Hello, Young Readers

A glorious and hopeful 2019 to all.

We just looked into our 2018 readership stats and we're very happy to note that we got a lot more readers from the millennial generation. In fact, the majority (54%) of our readers last year were from the 18-34 age group, which is both surprising and gratifying. Since most of our stories are about history and culture, we'd like to think that young people look to Positively Filipino as a source of information and guidance (from elders like us) in navigating their collective history and heritage.

If you want to read or re-read our most popular stories of 2018, here are the links.

One of the major progress that happened in the Philippines in recent years is the passage of the RH (for reproductive health) Law that came about after years of wrangling between the Catholic Church and legislators. Dr. Marilen J. Danguilan, who was at the forefront of the struggle, has come out with a book that detailed the process of awareness, negotiations and passage of the bill. The RH Bill Story: Contentions and Compromises and its valuable lessons are discussed by Rep. Edcel Lagman here. (Read "A True Chronicle of the Reproductive Health Law's Odyssey")

PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani profiles Esmie Gayo McLaren, a Vancouver-based artist who recently had exhibits in Ottawa and New York.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe comes from San Francisco-based foodie Voltaire Gungab who came up with the scrumptious Bibingka Cakes with Lambanog-Lemongrass Syrup and Coconut Cream. 

Links for stories you may have missed are here:

A Mother and Daughter’s Unlikely Journey as Migrant Workers
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/lens/xyza-bacani-migrant-workers.html?fbclid=IwAR08u3-E-8NJckDP0pl6JEjyzo-4VCHhqkA6rGqcOWia-jJY5uTVgE-IQSQ

A Comic Novel Asks Who Gets to Write the History of the Colonial Philippines
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/books/review/gina-apostol-insurrecto.html?fbclid=IwAR0uLa-UMLfOhU_FzhZsW0TOsBSlipBg_MhJLCALxP9uZVIS9fat1fZJnbU

In Albay, protecting the sea leads to bountiful tanigue
https://www.rappler.com/nation/219014-albay-fishermen-catch-tanigue?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3dtA-7Ap2btYMUFGaTi2IljkrWZe-_lbGttmBmgE1Drd2jOV3Bba9nju8#Echobox=1544962090

H.E.R. Has Been Writing Grammy Acceptance Speech Since She Was A Kid
https://start.att.net/news/read/category/news/article/rolling_stone-her_has_been_writing_grammy_acceptance_speech_sinc-rpenskemc?fbclid=IwAR132z4f1d_feBEO-GUCVhCxk29kWfxCe96KC_mZbNzzSlnOUbQ3RpUv9xs

This Netflix Anime Series could be a Game Changer for Philippine Mythology
https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/xwj987/netflix-trese-anime-series-philippines-comics?utm_source=viceasiafb&fbclid=IwAR27AxlkfuQ2LLCCaaDk5lgxZnd4PEEIeCCKVPcxtEygnCnmUWFFsrXeEng

For video of the week, Food Insider features Manam, a new restaurant in Manila which presents a new twist on Pancit Palabok and other Filipino favorites.