As we hold our collective breaths when we watch what's happening in our homeland, let's take a needed break.

FilAms in the Bay Area, particularly baby boomers, were treated to a nostalgia trip last weekend with the Philippine International Aid (PIA) sponsoring the showing of an indie film, Along Comes Larry. Larry is Larry Ramos, the first Filipino to garner a Grammy as part of the New Christy Minstrels in 1963. He went on to join The Association, a group familiar to Filipinos who grew up in the '60s with such hits as "Cherish," "Windy" and "Never My Love." We sang along and swayed to these songs not knowing that one of the soloists was a Filipino-Hawaiian, Larry.

The documentary by broadcast journalist Rick Quan, as PF correspondent Cherie Querol-Moreno reports, was illuminating to the more than 500 guests who watched it, most of whom were hearing about Larry Ramos for the first time. But the treat wasn't just the movie -- it also included a performance by the remaining members of The Association! Grayed and somewhat frayed now, the members of the group, minus Larry who passed away in 2014, still thrilled with their harmonies.

It was indeed a weekend that warmed hearts and souls. More significantly, it benefited the PIA, a non-profit whose 39 years of existence is not only distinguished for its longevity, but for the 70,000 or so disadvantaged children in the Philippines who have been able to go to school because of PIA.

Would that we have more -- of groups who really make a difference, of people who continue to do their part in uplifting the lives of our kababayans, of filmmakers who make consequential movies, and of music makers who sing songs that make us happy.

A Taste of Home in Every Bite: The Valerio Family’s Baking Legacy
https://filipinosinthe6ix.com/valerio-familys-baking-legacy/

Some friends are opting for a stress-free Christmas this year. They're not going shopping, they just ordered gift cards online; they're not going into a cooking frenzy, they're just ordering food or eating out; and they're staying home to do what the spirit of the season should be about -- enjoying each other's company. What a liberating concept, don't you think?

But if you're like me who gets energized by the crowds and the frenzy, you'll want to partake of the recipes we're sharing from innovative chef Rolando Laudico, from our food writer Elizabeth Ann Quirino and from Goldilocks USA to make your Noche Buena table groan with enough dishes to feed a battalion.

Shifting to the Holy Land where it all began, a Filipino priest, Fr. Angelo Beda Ison, OFM, officiates joyously among Filipino immigrant workers as well as Christians and Muslims of all nationalities. First-time contributor Noni Mendoza tells us his story in "Happy in the Holy Land."

Meanwhile, in Chicago, Filipino heritage is celebrated and documented with The Field Museum's 10,000 Kwentos Project -- storytelling sessions about various regions in the Philippines in conjunction with the museum's extensive collection of Philippine artifacts. Rey E. de la Cruz elaborates in "Ten Thousand Stories in Chicago's The Field Museum."

For those who are seeking avenues for sharing this holiday season, how about sponsoring the education of an underprivileged child in the Philippines for 40 cents a day or $150 a year? Check out our Partner post this week on the Philippine International Aid. PIA recently held its annual fundraiser with a fashion show featuring the creations of Criselda Lontok. Beyond the glamour and the festivity, however, is the very real (and well-documented) charity work of PIA which TV journalist Lloyd LaCuesta fittingly captures in our Video of the Week, "The Special Children"

A technical glitch last week cut short my blog so we have reposted the complete version of "The Gravity of Vanity."

+BTW: OPINIONS, CONTEXT & IDEAS FROM THE EDITORS

Opinions, Context, Ideas & Letters

Along Comes Nostalgia

This Week’s Stories

Read It Again

Video of the Week

In The Know

A Stress-Free Christmas

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