We're 5 Years Old!

Our first issue for 2017 also marks the fifth year of publication of Positively Filipino.To all of you who are still reading us and helping to spread the word about this site, our heartfelt thanks. It has been an exhilarating ride putting together writers and readers under a banner that is credible and deeply informative of things Filipino. We have learned as much as we have shared, and for this we thank our contributing writers. To those who are curious about who we are, please click on About Us. We'd like to hear more from you, and one way to do that is to just click on Reply to this email posting and we'll see your message. We hope to have your continued support in the years to come.

We have just gone through a very interesting year and here's our compilation of 2016's most popular stories:

10. A Home For Filipino Food In the Capital By Elizabeth Ann Quirino
9. And You Thought You Knew Everything About Beauty Pageants By Myles Garcia
8. An Open Letter to Mayor Duterte By Monique Wilson
7. Limeuil By Ofeila Gelvezon Tequi
6. She Keeps The Defense Agency Shipshape By Anthony Maddela
5. Opinion: What Happens If Bongbong Marcos Becomes Vice President By Myles Garcia
4. The Stunning Isabel Preysler By Mona Lisa Yuchengco
3. Jordan Norwood: Carrying the Ball for Filipinos at the Super Bowl By Lloyd LaCuesta and Ken Guanga
2. The Political Outsider By Randy S. David
1. How Filipinos Got Their Surnames By Penelope V. Flores

The recent award by the U.S. Congress of the Congressional Medal of Honor for Filipino veterans of WWII prompted Washington, D.C.-based community leader Jon Melegrito to write "Honoring My Dad, a War Veteran." The piece brings home the very personal story behind the long fight for veterans' recognition and equity, a cause that Melegrito himself tirelessly worked for.

Positively Filipino Contributing Writer Rey de la Cruz sent in a nostalgic story about his hometown -- Ballesteros, Cagayan, of which he has fondly written a children's book. If you grew up in a small town in the Philippines, "Ballesteros On My Mind," will trigger fond memories of childhood joys. 

After a holiday season that, of course, involved food binges, how about stepping back and making some vegan longganisa. Our vegan maven Richgail Enriquez tells us how.

For our Video of the Week, we feature a wonderful blend of spoken word, cultural beats and ethnic dance from Filipino Canadian artists Han Han, Datu and Hataw.