Timeless Star of the Silver Screen

To fans of Filipino movies, Eddie Garcia is a towering institution, unmatched in the breadth and depth of his talent, his experience and in the variety of roles he has played in the 70 years he has been in the industry as actor and director. Author/poet and movie critic Marra PL. Lanot catches up with this quintessential actor and shares his views with us in "What Makes Eddie Run?'

A landmark victory that should be celebrated and pursued, not ignored. That's the maritime case that the Philippines filed against China before the International Court of Arbitration, a complex process that veteran journalist Marites Danguilan Vitug meticulously chronicles in her new book, Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China. The book is reviewed for us by Dr. Patricio N. Abinales in "High Noon in the West Philippine Sea."

Bookending our lineup this week is "Lucky Charm," an essay by millennial writer Maia Boncan.

Starting with the above piece, we'd like to encourage our young readers to share their thoughts/views and their writing, for a series that we have tagged, "Our Turn."

If you're craving comfort food this cold season, how about trying out our Happy Home Cook recipe this week from PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo: Dinengdeng with Fried Bangus. 

And our links for stories you may have missed reading:

Where 518 Inmates Sleep in Space for 170, and Gangs Hold It Together
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/07/world/asia/philippines-manila-jail-overcrowding.html?fbclid=IwAR3xMdQXvsf3WhfVkDI_SJST2H3NWtdK1v9bqN85ONyiMn9cQN5uymxK1xs

Meet the Filipina Engineer Who Struggled in Math But Now Works at NASA 
https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/newsfeatures-peopleparties/76495/josephine-santiago-bond-filipina-engineer-nasa-a833-20190106-lfrm?ref=home_feed_1%3Futm_source&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190106-fbnp-newsfeatures-josephine-santiago-bond-filipina-engineer-nasa-a833-20190106-lfrm%3Fref&fbclid=IwAR0S6jjWV9oQ3oUOCviw04_mAvtvy1GjpvwJRghlK4zNL9kzkP6ELXVLOOg

“Stay a While Longer, Doc”
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/40/stay-a-while-longer-doc/?fbclid=IwAR13clgfoZCLsr_gZwWE3UW0ry3wW8wZ9MGtYazawdyLJOGgaMIOaWWnMiA

New Saliva-based Test Detects Malaria Before Symptoms Appear
http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2019/01/new-saliva-based-test-detects-malaria-before-symptoms-appear.php?fbclid=IwAR23dLuSPkYuKejtuJmxUjnnrJw1H1RYD9478XGHTz6K3RxsBKB0UVdMmrI

Darren Criss Wins at Golden Globes
https://deadline.com/2019/01/golden-globes-darren-criss-the-assassination-of-gianni-versace-ryan-murphy-filipino-american-1202530126/

For Video of the Week, Grammy-nominated recording artist H.E.R. (aka Gabi Wilson) was interviewed on the Late, Late Show with James Corden, where she acknowledged her Filipino heritage.

Hello, Young Readers

A glorious and hopeful 2019 to all.

We just looked into our 2018 readership stats and we're very happy to note that we got a lot more readers from the millennial generation. In fact, the majority (54%) of our readers last year were from the 18-34 age group, which is both surprising and gratifying. Since most of our stories are about history and culture, we'd like to think that young people look to Positively Filipino as a source of information and guidance (from elders like us) in navigating their collective history and heritage.

If you want to read or re-read our most popular stories of 2018, here are the links.

One of the major progress that happened in the Philippines in recent years is the passage of the RH (for reproductive health) Law that came about after years of wrangling between the Catholic Church and legislators. Dr. Marilen J. Danguilan, who was at the forefront of the struggle, has come out with a book that detailed the process of awareness, negotiations and passage of the bill. The RH Bill Story: Contentions and Compromises and its valuable lessons are discussed by Rep. Edcel Lagman here. (Read "A True Chronicle of the Reproductive Health Law's Odyssey")

PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani profiles Esmie Gayo McLaren, a Vancouver-based artist who recently had exhibits in Ottawa and New York.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe comes from San Francisco-based foodie Voltaire Gungab who came up with the scrumptious Bibingka Cakes with Lambanog-Lemongrass Syrup and Coconut Cream. 

Links for stories you may have missed are here:

A Mother and Daughter’s Unlikely Journey as Migrant Workers
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/lens/xyza-bacani-migrant-workers.html?fbclid=IwAR08u3-E-8NJckDP0pl6JEjyzo-4VCHhqkA6rGqcOWia-jJY5uTVgE-IQSQ

A Comic Novel Asks Who Gets to Write the History of the Colonial Philippines
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/books/review/gina-apostol-insurrecto.html?fbclid=IwAR0uLa-UMLfOhU_FzhZsW0TOsBSlipBg_MhJLCALxP9uZVIS9fat1fZJnbU

In Albay, protecting the sea leads to bountiful tanigue
https://www.rappler.com/nation/219014-albay-fishermen-catch-tanigue?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3dtA-7Ap2btYMUFGaTi2IljkrWZe-_lbGttmBmgE1Drd2jOV3Bba9nju8#Echobox=1544962090

H.E.R. Has Been Writing Grammy Acceptance Speech Since She Was A Kid
https://start.att.net/news/read/category/news/article/rolling_stone-her_has_been_writing_grammy_acceptance_speech_sinc-rpenskemc?fbclid=IwAR132z4f1d_feBEO-GUCVhCxk29kWfxCe96KC_mZbNzzSlnOUbQ3RpUv9xs

This Netflix Anime Series could be a Game Changer for Philippine Mythology
https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/xwj987/netflix-trese-anime-series-philippines-comics?utm_source=viceasiafb&fbclid=IwAR27AxlkfuQ2LLCCaaDk5lgxZnd4PEEIeCCKVPcxtEygnCnmUWFFsrXeEng

For video of the week, Food Insider features Manam, a new restaurant in Manila which presents a new twist on Pancit Palabok and other Filipino favorites.

Celebrating Icons

As we've been regularly doing for our last issue of the year, we have a story on Jose Rizal, our National Hero, whose execution day was December 30, 1896. This year we have a review of the latest book on everyone's favorite Filipino, titled Rizal +, an anthology edited by Alfred "Krip" Yuson which reviewer Francis Layf Custodio describes as "a one-stop shop for everything Rizal."

And for a touch of levity during the waning days of this eventful/awful 2018, PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno tells us about her recent visit to Liverpool, England, where she re-lived her adolescence as a Beatles fan. Enjoy "'Just 17' Again in the Birthplace of the Beatles."

For your New Year celebration, here are some recipes from Elizabeth Ann Quirino for the Happy Home Cook.

And if you're craving more Rizal, Read Again John Silva's "Rizal's Cook Remembers a Good Man."

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

Duterte Opens Up The Philippines To Chinese Workers, As Filipinos Seek Jobs Overseas
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2018/12/23/duterte-opens-up-the-philippines-to-chinese-workers-as-filipinos-seek-jobs-overseas/?fbclid=IwAR1cSz2aGgC1pQvSjC6Bb9BAVCHGDMTeq5bCAy21xkwdgJuBSTDUPOFp9MU#30d4e4a24b28

How I Learned To Talk To My Filipino Mom About My Mental Health
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/22/669960524/how-i-learned-to-talk-to-my-filipino-mom-about-my-mental-health?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR05GIQQ7caK134gOehjD5lqvyCTE9Dk3uIq1BAMN_32bkDkSdkhJkGkuIU 

Cebuana Santa: the heiress who made her students' Christmas wishes come true
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/12/25/18/cebuana-santa?fbclid=IwAR2Wvy6a51ECImKsuuj6D_zvvPVNwyUyqPyggP1csPPpTJVch68ED6ZyHYY

There’s a Room in the Inn for Scavengers and Pushcart Families
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/318775/theres-a-room-in-the-inn-for-scavengers-and-pushcart-families/?fbclid=IwAR324KG74uflCAQP3DL4NfBhnx1Yr6ZFjemOlYhdzZBvLVOMgX_Oc3QfaM0

For our Video of the Week, we feature the trailer of Eric Liner and Neil Rettig’s film “Bird of Prey,” a documentary on the plight of the Philippine Eagle.

We wish all of you a happy and abundant Year of the Pig.