A Pinoy Startup with Silicon Valley Cred

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.

Are You Woke?

Hear it from a millennial. Manila-based writer Joanna Ligon gives us a reason to hope as she explains the what, the how and the why her generation is more "woke." You'll have to read her piece to understand the full meaning of the term. (Read "A Brief History of Woke")

From Hong Kong, Daisy CL Mandap, editor of The Sun Hong Kong, shares with us her heartwarming story about an OFW caregiver and her elderly employer. It's a story that speaks of devotion and dedication, but it's also, to me, a bit sad. (Read "Bhelle and Eye: A Love That Binds")

 A visit to Papua New Guinea is an adventure in itself, but meeting some interesting Filipinos along the way makes it memorable. Globetrotter Rey de la Cruz brings us his Pinoyspotting report. (Read "Filipinos? In Papua New Guinea?")

In case you missed them, here are links to stories from other publications:

Overlooked No More: Ralph Lazo, Who Voluntarily Lived in an Internment Camp
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/03/obituaries/ralph-lazo-overlooked.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwAR0Ec_SVzCOfAybYiTmgbTgD_XLXWdWWfRsrOFdj_O_ALpB3TXq6jsZdbWY

Fashion website’s ‘reimagining’ of former First Lady Imelda Marcos draws flak online
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/fashion-website-reimagining-former-first-092427229.html

Pinoy of the Sea
https://philippinesgraphic.net/pinoy-of-the-sea/?fbclid=IwAR0mR9fDJCOumBFjN3WwNy4TPokAqzYGeFnppDp_xoXxgebEUvXSVhPU2Is

How To Wear Philippine Indigenous Textiles Responsibly, According To A Textile Expert
https://metro.style/fashion/style-inspirations/8035/cultural-appropriation-indigenous-textiles?fbclid=iwar0zethrdacm4v0s1l1wubaipr4sppycreuf3np3rqciwo0mmifzk1fzkes

Here's another summer dish from our resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino for the Happy Home Cook: Pasta with Crab Paste - Taba ng Talangka.

For our video week, Youtube star Mikey Bustos pays tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Renewing the Spirit

What better way to celebrate Christmas than to visit the actual place where Christ was born. First-time contributor Genevieve Dee takes us vicariously on her trip to the Holy Land plus the ancient city of Petra, and shares with us the story of her spiritual renewal. 

During the same pilgrimage, Positively Filipino publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco met quite a number of Filipinos - OFWs and fellow pilgrims -- and introduces them in Pinoyspotting this week.

Switching to the homeland, Dr. Michael Gonzalez writes about the Dutch missionary and scholar Antoon Postma who, with eminent anthropologist Harold Conklin, lived with and documented the lives of the Hanunoo Mangyan of Oriental Mindoro. Because of Postma's thorough research, the rich traditions of this pre-colonial culture are preserved, its legacy intact for future generations to take pride in.

If you're still wracking your brains for the right food to give away this holiday season, here's Elizabeth Ann Quirino's easy recipe for cassava cake, a perfect gift, she says, guaranteed to be appreciated by your Filipino and non-Filipino friends.

For Video of the Week, the American cast members of the Hey Joe Show show their love for their adopted country by singing “Silent Night” in Tagalog, Visayan and English for Filipinos around the world.