She was born under the indigenous name of Lewhisan. I fondly call her Manang Pet. Petra stands at only 4’10” but is a formidable force. She was born in the tribal lands of Northern Luzon among the Tulgao. Her father was blind. Petra has eight siblings, three boys, five girls; she’s the sixth. Her mother, Charay, was the eldest among a brood of five: Charay, Uncles Angwhatang and Ongat Chibaray (a childless aunt), and Aunt Luvai. As a young girl, Petra rotated living with them. Her Uncle Angwhatang, a basket weaver, later personally brought her to Sagada to live and learn at the Anglican orphan ..read more

Isabel Kanaan photographed for the Season 3 of Abroad. (Courtesy of Isabel Kanaan and team) In a world where cultural exchange is becoming increasingly important, entertainment serves as a powerful tool to bridge the gaps between different communities. Enter Abroad, a comedy sketch series that not only tickles the funny bone, but also offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience. Set to air its third season this spring on OMNI TV in Canada, Abroad promises to captivate audiences with its blend of English and Tagalog sketches, all while shedding light on the journey of immigration t ..read more

A number of Filipino theater artists have shown their mettle on stage, including in the world-renowned Broadway Theater in New York. Their performances have earned them awards and honors, such as those bestowed by the Filipino American community and the Philippine government. Lyra Dominguez Alton is another Filipina performing artist who deserves recognition as a singer, stage actress, vocal coach, dancer, and choreographer. Trained as a classical singer, she has performed with the Sacramento Opera, in Die Fledermaus, Turandot, Aida, Carmen, and The Pirates of Penzance. She has also sung solo ..read more

Fil-Am Nation Select Whenever balikbayans announce an upcoming visit back to the Philippines, preparations are made in advance – food to be prepared especially for breakfast (tuyo, dilis [dried sardines and anchovies] and the like), early morning coordination for pick up times at the airport, extended family to be invited to reunion lunches, or in the case of my younger sister, which member of the immediate family will be displaced from their bedroom to accommodate the incoming guests. Regular routines will be put on hold, daily itineraries will be allowed to adjust on a whim. This is the Fil ..read more

Review: The Ultimate Filipino Adobo 2nd Edition by Claude Tayag. Anvil Publishing, 2024. The Ultimate Filipino Adobo: Secrets + Recipes, Second Edition by Claude Tayag – “This book is a mélange of adobo memories, part two, the continuation of the first edition of The Ultimate Filipino Adobo. Readers will be in for another treat as they will savor more adobo stories simmering in savory, never-yet-heard splendor.” (blurb by Elizabeth Ann Quirino, cookbook author, and food writer). Like true love, the Filipino adobo is better the second time around. Especially in The Ultimate Filipino Adobo: Sto ..read more

Filipinos have been in the United States since the 16th century, yet many of their stories remain untold. For the past year, Positively Filipino has been running a series on notable Filipino Americans who have made their marks in this country. There are hundreds, or maybe even thousands more, that need to be added to this story, and we need your help. If you know of a Filipino American who deserves to be included in this line-up, please send us their names and any supporting documents you may have to pfpublisher@yahoo.com. For now, we are including only those who are currently active and visib ..read more

(Courtesy of the Philippine Center for Gifted Education and the Mga Bagong Rizal program) Six impossible things with Dr. Ho. Dr. Ho saying no. Dr. Ho running out of questions. Not knowing the right things to say. Dr. Ho idle. Dr. Ho not asking me about what I am “currently working on.” Dr. Ho ceasing to be the burst of energy that she is. I spent many evenings with Dr. Ho—mostly in her office at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, a few, in Baguio for her advocacy work, some in shared hotel rooms where we gossiped with her staff, the printer whirring in the background as we rushed s ..read more

Bud Bongao as seen from the sea in late afternoon I am not a morning person, and it sometimes feels like a curse, one that I hope is reversed someday; but for now, I must contend with all accompanying discomforts like the scourge of early flights. At the end of January, I had a trip to Cotabato City. To be at the check-in counter on time, I got up and ready earlier in the morning. After two hours on the plane, I arrived in Cotabato before noon. It was thus a long morning bringing a long month to a close. Cotabato was just a transit point. The following day I took an even earlier flight to acc ..read more

Sagayan Dancers greet us at our arrival From 2/17/23 to 3/4/23 I participated in TribuTur, a “hands on field study custom-designed for participants to explore, discover, and draw empowerment from indigenous Pilipino cultures of Mindanao.” The tour is conducted by the venerable SF arts organization Kularts and its visionary artistic director, Alleluia Panis. The following snippets are from the second leg of the journey after Tawi-Tawi. All of these stories are derived from daily letters to my spouse, Catherine, chronicling this unforgettable experience. "One of these days I will take you back ..read more

A full day experience where you learn about the land, the farm, the workers and the impact of farming on yourself and the rest of the world.  Born and raised in Coron, Palawan, Al Linsangan's boyhood was idyllic. It was experiential, full of blissful freedom and, with space to run and play, it provided a wide range of learning about land, nature, and the environment. His was a childhood of adventures with friends in the great outdoors. Those formative years helped Al develop important life skills for his future success in a field he has had a natural affinity for. He may not have kn ..read more