Love and Consciousness

Now that LGBTQ rights are under assault (again), it's heartwarming to hear of a good story like Cherie Querol Moreno's "Two Brides and Open Hearts," a loving portrait of a family wedding that affirms the right to choose who you love. That it took place in Orlando, Florida -- the land of homophobic Anita Bryant -- is doubly sweet.

In San Francisco's Manilatown, Fil-Am history gets an early tribute with the exhibit of paintings and photographs of Tony Remington, a Manila-born, San Francisco-raised artist who went through the angst of lost identity and found his bearings when he went back to the Philippines for a few years. Carlos Zialcita chronicles the artist's journey of self-discovery in "Tony Remington's Launching Point to Fil-Am Consciousness."

Presy Lopez-Psinakis, who passed away recently, was an important figure in the US-based movement against the Marcos dictatorship. Cherie Querol Moreno pays tribute to the lady known for her grace and courage.

Our In The Know links for this week:

Stemming the tide of violent extremism in the Philippines
http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2017/07/29/stemming-the-tide-of-violent-extremism-in-the-philippines/

Online Harassment: Lessons from the Philippines
http://gijn.org/2017/07/13/fighting-online-harassment-lessons-from-the-philippines/

5 Needed Steps To Transfer A Land Title In The Philippines
http://pinoyjuander.com/blog/2015/12/5-needed-steps-to-transfer-a-land-title-in-the-philippines/

New Rules on Balikbayan Boxes Take Effect Aug 1: What You Need to Know
http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph/news-and-events/new-rules-on-balikbayan-boxes-take-effect-aug-1-what-you-need-to-know-a00178-20170726?utm_source=Facebook-Cosmo&utm_medium=Siteshare&utm_campaign=20170727-balikbayanboxesnewrules

What 'simple, comfortable' Filipino life looks like, according to NEDA
http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/06/29/16/what-simple-comfortable-filipino-life-looks-like-according-to-neda

For our Happy Home Cook, Richgail Enriquez “veganizes” for another Filipino favorite: Macaroni Salad.

For our Video of the Week, youtube channel Just Saying HG featured the five Filipina Beauty Queens who won in the International Pageants from 2013-2016.