posted a video on the children who became victims in the Philippines' War on Drugs.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

‘Heneral Luna’ Rides Again

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Even while the political circus heats up in Manila, a refreshing development is capturing the imagination of our kababayans: “Heneral Luna,” the highly acclaimed movie by young director Jerrold Tarog, is getting people to know one of our most famous and colorful historical heroes and also generating discussions on Philippine history.

We have two reviews of the movie -- one by Thelma Estrada, who saw the film in San Francisco and and another by Renato L. Santos, who writes from Manila. Both provide food for thought and get us all excited to watch the film, which we hear, will be the Philippines' entry for the Oscars next year.

Another brush with history is Lilia V. Villanueva's account of how she moved back to Bacolod from New York to embark on the enviable task of rehabilitating the glory days of her family's ancestral home, Daku Balay, once the grandest in the city. Her story is an inspiring tale for those who are thinking of returning to the homeland and those who want to preserve the houses they grew up in.

Positively Filipino Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino features nurse/mother/marathon runner Anna Bretan in Watch Out World, This Is a Filipino.

It's October and Filipino American History Month once again. To commemorate the occasion, we will be posting various stories on our people's history in the US starting next week; but meanwhile, here's something to Read Again: "When Hilario Met Sally" by Alex Fabros.

For this week's Happy Home Cook, Richgail Enriquez provides a healthier alternative to fried rice with her low carb, low sugar version.

For our Video of the Week, NowThis' presents a feature on the Puzzle Cafe, which provides work for people with autism.

For Bay Area folks, The Third Filipino American International Book Festival happens this weekend at the San Francisco Public Library in the Civic Center. Our Partner post provides the details.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino