July 28, 2021

Golden Diaz

July 28, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

Filipinos all over the globe had a generous dose of euphoria on Monday, July 26 when Hidilyn Diaz won the Olympic gold medal for the women's 55-kg weightlifting event in Tokyo. Not only did the 30-year old Zamboanguena best all others, including the favored 20-year old Chinese competitor, she also set two world records. With her win, the Philippine National Anthem was finally heard in the Olympics, for the first time since the country started competing 97 years ago. It was a "bucketful-of-tears" minutes as the anthem played and Hidilyn stood on center stage saluting and crying. Still is, when you watch the video again.

Hidilyn's victory is a timely reminder that our nation glories in the achievements and the hard work of its people. It's not a nation of harebrained functionaries who implement the law through killing or who willingly kowtow to a stronger power to gain favors. It was ironic that a few hours before her win, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was giving a rambling State of the Nation speech where he vowed once again to impose law and order by killing drug dealers, among other atrocious statements.

On this side of the Pacific, it is also worth noting the Olympic gold medal of Lee Kiefer in the individual foil (fencing) event. Kiefer's mother is Filipina.

Our stories this week focus on food: Manila-based foodie John Silva rhapsodizes on the various superb cuisines of the exclusive resort, Balesin; Los Angeles-based PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela's take on Filled (or Filipino-Led) Market, an open bazaar that sells food and other things close to everyone's hearts; and documentary producer Jennie Celdran's love notes on Cebu lechon.

Speaking of lechon, if you ever have some left over, here's what to do with it: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-happy-home-cook-paksiw-na-lechon-roast-pork-in-homemade-liver-sauce-and-vinegar?rq=lechon

In The Know

A PROMISE FULFILLED: Hidilyn Diaz lifts the Filipino people with historic Olympic gold
http://www.fullcourtfresh.com/mainnews/a-promise-fulfilled-hidilyn-diaz-lifts-the-filipino-people-with-historic-olympic-gold/?fbclid=IwAR0Ui_EvelfROX7yNr4vkxQNl1OHhBtsb328FmbkrdLXjz-ZYc7rRt3ae0Y

VALORANT's popularity in the Philippines, SEA 'a welcome surprise' for Riot Games
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/valorant-popularity-philippines-sea-welcome-surprise-riot-games-015450648.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Meet the war hero who invented banana ketchup
https://nextshark.com/banana-ketchup-maria-orosa-war-hero-philippines/

No Asian hate can stop this Filipino food truck in Utah from selling sisig and lechon kawali
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/07/16/21/no-asian-hate-can-stop-this-filipino-owned-food-truck-in-utah

How Does the Philippine Spanish Accent Sound Like?
https://lajornadafilipina.com/arts-and-culture/philippine-spanish-accent/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost&fbclid=IwAR3E3o5myku7NGaTXUP5e_IEaX6OmOFVZVoMzx5DG7YaBbzG2galQGViIAI

The Last Tattooed Women of Kalinga—Jake Versoza On His World-Renowned Photography Series
https://ph.asiatatler.com/life/jake-verzosa-the-last-tattooed-women-of-kalinga-book-exhibition

July 21, 2021

Covid Games

July 21, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

The Tokyo Olympics of 2021 begins this Friday, July 23 under dire Covid-shrouded circumstances. With no live spectators, the athletes unable to interact with one another beyond their countries' bubble, and the Delta variant hanging like an albatross on the entire event, it will be an Olympics like no other. There will be 19 Filipino athletes who will compete in the Games. Will they be able to surpass the historically mediocre showing of Filipino athletes of Olympics past? PF Correspondent and Olympics historian Myles A. Garcia gives us an overview of "Your Filipino Olympic Medalists Through the Years."

Here are more Olympic stories from Myles to Read Again:

Ten Best-Kept Secrets Of Olympic Ceremonies

A Tale Of Two Olympic Museums

Our long-running list of remarkable and/or famous Fil-Ams continues with part 23 featuring a transgender beauty queen, a start-up entrepreneur, a spoken word artist, authors and a nurse/chef, among others.

Today (or yesterday in Manila), one of the most revered Filipino women was laid to rest. PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino offers a heartfelt tribute to her ninang, Nini Quezon Avancena, who was her mother's best friend.

Let's take a break from the ongoing controversy over the plan of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry to standardize the process of cooking adobo and enjoy again a taste of Vegan Longganisa from vegan proponent, Richgail Enriquez: The Happy Home Cook: Vegan Longganisa

Have a safe and healthy summer week!

July 14, 2021

Adobomination

July 14, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

If there's one dish that Filipinos can agree to disagree about, it's adobo. Each region, each family, each person has individual ways of cooking this most Filipino of dishes (no matter its origins) and each one thinks that their way is the best. It's no wonder then that the announced plan of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to "standardize" the cooking technique for adobo and other popular Filipino dishes landed like a volcanic eruption, uniting Filipino chefs and foodies in the Philippines with their counterparts abroad in condemning the move. PF Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo collated the best reactions in "Much Ado About Adobo."

And since we're already on the subject (and probably already craving the taste), here are reposts of four different adobo recipes for the Happy Home Cook:

The Happy Home Cook: Amboy Adobo By Chef Alvin Cailan

The Happy Home Cook: Adobong Dilaw By Lyn B. Gamboa

The Happy Home Cook: Adobong Malutong (Adobo Flakes)

The Happy Home Cook: Adobong Baka (Braised Beef In Vinegar)

Also featured in this week's issue are two performance artists -- one focused on dance, film and the written word; the other in music fusion. Though very different from each other, the two share the passion for their art and their Filipino roots. SAMMAY, the artist originally known as Samantha Peñaflor Dizon is profiled by Lisa Suguitan Melnick while Fil-Canadian bassist/composer Chris Trinidad is introduced by Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

Two prominent Filipinas who have earned their places in Philippine history died on the same day this week. We pay homage to Nini Quezon Avancena and Celia Diaz Laurel, both of whom enriched our culture with their style, grace and advocacies. Here are Rappler's tributes to the two:

https://www.rappler.com/nation/zeneida-nini-quezon-avancena-dies

https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/theater/theater-actress-celia-diaz-laurel-dies

Video of the Week: Digital Nomads