Know Your Rights

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And so it begins.

If you or someone you know fear the big D (deportation), a sword that will sadly be brandished about in the next four years, immigration lawyer Lourdes Santos Tancinco lists down your rights and what you can do if/when ICE comes calling. We suggest you print it out and tack it by your door for easy access and reminder.

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But here's a happy immigration story from the most famous and most outspoken undocumented immigrant of recent years: Jose Antonio Vargas has gotten an O-1 visa and is now documented. What is an O-1 visa? The US State Department defines it as "The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics."  This option has been available for years but a 2024 Biden administration update last summer allowed Vargas, whose special circumstances previously disallowed him from applying, to finally get one. Watch our Video of the Week for Vargas' story. 

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We have another must-read story this week: "The Making of Edgar Matobato," the hair-raising, heart-stopping story of this killer-turned-whistleblower, formerly an important cog in ex-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's horrific killing squad. After a decade of hiding, Matobato has been able to leave the Philippines and is ready to testify against the former mayor/president. Veteran journalist and Columbia University School of Journalism professor Sheila Coronel takes a deep dive into Motabato's story, the issue of redemption, and the implications on the nation.

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On an entirely different note, diabetes has become the bane of Filipinos everywhere for various reasons. Here's how to manage it. 

Read Agains:

The First Quarter Storm Was No Dinner Party, Part 1 by Jose F. Lacaba

The First Quarter Storm Was No Dinner Party, Part 2 by Jose F. Lacaba

[Video of the Week] How I Got “Legal” After 31 Years as an Undocumented American

In The Know

Filipino community launches relief initiatives for LA fire victims
https://asamnews.com/2025/01/17/filipino-la-fire-victims-housing-immigration-financial-issues/ 

ICYDK: Andok's Recently Opened Its First International Store in Singapore
https://www.spot.ph/eatdrink/the-latest-eat-drink/110841/andoks-opens-first-international-store-in-singapore-a3412-20250114?

4 libraries for the people—and why we need more of them
https://plus.inquirer.net/supplement/4-libraries-for-the-people-and-why-we-need-more-of-them/? 

Wildfire survivors blocked from FEMA assistance due to fraud
https://asamnews.com/2025/01/16/wildfire-survivors-blocked-from-fema-assistance-due-to-fraud/ 

Maria Ressa says profit wins over safety as Meta ends fact-check program in US
https://www.rappler.com/technology/maria-ressa-profit-over-safety-meta-ends-fact-check-program-united-states/?

Cebu BPO executives arrested in US over alleged P2.5-B elderly authors fraud
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/cebu-bpo-executives-arrested-us-alleged-elderly-authors-fraud/?

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Staff

Things Are Fragile. Everyone's Looking for Answers.

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"Like millions of other undocumented Americans, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to survive the next four years. Things are fragile. Everyone is looking for answers." 

Thus begins Jose Antonio Vargas, the Filipino American journalist (and Pulitzer Prize winner who must be the most famous undocumented of all) in his intro to his new YouTube show (youtube.com/DefineAmerican). We are running the first episode of this all-important conversation entitled "How to Survive the Next Four Years as an Undocumented American" as our Video of the Week. 

"The show will tell the truth about the immigrant experience in this country -- the full immigrant experience -- in a country where lies, misinformation and disinformation about 'illegal aliens' played a central role in bringing Donald Trump back to the White House," Vargas promises. It would be good to listen.

While most of us have our solid citizenship credentials, we are not exempt from the forthcoming firestorm. We are after all people of color with "strange" names and "strange" accents. Those who buy into the demonization of immigrants as "illegal aliens" will not ask for proof of legal residency or US citizenship before assaulting or insulting.

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It's December and Christmas and to Filipinos in San Francisco, that means the annual Parol Lantern Festival. MC Canlas who was responsible for introducing this beloved event in the area, shares some fun facts about how a Filipino tradition became a Fil-Am tradition. 

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And if you're looking for unique gifts for loved ones, PF regular contributor Claire Mercado- Osias lists some titles by authors of Filipino heritage that will surely titillate. 

For those eager to give a gift of cultural history, here's "Salumpuwit: Chairs in Filipino Life," an award-winning small book that focuses on butt-catchers.

More in Positively Filipino

Read Agains

The Happy Home Cook: Christmas Recipes
Elizabeth Ann Quirino 

Light of the Ancients
Myles A. Garcia

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Staff

Immigration and White Supremacy

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Last Monday's Positively Filipino webinar on Immigration in the Time of Racial Unrest, Pandemic and Trump was chock full of information and food for thought, with the combined forces of Jose Antonio Vargas, who was, as usual, a profound, articulate "spokesperson" for the undocumented, and Lourdes Tancinco, a veteran immigration lawyer who provided valuable updates on how immigration policies have changed under Trump. One participant commented that the webinar "should be recommended viewing for all Filipinos and Fil-Ams." 

For those who missed the session, here's the recording: [WEBINAR] Racism And The Filipino American 3: Immigrants In The Time Of Racial Unrest, Pandemic, And Trump

We are also announcing the next webinar, "Shut Down for a Shakedown? Behind the Attempts to Muzzle Press Freedom and ABS-CBN.” This will be on Monday, August 24 at 6pm PDT/9 pm EDT and in the Philippines, on Tuesday, August 25 at 9 am. Click on the link to register. https://bit.ly/shutdownshakedown

This Week's Stories:

On Filipino Culture, In The Wake Of Barkadagate By Kat Velayo Greenberg

Mia Mercado Keeps It Real By Walter Ang 

What Happened On Hacienda Street By George Deoso

What’s My Future In The Culinary World? By Nina Ines Garma

Read Again: The Untold Story of Nina Thomas By Titchie Carandang-Tiongson & Erwin R. Tiongson

Recipe of the Week: The Happy Home Cook: Atsara (Pickled Papaya) By Nina Ines Garma

Video of the Week: Why People Risk Their Lives To Bleach Their Skin

In The Know

Coronavirus: Philippines denies it has the most cases in East Asia
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-denies-it-has-the-most-cases-in-east-asia?fbclid=IwAR31nRGP-2SyMK1b0Bq82hLlDqq_RDh3mN3BNwM905z7vqtTGZWpK2-J9JM

The Fearless Journalist Targeted by a Murderous Dictator
https://news.yahoo.com/fearless-journalist-targeted-murderous-dictator-091715077.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Hot chocolate in the tropics? The story behind sikwate, a delicious Philippines treat
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/philippines-sikwate-chocolate/index.html

Philippine fast food giant Jollibee loses US$240 million and will be closing 255 stores
https://sea.mashable.com/culture/11835/philippine-fast-food-giant-jollibee-loses-us2-billion-and-will-be-closing-255-stores?fbclid=IwAR1iW3pOOZ3WHVXedsCdKGNxPSehue5EHCc-WogmwckbyaDu2m7KTPW2C6Y

Rising volume of intercepted PH pangolins tied to Chinese influx
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1317400/rising-volume-of-intercepted-ph-pangolins-tied-to-chinese-influx#ixzz6Uw2JQ6DY

Coping with COVID-19: Food Art by Dindo Llana
https://www.australianfilipina.com.au/article/coping-with-covid-19--food-art-by-dindo-llana?fbclid=IwAR3KjTesbvwzI6qRjSKBiHEoxK9FmpNXIBPYZCA_RRtaLHfDgYuuZfSSUL8