October 02, 2024

Our Time in America

October 02, 2024/ Staff

We begin this year's Filipino American History Month (FAHM) our usual way: by posting an updated FilAm History Timeline. This 2024 edition has new entries (in red). Our timeline is the most comprehensive there is. If you're a student, an academic, a researcher or a writer, make sure you save a copy. It's a valuable reference that chronicles the Filipino presence in US shores.

"Lola's Spaghetti," "Ulam" and "Dreamweavers" -- these are the three short films by FilAms that reached the finals of the Asian American Film Lab's 72-Hour Shootout, an intense competition that gave aspiring filmmakers a mere three days to write, shoot and edit a film for submission. From New York City, Elaine Joy Edaya Degale writes about this August event where she won as best screenwriter for "Dreamweavers."

In his recent exhibit called "Pinoy Traits" at the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, the social realist painter Melvyn Culaba adds a touch of humor and lightness to this batch of paintings, "without sacrificing the seriousness of their message," his words. We repost here the story of his exhibit written by S.C. Fojas of the Manila Bulletin.

Through our eleven years of posting stories about the Filipino diaspora, we've had some very interesting articles that we know you would like to read again. Below are three of them.

Our Video of the Week is a video documentary on the Battle at Leyte Gulf: October 23- 26, 1944 -- still the largest naval engagement in the history of the world.

Read Again:

Where Exactly Did ‘Filipinos’ First Land in California?

Forget Them Not

Murder Most Foul

In The Know

Philippines says to evacuate thousands from Lebanon if Israel invades
https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2572957/world?

Maj. Floren P. Herrera ’13 Selected for 2024 Nininger Award
https://www.westpointaog.org/news/maj-floren-p-herrera-13-selected-for-2024-nininger-award/

AANHPI civic engagement increases as hate crimes persist
https://asamnews.com/2024/09/25/asian-american-native-hawaiian-pacific-islander-hate-crimes-report-civic-political-engagement/

AANHPI face rising safety concerns amid surge in hate crimes
https://asamnews.com/2024/09/28/aanhpi-face-rising-safety-concerns-amid-surge-in-hate-crimes/

Kamala Harris ad targets Fil Am voters in Nevada
https://asamnews.com/2024/09/27/nevada-swing-state-6-electoral-votes-fil-ams-could-sway-election/

Tyketto vocalist comes to defense of Journey’s Arnel Pineda
https://asamnews.com/2024/09/27/rock-legend-dont-stop-believin-performance-panned/

September 25, 2024

Positively Against Anti-Asian Hate

September 25, 2024/ Staff

This issue marks the end of Positively Filipino's year-long grant from the State of California, through the California State Library, to participate in the efforts to inform and educate our communities, and help prevent anti-Asian Hate crimes.

This grant year has been instructional for us, the PF staff, our contributing writers and our readers. The focus on the many facets of hate crimes and how they plague and traumatize not just individual victims but entire communities have been illuminating, at times, even frightening. PF has posted original stories, sponsored webinars (two of which are posted here), and collated articles from various publications (our Hate Watch weekly list) about anti-Asian Hate. We have also sponsored three self-defense workshops (IMPACT) for seniors and youth in San Francisco's South of Market district, Daly City and Union City.

Our penultimate activity was "A Tribute to Our Manongs and Manangs," our community elders/heroes who lived through decades of racism and hate, and emerged triumphant in their respective careers. The inspirational event held in San Francisco was both a celebration of resiliency and a teaching moment for the next generation of FilAms.

We thank those who have helped us fulfill the requirements of the grant: Gail Kong, our consultant, who guided us in navigating the grant process; Titchie Carandang, who handled our social media presence; our writers, notably Anthony Maddela who wrote many of our articles on anti-Asian Hate; and our resource persons who shared their knowledge in our webinars and in our articles.

This may be the end of the grant but PF remains committed to doing our part in stemming the tide of hate in our communities, our institutions and in the national rhetoric.

Funding provided by the State of California.

February 10, 2021

Canny Assignations

February 10, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

It's almost Valentine's Day so let's talk about lust.

Oscar Peñaranda, beloved teacher of many, poet/author and master raconteur, recounts his young, wild days as an Alaskero (Filipino cannery worker), when dark nights, stinky corners, and hordes of mosquitoes did not stop lonely hearts from having intimate parties for two. "Lust Among the Ruins" is LOL funny. And poignant. A salve for pandemic Valentine blues.

Another kind of love, this one for the fave candy of one's childhood. PF Correspondent Rey E. de la Cruz reignites his love for White Rabbit, the candy created in Shanghai, and finds kindred spirits almost everywhere. ["Down the 'White Rabbit' Hole"]

When our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco started the series of notable and famous/infamous Fil-Ams, she thought it would just take a few chapters. But names kept cropping up as friends and readers sent in their suggestions, so now "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous" is already Part 15 (with more coming in our future issues; watch out for them).

Since February is Black History Month, it's a good time to commemorate Pvt. David Fagan, a Black American soldier sent to the Philippines to fight the Filipino rebels at the onset of the Filipino-American War of 1898-1902. Fagan chose to defect to the Philippine forces and fight the Americans. Read Again Rene G. Ontal's timeless retelling of "A Black Man's Burden."

And for more stories about romances and heartbreaks, join us for our webinar on February 16. See below for details.