HP Weekly Link-Up: Resort World Manila Attack Leaves 36 Dead, Philippine Cinema at the MoMA, Bad Rap Hits Streaming
While we might be constantly plugged in via smartphones/tablets/laptops, the tons of information we're bombarded with can sometimes be overwhelming - that's why we've rounded up some of the top Pilipinx/API-related stories from around the internets to help filter out the noise. From culture news and Pinxys who made headlines to personal essays, politics, etc, here's what we were reading last week.
36 Dead in Resort World Manila Robbery
Gunshots were heard and fire broke out at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City past midnight on Friday, June 2, and left 36 dead due to suffocation. A heavily-armed gunman stole at least P113 million worth of chips which were recovered by police during the chase and was carrying a liter of gasoline, which he poured onto the gambling tables to set them on fire. The shooter reportedly did not aim at any person during his attack. Within a few hours of the news breaking, SITE Intelligence Group, a Filipino operative of ISIS claimed they were behind the attack. Secretary General of BAYAN Renato Reyes Jr remarked in a statement on Friday, "So far, only the US-based, for-profit, security analyst SITE Intelligence Group has attributed the incident to ISIS. No other information is available on their website unless you are a subscriber." "Why is a US-based security analyst making findings or conclusions regarding an unfolding situation ahead of our own PNP? Why the rush to link Resorts World to ISIS?" The incident was later concluded to be a robbery attempt.
You can read more in these Rappler articles here: Ex-DOF employee is Resorts World gunman PNP says robbery behind Resorts World Manila shooting
"How to Make Art That Will Actually Change the World," by Mara Lecocq for girlboss
Profile on award-winning Pinay filmmaker Isabel Sandoval and her film Aparisyon (Apparition) which is part of the MoMA exhibit "A New Golden Age: Contemporary Philippine Cinema," running June 1-25 in New York. Aparisyon tells the story of a group of rebel nuns who helped oust Marcos during the People Power Revolution of the 1980's.
Still from Isabel Sandoval's Aparisyon
"Screening the Regions: An Incomplete Philippine Cinema," by Paul Grant for The Brooklyn Rail
Discusses the specific historical, cultural, and economic reasons for the homogenous Tagalog-language, Manila-centric vision of a Philippine national cinema as a reaction to the MoMA’s A New Golden Age: Contemporary Philippine Cinema (June 1 – 25). Without attempting to reduce the force and importance of the work presented in the exhibit, the author gives us some context, as well as a brief and interesting history of the film landscape in other languages and regions across the Philippines. There's also some great recommendations of directors and films to check out!
"How Filipino Food Is Becoming the Next Great American Cuisine," by Claudia McNeilly for VOGUE
"Often called the original fusion cuisine, Filipino food is an intricate pattern of Spanish, Western, Chinese, Japanese, and Pacific Islander flavors that serve as living proof of the country’s rich cultural history." While the writer is not Pilipinx, it feels like she did her research and knows how to talk about the flavor profile. The article attempts to kinda clears up western misconceptions about the cuisine (like that we eat with chopsticks instead of spoons and forks) and gives some background on dish origins in relation to the complex cultural diversity in the Philippines. She also doesn't just talk about the hyped new restaurants but mentions some old standbys as well which is tite.
Sidenote: I've been seeing this kinda trend lately with non-Pilipinx writers using the words "Pinoy" and "Pinay" in articles about culture-related things in mainstream magazines (mostly fashion and food) and I'm just wondering, has this always happened and I never noticed? I've always seen these words as more of a self-identification term but I could be totally wrong?! I don't really know how I feel about it yet but it's def something I've noticed recently. Readers, any thoughts or insights?
Palabok at LASA / Photo: Claudia McNeilly for VOGUE
"Asian-American Rappers Are Slowly, But Surely, Gaining The Traction They Deserve," by Cherie Hu for Forbes
Piece on the unique opportunities and challenges faced by Asian-American rappers as seen in Bad Rap, a documentary that premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival and hit all major VOD platforms last week and follows rappers Dumbfoundead, Awkwafina, Lyricks and Rekstizzy, who all advocate openly for Asian representation in the music industry and are trying to cultivate successful careers on their own terms. We weren't able to catch it at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, but we've read the film explores the roots of Asian-American hip hop from its earliest beginnings in the West Coast Pilipinx underground so this is def one to peep!
Dumbfoundead, Awkwafina, Lyricks, director Salima Koroma, Jaeki Cho, and Rekstizzy attend the 'Bad Rap' Premiere during the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival / Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival