And Along Comes 'Larry the Musical'

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A shout-out to Northern Californians: if you haven't yet, hie over to the Brava Theater in San Francisco to watch the superhit "Larry the Musical." Night after night, it gets a standing ovation from the audience, and that's quite a major statement in the [jaded] culture mecca of the San Francisco Bay Area. PF contributor and FilAm history enthusiast Elena Buensalido Mangahas, herself a theater veteran, hails the show for both its historical and theatrical significance.

April is Filipino Food Month, a celebration which started in 2018 in the Philippines and has since expanded to encompass the global Filipino diaspora, thanks to the foodie culture bearers who have elevated Filipino food to international standards. Veteran Filipino food writer Micky Fenix, who is also the president of the Food Writers Association of the Philippines, gives us a backgrounder on how this officially sanctioned (by the Philippine government) 30-day celebration and offers a path forward for future activities.

Retired FilAm professor James Sobredo attended the recent global summit on nursing held in Iloilo City where the real state of nursing as a profession in the Philippines and other countries was discussed extensively. While the worldwide appetite for hiring Filipino nurses continues unabated, working conditions are not always ideal. Filipino nurses in the US were at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in a disproportionate number of fatalities among them. The big income gap between nurses in Philippine hospitals vs. those employed abroad has resulted in a nurse shortage in Philippines. How to solve this conundrum is a question for the current and future generations of Filipino health workers and policy makers.

On an entirely different note, first-time PF contributing writer Yugel Losorata profiles Ted Reyes, the multi-talented former leader/composer and lead singer of the Filipino band The Freesouls. Reyes has since moved to the US to seek a wider stage for his considerable creative abilities. 

Though Women's History Month is over, we continue to honor women who played important roles in our lives. Toronto-based poet/author Patria Cabatuando-Rivera pays tribute to her unforgettable elder sister in "My Ate Nene, With Flowers in Her Hair."

Around this time every year, we commemorate the Bataan Death March which happened on April 10, 1942. Some 75,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war were made to do the arduous trek of about 65 miles. Read Again the account of Filipino veterans advocate Jon Melegrito when we joined re-enactment of the march a few years ago in New Mexico. For him, it was personal. His father was one of the survivors of that WWII tragedy. https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/re-enacting-the-bataan-death-march-a-personal-journey

[Video of the Week] Tradisyon: Serving Accessible, Traditional Filipino Comfort Food At New York City

[Webinar] Nurse Unseen: The Role Of Filipino Nurses During The Pandemic And How They Became Victims Of Anti-Asian Hate

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Vandalism at Chicago mosque investigated as possible hate crime
https://asamnews.com/2024/03/19/downtown-islamic-center-chicago-mosque-vandalism-hate-crime/

A man was arrested after he verbally assaulted, pepper-sprayed an Asian gas station owner because the suspect wanted to pay in all coins
https://ca.style.yahoo.com/man-arrested-verbally-assaulted-pepper-014758333.html

Anti-Asian hate attack unites community in Portland, OR
https://asamnews.com/2024/04/01/senior-citizen-concussion-attacked-with-log/

As Attacks on Asian Americans Regain Spotlight, SF Group Seeks to Soothe Community
https://www.sfpublicpress.org/as-attacks-on-asian-americans-regain-spotlight-sf-group-seeks-to-soothe-community/

Sinophobia unmasked: The racism pandemic
https://mronline.org/2024/03/25/sinophobia-unmasked-the-racism-pandemic/

Funding provided by the State of California.

In The Know

‘Tubaw-inspired’ provincial capitol building to rise in Maguindanao Norte
https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/08/tubaw-inspired-provincial-capitol-building-to-rise-in-maguindanao-norte/?

TIPS: What you'll need to apply for a US tourist visa
https://philstarlife.com/living/163945-tips-us-visa-application?page=2

Mall of memories: Greenbelt 1’s closure evokes fond memories
https://bilyonaryo.com/2024/04/01/mall-of-memories-greenbelt-1s-closure-evokes-fond-memories/property/?

BIZ BUZZ: PAL ready for takeoff to Seattle
https://business.inquirer.net/452746/biz-buzz-pal-ready-for-takeoff-to-seattle?

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Staff

Have a Joyous Holiday Season!

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The Positively Filipino team -- Lisa, Rene, Gemma and Raymond -- wishes all of you, our constant readers, a joyous holiday season. May the coming year be safe, healthy and peaceful for everyone.

Happy Holidays from Positively Filipino! (L-R) Raymond Virata, Gemma Nemenzo, Mona Lisa Yuchengco and Rene Ciria-Cruz

Our special thanks to our contributing writers whose stories have made PF a worthy chronicler of the Filipino diaspora. And to Titchie Carandang who not only wrote consequential articles but is also now helping us with our social media outreach, our gratitude.

This year, PF was also awarded a California State Grant to help inform the public, especially Fil-Ams, about the realities of anti-Asian hate, hate crimes and support services for victims. For this, we have Gail Kong as adviser and we thank her for her guidance.

As is our wont at yearend, we tally our readership numbers and come up with this list of the Most-Read Stories of 2023.  We say that they're also Must Read stories.

But beyond the numbers, Read Again these stories from this year's collection that you might have missed but you're sure to enjoy. They're a merry mix of thrills, nostalgia and historic heft.

A septuagenarian's daring feat:
Paragliding, Sky Jumping And Dying Over San Francisco by Bella Bonner

Remembering Lahaina before the fire:
Tears For Lahaina by Odette Foronda

Behind the walls of girls' convent schools: 
Girls’ School Confidential by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz

A beautiful flower farm in Benguet: 
A Matriarch’s Legacy Flowers In The Mountains by Ian Layugan

A harrowing escape from a war zone, an OFW nightmare: 
Escape From Sudan by Lawrence Espinosa

An all-female Fil-Am rock band of the '60s makes a comeback: 
Fanny And Their Ongoing Legacy In Redefining Rock by Lauren Lola

An eloquent testimony on success and social inequity: 
Why My Success Is Philippine Society’s Failure by Leo Jaminola

A Filipino Sesame Street muppet: 
A Muppet For All Reasons by Anthony Maddela

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Staff

Our Past Revisited

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Since Positively Filipino comes out with a new issue on Wednesdays, this is our last issue for 2023's Fil-Am History Month. Which doesn't mean we'll no longer post stories that will document the stories of our people in the US. Positively Filipino will continue to be the repository of information and narratives about Filipinos, not just in the US or the Philippines, but also in the almost 200 countries where our kababayans are living. 

We are also committed to providing information about anti-Asian hate and the efforts to stem it, especially in California. This week, our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco talked to three Fil-Am officials in heavily Fil-Am-populated cities about their local governments' moves to mitigate the current tensions against Asians. ["Fil-Am Local Officials Act Against Hate"] Additionally, we are reposting a story from Ethnic Media Services, "We Are Not Terrorists." Then there's our Hate Watch links to related stories from other publications.

But going back to the past, we have author Gayle Romasanta's article, first posted in the Smithsonian Magazine, on "Why It is Important to Know the Story of Filipino-American Larry Itliong" which includes a video teaser for the forthcoming theater production of "Larry the Musical."

For educators, parents and those who want a comprehensive guide to Fil-Am history, here's a link to a valuable resource from the San Francisco Unified School District:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WAVfSOs4kEnQ5cQD98KUVEV5hbbV5KgjU_a_HA9RxTU/preview 

While most Fil-Am history materials focus on the West Coast and Hawaii, let's not forget the significant role Washington DC played not only in defining policy but in hosting Filipino government officials making history. A book by "amateur historian" and professor Erwin R. Tiongson titled "Philippine-American Heritage in Washington DC," reviewed here by another professor, Patricio N. Abinales, tells the story from that side of America.

To round up our FAHM coverage, we are also posting below some stories from our archives.

Read Agains

‘Positively No Filipinos Allowed’ by M.T. Ojeda

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

We Stand On Their Shoulders, Part 4 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

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Staff