Carnivals Come and Gone

Filipinos are in for a rough-and-tumbly three months with the official beginning of the election campaign yesterday, February 8, until its culmination on May 9. Before the mud-slinging and the muddling go full gear, here's a clear-eyed sum-up by our Manila correspondent Ernesto M. Hilario of what's at stake in this, arguably the most important election of this era. 

Right now, we can still afford to indulge in some merry nostalgia with a look back on the spectacles of yesteryear - the Philippines International Fair of 1953 in Manila, a massive undertaking that, of course, generated controversy and obstacles. Surprisingly, not much information about the event has survived the onslaught of decades, as PF Correspondent/Internet sleuth Myles A. Garcia discovered. That's why this painstakingly researched story that he has put together is valuable today.

Another spectacle that has gone away with not much of a bang is the annual carnival of Cebu which introduced a long line of Cebuano beauties as carnival queens. Cecilia M. Brainard, whose mother was once a carnival queen, was able to gather bits and pieces of information on these celebrated beauties in her story this week. 

And since it's Valentine's week, let's enjoy again some historical romances from our archives:

Historian Ambeth R. Ocampo's "Romances in History" 
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/romances-in-history

Penelope V. Flores' "Rizal's Great Loves" 
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/6/rizals-great-loves

Titchie Carandang-Tiongson and Erwin R. Tiongson's "The Untold Story of Nina Thomas" 
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-untold-story-of-nina-thomas

And my story on "The Poet and the Women He Loved" 
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/2/the-poet-and-the-women-he-loved

Our Video of the Week is a heartwarming coverage of how a Fil-Am who was just sworn in as a US citizen was honored by the students of the elementary school where he works.

Don't fail to read the election stories whose links we have compiled in our special section, Philippine Elections 2022.

[Cook It Again] Vegan Filipino Spaghetti by Chef Richgail Enriquez


Philippine Elections 2022

Interview no-show and the Marcos myths
https://www.bworldonline.com/interview-no-show-and-the-marcos-myths/ 

Characteristics in Candidates Running for National Positions Should Possess
https://www.facebook.com/democracywatchph/posts/299961952165129

A generation that’s losing sleep over Marcos Jr.
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-generation-losing-sleep-ferdinand-bongbong-marcos-jr/?fbclid=IwAR2nzXkVAIrvN5BD2-TP--Kz8_OFwstZstMVOpHAbsDUB5DCgXc_9Ff9gIk

The ‘golden age’ I remember
https://opinion.inquirer.net/149457/the-golden-age-i-remember?fbclid=IwAR2VnWQl4bRZBrSuVbI4T7DP6YsDIw_sH48pGzdj0vci2cnpkBXgiTaiiQY

Hindsight No.4: Denial and Dissonance
https://penmanila.ph/2022/02/07/hindsight-no-4-denial-and-dissonance/?fbclid=IwAR1dCjP1gmZR0tbF2CbDMlXRd2GUXhpnjwYSLOQlIjVyzrLTCBxThyePEqc


In The Know

Philippine Congress Allows Full Foreign Ownership in Telco, Rail
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/philippine-congress-allows-full-foreign-013456660.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

FBI releases ‘Wanted’ poster for Quiboloy
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1550293/fbi-releases-wanted-poster-for-quiboloy?fbclid=IwAR3M4AAGgILK249-QOPyO200GRXuAn95YjKB5XZXse7Q7MooY9G2-IBtk3U

FAST FACTS: Who is Filipino Winter Olympian Asa Miller?
https://www.rappler.com/sports/things-to-know-asa-miller/?fbclid=IwAR1MvYp6vgr7l4XLeZyLjdSR7vJU1iWLDx2WddWjrlJE9r28V0SnSDalUgk

Our Progressive Past
gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/206/our-progressive-past/?fbclid=IwAR2mlav8t9Di-Mp2jqDH2-9nWlpOwhnZzhLp_SP7Albihawy8R5GetqUek0

Kidlat Tahimik’s Subversive Retelling of the Philippines’ Colonial History
https://hyperallergic.com/694716/kidlat-tahimiks-subversive-retelling-of-the-philippines-colonial-history/ 

Digital artist reimagines Madrigal sisters from Disney film ‘Encanto’ as Filipinas
https://news.yahoo.com/digital-artist-reimagines-madrigal-sisters-234144264.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

F. Sionil Jose's Solidaridad book store to continue operations
https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/02/04/22/f-sionil-joses-solidaridad-to-continue-operations?fbclid=IwAR2SUAmcHE9XMZlRpb6PBgvh65d8oazPmr_HT-o3zYpssiWPsT5o_nc5WW8 

When an icon turns 90: Celebrating Auntie Dorothy
https://iexaminer.org/when-an-icon-turns-90-celebrating-auntie-dorothy/?fbclid=IwAR3fF2Wqg0zC1lcThsfh_E3BT2pVAgML4T3UlUAQBKj3Cro-RWoDolM45oI 

With superheroes and puppets, Philippines boosts child COVID-19 vaccination drive
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/superheroes-and-puppets-philippines-boosts-child-covid-19-vaccination-drive-2484456


Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino