October 21, 2020

Life Lessons from Manongs

October 21, 2020/ Gemma Nemenzo

In last Monday's Positively Filipino webinar, our guest raconteurs Alex Fabros Jr. and Oscar Peñaranda regaled us with insider stories about life among the manongs on the farms of Salinas, California and in the salmon canneries of Anchorage, Alaska. Both knew whereof they speak -- Alex grew up and worked with them and Oscar spent 15 summers of his youth as an Alaskero (cannery worker). To that generation of Filipino culture bearers, the two attribute lessons in work ethics, joy, appreciation, cunning, survival, courtship and most importantly, building community. To listen to their stories (if you missed the webinar), here's the recording: Memories Of Fil-Am Life On The Farms And In The Canneries Of The West Coast

Our next webinar is the first of our forthcoming series on FilAm Trailblazers and it will feature two community heavyweights: California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye in a rare public appearance and Major General Antonio Taguba (Ret.). We hope you join us this coming Monday, October 26, 2020. Register here: http://bit.ly/filamtrailblazers

As this year's Filipino American History Month (FAHM) begins to wind down, here are two stories you have to read:

American-born Filipino/Japanese citizen Amadio Arboleda tells us his complicated and definitely unique life. ["My Audacious Filipino Journey"]

US citizen John Silva, writing from Manila where he now resides, relates how voting in a US election is worth going through hell and high water (or at least, an attempt at voter suppression) for him, a son of a war veteran. [A Ballot from Manila]

Here's another recommended book list for your FAHM reading from San Francisco Public Library's Abraham Ignacio Jr. [Book Recommendations For 2020 Filipino American History Month]

And another intro to notable Fil-Ams from our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco. [Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 10]

Read Again:

Robert V. Ragsac Sr.'s "Forget Them Not"

Alex S. Fabros Jr.'s "Murder Most Foul"

For the Happy Home Cook, here's a repost of Chef Romy Dorotan's (Purple Yam in Brooklyn) Beef Shortribs Adobo, definitely a winner.

For Video of the Week, young Fil-Am comedian JR De Guzman makes an appearance on Harry Connick, Jr.’s show.

In The Know

I Went to a 'Filipinos for Trump' Rally. Here's What I Found
https://www.colorlines.com/articles/i-went-filipinos-trump-rally-heres-what-i-found?fbclid=IwAR3G9ywtAiOrqRFyO11IPw_woeqW6B0MHoAdPCPEMb1x067-TunCqdpveaA

‘Buried alive’: ‘The Celine Archive’ uncovers young Filipina’s horrific 1932 killing in Delta
https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2020/10/11/buried-alive-the-celine-archive-documentary-uncovers-filipinas-1932-horrific-killing-delta/5918519002/?fbclid=IwAR3DiI-ahEP-vPE-4x6_5JfUSC398lFYaFCwsTLAs2jF8MHSa2NncmVyP_M

Exulting in a tribute to our National Hero
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2018/11/26/1871613/exulting-tribute-our-national-hero/amp

From 800, it’s now a 10,000 waitlist for Filipino flavor Kora doughnuts
https://thefilam.net/archives/32996?fbclid=IwAR2BiaxeMD0YevN0RXwkaJkYaacJjE-ivyg7CeBfYet53gFE6WriDXGktAE

October 14, 2020

Vote Like Our Future Depends on It

October 14, 2020/ Gemma Nemenzo

US citizenship, long considered the "pie in the sky" by many Filipinos, comes with a duty to exercise the right to vote, the most sacred of rights bestowed on those who have pledged allegiance to the American flag. Thus with the ongoing election that's tagged as "the most consequential of our lifetime," Positively Filipino's webinar last Monday, was a necessary service for Filipino Americans. It was a highly informative and lively discussion on the electoral college, Fil-Am voting patterns vis a vis other Asian Americans, and why we should all cast our votes (the down ballots or local races are just as important as choosing a president). If you missed it, here's the recording.: How Do We Make The Fil-Am Vote Count?

We have two other webinars scheduled this Fil-Am History Month and we hope to have the pleasure of your company then.

Three years ago in Mindanao, the beautiful city of Marawi was reduced to rubble as government forces and Muslim militants engaged in a fierce battle that lasted five months. The battle was officially declared over on October 17, 2017 by President Duterte. We think it's the right time, on this its third anniversary, to point you to a new book that tells in minute detail the story of the Marawi siege, which is a lesson in modern-day warfare. The Battle of Marawi, the book, is written by PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes and reviewed here by Dr. Patricio Abinales of the University of Hawaii.

This Week’s Stories

[New Webinar Video] How Do We Make The Fil-Am Vote Count?

Shocked And Awed By Patricio Abinales

Taylor Healy Saves The Signs Of These Times By Anthony Maddela

Octogenarians In Love, In The Covid-19 Era By Agnes Alikpala, MD

Filipino American History Books

[Partner] ALLICE's 16th Annual Free From Violence By Cherie M. Querol Moreno

The Happy Home Cook: Amboy Adobo By Chef Alvin Cailan

Video of the Week: TGIF, Thank God I’m Filipino

Read Again:

"Where Exactly Did Filipinos First Land in California?" by Abraham Ignacio Jr.

"Pieces of the (Midnight) Sun" by Oscar Peñaranda provides a preview of the stories he will tell for our webinar.

In The Know

Les nouveaux Misérables: the lives of Filipina workers in the playground of the rich
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/12/les-miserables-nouveau-the-lives-of-filipina-workers-in-the-playground-of-the-rich?CMP=share_btn_fb&fbclid=IwAR11ZJxAc2j2vJg-Rop9K5JF_DZLL1mVsKa-Gj6RtRp9hV-SA1N1vDeGYIs

Pasig uses online tech to consult residents on 'open streets' proposal amid pandemic
https://www.rappler.com/nation/pasig-city-uses-polis-consult-residents-open-streets-proposal?fbclid=IwAR2ItD_uTt1K6VJfEgzF5kxdjRtFp5nYd2u48mqLEjg8WztjvoC_MN1pxW8

beabadoobee Made Bedroom Pop. Now She’s Turning Up the Volume.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/08/arts/music/beabadoobee-fake-it-flowers.html?fbclid=IwAR23w_iqx_m21ZPbaHUoWFRV8k0ppLz6QQKfDR8GcPnZPe3QOX2prpYUY4I

A Letter from Napa Valley, Where Love Burns Hotter Than Fire
https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2020/10/08/glass-fire-napa-valley-northern-california-wildfires/ideas/dispatches/?fbclid=IwAR1JuWAUeI8QQRB32rJer12325XHvoLlr5OaoUgWlsiCCikgtQ9tnt0XGpc

Nostalgia: The untold stories of ‘Batibot,’ according to Kuya Bodjie
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/10/11/20/nostalgia-the-untold-stories-of-batibot-according-to-kuya-bodjie?fbclid=IwAR2sYTeNsmIz8lj8anKBULkU8XvMPnLcb0b13PxS6yYYvTQxLXfeOmT2rH8

October 07, 2020

Most Challenging U.S. Election in a Lifetime

October 07, 2020/ Gemma Nemenzo

I think all of us agree that this 2020 US presidential election is the most chaotic, dangerous and ultimately impactful in our lifetime (and among us who have had a long lifetime, that statement is not an exaggeration). For the approximately four million-strong Filipino American community, the stakes are high. Especially if in the next four years one has to deal with such fundamental issues as health care, employment, retirement and immigration. It is immensely important that the US citizens among us vote and vote wisely, to protect our interests, to make our voices heard and ensure a better future for our children.

For those who are still on the fence about voting, I hope you join us for Positively Filipino's next webinar this coming Monday, October 12 at 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern (and in the Philippines, 9 am October 13). Like our past webinars, it will be exciting, lively and thought-provoking. To register, click here: http://bit.ly/filamvote

And speaking of past webinars, the last one we had on the Bridge Generation of Filipino Americans got a lot of raves for the insights and new knowledge that our three guests -- community treasures, as moderator Lloyd LaCuesta called them -- shared. If you missed it or want to listen to it again, here's the recording: The Bridge Generation of Filipino Americans