Northern Living: 2016 May

May 2016 Volume 10 | Issue 9

TRACES

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CONT ENTS 16 STYLE A repose in loose stripes

10 COVER STORY Comic book creator Manix Abrera on comics’ contemporary appeal

Cover photo by Geric Cruz. Oversized hoodie, Proudrace, proudrace.com

MAY 2016 04 FIXTURE Changes in everyday habits for green living

08 CRAFT A quiant dock for a clutter-free beauty table

05 HEALTH Breaking time into productive segments

22 MARKET Essentials for a private celebration

06 BEAUTY Footnotes to unhealthy skincare ingredients

28 THE GET A history of femme fatale in brass rings

24 EATS Fresh breakfast staples

EDITOR’S NOTE Daily Grind Taking vacations has been more glorified than ever. People stuck in their offices scrolling on their screens envy those who are “living the life.” Do vacations truly entail a life worth living?

Work has become a common torment for people of all generations.

Many have maneuvered around it to make time for what they actually love or to interlace it with their passions. And this doesn’t always mean taking a luxurious cruise in the Bahamas or a soulful adventure in Bali. Your everyday routine and

mindset can make all the difference.

Devise a routine or create a working style that lets you accomplish your responsibilities effectively and allows you to work on your passions freely.

In this issue, we take cues from the brains behind Kikomachine, Manix Abrera, and a very niche group of Filipino comic book lovers. We also revisit a time management technique called Pomodoro and compiled some overlooked habits you need to consider for a greener lifestyle.

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Northern Living is published by Hinge Inquirer Publications. 4F Media Resource Plaza, Mola corner Pasong Tirad Street, Barangay La Paz, Makati City. Visit www.facebook.com/ northernlivingmagazine now. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @nlivingph.

We’d love to hear from you.

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This magazine was printed responsibly using recycled papers with biodegradable inks.

FEEDBACK

WITHIN FOUR WALLS

NORTHERNliving

Hi Northern Living!

I saw your mag in Starbucks at Megamall. I was attracted to the brick house on the cover and was amazed to find out the story behind the quiet looking house.

Also loved your story on how architecture affects health. I want to bring in more light and greenery to my room after reading this issue.

Thanks for the tips!

- Joyce Galang

It's such an interesting magazine because it provides infos and ideas that people wouldn't commonly notice. Thanks for featuring a variety of articles which includes beauty and health topics and also trivia–Fixture really caught my attention.

HAIR AND MAKEUP JET BABAS, JAN EDROSOLAN, CHUCHIE LEDESMA PHOTOGRAPHERS GABBY CANTERO, GERIC CRUZ, INA AMOR MEJIA, RALPH MENDOZA, JILSON TIU COPY EDITOR PATRICIA ROMUALDEZ PROOFREADER ROMEO MORAN EDITORIAL CONSULTANT RIA FRANCISCO-PRIETO

PRODUCTION MANAGER JAN CARIQUITAN PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MARICEL GAVINO FINAL ART SUPERVISOR DENNIS CRUZ FA ARTIST KRISTINE MAY PAZ BOARD CHAIRPERSON ALEXANDRA PRIETO-ROMUALDEZ FINANCE ADVISOR AND TREASURER J. FERDINAND DE LUZURIAGA LEGAL ADVISOR ATTY. RUDYARD ARBOLADO HR STRATEGY HEAD RAYMUND SOBERANO VP AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER IMELDA ALCANTARA SVP AND GROUP SALES HEAD FELIPE R. OLARTE AVP FOR SALES MA. KATRINA MAE GARCIA-DALUSONG SALES SUPERVISORS POLO P. DAGDAG, JOY SANTOS-PILAR KEY ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST ANGELITA TAN-IBAÑEZ SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ABBY GINAGA, THEA ORDIALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ANDIE ZUÑIGA, SARAH CABALATUNGAN, CHARM BANZUELO, LIZA JISON SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANTS RECHELLE ENDOZO, MARA KAREN ALIASAS

@nlivingph

MARKETING AND EVENTS MANAGER TARA VALENCIA MARKETING ASSISTANTS ERLE VIRGILIA MAMAWAL, JANNELLE TURIJA EVENTS ASSISTANT KIM MARIANO GRAPHIC ARTISTS JANINE DELA CUESTA, ROI DE CASTRO

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nlivingph@hip.ph

CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS CHARLIE CARBUNGCO, INA AMOR MEJIA, WINCY AQUINO ONG ILLUSTRATOR REESE LANSANGAN, TRISTAN TAMAYO STYLISTS CHARLIE CARBUNGCO, INA AMOR MEJIA, EDLENE CABRAL, RIK RASOS

CUSTOM MANAGING EDITOR ANGELA VELASCO ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR PAM BROOKE CASIN SENIOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT PAULINE MIRANDA EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS KHEENA ALELOJO, PAM CARLOTA, CHRISTELLE TOLISORA SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SHANNA MALING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE INA MATEO, GRAPHIC ARTISTS ROI DE CASTRO, RACHELL FLORES, KATRICE MONTES, YAYIE MOTOS, JAYCELINE SORIANO

Jacqueline Tom

www.facebook.com/ northernlivingmagazine

GROUP PUBLISHER BEA J. LEDESMA MANAGING EDITOR DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS LEX CELERA, PRISTINE L. DE LEON, RENZ NOLLASE CREATIVE DIRECTOR NIMU MUALLAM GRAPHIC ARTIST MAYSIE LECCIONES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER PATRICK SEGOVIA

Share your thoughts on our latest issue through comments on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and get a chance to win this tote bag.

Call 403-8825 to claim your prize.

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FIND NORTHERN LIVING AT

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FIXT URE

A GREEN TWIST

Small adjustments for a sensible eco-saving habit TEXT LEX CELERA ILLUSTRATION TRISTAN TAMAYO

We’ve all heard it before: our collective carbon footprint has gone through the roof, and we need to act now if we want to save our planet. We’ve changed our habits and bought sustainably grown food products, reduced our

water usage, and properly disposed of our garbage. Global warming is beyond debate. Taking a quick stroll outside exposes us to blistering heat. What else can we do beyond the usual “reduce, reuse, and recycle”?

CHANGE YOUR HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS Household cleaners may leave your surfaces shiny, but may actually have side effects contrary to their purpose.

Some cleaners have chemicals that expose you to asthma and allergies, and can be detrimental to your health. Use ketchup on copper and brass cookware, uncooked rice to clean the inside of a vase, and a pot of hot tea for your rusty garden tools.

USE BAR SOAPS INSTEAD OF LIQUID SOAPS Liquid soaps require five times more energy to make and nearly 20 times more energy to package compared to bar soaps.

And under keen observation, we actually

use more liquid soap than bar soap when hand washing. What more in the shower?

Simply avoid purchasing liquid soap.

Stick with bar soaps for washing up.

INSULATE YOUR HOME

MINDFUL MOBILE USAGE

If redoing your insulation isn’t in your budget, try using thermal shades on your windows and draft guards on your doors. Weatherproof your home by checking for gaps in your roof, floorboards, and walls. Insulating and weatherproofing your home increases airflow and reduces energy consumption by 20 to 30 percent.

Every time you check your phone, send a text, or place a call, the device uses up energy and emits carbon dioxide.

Conserve energy without comprimising functionality. Try adjusting the brightness of your mobile devices and reduce usage.

Did you know that you can save twothirds of power by transmitting a call over landline than on mobile? Also, sending a text emits less carbon than placing calls.

BYOM (BRING YOUR OWN MUG) Bring your own travel mug with you to reduce your carbon footprint during coffee breaks. Each paper cup, including production and shipping, amounts to 0.11 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

When you put coffee in your mug, that’s one more paper or plastic coffee cup that doesn’t go to the recycling bin or the trash bag.

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HEALT H

SAYING TIME OUT TO PROCRASTINATION Tomato timers, 30 minutes, and voila—you’re done TEXT LEX CELERA ILLUSTRATION MAYSIE LECCIONES

Time is an enemy that guards every deadline like a hawk. But are our markers deadlines or completed tasks? How much of our time is wasted by distractions?

Pomodoro, the Italian word for “tomato,” is the icon and namesake for the Pomodoro Technique, conceptualized by Francesco Cirillo after his tomatoshaped kitchen timer. Introduced in the 1980s, the timesaving method was popular in the 1990s and to this day proves a worthy method to incorporate in daily use.

The tenets of the Pomodoro Technique are broadly discussed in Cirillo’s book of the same name, but can be divided into these basic steps: • Set a timer for 25 minutes.

• For those minutes, you will commit yourself solely to a certain task. There is no space for distractions.

• After those 25 minutes, you are free to take five minutes of complete, disconnected rest.

For the last five minutes, Cirillo recommends tasks that aren’t taxing to the brain—stretching

exercises, going to the restroom, having a drink, etc. When you’ve done four cycles of work and rest, you are free to take a 15- to 30-minute rest. And then the process resets. Having a checklist for your 25-minute work sessions and five-minute rests can also help.

Benefits of this technique are outlined on the website, including eliminating burnout, managing both your priorities and distractions (which are not necessarily different), and tipping the scales of work and life balance in your favor. When time spent working is managed, so is free time, and that means saying goodbye to procrastination.

Perhaps the main benefit of the Pomodoro Technique is a paradigm shift in how we view time.

No longer will hours, minutes, and seconds trace the line between the present time and our everlooming deadlines. Instead they will be allies for both our trivial curiosities (in the form of checking our phones and making small talk) and our tasks.

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BEAUT Y

NO MATCH

Skincare ingredients that make for an unhealthy combination TEXT RENZ NOLLASE ILLUSTRATION REESE LANSANGAN

A good beauty regimen is personalized and consistent. With the multitude of skincare products on beauty aisles, creating a skincare routine can be difficult and confusing-it’s of no help as well that product labels read like a chemist’s handbook. To complicate things further, skincare ingredients, both on their own and combined with other components of other skincare products, can pose health risks when purchased and applied carelessly.

Vitamin C is having its moment in beauty. A potent source of antioxidants, this key ingredient improves the skin’s self-healing ability, reduces brown spots, and promotes healthy collagen production. However, a mix of vitamin C with copper peptides, useful for collagen formation, or benzoyl peroxide, found in acne treatment products, renders both ingredients useless. Vitamin C cancels the ingredients’ effectiveness and vice versa. Avoid using products

containing vitamin C with other acid-based ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) as the combination may irritate your skin and cause excessive peeling. In fact, be wary of incorporating too many acid-based ingredients in your beauty routine.

Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, retinol (retinoic acid and retinyl palmitate), AHAs, and benzoyl peroxide are used to treat acne and exfoliate the skin, but layering on products with these ingredients dries out the skin and may cause it to peel excessively, which can lead to blisters, scars, and even discoloration.

Check the acid concentration in your skincare products: In product labels, ingredients are listed in descending order of concentration. Invest time in understanding what goes on your skin-a little research goes a long way, and the next time you visit the beauty aisle, you can make it your mini chemist’s library.

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Make your own:

AVOCADO AND BANANA FACE MASK Ingredients: 1/2 avocado, mashed 1/2 banana, mashed 1 tsp. honey What to do: 1. Mix together avocado, banana, and honey until creamy.

2. Apply on face and neck with a makeup spatula or your hands and leave on for 20 minutes.

3. Wash off with warm water.

CEBU LIVING

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3

MICHAEL CANCIO Lessons from a slice of pizza Napolitana Page 14

FRANZ IGNACIO

New rules of design from the man behind bamboo speakers Page 16

KRYZ UY

Shifting from trends to a brand of her own Page 15

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Y O U R G U I D E T O T H E H O M E O F P A S S I O N AT E M I N D S

ISSUE

12

VO L .

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DECEMBER

2015

AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT By pressing people to come to terms with the gay Filipino identity, publishing polymath Paolo Lorenzana leads this generation towards a more openminded and accepting era GOING EVERYWHERE The blueprint for the perfect holiday situation according to three Bonifacio Global City denizens

ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE An industrial gastronome space is incubating an indulgent-meetsorganic concept to cater to palates

ARTISTIC MERIT Why the Philippines is becoming an important market for high-end European furniture brands

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CR AF T

BEAUTY ON THE BLOCK

A storage and prepping station that’s easy on the eyes TEXT, STYLING, AND PHOTOGRAPHY INA AMOR MEJIA

MAKEUP ORGANIZER What you’ll need: Block of wood (cleaned and polished) Round mirror about 1/4-inch thick, 8 1/2 inch in diameter Drill Table saw Epoxy glue or construction adhesive

Procedure: 1. You can take the block of wood to a local carpentry or welding shop and have the wood quickly sawed and drilled if you don’t have power tools at home.

2. Saw a groove an inch or two from one edge of the block to accommodate the mirror.

Position the saw at an angle and

make sure not to saw all the way through the block.

3. Drill holes of various sizes in the block on the opposite side of the groove for storing accessories and make up products. Make sure not to drill the holes too close to the groove to make room for the mirror.

4. Place the mirror in the groove and secure using glue.

Note: Use caution when working with power tools. Inspired by the DIY in The Merrythought.

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COV ER STORY

SEQUENTIAL HEART

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COV ER STORY

Speaking volumes beyond pen and paper TEXT WINCY AQUINO ONG PHOTOGRAPHY GERIC CRUZ

It’s a punishingly hot Saturday and it seems like all the geeks in the Philippines have congregated at the Bayanihan Center. Their breed often falls into two categories: 1) the human teddy bears with their beards and plus-sized shirts; and 2) the Tado analogs with their spectacles and kanto boy humor.

Of course, they’re all here because it’s Komikon 2016— our very own version of the San Diego Comic-Con, an event where all things comic books are celebrated.

It is here where humble citizens—mostly aspiring hobbyists who have day jobs—bring to life the stories in their heads with only pen, paper, and Photoshop as their instruments. It is here where locally produced comics and zines (mimeographed booklets that champion collage art) are hawked side by side with publications by Marvel and DC. Indeed, there is much to celebrate. It is inspiring to see Filipinos embracing the DIY spirit and experiencing newfound freedoms in a medium miles away from the showbiz politics of mainstream media.

Yes, most of these comics were made in someone’s bedroom, folks. With not a lot of cash, but with a lot of heart.

Look closer and you’ll see that the local comic book scene has come a long way since the Golden Age of the pulps (with its two godfathers, Carlo J. Caparas and Mars Ravelo) and ’90s heavy-hitters Pugad Baboy and Pupung.

The booths at Komikon are a testament to a new spectrum of material—from manga-inspired shoujo romances to the best-selling Trese series and its many aswang-hunting derivatives.

But if you’re observant enough, you’re likely to spy a new subgenre of Filipino comics—one where the line work is squiggly (as if Matt Groening had a child with Larry Alcala), the characters are bug-eyed, and the humor skews towards puns or acute observations of the middle class.

Enter Manix Abrera—perhaps, along with Apol Sta. Maria, the poster boy of this style.

What do we call it? Manapol? Jeje-Hipster?

Post-Polgas?

“I started drawing when I was four or five years old. My dad was a cartoonist, and I would always sit beside him and draw,” says the goateed and softspoken Abrera.

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COV ER STORY Jacket (this page) and oversized hoodie (opposite page), Proudrace, proudrace.com.

“I am super inspired by so many Pinoy artists and the fact that the komiks industry is getting bigger.”

STYLING RIK RASOS

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COV ER STORY

“I’m really more self-taught than trained. But I scene, given that most pieces that get exhibited are took up Fine Arts in UP Diliman, and I learned a lot paintings and sculptures.

“It’s mostly my Kikomachine strips that made it from working for the Philippine Collegian.”

Even if they say that the newspapers’ comics to the show. I focused on strips that had themes of section is going the way of the dinosaur, you have love. But hopefully, aside from the themes of love, I was able to show the wide probably seen Abrera’s art at range that Filipino culture least once in your lifetime. has,” he says.

His comic strip Kikomachine In a corner of the function comes out every day in the hall is a tarp announcing Philippine Daily Inquirer. Or if Manix Abrera’s latest graphic you’re one who reads digitally, At the Bayanihan Center, novel. The Komikon crowd his works come in full color as takes selfies in front of it News Hardcore! on the GMA it feels like you’re in a as artists hunch over their News Online website. (These lapboards, whipping up fan art digital strips are collected in a colony of pen-and-paper and caricatures. compendium called Hukbong people, and it makes you On the subject of his growing Sandatahan ng Kahaggardan!) influence among aspiring “I am very happy with my feel alive. illustrators, Manix can only shrug job, because I get to do comics and say, “I feel shy about this and full-time. At the start, there I don’t want to think about it. were struggles, but if you love But what I can say is I am super what you do, you will surpass all inspired by so many Pinoy artists obstacles. I don’t have a regular and the fact that the komiks schedule, as long as I meet my industry is getting bigger.” deadlines,” he says.

At the Bayanihan Center, it feels like you’re in a At the Galerie Stephanie in Libis, Abrera is hosting his own art exhibit called Bukal sa Puso ng Lagim. colony of pen-and-paper people, and it makes you On the gallery’s walls are framed original pages of his feel alive. No small thanks to people like writer and works in comics—a novel thing in the art-collecting illustrator Manix Abrera.

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COV ER STORY

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ST YLE

IN TANGENT

Pursuing a personal break in loose lines and stripes PHOTOGRAPHY RALPH MENDOZA STYLING EDLENE CABRAL

On Bronija: Top, P1,295, Bershka, SM Megamall. On Ras: Shirt, P1,490, Uniqlo, Robinsons Magnolia.

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SPECIAL FEAT URE

TRANSFORMING WORKSPACES Rockwell expands its portfolio and elevates the working life with its distinct office spaces TEXT ANGELA VELASCO

Today’s real estate developers ensure all aspects of a well-rounded lifestyle are provided for. Property development trendsetter Rockwell has seamlessly entered the office market with the following transformative commercial achievements: The Rockwell Business Center in Ortigas, 8 Rockwell in Makati, and soon The Rockwell Business CenterSheridan in Mandaluyong and Retailscapes Inc.’s Santolan Town Plaza in San Juan.

The Workplace of Choice Rockwell Land entered the commercial office market in 2009 with The Rockwell Business Center in Ortigas. Home to businesses that go beyond the four walls of the conventional office, this development sets the standard for integrating work, leisure, and dining in a single destination, without compromising topnotch infrastructure and IT facilities.

The Crown Jewel In continuing its pursuit of excellence, Rockwell Land elevated the workplace with the masterfully planned 8 Rockwell. Rockwell Land’s first prime office project houses the most prominent local and multinational companies and has attained both LEED Certification and PEZA Accreditation. The property is built with posh interiors, state-of-theart facilities, and first-class retail offerings such as

0503 rockwell.indd 1

Balenciaga, Lanvin, and Laduree.

The Center Point BPOs are also prioritized among Rockwell’s commercial developments, with The Rockwell Business Center-Sheridan envisioned to provide an efficient setting for these companies. By 2017, the development situated right between Makati and Ortigas will have two Grade A towers with nine office floors that are equipped with top-of-the-line security and world class facilities. The Rockwell Business Center-Sheridan: leading businesses to greater heights.

The Forefront of Retail-Office Developments Just a few blocks away from Greenhills and the Metro’s most accessible thoroughfares is Retailscapes Inc.’s Santolan Town Plaza. The project has five floors worth of quality work spaces and three floors of handpicked retail selections. The tenants and retail guests are also likely to enjoy these by 2017.

With life’s possibilities unfolding in both the workplace and outside of it, Rockwell makes sure that one embraces all these in its office spaces.

For more information on Rockwell offices, you may contact 793-0088 loc. 1313 or 1312 or visit the website at www.e-rockwell.com *Renderings are subject to changes without prior notice.

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ST YLE

Tank, P1,490, Uniqlo, Robinsons Magnolia.

Romper, P1,095, Forever 21, SM North Edsa.

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ST YLE

PiquĂŠ shirt, P2,450, Guess, SM Megamall.

Above: Rash guard, Carl Jan Cruz., www.carljancruz.com.

Right: Dress, House of Laurel, www.rajolaurel.com.

ST YLE

MODELS RAS AND BRONIJA OF ELITE MANILA SHOT ON LOCATION B HOTEL

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MAKEUP CHUCHIE LEDESMA OF MAYBELLINE NEW YORK HAIR BULLET REYES

On Ras: Shirt, P1,995, American Eagle Outfitters; On Bronija: Jacket, P1,650, H&M. Top, P785, Forever 21. Trousers, P2,650, Sfera. All SM Megamall.

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M ARKET

1

2

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7

10

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ROOM FOR ONE An easy afternoon ensemble for a personal celebration PHOTOGRAPHY RALPH MENDOZA

1. Acrylic wine glass, P295, West Elm, Estancia Mall.

2. Floor pillow, P1,299, Arq Living, Robinsons Magnolia.

3. Table napkins, P445, West Elm, Estancia Mall.

4. Gilded plate, P1,250, West Elm, Estancia Mall.

5. Fish corkscrew, P850, Quirks, Estancia Mall.

6. Bread plate, P695, West Elm, Estancia Mall.

7. Rug, P1,490, H&M Home, Robinsons Magnolia.

8. Soft cheese knife, P309, Crate & Barrel, SM Megamall.

9. Cheese board, P869, Crate & Barrel, SM Megamall.

10. Leather ice bucket, P5,450, Pottery Barn, Estancia Mall.

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SHOT ON LOCATION B HOTEL

4 5

EATS Rum-glazed Banana Buttermilk Pancakes; Gardens Brunch Pasta.

SPRING AWAKENING

With pastas, salads, and paellas worth a host of superlatives, the Gardens gives you something more enticing than having breakfast at Tiffany’s TEXT PRISTINE L. DE LEON PHOTOGRAPHY JILSON TIU

Every beginning involves even the slightest bit of bold romancing—think opening shots, well-written preambles, breakfast spreads that make bread and pasta the first temptation of the day. At the Gardens, expect that the latter will be duly delivered. Baked Egg Chorizo, Blue Cheese Omelette, and Rum-Glazed Pancakes all do their share to coax you to linger at the table a little longer.

“Breakfast sets your mood,” says founder and director Bridget Co. “There are no walls here, just glass; it makes you feel like you’re dining in the gardens—with air conditioning.”

Opening at 7:30 a.m., the restaurant welcomes joggers dropping by for cold-pressed juice, regular diners ordering their coffee as they camp in a corner with their laptops, and some doctors, lawyers, and businessmen who can’t seem to leave the breakfast table and have taken their meetings indoors.

The Gardens has likely made it a mission to turn breakfast into a ritual. It’s almost irreverent to clumsily crack the seven-minute egg on top of the impeccably prepared Gardens Brunch Pasta. Instead, you spoon the golden yolk out of the shell until it sluices down the welcoming heap of bacon and

vegetables—devoured, its creamy cushion renders that pure, light, and riveting taste from a dreamedup Garden of Eden, the taste punctuated by the earthy flavor of greens and tomatoes.

Adding another layer of lightness is the Gardens Fruit Tea, which tastes more like sweetened fruit juice triggering that early morning jouissance. Paired with the Chicken and Chorizo Paella, the drink offsets the bold, salty taste of the hefty meat. With the organic egg, arugula leaves, and raw veggies, it’s almost as though the sinful chorizo has ascended to the pantheon of healthy meals.

After eating, you can drink locally roasted coffee from Brazil, East Timor, and India—yet even more curious is the turmeric shot served on the side. “It helps your digestive system. You take it like a tequila shot,” says Co. The green liquid looks off-putting at first, but if there’s anything that this restaurant proves, it’s that something green can be as enticing as a cloud of cake or pastry.

After a full meal, and after the rest of the day plays out, there is nothing quite like the pleasure of remembering the pasta, pancakes, and even paella you had for breakfast, and almost nothing quite like the thrill of having them again the morning after.

The Gardens. The Grove by Rockwell, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Brgy. Ugong, Pasig. 665-7762.

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RECIPE

UNDER PRESSURE

A slow-cooked snack for your afternoon revelries TEXT AND STYLING CHARLIE CARBUNGCO PHOTOGRAPHY GABBY CANTERO

PULLED PORK A LA CUBANA INGREDIENTS

1/4 kg. pork shoulder 4 to 5 bananas, sliced 2 cups tomato sauce 2 tbsp. minced onion 1 tbsp. garlic 1 to 2 eggs (for poaching) Shimeji mushroom Bay leaf Whole peppercorn 3 tbsp. olive oil Ciabatta bread

PREPARATION

1. Using a pressure cooker, boil the pork shoulder together with whole peppercorn and bay leaf for 30 to 45 minutes or until the meat becomes soft and tender.

2. Remove the pork from the pressure cooker, and let it rest for a while. Keep pork stock.

3. On another pot, sautĂŠ olive oil, onion, and garlic for 1 to 2 minutes and add the stock. Bring it to a boil then turn down the heat once it starts to simmer. Add the sliced bananas and tomato sauce to the stock, and let it simmer for another

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30 to 40 minutes or until it thickens.

4. While waiting, shred the pork shoulder into thin pieces.

5. Once the sauce is done, strain it.

6. Using a sautĂŠ pan, toast the shredded pork until it turns golden brown. Add the shimeji mushroom and the sauce. Mix thoroughly.

7. Slice the ciabatta bread in half and brush with olive oil. Then, place in the oven toaster for 1 to 2 minutes. While waiting, fry some sliced bananas until golden brown.

8. Place the bread on a plate, add the pork with mushrooms, poached egg, and fried bananas.

PRESENT

THE GARDENS AT

LOYOLA GRAND VILLAS, QUEZON CITY MAY 21, SAT, 4PM - 9PM

#HIPBackyardGrill @HIPBackyardGrill BackyardGrillAtThePark

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EAT, DRINK, & GIVE BACK 20% OF FOOD PROCEEDS WILL GO TO CHARITY

5/6/16 4:09 PM

T HE GET

RING OF FIRE

One local store revisits the eternal boldness of a tribal ring TEXT PRISTINE L. DE LEON

The T’boli, an indigenous tribe in South Cotabato, has been devoted lovers of ornaments even before the prevalence of global fashion houses. Infamous for their seeming aversion to everything low key, they believe that adornments figure well in the everyday theater of attraction: Their clothes, jewelry, and tattoos seem to testify that fashion undoubtedly favors the bold.

T’boli women rarely wear only one earring on each ear, and similarly their bracelets and rings see multiple coils adorning the wearers’ arm—like golden snakes ready to strike at their command. One brass ring or tising, offered

by Filipino clothing store Filip+Inna, articulates this maximalist attitude of the tribe. “My first ring was given to me by Barbara Ofung, one of the [T’boli] dreamweavers,” says owner Len Cabili. “It’s usually a three-coil ring that I see in Lake Sebu. [We added] more coils to make six- and nine-brass coil rings, and then we dipped it in gold.”

Other jewelry may channel femininity and its quiet panache, yet the T’boli brass ring is largely emblematic of a woman’s powerful audacity—less like the muted curios of wallflowers than the choice accessory of femme fatales.

Packaged in a box covered in T’nalak, the brass ring pays tribute to the T’Boli’s thriving culture, and waits for a next generation to wear the enduring classic.

Contact 0908-818-0181 to set an appointment at the Filip+Inna showroom.

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