Things Are Fragile. Everyone's Looking for Answers.

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"Like millions of other undocumented Americans, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to survive the next four years. Things are fragile. Everyone is looking for answers." 

Thus begins Jose Antonio Vargas, the Filipino American journalist (and Pulitzer Prize winner who must be the most famous undocumented of all) in his intro to his new YouTube show (youtube.com/DefineAmerican). We are running the first episode of this all-important conversation entitled "How to Survive the Next Four Years as an Undocumented American" as our Video of the Week. 

"The show will tell the truth about the immigrant experience in this country -- the full immigrant experience -- in a country where lies, misinformation and disinformation about 'illegal aliens' played a central role in bringing Donald Trump back to the White House," Vargas promises. It would be good to listen.

While most of us have our solid citizenship credentials, we are not exempt from the forthcoming firestorm. We are after all people of color with "strange" names and "strange" accents. Those who buy into the demonization of immigrants as "illegal aliens" will not ask for proof of legal residency or US citizenship before assaulting or insulting.

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It's December and Christmas and to Filipinos in San Francisco, that means the annual Parol Lantern Festival. MC Canlas who was responsible for introducing this beloved event in the area, shares some fun facts about how a Filipino tradition became a Fil-Am tradition. 

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And if you're looking for unique gifts for loved ones, PF regular contributor Claire Mercado- Osias lists some titles by authors of Filipino heritage that will surely titillate. 

For those eager to give a gift of cultural history, here's "Salumpuwit: Chairs in Filipino Life," an award-winning small book that focuses on butt-catchers.

More in Positively Filipino

Read Agains

The Happy Home Cook: Christmas Recipes
Elizabeth Ann Quirino 

Light of the Ancients
Myles A. Garcia

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Staff

Meet the Alaskeros

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They call themselves Alaskeros, Filipinos who are seasonal workers in the fish canneries of Alaska. In his youth, author/poet/beloved teacher Oscar Peñaranda was one of them, but he did something more than scaling and slicing salmon. He chronicled in vivid detail the grit, the color, the toughness and of course the joy of being an Alaskero, a job or a circumstance that lends itself to a lot of riveting stories. Here, in "Pieces of the (Midnight) Sun: Sketches of An Alaskero" are those stories, with some name changes for privacy. 

What is a Poet Laureate and what does she have to do? Apparently plenty, as Filipino American poet Aileen Cassinetto describes her day. She was chosen by the San Mateo County (California) Board of Supervisors as its third Poet Laureate, the first Asian American to be thus honored. In addition to telling us what her mandate is, Aileen shares the poem she wrote and read before the county board's first meeting this year. 

This week, we join our homeland in mourning the passing and celebrating the life of Armida Siguion-Reyna, TV personality and cultural activist, who long-lasting TV show, "Aawitan Kita," preserved the legacy of Filipino music, particularly the kundiman. Read Again the profile written by her granddaughter, Sara Siguion-Reyna, "We Call Her Mahal."  

To add flavor to your Valentine's Day, how's about baking some Meringue Cookies with Toffee, a recipe from PF Correspondent and cookbook author Elizabeth Ann Quirino for the Happy Home Cook. 

And here's a Read Again that should make you appreciate better your unencumbered Valentine's Day: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/when-hilario-met-sally-the-fight-against-anti-miscegenation-laws 

Here are our In The Know links for your reading pleasure:

Journalists, institutions decry 'absurd legal attack' against Rappler
https://www.rappler.com/nation/222921-journalists-institutions-decry-absurd-legal-attack-against-rappler?fbclid=IwAR10bwPmbR03zPzJFTXBM4AkKlke0sxwSOKlrq3TJoVs-BRXx_E0rll7f4Y

History of New Manila & Doña Magdalena Hemady
https://lakansining.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/quezon-city-the-history-of-new-manila-dona-magdalena-hemady/?fbclid=IwAR2xfo8QBIsxQJ2KRBP0oOorhqOLix9fWXSPY9b99JHL50PPlSInGFO8QJA

This place in Metro Manila takes you on a gripping Martial Law tour
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/ph-travel/146918-martial-law-tour-bantayog-ng-mga-bayani?fbclid=IwAR0iZ9vTP-Ms_cKMJynrFQIZZpOJDSSX6MW72WzYAph7VLxbistXjuq_LNQ

'Comfort women' activist, dead at 92, fought for reparations 'until the end'
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/comfort-women-activist-dead-92-fought-reparations-until-end-n964936?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_aa&fbclid=IwAR10bwPmbR03zPzJFTXBM4AkKlke0sxwSOKlrq3TJoVs-BRXx_E0rll7f4Y

For Video of the Week, educator Dr. Carl E. Balita posted an informational video on facebook on the importance of the Philippines to the world.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino