Don't Know Much About (Fil-Am) History?

October is when Filipino American organizations stage some high profile events to celebrate Filipino American History Month. In San Francisco alone, two international events, involving participants from the Philippines, the US and Filipinos based in countries other than the two, are happening: the 5th Filipino American International Book Festival (Filbookfest) on October 12-13 and the 26th annual Filipino International Cine Festival (FACINE) on October 18-20. These in addition to several other happenings in other places where a substantial number of Filipino Americans are based.

So mark your calendars or set up your own celebration of Filipino presence in the US. When we started Filipinas magazine in the early '90s, we were faced with the problem of a very quiet community. Now we can't keep up!

Have a meaningful Filipino American History Month, everyone.

In keeping with the focus on art and literature this month, we feature two authors and a relatively unknown but definitely significant Filipino artist. 

Veteran journalist/columnist Benjamin Pimentel writes about journalist/author Criselda Yabes, a PF Correspondent herself, who has very impressively melded the skills of a journalist and a fictionist in her books. She will be one of the featured authors in Filbookfest. ("Criselda Yabes, Master Storyteller")

PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino focuses on Cinelle Barnes, a Filipino American author who is coming out with a book of essays this month, following her acclaimed first novel. ("Watch Out World: Cinelle Barnes, Essayist Empowered by Endurance")

From the 19th century, PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia digs up info on the life and works of Filipino master watercolorist whose recently discovered works have fetched high prices in the art world. ("Discovering a Long-Lost 19th Century Filipino Master Painter")

And to inspire you to reflect on the significance of this month, Read Again Abraham Ignacio Jr.'s historical piece on "Where Exactly Did 'Filipinos' First Land in California?" 

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is Gluten-Free Vegan Palabok from vegan chef Richgail Enriquez.

Here are our In The Know links to stories you may have missed:

Retiring in the Philippines: Pros and Cons
https://finance.yahoo.com/m/29c07c8f-d30a-38d3-acec-8ea2ef9097b2/retiring-in-the-philippines%3A.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=1_04

7 Filipino dishes you've probably never heard of (and where to find them in Manila)
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/little-known-filipino-dishes-manila/index.html

Magellan was first to sail around the world, right? Think again.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/09/magellan-first-sail-around-world-think-again/

7 Breathtaking Secret Airbnbs in the Philippines That Feel Like Paradise
https://www.townandcountry.ph/travel/hotels/secret-airbnbs-in-the-philippines-src-esquireph-a00204-20180329-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190921-fbnp-travel-secret-airbnbs-in-the-philippines-src-esquireph-a00204-20180329-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR3D6sYB9KaJuKXmS8Ig9ggdqFjhdfRQGcRhAGbpE-W2QqzlIYIn_K6MvSw

How Building Churches Out of Egg Whites Transformed Filipino Desserts
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/filipino-desserts?fbclid=IwAR0zKZrMjur-TgXyGpgO4w9kmozpFI8AZei46GJxCbCbniPXgvdJd9ixYtY

Our Video of the Week is about a little-known yet very significant fighting unit during World War II -- the Aeta Squadron 30, a historical documentary from GMA Public Affairs. 

Celebrating Life, Remembering September 21

A celebration of original Filipino music and the man who has done so much to elevate it to world class. That's what PF contributor Manuel Hizon has focused on in "Ryan Cayabyab's Celebration of Life," a fitting tribute to the 2019 National Artist for Music who has recently added the prestigious 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award to his collection of accolades.

And as we say goodbye to another September, here are stark reminders of a grim September in our history:

Dr. Patricio N. Abinales' "Freedom, She Wrote" is a review of Press Freedom under Siege: Reportage that Challenged the Marcos Dictatorship, a collection of the best reporting of that generation (especially by women writers) compiled and edited by ace journalist Ceres P. Doyo.

"Being Lucia Makabayan" is a first-person account by Luchie Maranan of her family's harrowing experience in 1973 and how it influenced her choices later.

"Days of Dread" by Risa Lansang-Reyes is a straight-up and personal account of her family's ordeal in those days of arrests.

Here is this week's compilation of stories from other publications that you may have missed:

America's Newest Outsourced Job: Public School Teachers
https://www.vice.com/en_in/article/vb5bga/americas-newest-outsourced-job-public-school-teachers?fbclid=IwAR0OKJKhK8Sovtil_fNCSiuan9p5_CXEubE_Kr7K_NGQw4vcyieTJoHEwTE

Amazing Filipina teacher crosses 5 rivers and walks for 2 hours just to reach her students
https://www.elitereaders.com/this-filipina-teacher-crosses-5-rivers-and-walks-for-two-hours-just-to-reach-her-students/?fbclid=IwAR3y5oap-959kUf8pwmYFvCK3lR4K9g4yltGMUWj4NAxdQm4BZOwu73T4hw

FALSE: 'No massacres' during Martial Law
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/212458-false-no-massacres-during-martial-law?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=9f2e964488-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_17_04_47_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-9f2e964488-96223989&mc_cid=9f2e964488&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

FALSE: Philippines was ‘richest country in Asia’ during Marcos years
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/239789-philippines-richest-country-asia-marcos-years?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=9f2e964488-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_17_04_47_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-9f2e964488-96223989&mc_cid=9f2e964488&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

A History of Forbes Park, the Philippines' Wealthiest and First Gated Subdivision
https://www.townandcountry.ph/people/heritage/History-of-forbes-park-a1957-20190111-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190907-fbnp-people-History-of-forbes-park-a1957-20190111-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR18FaabObgMqqYOWvbZHii6K1A7th9ISsTPpwkijKqj0BweU9nGf0ZcM1w

This Prized Filipino Fabric Is Made From Pineapple Leaves
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cloth-made-from-pineapples?utm_medium=atlas-page&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR0gzbvphniwuRnP0NFQ-KlvTmNCLOmeeVT0lQ222C96uPEVIslkxdvQ6QA 

For the Happy Home Cook, Baguio-based PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo shares his own innovation, Strawberry Champorado.

For Video of the Week, Fil-Am comedian Kevin Camia performs on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

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.