Beauty's Secret

She was a legendary beauty during her time (mid-20th century Philippines), her name always uttered with both reverence and speculation. Susan Magalona never  joined beauty contests, never inserted herself in national conversations. On the contrary, she was reclusive, therefore mysterious, which added to her mystique. It was only in later years that stories of segments of her life emerged: her sad first marriage, its annulment, her second marriage to another rich scion, her move to the US. PF Correspondent Virgilio Reyes, Jr., distilled the tales that swirled around Susan Magalona and shares the story with us.

Why was Philippine Independence Day changed from July 4 to June 12? Gemma Nemenzo explains in her column.

"Utang na Loob: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is the latest of PF's webinar series that aired last week. Moderated by Fil-Am journalist Leezel Tanglao, whose personal story illustrating this very Filipino cultural value led to a podcast series, the webinar featured the expertise of Fil-Am psychologist/authors EJR David and Kevin Nadal. Leezel puts context to the dissection here. If you want to listen to the actual webinar, the link is in her story. 

PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco continues her long-running series on Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous. It's a fitting statement on how much the community has flourished in the US that she hasn't ran out of people to include in her list.

A shout-out to residents and visitors to the City of Angels: there's a new Filipino restaurant in town with the clever name of Spoon & Pork. Its Adobo Belly Nigiri ($8) is deemed Michelin-worthy and is definitely worth the drive to either of its two branches, in the Sawtelle and Silverlake districts. PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela takes us there. 

For the Happy Home Cook, Spoon & Pork's Gising-gising recipe is a winner. 




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Feelings

Political hatred.

Such is the state of our current world that this phrase is now being uttered in public more frequently. And felt privately by many. Ukrainians in the midst of war with Russia feel it, citizens of Middle Eastern countries have been suffering through it for decades, Filipinos still reeling from the results of the recent elections are working their way out of it, and yes, a growing number of Americans are acting on their toxic feelings with tragic consequences. 

Already. there have been 198 mass shootings in the US in the 19 weeks of 2022, the latest of which was perpetrated by an Asian man against fellow Asians in a church in Southern California last weekend. The stats are truly scary: a 339 % increase of crimes against Asian Americans including Filipinos in 2021 (compared to the previous year). Not a happy thought for this Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month of May.

What causes someone to snap and run amok? It's a highly complex brew of mental, psychological and yes, political (including racism) issues that only trained mental health professionals can mitigate. But we can help by being vigilant in recognizing early indicators: if someone you know is exhibiting signs of extreme distress and unbridled emotions, it is time for an intervention. Getting that person to seek mental health treatment is important, but equally important is to make sure the person has no access to firearms. Or poison.

May is not just AAPI Heritage Month, it is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Let's do our part in celebrating both. 

This Week’s Stories

How To Respond To Anti-AAPI Hate by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

A Soldier And A Gentleman by Craig Scharlin

Banished But Unbowed by Fiona Basile

A Marcos Government And The Pink Movement by Randy David

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Vegan Nilaga

[Video of the Week] Painting with Soil in the Philippines


In The Know

The Marcos Restoration: 30 Years In The Making
https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/marcos-restoration-30-years-making?s=r

The Triumph of Marcos Dynasty Disinformation Is a Warning to the U.S.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-triumph-of-marcos-dynasty-disinformation-is-a-warning-to-the-us?fbclid=IwAR2yPEbJIjzamDspQOYZmfA76F4eZa621_0CuS8Pq1G5-jqJS_HhWFn7k9k

'Reginald the Vampire' Star Jacob Batalon Talks Filipino Pride In Honor Of AAPI Heritage Month
https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/reginald-the-vampire-star-jacob-batalon-filipino-pride-aapi-heritage-month?fbclid=IwAR0Qj10vb4tcIPBljDhHLWzLx4-erkk5Xo8g51N1IODGklRKo_FZflbjH_0

12 Other Countries Filipinos Can Visit with a U.S. Tourist Visa
https://www.esquiremag.ph/life/travel/countries-filipinos-us-visa-sa00192-20220313-src-preview?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20220511-fbnp-life-countries-filipinos-us-visa-sa00192-20220313-src-preview-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR3GDqEEEpUoF3Q_WizJbGrLCb7MoVpQqZbGUPBxfORKPo_maRnP0IyfL6w

The story of Adarna House began during the Marcos years
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/books/05/16/22/the-making-of-adarna-house-publisher-of-childrens-books?fbclid=IwAR0TFzpocs1NEPUlKNcHY9I3fgEJvjbPQhLEM-ub1X8xxLZp4O-6i4Z44Z4

These 7 Universities Are the Top Philippine Schools for Computer Science Courses
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/best-computer-science-universities-philippines-lfrm-a2749-20220407-src-candy-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-EsquireMoney&utm_medium=Siteshare&utm_campaign=20220501-fbnp-culture-best-computer-science-universities-philippines-lfrm-a2749-20220407-src-candy-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR1f8xSfQKq5v0PWxT1VbUnHlrGo2hNoQq65j4axZfdV7Cg7yECxHpHEgu8

10 heritage treasures of Old Manila, then and now
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/05/01/2174329/10-heritage-treasures-old-manila-then-and-now?fbclid=IwAR1zf69R3AY-Gx5P1moD-Lqo_kmzFYly6VRYMwaSomy63q-_VVR_n9bySB8

This New Restaurant in Paris Shines the Spotlight on Filipino Flavors
https://www.esquiremag.ph/food-and-drink/food/reyna-restaurant-pari-a2435-20220514-src-spot?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20220514-fbnp-food-and-drink-reyna-restaurant-pari-a2435-20220514-src-spot-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR0PbmLr9o_UoJMgWeg_lNA7toN20XN3ha9ik3QFqkmvv3GqkAbMCVrcohk


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What a Difference 30 Years Make

When Mona Lisa Yuchengco started Filipinas magazine in 1992, it was quite a task to find prominent Fil-Ams to feature. There were just a few in entertainment, fewer still in media and politics. 

What a difference 30 years make! Today, Fil-Ams have a strong presence in many fields -- entertainment, music, literature, the academe, media, government service and local politics. One of them is Rob Bonta, elected for multiple terms as the first Fil-Am in the California state legislature and recently appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as the state Attorney General, taking the place of now Vice President Kamala Harris. The appointment has left Bonta's legislative seat vacant and one of those running to fill that seat is Malia Vella, a Filipino American who is currently the vice mayor of Alameda, CA. Read about her (and wish her luck) in Harvey I. Barkin's write-up.

Part of the world is opening up after the devastating pandemic so we're now posting travel stories to places you might consider visiting in the future. A regular PF contributing writer, former Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr., writes about visiting Guam, a US territory with strong ties to our Motherland. 

Fil-Am author Mia P. Manansala's Arsenic and Adobo, one of Buzzfeed's highly anticipated mystery novels of 2021, is given a review by PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino.

From our archives, here are some Read Agains that continue to be good reading: 

Veteran journalist Philip M. Lustre Jr.'s recalls a time when politicians were competent and colorful, and the best of them all was Manila's mayor: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/arsenio-h-lacson-the-best-president-the-philippines-never-had

Famous artist/chef Claude Tayag remembers Anthony Bourdain's Philippine visit: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/bourdains-last-famous-badass-words

And we have a new contributor to our Happy Home Cook section: Maja Hu, based in Austin, TX, shares with us her recipe for waffles using the currently trendy Philippine root crop, ube. 

For Video of the Week, Asia Society Philippines put together a music video with well-known Filipino performers in a campaign against the rising Anti-Asian Hate Crimes in the U.S.

In The Know

Filipino Americans reported highest Covid mental health issues of any Asian group
https://news.yahoo.com/filipino-americans-reported-highest-covid-163936139.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Viral images show people of color as anti-Asian perpetrators. That misses the big picture.
https://news.yahoo.com/viral-images-show-people-color-184732271.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Little Manila Perseveres: How Filipinx Leaders in Stockton Are Organizing for the Next Generation
https://www.kqed.org/news/11878030/little-manila-perseveres-how-filipinx-leaders-in-stockton-are-organizing-for-the-next-generation?fbclid=IwAR19sHskRRMr-YmgMZum9saxnsBiKdvidcvUebOXjXtLtjr3Cd1NYlFNhSI

Kakanin: As Pinoy as it gets
https://philstarlife.com/living/999106-kakanin-pinoy-food?page=6

Partner Posts

Kalayaan 2021: Celebrating Partnership And Humanity

13th Annual Our Family, Our Future: ALLICE Virtual Event Aims To Empower Older Adults By Cherie M. Querol Moreno


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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino