The Man Behind the Myth

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Imagine this scenario: a poor, chaotic country is holding an election for president. On one side, the incumbent -- ruthless, cunning, steeped in the politics of power; on the other side, a very popular movie actor, beloved by the masses for his standard role as defender of the powerless, but with nary an experience in governance or political maneuverings. The actor would have won, but for the shameless "order" of the incumbent to her appointed election official (of which she was caught when a recording of her phone call was made public, now infamously remembered as "Hello Garci"), with the assistance of some of her loyal generals, for the manufacture of a million votes in her favor.

So now, 16 years later, we wonder: what if that election had been clean and the result an honest reflection of the will of the people, would a president, armed only with sincerity, honesty and an abiding faith in the rule of law, have changed the historical trajectory of our homeland? More curiously, would the masses' hunger for a strongman leader fighting on their behalf have been satiated with the actor/hero at the helm, and thus staved off the need for the authoritarian leader we now have? 

On the occasion of what would have been his 81st birthday on August 20, Fernando Poe Jr.'s long-time personal and business manager Susan V. Tagle provides us an intimate profile of the man behind the myth.

Our Stories This Week:

The President Who Never Was By Susan V. Tagle

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 8 By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

My Uncle, The Visual Artist By Ivan Kevin Castro 

Read Again 

Filipino, the language, is no longer what we knew it to be: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/why-the-f-in-filipino-and-how-did-it-get-there

We commemorate this week the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against Spain, with a tribute to the man who led it: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/andres-bonifacio-the-other-national-hero

For our recipe of the week, we bring back Adobong Dilaw https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-happy-home-cook-adobong-dilaw-a-timeless-recipe?rq=adobong%20dilaw

In The Know

In the Philippines, A Community Fights to Protect Its Ancestral Lands
https://e360.yale.edu/features/in-the-philippines-a-community-fights-to-protect-its-ancestral-lands

Why The Philippines Has So Many Teen Moms
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/08/21/787921856/photos-the-hidden-lives-of-teen-moms

17 Unique Business Names that Reflect Filipino Humor
https://www.trendszilla.net/2020/05/28/17-unique-business-names-that-reflect-filipino-humor/?fbclid=IwAR1O3hM55VYhXbjQJTM87-TnFr5AsxmS19-sW5YNZpBvlqPQGfUutU98MK4

Immigrant finds strength, solace in Carlos Bulosan
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/190266/immigrant-finds-strength-solace-in-carlos-bulosan?fbclid=IwAR2Qi0K3qZE2TAUgV0PhwdrvQ1MPrbpTeY9TUp9jgVJlSFDczRAUcTJAmsI

In the Company of Heroes

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Today is the 142nd birthday of Manuel Luis Quezon, one of the most consequential of Philippine presidents, who presided during the Commonwealth period and is credited with setting the stage for the eventual independence of the Philippines from the US. In recent years, Quezon is remembered for a singular humanitarian act in 1939 that offered 10,000 visas for Jews fleeing from the Holocaust to seek refuge in Manila. Some 1,200 took up the offer, thus creating a Jewish community in Manila, known as the Manilaners. Read more about this in our story below.

Read Again: Stories about the Jewish rescue and its aftermath:

"Quezon Saved Jews from the Holocaust" by Ambeth R. Ocampo
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/quezon-saved-jews-from-the-holocaust

"Memories of Rescue in Manila" by Lyca Benitez-Brown
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/memories-of-refuge-in-manila?rq=jews

"A Rescue Hatched Over Poker, Bourbon and Cigars" by Esperanza Catubig
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/4/a-rescue-hatched-over-poker-bourbon-and-cigars?rq=jews

In two days, we will be commemorating a contemporary Filipino hero, Benigno Aquino Jr., whose assassination on August 21, 1983 led to massive protests that eventually led to the downfall of the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. That fateful journey of Ninoy from his US exile to his landing at the Manila International Airport (which now bears his name) was documented in painful detail by his brother-in-law, Ken Kashiwahara, then ABC News correspondent, who traveled with him. We are reprinting here Ken's story from the New York Times on October 16, 1983.

Also in this issue, retired Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. writes about Leonor Orosa-Goquingco, National Artist for dance, whose Filipinescas dance company displayed her innovative choreography of traditional Filipino dances.

Likewise, PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino profiles Johanna Mirpuri, social media influencer, food blogger and cookbook author. From Johanna's recently released "Simple Salads" cookbook comes our recipe for the Happy Home Cook this week, Summer Garden Caesar Panzanella Salad.

For our Video of the Week, here's a live performance of Fanny, the acclaimed and pioneering all-girl rock band of the early '70s, headlined by two Fil-Am sisters, June and Jean Millington.

A reminder to join us for our next Positively Filipino webinar:

Immigration and White Supremacy

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Last Monday's Positively Filipino webinar on Immigration in the Time of Racial Unrest, Pandemic and Trump was chock full of information and food for thought, with the combined forces of Jose Antonio Vargas, who was, as usual, a profound, articulate "spokesperson" for the undocumented, and Lourdes Tancinco, a veteran immigration lawyer who provided valuable updates on how immigration policies have changed under Trump. One participant commented that the webinar "should be recommended viewing for all Filipinos and Fil-Ams." 

For those who missed the session, here's the recording: [WEBINAR] Racism And The Filipino American 3: Immigrants In The Time Of Racial Unrest, Pandemic, And Trump

We are also announcing the next webinar, "Shut Down for a Shakedown? Behind the Attempts to Muzzle Press Freedom and ABS-CBN.” This will be on Monday, August 24 at 6pm PDT/9 pm EDT and in the Philippines, on Tuesday, August 25 at 9 am. Click on the link to register. https://bit.ly/shutdownshakedown

This Week's Stories:

On Filipino Culture, In The Wake Of Barkadagate By Kat Velayo Greenberg

Mia Mercado Keeps It Real By Walter Ang 

What Happened On Hacienda Street By George Deoso

What’s My Future In The Culinary World? By Nina Ines Garma

Read Again: The Untold Story of Nina Thomas By Titchie Carandang-Tiongson & Erwin R. Tiongson

Recipe of the Week: The Happy Home Cook: Atsara (Pickled Papaya) By Nina Ines Garma

Video of the Week: Why People Risk Their Lives To Bleach Their Skin

In The Know

Coronavirus: Philippines denies it has the most cases in East Asia
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-denies-it-has-the-most-cases-in-east-asia?fbclid=IwAR31nRGP-2SyMK1b0Bq82hLlDqq_RDh3mN3BNwM905z7vqtTGZWpK2-J9JM

The Fearless Journalist Targeted by a Murderous Dictator
https://news.yahoo.com/fearless-journalist-targeted-murderous-dictator-091715077.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Hot chocolate in the tropics? The story behind sikwate, a delicious Philippines treat
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/philippines-sikwate-chocolate/index.html

Philippine fast food giant Jollibee loses US$240 million and will be closing 255 stores
https://sea.mashable.com/culture/11835/philippine-fast-food-giant-jollibee-loses-us2-billion-and-will-be-closing-255-stores?fbclid=IwAR1iW3pOOZ3WHVXedsCdKGNxPSehue5EHCc-WogmwckbyaDu2m7KTPW2C6Y

Rising volume of intercepted PH pangolins tied to Chinese influx
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1317400/rising-volume-of-intercepted-ph-pangolins-tied-to-chinese-influx#ixzz6Uw2JQ6DY

Coping with COVID-19: Food Art by Dindo Llana
https://www.australianfilipina.com.au/article/coping-with-covid-19--food-art-by-dindo-llana?fbclid=IwAR3KjTesbvwzI6qRjSKBiHEoxK9FmpNXIBPYZCA_RRtaLHfDgYuuZfSSUL8