Fateful August

While ancient Rome had its Ides of March, the Philippines has its Ides of August. Two history-changing tragedies occurred on the same date -- August 21 -- though 12 years apart: the assassination of Benigno Aquino and the bombing of Plaza Miranda during the Liberal Party's miting de avance before the 1971 elections, which led to the suspension of the writ habeas corpus (and, a year later, the declaration of martial law). For years it was believed that then-President Ferdinand Marcos carried out the Plaza Miranda carnage, but decades later, the true perpetrators were uncovered. Read Again journalist Gregg Jones' account of "The Ghosts of Plaza Miranda."

In 1983, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino was assassinated at the Manila International Airport (which now bears his name), an unspeakable crime that triggered the countdown to the end of the Marcos regime three years later. There have been so many accounts of that day, but the most poignant is the one written exclusively for Positively Filipino by Ken Kashiwahara, Ninoy's brother-in-law, who was with him on the plane when the ex-senator returned from exile. "Ninoy's Final Journey" is a must-read-again so we will never forget.

Vicente Tirona Paterno was one of the very few holdovers from the Marcos cabinet who made it to the Cory Aquino cabinet, a testimony to his competence and integrity. University of Honolulu-based professor and commentator Patricio Abinales reviews Paterno's autobiography, On My Terms, which came out shortly before the esteemed technocrat's death last year.

Another treat for travelers: contributor Jojo Sabalvaro-Tan's stories and sketches on Indonesia's island paradise, "Bali High."

Those seeking a sweet treat in Los Angeles are guided by our Contributing Writer Anthony Maddela to the B Sweet Dessert Bar of Fil-Am dessert creator Barbara Batiste. "A Filipino-Owned Dessert Oasis in LA" also gives us this week's Happy Home Cook recipe for the traditional sweet fave, Turon. 

Our Video of the Week is an eye-opener: The History of the Filipino in Korea, which is narrated in Filipino.

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.