"As part of typhoon Haiyan recovery in the Philippines, CRS ensured that more than 6,000 families gained access to latrines that protect their water supply."
That's the caption for a picture of a smiling Filipino woman looking at her child. The mom is squatting by a wash tub doing laundry. The child (age two or three) looks at his mom, definitely not making eye contact with the photographer Charlie David Martinez. It's a great picture in the Spring 2016 CRS newsletter ("Good Steward").
I received this newsletter recently because I had donated to CRS for the first time since I can remember. I have had issues with CRS mainly because of the religious strings attached to some of their projects (opposing birth control measures for example). Recently, however, I discovered that here in Wisconsin, CRS and Catholic Charities have managed or in some way been central to the settling in of about 70% of Hispanic immigrants. That's major, a pleasant awakening for me, and I wanted to support that activity.
I decided that I had gotten a big bonus on my support for CRS when I saw that picture in "Good Steward" and their smart investment in the wake of Haiya/Yolanda: latrines and protection for the water supply. Still working since November of 2013. Kudos to CRS.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Filipino American Doctors and Restauranteurs
Two items in particular caught my attention in the January issue of the VIA Times Newsmagazine. One is an amazing feature I have dubbed simply "the Medical Mayugas" about the six members of the Mayuga family. Both parents and three of their four children are medical doctors; the fourth child is a Medical Administrator. The other item is a letter from a proud mother about her visit from Chicago to the Washington, D.C. restaurant recently opened and co-owned by her daughter. Full disclosure: I write a monthly column for VIA Times ("Vital News, Vibrant Views For Filipinos/Asians in Chicago & Midwest"). In my January blog entry here, I had shared a notice on a new and equally popular Filipino restaurant in Brooklyn.
The six Medical Mayugas, along with the four childrens' spouses, could pretty much operate a complete medical college, covering as they do practical medicine, research, teaching, and management. The parents, Rupert and Amelita (Amy), a cardiologist and pedeatrican respectively, emigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines 34 years ago. Daughter Myttle and son Kenneth have both specialized in areas of cardiology. Daughter Aimee is a Rheumatologist, and daughter Rachel with her advanced degree in Healthcare Administration and Finance manages "multiple clinics" and recently opened a Fertility Clinic. One of the spouses manages a medical supply company, while the other three are MDs. All four Mayuga children went to Northwestern University, where they excelled. In classic Filipino fashion, the final feature photo shows M'am Amy (Amelita) standing next to President Barac Obama, with the rest of the family gathered around. Mr. Obama's inscription reads, "To Amy, Congratulations!" and is signed "Barac Obama."
From medicine to meals. The letter from the "proud mother" about her daughter's co-owned restaurant in Washington, D.C. caught my attention, partly because my son and his family live in D.C. It refers to numerous positive reviews and notices about the Bad Saint Restaurant, notably in The Washington Post. I read the two reviews in the Post. Both are highly laudatory. The first, appeared on September 11, shortly after the restaurant opened (September 3, 2015). Just as the proud mother said, there were long lines and long waits for the 24 places in the small restaurant. The lines and wait were just as long on January 6, 2016, when the second review appeared. Both reviews praise the food selections (including the traditional pancits and adobos) and emphasize the seasonings. Both also mention niceties such as drinks to suit the food and friendly servers who are happy to help with suggestions and explanations. The second review singles out the two owners, Nick Pimentel and Bibi Villamora. Bibi is the proud mom's daughter. She provides culinary insights while Nick (who hails from Mindanao) helps in the kitchen. I will be in D.C. for a few days beginning on March 10, and I definitely plan to get to the Bad Saint Restaurant.
The other Filipino restaurant, Manila Social Club, will have to wait until I get to Brooklyn. Like Pimental the chef is also from Mindanao. It sounds great, as I noted in this January blog. "If you live in the vicinity of 2 Hope Street (Roebling Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, you might want to consider sampling Philippine Cuisine. Check out the article in the 'Hungry City' section of the Jan. 6, 2016 section of the New York Times. The title of the article, 'Spam to Foie Gras: Filipino That Rambles,' suggests the variety of dishes available, prepared by Chef Bjorn DelaCruz. He is the Filipino who has rambled from Manila to New York to Bratislava, Slovakia. His food selection is eclectic Filipino, with its origins in a 'shack under a narra tree, not far from his grandmother's orchid farm in Davao Oriental, the Philippines.' Don't be put off by the "shack" reference, most likely an exaggeration. Rather, imagine 'a clef of foie gras, gone liquid inside [that] rests over noodles tangled with nubs of duck leg confit.' They take reservations for dinner."
I cannot resist concluding with a reflection prompted by an article I read in today's USA Today (March 2, 2016). The article referred to the paper's interviews with sixteen prominent economists. The sixteen disagreed frequently, but they were unanimous about one issue: the value of immigrants. All sixteen agreed that immigrants bring youth and vigor to the work force and outnumber the standard population in new business ventures. All agreed that the U.S. needs them. Hello!
rhb, March 2, 2016.
The six Medical Mayugas, along with the four childrens' spouses, could pretty much operate a complete medical college, covering as they do practical medicine, research, teaching, and management. The parents, Rupert and Amelita (Amy), a cardiologist and pedeatrican respectively, emigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines 34 years ago. Daughter Myttle and son Kenneth have both specialized in areas of cardiology. Daughter Aimee is a Rheumatologist, and daughter Rachel with her advanced degree in Healthcare Administration and Finance manages "multiple clinics" and recently opened a Fertility Clinic. One of the spouses manages a medical supply company, while the other three are MDs. All four Mayuga children went to Northwestern University, where they excelled. In classic Filipino fashion, the final feature photo shows M'am Amy (Amelita) standing next to President Barac Obama, with the rest of the family gathered around. Mr. Obama's inscription reads, "To Amy, Congratulations!" and is signed "Barac Obama."
From medicine to meals. The letter from the "proud mother" about her daughter's co-owned restaurant in Washington, D.C. caught my attention, partly because my son and his family live in D.C. It refers to numerous positive reviews and notices about the Bad Saint Restaurant, notably in The Washington Post. I read the two reviews in the Post. Both are highly laudatory. The first, appeared on September 11, shortly after the restaurant opened (September 3, 2015). Just as the proud mother said, there were long lines and long waits for the 24 places in the small restaurant. The lines and wait were just as long on January 6, 2016, when the second review appeared. Both reviews praise the food selections (including the traditional pancits and adobos) and emphasize the seasonings. Both also mention niceties such as drinks to suit the food and friendly servers who are happy to help with suggestions and explanations. The second review singles out the two owners, Nick Pimentel and Bibi Villamora. Bibi is the proud mom's daughter. She provides culinary insights while Nick (who hails from Mindanao) helps in the kitchen. I will be in D.C. for a few days beginning on March 10, and I definitely plan to get to the Bad Saint Restaurant.
The other Filipino restaurant, Manila Social Club, will have to wait until I get to Brooklyn. Like Pimental the chef is also from Mindanao. It sounds great, as I noted in this January blog. "If you live in the vicinity of 2 Hope Street (Roebling Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, you might want to consider sampling Philippine Cuisine. Check out the article in the 'Hungry City' section of the Jan. 6, 2016 section of the New York Times. The title of the article, 'Spam to Foie Gras: Filipino That Rambles,' suggests the variety of dishes available, prepared by Chef Bjorn DelaCruz. He is the Filipino who has rambled from Manila to New York to Bratislava, Slovakia. His food selection is eclectic Filipino, with its origins in a 'shack under a narra tree, not far from his grandmother's orchid farm in Davao Oriental, the Philippines.' Don't be put off by the "shack" reference, most likely an exaggeration. Rather, imagine 'a clef of foie gras, gone liquid inside [that] rests over noodles tangled with nubs of duck leg confit.' They take reservations for dinner."
I cannot resist concluding with a reflection prompted by an article I read in today's USA Today (March 2, 2016). The article referred to the paper's interviews with sixteen prominent economists. The sixteen disagreed frequently, but they were unanimous about one issue: the value of immigrants. All sixteen agreed that immigrants bring youth and vigor to the work force and outnumber the standard population in new business ventures. All agreed that the U.S. needs them. Hello!
rhb, March 2, 2016.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Philippine Gold and Manila Social Club
The Philippine Gold exhibit at the Asia Society in New York might still be open. A close friend of my wife's from their growing up and attending schools together in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is now a devout convert to her New York home in Manhattan. In her recent "Year-End Letter 2015," she says "I really do love so much the excitement of New York City. I looked at my recent schedule and this is what I found for the second week in December." She then lists ten items, including a Picasso sculptures show, an Itzak Perlman performance, a Tom Shepherd play, and the Philippine Gold exhibit. I wrote about the Philippine Gold exhibit just about two months ago on this blog.
If you live in the vicinity of 2 Hope Street (Roebling Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, you might want to consider sampling Philippine Cuisine. Check out the article in the "Hungry City" section of the Jan. 6, 2016 section of the New York Times. The title of the article, "Spam to Foie Gras: Filipino That Rambles," suggests the variety of dishes available, prepared by Chef Bjorn DelaCruz. He is the Filipino who has rambled from Manila to New York to Bratislava, Slovakia. His food selection is eclectic Filipino, with its origins in a "shack under a narra tree, not far from his grandmother's orchid farm in Davao Oriental, the Philippines." Don't be put off by the "shack" reference, most likely an exaggeration. Rather, imagine "a clef of foie gras, gone liquid inside [that] rests over noodles tangled with nubs of duck leg confit." They take reservations for dinner (718-384-4396).
rhb
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