An Untold Story

First a love story.  When Erwin Tiongson and Titchie Carandang-Tiongson, history sleuths by avocation, chanced upon an old but well-preserved book on the Philippines, it inadvertently opened up an entire pandora's box of information on a lady lawyer named Nina Irene Thomas of Washington DC. Her connection to Philippine history? She was engaged to Manuel Luis Quezon, president of the Philippine Commonwealth, and would have married him before the politics of (Philippine) independence got in the way. "The Untold Story of Nina Thomas: The American Woman Who Could Have Been First Lady of the Philippines” is not just a profile of an accomplished woman; it's also a look into the thrill of finding history in unexpected places.

Considered one of the wisest and most beloved sages in the Philippines, Washington SyCip passed away a few days ago at the ripe age of 96. PF Correspondent John L. Silva remembers his time with the businessman philanthropist.

An outstanding example of creative nonfiction book that was recently published in Manila is FilAm Laurel Fantauzzo's The First Impulse, a superbly written account of the treacherous murder of two young people in Quezon City. New York-based  Marie La Viña writes a review. 

The tricky issue of assimilation assumes a timely import in this time of overt racism in the Trump era. History professor James Zarsadiaz gives context and his take on the issue in "Playing the Assimilation Game."

Our In The Know links this week:

Stockton’s Little Manila Center Vandalized in Possible Hate Crime
http://fox40.com/2017/10/10/stocktons-little-manila-center-vandalized-in-possible-hate-crime/

Josie Natori: Thriving: Fearlessly Growing a Fashion Empire
https://www.facebook.com/AARPAAPI/videos/1133037133498991/

Exploring an Abandoned Theme Park
https://www.facebook.com/uniladmag/videos/3286581194698250/

How a world concert pianist, with a master’s degree in statistics, helped move CCP forward
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/274884/world-concert-pianist-masters-degree-statistics-helped-move-ccp-forward/

And for our Happy Home Cook recipe: Calamares a la Trillanes, the recipe of the controversial senator of this bar favorite when he was in prison (along with many others) for mutiny. This is among the many compiled in a book called Pulutan: From the Soldiers' Kitchen,recipes concocted by the detained mutineers who had too much time on their hands and an unhampered appetite for food and drink.

For our Video of the Week: Asian American Life's Ernabel Demillo explores the lives of Filipinos who made their way to Ellis Island in New York.

Let the Celebration Begin

Filipino American History Month this year promises to be chock-full of events, starting with the 4th Filipino American International Book Festival taking place this weekend in San Francisco. Throughout the month, there will be a Filipino film festival, several corollary events from Filbookbest (author talks, book launches in various states), art exhibits and the momentous awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino WWII veterans in Washington DC before the month ends. Be sure to check out your nearest Philippine Consulates and local Filipino newspapers to keep up with these happenings. Of course, you can keep abreast in Positively Filipino too, so make sure you subscribe (it's free) by clicking on the Subscribe button. 

Why was October chosen as FilAm History Month? Read Again "Where Exactly Did 'Filipinos' First Land in California?", a well-researched piece by author/librarian Abraham Ignacio Jr., which traces the beginnings of Filipinos in the US.

In keeping with this month's theme, our Video of the Week is "A Filipino American Story," a capsule history of how Filipinos have made their presence felt in the greater American society. This video was made possible by the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) and AARP. 

One FilAm who is making waves in her chosen field is Chicago-based stage actor Christine Bunuan, introduced here in a profile by PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani. Bunuan staged her first solo show last December which she describes as both an immigrant story and a love story.

From the Philippines, contributor Bella Bonner extracts some colorful revelations from celebrity chef Sandy Daza and writes about it in "Delicious Sandy Daza." Daza whose culinary creds begin with being the son of the country's first celebrity chef, Nora Daza, has led an interesting life and has carved his own niche in that select circle that his mother started, with his own successful restaurants and his own TV show.  For Positively Filipino's Happy Home Cook, he shareshis recipe and technique in making that beloved Filipino dish, Kare-kare.

As always, our lineup of In the Know links provide you with a variety of stories that you may have missed:

Muslim solon resigns to return to community work
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/934952/muslim-solon-resigns-to-return-to-community-work#ixzz4uU824Ys9

Israel Honors The Philippines for Saving over 1,200 Jews during WWII. Thank you, Philippines!
http://samperkinzblog.com/israel-honors-philippines-saving-jews-saved-1200-jews-wwii-thank-philippines/

Lange Luntao on Education and Politics
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lange-lunato-education-politics

8 of the Most Bizarre, Exotic Food in the Philippines
http://8list.ph/most-bizarre-exotic-food-philippines/

An Officer and a Gentleman

Philippine history never lacks for interesting personalities and many of them remain unheralded because they are only known in select circles. One of them is Major General Basilio J. Valdes who holds the distinction of being the only medical doctor who became Chief of Staff of the Philippine armed forces and Secretary of Defense. Here we pay fitting tribute to this important historical figure who was President Manuel Luis Quezon's personal physician and trusted adviser. His niece, Jessie Thompson Huberty, shares with us family stories about her esteemed uncle who was with General Douglas MacArthur at the famous landing in Leyte beach.

Mactan, Cebu is not exactly author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard'shometown but being a native Cebuana, she has enough lovely memories of this once-sleepy town, now a bustling metropolis. In "Mactan, 50 Years Ago and Now," she recalls the island of her youth and its role in providing R&R to American troops fighting the Vietnam War. 

San Francisco was treated to the colorful sight of representatives of Mindanao indigenous people in their intricately woven attire. They are in the city for The Hinabi Project's exhibition of Mindanao textile arts and culture. Read our Partner post about this one-of-a-kind exhibit that you shouldn't let pass, if you're in the area.

Aside from Filipino American History Month, October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we can always count on our friends from ALLICE Alliance for Community Empowerment to mark the month with a resource fair. It's 13th annual Free from Violence event will be on October 3. More details in our Partner post.

A variety of interesting stories comprise our In The Know links this week:

Philippine peso flashes warning signs for Dutertenomics
https://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/William-Pesek/Philippine-peso-flashes-warning-signs-for-Dutertenomics

For Isolated Philippine Town, a Planned Road Is a Lifeline and a Worry
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/world/asia/philippines-remote-road.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share

An online museum that immortalizes years of martial rule
http://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/09/19/martial-law-museum-launch.html

Before Ayala Center, there was Quad
https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/71404/14-nostalgic-images-of-old-makati-a1806-20170912-lfrm4

Soup weather is coming up and our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is a comfort food: Lentil Longganisa soup from Rene Astudillo who has a food blog called My Bay Kitchen.

For our Video of the Week: in a documentary directed by Ed Ou and Aurora Almendral, NBC Left Field features "The Kill List," a look into the current drug war in the Philippines (Warning: Graphic Content).