Better Late than Never

/

The US Department of Labor finally came around to honoring three Filipino American labor leaders in its Hall of Honor at the Francis Perkins Building in Washington, D.C. The three -- Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Peter Velasco -- were leaders of the 1965 Delano Grape Strike in California, a five-year struggle that led to higher wages, better working conditions and a union health plan for farmworkers. Definitely a case of better-late-than-never, the November 20, 2024 event drew a crowd of 300 including PF contributing writer Titchie Carandang, who writes about this historic gathering.

*****

The rise in hate incidents all over the country, but with few convictions, begs the question -- when does, say, a random public assault against another person rise to the level of a hate crime? It's complicated, apparently, because there are prerequisites involved. Since hate crimes -- of the racial, gender, sexual orientation and disability varieties -- are here to stay, it's important to understand the legalities. Prominent San Francisco lawyer Lourdes Tancinco explains.                                                  

*****

Liquid inihaw? Is it even a thing? For those who are not (yet) as entrenched in Filipino cooking, here's one illuminating instructional for you from innkeeper/heritage advocate/culinary history geek An Mercado Alcantara. An's essay won first prize in the 2023 Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing competition.                                                

*****

If you're seeking to invest in real estate in the Philippines, you're strongly advised to look beyond Manila towards certain provinces that will give you more bang for your buck. Realtor Vlad Capistrano gives a bird's eye view of lucrative regional markets.

Read Agains:

Lulu’s Fifty-Peso Christmas Gift
Elizabeth Ann Quirino 

Delicious Dishes for Your Christmas Table
Staff

In The Know

Bishop Ambo David takes oath as 10th Filipino cardinal
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/bishop-pablo-virgilio-ambo-david-takes-oath-10th-filipino-cardinal/

Who is Sofronio Vasquez, the first Asian winner of ‘The Voice USA?’
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/things-to-know-sofronio-vasquez-the-voice-usa-winner/

Aglipayan Church, known for activism, hails Cardinal Ambo David
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/aglipayan-church-congratulations-cardinal-pablo-virgilio-david/

Wrong Guillermo: Cebu town mixed up patron saint for centuries
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/wrong-guillermo-cebu-dalaguete-town-mixed-up-patron-saint-centuries/

Jose Rizal's 'Josephine Sleeping' sculpture sells for a record P31.2 million
https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/283484-jose-rizal-s-josephine-sleeping-sculpture-p31-2-million?L8Iykw5lgVYoyIckOdOvKlBw_aem_Mqa8HG68Uc0qSbFJbDaShg

‘Bona’: A Filipina Superstar Wreaks Vengeance in a Two-Fisted Melodrama
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/movies/bona-lino-brocka-metrograph.html? 

Man accused of duping Filipino churchgoers into investing in video Covid-test tech to plead guilty 
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/man-plead-guilty-filipinos-video-covid-19-wire-fraud-rcna183428 

Kidnapped American YouTuber likely dead in Philippines
https://asamnews.com/2024/12/11/mindanao-zamboanga-del-norte-vlogger-southern/

/ /
, , , , , , , , ,

Staff

Things Are Fragile. Everyone's Looking for Answers.

/

"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.

*****

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. 

*****

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.

More in Positively Filipino

Read Agains

The Happy Home Cook: Christmas Recipes
Elizabeth Ann Quirino 

Light of the Ancients
Myles A. Garcia

/ /
, , , , ,

Staff

Farewell to a Community Treasure

/
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