February 18, 2026

Fresh Starts

February 18, 2026/ Staff

February hits different. It’s the month of kilig, fresh starts, and full-on revolution energy — and that vibe runs through all our stories this month.

First up: the epic, universe-aligned love story of artists Novy Bereber and Ignatius “Nacho” Jones. Two creatives chasing their art across continents, only to find each other at exactly the right moment — before life had other plans. When their global careers began to slow down, they chose to come home to Iloilo — where it all started for Novy and where it would end for Nacho. In “Artists Novy Bereber and Ignatius Jones: Not Like Everybody Else,” PF contributing writer Menchu Aquino Sarmiento tells a love story that feels cinematic, fated, and deeply Filipino.

From your childhood screen to the global stage: Fil-Am actor Joshua dela Cruz — yes, the host of Blue's Clues & You! — is back in his theater era. This time, he’s stepping into history, playing martyred Filipino hero Ninoy Aquino in the latest staging of Here Lies Love, now running in Los Angeles. After years of trying to land the interview, PF’s LA correspondent Anthony Maddela finally caught up with him for “A Definitely Happy Beginning for Joshua Dela Cruz.” From Nick Jr. to Ninoy? That range.

And if you or your fam were around for the 1986 People Power Revolution that ended the Marcos dictatorship, you probably still know every word to Bayan Ko. It became the unofficial anthem of the anti-Marcos protests after Ninoy’s assassination in 1983 and helped carry Corazon Aquino to the presidency. Fast forward to today: history has entered its plot-twist era with Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in office — and a new generation of artists is dropping protest tracks that hit just as hard.

In “Filipino Protest Songs Rage Across Generations,” University of the Philippines Baguio professor Luis Zuriel Domingo breaks down how resistance sounds in 2026.

And because history is never just history — it’s personal. Two issues ago, we published Alex Fabros Jr.’s deep dive into “Alice Roosevelt, The Sultan of Sulu and The Theater of American Empire,” unpacking the 1905 visit of Alice Roosevelt and her encounter with the Sultan of Sulu. Soon after, PF reader Jessie Huberty slid into our inbox with a human-interest twist: her own family’s connection to that moment, complete with archival photos. We’re sharing her story — proof that diaspora memory is alive, layered, and still unfolding.

Love. Legacy. Resistance. Homecoming.

February isn’t just a vibe — it’s a reminder that wherever we are in the world, our stories stay connected.

[Read It Again]

30 Years Ago: Coup d'etat and People Power by Gemma Nemenzo
(This article was written 10 years ago and posted on February 24, 2016)

Romances in History by Ambeth R. Ocampo

The Poet and The Women He Loved by Gemma Nemenzo

[Video of the Week] "Sinners" cinematographer opens up about career journey amid historic Oscar nomination

In The Know

Philippine Church highlights unity as Lent, Ramadan begin together
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-02/philippines-church-lent-ramadam-same-date-shared-path-of-faith.html?

Airbrushing Autocracy: The Fall and Rise of the Marcoses
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002rdb3

Between English and Emptiness
https://www.weareonehumanity.org/writings/between-english-and-emptiness?

Brunei vs. the Philippines: The War That Ended in a Wedding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXvNLjf3V54

PSA: You Can Get a College Degree for Free Through UP’s Online University
https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/adulting/psa-you-can-get-a-degree-for-free-through-ups-online-university-

February 11, 2026

We Get a Kick Out of Them

February 11, 2026/ Staff

When Jason Myers kicked his way into NFL history at Super Bowl LX last Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, he didn’t just help bring the Seattle Seahawks a championship—he also quietly put Filipino America on notice.

For many FilAms, this was the first time hearing that Myers has Filipino roots. He’s a fourth-generation Filipino American—his great-grandfather was a Filipino immigrant—and he’s been open and unapologetic about his pride in his heritage. Representation matters, and seeing a FilAm make his mark on one of the biggest stages in American sports hits different.

Our resident FilAm historian, Alex S. Fabros, Jr., puts Myers’ achievement into deeper context by looking back at Filipino American contributions to pro football, from Roman Gabriel to today, in “Fil-Ams and the NFL: From Roman Gabriel to Super Bowl-Winning Jason Myers.”

This week, we are introducing our new series, “Overseas Filipino Achievers,” compiled by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco, spotlighting Filipinos making waves around the world. And since Filipinos can be found in nearly 200 countries (yes, we really are everywhere), this series is shaping up to be a long-term project—much like Positively Filipino’s long-running “FilAms Among the Remarkable and Famous,” which just keeps growing.

We need your help to keep it going. Who are the Filipinos worth knowing in your adopted country? Send us their names, photos, and relevant links or background info at pfpublisher@yahoo.com.

Grief is something we all encounter at some point—sometimes it breaks us, sometimes it reshapes us, and often it teaches us things we never asked to learn. Professional grief counselor and award-winning writer Cathy Sanchez Babao knows this journey well. After working through her own profound losses, she’s written books that comfort, heal, and offer hope to others walking the same difficult path.

In this issue, first-time PF contributor Alma Cruz Miclat writes about how her friend came out with two new books that are definitely worth reading.

If you grew up in the Philippines, there’s a good chance Burnham Park in Baguio City lives somewhere in your childhood memories—boat rides, cold air, awkward first crushes. While the park may not feel quite as pristine or chilly as you remember, there’s good news, as former Baguio resident Rene Astudillo reports: Burnham Lake, the heart of the park, has been undergoing major rehabilitation.

In about two months, it’s set to reopen—ready to host a new generation of dates, daydreams, and kilig moments. Some things really do come full circle.

[Read It Again]

How Black and Filipino Unity Was Forged in the Pullman Workers Union by Don Villar

Filipino Sports History: It’s In the Cards by Mark John Sanchez

[Video of the Week] Forgotten Root Crop Recipes from the Philippines

In The Know

Philippine bets Proulx, Ceccarelli return to roots in Winter Olympics bid
https://www.rappler.com/people/athletes/philippines-tallulah-proulx-francis-ceccarelli-winter-olympics-milano-cortina-2026/

Seahawks kicker Jason Myers speaks about Philippine Heritage
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1968273903770185

The story of the 26 year-old Filipino Jesuit on the road to sainthood
https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/asia-pacific/the-story-of-the-26-year-old-filipino-jesuit-on-the-road-to-sainthood?redirectedfrom=cna

Epstein files show image ops, emails funding employees’ flights to PH
https://www.rappler.com/technology/features/jeffrey-epstein-files-operations-emails-philippine-employees/

Hindi Ito Marites: A travelogue of the Philippines Strategic Partners
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HuJGrz4w9Gc

2 Filipinas in fight vs Trump plan to close their hospital
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/308238/2-pinays-in-fight-vs-trump-plan-to-close-their-hospital

February 04, 2026

Ride the Fire Horse

February 04, 2026/ Staff

We’re already in the second month of the year if you’re following the Christian calendar, but on February 17, the Chinese calendar flips the script with the start of the Year of the Fire Horse. It’s said to be a rare, high-energy year—one that shows up only once every 60 years—symbolizing bold moves, fast shifts, and fiery momentum. No hesitation, no dragging your feet.

Whatever calendar you live by and whatever traditions ground you, here’s hoping this surge of courage and change plays out with purpose—bringing progress that’s peaceful, meaningful, and good for our homeland, our adopted countries, and the wider world we all share.

For Positively Filipino, 2026—the Year of the Fire Horse—will be about both staying true to who we are and pushing forward. We’ll keep delivering the stories you’ve come to expect: deep dives into history and culture (we’ve got two historical pieces this week alone), profiles of fascinating Filipinos across generations, features on creative work, travel essays, first-person stories, and thoughtful looks at the people and politics shaping our communities.

And because we’re always down to level up, we’re adding something new: “Overseas Filipino Achievers”. This expands our long-running and ever-growing collection of short profiles spotlighting Filipino achievers—starting with FilAms, and now widening the lens globally.

That’s where you come in.

If you’re part of the Filipino diaspora outside the Philippines and the US, we’d love your help. Send us names, links, and supporting info about Filipino achievers making waves in your local communities.