A Love Song's Sad Story

Next to the Philippine National Anthem, the song "Dahil Sa Iyo" is probably the most familiar song among Filipinos of a certain age who have lived through the kundiman era, the Imelda Marcos era, and even the Nat King Cole/Lettermen (among others) times when they sang the song to please local audiences. Composed by Miguel Velarde Sr. with lyrics by Dominador Santiago, "Dahil Sa Iyo" got its first public airing in the 1937 movie, "Bituing Marikit."

In 1940, the song "Because of You" was introduced in the US and garnered a lot of traction for years in movies and recordings. PF Correspondent Myles Garcia did a deep dive into the provenance and the chords of both songs and, in consultation with a Filipino composer/musician, confirmed that both songs shared the same chord progression 75% of the time. Read all about this "appropriation" issue and the sad tale behind it. Hearing and singing the song will not be the same again.

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A memoir in poetry. That's what community leader and LGBTQIA+ activist Therese Rodriguez did in her newly launched book, Paranaque to New York City: 50 Poems. PF contributor Elaine Elinson gives us a taste of this "poetry of witness" which hopefully will lead you to savor the rest and help the Rodriguez-led Asian and Pacific Island Coalition on HIV/AIDS (APICHA) in the process. (There's a QR code at the end of the review you can scan to buy the book.)

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Project Phil is a US-based nonprofit whose vision is to help Filipinos obtain education which it views as the way out of poverty. Founded in 2017, the 501(c)3 organization has already given out about 500 scholarships in the Philippines. For the schoolyear 2023-24, over 108 scholarships for high school and college students have been supported. Educator/writer Elaine Joy Degale reports.

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There's nothing hoodlum-y about Bugoy Drilon. In fact, the singer/performer is a standout when it comes to connecting emotionally with his audience, according to PF contributing writer Gary Ferrington. 

Read Again:

Racism: Reflections of a Bridge Generation Filipino American

Fortune’s Call: Albert Samaha’s Family Saga

[Video of the Week] What Is Filipino Food?

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In The Know

Hackers steal data of at least 11 million Jollibee customers
https://asamnews.com/2024/06/24/cybercrime-privacy-breach-jollibee-filipino-food-chain-hacked/

Filipino man jumps into ocean to save drowning boy in Japan, gives too-cool statement after
https://soranews24.com/2024/06/19/filipino-man-jumps-into-ocean-to-save-drowning-boy-in-japan-gives-too-cool-statement-after/

Politician who pushed Philippines natural gas boom is behind firm that planned to profit
https://apnews.com/article/liquefied-natural-gas-lng-methane-philippines-batangas

Melting Spots
https://meltingspots.calmigration.org/map?

Healthier harvests: Organic farming initiative flourishes in Benguet
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/organic-farming-initiative-flourishes-benguet

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Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Texas woman accused of attempting to drown young Palestinian American girl
https://asamnews.com/2024/06/23/texas-woman-accused-of-attempting-to-drown-young-palestinian-american-girl/

Seattle cop put on leave after hurling anti-Asian, sexist slurs at neighbor
https://nextshark.com/seattle-cop-audio-asian-slurs-neighbor

Columbia Univ spokesperson beaten in suspected hate crime
https://asamnews.com/2024/06/26/anti-asian-hate-assault-new-york-washington-diplomat-beaten/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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What Makes a Hero?

Today, August 30, marks the 160th birth anniversary of the Philippines' other National Hero, Andres Bonifacio. Last Monday, August 28, our motherland celebrated National Heroes Day as a national holiday, an omnibus celebration that covers all the country's heroes, regardless of generation. National Heroes Day began as a commemoration of the Cry of Pugad Lawin (aka Cry of Balintawak), when Bonifacio as the leader of the Katipunan (KKK), tore his cedula and declared the beginning of the Philippine war of independence against Spain. That happened on August 23, 1896. 

So many historical transitions have taken place since then, of course, and so many heroes and heroines have passed through. Even the term itself - heroism- has undergone multiple definitions, many of them self-serving or partisan, thus often undeserved or untrue.

What makes a hero then, in this day and age? Perhaps instead of bestowing the title of hero to a person, which would beget intense scrutiny likely to unearth non-heroic elements, it would be better to use a description -- "heroic" to label a life commitment for a cause beyond one's self-interest. No more heroes, just heroic deeds. 

Today would have marked the 72nd birthday of a woman who defied convention and chose to lead an altruistic life. Two days from now (September 1) is her first death anniversary. Nelia Sancho was more than just a beauty queen/activist as she was popularly labelled. Manila based artist/illustrator Lynett Advincula-Villariba tells us more about her sorority sister and lifelong friend. 

Since September 1 is Labor Day in the US and September 8 is the 58th anniversary of the beginning of the Grape Strike in California, we pay homage to the Filipino farm workers who, in addition to working the fields, organized labor unions to fight for their rights. Read "From Spain to Delano: The Radical Roots of Farm Workers Unions" by writer/photographer David Bacon. 

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Stories This Week

Nelia Sancho: The Last Conversations by Lynett Advincula-Villariba

From Spain To Delano—The Radical Roots Of Farm Workers Unions by David Bacon

Jollibee Invades North America by Anthony Maddela

The Postmodern Barong Tagalog By Barge Ramos by Charlize Mendez Legaspi

Read Agains:

Andres Bonifacio, The Other National Hero by Penélope V. Flores

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

[Make It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Atsarang Repolyo (Pickled Cabbage) by Nina Ines Garma

[Video of the Week] Clark International Airport

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In The Know

[ANALYSIS] Brace yourselves for higher rice prices under Marcos

https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-brace-higher-rice-prices-marcos-jr-administration/?utm_source=piano&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3969&pnespid=qrDOmYMOuKmX9rfouRG0sqRH_EEOvyMskAJ5HUZooxCVC2asPCq5FJqMXgCGDdUgt9hSNXtV&fbclid=IwAR23f4fFWB8ulfRdHB3OCXmDIJEIqy0ulRvPo1rTr9PldZUOujXISUxEsc8

The Genius of Eduardo Masferré: Father of Philippine Photography

https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/eduardo-masferre-father-of-philippine-photography-a00007-20230811-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20230813-fbnp-long-reads-eduardo-masferre-father-of-philippine-photography-a00007-20230811-lfrm-fbnew&fbclid=IwAR0imovAJH6o2vqmR7uWv5acqW7lwMivOUsWsH1uXNseF5dqoZODzxQk20o

Sarangani village comes alive with roasted flavors of Pinadapla

https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/sarangani-datal-batong-comes-alive-roasted-flavors-pinadapla-festival-august-25-2023/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwAR3tWz3SDL81JjNExMlbDqc2Vg61QZjMKLaJ7D-yTIoEbp9QIOSoqwaTZr4

Video: Filipino American bride shares how she incorporated Filipino culture into her wedding

https://nextshark.com/filipino-american-wedding-tiktok

Ube Just Keeps Getting More Popular

https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/ube/ube-just-keeps-getting-more-popular?fbclid=IwAR1e-3k99ZDz_FkY-AR3nW2aF01c2I89p-g-4cZDKrFDHPJqvCXgCkcAyFY

How a Streetwear Designer Shifted the Culture of Import Drag Racing

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a44820090/how-a-streetwear-designer-shifted-the-culture-of-import-drag-racing/?utm_source=facebook_ign&utm_medium=cpm&utm_campaign=ign_remarketing&fbclid=IwAR3018Lj7mVWNuhHMziDpRC_AWErPjQ_YK1CyJcmUG2bhK7YEh6ryqMOcMQ

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Guiding Light

A few days ago, on September 28, the Philippines lost one of its most esteemed citizens, Bienvenido L. Lumbera, National Artist for Literature and beloved by many as writer, professor, activist and guiding light. Here's why his legacy will forever be revered  in the annals of Philippine arts and letters, from the web site of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, where Bien taught for years.

Positively Filipino joins the Filipino nation in paying tribute to this national treasure. 

Bienvenido L. Lumbera

A writer’s truth: The legacy of National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera

Meanwhile in Broadway, Fil-Am actor Marc delaCruz made history when he played three major roles in the much acclaimed musical, "Hamilton," -- the lead role of Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr (Hamilton's "ideological foil", and King George, the British monarch who was the enemy of the revolutionaries. In the still relatively un-diverse New York City theater world, DelaCruz's singular feat is an important breakthrough. PF contributor Walter Ang, author of "Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater History", writes about "The Talented Mr. delaCruz."

With part 30 of the very long list, "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous" will take a break to give way to another important list in October. Watch out for it starting next Wednesday.

There is no stopping the remarkable and famous from getting well-deserved honors, however. Irene Natividad, one of the most prominent community leaders, was honored by the French government recently for her gender activism. Washington D.C. community leader Jon Melegrito reports.

"Kuhol" (snail in English, escargot in French) is a relatively new delicacy in mainstream Filipino cuisine. PF Correspondent and cookbook author Rene M. Astudillo gives us the dark origins of this exotic dish and shares two recipes for it for the Happy Home Cook. 

For Video of the Week: One Down features Food Insecurity in the Filipino Community

In The Know

Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai students ‘invisible’ victims of STEM inequality
https://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/stories/2021/09/asian-stem-disparities.html?fbclid=IwAR1MVwxoOuurl9Vs0Cnp_1OXeec5KMjYip2F1u6hIe5GERTssS_PBsIkKoQ

Dante Basco reflects on diversity in Hollywood as a child star: 'No one even knew what a Filipino was'
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dante-basco-hook-avatar-the-last-airbender-child-actor-are-the-kids-alright-150049635.html?soc_src=yahooapp

Washington DC version of Jollibee spaghetti is among best dishes of 2021, says Food & Wine mag
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/restaurants/09/23/21/jolly-spaghetti-homage-among-best-dishes-of-2021?fbclid=IwAR2uo058_-EOxoIYINMyQUZO99ze-ZucZpaSkrmrgAlsIzepg_oovVSQZSk

The making of “Squid Game” and why Pinoys can’t get enough of it
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/movies/09/28/21/the-making-of-squid-game-and-why-pinoys-are-watching?fbclid=IwAR1ZT2OLL0m02yEtXAYJEvU-HMJM6E7M2VrIHBU_ZmUczbULGPeivww3RWM

Tatler Spotlight: The International Icon Of Elegance, Style, And Beauty, Isabel Preysler
https://www.tatlerasia.com/the-scene/people-parties/tatler-spotlight-isabel-preysler?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2jJS_IrDlAHq03mLAat7-toKJ3nKWoVvHHfWHRIqEklKCok6U4wkMUfsE#Echobox=1632366815

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