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The Babaylan and her cultural influence on Filipino society
By Allen Gaborro The Babaylan’s fundamental relation to the indigenous epoch that is pre-colonial Philippines has long been one of an annulled past. Sylvia Mayuga writes about this in “Back from the Crocodile’s Belly: Philippine Babaylan Studies & the Struggle for Indigenous Memory,” as “a record of severe struggle to hang on to our [indigenous] […]
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The long journey home for the San Pedro, Balangiga bells
By Wendell Gaa April 30, 2016 marked one of the most significant days of my time as a political-economic assistant at the Philippine Consulate General in New York, when I got to witness the send-off of the San Pedro Bell from the campus of West Point Military Academy for its shipment back to the Philippines […]
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Ilokana grandma is among Oakland’s 1st U.S.-born Filipinas
As the community celebrates Filipino American History Month, “Oakland Ilokana” shines a light on the extraordinary life of Marie Veronica Mendoza Rivera Yip, “Lola” to granddaughter and the film’s director, Bay Area filmmaker Elenita Makani O’Malley. Set to premiere in February 2025, this film balances historical documentary with an intimate character portrait, capturing Marie’s unfiltered […]
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Exhibit on PHL-American war opens aboard Philly’s museum ship Olympia
While much is known about the Spanish-American War and Olympia’s role in the conflict, rarely is there discussion about the conflict between the Philippines and the United States, the role the ship played in it or how it became a symbolic lightening rod for the war and lasting impacts of American colonialism. On October 10, […]
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Honoring a community activist and documentary filmmaker
By Jon Melegrito Noel “Sonny” Izon and wife Kathryn were waiting to board their flight in Milan, Italy on October 25 last year after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They also attended a special screening of “An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines,” Izon’s award-winning documentary about the acceptance by the Philippines of more […]
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The brave legacy of Filipino nurses featured in powerful documentary
Filmmaker Michele Josue explores the untold history and legacy of Filipino nurses in the United States and their selflessness and bravery in the face of tragedy, including on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in the feature documentary “Nurse Unseen.” Josue is the Emmy-award-winning director of “Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine” and the critically lauded […]
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Remembering history at Normandy
By Wendell Gaa Since my days as a junior high school student, I’ve been fascinated with the history of the Second World War. I’ve known for a very long time how the Pacific Theater held the highest immediate stakes for my whole family and ancestors living in the Philippines at that pivotal stage in world […]
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Aug 3 is Manuel Quezon Day in Saranac Lake, N.Y.
By Lindy Rosales August 3 is a momentous date in Saranac Lake in Upstate New York. For the first time, the village in the Adirondacks Mountains will host a “President Quezon History Day” to remember the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth who passed away at Saranac Lake 80 years ago on August 1, 1944. […]
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Against the backdrop of the NYC skyline, PHL Independence Day marches on
By Cristina DC Pastor The parade weaved the crowd together, one organization after another: The nurses with the Knights of Rizal with the indigenous dancers with the provincial floats with the teachers with the pageant beauties in their flashy tiaras and so on, their magnificent colors blending into the lingering line of marchers. It was […]