Masagana at Mapayapang Bagong Taon sa ating lahat!

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To say that 2025 was an unsettled year for both the Philippines and the US is, to put it mildly, inaccurate. The entire world knows what has been happening in the US but here in a nutshell is what has been going on in our homeland. PH in 2025: Calls for Urgent Reforms Amid Corruption Scandal and and Economic Woes

But we continue to hope and dream of a better year ahead. The wheels of history never stop churning and, from what we have witnessed and experienced from decades of living, bad times never last. They just hurt and disappoint us, and scare us into doing better. 

So cheers to a gentler and more consequential 2026. 

Your Positively Filipino family.

In The Know

Oscar-nominated Fil-Am cinematographer Matthew Libatique on his banner year
https://usa.inquirer.net/186387/oscar-nominated-fil-am-cinematographer-matthew-libatique-on-his-banner-year?

While most of the world is preparing for Christmas, the Philippines has been at it for months
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/21/asia/philippines-christmas-decor-traditions-intl-hnk-dst?

Best Diving in the Philippines | 20 Top Dive Sites
https://www.divein.com/diving/destination/diving-in-the-philippines/

The World Wants More Ube. Philippine Farmers Are Struggling to Keep Up.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/world/asia/philippines-ube-purple-yam.html?

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Staff

Maligayang Pasko sa Inyong Lahat!

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Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat mula dito sa San Francisco, California, kung saan kami naka-base.

We know you're busy tomorrow so we won't take up much of your time, but when you want to take a breather from the holiday hustle and bustle, enjoy reading once again this year's round-up of our most popular stories. Plus two feel-good ones about two projects worth supporting, one in LA and the other in Batangas.

And don't forget to check out our curated links to significant and informative stories from other publications in our In The Know section below.

Stay safe and happy.

Lisa, Rene, Gemma and Raymond

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Staff

What a #@**! Year. Breathe.

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What in the world is going on with the world?

Just this weekend alone, a series of shocking news of mass shootings and a family murder assaulted our equanimity and made us pause our holiday spirit.

In our homeland, the exposés of unmitigated greed and growing tensions in our seas continue unabated.

This week, the shootings, assaults and the mudflow of hate continue (fanned unfortunately by people in the news who should know better), putting a damper on what should have been a season of peace, goodwill and all the good things that the holidays used to bring.

We thought the parade of deaths that we mourned during the pandemic has toughened us from grieving over the deaths of people we don't personally know.

We expected that the almost daily outrage we felt from the beginning of this year has numbed us into just letting things go, with nary a care.

How wrong we are, and fortunately so. The recent shockers have brought our sensibilities back to where it should be: caring, angry (but productively) and unaccepting of current-day maladies like bigotry, lies, crassness and mental breakdowns. So let's not waste this period of clarity.

Be careful out there but be vigilant against falling (back) into the abyss of hatred and indifference. 

This Week’s Stories

Teacher Gigi Can Make You Love Math by Claire Mercado-Obias

Stephanie Syjuco’s Wall of Hidden Histories by AJ Fox

Behind the documentary ‘The Road to Sydney’ by Esther M. Chavez

[Read It Again]

Holiday Dishes with Ilocano Flavors by Elizabeth Ann Quirino

Delicious Dishes for Your Christmas Table

[Video of the Week] The Forgotten Cebuano Recipes

In The Know

‘They attacked my religion, my faith’: Muslim photojournalist detained by ICE speaks out
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/12/photojournalist-detained-ice-social-media

Can Jollibee Beat American Fast Food at Its Own Game?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/01/jollibee-fried-chicken-american-fast-food/684949/?utm_source=apple_news

Filipino who reported medical neglect in ICE facility to be deported from US
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/greggy-valerio-sorio-deportation-usa-ice-medical-neglect/?

The power of alternative media
https://malaya.com.ph/entertainment/the-power-of-alternative-media/

Philippines says Filipino fishermen were hurt after Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSSnTxbEe93/

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Staff