Manila-Beijing Non-Reciprocal Admiration Society

Following President Duterte's recent trip to China (his 6th since he took office) to meet with President Xi Jinping (their 8th), veteran journalist Marites Danguilan Vitug gives us a summary of what these frequent meet-ups have gained for the Philippines. Hint: it's a lopsided picture. “Analysis: Duterte’s Pivot Mainly Benefits China”

As the 382nd anniversary of the martyrdom of the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, approaches, PF contributor BJ Gonzalvo points out the saint's image beside such well-known saints as Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, Elizabeth Seton and San Juan Diego at the Trinity Dome Mosaic of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., the largest Catholic Church in the United States. “San Lorenzo Ruiz In America”

Hundreds of Maryknollers from all over the world returned to their Alma Mater (now renamed Miriam College) to celebrate their alumni homecoming and honor the milestone graduates, such as the college class of 1974 (Sapphire anniversary), to which PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno belongs. School jubilees are always joyous occasions as this one attests. “How Maryknoll-Miriam College Empowered Alums”

Lest we forget, martial law in the Philippines was declared 47 years ago on a sunny Saturday, September 23, 1972, although the official Proclamation 1081 was dated September 21, thus allowing the military to arrest prominent anti-Marcos dissidents before the public knew about it. Here are some memory triggers. Read Again:

Activist Nathan Gilbert Quimpo's hair-raising account of a military raid at their house
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/martial-law-stories-raid

FilAm activist Jeanette Gandionco Lazam's close call at the Manila International Airport
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/who-is-marshall-law

Circus Band vocalist Ceres Jacinto's amusing account of their command performance 
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/martial-law-stories-the-torture-of-playing-for-miss-universe-1974

Our In the Know links this week:

The millennials behind Isko Moreno
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/239045-millennials-behind-isko-moreno?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=f314e07555-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_03_05_48_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-f314e07555-96223989&mc_cid=f314e07555&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

City of the Dead
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/03/world/city-of-the-dead/?fbclid=IwAR1GCSYz0CZA2EU99PvcCIWjooIIYrhha0ZHxa5icln5E1jQ3iCzVobzjhs

An ingenious Filipino artist creates mosaics with dead leaves and garlic peels
https://qz.com/quartzy/1698682/filipino-artist-pando-maglipon-creates-art-from-dead-leaves/?fbclid=IwAR22GhiBRKopHpMGO4LZdCiRKyrQpTLB-I9svSqdPlY6eJqTJbrr_049IxE

Venice Film Review: ‘The Kingmaker’
https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/the-kingmaker-review-imelda-marcos-1203313788/

7 Rustan's Milestones That Changed the Country's Retail Industry
https://www.townandcountry.ph/people/heritage/7-rustan-s-milestones-that-might-have-changed-the-country-s-retail-industry-entirely-a00184-20171004-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190910-fbnp-people-7-rustan-s-milestones-that-might-have-changed-the-country-s-retail-industry-entirely-a00184-20171004-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR24tNbRFNAh_cJ2PjETsBnUrjmVOO8yDYC5NGSvedKaLiKH0ZL_cd4vEGw

In this week’s Happy Home Cook, we feature a Chef Richgail Enriquez’s vegan alternative to ginataang kuhol (snails in coconut milk): Oyster Mushroom Escargot.

And for our video of the week, KQED presents a video on the Philippine Coral Reef Twilight Zone.

Save the Philippine Eagle to Save Us All

A daring, up-close documentation of the life of the majestic Philippine Eagle entitled "Bird of Prey" is the subject of PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela's story as he talks to the people who made the award-winning film possible. In "What a ‘Bird of Prey’ Can Teach Humans," the Philippine Eagle is both a celebration of the richness of our motherland's natural resources and a strong warning against climate change that endangers not only the Eagle but a million wildlife as well.

A chance encounter in an exercise park in Hanoi led Toronto-based PF contributor Patty Rivera to write about Janice Buco Phương, a Filipina from the school of hard knocks who sang her way to the "Vietnam Idol" title in 2016. "Our Filipina 'Vietnam Idol'" is a heartwarming story of how determination, home-grown talent and a bit of luck can define one's place in a foreign country.

As we remember today the horrific tragedy of 9/11, Read Again Major General Antonio Taguba's close encounter with death on that day, 18 years ago, and his view on how it has changed the US and the world. 

Our Happy Home Cook feature this week is No-Churn Ube Ice Cream, a topping for the halo-halo of Barako Kávéház, the Filipino-owned cafe in Budapest that we featured last week. 

For your reading pleasure, here are links to stories you may have missed: 

The road less traveled: From Paris to Leyte
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/sunday-life/2019/09/08/1949836/road-less-traveled-paris-leyte?fbclid=IwAR3NDbzYeMygt0aaSXgXXdAizkE_AOicX9rv5SG-RZc1pfFSHPqJoxBzZsE

How This Entrepreneur Built A Top-Rated Asian Fast Food Empire
https://www.forbes.com/sites/annalisaburgos/2019/09/03/how-this-entrepreneur-built-a-top-rated-asian-fast-food-empire/?fbclid=IwAR1N4n_xuW0Nm_GG7JRuOfJOoAmcx1Z80UbGFA8lKCKF9o1j0wwTTiq9_zY#5147bed72394

Fil-Am R&B star H.E.R. releases 19-song mixtape ‘I Used to Know Her’
https://asianjournal.com/entertainment/showbiz/fil-am-rb-star-h-e-r-releases-19-song-mixtape-i-used-to-know-her/?fbclid=IwAR2a5dU3HL0tiaP8vUMCfBTGNw55uIUZZ9tRenc8PglsuVsfGJMgTguElgg

I’m A Filipina Who Was Addicted To Skin Lightening Products 
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/filipina-light-skin-bias-philippines_l_5d5d942be4b03b44f416572d?fbclid=IwAR1TWJO34qocmRuyJGf-qIgrOppEGgo20vtZNec-wLjSnlLGgzpJtVsWnY0&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9sLmZhY2Vib29rLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALHi8dioVYHxjQnkGYM4nI46ACukC_K7JBVSnxR0gPdVrN5MuGCQYR6t6DGo_ALvkIx-aRfGC-RBqSrpMzFOtXvRo4KjnYdE-V-fPcNxlegwetpLM_jsvnqg_KqwT7j4QQ0eRqgKZWCmf6JLPaOYMdaF1Jp4JIDzUmJHvUnDgW8J

A Domestic Helper’s Love for Photography
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=450329585565326

For Video of the Week, Eater presents Chef Sheldon Simeon as he prepares Filipino-Hawaiian dishes.

Gina Ortiz Jones' Moxie, Rapist-Murderer's Gall, Hungary's Halo-Halo

Texans in the state's 23rd Congressional district know Gina Ortiz Jones. They almost elected her to the US House of Representatives last year, when she lost to the Republican incumbent by just a little over 900 votes. Now this Filipino American retired Air Force captain who served as an intelligence officer in Iraq is eyeing the same seat for 2020 and this time, FilAms from various states are helping her win it. Read PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno's "Gina Ortiz Jones: ‘The Promise of America is Worth Fighting For’" to find out more about this courageous daughter of a Filipino immigrant single mother who makes us proud.

The big uproar against the planned early release of a criminal convicted of a heinous crime and sentenced to several lifetimes in maximum security prison continues even if the Duterte administration has rescinded the release order. Makati-based lawyer Wilfredo Garrido summarizes the issue in his Opinion piece, "Rapist-Murderer Ex-Mayor Has Friends in High Places."

"Halo-Halo? In Hungary?" You better believe it and it's even topped with homemade ube ice cream! PF contributor Jennifer Fergeson writes about the Filipino couple Luleyn and Ryan Andres who is introducing this most quintessential Filipino dessert to Budapest in their cafe, Barako Kávéház.

And since we're on the subject of food, here's Rene Astudillo's new recipe for the Happy Home Cook that combines our two favorites, adobo and binagoongan. Just make sure you stop yourself from eating too much.

Our In The Know links, ICYMI

MAP: Major political families in PH after the 2019 elections
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/238673-map-major-political-families-philippines-after-elections-2019?fbclid=IwAR2uKpw7BWKtID8vYk5HrDRzVc9OJLcDQ79gTMWoqI-jCSB8tpcvJKUXH6Q

Wow, Marvel Comics Has A New Filipina Superhero Named Sea Hunter
https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/marvel-new-filipina-superhero-sea-hunter-a1320-20190829?fbclid=IwAR0W_MU_gsi7vFtnQO2EKCE1frviiKDM8EGprtLlFwofbSEI5cfUcQdpVNA

A Tribute to Cafe Adriatico
https://www.theurbanroamer.com/cafe-adriatico/?fbclid=IwAR1QN0A9HHGeQ6Mb4HeOpkon2CZ8lBzzM3rA_n7ZozjIzlDb0wTGJfiYeyw

A Peek At The Cleanest “Wet Market” In The Country
https://www.thedailysentry.net/2018/12/a-peek-at-cleanest-wet-market-in-country.html?fbclid=IwAR3YYQH0JTIKHxTYdlS6cW0PUQGRZBT-HJ0x0k7PQuMWiolH78GX8kywkSw#.XWHMCfHF5WY.facebook

Now that September is here, it’s the start of the Philippine Christmas season. For our video of the week, ABS-CBN News features Jose Mari Chan, whose songs are popular every Christmas.