It's July and another Philippine-American Friendship Day is upon us (July 4).

While the Philippine government welcomes the pledged support and military hardware that the U.S. has bestowed to counter the Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, the almost 5 million-strong Filipino community living in the U.S. is facing a different reality -- a changed America, no longer the welcoming land of freedom and democracy. Instead there are threats to the way of life, the safety nets, the comfort of citizenship (among others) that we have worked hard for to reap the benefits of living lawfully in America. One thing sure: the concept, the ideal and the celebration of Philippine-American friendship is up for a deep rethinking in the next few years.

This first-of-July 2025 issue of Positively Filipino brings good tidings though. Sulu, the province way down south of the Philippine archipelago, is emerging from decades of war devastation and is now a peaceful, safe and bustling (comparatively speaking) destination, as PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes happily reports. She knows the province well, having lived part of her childhood there and has since been visiting regularly. This welcome development is reason for hope. "Everything around me moved at the relaxed pace. Everywhere I went there were signs of things looking better. No one knows how long the relative peace will last, or if Sulu will get the future it deserves," Cris writes. Unlike her previous visits, she could now dare to be optimistic that the province's dark years are over. "Leaving the island felt better this time around. I can’t say entirely if it’s in better hands, but I’m counting on the people to know what goodness brings, without the fear of gunfire," she concludes.

We always welcome heroes, or stories about them. Like this little known heroine of WWII, Josefina "Joey" Guerrero, who was afflicted with leprosy but managed to provide valuable intelligence to Allied forces that saved many Filipino and American lives. In a 200-page biography written for middle schoolers, FilAm author Erin Entrada Kelly accords this valiant U.S. Medal of Freedom awardee the recognition and honor she richly deserves. PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino writes about At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom.

Two Filipino venture capitalists are smashing the traditional rules of funding startups and rewriting them to ensure a more equitable access to capital. Read about them and their upcoming "Power Forward" investment summit.

Read It Again:

A Valiant People's Army by John L. Silva

A Reunion of Strangers by Oscar Peñaranda

The Battle of Manila, WWII by James M. Scott

[Video of the Week] In The Studio With Patis Tesoro - Vogue Philippines

In The Know

TRENDING: Dylan Harper's Filipino mom, Maria, captures attention after his NBA draft
https://philstarlife.com/celebrity/924358-dylan-harper-s-filipino-mom-maria-pizzaro-harper-trends?

F. Sionil José’s Manila bookshop up for sale
https://varsitarian.net/literary/20250628/f-sionil-joses-manila-bookshop-up-for-sale?

Remembering the Chinese Battalion That Defended the Philippines During World War II
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/wa-chi-battalion-a1520-20200218-lfrm?

Not American enough. Not Mexican enough. But in Filipino love, Rocio found home.
https://www.facebook.com/thefilipinostoryofficial/videos/4123376281270830?vh=e&extid=MSG-UNK-UNK-UNK-IOS_GK0T-GK1C

Rock Doc on the Association's Larry Ramos Has World Premiere in Houston
https://www.houstonpress.com/music/things-to-do-see-along-comes-larry-trailer-from-director-rick-quan-20759448

It has only been 15 days since 2025 began and already our senses have been assaulted by the major disaster in the Greater Los Angeles and the impending doom of man-made disasters to come. Our ancestors believed that whatever happens at the onset of a new year portends what will happen in the year ahead. If we go by this superstition, we're in deep trouble.

But there's always a yang to a dark yin, the wellsprings of hope and optimism, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. When the going gets rough, good people always rise up to the moment of need and voluntarily do good deeds (as there are those who play the blame game -- however far-fetched their theories -- and do nothing). Canada, South Africa, Mexico and even Ukraine, among other states and countries, have deployed their firefighters to help quell the conflagrations. The LA fires have become sterling reminders of what global cooperation can do.

GoFundMe, the app for donating money, is busy receiving donations for families who've lost their homes. A word of caution though: GFM, however well-intentioned, also attract online scams, so be very wary. If you wish to donate to a family you know, it would be best to contact them first and get their actual GFM address.

As of yesterday, January 14, the Philippine Consulate has identified 150 Filipinos affected by the fire. We know this is a very conservative number and that's because the Consulate identifies Filipinos as only those holding Philippine passports. Those who have naturalized as US citizens no longer fall under the ambit of the Philippine government and are therefore not entitled to whatever assistance is available.

As Los Angeles continues to suffer hell on earth, we continue to storm the heavens for rain, respite and renewal.

Stories This Week

How Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan Were Nearly Lost to the United States by Dr. Federico V. Magdalena

Abra On My Mind: Tracing My Family Roots by Rene Astudillo

First Filipino Fire Survivor Report Stresses Financial Needs by Yiming Fu

Ramon Santos’ Intriguing World of Non-Music by Manuel Hizon

[Video of the Week] Flora Arca Mata

In The Know

Take these 10 Precautions Before Trump Takes Office
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/take-10-precautions-before-trump-takes-office-glenn-d-magpantay-qymze/

Philippines alarmed after China sends ‘monster ship’ to disputed shoal
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/philippines-alarmed-china-sends-monster-ship-disputed-shoal-rcna187557?

New report sheds light on why young Asian Americans are 40% more likely to develop allergies
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian-americans-pacific-islander-native-hawaiian-allergies-rcna186695?

Roughly 150 Filipinos displaced by LA fires
https://asamnews.com/2025/01/14/displaced-filipinos-la-wildfires/