Of Rice, Respect, and Truth: Top Twelve Stories of OSM! in 2016

By Marivir R. Montebon

 

New York City – Readers in the Big Apple as well as around the world choose stories that are value-laden and inspiring in the field of teaching, parenting, fashion, entertainment, and politics. Although 2016 was very much an election year, OSM! as a community-based, fledgling online magazine continues to enjoy steady growth of readers by the content it offers in the midst of sensationalized and fake news.

Its network with giant social media networks like the National Writers Union, the Fil-Am Press Club of New York, local and international press and women’s organizations has provided a spiraling of views and shares.

Its stories have been picked up by at least Huffington Post and New York Times, for instance, due to its organizational linkages.  In the past years, we see the Papa’s Kitchen and classical singer Ms. Kay Habana being featured by the NY Times, with OSM! articles as reference articles.

Here are the top twelve stories that have reached widest readership in 2016 (in random order):

1. Although written in 2014, the article on Lumen Castaneda, a retired school teacher in New York city soared in 2016. This is because Castaneda, an active community leader in the Philippine American community has grown to be recognized outside the Philippines circles through her TV show Cooking with Granny. This article by OSM! has been an affirming published material about her.

http://justcliqit.com/lumen-castaneda-teacher-community-leader-that-brightens-up-the-room/

2. This is an eye-opening article to be cautious about immigration lawyers who act unscrupulously in accepting human trafficking and immigration cases for the sake of money. A lot of desperate people have been victimized by them who do not thoroughly study of the ‘win-ability’ of the case or are simply sloppy in their documentation work. With the US having a burgeoning population of undocumented immigrants, unscrupulous lawyers eking a living out of their misery must be watched out for.

http://justcliqit.com/beware-lawyers/

3. A Cebuano child star takes a starring role in an international film shot in Cebu and an article about him is written by his own father, Richard Allan Uy. Naturally, this got viral.

http://justcliqit.com/cebuano-child-actor-jerald-kervin-stars-in-international-film/

4. A health article written in 2015 and focuses on good nutrition as a basis for good health became viral in 2016 upon the demise of the prominent proponent Jin Hirata. This article is one of Jin’s lasting legacies.

http://justcliqit.com/jin-hirata-macrobiotic-diet-turns-around-bad-health/

5. A very interesting article on raising Filipino children in the US, this got the attention of parents and children alike in the US. It is really about adobo, rice, and respect as far as parenting is concerned.

http://justcliqit.com/raising-gail-michael-aisha-zach-and-all-in-america/

6. International pianist Cecile Licad and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra became a sensation at the Carnegie Hall during the Philippine Independence Day celebration in June. That was an evening of pride at the Filipino’s artistic magnificence.

http://justcliqit.com/philippine-artists-philharmonic-orchestra-in-a-class-act-at-the-carnegie/

7. This is a personal favorite, the modernization of Filipiniana to make it trendy and wearable for the working woman.

http://justcliqit.com/designers-andrada-penalosa-enunciate-modern-filipiniana/

8.  Justine Calma, the first student of the Aspiring Writers Mentoring Program of National Writer’s Union Support Organization did an in-depth research into the issue on domestic violence and how access to housing can effectively cut the cycle of dependence and violence. Another eye-opener article that went viral. It also bolstered the career of Justine as a serious journalist.

http://justcliqit.com/domestic-violence-survivors-fight-for-fair-housing/

9. Ali Ewoldt taking the lead role of Christine in Phantom of the Opera, the longest running Broadway musical, was received with thunderous applause and lots of reads and shares too.  http://justcliqit.com/ali-ewoldt-phantoms-new-christine-owns-the-stage/

10. True to life stories of trafficked men and women in the US continue to grab sizable readership. Here’s to the bravery and courage of those who come out of the shadows:  http://justcliqit.com/the-force-be-with-you-when-human-trafficking-victims-come-out-of-the-shadows/ Indeed a top reader, the force is truly with them.

 

11. How blessed is the life at 104 and the Philippine Consulate appropriately gave such recognition and respect. Maning Rodriguez is an institution for the arts and the present-day artists, many of whom his students, salute to his contributions.

http://justcliqit.com/phil-artist-maning-rodriguez-104-honored-at-ny-consulate/

12. The most read article for the year that’s written this year too is by the ever cool Janet Villa, our very own writer. In the world marred by fake and sensationalized news, OSM! has brought forth the story of a family in dealing with truth. Janet and her husband Jojo do it in the most admirable of ways.

http://justcliqit.com/truth-telling/