We are posting this week the key findings of the Pew Research Center's comprehensive study of Asian American experiences and attitudes, gathered from its national and multilingual survey done in 2022-2023 and its 66 focus groups in 2021. Though there are not many surprises, it's interesting to note some generational differences as well as attitudinal perceptions between first-generation immigrants and their children/grandchildren.

We're also running the four winning essays of the 2022 Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (DGF) Food Writing Award this month, starting with the first prize winner, "Reclaiming Philippine Ube" by Reynadel Cayetano. Did you know that ube is a healthier alternative to other yam varieties because of its higher antioxidant content? And that Bohol is the province best known for ube?

Enjoy too our other stories this week:

A poet's long drive to Albany, Georgia to watch a neighborhood Filipino basketball team play brought him back in touch with his roots, his culture and his palate.

A Fil-Am visual artist pays tribute to her late, unheralded great aunt who played a big role in winning WWII for the US.

More remarkable Fil-Ams whose accomplishments are nothing to scoff at.

As we smell and taste Christmas in the air, here's a reminder of a Filipino Christmas from one of our earliest issues:

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2012/12/12/karoling

And here's what our Filipino tastebuds hanker for every Christmas season:

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/our-christmas-table

[Video of the Week] Maria Ressa Interviews Leila de Lima

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Most Asian Americans say they face discrimination and are often treated as foreigners
https://www.npr.org/2023/11/30/1216121806/anti-asian-american-discrimination-pew-survey

Anti-Asian hate falls, but advocates wary of election-year impact
https://nwasianweekly.com/2023/12/anti-asian-hate-falls-but-advocates-wary-of-election-year-impact/

Anti-Asian is also an institutional, societal problem, new research finds
https://asamnews.com/2023/12/04/anti-asian-is-also-an-institutional-societal-problem-new-research-finds/

Was the Vermont shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent a hate crime? Under state law it might be
https://apnews.com/article/hate-crime-vermont-shooting-palestinian-american-students-03e051f7a7f5634ee220803bdbe4886c?user_email=626b6014b317ac1a97d9ea0359caf85d127d65af63608ac5859509ae17997764&utm_medium=Morning_Wire&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_campaign=MorningWire_Nov_29_2023&utm_term=Morning%20Wire%20Subscribers

Hate crimes are at a 21-year-high in LA County as political divides widen, report says
https://www.dailynews.com/2023/11/29/hate-crimes-are-at-a-21-year-high-in-l-a-county-as-political-divides-widen-report-says/

25 Most Racist Cities in America Ranked By Hate Crimes Per Capita
https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/25-most-racist-cities-in-america-ranked-by-hate-crimes-per-capita-1231397/?singlepage=1

Funding provided by the State of California.

In The Know

AFP chief sees retaliatory attack in Marawi bombing
https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/3/afp-chief-sees-retaliatory-attack-in-marawi-bombing

Will Philippines’ revived peace talks end rebel conflict for good or ‘aid the enemy’?
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3243573/will-philippines-revived-peace-talks-end-rebel-conflict-good-or-aid-enemy

Civilian convoy to South China Sea gets NSC nod
https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/11/28/560257/civilian-convoy-to-south-china-sea-gets-nsc-nod/

Ma’am Jo’s killing was a nightmare. Her dreams for the Teduray tribe are alive.
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/jocelyn-palao-killing-nightmare-dreams-teduray-tribe-alive/

In Hawaii, a humble effort to give anti-Marcos cartoons from the past a second life
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/hawaii-effort-filipino-opposition-preserve-anti-marcos-political-cartoons/

Gov't, communist rebels agree to resume peace talks
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/28/23/govt-ndfp-agree-to-resume-peace-talks

We are updating this newsletter without the article on Emma Rotor.

The author Erwin Tiongson requested that it be removed because Science News is planning to publish it in its printed magazine. Erwin apologizes for the confusion.

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, is the first female chief negotiator in the world to sign a final peace accord with a rebel group. That rebel group was the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), then at war with the Philippine government. In 2014, the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) was signed, ending the 17-year conflict that killed more than 120,000 Filipinos on both sides, and ushered in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Manila-based contributor Manuel Hizon writes "A Stouthearted Peace Builder."

*****

In trying to heal from a deep sadness, FilAm cultural torchbearer Chiara Cox embraced the depth of Filipino culture through music and art. From there, she has organized an impressive array of cultural events to celebrate FilAm History Month in her community in Columbia, South Carolina. Check out the schedule of festivities in "The Calling of My Soul."

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Anti-Asian hate is alive and festering not only in California but in other states as well. Here's a report on recent incidents in Portland, Oregon.

What to do when you or someone you know is a victim of a hate crime in California? These guidelines and resources keep you informed.

Funding provided by the State of California.

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The production team that brought you the acclaimed movie "11,103" has come out with a series of short videos on how the Marcos dictatorship destroyed the sugar industry in Negros. The first of these docus is on The Escalante Massacre, which you can watch here as our Video of the Week.