Boracay Sun | June 2016 Issue by Boracay Sun

JUNE 2016 | VOL. VI NO. 5 | BORACAY’S MONTHLY NEWS ON RECYCLED PAPER

WWW.BORACAYSUN.COM

COMPLETE LIST What’s in this issue...

03 06 08 10 11 12 14 19 20

IN THE NEWS EXPAT FILES 7107 ISLANDS PEOPLE INDULGE CENTERFOLD LIFESTYLE ROTARY BORACAY HEALTH

Happy Independence Day! continues to inspire the Filipino people in building a united nation.

Blanche Posadas-Basco

n June 12, 1898, the Philippines declared its independence from Spain. The 300 years of bonds and chains of colonization were unlocked; set free an archipelago of bravery, and marked history with the establishment of its own government ousting Spanish leadership. It may have been a hundred years ago, but the struggle for freedom waged on by our forefathers

IN THE NEWS

Sovereignty had changed the dynamics of our country and we are reaping its rewards. Such prize also comes with great responsibility. In this island, the freedom to roam and explore its beauty does not end there. It should be reciprocated with accountability by protecting and preserving our natural resources to be also enjoyed by future generations.

EXPAT FILES

BFI beach preservation initiatives

Black Market, Boracay Style

>>> PAGE 03

>>> PAGE 06

PEOPLE

The achievement of Philippine independence was not an overnight job. Brave individuals fought for it, shed tears and lost lives for decades and hundreds of years. It was the longing for change that enthused them to battle it out ‘till their last breath. Today, as we commemorate our nation’s independence, we celebrate as responsible citizens of the republic. Let us be the change that we are clamoring on.

CENTERFOLD

Lifestyle

AZKALS Coach Thomas Dooley

EURO-ASI: The Best of Both Worlds

Spend Less, Travel More

>>> PAGE 10

>>> PAGE 12

>>> PAGE 14

EDITOR’S NOTE

To celebrate our independence, allow us to share with you this story of a seagull named Jonathan, who followed his heart and made his own rule. (Read: Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach) Jonathan, unlike other gulls, loves to fly. He believes that the flight is more important than eating, something that most gulls do not agree with. But no matter how he tried to behave like the rest of the flock – screeching and fighting with the flock, diving on scraps of fish - he couldn’t make it work. He had to fly. And so Jonathan set out far at sea, practicing and experimenting; he kept working to the peak of his ability, but he lost control at high speed. In the afterlife, he met other gulls who love to fly, and became friends with the wisest gull, Chiang, who taught him that the secret is to “begin by knowing that you have already arrived.” He took this thinking with him when he decided to return to Earth to find other gulls who love to fly and and teach what he had learned. His mission was successful. Jonathan’s goal to fly high gave him the motivation and self-confidence to break the norm and free himself from the daily materialism among his flock. His story is a great life-guide which, we are grateful to learn about; thanks to National Coach Thomas Dooley of the Philippine Azkals. Jonathan’s story is also a celebration of freedom. As we celebrate the 118th year of our country’s independence, we pray that we are truly motivated to change for the betterment of our nation. Happy Independence Day, everyone!

COVER

THE BORACAY SUN FAMILY

By Alva Alvarez

WWW.BORACAYSUN.COM Senior Editors BLANCHE BASCO & BETH JALEA Associate Editor MICHAEL JEROME MADRIAGA Art Director ALVA ALVAREZ Columnists JOEL JAMES CUBILLAS, KLAUS DORING HOLLY GOLIGHTLY, PIA MIRAFLORES, CHEF LOWELL CAUILAN

ma. teresa fajilan

“Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the most WONDERFUL THINGS that will ever happen to us” ~ Nicole Reed Sometimes you meet a person and you just CLICK — YOU’RE COMFORTABLE WITH THEM, and you do not have to pretend to be anyone or anything.

Publisher THE BORACAY WALLSTREET INC.

~ Simple Reminders Your life is a result of the CHOICES you make… If you don’t like your life, it’s time to start making BETTER CHOICES. ~ Positive Outlooks Blog People seem not to see that THEIR OPINION of the WORLD is also a CONFESSION of CHARACTER ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

boracay.sun

theboracaysun

Contributors JUN ARRIOLO AGUIRRE, PATRICE AVERILLA, KAREN BERMEJO, HOLGER BIALLAS, F. L. CASTRO, KLAUS DORING, DOUGLAS FABILANE, Liza Gamo, MARLO Schoenenberger, ELMAR TERLUTTER

theboracaysun

President & CEO MA. TERESA FAJILAN Sales and Marketing Manager MICHELLE ELIZON Operations Manager JOANN BARRIOS Boracay Sun Office Monaco Crossing Tulubhan, Manoc Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan 5608 editor@boracaywallstreet.com

For Advertising / Inquiries Telephone: (+63 36) 288 2582 Mobile: (+63 998) 558 2541 Email: ads.boracaysun@boracaywallstreet.com

Copyright © April 2014 Boracay Sun. All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines. Except as permitted by law, no part of the Boracay Sun may be used, reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission of Boracay Sun. The publisher accepts no liability for the content correctness of any advertisement and reserves the right for editorial freedom of the press under the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines Article III (Bill of Rights) Section 4.

BORACAY SUN

BFI corner

IN THE NEWS

| JUNE 2016

BFI, partner companies launched beach preservation initiatives Pia Miraflores

Photo from NESTEA® Philippines’ Facebook page

he annual LaBoracay, a weekend-long festivities held in celebration of the Labor Day in Boracay, draw in thousands of tourists who have come to enjoy not only the island’s natural beauty but also the sunset parties and nightlife.

This year, in addition to renowned local and international DJs pumping the vibe for the numerous parties along the 4-kilometer White Beach, Laboracay was also celebrated with the launching of Nestle Philippines’ NESTEA “Love the Beach” campaign, in partnership with the Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI). NESTEA led a 3-day coastal cleanup from April 29 to May 1 drawing in volunteers from the local community organizations and even tourists who preregistered online and wanted to make their holiday worthwhile, by giving back to the island community. Several celebrity influencers led the cleanup as the volunteers were divided into groups. A contest was held among the ggroups as to the weight of collected trash. The group with the heaviest trash collected garnered the most points and won gift packs from NESTEA. An underwater clean up and coral transplantation activity was also conducted with help of the Boracay Association of Scuba Diving Schools (BASS). NESTEA also continued to sell the Nestea pitchers this year, and this time the proceeds will be used to purchase a Beach Cleaning Machine to be turned over to the island within this year. The machine will help the community in ensuring that the White Beach remains clean and pristine all year round. Meanwhile, the BFI was also very fortunate to partner with Sky Cable once again. The proceeds of the annual Skyathon Beach Run last April 23 were donated to sustain the Coastal Resource Management Program of the BFI.

Chinese tourists now leading tourist arrivals registry Jun Ariolo N. Aguirre

he tourism business in Boracay is showing a promising number with the Chinese tourists slowly leading the top tourist arrivals.

For several years, South dominates the top tourist island but in February this year, Chinese tourist significant increase.

Korean tourists arrivals in the and March of arrivals showed

According to Jetty Port Administrator Niven Maquirang, in February, Chinese tourists numbered 39, 882 followed by the South Koreans who registered 37,314 arrivals. In March, Chinese comes first having registered 26,761 followed by 23,737 South Koreans. The first quarter tourist arrival report promises an increase in tourist arrivals from the top ten countries, namely: South Korea with 97,783; followed by China with 90,736; Taiwan, 16,438; Malaysia, 9,176; United States of America, 8,413; Australia, 5,868; United Kingdom, 5,789; Russia, 4,531; Germany, 3,661 and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 3,254.

Skycable executives also got a feel of how the coral transplantation process is being done when they participated in a coral transplantation activity held on April 21. Mr. James Dumlao, Head of Programming and Airtime Sales; Ms. Jay Redondo, Airtime Sales Marketing Head; and Mr. Delbert Santos, got the chance to transplant corals at the Coral Garden nursery.

“We hope that this trend will continue for the year 2016,” Maquirang said.

BFI also received a donation from NIVEA SUN to fund the foundation’s Coastal Resource Management Program.

The island is also considered as the international gateway in Asia as a cruise ship destination along with the province of Palawan and Metro Manila.

Indeed, LaBoracay is starting to evolve into a different kind of festivity, with more event organizers and companies partnering with the BFI and other local organizations to make a difference for Boracay. It is great that outsiders have now started to join in and support our preservation and restoration efforts for the island. After all, every person who has visited and made memories in Boracay would like the island to remain forever and for future generations to enjoy.

Both foreign and local tourists are also seemed to be lured by the attraction of the LaBoracay festival. Based on the Jetty Port statistics from from April 27 to 30, both foreign and local tourists reaches 37,670, of which, 9,566 were foreigners.

The tourists arrivals are seen to increase with the ongoing development and modernization of two nearby airports, the Godofredo Ramos Airport also known as the Caticlan Airport and the Kalibo International Airport.

The LaBoracay is considered a grand fiesta in Boracay partly in commemoration of the Labor Day.

BORACAY SUN

Cause for a New Coast: Promoting proper waste disposal Karen Bermejo

IN THE NEWS is already a recipient of the Silver Anvil award given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. The awardwinning campaign aims to encourage locals and tourists to help in preserving the environment by advocating proper waste disposal, especially during the island’s busiest season. In a turnover ceremony held on April 29 at Balabag Plaza, the Local Government Unit of Malay represented by Glenn Sacapano, Boracay Island Chief Operations Officer and Solid Waste Manager; Felix delos Santos, Chief Tourism Operations Officer; and Engr. Tresha Lyn Lozanes, Senior Environmental Management Specialist, received the donation from Megaworld’s Harold Geronimo, Assistant Vice President and Head of PR and Communications, and Saki Mirabueno, Vice President for Sales and Marketing of GERI.

Turnover ceremony of the trash bins to the local government of Malay. In photo are: (L-R) Saki Mirabueno, VP for sales and marketing for Boracay Newcoast, GERI; Glenn Sacapaño, Boracay Island administrator; Tresha Lyn Lozanes, senior environmental management specialist, and Harold Geronimo, AVP and head of PR and Communications, Megaworld.

aboracay, the weekend-long Labor Day celebration in Boracay is not just about endless parties anymore. It also brings advocacies with long term benefits.

To promote proper waste disposal as a means of preserving the island’s environment, 120 new eco-friendly trash bins are now in place in selected beachfront establishments at the White Beach. The color-coded trash bins were donated by GlobalEstate Resorts, Inc. (GERI), a Megaworld subsidiary and developer of Boracay New Coast - a 150-hectare mixeduse leisure and resort development - as part of its Cause for a New Coast campaign on this year’s Laboracay. Launched during the 2015 Laboracay, Cause for a New Coast

| JUNE 2016

Cawaling reclaims mayorship of Malay Karen Bermejo

ith over 2,000 votes lead, former Malay town mayor Ceciron Cawaling defeated incumbent Mayor John Yap last May 9 elections.

From being just a coastal clean-up movement, GERI wants the campaign to become a more sustainable solution to Boracay island’s solid waste problem.

Cawaling of the local party, Performance Team, got a total of 14,552 votes from the 17 villages of Malay, including the three villages in Boracay; while Yap of Team Magkasangga got only 12,543 votes.

“Boracay Island has seen the benefits of excellent tourism over the years, especially during the Laboracay weekend, but sadly, along comes the deterioration of the island’s natural setting. We need to understand that in order for us to continue enjoying the beauty of Boracay, we all need to do our fair share in taking care of the island,” said Mirabueno.

Yap’s running mate, incumbent Manocmanoc Barangay Captain Abram Sualog defeated incumbent Vice Mayor Wilbec Gileto. Sualog got a total of 13,072 votes while Gileto got only 12,368 votes.

Meanwhile, Geronimo said the campaign also wants to instill and propagate the culture of garbage disposal. “The trash bins are enabler for them (tourists) to become responsible,” he said.

Elected as Sangguniang Bayan members of Malay are: incumbent councilors Natalie Cawaling-Paderes, Jupiter Gallenero, Frolibar Bautista and Danilo Delos Santos. Also elected are Lloyd Maming, Datu Yap-Sumndad, Neneth Graf and Dante Pagsuguiron.

This year’s Cause for a New Coast campaign also gathered thousands of volunteers for the cleanup movement at the beachfront from April 30 to May 1. From which, about 4,000 kilos of garbage were collected. True to its environmental protection campaign, Boracay Newcoast prides itself for its nature-centric features, strictly allotting 60 percent of its development to open spaces. And in addition to promoting the use of environment-friendly construction products and bio-engineering and building techniques, it also works hand-in-hand with the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) for the preservation of endangered tree species.

Cawaling served as mayor for three terms from 2001 to 2010. He also served as vice mayor from 2010 to 2013. Outgoing mayor John Yap was first elected as mayor in 2010 and was reelected in 2013.

BORACAY SUN

IN THE NEWS

| JUNE 2016

RACING WITH THE DRAGONS: The 10th Boracay International Dragonboat Festival F. L. Castro

Photo By Alva Alvarez

ast April, the Island of Boracay was home once again to the hundreds of local and international paddlers who participated in the 10th Boracay International Dragonboat Festival. The Festival, which is organized annually by the Boracay Island Paddlers Association (BIPA), in cooperation with the Municipality of Malay, celebrates the agility, strength and love for the sports of the men and women enthusiasts. Dragon boat racing or the dragon boat festival is said to have started in ancient China. The legend is that, there was a middle-class man who fell in love with a high society woman, and naturally, like all good fairy-tales, the woman’s classist family disapproved. In order to prove his love to her, he decided to throw himself into a river. The people, to protect the man’s body, decided to throw food into the river and paddle boats shaped like dragons to scare the fishes away and leave the man’s body in peace. Nowadays, as what we have come to witness in Boracay, year after year, dragon boat racing has become a friendly competition with champion teams gamely defending their title as if it was the man’s body, just like in the legend.

My First Dragonboat Festival Experience There are lots of things I’d like to Diwali in India, the water festival in pride parade in New York. And it that I had the opportunity to watch boat race two months ago, in our paradise. It was glorious.

see in my life Thailand, the gay just so happened a real-life dragon very own island

I missed the parade on Day 1 (which sucks because I heard it was really fun), but the second and third day more than made up for it. I arrived at about 10

in the morning and was greeted by teams of paddlers on each end of the venue with the announcer calling on participating teams to be at the loading zone to prepare for their races. To tell you the truth, I didn’t expect the teams to be so diverse - there were people from all over the world, and with really wide age bracket. One of the teams actually have a paddler that’s 75 years old, 75 and paddling competitively. And, of course, I was really happy to see that there was a team representing the atis of Boracay, the Nami Atis. Some teams even said they were actually pretty challenging competitors! Watching the team compete in Day 1 made me appreciate the sport. Dragonboat racing is all about inclusion and teamwork, it’s body-positive, non-gender biased, it’s a great way to make friends. Also, getting to experience the thrill of the race, with each boat desperately trying to pull itself in front of the other - it’s just such a thrilling race to watch. And if you ignore the cheering and hustle and bustle of the spectators, it’s also very satisfying to simply watch the paddles cut into the water to the beat of the drums. The only downside would be the heat, but I’d be willing to risk a wicked sunburn if it means I get to watch the most accepting sport I know. The Young Paddlers and the “Hundreds of People” On Day 2, I arrived at the venue a lot earlier. Since the races didn’t start until 8:30 AM and I got there 30 minutes early, I was introduced to the true meaning of “hundreds of people”, since the 750 paddlers were all still either chillin’ in their tents or stretching. The race itself was considerably more competitive than

the day before, which was understandable - it was the finals. I saw teams practising on the beach, stretching, planning, you name it - but what I didn’t expect was the kids. Three boats of kid paddlers from all over Boracay (some were actually the kids of the adult paddlers) they were the best ones to watch. The kids performed a rare paddle salute. They were tough! Slightly unsynchronised but hey, nothing a bit of training won’t fix! And when they finally got to shore, the archway the adult paddlers made with their paddles for the kids was a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie. It was heart-warming and absolutely precious. In the words of the ever-so amusing announcer, “You’ll see - they’ll be getting drunk with you in five years! In five years!” All in all, that experience may have been one of the most memorable experiences of my life - to see teamwork in its purest form, in the flesh. To see a vastly diverse group of people come together to do something amazing. And if the weather is kind next year, I wouldn’t mind watching it again. I just have to pack a stronger sunblock next time.

BORACAY SUN

EXPAT FILES

Black Market, Boracay Style Holly Golightly Photos By iSLA gRAPIKA

oracay is well known for being the Philippines’ premier party destination and there is no shortage of beach parties, pool parties and boat parties to keep you going until dawn.

However, last month, the island’s top events company, Headrush, mixed it up and provided partygoers with a fresh vibe, by throwing the hugely popular event, “Heavy Hip Hop on the Rooftop” in Vallhalla, on Crafts Supermarket’s rooftop terrace. Not only was the venue an exciting new hangout for locals, but the guest DJ was none other than Don P, resident DJ at Manila’s hottest underground club, Black Market – a favourite with islanders when they spend time in the city. Black Market is an industrial warehouse style venue located at Pasong Tamo in Makati, and comes from the collective behind the successful and now famous Manila club, B-Side. One of the reasons for the club’s popularity is the eclectic and varied music genres played - expect anything from hip hop to disco, house to garage, dub to funk. Islanders were pleased and surprised to welcome their sounds to Boracay – no-one expected Valhalla to morph into Black Market! Other talents included island favorites, DJ I Am Tong and MC I-Dren Artstrong, and revellers partied the hours away to hip hop; classics, old and new. An extra touch of glamor was added to the evening in the form of the gorgeous Get Salted models, regularly seen at the island’s premier events. Entry was free between 9:00 and 11:00 PM. Locals and tourists showed up in droves to show their support for the event, excited that Headrush had transformed an unlikely venue into something cool, underground, and a new place to party for the evening. Headrush strives to create unique party experiences on the island of Boracay and threw Heavy Hip Hop on the Rooftop to not only give locals and tourists a fresh party perspective, but to bring to the spotlight the recently opened rooftop restaurant, Valhalla, owned by Liezl Tio. Known for throwing well-received events, Headrush founders, Erielyn Estrada and Macky Angeles, usually deliver to their guests popular local and international house DJs, so this time they went leftfield and produced their first hip hop event which was a huge success. As an island local, Headrush is keen to give something back to the place they call home. They recently threw a fundraiser at La Cozina and Gypsea Shack to help The Philippine Mermaid Swimming Academy (PMSA) raise money to re-plant and replenish the corals on the reefs of Boracay. All proceeds went to Mermaids on a Mission (Project M.O.M.) and the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN), which saw Headrush being awarded the Certificate of Appreciation by the Boracay Foundation Inc.

| JUNE 2016

BORACAY SUN

It’s Never too Late! Klaus Doring

EXPAT FILES on how to shape and organize my “new” life in the Philippines. I could never forget some officemates smiling at me: “We can’t cross such bridges before we come to them!” Of course guys, you have been right! Anyway, age doesn’t matter - you can enjoy the second half of your life residing in the Philippines. As many of you know already, I stayed in many countries worldwide. I could have migrated to the U.S. but I didn’t. I chose the Philippines. Most important thing is: keep yourself busy. Sure, there is always a time, when we should rest and really enjoy life. Sure, we brought our savings and many of us enjoy our monthly pension in Euro or Dollar. Several weeks ago, I read a good idea in an U.S. business weekly: “Partner up with entrepreneurs who have long been in the business, or those who have just retired as well!” Worth to think about… . Getting bored, means also for some to start grumbling and complaining about everything and everybody in the Philippines. I always keep my distance from such negative people. We are not here to change this country and its people. Why? What for? Filipinos are also not planning to change our home countries.

know a lot of pensioner expatriates living in the Philippines for good. Many of them have this big problem - after staying here for only a couple of months, they get bored.

Having a vacation all day, all week, all month and all year long is really not an egg’s yellow. I must confess, I experienced the same in 1999 after moving to Davao City. At that time, I just turned 46. I remember my last days in an international publishing house in Berlin. I packed up my things after tendering my resignation letter. Of course, I hadn’t reached my final pension age yet, but I got a lot of ideas

Critics reproach and accuse me of living a life as an expatriate wearing a pink tinted glasses. Sorry, but my conscience is very clear. I keep myself busy, too busy sometimes: teaching, translating, writing, in the radio, and many more things; but I always find time for short vacations. It’s never too late. It’s your life! Take your chance and enjoy life in the Philippines. And, stay away from grumblers and grouses. Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot. com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com.

| JUNE 2016

BORACAY SUN

INSTA-#LABORACAY2016

7107 ISLANDS

| JUNE 2016

till feeling bouts of separation anxiety from the recent #laboracay2016? Wallow in your #sepanx and relive the festive moments once again in these chosen public instagram feeds that we managed to #regram.

Let these IGs speak for themselves on the feels and reels in this year’s LaBoracay Festival. And although not an official event (yet), this “festival” has certainly put Boracay on the holiday map when the country celebrates the Labor Day every first of May.

BORACAY SUN

+ altitude

7107 ISLANDS

| JUNE 2016

Bicycle Acts and Bills in the Philippines Joel james Cubillas

ikers in the Philippines constantly clamor for bike lanes and for approved safety measures that would aid in a more enjoyable and encouraging riding experience.

indicates that: The DOTC shall establish a program that gives incentives to private and government offices that encourage their employees to ride their bicycles to work by providing for bicycle facilities within their establishments, lockers, and showers.

Unbeknownst to many, a handful of senate bills, all concerning the usage of the good ol’ bike, albeit with different underlying aims, have been passed by senators.

Senator Defensor- Santiago stands tall with her bike-community building as her bill delves mainly on infrastructure: the development of bicycle lanes, bicycle parking among other buildings in rural and urban are especially detailed on the said proposal.

Senator Miriam Defensor- Santiago’s Senate Bill No. 2789 otherwise known as “Bike Friendly Communities Act” aims to promote the use of bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation and establish bike friendly communities. Section 2 of the said bill reads: “It is the policy of the State to promote environmentally sound and affordable means of transportation for its citizens that shall serve as an alternative to vehicles which consume fuel. It is also the policy of the State to protect the welfare and safety of the commuting public and all road users. Towards this end, the State shall promote biking as a means of transport by establishing a comprehensive network of bike lanes and bike facilities and a road safety program.” Another highlight of the bill particularly favors the people who bike to work regularly: Section 10 of the said bill

On the other hand, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Senate Bill No. 143 primarily focuses on giving incentives to those who bike to work. The bill is also known as “Bicycle Commuters Incentives Act of 20 13.” The bill longs to dole out incentives to employees who regularly use bikes and or other non-motorized transport vehicles as means of transport to and from their places of work shall be entitled to an annual tax deduction of Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PhP2,500.00) from their gross income (Section 4). The bill would also recognize companies who would provide a biker-friendly environment since expenses by business establishments and other institutions, as a result of their bike-friendly programs

and facilities, shall be deductible in full from their gross income. Senate Bill No 2688, also known as the Bicycle Act of 2011 is authored by then Senator Manny Villar. This act specifically pays attention to the development of bicycle lanes and the adjusted road regulations (Rights, Duties and Obligations of Cyclists) thereafter. An example is its section 10 where A uniformed police officer, or any deputized traffic officer, may stop, inspect and test a bicycle that is suspected to be unsafe or to have improper equipment. He may also stop any cyclist operating the bicycle in such a manner as to pose danger to others. Bike lanes are also provided exclusivity in the bill’s section 13: Motor Vehicles In Bikeways. - Whenever a bikeway has been established on a road, any person operating a motor vehicle on such road shall not drive in the bikeway except to park when parking is permitted, to enter or leave the road or prepare for a turn.

Photo courtesy of: wowbatangas.com

There may still be heaps of cycling related paper works there in the Congress and or in the Senate. And each may, again, have various underlying intentions - to ease the pollution caused by vehicular emissions, or as a solution to health concerns, or perhaps, just a mere answer to areas with heavy traffic. The approval of any of these bills (or the true implementation of it), will bring good news to the cycling community. This community might be considered a minority in today’s time of brand-new and with 0% interest compact cars, but we have this dire and inexplicable need to see our bikes not as an alternative mode of transport but a main avenue of conveying a healthy, simplistic and cultured lifestyle. Reference: senate.gov.ph

BORACAY SUN

PEOPLE

| JUNE 2016

Photo from: www.beritasatu.com

But first, travel

CHANGING THE GAME

Coach Dooley grew up in Germany (his parents are German and American). As a footballer, he travelled throughout Germany and in Europe when he played in the Bundesliga and in UEFA. When he was drafted to play for the US National Team, he lived in California. One of his memorable travels was in Chile in South America. There he was able to drive, and talk with people; see how they live. “The people are nice,” he said. “Those (interaction with the locals) are the memories that I take with me.”

Beth Jalea

ational Coach Thomas Dooley of the Philippine Azkals has been in the country for a little over two years now. Fresh from a much-deserved El Nido holiday, the “controversial coach”, as many would call him, was gracious enough to sit down with us, non-sports enthusiasts, and allow us to have a glimpse of what makes him tick, as a person and a traveler. Truth be told, our list of questions was, what you may call, travel-centric. (Yes, we were prepared to ask the usual “travel” questions, we wanted to know what his travel essentials are). Little did we expect that an initially simple, supposed-to-be travel-centric interview would become a life learning seminar that tickled our subconscious, positively. All it took was asking this one question which, we supposed, was already asked by many: “Are you taking the Azkals to the World Cup?” to which the National Coach, replied: “My whole life was about setting goals. Goals must be realistic. The goal of the world cup is realistic. It is realistic that one day, the Azkals will be playing in the World Cup but like anything, it’s just not the same. To go to the world cup, you have to have a plan, a strategy, you have to do it.”

Nowadays, his favorite destination is, of course, the Philippines. He likes the weather here, it is warm. He mused that perhaps, this is the reason why the people are nice.

Of goal settings and life, in general It was interesting to note that the pivotal moment in Coach Dooley’s life was when he met an insurance agent who became his friend when he was 17, and feeling unmotivated. This agent taught him his first life lesson: anything you wanted to do you can do, you just have to set your mind to it. He also encouraged the young Thomas to read, listen to people and attend seminars in order to “recharge” himself. From all those studies, Thomas was able to set a goal for himself. At 17, he envisioned himself drafted to play for the 3rd Division, a far cry from the 11th Division where he was playing at that time. To achieve his goal, he followed his own 5-step formula: (1) you have to have a (specific) goal, (2) plan, (3) execute your plan, (4) believe, and (5) visualize your goal. True enough, after six months he was drafted to play in the 3rd Division; went on to play in the 1st Division, the national team, Bundesliga, UEFA, the

US national team, and win championships, play in the world cup.

Jonathan, the seagull Coach Dooley’s agent friend suggested these two books: (1) “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach and (2) Joseph Murphy’s “The Power of the Subconscious Mind.” Jonathan, the seagull, is a positive influence in that despite being an outcast, he was able to reach his goal to learn about the flight, and fly high. This story was for Coach Dooley, a message, a motivation - when you want to something, you do it. And if you’ve got a goal, you’ve got to work for it.

Changing the Game In coaching, the National Coach has to make sure that the players digest what he is saying. He shares that it is difficult when you have players who are not of a certain level of understanding of the game. In order to win, players have to be smart and quick in decision but they also have to believe and visualize the winning. And they have to work as a team. We need 11 players who are working for a job, it’s them who are more important then 10 individuals. It’s what we have to get done. In the last two games I think that we have done that. Football is not about the best player; it is about the best team. It’s not the best player who wins the championship, it is the best team who wins the championship. The Philippine Azkals won over North Korea last March in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. The team is also working towards the Suzuki Cup which is set at the end of this year. Coach Dooley captained the United States at the 1998 World Cup. He retired from the US national team the following year with 81 caps and seven goals.

BORACAY SUN

INDULGE

just ask the chef

| JUNE 2016

Hi Daddy Mark!

tarting this issue, we will be introducing a new column where readers can ask our resident Chef about matters closest to our stomach. Eating should be an enjoyable experience for all and cooking food should not be a chore. That is what our Chef aims to do when he answers your questions and kitchen problems. Consider it solved if you… Just Ask The CHEF!

Yes, it could really be a challenge to parents who work the whole day (or night!) and be concerned about what their kids eat at school. Besides, most of their productive hours are spent in school and therefore, much needed energy should be coming from their baon. Good news is, you don’t need to be a chef to prepare meals that your kids will surely like. For your question, I am recommending to you the following recipes:

Dear Chef, I am your typical working parent. I usually leave with my kids early in the morning and arrive at home much later than my kids. This leaves me little time to prepare their baon and most of the time, I settle for either the easiest to cook (fried usually) or ready to eat ones like the usual commercial mammon, cookies and the like. Recently, I noticed that my kids rarely finish their baon and worse, complain about the variety. This is on top of my guilt feeling of sending them baons that are nutritionally compromised. Can you help me, chef, think of recipes that are easy to prepare but will surely be liked by my kids? Yours Truly, Daddy Mark

BANANA LOAF WITH STREUSEL Makes 1 Loaf

KIDDIE EMPANADA Makes 6 pieces

HOTDOG AND CHEESE BALLS SURPRISE Makes 30pieces, about 40grams/ball

This recipe is best when served freshly baked. Bake in the morning and pack for your child’s baon with a bottle of fresh milk! Such a healthy treat! Adding in Streusels gives crunchy sweetness to the bread making it more appealing to kids taste.

This recipe can be made ahead on weekends. This can also be a good bonding time with your kids when making it ahead. You may store these in airtight containers and kept in freezer. Keeping it in freezer can extend shelf life of your empanada to months! Just pop in freezer and deep fry when you have scheduled it as baon for the day. For healthier options, you may add mushroom buttons and carrots.

Another option on serving rice meals for your picky eaters! This recipe is also a make ahead recipe. Rice balls can be eaten cold, so one need not worry if it runs cold. Have fun decorating the rice balls or just serve it plain with cubed cheese accents.

Quantity

Unit

Ingredients

Cup

All purpose flour

Teaspoon

Baking soda

Cup

Fresh milk (add in to Vinegar)

Teaspoon

Quantity

Unit

Ingredients For the Dough:

Vinegar

1 1/3

Cups

Brown sugar

Cup

All purpose flour

Cup

Corn oil

Cup

Butter

Piece

Egg

Tablespoon

Cold Water

Pieces

Banana, over ripe, mashed

Cup

Cheese, diced

Cup

Diced Ham

For the Streusel Topping:

Cup

Diced, Pre-boiled Chicken

For the Filling:

Cup

Brown sugar

Piece

Hard boiled Egg

Cup

All purpose flour

Cup

Cheese, diced

Tablespoon

Unsalted butter, softened

As needed

Procedure: For the Streusel Topping: 1. In a bowl, combine sugar, flour and butter and mix into a coarse meal. Set aside. For the Banana Loaf: 1. Sift flour and baking soda twice then set aside. 2. Mix milk and vinegar into a bowl then set aside. 3. In a clean bowl, mix brown sugar, oil and eggs. Whisk until light in color. 4. Add in banana and soured milk. 5. Add in sifted dry ingredients and stir just to incorporate. Do not overmix. 6. Bake for 25 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 375F. Take out from the oven then top with prepared streusel topping. 7. Bake for another 15 minutes or until done.

Vegetable oil

Procedure: For the dough: 1. In a bowl, mix flour with butter, add in water and knead lightly. Form dough into a ball, rest and chill for at least 5 minutes. 2. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces, and roll into balls, rest. For the filling: 1. In a bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly. 2. Take one dough ball, lay on a work table, use rolling pin, roll out dough into 1/8” thick circles. 3. Put about a tablespoonful of the filling, fold down into half. Secure edges by pressing a fork, deep fry empanada to a golden brown. 4. Serve warm.

Quantity

Unit

Ingredients

800

Grams

Steamed white rice

100

Grams

Hotdog, rings

100

Grams

Cheddar cheese

Grams

Salt

Procedure: 1. Pre-cook rice. Fluff and set aside. 2. Fry or steam hotdogs. Chop in small dice. Set aside. 3. Chop Danes Cheese in small dice. Set aside. 4. Place a couple of tablespoons of the cooked rice in the center of your palm, place your hotdog and cheese filling. 5. Add about another tablespoon of rice on top of your filling. Form the rice in a circular motion creating a ball shaped rice. Set aside. 6. Place rice balls on paper cup and place in lunch box. I am sure your kids will love the recipes I shared. Remember that the love we put in our meals makes even the ordinary dishes extraordinary! Having kitchen related problems? Just ask The Chef! Email us your kitchen queries and Chef Lowell Cauilan, Program Director & Co Founder of Professional Academy for Culinary Education (PACE) will provide you with easy kitchen solutions. You may email your questions at marketing.pace2012@gmail.com. Till our next issue!

BORACAY SUN

CENTERFOLD

The Best of Both Worlds

From Europe to Asia T H E E U R OA S I E X P E R I E N C E ( Pa r t 1 )

oracay Island, Philippines, and Bali, Indonesia, both premier tourist destinations in the world, are in the hearts of an Italy-based international non-government organization (NGO) called the TDM 2000 International, being the partner South East Asian countries for the EuroAsi Project.

Job shadowing at TDM 2000 International office, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy

EuroAsi – From Europe to Asia: Capitalizing Experience in Youth Work, is a 23-month capacity building project coordinated by the Italy-based, non-government organization, TDM 2000 International, with the cooperation of partners from six countries – four from Europe and two from South East Asia. The aim of the project is to share with the partner countries from South East Asia the extensive experience gained and the best practices acquired in the last two decades thanks to the European programmes dedicated to youth. The expected results are a better comprehension of the importance of non-formal education and youth mobility as tools to bring a positive change in the life of local young people, and, eventually, in their society, a strengthened partnership between European and partner countries organizations and a better understanding of the opportunities offered by the European Union. Through a series of activities organized at local, international level and online, such as conferences, training in the field, job shadowing and EVS, the project will foster capacity building and innovation in the field of international youth work, promote non formal learning and youth mobility and empower youth people from the partner countries. (source: http:// tdm2000international.org)

My Jobshadowing experience is no accident, so they say. I was drafted as one of the jobshadowers, along with five other Boracaynon youth workers who have also been part of the capacity building that was conducted in 2015. There are also six others joining the European Voluntary Services.

The EuroAsi project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union. There are 11 participants from both Boracay Island and Bali who are to experience the best of both worlds – Asia is at the forefront of major development, enjoying economic boost in the recent years while Europe is a formidable union that provides opportunities on youth exchange for over 20 years now through the Erasmus+ Program. In the Philippines and Indonesia, youth NGOs and non-formal education is still a new learning platform and measures are taken to increase mobility of youth and youth organization. The European countries hosting the program are Italy, Malta, Slovenia, and Portugal.

With the President of the TDM Angelica Perra together with Hudry Muhammad from Indonesia

Marlo Schoenenberger

Job Shadowing and the European Voluntary Services are fairly new to the Philippine setting. These activities provide opportunities for Filipinos to learn how volunteering works in Europe, focusing on capacity building and youth development.

The process of going to Europe is one difficult task, visa processing alone is an agonizing experience. And the trip or the flight itself is another story – I was travelling through different time zones. My trip to Cagliari, Italy, I could say, was similar to the one I took going to Malta in February where I boarded four different planes from Boracay to Cagliari - add the return flights and that would make it eight plane transfers in total.

| JUNE 2016

Cagliari dates back to being inhabited in the Neolithic times. It has a rich history with numerous Kingdoms. Cagliari became the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia during the 14th19th century, a predecessor state of the present Italy. It is indeed one beautiful and vibrant capital of Sardinia.

apparently, not in Sardinia. Others say it is not entirely an Italian cuisine. Pizza is another favorite lunch and in huge servings. Cheeses are just everywhere and sweets are all over. And also, beer in the afternoon; well it should be similar anywhere in the world. Dinner can be skipped with all these consumptions during the day but a small pizza will do with a glass of great wine and chocolate or cheese in between. All of these favorites made my days in this other part of the world more bearable, that is, while keeping in mind the value of these food in Philippine peso. My second to the third week is met with several meetings with the TDM 2000 International team and the stakeholders surrounding the city, for the current and incoming projects of the organization to benefit the younger community. The impact of these activities are not seen overnight but it gives a long-term or sustainable ‘end product’ to the innovative minds of the younger generation. It provides options where one can choose the most suitable and efficient actions for the young to become a successful individual, when he or she is able to give back to the community in the long run.

In Cagliari, I was able to integrate with the life of a European worker in the context of an NGO worker providing opportunities to those in need and transfer the best practices from Europe to Asia. The work on the first week focused on the orientation on the day-to-day activities and the projects of the TDM 2000 International and TDM 2000. TDM started as a humble organization in the year 2000 and now empowers more youth all over Europe thru international networks. Recently, they have embarked on an ambitious project that would link Europe to Asia, in the Philippines and Indonesia specifically, through the EuroAsi Project. Throughout the orientation, I have learned that the team behind TDM 2000 International wishes that the ASEAN would be able to replicate the work that the European Union does for its people, provide more opportunities to the younger generation funded by the government, and not at the expense of the younger population (or their parents, that is). The first week is also when a newcomer integrates and learns about the history of the place. My first impression of Cagliari was that buildings are built like castles after all, Cagliari, or Casteddu, literally means castle. The TDM 2000 International team certainly knows how to welcome visitors well in their country – I felt the very warm welcome despite the cooler weather, a break from the tropical heat that I am used to. The food is delicious. My breakfast favorite is the ‘diplomatico’ served with a cup of cappuccino. For lunch, it would be the famous Italian Spaghetti but to my surprise, no Sardinian menu offers the Spaghetti Bolognese; this dish is common in the Philippines and I was expecting it to be served in the northern part of Italy but

As a young kid, I always wanted to go to Europe but not in Malta or Italy, as a start. I was trying my best to learn the German language but ended up learning the Italian language more; not entirely easy, it will take me ages to do so. Italian language is very challenging. I realized Cagliari, to a large extent, is more beautiful the following week that I was around. I went to all districts, one of the castles, a lot of the historic and grand churches, saw interesting archeological finds and museums, visited numerous parks, dined in varied restaurants, had espresso and cappuccino in quaint coffee shops, had beers in pubs, and familiarized myself with the flow of the city and its unique feature. The weather, once acclimatized, makes you appreciate the cool breeze and the radiant sun. I like to walk along the small pathways and value the huge pedestrian lanes where crossing is very safe and convenient. People do respect the pedestrian so much like their loved ones. I also admire the people being able to drive their cars in the small pathways around the center of the districts.

BORACAY SUN

CENTERFOLD

From Boracay to Europe In March 2015, while in the Philippine Red Cross Boracay-Malay Chapter office, a proposal to join the “EuroAsi - From Europe to Asia: Capitalizing Experience in Youth Work” reached me thru the Red Cross Youth Focal Person, Ms. Rona Liza Inocencio, per the invitation of Mr. Nigel Gamalong of Radio Boracay. I was working as Officer-In-Charge of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Boracay-Malay Chapter at that time.

| JUNE 2016

Job shadowing in TDM 2000 Malta Liza Gamo

As an advocate for youth development, there was no hesitation for me to join the said program. Later, we learned thru TDM 2000 International representative, Mr. Federico Gaviano, that the said program is to share the best practices of European youth initiatives to Asia (Indonesia and the Philippines). It is co-funded by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission, under the KA2 Action “Capacity Building” of the Erasmus Plus Programme. A series of workshops were attended by the youth workers and youth volunteers including myself. Topics ranged from these five modules NGO (NonGovernment Organization) Management, Project Management, Human Resources Management, Financial Management and Communication, Visibility and Dissemination. I have been working with the PRC for several years and the topics were very much useful to me and the Red Cross Youth. One of the most important topic discussed were that of financial management, as it is always a challenge to operate an NGO with funds being generated and not readily available. There were several participants to the workshops including the Partner Organization One Media Boracay, the members of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay, Rotary Club of Boracay, the Philippine Red Cross Boracay-Malay Chapter, Boracay Foundation Inc., Boracay Informer and Boracay Yuppies. The project is also supported by the Local Government Unit of Malay. The participants were given an opportunity to experience Europe’s best practices thru the Jobshadowing and the European Voluntary Service. Over the period of time, from March 2015 on to the last quarter of the year, my work shifted from being the officer-in-charge of the Philippine Red Cross Boracay-Malay Chapter to become part of the Local Government Unit of Malay (once again) as the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer. Attending the European program proved to be a challenge considering my commitments in my government job and also my work in the PRC. I was thinking of sending another delegate rather than myself. But then Malta happened. Attending The Mid-Term Meeting in Malta When the opportunity presented itself, of going to an International Midterm Evaluation Meeting in Malta, I took it, with much enthusiasm, if I may add. My flight experience aside, this meeting proved to be one of the most unlikely meetings I have attended in my entire 30 years. The “formidable” flight from Boracay to Malta entailed four airport/flight transfers - from Boracay Island to Manila, Manila to Bangkok, Bangkok to Frankfurt, and Frankfurt to Malta - not to mention the flight back, and the effect in my sleep pattern considering the change in time zones. But like I said, it was a valuable experience. The Midterm Meeting of EuroAsi: From Europe to Asia: Capitalizing Experience in Youth Work showed that the project, though ambitious, is a successful pioneer project of the TDM 2000 International. The meeting discussed the challenges and the possible solutions. Eleven youth workers and youth volunteers from both Indonesia and the Philippines will experience and yes, embody the best practices of Europe. When I realized that I was drafted to join the experience, and to think I was going back to Europe, got me excited; I did not hesitate to file my visa application to Italy.

was drafted to do a Jobshadowing in the TDM 2000 Office in Malta, with the support of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Boracay.

Job shadowing in a non-governmental organization is not really new to me, because I worked in a non-governmental organization 11 years ago prior to working in the hospitality industry. The spirit of volunteerism, and working with other nongovernmental organization are always close to my heart. From this 3-week jobshadowing experience, I get to learn how the organizations in Europe collaborate with each other, to exchange good practices, acquire skills and knowledge and build long-term partnerships between the participating organizations. Learn and Share I was happy to learn the history and culture of the Maltese island and its people, and the work that TDM 2000 Malta does as a local and international organization; also how the organization creates and executes non formal activities for its young members and their implementation. In return, I was able to share not only the beauty of Boracay through a video that shows why it is more Fun to Travel in the Philippines but also the best practices in organizing various humanitarian activities through the Rotary Club of Boracay, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Boracay-Malay Chapter. I was also able to attend the Rotary Club of Malta fellowship night which, hopefully will open up doors for international cooperation. Historic Malta Malta is beautiful. I was especially fascinated by the beauty and charm of Mdina or the Silent City, situated on top of a large hill right in the centre of the country. With its narrow streets, few inhabitants, beautiful views and great architecture, Mdina is truly amazing and magical. Walking in the beaches of Sliema Bay was also a great experience since it felt like I’m home away from home as I always love to walk on the white beach of Boracay. I went to the Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology in Valletta, Malta’s capital, to see its beauty and to learn about Maltese history. I was also able to visit Gozo, a neighboring island in the Mediterranean Sea. This place is known for its churches, temples, rural hiking paths, red sand beaches and diving sites. While in Dwejra Bay, located on the West Coast of Gozo, a tourist village, I took a long walk to enjoy the scenic views and amazing landscape. I’ve seen the rock formation with that natural arch window showing the azure Mediterranean Sea which was featured in the movies like “The Clash of the Titans”, and the “Count of Monte Cristo.”

At the heart of the island was the tiny fortified city of Cittadella. According to history, when the knights of Saint John came to Malta, they used the Citadel as a shelter in case of attack. You can also see the whole of Gozo from this site. I met Filipinos going around the Citadel who work in Malta. And I remember and forever cherish the Xrobb IGhagin in Delimara, one of the best spots in Malta! The scenic views give you a beautiful sense of peace and tranquility along with the warmth of the people around me, especially my hosts. From Europe to Boracay For my organization, I hope that I would be able to enhance youth participation and contribution to society in local and international levels through projects such as youth exchange programs and fund raising to benefit local and charitable institutions. Together with other jobshadowers, we will create a project that involves capacity building on NGO management such as the Rotary Club of Boracay and other organizations on the island by fostering development through education and greater appreciation of non-formal education. It’s impressive seeing how the youth in the European country I visited worked together, having the right attitude, the readiness to accept challenges and being bold to embrace change. Through EuroAsi, I saw the world in another perspective. I learned a lot of things about different cultures and the value of respecting cultural differences, the power of expression and human rights. I hope that one day we can replicate these European best practices in Boracay. This will not happen overnight, but this experience will constantly drive us to achieve our mission.

BORACAY SUN

LIFESTYLE

SPEND LESS, TRAVEL MORE travel tips

Ave’s ultimate budget travel guide PATRICE AVERILLA

lot of my readers and friends keep on asking me, “How can you afford to travel a lot?” Most of you guys think I am rich but apparently, I’m not — well, at least not yet, but we’ll get there for sure!

Honestly speaking, I only spend less than Php 5,000 depending on the place I visit. Most of these places are Southeast Asian countries and just around the Philippines. I know it’s hard to believe but it works for me. Here are my travel guides for you, my fellow budget travelers:

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE RICH TO TRAVEL BUT YOU HAVE TO BE SMART ABOUT YOUR EXPENDITURES.

PATRICE AVERILLA or Ave of avelovinit.com is a travel blogger and “an eternally curious student of the world”. We’ve featured some of her travels in our December 2015 issue. Here she’s back with tips on how to hop on to one place in a budget.

NO 1

I started traveling alone at the age of 20, I know it’s not that young but hey, if you have strict parents you’ll probably know how it feels like. The first ever ultimate traveling alone experience I had was when I was in the US. I had my internship there for a year and it gave me the privilege to travel freely around the country plus I was earning pretty alright for my first job. But sadly, I splurged waaaay too much and didn’t think of the budget. But hey, I sure had fun! For me, spending money on food and travel doesn’t break my heart at all but it sure as hell broke my wallet! That experience somehow taught me to watch my budget in my next travels.

| JUNE 2016

Couch surf or stay at a friend’s place Some people are scared to try couch surfing but it really helps decrease your accommodation expenses. The Couch Surfing site has “testimonials” of their past guests so you can just read through the hosts’ feedbacks to see if they’re legit or not. You can find out more and open up a free account at www.couchsurfing.com

NO 2 Cook your own food/ bring canned goods Just because you’re traveling doesn’t necessary mean you need to eat in a restaurant for every meal. It won’t actually ruin your trip if you decide not to eat out all the time! Sometimes, I bring canned goods with me and it saves me a lot of money! Most hostels give you access to their kitchen and microwave anyways. I also bring crackers, water bottles or I make simple sandwiches especially when I know that I will be sight seeing the whole day. This usually saves me $20 per meal when dining out!

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

BORACAY SUN

LIFESTYLE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

NO 3

Sleep in a Hostel/ Large dorms

I know it sounds difficult especially if you’re an introvert but making new friends won’t hurt so bad. Oftentimes, they tour me around famous tourist spots and it really saves me a lot of money when it comes to transportation. But of course, as a common courtesy for us Filipinos, I usually repay them by buying them food as a gesture of thanks and appreciation for being hospitable.

Hostels are quite nice, you get to meet new people from different countries, share stories about their culture and sometimes, you even meet interesting people that can help you throughout your journey. The prices are cheaper than booking a room plus you get to make new friends. Dorm rooms are the cheapest accommodations. If you don’t feel like couch surfing, this is the next best way to save on a place to sleep.

N 4

Walk and as much as possible, don’t take a cab

N 7 O

Get a week subway pass

Go to free tourist spots

Getting these passes can save you up to 50% instead of getting a train ticket each time you take one ride. Plus, it also saves you time from falling in line to but one all the time.

N 8

Walking is healthy, plus it makes you appreciate the place better. Oftentimes, we, Filipinos, are not fond of walking or taking public transportation. But in other countries, they’re not really used to taking a cab all the time since it is expensive plus they have cheaper and faster public transportations.

NO 6

Befriend locals

NO 5

| JUNE 2016

Use your student cards to get a discount

N 9 O

Book plane tickets ahead or watch out for seat sales

Not all tourist spots have entrance fees. Before going to a place, research their famous tourist attractions and take note of the ones that you don’t really have to pay for. Sometimes, getting in a museum or an attraction can give you 20-50% discount by using your student I.D. – they won’t know when you’ve graduated or not and I can’t guarantee it’ll work in all establishments but it’s still worth a try! Every week, cheap airlines like Cebu Pacific, Jetstar, Air Asia and Tiger Air has promo seat sales. However, you have to wait for a few months upon traveling but I think it’s also a good way to save up more on your trip!

Follow Patrice on: Blog: http://avelovinit.com/ | youtube: avelovinit | instagram: avelovin

BORACAY SUN

LIFESTYLE

| JUNE 2016

Ah, Taiwan F. L. Castro

ow do I even BEGIN to describe much I absolutely LOVE Taiwan? food, the shopping, the sights, the weather during the winter months. I REALLY love it. And let me tell you why.

how The cold just

Growing up as a kid with parents from different countries, I usually split my time between the Philippines and Taiwan. I’d stay here for school, and if our plans allowed and if mum wasn’t planning a trip to Thailand or a backpacking trip through Luzon, we would usually (always) go back to Taiwan. You see, although we love it here in the Philippines, there’s really only one place we could shop for dad’s art supplies, satisfy my shopping obsession (don’t judge me), AND call ‘home’ at the same time. And I shit you not, you can find ANYTHING there. Artsy restaurants and sushi trains? Check. Great street food? Check. Healthy, delicious, CHEAP breakfast stores? Double Check. 7-11s in every corner? You got

it. That ostrich pillow you saw on Tumblr that you don’t believe really exists? Well, just FYI, it’s about NT$1288 in Taipei’s Eslite, if you’re looking. Fourth floor. I think. However, if you’re not prepared to spend the equivalent of about PHP2000 on a novelty pillow, I invite you to take a long, exhilarating look at the glorious NIGHT MARKETS. In the south of Taiwan, in Kaohsiung, my family likes to go to Rueifung Night Market, just a tube away from where we live. And just like the other night markets in Taiwan, it’s got street food like Xian Shu Ji (Taiwanese fried chicken - it’s boneless and you can eat it with toothpicks - I HIGHLY recommend the chicken heart), classic games like a giant ring toss, mah-jong tables, arcade claw games, and this game where people would buy tickets with numbers on them, and if the booth manager’s dart hits your number, you have the chance to either take

home a remote controlled car worth about PHP300, or if you’re really lucky, a full-size drone worth about PHP25,000, and auctions. Trendy clothes with varying levels of quality, gadgets and gizmos galore, souvenirs and trinkets - you can find them all in the night markets. It’s a shopper’s paradise; in a word, my natural habitat (yes, yes, I know- it’s a problem). CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

BORACAY SUN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 Continuing my glorification of my horrible shopping habit, I am absolutely smitten with Taipei’s Eslite Bookstore. Other than being the biggest bookstore in all of Asia, it’s home to the kitschiest, most hipster things you can even dream of. It is just massive - high-end restaurants on the top floor, entire stories for books, and designer brands for the rest. I have to thank this place for my Star Trek Encyclopaedia - my most treasured possession, other than my Black Widow and Hawkeye comic books. Eslite is basically a Taiwanese version of National Bookstore, if National Bookstore was on steroids. I know of two (three?) Eslites in Kaohsiung and three more in Taipei- and that’s just in those two cities, I mean, there’s also Hua Lian, Tai Zhong, Tai Nan… But just because Taiwan’s got legendary night markets and great shopping doesn’t mean it hasn’t got quiet spots as well. Rent a car and drive across Taiwan and you’ll see the most beautiful sights you’ll ever see in your life - tulip and lavender fields for miles, beautiful flower gardens, fruit orchards, small cafes in the middle of nowhere, and so much more. If you’re looking for a place to steal away for a while to either just chill or spend your honeymoon, Sun Moon Lake Resort is a bit of a drive away from the big cities, but it’s where my family likes to go to relax. The last time I went there, I was about six, but I will never forget the view of the lake from our hotel balcony – its iridescent waters will never fade in my memory. And my mum’s hometown island, CiMei, is my favourite place in the world. Classic Chinese houses and rolling green hills with an abundance of goats, it’s such a nice place to sketch. Taiwan is also home for the artistic, with pottery villages like the one in Kending, art exhibitions, dance recitals, and theatre productions in Guo Fu Ji Nian Guan (Founding Father’s Memorial, literally translated), parks with weekend markets filled with university art students selling their handicrafts, artisanal brownies, and handmade consumables. There are also great sculptures, beautifully engineered buildings, art supply shops with the best materials you could ever hope for, and so much more even I haven’t even discovered yet. So… road trip, anyone?

LIFESTYLE

| JUNE 2016

BORACAY SUN

LIFESTYLE

Did you know? F. L. Castro

ADVERTORIAL Homosexuality is found in 1,500 species of animals. Homophobia, however, is only present in one.

Scientifically speaking, a banana is a berry. A strawberry, however, is not.

Beyoncé is allergic to perfume

| JUNE 2016

The Little Islander Montessori Center Boracay

he Little Islander Montessori Center Boracay is set to open its doors this coming school year 2016-2017. The school will be accepting children ages 1.5 to 6 years old for 2-hour and 3-hour programs. What is the Montessori method?

Cleopatra was Greek, not Egyptian

The fear of Friday the 13th is called Friggatrigadecaphobia

Hedy Lamarr, a silver age Hollywood actress, was also the pioneer of wireless technology, and used spread spectrum and frequency hopping technology to guide torpedoes in World War II. So you have HER to thank for Bluetooth and wifi.

It is more than the well-prepared environment and specifically designed materials. It is a wellresearched, all-inclusive method in educating children that is passed on to teachers through intensive training. It is a way of life – a way of teaching that encourages a child’s love for learning and provides experiences that will build their selfconfidence to handle everyday challenges. Why choose Montessori?

of opportunities to master each skill presented by each material.

The approach teaches individuals rather than in groups, in which the teacher explains the lessons to each child. Other interested classmates may join the presentation as well. The system enables the teacher to cater to the specific pace of the child and adjust to the child’s interest level and understanding.

The curriculum is an extensive program that caters to the whole child. Besides the academics, the program has exercises that develops the small muscles (prerequisite to writing), gives emphasis on independence and auto education wherein the children learn naturally once they correct their own errors. The program also institutes the children to be involved members of their community.

Skills are learned through practice rather than listening and memorizing. Children are given a lot

TLIMC is currently holding trial classes until May 31. For inquiries please call / text 0946-3469515

BORACAY SUN

ROTARY CLUB OF BORACAY

Rotary Club of Boracay signs MOA with PRC Boracay-Malay Chapter Douglas Fabilane

| JUNE 2016

Rotary Club of Boracay joins Rotary International Convention in Korea BETH JALEA

everal members of the Rotary Club of Boracay attended the Rotary International Convention in Seoul, Korea on May 28 to

June 1.

This annual gathering of the members of the Rotary International is held purposely to stimulate, inspire, and inform Rotarians at an international level while advancing the strategic goals of the association.

t the height of the LaBoracay 2016 fever, two of the most prominent international organizations in Boracay sealed a historic partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

The MOA calls for a five-year cooperation between the Rotary Club of Boracay and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Boracay-Malay Chapter, wherein the first will support the latter’s projects that are related to disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, disaster response, and other community projects. The MOA is anchored on the Sisterhood Agreement between the Rotary Club of Boracay and the Rotary Club of Jindo, Korea (RID 3610). It was signed by Rotary Club of Boracay Incoming President Ma. Teresa Fajilan-Bech and PRC Boracay-Malay Chapter Chairman Nieva B. Mendoza and witnessed by Incoming Rotary Club of Boracay Secretary Aldo Yap, Director Del Nora H. Nano, Chapter Administrator John Patrick Moreno and MDRRO Marlo Schoenenberger. The Sisterhood Agreement between the Rotary Clubs of Boracay and Jindo was signed last April. The Clubs agreed to implement at least two major projects each year for the benefit of Boracay and Malay. Providing equipment for the PRC Boracay-Malay Chapter Blood Collecting Unit/Blood Station will be the first of their many projects.

Rotary International is the world’s first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs worldwide. The club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self. In Boracay, the Rotary Club has implemented various projects in support of these advocacies. Last year, the Club participated in Malay LGU’s Rabies Free Drive, and worked with the local government in organizing the World Aids Day Forum in the island. To combat hunger, the Club lunched a Daily Milk Feeding Program in the local schools. The Club also continues to distribute reference books through its Books Across the Seas (BATS) program. This year, under its health and sanitation

initiatives, the Rotary Club of Boracay pledged to donate equipment for the Blood Collecting Unit / Blood Station of the Philippine Red Cross Boracay-Malay Chapter through the support of its sisterclub, the Rotary Club of Jindo (Korea).

DEGUSTATION MENU

Chef Omar Ugoletti presents a 5-course degustation menu of Southern European fare, fit for kings and queens. For inquiries and reservations, call (63 36) 288 4988 or email restaurantreservations.slbo@shangri-la.com.

#MyShangriLaBoracay

#ShangBoraRima

BORACAY SUN

HEALTH

| JUNE 2016

Photo from: https://leadershipcommunication.center/civics-in-action/healthy-eating-initiative/

special press release

Enrich Your Kids the Natural Way Elmar Terlutter & Holger Biallas

other earth provides everything your children need, so give them what nature produces.

The Philippines is a tropical paradise abundant with fruits and vegetables that can be harvested and made available seasonally. Fruits contain excellent nutrients and many can get your kids through a hot day such as the watermelon, mango and papaya. Watermelons have immediate cooling effect on our body and if eaten with sea salt, we are already providing ourselves with strongly needed minerals at the same time. So, moms, please think about putting a slice of watermelon into your kids’ snack box for school. Another natural hydration is buko juice which you can get your kids to drink before they go to school. Our bodies can absorb this kind of liquid to a high degree and it hydrates us instantaneously. You may also encourage your kids to eat the coconut meat. The meat contains lauric acid, which has strong antimicrobial and anti-viral properties, keeping you and your family healthy throughout the year. Furthermore, it has lots of fibers which is good for digestion, and copper, being responsible for certain neurotransmitters that optimise human brain function. Avoid giving your children the so-called “modern nutrition”, which may contain many harmful chemicals and artificial supplements, non-natural vitamins, gmo,

msg, sugar, high fructose sugar, and glutamate. Soft drinks and iced tea should be avoided; these are loaded with sugar and/or harmful sweeteners. Sugar boosts shortly your energy, but after a few hours, it results to craving and hunger. It will hinder your children`s concentration in school, as a matter of fact. A good alternative is putting a little honey instead of sugar into your child’s calamansi juice. Processed food is a big NO, since sugar and glutamate are common ingredients. The healthy alternative is banana or mixed nuts with dried fruits between meals. Fresh vegetables, a mixed salad, as well as natural or, even better, organic rice with papaya pickles and fresh fish is best for main dishes. Native Filipinos from former times knew these facts very well. As a conclusion, the best is to provide your children with natural products from our local markets, meaning fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables. It’s easy, simple and less expensive than processed items – and your children will be able to optimise their vitality and intelligence, managing their day at school in a joyful and healthy way. Very important, of course, is some kind of sportive activity that enhances breathing capacity and gas exchange. But again, make sure that the intake of water is adequate! Stay inside a frequent frame of 2-4 liters a day.

Even kids have lots of challenging tasks, like tests and exams, so stress reduction could include easy meditation, having a lot to do with training concentration. This is where yoga classes for children steps in. Also, the tradition of Hatha Yoga knows simple breating exercises to calm and/or refresh the mind. It is so easy to help create deep roots of health in your children’s life by being inspired to use the abundance that is around you. Saw a seed of longevity and joy in them, in your whole family even, then watch them grow and prosper.

Decoding the Mucus Spectrum What it says about your health Blanche Posadas-Basco

he changing of seasons had a negative effect to my children’s health. My toddler son had to endure days of ear infection with a heavily clogged nose while my newborn daughter, who is susceptible to these types of infection because of her still developing immune system, also caught the bug and struggled with the sniffles. In these cases, I normally monitor the secretions or mucus coming out of my children’s nose. Nasal secretion is a good indicator of any possible respiratory infection that may require early intervention such as medication administration, nutritional support, on in some cases the use of humidifier to clear out nasal congestion and for clearing dry cough.

http://www.answers.com/

The color of your nasal secretions conveys as to how your immune system is working toward an infection, whether bacterial or viral. Nasal secretions or mucus as they commonly called is made up of mostly water with also proteins, antibodies and dissolved salts. Mucus keeps you healthy by helping your nose from being too dry and shields your lungs from dust, smoke, allergens, bacteria, viruses and other harmful chemicals. We don’t even notice that we have mucus when we are healthy because we just usually swallow it.

When we get sick, our mucus tells a different story. If it appears thicker and cloudier, it may indicate seasonal allergies or other respiratory problem. At the beginning, our mucus is typically clear but changes color as the infection progresses. As the tissues in the nose become swollen, the mucus gets drier making it hard to flow and eventually causing us to be miserable. Dried mucus, also called snot, which is yellow or green signals that the immune system is fighting back, attracting more white blood cells in the infected area. These white blood cells contain enzymes that change the color of the mucus. Normally, if you have yellow or green mucus, it’s just a cold. Wait 10-14 days for the respiratory infection to go away, drink lots of fluid and you may also take some over-the-counter medicine. But if you are still sick after two weeks, it probably has progressed into a bacterial infection. This is the time that you should visit your doctor who might prescribe an antibiotic therapy. So, when you wake up one morning with a runny nose. Check right away your mucus hue to identify if it is something you do or don’t have to worry about.

DEGUSTATION MENU

Mad for Crab Fruits of the Sea Chef Omar Ugoletti presents a 5-course degustation menu of Southern European fare, fit for kings and queens. For inquiries and reservations, call (63 36) 288 4988 or email restaurantreservations.slbo@shangri-la.com.

Feast on the sweet succulence of your favorite seafood, prepared in a myriad delectable ways. Sirenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chef Chia Jue Xian brings to your table the freshest catch of the day, just the way you like it. For inquiries and reservations, call (63 36) 288 4988 or email restaurantreservations.slbo@shangri-la.com. #MyShangriLaBoracay

#MyShangriLaBoracay

#ShangBoraRima

#ShangBoraSirena