April 08, 2026

In Memoriam: Remarkable Filipinos We Lost

April 08, 2026/ Staff

Every year, Positively Filipino drops a year-end list honoring Filipinos we lost—names that showed up in both mainstream news and our feeds. And honestly? The list was always mahaba. Starting 2026, though, we're switching it up: quarterly releases na. It’s a more intentional way for us to pause, remember, and maybe recognize people we actually knew or followed.

Quick history moment (but make it relevant): the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI)—aka the Aglipayan Church—is one of those distinctly Filipino institutions. Founded in 1902, it was a bold, nationalist move: a church rooted in Catholic tradition but independent from Rome. It found its stronghold in northern Luzon, and today its membership is estimated anywhere from 1.5M (based on the 2020 Census) to around 6M, depending on who you ask. One of its early hubs? Ballesteros, Cagayan, where it took root in 1904. PF contributor Leodovico Masuli dives into the story of this town—its deep religiosity and strong nationalist identity—in a way that hits different if you care about Filipino heritage.

And for the culture crowd: if you’ve seen the recent hot take questioning opera’s relevance (yes, that one by Timothy Chalamet), here’s a thoughtful clapback. Fil-Am baritone Roberto Perlas Gomez links up with PF correspondent Anthony Maddela to talk about why opera still matters—and why it’s far from “dead.”

[Partner] An Act of Remembrance in White Sands by Jon Melegrito

[Read It Again]

Death of an Army by Antonio A. Nieva

The Food of Abra by Laarni Sibayan-Ilagan

[Video of the Week] This Filipino Writer Reveals How Stories Transform The Nation | Rio Alma

In The Know

High fuel costs forcing Philippine farmers to abandon harvests

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/high-fuel-costs-forcing-philippine-farmers-abandon-harvests-2026-04-07/

Why is the Filipino American who co-founded the UFW with Cesar Chavez nearly forgotten?

https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/larry-itliong-cesar-chavez-ufw-22094084.php?

Olivia Rodrigo goes pink, poetic and upside‑down for 3rd album

https://asamnews.com/2026/04/03/you-seem-pretty-sad-album-announced-olivia-rodrigo/

How Samantha Sotto Yambao turned a literal 'train of thought' into a New York Times bestseller

https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/4/3/how-samantha-sotto-yambao-turned-a-literal-train-of-thought-into-a-new-york-times-bestseller-1248?

Filipina tech leader knighted with Order of Merit in France

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/4/6/filipina-tech-leader-knighted-with-order-of-merit-in-france-1755?

April 01, 2026

Looking Back

April 01, 2026/ Staff

With everything coming out lately about Cesar Chavez, we’re starting this month by looking back at a major moment in labor history—the Delano Grape Strike (1965–1970). It’s often called the most successful farm labor strike in U.S. history, and it was led in large part by Filipino American organizers like Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, alongside others.

The five-year strike led to better wages and health benefits for over 10,000 Filipino and Mexican farmworkers in California—and created the United Farm Workers (UFW). But beyond the headlines and hero narratives, it’s important to remember the real cost: workers gave up their income, stability, and daily survival just to keep the movement alive.

Fil-Am historian Alex Fabros Jr. honors those sacrifices in his piece, “The Historic Delano Grape Strike’s Sacrifices and Rewards.”

As conversations around Cesar Chavez continue to evolve, authors Craig Scharlin and Lilia V. Villanueva of the book Philip Vera Cruz: A Personal History of Filipino Immigrants and the Farmworkers Movement revisit their extensive interviews with the revered labor leader. Their reflections—shared in “On Cesar Chavez: We Need the Truth More Than We Need Heroes”—offer a more personal and nuanced look at Chavez through Vera Cruz’s eyes.

Also in this issue: Lilia V. Villanueva shares her experience visiting Margaha Beach in Old Sagay, Negros Occidental, where a laid-back mix of sun, food, and community came together with a local short film festival.

And if you’ve been online lately, you probably saw the buzz: the first trailer for “The Forgotten Island,” an upcoming DreamWorks Animation film, just dropped—and it’s already blowing up among Filipinos around the world. PF correspondent Anthony Maddela breaks down why this film has everyone talking.

[Read It Again]

Images of Semana Santa by Contributing Photographers

Marinduque's Mesmerizing Moriones by Wilma B. Consul

[Video of the Week] This Changed How I See Being Filipino Forever - Ink and Identity

In the Know

The Philippines fuel emergency is a textbook case of a warning hiding in official statistics

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/philippines-fuel-emergency-textbook-case-warning-hiding-official-statistics?

Community pantry returns, this time for drivers hit by oil price hikes

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/community-pantry-returns-drivers-oil-price-hike/

Meet the stunning Fil-Ams competing for Miss Universe Philippines crown

https://usa.inquirer.net/192493/meet-the-stunning-fil-ams-competing-for-miss-universe-philippines-crown

Philippines scores poorly on work-life balance. Filipinos are not surprised

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347635/philippines-scores-poorly-work-life-balance-filipinos-are-not-surprised?

Filipino farmworkers & LA County confront Chavez allegations

https://asamnews.com/2026/03/25/la-county-reviews-chavez-legacy-filipino-farmworkers-larry-itliong/?

Virtual Visita Iglesia Pilgrimage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vTocaN1U0I

MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA: FILMMAKER ON A VOYAGE

In celebration of the life of Marilou Diaz-Abaya (b. Mar.30, 1955-d. Oct.8, 2012), National Artist of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts, the full-length documentary on her life will be available on Youtube for a limited viewing playdate starting today on the occasion of her 71st birth anniversary. This documentary was produced, written and directed by Mona Lisa Yuchengco.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9AmOmRlPtY

March 25, 2026

Dig Deep Into Our Treasure Chest of Stories

March 25, 2026/ Staff

If you usually tap into Positively Filipino through our Wednesday newsletter links, you might not realize just how deep the archive goes. We’ve been publishing for 13 years—so yeah, there’s a whole treasure chest of stories waiting for you.

Dive into the archives here:
https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/the-rack/

So… how many stories are we talking about? We don’t have an official count, but we asked Claude.ai to do the math, and here’s the vibe:

There are thousands of stories across categories like Life Stories, Fil-Am icons, history, business, entertainment, food, culture, and more. When you add them all up, it comes out to around 3,065 pieces. So far. (Real talk: some stories show up in multiple categories, so the number of unique articles is probably a bit lower—but still, that’s a LOT of content.)

Bottom line: Positively Filipino is more than just a website—it’s a whole digital tambayan for Filipino stories. Whether you’re a student, researcher, creative, policy maker, or just someone trying to stay connected to the culture, there’s something here for you.

And it’s not just about reading—we’re also a space for voices from across the diaspora. We’ve got 500+ writers (and counting!) sharing their takes on what it means to be Filipino today.

Wanna be part of it?
Check out how to submit your work:
https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/editorial/

Come through and join our growing community of storytellers, culture shapers, and thought leaders. Let’s keep celebrating what it means to be Filipino—together.