Finding Filipino

/

A few months ago in San Francisco, FilAms were gifted with the unexpected sight of 15 bus shelters adorned with comics-like posters reminiscent of the art of famous artist Larry Alcala. Drawn by FilAm artist Rina Ayuyang, the poster series entitled Finding Filipino celebrates the lives, events and legacies of the city's vibrant FilAm community. San Francisco writer/multimedia artist Wilfred Galila talks to Rina about the commissioned project in "Finding Filipino in San Francisco's Bus Stops."

A magical mystery tour -- that's what Toronto-based writer/photographer Odette Foronda regales us with as she shares her pictures and stories of her one-day visit with the Tuareg tribe who lives at the edge of the Moroccan Sahara. A constant traveler, Odette has 11 books of her pictures and stories to her name.

A Filipino tenor, Arthur Espiritu, has taken the Viennese opera world by storm as he performed the title role of Verdi's Don Carlo. According to PF contributing writer Pablo A. Tariman, opening night drew standing ovations and unanimous acclaim for Espiritu by Vienna's biggest media outlets. No mean feat in a city where opera resides as part of the air the people breathe. 

Our series on Bridge Generation personalities as profiled by BG historian Peter Jamero continues, this time featuring Joey Tabaco, New York City-born and bred whose career in the US weather service involved "flying into typhoons and hurricanes all over the world."

Though the triumph was short-lived, the national joy that the Filipinas Women's Football Team brought when it scored the first-ever Filipino ball in world-stage soccer was immeasurable. Now it's time to take stock, as businessman/columnist Juan Miguel Luz writes. Lessons learned, lessons to be learned as the country builds on the World Cup experience, points to one long-hoped-for opportunity: a sports development program for Filipino youth. Surely the hundreds of billions of pesos budgeted annually for "confidential funds" for the Philippine president and vice president can spare several millions for this worthy sports project, don't you think? 

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Vegan Filipino Spaghetti By Chef Richgail Enriquez Diez

[Video of the Week] Uncle Roger Makes Adobo

/ /
, , , , , , , , , ,

Staff

Salutes

/

Lydia De Vega (left) won the 100 m gold at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games. Her Indian rival, P.T. Usha (right), came in second (Source: The Hindu)

Positively Filipino joins the Filipino nation in celebrating the life of the legendary track and field athlete Lydia de Vega-Mercado, 57, who died last week after a four-year battle with cancer. De Vega made the country proud with her total  haul of 24 medals, 15 of them gold, at the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Asian Athletic Championships. Dubbed as "Asia's fastest woman" in the '80s, she competed and won medals until 1993.

Here's a tribute to her greatness: https://www.rappler.com/sports/things-to-know-lydia-de-vega-strides-to-greatness/

Speaking of medals, last week, we published a story by Dr. Blas Bermudez, an avid medal collector, who came across a Ramon Magsaysay Award medal given in 1992 to a distinguished business icon, Washington SyCip. The story, which is less about the medal than about the doctor's heroic attempt to save a life aboard a jet plane, triggered some questions on why the medal was for sale in the open market in the first place. We asked Mr. SyCip's family and the answer was, the medal was stolen by a former employee who was fired. Here's the story again: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/last-flight-home

Two more medal stories in this week's issue:

The National Artist for Dance honor was awarded to choreographer Agnes Locsin, profiled here by PF contributor from Manila, Pablo A. Tariman.

The Philippine National Women's Soccer Team broke all bets and expectations when they beat Thailand and won the gold in the Asian Football Federation finals last month at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes was there.

The family of philantrophist and Fil-Am community champion Loida Nicolas-Lewis honors her late husband Reginald Lewis' legacy with generous donations to African American community groups. PF Correspondent Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. tells us about the annual event held at the Lewis home in East Hampton.

August 21 is not to be taken lightly in Philippine contemporary history. We recall two earth-shaking events that changed the country's historical trajectory.

The Plaza Miranda bombing on August 21, 1972 which led to martial law: 

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/august-21-stories

And the assassination of Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. on August 21, 1983 which eventually led to the downfall of the Marcos regime:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/ninoys-final-journey

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Beef Shortribs Adobo by Chef Romy Dorotan

{Video of the Week] Where To Eat The Best Food in Laguna

[Partner] Sinehan sa Konsulado(August 18-September 9)

[Free Online Screening] Marilou Diaz-Abaya: Filmmaker on a Voyage (August 19-25)

/ /
, , ,

Staff