Life Lessons

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Tinikling, the iconic Filipino bamboo dance, is as ubiquitous as lumpia, adobo, and pancit as shorthand for Filipino presence and identity in America. The dance, which calls for timing one’s steps to avoid being caught between two clashing bamboo poles, is also a metaphor for learning to navigate life in an adopted homeland, according to author Bobbie Peyton’s children’s book, Dancing the Tinikling. Contributor Claire Mercado-Obias reviews the book illustrated by artist Diobelle Cerna (“Living Through the Rhythm of the Tinikling,”).

February as African American History Month is also a timely reminder of our own political and organic links to Black America. Rene G. Ontal tells the story of Pvt. David Fagan, a Black American soldier who defected to the Filipino resistance during the Philippine-American War (Read Again “A Black Man’s Burden,”) warning, “To the Colored American Soldier: It is without honor that you shed your precious blood. Your masters have thrown you in the most iniquitous fight” as instruments of their ambition.

More contemporarily, Filipina African American writer Janet Stickmon shares insights on growing up in both cultures: “Identifying as only African American or Filipino American never felt right because it just wasn’t true. College and scholarship applications told me, ‘Please choose one,’ but categories like African American and Asian/Pacific Islander felt too constraining” (Read Again “Blackapina, Third Movement: The Blend”).

Meanwhile, in time for the coming California primaries on March 5, 2024, Filipino community leaders who have long learned the importance of political representation and empowerment are encouraging Filipino Americans to be engaged in democratic life, to vote for candidates from the community, and to hold them accountable while in office. Contributor Jun Nucum reports on Fil-Am movers and shakers who are gunning for California legislative posts (“Meet Fil-Ams Running in California Primaries ’24,”)

Back in the Philippines, human rights activist Robert Francis Garcia and peers from the Commission on Human Rights find that the human rights situation in Cotabato in Mindanao has improved such that they could enjoy unperturbed visits with friends and their innovative livelihood projects (“Catching Up in Cotabato,”).

And here’s an actor to watch: Red Concepcion. Within a decade, Concepcion has made it from college theater productions in the Philippines to the world’s biggest stage – Broadway. Concepcion just debuted as gullible car mechanic Amos Hart in the long-running musical Chicago, the second-longest running show on The Great White Way (“Actor Red Concepcion Takes on ‘Chicago’ on Broadway,”).

[Video of the Week] Panagbenga Festival 2024

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Releases Translated 2023 Statutory Enforcement Report, The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-commission-on-civil-rights-releases-translated-2023-statutory-enforcement-report-the-federal-response-to-anti-asian-racism-in-the-united-states-302058779.html

Reported Hate Crime at Schools: 2018-2022
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:2c0e00e0-6190-470a-94a5-b4524c9fc435?utm_source=CA+vs+Hate

The Web of Misinformation
https://scotscoop.com/the-web-of-misinformation/

Anti-Asian hate crimes are down in S.F. So why do AAPI communities feel unsafe?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/aapi-hate-crimes-18655173.php

SF city leaders, community coalition discuss fighting AAPI hate
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-francisco/sf-city-leaders-aapi-hate/3448039/

Man gets 30-year sentence for attacks on Asian Americans at West Baltimore stores
https://www.hastingstribune.com/ap/national/man-gets-30-year-sentence-for-attacks-on-asian-americans-at-west-baltimore-stores/article_6294eb09-0d67-5280-890e-2706e33674e4.html

The Roque Family Struggling to Survive Months After Assault Case Ended
https://sanfernandosun.com/2024/02/07/the-roque-family-struggling-to-survive-months-after-assault-case-ended/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

Of Love and Money

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No question about it: Filipinos consider Valentine's Day a holiday-of-obligation, second only to Christmas in pomp and kitsch, and in the traffic jams it creates in already jammed Metro Manila. 

Here's a timely tidbit: A majority of Filipinos (58%) claim to be very happy with their love life, according to a December 2023 survey by the Social Weather Stations. The number is the highest since 2011, when a record 59% said they were very happily in love. It would have been interesting to find out what brought about this increase but the survey didn't cover reasons.

As for Valentine's Day gifts, money, love and flowers topped the most wished-for list, with men wanting apparel and any gift from the heart the most. Women prefer getting money and flowers, though both genders desire love and companionship equally. 

In the spirit of V-Day, we have two love stories for your kilig pleasure this week.

PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia perused YouTube videos and zeroed in on the love journey of Darlene Bumacod of Pangasinan and Boris Kuznetsov of Russia, as documented in Darlene's travel vlog.

It's never too late for love, and octogenarians Emilio Quines and Angie Cruz, both medical doctors in New York, prove it when they married last year. The Filam.net founding editor, Cristina DC Pastor, tells us their story.

Filipinos of a certain age will remember child movie star Tessie Agana, once dubbed "the Shirley Temple of the Philippines." Now in her 80s, she has lived in the US for decades and raised three children with husband Rodolfo Jao. One of the three is Fr. Radmar Jao, a Jesuit priest, who moonlights as an actor. Here's the story of his interesting life.

In Seattle, PF correspondent Anthony Maddela sought out a 61-year-old Elvis tribute performer (as opposed to a mere impersonator) named Tony Colinares, who entertains with his band, Gracelandmanila.

We're now on the 55th edition of our list of Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous, and our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco who does the compilation, is not stopping anytime soon. So many standouts lifting up our heritage.

[Partner] National Arts Month
[Video of the Week] Baguio Night Market

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

2022 Hate Crime Report in California
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Hate%20Crime%20In%20CA%202022f.pdf?

As hate crimes rise, Delawareans join national ‘United Against Hate’ initiative for dialogue
https://whyy.org/articles/delawareans-united-against-hate-initiative-dialogue-hate-crimes/

‘To Understand and To Be Understood’ exhibit explores Asian American hate speech
https://dailyorange.com/2024/01/to-understand-and-to-be-understood-exhibit-asian-american-hate-speech/

Unleashing ‘The Tiger in the Room’
https://asamnews.com/2024/01/28/hannah-kang-drops-the-tiger-in-the-room-podcast-real-talk/

Hochul seeks to expand state’s hate crimes, increase funding for security measures
https://www.dailygazette.com/leader_herald/news/hochul-seeks-to-expand-state-s-hate-crimes-increase-funding-for-security-measures/article_6ed7aee8-bc84-11ee-9d07-f73dbc300528.html

Funding provided by the State of California.

In The Know

SOCIAL WEATHER REPORT | Filipinos' top Valentine's Day gift wishes were money, love, and flowers; 58% were very happy with their love life
https://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20240211005608&mc_cid=81fb8a27dd&mc_eid=96b100eff3

Chinese New Year 2024: 5 Things to know about Filipino-Chinese culture
https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/diversity/filipino-chinese-culture?

Qwertyman No. 78: Fighting Windmills in Masungi
https://penmanila.ph/2024/01/29/qwertyman-no-78-fighting-windmills-in-masungi/?fbclid=IwAR09bsKtBWeMamGOa7Ow-kmtKk2c1MKcWq6j1ohBbBXvRoBPClYFdDz89Tk

From Cebu to California: Ryan Macasero’s decade of journalism
https://usa.inquirer.net/144216/from-cebu-to-california-ryan-macaseros-decade-of-journalism?

This Fil-Am retail brand is for the cool anaks of California
https://usa.inquirer.net/144007/love-seresa-fil-am-brand-california?fbclid=IwAR3YFFFGyLXg8TwQ4FOT7ov9UlY9gVE4cU0spiVYEjLS_0ZjKFC1Y_FEjlI

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Staff

Hail to the Chefs

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Despite the teeth-gnashing and pity-parties about Filipino food not getting its due recognition in the international foodie universe, young Filipino chefs in various countries are innovating and creating unique dishes that celebrate their Filipino heritage. They have started fun pop-ups, restaurants and bakeshops. They are coming out with cookbooks inspired by traditional recipes and methods but are elevated to new heights. And they have gained recognition among foodies and critics.

Now comes proof that in the US, Fil-Am chefs and food establishments are now at par with the best of them: in the 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards for the James Beard Awards (the culinary Emmys), ten of them made it to the semifinals, an impressive feat considering that just a few years back, hardly anyone who's not Filipino has heard of Filipino cuisine. Here they are, the emerging culinary stars, in this compilation by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco. 

Anti-Asian hate is presently resurgent but it definitely is nothing new. One of the most celebrated tragedies happened in 1982 when Vincent Chin, a Chinese American in Detroit, was brutally killed, a consequence of the implosion of the US auto industry. PF editor Rene Ciria-Cruz writes about this instance of xenophobic scapegoating and the rise of the Vincent Chin Institute which has come out with the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide, a teaching tool against anti-Asian hate.

PF's LA correspondent Anthony Maddela profiles Patricio Ginelsa, the filmmaker who made the movie Lumpia in 2003 and who has come out with its sequel, Lumpia with a Vengeance, which, in turn, has spawned a comic book. The movie has been doing the rounds of the film circuit for two years and it's available now on Blu-ray.

Toronto-based traveler/adventurer Odette Foronda takes us on another trip to Egypt, this one on a luxurious riverboat sailing the mythic Nile river. Her piece is a history lesson, a languid journey and an inspiring photo diary all at the same time.

First-time PF contributor Rashaan Alexis Meneses writes about Wildflowers, Beverly Parayno's first short story collection. Published by PAWA Press of San Francisco, the book explores what it means to be a woman in today's world.

[Video of the Week] Dinagyang Festival 2024

[Partner] Welcome In The Lunar New Year With A Free Bystander Intervention Training

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Elderly man books one way ticket back to China after several beatings, it’s ‘too dangerous’ in San Francisco
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2024/02/01/elderly-man-books-one-way-ticket-back-to-china-after-several-beatings-its-too-dangerous-in-san-francisco-1432976/

Anti-AAPI Hate Resource Guide Book For Elected Officials and Public Affairs Professionals
https://mailchi.mp/363754eca954/aapi-anti-hate-guide-book

Been there. Escaped that. History credited for Palestine sympathy among Asian Americans in Colorado
https://www.kunc.org/news/2024-02-03/been-there-escaped-that-history-credited-for-palestine-sympathy-among-asian-americans-in-colorado

US Schools Not Immune From Rise in Hate Crimes
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-schools-not-immune-from-rise-in-hate-crimes/7461751.html

“The first time I’ve been harmed physically”: The Boys Star Karen Fukuhara Brought Light to a Grave Issue After a Stranger Assaulted Her in Public
https://fandomwire.com/the-first-time-ive-been-harmed-physically-the-boys-star-karen-fukuhara-brought-light-to-a-grave-issue-after-a-stranger-assaulted-her-in-public/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff