Life's A Beach

How does Boracay look now after the big cleanup? First-time PF contributor Willie Vergara, who had seen the island in its pristine state in the 1980s and has returned twice since, provides an honest look-see in "Boracay in Rehab."

Another first-time contributor Dr. Aileen Soriano-Pisaturo, the Director of Palliative Care Services at Kent Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island, explains what palliative care, a new field in medicine, really means in "The Fuzzy Wuzzy of Medicine."

Batanes, the Philippines' northernmost province, has been in the news because of the twin earthquakes that caused deaths and destruction in Itbayat, one of its islands. Read Again Omar Paz's travel essay, "Batanes Beckons," and see why the islands have become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

And. for a touch of levity, Read Again Lotis Key's award-winning and very funny story, "White Men Can't Jump-Start."

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo's innovative Garlic Cloves Adobo with Mushrooms.

Our In The Know links, ICYMI (in case you missed it):

Going Back to the Philippines to Retire: A How-to Guide
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/120315/going-back-philippines-retire-howto-guide.asp?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shareurlbuttons&fbclid=IwAR00B6-pqOwn6rsOq7atDeMtEf0fvMrMaPb7tMyNvuoRHJYf8v2okaBnY4w

Why crafty Internet trolls in the Philippines may be coming to a website near you
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/why-crafty-internet-trolls-in-the-philippines-may-be-coming-to-a-website-near-you/2019/07/25/c5d42ee2-5c53-11e9-98d4-844088d135f2_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4c31350cd0e4

Where the Wealthy Go in Private Jets, From Bahamas to Barbados
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-26/where-the-wealthy-go-in-private-jets-from-bahamas-to-bora-bora?utm_campaign=news&utm_medium=bd&utm_source=applenews

Everything’s coming up roselle
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/251494/everythings-coming-roselle/?fbclid=IwAR27NPQ8efeladshXIbJN5zVUHVGA4XgkRBz4TpxI7mzylFzPapjLy_Eh9I

Why It Is Important to Know the Story of Filipino-American Larry Itliong 
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-it-is-important-know-story-filipino-american-larry-itliong-180972696/?fbclid=IwAR2Z9ZWi6PkLldomZOlLJl1hblhbt0QHo7CTWKTLNLIUp1YXJoSAi0DKDU8

For our video of the week, we feature the 2019 Little Manila Rising Community Showcase “Dawn.”

All About Filipino Food

An underground Filipino food source in Iceland? Who would have thought? Contributing writer Jennifer Fergeson introduces Pinoy Taste Reykjavík, ran by Raquel Landayan and her husband Arie Bob Riesenbeck. The couple sells home-cooked Filipino food exclusively  through social media (thus the term "underground"). For the 1,500 Filipinos in Iceland, it's a heaven-sent salve for homesickness. So take that, President Duterte, people in Iceland, including our kababayans, don't eat ice, like you snidely remarked; they eat good food. ("Pinoy Taste Reykjavík')

From Pinoy Taste Reykjavik also comes our Happy Home Cook recipe this week, Cabalen Maki.

Culinary historian Felice P. Sta. Maria takes us back in time with a highly informative piece on the evolution of the Filipino breakfast. Treat your senses to "From Bahao to Breakfast," and enjoy not just old recipes but also the history.

From fish expert and first-time contributor, Robert Woods, here's a how-to piece on setting up an aquarium with fishes found in Philippine waters. ("Five Fish Breeds for Beginning Fishkeepers")

Our In The Know Links this week:

Who pays for Amazon’s “customer obsession”? The service reps who pick up the phones.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/7/22/20691918/amazon-customer-service-call-center-philippines?fbclid=IwAR0eH4Y9FbiI0QkPtTJ-wuO1FpUdRVger2MSXB0w42pYtw70hA4Tsbg_ysg

The sacred weaving practice of Bukidnon's women
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/style/2019/7/5/Tagolaonen-weavers0.html?fbclid=IwAR3f4Bae3RF7NnC03so4GdsVCAyfEyqllKM7-1Rd8Mfcld3AyoaNnUPAZRs#.XSM99RAYaD1.facebook

Manuel Quezon’s Residence at 45 Gilmore Street: The House that Saw History Unfold
https://www.townandcountry.ph/out-about/arts-culture/manuel-quezon-s-residence-at-45-gilmore-street-the-house-the-saw-history-unfold-a1957-20190716-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-RealLiving&utm_medium=Siteshare&utm_content=20190717-QuezonResidenceGilmore&fbclid=IwAR2zt3aVmX0J4Hz_KZ6AoHVDVrVkiDUyJmjhtqEyFd7JZ8UOfTUgqq0-Uvc

Most Filipinos think it’s important for PH to regain control of territories invaded by China
https://www.yahoo.com/news/most-filipinos-think-important-ph-022449217.html?.tsrc=fauxdal

Our Video of the Week is a fascinating dive into sea-urchin harvesting in Bohol -- an i-Witness documentary by Kara David.

Labors of Love

As hundreds of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Hong Kong's Central District recently to protest a controversial extradition bill, a small band of volunteers led by Dennis and Anouska Villanueva gave their support by providing sandwiches to the protestors. It was the Villanueva couple's way of giving back to the city where they have lived since the 1990s and reaped enormous success with their catering business that they aptly named Delicious Catering HK. PF contributor Agatha Verdadero writes about this enterprising duo who is running the biggest catering service in Hong Kong. ("Chefs with Hearts of Gold Make Good in Hong Kong")

PF's Baguio-based Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo introduces us to "Gayang," a comic book that brings to life some of the beloved characters of Igorot culture. Published by a nonprofit called Gripo, "Gayang" is a collaborative creation by young artists from the Cordilleras. ("Gayang: Igorot Folklore Goes to the Comic Book")

In the US, raids against the undocumented have began and we are once again posting information on the rights of those who are being targeted from compiled by San Francisco-based immigration lawyer Lourdes S. Tancinco. If you or anyone you know feel threatened, know that you have rights and you can call a lawyer. (Are ICE Raids Really on Hold? Know Your Rights)

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is "Swabeng Spareribs" from the recipe book, Pulutan: From the Soldiers' Kitchen by Elmer D. Cruz and Emerson R. Rosales. The two were part of the group of rebel soldiers (led by ex-Senator Antonio Trillanes) who mutinied against the Arroyo administration in the early 2000s. 

In case you missed them, our In The Know links to interesting reads this week:

U.N. Calls for Probe on Philippines Drug War 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-n-calls-for-probe-on-philippines-drug-war-11562850757?mod=itp_wsj&yptr=yahoo&soc_src=hl-viewer&soc_trk=ma

How we kill: Notes on the death penalty in the Philippines
https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/07/14/19/how-we-kill-notes-on-the-death-penalty-in-the-philippines?fbclid=IwAR0Ip7aV_JcfwGGd1g8EOuOFEvyrV7yLKf0HqkRU3XVFH-ngqWQtrBuf1K8

China has a new casino: the Philippines
https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3017577/china-has-new-casino-philippines

The Yakima Terror
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/08/ninety-years-ago-in-washington-a-wave-of-anti-immigrant-sentiment-resulted-in-horror-for-filipinos.html?fbclid=IwAR3BK8N4_kY66xlDrzz0zZd2ulPQj23h81BHwoTQ-bG7TUHwcuXDJTeiJTU 

Dear Isko
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/10/dear-isko/?fbclid=IwAR1FyMeoag7m0pUGI2YntytiAjLZ6dpM_L880QiH1qjD_z1Y7jHWVJpgxVM

“Forgive Us Our Signs” is back with more Filipino signs and memes.

For Video of the Week, Pixar artist Bobby Rubio shows to make a giant Forky, a new character from Toy Story 4.