Steady Eddie

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Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos (Photo by Robert D. Ward, U.S. Department of Defense)

When news of the demise of former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) came out last weekend, many took to social media to post pictures with and/or pay tribute to the man. One of the most heartfelt ones was that of writer (and many things besides) Jose "Butch" Dalisay, Jr. who had ghost-written about 600 of the president's speeches. The Chief Executive and the speechwriter never met until much later when the presidency was over, and FVR became arguably the most visible and accessible ex-president to many people.

Though credited with having presided over a six-year period of relative peace and economic stability, President FVR's legacy is nonetheless tainted with issues he was accused of doing and not doing. What is unquestionable, however, was his commitment to restoring and preserving Philippine democracy, during the 1986 People Power Revolt and through the many coup attempts against the Cory Aquino administration thereafter.

His role in the overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship has assured him an indelible place in the roster of Philippine contemporary heroes. He was Steady Eddie, the veteran military commander who managed the rebel troop movements and the crucial psy-ops (his expertise) who helped win the day and ensured that Cory Aquino (as opposed to the civilian-military junta favored by the "other one") took over as President.

During one coup attempt against the Aquino government months later, FVR, who was already the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, couldn't be found by the media the night before and on the day of the alleged coup. It turned out that he was crisscrossing the country, visiting military camps and secretly meeting with the commanders to get their assurance that any troop movement in support of the coup would be quelled.

Say what you will of President FVR. He was no saint, but there's no irrefutable proof that he was a villain either.

This Week’s Stories

The President And His PaperMate By Jose Dalisay

[This Makes Us Smile] Freeway Marker Honors Late Fil-Am Leader Alice Bulos By Cherie M. Querol Moreno

Ricky Lee’s Life Is The Stuff Of Cinema-Verite By Pablo A. Tariman

Listen To Your Titas

Six Or Seven Meals A Day By Ralph Semino Galán

[Webinar Video] A Murder Most Foul (The Celine Archive)

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Fish Tocino By Rene Astudillo

[Video of the Week] Family Feud Hosts Easter Sunday’s Jo Koy

In The Know

Jo Koy shines light on family & culture in ‘Easter Sunday’ comedy
https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/08/01/jo-koy-shines-light-on-family-culture-in-easter-sunday-comedy/?fbclid=IwAR03fnMGqmlu34ExjMQuW5p6GDCb1fT-8FbcX7xKE3llNPbwOIo-XZOAfiI

A popular Filipino restaurant gets on a Netflix show. What happens next
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2022-08-01/dollar-hits-historic-filipinotown-los-angeles-essential-california?fbclid=IwAR0iyvzHfnhZ3bmm0iSIxAB20q7lCzteoaJtYfZohigI5lowf-6G661x5v4

3-M calls reporting child sex trafficking during pandemic in PHL 
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/08/01/3-m-calls-reporting-child-sex-trafficking-during-pandemic-in-phl/?fbclid=IwAR2-wDOcCoiilj0-xlnH9qQI4lb4UriIqKzObDzNO-BMBjk4zYqnH1tDwk4

The best Philippines islands: a local’s guide to the 10 prettiest islands
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/philippines-islands?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_social-type=owned&utm_brand=conde-nast-traveller-uk&fbclid=IwAR2NFA-L2DRhcdk3x5pSgktUjHAE1JZMm8vcHjD5sUOpsTB8t0Ty5GsfB94

From U.S. Prison to CEO of His Own Company: The Redemption of Sergio Syjuco
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/sergio-syjuco-CEO-excalibur-builders-a2017-20220523-lfrm4?ref=article_featured

Seed planted in SF State MBA program grows into mini-Filipino food empire

https://news.sfsu.edu/news-story/seed-planted-sf-state-mba-program-grows-mini-filipino-food-empire

Viral: His realistic miniature shanties were inspired by his former life as a batang riles
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/07/24/22/making-miniature-shanties-was-his-way-out-of-depression?fbclid=IwAR1ytLsHLrN1nbXH7jECQA847UGwbWriQT34ihnIvqwATaGyhlejB9doOE0

Bibingka Ranks 13th in the World’s Best 50 Cakes
https://sugbo.ph/2022/bibingka-ranks-worlds-best/?fbclid=IwAR3mHhV95-t8PLQkhB5sjPCHf-68T89LAvVZi_YtKhVo51CEgOaDnn_Tpfo

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Staff

Familial Pattern

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Cory Aquino and Benigno "Noynoy" or "PNoy" Aquino III. Diosdado Macapagal and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Now the two Ferdinands. Is this propensity of Filipino voters towards electing offspring of previous presidents to the presidency an attempt at collective redemption? Or is it collective flagellation? 

It may be too early to evaluate the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos II, as PF contributing writer Patricio Abinales writes. But it's never too late to look at historical records to see how the son compares with the father in a variety of interesting ways.

Most of us know "Earnshaw" only as a street in Sampaloc and a public elementary school in Manila, but as former Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. (a regular PF contributor) writes, the family name connotes exemplary public service and business acumen. The Earnshaw brothers -- Tomas and Manuel -- were more than shipbuilders (their family business); they were patriots who served the Philippines as public servants (not politicians) at a time when the country needed them the most. 

We're now on our 35th list of Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous, and our publisher/listmaker Mona Lisa Yuchengco is not running out of names. Which speaks of how entrenched the FilAm community is in this country their parents/grandparents immigrated to.

Here's a heartwarming story that will definitely make you smile. It involves Joseph Tagaban, a Fil-Am teenager from Alaska and four-time NBA champ, Klay Thompson, of the Golden State Warriors. 

And if that's not enough to make your day, here's humor, Filipino-style. [Forgive Us Our Signs 16]

If you haven't yet, you can still register to join our Zoom webinar, "A Murder Most Foul." Details below. 

Jo Koy's movie "Easter Sunday" is coming very soon (August 5, in fact) but let's not forget that he also has a book. Read Again: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/jo-koy-gets-no-respect-from-mom

Here's a story worth rereading from our first July issue in 2013: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/7/when-lolos-debating-team-vanquished-america

{Cook it Again] The Happy Home Cook: Ginataang Langka (Young Jackfruit In Coconut Milk)

[Video of the Week] Jo Koy’s mom reacts to his jokes

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Staff

Unforgettable

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In 1932, a Filipino woman named Cecilia Villano Navarro, the wife of an ailing Filipino farmworker, was buried alive by some members of her Northern California Filipino community. Her alleged crime: adultery, although the details are murky at best. What followed next was a sensational court trial that pitted Filipinos against Filipinos, Filipinos vis a vis the US system of justice, and whispered tales of supernatural appearances. On July 29 (July 30 in the Philippines), a Positively Filipino webinar titled "A Murder Most Foul" deconstructs this lurid tragedy, taking off from the documentary film "The Celine Archive" by Celine Parrenas Shimizu. Please see details in the e-flyer below, as well as the link to register for the event.

In 1960, a young American woman sailed to the Philippines on a freighter from New York to begin a new life as a wife and mother. Patricia Kearney Encarnacion, a first-timer to Asia, was alternately filled with wide-eyed wonder and shock at what she saw and experienced in her first months in a country so different from her own. She wrote detailed letters to her family vividly describing how it was to see carabaos outside her window, riding a bus to Quiapo and eating at least five meals a day. 

In 1980, a London- and US-educated Filipina debuted as director of a Filipino movie, one of a few women able to pierce the then-male dominated Philippine movie industry. In the decades that followed until her death in 2012, Marilou Diaz-Abaya made some monumental movies that will forever be remembered. This year, she was posthumously named National Artist for Cinema. Her friend Pablo A. Tariman pays her tribute.

This year, our country and the world are confronted with challenges to collective memory as powerful forces connive to revise history. CoverStory.ph editor Rosario A. Garcellano quotes sociologist/columnist Randy David's words ("The battle for memory never ceases") as she correlates the past Marcos administration with the present, so we will not forget.

Here's something to make you smile: A Filipina nurse in the UK risked her marathon record to help a runner reach the finish line. It was all in a day's work for Harrieth Kay Amores.

Partner Posts

{Partner] AAJA And AAJA-Asia Condemn Maria Ressa's Appeal Denial

[Partner] Kababayan Reminded To Remain Vigilant When In New York City

For the Happy Home Cook, here's one recipe we can make over and over again: The Happy Home Cook: Buko Fruit Salad

[Video of the Week] 4 Ways to Make Filipino Halo-Halo

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Staff