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.