Courage, Charm, and Gustation

It takes quite some strength to muster the courage to live one's truth, and Assumption College president Pinky Valdes is a model of doing just that. PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco writes about her fellow Assumptionista and the interesting twists and turns of her life in "Pinky Valdes' Winding Road to Healing."

If you're a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, you can celebrate the presence of FilAm Jordan Clarkson, the same way PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela celebrates him in "The Undeniably Charming Jordan Clarkson."

For foodies who love Japanese cuisine, here's a treat from Bella Bonner, who joined "Sandy Daza's Amazing Foodie Tour" of several cities in Japan and survived the oyster feast to write about it. 

And speaking of Sandy, here's a video of him with other noted Filipino chefs for our Video of the Week.

For our Happy Home Cook recipe, Sandy's famous mother Nora Daza's recipe for Lengua con Champignon and Mushroom-Butter Sauce.

Our In The Know listing:

What's Happening to Leni Robredo?
https://joeam.com/2018/03/21/whats-happening-to-leni-robredo/

Children of the Drug War Speak Out
http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/multimedia/video/03/19/18/children-of-the-drug-war-speak-out

Michelle Malkin defends Bruno Mars against claims of cultural appropriation
https://www.facebook.com/CRTV/videos/1732142643519881/

Stephen Hawking's Nurse was a Filipino from Zamboanga City
https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/stephen-hawkings-favorite-nurse-was-filipino/

Look Inside Southwest's Transportive New Asian Restaurant, Kaliwa
https://dc.eater.com/2018/3/20/17143502/kaliwa-cathal-armstrong-filipino-korean-thai-food-wharf-opening

Manhattan’s Newest Filipino Restaurant Stays Traditional With Exquisite Results
https://ny.eater.com/2018/3/19/17139226/mama-finas-east-village-nyc-what-to-order

Two Noteworthy Filipinas, Two Different Paths

Two noteworthy Filipinas, two very different paths.

Fil-Am Juslyn Manalo caps her distinguished career in government and nonprofits with the coveted position of mayor of Daly City, California, home to the biggest concentration of Filipinos in the San Francisco Bay Area. PF Correspondent Cherie Querol-Moreno introduces us to Manalo and collates some advice for her from her "sister predecessors" -- Filipino women who have become mayors of various cities in northern California.

On a totally different track, PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia hears Nat King Cole's classic rendition of "Stardust" and waxes nostalgic with memories of his childhood in San Juan and a woman he knew then as Ginny. To his surprise, Ginny eventually became well-known within certain circles as Viring de Asis, the leading seller of antiques in Metro Manila. "Ginny, the Jukebox and Nat" is a step back in time with the beloved song setting the mood.

Back to the present, our Philippine-based correspondent, Rene M. Astudillo gives us a primer on understanding the current Filipino slang and memes. A useful guide when you are in our motherland and encountering millenials. 

Our In The Know compilation for this week:

Toyo Eatery bags coveted award from Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2018—a first for Filipino dining
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/288785/toyo-eatery-bags-coveted-award-asias-50-best-restaurants-2018-first-filipino-dining/

Filipino Food Finds a Place in the American Mainstream
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/dining/filipino-cooking.html

Uber to Exit the Southeast Asian and Philippines Markets
https://techpilipinas.com/uber-exit-southeast-asian-philippines-markets/

The last and definitive op-ed to shut down the Bruno Mars cultural appropriation nonsense
https://thegrio.com/2018/03/12/bruno-mars-cultural-appropriation/

Aileen Suzara Is Flipping the Script About 'Unhealthy' Filipino Food
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/aileen-suzara

Disney's A Wrinkle in Time's Deric McCabe Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avBk0nRGRsM

Our Happy Home Cook recipe is for that addicting munchies: Adobong Malutong or Crispy Adobo Flakes.

For our Video of the Week, here's the popular infomercial that won the top prize for its director, Lyle Sacris, in the 2018 Kidlat Awards. Full disclosure: Lyle is my nephew so please indulge my auntie pride here. 

Yes, Women Can

We join the entire world in celebrating Women's History Month 2018, well aware that through persistence and unity, women are making their voices heard loud and clear against their oppressors. We will be featuring stories of Filipino women who have made their mark in various fields, among them Armida Siguion-Reyna, whose long-running TV show Aawitan Kita kept the kundiman tradition alive through the generations. Armida isn't just an entertainer; during her heyday, she was also a feisty cultural activist, a producer of shows, and most of all, a doting mother and grandmother to her brood. In "We Call Her Mahal," Sara Siguion-Reyna writes lovingly about her beloved grandma.

PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco recalls a visit to the small town of Amagi in the Tokunoshima island in Japan and tells of the historic role Filipino women played in keeping the town alive.

For my blog this month, I focus on the poet Angela Manalang-Gloria, one of the leading lights of early Philippine literature in English, whose famous poem "Soledad" captivated me when I was younger, and titillates my imagination to this day.  

It's official, folks. And it has been official since it was enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution: the national language of the Philippines is Filipino, not Pilipino. How did the F win out? Poet/translator and language expert Marne Kilates gives us the backstory on how the F, along with C, J, Ñ, Q, V, and Z have now been added to the previously 20-letter Filipino alphabet.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week comes from graphic artist/writer Alex G. Paman who just came out with his second book, Filipino Barbecue. Enjoy Alex's version of Chicken Inasal.

Here's the In The Know line-up:

The 19 Best Filipino Restaurants in Los Angeles, 2018 Edition
https://la.eater.com/maps/best-filipino-restaurants-los-angeles-adobo-lumpia

Oscars 2018: Robert Lopez becomes the first person in history to double EGOT
http://ew.com/awards/2018/03/05/oscars-2018-robert-lopez-double-egot/

Rita Moreno wears the same Pitoy Moreno dress she wore to Oscars in 1962
https://www.today.com/style/rita-moreno-wears-same-dress-oscars-she-wore-1962-ceremony-t124430

To design costumes for 'Black Panther,' this artist drew on his Filipino upbringing
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/design-costumes-black-panther-artist-drew-his-filipino-upbringing-n852856

For Video of the Week, CNN Philippines The Story of the Filipino looks into lives of 3 women: Aya Fernandez (founder and head of Project Lily PH), Cha Roque (a filmmaker and Dakila Communications Director) and Kelsey Hadjirul (a young LGBT and Women's Rights Activist).