Celebration Time

Despite the political chaos and clashing of passions everywhere, there are always good reasons to celebrate in February. This week, our stories of celebration come from both good memories and good encounters.

We draw from historian/educator Ambeth R. Ocampo's book Looking Back for three romances that captured the imagination of Filipinos in specific periods in our history: in the last quarter of the 19th century, a visiting king fell in love with a Filipina lass and gifted her with extravagant jewels; in the middle part of the 20th century, a dashing mestizo who became our president transported a well-known Filipina entertainer to serenade his lady love; in the ‘30s the most beloved American general carried on a torrid  and secret love affair with a Filipina movie actress. Who says history is boring?

A personal story on how a Filipino American came to understand and appreciate her Filipino roots is told by Carlene Bonnivier in her heartwarming essay, "Adobo." 

Jumping forward to the present, Anthony Maddela features Filipino American David Lat, a lawyer/blogger/writer whose recently released first novel, Supreme Ambitions, has been getting raves in both legal and popular circles. The book integrates American justice issues with Filipino culture, and the combination is a heady brew that's both entertaining and eye-opening.

On the lighter side of the present, world traveler Rey de la Cruz introduces the Filipinos he met in Jamaica in our Pinoyspotting feature for this month. For those of you who meet kababayans in your journeys and who have documented your encounters in photos, email them to us with a short backgrounder at submissions@positivelyfilipino.com.

Our Video of the Week is a fascinating short documentary on the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines and their photos. 

High Passion

Passions are running high in the Philippines over the massacre of 44 Special Action Forces (SAF) of the Philippine National Police. Commander-in-Chief Benigno Aquino is not helping the situation by his tepid, confusing responses to the tragedy. Veteran journalist Criselda Yabes, who has written extensively (including books) about the military and Mindanao, writes an achingly spot-on op-ed, "Mr. President, Feel for the Fallen," that also explains a lot about the real situation in that most volatile of regions in our homeland. 

A different kind of passion is displayed in "Maseg, An Artistic Tempest," as described by Lisa Suguitan-Melnick. Maseg, a dance production of Alleluia Panis (producer), Jay Loyola (choreographer) with music composed by Florante Aguilar, swept the San Francisco audience off its feet with sensuous, tempestuous energy that drew on Loyola's Palawan roots as inspired by Shakespeare's "The Tempest." The mix of talents and passion is memorable indeed.

On a more temperate though not less pleasurable tale, four senior males who've known each other for almost 50 years as fraternity brothers, embark on a non-touristy "trip of their dreams"and discovered sights that made their hearts flutter and a close friendship that begets more trips together. Danny Gozo tells us about "The Road to Mexico and Havana," which should encourage retirees to take a similar journey.

Our Video of the Week features one of the most popular food trucks in San Francisco, Señor Sisig.

Love Time

It's that time of year again. February is coming up so start dusting off your love stories and write them up, for us to share the thrill. Or the heartbreak. Whatever one's current circumstance is, there should always be room for remembering  how it was to be in love, don't you think? Send your story to submissions@positivelyfilipino.com and we'll do the rest.

Meanwhile, this week, we transcend time, geography, cultural and physical barriers with our collection of stories:

From Manila, Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz tells us about her brief non-encounter with celebrity visitor, Pope Francis, whose ring she didn't manage to kiss but was close enough to bask in his radiance.

Author/educator Peter Jamero in "An Invisible Generation" introduces us to the "bridge generation" -- the men and women who were the children of the manongs, the initial batch of Filipinos who immigrated to the US mostly as farm workers. Peter knows the subject by heart because he is one of them.

In North Carolina, Filipino American Sarah Angelina Bustillo Johns literally defies the limitations of gravity as she displays her mettle as an aerial dancer. Rey E. de la Cruz's "She Spins in the Air With the Greatest of Ease" includes a video clip of Sarah that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Regular contributor Myles A. Garcia opines in "Like Dat...Like Dat" on language, assimilation and the irony of Filipinos in the Philippines trying to talk like Americans as they do their call center jobs.

And speaking of language, our Video of the Week shows five Caucasian guys doing the near-impossible -- talking Cebuano like natives. 

I'm back with my blog this week and you'll know why I've been absent for most of January.