July 31, 2024

Our Houses of Spirits

July 31, 2024/ Staff

Who among us can’t sing Bahay Kubo, an anthem of Filipino childhood written by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon celebrating the simple virtues of a humble nipa hut with a bountiful vegetable garden? Contributing writer Claire Mercado-Obias (A Tiny But Mighty Home) writes about the book Our Nipa Hut by Fil-Am librarian Rachelle Abalos, who shares her memory of growing up in the Philippines in a modest home that kept them safe through life’s challenges.

A sharp contrast to the nipa hut are the magnificent ancestral mansions of the rural gentry in Houses that Sugar Built: An Intimate Portrait of Philippine Ancestral Homes by Gina Consing McAdam and Siobhán Doran. Contributing writer Vic Salas (Up Close and Architectural: Houses that Sugar Built) reviews the book of stories and photographs that intimately explores the grand aspirations, both architectural and cosmopolitan, of the sugar barons that built them.

Of course, all homes simple or grand have to withstand nature’s mercurial temper, as shown by the most recent deluge that brought record floods to Metro Manila and other environs. Writer Rossana Lopez reminds us that devastating inundations also eat away at spiritual foundations: “Why do we put up with this?” asks Rossana, decrying the recurring disruptions to life and comfort that inclement weather brings (What the Rains Wash Away). She observes that the vaunted resilience of Filipinos can be self-defeating.

Can be self-defeating, it must be clarified, because resilience has indeed been a necessary part of many Filipinos’ life stories, such as the one contributing writer Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. relates (War and Deliverance) of family members who had to rebuild their lives, and successfully so, from the ashes of the Second World War in the Philippines.

[Video of the Week] Olympic Pole Vaulter EJ Obiena

In the Know

Immigrant nurses “penalized” for quitting work reach settlement
https://asamnews.com/2024/07/26/stay-or-pay-traps-filipino-immigrant-nurses-says-lawsuit/

On remote island, Chinese patrols disrupt Filipino livelihoods – and gender roles
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2024/0723/south-china-sea-philippines-china-thitu-feminist-equality

Two members of a Washington family sentenced for selling fake Alaska Native art in Ketchikan
https://alaskapublic.org/2024/07/12/two-members-of-a-washington-family-sentenced-for-selling-fake-alaska-native-art-in-ketchikan/

Meet Fil-Am Olympic gold medalist in fencing Lee Kiefer
https://usa.inquirer.net/154198/meet-fil-am-olympic-gold-medalist-in-fencing-lee-kiefer?utm_source=usa_gallery_feat_story

Rugby Sevens bronze medalist Alena Olsen on her proud Filipino American heritage
https://www.instagram.com/megreyes_/reel/C-D1LOSypFi/

In SF Central SOMA, a beloved vehicle is driving the neighborhood’s Filipino revival
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s-f-central-soma-filipino-19599903.php?

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Here are With LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes Rising, How is California Responding?
https://ethnicmediaservices.org/stop-the-hate/with-lgbtq-hate-crimes-rising-how-is-california-responding/

Senate hopeful Adam Schiff reinforces support for AAPI communities in Oakland outreach
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/adam-schiff-oakland-aapi-19596772.php

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visits Wausau
https://www.wjfw.com/news/second-gentleman-doug-emhoff-visits-wausau/article_adb1a6e8-4c6f-11ef-b109-2332a6486180.html

Funding provided by the State of California.

June 14, 2023

Sesame Mucho

June 14, 2023/ Staff

In the early 1980s, Filipino children were introduced to two lovable muppets -- Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing -- in the educational TV program, "Sesame." The two muppets were created by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), producer of Sesame Street, in a partnership with the Philippine Sesame Street Project (PSSP). Under the partnership, CTW also trained key PSSP creative staff, including the puppeteers, in the Sesame Street model of educational TV -- curriculum-based segments, age-focused and fun.

"Sesame," the program, eventually became the famous "Batibot" and PSSP became the Philippine Children's Television Foundation (PCTVF), but the concept, format, and Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing remained. The program aired five days a week for a remarkable 18 years, bringing forth an actual "Batibot generation" whose formative years were guided by the show, the same way generations of American children were reared on Sesame Street.

When the partnership between CTW and PCTVF expired in the 1990s, CTW claimed back Pong and Kiko, the muppets. Unfazed, PCTVF created locally made muppets for Batibot. Sesame Street's Filipino connection ended then.

Fast forward to 2023, and CTW, now known as the Sesame Workshop, recently introduced in Sesame Street, a Fil-Am muppet named TJ, mirroring a four-year old child living in Daly City. Conceptualized by Fil-Ams, TJ's creation followed the same rigorous attention to details that made Pong and Kiko so endearing to Filipino children. This week, we bring you the background story of TJ's creation, from PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela.

We are noting three significant events in this issue: Philippine Independence Day (June 12), Jose Rizal's birthday (June 19) and Father's Day (June 18). We hope you enjoy our lineup this week.

Stories This Week

A Muppet For All Reasons by Anthony Maddela

In My Father’s Two Worlds by Nanette Carreon-Ruhter

Meet Miss Texas America And Her Mom’s Tulong Foundation by Jocelyn Alvarez Allgood

Paco, Manila – Call It By Its Name by Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

[Read Agains]

A Valiant People's Army by John L. Silva

Why June 12 Is Different From Other Days by John L. Silva

Untold Lessons From My Father by Ed Diokno

Jose Rizal, Martial Arts Warrior by Rene J. Navarro

[Cook It Again] Dishes For Independence Day by Chef Marvin Gapultos

[Video of the Week] Immigrant Heritage Month

[Partner] 14th Annual Our Family, Our Future ALLICE 20th Jubilee Event Aims To Empower Older Adults, Stop Hate by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

In The Know

‘Holy grail’: Juan Luna’s lost masterpiece revealed after 132 years
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/holy-grail-juan-luna-hymen-oh-hymenee-lost-masterpiece-revealed/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwAR3ZpXDnCwE3heq_6ko_8lzKkqoFs6x5tvQ3nRsFQ2rEeuDCvmrQc5Symcw

IU School of Medicine-Evansville student to compete in FIFA Women's World Cup
https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/md-student-news/iu-school-of-medicine-evansville-student-to-compete-in-fifa-womens-world-cup?fbclid=IwAR2F3L6d8C57kV8PtibRkUn0IxWOzcHAhk1CRNno2V7UVWnwa-lJ6jvqkmc

This city was ravaged in WWII. Why do few remember the suffering and sacrifice?
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-05-29/manila-was-ravaged-in-wwii-why-does-no-one-remember-this

Filipino artists challenging stereotypes and showcasing talents at new exhibit
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6865995?fbclid=IwAR2iZsowM4fb46WEr3dkDdSR-pXC1XnKQjI09Go-FFNAOAK_YI1ZN_bdwlA

Ibang-ibang Ibarra! Find out how foray into musical theatre changed Piolo’s life
https://bilyonaryo.com/2023/06/08/ibang-ibang-ibarra-find-out-how-foray-into-musical-theatre-changed-piolos-life/business/?fbclid=IwAR0YQftJPXj0I4RqFXzQ4xOEINPcH5xFi0TVQ0DCrxWIlSws__KJU7s-WwY#gsc.tab=0

April 07, 2021

Bullseye on our Backs?

April 07, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

Where are our martial arts warriors when we need them?

I heard someone ask this question when the video of a 65-year old Filipino woman being assaulted last week in New York's Times Square in broad daylight became viral. Sure, it's a stereotype and a myth that Asians are Bruce Lees but with the almost daily stream of verbal and physical assaults on Asian Americans, can't we call on our ninja warriors for protection? Or at the very least, assistance? The video of Vilma Kari didn't show anyone coming to her aid; in fact, security guards at the building closed the doors on her (they've been fired). It was only a few days later that Vilma's daughter posted that a person across the street "yelled and screamed to get the assailant's attention" thereby disrupting the vicious attack. No one else helped; NYPD didn't even get a 911 call.

Few of us can be as badass as the Chinese lola Xiao Zhen Xie in San Francisco who fought back. Or as lucky, since there was a wooden board handy that she picked up to whack her assailant with which landed him, not her, in the hospital.

It's gratifying to know that Asian American groups, including the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA, see Partner post below), are calling for the consolidation of efforts to address this issue of hate crimes against Asians. Doubly gratifying that the Biden administration has our backs, rhetorically and policy-wise.

In the real world however, we continue to be vulnerable. I was in New York last week at the time of Vilma Kari's assault and I admit that the very normal NYC activity of taking a walk felt like there was a bullseye on my back. This is no way to live.

What can we do to protect ourselves while we wait for all the organizing and the concerted efforts to take effect?