March 10, 2021

Two Women

March 10, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

Our webinar tonight, "We Are NOT the Virus," is a much needed conversation about the increase in verbal and physical assaults against Asian Americans, particularly the elderly, since the pandemic started. While not all of these can be considered hate crimes legally (apparently there is a higher legal threshold for a hate crime, which will also be discussed tonight), Asians including Filipino Americans know that in these days of careless rhetoric, one doesn't have to dig deep to find race in any aggressive act. Find out what you can do to protect yourself. Sign up to join.

For those who missed last week's fascinating webinar "An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines", here's the recording, which includes the movie trailer.

In this issue, we shine a light on the remarkable Fil-Ams appointed to significant positions in the Biden administration, four of which are women.

Likewise, PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes, reporting from Manila, gives us an update on recent case victories of two women who the Philippine president condemn as thorns on his side: Vice President Leni Robredo and detained Senator Leila de Lima.

From Germany, Filipino German filmmaker Divina Kuan marks her presence in the indie film category with her short film, "The Manicurists."

Happy Women's History Month to all the Filipino women who are making history.

Our Stories This Week

[Webinar Video] An Open Door: The Philippines As A Refuge For Jews Fleeing Nazism

Fil-Ams In The Biden-Harris Administration By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Leni And Leila By Criselda Yabes

Der Filmemacher Divina Kuan By Rey E. de la Cruz

An Art Gallery For Indigenous Art Strikes Roots In Sagada By Dom-an Macagne

Princess Of Wails By Gemma Nemenzo

The Happy Home Cook: Black Rice Salad By Rene Astudillo

Video of the Week: Leche Flan-Filled Donuts

In The Know

[OPINION] Toasting Fr. Bernas
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-toasting-father-bernas

The Devastating Toll of COVID-19 on Filipino Nurses
https://www.wnyc.org/story/devastating-toll-covid-19-filipino-nurses/?fbclid=IwAR3P-FCOgIg3NC_LehgbiLf-d7PF6PyBeoQ07_JeBE-k6T-oG0MF60Zzhbo

The Duality of Martino Abellana, the "Dean of Cebuano Painters"
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/arts-and-entertainment/the-duality-of-martino-abellana-the-dean-of-cebuano-painters-adv-con-pr?ref=article_loop&fbclid=IwAR10oM3o4g6yfLYCNBokcTgAsl1Z59OlTb7JwtwC4ckLf-Jdp7gIyIJFnnY

The First-Ever Disney Song in Filipino Will Be Sung by KZ Tandingan
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/music/first-ever-filipino-disney-song-kz-tandingan-a00289-20210302?fbclid=IwAR0QYFoeYZcKwCyHCG93zWUkHqKoDkNOyqj23nDOamVaHAShXuC6Ss7FV4k

March 03, 2021

There Will Always Be Spring and Women's History Month

March 03, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

This week marks the beginning of Women's History Month and one full year of the Covid-19 crisis. Women's History Month is a recurring celebration, and PF wholeheartedly supports the spirit and intent of singling out a month dedicated to honoring women who came before us and the women who are right now making history.

But for the love of god, let's hope this will be the only year we will commemorate a pandemic anniversary. Will it be too much to ask that Covid-19 be just a bad dream by this time next year? While the vaccines have shown us the proverbial light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, apparently it will take another year before the activities we have indulged in before Covid, like international travel, will be safe. That is if we humans behave ourselves and follow the protocols. And if the variants turn out to be conquerable after all. Two big ifs.

Meanwhile, let's default to our usual coping routines and await with relish the brighter morning sun, the blooming flowers, the warmer temps and the longer days. As sure as the hours tick by, spring will soon be upon us. It never fails.

A Heads-up: Next Wednesday, March 10, Positively Filipino will host a webinar on the incidents of hate against Asian Americans and what we Filipino Americans can do about it. Watch out for announcements on the details.

Our Stories This Week

On The 50th Year Of Philippine Studies At City College Of San Francisco: Is There Reason To Celebrate?
By Lisa Suguitan Melnick

How The US Derailed Philippine History In 1986 By Walden Bello

A Century-Old Saga: Holy Spirit College On Mendiola Street To Close In 2022
By Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

Finding A Lifetime Partner In Ten Lessons By Carolina Esguerra Colborn

Read Again

Lotis Key Kabigting on her need to go home: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/5/going-home

Contributor Carleen Sacris writes about Filipina astrophysicist Dr. Reina Reyes: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/seeing-stars-with-reina-reyes

Cook It Again

The Happy Home Cook: Pesang Salmon (Filipino Fish Stew in Genger Broth with Tomatoes and Spinach) http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/pesang-salmon-filipino-fish-stew-in-ginger-broth-with-tomatoes-spinach

[Video of the Week] Cost of Living in the Philippines

In The Know

John ’79 and Susan Ocampo Make Game-Changing Donation to Innovation at Santa Clara
https://www.scu.edu/news-and-events/feature-stories/2021/stories/john-79-and-susan-ocampo-make-game-changing-donation-to-innovation-at-santa-clara-.html

Vico Sotto: From The Ateneo Classroom To The World
https://www.onenews.ph/vico-sotto-from-the-ateneo-classroom-to-the-world?fbclid=IwAR3hO0N4NplSJre_I3nMmQTfSHXayExZESDyvEfMZS7DxCl5I5mdTX57Tyc

Kids in the Philippines have not left their homes for a year
https://www.economist.com/asia/2021/02/18/kids-in-the-philippines-have-not-left-their-homes-for-a-year?fbclid=IwAR2f4ysQ-qHrne9dGjRS-KPAnDEwkLjLb3S6aDC97uc2S5q4z5D9YA-uJeE

Jordanian art scene’s rising star has Pinoy roots; loves adobo, too
https://dailybread.news.blog/2021/02/18/jordanian-art-scenes-rising-star-has-pinoy-roots-loves-adobo-too/?fbclid=IwAR3OzJr_zCGJ7qQygFw6xXS5Lcudf4X4nbF-eSj8J5ig5UDbza6_uzOi1RU

TONIGHT! REGISTER AT http://bit.ly/anopendoormovie

February 24, 2021

We Know What It Takes

February 24, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

Thirty five years ago this week, the uprising that came to be known as the EDSA People Power Revolt happened in the Philippines. The memories and the hopes have dimmed now, commemorations have dwindled to almost zero.

EDSA '86 was the confluence of decades-long efforts by various sectors of Philippine society to end the Marcos dictatorship, and on this goal alone, it succeeded without the widespread bloodshed that normally accompanies similar uprisings.

EDSA '86, however, was hardly a revolution, as the initial euphoria labelled it. The People Power Revolt did not change the power structure of the country, it merely changed -- or in a lot of cases, restored -- the people who would hold that power.

For whatever woes and disappointments EDSA '86 later spawned, it was still, on its own, a truly historic moment in our homeland's history, one that we should always be proud of. Now that the world is watching Myanmar go through its own people power revolt, we Filipinos can sympathize and cheer them on. Yes, we've been there; we know what it takes.

On March 3, Positively Filipino will hold its second webinar in 2021, "An Open Door: The Philippines as Refuge for Jews Fleeing Nazism" and we hope you will join us in celebrating another reason to be proud -- the decision of then Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon to welcome to our country Jews who were fleeing Nazism in Europe. The flyer below shows how to register for this free Zoom event.