Ube Art

Ube, that beloved purple root crop ubiquitous in Filipino desserts, takes center stage in San Francisco Bay Area-based artist O. M. France Viana's latest installations at Mills College Museum's 12 Degrees MFA Exhibition. Viana, a recent MFA graduate of Mills, has made it her mission "to chronicle how Filipino immigration is redefining what it means to be American," as PF contributor Manzel Delacruz reports. Along with ube, a collection of Black Madonnas, to which Viana claims a personal devotion, distinguished her exhibition.

Filipino cuisine has been getting a lot of press in the US lately but in the United Kingdom, it's still relatively unknown. But not for long, as self-made chef Roni Bandong has made it her personal crusade to promote Filipino cooking through her Maynila Supper Club (the British equivalent of the pop-up restaurant) and by winning in a UK-wide TV cooking show. Bandong's "chicken relleno" was chosen "Best Alternative Christmas Dish," as PF Correspondent and foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino writes. That award-winning "rellenong manok" recipe is our Happy Home Cook feature for this week. Bookmark it for your Christmas cooking.

Here are the links to interesting stories this week, for you to be In The Know:

6 Filipino scientists who are changing the world
http://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/06/27/6-filipino-scientists.html

CBCP guide lists websites peddling fake news
http://www.rappler.com/nation/173832-cbcp-list-websites-fake-news

Jojo De Carteret's Homecoming
https://www.facebook.com/kapusomojessicasoho/videos/10154922026076026/?autoplay_reason=user_settings&video_container_type=0&video_creator_product_type=2&app_id=2392950137&live_video_guests=0

Pinoys the 'greatest' supporters of Trump in the world - Pew Research
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/616064/pinoys-the-greatest-supporters-of-trump-in-the-world-pew-research/story/

In Tama's No-Frills Space, the Filipino Food is Anything But
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/dining/tama-review-filipino-restaurant-brooklyn.html

And our Video of the Week: actor Dante Basco, director Jonah Feingold and their team just launched “Bangarang,” a prequel short film to Steven Spielberg's “Hook.” The Kickstarter-backed film explores the life of Basco's character Rufio before he became the leader of the lost boys in Neverland.

Jazz, Race and Churches

A MacArthur Foundation "genius" award is no small thing to scoff at (Google it and see how prized it is) and Han Ong, our featured author/playwright this week, is one of them. Contributing writer Elaine Elinson writes about this Filipino Chinese American phenom whose latest work, Grandeur, about another enigmatic genius Gil Scott-Heron ("godfather of hip hop") is currently being staged at San Francisco's Magic Theater. Positively Filipino readers get a 20% discount until the end of the play's run on June 25 so don't miss this rare chance to bask in the magic of genius.

Speaking of awesome, some churches in the Philippines definitely fall under this category as Ortigas Foundation Executive Director and PF Correspondent John Silva shows us in "Exceptional Philippine Churches." Keep this guide handy for your next visit to the Philippines.

Racial slur or First Amendment right? The US Supreme Court allowed an Asian American band to use the name "The Slants" under the Freedom of Speech provision. Contributing writer Ed Diokno however declares the name "A Racial Slur By All Means." What do you think?

Some historical Read Agains:

Liana Romulo's report on her distinguished grandfather's singular feat, "When Lolo's Debating Team Vanquished America"

Dr. Penelope V. Flores' popular essay, "How Filipinos Got Their Surnames"

And for your reading pleasure, a smorgasbord of In The Know links: 

The Battle for Marawi City
http://time.com/marawi-philippines-isis/

Hiding Christians in the Basement: Fear and Heroism in a Philippine War Zone
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/17/world/asia/marawi-philippines-islamic-state-christians.html

‘Clean your weapons,’ Iligan mayor tells gun owners as military bares Maute plan for city
http://www.interaksyon.com/clean-your-weapons-iligan-mayor-tells-gun-owners-as-military-bares-maute-plan-for-city/

Rizal's life in Germany revisited in new map
http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-and-culture/173328-rizal-life-germany-revisited-new-map

Señorita Bread Is a Carb Addiction Waiting to Happen
https://modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/senorita-bread-carb-addiction-waiting-happen

Author/foodie and PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares with us her version of "Sabaw ng Munggo Guisado" which, she discovered, was Jose Rizal's favorite dish to cook while in exile in Dapitan.

Our Video of the Week: Australia's Marc Fennell interviews Lea Salonga on her career on Broadway.

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Special Discount for Positively Filipino Readers

Grandeur will run until June 25. Readers of Positively Filipino can use the code GRANDEUR20 for 20% off tickets to GRANDEUR.[This offer expires on June 25, 2017. Discount is available on all seats. All seats are best available. Offer not valid on previous purchases and cannot be combined with any other offer. All tickets are subject to availability. Subject to change. Service charges apply to all orders.]

For tickets: http://magictheatre.org/

Birds and Spirits

There's something about bird watching that brings out the poetry in everyone, particularly if you're already an award-winning poet/playwright like Reuel Molina Aguila. In "On the Wings of Bird Poems," contributing writer Ed Maranan, himself an award-winning poet and author, lets us soar on Molina Aguila's bird photographs that are accompanied by his poetry and Maranan's translations. 

Another uplifting story this week is Toronto-based contributor Maripi Leynes' profile of Arlene Oliveros, the first female Filipino certified sommelier. With the spunk and determination common among immigrants, Oliveros worked her way from caregiving to becoming a wine expert. Read "The Spirit Moves Her" and be inspired.

Father's Day happens in a few days and we wish to celebrate all fathers and mom-dads out there. Our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco shares with us the touching story of her father, Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, who passed away recently after living a long, colorful and substantial life. 

Here's our In The Know links for this week:

How ISIS Got a Foothold in the Philippines
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/04/opinion/isis-philippines-rodrigo-duterte.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1

Rape within the family: The Philippines' silent incest problem
http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/171457-incest-rape-philippines-sexual-abuse

Priest brings psychosocial help to Mindanao conflict zone
http://www.ucanews.com/news/priest-brings-psychosocial-help-to-mindanao-conflict-zone/79414

Former Pinoy dishwasher now owner of pizzeria in Italy
http://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/30/17/former-pinoy-dishwasher-now-owner-of-pizzeria-in-italy

10 Must-Visit Libraries in Metro Manila
http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/69388/10-must-visit-libraries-in-metro-manila-a00171-20170223-lfrm

And our post-Independence Day Happy Home Cook recipe is Arroz A La Cubana from PF Correspondent and foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino.

Our Video of the Week: The Sing Philippines Youth Choir made up of 100 singers from from all over the country, surprise the commuters of LRT Line 2 with a flash mob performance.