Famous Moms and the Bayanihan Spirit

That was an enlightening and heartwarming session with "Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Mothers" yesterday, Positively Filipino's Mother's Day webinar. The four articulate panelists paid tribute to their mothers while revealing some pretty interesting insights and anecdotes about the persons behind the celebrity.  If you missed the event or want to view it again, here's the link: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/webinar-video-loving-kids-talk-about-their-famous-mothers

Community pantries continue to sprout in the Philippines as the Filipino bayanihan spirit flourishes during the pandemic. In Baesa, Quezon City, the Sombillo family pooled their resources and generously shares with the less fortunate in the area. Toronto-based contributor Patria Cabatuando-Rivera shines the spotlight on them in "Bayanihan to the Rescue."

Veteran scriptwriter Marina Feleo-Gonzalez gets a comprehensive tribute from regular PF writer (and her former student) Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. in "Songs Her Father Taught Her."

And from a cooking event in the Bay Area, Miguel Carrion writes about Chef Rocky, the personal chef of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and her luscious french toast that she serves through her company, BriqueLA. Crave the treat in "Chef Rocky Rocks French Toast for The Rock."

The continuing violence against Asian Americans begs the question, if you see it happening, what can you do? Here's a must-watch video on the "5Ds of Bystander Intervention." I hope you take it to heart. 

Stories of the Week

[Webinar Video] Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Mothers

Bayanihan To The Rescue By Patria Cabatuando-Rivera

Songs Her Father Taught Her By Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

Chef Rocky Rocks French Toast For The Rock By Miguel Carrion

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Arroz A La Cubana By Elizabeth Ann Quirino

[Video of the Week] 5Ds of Bystander Intervention

In The Know

H.E.R, Olivia Rodrigo, Saweetie, Patrick Starrr Among Fil-Ams On Gold House’s Annual A100 List Of Impactful APIs
https://www.asianjournal.com/life-style/arts-culture/h-e-r-olivia-rodrigo-saweetie-patrick-starrr-among-fil-ams-on-gold-houses-annual-a100-list-of-impactful-apis/

Pandemic Pantries in the Streets? You Communist!
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/opinion/philippines-covid-pantries.html?campaign_id=39&emc=edit_ty_20210507&instance_id=30378&nl=opinion-today&regi_id=47563992&segment_id=57460&te=1&user_id=a6813a01d20d50942afadad6c6f1e549

WATCH: The Story Behind Spain's Infamous Zoo That Featured Philippine Animals... And Then Filipinos
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/filipino-human-zoo-madrid-spain-crystal-palace-a00293-20201006-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR1iVyeWIwEpuNQkw4ALD5nRppE_nXwcVJLhB0pI6XmNkIyA0BpsHrAafhA

How and why Johnny became Johnny Air Cargo
https://www.thediarist.ph/how-and-why-johnny-became-johnny-air-cargo/

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Quezon City Is a Stunning Example of the Importance of Restoration
https://www.spot.ph/things-to-do/the-latest-things-to-do/73673/las-casas-filipinas-de-acuzar-in-quezon-city-is-a-stunning-example-of-the-importance-of-restoration-a1125-20180508-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR0Mj_gg4hhUYGaldbo4276UEnjlXE8NvUtX-Z2K_083dk8hvayz53uAbJ0

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Comforting the Afflicted, Afflicting the Comfortable

When I was in journalism school at the University of the Philippines (UP) many decades ago, our professors -- all giants in the field -- imprinted into our consciousness two basic tenets that every decent journalist should take to heart: first, that an independent, unfettered press is vital to good government, and second, it is not the role of the press to comfort the comfortable. On the contrary, the role of the press is to make those in power uncomfortable, by being the guardian and the disseminator of truth and decency. Such principles were tested sorely during martial law, and they are again being tested now.

To paraphrase Oprah, the press is currently under siege, not just in the US but more so in the Philippines. Upholding press freedom has become a bruising challenge these days; its suppression has taken many forms -- from outright harassment, legal cases, trolling and imprisonment, even killing of journalists. The latest case is the revocation of the license to operate of Rappler, an online publication in Manila. With our In The Know links this week, we keep you updated on the issue:

Rappler Registration Revoked
https://www.rappler.com/nation/193687-rappler-registration-revoked

SEC revocation of Rappler’s registration explained
http://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-sheet-sec-revocation-rapplers-registration-e

Three things Duterte got wrong about Rappler
http://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-check-three-things-duterte-got-wrong-about-r

In time of slaughter and lies, Rappler is a beacon of hope
http://usa.inquirer.net/9322/time-slaughter-lies-rappler-beacon-hope

Of PDRs and 'foreign ownership' of PH media
https://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/176774-pdrs-media-ownership

Media, human rights groups slam SEC closure order vs. Rappler
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/01/16/media-groups-on-SEC-closure-order-rappler.html

Our lineup for this week takes us to Vancouver, Canada as PF contributing writer Sandie Gillis chronicles the visit of National Artist BenCab and his drawing session with Filipino-Canadian artists who belong to the Dimasalang III artist collective in that area. 

It also takes us back in time to the construction of the railroad to Baguio in the early part of the 20th century by our American colonizers. Historian/academic Michael Gonzalez writes about the progress and folly of the ambitious project to provide the Americans in the Philippines an easy way to vacation in the land of pines.

PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco attended for the first time and writes about the annual event of Bantayog ng Mga Bayani in Quezon City. Bantayog is a memorial site for the gallant men and women who resisted martial law and last year, the Bantayog heroes included the late Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, who turned out to be a secret supporter of some "subversive" activities against Marcos.

And in the same spirit of resistance, let's revisit what is now immortalized as the First Quarter Storm of 1970. Read Again journalist Jose "Pete" Lacaba's riveting account of that period, from his classic book Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage. We posted it in two parts:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-1

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-2

Our Happy Home Cook recipe for this week: Bangus Sisig by Chef Niel Salvatera of Kusina de Manila in Des Plaines, Illinois.

For our Video of the Week, TV Journalist TJ Manotoc opens up on a taboo topic in Philippines: Living with Depression.