January 17, 2018

Comforting the Afflicted, Afflicting the Comfortable

January 17, 2018/ Gemma Nemenzo

When I was in journalism school at the University of the Philippines (UP) many decades ago, our professors -- all giants in the field -- imprinted into our consciousness two basic tenets that every decent journalist should take to heart: first, that an independent, unfettered press is vital to good government, and second, it is not the role of the press to comfort the comfortable. On the contrary, the role of the press is to make those in power uncomfortable, by being the guardian and the disseminator of truth and decency. Such principles were tested sorely during martial law, and they are again being tested now.

To paraphrase Oprah, the press is currently under siege, not just in the US but more so in the Philippines. Upholding press freedom has become a bruising challenge these days; its suppression has taken many forms -- from outright harassment, legal cases, trolling and imprisonment, even killing of journalists. The latest case is the revocation of the license to operate of Rappler, an online publication in Manila. With our In The Know links this week, we keep you updated on the issue:

Rappler Registration Revoked
https://www.rappler.com/nation/193687-rappler-registration-revoked

SEC revocation of Rappler’s registration explained
http://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-sheet-sec-revocation-rapplers-registration-e

Three things Duterte got wrong about Rappler
http://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-check-three-things-duterte-got-wrong-about-r

In time of slaughter and lies, Rappler is a beacon of hope
http://usa.inquirer.net/9322/time-slaughter-lies-rappler-beacon-hope

Of PDRs and 'foreign ownership' of PH media
https://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/176774-pdrs-media-ownership

Media, human rights groups slam SEC closure order vs. Rappler
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/01/16/media-groups-on-SEC-closure-order-rappler.html

Our lineup for this week takes us to Vancouver, Canada as PF contributing writer Sandie Gillis chronicles the visit of National Artist BenCab and his drawing session with Filipino-Canadian artists who belong to the Dimasalang III artist collective in that area.

It also takes us back in time to the construction of the railroad to Baguio in the early part of the 20th century by our American colonizers. Historian/academic Michael Gonzalez writes about the progress and folly of the ambitious project to provide the Americans in the Philippines an easy way to vacation in the land of pines.

PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco attended for the first time and writes about the annual event of Bantayog ng Mga Bayani in Quezon City. Bantayog is a memorial site for the gallant men and women who resisted martial law and last year, the Bantayog heroes included the late Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, who turned out to be a secret supporter of some "subversive" activities against Marcos.

And in the same spirit of resistance, let's revisit what is now immortalized as the First Quarter Storm of 1970. Read Again journalist Jose "Pete" Lacaba's riveting account of that period, from his classic book Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage. We posted it in two parts:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-1

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-2

Our Happy Home Cook recipe for this week: Bangus Sisig by Chef Niel Salvatera of Kusina de Manila in Des Plaines, Illinois.

For our Video of the Week, TV Journalist TJ Manotoc opens up on a taboo topic in Philippines: Living with Depression.

January 10, 2018

Looking Back

January 10, 2018/ Gemma Nemenzo

There's no question about it. Uncertain times require focused, well thought out political activism. And the best way to be good at it is to look for guidance from organizations and people who have been there, who have done successful actions that got positive results. That's why the release of A Time to Rise, a book that chronicles the anti-Marcos struggles and the quest for social change for Filipino Americans by the Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP) in the '70s and '80s, is timely and valuable at this point when the siren call for resistance and change cannot be ignored. History professor James Sobredo writes an extensive review of the book.

If you lived in the Philippines during the Marcos regime, you will certainly remember Ricardo Silverio, who owned the Toyota franchise, among others, at that time and was one of the more well-known cronies. The Silverio business empire did not survive the fall of the regime in 1986 and PF Correspondent Myles Garcia tells us why in "Tales of the Late, Last Toyota King of the Philippines."

Switching now to a more soul-enriching topic, artist/writer France Viana gives a glimpse of the Philippine Art Exhibition of San Francisco's Asian Art Museum (AAM) in "Myth, Magic and Madonnas in the Eye-Opening Philippine Art Exhibition." It is a very tiny collection -- just 25 objects, all donated -- on display but, as the author asserts, the exhibit nonetheless provides "insights into racial makeup, ancestral trade routes, and migratory histories." A puny beginning for the AAM which hopefully will lead to a bigger, richer one.

Salted egg whatevers are the rage in Manila right now and PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo, who also has a food blog, is right there with his Crispy-Fried, Salted-Egg Fish Skins version, our recipe for the Happy Home Cook.

We have an interesting array of In the Know links for you this week:

Filipinos of the Year 2017: Pinoy Ako Blog and other voices vs. fake news
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/958077/filipinos-of-the-year-2017-pinoy-ako-blog-and-other-voices-vs-fake-news#ixzz53mjehdvx

Filipino Film ‘Ang Larawan’ Sets the Bar High for Movie Musicals
https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2018/01/09/filipino-film-ang-larawan-sets-the-bar-high-for-movie-musicals/

Are These The 20 Most Beautiful Places in the World?
http://www3.forbes.com/lifestyle/are-these-the-20-most-beautiful-places-in-the-world/

Why the Market for Skin Whitening Products is Growing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjzvvgmg1NU

For Video of the Week, BBC News features Mitos, one of the many victims of modern day slavery in the U.K. She tells about her everyday life working as a domestic helper in Britain until she escaped her employers.

January 03, 2018

Simple and Successful

January 03, 2018/ Gemma Nemenzo

After those sumptuous, sinful dishes of the holidays, I'm sure many of us are hankering for simple, basic comfort food. And so we bring you the late great chef Nora Daza's Chicken Tinola Soup recipe for our Happy Home Cook this week.

In picturesque Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, stands the Bayanihan Community Centre, the pride of the island's Filipino community. Purportedly the envy of other Canadian cities with sizeable Filipino communities, the Bayanihan Community Centre's longevity is attributed to its solid financial management and accountability and its active organization. First-time contributor Ben Pires, who has been involved in the center since its inception, writes its story.

How to pay tribute to someone you admire but hardly knew? FilAm author/academic Laurel Fantauzzo, who just came out with a highly acclaimed creative non-fiction book, shows us how as she honors the late Congresswoman Dina Abad, her mother's friend.

Oh, and by the way, this issue marks the sixth year of Positively Filipino's existence and as is our wont, we list down our ten most popular stories of the past year so you can read them again or for the first time. See below.

+BTW: OPINIONS, CONTEXT & IDEAS FROM THE EDITORS

Opinions, Context, Ideas & Letters

Comforting the Afflicted, Afflicting the Comfortable

Looking Back

Simple and Successful

Top Stories of 2017

Positively Filipino | Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora

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