Of Love and Money

No question about it: Filipinos consider Valentine's Day a holiday-of-obligation, second only to Christmas in pomp and kitsch, and in the traffic jams it creates in already jammed Metro Manila. 

Here's a timely tidbit: A majority of Filipinos (58%) claim to be very happy with their love life, according to a December 2023 survey by the Social Weather Stations. The number is the highest since 2011, when a record 59% said they were very happily in love. It would have been interesting to find out what brought about this increase but the survey didn't cover reasons.

As for Valentine's Day gifts, money, love and flowers topped the most wished-for list, with men wanting apparel and any gift from the heart the most. Women prefer getting money and flowers, though both genders desire love and companionship equally. 

In the spirit of V-Day, we have two love stories for your kilig pleasure this week.

PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia perused YouTube videos and zeroed in on the love journey of Darlene Bumacod of Pangasinan and Boris Kuznetsov of Russia, as documented in Darlene's travel vlog.

It's never too late for love, and octogenarians Emilio Quines and Angie Cruz, both medical doctors in New York, prove it when they married last year. The Filam.net founding editor, Cristina DC Pastor, tells us their story.

Filipinos of a certain age will remember child movie star Tessie Agana, once dubbed "the Shirley Temple of the Philippines." Now in her 80s, she has lived in the US for decades and raised three children with husband Rodolfo Jao. One of the three is Fr. Radmar Jao, a Jesuit priest, who moonlights as an actor. Here's the story of his interesting life.

In Seattle, PF correspondent Anthony Maddela sought out a 61-year-old Elvis tribute performer (as opposed to a mere impersonator) named Tony Colinares, who entertains with his band, Gracelandmanila.

We're now on the 55th edition of our list of Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous, and our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco who does the compilation, is not stopping anytime soon. So many standouts lifting up our heritage.

[Partner] National Arts Month
[Video of the Week] Baguio Night Market

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Anti-Asian Hate Watch

2022 Hate Crime Report in California
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Hate%20Crime%20In%20CA%202022f.pdf?

As hate crimes rise, Delawareans join national ‘United Against Hate’ initiative for dialogue
https://whyy.org/articles/delawareans-united-against-hate-initiative-dialogue-hate-crimes/

‘To Understand and To Be Understood’ exhibit explores Asian American hate speech
https://dailyorange.com/2024/01/to-understand-and-to-be-understood-exhibit-asian-american-hate-speech/

Unleashing ‘The Tiger in the Room’
https://asamnews.com/2024/01/28/hannah-kang-drops-the-tiger-in-the-room-podcast-real-talk/

Hochul seeks to expand state’s hate crimes, increase funding for security measures
https://www.dailygazette.com/leader_herald/news/hochul-seeks-to-expand-state-s-hate-crimes-increase-funding-for-security-measures/article_6ed7aee8-bc84-11ee-9d07-f73dbc300528.html

Funding provided by the State of California.

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In The Know

SOCIAL WEATHER REPORT | Filipinos' top Valentine's Day gift wishes were money, love, and flowers; 58% were very happy with their love life
https://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20240211005608&mc_cid=81fb8a27dd&mc_eid=96b100eff3

Chinese New Year 2024: 5 Things to know about Filipino-Chinese culture
https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/diversity/filipino-chinese-culture?

Qwertyman No. 78: Fighting Windmills in Masungi
https://penmanila.ph/2024/01/29/qwertyman-no-78-fighting-windmills-in-masungi/?fbclid=IwAR09bsKtBWeMamGOa7Ow-kmtKk2c1MKcWq6j1ohBbBXvRoBPClYFdDz89Tk

From Cebu to California: Ryan Macasero’s decade of journalism
https://usa.inquirer.net/144216/from-cebu-to-california-ryan-macaseros-decade-of-journalism?

This Fil-Am retail brand is for the cool anaks of California
https://usa.inquirer.net/144007/love-seresa-fil-am-brand-california?fbclid=IwAR3YFFFGyLXg8TwQ4FOT7ov9UlY9gVE4cU0spiVYEjLS_0ZjKFC1Y_FEjlI

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Shaken or Stirred? Just Sit Back.

As we move towards a vastly different Thanksgiving holiday this year, let's use this post-election, surging-pandemic week to take a break from high emotions, and to sit back. It's interesting to watch how traditions and institutions work toward resolving the current political uncertainty being spearheaded by a stubborn incumbent and fanned by his spineless ilk. If you need some reading to quell, or enable, your anxiety, I suggest Gabriel Garcia Marquez's book, Autumn of the Patriarch. The title itself is an apt metaphor for this time, along with "the winter of our discontent".

Nevertheless the world continues to turn, with or without our participation. In Positively Filipino this week, James Bond dies, a young Fil-Am comic rises and, as our Motherland heaves from yet another hurricane, regular people carry on the best way they can amidst the pandemic.

Our Stories This Week

Pinoys Love James Bond, And Vice Versa By Men Sta. Ana

[PARTNER] The Typhoon Victims Need Your Help

JR De Guzman Shows Filipinos Are Truly Funny By Anthony Maddela

Covid Guys By Criselda Yabes

The Happy Home Cook: Oriental Beef With Fried Noodles By Nora V. Daza and Nina Daza Puyat

Video of the Week: Fides Enriquez and Chef Cocoy Ventura’s new documentary series, Ilocandia, which features the Ilocos region’s rich culinary tradition.

In The Know

[ANALYSIS] What will a Biden presidency bring to China, Manila, and the Asia Pacific? 
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-what-will-biden-presidency-bring-china-manila-asia-pacific?fbclid=IwAR3PRlgwNNjI2Ce1_h-ICVvfsgkMq3RKGdxicT_eD6J3CZMszo-9bjlick0

Things May Get Worse Before They Get Better for the U.S. 
https://fpif.org/things-may-get-worse-before-they-get-better-for-the-u-s/?fbclid=IwAR0DKLpWGt1SIJhski9RPlbDwPcj7b_sXj7hK6N48arU1Zc_gCA2BlIaTdQ

12 Exceptional Filipino Restaurants in SF and the East Bay
https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-filipino-restaurants-food-san-francisco-bay-area-east-bay-oakland

A New ‘Blue’s Clues’ Episode Will Feature Filipino Family Traditions
https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k9bpd/blues-clues-nickelodeon-filipino-family-traditions-lola-grandmother?fbclid=IwAR1vwyhD_b16Y2oWbPaiK30OVkUtjfyrjweNSEKt7w-YP30eU6Y6zUYdc34

Their neighbor allegedly painted a swastika on their driveway. Now they’re getting bullets in the mail.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/13/louisville-harassment-couple-swastikas-racial-slurs/

A Whirl Through the Philippines with Jeepney’s Meal Kits
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/16/a-whirl-through-the-philippines-with-jeepneys-meal-kits?fbclid=IwAR0gsstldoTVp66WzDELSaIAsqXcCniSD2Q_65KZw2TMhCbKQUhIzInnTgc

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Life Lessons from Manongs

In last Monday's Positively Filipino webinar, our guest raconteurs Alex Fabros Jr. and Oscar Peñaranda regaled us with insider stories about life among the manongs on the farms of Salinas, California and in the salmon canneries of Anchorage, Alaska. Both knew whereof they speak -- Alex grew up and worked with them and Oscar spent 15 summers of his youth as an Alaskero (cannery worker). To that generation of Filipino culture bearers, the two attribute lessons in work ethics, joy, appreciation, cunning, survival, courtship and most importantly, building community. To listen to their stories (if you missed the webinar), here's the recording: Memories Of Fil-Am Life On The Farms And In The Canneries Of The West Coast

Our next webinar is the first of our forthcoming series on FilAm Trailblazers and it will feature two community heavyweights: California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye in a rare public appearance and Major General Antonio Taguba (Ret.). We hope you join us this coming Monday, October 26, 2020. Register here: http://bit.ly/filamtrailblazers

As this year's Filipino American History Month (FAHM) begins to wind down, here are two stories you have to read:

American-born Filipino/Japanese citizen Amadio Arboleda tells us his complicated and definitely unique life. ["My Audacious Filipino Journey"]

US citizen John Silva, writing from Manila where he now resides, relates how voting in a US election is worth going through hell and high water (or at least, an attempt at voter suppression) for him, a son of a war veteran. [A Ballot from Manila]

Here's another recommended book list for your FAHM reading from San Francisco Public Library's Abraham Ignacio Jr. [Book Recommendations For 2020 Filipino American History Month]

And another intro to notable Fil-Ams from our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco. [Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 10] 

Read Again: 

Robert V. Ragsac Sr.'s "Forget Them Not" 

Alex S. Fabros Jr.'s "Murder Most Foul" 

For the Happy Home Cook, here's a repost of Chef Romy Dorotan's  (Purple Yam in Brooklyn) Beef Shortribs Adobo, definitely a winner. 

For Video of the Week, young Fil-Am comedian JR De Guzman makes an appearance on Harry Connick, Jr.’s show.

In The Know

I Went to a 'Filipinos for Trump' Rally. Here's What I Found
https://www.colorlines.com/articles/i-went-filipinos-trump-rally-heres-what-i-found?fbclid=IwAR3G9ywtAiOrqRFyO11IPw_woeqW6B0MHoAdPCPEMb1x067-TunCqdpveaA 

‘Buried alive’: ‘The Celine Archive’ uncovers young Filipina’s horrific 1932 killing in Delta
https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2020/10/11/buried-alive-the-celine-archive-documentary-uncovers-filipinas-1932-horrific-killing-delta/5918519002/?fbclid=IwAR3DiI-ahEP-vPE-4x6_5JfUSC398lFYaFCwsTLAs2jF8MHSa2NncmVyP_M

Exulting in a tribute to our National Hero
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2018/11/26/1871613/exulting-tribute-our-national-hero/amp

From 800, it’s now a 10,000 waitlist for Filipino flavor Kora doughnuts
https://thefilam.net/archives/32996?fbclid=IwAR2BiaxeMD0YevN0RXwkaJkYaacJjE-ivyg7CeBfYet53gFE6WriDXGktAE