Famous Moms and the Bayanihan Spirit

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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

Two Women

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Our webinar tonight, "We Are NOT the Virus," is a much needed conversation about the increase in verbal and physical assaults against Asian Americans, particularly the elderly, since the pandemic started. While not all of these can be considered hate crimes legally (apparently there is a higher legal threshold for a hate crime, which will also be discussed tonight), Asians including Filipino Americans know that in these days of careless rhetoric, one doesn't have to dig deep to find race in any aggressive act. Find out what you can do to protect yourself. Sign up to join.

For those who missed last week's fascinating webinar "An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines", here's the recording, which includes the movie trailer. 

In this issue, we shine a light on the remarkable Fil-Ams appointed to significant positions in the Biden administration, four of which are women. 

Likewise, PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes, reporting from Manila, gives us an update on recent case victories of two women who the Philippine president condemn as thorns on his side: Vice President Leni Robredo and detained Senator Leila de Lima. 

From Germany, Filipino German filmmaker Divina Kuan marks her presence in the indie film category with her short film, "The Manicurists."

Happy Women's History Month to all the Filipino women who are making history.

Iffy Days Are Here Again

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Dark, ominous clouds are looming over the Philippine political landscape. Even as thousands of people -- including a large number of millennials -- had just gathered in various cities all over the country to protest the hero's burial of whatever remains of ex-president Ferdinand Marcos, President Rodrigo Duterte effectively fired two women from his cabinet on Sunday, December 4. Vice President Leni Robredo and Patricia Licuanan, chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (with a fixed term as mandated by law until 2018), both got text messages from Cabinet Secretary Leandro Evasco Jr. dis-inviting them from attending Cabinet meetings. Reason given, at least to VP Leni, was "irreconcilable differences" with the President. (We are posting the Vice President's resignation announcement, the list of her achievements so far as VP, and Malacanang's official statement on this issue.)

Social media blew up following the announcement: Is the president paving the way for the installation of losing VP contender Bongbong Marcos, who has protested the results of the election? Or is this just a case of President Digong's inability to work with strong women who do not bow to his wishes and his whims? Since he himself admits that he is bipolar, was he on his manic state or his depressive state?

On another issue that's equally disturbing, Fil-Am writer Rene M. Astudillo asks, "Is our Freedom of Speech Under Attack?" The question is relevant in the prevailing atmosphere where trolls, fake news sites, divisiveness and the ascendancy of thin-skinned, authoritarian-leaning leaders are no longer the stuff of horror, but have indeed become reality.

And just a touch of levity in an otherwise scary scenario: Millenials with their generational humor and language dominated the massive protest actions against the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Here are some examples of the placards they did themselves. 

Interesting times indeed are forthcoming, in the Philippines, the US and the rest of the world where "populist" (code word for racist and authoritarian) leaders seem to be gaining ground. As in every drama and tragedy, the operative word is "Abangan ang susunod na kabanata." (Watch for the next episode).

Tomorrow we join in the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor with a statement fromthe Filipino Veterans' Recognition and Education Project. The Washington DC-based group recently chalked up a major victory with the passing of the bill bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor to Filipino World War II Veterans. President Obama is slated to sign the bill into law very soon -- one of his last acts as the 44th President of the US. 

Two notable Filipinos are profiled in this issue: Chef Paul Qui who won the "Top Chef - Season 9" of the popular TV show some years back and the James Beard Award for Best Chef for the Southwest in 2012; and Joji Ilagan Bian, a Davao-based educator and entrepreneur. Positively Filipino Contributing Writers Elizabeth Ann Quirino and Serina Aidasani wrote the profiles, respectively.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe of the week: Silken Tofu, Tapioca and Caramel Parfait (aka Taho) from Los Angeles-based chef and cookbook author Marvin Gapultos.

And for our Video of the Week, a powerful, heart-rending video by Ditsi Carolino, Gladys Llanes, and Kyle Venturillo on the new Marcos burial protests.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino