The Past Year As Prologue

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A new year brings new beginnings, but it's also a time to take stock of the old year.  This week, Positively Filipino, now starting its 11th year of existence, offers yearend look-backs -- and we've got two of them plus a first-person account of an adventure in the West Philippine Sea.

Manila-based analyst and columnist Ernesto M. Hilario steps back from the day-to-day grit of politics and offers a sweeping view of how the first full year of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration panned out. His verdict in "Marcos' Year of Hits and Misses."

2023 was also a banner year for Fil-Am visual arts as contributing writer O.M. France Viana, herself an active artist, sums up the year with over 45 links to Fil Am artists, curators, and their shows.  Dive into this visual feast in "2023 Filipino American Visual Arts in Review: An ArtsiLog."

A first-of-its-kind sea voyage -- and hopefully not the last -- was done by a group of about 50 social activists and media people in early December 2023. Part of the larger campaign called Atin Ito!, the goal was to deliver supplies and Christmas gifts to kababayans in the contested West Philippine Sea. Group members also wanted to see for themselves how Chinese Navy vessels engage in a dangerous dance with Philippine Coast Guard vessels and those of Filipino fisherfolk. How did the mission go? Read participant Robert Francis Garcia's account, "Defying Goliath in the West Philippine Sea."

We continue with our information campaign on Anti-Asian Hate with this feature on Los Angeles' foremost Fil-Am organization, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), and its Clinical Program of Mental Health. SIPA's staff of three therapists and three social work interns have their hands full in tackling "the painful consequences of anti-AAPI hatred," as described by PF's LA correspondent Anthony Maddela in "SIPA Helps Stop the Hate."

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Sacramento senior citizen center combats anti-Asian hate with escorted shopping trips
https://www.aol.com/sacramento-senior-citizen-center-combats-130000098.html 

Wing Luke Museum staff recount horrifying moments when hate crime suspect broke into building with sledgehammer
https://ustimespost.com/wing-luke-museum-staff-recount-horrifying-moments-when-hate-crime-suspect-broke-into-building-with-sledgehammer/

A Texas high school is piloting the state’s first-ever Asian American studies course. Could politics stand in its way?
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/19/asian-american-studies-texas-round-rock-isd/

Finding mental health care is difficult for Asian Americans
https://asamnews.com/2023/12/19/shortage-culturally-competent-asian-american-therapists/

Bonneville Elementary community spreads messages of love after hate crime vandalism
https://ksltv.com/608760/bonneville-elementary-community-spreads-messages-of-love-after-hate-crime-vandalism/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

Breathe and Refresh

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Jose Rizal

Time to take a breather after that hectic Christmas celebration. 

For your pleasurable relaxation and a dash of significant history, here's a compilation of stories we have published on Jose Rizal, the Philippines' National Hero, who remains an enigmatic person of great interest among our readers.

Through the ten years that PF has been publishing, we've had an array of Rizal stories usually in the months of June (his birth month) or December (his death month). We noted that these stories brought in a higher-than-usual readership, indicating a continuing curiosity, if not lifelong love, for this renaissance man who lived a brief but very consequential life.

Rizal was executed by the Spanish colonialists on December 30, 1896. He was 35. 

Rizal’s Great Loves by Penélope V. Flores

Rizal’s Cook Remembers A Good Man by John L. Silva

José Rizal And His Dueling German Friends by Penélope V. Flores

Jose Rizal, Martial Arts Warrior by Rene J. Navarro

‘The Month Of December, 1872’ Dr. José Rizal’s Rough Draft by Penélope V. Flores

Some Not Very Well Known Facts About Rizal’s Trial And Execution by Rodolfo A. Arizala

Jose Rizal, The Oracle by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

[Video of the Week] GomBurZa Teaser Trailer

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

New booklets teach communities ‘How to Report a Hate Crime’
https://www.dailynews.com/2023/12/14/new-booklets-teach-communities-how-to-report-a-hate-crime/

The Big Tell 2019: Peacock: Exeter, The Anti-Filipino Riot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmEQRtBXEhI

Salt Lake City police investigate salon break-in, vandalism as hate crime
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/12/11/salt-lake-city-police-investigate/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

Have a Joyous Holiday Season!

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The Positively Filipino team -- Lisa, Rene, Gemma and Raymond -- wishes all of you, our constant readers, a joyous holiday season. May the coming year be safe, healthy and peaceful for everyone.

Happy Holidays from Positively Filipino! (L-R) Raymond Virata, Gemma Nemenzo, Mona Lisa Yuchengco and Rene Ciria-Cruz

Our special thanks to our contributing writers whose stories have made PF a worthy chronicler of the Filipino diaspora. And to Titchie Carandang who not only wrote consequential articles but is also now helping us with our social media outreach, our gratitude.

This year, PF was also awarded a California State Grant to help inform the public, especially Fil-Ams, about the realities of anti-Asian hate, hate crimes and support services for victims. For this, we have Gail Kong as adviser and we thank her for her guidance.

As is our wont at yearend, we tally our readership numbers and come up with this list of the Most-Read Stories of 2023.  We say that they're also Must Read stories.

But beyond the numbers, Read Again these stories from this year's collection that you might have missed but you're sure to enjoy. They're a merry mix of thrills, nostalgia and historic heft.

A septuagenarian's daring feat:
Paragliding, Sky Jumping And Dying Over San Francisco by Bella Bonner

Remembering Lahaina before the fire:
Tears For Lahaina by Odette Foronda

Behind the walls of girls' convent schools: 
Girls’ School Confidential by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz

A beautiful flower farm in Benguet: 
A Matriarch’s Legacy Flowers In The Mountains by Ian Layugan

A harrowing escape from a war zone, an OFW nightmare: 
Escape From Sudan by Lawrence Espinosa

An all-female Fil-Am rock band of the '60s makes a comeback: 
Fanny And Their Ongoing Legacy In Redefining Rock by Lauren Lola

An eloquent testimony on success and social inequity: 
Why My Success Is Philippine Society’s Failure by Leo Jaminola

A Filipino Sesame Street muppet: 
A Muppet For All Reasons by Anthony Maddela

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Staff