Cheers at A Rare Gathering

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Last Saturday, August 31, at the San Francisco Public Library, Positively Filipino hosted an event to honor 12 community heroes -- our manongs and manangs -- whose life stories and achievements serve as lighted paths for succeeding generations of FilAms. [https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/they-blazed-a-path-for-us]

It was a rare gathering of pioneers and "bridge generation" (children of the first wave of Filipino immigrants, who were born before 1945) offspring. Most were in their 80s or 90s (except for two) and have lived through economic hardships, discrimination and miscegenation. All have overcome social and professional barriers to excel in their respective fields.

An audience of about 200 cheered the seven honorees who were able to make it to the event. The rest who couldn't, just sent video messages. 

Some of the post-event reactions: 

"We thoroughly enjoyed your tribute to our incredibly gifted Manongs and Manangs at yesterday’s event. I learned so much. 

Their stories are priceless contributions to our identity as beneficiaries of the Filipino immigration to America, “the land of opportunity.” Each individual’s story was unique and compelling!" - Eva Monroe

"We had a great time celebrating our Filipino American leaders and heroes.  May we all learn from their sacrifices and contributions to the community, the USA, and the Filipino people." - Mario Santos

"It is humbling and gratifying to hear from the awardees their inspiring life journeys.  And it is appropo that we come together and celebrate them while they are still vibrant and living." - Ben Olivas

"What a heart warming ancestral honoring event. I was so moved and proud. Thank you for including us!" - France Viana 

"So effective in bringing community together. Wonderful. An honor to be a part of it. Grateful to be with awardees and participants—all pioneers forging the future for the next generations of Filipino-American compassionate changemakers and joyful determined leaders!!" - Alisa Mallari Tu 

"I left inspired and proud and even choked up a few times during the program." - Kathleen Gutierrez

NOTE: We will be posting the full coverage of the event soon in Positively Filipino. Watch out for it. 

[Video of the Week] One-Armed Mamba

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Alameda Co. fire chief condemns firefighter seen in viral video making racial slurs
https://abc7news.com/post/alameda-county-fire-chief-speaks-after-firefighter-shown-video-making-racial-slurs/15232286/

All charges dismissed against suspect in Oakland officer’s shooting death
https://asamnews.com/2024/09/02/officer-tuan-le-killing-marquise-cooper-murder-charge-dropped/

Report and Recommendations of the New York State Bar Association Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Asian Hate
https://nysba.org/app/uploads/2022/03/EC-AND-HOD-AMENDED-Task-Force-on-Antisemitism-and-Anti-Asian-Hate-FINAL-1.22.24.pdf

Man punched in suspected anti-Asian attack in Brooklyn: NYPD
https://pix11.com/news/local-news/brooklyn/man-punched-in-suspected-anti-asian-attack-in-brooklyn-nypd/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

October Rhymes With Remember

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This month marks the 31st year our FilAm community is celebrating Filipino American History Month (FAHM). October was the month chosen in 1992 by the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), as initiated by the Seattle-based historians Fred and Dorothy Cordova [read about her in our In The Know links below].

Why October? The first recorded landing of Filipinos (then called "Luzones Indios") happened on October 18, 1587 in or around Morro Bay, California via the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza. For more information about this, read again Abraham Ignacio Jr.'s story. https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/where-exactly-did-filipinos-first-land-in-california

Since 1992, FANHS chapters and FilAm community organizations in various cities and states in the US have commemorated the month with events and activities to mark the presence of Filipinos in the US. And what a presence we have! Already, the Philippine national language is the dominant household language in 15 US cities, and the third most spoken (next to English and Spanish) in the state of Nevada [See "Tagalog Spoken Here"].

Finally in 2009, the US Congress made it official: October is FAHM, a designation that is recognized in all 50 states. In 2015, the Obama administration celebrated the first FAHM in the White House.

How to celebrate FAHM this year? Check out your local libraries and community centers; many of them have cultural presentations, film showings and exhibits on FilAms. [See our Community News section for information.] If you're in Northern California, visit Stockton, where the FANHS Museum is located. Gather friends and family for a Filipino meal or two in restaurants serving Filipino food. Watch films and read books that tell our people's stories. The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. is about to come out with "The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects" [Read Titchie Carandang's "Historical Memories Are Made of These"]

Positively Filipino has, through the years, compiled real stories -- good and bad-- about our FilAm communities, including those that pay tribute to those who came before us and on whose shoulders we stand on as we navigate our way through this idea called America. [Read Again "We Stand On Their Shoulders, Part 1 and 2].

It's not always pretty, our stories in this land. The past three years have been particularly fraught with the increasing incidents of hate directed against Asians. Veteran journalist Cristina Pastor visits Noel Quintana, our kababayan in New York City whose face was slashed when he was in the subway on his way to work one morning in 2021. Despite his trauma, he soldiers on, speaking out against racism wherever and whenever he can. Determination and resilience, that's what he's demonstrating.

And that, in essence, is what our community is celebrating this eventful month of October 2023. 

Our Stories This Week

Historical Memories Are Made Of These by Titchie Carandang

Tagalog Spoken Here by Taylor Tomita

[Act Against Hate] His Slashed Face Is A Vivid Indictment Of Racist Hate by Cristina DC Pastor

Remembering Joyce Juan-Manalo by Allan S. Manalo

Catch A Rising Star: Amaya Braganza by Anthony Maddela

Read Agains:

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

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

[Video of the Week] Profits Enslave The World: A Song Across Generations

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Staff

A Ship for a Hero

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What does it take for a US Navy ship to be named after a Filipino American naval hero? Positively Filipino's forthcoming webinar next Wednesday October 27 zeroes in on this important and intriguing topic. I hope you can join us. Get the details below and please help us spread the word.

We're now on part 3 of "We Stand On Their Shoulders," our tribute to deceased Fil-Am historical figures, as compiled by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco. This week's list covers community leaders, and notable achievers in the fields of medicine and the academe.

Retired Sony Pictures executive Fritz Friedman has left the private sector and is now a commissioner of the Arts and Culture Commission of the city of San Diego, California. San Diego mayor and fellow Fil-Am Todd Gloria tapped Friedman, who now heads his own production and marketing consulting firm in addition to his non-profit activities.

To mark the 77th founding anniversary of the United Nations, retired Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. shares with us significant historical events that occurred during his time as Third Secretary of the Philippine Mission to the UN. It was a time of great upheaval in our homeland and Reyes, on his first diplomatic assignment, was there to witness the rumblings and ripples of history.

 For our young adult readers, get a heads up on Brown Boy Nowhere, a newly released novel by Fil-Am Sheeryl Lim, as reviewed by Audrey Bell, a freshly minted Fil-Am college student. 

PF Correspondent and resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares a recipe for another perfect cold-weather treat, Lomi Noodle Soup with Pork, Shrimps and Vegetables.

For Video of the Week, Seattle’s KING-5 News features Dorothy Cordova of the Filipino American National Historical Society.

In The Know (Philippine Election Edition)

As the Philippine election season heats up in preparation for the actual voting in 2022, Positively Filipino will be posting links to stories from other publications that we hope will educate, inform and clarify issues, and, more importantly, prod overseas Filipinos to vote.

Facebook Data shows Leni Leading
https://wilson-chua.medium.com/adds-report-shows-leni-leading-1669032eab95

Vulnerabilities of the automated elections
https://opinion.inquirer.net/145234/vulnerabilities-of-the-automated-elections?fbclid=IwAR3-3lEWPx4GrfMjDYgcRjMe5qkrJirl3Vkvdwl7bOitfQUXO2EpgIU9RXs

Sui Generis: Rule of law matters 
http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward/show?u=81b6ec9d9be6b6261a822deb0&id=cb4c02ee33

In The Know (Standard Edition)

My Family Moved To The US For A Better Life. But What Does That Really Mean?
https://news.yahoo.com/family-wanted-white-americans-cousin-173834292.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Shades of L.A.: The Filipino American Experience
https://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/filipino-american-history-month?ct=YTo1OntzOjY6InNvdXJjZSI7YToyOntpOjA7czo1OiJlbWFpbCI7aToxO2k6MTI2O31zOjU6ImVtYWlsIjtpOjEyNjtzOjQ6InN0YXQiO3M6MjI6IjYxNjkyYThiNGMxYWQ5NTYyNjYwOTkiO3M6NDoibGVhZCI7czo2OiIxNzYxMzQiO3M6NzoiY2hhbm5lbCI7YToxOntzOjU6ImVtYWlsIjtpOjEyNjt9fQ%3D%3D

The Government Is Never Incompetent: Power In The Pandemic Under Duterte
https://itsgoingdown.org/the-government-is-never-incompetent-power-in-the-pandemic-under-duterte/?fbclid=IwAR2jxy4IknfYdbBe9cgqr8MFWcI15WvcmmiurM88jAYFkjxEQxBarFNQdX8

‘We just need food’: Manila’s newly homeless tell stories of survival in lockdown – photo essay
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/08/we-just-need-food-manilas-newly-homeless-tell-stories-of-survival-in-lockdown-photo-essay?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR10t4Bb8zducxk_q9a853F76ryEH4NcRpQ4QA3bWRDpahauIscLI4nWypI

4 Oldest Chinatowns in the World
https://www.traveltrivia.com/4-oldest-chinatowns-in-the-world/XqgZkXU1XQAGkiMB 

The Filipino actor from ‘Squid Game’ shares his struggles before his big break 
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/series/meet-christian-lagahit-filipino-actor-squid-game?fbclid=IwAR0021ovkDd1IyP7ubwaEaHfESeu7dromm2_JJjLZHp90TfNQ34ZvfO45II

Anatomy of a Monique Lhullier Gown
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/style/monique-lhuillier-bridal-fashion.html?fbclid=IwAR0dWUay913cStNkQsuuJteZmsOpRoeDVY00R7Z_Doi3RppqB2BZoh93ujQ

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino