Quarrel Over Quezon, Fracas Over Frankfurt Book Fair

With the hubbub of praise and condemnation that has surrounded the showing of the movie "Quezon," starring Jericho Rosales in the title role, it's good timing to come out with "Embassy of Exile" by our resident Fil-Am historian Alex S. Fabros, Jr. It tells the story of how a group of distinguished Filipino statesmen, led by the ailing Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon, set up a Philippine government in exile during WWII. The headquarters was in a brownstone at 1617 Massachusetts Ave. in Washington D.C. where, to this day, the consular services of the Philippine Embassy in the US is based. 

Though Quezon did not live to see the end of the war, his stalwart team did valiant work, including a call to arms that inspired Filipino farmworkers in America to volunteer to fight. Despite the demands of war, the team of Filipinos never lost sight of its main task - to ensure the granting of independence from the US which came to fruition on July 4, 1946. 

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Last month, about 400 Filipino writers and publishers gathered in Frankfurt for the 76th annual Frankfurter Buchmesse, reputedly the world's largest book fair. As the 2025 Guest of Honor, Philippine books were front and center of the trade exhibition that allowed international literary agents, translators, and book distributors to negotiate deals. Was the Philippine participation (reportedly at a cost of hundreds of thousands of euros) worth it? Author/publisher Cecilia Brainard who was there gives us a participant's report.

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Making waves on Netflix nowadays is the Filipino film "Only We Know," a story with a "kilig" factor starring Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes. If you're on the fence about watching it, read Elizabeth Ann Quirino's review here.

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A Filipina-British, Viva Andrada O'Flynn, was proclaimed the Mock Mayor of Barton, England on the historic Gloucester Day last September, the first Filipino to hold the title. She leads the festivities at the traditional FUNtastic Fair on November 15, so if you're in the vicinity, join up.

[Read It Again]

Major General Basilio J. Valdes – Doctor, Officer and Gentleman by Jessie Thompson Huberty

The Manila House in Washington, D.C. by Titchie Carandang

[Video of the Week] Espionage, Exile & Debate Glory: Hidden Filipino History in Washington, D.C.

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In The Know

Photos show the impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi on the Philippines
https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/typhoon-kalmaegi-tino-central-philippines-floods-photos

The Philippines MICHELIN Restaurants – The MICHELIN Guide
https://guide.michelin.com/ph/en/selection/philippines/restaurants 

The Assassination of Doña Aurora Quezon 
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/assassination-of-dona-aurora-quezon-a00293-20190429-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook

Conservative and Religious: Filipino Evangelicals Go MAGA
https://fulcrum.sg/conservative-and-religious-filipino-evangelicals-go-maga/?

Meet the First Filipina to Visit All 203 Countries and All 82 Provinces of the Philippines
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/first-filipino-all-countries-all-philippines-provinces-a7420-20251019-lfrm5?

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House of Memories

If walls can speak, what colorful stories would have emerged from 2422 K St. in Washington DC, known in the mid-1900s as The Manila House, where Filipinos ate, gambled,sang, loved and quarreled. The building has since become Carwithen House but its rich history as a hangout of Filipinos in the area are immortalized in the stories of acclaimed author Bienvenido N. Santos. Contributor Titchie Carandang-Tiongson who, together with husband Erwin, was able to walk the halls of the building, writes about this historic landmark of Fil-Am history in Washington DC. Through the efforts of  The Philippine Arts, Letters and Media Council; the Philippines on the Potomac Project, the Rita M. Cacas Foundation and the Toribio Family,  the Manila House has been designated a Literary Landmark (one of only four in DC) and a plaque was installed last week in commemoration. 

It's Mother's Day once again so we'd like to circle back to some of our outstanding mother tributes:

PF Correspondent and cookbook author Elizabeth Ann Quirino shared with us her award-winning essay, "A Hundred Mangoes in a Bottle," about her mother teaching her about life through the techniques of food preservation;

PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco paid tribute to her late mother, Paz Sycip Yuchengco, by organizing a concert of her musical compositions;

Our Manila-based contributor Cathy S. Babao tells us the experiences that defined her mother, the character actress Caridad Sanchez.

Our In The Know links this week includes some important information about Asian Americans, in time for Asian American History Month:

The Rise of Asian Americans
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/asianamericans-graphics/

Six Interesting Facts About Asian Americans
https://www.thoughtco.com/interesting-facts-about-asian-americans-2834533

Israel's Invisible Filipino Work Force
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/03/magazine/israels-invisible-filipino-work-force.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fmagazine&action=click&contentCollection=magazine&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=6&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0

Elderly Gay Filipinos Who Perform In Drag to Survive
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/the-elderly-gay-filipinos-who-perform-in-drag-to-survive

From Chicagoland, PF Correspondent Rey de la Cruz gives us a taste of Adeline's Catering where Cebu lechon reigns.

From Adeline's Catering's chef Victor Ricolcol, his version of the classic Pork Belly Adobo for our Happy Home Cook.

For Video of the Week, NBC presents 26 emerging Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who redefine what it takes to be an American of Asian and Pacific Islander descent today.