Reptile Dysfunction

PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia regales us with the story of Lolong, the "Largest Saltwater Crocodile in Captivity" from 2011-2013, whose capture made Bunawan, a small town in Agusan, an item in the Guinness Book of World Records. Lolong's journey did not end there: after the reptile's death in 2013, some interesting twists and turns brought its carcass to the National Museum of Natural History in Manila where it now lies. Read all about it in "Lolong, the Giant Crocodile’s Legacy is a Wake-Up Call."

A Toronto-based Filipino couple's "apo-stolic" (babysitting a grandchild) brought them to Hanoi, Vietnam, where the vestiges of war and a country's amazing recovery made for some interesting observations and memories. Patria Cabatuando-Rivera, one-half of the couple, writes about the new Vietnam in "Hanoi Diary: Vietnam's Beautiful Peace."

PF Correspondent and resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino raves about the book of chef/artist/food historian Ige Ramos, aptly titled “Republic of Taste: The Untold Stories of Cavite Cuisine.”

Savor the stories behind the tastes in "Food Historian Ige Ramos Serves Cavite’s Unsung Cuisine" and actually taste a sample with our Happy Home Cook recipe this week for Pancit Choco en su Tinta, a vintage Caviteño dish from Ige Ramos himself.

Since it's All Saints Day, let me re-share with you a story I wrote about a tragedy that was common during martial law: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/gemma/the-end-of-her-world 

Our collection of links to must-read stories, ICYMI:

She Invented Banana Ketchup & Saved Thousands of Lives. Why Have We Never Heard of Her?
https://food52.com/blog/24700-maria-orosa-profile?fbclid=IwAR2VNP3XhDZOz3jaloLRsF5zYqeZs7QJ-F_uNr6yENRNbRWnx-4jbIe7pWE

Why We Need To Remember Stockton, California’s Filipino American Legacy
https://www.buzzfeed.com/paolamardo/stockton-california-little-manila-center-vandalism-history?fbclid=IwAR2iObIf-iPIyHBiE-HuXPLMiCbC3i7bdQRdcH24IFU1Am4R7sEWqbimbcc

Being Fil-Am in the age of Trump and Duterte
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2019/10/28/filipino-american-month-essay.html?fbclid=IwAR0hFlYVj-tOht5AurOtgFxjCIc92vw0fNL9eE2LgV1YC7RDuV7CxD25uYI

In Philippine slums, meat scavenged from dumpsters feeds those short of meals and hope
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/3020306/philippine-slums-meat-scavenged-dumpsters-feeds-those-short-meals?fbclid=IwAR213NQkZ5JhEWrxnUqc-Uvp01zYwUFPWYXK1Br20WgKkagkkmjlQDL5sfU

28 Filipino Recipes That Are Absolutely Worth Feasting On
https://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/easy-filipino-recipes?utm_source=dynamic&fbclid=IwAR2fo7RXdiRQIfnJRZGm2Yg9wTdrzHfeJVUhPEj7SM6iAnLo7HduIUmM45g

For our video of the week, ANC 24/7 talks to Filipino comic book greats Whilce Portacio and Rafael Kayanan.

A Pinoy Startup with Silicon Valley Cred

Everyone who buys online in the Philippines know how convoluted it can be. Now a startup called Paymongo claims to have streamlined the process and has in fact garnered some precious endorsement via investments from the famous Silicon Valley tech incubator, Y Combinator. Find out how four intrepid young men, including this story's author, former presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, was able to gain a foothold in Silicon Valley in "Paymongo -- A Filipino Startup in Silicon Valley."

FilAm novelist Randy Ribay, whose latest book, Patron Saints of Nothing, is longlisted for the National Book Award, offers some inspiring thoughts for aspiring authors in "Randy Ribay, The Writer as Fire Stealer," in an interview by fellow novelist Rafaelito V. Sy.

A trip to sites featured in Game of Thrones led to some interesting discoveries in  Ireland. Our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco tells us about it and introduces some Filipinos for "Pinoyspotting and Other Discoveries in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland."

Our Happy Home Cook recipe for Pompano with Chili and Pineapple comes from a new cookbook from well-seasoned chef/entrepreneur Beth Romualdez. Her book is aptly called Cooking Lessons.

In case you missed them, some links to interesting reads:

Nene Pimentel: Courageous stalwart of democracy
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/profiles/242962-nene-pimentel-obituary?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=ec43cbba1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_10_21_02_15_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-ec43cbba1c-96223989&mc_cid=ec43cbba1c&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

“You’ll never grow hungry in Tondo:” Where to eat in Mayor Isko’s ‘hood, an expert’s guide
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/10/05/19/youll-never-grow-hungry-in-tondo-where-to-eat-in-mayor-iskos-hood-an-experts-guide?fbclid=IwAR0QC-gWnghO91AxKP1zIUvVT6S0XDa9lN6JA4dlTmO11u3qlkAHLd6ZZCs

Magellan’s Death: A Detailed Description by Antonio Pigafetta
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/magellans-death-history-a00293-20190425-lfrm2?fbclid=IwAR1xppRFHokrmeEj94Be-d2jQqSWFgjPYWEFMGVmuNQLIqfA54DnRGlSgwE

Larry Itliong, Forgotten Filipino Labor Leader
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/us/larry-itliong-forgotten-filipino-labor-leader.html

Angela Dimayuga’s 10 Essential Filipino Recipes
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/dining/filipino-food-recipes-angela-dimayuga.html

Our Video of the Week is the rousing political commentary cum satire performed by the University of the Philippines Visayas cheering squad.

Current Realities, Past Glories

Current realities and past glories - so goes our issue for this week.

First off, poet/cultural activist Tony Robles reports on the recent talk of Jose Antonio Vargas, the FilAm community's foremost immigration activist, in Asheville, North Carolina. ("'I don't want to have hope. I want to be a Hope.'")

Then we have three brief profiles of FilAm history trailblazers, unsung heroes of the community who should be rightfully honored. Cecil Bonzo, who started the farmers' markets movement, is given tribute by Stockton, CA community leader Elena Buensalido Mangahas. Arlene Lagrimas Dark, Forbidden City "showgirl" and Salvatore Baldomar, Filipino-Italian seafarer, are introduced by fellow Bridge Generation champion, Peter Jamero. ("Filipino American Trailblazers")

LA-based PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela writes about ReWeave LA, an entrepreneurial enterprise of Fil-Chinese Debbie Ouyang that creates quilts, throws, etc. from recycled fabric. ("ReWeave LA: Recycling Fabric Samples Away from Landfills")

For the Happy Home Cook, another vegan recipe (Vegan Laing) from Richgail Enriquez.

Our In the Know links for your reading pleasure: 

This Philippine Library Keeps 30,000 Ancient Books Worth Billions
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/heritage-library-keeps-ancient-books-worth-billions-a00293-20190528-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR3ta3MffV-rgKL0jdXUiDEY93lRU9Xan2H0xkXckV5OIVnlDy_KKeWnqYI

Why are There So Many Filipino Nurses In California?
https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2019/09/30/why-are-there-so-many-filipino-nurses-in-california/ideas/essay/?fbclid=IwAR3rkmx30Wujev97hmWp0PIe6X32N_XNvq7T2_I_2qo8mU3wxbT2Fvpulow

The Uniter: Rudy Corpuz Jr. Reflects On 25 Years Of Community Building & Youth Empowerment Through United Playaz
https://sanfran.com/united-playaz-rudy-corpuz-jr-october-cover-story?fbclid=IwAR2k6zBxXTMYVRhQBlPpOiBTT6gu-uHi7u_VYl2w6WQgZaE4nJigV6HJ92E

8 World Cities That Could Be Underwater as Oceans Rise [Ed note: Manila is one of them.]
https://www.ecowatch.com/cities-vulnerable-sea-level-rise-2610208792.html?xrs=RebelMouse_fb&ts=1538753678&fbclid=IwAR3S1sRtpeA-8-NBBVIEiRly3ZkpT8FRwRzxiNGgLKcB0SsBu4-hf7P_Geo

Spoon Over Fork
https://www.tastecooking.com/spoon-over-fork/?ref=PRHCE30927C7B1D&linkid=PRHCE30927C7B1D&cdi=382BD9807FDB49AFE0534FD66B0A5889&template_id=14339&aid=randohouseinc36030-20&utm_campaign=taste&utm_source=Crown&utm_medium=Email&cid=101930&mid=1643240115

Eulogy for a Gadfly (Remembering Carlos Celdran)
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/opinion/carlos-celdran-eulogy-a00226-20191009?fbclid=IwAR0PIYYvlGXo3z2vLtqHsJ1YrBuvA8LgSuigsHaOIT7iIk_tA22oGvGL3Lw

Our Video of the Week is the outstanding winning performance of Filipino gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo at the recent World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to do so.