The Story of a Life

Fifty years ago this month, thousands of Filipino youth gathered in various places in Metro Manila at various times to protest a variety of issues such as the emerging Marcos dictatorship and American imperialism. That period in our homeland's history has been immortalized as the First Quarter Storm, an apt description of the political upheavals yet to come.

One of the prominent leaders of that era was Edgar Jopson, the chair of the moderate student group, the National Union of Students. As authoritarian rule became inevitable, EdJop was quickly radicalized and he became a leading figure in the leftist National Democratic Front until his death by military bullets. His awe-inspiring life story has also been immortalized in veteran journalist Benjamin Pimentel's book U.G. An Underground Tale: The Life and Struggle of Edgar Jopson. Author/journalist Criselda Yabes reviews this third iteration of Pimentel's bio of EdJop in "The Story of a Life."

Filipinx poet Eileen Tabios shares with us her memories in poetic prose of growing up in Baguio City in "My City of Baguio, A Meditation." 

From PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino comes a review of the new cookbook of Missouri-based chef Malou Perez-Nievera ("Connecting the Pots, Food from the Philippines to America"). And for those eager to know more about the First Quarter Storm of 1970, Read Again an excerpt from poet/journalist Jose "Pete" Lacaba's immortal Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage:  

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-1

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-2

For our recipe of the week, we feature Perez-Nievera’s Lomo Lomo A La Papa Diddi (pork loin in anchovy and ginger reduction).

Here are our In The Know links this week:

‘Like a Scene From a Movie.’ What I Saw Photographing the Taal Volcano Eruption in the Philippines https://time.com/longform/taal-volcano-philippines-eruption/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm_content=20200116&fbclid=IwAR0j29elLA8tKDluJlxnC7pOjVjtL_9sjC1HZRrrlxJZYiglKMG0D7wQoi4

What Cardinal Tagle's Appointment as "The Red Pope" Means For Him and the Catholic Church
https://esquiremag.ph/long-reads/cardinal-tagle-red-pope-a00293-20191212-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR3UwOfVVm-ljhafTINycelYx0vE2QAJel5L-ifWo_B10X9Oh70XQhQ6I9w

This Scenic Spot in Rizal Sits Above a Sea of Clouds
https://www.spot.ph/things-to-do/the-latest-things-to-do/80443/treasure-mountain-tanay-sa1177-20200104-src-sp?utm_source=Facebook-Spot&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20200104-fbnp-things-to-do-treasure-mountain-tanay-sa1177-20200104-src-sp-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR34yrWCvohkH4IS8vclbRZiQiquheBGT94H7tnK1q405oP8DwSnNxFlMMM

The Story of the Exhibit: Manila Shawl
https://www.fashionmuseumriga.lv/eng/kaleidoscope/manila/?fbclid=IwAR1MJJaFt21mX1sFULVRINhEBO83ON0TWN_BE7N3JozZzODYDozovi6JpBk

Dr. Joven Cuanang: Forever young at 80 (or how art made him a better doctor)
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/354858/dr-joven-cuanang-forever-young-at-80-or-how-art-made-him-a-better-doctor/?fbclid=IwAR3ojC3vBnR6WVkvAkbXy5jskRqnDX7VorXwqtl94TpQRvVr5g3Kn7mXu4k

For Video of the Week, Youtube’s The Endless Adventure features this year’s Sinulog Festival.

It's Raining Ash, But Plague of Locusts Not Likely.

As if we haven't had enough anxieties -- and it's just 15 days into 2020 -- Taal volcano, the second most active in the Philippines, spewed out ash and sulfuric smoke 9 miles or so into the atmosphere, showering Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan with deadly volcanic particulates. We dare not ask what's next in these disquieting times.

But let's not fret too much because there are some reasons to celebrate. One of them is the emergence of several groups of ice hockey teams that are working towards representing the Philippines in Winter Olympics. Huh? An ice hockey team from a tropical country? PF Correspondent Myles Garcia gives us a rundown on these audacious Pinoy and Pinay athletes in "Pinoys' Ice Rink Wishes and Bobsled Dreams."

In Ballesteros, Cagayan, a local musician named Dondon Catli dares to become the town's baker par excellence and a bakeshop named Don Catli de Ballesteros was born. Famous for his wedding cakes, Catli also doubles as organist for various bands in the area. Merlita Usita Campañano, a Ballesteros native, writes about her kabayan.

From Manila, cultural columnist Pablo Tariman fondly remembers his friend, the late iconic director of many award-winning films, Marilou Diaz Abaya in "Marilou, 1955-2012."

For the Happy Home Cook, an Ilocano comfort food with a modern twist: Inabraw na Hipon at Gulay from our resident food expert, Elizabeth Ann Quirino.

Here's a collection of stories worth reading from other publications:

In Taal’s Shadow: Dangers and Blessings
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/129/howie-severino-dangers-and-blessings-in-taal-volcano-s-shadow/?utm_source=GMANews&utm_medium=Twitter&fbclid=IwAR0L_j3lw7krgWIXXs1vXnUhQJpRszRbkXvtm0Y3wZ76GgA2e-RnGezxBQ4

Military report confirms spying risks in deal with China-backed telco
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/247306-military-report-confirms-spying-risks-deal-china-backed-telco-part-1?fbclid=IwAR3vzT2TgINeVK0J8LpZbyJUAW9Zdv5nI_pKFXfnSn9j-KBSav7HoHIyvM0

Young, and Accomplished, This Filipino Pastry Chef Is Making Waves Globally
https://hbrascend.org/topics/young-accomplished-and-entrepreneurial-this-filipino-pastry-chef-is-making-waves-internationally/?utm_source=Facebook_website&medium=website_share&fbclid=IwAR13zjL2ERmfwhtQGHxOjRFX_cd1KXfD-c3dIjt1TV4Fl5hs5mDYvfNjJY4

‘Giving Back’: Wife shares a tycoon’s life with Alzheimer’s
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/354511/giving-back-wife-shares-a-tycoons-life-with-alzheimers/?fbclid=IwAR1H41yOFKBJ-gSbt2UdXB5JImP228Gsyj2e34a6HoqTWC4dW8uA9BNOko8

Column: Here’s how HiFi, or Historic Filipinotown, got its name
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-06/filipinotown-cool-enclaves?fbclid=IwAR0K_bbmXdDdjkeAyc9mTtuOKI2PmhYNXz36YgFvLAYU--hT3VkuzyviD9w

Our Video of the Week, an informative documentary on Taal volcano's surprise explosion in 1965.

Into 2020, Darkly

Uncertainty and heartbreak. Not a good portent of things to come as we start a new decade, but we slog on.

In the US, a source of tension (or one of them anyway) in immigrant communities is the forthcoming Census, a nationwide count that happens every ten years. PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno talks to FilAm community advocates of Census 2020 to assuage fears of those who are worried that the Census will lead to their deportation. The assurance: under the law the Census Bureau is prohibited from sharing data with law enforcement. More importantly, to stand up and be counted means your communities will benefit from the distribution of government services and funding. Read "What Fil-Ams Should Know About the 2020 Census" to understand the full, positive benefits of participating.

We've seen the heartbreaking photos and videos of what could be the worst fire to happen on earth, in Australia. Veteran journalist/columnist Paulynn P. Sicam, who is right now in Penrith, New South Wales visiting her family, writes a personal account of how it is in "Australia: The Fire This Time."

Switching to a more pleasant topic, PF contributor Titchie Carandang-Tiongson writes about the art of Filipina Spanish artist Maria Mari Murga, whose recent exhibit in Washington DC was hailed by art lovers. Read "All The Light That She Can See" and marvel at her works. 

After all the holiday food tripping, time for a vegan meal. Here's our Happy Home Cook recipe from Richgail Enriquez for Mushroom Pusit.

And our In The Know links, ICYMI:

A Chinese crime wave hits Duterte’s Philippines as Pogos grow unchecked
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3043542/chinese-crime-wave-hits-dutertes-philippines-pogos-grow?utm_content=article&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3k-ZFhCFy86dJzJoW8lRwYdKMHMFlNVjRhqtGC5N72N6IiKiA-Kl_eqFA#Echobox=1577411423

Sexism in the Philippines: In the Line of Fire
https://southeastasiaglobe.com/in-the-line-of-fire/?fbclid=IwAR1NRNusxZttR3IvY47Xb_173JcvSITygbr9t_-kXm-5t-H54GCVyYnkgss

#FilAmDecade: 10 Years of Filipino American History
https://www.facebook.com/notes/dr-kevin-nadal/filamdecade-10-years-of-filipino-american-history/10157817886364696/

Philippine Expressions Bookstore Owner Linda Nietes Honored By The Community
https://balitangamerica.tv/philippine-expressions-bookstore-owner-linda-nietes-honored-by-the-community/?fbclid=IwAR3BDvB3_KAj1RIxsSJbLWjDjhmtKmiYbJMzc1eb_JHJdPvufaFCLKK3EcI

For our Video of the Week, the Black Eyed Peas, along with the Voice Philippines’ Jessica Reynoso, perform at the closing ceremony of the recent Southeast Asian Games in New Clark City, Tarlac.