June 23, 2021

What a Difference 30 Years Make

June 23, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

When Mona Lisa Yuchengco started Filipinas magazine in 1992, it was quite a task to find prominent Fil-Ams to feature. There were just a few in entertainment, fewer still in media and politics.

What a difference 30 years make! Today, Fil-Ams have a strong presence in many fields -- entertainment, music, literature, the academe, media, government service and local politics. One of them is Rob Bonta, elected for multiple terms as the first Fil-Am in the California state legislature and recently appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as the state Attorney General, taking the place of now Vice President Kamala Harris. The appointment has left Bonta's legislative seat vacant and one of those running to fill that seat is Malia Vella, a Filipino American who is currently the vice mayor of Alameda, CA. Read about her (and wish her luck) in Harvey I. Barkin's write-up.

Part of the world is opening up after the devastating pandemic so we're now posting travel stories to places you might consider visiting in the future. A regular PF contributing writer, former Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr., writes about visiting Guam, a US territory with strong ties to our Motherland.

Fil-Am author Mia P. Manansala's Arsenic and Adobo, one of Buzzfeed's highly anticipated mystery novels of 2021, is given a review by PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino.

From our archives, here are some Read Agains that continue to be good reading:

Veteran journalist Philip M. Lustre Jr.'s recalls a time when politicians were competent and colorful, and the best of them all was Manila's mayor: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/arsenio-h-lacson-the-best-president-the-philippines-never-had

Famous artist/chef Claude Tayag remembers Anthony Bourdain's Philippine visit: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/bourdains-last-famous-badass-words

And we have a new contributor to our Happy Home Cook section: Maja Hu, based in Austin, TX, shares with us her recipe for waffles using the currently trendy Philippine root crop, ube.

For Video of the Week, Asia Society Philippines put together a music video with well-known Filipino performers in a campaign against the rising Anti-Asian Hate Crimes in the U.S.

In The Know

Filipino Americans reported highest Covid mental health issues of any Asian group
https://news.yahoo.com/filipino-americans-reported-highest-covid-163936139.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Viral images show people of color as anti-Asian perpetrators. That misses the big picture.
https://news.yahoo.com/viral-images-show-people-color-184732271.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Little Manila Perseveres: How Filipinx Leaders in Stockton Are Organizing for the Next Generation
https://www.kqed.org/news/11878030/little-manila-perseveres-how-filipinx-leaders-in-stockton-are-organizing-for-the-next-generation?fbclid=IwAR19sHskRRMr-YmgMZum9saxnsBiKdvidcvUebOXjXtLtjr3Cd1NYlFNhSI

Kakanin: As Pinoy as it gets
https://philstarlife.com/living/999106-kakanin-pinoy-food?page=6

Partner Posts

Kalayaan 2021: Celebrating Partnership And Humanity

13th Annual Our Family, Our Future: ALLICE Virtual Event Aims To Empower Older Adults By Cherie M. Querol Moreno

June 16, 2021

Light, at Last

June 16, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

Positively Filipino honored famous fathers with an inspiring webinar yesterday. It featured Sylvia Lazo, daughter of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo; Lindsay Keys, daughter of Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba; Rey Banatao, son of tech entrepreneur Dado Banatao; and Vicki Nievera, daughter of popular balladeer Bert Nievera. Hosted by Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, the event was a fitting celebration of Father's Day. Watch the recording here “Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Dads”

As California, Vermont and other US states emerge from the darkness of a pandemic year, the process of reopening has triggered a slew of advice and caution, some serious how-tos on re-entering the social circuit, others offering funny cautionary tales about the post-Covid world. For seniors, undoubtedly the biggest demographic impacted by the pandemic, AARP, its trusted guardian angel, came out with a list of protocols for houseguests newly liberated to visit family. Occasional PF contributing writer Elena Buensalido Mangahas however thinks the list not too apt for Filipinos so she came up with her own, "The Fil-American Rule: Apologize Then Proceed." Do you have your own rules?

Our series of "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous" is now on part 21, putting talent and achievements on display.

We're at the midpoint between two national celebrations -- Philippine Independence Day (June 12) and Rizal Day (June 19) so it's but fitting to post (and repost) stories that celebrate our Motherland's history and National Hero. First off, Harvey I. Barkin reports on a recent talk by noted historian Ambeth Ocampo on Rizal's visit to the US, "Rizal in the US: He Was Not Impressed." We also have the link to the actual lecture.

Here are other interesting Rizal stories:

"Rizal's Great Loves" by Penelope V. Flores

"Jose Rizal, Martial Arts Warrior" by Rene J. Navarro

Timed appropriately for these disturbing times, our Video of the Week presents a powerful, incisive short film, "Heneral Rizal." a production of Act One in the Philippines.

And continuing our Rizal tribute, here's a repost of the recipe for Tinolang Manok or Chicken Tinola, reportedly his fave dish.

In The Know

Trese: What Netflix's new occult anime reveals about the Philippines
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57424360?fbclid=IwAR2ifQf5T8CBDgrQwVHKb-6xnVpCujzE-5XchS-pNEBpXs6Ew6PUHP6PKTI

[Dash of SAS] Second chances in the only country in the world without divorce
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/dash-of-sas-second-chances-only-country-in-world-without-divorce?fbclid=IwAR2h6pPJqxtlWwkXeZUQ7ES5u91zm2Gi7kMLxhv8h7MYn8XR8DjXLBx2wBQ

Breaking down Filipino cuisine by region is harder than you'd think
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2021/06/02/breaking-down-filipino-cuisine-region-harder-youd-think?fbclid=IwAR1WCSRmfIAsU99iR6vzUHuNBtc9j3XLMadbxsJM02hymoJS5YY6XlzEOk0

Filipino American nurses, reflecting on disproportionate Covid toll, look ahead
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/filipino-american-nurses-reflecting-disproportionate-covid-toll-look-a-rcna1112

NBA’s Jordan Clarkson restores vandalized Filipino food truck, decries Asian hate
https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/nbas-jordan-clarkson-restores-vandalized-filipino-food-truck-decries-asian-hate/?fbclid=IwAR1iGw5-gjH4zaL3_2pMJnxao80m91Qxi4g6M9DvSkbTL0vMJ7OnZv1-hzo

7 Ancestral Homes and Heritage Buildings in the Philippines Turned Into Beautiful Dining Spots
https://ph.asiatatler.com/dining/ancestral-homes-and-heritage-buildings-turned-into-beautiful-dining-spots

June 09, 2021

Daddies Dearest

June 09, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

Time for another webinar and this time it's the dads' turn to be honored. Four famous fathers will be on the spotlight: National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, tech entrepreneur Dado Banatao, Major General (Ret.) Antonio Taguba and the late balladeer Bert Nievera. See the flyer below to get the details. Please join us and tell your friends too.

It was a proud day for Filipinos last Sunday as 19-year old golfer Yuka Saso won the US Women's Open, a major title no other Filipino golfer has achieved. (No Filipino male golfer has even come close.) Seeing the final scoreboard with the Philippine flag on top of its former colonizers, Japan and the US, was a brief shining moment but it punctuated the euphoria of the win. Coincidentally, Yuka's victory happened at the Olympic Golf Course, right next door to Daly City where more than 30,000 kababayans reside, providing her a loud, cheering audience waving Philippine flags. PF contributor and avid golfer I. Wilfredo Ver explains to us the gravitas of Yuka's win in "Yuka Saso's Golf Victory -- A Historic Filipino Triumph." [Full disclosure: the writer is my husband.]

Introduced obtrusively in the streets of San Francisco, TNT Traysikel, a brainchild of artist Paolo Asuncion and Mike Arcega, is both moveable sculpture and statement. Corin Ramos writes about the innovative concept behind "TNT Traysikel, a Social Sculpture of Protest and Solidarity."

It's Pride Month and Baguio City-based PF Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo profiles John Raspado, winner of the 2017 Mr. Gay World international competition, who has used his platform for activism in the social and environmental issues he cares most about. ["From Mr. Gay World to Community Activist"]

Belem is a city in Brazil that most of us have not heard of, but apparently it's a city of varied charms as well as being a choice starting point for cruising the Amazon river. PF contributing writer Chibu Lagman, a Latin American Studies professor and world adventurer, introduces us to the place in "Sampling La Vida Local Along the Amazon."

For the Happy Home Cook, here's another "cook it again" recipe from our archives, perfect for summer: Ensaladang Talong (Eggplant Salad).