Lakes, Indigenous Art and the Beatles

A warm welcome to those who are getting this weekly newsletter the first time.

Positively Filipino has been publishing exclusively online since January 2013 and since then, has 500 or so stories on the myriad aspects of Filipino history, culture and politics to its name. If you click this link, you'll have access not only to the new stories we have this week but also to our archives, categorized according to general topics and through the authors' names. Just scroll down to the categories on the right side of the page. Everything is clickable so you can go straight to an author's work or the category you want to read.

Don't forget to check out our Global Briefs also for capsule reports on the goings-on in Filipino communities and Filipinos in different parts of the world.

This week, we feature the incredible art and culture of the T'boli people of Cotabato, one of the Philippines' indigenous tribes that should make us all proud, if only we know more about them. Patricia Araneta traveled to Lake Sebu in T'boli-land and wrote a compelling report, "T'boli: It's Better to Weave Than Leave," that includes pictures that showcase the exquisite work of the T'boli women weavers.

In Baguio City, the art of the Ifugao carvers take center stage as the Philippine Bamboo Foundation Inc. promotes the native product as a source of livelihood and as a means to protect the environment. Baguio-based writer Desiree Caluza explains in "You Take A Stick of Bamboo."

For writers in the midst of crafting a novel or a nonfiction book, nothing is more welcome than a respite from the demands of daily existence to be able to focus exclusively on writing. Maria Carmen Sarmiento, a Manila-based author, was able to do just that when she was chosen to spend a month in Bellagio, Italy by the banks of beautiful Lake Como. She tells us about how it was to write and interact with  an elite group of writers from all over the world in "My Month By the Lake."

Our recipe this week in The Happy Home Cook: Slow-cooked Sirloin Pepper Steak over Rice from Rene Astudillo, also known as the creator of The Adobo Chronicles.

For our Video of the Week, a group of Filipino fans seeks to reverse the Beatles' bad memories of Manila with "Postcards for Ringo"

40 Years Ago This Month

Two major events in the last week of April changed history, and we commemorate both in this week's issue.

April 24 is the 35th death anniversary of Macli-ing Dulag, the Kalinga tribal chief who led the opposition to the Chico River Dam project in the Cordilleras. His assassination by elements of the Philippine Army in 1980 unified the people against the dam and led to the eventual scuttling of the project by the Marcos dictatorship. Macli-ing Dulag's legacy is forever etched in Philippine history and April 24 is celebrated as Cordillera Peoples Day every year.  Ace journalist Ceres P. Doyo shares some excerpts from her new book on the charismatic chieftain in "The Unforgettable Macli-ing Dulag."

April 30 marks the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which ended the catastrophic Vietnam War. Ken Kashiwahara witnessed the chaos and the tragedy of the withdrawal of the US and revisited Saigon for the first time a few months ago. He shares his recollections and observations in "Escape from Saigon."

Meanwhile, a confrontation that the whole world awaits with gusto happens on May 2 when Manny Pacquiao comes head-to-head with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Two boxing enthusiasts, Roilo Golez and Peter Bacho, share their predictions on the outcome. You can also share your pick on our new online poll.

In Seattle, pet owners are lucky to have in their midst Dr. Michael Mison, a topnotch veterinary surgeon, who comes from a family of educators and civil servants. Gia Mendoza profiles her pet's lifesaver in "A Pet's Best Friend."

As we celebrate Earth Day this month, read again two of our informative postings on the environmental impact of the aquarium fish trade ("Saving Nemo") and the holy guardians of Bud Bungao, the magical mountain in Tawi-tawi ("The Holy Mountain of Tawi-tawi"), both by Philippine environmental writer, Gregg Yan.

Our recipe for the week in The Happy Home Cook comes from food blogger and author, Marvin Gapultos, who shares his award-winning "Slow-braised Pork and Pineapple Adobo."

And for our Video of the Week, the Bisaya-speaking Americans of the Hey Joe Show are back in “Signs That You Are Filipino.”

I hope you also visit my blog, “Gemma Nemenzo on Life, Love, Writing, and Everything In Between” and let me know your thoughts on "Expat Realities."

What the #@!, Tiger?

As the clock ticks toward the 2016 national elections in the Philippines, controversies hound the Aquino administration even as the economy is roaring its way to Asian tigerhood. Marites D. Vitug offers an incisive analysis on this irony in "Aquino Conundrum at the Heart of Messy Politics," which we picked up from Nikkei Asian Review.

We also feature this week two artist friends who are unrelenting in their pursuit of their artistic passions:

First, Sonny Alforque who, for 25 years now, has produced and directed a community theater in every sense of the word in Sacramento, California. The Sinag-tala theatrical revue which happens every first weekend of December is always worth driving two hours for just to enjoy the energy, the enthusiasm and the varied talents of Filipino American children and adults who have come under the tutelage of Sonny. Regular contributor Anthony Maddela profiles this theater dynamo in "Sonny Alforque Shines the Light on Sinag-tala."

Second, Filipina artist France Viana explores the various shades of Filipino skin color in an innovative installation ongoing at Mills College in Oakland, California. In "Fifty Shades of Kayumanggi," Manzel Delacruz explains the complex concept and the hard work that France put into this exhibit of her extraordinary talent.

Meanwhile, for entrepreneurs and companies wanting to do business in the Philippines, Marla D. Rausch, CEO of Animation Vertigo, draws on her extensive experience in taming the bureaucratic beast in our homeland. Be sure to read "10 Things You Should Know About Starting a Business in the Philippines" before you take the plunge. 

The Happy Home Cook recipe for the week features Ampalaya with Beef or Shrimp, from the kitchen of Jojo Sabalvaro-Tan. 

And for our Video of the Week, a couple weds under the best and the worst of circumstances. Be prepared to shed tears.