Myths and Monsters

We close this year's commemoration of Filipino American History Month with a fact-check and correction. 

PF contributor and recently retired urban planner M.T. Ojeda parlayed her passion for history and geography by poring over old maps and demographic data of what used to be known as San Francisco's Manilatown, Kearny St. She disputes the assertions of a powerful 2020 video by media outlet Vox that 1) there were 30,000 Filipinos living in the area; and 2) those living in the area were so terrified of racist threats that they stayed within the boundaries of Manilatown. Read her story for a more accurate picture of the once-vibrant Filipino enclave in San Francisco. 

What better time to indulge our fascination with the supernatural than Todos los Santos time (celebrated in the Philippines on November 1 and its US equivalent, Halloween, on October 31)? 

For those who want to know more about the mythical creatures of our culture, here's a somewhat-creepy primer complete with sketches from Jean Karl Gaverza, whose research on this topic qualifies him as a resource person. 

From award-winning young writer, George Deoso, comes the question, "What is it about ghost stories that fascinate us?" He proceeds to regale us with his hair-raising tales which actually whets our appetite for more.

Not exactly a ghost story but a 17-year old aspiring writer, Lucas Q. Villaseñor, whose ancestor, Emilio Quisumbing, was one of the early pensionados (Filipino students given government scholarships to study in the US), reimagines the drama of the latter's return to the Philippines following his father's execution as a suspected spy.

October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Here's a Read Again that is a vital guide to recognizing red flags in a relationship: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/behind-the-charmer-may-hide-an-abuser?rq=abuse



In The Know

As Filipino American History Month comes to a close, take a peek inside the Field Museum’s Philippine Heritage Collection

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/museums/ct-ent-filipino-american-history-month-field-museum-20221025-76xamuug6ncezm6kqla2n3zbge-story.html?fbclid=IwAR1hmCrGL9r9pT7RIU2cv0HHjbuElfLAsWto2SfMFvvFCPnSpZ4TytohTac

Americana vs. Camisa: The History of Filipino Men's Fashion

https://www.esquiremag.ph/style/fashion/filipino-mens-fashion-a2289-20190401-lfrm6?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20221020-fbnp-style-filipino-mens-fashion-a2289-20190401-lfrm6-fbold&fbclid=IwAR2PUNO3fc_-I58OKBMGXa5Up0gWeDDZj_qCp-0yLNjNpI4X28EUPU-Mot4

Nagtipunan, Quirino boasts scenic views, blend of culture

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186509?fbclid=IwAR3KeeQKamWtpu47eA2UIycVCzrU8W1kYC-MtmF2o9tmN2HW3aNHIP_PnxY

Filipino Americans Share Their Journey to Buddhism

https://www.lionsroar.com/filipino-americans-share-their-journey-to-buddhism/?fbclid=IwAR0Ng8AfhpRrrmbsggvsaLTlUhP5vzWZWGh7j7YYB9SesoiM8OMNAV9yEAA

The BTS concert in Busan: The travails of an ARMY husband

https://verafiles.org/articles/the-bts-concert-in-busan-the-travails-of-an-army-husband?fbclid=IwAR0vAgdUGQGYcrOMbRDpdcG1c5AQhYLHtLV4ZHfKzuvypEKiPI1cQDczUGU

Miriam Quiambao On Leaving The City Life: 'Kung Kaya Ng Bulsa, Buong Pamilya, Go For It'

https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/life/home/miriam-quiambao-boracay-island-life-family-a00050-20220408?utm_source=Facebook-SP&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20221021-fbnp-life-miriam-quiambao-boracay-island-life-family-a00050-20220408-fbold&fbclid=IwAR0xZotkg-Bx_xBqfZO-JqUdCRKiOD0Du29BTkcTJFNmmRtZprinakXUUPs

If You Want to Know Who We Are

For those of you who have just Subscribed to get this Positively Filipino newsletter in your Inbox every Wednesday, you can go to our website, positivelyfilipino.com to get the lay of the land, so to speak. PF as you know, is purely online and we've been around since 2013. Thus, we have a rich collection of Filipino diaspora stories from our impressive roster of writers. Click on Collections and Series to peruse our archives. And if you want to know who we are, here's the link: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/editorial/ 

In addition to this week's lineup of stories, you can also check out our In Brief section http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/in-brief for quick updates on news about Filipinos worldwide. Our Community News section http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/community-news links you to events you might want to join or support.

Don't miss out on our curated In The Know links to significant stories from other publications below. The links are accessible only through this newsletter, in the same way that our chosen Video of the Week can only be accessed below. 

As always, PF strives to be the unifying thread that links us through generations, to our motherland, to Filipinos wherever they may be in the world, to our history and culture, and to each other via the vast variety of stories we have gathered and continue to collect.

Like PF contributing writer Lourdes Sobredo's kwento about her late grandpa, Perfecto delos Santos, who was one of the manongs who arrived in California in 1929 and worked the farms along with thousands of young, Filipino males who left the Philippines to seek better opportunities in the US.

From Japan, long-time resident Amadio Arboleda gives a synopsis of his book about his decades-long search for Atsuko Nambu, a gold medalist in the 100-meter relay during the Asian Games of 1954. The teenage athlete unwittingly softened the hearts of Filipinos still bitter over the Japanese occupation just a few years before.

From Washington D.C., historian Erwin Tiongson tells of his visit to the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center, where he saw the Boeing P-26, a short-lived war plane that nonetheless played an important part in the WW II history of Philippine aviation.

From the Netherlands, Maya Butalid -- leftist, revolutionary, feminist, community activist -- chronicles her journey from "true believer" to one who had to leave, in her recently published memoir reviewed by our regular contributor, Patricio Abinales. 

And for those who missed last week's webinar on the "HANAPEPE Massacre Mystery 1924," here's the link to the recording. 

There is never a dearth of interesting, heartwarming and provocative stories from Filipinos, and if you have one, we encourage you to write and share. 


More This Week

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Sizzling Sisig

[Video of the Week] The Rocky Fellers “Little Darlin’”


In The Know

Pucker Up for Filipino Vinegar

https://www.globalcarinderia.com/articles/pucker-up-for-filipino-vinegar/?fbclid=IwAR3UFV4VXEYYgCr7Gurco8OPg1AnB30gGJSvKaKi31rbuNWBjiW1bPCyDwQ

Ateneo debuts in THE World rankings as top PH school, places in 351-400 bracket

https://www.ateneo.edu/news/2022/10/12/ateneo-2023-the-world-university-rankings?fbclid=IwAR07fMcoiUdDShfpvQ8IXNGhSvddxOPEBRuHcXQ8pPlQDI2FPE6y0Rv4C7g

Welcome to Dollywood: Meet the Scene-Stealer of the Year’s Most Outrageous Film

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/10/awards-insider-dolly-de-leon-triangle-of-sadness-interview?fbclid=IwAR1g6Jqn0MUaAxDbxtiow-ip34C27J1k4xABBkXIqS97viL1xUoxrKWrfhs

Global Shipbuilder Austal Launches Its Largest Ferry Ever, And It's Made in the Philippines

https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/austal-largest-ferry-philippines-a00203-20221007?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20220907-fbnp-long-reads-austal-largest-ferry-philippines-a00203-20221007-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR1xGhf5vpPU52GP9Ht9ZCu7cBTVECR9OiqdssRKAYqH9cJXHtAamQybJ60

How L.A.'s Little Manila Disappeared Without a Trace

https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/los-angeles-little-manila?fbclid=IwAR1eeZd6zz2SDrvYHSDf5KXMpVA9m0lLp4TdljndUrCqoxol0RunX72tJSc

How a Teacher in Davao Finally Met Her Japanese Father Three Decades After WWII

https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/half-japanese-teacher-davao-finally-meets-father-a2328-20220922-lfrm3?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20221009-fbnp-long-reads-half-japanese-teacher-davao-finally-meets-father-a2328-20220922-lfrm3-fbold&fbclid=IwAR2YAcdSQeSBkxeuFktICVWm8HWG4vp38hZMBfqcKHVYB0632WY7QCx3vZI

Rights group: 59 lawyers slain in 6 years in Philippines

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rights-group-59-lawyers-slain-years-philippines-91547288


Timeline of Our Life in America

Positively Filipino's FilAm History timeline is the most comprehensive available. With this issue, we have added updates (in red) that hopefully keeps up with the constantly increasing number of milestones the community has chalked up to firmly establish its presence in the US. But timelines are always a work-in-progress, so please alert us if there are items missed or to be added.

Meanwhile, FilAm achievers continue to create history as they excel in their respective fields. Making the list in PF's "Fil Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous, Part 39" compiled by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco, are a sportswriter/ESPN host, Miss USA 2022 and a U.S. Ambassador.

Tarmo Peltokoski, a 22-year-old Filipino-Finnish conductor is the current sensation among orchestra fans in Europe. Cultural writer Pablo A. Tariman profiles this amazing classical music star.

October 7 marks the 100th day of the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. How has he fared so far? PF's Manila-based analyst Ernesto M. Hilario writes a report card.

Here's a story that brings us back decades, to WWII and one man's harrowing experience in Fort Santiago. PF contributor Harvey Barkin has the written account of Enrique Fernandez, a Nueva Ecija tradesman, as shared by his son, Manny Fernandez.

Our Video of the Week features FilAm Ben Scharlin digging up the fascinating story of a little known revolutionary/babaylan named Papa Isio in Negros Occidental, the heart of the Philippine sugar trade. 



In The Know

How Filipino Americans could decide the balance of the Senate

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/08/filipino-americans-voters-senate/

Undiscovering the Hidden Histories of California’s Filipino Community

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-education/2022/10/04/undiscovering-the-hidden-histories-of-californias-filipino-community/?fbclid=IwAR155nPAC6P9yCV3XFLVrNbDNY3PZStr71Litvlhi9J-XefUlwbPYg_gFMY

10 Award-Winning Filipino Movies on Netflix You Should Have Watched by Now

https://www.clickthecity.com/tv/article/129988/netflix-award-winning-filipino-movies/

Rhuigi Villaseñor Has Earned It

https://www.gq.com/story/gq-hype-rhuigi-villasenor?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=spotlight-nl&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_mailing=thematic_spotlight_092122_2&utm_medium=email&bxid=620a27d6813922770b3bd8a9&cndid=68611519&hasha=05ddf22f422e66287df84d4b55ef48a5&hashb=ce49ef3437bce21746d36352988bb7db8952786c&hashc=ae79b0e4adf2c0ab70bcc4e01da4fd8713d5081e7281775da76c12a1dd74ca53&esrc=spotlight_2022_07_01&sourcecode=thematic_spotlight&utm_term=Thematic_Spotlightt

The Fascinating Life of Nick Joaquin

https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/nick-joaquin-life-a00293-20190507-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20221001-fbnp-long-reads-nick-joaquin-life-a00293-20190507-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR2qYv7s4iUIO-t58TYlDbiAKM5HWmS1iXbl2W1BUvB2Dgh3T-05hPcnirc

This charming Filipino restaurant in Berlin has gained local fans and even television fame

https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/restaurants/10/02/22/berlins-pinoy-restaurant-has-gained-fans-and-tv-fame?fbclid=IwAR0MzuizWWgOcGDfGXM-WAWqdTiQcy50S1DJfti1nU7KfrSVHvXccqrpsrM