Three Women

Three women, three very different lives. 

Manila-based contributor Rochit I. Tañedo draws on her valuable experience in community organizing to give us a glimpse of the challenging life of T'boli women of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Food expert and PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino focuses on Liza Agbanlog, a Vancouver-based food blogger turned cookbook author who shares with us her own recipe for Sinigang na Isda sa Miso, our Happy Home Cook feature of the week. 

From New York, PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani profiles visual artist and poet Monica Ong, who explores her Chinese, Filipino and American lineage through her art and poetry.

Our In The Know links this week:

Can Imelda Erase History Again?
https://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/can-imelda-marcos-erase-history-again/?fbclid=IwAR1LSMkmDFqDN-1iMlmI_5VJp8MPMzSVfvKMIpcATOdyNeosu25VGu4vhTY

Rewriting history in the Philippines and the fight for the truth
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-46185620/rewriting-history-in-the-philippines-and-the-fight-for-the-truth?fbclid=IwAR3R5cG-ITv9luNzJKz9UWOHh6b2JZCxngH2WQs3gOD7Blf_odu8hw4ZKKM

Bells of Balangiga: Why they matter
https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/11/13/18/bells-of-balangiga-why-they-matter?fbclid=IwAR3E-6_JIU6h4ErWwS6TDSV00rv9jaLlthIyr64kycGwqEeu5CWC_LR9pwA

Painting to Live: The Remarkable Story of 90-Year-Old Filipina Artist Araceli Dans
https://lifestyleasia.onemega.com/painting-to-live-the-remarkable-story-of-90-year-old-filipina-artist-araceli-dans/?fbclid=IwAR1dbatsmXtZbVd5TRtC58JqfNGaBINuDaE3SLjjFcpCvdnhNsE9-yJHfHA

For video of the week, Youtube comedian Jeppy Paraiso shares the Thanksgiving cheer.

Getting Things Straight

The Philippines' national language is Filipino, not Pilipino. It's time to get that straight as our homeland celebrates Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month) this entire month of August. How and why did the F come to replace the P? Read Again poet/critic/author Marne Kilates' discussion, "Why the F in Filipino and How Did It Get There?"

And while we're at it, please also Read Again why referring to the Philippines as P.I. is just so outdated and wrong: it was a term used during Commonwealth times, meaning it got outdated in 1946 when the Philippines became an independent country. Let Professor Michael Gonzalez explain in "Please Stop Calling the Philippines P.I."

One of the busiest intersections along EDSA used to be a quiet, secluded enclave surrounded by cogon grass and sunflowers, and hosted some wayward snakes that slithered their way into the very few homes in the area. Poet/essayist Marra PL. Lanot brings us back to those days in "Of Fireflies and Firebrands."

Meanwhile, PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani takes obvious pride in jazz guitarist/composer Johnny Alegre who she describes as "one of the international greats in jazz."

Here are links to stories in other publications that you may have missed:

Duterte's Philippines is getting more corrupt
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2017/01/26/dutertes-philippines-is-getting-more-corrupt/#2775307f5a7f

The Future is Intersectional with Filipina Canadian Artist Han Han
http://blog.sterngrove.org/hanhan/

'Mexipino' combines Mexican and Filipino flavors
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/south-county/sd-se-mexipino-restaurant-20180706-story.html

How an immigrant youth is getting recognition for creating peace of mind
https://discover.rbcroyalbank.com/how-an-immigrant-youth-is-getting-recognition-for-creating-peace-of-mind/

For our Happy Home Cook recipe, we go back to the Filipino immigrant's cooking bible, Nora Daza's Let's Cook with Nora, and borrow her recipe for Orange Spareribs.

For video of the week, online comic Jeppy Paraiso continues his Tita series “Don't Tita, Don't.”

For our partner post, FilVetRep's Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret.) is calling on the community to support Jon Melegrito for AARP's AAPI Community Hero Award for his work in honoring the Filipino World War II Veterans. Deadline is August 15, 2018.

Looking Back

As Filipinos the world over gear up to celebrate another Philippine Independence Day, it's a good time to learn about the two-day visit of President Manuel Luis Quezon and his family to Washington, D.C. 76 years ago, the only Philippine president to stay at the White House. Titchie Carandang-Tiongson who, along with her husband Erwin and two sons, are digging up Philippine history in Washington, D.C., writes the historical account.

Another Washington, D.C. story is Myrna Montera Lopez's profile of Santiago "Sonny" Busa, Jr., an outstanding FilAm who was a military officer, a diplomat, an academic and a community leader, among the many roles he has distinguished himself in.

And switching to the motherland, Prof. Michael Gonzalez teams up with student journalist Meeko Angela Camba to introduce the work of Gerry Tan, a sound artist, who is "weaving sound from a tapestry."

Our In The Know links for this week:

Inside a Philippine City Seized by ISIS Loyalists
https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000005858523/isis-loyalists-marawi.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=photo-spot-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

Inside the Controversial World of Slum Tourism
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/photography/history-controversy-debate-slum-tourism/

Five Blood Transfusions, One Bone Marrow Transplant — All Before Birth
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/25/health/fetal-bone-marrow-transplant.html

Valencia Brothers Seek to Represent Filipino American Experience Through Food
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Lasa-Restaurant-Filipino-483165571.html

For our Happy Home Cook, Chef Richgail Enriquez features her vegan version of Munggo Guisado.

For Video of the Week, Youtube comedian Jeppy Paraiso is back with his Tita series.