Timeless Star of the Silver Screen

To fans of Filipino movies, Eddie Garcia is a towering institution, unmatched in the breadth and depth of his talent, his experience and in the variety of roles he has played in the 70 years he has been in the industry as actor and director. Author/poet and movie critic Marra PL. Lanot catches up with this quintessential actor and shares his views with us in "What Makes Eddie Run?'

A landmark victory that should be celebrated and pursued, not ignored. That's the maritime case that the Philippines filed against China before the International Court of Arbitration, a complex process that veteran journalist Marites Danguilan Vitug meticulously chronicles in her new book, Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China. The book is reviewed for us by Dr. Patricio N. Abinales in "High Noon in the West Philippine Sea."

Bookending our lineup this week is "Lucky Charm," an essay by millennial writer Maia Boncan.

Starting with the above piece, we'd like to encourage our young readers to share their thoughts/views and their writing, for a series that we have tagged, "Our Turn."

If you're craving comfort food this cold season, how about trying out our Happy Home Cook recipe this week from PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo: Dinengdeng with Fried Bangus. 

And our links for stories you may have missed reading:

Where 518 Inmates Sleep in Space for 170, and Gangs Hold It Together
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/07/world/asia/philippines-manila-jail-overcrowding.html?fbclid=IwAR3xMdQXvsf3WhfVkDI_SJST2H3NWtdK1v9bqN85ONyiMn9cQN5uymxK1xs

Meet the Filipina Engineer Who Struggled in Math But Now Works at NASA 
https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/newsfeatures-peopleparties/76495/josephine-santiago-bond-filipina-engineer-nasa-a833-20190106-lfrm?ref=home_feed_1%3Futm_source&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190106-fbnp-newsfeatures-josephine-santiago-bond-filipina-engineer-nasa-a833-20190106-lfrm%3Fref&fbclid=IwAR0S6jjWV9oQ3oUOCviw04_mAvtvy1GjpvwJRghlK4zNL9kzkP6ELXVLOOg

“Stay a While Longer, Doc”
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/40/stay-a-while-longer-doc/?fbclid=IwAR13clgfoZCLsr_gZwWE3UW0ry3wW8wZ9MGtYazawdyLJOGgaMIOaWWnMiA

New Saliva-based Test Detects Malaria Before Symptoms Appear
http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2019/01/new-saliva-based-test-detects-malaria-before-symptoms-appear.php?fbclid=IwAR23dLuSPkYuKejtuJmxUjnnrJw1H1RYD9478XGHTz6K3RxsBKB0UVdMmrI

Darren Criss Wins at Golden Globes
https://deadline.com/2019/01/golden-globes-darren-criss-the-assassination-of-gianni-versace-ryan-murphy-filipino-american-1202530126/

For Video of the Week, Grammy-nominated recording artist H.E.R. (aka Gabi Wilson) was interviewed on the Late, Late Show with James Corden, where she acknowledged her Filipino heritage.

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Lost Literary Treasure, Cebuanos, and Torture

Another noteworthy Filipino went quietly into the good night -- Alberto "Bert" Florentino Jr., playwright/author and promoter of Philippine literature is given a proper farewell by author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard whose latest novel, The Newspaper Widow, was a finalist in the Best Novel in English category of the National Book Awards in Manila.

Why do Cebuanos consider themselves a superior tribe? Cebuana writer Isabel Taylor Escoda proffers her not-quite-humble reasons.

We continue our series of Martial Law Stories, this time with writer/poet/journalist/editor Jose "Pete" Lacaba's account of his horrendous torture.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week, Beef Caldereta cooked in an instapot, comes from our resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino's new book, Instant Filipino Recipes: My Mother’s Philippine Food in a Multicooker Pot. Try it out and see how fast a meal cooks with this appliance.

Our In The Know links this week:

Boracay’s back cleaner and greener. But something’s missing: jobs
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/boracay-back-cleaner-greener-something-040320323.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=fb&fbclid=IwAR0Wq6vP_2zZgMQ7vlWZfN9orRchdivov3dTD_ZsOoq-UIhFob1sO4etHJM

Bulalacao, Coron–its quiet majesty
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/224627/bulalacao-coron-its-quiet-majesty/?fbclid=IwAR2KCfQCzuwNMe9dqjP01noOkyPWjrAD5BNPe9mMS3-m6e_QfSw-gh_ME-o

Stuck in traffic: How Manila’s roads are making love elusive for Filipinos
https://coconuts.co/manila/features/stuck-traffic-manilas-roads-making-love-elusive-filipinos/?utm_source=Coconuts%20Media%20Mailing%20List&utm_campaign=7e0e70e2ac-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_11_02_08_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c10d7999ee-7e0e70e2ac-81681529&fbclid=IwAR0SIPRMu4qH4qBDAvTRavhFxU4UrkGYi-GD9yQvsvJpVP8dGdvTTyswnLU

A Brief History of the Most Popular Filipino Street Food
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/food-and-drink/filipino-street-food-a1729-20170526-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20181102-fbnp-culture-filipino-street-food-a1729-20170526-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR2oLIsGvGTPV88-bWNEloor0QR2QgH0Q29hvMO8I0WYMtUKbYSZTkEEu8c

The second-generation Dazas are making home cooks out of anyone
http://fnbreport.ph/features/fb/the-second-generation-dazas-are-making-home-cooks-out-of-anyone-septm-20180620/?fbclid=IwAR0MoA4yFH1k7AeXP8SpmI524UksbZQt2hXQgzQALsd7zi8IJmPfmUOuQfk

For video of the week, Esquire Philippines posted an interview with long time Philippine actor Eddie Garcia on his long career in showbiz.

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino