May Philippine Elections -- What's At Stake?

In 40 days, on May 9, Filipino citizens the world over will go to the polls to choose leaders that will guide the country for the next six years. Over 54 million registered voters, including over a million overseas, will elect their choices to fill over 80,000 positions from president and vice president to municipal offices. 

The significance of this election for the Philippines' standing in the world community and for its future is tremendous. The country's GDP growth rate of 6.3 percent has been the highest five-year average in the past 40 years. This has to be sustained. On the other hand, rampant, age-old problems -- unemployment, poverty, unbridled population growth, crime and insurgency -- continue to loom large, and policies and infrastructures have to be in place toward their resolution.

To help inform Filipino overseas voters on the realities on the ground in our homeland, Positively Filipino is posting -- as our only story this week -- ace veteran journalist Marites Danguilan-Vitug's "Personality Politics and Twists of Fate," an insightful overview of the election of 2016. She delivered this talk before the US-Philippines Society and the World Bank-IMF Filipino Staff Association in Washington, D.C. last week. It provides important background that will hopefully help you, the overseas Filipino voter, decide come May 9. As most journalists covering our homeland know, the stories-behind-the-stories are usually more interesting and more truthful than what you read in the news. 

Even as we focus on Election 2016, we won't be remiss in bringing you our regular Happy Home Cook feature: this week it's Canonigo, a Spanish-inspired dessert, for special celebrations. 

Beauty of Spring, Kindness of Neighbors

As the ugliness of terrorism, political rhetoric and bigotry tries to kill our spirits, let's not lose sight of the more important constants in our lives: the beauty of spring; the spiritual renewal of Easter; the kindness of people.

Springtime in Washington, DC is magical, with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Read Again Titchie Carandang-Tiongson's fascinating account of how Mrs. Helen Taft (wife of US President William Howard Taft) brought her fond memories of their stint in Manila by having the West Potomac Park designed as a grandiose Luneta. At its 1909 inauguration, the Philippine Constabulary Band was transported to the US capital to participate in the pageantry. "A D.C. Springtime Concert Born in Manila" affirms the contribution of Filipinos to the history of the US.

In the remote rural town of Jagna, Bohol, the kindness of a church community abounds as townsfolk work together to build homes for their less fortunate neighbors. Contributor Menchu Sarmiento in "Balay sa Kabos -- A House for My Neighbor" describes the heartwarming bayanihan efforts of the Balay sa Kabos Foundation led by parish priest Fr. Abet Uy.

Back to North America, as Cuba hits the headlines, Read Again contributor Chibu Lagman's travel story, "Eternamente Cuba," before you buy your tickets to the mysterious island nation.

While Lent means sacrifice and fasting in the Christian world, Easter Sunday is always a celebration, and what better way than to cook a sumptuous dish fit for hungry souls. Positively Filipino Contributing Writer Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares her version of the recipe for Paella de Adobo by Senor Anastacio de Alba, our Happy Home Cook feature this week.

Meanwhile, another Positively Filipino Contributing Writer Anthony Maddela gives us a sneak peak of "They're Watching," a streamed-on-demand movie produced by the Filipino American team of Mark Lagrimas and Rico Jeffrey Garcia of Best Served Cold Productions. Watch it on March 25 after reading "'They're Watching' Could Get Hollywood Watching Too."

My blog this week is on negotiating through Pinoy macho-land.

For our Video of the Week, let's enjoy the simple pleasure of the hit song, "Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko" lovingly sang by an American and a Russian.

Some More Awesome Women

A renowned artist living in a small town in France, a former movie star, an indigenous healer and educator, an international socialite -- these are the dynamic, independent Filipino women who fill our pages this week as we continue to celebrate Women's History Month.

Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi writes about how living in Limeuil, one of France's most beautiful small towns, has inspired her art.

Lotis Key recalls her exciting days as a rookie theater actress in Standing Room Only, the dinner theater troupe at the late, lamented Hotel Intercontinental in Makati.

Regular contributor Lisa Suguitan Melnick profiles Nati Delson, culture bearer and healer, who brings to the US her rich Kankanaey spiritual traditions.

Our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco tells us about her childhood classmate, "The Stunning Isabel Preysler" whose life has taken some interesting turns. 

And Read Again Titchie Carandang-Tiongson's winning piece on "The Thoroughly Modern Sofia de Veyra," an early feminist who astonished Washington, D.C.

For our Happy Home Cook feature:  a vegan Filipino Crab Cake Omelette perfect for Lent.

For Video of the Week, photographer John Tronco captures a dancing traffic enforcer in the Philippines and creates a video set to Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean.”