Death Hogs the Headlines

With a 91-percent approval rating in his first month in office, it seems like President Rodrigo Duterte can do no wrong. But two controversial issues he had committed himself to during the campaign are now stirring dissent.

His war on drugs has led to extrajudicial killings while his promise to allow the burial of ex-president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is reigniting the fire of anti-Marcos groups. This week we have two excellent pieces for you to ponder: "Where Will President Duterte and His War on Drugs Take Us?" by Criselda Yabes and "Eulogizing Marcos" by Greg B. Macabenta.

For a compelling end-of-summer read, we bring you a review by Canada-based Alfred Kwong of his fraternity brother Ted Yabut, Jr.'s ambitious memoir, "Brown Rice." A coming-of-age story set in Manila through the turmoil of martial law, the scenes described in the book will surely bring memories to those who were there during that period.

A story you will want to Read Again: Filipino American author/teacher Oscar Peñaranda's account of "A Reunion of Strangers," which involves Dumaguete, the Filipino American War, eBay and a blood-stained revolutionary flag. 

Our Happy Home Cook recipe, a traditional favorite -- Rellenong Talong.

Our Video of the Week celebrates the ties that bind a Filipino nanny named Auntie Yolly and an Olympic Gold Medalist, Joseph Schooling.

Remembering and Speaking

One summer night in August 39 years ago, elderly Filipino manongs were forcibly evicted from the International Hotel, a senior residential facility in the heart of San Francisco. That singular act of cruelty changed the landscape of the city and reverberates until now. We go back to that event, "The Last Night of the I-Hotel" to inform readers of what happened thenand what has happened since. It's a significant part of Filipino American history that's for the books.

Filipinos in Iceland? Of course there are some. Contributor Gia R. Mendoza did a few days stopover in the country and found not only kababayans but also natural wonders that soothed their exhausted bodies. Read all about it in "Finding Warmth in Iceland."

Bright colors dominate Elisa Racelis Boughner's art, as Serina Aidasani describes in "Woman of Colors." Boughner was one of the artists of Filipino heritage who took part in an art exhibit at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History recently.

From Switzerland, Cherry Malonzo, who is raising two Tagalog-speaking, brown-eyed boys, makes a case for teaching the mother tongue to children of Filipino expats in "The Gift of Language." 

For our Happy Home Cook recipe, we go back to Judy Ann's Kitchen for her Chicken Binakol.

And our Video of the Week brings to life the history of San Francisco's I-Hotel to accompany our main story.

On the Road Again

The vagabond life--who hasn't dreamt of living one? Being on the road with nary a responsibility except to oneself, chalking up a different experience each day, getting to meet a variety of people, getting to know oneself deeper. What's not to love?

For those who are planning to travel but haven't yet decided where to go, here are some stories that will inform, inspire and prod you:

10 Survival Tips for Summer Travel in Europe by Cherie Querol-Moreno is a must-read for those heading to the Old World;

Seattle to Fairbanks and Back, in 9 Days by Noni Mendoza talks about a daredevil road trip by two seniors in their 70s who just had to complete their bucket list;

Revisiting El Nido by Criselda Yabes reveals a less-touristy but nonetheless spectacular side to this highly popular travel destination;

Come Join Me in Portugal is a Read Again by Tiago Gutierrez Marques who wrote lovingly of his homeland;

Viña del Mar by Migs Bassig is a deeply personal narrative about being in Chile.

And then as first-time contributor Dayumman Marie Ngoddo writes, there's nothing like travel to make one appreciate the delight and comfort of Home, Sweet Home.

Safe travels everyone.

For those aching for some comfort food, Rene Astudillo's recipe for Fish Tocino is our Happy Home Cook feature this week.

Filipino-Canadian singer/comedian Mikey Bustos returns with our Video of the Week, a very funny and clever parody of Meghan Trainor's hit "No," which becomes, in Mikey creative mind, a statement on what makes a Filipino.