February 07, 2024

Hail to the Chefs

February 07, 2024/ Staff

Despite the teeth-gnashing and pity-parties about Filipino food not getting its due recognition in the international foodie universe, young Filipino chefs in various countries are innovating and creating unique dishes that celebrate their Filipino heritage. They have started fun pop-ups, restaurants and bakeshops. They are coming out with cookbooks inspired by traditional recipes and methods but are elevated to new heights. And they have gained recognition among foodies and critics.

Now comes proof that in the US, Fil-Am chefs and food establishments are now at par with the best of them: in the 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards for the James Beard Awards (the culinary Emmys), ten of them made it to the semifinals, an impressive feat considering that just a few years back, hardly anyone who's not Filipino has heard of Filipino cuisine. Here they are, the emerging culinary stars, in this compilation by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco.

Anti-Asian hate is presently resurgent but it definitely is nothing new. One of the most celebrated tragedies happened in 1982 when Vincent Chin, a Chinese American in Detroit, was brutally killed, a consequence of the implosion of the US auto industry. PF editor Rene Ciria-Cruz writes about this instance of xenophobic scapegoating and the rise of the Vincent Chin Institute which has come out with the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide, a teaching tool against anti-Asian hate.

PF's LA correspondent Anthony Maddela profiles Patricio Ginelsa, the filmmaker who made the movie Lumpia in 2003 and who has come out with its sequel, Lumpia with a Vengeance, which, in turn, has spawned a comic book. The movie has been doing the rounds of the film circuit for two years and it's available now on Blu-ray.

Toronto-based traveler/adventurer Odette Foronda takes us on another trip to Egypt, this one on a luxurious riverboat sailing the mythic Nile river. Her piece is a history lesson, a languid journey and an inspiring photo diary all at the same time.

First-time PF contributor Rashaan Alexis Meneses writes about Wildflowers, Beverly Parayno's first short story collection. Published by PAWA Press of San Francisco, the book explores what it means to be a woman in today's world.

[Video of the Week] Dinagyang Festival 2024

[Partner] Welcome In The Lunar New Year With A Free Bystander Intervention Training

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Elderly man books one way ticket back to China after several beatings, it’s ‘too dangerous’ in San Francisco
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2024/02/01/elderly-man-books-one-way-ticket-back-to-china-after-several-beatings-its-too-dangerous-in-san-francisco-1432976/

Anti-AAPI Hate Resource Guide Book For Elected Officials and Public Affairs Professionals
https://mailchi.mp/363754eca954/aapi-anti-hate-guide-book

Been there. Escaped that. History credited for Palestine sympathy among Asian Americans in Colorado
https://www.kunc.org/news/2024-02-03/been-there-escaped-that-history-credited-for-palestine-sympathy-among-asian-americans-in-colorado

US Schools Not Immune From Rise in Hate Crimes
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-schools-not-immune-from-rise-in-hate-crimes/7461751.html

“The first time I’ve been harmed physically”: The Boys Star Karen Fukuhara Brought Light to a Grave Issue After a Stranger Assaulted Her in Public
https://fandomwire.com/the-first-time-ive-been-harmed-physically-the-boys-star-karen-fukuhara-brought-light-to-a-grave-issue-after-a-stranger-assaulted-her-in-public/

Funding provided by the State of California.

In The Know

UN official: Violence against media ‘disturbing’ under Marcos
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/media-violence-02022024154410.html

Filipinos shine on the global stage: A promising start to 2024
https://usa.inquirer.net/143908/filipinos-shine-on-the-global-stage-a-promising-start-to-2024?fbclid=IwAR1--FBruCrR-bnfpoKrpjlnFpsmQ0RS1NPkz1F5n9iXjFSD1AZ_sP1QmMo

'One Philippines': NSC, Mindanao governments reject secession calls
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/02/04/2330893/one-philippines-nsc-mindanao-governments-reject-secession-calls

PH remains among countries seen to be corrupt
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1898820/ph-remains-among-countries-seen-to-be-corrupt?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=gallery

January 31, 2024

Paging Book Lovers

January 31, 2024/ Staff

An effective way of getting kids interested in reading is to offer them the yucky or the scary as subject matter. In his illustrated book Bunso Meets the Mumu, artist Rev Valdez uses the mumu, a Filipino sobriquet for “ghost,” as a come-on to make children realize it’s really nothing to be scared of. It’s also a way of introducing a broader audience to Filipino mythology and culture. Contributor Claire Mercado-Obias explores how Valdez does it (The Mumu Goes Mainstream).

Speaking of books, Frankfurt, Germany hosts the world’s largest book fair. In 2025, the Philippine book industry will be the holding a P200 million-peso exhibition. Contributor Criselda Yabes hopes Filipino book lovers from all over the diaspora will come to show their support. Frankfurt, she writes, is also worthy of exploration (All Booked Up in Frankfurt).

In this issue, we also feature the third-place winning entry at the 2022 Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award. Alfonso Delgado of Victoria City, Negros Occidental writes about breadfruit, a “super fruit” that also rekindles his memory of his grandmother and her cooking (The Breadfruit, a Super Fruit and So Much More).

Meanwhile, New York writer-editor Cristina DC Pastor gives an update on Vilma Kari, a victim of a hate assault in Times Square. Vilma is recovering from serious physical injuries she received from the unprovoked anti-Asian hate attack. But her daughter says recuperation from emotional damage is more challenging (Hate Survivor Vilma Kari: Doing Well Physically, But Emotional Healing Takes Time).

Finally, contributor Corin Ramos tells us that a tireless community leader in Las Vegas, Rozita Lee shows no sign of slowing down (Meet Unstoppable Community Advocate Rozita Lee). Originally from Lahaina, Maui, the 89-year-old, has gone back several times to her fire-devastated hometown to help survivors recover and cope with the aftermath. Manang Rozita is among the treasures of our community.

Video of the Week: Sinulog Festival 2024

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

CA vs Hate highlights new tools amid still-growing reports of hate
https://asamnews.com/2024/01/18/ca-vs-hate-highlights-new-tools/

Hate Crime Map
https://www.hatecrimemap.com/

NYS Bar Association proposes expansion of hate crime statute amid rising incidents
https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2024/01/22/nysba-proposes-statute-expansion-amid-rising-hate-crime/

A year later, the AAPI community is still crying for change after mass shootings in California
https://www.mlive.com/reckon/2024/01/a-year-later-the-aapi-community-is-still-crying-for-change-after-mass-shootings-in-california.html

IU shows solidarity with the Asian-American community through ‘Hope Not Hate’
https://www.idsnews.com/article/2024/01/bloomington-event-hope-not-hate-solidarity

Funding provided by the State of California.

In The Know

Did You Know That These Places Around the World Were Named After Filipinos?
https://www.esquiremag.ph/life/travel/places-named-after-filipin-a2281-20190513-src-spot-lfrm2?utm_medium=Echobox-Esquire&utm_campaign=Echobox-Ownshare&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR38Xs7Wxxyr1jeFSNnKHBhSfLhN9K3JsYysrNrm7DP4GeaBmJ8TxVAFIVQ#Echobox=1705630634

2023 Filipino American History Month Reading List
https://www.press.uillinois.edu/wordpress/2023-filipino-american-history-month-reading-list/

In Philippine Presidential Polls Looking to 2028, Duterte’s Daughter Is Already the Frontrunner
https://apple.news/A2WTd95b2T8uOKI8Go-crdg

FAST FACTS: The media industry’s struggles amid CNN Philippines’ closure
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/fast-facts-media-industry-struggles-cnn-philippines-closure/

January 24, 2024

Up and Coming Achievers

January 24, 2024/ Staff

As an information hub for the worldwide Filipino diaspora, Positively Filipino has documented the growth and expanse of Filipino presence outside the Philippines, particularly North America.

We've been in this business of watching the evolution of our community for over three decades, first as Filipinas magazine staff then, for the last 10 years, with PF. It is truly heartening for us to witness such growth -- from a relatively invisible immigrant group to what is now a strong, impactful force in such areas as health care, law, entertainment, the academe, sports and politics (in certain states). If you want proof, just check our website for our series on FilAms Among the Remarkable and Famous.

And now we have the second- and third generation who are firmly ensconced in their fields of expertise. This week we feature some of them:

Three FilAms breaking into the difficult-to-penetrate world of stand-up comedy, in Chicago at that, where such big names as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell got their start.

A FilAm student journalist from Georgetown University dissects how basketball is awakening FilAm identity and pride among high school students.

In Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a very impressive young woman is making waves not just as a tech and science whiz but as an entrepreneur with several patents to her name.

And for our anti-Asian Hate series, we feature a professor of law and a social justice advocate, Rose Cuizon-Villazor, who teaches at Rutgers Law School.

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

After racist threats forced a Southeast Asian restaurant to close down, the owner reopened a new restaurant as an homage to his immigrant parents
https://www.businessinsider.com/restaurant-asian-stereotype-eating-dog-racism-thai-community-2024-1

You Can Now Report LA Hate Incidents Online
https://laist.com/news/you-can-now-report-la-hate-incidents-online

Asian immigrants feel less safe moving to the US: Survey
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/asians-less-safe-us-survey/

35 years later, Stockton still remembers Cleveland Elementary School shooting
https://asamnews.com/2024/01/17/1989-cleveland-elementary-school-stockton-shooting-anniversary-aapi-community/

Chinese Travelers Are Still Cautious About Visiting the U.S. Here’s Why.
https://skift.com/2024/01/17/chinese-travelers-are-still-cautious-about-visiting-the-u-s-heres-why/

Funding provided by the State of California.