Anniversary of a Death Foretold

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Today marks the 41st anniversary of the assassination of Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. -- a crime so consequential to Philippine contemporary history that there has not been a dearth of stories recalling, analyzing, commenting on the historical moment and its earthshaking consequences. 

Here's one of them: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/ninoy-aquino-was-not-alone

The main protagonists of this tragedy -- Ninoy and Ferdinand Marcos -- remain subjects of speculation and scrutiny, with Ninoy of course emerging as the tragic hero and Marcos the despicable villain. But as journalists the world over know, every big story has a more interesting backstory, just like this one. Toronto-based Rogie Concepcion, a fraternity brod of both Ninoy and Marcos, writes about his encounters with Ninoy and some of the [many] stories the latter told. 

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In this issue, we are reviving a series we started some years back, Pinoyspotting which highlights random encounters of Filipino travelers with kababayans in various places and situations. Here's a group of them, crew members of Viking's Mani longship which plies the Rhine River in Europe. With almost half a million Filipinos working in the merchant marine industry, it's a given that you'll meet some in any cruise you're taking.

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A young woman who chose to be a farmer, an environmentalist, a non-profit leader and an advocate for staying put in the homeland. Cherrie Atilano, as profiled here by constant PF contributor Ian Layugan, is a worthy role model for Filipino youths who seek a meaningful, sustainable path in the service of Mother Earth. 

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Our Video of the Week again comes from the creators of The Filipino Story, an online series that celebrates being Filipino. Historian Prof. Xiao Chua answers questions from FilAms posted on Instagram. 

In The Know

An Aggressive China Is Pushing the Philippines and Vietnam Closer Than Ever
https://thediplomat.com/2024/08/an-aggressive-china-is-pushing-the-philippines-and-vietnam-closer-than-ever/

Fiesta in America bridges the gap for Filipino Americans in New Jersey
https://asamnews.com/2024/08/16/filipino-cultural-showcase-this-weekend-in-east-rutherford-new-jersey/

In ‘And So It Begins,’ Ramona Diaz asserts moving past nostalgia
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/interview-and-so-it-begins-ramona-diaz-asserts-moving-past-nostalgia/

PH seen struggling with shortage of accountants
https://business.inquirer.net/475199/ph-seen-struggling-with-shortage-of-accountants

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Study highlights challenges in detecting violent speech aimed at Asian communities
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-highlights-violent-speech-aimed-asian.html 

‘Unity is strength:’ Oakland Chinatown elders tackle public safety
https://asamnews.com/2024/08/06/oakland-chinatown-elders-community-safety-asian-black-documentary-violence-theft/

Upstate NY’s Karen community seeks justice after fatal shooting
https://asamnews.com/2024/08/19/karen-refugee-killed-in-us-after-fleeing-military-junta-in-myanmar/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

Best Wishes on Thanksgiving Week

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We know you're in the midst of prepping your holiday meals, so we'll make this short.

When you're taking a breather, we hope that you'll read our stories this week. Shout-out to Filipino Canadians: there are two of yours in this issue.

For Filipino Americans, our wishes for abundant blessings and gratitude this Thanksgiving week.

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

The State of Hate in Los Angeles 2023 Report
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CpW9L7W9uovJDBmGMeaPIf0ze-6lBQaq/view

CA Civil Rights Dept. addresses rising rates of hate at launch
https://asamnews.com/2023/11/14/california-civil-rights-rising-rates-of-hate-hate-crime-berkeley/

Many within Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have endured discrimination, and a third experienced a hate incident in the last year

https://apnorc.org/projects/many-within-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-communities-have-endured-discrimination-and-a-third-experienced-a-hate-incident-in-the-last-year/

A Cal State Report Says Hate Crimes Are Low, But Trustees And Experts Issue Warning
https://laist.com/news/education/cal-state-csu-report-hate-crimes-trustees

Bay Area on guard for increase in hate crimes
https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/11/15/hate-crimes-fbi-data-asian-jewish-muslim

Is anti-Asian racism still a problem in US? Poll reveals 2023 trends
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3241601/anti-asian-racism-still-problem-us-poll-reveals-troubling-trends

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

A September to Remember

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September is the month to remember the full impact of the Marcos dictatorship in our homeland. Here are some reminders from our archives:

Marcos’ Legacy and the Philippine Military

Martial Law Stories: My Thriller in Manila

The island of Negros in the 1970s and 1980s fell on hard times when the US ended its market quota for Philippine sugar in 1974. Just two years after the declaration of martial law, President Ferdinand Marcos handed the reins of the industry to his cronies. What started out as an attempt to avert a crisis created the biggest crisis of all: the downfall of the once-formidable sugar industry which in turn led to families losing their farms and sugar farmers losing their livelihood. By the time the Marcos administration was forced to exile in 1986, social unrest and famine were widespread. Ian Rosales Casocot, whose family lost everything during the market crash, wrote about their descent to destitution (Read: "Raping Sugarland").

In February 1945, a daring rescue by US troops of prisoners of war (POW) at the UST campus happened. It wasn't exactly a clean operation -- while the POWs were freed, several of the rescuers were killed. Worse, the Japanese military retaliated with a massacre of civilians in Los Banos, Laguna.  Cecilia Gaerlan, head of the Bataan Legacy Historical Society tells us the story.

A Filipino/Indian/Canadian newscaster has been a constant presence in broadcast news in Vancouver, British Columbia for years. Jason Pires' recent career move confirms his upward trajectory in an industry and a market that reward hard work and talent.

In the US, the list of remarkable Filipino Americans in various fields continues to grow. Chapter 51 of our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco's, compilation is here.

Likewise, our series on Bridge Generation stalwarts by writer/historian Peter Jamero continues with a profile of Seattle-based civil rights activist Lois Fleming.

[Video of the Week] The Story of the Filipino: Dely Po Go

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Staff