Northern Living: 2018 May-June

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Practice Issue 2018

NATURALIST

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CONT ENTS 14 COVER STORY Felicia Atienza’s natural progression towards environmentalism

08 NORTHERNER How conservation can concur with land development

Cover photo by Koji Arboleda 26 EATS A journalist turned chef telling stories through food

PRACTICE 04 FIXTURE

Reconciling elephants and humans in Malaysia

30 RECIPE A simple meatless plate for any time of the day

06 FEATURE

32 THE GET

What the bird kingdom of Colombia has to offer

Keeping the tradition of handcrafted heritage jewelry

EDITOR’S NOTE Warming Up

If there’s one thing we can unabashedly admit we are dependent on, it’s nature. In the house of Mother Nature, we are the boorish teenagers who, for the most part, leave it alone to deal with our grime, disturbing the equilibrium it strives to maintain to keep operating at an optimal level. In this issue, we take cues from multi-hyphenate Felicia Atienza, a finance professional and curious traveler who holds

environmentalism close to her heart; Masungi Georeserve’s Ann Dumaliang, whose work marries land development and conservation; a Malaysian elephant sanctuary aiming to harmonize elephants and humans; and a restaurant supporting local purveyors “even if it means paying a premium.” Like Dumaliang says, “We have a long way to go, but we can get there.” Now, it’s time to outgrow adolescence.

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Northern Living is published by Hinge Inquirer Publications. 4F Media Resource Plaza, Mola corner Pasong Tirad Streets, Barangay La Paz, Makati City. Visit www.facebook.com/ nolisoli.ph now. Follow us on Instagram at @nolisoli.ph and Twitter at @nolisoliph. We’d love to hear from you. E-mail us at nolisoli@hinge.ph. For advertising, e-mail sales@hinge.ph. This magazine was printed responsibly using recycled papers with biodegradable inks.

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FIXT URE

ROUTE TO RECOVERY

Malaysian elephant sanctuary trumpets effort to cut human-animal conflict TEXT M. JEGATHESAN | AFP PHOTOGRAPHY MANAN VATSYAYANA | AFP

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FIXT URE A herd of elephants tramps through the jungle before lumbering into a river under the watchful gaze of their keepers, training at a Malaysian sanctuary for their vital work in reducing human-animal conflict. The sanctuary in Kuala Gandah, Central Malaysia, is an area of secluded rainforest where ‘mahouts’—as the keepers are known—care for a 26-strong group of endangered Asian elephants. A handful were rescued after suffering injuries or being orphaned, but most of them have been domesticated and trained to aid the National Elephant Conservation Centre’s effort to help elephants who become embroiled in conflicts with humans. They accompany a highly trained team on their missions to find and subdue fellow pachyderms whose habitats have been encroached on, and are putting themselves and villagers at risk. Since the center started operations about 30 years ago, its staff has relocated more than 700 wild elephants, taking them away from inhabited areas and deep into the jungle. Malaysia is home to vast tracts of rainforest and a kaleidoscope of exotic wildlife, from elephants to orangutans and tigers, but the numbers of many rare species have fallen dramatically in recent decades. Some have been hunted for their body parts that are then sold on the black market, but a growing number are falling victim to

human-animal conflict—which happens when rapid expansion of plantations or development of settlements encroaches on animals’ natural habitats. Many elephants in Malaysia have been injured or killed after coming into contact with humans when they wander onto the country’s ubiquitous palm oil plantations, or enter settlements and eat crops. Villagers and plantation workers sometimes target them, viewing them as pests and not realizing they are endangered and protected by law. One elephant among the herd at the 12-hectare sanctuary, Selendang, lost part of its leg after it was caught in a snare trap, and has been fitted with a prosthetic limb. On a recent visit to the center, a dozen of the resident elephants marched in single file with their trunks swinging as their mahouts put them through the paces during a morning workout. They emitted trumpeting sounds before splashing into a river, where the mahouts scrubbed their bellies and trunks. There are believed to be some 1,200 wild Asian elephants in peninsular Malaysia, down from as many as 1,700 in 2011. “If their remaining habitat faces rapid deforestation, I think before the end of the century, there will be no more wild elephants left,” warned Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, a Malaysia-based elephant expert. —AFP

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FEAT URE

TAKING FLIGHT

In Colombia, birders find their version of Eden TEXT FLORENCE PANNOUSIAN | AFP PHOTOGRAPHY LUIS ROBAYO | AFP

Despite his small stature, 10-year-old Juan David Camacho has big dreams: Pacing through Colombia’s jungle with binoculars in tow, he aims to spot all the bird species his country offers. It’s a mighty goal: Colombia boasts the greatest number of bird types on the planet—1,920 or 19 percent of those on the planet—a veritable paradise for birders. “We leave very early with our cameras, binoculars, and tripods and we watch the birds until around noon, in silence,” says the young boy, continuing to scan the area to make sure he doesn't miss a rare specimen perched on a branch in the forests near Cali. Since his father first took him birdwatching three years ago, his love of searching for feathered friends has come to rival even his passion for football, a favored pastime in Colombia. Once a month he journeys through the tropical forests surrounding Cali, the country’s third largest city with some 2.5 million residents.

Nestled in the heart of the southwest’s massive green expanse, the Valle del Cauca and the Andes Mountains, the area counts 562 species of birds, “much more than anywhere in Europe,” according to expert Carlos Wagner. War zones Camacho has already seen 491, capturing 200 of them in photos, the boy told AFP. In February he delivered a lecture— “Three years of passion for birds”—at the International Bird Festival, which brings some 15,000 people to Cali. Too short to reach the lectern on the stage, he grabbed the microphone to discuss the expeditions he has made with his parents, a computer scientist and a lawyer. Huge swaths of Colombia’s territory remain to be explored: For decades they have been deemed too dangerous to travel because of the country’s drawn-out armed conflict. An ongoing peace process with former

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FEAT URE

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerillas has birders like Wagner hoping access will someday be improved. The 40-year-old expert, who heads the bird festival in Cali, says the variety of ecosystems in the area—ranging from mountainous to tropical—allowed a great diversity of species to evolve. Wagner grew up in the surrounding countryside near the San Antonio forest, site of the first large-scale ornithological expedition in the area, which New York’s Natural History Museum carried out in 1910.

a rate of COP$15,000 to COP$20,000 (approximately US$5 to $6.50) per visit. Olga Gomez, who raises rabbits, has transformed her small one-hectare farm into a bird paradise, complete with flowers to seduce winged visitors. “We’ve seen up to 25 species, including 18 hummingbirds,” said the 66-year-old woman with a smile. She says 1,000 visitors per year come to her La Conchita finca, or rural holiday estate.

“Magic!” Further up on the mountain, at the Alejandria finca, clouds of hummingbirds in a dizzying Bird tourism Threatened by deforestation, this 900-hectare spectrum of colors flutter among red saucers of sweet water, while Eden was ranked as an others feast on bananas “Area of Importance placed strategically on for Bird Conservation” bamboo platforms. in 2004 by BirdLife, a “We [birders] are great A French family major British nonprofit. from Amiens, north But because romantics, but farmers have of Paris, marvels at Colombia did not needs: They cut down trees the spectacle: “In legally recognize the our northern plains, designation, there to cultivate.” trees have disappeared was no guarantee it because of intensive would be respected, farming,” says Marc said Wagner. Along with other birders and ecologists, he Bulcourt, 62, a retired nurse. is working to sensitize residents in the area of “We see fewer and fewer birds, but here the importance of preservation. it’s magic!” “We are great romantics, but farmers have A multicolored tanager, one of Colombia’s needs: They cut down trees to cultivate,” he said. 79 native bird species, zips over. And though Colombia is a bird kingdom, “Any observer wants to see it at least observation tourism is poorly developed. once before dying!” says Wagner, pointing The government, however, is growing aware to the teensy turquoise, yellow, and aniseof the potential source of income: In the colored bird. future, the tourism ministry projects nearly Spotting a rare condor is young 15,000 observers might descend on the Latin Camacho’s current quest—the iconic bird American country per year to birdwatch, of the Andes is dwindling in numbers, bringing in US$9 million. making it hard to sight. Most birders traveling to Colombia Once he has traversed all of Colombia, the currently originate from the United States, boy wants to expand his birding universe Canada, Argentina, and the United Kingdom. to other countries, he says—adding that In the San Antonio forest, a dozen places he aspires one day, of course, to become an and guides already welcome observers, at ornithologist. —AFP

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NORT HERNER

NATURAL REVIVAL How conservation rekindles a harmonious interaction between man and nature

TEXT OLIVER EMOCLING PHOTOGRAPHY TRISTAN TAMAYO

“If you don’t conserve the land where everything is on, you’re not going to be able to conserve anything.”

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Nature has always been Ann Dumaliang’s playground. When she was a child, quality time with her father was spent hiking in the mountains or tending to their home garden. “For my birthdays, he didn’t give me Barbie dolls. He gave me seeds to plant,” she says. “That’s why [environmental conservation] is intimate to me; it’s something I’ve grown with.” Today, as a conservationist, Dumaliang’s appreciation for nature has led her to take responsibility for the environment. As project manager of Masungi Georeserve, Dumaliang leads the conservation of the 60-millionyear-old karst formation, a landscape made of limestone, in Rizal. The approach at Masungi aims to fix the conflict between humans and the innately diverse ecosystem while raising awareness among nearby communities. “If you don’t conserve the land where everything is on, you’re not going to be able to conserve anything,” she says. I think the idea of conservation is already popular, but what does it really mean? Conservation is typically compared to protection. Protection would be leaving an area or a resource untouched by human presence. Conservation, on the other hand, has protection components but allows for some use of natural resources so long as it is done sustainably so that future supplies and generations are not compromised. In our case, we are conducting environment and landscape conservation for a 60-millionyear-old karst terrain and ecosystem, making sure that we are able to keep it alive for the generations to come. The geotourism activities and enhancements inside allow for some degree of human interaction. This is done, however, in a controlled way and with the end goal of complementing the protection efforts inside.

Aside from conservation, you also deal with land development. Isn’t there a conflict between the two? I wouldn’t really say so. It’s a traditional perspective when you look at it that way. The skillset is the same, especially when you’re looking at land conservation in protected areas. People think if it’s going to be land conservation, you talk to scientists. Period. But no, you also have to talk to engineers who know how to develop the area in a way that’s sustainable and environment-friendly. You need architects who can plan out the area in a way that’s mindful of the existing natural attributes of the place. It’s really a lot of fields coming together. It just depends on what type of development you intend to put up ultimately. Will it be a sustainable one or a traditional one, so to speak? It’s amazing how this trail was made here. This is where engineering comes in. One thing that you can observe inside is a lot of structures would mimic nature. If we’re going to talk about engineering, nothing beats nature because it has been tested for millions of years. In Germany, they have this engineering as a class called biomimicry. Last year, you represented Masungi at the National Geographic Explorers Festival. How was it? It was quite intimidating [because we were with] top scientists, but everyone really has something to contribute [to conservation]. What is very apparent there was the amount of empathy everyone has not just for humans but for all forms of life. What do you think are the policies we need to make conservation efforts more effective? We have a lot of laws. Before we even get

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“It’s good that a lot of people are aware and curious, but I feel like people need to immerse more in these environments that they’re talking about.”

Last year, Ann Dumaliang represented Masungi Georeserve at the National Geographic Explorers Festival.

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to policies, we have many laws. If only these laws were implemented well, it would make a huge difference already. You don’t need more. If you’re able to resolve that, a lot will change. For policies, it’s very important that the carrying capacity for sensitive areas is established. The carrying capacity is the number of people allowed to enter. Here, we have .85 persons per hectare—that’s not even one person. That distribution varies on the zone, which is why urban planning and engineering are very important to this kind of conservation as well. What can ordinary citizens do to help with conservation? It’s good that a lot of people are aware and are curious, but I feel like people need to immerse more in these environments that

they’re talking about. It’s one thing to read about it on paper and realize it from theory and go on the ground to see that solutions are different and simple. Mountaineering these days is as simple as going up a mountain, taking a photo of yourself, looking at the sea of clouds, and coming down. When you ask them if they learned anything, they don’t have anything to answer. Sayang. Overall, just the way you consume or where you put your money makes a big deal in conveying to the businesses that this is the kind of ethical practices you want. It already helps that an ordinary person could live mindfully or do whatever it is that she does mindfully and sustainably. That’s a contribution to conservation already. We have a long way to go, but we can get there.

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NORTHERN living

EXTRA ELEMENT

Janeth bed in a bag twin green

Glass vase metallic

Succelent in a glass

Ceramic pear and ceramic apple

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COV ER STORY

FORCE OF NATURE

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COV ER STORY

Deep in the concrete jungle, Davao’s rainforests, or Africa’s vast savannahs, Felicia Atienza treads a conscious path to conservation TEXT DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA

It is a typical chaotic day in Manila: cars rushing and weaving through the roads, pedicab drivers’ counterflow adding insult to traffic problems, a layer of smog enveloping the heart of the capital. Driving through the suffocating, concrete streets of Manila, we find a quiet oasis in the heart of Malate. An unassuming but generous cut of property filled with lush flora and diverse fauna, sandwiched between towering condominiums, post-war office buildings, and a Taoist temple. As we enter the residence, we are instantly greeted by at least two snakes inside aquariums. Near the front door is a huge cage with a mature albino snake that takes four people to carry. “Are we still in Manila?” I wonder, when in fact, we have just turned into one of the side streets from Taft Avenue. Inside, a black German Shepherd puppy welcomes us. Trailing him is a beagle and a poofy Pomeranian. Out on the lawn, an iguana freely roams. There are 47 dogs and numerous reptiles, from snakes to turtles; I don’t bother to count. This is the home of the Atienzas. And this is their sanctuary. Enter Felicia Atienza, all smiles after dropping her three kids off at school. “I always loved animals growing up, too,” says Felicia. “I even owned a chicken before,” she animatedly adds. Furthermore, she made a name for herself even before meeting husband Kim Atienza. She is a former fearless finance extraordinaire with a degree from Wharton under her belt, founder of the Chinese International School, board member of Rappler, and president of the Philippine Eagle Foundation.

PHOTOGRAPHY KOJI ARBOLEDA

Inner circle With her various affiliations and the different interests of every family member at home, she says that keeping up with everyone can be a tad challenging. Her day starts quite early—she wakes up at 4:30 in the morning. “Kim and I have a long breakfast together, right before the kids wake up,” Felicia says. “It’s our bonding time.” She then gets ready for work and leaves with the kids at around 6:30 a.m. for school, where she also works. The Chinese International School Manila located in McKinley Hill, Taguig, is the first of its kind in Metro Manila and also her very own brainchild. “When Jose (her firstborn) turned two, I thought to myself that I want to send him to an international school, but an international school that taught him Mandarin from the nursery level,” says Felicia. “I was surprised that no such school existed in the Philippines.” So Felicia took it into her own hands and started researching and planning different educational systems. After visiting many schools all over the world, including Mandarin immersion schools, she finally opened the doors of her school in August 2007. Despite everyone’s busy schedules, the family continues to find common time together. On weekdays, dinners at home are a must. Even if traffic makes getting from Taguig to Manila difficult, she uses the time in transit to get unfinished work done and still arrive home in time for dinner. They share updates about what went on during their days and have discussions about politics and social issues. “Dinners are usually long and drawn out,” Felicia says.

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“People will only be mobilized into action if there is an emotional attachment. There has to be a heartbreak.”

explorer and a curious traveler is embedded in their genes. Felicia says that among the many adventures they’ve had as a family, it’s her memories of Africa that stand out. “There’s something about Africa,” she recounts. “It was already my third time last year and it still continues to amaze me.” Prior to the trip with her daughter to Tanzania and Botswana last year, she had already gone to Africa twice with Kim—first to Botswana and then to South Africa. The vast terrain, free-roaming animals, Call of the wild To say that the Atienzas are active and and unpredictable wilderness make Africa adventurous is an understatement. Being an magical to her. “When you’re in Africa, you But one unique bonding event for Felicia and her children is her promised once-ina-lifetime solo trip with each one of them upon entering their teenage years. The first of the three cubs, Jose, chose an expedition to the Arctic. The second, Eliana, went to a safari camp in Botswana. The youngest, Emmanuelle, opted to go deep in the jungles of the Amazon, which they’ll be going to as mother-daughter this coming summer.

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COV ER STORY

would realize that nothing else matters. It’s really survival.” But the one thing that caught Felicia’s attention is how Botswana was able to meld together the concept of conservation enterprise. She continues to share that, apart from gold, the country’s biggest revenue generator, tourism is becoming a sustainable economic workhorse for Botswana. “What they do is they carve out their entire country into reserves,” Felicia explains. This gives camp operators opportunities to bid for that concession, where the profits will then be shared with the government and the indigenous people. “If you talk to

the people in Botswana, they really know their culture and their animals,” she adds. The indigenous people are then relocated to a specific area and these camps hire and train them to become camping guides. The safari camps also adhere to very stringent environmental parameters. To make this work, Felicia emphasizes, “When you are trying to conserve a species or the habitat, it also involves buy-in from the culture around you. At the same time, you also have to ensure that your efforts are sustainable.” At home, as the president of the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Felicia is trying to find

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ways to raise awareness about the plight of our national bird. With only around 400 Philippine eagles left, 90 percent of them in Mindanao, it is already considered a critically endangered species. With her exposure to different conservation efforts around the globe, Felicia attempts to roll out the enterprise aspect of conservation in the foundation. “One of our big initiatives this year is that we are getting women involved where the nests are located,” she explains. In 2013, they collaborated with Hong Kong-based group called Conservation Sew Mates, wherein they started teaching women from local communities—the first one being the Manuvu Tinonanon partners from Tumanding—how to sew plush toys of endangered species to support conservation awareness. In 2017, they expanded the project with indigenous community partners. With farming being their families’ only source of income, some residents near nesting sites opt to hunt for the endangered eagle for food or money. As they live deep in the jungle, very few options are available to locals—husbands are farmers, and the wives are full-time housewives. The simple project of sewing plush toys has given its partner community members a sense of empowerment, with all proceeds going back to the women, and an enlivened sense of awareness on the different endangered species surviving in their locality. The collaboration project is already in three communities, and Felicia is looking at cascading the program to three more. Little things, big impact “It’s very hard for the youth to feel emotional attachment to the eagle because they’ve never seen one,” Felicia says. “Education is really an important component for people to care more about the environment. People will only be

mobilized into action if there is an emotional attachment. There has to be a heartbreak. To the point that you feel so moved and heartbroken that you have to act on it.” The call for ecological preservation, environmental education, and climate change adaptation and mitigation has been making headlines in the past decade. The looming threat of an ecological collapse detrimental to human existence has been at the forefront of global issues. But what can a regular human being do to help stop this crisis? “I always believe that little steps can make a difference cumulatively,” she answers. At the Chinese International School Manila, environmental science is integrated in the curriculum. Grade six students and up are taught about global issues, where environmental advocacy is part of the lectures. Surprisingly, it’s the lowerlevel students who participate more enthusiastically in the school’s eco-friendly drives, such as recycling or Tetra-Pak collection drives. “When they reach grade six and older, they tend to be more jaded,” Felicia says. But it doesn’t stop her from promoting her love for the environment. “We still try to influence and encourage others and see how we can work collectively, that it’s not supposed to be a lone effort. A lone effort is great, but collectively, we can make a bigger impact.” So long as the interest to save Mother Earth is growing, no action is too little, and no action will be left unnoticed. Everyone can be an environmentalist, according to Felicia. “You’re an environmentalist if you believe in and work towards and adhere to safeguard the environment for future generations. You do your part,” she says. “No one is asking you to live out in the forest with no electricity. Just minimize your impact.”

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STYLING MELVIN MOJICA MAKEUP APPLE FARAON HAIR CATS DEL ROSARIO FASHION GABBIE SARENAS

COV ER STORY


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COV ER STORY

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ST YLE

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ST YLE Necklace and ring, Bijoux Fäh. MDI Corporate Center, The Fort, Taguig City. 0920-2740723 Earrings, Flora Magica. Instagram.com/shopfloramagica

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ST YLE

Ring, Bijoux Fäh. MDI Corporate Center, The Fort, Taguig City Bracelet and necklace, Jul B. Dizon Jewellery. The Peninsula Manila, EDSA Shangri-La Hotel

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EATS

Arroz Con Pollo and Humshuka, a combination of hummus and shakshouka

DECADENCE WITH A CAUSE

Sustainably sourced ingredients to induce your happiest food coma yet TEXT JESSICA ALBERTO PHOTOGRAPHY DANICA CONDEZ

In Ignacia Place, there sits a restaurant with a dark, industrial interior—a refreshing contrast from the typical bright, kitschy designs that populate the north. But don’t let the austere impression intimidate you. The place is actually quite cozy, and the food is warm and comforting. We are greeted by Christine Roque, one of the owners and founders of Half Saints. She sits with us as we wait for the food, telling us the story of how the restaurant came to be. It plays out almost like a forbidden romance (with a happy ending). Roque grew up with an affinity for food and cooking. Despite her interest, her parents encouraged her to pursue a more “traditional” career. So her culinary dreams were put aside—at least, for a couple of years.

During her time as a student and broadcast professional, Roque was able to travel around the globe and experience a variety of cultures along the way—which, in retrospect, became vital in developing the restaurant’s international cuisine. Just browse through the menu and you can pinpoint the places she’s traveled to. An itch she could not scratch, her love of food ultimately resurfaced. But this time, everything seemed to fall into place: She developed her palate, refined her cooking, made connections, and most importantly, knew her purpose. She and her partners (an all-female founding team, FYI) merged their passion for food and advocacy, thus creating Half Saints. Perhaps an indication of the owners’ background in journalism and advocacies,

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EATS the name “Half Saints” isn’t just arbitrary wordplay: One of the restaurant’s main values is promoting sustainability by sourcing their ingredients responsibly, whenever possible. This means supporting local startups and farmers—even if it means paying a premium. It’s a humble act of service to our countrymen, offset by the richness of the restaurant’s food. Just try ordering some of the crowd favorites and you’ll understand why they call themselves half saints. For starters, there’s the Chicharron Teriyaki, a plate of crisp strips of pork glazed with teriyaki sauce and cooked in the style of Camiling bagnet (an ode to the hometown of Roque’s mother). The Tarlac-meets-Tokyo dish is meant to be eaten like a DIY taco: smear a generous spoonful of cheese on the nori, top it with a glistening slice of pork, and devour it in a single bite. Fans of Middle Eastern cuisine will want to try the Humshuka: a combination of hummus and shakshouka (also known as eggs in hell). Served with a bowl of nacho chips, this is your weekend comfort food taken up a notch. For a taste of Latin American flavors, the Arroz Con Pollo—chicken cooked in an aromatic sofrito base combined with rice braised in coconut milk—might satisfy your cravings. Alternatively, you can try the Gallo Pinto, a bed of dirty rice topped with shredded beef, bits of bacon, and a fried egg and served with a beautiful chunk of bone marrow on the side. As for dessert? The owners of Half Saints may not be fans of overly sweet tastes, but that doesn’t make theirs any less satisfying. A playful twist on the Italian recipe, the Tiramisu cheesecake is two desserts in one, with distinct layers of espressosoaked ladyfingers, chocolate, and oldfashioned cheesecake. If you’re in the mood for something a little more sophisticated,

try the 64 percent dark chocolate tart. It’s sprinkled with pink Himalayan salt, which brings out the flavors of the locally sourced Davao chocolate. Both desserts pair nicely with a cup of coffee, which you’ll be happy to know is ethically sourced.

Geometric art installation designed by Arts Serrano; Gallo Pinto with dirty rice, shredded beef, fried egg, and roasted bone marrow

Half Saints. The Ignacia Place, 62 Sgt. Esguerra Ave. cor. Mother Ignacia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City Facebook.com/halfsaints

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RECIPE

BAKING PROTEIN A baked egg casserole upgraded with greens, beans, and cheese TEXT AND STYLING GRAI ALVAR PHOTOGRAPHY JEEB BALDONADO

SHIRRED EGGS INGREDIENTS

Butter for greasing 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 3 inch turmeric, minced 15 pcs. magic beans or Baguio beans cut around 3 inches 10 pcs. sigarilyas cut around 3 inches 1/2 cup alugbati leaves and stem 3-inch celery stalk, minced Salt and pepper 3/4 cup yogurt 1/2 cup double cream 2 tbsp. self-raising flour 3 eggs 1/4 cup buffalo mozzarella cut in chunks 1/4 cup camembert cut in chunks 8 to 10 pcs. celery leaves

PROCEDURE

1. Pre-heat oven to 170 °C. 2. Lightly butter a ramekin or any oven-proof cookware. 3. Sauté garlic and turmeric on a cooking pan over medium heat. Then add beans, sigarilyas, alugbati, and celery stalk until the color of the vegetables turns bright. Season with salt and pepper. 4. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to greased ovenproof cookware. 5. In a bowl, add yogurt, double cream, self-raising flour, and eggs. Lightly whisk until combined well. 6. Pour the mixture in ovenproof cookware. 7. Top with chunks of buffalo mozzarella, camembert, and celery leaves. 8. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

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T HE GET

GOLDEN AGE

Reviving the art of the gold tambourine TEXT BELLE O. MAPA PHOTOGRAPHY PATRICK SEGOVIA

Long before Magellan and the Spanish conquistadors set foot on Philippine soil, our precolonial ancestors were already living in style. Communities had already mastered their own art of accessorizing with intricate golden threads and filigree. “When the Spanish came and saw how well Filipinos made filigree jewelry, they thought about using this to spread Catholicism,” Amami co-founder Danielle Tan explains. The eponymous Amami bead (short for “Ama Namin”) was a style of beadwork dedicated to the “Our Father” prayer’s place in the highly revered rosary. It was common then to wear tambourine pendants around one’s neck—most encased relics or images—and were said to bring blessings from the saints. Today, knowledge of the craft is slowly dying. But Amami’s founders hope to keep the torch

lit for as long as they can, collaborating with local goldsmiths in Ilocos. A passion project of Christine Tiu and Tan, the for-women-bywomen brand links a community’s history with modern sentiments. The community of artisans gains inspiration from their surroundings— the rositas are globules of gold that form a floral motif; there’s the kalabasa bead and also the parug-parug, which looks like a native fruit of the same name. These elements are incorporated in all of their pieces including the decorative comb peineta (above). Though the pieces, which are made of silver dipped in 24-karat gold and are crafted with innovative and modernized design, they still echo the richness of our heritage jewelry.

Amami. 0917-8095898. Facebook.com/amami.ph

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