Death and Life

Death has not been a stranger to anyone this past year and a half. The steady and unrelenting drip drip of news of someone's passing has become a numbing reality. Some weeks are worse than others and the emotional toll can  vary -- a little sadness for those you never got to know personally, a few tears for those you did know but were not that close to. And then there are those that are heavy as a mountain, when the loss leaves one deeply grieving. Such was the impact of the sudden passing of well-known revolutionary activist Sixto Carlos Jr. on my co-editor, Rene Ciria Cruz, whose poignant eulogy to his kasama and kabayan (they both grew up in Pandacan) is a fitting tribute to a man who lived a consequential life. ["My Friend, Sixto Carlos Jr."]

It's never all gloom and doom however. Positively Filipino publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco celebrates the long and eventful life of Delfin Gonzalez, who is now 107 years old and still hale and healthy. This man she calls Tito Delfin was the subject of her first film, "66 Years, 2 Months, 21 days…and Still Counting" made in 2009 when he was just 95. ["The Indefatigable Delfin Gonzalez"]

Contributing writer Leny Mendoza Strobel writes the inspiring story of Justin Jones whose quest to connect to his Filipino roots has given depth and impetus to his civil rights activism. ["Justin Jones – Black, Filipino, Civil Rights Activist"]

And speaking of inspiration, if you're a church goer, chances are you've sang "Time to Change," a popular inspirational song composed by Atek Jacinto, the musical director whose other claim to fame is his being the "creator" of the famous Circus band of the '70s. Many who remember the song say it's an appropriate time to revive it, considering the political situation in the Philippines. ["'Time to Change' -- How It All Began"]

Part 27 of Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous includes artists, community leaders, corporate professionals and the mother of Jo Koy. 

Always delightful, always delicious. That's Sandy Daza's cooking as showcased in the Metro Channel's Casa Daza. For the Happy Home Cooks this week, enjoy Sandy cooking classic favorites: Kare-kare, Bistek Tagalog and Adobo. 

For Video of the Week, we feature the episode of ANC’s “Our Fragile Earth” on Pujada Bay and Sarangani Bay.

[PARTNER] Deadline To Register For Overseas Voting For The 2022 Philippine National Elections

In The Know

How this Filipino accountant escaped Taliban forces in Afghanistan and made it to PH alive
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/08/31/21/how-ofw-escaped-taliban-forces-made-it-to-ph-alive

The death of my daughter Kerima
https://www.thediarist.ph/the-death-of-my-daughter-kerima/

A Local's Guide to the Philippines
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/locals-guide-philippines-050000495.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

IN PHOTOS: The stunning wooden library that earned PH its first award at Venice Biennale
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/09/04/21/this-library-won-ph-its-first-award-at-venice-biennale?fbclid=IwAR18nFG4ybRsQl7IJb8iXc6G3c6avrGQwDgCvj7Gq57vvautqQgZ4wTuoqg

Here's the Real Story of Batibot's Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/batibot-pong-pagong-kiko-matsing-a00289-20200907-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20210901-fbnp-long-reads-batibot-pong-pagong-kiko-matsing-a00289-20200907-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR1c86gRTO4S8JJH-lVaIpq-5PKGN14ytdHpb1d8gggde4vx1ayu6w0ziLY

These memorable commercial jingles you grew up with were composed by Jose Mari Chan
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/09/01/20/these-memorable-commercial-jingles-you-grew-up-with-were-composed-by-jose-mari-chan?fbclid=IwAR1GK7eb1_jsfUvAWZUk2uExA4_ltBw10Fyaq8HqFzbr_pLBBTH63RT3gvk

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Characters

When Positively Filipino was just two months old in 2013, we asked our friends and readers to name the most awesome Filipino woman they would like or would have liked (if she is already dead) to have a long conversation with. I chose two, both famous writers and colorful characters -- Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, whom I never met in person, and Gilda Cordero Fernando whom I've met but never had the chance to be close to. Here's what I wrote: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/3/awesome-women-carmen-guerrero-nakpil-and-gilda-cordero-fernando

I was reminded of this post because in this week's issue, we feature two colorful characters: Tita Aida (real name Nicky Calma), a popular transgender trailblazer/activist in the San Francisco Bay Area (profiled by Rafaelito V. Sy in "Listen to Your 'Tita Aida'") and Jaime Picornell, writer/raconteur/bon vivant whose recent death left many among Cebu City's alta sociedad bereft (Cecilia Manguerra Brainard writes about him fondly in "The Jolly Spaniard of Cebu."

Of course our ongoing series on Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous have a whole list of them, with part 26 featuring 13 Fil-Ams in a variety of professions who have made their mark in their respective fields.

Our Baguio-based correspondent Rene Astudillo sent a recipe for the Happy Home Cook who wants to cut down on rice: Thai-style Basil Pork with Chinese Pearl Barley.

And here's another Read Again: my fascination with backyards was renewed during our road trip across America. http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/gemma/backyards

For Video of the Week, we feature the six Filipinos who were honored in Ontario for their manufacture and distribution of face masks during the pandemic.

Be safe and get vaccinated.

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The King and the Manila Boy

The first time I watched the movie musical "The King and I" as a little girl, I was mesmerized by the music and the strange costumes. That movie has since become one of my all-time favorites to re-watch on DVD and YouTube, and not just because of the unforgettable presence of Yul Brynner. "The King and I" remains one of most joyful musicals ever produced. For those who were equally entranced by the movie, did you know that the pre-teen kid who played the Crown Prince Chulalongkorn was Filipino? At that time, in the 1950s, Filipinos in a Hollywood movie were practically unheard of so Patrick Adiarte's feat was one that should be recorded and hailed in Fil-Am history, which is what PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia has done in "The Manila Boy Who Would Be King."

Quite a number of Fil-Ams (born and/or raised in the US) have decided to move to the Philippines and establish themselves there. One of them is Richard Cavosora who returned to Laguna to care for his mother and has since evolved into a maker of cheese. Read his story, "The Accidental Cheese Monger."

Following his very successful (and award-winning) stint with the acclaimed Washington D.C. restaurant, Bad Saint, Chef Tom Cunanan partnered with his former sous chef Paolo Dungca to set up, in the middle of the pandemic, PogiBoy, a sandwich fast food restaurant also in the DC area. PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela writes about this newbie joint which has already been hailed by the Washington Post. 

Earlier this month was the 44th anniversary of the demise of the International Hotel (I-Hotel) in San Francisco, one of the tragic events that in Fil-Am history that should not be forgotten. Read Again about what happened that night of August 4, 1977: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-last-night-of-i-hotel?rq=i-hotel

And here's another of my road trip stories: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/gemma/bison-and-brooklyn

For the Happy Home Cook, a repost of another delectable dessert from Voltaire Gungab: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-happy-home-cook-double-decker-chocolate-and-coconut-pudding

We have a thought-provoking Video of the Week, an interview by Toni Gonzaga of Jake Zyrus, who used to be the celebrated singer Charice Pempengco. 

In The Know

Asian in the U.S. are the fastest growing racial group. What's behind the rise.
https://news.yahoo.com/asian-u-fastest-growing-racial-213021710.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Hernández: Reality hit Manny Pacquiao after bruising loss, and he handled it with dignity
https://news.yahoo.com/hern-ndez-reality-hit-manny-123546530.html

Son, father remember rebel-poet: ‘We respect each other’s choices’
https://www.rappler.com/nation/kerima-tariman-son-father-remember-rebel-poet-respect-each-other-choices?fbclid=IwAR1qMzNRdUN4jjEJsCTQqeiWrxq6_2Fm22z_1tM43fzUF42bjdu2U5LtCyw

Family issues, racism compounded stress on Filipino-American college students during the pandemic
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/20/filipino-american-college-students-mental-health-suffered-during-covid.html

WWII veteran captured in Philippines worked in Japanese shipyard
https://news.yahoo.com/wwii-veteran-captured-philippines-worked-153600312.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Stay out of our kitchen (if you can’t take the heat)
https://philstarlife.com/living/332967-kitchen-heat-cooking?page=2

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