Baguio, What the Hell?

If you've been to Baguio recently and can remember the Baguio of yesteryears (peaceful, romantic, the air replete with the aroma of pine trees), you know that the Philippines' summer capital has some big, big-city problems (traffic, crime, congestion, pollution). But banning cussing in public? Baguio-based PF correspondent Rene M. Astudillo reports on the recent city government ordinance -- questionable, unenforceable -- that  makes one wonder if taxpayers' money is truly wasted on legislators. (Read "Baguio City Goes Cuss-Free, or Will It?”)

Speaking of nostalgia, PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia shares his memories of a trip to a London suburb he won't forget, and how he racked up mileage miles on the late, lamented Trans World Airlines (TWA). ("The Night I Drove to Bexleyheath")

We missed out on commemorating the 145th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio last week so here's a fitting Read Again from cultural historian Penelope V. Flores on the Philippines' other National Hero.

Our In The Know links this week:

Filipino-American Vet Says Starbucks Barista Wrote Racial Slur On His Cup
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/12/01/filipino-american-starbucks-racial-slur-cup/?fbclid=IwAR0GRRm8tyIa8RyLBb3p3RRVVuEA3wNc0b79bMl1zTBufLT0dSL6y0Ye7T8

The hardest job in Silicon Valley is a living nightmare
https://www.fastcompany.com/90263921/the-hardest-job-in-silicon-valley-is-a-living-nightmare 

This year’s buffet of Fil-Am and Fil-Canadian cookbooks
https://usa.inquirer.net/17026/this-years-buffet-of-fil-am-and-fil-canadian-cookbooks#ixzz5YoRgHV2l 

Meet a history-making White House executive chef
https://share.america.gov/meet-history-making-white-house-executive-chef/?fbclid=IwAR3tPVAMoMiUnxRmFLrrXhd0QqHq1e07y2LwJalIQSEpNAWZh9PsAz0AsAU 

If you're starting to stress out with your planned Christmas menu, here's something to ease the tension somewhat: our Happy Home Cook recipe for Instapot Leche Flan, another of Elizabeth Ann Quirino's time-saving shares. 

In our video of the week, the story behind the well-loved Filipino Christmas carol “Pasko na, Sinta ko.”

Born That Way

There’s proof that American-born or raised Filipinos inherit the humor genes of their immigrant parents. Our correspondent Anthony Maddela writes about Filipino AF, a year-old comedic ensemble that uses sketch humor, dance, film and yes, lumpia, to tickle its mostly Filipino audiences (see “Comedy That’s as Filipino As F__.”)

On a sober note, Lt. Patricia Teston, a young Filipina officer in the U.S. Navy, safely guides her ship through the dangerous waters of the Persian Gulf and feels she has fulfilled a vow she made as a child when a devastating typhoon battered her island (“My Vow for Undang.”)

Slow down with writer Criselda Yabes (“Kyoto Days”) as she serenely bikes her way around Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan. Meditatively feast your eyes on its temples then mercilessly chomp down its French-inspired croissants.

Cookbook author Liza Agbanlog is back with her take on Adobong Dilaw.

For this week’s in The Know links:

Desperate victims of Philippines landslide that killed 29 send texts for help from under the rubble
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/21/desperate-victims-philippines-landslide-killed-22-send-texts/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_fb&fbclid=IwAR1kVylxjh0w49NCUwt4GlQSh92gMnFpwAN2LM-M9mJM19yoVTOE7JXu9Kc

An American And Her Filipina Translator Exhume A Massacre In 'Insurrecto'
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/10/666360732/an-american-and-her-filipina-translator-exhume-a-massacre-in-insurrecto?fbclid=IwAR0ojG4MVScDQXW5udZQioxYb8iM5U8B53NN-hVgIflWs9IxdD0Ecu8RPVc

Rizal and the Creatures of Dapitan
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/11/rizal-and-the-creatures-of-dapitan/?globalbanner&fbclid=IwAR2-I5IvknKErei0k-JclbnExMJS2weQNkz6Mt6A7j32e-_O4EZ1cG6SSnE

Google pays tribute to Dr. Fe del Mundo with a doodle
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/18/google-pays-tribute-to-dr-fe-del-mundo-with-a-doodle?fbclid=IwAR3LEuT1651SIQr4h5MmRV80N6BOG0p2VX6LKRi5nGZME3t1TKHF6zrtXrY

For Video of the Week, CNN Philippines features Lea Salonga as celebrates her 40 years in show business.

Three Women

Three women, three very different lives. 

Manila-based contributor Rochit I. Tañedo draws on her valuable experience in community organizing to give us a glimpse of the challenging life of T'boli women of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Food expert and PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino focuses on Liza Agbanlog, a Vancouver-based food blogger turned cookbook author who shares with us her own recipe for Sinigang na Isda sa Miso, our Happy Home Cook feature of the week. 

From New York, PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani profiles visual artist and poet Monica Ong, who explores her Chinese, Filipino and American lineage through her art and poetry.

Our In The Know links this week:

Can Imelda Erase History Again?
https://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/can-imelda-marcos-erase-history-again/?fbclid=IwAR1LSMkmDFqDN-1iMlmI_5VJp8MPMzSVfvKMIpcATOdyNeosu25VGu4vhTY

Rewriting history in the Philippines and the fight for the truth
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-46185620/rewriting-history-in-the-philippines-and-the-fight-for-the-truth?fbclid=IwAR3R5cG-ITv9luNzJKz9UWOHh6b2JZCxngH2WQs3gOD7Blf_odu8hw4ZKKM

Bells of Balangiga: Why they matter
https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/11/13/18/bells-of-balangiga-why-they-matter?fbclid=IwAR3E-6_JIU6h4ErWwS6TDSV00rv9jaLlthIyr64kycGwqEeu5CWC_LR9pwA

Painting to Live: The Remarkable Story of 90-Year-Old Filipina Artist Araceli Dans
https://lifestyleasia.onemega.com/painting-to-live-the-remarkable-story-of-90-year-old-filipina-artist-araceli-dans/?fbclid=IwAR1dbatsmXtZbVd5TRtC58JqfNGaBINuDaE3SLjjFcpCvdnhNsE9-yJHfHA

For video of the week, Youtube comedian Jeppy Paraiso shares the Thanksgiving cheer.