Every year, Positively Filipino drops a year-end list honoring Filipinos we lost—names that showed up in both mainstream news and our feeds. And honestly? The list was always mahaba. Starting 2026, though, we're switching it up: quarterly releases na. It’s a more intentional way for us to pause, remember, and maybe recognize people we actually knew or followed.

Quick history moment (but make it relevant): the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI)—aka the Aglipayan Church—is one of those distinctly Filipino institutions. Founded in 1902, it was a bold, nationalist move: a church rooted in Catholic tradition but independent from Rome. It found its stronghold in northern Luzon, and today its membership is estimated anywhere from 1.5M (based on the 2020 Census) to around 6M, depending on who you ask. One of its early hubs? Ballesteros, Cagayan, where it took root in 1904. PF contributor Leodovico Masuli dives into the story of this town—its deep religiosity and strong nationalist identity—in a way that hits different if you care about Filipino heritage.

And for the culture crowd: if you’ve seen the recent hot take questioning opera’s relevance (yes, that one by Timothy Chalamet), here’s a thoughtful clapback. Fil-Am baritone Roberto Perlas Gomez links up with PF correspondent Anthony Maddela to talk about why opera still matters—and why it’s far from “dead.”

[Partner] An Act of Remembrance in White Sands by Jon Melegrito

[Read It Again]

Death of an Army by Antonio A. Nieva

The Food of Abra by Laarni Sibayan-Ilagan

[Video of the Week] This Filipino Writer Reveals How Stories Transform The Nation | Rio Alma