Passion and Romance

Passion -- or the ability and persistence to pursue what your heart wants, no matter the odds -- separates genius from ordinary mortals. His passion for music made Ryan Cayabyab break his promise to his late mother, an opera singer, on her deathbed; it was also what drove him to drop out of business school and lie about his age in order to pursue his music. Of course, there's also talent -- and no doubt Ryan, now acknowledged as The Maestro -- has an inordinate share of that. But how did his music career begin? PF contributor and Ryan's sister-in-law Bella Bonner dug up family stories and shares them with us in "Music Man Ryan Cayabyab Came Up the Hard Way." Read it and be inspired.

Passion of the romantic variety enabled our Toronto-based contributor Corito Fiel to embrace all the good things and bad in a love affair with someone who made the earth move for her. In "Love and Magic in Baguio," she shares the story of her One Great Love, with whom she spent only two years before he passed on. 

And from our Seattle-based contributor Gia R. Mendoza, her curiosity and delight on her "First Glimpse of Cuba."

Let's not let up on romance this month, with our worthy Read Agains:

Manuel L. Quezon and his American fiancee: http://www. positivelyfilipino.com/ magazine/the-untold-story-of- nina-thomas?rq=Nina%20Thomas

Hilda Koronel and Becca Godinez and their new, happier lives: http://www. positivelyfilipino.com/ magazine/second-springs?rq= Hilda%20Koronel

Here are the links to the In The Know lineup this week:

In the Philippines, political trolling is an industry – this is how it works
https://www.opendemocracy.net/digitaliberties/jonathan-corpus-ong-jason-cabanes/in-philippines-political-trolling-is-industry-this

In an Anchorage professor’s letters to his family, the reality of racism is revealed
https://www.adn.com/arts/books/2018/02/17/in-an-anchorage-professors-letters-to-his-family-the-reality-of-racism-is-revealed/

Where heroes and kin used to tread
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/969562/where-heroes-and-kin-used-to-tread

Figure skating: Filipino skater got call to Olympics less than a month ago
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-figs-m-phl-martinez/figure-skating-filipino-skater-got-call-to-olympics-less-than-a-month-ago-idUSKCN1G00AQ

If you feasted on Valentine's Day, here's a recipe to bring you back to a sensible diet: Richgail Enriquez's Vegan Arroz ala Cubana.

For Video of Week, upcoming comedian Jeppy Paraiso recently posted his latest for Valentine's. Paraiso broke out last Thanksgiving with his Filipino Tita videos on social media.

When It's December in Our Soul

For Filipinos outside the Philippines, the onset of December triggers a focus on the homeland. By this time, balikbayan boxes for Christmas should have been packed and shipped, Christmas cards mailed to international addresses, and tickets for the annual visit to the Philippines in January or February booked. If you're one of those, like me, who have dilly-dallied on these things, we have to get our act together quite soon because 2016 is galloping by fast. And not a moment too soon, I'd say. 

For those intending to visit Cebu or Bohol, read this week's story by occasional contributor Gia R. Mendoza, "Two Side Trips and a Wedding." You might want to get in touch with the guides she hired and the sites she saw to make your visit hassle-free and productive.

And from the Diocese of Legazpi, Albay, Bishop Joel Z. Baylon issues a stirring call for prayer for enlightened leadership, through an open letter to President Rodrigo Duterte. Every night at 9, the church bells of Legazpi will be ringing to call the people to pray. This will go on "for as long as it takes," the Bishop writes.

A cautionary tale from literary stalwart Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard on her near-fatal encounter with the pneumococcal vaccine, "The Pneumonia Shot That Sent Me to Urgent Care," underscores the need for each one of us to be an active participant in our health care.

As Cuba hits the headlines worldwide with the death of its leader, Fidel Castro, Read Again "Eternamente Cuba," Chibu Lagman's travel piece on the island nation that shares so many similarities and history with the Philippines.

A major part of that history is Andres Bonifacio, whose 144th birthday falls on November 30. As the Philippines grapples intensely today with the definition of a real hero, let's pause to remember what Bonifacio did for the country. Read Again Penelope V. Flores' article, "Andres Bonifacio, the Other National Hero."

For Pinoyspotting, Joe and Lynn Santos cruised the Mediterranean and met some kababayans.

Our Happy Home Cook feature this week: the comforting Ginataan from Chicago's beloved Uncle Mike's Place.

For our Video of the Week, TV host Lourd De Veyra and a panel of experts look into the myths of Martial Law.

Beauty of Spring, Kindness of Neighbors

As the ugliness of terrorism, political rhetoric and bigotry tries to kill our spirits, let's not lose sight of the more important constants in our lives: the beauty of spring; the spiritual renewal of Easter; the kindness of people.

Springtime in Washington, DC is magical, with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Read Again Titchie Carandang-Tiongson's fascinating account of how Mrs. Helen Taft (wife of US President William Howard Taft) brought her fond memories of their stint in Manila by having the West Potomac Park designed as a grandiose Luneta. At its 1909 inauguration, the Philippine Constabulary Band was transported to the US capital to participate in the pageantry. "A D.C. Springtime Concert Born in Manila" affirms the contribution of Filipinos to the history of the US.

In the remote rural town of Jagna, Bohol, the kindness of a church community abounds as townsfolk work together to build homes for their less fortunate neighbors. Contributor Menchu Sarmiento in "Balay sa Kabos -- A House for My Neighbor" describes the heartwarming bayanihan efforts of the Balay sa Kabos Foundation led by parish priest Fr. Abet Uy.

Back to North America, as Cuba hits the headlines, Read Again contributor Chibu Lagman's travel story, "Eternamente Cuba," before you buy your tickets to the mysterious island nation.

While Lent means sacrifice and fasting in the Christian world, Easter Sunday is always a celebration, and what better way than to cook a sumptuous dish fit for hungry souls. Positively Filipino Contributing Writer Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares her version of the recipe for Paella de Adobo by Senor Anastacio de Alba, our Happy Home Cook feature this week.

Meanwhile, another Positively Filipino Contributing Writer Anthony Maddela gives us a sneak peak of "They're Watching," a streamed-on-demand movie produced by the Filipino American team of Mark Lagrimas and Rico Jeffrey Garcia of Best Served Cold Productions. Watch it on March 25 after reading "'They're Watching' Could Get Hollywood Watching Too."

My blog this week is on negotiating through Pinoy macho-land.

For our Video of the Week, let's enjoy the simple pleasure of the hit song, "Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko" lovingly sang by an American and a Russian.