July 19, 2023

Achievers

July 19, 2023/ Staff

A Filipina race car driver, a Filipino author published by a mainstream US publisher, 15 outstanding Filipino Americans representing various fields chosen for an immersive journey to their parents' homeland.

Talk about achievers and achievements!

Bianca Bustamante, Nathan Go and the 10th batch of cohorts of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) represent a new generation of movers and shakers who do not hesitate to break barriers and glass ceilings that, even just a few decades ago, had stymied the previous generations from claiming their full potential.

Yet, to the older generation the young owe their strength and their opportunities. On the shoulders of their elders, who did the ground-breaking and back-breaking work, they are able to stand tall and soar.

The torch has been passed, yes. Long live those who lit the fire.

Stories This Week

Woman In The Fast Lane by Anthony Maddela

Driving Mrs. Cory by Lisa Suguitan Melnick

FYLPRO: Delegates Of Hope by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Buffeted But Unbowed In Brittany by Criselda Yabes

Read Agains

Going Home by Lotis Key

Beyond Belief by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz

[Make It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Buko-Pandan Gelatin (Young Coconut-Pandan Gelatin)

[Video of the Week] Here Lie Love Trailer

In The Know

Filipino leaders have grand vision for their S.F. cultural district. Is it possible?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/soma-pilipinas-18171118.php?sid=53bb0669fdd5ac0b52000049&ss=A&st_rid=5be30fe8-563d-4e90-9752-af9f0a3c12ee&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=briefing&utm_campaign=sfc_baybriefing_am

From filmmaking to the World Cup – Reina’s mind-blowing script
https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/articles/reina-bonta-interview-filmmaker-footballers-philippines-womens-world-cup-2023?fbclid=IwAR2wNmjAFsQ75OAlZn1R60z1PYdpD7x6w0YMWmUWWW_7TEKiyghCEQiLKDg

Averie Bishop ends her Miss Texas tenure with scathing piece calling out Texas politicians
https://nextshark.com/miss-texas-averie-bishop-activism

Olivia Rodrigo Becomes Youngest Artist to Debut Three No. 1 Hits on Songs Chart
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-youngest-number-one-debut-vampire-1235665717/

This year's Gerber Baby is a military kid from a first generation family
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/2023-gerber-baby-military-kid-first-generation-family-rcna93887?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_aa&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3Phvs5nG_SIggAA1BVZyv3qqUr06u3nqzurynb2QiUGGsIrAjYB42hwdA&_branch_match_id=1121133821907759179&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0tKzkstL9ZLLCjQy8nMy9Yvt8hMNMivcMpzSrJPS0rOyUyx9Sx3DDIOyCgrNs1zjw%2F2TE93dDR0CouqLDMuLAwtMjArNc4rrCotqsxLMgrMDHV3L%2FYscsyKdDIxyihPcQQAnZOqBWkAAAA%3D

How this 10-year-old chess prodigy became PH’s first female National Master
https://www.rappler.com/sports/child-chess-prodigy-first-female-philippine-national-master/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3h4UjTlelPHOR3ptsSmWotW16BXt-ANNKCUoagzu4QeLRPYIE_wFf9lR4

Lodi, awit, omsim: The nuances of Filipino AI language training
https://www.rappler.com/technology/features/dost-itanong-project-filipino-ai-language-training/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwAR3jDbXzXeJvR2VyB_7CFL_Yt-aVNm95JzYj5xuPU1rGeW_Dw68uuCddWvc

July 12, 2023

Armchair Tourists

July 12, 2023/ Staff

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

July 04, 2023

We Are Acting Against Hate

July 04, 2023/ Staff

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.