Intense

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The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the bible of the living, breathing English language, adds words from various languages annually. Last week, it added the Filipino word gigil to its more than 600,000 recognized words, listing it as one of the "untranslatable" words, meaning those that do not have equivalents in the English language. Indeed how do you explain gigil to a non-Filipino without using many words? The OED lists gigil as a noun and an adjective. 

Gigil (noun) is "An intense feeling caused by anger, eagerness, or the pleasure of seeing someone or something cute or adorable, typically physically manifested by the tight clenching of hands, gritting of the teeth, trembling of the body, or the pinching or squeezing of the person or thing causing this emotion." As an adjective, "Of a person: overwhelmed by an intense feeling caused by anger, eagerness, or the pleasure of seeing someone or something cute or adorable." The OED cites some awkward examples of the use of the term. Most writeups in media announcing the addition of the word focus on the cuteness aspect, which is understandable. But we Filipinos know that there is more to the word than that. 

We know that we are nanggigigil on something so outrageous that it triggers intense ire, like the vloggers who invent stories without any truthful bases, post fake news and cyberbully those who dare call them out on their lies. Philippine-based PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo writes this week about how his name was cited by a Duterte-biased fake news peddler as one of the cyberbullies that should be investigated by Congress, triggering an avalanche of hate messages on him. Read all about it and be informed about relevant laws in "The 'Bully' That I Am."

Another form of panggigigil: when we're overwhelmed by intense admiration of a person or a creative work, much like what we can anticipate when the Filipino movie "Sisa" comes out with the consummate actress Hilda Koronel in the title role. PF contributing writer Cathy Sanchez Babao talked to her friend Hilda (aka Susan Reid) after the latter wrapped up production of director Jun Robles Lana's historical thriller. 

And now that we're on the subject of history, there's a new book on the objects of plunder -- a vast collection of paintings and objets d'art -- owned by a certain Jane Ryan and William Saunders (ultimately exposed as Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos). Authored by UK-based artist Pio Abad, the book Fear of Freedom Makes Us See Ghosts has a canary yellow cover, a political statement in itself, and is described by PF contributing writer, Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. as "handsome." That makes it worth buying.

World War II stories take center stage when April comes around because of the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9. This national holiday remembers the Fall of Bataan, a significant turning point in the Pacific theater on April 9, 1942. 

Here's a first-person WWII story that chronicles the bombing and its aftermath in Iloilo, from the eyes of a young girl, Maja Teresa Concepcion-Guerrero. She wrote about the events upon the prodding of her younger brother, Rogie Concepcion (a PF contributing writer), who shares the excerpts with us, following Maja Teresa's recent passing at the age of 91. How her recollections were triggered by a random picture of a staircase is a story in itself.  

Read Again:

Death of an Army by Antonio A. Nieva

The Spies Who Came in from the Sea by Virgil N. de la Victoria

Re-enacting the Bataan Death March: A Personal Journey by Jon Melegrito

[Video of the Week] Mambo Magsaysay — The first viral campaign jingle
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Human Courtesies

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In this era of extreme polarization, it's refreshing and important to be reminded of basic human courtesies, even in the most polarizing conflict of all: war. In "Of Fallen Pilots and Military Courtesies," PF contributing writer Soliman M. Santos Jr. calls for "respectful gestures that demonstrate a basic human respect for life lost, regardless of allegiance," following the recent death of two young Philippine Air Force pilots from a plane crash while on a bombing mission on New People's Army (NPA) territory in Bukidnon. The Armed Forces naturally honored the two as heroes while the NPA denounced them as "fascist soldiers." Citing historical precedents in global military history, Santos asserts that "Fighting for your country or people does not mean fighting with hatred or renouncing honor." He knows whereof he speaks. Santos was once a student activist who became a human rights lawyer, a judge and author, who has seen and written about "both sides now."

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If you have recently been at JFK International Airport in New York, you must have seen the giant photographs of world-renowned Filipina documentary photographer, artist, and now an author Xyza Cruz Bacani. A former OFW in Hong Kong, Bacani has since emerged as a force in amplifying the voices of migrant women globally, through her art, her photographs and her writings. Our New York-based writer Elaine J.E. Degale profiles this extraordinary Filipina in "Xyza Cruz Bacani's Empathetic Lens."

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Following her four-year stint as Executive Chef of Seattle's famous, 75-year-old restaurant Canlis, Aisha Ibrahim is on the cusp of a new culinary direction, this time to promote Mindanaoan cuisine either in Los Angeles or New York. Born in Iligan City, she was six years old when her family immigrated to the US. Chef Aisha has since been recognized by the culinary world as one of the best chefs in the country. PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela follows her evolution in "What’s Next on Star Chef Aisha Ibrahim’s Plate?"

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PF Publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco's list of notable Filipino Americans is on its 66th iteration and still going. It's a never-ending list because Filipino Americans are doing, accomplishing, making waves, and contributing to the American tapestry in extraordinary ways. 

Read It Again

The Enigmatic Poetess by Gemma Nemenzo

Pianist Cecile Licad Is a National Treasure by Pablo A. Tariman

The Bold Soprano by Gaby C. Gloria

[Video of the Week] 90-Year Old Filipino Historian Reveals a Secret within our Ancient Language

In The Know

UW lab technician detained at ICE Processing Center in Tacoma
https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/uw-lab-technician-detained-ice

How This Former Palengke Vendor Rose to Become a Top Exec in McDonald's USA
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/esqa/myra-doria-mcdonalds-usa-

The First Woman to Earn a Degree from Harvard Law School is a Filipina
https://asianjournal.com/features/the-first-woman-to-earn-a-degree-from-harvard-law-school-is-a-filipina/

Marcos vetoes bill naming Pampanga as PH culinary capital
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/food-drinks/marcos-vetoes-bill-pampanga-national-culinary-capital

Mighty Magulang: Salumpaa
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=793218979319868
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What a Week that Was

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What an incredibly eventful week -- and we're not (just) talking about the current state of the United States.

In the Philippines, what was previously unthinkable actually happened: the arrest of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte at the behest of the International Criminal Court (ICC) through the Interpol. Arriving from Hong Kong with his entourage, Duterte was immediately whisked to the VIP lounge of nearby Villamor Airbase after being read his Miranda rights. At the last hour of Tuesday, March 11, just 12 hours following his formal arrest, the former president was on a private jet to The Hague to await trial for crimes against humanity. The loud howl and hullaballoo (rallies, a deluge of fake news, threats) from his supporters are of no use. Duterte is no longer protected by Philippine law; it is only the ICC now that can determine his fate. 

To get a grip of the whys and implications of this monumental event, here's an excellent piece written by veteran journalist and Columbia University journalism professor Sheila Coronel ("On the Arrest of an Autocrat") which the Columbia Journalism Review gave PF full permission to repost.  

What's next for the Philippines? Go to our In The Know section below for the link to Walden Bello's article in The Nation. We are also reposting some stories on Duterte's reign of impunity that we published.

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Our other stories this week:

FilAm nurse Menchu de Luna Sanchez proved that some heroes don't wear capes, they wear scrubs. The FilAm founding editor Cristina DC Pastor writes about Sanchez's amazing bravery during Superstorm Sandy's devastation in 2012, a feat honored by the Obama administration.  

A 94-year-old Filipina, fondly called Lola Naty, wrote a children's book about her beloved dog, thus fulfilling her lifelong dream to be a writer. PF contributing writer Claire Mercado-Obias pays tribute to the late author of My Dog Carter.

Though Visayan pop -- a sub-genre of Filipino pop music -- still has a small footprint in people's consciousness, it's nonetheless making waves with some innovative tunes and creative lyrics, mostly in Cebuano, from its talented propagators on Tiktok. First-time PF contributor Julienne Loreto introduces Vispop with love. 

In The Know

Rodrigo Duterte Is at The Hague. What’s Next for the Philippines?
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/rodrigo-duterte-hague/

Duterte provided ‘overwhelming evidence’ for his conviction: expert
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/duterte-provided-overwhelming-evidence-for-his-conviction-expert-1948

Dane’s Post
https://www.facebook.com/danecusto/posts/2920647618089679

Collateral Damage: How Duterte's Alleged Crimes Followed a Manila Cop to Canada
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/duterte-alleged-crimes-manila-cop-a3690-20250314-lfrm

Rappler Talk: PNP’s Nicolas Torre III on arresting Duterte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCPWtIi5sjs
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