Racism: Can We Talk?

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We know how it is to walk on eggshells when we have to talk about politics and religion with our families and friends. It's a lot easier to take the cop-out route -- not to bring up anything controversial when we gather with people we love. But in the past two months, ever since we saw the gruesome video of George Floyd dying in the hands of the police and witnessed the emergence of Black Lives Matter and nationwide anti-racist protests, we have been forced to reckon with anti-Black attitudes in our midst, be it in us or in our circles. Add to this the alarming increase of pandemic-induced racist rants directed at Asians, including Filipinos, and we know that it's time to have a conversation about racism. But how do we do it without breaking filial bonds?

Last week we posted the written versions and the audio recording of Positively Filipino's first webinar on the historical roots of the Filipino colonial mind and of white supremacy in the US. Both provide an abbreviated but very timely education on how we were "programmed" to look at white as the superior race, and how White supremacy was legalized and embedded in US history -- the better for us to understand how we feel and why we should care. 

In case you missed the lectures, here are the links:

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-colonial-legacy-of-racism-among-filipinos

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/white-supremacy-and-black-oppression-in-law-and-society

Last Monday, our second webinar focused more pointedly on "A Difficult Conversation," which tackled the prevailing racist attitudes among Filipinos and how to start a constructive conversation with our families about the issue. Our panelists, Professors Evelyn Ibatan Rodriguez of the University of San Francisco and Anthony Ocampo of Cal Poly Pomona, provided enlightening and valuable insights on the topic.

Next week, Thursday, July 23, join us with immigrant activist Jose Antonio Vargas and immigration attorney Lourdes Tancinco for our third webinar: Immigrants in the Time of Racial Unrest, Pandemic, and Trump

Living It Up to Remember the Dead

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Todos los santos, araw ng patay, undas. However you call the day of memorializing the dead, it all leads to the same thing in the Philippines -- a celebration that brings clans together, involves tons of food and transforms cemeteries into party sites, candies and costumes be damned. Ghoulish? No, it's like Christmas in November, just without the gifts.

Positively Filipino Contributing Writer and food expert Elizabeth Ann Quirino remembers the November 1 practices of her childhood and tries to recapture the celebratory feeling with Asian Fried Noodles, our Happy Home Cook recipe this week. We hope you enjoy it, even if, for you, the memory it brings forth may be different.

All Souls' Day won't be complete, however, without the requisite scare so here are some Read Agains both from contributor Alex G. Paman, in keeping with the, uhm, spirit: 

The Vanishing Hitchhiker, The White Lady And Hauntings Across The Seas

Some Things Wicked This Way Come

Another of our Contributing Writers Myles A. Garcia comes up with "Six Profiles -- Five in Valor, One in Villainy," an interesting piece about lesser known heroes and non-heroes in our history.

New York-based artist Lenore RS Lim's layered life is the subject of Serina Aidasani's feature story this week.

And the scourge of lupus, the degenerative and often misdiagnosed disease that disproportionately affects women and communities of color, is discussed by Rene M. Astudillo, formerly of the Lupus Foundation in California. Astudillo puts a Filipino face to lupus as he introduces Christine Von Raesfeld, who opens up about her battle against the pain and stigma of the ailment. 

For our Video of the Week, CNN's report on "the dramatic shift in Asian-American votes," shared by the National Asian American Survey.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

WANTED: Stories that Go Bump in the Night

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An anthropologist once remarked that Filipinos have a natural affinity for the supernatural, as evidenced by the trove of stories that those who grew up in the Philippines bring with them wherever they may be in this world. Indeed, when one was lulled to sleep by tales of the diwata (fairy), scared to submission by the wrath of the aswang (evil witch) and taught respect for trees and other living things by the presence of the kapre (changeling brute) and dwende (goblin), how can one's psychic radar not be attuned to the spirits that go bump in the night? Sometimes they're friendly, occasionally they're naughty (ever wake up to the feeling that someone is tickling you?) and, when one has been bad, vengeful.

We'd like to hear your stories about your close encounter(s) with the netherworld. Please share it at submissions@positivelyfilipino.com. If the good spirits are on your side, you may be able to join the pool of Positively Filipino writers, some of whom have won awards for excellence in writing. (See Positively Filipino's Big Haul of Plaridel Awards)

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino