Publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco Country United States | First issue November 2012 | |
Frequency Monthly, but weekly updates are sent to emails registered on the publication website Total circulation Is digital; has no fixed circulation Company Positively Filipino LLC | ||
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, 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.
Positively Filipino is headquartered at 5226 Diamond Heights Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94131.