''Positively Filipino'' got its start when Mona Lisa Yuchengco, the founder of
''Filipinas'' magazine, decided to try another publishing venture after selling ''Filipinas''. She joined with a number of former writers and editors from ''Filipinas'', which she sold in 2005. This venture was designed to be an online venture, since print magazines had been declining in popularity for years.
The magazine title got its name from a case of discrimination in
Stockton, California
Stockton is a city in and the county seat of San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. Stockton was founded by Carlos Maria Weber in 1849 after he acquir ...
, in the 1930s. This incident is described in an editorial in the magazine, "In America in the 1930s, Filipino immigrants often faced rejection and racism – a hotel in Stockton, California even posted a warning: 'Positively No Filipinos Allowed.'" The editorial continued, saying, "''Kababayans'' (compatriots) are positively welcome here, positively allowed to celebrate our heritage, and positively encouraged to explore our experiences."
''Positively Filipino'' has a number of features. It has foremost "The Magazine" section, which is composed of articles on various subjects. The "In Brief" section provides brief pieces of news of interest to the readers. The "+Btw" section is subtitled "Opinions, Context, Ideas & Letters." This section provides information and opinion about the main articles and readers can submit letters here. Writer Gemma Nemenzo, who wrote for ''Filipinas'', has her own monthly column. The "Collections" and "Series" sections have a large variety of informational topics each month. The "Community News" section provides information about various festivals, meetings and the like from Filipino and Asian organizations through the United States. "The Screening Room" provides links to videos of interest to Filipinos.
In October 2014 this publication received a boost in stature when six of its writers were awarded Plaridel Awards for Excellence in Filipino American Journalism from the Philippine American Press Club US. This was the largest number of Plaridel Awards handed out that year.
["Lariosa, Best Story; Publisher 'Positively Filipino' Reap 6 Kudos in FilAm Press Plaridel Awards," October 21, 2014, in Commission on Filipinos Overseas website, at http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2525:lariosa-best-story-publisher-qpositively-filipinoq-reap-6-kudos-in-filam-press-plaridel-awards&catid=109:overseas-filipino-new&Itemid=840 .]
''Positively Filipino'' is headquartered at 5226 Diamond Heights Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94131.
References
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Asian-American culture in San Francisco
Asian-American magazines
Asian-American press
Filipino-American history
Filipino-American culture
Magazines established in 2012
Magazines published in San Francisco
Online magazines published in the United States