Sesame Mucho

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In the early 1980s, Filipino children were introduced to two lovable muppets -- Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing -- in the educational TV program, "Sesame." The two muppets were created by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), producer of Sesame Street, in a partnership with the Philippine Sesame Street Project (PSSP). Under the partnership, CTW also trained key PSSP creative staff, including the puppeteers, in the Sesame Street model of educational TV -- curriculum-based segments, age-focused and fun.

"Sesame," the program, eventually became the famous "Batibot" and PSSP became the Philippine Children's Television Foundation (PCTVF), but the concept, format, and Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing remained. The program aired five days a week for a remarkable 18 years, bringing forth an actual "Batibot generation" whose formative years were guided by the show, the same way generations of American children were reared on Sesame Street.  

When the partnership between CTW and PCTVF expired in the 1990s, CTW claimed back Pong and Kiko, the muppets. Unfazed, PCTVF created locally made muppets for Batibot. Sesame Street's Filipino connection ended then.

Fast forward to 2023, and CTW, now known as the Sesame Workshop, recently introduced in Sesame Street,  a Fil-Am muppet named TJ, mirroring a four-year old child living in Daly City. Conceptualized by Fil-Ams, TJ's creation followed the same rigorous attention to details that made Pong and Kiko so endearing to Filipino children. This week, we bring you the background story of TJ's creation, from PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela. 

We are noting three significant events in this issue: Philippine Independence Day (June 12), Jose Rizal's birthday (June 19) and Father's Day (June 18). We hope you enjoy our lineup this week.

Stories This Week

A Muppet For All Reasons by Anthony Maddela

In My Father’s Two Worlds by Nanette Carreon-Ruhter

Meet Miss Texas America And Her Mom’s Tulong Foundation by Jocelyn Alvarez Allgood

Paco, Manila – Call It By Its Name by Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

[Read Agains]

A Valiant People's Army by John L. Silva

Why June 12 Is Different From Other Days by John L. Silva

Untold Lessons From My Father by Ed Diokno

Jose Rizal, Martial Arts Warrior by Rene J. Navarro

[Cook It Again] Dishes For Independence Day by Chef Marvin Gapultos

[Video of the Week] Immigrant Heritage Month

[Partner] 14th Annual Our Family, Our Future ALLICE 20th Jubilee Event Aims To Empower Older Adults, Stop Hate by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

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Staff

Bullseye on our Backs?

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Where are our martial arts warriors when we need them?

I heard someone ask this question when the video of a 65-year old Filipino woman being assaulted last week in New York's Times Square in broad daylight became viral. Sure, it's a stereotype and a myth that Asians are Bruce Lees  but with the almost daily stream of verbal and physical assaults on Asian Americans, can't we call on our ninja warriors for protection? Or at the very least, assistance? The video of Vilma Kari didn't show anyone coming to her aid; in fact, security guards at the building closed the doors on her (they've been fired). It was only a few days later that Vilma's daughter posted that a person across the street "yelled and screamed to get the assailant's attention" thereby disrupting the vicious attack. No one else helped; NYPD didn't even get a 911 call.

Few of us can be as badass as the Chinese lola Xiao Zhen Xie in San Francisco who fought back. Or as lucky, since there was a wooden board handy that she picked up to whack her assailant with which landed him, not her, in the hospital. 

It's gratifying to know that Asian American groups, including the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA, see Partner post below), are calling for the consolidation of efforts to address this issue of hate crimes against Asians. Doubly gratifying that the Biden administration has our backs, rhetorically and policy-wise.

In the real world however, we continue to be vulnerable. I was in New York last week at the time of Vilma Kari's assault and I admit that the very normal NYC activity of taking a walk felt like there was a bullseye on my back. This is no way to live.

What can we do to protect ourselves while we wait for all the organizing and the concerted efforts to take effect?

Our Stories This Week

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 17 By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

A Child Forever By Rey E. de la Cruz

‘Stand The F**K Up’ By Corin Ramos

[Partner] NaFFAA To Develop Hate Crimes Task Force In Response To Anti-Asian Attacks

Read Again: In The Heat Of The Night: The Exeter And Watsonville Riots 1929-1930 By Alex S. Fabros, Jr.

The Happy Home Cook: Gising Gising (Seafood Extreme)

[Video of the Week] World War II in the Philippines, the Forgotten War

In The Know

Filipina mom grateful for extraordinary act of kindness in small-town Alberta
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/filipinos-rural-alberta-1.5965398?cmp=rss&fbclid=IwAR2P9YD4Bul5zBjhzK-yCprbMQsE28LcaYhgVy9q1xvZPzB_dHufzQ9Uh7s

The Best Books About Asian American Identity, According to Experts
https://nymag.com/strategist/amp/article/best-books-about-asian-american-identity.html?__twitter_impression=true&s=04&fbclid=IwAR0Lj1NvHcNu1LuOhYHYPcSQzvT_dn3OrnwfB_0QMKoTNGv-1lfktOSt2X0

Gliceria Marella-Villavicencio: A revolutionary figure you’ve probably never heard of
https://nolisoli.ph/66528/gliceria-marella-villavicencio-csanjose-20190826/?fbclid=IwAR14fApK1p2eI_s_tclC4DJIOqVufT93iJXhYpl5qnqWTQYxSyZALx5UxFE

Meet the hidden Filipino treasure that is dulce prenda
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2021/03/17/meet-hidden-filipino-treasure-dulce-prenda?fbclid=IwAR3Tdbuo7lsCzrGJGsEe1fmFKF2wZ4ywaiHHpSJ4cgYBsnuLf9teCDJmlWc

Anti-Terrorism Law and You

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Two heavyweights in the civil liberties arena in the Philippines will weigh in on the impact of the Anti-Terrorism Law recently passed by Congress. Senator Risa Hontiveros and Attorney Theodore Te will discuss the nuances of the law and how it will impact overseas Filipinos in Positively Filipino's webinar tomorrow at 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern (in the Philippines, 9 am Friday). If you haven't registered yet, please click on the link below for details.

Meanwhile, this week we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, pay tribute to a woman of substance, humorously expose a crackpot clan in Mindanao that claims ownership of the entire archipelago and includes Rizal and Hitler in its lineage, and introduce the new cookbook (and a recipe) of one of the leading lights of Philippine cuisine. We hope you enjoy them.

Our Stories This Week:

World War II In The Philippines - 75 Years After By Cecilia I. Gaerlan 

Gilda Cordero Fernando: Forever Groovy By Paulynn Paredes Sicam

Philippine Hoaxes: Of Cabbages And Kings, Grifters And Trolls By Myles A. Garcia

Sandy’s Handy Cookbook By Bella Bonner

[PARTNER] Byaheng Pag-Asa

The Happy Home Cook: Chili Coconut Squid By Chef Sandy Daza

Video of the Week: As the US prepares for an eventful presidential election, the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, including the Filipino American community, underscore our wholehearted participation in the charting of this country's future.

In the Know

From malls to banks: The pandemic’s domino effect
https://rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/coronavirus-pandemic-domino-effect-malls-banks

My Neighbor, The Roosevelt Statue
https://aaww.org/my-neighbor-the-roosevelt-statue-rene-g-ontal/?fbclid=IwAR0jokipkMGf65jn0XqEaIw2JaxQiNPpDZM6HRPyMBjhV45o8GNDyiNztcc

A father-daughter relationship blooms amid Philippine flora
https://news.berkeley.edu/2019/01/03/a-father-daughter-relationship-blooms-amid-philippine-flora/?fbclid=IwAR0BRoB9MX0ek1dEiC8FF4Wepa03rgvqRXfIoqwV-RLwf-UVhwSvnMaxCgg

Catholic poet, artist put spotlight on COVID
https://www.catholicregister.org/features/arts/item/32027-catholic-poet-artist-put-spotlight-on-covid

This Former Student Activist Now Owns the Largest Pawnshop Network in the Country
https://www.esquiremag.ph/money/industry/palawan-pawnshop-owner-profile-a00289-20200902-lfrm?ref=article_aside_money

Sometimes, It Takes Time': Erina Alejo, the Third-Generation Renter
https://www.kqed.org/arts/13885733/sometimes-it-takes-time-erina-alejo-the-third-generation-rente?fbclid=IwAR0RQxecWk1hFn-FW9D65UIVuZGg-Dnl-KLZGnAKs9DiL-96H87rVWSveSU

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino