A Lot Like Christmas

Fourteen more days before Christmas and Filipinos worldwide are gearing up for Simbang Gabi, the annual tradition of dawn masses starting December 16 that, of course,  includes food afterwards (traditionally bibingka, puto bumbong, salabat and tsokolate -- all served fresh and hot -- in churchyards). While the weather in the northern hemisphere is not friendly to outdoor activities, that doesn't stop Filipino communities from replicating these traditions indoors. PF contributing writer BJ Gonzalvo relates how his Pacific Northwest community prepares in a big way for Simbang Gabi in "Getting Ready for Simbang Gabi, Even Before the 'Ber' Months."

"Every writer draws on one's own past for material, and at such a young age, Bayani's history was already an armory of dramatic ammunition...", thus author/essayist Rafaelito Sy profiles Jason Bayani, a FilAm poet who has already published three anthologies. Read "Jason Bayani's Fire Within" for a compelling introduction.

As filmmaker Lauren Greenfield's documentary ‘The Kingmaker’ winds its way to theaters in the US, former-student-activist- now-a-professor Patricio N. Abinales tells us how the ghosts of traumas past came haunting back as he watched the film. ["Why The Kingmaker Sparks Memories of Terror and Defiance"]

If you're in the midst of Christmas meal planning, here's a unique dessert recipe for Warm Ensaymada Flan with Dulce de Leche Cream, as perfected by San Francisco-based foodie, Voltaire Gungab.  

Our In the Know links, ICYMI. 

Crony capital: How Duterte embraced the oligarchs
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Cover-Story/Crony-capital-How-Duterte-embraced-the-oligarchs

Arnis, Philippines martial art that evokes Magellan's nemesis
https://news.yahoo.com/arnis-philippines-martial-art-evokes-magellans-nemesis-024509649.html?soc_src=hl-viewer&soc_trk=fb

Gwendolyn Pascua - Cordilleran physicist working as a mission controller for astronauts in Europe
https://www.wowcordillera.com/2017/03/gwendolyn-pascua-cordilleran-physicist.html?fbclid=IwAR21axIbU4NCxU2PreTFgrqtF-ElqD3ZRCcvST3eCXGb4bnVgz9jxm9pb80

Tech For Good: A Plant Breeder’s Journey
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bayer/2019/11/27/tech-for-good-a-plant-breeders-journey/?fbclid=IwAR2pQaktuHtQSHacDqmQL-mq0yaTVCscwZPWMOrgPAYE9sZpdGju84Dseoo#3ab9d9ce6402

For video of the week, we feature the University of Santo Tomas flashmob ushering in the Christmas season at the Philippines oldest university.

Good News and Bad News

First the sad news: Typhoon Kammuri aka Tisoy has wreaked havoc in the Philippines, particularly the Bicol region, with 175kph winds close to its center and gusts of up to 240kph.

And the good news: Filipino athletes are gifting the country with a deluge of medals in the ongoing SEA Games. As I'm writing this, the medal haul for the Philippines is 47 golds, 30 silver and 16 bronze, and still counting. Here are some of the gold medal-winning performances: 

Carlos Yulo in men's gymnastics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3CoBaPhn7Q

Agatha Wong in Wushu Taijiquan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJYoAS76gag

Hidilyn Diaz in Weightlifting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_jxiQLJQRI

The euphoria and pride for our athletes have allowed us to put the ugliness of the pre-games embarrassment in the back burner, albeit temporarily. For now, let's savor the excitement and lament nature's wrath -- the constant yin and yang of our homeland's fate.

On December 8, another Ms. Universe extravaganza will take place, a beauty contest that is dear to the hearts of Filipinos. And of course there's both a bright and dark history to this pageant as far as Philippine participation is concerned. PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia ferrets out the details in "How to Stage a Billion Peso-Plus Beauty Pageant." 

Still thinking of what to give this holiday season? Books always make the best gift. Check out Walter Ang's "2019 Holiday Gift Guide: Books by Filipino Americans."

And if you're in Southern California or planning to go there, a new Filipino restaurant called Bebot - Filipino Soul Food (emphasis on "soul") in Long Beach will cater to your Motherland longing, as Los Angeles-based PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela reports in "A Filipino Restaurant for Filipinos." 

Bebot's chef/owner AC Boral shares his recipe for Mushroom & Kale Laing.

Some links for your reading pleasure:

The Lonely and Dangerous Life of the Filipino Seafarer
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/world/asia/philippines-mariners-cargo-ships.html?fbclid=IwAR1UsPcpG46wy2r3L_AoWPXQN-_GKNuspEqxl9skKGmy2p_1z8IDjBA-IpI

Jones Bridge
http://www.lougopal.com/manila/?p=472&fbclid=IwAR19gyYCR9XnnJ2wzadQdHRXz-a6NtSxBjXoUNI0xIH4gbR8YNhfxYIKK_I 

The first Filipino movie star in Hollywood is a woman
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/11/25/19/the-first-filipino-movie-star-in-hollywood-is-a-woman?fbclid=IwAR13QxyeetTsXobolZIRlHVpr0CGlZfxaHs9lndXyR2e3KF7NB408f-tRvo

Beloved Serg’s stages a comeback
https://business.inquirer.net/284034/beloved-sergs-stages-a-comeback?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR11I6QuS8EOnPhUdS8O7J9GELExmR5kceuOkUdnoWQ96SnpUQww-D_7eb0#Echobox=1574551044

For Video of the Week, Wunderman Thompson Philippines delivers a heartwarming Star Wars-themed ad for Globe Telecom.

Memorables

One of the most memorable author readings that I heard at the FilAm International Book Festival last October was that of Elmer Omar Bascos Pizo reading from his new poetry collection. His poems  were elemental, earthy, disturbing and definitely powerful. Fellow poet Tony Robles describes them better in his review of Pizo's Leaving our Shadows Behind Us.

If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area and you want your children to do a fun crash course on Philippine culture, the annual summer camp spearheaded by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) is your answer. Candy Lagmay-Bandong, one of the camp teachers this year, writes about the experience in "Filipino Cultural Camp Memories."

Our Toronto-based contributor Patria Cabatuando-Rivera returns to her hometown of La Loma, Quezon City through her star-studded memories, "Smitten in La Loma, Watching Stars Go By." With this piece, we ask you to share with us your own memories of the place that shaped you. For queries, please write to PFeditor@yahoo.com or post a message in our Facebook page.

If your Thanksgiving feast this week involved lechon, you will need this recipe for Paksiw na Lechon, the day-after dish that's beloved by Filipinos.

Here are our In The Know links for your reading enjoyment: 

A verdict on justice in a land of impunity
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/philippines-verdict-impunity?fbclid=IwAR0m7CfU8EJ3_mob3iqg2smR0L76Tf4XKp0Sx4x5hAryZGUs3aLios1fkxk

How the Marcoses are using social media to reclaim Malacañang
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/245290-marcos-networked-propaganda-social-media?fbclid=IwAR1W8ekEAoo2V8fz7X4xubHfTNDmrhYm84gfM0w-MpV9fB92AmbFmk2Owi8

Stories of migrant nurses who helped build Australia's health system finally told
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/stories-of-migrant-nurses-who-helped-build-australia-s-health-system-finally-told?cid=newsapp%3Asocialshare%3Acopylink&fbclid=IwAR3wRJ8t2GOmZVXVWMtBYWlhirT68Whuvy8EFYLqHoFDM3dqa5aEO0b_Xxo

The Amazing and Tragic Life of Fernando Poe Sr., the King of Kings of Philippine Movies
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/fernando-poe-sr-the-king-of-kings-of-philippine-movies-a2289-20190703-lfrm4?ref=feed_1&fbclid=IwAR2VYiClpZvXn3jRvJCdwOUrtlbQcoip41Htqi_PboxLzkb9KXTIoX9zScg

For Video of the Week, we feature the 2019 Southeast Asian Games theme song “We Win As One” sung by Lea Salonga.