Voyagers

As the calendar moves swiftly towards Holy Week, we thought it a good time to step back and revive some stories we had published that you may have missed or may want to read again. This week we focus on four Filipinos of various generations who left the Motherland and staked their future in another country. Brave adventurous folks all, and their personal narratives serve as both inspiration and cautionary tales.

In mid-20th century, a Filipina from Bulacan named Enya Gonzalez made it big in New York City as an opera singer and became the first Filipina to be on the cover of Newsweek. First-time contributor Gaby C. Gloria profiled this plucky Filipina who broke through barriers in "The Bold Soprano."

In 1971, student leader Jaime FlorCruz travelled to China along with other student leaders and activists from various schools. Little did he know that he (and a few others including the current Philippine ambassador to China, Chito Sta. Romana) would be living there for 40 years, and he would become the CNN bureau chief in China. FlorCruz, who had officially retired as an international journalist, wrote about his life as an exile in "40 Years In China: From Stranded Activist to International Journalist."

Regular PF contributor Agatha Verdadero, who runs a publishing house in Africa, told us the story of how she and her team established lasting friendships with Somalians -- not an easy feat -- in "Friendship Worth One's Life."

Her story is common among overseas Filipino workers (OFW) but is nonetheless remarkable. Edita Balane, working as a nanny in Dubai, tells Ana P. Santos of her dreams in "Everyone's Children But Her Own."

Meanwhile, we compiled an interesting bunch of stories from various publications this week for our In The Know section:

When a President says “I'll Kill You.”
https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000004819836/duterte-philippines-when-a-president-says-ill-kill-you.html?emc=edit_ta_20170326&nl=top-stories&nlid=63804747&ref=cta

Jason Day withdraws from WGC-Match Play to be with mother as she battles lung cancer
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/day-withdraws-from-wgc-match-play-to-be-with-mother-as-she-battles-lung-cancer-212239016.html?hl=1&noRedirect=1

Security guard is still on duty hours before he graduates, cum laude, at Saint Theresa’s College in Cebu
http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/127331/security-guard-still-duty-hours-graduates-cum-laude-saint-saint-theresas-college-cebu#ixzz4cjl6qJd4 

Philippine Peso Is worst Asian currency in 2017
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2017-03-24/philippine-peso-is-worst-asian-currency-in-2017-video

And we continue our series of meatless recipes for Lent for the Happy Home Cook. This week, PF Correspondent and foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares her recipe for Shrimps and Leeks Omelet.

For our Video of the Week, after being bashed by Filipino netizens for calling suman “boring food,” TastesLikeChicken's William revisits the Filipino sticky rice snack with suggestions on how to eat it.

Art, Nostalgia and Self-Identity

When I was growing up in the lowlands of Quezon City, Baguio City was a magical place for me, my personal Shangri-La, with its cool and fragrant air, the hills promising mysteries and romance. Visits there were always exciting and memorable, and the lovely memories have stayed with me all these years. Thus, it was quite a shock and a massive letdown when we visited Baguio a few years ago and saw how it has become a crowded, polluted metropolis. It was no longer the Baguio of my imagination and my memory, and it made me so sad.

Reading PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo's report, "When Art Conquers the Hills," on the plans of Baguio City to beautify the densely populated Quirino Hill provides some relief and hope. It's a small step and a pyrrhic victory for Baguio lovers but nonetheless a welcome one. We hope it will really happen.

One of the most important filmmakers today, the consummate artist formerly known as Auraeus Solito, Kanakan Balintagos, is the subject of PF contributor Agatha Verdadero feature piece, "A Palawan Artist Finds His True Self in Amsterdam." Verdadero was part of the student theater group then-Solito founded at the University of the Philippines, and she has followed his artistic and career trajectory since. 

Since we're on the subject of nostalgia, how about Reading Again "12 Mind-blowing Facts About Metro Manila," from list site Filipiknow.net. Things there that will surprise you. 

For our In the Know links this week, two items about the Philippines:

Fascinating Map of the World, Tagalog is the second most spoken language in Saudi Arabia
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4216084/World-map-reveals-country-s-second-language.html

One of the World's Biggest Fisheries Is on The Verge of Collapse
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/08/wildlife-south-china-sea-overfishing-threatens-collapse/

For our Video of the Week, APEC Philippines released its “Invest Philippines” video during its 2015 conference to entice businesses to come to the country.

And for our Happy Home Cook recipe this week: Elizabeth Ann Quirino's Shrimps and Vegetables with Quail Eggs, a delicious and easy-to-make meatless Lenten dish.

Travel for the Soul

If travel for you also means doing something good for humanity, how about including the Davao School for the Blind in your itinerary? Mona Lisa Yuchengco, our publisher who also founded the Philippine International Aid (PIA), the oldest running Filipino American charity in the United States, recently visited the place and was duly impressed. Read her report, "That Hands May Learn to See," and understand why.

And speaking of travel, have you thought about the best way to document your experiences? Noni Mendoza, our second contributor to do travel sketches (the first one is Jojo Sabalvaro-Tan), shows us his way in "A Sense of Time and Space -- Travel Sketches."

As we continue celebrating Women's Month, here are some interesting Filipino women who have made their mark in their respective fields:

Carol Varga, the fave kontrabida (villain) of Filipino movies of yesteryear, paid tribute to by Rey de la Cruz;

Dr. Reina Reyes, an astrophysicist, introduced to us by Carleen Sacris;

The Untold Story of Sugar Pie DeSanto, jazz singer, as told by Benjamin Pimentel;

The Thoroughly Modern Sofia de Veyra, a feminist before her time, as profiled by Titchie Carandang-Tiongson.

And as we do every week, we compile stories from other publications that may be of interest to you:

How the Philippines Got Asia's Worst Internet Service
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ ralphjennings/2016/02/23/meet- asias-internet-laggard-the- philippines/#55fb73c63df7

British Man on Mission for Justice After Wife Gunned Down in Philippines
https://www.theguardian.com/ world/2017/mar/08/british-man- on-mission-for-justice-after- wife-gunned-down-in- philippines

Ube Cheesecake Is a Fabulous Filipino-American Fusion
http://seattle.eater.com/2017/ 3/3/14802540/hood-famous- bakeshop-ube-cheesecake-fusion

Definitive Philippine Food Map
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ isabellelaureta/pak-na-pak- ang-freshness?bffbphilippines& utm_term=.ajeABAeJj#.jlO5m5l7q

15 of the Best Restaurants in the Philippines Strictly by Reservations Only
http://ph.phonebooky.com/blog/ by-reservations-only- restaurants-philippines/?utm_ source=facebook&utm_medium= social&utm_content= reservations-only-030817&utm_ campaign=social-content

Our Happy Home Cook recipe continues meatless days for Lent. Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares with us her son's recipe for Manila Clams with Pinot Grigio. 

For Video of the Week, one minute video maker Nas visits the Philippines and discovers the Spanish influences on Filipino culture.