Meet Malaka Gharib, Pinay Cartoonist

When I first saw the graphic memoir of Malaka Gharib, my first thought was, why is this author included in a Filipino American book festival? Turns out she is Filipino Egyptian, brought up in southern California by her Filipino mother, and spends her summers in Egypt with her father. This unique background is material enough for an interesting memoir, but Malaka is much more than the ethnicity of her genes. A cartoonist of no mean talent, she contributes to the New Yorker and works for NPR, in addition to some non-profit involvements. PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino profiles her. ["Watch Out World: Journalist-Artist Malaka Gharib Inspires Action with Cartoons]

Those who grew up in the Philippines in the 1950s to the 1970s will remember the "Weapons of Moroland," a wooden wall decor shaped like a shield with miniature swords pasted on it. We had one, I'm sure your parents or grandparents owned one too. Washington DC-based historical researcher Erwin R. Tiongson digs into the provenance of the decor and unearths some disturbing beliefs attached to this cultural icon. ["'Weapons of Moroland' and our Homes"]

Long-time Quezon City residents will remember its dynamic former mayor, Adelina S. Rodriguez, who was also the first lady of the province of Rizal since her husband, Isidro Rodriguez, was then the governor. Mrs. Rodriguez has just celebrated her centennial birthday, good enough reason for her nephew-in-law Men Sta. Ana to honor her with a tribute. ["Tia Daling: One Hundred Years of Zest, Happiness, and Meaning"]

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is the third of celebrity chef Sandy Daza's recipes that he is sharing with PF, from his recently released cookbook, "Cooking with Sandy." We hope you enjoy Sandy's version of "Vermicelli Spring Rolls."

Video of the Week: The world's "most under-appreciated cuisine" shows travel journalist Jonathan Legg exploring Filipino food 

Our In The Know links this week, ICYMI.

Biden holds big lead over Trump with Asian American voters, survey says
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-09-15/biden-trump-aapi-voters?fbclid=IwAR3mHBKnI9cC83DbLX4gxsggHlofGFU5cToYt90bRUVq-rEHW2mysbKl_-k

Child Pornography Industry Booms in the Philippines, World Capital of Cybersex Crime
https://www.esquiremag.ph/money/industry/pandemic-revenue-child-exploitation-a00304-20200916?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20200916-fbnp-money-pandemic-revenue-child-exploitation-a00304-20200916-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR2lMf9ouDzbC_yxZemkweNHGGmE_EdERaiknhAxXSa-izpJuDnUzODexNA

Martial law museum to rise on UP Diliman campus
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1337779/martial-law-museum-to-rise-on-up-campus?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1600642585

Pio Abad – interview: ‘The backbone of my practice is family: personal and political narratives entwined’
https://www.studiointernational.com/index.php/pio-abad-interview-the-collection-of-jane-ryan-william-saunders-ferdinand-imelda-marcos-phillilpines

Korean Dramas: Why Filipinos Can't Get Enough
https://www.reportr.world/news/why-filipinos-can-t-get-enough-of-korean-dramas-a4713-20200918-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR389V5n5hpH_HDSAz3GCYsico-I8IapPo8YWLkc63gv8HtpBF2FbqGbP3I

In Hawaii, a man lost his surfboard. It reappeared in the Philippines
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in-hawaii-a-man-lost-his-surfboard-it-reappeared-in-the-philippines/ar-BB19g9rp?ocid=msedgntp

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Angsty August

The death of a highly esteemed environmentalist and philanthropist coupled with the possible release of a triple life sentenced criminal made for an unsettled August week in the Philippines.

Many mourned the passing of Gina Lopez, the nemesis of miners and other ecological criminals. Veteran journalist Paulynn P. Sicam paid tribute to this complicated and committed earth warrior in “Gina Lopez: Rich Girl, Kind Heart, Woman Warrior.”

August won't end without commemorating the assassination of another outstanding Filipino, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., and our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco shares with us her speech for the occasion, delivered at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco (“Ninoy Changed My Life”).

And speaking of that earth-shaking assassination, one of those who were prominently mentioned in the investigations that followed was the late Arthur Custodio, then an Air Force colonel, who brought in the late Rolando Galman to take part in the crime of the century. Our Canada-based contributor Albert J. Lesaca writes about his infamous high school classmate in “Memories Are Made of This – My Friend, Arthur Custodio.”

Ahh, Coron. When things go awry, we imagine ourselves in this slice of Palawan paradise, although as PF contributor Willie Vergara writes in “Coron, Once Is Not Enough,” paradise could be too optimistic a word. 

For our Happy Home Cook, here's a Read Again recipe from our resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino, that has been part of my meal menu for quite a while now (read: easy and delicious): Pesang Salmon aka Filipino fish stew.

Our In The Know links that you shouldn't miss:

The Uncounted Dead of Duterte's Drug War
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/08/philippines-dead-rodrigo-duterte-drug-war/595978/?fbclid=IwAR3L29HpKIJsFNqNhdDx67NM4Pu9q3cP1sQjPBPm2evhz7yybooA1R5Zvp4

This impressive collection of Philippine religious imagery finally sees the light of day
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/art/05/01/19/the-intramuros-collection-of-religious-imagery-finally-sees-the-light-of-day?fbclid=IwAR19xhrUxYpHB6wiP5GnRw4kZ-Ozd_giGp_Fvi9ZJtNvqx0dcaHZTYHO4jc

‘Brutalist’ martial law museum to rise in UP Diliman 
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/08/25/1946123/brutalist-martial-law-museum-rise-diliman?fbclid=IwAR0_0hwM4TdbCVUCHEbjl9kEGIlyWerTj0iHC84MPGDF1g9WFWz3WnGGPNU

My Grandfather, A Killer 
https://www.npr.org/2019/08/18/749810572/my-grandfather-a-killer?te=1&nl=california-today&emc=edit_ca_20190820?campaign_id=49&instance_id=11769&segment_id=16314&user_id=a6813a01d20d50942afadad6c6f1e549&regi_id=47563992

For Video of the Week, GMA Public Affairs’ I-Witness features a documentary on the estuaries of Manila.