Proud of Our Rainbow

We’re kicking off Pride Month with what else but an inspiring LGBTQ+ story.

Taylor Sheesh — the stage persona of Mac Coronel, the viral Filipino drag performer whose uncanny tribute to Taylor Swift captured the hearts of Swifties around the world — is the subject of an upcoming documentary, Taylor Sheesh: A Swiftie Love Story. The film is directed by acclaimed Filipino American filmmaker Ramona Diaz, whose award-winning documentaries include Imelda, Motherland, and A Thousand Cuts.

Why the shift from the weightier subjects Diaz is known for? As writer Mima Holt reports, the director explains: “I have always been drawn to spectacle, both big and small. Throughout my career, I have focused on stories about gender and identity. So when Mac Coronel, also known as Taylor Sheesh, captured my attention in 2024 during the widely publicized Eras Tour, I was immediately intrigued.”

Meanwhile, at the University of San Francisco, a major honor was bestowed on one of the most influential Filipino Americans of our time. Jose Antonio Vargas — the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, content creator, and tireless advocate for immigrant rights — received an honorary Doctor of Humane Studies degree, honoris causa. Widely recognized as one of the nation’s most courageous voices for undocumented immigrants, Vargas delivered a powerful commencement address to graduates of USF’s College of Arts and Sciences graduate school. We also invite readers to explore the conferment speech delivered by PF Publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco. ["To You, 'These Yet to Be United States'"]

As we celebrate Pride Month, we honor the contributions, resilience, and stories of LGBTQ+ members of our Filipino and Filipino American communities. We stand in solidarity with those working toward a more inclusive and equitable world, and we remain committed to amplifying voices that reflect the rich diversity of our community.

This Week’s Stories:

Taylor Sheesh, a Swiftie Love Story by Mima Holt

To You, ‘These Yet to Be United States’ by Jose Antonio Vargas

Cirio Siblings Prove Ballet Is Alive and Well by Anthony Maddela

[Read It Again]

Bourdain’s Last Famous Badass Words by Chef Claude Tayag

A Love Letter to My Dad and “Mom” by Nikki Vilas

My Father and Gay Pride by John L. Silva

[Partner] New Green Card Processing Rules Create Fear and Chaos in Immigrant Communities

[Video of the Week] Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong being remembered on Farmworkers’ Day

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In The Know

Olivia Rodrigo Tried Writing Love Songs. Then Life Got Messy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/arts/music/olivia-rodrigo-new-album-interview-popcast.html?

Pinay Biotech Founder Using AI to Advance Medicine
https://www.facebook.com/reel/884155078050999

Knicks vs Spurs NBA Finals is historic Filipino Am representation
https://asamnews.com/2026/05/31/knicks-vs-spurs-nba-finals-is-historic-filipino-am-representation/

Jordan Clarkson and Dylan Harper on what it means to represent the Philippines
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZGHdSbxFCJ/

DTI sees ube, calamansi as export 'rising stars' amid coconut gains
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/989675/dti-sees-ube-calamansi-as-export-rising-stars-amid-coconut-gains/story/?

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"Feastivals" and Valentine Videos

A day after Valentine's Day, the social media universe of the Philippines – where some serious celebration of V-Day happens every year -- is still kilig over the three tear-inducing videos of Jollibee, titled Crush, Vow and Date. Watch them here and get your hankies ready.

Minola Oil (a Philippine product) underscores the progress of gay rights in the country with its V-Day commercial.

Another story of celebrations comes from Positively Filipino Correspondent Rene Astudillo, who has moved semi-permanently from the San Francisco Bay Area back to the homeland. “Feast-ivals of the North” introduces the food festivals of the Ilocos, a region famous for both healthy and strange dishes.

Another Positively Filipino Correspondent, Los-Angeles-based Anthony Maddela profiles Fil-Am Jeffrey Cirio, principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre in New York. Jeffrey, raised in Philadephia by his Filipino father and American mother, will be dancing in Don Quixote in May 2017.

For your expanded reading fare, here are the In the Know links for this week:

From Oprah to MoMA Catalog: Filipino Designer's Clutch is a Hit: http://www.townandcountry.ph/out-about/arts-culture/filipino-designer-carissa-evangelista-s-clutch-makes-it-to-moma-s-international-catalog-a00180-a00185-20170208

The Second Youngest Billionaire in the World is a Filipino-American:
http://nextshark.com/bobby-murphy-snap-inc-filipino-american/

Toronto Ube Desserts
https://www.facebook.com/Insiderdessert/videos/1643592859269533/?autoplay_reason=user_settings&video_container_type=0&video_creator_product_type=2&app_id=2392950137&live_video_guests=0

Bongbong to DILG? Robredo allies, ex-Comelec exec weigh in:
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/14/17/bongbong-to-dilg-robredo-allies-ex-comelec-exec-weigh-in

We go vegan again this week with Richgail Enriquez's recipe for vegetable lumpiang shanghai.

A post-Valentine Watch Again treat: “66 Years, 2 Months, 21 Days…. and Still Counting,” produced and directed by our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco.