Manila-Beijing Non-Reciprocal Admiration Society

Following President Duterte's recent trip to China (his 6th since he took office) to meet with President Xi Jinping (their 8th), veteran journalist Marites Danguilan Vitug gives us a summary of what these frequent meet-ups have gained for the Philippines. Hint: it's a lopsided picture. Analysis: Duterte’s Pivot Mainly Benefits China

As the 382nd anniversary of the martyrdom of the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, approaches, PF contributor BJ Gonzalvo points out the saint's image beside such well-known saints as Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, Elizabeth Seton and San Juan Diego at the Trinity Dome Mosaic of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., the largest Catholic Church in the United States. “San Lorenzo Ruiz In America”

Hundreds of Maryknollers from all over the world returned to their Alma Mater (now renamed Miriam College) to celebrate their alumni homecoming and honor the milestone graduates, such as the college class of 1974 (Sapphire anniversary), to which PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno belongs. School jubilees are always joyous occasions as this one attests. “How Maryknoll-Miriam College Empowered Alums”

Lest we forget, martial law in the Philippines was declared 47 years ago on a sunny Saturday, September 23, 1972, although the official Proclamation 1081 was dated September 21, thus allowing the military to arrest prominent anti-Marcos dissidents before the public knew about it. Here are some memory triggers. Read Again:

Activist Nathan Gilbert Quimpo's hair-raising account of a military raid at their house
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/martial-law-stories-raid

FilAm activist Jeanette Gandionco Lazam's close call at the Manila International Airport
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/who-is-marshall-law

Circus Band vocalist Ceres Jacinto's amusing account of their command performance 
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/martial-law-stories-the-torture-of-playing-for-miss-universe-1974

Our In the Know links this week:

The millennials behind Isko Moreno
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/239045-millennials-behind-isko-moreno?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=f314e07555-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_03_05_48_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-f314e07555-96223989&mc_cid=f314e07555&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

City of the Dead
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/03/world/city-of-the-dead/?fbclid=IwAR1GCSYz0CZA2EU99PvcCIWjooIIYrhha0ZHxa5icln5E1jQ3iCzVobzjhs

An ingenious Filipino artist creates mosaics with dead leaves and garlic peels
https://qz.com/quartzy/1698682/filipino-artist-pando-maglipon-creates-art-from-dead-leaves/?fbclid=IwAR22GhiBRKopHpMGO4LZdCiRKyrQpTLB-I9svSqdPlY6eJqTJbrr_049IxE

Venice Film Review: ‘The Kingmaker’
https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/the-kingmaker-review-imelda-marcos-1203313788/

7 Rustan's Milestones That Changed the Country's Retail Industry
https://www.townandcountry.ph/people/heritage/7-rustan-s-milestones-that-might-have-changed-the-country-s-retail-industry-entirely-a00184-20171004-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190910-fbnp-people-7-rustan-s-milestones-that-might-have-changed-the-country-s-retail-industry-entirely-a00184-20171004-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR24tNbRFNAh_cJ2PjETsBnUrjmVOO8yDYC5NGSvedKaLiKH0ZL_cd4vEGw

In this week’s Happy Home Cook, we feature a Chef Richgail Enriquez’s vegan alternative to ginataang kuhol (snails in coconut milk): Oyster Mushroom Escargot.

And for our video of the week, KQED presents a video on the Philippine Coral Reef Twilight Zone.

Surprises

When Manila-based journalist Manny Mogato got the dawn phone call that announced his winning the 'Holy Grail' of journalism -- the Pulitzer Prize, he was shookt, as contributing writer Kelly B. Vergel de Dios describes his reaction. Only one other Filipino from the Philippines has won the coveted award -- Carlos P. Romulo -- and that was 76 years ago. (Four FilAms have won the Pulitzer: Alex Tizon, Jose Antonio Vargas, Byron Acohido and Cheryl Diaz Meyer.)

In Amsterdam, long-time resident Franklin M. Bobadilla got the surprise of his life when the priest in De Krijtberg Catholic Church asked during a sermon one Sunday: "Did you know that we have a Filipino saint in this church?" Find out why in "An Encounter of a Special Kind."

While the 46th anniversary of the proclamation of martial law in the Philippines has come and gone (September 21) we will be continuing our collection of martial law stories, so send in yours to martiallawstories@gmail.com.

This week we have two:

Fil-Am activist Jeanette Gandionco Lazam recalls her harrowing experience leaving the country after the declaration, in "Who Is Marshall Law?"

Our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco writes publicly for the first time about an extortion plot by a certain Commander David. Her piece, "My Thriller in Manila," is stuff for novels.

links to keep you In The Know:

How Manila has become a portrait of ugliness
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/66882/how-manila-has-become-a-portrait-of-ugliness/

Utah Valley University President Welcomes Students Using 6 Languages in Crazy Impressive Video
https://nextshark.com/utah-valley-university-president-welcomes-students-using-6-languages-crazy-impressive-video/

Duterte critic arrested as 'darkness and evil' prevail in Philippines
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/25/duterte-critic-antonio-trillanes-iv-hits-out-at-darkness-and-evil-philippines

Schoolgirl, 12, honored for saving Philippine flag
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/10317/albay-girl-honored-for-saving-philippine-flag

For our Happy Home Cook, actress Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo's recipe for Thai Beef Lettuce Wrap. 

For Video of the Week, Balitang America covers the book launch of Jose Antonio Vargas.

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino