March 31, 2021

Unsung Heroes

March 31, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

We end this year's Women's History Month with two unheralded Filipino women who played remarkable roles in our motherland's history, although in different centuries. Coincidentally, both hail from the province of Pampanga.

Sor Martha de San Bernardo battled and triumphed against racial discrimination in 1632 to become the first Filipino nun ever. Kapampangan cultural historian Robby Tantingco introduces us to this religious pioneer who we think should be known and rightfully.honored by the Catholic church. ["Give This Pampangueña a Memorial in the West Philippine Sea"]

From more contemporary times, Remedios Gomez-Paraiso, aka Kumander Liwayway, scared the daylights out of the Japanese army during WWII and later, the Philippine military as her exploits as a Hukbalahap warrior became the stuff of legend. She was captured multiple times and triggered a lot of public interest because she defied the warrior stereotype by going into battle with red lipstick and perfume. Ana Maria "Princess" Nemenzo shares with us her talk on "Kumander Liwayway; The Feminine Warrior."

On an entirely different topic, PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela profiles Lord Maynard Llera, a product of the Culinary Institute of America, who currently hones his Filipino recipes via a pop-up restaurant in his garage in a Los Angeles suburb. Lucky patrons can savor his specialty, Pancit Chami, the famous noodles of Quezon province. ["Praise Kuya Lord"]

The UP Film Institute celebrates National Women's Month and the 66th birth anniversary of multi-award winning film director Marilou Diaz-Abaya (March 30) with a free screening of Mona Lisa Yuchengco's documentary "Marilou Diaz-Abaya: Filmmaker on a Voyage," which will run until April 4, 2021.

Stories This Week

Kumander Liwayway: A Feminine Warrior By Ana Maria Nemenzo

Give This Pampangueña A Memorial In The West Philippine Sea By Robby Tantingco

Praise Kuya Lord! By Anthony Maddela

"Marilou Diaz-Abaya: Filmmaker On A Voyage" Free Screening

[Read It Again] Our Man In California's Capitol By Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D.

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Shrimps And Vegetables With Quail Eggs By Elizabeth Ann Quirino

Video of the Week: Who Were The First Filipinos In America?

In The Know

Farmworkers fight shaped California attorney general nominee
https://news.yahoo.com/farmworkers-fight-shaped-california-attorney-000831310.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

5 Women Entrepreneurs You Need To Know In The Philippines
https://ph.asiatatler.com/society/women-entrepreneurs-philippines?utm_source=Tatler+Asia&utm_campaign=4d976e7e87-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_10_28_03_45_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_737ae4d4af-4d976e7e87-83577313

This 22-year old vlogger’s life will make you want to relocate from Manila to the countryside
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/03/05/21/this-22-year-old-vloggers-life-will-make-you-want-to-relocate-from-manila-to-the-countryside?fbclid=IwAR0_I06sqMvPWx0BnRorN9iWsbFZ0HDMoGIM99hbp14dJhCNI53TiEsXr6g

The weekend idea: Why a stroll around the newly reopened Paco Park is a must
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/03/12/21/the-weekend-idea-why-a-stroll-around-the-newly-reopened-paco-park-is-a-must?fbclid=IwAR3eI85SclJBInlQTgUZtJRCE3Uwxuua957N1TfHAZQHZtd6TM0spKhUxSM

March 24, 2021

A Season of Hate

March 24, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

The escalating number of violent assaults against Asians in America seems to have reached its apex with the mass murder in Atlanta of eight people, six of whom were Asian American women. While most of the world is enraged both by the act itself and the deliberate statement by one of Atlanta's police saying the gunman was "just having a bad day," there is no reason to think that we have seen the end to this "season of hate."

Positively Filipino condemns in unequivocal terms all manifestations of hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) which includes our Filipino American communities nationwide.

We stand solidly alongside not just our AAPI brothers and sisters but with all communities of color who find themselves at the receiving end of unchecked mental health issues rooted in white supremacist insanity and who are now united in seeing to it that all racist violence must stop.

Likewise, we stand staunchly with women victims of sexism and misogyny, who are fighting for gender justice and equality.

Racism and sexism are twin scourges that are deeply rooted in American society, but history has also shown that they are not the formidable forces that they are believed to be.

Evil thrives when there is no effective force to counter it. And that force is a united front consisting of individuals forming communities, and communities working together as allies.

Each one of us can do our part. Trite as it may sound, it's true that we are all in this fight together and it is only by working together that we will win.

On a happier note, our webinar last Monday with five dynamic "Filipino Women Warriors in the Pandemic Front Line," was a big hit. Here's the recording, in case you missed it. http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/webinar-video-filipina-power-warriors-in-the-pandemic-front-line

Our Stories This Week

What Do You Call A Calendar Full Of ‘Bad Days’? By Constante G. Quirino

Little Manila’s Big Triumphs By James Sobredo

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 16 By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

By The Power Of Speech Alone By Maia Boncan

Eat It Again: The Happy Home Cook: Buko Fruit Salad

Video of the Week: Comfort Women in WWII

In The Know

Newsom appoints Rob Bonta, Oakland assemblyman, as state attorney general
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/03/24/newsom-appoints-rob-bonta-oakland-assemblyman-as-state-attorney-general/

The long, ugly history of anti-Asian racism and violence in the U.S.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/03/18/history-anti-asian-violence-racism/?fbclid=IwAR08hj3eRS5qHB_YjdlxnLc6SprLLgrrgVOknFmkcqJTVGRKF6A7-staSBk

7 Filipinas in History I wished I learned about in school
https://www.shopcambio.co/blogs/news/7-filipinas-in-history-i-wish-i-learned-about-in-school?fbclid=IwAR3k8GnqzHJo0bcv8G1slujQnwrpNzS_w4hei1nVEyfV7kySHK26tkK_eOU

Sharpshooters and spies: The unsung Filipina heroes of war
https://nolisoli.ph/95021/filipina-heroes-women-in-war-ayuvallos-20210309/?fbclid=IwAR0eXY4h7AoMuNV5iVo9Id1heGvUvsJ-BgU6QUY-A65SvI77NeDoYDtXTRo

Womanhood: A gift during the pandemic
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1404146/womanhood-a-gift-during-the-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR2P4kH2F_iTcLxfBnaGWs3z0-I-jpyhZdXDHogJfVkJd40izj-Um22eGlA

As an Asian-American, I'm Giving Myself Permission to Speak Up
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/asian-american-im-giving-myself-211623395.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

March 17, 2021

Female Warriors

March 17, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

We're having another webinar next week featuring five super-accomplished Filipino women in health care, all acclaimed in their respective fields, coming from different states: Hawaii, Washington, California, Illinois and New York. Each one played a significant role in mitigating the negative impact of the pandemic in their communities and they will share with us their stories and their work. Join us as we celebrate Women's History Month by honoring these "Filipina Power Warriors in the Pandemic Front Line" this coming Monday, March 22. Details and registration information below.

Our webinar last week, "We Are Not the Virus: Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans," triggered some visceral reactions from some attendees. If you missed it or would like to listen to it again, here's the recording of the event. http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/webinar-video-we-are-not-the-virus-hate-crimes-against-asian-americans

We also have some pretty consequential stories this week which we hope will inform, clarify, entertain and inspire.