Afternoon Delight

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What's your idea of an afternoon well spent, one that elevates your spirit and shakes or stirs you to take, if not outright action, at least to take the next step towards greater enlightenment?

Would it be watching a controversial movie that presents an alternate reality of a well-documented historical event, like "Maid in Malacanang"?

Would it be taking time off to pursue a passion that saved you from pursuing a wrong path, like chef/photographer Jomel Bartolome in New Zealand? 

Certainly, it will not be what author/professor/human rights activist/occasional politician Walden Bello endured recently when he had to spend jail time for displeasing the powerful. 

For many of us, an afternoon of Filipino music and an intimate conversation about our musical culture with Maestro Michael Dadap wins hands down as the activity of choice, more so if it's in the company of kindred spirits, as PF contributor Lorna Lardizabal-Dietz writes about.

These stories and another of our popular recurring list of Fil-Ams who are making this world a better place are our offerings this week. 

We are also re-sharing some stories that we hope will make your day better.

In 2013, during the search for a new Pope, then newly named Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was talked about as a possible candidate. Here's the late ace reporter Aries Rufo's take on the issue: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/3/the-man-who-could-be-pope

And a good read, at any time of day from Lotis Key-Kabigting: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/white-men-cant-jump-start

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Rellenong Talong (Stuffed Eggplant)

[Video of the Week] "Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana" LA's Historic Filipinotown Mural

In The Know

Philippine media under pressure as Marcos Jr courts influencers
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/20/philippine-media-under-pressure-as-marcos-jr-courts-influencers

When Filipinos Fight with Filipino-Americans, No One Wins
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/filipinos-filipino-americans-filams-filipinx-diaspora-a2819-20220813-lfrm2
Philippine classrooms reopen after more than two years
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippine-classrooms-reopen-more-two-032342193.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9sLmZhY2Vib29rLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFiv7B7QwjQj_86QCR-k3x8XaEvIhOp4chOIPrES_OphaH_UXSvyFNBN09_mP_sSgnSpzJRzbSTUG-SaPyFRCv3_S2XFNI5fPK7gB3c0fgoyEMqxmc8tBJ0dhjtPyzRN5sAVwDN1U_KjS02HBZQhj9gMw-29ARYLodRIbcRESufw

Why American Billionaire Andrew Carnegie Offered To Buy The Philippines’ Freedom For $20 Million
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/andrew-carnegie-philippines-a00304-20200105?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20220815-fbnp-long-reads-andrew-carnegie-philippines-a00304-20200105-fbold&fbclid=IwAR2dzkEZ8Zkzr4MZoKKPzMGtLOO_5O8aAhHYLmFhc6VGFscV8zz54fzBrnY

Why Niagara Falls has become home to many Filipinos
https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/08/16/22/why-niagara-falls-has-become-home-to-many-filipinos

The story of esteemed 19th-century Spanish painter’s ‘lonely tomb’ at the La Loma Cemetery
https://pop.inquirer.net/331379/the-story-of-esteemed-19th-century-spanish-painters-lonely-tomb-at-the-la-loma-cemetery

What Ever Happened to the Legendary Salinas Salt Springs?
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/salinas-salt-springs-a00293-20201201?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare-Photo&utm_campaign=20220822-fbnp-long-reads-salinas-salt-springs-a00293-20201201-fbold&fbclid=IwAR1slU5yvifhDoHV6amCmF_ZZXply4tS4idc05GNrTtELjeacn2jenyaowo

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Staff

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