From Loss and Grief to Vindication and Elation

/

Our emotions swerved from sadness to elation this past week, as we mourn two colleagues and celebrated a long-awaited vindication.

Philippine journalism had just lost two highly regarded thought leaders -- Conrad de Quiros and Rina Jimenez-David, both popular columnists of the Philippine Daily Inquirer until they fell ill (Conrad of a stroke in 2014 and Rina of a serious renal ailment not too long ago). Conrad's "There's the Rub" column served as an early morning jolt of pointed commentary written in luxurious prose for 23 years. Rina's "At Large" was a consistent beacon for women's rights and human rights for 33 years. [To read more, go to our In The Know links below, which includes a touching personal tribute to Conrad by veteran journalist Jo-Ann Maglipon.]

The release on bail of former Justice Secretary and former senator Leila de Lima on Monday was such a happy relief. She stayed in prison for 6 years, 8 months and 21 days on obviously trumped up charges, after she started investigating the drug war deaths in Davao City then under the helm of Mayor - later President -- Rodrigo Duterte. The evidence and testimonies presented in court were so ridiculous that those who were the so-called "star witnesses" eventually recanted their testimonies, revealing they were coerced by higher powers in government to utter the lies. "It's vindication," declared Sen Leila (Sen for senator, as her supporters refer to her) as she wept, talked to her 91-year-old mother in Bicol on the phone for the first time since her incarceration, and thanked those who were her pillars, all on live TV. She was even gracious to her tormentor/enemy Duterte ("God forgive him, God bless him"). Of her three cases, two have already been dismissed and the last one awaits a verdict. [Again, for more details, see our In The Know links below]. 

*****

Anti-Asian Hate continues to rear its ugly head in unlikely places, such as the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle, where an obviously disturbed, 76-year-old man took a sledgehammer and broke the museum's glass windows while shouting racial epithets. PF Correspondent and Seattle-bred Anthony Maddela explores the issue of anti-Asian hate and its ramifications on a Pacific Rim city and on national policy.

From Ethnic Media Services, an eye-opener on school bullying as a civil rights issue.

Another Pacific Rim city -- San Francisco -- takes center stage this week as it hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Still reeling from the combined impact of the pandemic (and its economic blight), rampant drug addiction, and homelessness, the beautiful City by the Bay hopes the international summit to be attended by top officials from 21 countries will be the start of the rehabilitation of its downtown. PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia gives us a situationer.

We hope you enjoy the rest of our issue featuring amazing women: Vangie Buell, a Bridge Generation stalwart, still going strong as a musician and activist at 91; Jacqueline Chio-Lauri, a UK-based Filipina whose recently released book We Cook Filipino compiles healthy recipes from Filipino chefs in different countries. And then there's "Moral" - the late acclaimed director Marilou Diaz-Abaya's movie on four Filipinas navigating the realities of the '80s in the Philippines, the recent re-showing (in San Francisco) of which elicited a commentary by Michael Gonzalez.

[Video of the Week] Anjelah Johnson

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Why Asian Americans should care about what happens at APEC
https://asamnews.com/2023/11/11/asian-american-issues-apec-impact-effect/

Ethnic hate intensify in spillover of ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict
https://pnewstoday.com/ethnic-hate-intensify-in-spillover-of-ongoing-israel-hamas-conflict/

CAIR-LA got 300% more reports of Islamophobia last month
https://asamnews.com/2023/11/12/islamophobia-anti-palestinian-hate-massively-spike-due-to-israel-hamas-war/

Funding provided by the State of California.

/ /
, , , , , , , ,

Staff

Write for Positively Filipino

/

Some new readers have been inquiring if they can write for PF. The answer is Yes, we always welcome articles with a Filipino slant, from everywhere in the world. And you don't have to be Filipino to write for us.

Here are answers to FAQs about contributing to PF:

Q: How do I start writing for PF?

A: The first step is to send us a query email about the topic you wish to write about, a brief description and your short bio (make sure you include your location). If the editorial desk okays your topic, we will send you guidelines and suggestions. Send your query to submissions@positivelyfilipino.com or PFeditor@yahoo.com.

Q: How do I submit an article to PF?

A: Email your finished article (corrected for facts, typos and grammar), preferably as a Word doc, to PFeditor@yahoo.com. Make sure you include photos with photo credits, and captions. Send us at least five photos to choose from. We will also need your 2-sentence bio and your headshot.

Q: What happens after I send in my article?

A: The editors will evaluate your piece. If revisions or clarifications are required, we will send it back to you. You will then send us back the revised version for final editing by us. Your edited article will then be added to our editorial schedule. 

Q: How long does it take from final submission to publication?

A: Normally it takes 2-3 weeks, but there are caveats.  If we have a lot of pending stories lined up, it might take longer. Since PF comes out with a new issue only once a week (Wednesdays), we make sure that there is a balance of stories that will keep our readers interested. So we will have to determine where your story fits. Time-sensitive stories will be fast-tracked.

Q: Do I get a writer's fee?

A: Yes, we have a standard fee for each story that is original and exclusive to PF, meaning it is not posted or published anywhere else (not even personal blogs). If your article has been published/posted on another site, we will include the link to the original post, but no fee. Writers' fees are paid via Paypal the month after publication. 

Q: Can my published article be read elsewhere other than the PF website? 

A: We will post the link to our social media sites (Facebook, X and Instagram). You're also free to repost the link to your networks. 

Welcome to the Positively Filipino writers pool, where you'll be in the exalted company of some of the best writers of Filipino heritage.

Funding provided by the State of California.

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Hate Crimes Surge in 2022, Leading to an Urgent Call for Unity and Action
https://africanamericanvoice.net/?p=5507

Justice Dept Cracks Down on Hate Crimes
https://www.culvercityobserver.com/story/2023/11/02/news/justice-dept-cracks-down-on-hate-crimes/12954.html

US Hate Crime: Indian Student Stabbed In Head For Looking 'Threatening, Weird' To Attacker; On Life Support
https://zeenews.india.com/india/us-hate-crime-indian-student-varun-raj-stabbed-in-head-for-looking-threatening-weird-to-attacker-on-life-support-2683130.html

PANG: Celebrate the Asian American Student Center
https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/11/pang-celebrate-the-asian-american-student-center

Sacramento AAPI leaders outraged after robbery of supermarket shopper caught on camera
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/south-sacramento/sacramento-aapi-leaders-outraged-brazen-robbery-inside-supermarket-caught-on-video/103-3f6e95ae-1cc8-4fe3-b1f2-bdbdd3694c43

‘I don’t feel safe right now:’ BHS AAPI community grapples with social impacts of COVID-19
https://berkeleyhighjacket.com/2023/investigative/i-dont-feel-safe-right-now-bhs-aapi-community-grapples-with-social-impacts-of-covid-19/

Funding provided by the State of California.

In The Know

The Dimensions of Inequality in the Philippines, by the numbers
https://coverstory.ph/the-dimensions-of-inequality-in-the-philippines-by-the-numbers/

California professor talks Filipino Americans' underrepresentation despite large population
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/california-professor-talks-filipino-americans-underrepresentation-despite-large-population/?fbclid=IwAR0jMz96Pjawo6BaBFNXiQ0V4FyJpkcRBNwZu7nk8TG1EuhtAreWm74Md5I

As the world looks elsewhere, China stirs trouble in the South China Sea
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/world-looks-elsewhere-china-stirs-trouble-south-china-sea

Seaside town’s once abused territorial seas now protected
https://www.ndbcnews.com.ph/news/seaside-town%E2%80%99s-once-abused-territorial-seas-now-protected 

How New Jersey’s first Pinoy coffee shop brews Filipino culture and community
https://nextshark.com/new-jersey-first-filipino-coffee-shop-ayala

/ /
, , , , , , , ,

Staff

Chills and Thrills

/

Whether you were fully into the Halloween vibes with costumes and trick-or-treating yesterday, or you were following the traditional Filipino Todos los Santos celebration today, where you spend time with your departed loved ones at the cemetery and have a picnic with your extended family, we hope you're having a fantastic start to November 2023.

In today's world, we don't need to look very far to find things that give us chills and thrills. Scary stuff is all around us, from real-world conflicts to tragic incidents like mass shootings, from heated culture clashes to hate crimes, and from online bullies to political controversies and fake news. Faced with all these fear-inducing issues, the spooky creatures of our pop culture seem pretty harmless and even fun in comparison. Dive into the second edition of our Halimaween series (the first part dropped around this time last year) by cultural researcher Jean Karl Gaverza.

This week, we're also sharing a review of the newly published novel "Multo" by Filipino-American author Cindy Fazzi. It's a captivating read, but it's not about ghosts! Our regular PF contributing writer Claire Mercado-Obias introduces you to the author and her book.

Ever wondered what it's like to raise a Gen Z daughter in America? Single dad Patricio Abinales offers a front-row seat to the ongoing dance between an American-born child and a Filipino parent. It's a story many immigrant parents can relate to.

A breast cancer diagnosis followed by a serious car accident would be enough to knock the wind out of most people. But Roselle Reyes isn't your average person. She's a professional nurse who's turned her setbacks into a journey of self-expression. She's now a poet, a children's book author (she even did her own digital illustrations), and an environmental activist. Check out community leader Jon Melegrito's feature on this extraordinary Filipina.

In a unique collaboration, a Jewish bakery in a Southern California city has joined forces with a Filipino-owned bakeshop to create delectable treats featuring ube, the purple root crop that's currently all the rage. Meet Bea's Bakery in Tarzana and Sugar and Grace Bakeshop in Los Angeles, as our PF correspondent Anthony Maddela explores the delightful world of ube creations through conversations with Grace Baral and Adaeze Nwanonyiri. Get ready to crave all things ube!

Read Again: Manila Hotel: The Golden Years by Lou Gopal

Video of the Week: The Philippines: Threatened By China, The Country Is Moving Closer To The U.S.

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

For the 1st time since Covid, anti-Asian hate dropped. What's behind the 33% decrease.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/anti-asian-hate-dropped-rcna121975

United States Commission on Civil Rights Releases Report: The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-states-commission-on-civil-rights-releases-report-the-federal-response-to-anti-asian-racism-in-the-united-states-301940854.html#new_tab

Two Thirds of Turbaned Sikh American Boys Are Bullied at School
https://ethnicmediaservices.org/stop-the-hate/two-thirds-of-turbaned-sikh-american-boys-are-bullied-at-school/

Governor spews hate on young Asian reporter
https://pnewstoday.com/governor-spews-hate-on-young-asian-reporter/

Funding provided by the State of California.

/ /

Staff