Cebu Living: 2017 April-June

CEBU LIVING

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4

JANICE MINOR AND RAINE BALJAK The first and last Miss Cebu winners face off

STRANGER THINGS The colorful world of Lean Reboja’s nightmares Page 06

DAYDREAMER

Minaudière designer Neil Felipp’s life in mini Page 10

LITTLE BIG SECRETS

A secretive 11-seater soba place opens up a little Page 25

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CONTENTS EDITOR’S NOTE

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SOCIAL DIARIES The Yeung-Mugglestone visual delight

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ARTS & CULTURE Lean Reboja’s technicolored nightmares

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PROFILE Exclusive peek into architect Tessie Javier’s mountaintop escape

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STYLE Homegrown design takes the spotlight

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RECIPE Revisiting a deep-fried Cebuano classic

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GROUP PUBLISHER BEA J. LEDESMA EDITOR AT LARGE JUDE BACALSO ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR BEA CELDRAN EDITORIAL ASSISTANT OLIVER EMOCLING CREATIVE DIRECTOR NIMU MUALLAM ART DIRECTOR EDRIC DELA ROSA SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST JOSE MARIA MOTOS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER PATRICK SEGOVIA CONTRIBUTORS WRITER DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA HAIR AND MAKEUP ROLDAN ABEJO, JAY CASTILLO, EUNICE ENRERA, PATRICK FERNANDEZ PHOTOGRAPHERS ERWIN LIM, MATT PINGKIAN, JIM UBALDE

Jude A. Bacalso Cebu Living Editor at Large FOLLOW US ON @cebulivingph

@cebulivingph

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ON THE COVER: IMAGE BY ERWIN LIM

CEBU LIVING

One could argue that while the appreciation of function is inherent in every culture, the importance given to form appears only after a level of sophistication is reached. In the case of Cebuanos who have been trading with the world since the 10th century, our head start gave us an (unfair) advantage.

Cebu’s creative types can build a mountaintop home literally from scratch; architect Tessie Javier’s aptly named bukid is made from recycled materials from former projects. Cebuanos can also build a name separate from the shadows of industries that preceded them, as in the case of minaudière designer Neil Felipp San Pedro, whose creation is mentioned in Kevin Kwan’s Rich People Problems. And then there’s the colorful eye of artist Lean Reboja, whose monster-filled world invades Qube Gallery’s walls this June.

We also scored a coup with our cover story, bringing together the first and last Miss Cebu winners for a candid chat about—what else— this hometown we love.

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 CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER JULIE ANDREA SANTIAGO AVP FOR SALES MA. KATRINA MAE GARCIA-DALUSONG KEY ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST ANGELITA TAN-IBAÑEZ SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ABBY GINAGA, THEA ORDIALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ANDIE ZUÑIGA, CHARM BANZUELO, LIZA JISON SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANTS RECHELLE ENDOZO, MANILYN ILUMIN EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS CHRISTELLE TOLISORA, KRYZETTE PAPAGAYO SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SHANNA MALING, SARAH CABALATUNGAN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE INA MATEO GRAPHIC ARTISTS RACHELL FLORES, NICO ORTIGOZA, JAYCELINE SORIANO, TIN PAZ MARKETING AND EVENTS MANAGER JELLIC TAPIA BRAND MARKETING SUPERVISORS BIANCA DALUMPINES, INA RODRIGUEZ BRAND MARKETING ASSISTANTS NICOLE USON, MERJORIE MAY YOUNG SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST ROI DE CASTRO GRAPHIC ARTIST JANINA DAVID

NATIONAL BOOK STORE, SM CITY CEBU NATIONAL BOOK STORE, AYALA CENTER CEBU STARBUCKS COFFEE RADISSON BLU HOTEL MARCO POLO HOTEL

NATIONAL BOOK STORE, SM SEASIDE CEBU NATIONAL BOOK STORE, ROBINSONS GALLERIA CEBU MOVENPICK HOTEL CEBU CITY MARRIOT HOTEL BO’S COFFEE

PRODUCTION MANAGER JAN CARIQUITAN PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MARICEL GAVINO FINAL ART SUPERVISOR DENNIS CRUZ FA ARTIST ARGYL LEONES

ALL CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 2015 RESERVED FOR HINGE INQUIRER PUBLICATIONS.

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cebu living is published quarterly by hinge inquirer publications, with business address at 4/f media resource plaza, mola st. corner pasong tirad, brgy. la paz, makati city.

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SOCIAL DIARIES SOCIAL DIARIES

By JUDE BACALSO

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW An artist’s picturesque wedding at her mother’s hometown and a luxurious beachfront afterparty

JEWELLE AND PHIL EXITING THE STA. ROSA DE LIMA PARISH. THE BRIDE JEWELLE YEUNG IN ISRAELI DESIGNER INBAL DROR

Trust a visual artist to choose to get married in a 159-year-old church in her mother’s hometown, then hike off to the luxurious resort her father had built for a party that reflected her learnings: A distinctly retro vibe mixed with an earthier boho-chic element.

Top wedding stylist Teresin Mendezona teamed up with Pink Flora Flowers to create a tropical beach setting at Kandaya Resort for the wedding of artist Jewelle Salimbangon Yeung to assets manager Phil Mugglestone. The couple first met when they were in kindergarten in Hong Kong.

The mix of homegrown and worldsourced charms continued with local band Joe and the Boys starting up the reception party, followed by Christina Gatti and Post Modern Jukebox from New York, until DJ Jon Herrera took over for the after-party set.

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SHERREN O’BRIEN, CHION SASAKI, JESSICA HARKIEWICZ, ISSA SALIENDEER, GEORGIE ICHIKAWA, JEWELLE, JERIKA EJERCITO, MELISSA EMERY, CHIZOBA MADUBUNYI, MILLY BROWN, AND JEWELLE’S DOG JEDI

THE 12-PIECE INVITATION KIT CONTAINS TRAVEL INFORMATION, TICKETS TO THE VARIOUS PARTIES, ATTIRE CARD, A POSTCARD WELCOME CARD, AND A TICKET FOR A DONATION TO IRO (ISLAND RESCUE ORGANIZATION), A HOMEGROWN ANIMAL WELFARE GROUP IN LIEU OF GIFTS.

KANDAYA RESORT IN DAAN BANTAYAN

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SOCIAL DIARIES SOCIAL DIARIES

By BEA CELDRAN

SEASON OF STYLE Styling sessions with Portugese designer Ricardo Preto

RAINE BALJAK, RICARDO PRETO, AND MERCE ABELLANA

Fashion designer Ricardo Preto first exhibited his collections under his eponymous label at the Lisbon Fashion Week in 2007, and has since been a veteran of the Lisbon and Vienna Fashion Weeks. His encompassing designs for women’s and menswear RTW, bags, and shoes have seen runway success multiple times, prompting brands such as Levi’s, Energie, and Nike to seek his expertise.

In the Philippines, Preto recently showcased his exclusive collections in a series of fashion shows in partnership with Rustan’s. Last May 20, honored guests were invited to Rustan’s Cebu for a styling session with the designer himself, who offered fascinating insights to help guests discover their personal style. The event was held in cooperation with partner brands Casa de Memoria, Laura Mercier, NARS, Phyto, Ralph’s Wine and Spirits, and Tiffany & Windsor.

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MIMI VIDAL KWAN, PINKY CHANG, AND ALICE PIAZA

JOHN ONG, MYLEEN SANCHEZ, RICARDO PRETO, NIKKI ESPINOSA, AND RICHARD GO

PATRICK AND TWEETIE LOPEZ, RICARDO PRETO, AND LITO NAVARRO

ANYA MORRISSEY, CHIARA MARTINEZ, AND ANGELICA NINAL

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ARTS & CULTURE

A CASE FOR ODDITY Artist Lean Reboja revels in surrealism

By OLIVER EMOCLING Images by JIM UBALDE

“I used to fear Troll dolls when I was a kid,” artist Lean Reboja shyly confesses when probed if he was ever frightened of monsters. But now at 26 years old, his work leans towards oddity similar to the dolls that used to scare him.

At Elicon Café, where we meet, walls are covered with murals of Reboja’s characters that, simply put, resemble monsters. The one on the ground floor features animated characters of various sizes sauntering around what seems a forest. “I’m driven by surrealism. I like [art to be] out of this world,” he says.

Reboja’s interest in art started at a young age. “I was usually scolded by my teacher because I was always drawing in class,” he recalls. He was supposed to pursue a medical degree in college, but his mother persuaded him to take up fine arts instead at the University of the Philippines-Cebu.

Here, Reboja developed his affinity for caricature. “I developed my interest in surreal characters because I didn’t want to be boxed,” he explains. While other forms of art follow certain standards of representation, caricature gives Reboja the freedom to distort reality and present a world according to his perception.

Beyond its quirky, sometimes trippy appeal, his art delves into human behavior. “Usually, my characters have a deeper story,” he says.

When working on a caricature, he finds his subject’s distinct characteristics first before playing with anatomy.

But while this form of contemporary art is gaining popularity, Reboja admits, “There are those who tell me that what I do is unnatural and scary.” Still, he continues to seek inspiration in his daily experiences, as his recently concluded exhibition “Stubborn Effigy” proved. Shown at Qube Gallery in April, the exhibit had Reboja

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ARTS & CULTURE “FIREMAN” (PREVIOUS PAGE), “ACID BURNER” (ABOVE), AND “GOOD BOY” (BELOW) ARE SOME OF LEAN REBOJA’S CHARACTERS. (OPPOSITE PAGE) WORKING AS A FULL-TIME ARTIST, REBOJA BELIEVES THAT THE ART SCENE IN CEBU IS BOOMING.

exploring his personal struggles and translating them into eccentric pieces. They were particularly expressed through two of his works: “Passive” and “Active.” “‘Passive’ signifies my passive state where I don’t have the drive to paint,” he says of the artwork that features a caricature of himself surrounded with somnolent figures in black and white. “Active,” on the other hand, features his sixeyed portrait together with vibrant figures.

Reboja’s works are signed with his pseudonym Leanderthal, a wordplay between his name and the word Neanderthal. “It’s a fundamental stage in human evolution,” he explains. It’s also the proper term to describe the state of his characters as they continue to evolve. While his chosen art form is his response to inner struggles, caricature may also be his answer to man’s unending search for meaning. “People have different points of view,” he says. “And they are always looking for something new.”

Reboja’s works are not as quiet as he is; His canvas even sometimes seems too small to contain all of his monsters. At a glance, it’s as if they’re glaring at the viewer, and that’s when one realizes that the artist speaks without restraint through his bizarre art.

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ARTS & CULTURE

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PROFILE

NATURAL HABITAT

How architect Tessie Javier built her private retreat from recycled materials

By OLIVER EMOCLING Images by ERWIN LIM Although just 20 minutes away from the foot of the city, architect Tessie Javier’s home on Busay Hills can be accessed only through a long, winding road, which starts out wide then grows narrower until it reaches a modest house with a fence made of old window railings. Inside, there is a towering street lamp. “I own the property all the way up. The front yard used to be the road, but I slowly pushed [it back],” Javier says.

Her home boasts a clean design that doesn’t resist nature. As it is perched on a cliff that’s at 2,194 ft. above sea level, it’s almost too easy to expect flora taking over concrete, Grey Gardens style. The front yard doesn’t boast a well-maintained lawn, but rather, showcases plants naturally found on a forest floor. “I hardly cut any tree down since I don’t want a manicured lawn. I’d rather keep it like a jungle, like a real bukid,” Javier says. “I just had to go with the slope.”

Javier leads us to a huge wooden door.

“Eighty percent of the house is recycled,” she announces as soon as we enter her home. At almost every corner, she can point out something recycled: Recycled tugas were used for the stairs, old glass panels were repurposed as windows, and old windows were turned into closet doors. Javier culled most of the wood from

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old houses and the old Victor theater. “I wouldn’t be proud of this [home] if [most of its parts weren’t] recycled.”

Her living room is devoid of television and other inorganic sources of entertainment, but it doesn’t scrimp on scenery. With the house’s elevated location, she gets a panoramic view of the whole city. In her room, instead of a mirror in front of the sink, there’s a big window. In fact, she can watch ants marching up the nearby tree whenever she brushes her teeth. “I feel like if you don’t have [too much] walls, you’ll have a bigger breathing space and you’ll be more oriented with where you are,” she explains.

Javier only spends one day at her mountain home every week. Whenever she’s here, she spends most of her time in the garden. “I like to work there, touch the soil,” she says. While there are plenty of fruit trees and soil dwellers to look after, it is the epiphytic orchids that she favors most. “I grew up with orchids since my grandmother is a collector,” Javier says. She calls her orchids the “loves of her life,” and the temperature and humidity in her garden is ideal for their growth—the reason why she chose to build her home in the mountains instead of at the beach. “I still want to be by the sea, but the biggest consolation in living

THIS PAGE: A LOVER OF BLOOMS, JAVIER, NICKNAMED “TIKAY”

BY FRIENDS, TENDS TO HER ORNAMENTALS LIKE CHILDREN. OPPOSITE PAGE (CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP): THE SINGLE AIRY BEDROOM IS MADE FROM SALVAGED MATERIALS FROM HER BUILDING PROJECTS, AND BUILT AGAINST AN INCLINE; THE STAIRWELL IS ALSO MADE FROM RECYCLED WOOD, AND FEATURES A PHOTOGRAPH OF JAVIER’S STORIED PAST AS A DANCER; HER LIVING ROOM OFFERS A VIEW OF THE FOREST OUTSIDE

in my bukid is that the orchids thrive here naturally,” she says.

The pathway in her garden is recycled asphalt, laid out like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In fact, putting a puzzle together is an apt metaphor for how Javier’s abode rose from the ground—slowly but with certainty.

“I wouldn’t even know how much I’ve spent because I only bought what I could afford at a time,” she says. And though her home seems complete already, she admits, “It will never be done, since building is a dynamic process and there’s no stopping.”

It’s already noon, but the naturally cool air constantly finds its way into Javier’s home. As the mountains remain still, the birds chirp, and we gather at her dining area, it seems her vision for her place has been realized already. “Dolce far niente— [sweetness in] doing nothing. That should be our aim.”

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PROFILE

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PROFILE

TALL TALES A designer presents stories of wonder and wander in small, intricate packages

By DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA Images by ERWIN LIM

“My mom purchased a bag that I didn’t like so I told her that I’ll make her one,” says minaudiére designer Neil Felipp San Pedro. He first delved into design almost 10 years ago when he enrolled at the University of the Philippines-Cebu to take up industrial design. There, he went through all the courses required to finish his degree, from fashion apparel to furniture design and home accessories.

San Pedro is no stranger to crafts as his family owns Suarez and Sons, Inc., the leading manufacturer and retailer of the renowned class rings and metal crafts in Cebu. He chose brass as his signature material to work with, first for jewelry and now for minaudiéres. A fashion accessory that’s also often considered as a piece of jewelry but with a more utilitarian function, the minaudiére turned out to appeal to San Pedro more.

When he was still conceptualizing his brand, his mentor Kenneth Cobonpue asked San Pedro an important question: “How do you see the world?” Now, he answers, “I see the world like a kid. I love to see the endless possibilities, like in a constant trance of daydreaming.”

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PROFILE

His first creation was called Siren, an homage to some of his first childhood memories, such as the first time he watched the animated film The Little Mermaid. “It’s easy to make or design something that you really personally love,” he affirms. Knowing that his strength as a designer lies in his storytelling, he creates objects of fantasy and wonder, each one crafted in an elegant manner. “It’s the story that is the soul of each bag. That’s where people [are able to] connect themselves with, making them enjoy the item even more.”

He further pushed the boundaries of his imagination by creating new stories out of Greek mythology, history, and children’s books. His winning piece for the Look of Style Awards 2013 is titled Medusa and Midas. “It’s a surreal love story where Medusa and Midas meet and fall in love.

Living with [their respective] curses, they decided to come together in a deadly embrace. Though Medusa turns to gold while Midas turns to stone, their lips are forever in a kiss,” he explains.

His creations have caught the eye of a Singaporean novelist, whose world-famous novel is set for a film adaptation; it is said that some of his minaudières will be used in the movie. Apart from this huge coup in his young career, the 27-year-old has worked double-time in launching his latest collection in Shangri-La Mactan last May. Further collaborations with local brands and exploring different materials are some plans that his clients can look forward to this year. “If we create success, we want to create inclusive growth with our fellow designers and communities,” San Pedro says.

His brand Neil Felipp has grown into global brand in a matter of seven years. As he still has more stories to tell, San Pedro is poised to make his mark soon in globalNew York and Paris.

NEIL FELIPP SAN PEDRO CULLS MOST OF HIS INSPIRATIONS FROM LITERATURE. WHILE THE LITTLE MERMAID IS HIS MUSE FOR SIREN, ANTOINETTE THE MAD IS REMINISCENT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE (RIGHT) AND PERSEPHONE (EXTREME RIGHT) TAKES CUES FROM GREEK MYTHOLOGY.

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COVER STORY

HOW TO BUILD A QUEEN

ON JANICE: NEOPRENE TOP AND PANTS, BOTH PHILIP RODRIGUEZ, PHILIPRODRIGUEZ.COM, 253-6569

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COVER STORY

YES, QUEENS Sunny afternoons, a tape recorder, two historic queens. Let’s eavesdrop

By JUDE A. BACALSO Images by ERWIN LIM

Their crowns were won 32 years apart.

Janice Banez Minor won hers in 1984 when the competition was still known as Miss Cebu Tourism, taking her place in history as the first title holder of the storied pageant spearheaded by the Cebu City government. Two years later, she started her eponymous furniture export company with husband Paul, later on winning several Katha Awards for Product Design from Manila FAME and the prestigious Golden Shell Award for excellence in export from the Philippine government. Her pieces embody good design, incorporating her signature recycled glass with wrought iron and petrified wood, all proudly made in Cebu.

Gabrielle Raine Baljak was crowned Miss Cebu in 2016 (the competition had been renamed in 2002), barely out of high school. Of Croatian, Spanish, and Chinese descent, her Cebuano roots are tethered to the Katipunero Abellanas. She is also the daughter of a beauty queen: Her mother Merce Abellana was Miss Mandaue in 1984 and was in the top 10 of Binibining Pilipinas in 1990.

The first and 32nd queens of a prestigious competition come together for an unprecedented discussion on how winning the title changed their lives and what it means to stand for Cebu.

Janice: So Gab, how did you like your year as Ms. Cebu? Was it fun?

Raine: It was a really busy year. I feel like I grew a lot within that span of time. A lot of different activities helped me discover not only myself but also Cebu, which is really growing and changing. There are so many people who are passionate about their careers, and everything is so fast-paced. The different sectors and groups that I got involved with helped

me discover how much potential there is here, how much more the world has yet to discover about Cebu.

Janice: I really grew also. When I won the crown, I was 23 years old. I had no idea, really, what it was going to be about. I was just pushed into it by friends and teachers, but once I got into it, I enjoyed myself.

“Since I’m here, I’m going to have fun.”

I used it for the purpose that it was set [for]. At the time, it really was purposeful because Cebu was struggling as far as tourism was concerned. We already had tourists, but [we were perceived with] a wrong impression that Cebu had nothing to do with. Sex tourism was happening in other parts of the country; the Philippines was becoming a destination for that. At the time, Cebu had a number of Japanese tourists, and the province needed to break away from that wrong image. That was the purpose of [the creation of ] Miss Cebu then. It was actually called Miss Cebu-Japan at first to directly establish a relationship with the Japanese tourism market. As a result of the first Miss Cebu Tourism contest, we became sister cities with Tokyo, and we established the first Tokyo-Cebu flights. That was cool. That started the ball rolling for Cebu to have an image [independent from the rest of the country’s].

Raine: Similar to your experience, I worked with the Good Shepherd Foundation, a convent run by the Good Shepherd. I learned of these young ladies who came from backgrounds of physical abuse. After working with them, I learned that we haven’t moved far from that [social problem]. But at least there are people trying to do their part to uplift people and give them hope, and at the same time give them opportunities, because a lot of these girls are brilliant. They’re scholars, and

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COVER STORY

I really think the Miss Cebu experience did not only affect us but the public—the Cebuanos. We began to appreciate what we’re about, because that’s what the queens would talk about: what’s in Cebu [and] what to love in Cebu.

NUDE TUNIC, ARCY GAYATIN, ARCYGAYATIN.COM, 418-1132

some of them graduate from [top Cebu] universities like the University of San Jose Recolletos and University of Cebu. They have degrees in business, medicine, and teaching, so it’s quite wonderful. [The foundation] hit its 30th year during my reign, so it was very nice to celebrate their 30th anniversary with them. I developed a close relationship with these ladies, like younger sisters.

Janice: I really think the Miss Cebu experience did not only affect us but the public—the Cebuanos. We began to appreciate what we’re about, because that’s what the queens would talk about: what’s in Cebu [and] what to love in Cebu. That really worked. We can be proud about that because we made a difference. But having said that, I don’t think you [and] I should ever think of it as the end. [It was] just a season in our lives where we were able to do this. [Then] we move on and explore things.

Raine: But it’s still with you. You carry the etiquette, the manners, and the knowledge you gained about history and culture. You bring it with you everywhere you go. You’re always somehow still an ambassador because

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whenever someone asks you what’s there to do in Cebu, you always have an answer.

Janice: You’re ready! (Snaps fingers) Don’t get me started or I won’t stop! (Laughs) Raine: Because the excitement is still there, no matter where we go.

Janice: I’d like to think that everyone who became Miss Cebu really became a good ambassador, not only for that one year— one year is too short. [The experience] molds you and propels you to a lifetime of promoting Cebu. I never thought when I was in the contest that I would ever be in manufacturing, but when I got into it with my husband who, of course, taught me everything [I know] about the industry, it gave me a platform to talk about Cebu [whenever I went to] international shows, bringing people here to see the craft and to meet the artisans.

Raine: We’re a creative hub.

Janice: Yes! During my time, 1984, it was really a hub of the export industry. Jewelry, rattan, stones, shells, a lot of export was coming out of Cebu.

Raine: I was 18 when I applied to compete so I really grew [with] the

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COVER STORY experience. A month after the coronation, I joined Creative Cebu, an organization built on cultivating, promoting, and shaping the arts scene. They work with Qube gallery and HoliCOW (Holistic Coalition of the Willing), a sustainable furniture and homeware company; so I got to immerse myself in the trade that you pioneered, in that sense. To see the weaving, the craftsmanship, the visual arts, the aesthetic, and also the meaning of everything and how people from the outskirts get their jobs and opportunities from all the trade that goes on in the city—it’s incredible. It’s really a community collaboration. The creativity that happens here is really out of the box and the materials we have are so unique. I was just in Medellin (in Northern Cebu) and there, they make jars out of banana leaves that have this glossy glass finish.

They’re beautiful. And here in the BusayBalamban area, they do abaca weaving, which holds a lot of potential. You kind of pioneered that, so now, younger generations carry on what was started and find new ways to share it with everyone.

Janice: There are a lot of communities involved in each product, and at every level there is expertise. And there is someone who puts it together, takes it abroad, and markets it. I really fell in love with this business. It was an immediate departure from [serving] economic needs to just loving what I do. It’s very fulfilling.

Raine: That’s the amazing part of living in Cebu now, because even [for those] in industries like fashion, makeup, cinematography, and photography, they are able to do what they love and survive on it. It’s nice that we have these markets and opportunities now. During my mom’s time, artists were struggling; it was more difficult for them. But it has changed with all the travel opportunities for people to come here. During my reign, I was able to host Air Asia’s launch from Cebu to Taiwan, and PAL also launched direct flights to LA [at the same time]. These sorts of opportunities, plus social media as a platform, allow us and the world to discover what really is here.

Janice: It’s a tiny island in the middle of the archipelago, but our exposure to the world is direct. It’s a wide gate. That’s one thing very unique about Cebu.

Raine: Even with connecting flights,

everyone goes through the heart of the Philippines which is right here. It’s easy to go to Siargao or Palawan [from Cebu].

Janice: More power to the ones who are organizing the new Miss Cebu. I hope it will go with the flow and in fact, continue and expand the opportunities more. But we had a good run, didn’t we?

Raine: Absolutely. In our own way, the things we were able to do really shaped us to be the women we are now.

Janice: And somehow, we influenced others.

We’re grateful to be put in that position.

Raine: And blessed, with the Sto. Niño really guiding us. I feel like history is something that keeps us connected to our roots and allows us to discover ourselves more. Before the coronation, for two or three months, we [the candidates] immersed ourselves in Cebu’s history, the tourism, the different sectors of trade, communication, etiquette—much more than modeling and fashion. I learned a lot about our place that I had never learned

SHEER TUNIC (ON RAINE) AND EMBROIDERED NUDE TOP (ON JANICE), BOTH ARCY GAYATIN, ARCYGAYATIN.COM, 418-1132

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ON JANICE: DRESS, JUN ESCARIO, JUNESCARIO.COM, 233-1172 ON RAINE: DRESS, ARCY GAYATIN, ARCYGAYATIN.COM, 418-1132

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in school, and it was a very life-changing experience. It’s what kind of pushed me.

After the coronation, I made it a point to help develop the youth by sharing what I learned about the Cebuano community.

I got involved with Create Cebu and Dreamfestival of Global Shapers, I did a TED talk at USJR, and worked with the Good Shepherd Convent and the Rise Above Foundation. I worked with the Batang Pinangga in Carmen. The Miss Cebu title allows me to connect with groups and connect people [who] all have a passion centered on wanting to help Cebu grow and flourish. Having this opportunity to grow with the title is special. It has shaped me so much and allowed me to discover more, and hopefully, I made an impact on the people I met along the way.

Janice: After your reign, what do you plan to do?

Raine: I went to Medellin because I was looking to start a tour company to

help integrate Cebu City tours with [the northern provinces] because that’s a little underdeveloped; most tourists still go south. I’m looking to assist with that. I’ll also pursue my education because I have not been to university; I graduated high school on the year that I competed. Now, I’m ready to go to school.

Janice: Where do you plan to go to school?

Raine: Because I’m starting something here, I’d like to have my education here.

If I’d like to transfer...we’ll see. But I’d like to start here because Cebu is so close to my heart. The education system here (is so good) that many foreigners come to Cebu to get their education. There are Americans, Indians, and people from Papua New Guinea. We have a lot of brilliant professors.

Janice: Have you thought of what course you’re going to take?

Raine: Throughout my reign, I was able to [dabble] a bit in education, talk to people, and teach kids. Education is something I’m thinking of, but my passion really is music. If I could pursue that and minor in psychology or education, that would be very nice.

Janice: So much is happening in Cebu!

Are you excited about [the third] bridge?

It’s going to end practically where my factory is. How exciting! This is something we never expected. There’s also the central highway that will connect the (northern and southern) ends of Cebu.

Raine: And the bridge that connects Bohol to Cebu.

Janice: Yes, from SRP to Cordova and then Cordova to Bohol in the next five years. If they can do that, they should easily connect Negros to Cebu and Santander to Dumaguete.

Raine: How would you describe Cebu to someone who has never been here?

Janice: Aside from being the hub of education, business, creativity, and the arts, there’s so much potential for the future here. We’re also fast becoming the top choice of retirees. People prefer to come here because we have peace and order, and a good balance between creativity and business.

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Makeup by JAY CASTILLO OF MAC COSMETICS Hair by PATRICK FERNANDEZ OF BENCH FIX

COVER STORY

COVER STORY STRIPED TOP, JUN ESCARIO, JUNESCARIO.COM, 233-1172

Makeup by JAY CASTILLO OF MAC COSMETICS Hair by PATRICK FERNANDEZ OF BENCH FIX

That’s one way I seized the moment: I used the beauty title as a platform to develop myself and help the community, develop an industry and take it with me to tell people about Cebu abroad. I don’t think I will ever stop doing that.

EMBROIDERED LACE VARSITY JACKET, LACE BUSTIER, AND PLEATED SKIRT, ALL PHILIP RODRIGUEZ, PHILIPRODRIGUEZ.COM, 253-6569

Raine: You can easily get to the beaches.

Even with the traffic, you can easily access the best of both worlds.

Janice: One can develop a very, very good lifestyle here. Plus, we have this exposure to all kinds of culture because there is so much diversity.

Raine: And Filipinos can speak English, so it makes it very convenient for any English speaker from outside of Cebu to immerse themselves here. It’s so easy to communicate, which is the one thing that’s necessary for any tourism economy to build.

Janice: There are also a lot of opportunities if we just seize them. We need to show our people how to seize the opportunity.

Raine: How did you seize yours?

Janice: Oh my. When I was reigning as Miss Cebu, at first, I thought I was doing it for fun. Then I realized I had a platform and people behind me. They were going to Japan with me to promote Cebu, so I had to take it seriously. I capitalized on that, and had a blast. Even after my term ended, I could not stop promoting Cebu. It became a part of me, because I was made aware of the place that I come from. I developed a love for the place and cannot help but speak about it to people.

Like I said, I had no idea I was going to become a manufacturer, and when I did, it was fun! I can go abroad and tell everyone what we can do and make in Cebu. The craftsmen and the history behind each piece are why we are good at iron-making.

That’s one way I seized the moment: I used the beauty title as a platform to develop myself and help the community, develop an industry and take it with me to tell people about Cebu abroad. I don’t think I will ever stop doing that.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

TOWARDS THE CURRENT

Open a new chapter in your life with nature The mythical island of Bohol is known for its verdant landscape and its rich, blue oceans.

Bohol is home to the world-renowned Chocolate Hills, and, under sea level, to thousands of species of various marine creatures. Instantly, you’ll fall in love with the natural, untouched sceneries. Perhaps, its lush environment is just the perfect backdrop for the union of two lovers.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

While church or garden weddings are more popular and appealing to couples, beach wedding concepts are also on the rise.

Nestled in Panglao Island, the expansive seafront of Bellevue Bohol is an ideal destination for your beach wedding.

Just as stars fill the dark sky, guests can dine at a beachfront dinner setup, with lanterns and lights carefully arranged. They can enjoy a sumptuous seafood dinner from Bellevue’s Marea Al Fresco and cap off the celebration with an array of cocktails from the bar.

Couples can spend their wedding night at Bellevue’s Junior Suite that comes with a balcony for a panoramic ocean view. For the rest of their Bohol stay, they can book a car with the hotel to take them around the island, with stops at the Chocolate Hills and the Billar manmade forest. Newlyweds can even sign up for the firefly tour or explore the open waters with Bellevue’s diving and island tours.

Another wedding ceremony option is holding it aboard Bellevue’s Tarzan Boat, where the couple is afforded a view of the nearby islands and the beautiful sunset. But even lovebirds who are yet to say “I do” can still enjoy dinner aboard the Tarzan Boat for a romantic night to remember.

Let the sun, and then the stars, witness your profession of love, with the waves as backdrop music, at Bellevue Bohol.

ALMOST EVERY COMPONENT OF BELLEVUE BOHOL’S ROMANTIC SETUP EXUDES A RUSTIC VIBE. THE CEREMONIAL SETUP BY THE BEACH INCLUDES WOOD AND DRIED LEAVES.

Bellevue Bohol. Barangay Doljo Panglao Island, Bohol. (6338) 422-2222. For more details, visit www.thebellevuebohol.com.

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STYLE DRESS, PROTACIO, BENZ PENSION HOUSE, 30 JONES AVE., CEBU CITY, 253-4075

HOME GROWN Revel in tropical silhouttes of local fabric and designs Images by MATT PINGKIAN

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STYLE TUNIC TOP AND PANTS, BOTH ARCY GAYATIN, ARCYGAYATIN.COM, 418-1132

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STYLE EMBROIDERED DRESS, PHILIP RODRIGUEZ, PHILIPRODRIGUEZ.COM, 253-6569

Makeup by EUNICE ENRERA OF MAC COSMETICS Hair by ROLDAN ABEJO OF BENCH FIX Modeled by KIRSTEN PICKETT OF SHUTTER MODELS

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STYLE

Makeup by EUNICE ENRERA OF MAC COSMETICS Hair by ROLDAN ABEJO OF BENCH FIX T-SHIRT DRESS, JUN ESCARIO, JUNESCARIO.COM, 233-1172

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STYLE

JACKET AND SKIRT, BOTH EDWIN AO, A. BONIFACIO ST., CEBU CITY, 414-9810

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FOOD

THE RISE OF SOBA The next big Japanese food craze is actually the healthier option to ramen

By DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA Images by JIM UBALDE

FRESHLY MADE SOBA

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FOOD

Soba is gluten-free. Made from buckwheat flour, these spaghetti-like strings have less calories and a higher fiber content than traditional pasta. It is also a good source of protein and helps lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. This noodle can be served hot or cold with a dipping sauce, and its stock is made from dried fish sans oil—a significant difference from the rich and oily broth used in ramen.

But where to get this healthy Japanese noodle soup in Cebu, you ask? In a nondescript corner in Mandaue, a compact 11-seater restaurant serves freshly made soba enough for 11 diners every meal. Owned by chef Hiroyuki Sakata, who trained in Japan two years ago to learn how to prepare his favorite meal, Soba Kamakura opened in February to introduce and share this uniquely Japanese dining experience.

I sit on the five-seater bar, where I have a full view of Sakata and his assistants carrying out the generations-old art of soba-making.

Carrying a wide, wooden bowl, Sakata walks out of the back kitchen and into the open kitchen. He is the only one who knows the proper steps to make soba; everyone else in the kitchen is there to assist him.

He fills the bowl with buckwheat flour and adds water, then tells us we can start taking pictures at this point. He kneads the flour with tenderness and force, and spins the bowl at a consistent speed. Many of our questions about his techniques are answered with “It’s a secret.” At one point, as Sakata reaches for his water spritzer, he asks the photographer to cease shooting; this part of the process is also a secret. He continues to explain and emphasize, though, the health benefits of soba as the color of the flour transforms from white to brown.

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FOOD Sakata shares that he has direct contact with a farmer in Hokkaido, Japan who processes buckwheat flour through round stone milling at 600 grams per hour. On the menu, it is mentioned that the restaurant uses only pesticide-free buckwheat flour, stressing the invaluable work involved in every stage of its processing, from farmer to chef.

Soba Kamakura offers five kinds of soba: Artisan (plain), Unagi (with grilled eel), Niku (with your choice of thin-sliced U.S. beef or pork), Ebi (with shrimp tempura), and Tanuki (with tempura bits). All can be ordered ala carte or as a set, with four additional appetizers and Japanese sweets.

Make sure to secure a reservation before coming in since there is limited seating.

When asked if Sakata has plans to expand and

open a bigger restaurant, he answers no. He is the sole person who can make the soba, as he is yet to find an apprentice interested and worthy enough to learn the tradition.

You can regularly find instant cup soba noodles in your neighborhood Japanese grocery stores. They could make you suspect their claims for being a healthy snack, though, given that not all ready-to-eat packs have 100 percent buckwheat. As some are made with regular or refined flour, it’s best to always check the label before purchasing.

Soba Kamakura. E.C. Bldg., Greenhills Rd., Casuntingan, Mandaue City.

(032) 417-2481. 0916-719-2512.

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Monday to Saturday.

HIROYUKI SAKATA MAKES FRESH SOBA NOODLES FROM BUCKWHEAT FLOUR (OPPOSITE PAGE).

CUCUMBERS WITH UNAGI (BELOW) AND SHIMEJI MUSHROOMS IN SOBA BROTH (EXTREME BELOW).

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RECIPE

A LEG UP THE COMPETITION Recreate an all-time crispy favorite right at home.

By JUDE BACALSO Image by ERWIN LIM

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In 1991, Alejandro Yap gave his wife Malou—at that time working for a pharmacetical company—a gift. He had bought an old restaurant on Don Jose Avila Street, renamed it Alejandro’s Steak and Seafood House, and gave it to her to run so she could finally be her own boss. With the restaurant came a cook whose crispy pata soon became the customers’ favorite.

Malou further perfected the recipe and soon dropped the “Steak and Seafood” from her restaurant’s name, going instead with the star of their menu.

When the couple’s son Alexis took over the business in 2006, he was able to steer it through difficult times, such as when the original branch had to close and find a new home. Today, Alejandro’s Crispy Pata is on its 26th year as Cebu’s “home of the best crispy pata since 1991.”

ALEJANDRO’S CRISPY PATA INGREDIENTS Pork hocks, front pair only (pata) Water Salt Calamansi Black pepper Garlic

PROCEDURE 1. Place the pata in a deep pot.

2. Fill the pot with water until the pata is completely submerged.

3. Put in all the rest of the ingredients.

4. Boil for 3 hours.

5. Remove the pata from the broth and let cool.

6. Once cooled, put in the freezer.

7. Deep fry the pata for 10 to 15 minutes until the skin is crisp and brown.

8. Serve with vinegar-soy dip infused with onion and chilies.

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