Remembering the Bataan Death March

Seventy five years ago, on April 9, 1942, some 75,000 defeated Filipino and American troops were forced by the invading Japanese Imperial Army to walk 65 miles from Mariveles, Bataan to the prisons in San Fernando, Pampanga. The trek, under extreme heat and hunger, accompanied by maltreatment by the Japanese soldiers, resulted in the death of about 1,000 Americans and 9,000 Filipino soldiers. That day of infamy has since been recorded in history as the Bataan Death March. Positively Filipino joins the Filipino nation, and the veterans of WWII and their families in commemorating this tragedy that has nonetheless brought about stories of valor and heroism by its survivors.

Our Washington DC-based contributor, Jon Melegrito, the son of a Bataan Death March survivor, wrote about his personal journey to honor his late father by walking 14 milesin the scorching New Mexico desert with some 7,000 participants of the re-enactment of the Death March. 

In San Francisco, a group of women led by Cecilia Gaerlan, also an offspring of a survivor, has established the Bataan Legacy Project whose primary goal is to keep the memories of Bataan and its survivors alive. Contributor Manzel Delacruz writes about them and the good work they're doing.

And from another dark period of our Motherland's history, Issa Manalo Lopez in "Prison Baby" writes about her birth in a Marcos prison and how she had to come to terms with her parents' incarceration.

In case you missed these interesting stories from various publications, here are our In The Know links this week:

Once PH's poorest, town literally draws path out of poverty
http://www.rappler.com/nation/165305-subanens-celebrate-poverty-reversal-siayan-zamboanga-norte

Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City Catholic Diocese: Bringing the church to the people
http://asianjournal.com/aj-magazines/bishop-oscar-solis-of-salt-lake-city-catholic-diocese-bringing-the-church-to-the-people/

‘Bangungot’: Why young men die suddenly in their sleep
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/259051/bangungot-young-men-die-suddenly-sleep/

Man seeks justice for wife shot 28 times in Philippines
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-39405721?SThisFB

Jonathan Gold's 6 favorite Asian fried chicken joints in the L.A. Area
http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-fo-jonathan-gold-asian-fried-chicken-20160629-snap-story.html

For Video of the Week, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho spotlights Erwin Macua, a security guard who graduated cum laude at St. Theresa’s College, the school he worked for.

Finally, as we near Holy Week, another meatless recipe from Elizabeth Ann Quirino, Grilled Salmon and Shrimps in Banana Leaves.

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.