Sweet 13

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In 2026, Positively Filipino is 13 years old. That’s 13 years of stories by and for Filipinos around the world—and we couldn’t have done it without our community of dedicated writers. From deeply reported features to personal reflections, our contributors continue to inform, amplify, educate, and entertain the global Filipino diaspora.

We’re grateful (and honestly humbled) to say we’re never short on submissions. At times, we receive more stories than we can publish right away, which means some pieces may be queued for several months. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through them with care.

If you’re interested in joining the growing roster of Positively Filipino authors (check out the list on our website), here are our updated submission guidelines:

What We Publish

Positively Filipino is a purely online, general-interest publication serving Filipinos worldwide. We welcome articles about Filipino history, culture, events, issues, lives, and personalities—whether in the Philippines, the U.S., or across the global diaspora.

• Historical pieces must include a list of sources for fact-checking.

• First-person essays and lived-experience stories are encouraged.

Editorial Notes

• We accept unsolicited manuscripts, but most topics require editorial approval, especially personality profiles and reviews of books, films, or other media.

• We do not accept literary or creative writing (e.g., fiction or poetry).

• We will not publish content that promotes hate, encourages lawlessness, or spreads misinformation or false narratives.

How to Submit

Please email your article (preferably as a Word document) to
submissions@positivelyfilipino.com

Include:

• Relevant photos with captions

• A 2-sentence author bio

• A headshot

A Few Important Things to Know

• The editorial board reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, and style.

• Submission approval is not guaranteed—even for previously queried pieces—if they do not meet our editorial standards.

• Positively Filipino does not pay for unsolicited submissions or for work that has been published elsewhere, including on personal blogs or social media.

• Articles promoting a product or business will be subject to a $50 fee and will be labeled "Special Advertising News."

• Press releases from non-profits, charitable organizations and government agencies will be published in our Community News section.

Have questions or want to pitch an idea?
Email us at PFeditor@yahoo.com.

We look forward to reading your stories—and continuing to share the many ways Filipinos show up, speak out, and shape the world.

This Week’s Stories

Leapfrogging a Revolution by Robert Francis Garcia

Behind a Top-Notch Guitar Brand, an OFW Journey by Michael G. Lucero

Actor Nico Santos Rides Star Vehicle Sitcom ‘St. Denis Medical’ by Anthony Maddela

[Read It Again]

How Filipinos Got Their Surnames by Penélope V. Flores

Remembering Flash Elorde by Manzel Delacruz

[Video of the Week] Adobo Sa Asin

In The Know

‘Significant’ volume of natural gas discovered in Malampaya — first in over a decade
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/malampaya-east-natural-gas-discovery-service-contract-38/

Hidilyn Diaz is now a teacher in UP Diliman
https://upd.edu.ph/hidilyn-diaz-is-now-a-teacher-in-upd/?

Inside Magellan, the New Historical Epic You Need to Watch
https://www.gq.com/story/magellan-movie-interview-gael-garcia-bernal-lav-diaz

Hindi Ito Marites: PH, US military cooperation to go on 'hyperdrive' in 2026
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kd_wrxFIgOM

Crystha Shayne Funcion on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DTpm3PNDqv5/

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Staff

Loving Alex Eala

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Alex Eala (Photo by Ronald Salazar)

It was a total lovefest.

When tennis phenom Alex Eala hit the court—and took the win—in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this month, the energy inside the stadium was unmistakably Filipino. The country’s 108,000-plus strong Filipino New Zealander community (or at least a significant number) showed up loud, proud, and all heart.

Our writer Ronald Salazar was there when Alex and her partner Iva Jovic clinched their first-round victory, and he felt the moment firsthand. Kababayans filled the stands, chanting “Laban, Alex!” nonstop—so loud and relentless that the umpire had to shush them more than once.

After the match, Alex made sure to show her appreciation.

“It’s so special. If there’s one thing I learned in 2025, it’s that home is the people and not the place.”                                                               

*****

Nothing—not age, not even brutal weather—can slow down Bella Bonner.

Always down to do something she’s never done before, Bella swapped Manila’s tropical heat for Mongolia in the dead of winter last month. We’re talking minus 26°C (minus 14.8°F) kind of cold—the kind where it feels like your fingers might actually fall off.

And yet? The week-long trip landed squarely on her list of the best experiences of her life (and she's had plenty). She survived, she thawed out, and yes—she lived to tell the story.

*****

If Filipino American history matters to you, this one’s a must-see.

Now showing at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the exhibition “How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories” traces the roots of the Filipino American community in Stockton from the 1910s to the 1970s.

Using the contents of long-forgotten steamer trunks, the exhibit brings our stories—migration, labor, family, and survival—back into focus. It runs through November 2027, so there’s time to plan that DC trip and see our history reflected where it belongs.

[Read It Again]

Six or Seven Meals a Day by Ralph Semino Galán

Which Comes First, the Chicken, or the Scruples? by Albert J. Lesaca

[Video of the Week] FilAm Vegan Chef Reina Montenegro

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Staff

Pathways that Dado Built

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Dado and Maria Banatao are the Hermano and Hermana Mayor for the Pistahan Parade and Festival 2025. With Philippine Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer (Photo by Raymond Virata)

This first issue of 2026 is dedicated to Diosdado “Dado” Banatao—the legendary Filipino American tech innovator who changed the way the world uses computers. Dado passed away on Christmas Day 2025 in Stanford, California, but his impact is everywhere we look.

A lot has already been said about his groundbreaking work in technology, and for good reason. Without the chip sets he pioneered, computers might still be bulky, overpriced, and painfully slow. His breakthrough in graphics accelerator chips helped unlock the multimedia-rich digital world we live in today—from gaming and streaming to design and storytelling.

But this tribute goes beyond the tech. In these pages, we spotlight Dado, the generous donor to community causes, and the mentor, the visionary, and the believer in young minds. Through heartfelt testimonials from people who worked closely with him at PhilDev and who partnered with him in supporting community projects, we see the human side of a genius—someone who, together with his wife Maria, dedicated his life to lifting others up. Their tireless mission was simple but powerful: to inspire Filipino youth to dream bigger, break barriers, and lead the future of STEM.

Dado Banatao didn’t just build technology. He built pathways. And the next generation is already walking them.

Here's a video intro to this great man:

In The Know

Many Filipino healthcare workers in the US live in fear of ICE: ‘This is my place of work. I should feel safe’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/29/filipino-healthcare-workers-immigration-trump?

Rewriting Reality: The Information War That Defined 2025

https://pcij.org/2025/12/31/rewriting-reality-the-information-war-that-defined-2025/?

70-year-old Filipino grandma faces deportation after 4 decades in US
https://usa.inquirer.net/186652/70-year-old-filipino-grandma-faces-deportation-after-4-decades-in-us

Pinoy nagsilbing lead float decorator sa Rose Parade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFfCaxPQT1s

New York street named after José Rizal in honor of Filipino migrants
https://usa.inquirer.net/185624/new-york-street-named-after-jose-rizal-in-honor-of-filipino-migrants?

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Staff