Anniversaries of Political Violence

Yesterday, August 21, we marked the anniversaries of two cataclysmic events that changed the course of Philippine history:

* 47 years ago, August 21, 1971, the Liberal Party political rally in Plaza Miranda was bombed, killing some and permanently disfiguring some of the well-known legislators at that time. Public sentiment blamed President Marcos, then already increasing unpopular, who then declared the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus (leading a year later to the declaration of martial law). Decades after, some members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) revealed (and this was later confirmed by other insiders) that the Plaza Miranda bombing was ordered by the CPP leadership. Read Again journalist/author Gregg Jones account: The Ghosts of Plaza Miranda

* 35 years ago, August 21, 1983, opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. was assassinated upon arrival at the Manila International Airport. The heinous crime resulted in an upheaval so massive that for the next three years, the Philippines was like a cauldron just waiting to explode. Read Again, journalist Ken Kashiwahara's story of Ninoy's last minutes: Ninoy's Final Journey

This year, August, a shroud of sorrow envelopes the Filipino American community with the sudden passing of a beloved historian/author and community leader Dawn Bohulano Mabalon. Her friend, Mariel Toni Jimenez, tells us why Dawn's death is heavy as a mountain.

On a brighter note, PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino profiles Cathy Feliciano Chon, Captivating Communications Influencer, in her continuing series of outstanding young Filipinos.

And here's a look on the evolution of the cherished mythical figure, Ibong Adarna, by PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia.

Among our In The Know links this week is AARP's announcement that Washington DC-based community leader Jon Melegrito won the AARP AAPI Hero Award.

Jon Melegrito, AARP AAPI Hero Awardee
https://www.facebook.com/AARPAAPI/posts/1412613422208026

Typhoons and Tycoons: Disaster Capitalism in the Philippines
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/typhoons-tycoons-disaster-capitalism-philippines-180816065729201.html

Ninoy Aquino Remembered
http://opinion.inquirer.net/115456/ninoy-aquino-remembered

These are The Really Crazy Rich Asians
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g01YnqH-2ek

Where I Come From South Bay | Mix of Cultures
https://video.kpbs.org/video/where-i-come-from-south-bay-mix-of-cultures-ejnyqy/

In the midst of summer in the Western hemisphere, how about cooking a traditional favorites: Inihaw na Baboy (Grilled Pork). Our Happy Home Cook recipe for the week.

And for Video of the Week, a rare footage unearthed by the Associated Press from its archives that shows a scene from the 1976 trial of Ninoy Aquino. 

Farewells

Positively Filipino shares the sorrow of the Filipino American community in the unexpected loss of Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, our highly esteemed historian and activist, whose lifework -- documenting the stories of FilAms of various generations -- is unmatched in its scope and reach. Here's our Video of the Week from TFC, paying tribute to this exemplary Filipina.

Another sadness brings about a deeply personal and heartfelt tribute to another great Filipina, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, from veteran journalist Sylvia L. Mayuga, whose friendship with the woman she calls Mama Chitang goes back several decades, political sides and personal reckonings.

An issue to ponder during Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month) is a common first question among Filipino expats. Contributor Dayyuman Marie Ngoddo makes a case of choosing the question "What Languages Do You Speak?" over "where do you come from?"

The language of film as spoken by filmmaker Mikhail Red is the subject of Joy Watford's interview.

Here are links to stories you may have missed in various publications:

Recovering Fil-Am History
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2018/07/23/1835805/recovering-fil-am-history

Duterte: China should temper its behavior in disputed waters
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/duterte-china-should-temper-its-behavior-in-disputed-waters/2018/08/14/d7ec1f38-9fc8-11e8-a3dd-2a1991f075d5_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b7201d5d0e81

A Sisterhood of Nurses
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-sisterhood-of-nurses-1533992461

Manga Creators: Jose Rizal More Than A Filipino Hero
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/1025-profiles/207033-manga-artist-ryo-konno-writer-takahiro-matsui-on-jose-rizal

Yes, Champorado and Tuyo-Flavored Suman Exists!
https://www.yummy.ph/news-trends/budbud-gourmet-suman-a00260-20180803?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=080518-BudbudGourmetSuman

For our Happy Home Cook recipe this week, San Francisco-based foodie Voltaire Gungab does his own version of the Venezuelan national dish, Pabellon Criollo. 

Getting Things Straight

The Philippines' national language is Filipino, not Pilipino. It's time to get that straight as our homeland celebrates Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month) this entire month of August. How and why did the F come to replace the P? Read Again poet/critic/author Marne Kilates' discussion, "Why the F in Filipino and How Did It Get There?"

And while we're at it, please also Read Again why referring to the Philippines as P.I. is just so outdated and wrong: it was a term used during Commonwealth times, meaning it got outdated in 1946 when the Philippines became an independent country. Let Professor Michael Gonzalez explain in "Please Stop Calling the Philippines P.I."

One of the busiest intersections along EDSA used to be a quiet, secluded enclave surrounded by cogon grass and sunflowers, and hosted some wayward snakes that slithered their way into the very few homes in the area. Poet/essayist Marra PL. Lanot brings us back to those days in "Of Fireflies and Firebrands."

Meanwhile, PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani takes obvious pride in jazz guitarist/composer Johnny Alegre who she describes as "one of the international greats in jazz."

Here are links to stories in other publications that you may have missed:

Duterte's Philippines is getting more corrupt
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2017/01/26/dutertes-philippines-is-getting-more-corrupt/#2775307f5a7f

The Future is Intersectional with Filipina Canadian Artist Han Han
http://blog.sterngrove.org/hanhan/

'Mexipino' combines Mexican and Filipino flavors
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/south-county/sd-se-mexipino-restaurant-20180706-story.html

How an immigrant youth is getting recognition for creating peace of mind
https://discover.rbcroyalbank.com/how-an-immigrant-youth-is-getting-recognition-for-creating-peace-of-mind/

For our Happy Home Cook recipe, we go back to the Filipino immigrant's cooking bible, Nora Daza's Let's Cook with Nora, and borrow her recipe for Orange Spareribs.

For video of the week, online comic Jeppy Paraiso continues his Tita series “Don't Tita, Don't.”

For our partner post, FilVetRep's Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret.) is calling on the community to support Jon Melegrito for AARP's AAPI Community Hero Award for his work in honoring the Filipino World War II Veterans. Deadline is August 15, 2018.