Things Are Fragile. Everyone's Looking for Answers.

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"Like millions of other undocumented Americans, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to survive the next four years. Things are fragile. Everyone is looking for answers." 

Thus begins Jose Antonio Vargas, the Filipino American journalist (and Pulitzer Prize winner who must be the most famous undocumented of all) in his intro to his new YouTube show (youtube.com/DefineAmerican). We are running the first episode of this all-important conversation entitled "How to Survive the Next Four Years as an Undocumented American" as our Video of the Week. 

"The show will tell the truth about the immigrant experience in this country -- the full immigrant experience -- in a country where lies, misinformation and disinformation about 'illegal aliens' played a central role in bringing Donald Trump back to the White House," Vargas promises. It would be good to listen.

While most of us have our solid citizenship credentials, we are not exempt from the forthcoming firestorm. We are after all people of color with "strange" names and "strange" accents. Those who buy into the demonization of immigrants as "illegal aliens" will not ask for proof of legal residency or US citizenship before assaulting or insulting.

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It's December and Christmas and to Filipinos in San Francisco, that means the annual Parol Lantern Festival. MC Canlas who was responsible for introducing this beloved event in the area, shares some fun facts about how a Filipino tradition became a Fil-Am tradition. 

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And if you're looking for unique gifts for loved ones, PF regular contributor Claire Mercado- Osias lists some titles by authors of Filipino heritage that will surely titillate. 

For those eager to give a gift of cultural history, here's "Salumpuwit: Chairs in Filipino Life," an award-winning small book that focuses on butt-catchers.

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Staff

Farewell to a Community Treasure

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Farewell to a Community Treasure

Whenever we needed insight and input on the Bridge Generation of Fil-Ams, there was one person we could call on to provide factual information, names, even already written stories: Peter Jamero.  

Read More

The Morning After the Morning After: A Reflection

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In today's political environment, hate, it seems, has been given a reprieve. Just like at the height of the pandemic, anti-Asian hate is  as real as ever and it will take proactive community efforts to mitigate its often lethal effects.

Eric Toda was a teenager when his Japanese grandfather was assaulted randomly, presumably because he was Asian. That traumatizing experience pushed the now-adult Toda to write an impassioned essay in AdWeek in 2021 calling for the industry he belongs to -- marketing -- to act as frontliners in the fight against hate. 

Toda is Meta's (formerly Facebook) Global Head for Social Marketing, indeed a powerful megaphone for his advocacy. For his laudable efforts, the Filipino-Japanese-American was recently awarded the first Dado Banatao Legacy Award by Fil-Am nonprofit Phildev. Veteran journalist and community activist Cherie Querol-Moreno introduces the anti-Asian hate crusader to PF readers.  

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An award-winning Fil-Am journalist and educator shares her thoughts on “the morning after the morning after” the recent elections. For those seeking clarity and calm, her essay could provide both.

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Here's a big international event book lovers and book industry insiders can look forward to: in October 2025, the Philippines will be the Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the biggest in the world. This means Filipino authors, editors, translators, books and publishers will be at front and center in the book publishing industry's universally recognized event. Author/publisher Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard joined the 2024 delegation and gives us a preview on what to expect. 

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PF's most prolific correspondent Anthony Maddela profiles Fil-Am artist Maryrose C. Mendoza whose art speaks volumes about how she sees her Filipino and American identities.

[MUST WATCH] Ramona S. Diaz’s “And So It Begins”
Official Philippine Entry to the 97th Academy Awards for Best International Feature

In The Know

Teodoro: China 'Pressuring' Philippines To Cede South China Sea Claims
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkz05FgPodM

Why Exactly is the Philippines the World’s Top Rice Importer?
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/why-philippines-is-worlds-top-rice-importer-a2556-20240703-lfrm? 

Senators hail new PH laws on maritime zones, archipelagic sea lanes
https://www.inquirer.net/420368/senators-hail-new-ph-laws-on-maritime-zones-archipelagic-sea-lanes/?

ESSAY: Global Pinoy pioneer Larry Itliong has his day in Pangasinan
https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/features/104986/essay-global-pinoy-pioneer-larry-itliong-has-his-day-in-pangasinan/story/?

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Staff