A 'Dirty' Business for a Cleaner World

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If you haven't yet, you still have time to register for PF's very interesting webinar tonight at 6 pm (9 pm EST, 10 am Thursday in Manila). "Indipinos in Bainbridge Island" provides a rare insight on the lives of children of Filipino men and indigenous women in this part of Washington state. You will be able to watch the 31-minute documentary, "Honor Thy Mothers," that Gina Corpuz, herself an Indipino, filmed. To register, http://bit.ly/indipinos

Their call for "dyaryo, bote" was part of the soundtrack of the daily lives of those who grew up in the Philippines. These traditional recyclers, popularly known as the "mambobote," "mambabakal," "mangangalkal," or "basurero" turn out to be earning more daily than a call center agent. Environmentalist Gregg Yan shines a light on this lucrative "dirty" business that's an important part of protecting the environment.

One of the most compelling books I've come across recently is Concepcion: An Immigrant Family's Fortune by Fil-Am author Albert Samaha. Not only is it exceptionally good writing, the book presents important insights on the Filipino immigrant experience that give us pause...and enlightenment. Historian, academic and cultural influencer Michael Gonzalez reviews the book. 

How about enjoying adobo in Utquigvik? This northernmost town of the United States in the state of Alaska boasts of a Filipino restaurant called The 57, run by former Rizal High School teacher, Amy Tulayan Felder and her family. Just like food writer Jennifer Fergesen who spent part of her summer in Alaska last year, there are no limits to the adventurousness and ingenuity of Filipinos, wherever they may be. 

And speaking of adventure, here's a recipe for a Happy Home Cook challenge: Whale Hunt Spring Rolls from Amy Felder. Of course, if you can't find whale meat in your local supermarket, there's a substitute that you can use.

Our Video of the Week: Fox News foreign affairs correspondent Benjamin Hall's conversation with his Manila-born father Roderick Hall about the Battle of Manila that ended WWII in the Philippines.

In The Know (Standard Edition)

From Switzerland to Philippines: Thomas Kellenberger reaches Asia after walking 141 days
https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/01/from-switzerland-to-philippines-thomas-kellenberger-reaches-asia-after-walking-141-days/?fbclid=IwAR2iFSTQwFL0ztFmD6yubcxSLmNWE6Trjl3zGyfoKQsI5p27vTgVj4zQZbA

Harvard monument glorifies American colonial rule over the Philippines
https://thefilam.net/archives/35276?fbclid=IwAR27sbhStQcLOp43bWV9OV62dMdTLQj-10Y4H_5CQISD0hSK_uUs2RsnuVo

They toured the PH to study our heritage dishes—now they run one of the best restos in America
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/restaurants/01/06/22/filipino-resto-abac-in-sf-named-one-of-americas-best?fbclid=IwAR26T0-8t8044cPZfk9wraFQZDDE61ZGSe_hzvxo6u-H52JtMhtrQTZQHRQ

How This 17-Year-Old Made a Successful Business Out of Kangkong
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/kangkong-chips-josh-mojica-a00293-20220103-lfrm2?utm_source=Facebook-EsquireMoney&utm_medium=Siteshare&utm_campaign=20220103-fbnp-long-reads-kangkong-chips-josh-mojica-a00293-20220103-lfrm2-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR32hXH2y1h3zzNQtpu7cfQ6d77vFlziXchrL47MvGKQMVKVBJIIzP3MDJQ

20 Rare Photos of the Manila Carnival That You've Probably Never Seen Before
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/rare-manila-carnival-photos-a00297-20211227-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20211227-fbnp-culture-rare-manila-carnival-photos-a00297-20211227-lfrm-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR2xetMMdCE4ON9BmOIfe6f_Hvutl7KEIdtuTyZYZ6DlUR-gqspSYSadejg

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Virtual Everything

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Nine months since the coronavirus pandemic hit earth like the proverbial giant meteorite, a virtual world has opened up for us. Webinars, podcasts, streaming movies, tutorials, family reunions, exercise videos, Broadway shows, awards shows, online learning, virtual international travel -- they're all ours for the taking (or watching/listening). Zoom has even become a household word. 

(Speaking of webinars, in case you missed Positively Filipino's very enlightening conversation with ace journalists Sheila Coronel and Ging Reyes, "Shutdown For a Shakedown? Behind the Attempts to Muzzle Press Freedom and ABS-CBN," you can watch it here.)

Unfortunately the online world also has its share of trolls and criminals, preying on the naive, the seniors (who are not as tech savvy) and the emotionally vulnerable. True these scammers have been around pre-covid but presumably they are more active now that people are staying home and relying only on their electronic devices to maintain their contact with the rest of the world. And then there's the loneliness factor. 

Pre-pandemic, romance scams (the type with the highest recorded occurence) lost its victims in the US $143 million in 2018 alone, with an average per-victim loss of $2,600. 

PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco writes about her friend's brush with a romance scammer, truly a cautionary tale for potential sweet-talk victims. If you or someone you know is being scammed, there are web sites (such as https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds) for reporting them. Just make sure you do a background check on the site you choose lest it might be another scam. 

Stories this Week: 

[Webinar] Shut Down For A Shakedown? Behind The Attempts To Muzzle Press Freedom And ABS-CBN

Looking For Love In All The Wrong URLs By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Dishes You’d Like To Cook And Eat In Self-Quarantine By Jennifer Fergesen

Jason Tanamor And His Aswang By Walter Ang

Amba Girly: Spirit Of The Corps By Marisa S. Roque

The Happy Home Cook: Blond Biko By Chef Nouel Omamalin

Video of the Week: The Voice Kids UK winner Justine Afante

In The Know 

WATCH: Why all Filipinos are considered indigenous
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/life/10/27/16/watch-why-all-filipinos-are-considered-indigenous?fbclid=IwAR2jwrF9GGtzeG-sO2u6uuZZ0aNPZdsYLjfQC6RuDNNn0AdTBEjeT3LPJhI

Philippine human rights workers are being systematically killed in a growing war on dissent
https://news.yahoo.com/philippine-human-rights-workers-being-184122085.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

25 years after: Amy Besa & Romy Dorotan on the pains and glory of being New York restaurateurs

https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/08/23/20/before-ube-hit-it-big-abroad-amy-besa-and-romy-dorotan-were-serving-it-in-the-us-in-the-90s?1=1&fbclid=IwAR0YI4Ig0_q5FMmnF-kt9-Eh8MjlYNpY14TdrkrcFUT-f2r0vTUWR0Kz7Lw

SF author’s ‘Son of Good Fortune’ explores ‘myth of the American dream’
https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/san-francisco-authors-debut-novel-sheds-light-on-filipino-american-immigration?fbclid=IwAR0mNlHlp7yl-yHtmkUiaqBlt1_VVeV1NASoPk8A6lofzxekBcl1DnPf6fI

Anna Maria: The Spaniard who survived 16 bayonet wounds during the Battle of Manila
https://english.elpais.com/arts/2020-08-28/anna-maria-the-spaniard-who-survived-16-bayonet-wounds-during-the-battle-of-manila.html?fbclid=IwAR2jq8GfLyKl4HXCOiM5Vek-sCCoRY_HqMn_E0guLPEc2I4BPzagYkShOcw

 

Journal of the Plague Months

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We continue our focus on what is undoubtedly the biggest story of the year -- the pandemic -- even as our shelter-in-place days are interspersed with heartwarming stories about the heroism of the frontliners and the strong sense of community among regular citizens, along with our grieving -- almost daily -- of the lives unexpectedly snuffed out by this insidious virus.

 From Kenya, regular PF contributor Agatha Verdadero gives us a glimpse of how life has changed with "Social Distancing in Nairobi."

PF Correspondent Cherie M. Querol Moreno tracks down some regular folks who have stepped up to do their part in "Inspired Kindness in the Time of Lockdown."

From Manila, John Silva shares with us his tribute to two friends, fashion designer Ito Curata and his partner Bob Miller, both of whom didn't survive Covid-19.

From Chicagoland, PF Correspondent Rey de la Cruz features a Filipino restaurant who is likewise helping out, "Chicken Ati-atihan, Restaurant with a Heart" from which our Happy Home Cook recipe for Chicken Curry comes.

Our links to stories to keep you In The Know:

New Tear-Jerking Tourism Video Honors Frontliners and Filipino Optimism
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/department-tourism-video-frontliners-a00204-20200404?fbclid=IwAR1GSOqQN1qtPDC7agR75ZSY9hemFVLlh52JBoiZmEaY7hglHrZRU1BOSTg

In Slum at Epicenter of Duterte’s Drug Crackdown, Fear and Love Coexist
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/world/asia/philippines-manila-duterte-market-three.html?fbclid=IwAR0PE5pd8jabbRWSCuofL83MHegffIdlMma72AxqSOm67wyLlz1fkZYo5U8

The Philippines is sending its nurses to the frontline underprotected. Now medics are dying, others risk spreading the virus
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/01/homepage2/philippines-nurse-intl-hnk/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0NgvaYogiKXkDyzVnUPY7DI_ce4lH1toJ_Gk5TCFNKj72ldvOc56Diif8

Asian Americans use social media to mobilize against attacks
https://news.yahoo.com/asian-americans-social-media-mobilize-150724085.html

Dr. James Goodrich, friend to Filipinos
https://opinion.inquirer.net/128576/dr-james-goodrich-friend-to-filipinos?fbclid=IwAR36WY8nkcc_VYkPg6pFmLzjp13vktaU25oILWuS9ydrsm36-oYPqbI0i4s

Voices from the frontline: The volunteer driver giving free rides to stranded medical workers
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/04/06/20/voices-from-the-frontline-the-volunteer-driver-giving-free-rides-to-stranded-medical-workers

For Video of Week, we commemorate the 75th anniversary of  the Battle of Manila and the  Liberation of the Santo Tomas Internment Camp.