Politics and Food

The Philippine presidential race is heating up, with President Benigno Aquino’s endorsement of Mar Roxas as his heir apparent. Contributing writer Marites D. Vitug gives us a political situationer, "Stakes Are High in the '16 Presidential Election," that gives food for thought to all Filipino voters, wherever they may be.

The cuisine of Batangas is the focus of food expert Michaela Fenix as she regales us with savory delights that make the southern Tagalog province a necessary stop when doing a food tour of the Philippines. "Straightforward, Simple Batangas Cuisine" will make your mouth water, and it's just one of the chapters of Fenix's excellent book, Country Cooking: Philippine Regional Cuisines.

From food we shift to fabrics as writer Serina Aidasani introduces us to Art Almeida, an artist and textile designer, in "He Leaves You in Stitches." Almeida, who runs his family corporation Genknit, walks us through the intricate process of textile design, a niche market for sure, that requires not just talent, but also dedication and intuition.

In San Francisco last week, a tribute to one of the greatest Filipino writers in English, Nick Joaquin, took place. There cannot be enough ways to honor the memory of this literary great; thus, we ask you to Read Again his nephew Tony Joaquin's "My Uncle, Nick Joaquin," which we published last year.

This week's recipe in the Happy Home Cook: Marvin Gapultos' version of Sardines in Spicy Tomato Sauce, from his book The Adobo Road Cookbook: A Filipino Food Journey -- from Food Blog, to Food Truck, and Beyond. Also featured this week is Goldilocks' Taisan Loaf Cake.

Our Video of the Week is on Willy Layug, the ecclesiastical sculptor from Pampanga, courtesy of CNN Philippines.

And for my blog, my ruminations on Twilight Time. 

Mystery and Second Chances

The famously mysterious Iglesia ni Cristo, which claims a membership of two million in more than 100 countries, had its innards diced and dissected recently as scandalous allegations of family feuds, heavy-duty corruption and even violence within the leadership ranks exploded in the public eye. As the real story is still unfolding, we're posting veteran journalist Maria Ceres Doyo's column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "'Deep Throat' Shakes Up Iglesia ni Cristo," which provides some behind-the-scene details on the biggest story that ever exposed the 100-year-old religious and political powerhouse.

A happier big story that happened last weekend was the victory of Filipino Australian golfer, Jason Day, in the Canadian Open. This is the second PGA title that Day has won this year, catapulting him to number four in the world golf rankings. Watch him do his winning stroke in our Video of the Week.

The senior celebrity world in the Philippines was all agog last year over the wedding of Boots Anson-Roa to Francisco "King" Rodrigo, the second marriage for the two. Now, a year later, the two lovebirds share intimate details of their joyful union, with writer Cathy Sanchez Babao in "That's Amore." The Boots-King story is proof that there is no statute of limitations on loving and grabbing a second chance at happiness.

In the second installment of Watch Out World, This Is a Filipino (WOW), contributing writer Elizabeth Ann Quirino profiles Ryan D. Aguas, a Fordham University graduate who is introducing vertical farming, also known as aquaponics, to Filipino farmers.

And Pinoyspotting this week follows world traveler Rey de la Cruz as he stops over at the Hong Kong airport and meets Filipinos who were also transiting to their destinations in various parts of the world.

For the Happy Home Cook, we have Goldilocks' Black Forest Cake recipe.

Tension in the Spratlys, Relaxing in Toronto

What's really happening in the western Philippines' chain of islands called the Spratlys, ground zero for Chinese expansionist ambitions? Contributing writer Criselda Yabes reports on the tense situation at Ulugan Bay where the US is supposed to build a military base for joint operations with Philippine forces. Right now, even as China has swiftly built a sophisticated airport in one of the nearby islands, the Philippine Supreme Court has yet to rule on the constitutionality of the US-Philippine agreement. In "South China Sea Row - A Waiting Game," Yabes explains the problem and takes us to the 27-hectare Pag-Asa island ("Life Under the Glare of Chinese Territorial Ambitions") where 25 Filipino families live in peace and harmony with the Coast Guard.

In Toronto, Canada, a Filipino couple -- Roger and Tess Concepcion -- and their three children are successfully running a chain of inns, with the Baldwin Village Inn as its anchor. Regularly recommended by the top travel sites, the Concepcions' B&Bs are known for its home-away-from-home benefits. Read Noni Mendoza's "The Innkeepers of Toronto" to find out why. 

Filipino expats of a certain age will surely remember The Rolling Pin Bake Shop, which was the undisputed source of the best special-occasion cakes in Manila for years. However, chances are that you've never met the creative and entrepreneurial dynamo behind the success of the bake shop. That was the late Gloria Y. Nichols, and our contributing writer and food expert Elizabeth Ann Quirino, in profiling her posthumously ("The Baker of Lasting Memories"), brings back memories of delicious pastries and beautiful cakes from The Rolling Pin.

The Happy Home Cook feature this week is Goldilocks' Leche Flan, another memory-laden delicacy.

Our Video of the Week: Another CNN Philippines feature that will surely please our Kapampangan readers. Yen Baet, an acclaimed Filipina photographer, is one of your own. 

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UPDATES

The documentary "Right Footed," which featured the amazing life of disability activist Jessica Cox, and our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco co-produced, won the Best Documentary Award at the Mirabile Dictu (International Catholic Film Festival), June 22-25, 2015 at the Vatican.

Watch Our Video Again: Inspiring Jessica

Aaron Isip, the young Filipino chef in Paris that we featured in our Video of the Week was awarded the Le Trophee Espoir of Ile de France by Gault and Milleu, a much-coveted honor in the city of gourmands. 

Watch Our Video Again: Chef Aaron Isip of Restaurant Dix-Huit

You read about "Right Footed" and Chef Aaron Isip first in Positively Filipino.