Domestic Violence Isn't Always Physical

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October is not only Fil-Am History Month, it's also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

Domestic violence or abuse is a crime so common, so egalitarian (it can happen to anyone) and often so insidious that it may not always be obvious to people other than the abuser and abused. It need not involve physical violence but always involves control and manipulation. Take this heart-rending personal story by Giovannie Espiritu of the abuse she had to escape from. Be warned that it isn't an easy read.

The artist and cultural activist France Viana has taken on a new cause that is in tune with the current movement towards gender-neutral pronouns. She's starting a campaign to have the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) add the Filipino pronoun "siya" to its already existing list of Filipino words. In recent years, the OED officially added "bongga", "halo-halo", "kilig", "bagoong" and "sorbetes" to its lexicon. 

A bright star that emerged from the grimness of the Covid pandemic in the Philippines was the community pantries, an open food exchange where people gave and took what they needed, for free. The unique humanitarian project started by a young woman named Ana Patricia "Patreng" Non tapped into Filipinos' innate bayanihan spirit and spread like wildfire to other places in the country. Tokyo-based PF contributor Ian Layugan writes about Patreng. 

Hurricane Helene is long gone but its devastation in North Carolina continues. Here's a story about a Filipino food truck in Asheville. They would appreciate a donation (click on link to its GoFundMe page). 

Help rebuild a Filipino food truck

The owners of the Master BBQ truck, a Filipino food truck in Ashville, North Carolina, are raising money to help rebuild their truck as well as support their workers.  

“Cooking has always been my passion. For more than 20 years, both in the Philippines and here in the US, I have poured my heart into it,” Paul Pike, co-owner of the Master BBQ truck, wrote on the GoFundMe page. “I started Master BBQ with my wife, Julia, and together we turned our dream into reality through pop-ups at different breweries in Asheville. The support we received from these breweries, along with the incredible community, made this journey possible.”

“Our team, who depends on the truck for their livelihood, is now left without income, and our truck requires significant repairs. After only being in business for 7 months, this setback feels indescribable,” he added.

So, far the page has raised $10,000 of its $50,000 goal. You can donate here. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebuild-master-bbq-after-hurricane-helene

Read Agains

We Stand On Their Shoulders, Part 1 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

We Stand On Their Shoulders, Part 2 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

We Stand On Their Shoulders, Part 3 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

[Video of the Week] The Legacy of Larry Itliong

In The Know

Pampanga's Angeles City named Asia's Best Emerging Culinary City Destination
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/food/922753/pampanga-angeles-city-asia-s-best-emerging-culinary-city-destination/story 

A Reading List for Filipino American History Month 2024
https://www.clmp.org/news/a-reading-list-for-filipino-american-history-month-2024/

Artist works to restore vintage signs at San Francisco bars and restaurants
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/video/artist-works-to-restore-vintage-signs-at-san-francisco-bars-and-restaurants/

LIST: 6 Philippine hotels make it in the Michelin Guide
https://philstarlife.com/living/691506-list-6-philippine-hotels-make-michelin-guide?page=4

Mattel releases Barbie during Filipino American History Month
https://asamnews.com/2024/10/12/mattel-releases-barbie-during-filipino-american-history-month/

Jo Koy, on edge, reveals a family issue during S.F. tour stop
https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/jo-koy-san-francisco-comedy

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Staff

We'll Always Remember

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of the official declaration of martial law in the Philippines. The public announcement came two days later, on September 23, 1972, to give time for the military to round up the oppositionists and the dissidents and put them in jail.

As you read this, please take a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives or have been permanently scarred by martial law: the imprisoned, the tortured, the raped, the abused, the salvaged, the disappeared, the dispossessed, the harassed, the displaced, the impoverished, the war victims and those who suffered the brunt of plunder and bad policies (we particularly remember the children of Negros during the 1985 famine).

Let's also remember our allies, those who risked life and limb to help mitigate the harm of martial law: the Filipinos abroad who did their part in exposing and opposing the dictatorship, the nuns and priests, the activists, the journalists (particularly the women writers), the movie makers, the academics, the documentarists who kept records, the authors, the businessmen who secretly supported the anti-martial law forces, the international humanitarian groups, the young military officers who organized to oppose the regime. Most of all, let's remember the ordinary people who offered support to the hunted and oppressed, whether it was shelter for the night or sustenance for the days ahead.

We remember through our stories this week:

A general's recollection of opposing martial law in theory

A Mindanawan's recognition of his psychological scars

Two Tony's -- Hilario and Tagamolila -- the early martyrs

We remember through films: Vince Tañada's Katips, the recent blockbuster and awards sweeper, now showing internationally; and

Batas Militar, the 1997 documentary which you can watch through the link be;low until September 30.

Today and always, WE WILL NEVER FORGET. 

More This Week

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Vegetable Lumpiang Shanghai by Chef Richgail Enriquez

[Video of the Week] Executive Class: The Henry Suites MiraNila

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Staff

Once In A Lifetime

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The Filipina actor Cherie Gil was a once-in-a-lifetime talent that graced Philippine movies and television for almost five decades. She belonged to showbiz royalty with her parents Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil, her brothers Michael de Mesa and Mark Gil, and a big bunch of nephews and nieces who are likewise making their mark in the entertainment industry. Cherie's demise announced on August 5 led to a deluge of tributes, one of them from her friend, PF contributor Pablo Tariman. ["Cherie Gil, A Beautiful Soul"]

Five years ago, a distinguished Filipino was flying to New York via Vancouver when he suffered a heart attack. When the airline crew called for a physician among the passengers, a Filipino doctor and his wife, also a doctor, rushed to resuscitate him, but it was too late. The distinguished gentleman was Washington SyCip, 96 years old, an icon in the business community. The doctor who tried to save him was Blas Bermudez who wrote about the heartbreaking experience on his Facebook post, which we are reposting here. ["Last Flight Home"]

Filipinos of a certain age crooned and swooned to The Association's big hits like "Never My Love," "Cherish," "Windy," and "Along Comes Mary." What we didn't know then was that a Filipino-Hawaiian was a big part of that cherished pop group and in fact became the group's leader in 1984. Larry Ramos was a Bridge Generation Fil-Am worth extolling and Peter Jamero, another Bridge Generation stalwart, does so. ["Along Comes Larry"]

 If you haven't yet, go and watch Easter Sunday, the movie starring a delightful cast of Filipino Americans led by Jo Koy. One of them is Rodney To, who plays Tito Arthur. PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela profiles this real-life professor of dramatic arts at the University of Southern California. ["Rodney To is More Than Just Jo Koy's Uncle in Easter Sunday"]

Hometowns was one of our popular series that collected personal nostalgia stories about places in the Philippines that defined one's character and memories. Here's one of those narratives about the tiny island of Cuyo, where writer Noni Mendoza grew up and continues to yearn for. ["My Island in the Sun"]

[Read It Again]

The yo-yo is not a Filipino invention but a Filipino, Pedro Edralin Flores, got the first commercial trademark for the toy in the US: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/pedro-and-the-yo-yo-man-and-myth

The beauty of indigenous Filipino tattoos is on full display in this story:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/mark-of-four-waves

{Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Marinated Baby Back Ribs 

[Video of the Week] Little Girl Does T’boli Dance

[Partner] Sinehan sa Konsulado 2022 - As part of the Sinehan sa Konsulado 2022, Positively Filipino presents a special screening of Mona Lisa Yuchengco’s MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA: FILMMAKER ON A VOYAGE. The film will be available VOD (video-on-demand) for FREE from 12 noon August 19 to 12 noon August 25 PST on this access link: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/marilou-diaz-abaya-filmmaker-on-a-voyage

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Staff