Happy New Starts and a Heroic End

Happy New Year everyone!

It's also Positively Filipino's second birthday. Our first issue came out January 1, 2013 and since then we've come out with over 600 stories from 217 contributing writers, who have won 16 Plaridel Awards for excellence in writing. Just a month ago, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas gave us the Best Interactive Media Award (Website Category). Not bad for a fledgling online magazine created by five dreamers, and now run by four. 

We couldn't have done it, of course, without the continuing and enthusiastic support of our own global village -- our readers from all over the world, writers, sponsors and contributing photographers who we are introducing to you in this issue. They are the talented gents and ladies who have generously shared with us their magnificent photos that make our pages burst out with color and meaning.

Also in this issue, we feature Judy Uson, a cake artist, who has been contracted to make the cake for one of the most talked about weddings in February. Her aunt, Bella Bonner, is justly proud as she tells us about "My Niece, the Cake Artist."

Blogger Ed Diokno introduces us to Angelia Trinidad, a 24-year-old Filipino American whose Kickstarter campaign to start her business earned her a whopping $650,000! An inspiring achievement by any standard.

And since December 30 is the 118th anniversary of the execution of our National Hero Jose Rizal, we are posting a compilation of facts about that tragic day by retired Philippine Ambassador Rodolfo A. Arizala. 

Our Video of Week features Philanthropilipino, a nonprofit organization of overseas Filipinos based in Dubai.

My blog this week: Ring In the New Year!

May 2015 endow all of us with good luck and good memories to last our lifetimes.