Armchair Tourists

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There is wisdom in staying put at home this week as the earth heats up to unprecedented levels, as millions of people do some revenge travel (to make up for the lost years of the pandemic), and airlines are still in the midst of sorting out their scheduling and understaffing messes. Faced with such chaos in real-world traveling, it's a good idea to sit back and consider better travel options, like waiting till later this year to embark on your dream journey.

For the armchair traveler we have a collection of stories that can guide you to exotic places and experiences (see our Read It Again reposts below). But first, enjoy this week's travel story on Türkiye (formerly Turkey), the most famous transcontinental (located in two continents) city in the world. PF Correspondent Myles Garcia writes about his fascination for the place.

A different kind of leisure is the pleasure one gets from collecting objects of desire. PF Correspondent Virgilio Reyes Jr. has a unique collection -- miniatures -- gathered from his travels and postings as a member of the Philippine diplomatic corps (he was ambassador to multiple countries). 

Our list of the remarkable and famous in the FilAm community this week includes the stage actress who plays Imelda Marcos in Here Lies Love, the immersive musical that opens on Broadway next week. Those who will be in New York City then, take note.

Stories This Week

Istanbul Was Constantinople by Myles A. Garcia
Miniatures: It’s A Small World by Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.
Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 49 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Read Agains

A Magical Tour Of The Beatles Hometown by Lloyd LaCuesta
11 Great Beaches You Probably Haven’t Been To by Manuel Hizon
Queasy Rider: My Tribute To America by James Sobredo
Hanoi Diary: Vietnam's Beautiful Peace by Patria Cabatuando-Rivera

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Pan De San Nicolas by Elizabeth Ann Quirino
[Video This Week] 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Allisen Corpuz

In The Know

Half-Filipina Allisen Corpuz wins US Women’s Open for 1st major title
https://www.rappler.com/sports/golf-results-allisen-corpuz-us-women-open-july-9-2023/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwAR0DIR92SCo4T-9pcmE-_G8VIxb9IFcw-knETQGYGIoNfMAq8pj9MyBmnCI

A New Decade, A New Album, A New Life—Olivia Rodrigo’s Next Chapter
https://www.vogue.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-august-cover-2023-interview?fbclid=IwAR0z7zbbPPhZzgA9N6pqlsJhL3zvkujBXghUpzFEJr-LrEwgqIn2G2xyAQs

Carnegie Corporation names Bishop Oscar A. Solis a 'Great Immigrant, Great American'
http://www.icatholic.org/article/carnegie-corporation-names-bishop-oscar-a-solis-a-great-59217394?fbclid=IwAR0jHCzStpSKu2ZSbCVEiJ6HlicGo9c5FncY3-TtqoQzCmth0cMWqLrsndU

The Story Behind the 'Rediscovery' of Jose Rizal's Brain Fragments
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/jose-rizal-brain-fragments-backstory-a2017-a2836-20230705-lfrm2?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20230705-fbnp-long-reads-jose-rizal-brain-fragments-backstory-a2017-a2836-20230705-lfrm2-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR21kSCLvQcvPM0g1F-shD5eU0XGFFDTND-dSpXlOFa5QsvN4E2xLqZ2ooo

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Filipino-inspired recipes: pork lumpia, coconut prawn stew, pandan custards
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/feb/05/yotam-ottolenghi-filipino-recipes-pork-lumpia-prawn-coconut-stew-pandan-tapioca-custards?fbclid=IwAR0-BlSX3EXG5YMXD8QKiKpRvGXDs3TRa_pjyx6JKKj7JeSc1zZiQbueSkw

‘I didn’t want to give up my culture’: vegan chefs reimagine Filipino dishes
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/01/vegan-chefs-phillippines-meat-dishes 

Filipino bakery at 40 is a Maui, Hawaii institution
https://usa.inquirer.net/132939/filipino-bakery-at-40-is-a-maui-hawaii-institution?fbclid=IwAR1nI9C4DSMXnPPe4rdDuVb4J7dqIBbkkwaU2pQNB3FW2I3JBD7VfSKzWas

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Staff

We Are Acting Against Hate

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Hate crimes in California in 2022 was at an all-time high, with a jump of 20% from 2021. [https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Hate%20Crime%20In%20CA%202022f.pdf]

While overall, anti-Asian hate crimes/incidents have gone down in number following the easing of the pandemic and its accompanying anti-Asian rhetoric, it is still alarming that there were almost 10,000 reported cases between 2020 and 2021 alone. [https://archive.vn/qO57S] These stats illustrate that Asians are easily vulnerable to attacks; a single spark of hate can still ignite a prairie fire. 

It's not a time then for complacency. Or to even entertain (the premature and mistaken) relief that the tensions are over. As the recent beating of 75-year old Filipino American Amadeo Quintara in his own garage in Las Vegas by a white man shows, [see Corin Lujan's "Against Hate and Loathing in Las Vegas], hate is a living, breathing organism that will always be a threat, no matter how much we wish it away.

With this issue, Positively Filipino begins a partnership with the State of California and its agencies, the California State Library, the Department of Social Services and the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate campaign. Through a state grant, PF will take an active role in providing historical and current information about anti-Asian hate crimes, assist in the documentation of incidents, and disseminate strategies on prevention and de-escalation. Our Act Against Hate section in the magazine and social media will be a valuable community resource for everyone who supports the struggle against hate, racism, discrimination and violence against Asians. 

Have you or someone you know experienced an instance when you felt targeted and afraid? Tell us about it at actagainsthate@positivelyfilipino.com. When did it happen? How did it happen? What did you do about it? It may not be something monumental -- murmured curses about your ethnicity, a deliberate bumping that threw you off-balance, being refused service, being sneered at during your daily walk -- all these little slights that we often just ignore, add up.  And to keep silent gives the perpetrators the green-light to proclaim their bigotry.  

So let us, as a community, raise our voices against hate in whatever form. Together we can stop, prevent, document, and de-escalate ethnic tensions while making sure that we ourselves are free of anger and prejudice.

This week, we also begin a series on Bridge Generation personalities, as profiled by historian/chronicler Peter Jamero in his monthly blog called Peter's Pinoy Patter. First up, Don Velez, 85, whose woodworking products are available on Etsy. 

Stories This Week

Against Hate And Loathing In Las Vegas by Corin Ramos Lujan

The 'Woodjammer' by Peter Jamero

Badoc Island: Ilocos Norte’s Little Secret by Ian Layugan

Nina Daza Puyat’s Culinary Mission by Claire Mercado-Obias

[Recipe of the Week] The Happy Home Cook: Lumpiang Shanghai With Sweet And Sour Sauce byNina Daza Puyat

[Video of the Week] Bataan Death March Anniversary

Read Agains

A Reunion Of Strangers by Oscar Peñaranda

Remembering Leonard Ralph Casper by Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard

In The Know

An unlikely provocateur, Miss Texas, takes on the state’s GOP leaders
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/06/30/averie-bishop-miss-america-texas-platform-diversity/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2oJmngWsEVcX13CEL_VjQ7gk7q87csivTctzJxd3NaoPapkqXwZXhqM58

Why Baclaran Church was named ‘important cultural property’ in the Philippines
https://www.rappler.com/nation/history-why-baclaran-church-named-important-cultural-property-philippines/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwAR0dIjbKzCZPZFA7UmajG7m-1Zx0vBkaCqyjRwMsmToBRxH0qCA_UZGINCk

'I Am Fury': Filipino Photographer Captures Stunning Shot of Mayon Volcano Spilling Lava
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/filipino-photographer-edwin-martinez-mayon-volcano-lava-a00203-20230703?ref=article_featured

Why are Fireflies Vanishing in the Philippines? 
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/why-are-fireflies-vanishing-in-the-philippines-a00293-20200923?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20230627-fbnp-long-reads-why-are-fireflies-vanishing-in-the-philippines-a00293-20200923-fbold&fbclid=IwAR1MwFXukfJ4rHXxqrNsFg9AckfTSXrgI6TWp1lPDU-9U1pGZbqmUFcSWns

'Paraluman' in Huling El Bimbo video met a sad end; actress who played her has a happier story
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/music/07/02/23/whatever-happened-to-the-girl-in-huling-el-bimbo-video?fbclid=IwAR2qLIuock7BFGaNVcqTf3wdHkoCEjgJrvAQeP95aNLVnsx6SrYQdweoyso

Kai Sotto all set for NBA Summer League as Magic roster, schedule revealed
https://www.rappler.com/sports/nba/kai-sotto-all-set-summer-league-orlando-magic-roster-schedule-2023/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR101n1pPbNsmqPrJ-lH_0H3hQQw2q56vC0ZLlLgWEGdL_sYasxQDT5Yt4c

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Staff

For Kids' Sake

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Giving up a successful business to engage fulltime in volunteer civic action is a giant step for anyone. That's what Vicky Vergara Wieneke did when she set up Kabisig ng Kalahi, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that started as a feeding program for malnourished children in Batangas and has since expanded as a full-fledged nutrition and livelihood program in various provinces. Kabisig's projects has the support of both the Philippine government and private corporations. PF contributing writer Gia R. Mendoza gives a first-hand report on Kabisig and her sorority sister, Vicky VW.

Collecting trading cards of sports heroes is arguably a rite of passage of young people interested in sports. But for FilAm collector Mark John Sanchez, who teaches Asian American Studies at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, trading cards of 20th century Filipino and FilAm sports personalities are a valuable source of history and nostalgia. He gives us a glimpse of his collection and the historical information it provides.

If you're searching for a meaningful book for children in the first- to fourth grade, here's a highly recommended one: Philip Vera Cruz by Karen Su, a fitting introduction to the Filipino working class hero who was a leading light in the US labor movement.