Death and Life

Death has not been a stranger to anyone this past year and a half. The steady and unrelenting drip drip of news of someone's passing has become a numbing reality. Some weeks are worse than others and the emotional toll can  vary -- a little sadness for those you never got to know personally, a few tears for those you did know but were not that close to. And then there are those that are heavy as a mountain, when the loss leaves one deeply grieving. Such was the impact of the sudden passing of well-known revolutionary activist Sixto Carlos Jr. on my co-editor, Rene Ciria Cruz, whose poignant eulogy to his kasama and kabayan (they both grew up in Pandacan) is a fitting tribute to a man who lived a consequential life. ["My Friend, Sixto Carlos Jr."]

It's never all gloom and doom however. Positively Filipino publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco celebrates the long and eventful life of Delfin Gonzalez, who is now 107 years old and still hale and healthy. This man she calls Tito Delfin was the subject of her first film, "66 Years, 2 Months, 21 days…and Still Counting" made in 2009 when he was just 95. ["The Indefatigable Delfin Gonzalez"]

Contributing writer Leny Mendoza Strobel writes the inspiring story of Justin Jones whose quest to connect to his Filipino roots has given depth and impetus to his civil rights activism. ["Justin Jones – Black, Filipino, Civil Rights Activist"]

And speaking of inspiration, if you're a church goer, chances are you've sang "Time to Change," a popular inspirational song composed by Atek Jacinto, the musical director whose other claim to fame is his being the "creator" of the famous Circus band of the '70s. Many who remember the song say it's an appropriate time to revive it, considering the political situation in the Philippines. ["'Time to Change' -- How It All Began"]

Part 27 of Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous includes artists, community leaders, corporate professionals and the mother of Jo Koy. 

Always delightful, always delicious. That's Sandy Daza's cooking as showcased in the Metro Channel's Casa Daza. For the Happy Home Cooks this week, enjoy Sandy cooking classic favorites: Kare-kare, Bistek Tagalog and Adobo. 

For Video of the Week, we feature the episode of ANC’s “Our Fragile Earth” on Pujada Bay and Sarangani Bay.

[PARTNER] Deadline To Register For Overseas Voting For The 2022 Philippine National Elections

In The Know

How this Filipino accountant escaped Taliban forces in Afghanistan and made it to PH alive
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/08/31/21/how-ofw-escaped-taliban-forces-made-it-to-ph-alive

The death of my daughter Kerima
https://www.thediarist.ph/the-death-of-my-daughter-kerima/

A Local's Guide to the Philippines
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/locals-guide-philippines-050000495.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

IN PHOTOS: The stunning wooden library that earned PH its first award at Venice Biennale
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/09/04/21/this-library-won-ph-its-first-award-at-venice-biennale?fbclid=IwAR18nFG4ybRsQl7IJb8iXc6G3c6avrGQwDgCvj7Gq57vvautqQgZ4wTuoqg

Here's the Real Story of Batibot's Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/batibot-pong-pagong-kiko-matsing-a00289-20200907-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20210901-fbnp-long-reads-batibot-pong-pagong-kiko-matsing-a00289-20200907-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR1c86gRTO4S8JJH-lVaIpq-5PKGN14ytdHpb1d8gggde4vx1ayu6w0ziLY

These memorable commercial jingles you grew up with were composed by Jose Mari Chan
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/09/01/20/these-memorable-commercial-jingles-you-grew-up-with-were-composed-by-jose-mari-chan?fbclid=IwAR1GK7eb1_jsfUvAWZUk2uExA4_ltBw10Fyaq8HqFzbr_pLBBTH63RT3gvk

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Battles Political, Literal, Physical

Like it or not (and many of us don't like it), politics will take center stage this year as both our homeland and the US hold their presidential elections. The upside of these, of course, is the wealth of materials that satirists and comedians will have at their command. Rene Ciria Cruz, our editor who is also the bureau chief of Inquirer.net for North America, fires the initial volley with "Scientists studying ailing PH senator's miraculous recovery." This is satire, dear readers, so no need to get into emotional knots about it.

From the present to the past, contributing writer Larry Ng who writes from Australia, takes us back 75 years during the Battle of Manila that started February 4, 1945. In "Ordeal by Fire," the gruesome realities of war is juxtaposed with the unexpected kindness of fellow victims. Larry's family story is painful but is ultimately inspiring since it restores faith in human nature.

In the San Francisco Bay Area which is currently awash with tourists and festivities for the Super Bowl, the biggest sports event in the US, Dr. Elaine Serina, an expert in bio-mechanics, is on alert. Her firm, Talas Engineering, specializes in scientific analysis of accidents, and the SuperBowl events are ripe for such eventualities. Beyond her professional expertise, Serina is a strong advocate of empowering Filipina women in the field of engineering. Positively Filipino Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino writes about this amazing role model.

And for our very special Super Bowl Video of the Week, veteran broadcast journalist Lloyd LaCuesta, along with videographer Ken Guanga, brings out the Filipino flavor to the festivities with their interview of Jordan Norwood, the Denver Broncos' wide receiver whose Filipino roots run deep. Norwood talks about his pride in his mother's heritage and about his brother, Gabriel, who currently plays for the PBA in Manila. Our video team also had a brief chat with Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach who is covering the Super Bowl for CNN's Inside Edition, and with Stephanie Rivera, the Filipina wife of the Carolina Panthers' head coach Ron Rivera, whose grandfather is Filipino. We hope you enjoy our exclusive Super Bowl video. 

For the hundreds of thousands of balikbayans and other tourists enjoying the Philippines right now, here's a re-post of Manuel Hizon's award-winning article, "11 Great Beaches You Probably Haven't Been To." Often the best vacations are in off-the-beaten-track places. Just saying.

Our Happy Home Cook feature, Scampi and Crab Pasta, an easy-to-make dinner recipe from Bernie Cervantes, a documentary photographer who used to have her own restaurant in UP Diliman.