This Month, We Remember

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When the First Quarter Storm erupted in the Philippines in January 1970, everyone who was living there knew that it would be an extraordinary, historic decade -- both in the good and bad sense. Unrest was widespread as manifested by increasingly large and frequent demonstrations against the government. Students, workers and peasants worked together to demand social justice and structural reforms. Many joined the revolutionary underground, providing a life force to the New People's Army. 

The buzzwords were plenty: Maoism, imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, fascism, "Makibaka Huwag Matakot," "Marcos Papet Diktador Tuta" were the more popular ones. There were attempts at arms smuggling and bombings which culminated in history-changing events: the Plaza Miranda bombing of the Liberal Party miting de avance in 1971, the subsequent suspension of the writ of habeas corpus (a new term and concept we had to learn), and the declaration of martial law the year after.

Fifty years later, which is this month, martial law continues to inflame emotions and incite debates. Each Filipino remembers it in one's own way, each memory valid if recalled honestly. For the privileged who benefited from it, those were good times; for the victims of its atrocities, their stories must be retold as history lessons. For most of the population, it was a slow burn towards anger; after all, despite the dictatorial decrees and military heavy-handedness, it was still possible to live a simple, under-the-radar existence. Until it wasn't.

It took 14 years before "tama na, sobra na" was on most people's lips, but that's another story.

This month we remember. And do our part in making sure that no one will forget. 

Aside from our collection of stories, Positively Filipino is also sponsoring the two-week FREE showing of the acclaimed movie by Ramona Diaz, "Imelda." Watch it here: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/ramona-diazs-imelda-2003

We also invite San Francisco Bay Area folks to watch a new and important documentary film, "11,103" on Saturday, September 17. See details below.

FREE! To RSVP please visit: https://bit.ly/11103BayAreaPremiere

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Staff

The Story of a Life

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Fifty years ago this month, thousands of Filipino youth gathered in various places in Metro Manila at various times to protest a variety of issues such as the emerging Marcos dictatorship and American imperialism. That period in our homeland's history has been immortalized as the First Quarter Storm, an apt description of the political upheavals yet to come.

One of the prominent leaders of that era was Edgar Jopson, the chair of the moderate student group, the National Union of Students. As authoritarian rule became inevitable, EdJop was quickly radicalized and he became a leading figure in the leftist National Democratic Front until his death by military bullets. His awe-inspiring life story has also been immortalized in veteran journalist Benjamin Pimentel's book U.G. An Underground Tale: The Life and Struggle of Edgar Jopson. Author/journalist Criselda Yabes reviews this third iteration of Pimentel's bio of EdJop in "The Story of a Life."

Filipinx poet Eileen Tabios shares with us her memories in poetic prose of growing up in Baguio City in "My City of Baguio, A Meditation." 

From PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino comes a review of the new cookbook of Missouri-based chef Malou Perez-Nievera ("Connecting the Pots, Food from the Philippines to America"). And for those eager to know more about the First Quarter Storm of 1970, Read Again an excerpt from poet/journalist Jose "Pete" Lacaba's immortal Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage:  

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-1

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-2

For our recipe of the week, we feature Perez-Nievera’s Lomo Lomo A La Papa Diddi (pork loin in anchovy and ginger reduction).

Here are our In The Know links this week:

‘Like a Scene From a Movie.’ What I Saw Photographing the Taal Volcano Eruption in the Philippines https://time.com/longform/taal-volcano-philippines-eruption/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm_content=20200116&fbclid=IwAR0j29elLA8tKDluJlxnC7pOjVjtL_9sjC1HZRrrlxJZYiglKMG0D7wQoi4

What Cardinal Tagle's Appointment as "The Red Pope" Means For Him and the Catholic Church
https://esquiremag.ph/long-reads/cardinal-tagle-red-pope-a00293-20191212-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR3UwOfVVm-ljhafTINycelYx0vE2QAJel5L-ifWo_B10X9Oh70XQhQ6I9w

This Scenic Spot in Rizal Sits Above a Sea of Clouds
https://www.spot.ph/things-to-do/the-latest-things-to-do/80443/treasure-mountain-tanay-sa1177-20200104-src-sp?utm_source=Facebook-Spot&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20200104-fbnp-things-to-do-treasure-mountain-tanay-sa1177-20200104-src-sp-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR34yrWCvohkH4IS8vclbRZiQiquheBGT94H7tnK1q405oP8DwSnNxFlMMM

The Story of the Exhibit: Manila Shawl
https://www.fashionmuseumriga.lv/eng/kaleidoscope/manila/?fbclid=IwAR1MJJaFt21mX1sFULVRINhEBO83ON0TWN_BE7N3JozZzODYDozovi6JpBk

Dr. Joven Cuanang: Forever young at 80 (or how art made him a better doctor)
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/354858/dr-joven-cuanang-forever-young-at-80-or-how-art-made-him-a-better-doctor/?fbclid=IwAR3ojC3vBnR6WVkvAkbXy5jskRqnDX7VorXwqtl94TpQRvVr5g3Kn7mXu4k

For Video of the Week, Youtube’s The Endless Adventure features this year’s Sinulog Festival.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Mothers All

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How would you feel if your mother is labeled a "mail order bride? First-time contributor Carolyn Prasad explores the issue as she pays tribute to the grit and courage of her mother in "The Making of a Matriarch."

Poet/author Marra PL. Lanot waxes poetic as she remembers her dynamic mother, a classical pianist and an activist who was also a fantastic cook. "My Mother, Myself" is both a tribute and an aspiration for the writer.

Another first-time contributor Amy Schlanger writes about the parallels of her approach to motherhood with her friend, Min Bernardo, who nurtured and supported the career of her daughter, Kathryn, now one of the Philippines' top movie stars. 

Aside from celebrating mothers and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, May is also Military Appreciation Month. Here are some historical stories you may want to Read Again:

The Boogie Woogie Boys written by ex-Marine, Alex S. Fabros, Jr.

The General At Ease, my exclusive interview with Major General Antonio M. Taguba, one of the highest ranking Filipino American in the US military. 

In case you missed them, our links to important stories from other publications:

Duterte’s Unrelenting Attacks on Philippine Media 
https://philippines.fnst.org/content/dutertes-unrelenting-attacks-philippine-media?fbclid=IwAR0oXGem9nACvaKBueOpqGeW0nK5Bn9LCKmtzWu85Vk0Z8c3eWlsOMkiVFs

What My Father Edjop Taught Me About Heroism 
https://thelittleagegrouper.blogspot.com/2019/05/what-my-father-edjop-taught-me-about.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR0m4Tfd0LrtgqoYm2_FEXLMWilVm605dyyXP3m95tNGrE7jzojTDL1xF3c

The most expensive resort in the world costs $100,000 a night — here's what you get
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/most-expensive-resort-world-costs-181128004.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=fb&fbclid=IwAR1JiChPiiY6m9wAV16SqaT7kh_0ieXYaJPPwBsxZUTL_aheYf6oT-jJd6E

Cafe in the Philippines Now Uses Straws Made Out of Coconut Leaves to Cut Plastic Waste
https://nextshark.com/philippines-biodegradable-straws/?fbclid=IwAR2QPTqOtaG8v9waJdkWeEY2cl1au-Sbk9Ul5NC70H2UfUT_fB04RTgotp8

For the Happy Home Cook, another recipe contribution from SF-based foodie, Voltaire Gungab: Risotto with Shiitake, Chinese Sausage and Chicken Livers.

And for Video of the Week, we feature another Andre De La Varre Screen Traveler. This travelogue film shows Cebu in the 1930s.