What I learned from writing for the Philippine News from 1999-and Filipinas magazine much later-is that in triumph and tragedy, Filipinos have always found a way to figure prominently in the news. Scratch the news and chances are a Filipino is wedged somewhere between the folds; he could be the whistleblower, the witness, the victim, the suspect, or the casual bystander. While writing about my community, I've seen how Filipinos and Filipino Americans manage to mix and mingle in the mainstream and try their best to stay out of trouble. The badge "model minority" seems to apply to our people. Somehow it couldn't be helped. Our vast number will find a way to push us to the forefront of the news, whether we like it or not. It could be the soldier in Iraq awarded for his bravery, or the nurse who helped save lives in 9/11. Whoever they are, Scratch the News honors their lives.