Always a Good Idea

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Learning something new every day is always a good idea. Our lineup of new stories this week offers a bounty of new knowledge that may or may not change (or affect) our lives at the moment but might come in handy sometime.

Take PF contributing writer Titchie Carandang's profile of Paolo "Powee" Celdran, a young Filipino artist/digital content creator/entrepreneur/game developer who developed the hit board game called "Battle for Byzantium" (all 100 copies sold out). Celdran is passionate about the Byzantine Empire, has developed guides, timelines of battles and other intricate info on the period in his social media sites. Writer Carandang provides a sweeping view of Celdran's expertise in this arena and provides us with a working knowledge on what's so fascinating about it.

Manila-based contributing writer Glenna Aquino focuses on ceramic artist Winnie Go, whose creations evolved along with her knowledge and consciousness of self and the real world. Aquino writes about how Go's curiosity, her travels and her creativity elevated her art from the purely functional to artist statements, and we the readers are awed.

A 22-year-old creative writing student, Trixia Marie Policarpio, went through a transformative experience when she was an exchange student in South Korea where she met and interacted with students from other countries. From their conversations, she realized how much she still doesn't know about the world beyond hers, which in turn led her to the realization of the Philippines and Filipinos' standing among cultures, and made her reflect deeply on whether she should take rightful pride in being Filipino.  

We hope these stories expand, not clutter up, those brain cells that we have to nurture as we age.

[Video of the Week] Are Filipino Americans Really Filipino?

In The Know

US mourns loss of Filipino who died in Washington air collision
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/934805/us-mourns-loss-of-filipino-who-died-in-washington-air-collision/story/?

US aid freeze sparks fears Philippines will become ‘bargaining chip’ in Trump’s China talks
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296675/us-aid-freeze-sparks-fears-philippines-will-become-bargaining-chip-trumps-china-talks?

Undocumented Filipinos urge compassion amid immigration raids
https://usa.inquirer.net/165398/undocumented-filipinos-urge-compassion-amid-immigration-raids?

Fast Talk with Boy Abunda: A tribute to Gloria Romero, Queen of Philippine Cinema
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L07TlG36_4Q 

UPLB prof invents board game on Filipino languages
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/01/30/2417893/uplb-prof-invents-board-game-filipino-languages?

Kidlat Tahimik and Katrin de Guia Share a Vision of Indigenous Wisdom
https://vogue.ph/vogue-man/kidlat-tahimik-and-katrin-de-guia/

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Staff

Be Very Careful

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There is no doubt that the next four years will be hell for immigrants in this country, and not just for the criminal elements and the undocumented. Those with solid citizenship papers are not exempt from harassment and bigotry. Non-whites like us with "strange" names and "strange" accents should be extra careful because 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.

Last week, we posted "Know Your Rights During an ICE Encounter" by San Francisco-based immigration lawyer Lourdes Tancinco. If you or anyone you know is in danger of being ensnared by an immigration roundup, please read the article below in our Read It Again section.

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Much has been written about "white privilege" but is there such a thing as "immigrant privilege"? Entrepreneur Katherine Winston shares her family's immigration story and examines the issue.

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A fitting end to Positively Filipino's grant from the California State Library's Anti-Asian Hate initiative is the conversation between Gail Kong, former president of the Asia Pacific Fund and PF project consultant, with Angela Tang, CEO of the nonprofit Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS, Inc.). Tang discusses the dearth of funding for FilAm social and mental health services, and RAMS' unique experience in providing such services to FilAm youth in targeted San Francisco public schools and community centers. 

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We're already on Chapter 65 of PF's list of FilAms Among the Remarkable and Famous as compiled by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco. It's an unending list which illustrates the gains our community members have achieved in the US.

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From Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, PF contributing writer Lani Domaloy profiles Lourdes Gant, an acclaimed sustainable aquaculture entrepreneur and visionary who is now advocating for sustainable AI to cultivate the agriculture and agri-food workforce. 

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Speaking of sustainability, our Video of the Week features Jordy Navarra, chef/owner of Toyo Eatery, voted the best restaurant in Manila five years in a row, talks about its farm-to-table-to-soil organic farming process with CBS correspondent Ramy Inocencio.

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Finally, we join the Filipino nation in mourning the passing of the enduring movie queen, Gloria Romero, 91. Read Again Cathy Sanchez Babao's story about the close friendship of her mother, Caridad Sanchez, and her Tita Glo.

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Staff

Know Your Rights

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And so it begins.

If you or someone you know fear the big D (deportation), a sword that will sadly be brandished about in the next four years, immigration lawyer Lourdes Santos Tancinco lists down your rights and what you can do if/when ICE comes calling. We suggest you print it out and tack it by your door for easy access and reminder.

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But here's a happy immigration story from the most famous and most outspoken undocumented immigrant of recent years: Jose Antonio Vargas has gotten an O-1 visa and is now documented. What is an O-1 visa? The US State Department defines it as "The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics."  This option has been available for years but a 2024 Biden administration update last summer allowed Vargas, whose special circumstances previously disallowed him from applying, to finally get one. Watch our Video of the Week for Vargas' story. 

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We have another must-read story this week: "The Making of Edgar Matobato," the hair-raising, heart-stopping story of this killer-turned-whistleblower, formerly an important cog in ex-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's horrific killing squad. After a decade of hiding, Matobato has been able to leave the Philippines and is ready to testify against the former mayor/president. Veteran journalist and Columbia University School of Journalism professor Sheila Coronel takes a deep dive into Motabato's story, the issue of redemption, and the implications on the nation.

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On an entirely different note, diabetes has become the bane of Filipinos everywhere for various reasons. Here's how to manage it. 

Read Agains:

The First Quarter Storm Was No Dinner Party, Part 1 by Jose F. Lacaba

The First Quarter Storm Was No Dinner Party, Part 2 by Jose F. Lacaba

[Video of the Week] How I Got “Legal” After 31 Years as an Undocumented American

In The Know

Filipino community launches relief initiatives for LA fire victims
https://asamnews.com/2025/01/17/filipino-la-fire-victims-housing-immigration-financial-issues/ 

ICYDK: Andok's Recently Opened Its First International Store in Singapore
https://www.spot.ph/eatdrink/the-latest-eat-drink/110841/andoks-opens-first-international-store-in-singapore-a3412-20250114?

4 libraries for the people—and why we need more of them
https://plus.inquirer.net/supplement/4-libraries-for-the-people-and-why-we-need-more-of-them/? 

Wildfire survivors blocked from FEMA assistance due to fraud
https://asamnews.com/2025/01/16/wildfire-survivors-blocked-from-fema-assistance-due-to-fraud/ 

Maria Ressa says profit wins over safety as Meta ends fact-check program in US
https://www.rappler.com/technology/maria-ressa-profit-over-safety-meta-ends-fact-check-program-united-states/?

Cebu BPO executives arrested in US over alleged P2.5-B elderly authors fraud
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/cebu-bpo-executives-arrested-us-alleged-elderly-authors-fraud/?

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Staff