Celebrating Life, Remembering September 21

A celebration of original Filipino music and the man who has done so much to elevate it to world class. That's what PF contributor Manuel Hizon has focused on in "Ryan Cayabyab's Celebration of Life," a fitting tribute to the 2019 National Artist for Music who has recently added the prestigious 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award to his collection of accolades.

And as we say goodbye to another September, here are stark reminders of a grim September in our history:

Dr. Patricio N. Abinales' "Freedom, She Wrote" is a review of Press Freedom under Siege: Reportage that Challenged the Marcos Dictatorship, a collection of the best reporting of that generation (especially by women writers) compiled and edited by ace journalist Ceres P. Doyo.

"Being Lucia Makabayan" is a first-person account by Luchie Maranan of her family's harrowing experience in 1973 and how it influenced her choices later.

"Days of Dread" by Risa Lansang-Reyes is a straight-up and personal account of her family's ordeal in those days of arrests.

Here is this week's compilation of stories from other publications that you may have missed:

America's Newest Outsourced Job: Public School Teachers
https://www.vice.com/en_in/article/vb5bga/americas-newest-outsourced-job-public-school-teachers?fbclid=IwAR0OKJKhK8Sovtil_fNCSiuan9p5_CXEubE_Kr7K_NGQw4vcyieTJoHEwTE

Amazing Filipina teacher crosses 5 rivers and walks for 2 hours just to reach her students
https://www.elitereaders.com/this-filipina-teacher-crosses-5-rivers-and-walks-for-two-hours-just-to-reach-her-students/?fbclid=IwAR3y5oap-959kUf8pwmYFvCK3lR4K9g4yltGMUWj4NAxdQm4BZOwu73T4hw

FALSE: 'No massacres' during Martial Law
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/212458-false-no-massacres-during-martial-law?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=9f2e964488-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_17_04_47_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-9f2e964488-96223989&mc_cid=9f2e964488&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

FALSE: Philippines was ‘richest country in Asia’ during Marcos years
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/239789-philippines-richest-country-asia-marcos-years?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=9f2e964488-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_17_04_47_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-9f2e964488-96223989&mc_cid=9f2e964488&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

A History of Forbes Park, the Philippines' Wealthiest and First Gated Subdivision
https://www.townandcountry.ph/people/heritage/History-of-forbes-park-a1957-20190111-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190907-fbnp-people-History-of-forbes-park-a1957-20190111-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR18FaabObgMqqYOWvbZHii6K1A7th9ISsTPpwkijKqj0BweU9nGf0ZcM1w

This Prized Filipino Fabric Is Made From Pineapple Leaves
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cloth-made-from-pineapples?utm_medium=atlas-page&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR0gzbvphniwuRnP0NFQ-KlvTmNCLOmeeVT0lQ222C96uPEVIslkxdvQ6QA 

For the Happy Home Cook, Baguio-based PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo shares his own innovation, Strawberry Champorado.

For Video of the Week, Fil-Am comedian Kevin Camia performs on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Basket Weaving and Home Cooking

Basket weaving in the Philippines is not just an art. It is also a means of subsistence of indigenous and rural Filipinos who sell their handwoven baskets and textiles for cash income to buy basic necessities. Former immigration lawyer turned basketry advocate Jill Stanton reports on her visit to basketry communities in the Cordilleras and Pala'wan.

A grieving daughter celebrates her late father's expertise in the kitchen and shares the recipe of his favorite quick dish. Titchie Carandang-Tiongson writes about her dad, well-known TV producer Tony Carandang in "Papa's Japanese Rice."

It has been 17 years since the cataclysmic event now immortalized as 9/11 but the magnitude of the terror remains fresh in many minds, especially those who had a close brush with death on that day. One of them is General Antonio Taguba who was in the Pentagon when the plane crashed and demolished the section he was in just a few minutes before. Read Again his account of "My Close Call on 9/11." 

As we continue to collect martial law stories and vignettes, here's another one of mine. Read Again "Creative Subversion." 

Our Happy Home Cook recipe is another one from Chef Marvin Gapultos who we featured last week. This time a complicated but surely delicious dish which will delight the Ilocanos -- Papaitan. 

Here are this week's links to stories you may have missed:

China Poised to Win Major Victory in Sea Dispute With Help of Philippine Resources Deal
https://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-and-gas-pact-poised-to-hand-china-a-victory-in-sea-dispute-1536571801?redirect=amp#click=https://t.co/iliNWX2Kc6

The Philippines' Human Rights Abuses
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2018-08-03/the-brutal-personal-costs-of-the-philippines-human-rights-abuses

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho: 11 Year-old Boy Serves as Parent to Younger Brother
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKei-sZ0iOk

Our Video of the Week: GMA's Jessica Soho brings together young basketball talent Justine Remo and his idol, three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry in this exclusive video.

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Tell Us Your Martial Law Story

We are collecting personal stories of life under Martial Law (1972-1981) in the Philippines. If you were there, you would have at least one. Did you violate curfew? Were you arrested? Was anyone in your family a political detainee or was "salvaged?" Did martial law motivate you to leave the country?  Did you benefit from it? What is your most enduring memory of that period?

In 200-600 words, join us in documenting that important era in our homeland's history. Your story counts. And if you have pictures, that would be great.

Please send to martiallawstories@gmail.com.