Fateful August

While ancient Rome had its Ides of March, the Philippines has its Ides of August. Two history-changing tragedies occurred on the same date -- August 21 -- though 12 years apart: the assassination of Benigno Aquino and the bombing of Plaza Miranda during the Liberal Party's miting de avance before the 1971 elections, which led to the suspension of the writ habeas corpus (and, a year later, the declaration of martial law). For years it was believed that then-President Ferdinand Marcos carried out the Plaza Miranda carnage, but decades later, the true perpetrators were uncovered. Read Again journalist Gregg Jones' account of "The Ghosts of Plaza Miranda."

In 1983, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino was assassinated at the Manila International Airport (which now bears his name), an unspeakable crime that triggered the countdown to the end of the Marcos regime three years later. There have been so many accounts of that day, but the most poignant is the one written exclusively for Positively Filipino by Ken Kashiwahara, Ninoy's brother-in-law, who was with him on the plane when the ex-senator returned from exile. "Ninoy's Final Journey" is a must-read-again so we will never forget.

Vicente Tirona Paterno was one of the very few holdovers from the Marcos cabinet who made it to the Cory Aquino cabinet, a testimony to his competence and integrity. University of Honolulu-based professor and commentator Patricio Abinales reviews Paterno's autobiography, On My Terms, which came out shortly before the esteemed technocrat's death last year.

Another treat for travelers: contributor Jojo Sabalvaro-Tan's stories and sketches on Indonesia's island paradise, "Bali High."

Those seeking a sweet treat in Los Angeles are guided by our Contributing Writer Anthony Maddela to the B Sweet Dessert Bar of Fil-Am dessert creator Barbara Batiste. "A Filipino-Owned Dessert Oasis in LA" also gives us this week's Happy Home Cook recipe for the traditional sweet fave, Turon. 

Our Video of the Week is an eye-opener: The History of the Filipino in Korea, which is narrated in Filipino.