October 16, 2024

Domestic Violence Isn't Always Physical

October 16, 2024/ Staff

October is not only Fil-Am History Month, it's also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic violence or abuse is a crime so common, so egalitarian (it can happen to anyone) and often so insidious that it may not always be obvious to people other than the abuser and abused. It need not involve physical violence but always involves control and manipulation. Take this heart-rending personal story by Giovannie Espiritu of the abuse she had to escape from. Be warned that it isn't an easy read.

The artist and cultural activist France Viana has taken on a new cause that is in tune with the current movement towards gender-neutral pronouns. She's starting a campaign to have the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) add the Filipino pronoun "siya" to its already existing list of Filipino words. In recent years, the OED officially added "bongga", "halo-halo", "kilig", "bagoong" and "sorbetes" to its lexicon.

A bright star that emerged from the grimness of the Covid pandemic in the Philippines was the community pantries, an open food exchange where people gave and took what they needed, for free. The unique humanitarian project started by a young woman named Ana Patricia "Patreng" Non tapped into Filipinos' innate bayanihan spirit and spread like wildfire to other places in the country. Tokyo-based PF contributor Ian Layugan writes about Patreng.

Hurricane Helene is long gone but its devastation in North Carolina continues. Here's a story about a Filipino food truck in Asheville. They would appreciate a donation (click on link to its GoFundMe page).

Help rebuild a Filipino food truck

The owners of the Master BBQ truck, a Filipino food truck in Ashville, North Carolina, are raising money to help rebuild their truck as well as support their workers.

“Cooking has always been my passion. For more than 20 years, both in the Philippines and here in the US, I have poured my heart into it,” Paul Pike, co-owner of the Master BBQ truck, wrote on the GoFundMe page. “I started Master BBQ with my wife, Julia, and together we turned our dream into reality through pop-ups at different breweries in Asheville. The support we received from these breweries, along with the incredible community, made this journey possible.”

“Our team, who depends on the truck for their livelihood, is now left without income, and our truck requires significant repairs. After only being in business for 7 months, this setback feels indescribable,” he added.

So, far the page has raised $10,000 of its $50,000 goal. You can donate here.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebuild-master-bbq-after-hurricane-helene

Read Agains

We Stand On Their Shoulders, Part 1 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

We Stand On Their Shoulders, Part 2 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

We Stand On Their Shoulders, Part 3 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

[Video of the Week] The Legacy of Larry Itliong

In The Know

Pampanga's Angeles City named Asia's Best Emerging Culinary City Destination
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/food/922753/pampanga-angeles-city-asia-s-best-emerging-culinary-city-destination/story

A Reading List for Filipino American History Month 2024
https://www.clmp.org/news/a-reading-list-for-filipino-american-history-month-2024/

Artist works to restore vintage signs at San Francisco bars and restaurants
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/video/artist-works-to-restore-vintage-signs-at-san-francisco-bars-and-restaurants/

LIST: 6 Philippine hotels make it in the Michelin Guide
https://philstarlife.com/living/691506-list-6-philippine-hotels-make-michelin-guide?page=4

Mattel releases Barbie during Filipino American History Month
https://asamnews.com/2024/10/12/mattel-releases-barbie-during-filipino-american-history-month/

Jo Koy, on edge, reveals a family issue during S.F. tour stop
https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/jo-koy-san-francisco-comedy

May 12, 2021

Famous Moms and the Bayanihan Spirit

May 12, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

That was an enlightening and heartwarming session with "Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Mothers" yesterday, Positively Filipino's Mother's Day webinar. The four articulate panelists paid tribute to their mothers while revealing some pretty interesting insights and anecdotes about the persons behind the celebrity. If you missed the event or want to view it again, here's the link: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/webinar-video-loving-kids-talk-about-their-famous-mothers

Community pantries continue to sprout in the Philippines as the Filipino bayanihan spirit flourishes during the pandemic. In Baesa, Quezon City, the Sombillo family pooled their resources and generously shares with the less fortunate in the area. Toronto-based contributor Patria Cabatuando-Rivera shines the spotlight on them in "Bayanihan to the Rescue."

Veteran scriptwriter Marina Feleo-Gonzalez gets a comprehensive tribute from regular PF writer (and her former student) Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. in "Songs Her Father Taught Her."

And from a cooking event in the Bay Area, Miguel Carrion writes about Chef Rocky, the personal chef of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and her luscious french toast that she serves through her company, BriqueLA. Crave the treat in "Chef Rocky Rocks French Toast for The Rock."

The continuing violence against Asian Americans begs the question, if you see it happening, what can you do? Here's a must-watch video on the "5Ds of Bystander Intervention." I hope you take it to heart.

Stories of the Week

[Webinar Video] Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Mothers

Bayanihan To The Rescue By Patria Cabatuando-Rivera

Songs Her Father Taught Her By Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

Chef Rocky Rocks French Toast For The Rock By Miguel Carrion

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Arroz A La Cubana By Elizabeth Ann Quirino

[Video of the Week] 5Ds of Bystander Intervention

In The Know

H.E.R, Olivia Rodrigo, Saweetie, Patrick Starrr Among Fil-Ams On Gold House’s Annual A100 List Of Impactful APIs
https://www.asianjournal.com/life-style/arts-culture/h-e-r-olivia-rodrigo-saweetie-patrick-starrr-among-fil-ams-on-gold-houses-annual-a100-list-of-impactful-apis/

Pandemic Pantries in the Streets? You Communist!
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/opinion/philippines-covid-pantries.html?campaign_id=39&emc=edit_ty_20210507&instance_id=30378&nl=opinion-today&regi_id=47563992&segment_id=57460&te=1&user_id=a6813a01d20d50942afadad6c6f1e549

WATCH: The Story Behind Spain's Infamous Zoo That Featured Philippine Animals... And Then Filipinos
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/filipino-human-zoo-madrid-spain-crystal-palace-a00293-20201006-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR1iVyeWIwEpuNQkw4ALD5nRppE_nXwcVJLhB0pI6XmNkIyA0BpsHrAafhA

How and why Johnny became Johnny Air Cargo
https://www.thediarist.ph/how-and-why-johnny-became-johnny-air-cargo/

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Quezon City Is a Stunning Example of the Importance of Restoration
https://www.spot.ph/things-to-do/the-latest-things-to-do/73673/las-casas-filipinas-de-acuzar-in-quezon-city-is-a-stunning-example-of-the-importance-of-restoration-a1125-20180508-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR0Mj_gg4hhUYGaldbo4276UEnjlXE8NvUtX-Z2K_083dk8hvayz53uAbJ0

April 28, 2021

A Silent Revolution

April 28, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

Our webinar last week, "Our Climate, Ourselves," was both an enlightening expose on the nitty-gritty of plastics and toxic pollution of the earth's marine life and environment, and an inspiring call to action to fulfill our shared responsibility to take care of the planet and of each other. If you missed it or you want to see it again, you can watch it here.

Shared responsibility is also the motivation behind the sprouting of community pantries all over the Philippines, a phenomenon that was started by a young woman, Ana Patricia Non, who felt compelled to do something to help those struggling to survive the covid pandemic. "Give what you can, take what you need" should be a simple and basic human instinct but, in a divided society with trigger-happy (both verbal and physically violent) elements, the missive has been politicized and stigmatized. PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes brings us up-to-date in "Community Pantries -- A Silent Revolution?"

We have an array of fascinating stories this week: the evolution of the yo-yo (not invented by a Filipino, as commonly believed), the Filipino art of naming food, a review of the delightful book by a Fil-Am named Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and, to commemorate the 17th death anniversary of arguably the greatest Filipino writer Nick Joaquin, a repost of the memories of someone who knew him well, the poet/writer Marra PL. Lanot.