Tragedy and Enchantment

Almost two months have elapsed since the tragedy in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, but the story is still very much alive in the military, the media and especially in the Aquino administration, which continues to suffer in the fallout.

This week we feature guest contributor Randy David, UP professor of sociology and political movements, who explains to us the bigger context of the tragedy: a police operation vs. the peace process that the government is trying to rebuild in Mindanao. Randy is known for his consistently illuminating pieces and this one is no exception.

From tragedy, we switch to enchantment and we have two stories to do just that: Engkanto Falls in Naga City in the Bicol region is where spirits of the supernatural variety dwell, according to legend. Excel V. Dyquiangco takes us there in "Romance of the Falls."

Likewise, our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco, gives us a glimpse of enchanting India as she traveled with her sisters and some friends and encountered Filipinos, among others. "Pinoyspotting: Kababayans in India" continues our Pinoyspotting series, and we'd like to hear from you too about your travels and your encounters.

We continue to celebrate Women's History Month and this time, we'd like to point you back to enchanting women we have featured:

"Travels with My Aunt," by Lyca Benitez-Brown is about the formidable stateswoman and educator, Helena Z. Benitez, who at 100 years old, is still going strong.

"The Thoroughly Modern Sofia de Veyra" by Titchie Carandang-Tiongson introduces us to a little-known but definitely a memorable Filipina who, as wife of the Philippine Resident Commissioner in 1917, astonished and impressed Washington, DC with her intelligence, energy and charm.

"The Untold Story of Sugar Pie DeSanto" by Ben Pimentel is another eye-opener because Sugar Pie is not well known among Filipino Americans but was a big name in the jazz world.

Our Video of the Week transports us to enchanting Paris as bloggers Randy Diaz and Joyce Ibardolaza sample the culinary creations of Chef Aaron Isip of Restaurant Dix-Huit.

Wishing you a life of enchantment.

Sky Is No Limit

"Women hold up half the sky." - Mao Tse Tung

This month, we celebrate with the whole world our sister sky-holders out there who are toiling, dreaming, managing, caring, creating, healing and doing all the other tasks that they have set out to do. But most of all, we pay tribute to the amazing women who do unexpected things, like what cultural historian Robby Tantingco writes about in "Why Women Rule Pampanga."

Also worth celebrating: the emergence of a basketball star who we can partly claim as our own. Regular contributor Anthony Maddela takes us to his exclusive interview with the LA Lakers' 22-year-old rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson, who was brought up by his Filipino lola and his mother, Annette. 

In Chicago, Rey E. de la Cruz gives us a taste of Sariling Atin, a Filipino restaurant that serves comfort food and a lot of kababayan warmth.

Our resident web sleuth Myles A. Garcia digs up the dirt on the long-playing inheritance wars within the family of Potenciano Ilusorio, a very public conflict involving billions of pesos that pitted husband against wife, children against parents and siblings against each other. The rich are different from you and me, as the saying goes, and in this instance, thank goodness for that.

For our Video of the Week, we look back in pain and horror at the battle for the liberation of Manila, February to March 1945. Manila was the most devastated city in the Allied world and this video says it all.

And in my blog, I pay tribute to my "amazona" relatives.

Keep on holding up the sky!

Where's the Spirit?

We start off the month with stories that celebrate springtime, history, Lent and hopefully the end of the unusually harsh winter in the U.S. East Coast:

From Manila, Criselda Yabes tells us about the mood of the people during the 29th-year celebration of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt. "Is the Spirit of People Power Gone Forever?" in the midst of disenchantment, traffic gridlock, a crisis of confidence and general ennui? Or is it alive enough to allow the current administration to rise from the mire it has sank into with the tragedy in Mindanao? You be the judge.

In Baguio, a ray of sunshine as the Cordillera School of Digital Arts (CSDA) takes its place among the internationally noted technical schools in the country. Rey de la Cruz reports in "Let's Get Digital."

Across the globe, in little-known Guymon, Oklahoma, a Filipino couple, Dr. Emmanuel Barias and his wife, Susan, make waves in the community not only in health care but also in business as they open the first coffee shop in the area. Agatha Verdadero takes us there in "Thriving in the Dust Bowl."

From the San Francisco Bay Area, poet/educator Aimee Suzara poses the question that generations of Filipino Americans have been asking: Why is Filipino American history not part of American history? "This is American History" gives us pause and ideally motivates us to action.

Finally, we are pointing you back to a previous story, Bella Bonner's "My Niece, The Cake Artist" about Judy Uson whose most recent creation is the four-feet tall, three-feet wide wedding cake of Senator Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista. We've added pictures of the cake, so check it out and be amazed.

For our Video of the Week, we feature Youtube celebrity, Christine Gambito, aka "HappySlip."