What Indigenous Folk Arts Tell Us

When the Americans colonized the Philippines at the turn of the 20th century, they sought to portray Filipinos to the American public as "savages", requiring lessons in literacy and democracy. To stress their point, they brought "Igorottes" from northern Luzon to the US as human exhibits in such events as the St. Louis World Exposition of 1904. This massive, historic lie discounts the fact that among our indigenous tribes and mountain cultures, a sophisticated, homegrown culture has evolved since pre-Hispanic times. This culture manifests itself in folk arts and textile weaving, techniques handed down through the generations. Prof. Michael Gonzalez, a board member of The Hinabi Project, explains the history behind the beautiful ongoing "Cordillera Textiles and Folk Arts Exhibit" in San Francisco. Don't miss it if you're in the area.

If you're thinking of getting married in a Catholic church in the Philippines, here's a helpful eye-opener from PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo on the costs of having one. 

We continue to collect and post personal stories on martial law (and will keep on doing so until certain parties cease to attempt revising history, so Send Us Yours). This week, lawyer/academic Mariel Toni Jimenez writes about her recollections when she was a young girl in Manila and her aunt, Professor Dolores Feria, was arrested. 

It's been a year since the Marawi siege, a horrific year when the picturesque city in southern Philippines was reduced to rubble. Read Again journalist/author Criselda Yabes riveting account of a crucial military operation, "Escape Through Death's Door," after which read her "Marawi Update."

From Rene Astudillo, we have a recipe for Pork Quinoa Casserole for our Happy Home Cook. 

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

New Podcast Shares Uniquely Filipino-American Stories
https://www.colorlines.com/articles/new-podcast-shares-uniquely-filipino-american-stories?fbclid=IwAR1UX97glI9dqmZdhpGSDdXqwUgva1Ob08QDxShlN5EYgThXIoSwmt0Ga0s

From salted duck egg to sapin sapin: Filipino ingredients become ice cream flavors at Wanderlust Creamery
http://www.asianjournal.com/life-style/eat-drink/from-salted-duck-egg-to-sapin-sapin-filipino-ingredients-become-ice-cream-flavors-at-wanderlust-creamery/?fbclid=IwAR1bvutrX-fhMh1xTqWBdhaESfwQOAS6XfBOUTKnimyxwfaKzz-L3mPa-yQ

Duterte camp spent $200,000 for troll army, Oxford study finds
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/07/24/1721044/duterte-camp-spent-200000-troll-army-oxford-study-finds?fbclid=IwAR2-T9seV-XNWKzRl0djmVvBnQKyU8Bmy7n1Pw3GcsKhoVYSp4cxvIEr1U0

Philippines plastic pollution: why so much waste ends up in oceans
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/2168819/philippines-plastic-pollution-why-so-much-waste-ends-oceans?fbclid=IwAR2HPr30UnmCZ6VisdjZ9RvYLn7KPwqouUngIQS8qeSf2YoqLFPHAaR8ezE

And in celebration of Larry Itliong Day for the Filipino American History Month, we are featuring a clip from Marissa Aroy’s “Delano Manongs” as our Video of the Week.

War and Remembrance

How do you forgive wartime enemies that committed horrible atrocities and victimized your own family? Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino tells how the late President Elpidio Quirino forgave the Japanese imperial forces who wreaked havoc in his country and killed members of his own family ("War and Forgiving"). "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away," declared the late Gen. Douglas MacArthur in his retirement/farewell address to cadets of West Point. Titchie Carandang-Tiongson writes about the memorial that makes sure the old soldier's legacy doesn't fade away ("A Visit to the MacArthur Memorial"). And In a different kind of war that Filipinos eventual won by peaceful means, a blog by the late Benjamin Maynigo gives an account of his family's escape from the clutches of the Marcos dictatorship, in "Martial Law Stories: Escape to Sabah."

In our [In the Know] links:

The Ruins Of Marawi: A year after liberation, Meranaws await rehabilitation
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2018/10/the-ruins-of-marawi-a-year-after-liberation-meranaws-await-rehabilitation/

BBC: Philippines Democracy in Danger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSDEtZsqSj0&feature=share

The Facebook cleaners: 'I've seen hundreds of beheadings'
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-45833049/the-facebook-cleaners-i-ve-seen-hundreds-of-beheadings

For our Happy Home Cook, Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares with us her recipe for Adobong Kangkong (water spinach) with Talong (eggplant)

For our video of the week, Flyhigh Manila TV posts Cebu Pacific's Capt. Irizari's emotional farewell speech on his last flight before retirement.

Past and Pastime

Often overlooked in the history of American student activism is 1968 Third World students' strike in San Francisco State (University), which led to the formation of the first ethnic studies college in the country. Read all about the Filipino American students' leading role in that upheaval in Juanita Tamayo Lott's "PACE, A Critical Link in Filipino American History." 

But history is not all Big Politics. Read Bibeth Orteza's hilarious recollection of her frustrated quest for romance on campus just when the Big Politics of Marcos' Martial Law was descending on the Philippines.

For a dose of nostalgia, join our raconteur Myles Garcia as he lays his hands on one of Manila's favorite pastimes,  "Oh, How I Miss Manila Mahjong." 

We would like to thank our writers who won in the recent 7th Annual Plaridel Awards of the Philippine American Press Club, USA:

Rene Astudillo, Plaridel Award for Best International Story, “Will the Philippine Jeepney Soon Be Extinct?” http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/will-the-philippine-jeepney-soon-be-extinct

Elizabeth Ann Quirino, Plaridel Award for Best Tourism Feature Story, “Savoring Hidden Flavors of the Philippine Kitchen”
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/savoring-hidden-flavors-of-the-philippine-kitchen

Titchie Carandang-Tiongson and Erwin Tiongson, Plaridel Award for Best Profile Writing, “The Untold Story of Nina Thomas: The American Woman Who Could Have Been First Lady of the Philippines” http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-untold-story-of-nina-thomas

France Viana, Plaridel Award for Best Entertainment Story, “Myth, Magic and Madonnas In Eye-Opening Philippine Art Exhibition” http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/myth-magic-and-madonnas-in-eye-opening-philippine-art-exhibition

Rey E. de la Cruz, Honorable Mention for Best Profile Writing, “Happy Beneath the Sea”
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/robert-suntay

Rey E. de la Cruz, Honorable Mention for Best Feature Story, “Dear Satu: Letters Tell the Story of Our Lives”
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/dear-satu-letters-tell-the-story-of-our-lives

Lisa Suguitan Melnick, Honorable Mention for Best Entertainment Story, “Incarcerated 6x9 Gets You on the Cell-ular Level”
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/dance-theater-review-incarcerated-6-x-9-gets-you-on-the-cell-ular-level

Elizabeth Ann Quirino, Honorable Mention for Best Food Story, “Tupig from Tarlac,”
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/tupig-from-tarlac

For Filipino American History Month, we recommend the following Read Again stories:
“An Ilongot Murder Mystery” by Michael Gonzalez: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/an-ilongot-murder-mystery

“Fil-Am Olympic Great Vicki Manalo-Draves” by Ed Diokno: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/fil-am-olympic-great-vicki-manalo-draves

For our [In The Know] Links:

Soldiers in Facebook’s War on Fake News Are Feeling Overrun
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/09/business/facebook-philippines-rappler-fake-news.html

Wanted: More Public Libraries
https://opinion.inquirer.net/116595/wanted-public-libraries

Gov. Brown rejects ethnic studies bill, saying high school students are overburdened
https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/10/02/gov-brown-rejects-ethnic-studies-bill-saying-high-school-students-are-overburdened/

For Happy Home Cook, Chef Paolo Espanola dishes his take on a Filipino classic, Pansit Molo.

For Video of the Week, Center for Asian American Media remembers Professor Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, through her film collection on her family's history.