Salutes

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Lydia De Vega (left) won the 100 m gold at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games. Her Indian rival, P.T. Usha (right), came in second (Source: The Hindu)

Positively Filipino joins the Filipino nation in celebrating the life of the legendary track and field athlete Lydia de Vega-Mercado, 57, who died last week after a four-year battle with cancer. De Vega made the country proud with her total  haul of 24 medals, 15 of them gold, at the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Asian Athletic Championships. Dubbed as "Asia's fastest woman" in the '80s, she competed and won medals until 1993.

Here's a tribute to her greatness: https://www.rappler.com/sports/things-to-know-lydia-de-vega-strides-to-greatness/

Speaking of medals, last week, we published a story by Dr. Blas Bermudez, an avid medal collector, who came across a Ramon Magsaysay Award medal given in 1992 to a distinguished business icon, Washington SyCip. The story, which is less about the medal than about the doctor's heroic attempt to save a life aboard a jet plane, triggered some questions on why the medal was for sale in the open market in the first place. We asked Mr. SyCip's family and the answer was, the medal was stolen by a former employee who was fired. Here's the story again: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/last-flight-home

Two more medal stories in this week's issue:

The National Artist for Dance honor was awarded to choreographer Agnes Locsin, profiled here by PF contributor from Manila, Pablo A. Tariman.

The Philippine National Women's Soccer Team broke all bets and expectations when they beat Thailand and won the gold in the Asian Football Federation finals last month at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes was there.

The family of philantrophist and Fil-Am community champion Loida Nicolas-Lewis honors her late husband Reginald Lewis' legacy with generous donations to African American community groups. PF Correspondent Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. tells us about the annual event held at the Lewis home in East Hampton.

August 21 is not to be taken lightly in Philippine contemporary history. We recall two earth-shaking events that changed the country's historical trajectory.

The Plaza Miranda bombing on August 21, 1972 which led to martial law: 

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/august-21-stories

And the assassination of Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. on August 21, 1983 which eventually led to the downfall of the Marcos regime:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/ninoys-final-journey

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Beef Shortribs Adobo by Chef Romy Dorotan

{Video of the Week] Where To Eat The Best Food in Laguna

[Partner] Sinehan sa Konsulado(August 18-September 9)

[Free Online Screening] Marilou Diaz-Abaya: Filmmaker on a Voyage (August 19-25)

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Staff

Once In A Lifetime

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The Filipina actor Cherie Gil was a once-in-a-lifetime talent that graced Philippine movies and television for almost five decades. She belonged to showbiz royalty with her parents Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil, her brothers Michael de Mesa and Mark Gil, and a big bunch of nephews and nieces who are likewise making their mark in the entertainment industry. Cherie's demise announced on August 5 led to a deluge of tributes, one of them from her friend, PF contributor Pablo Tariman. ["Cherie Gil, A Beautiful Soul"]

Five years ago, a distinguished Filipino was flying to New York via Vancouver when he suffered a heart attack. When the airline crew called for a physician among the passengers, a Filipino doctor and his wife, also a doctor, rushed to resuscitate him, but it was too late. The distinguished gentleman was Washington SyCip, 96 years old, an icon in the business community. The doctor who tried to save him was Blas Bermudez who wrote about the heartbreaking experience on his Facebook post, which we are reposting here. ["Last Flight Home"]

Filipinos of a certain age crooned and swooned to The Association's big hits like "Never My Love," "Cherish," "Windy," and "Along Comes Mary." What we didn't know then was that a Filipino-Hawaiian was a big part of that cherished pop group and in fact became the group's leader in 1984. Larry Ramos was a Bridge Generation Fil-Am worth extolling and Peter Jamero, another Bridge Generation stalwart, does so. ["Along Comes Larry"]

 If you haven't yet, go and watch Easter Sunday, the movie starring a delightful cast of Filipino Americans led by Jo Koy. One of them is Rodney To, who plays Tito Arthur. PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela profiles this real-life professor of dramatic arts at the University of Southern California. ["Rodney To is More Than Just Jo Koy's Uncle in Easter Sunday"]

Hometowns was one of our popular series that collected personal nostalgia stories about places in the Philippines that defined one's character and memories. Here's one of those narratives about the tiny island of Cuyo, where writer Noni Mendoza grew up and continues to yearn for. ["My Island in the Sun"]

[Read It Again]

The yo-yo is not a Filipino invention but a Filipino, Pedro Edralin Flores, got the first commercial trademark for the toy in the US: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/pedro-and-the-yo-yo-man-and-myth

The beauty of indigenous Filipino tattoos is on full display in this story:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/mark-of-four-waves

{Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Marinated Baby Back Ribs 

[Video of the Week] Little Girl Does T’boli Dance

[Partner] Sinehan sa Konsulado 2022 - As part of the Sinehan sa Konsulado 2022, Positively Filipino presents a special screening of Mona Lisa Yuchengco’s MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA: FILMMAKER ON A VOYAGE. The film will be available VOD (video-on-demand) for FREE from 12 noon August 19 to 12 noon August 25 PST on this access link: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/marilou-diaz-abaya-filmmaker-on-a-voyage

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Staff

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