Canny Assignations

It's almost Valentine's Day so let's talk about lust. 

Oscar Peñaranda, beloved teacher of many, poet/author and master raconteur, recounts his young, wild days as an Alaskero (Filipino cannery worker), when dark nights, stinky corners, and hordes of mosquitoes did not stop lonely hearts from having intimate parties for two. "Lust Among the Ruins" is LOL funny. And poignant. A salve for pandemic Valentine blues.

Another kind of love, this one for the fave candy of one's childhood. PF Correspondent Rey E. de la Cruz reignites his love for White Rabbit, the candy created in Shanghai, and finds kindred spirits almost everywhere. ["Down the 'White Rabbit' Hole"]

When our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco started the series of notable and famous/infamous Fil-Ams, she thought it would just take a few chapters. But names kept cropping up as friends and readers sent in their suggestions, so now "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous" is already Part 15 (with more coming in our future issues; watch out for them).

Since February is Black History Month, it's a good time to commemorate Pvt. David Fagan, a Black American soldier sent to the Philippines to fight the Filipino rebels at the onset of the Filipino-American War of 1898-1902. Fagan chose to defect to the Philippine forces and fight the Americans. Read Again Rene G. Ontal's timeless retelling of "A Black Man's Burden."

And for more stories about romances and heartbreaks, join us for our webinar on February 16. See below for details.

Our Stories This Week

Lust Among The Ruins By Oscar Peñaranda

Down The ‘White Rabbit’ Hole By Rey E. de la Cruz

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 15 By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Read Again: A Black Man’s Burden By Rene G. Ontal

The Happy Home Cook: Boneless Bangus Donburi By Rene Astudillo

Video of the Week: Team Kidlat in Marawi and Tagoloan

In The Know

Europe's Army of Filipino Domestic Workers
https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/modern-slavery-europe-s-army-of-filipino-domestic-workers-a-93346a29-3899-470c-9221-4cf7000295aa

Indigenous Filipino Fabrics Are Making a Comeback
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/design/philippine-indigenous-fabrics-are-making-a-comeback-a00225-20171017-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR36DHhb2DRBcGcM7CZL7xxrrUYluH7aYsNEPIiFMy7SDFLOGtHz5F1KkBk

Journey Frontman Arnel Pineda on the Band’s New Record, Dreams of a Steve Perry Reunion
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/arnel-pineda-interview-journey-album-steve-perry-1117594/?fbclid=IwAR0fmFaKIdQVOywspJYRc5vylOOZA6JCDocVoCUsTVYpSauhDWjSJEpp6rs

The Original Chefs From Bad Saint Open the Fil-Am Fast Food Counter of Their Dreams
https://dc.eater.com/2021/1/27/22250817/pogiboy-opening-past-bad-saint-chefs-jollibee-inspired-tom-cunanan-the-block-dc?fbclid=IwAR3x1vkKluOcLfSrLfvWfjhMF0e-QPHscpivWbo9AknWt4bimJwE926Fjws

Girl, 12, leads fundraising for coral rehab in Camiguin
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1126886?fbclid=IwAR2P75j0Mn1FrXYDUBtALMxUfjJYjnGNCUTwUMkZZPBzPM8vgU-hcovdwZw

Seattle mural to depict Filipino and Fil-Am history
https://usa.inquirer.net/63055/seattle-mural-to-depict-filipino-and-fil-am-history?fbclid=IwAR3XhNuXT5LOOozCyr5vJdmn51yhKjv0auQt7AsP5BnTs_LZrpdowPdByYM

Climate of Denial

While climate change deniers have been getting some exposure in the public consciousness lately because of the new US president, we support what 95% of the world's scientists agree on: climate change is the single most serious challenge confronting our planet in the next decades. To better understand this issue, Los Angeles-based journalist Dorian Merina writes the second of a series of articles on the issue. "What's Driving Climate Change?" tells it like it is.

In Toronto, Maripi Leynes hangs out in a Filipino-Canadian restaurant and tells us about it. "In This Corner, Kanto by Tita Flips" gives visitors to Canada's eastern shores a place to enjoy a touch of home. Tita Flips also shares with us two recipes for our Happy Home Cook: one for kwek kwek (a dish made of quail eggs) and another for taho (sweetened tofu drink).

To get you up to speed on news in other publications, here's a buffet of In the Know links:

TNTs Fear Trump’s Enforcement Surge by Rodel Rodis
https://www.facebook.com/notes/rodel-rodis/tnts-fear-trumps-enforcement-surge/1180812835364804

'Hook' prequel film 'Bangarang' reaches Kickstarter goal
http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2017/02/20/Hook-prequel-film-Bangarang-reaches-Kickstarter-goal/5281487613448/

Danish man charged with ordering rape of 346 children in ‘historic’ livestream sex abuse case
https://www.rt.com/news/377652-denmark-pedophile-abuse-livestreams/#.WKbWx5gRU74.facebook

Tel Aviv's Little Manila
http://roadsandkingdoms.com/2017/tel-avivs-little-manila/?utm_source=Mash-Up+Americans+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2a7bc5c731-Weekly_Newsletter_012717&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b7389b4eea-2a7bc5c731-279253069

FM's Propagandist's Grandson Fights Lies
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/02/20/1674033/fm-propagandists-grandson-fights-lies

For our Video of the Week, here's the world famous band Journey's rendition of "Bayan Ko," from a recent concert in Manila. Journey, of course, has strong Filipino connections. It's lead singer, Arnel Pineda, is one of ours.