October 2017 Volume 12 | Issue 02
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CONT ENTS 16 COVER STORY We explore the other lives of Laura Lehmann
10 FEATURE A foundation supplies jobs to the indigent while saving one heritage site at a time
Cover photo by Joseph Pascual 22 EATS
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26 RECIPE
06 HEALTH
28 THE GET
Otherworldly beings in Philippine lore
Semi-precious stones for your well-being
A quaint café makes brunch an exciting affair
White bean salad in three simple steps
Artist-made oracle cards for those who desire foresight
EDITOR’S NOTE Dimensions We constantly ask the question “What if?” and live our lives mostly in a state of limbo. In a world riddled with listicles for digestibility and convoluted news that’s meant for quick consumption, we’re required to set our feelings aside to keep up with the mechanical pace of modern life. But we have to stop and ask ourselves: Who requires us to sell out what makes us most human—what makes us feel? This month, we dig deep into the core of our theme: sensibilities. We
roam the realm of the sensual, the mystical, and the domain of “what ifs.” Beauty queen Laura Lehmann explores with us possibilities of alternate realities had she chosen another path. We also mingle with the lesser known monsters of Filipino lore, bask in the healing powers of stones, and even hope for a semblance of a future through a deck of oracle cards. In this issue, we take you back to the basics of what makes us feel so we can revert a little to our humanity.
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HERE BE MONSTERS
Local creepy crawlers that mainstream media never told you about TEXT ANTHEA REYES ILLUSTRATION LARA INTONG
Before Shake, Rattle & Roll and La Luna Sangre, before Jessica Soho and Noli de Castro’s Halloween specials, before Buzzfeed listicles and the carefully crafted creature profiles on The Aswang Project website, stories of the odd and the terrible creatures of midnight were passed on through word of mouth. Their tales weren’t exclusively told during Halloween, either. Before mainstream media adopted the kapre, the tikbalang, and the manananggal for their annual Halloween scare fix, stories about them have been told by parents to simultaneously incite fear and wonder in their kids: passed on by fathers to their sons, carried on like heirloom pieces, a sliver of the mystical to spice up otherwise ordinary lives. For example, in my home province of Batangas,
I would watch the storytelling of these myths in person. My father and his childhood friends would sit on makeshift benches, armed with plastic drinking glasses and several bottles of Ginebra, and retell tall tales of their grandfather’s father seeing a man transform into a wolf while perched on a tree during a late night game of hide and seek. They’d share stories heard from the friend of a neighbor of a family friend about that old house along that street where skeletons would dance at midnight. These are the kinds of setups that brought to life the much more colorful, feral, terrifying, and morbidly imaginative creatures of Filipino mythology that mainstream media has neglected. Here are a handful of the ones that have somehow slipped through the popular culture’s radar.
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In some versions of the folktale, those who ask to leave are offered a meal of black rice that will trap them in the Dalakitnon’s abode forever. In other versions, they will entertain and play house with their visitors until they get bored of them, then cast them out with no means of returning home or being found ever again. Victims end up going mad trying to return to their paradise.
Danag Contrary to popular belief, there is a Filipino counterpart to vampires, and it’s not the popular manananggal or the widely misinterpreted aswang. Before Dracula and Lestat, the Isneg people of the Apayao province were already telling tales of the Danag folk. The Danag were believed to be almostgods who once lived in harmony with humans. They helped the Isneg plant their crops, until an accident happened one day. A local cut their finger on a sharp object and one of the Danag politely offered to suck on the wound to ease the pain. But the Danag found the taste of the blood so sweet that he drained the local dry. After the incident, the Danag folk stopped planting crops with humans and began hunting them instead.
Dalakitnon The name Dalakitnon means “those who live in the Balete tree” in Waray. It’s believed that these enchanted folk look like beautiful men and women with their great height, fair skin, and brown fine hair, but minus the philtrum. They seduce people into their home with treasures, delicious food, and all the finest things in life.
Bungisngis The Bungisngis is essentially the Filipino Cyclops counterpart. A giant known for its appetite for human flesh, its name derives from the Tagalog word ngisi which means “to show the teeth” or “to grin.” The story of the Bungisngis originates from Batangas. According to the tale, a monkey, a carabao, and a dog once went to hunt for food. When the carabao stopped to rest and cook his catch, the Bungisngis saw the smoke from the carabao’s fire pit and attacked the animal to get to the food. The giant was so strong, he picked up the carabao and threw it into the ground, where it sunk knee-deep. Aside from its singular eye, the Bungisngis is said to have an upper lip so wide that it hangs over two fangs as big as an elephant’s tusk. They say it could even cover the monster’s entire face when stretched.
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Mantiw The Mantiw of Iloilo, Panay isn’t as malicious as the rest of the creatures in this roster. They’re 30foot forest spirits described as having fair skin, broad shoulders, and hooked noses. They’re also known for their uncanny likeness to the coconut tree and their habit of whistling while walking through the forest. Most of the time, an encounter with this forest spirit is harmless. If you try to whistle or sing along with it though, it will get offended, pick you up from the ground, and leave you atop a coconut tree with no means of descent.
The Thamad Thalon actually hunts to eat. When it’s on your trail, you will hear a woman’s screech as if from afar, as a warning. By the time you hear it, you can only try to outrun the she-beast in the hopes of surviving.
Thalon The Thalon is best described as a backwards humanoid dog that originated from Zamboanga del Sur. Its body is distorted-looking—like a man on all fours, except its stomach is facing up, its backside in the front, and its four feet facing backwards. There are two variations to this creature, depending on its sex. A male Thalon, called the Mhenamad Thalon, creeps up on foreigners and non-locals only to scare them, without doing any further harm. As it is a cowardly creature, one only has to shout or taunt the Mhenamad Thalon into a fight to scare it off. Its female counterpart, however, isn’t as harmless.
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SEMI PRECIOUS Gemstones that heal, protect, and center TEXT BELLE O. MAPA PHOTOGRAPHY LEAH MARCELO
Formed by the earth millions of years ago, crystals have an extraordinary ability to absorb, emit, and amplify the energies around us, making them powerful tools in the pursuit of health and wellness. Healing stones are where geology and mysticism intersect, and it was this almost empirical grounding that drew me, an analytic Virgo, towards them. During a day trip to the Dandenong Ranges in Australia one summer, I happened by a quaint mystic shop just around the corner of the town square. Mahogany tables were scattered around the room, cluttered with bowls of stones in every color imaginable. Some seemed to call out to me, feeling warmer or cooler than the rest. Those were the ones I
picked out, the first in my growing collection. I’ve always believed in energies guiding us throughout our paths in life. At the time, I was desperately looking to treat an artist’s block that had been plaguing me for the past year. The heavily shawled lady at the counter said my aura was blocked by so many negative energies. She said carrying the stones in a little pouch with me everywhere I go would help. True enough, though my pockets are weighed with tiny crystals, I feel lighter than when I’m without them. Their colors inspire me not only to believe I am worthy of good energy but also to strive toward enlightenment and creativity.
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“Many stones aren’t refined but rather found in clusters, which are powerful emitters of prosperous energy.” What I have Lava. This porous stone is cool to the touch, with little specks that sparkle sometimes in the light. Its texture calms me whenever I feel fidgety. As it was forged by the very fires of the earth, it symbolizes raw creativity and letting go of the past. Black obsidian. Most dark stones are good guardians against depression. Black obsidian is also formed from lava, a kind of volcanic glass. It’s the stone of truth, impenetrable by light, that brings mysteries to the surface. It emits a soft, warm pull of energy that Good stones for starters gives me clarity. There are hundreds of beautiful stones and crystals Pyrite. Pyrite shines almost like metal and is the out there, each with unique mineral and energetic heaviest stone in my collection so far. Many stones properties that align with certain aspects of your aren’t refined but rather found in clusters, which mind, body, and spirit. It all depends on your personal are powerful emitters of prosperous energy. It’s a intentions, but there are common stones that are masculine stone that relieves pressure by deflecting good for both your budget and your well-being. Amethyst and rose quartz are good for starters. negative energy. Black tourmaline, one of the most powerful Orange calcite. I love how playful this stone feels. protective stones, transforms dense, negative energy Orange calcite is translucent but gives off a warm into a lighter vibration. Labradorite, also protective of negative energy, glow and reflects so beautifully in the sunlight. I use this when I feel my anxiety rising. It’s a happy crystal stimulates the imagination and enhances intuition. Another is citrine, associated with creativity and that balances emotions and, most importantly, wealth that boosts self-esteem. overcomes fear. Finally, clear quartz, an amplifier of energy, can Dragon’s blood jasper. Exquisitely colored green and enhance your stones and grant you clarity. It’s also important to cleanse your stones; think burnt brown by nature, this stone was believed in the ancient times to be a fossil of deceased dragons. It of it as recharging their batteries. There are different stands for rebirth and transformation, for giving up methods but the most common are bathing your stones in incense smoke, sunlight, moonlight, or old and dated ways of doing and being. rainwater. I would, however, avoid the rain bath Amethyst. Amethyst isn’t just calming to the sight; in Metro Manila, as there could be acids that will it also rids a room of negative energy. This crystal damage your stones. The simplest approach, though, is connected to the chakra of the third eye, so it’s is to soak the stones in a clear glass bowl filled with a spiritual healer; good for meditation and treating water and sea salt. addictions and insomnia. I keep it under my pillow Where to get your stones sometimes at night. The Mala Tree. 2F 189 Maginhawa St., Sikatuna Rose quartz. The stone of love gives off a charming and Village, Quezon City. Themalatree.com affectionate energy. Its baby pink glow tells me I am Crystal Age. 80 Maginhawa St., Teacher's Village, worthy of love. The pendulum helps me re-center my Quezon City. Instagram.com/crystal.age. Facebook. mind; I hold it in front of me until it stops swinging. com/CrystalAgePH
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Escuela Taller gives the indigent youth another shot at life through the preservation of local heritage sites TEXT ALYOSHA J. ROBILLOS PHOTOGRAPHY JILSON TIU
Incorporated in the massive stone walls of Intramuros are structures called ravelins. A fortification of sorts, they were built to serve as buffers in case of an assault—a strategic hideout for watchmen and military personnel. One such structure, called the Revellin de Recoletos, named after the Recoletos Church, was built in 1771 “to strengthen the defense of the curtain wall between Baluarte de Dilao and Baluarte de San Andres,” according to a historical marker erected by the Intramuros Administration. The Revellin de Recoletos, also known as Revellin de Dilao, was turned into the Aurora Gardens, named in honor of former President Manuel L. Quezon’s wife, in 1940. Five years later, it sustained heavy damage from the Battle of Manila, then was first restored in 1969. Its second and last restoration was in 1986. These days—246 years after the completion of its construction, to be exact—the Revellin de Recoletos is, aptly enough, the headquarters of a non-profit, nongovernment organization that addresses unemployment among the indigent youth and also tirelessly safeguards the Philippines’ built heritage. This is the Escuela Taller de Filipinos Foundation, Inc. An initiative that originated in Spain in the ’80s, Escuela Taller (ET) has been a training ground for skilled workers who specialize in the protection, conservation, and restoration of cultural heritage properties and practices. It has since been replicated worldwide and was brought to Manila in 2009. Today, it fights for the continued existence of our built heritage as well as the holistic development of unemployed youngsters in impoverished areas by teaching technical skills essential in heritage preservation to out-of-school youth. “Escuela Taller’s role is to build the capacity of the Filipino youth to become craftsmen or heritage protectors who will execute the conservation of the materiality of built heritage and to raise awareness in Philippine society about the importance of preserving
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FEAT URE Kenneth Acas, masonry instructor and former ET scholar, chisels an adobe slab while students observe the process.
such cultural resources,” said architect Carmen Bettina Philippine heritage is spread even in the slums. S. Bulaong, ET’s officer-in-charge and executive director. The approach initially made some experts in the field Although it has now become an NGO independent skeptical. After all, why place the future of important from its Spanish and Latin American counterparts, the remnants of our history in the hands of indigent youth? Philippine branch still operates under the original ET But then again, who better to do the job than those models and approaches—the main thrust of which is hungry for renewed purpose and an honest means of free education and training. The development program, living? With proper training, a number of ET graduates first and foremost, is one that is geared towards have moved on to become master plumbers, instructors, alleviating poverty by addressing unemployment. and even craftsmen of various institutions’ in-house “Escuela is primarily a development organization. conservation teams. Our goal is to equip the trainees for employment. Romulo Dela Cruz, a former scholar of ET, is Ideally, they take on heritage jobs, but if they don’t, a walking testament to the organization’s success. then at least they have the skills to work anywhere,” He entered ET when he was only 18 years old and graduated in 2014. He is now explained Philip A. Paraan, a licensed master plumber, communications and special “We have yet to learn a an ET teaching assistant, and projects officer for ET. a member of its technical But the organization’s twolot of lessons in all aspects pronged approach allows working group. it to put the spotlight on Dela Cruz had always of heritage conservation, another issue: heritage, wanted to finish his studies from governance and public so he could pursue better generally considered a young industry and field of interest opportunities but financial policy, education and in the country. constraints held him back, awareness, to professional “What sets us apart from he explained. When he heard other organizations or training ET’s scholarship program practice and craftsmanship.” of facilities is that we believe that through a recruitment two problems, namely youth activity organized by unemployment and the loss of our built heritage, are barangay officers and the Department of Social each other’s solutions,” said Bulaong. Welfare and Development, he grabbed the chance “The importance of conserving our heritage is not yet and never looked back, despite qualms about what as widespread as it should be. Our country continues to others would say. struggle with issues of loss of important cultural assets, A school year with ET is one that is anchored on the both tangible and intangible, simply due to the lack of “learning by doing” concept. The curriculum begins awareness, apathy, or due negligence,” she added. with scholars being steeped in general construction Through its scholarship program, ET is able to and safety training for two weeks. Afterwards, break through this apathy. Little by little, with every they are assessed, and depending on their desired batch that makes it to graduation day, awareness about specialization or recommended track, students undergo
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FEAT URE intensive workshops under masonry, carpentry and woodworking, painting and finishing, metal works, plumbing, and electrical works. At the end of the year, ET trainees emerge as technical workers equipped with the needed skills to become “protectors of Philippine built heritage.” ET also caters to paying students who want to undergo the same specialized training. Slots are limited, though, because the instructors’ teaching loads are taken into consideration. Of course there are still those in impoverished areas who discourage would-be scholars from entering the program. For some, it’s a matter of survival: Why take time off to study when you can work and earn a living for your family through odd jobs and contractual work? For others, the disdain stems from a lack of understanding of what restoration and conservation work entails. Why train to be a mere construction worker or welder? “We have yet to learn a lot of lessons in all aspects of heritage conservation, from governance and public The San Agustin choir loft with its silleria in the background
policy, education and awareness, to professional practice and craftsmanship,” Bulaong stressed. This applies not only to the communities where ET scholars reside, but to the general population as well. And although ET receives funding from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Spanish aid agency Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo, there is always a need to tap more resources. There is always an ever-growing list of challenges, such as employment of heritage protectors, raising awareness about cultural heritage, and generating public interest to gain more support from the public and private sectors, to name a few. For the past years, though, ET has been successful in its mission to raise heritage awareness through its projects. Among their ongoing efforts is the restoration of the Our Lady of Remedies Parish church or the Malate Church, which started in 2010. Another concrete example of the ET approach to built heritage protection is the restoration of the San Agustin Church choir loft and its 68 silleria or choir stalls made distinct with strapwork motifs that were intricately carved in kamagong and with inlays of narra. ET has expanded locally as well, with its second branch now accepting students in Bohol. And surely too, despite the challenges in a third world country where cultural heritage is probably the least of national priorities, ET endures with a fervent desire to protect remnants of our past and to secure the future of generations to come. Interested in helping out Escuella Taller and their heritage protectors? Reach out: Escuela Taller de Filipina Foundation, Inc. Revellin de Recoletos, Victoria St., Intramuros, Manila. Escuelataller.org.ph. 527-6623
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We uncover the various dimensions of the beauty queen TEXT OLIVIA SYLVIA ESTRADA PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEPH PASCUAL
In another version of this story, Laura Lehmann wouldn’t be a beauty queen. After all, she had been on the road to becoming a doctor, if not for the opportunity to join her first national beauty contest presenting itself when she was on vacation here from her studies. “I studied neuroscience and psychology. I wanted to become a pediatrician,” she reveals. Back then in Los Angeles, she had been enjoying the simple, co-ed life: no tourist-y stuff, no pink Paul Smith wall selfies—just daily meals of tacos and veggie wraps and a uniform of white jeans and T-shirts. “I [lived] alone with no car, which you’d need to [get around] in L.A. I was just there to study and I lived on campus.” When her school required her to take a semester abroad, Lehmann faced the choice of either flying back home to the Philippines or going to England. Since she was homesick, she chose the former. Once here, during a dinner, a family friend advised her to join a beauty pageant. “I thought it was [a] crazy [idea],” Lehmann admitted. She tried it anyway, intrigued by something completely removed from the life that she knew; at the very least, she’d have a funny anecdote to tell back in the States. “I was just having fun, which I think was one thing I did intentionally well. The other contestants were so stressed because [to them] it was a big deal.” But when she ended as first runner-up, what was supposed to be a month’s break was extended into a year, what with the accompanying obligations of a title-holder. By that time, Lehmann was 20 years old—a junior by beauty queen standards. She then understood that if she wanted the top crown, she had to grow up. “You have to be mature and have a little more experience if you are going to represent millions and millions of people.” Instead of trying again the following year to nab the title, like most aspiring beauty queens do, she took a break. Lehmann went back to school, this time at Ateneo de Manila University, where she got tapped
to become a courtside reporter—something that hewed more closely to her old life. “When I was much younger, I used to play softball. I was in the Philippine team so I was very sporty, very boyish,” she says. “My favorite memory from that time was competing in the nationals, when our team would go to provinces like Cabanatuan and Nueva Ecija. It was always nice to travel, especially when you’re still young, and all the other girls [are] with you.” Lehmann was also a sort of a nerd by her own admission. “I was very studious. When you’re a scholar, there’s pressure to maintain a certain grade level or else they would stop [sponsoring] your schooling.” She excelled in what she could, English being her main strength, though math was a weak point. She also became class president. “I was behind the scenes, planning the events, never the one hosting.” She was also a ballerina, hence her Miss World performance of Tuloy Pa Rin. It’s clear that early on, Lehmann’s path had been pretty much set. “My life was really planned for academia.” Until, of course, that dinner suggestion. There was a time when she could have turned back, though. Lehmann’s courtside gig had led her to host two other shows. In 2016, she became the main girl at Upfront with UAAP and she also went around the country for Listed. From someone who knew what it felt both to be popular and to work in the sidelines, Lehmann was slowly becoming accustomed to life in the small screen spotlight, and she could have easily stuck there. At the back of her mind, though, was the constant question of purpose, and being a beauty queen unexpectedly provided her an answer. “I have always wanted to help people. It’s why I wanted to become a doctor [in the first place]. I love how beauty queens make people happy by just being there. Put a politician and a beauty queen in one room, and people are going to listen to the beauty queen [more].” She herself had the same reaction
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COV ER STORY Pink wool coat, H&M Studio, SM Megamall
“The crown doesn’t do anything but give me a voice. I am still the same person, except more people listen to me now.”
during her first pageant experience, where she got a glimpse of Pia Wurtzbach on her way to her historic win. “The girls that I met [during the pageant] were so much more than I had thought. They were really hardworking, and they were in the pageant for good reasons. “When you join Miss World, you have advocacies that you bring; mine was PREP: Promoting Rural Education in the Philippines,” she continues. “It was started by one of my high school teachers. Basically, we visit rural elementary schools and we teach them lessons that they usually don’t get because their curriculum is so limited. What makes it sustainable is that we [also] build libraries for the schools so even after we’ve left, [the children will still have academic resources].” This is further expanded by the Miss World organization’s advocacy to help out the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital—the reason why Lehmann, now 24, attempted to have a go at the title once more. “I like the pageant because the winner would get to interact with kids and visit charities.” Lehmann acknowledges, though, that the title doesn’t define her; rather, it reinforces what she had set out to do in life. “The crown doesn’t do anything but give me a voice. I am still the same person, except more people listen to me now.” In any version of her life, one thing would be constant: she’d work on becoming a person of impact, someone who likes to reach out to people and make a difference. “[Being a beauty queen] is so different from what I used to do and what I had thought I’d end up doing, but there was still something in me that wanted more than what I was doing and where I was going. So part of me thinks [being a beauty queen] is [my] destiny.”
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A Kapitolyo café sports a menu inspired by brunches across Australia and Asia TEXT ANTHEA REYES PHOTOGRAPHY CHESLEIGH NOFIEL AND MICKEY PAPERA
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A show built upon the intertwine of Philippine culture and design excellence, Manila FAME returns with an even bigger show featuring the best in the Philippine lifestyle and design industry.
WORLD TRADE CENTER METRO MANILA PHILIPPINE TRADE TRAINING CENTER Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines
www.manilafame.com
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EATS Love Monday’s cool, clean interiors are made homey by indoor plants; Waffle pops with cookies & cream (upper left) and chocolate and strawberry (lower right) toppings
Barring the occurrence of holidays, long weekends, and the release of your favorite series’ latest episode, it’s usually hard to find a reason to be happy about Mondays. The day marks the beginning of another work and school week, as well as the end of our rest and relaxation from the weekend—a reminder to come back to reality and attend to responsibilities. Lucky for us, a café that just opened in Kapitolyo is dedicated to all the reasons why we should give loving Mondays a chance. Love Monday Café is the brainchild of Daene Luna. Luna used to be just another member of the workforce that dreaded Mondays. To reignite her passion for life after a couple of years of working in the corporate world, she made a pact with herself in 2015 to find all the reasons to enthusiastically get up on Mondays. Her personal resolution evolved into a movement on Instagram, the #LoveMondays, which in turn led to her café today. When she was still working in corporate, Luna had traveled a lot, staying in countries like Vietnam, Seoul, and Melbourne. She discovered the vibrant brunch scenes in Melbourne and Singapore, and found something comforting about the ambivalent midday meal. That’s how Love Monday became a brunch place that serves
the types of cuisines that had comforted and inspired her Mondays abroad. The café has Filipino favorites, such as the garlic longganisa made by a couple from Tuguegarao, and it is used in the patty for the Breakfast Burger. Challenged by two of her friends who did not like Spam, Luna also came up with Spamghetti, a pasta dish with tomato-based sauce topped with the canned luncheon meat. Luna was also inspired by the ombré drinks that are big in Thailand, another country she had stayed in. The ombré milk tea served in Love Monday is made of organic teas, with the colors coming from the natural dye of the loose tea leaves. The Vanilla Blue Chai, for example, is made with Blue Pea Flower, found only in Southeast Asia, while the pink Strawberry Hibiscus is pretty selfexplanatory. These drinks have no caffeine because they are steeped from organic tea leaves, and their sweetness level can be controlled according to your preference. Making the café more comfortable is Luna’s love for horticulture, translated into an outdoor mural. Made by two artists from Batangas, it features leaves in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Inside the café, potted plants and cute little succulents decorate corners, tables, and shelves, providing a homey ambiance overall.
Love Monday Café. 19 San Rafael St., Pasig City. 0917-8047802
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75 Years of Inspiring Passions
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RECIPE
BEANS & GREENS
Legumes replace meat in this verdant salad TEXT, STYLING, AND PHOTOGRAPHY SARAH ARROGANTE
WHITE BEAN SALAD
INGREDIENTS
1 can white beans 5 fresh basil leaves, chopped or cut into strips 2-3 tomatoes, sliced 2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley 3-4 lettuce leaves, sliced 5 pitted black olives, sliced
A platter of Mighty Quinn’s selection classic 1. Prepare the dressing. Mixof lemon meats—brisket, juice, puréed garlic, thyme, olive oil, spare ribs, chicken, and honey. and burnt ends, 2. In a bowl, mix white beans, basil complemented by leaves, tomatoes, parsley, lettuce, side dishes such asand black olives. slaw, dirty rice, and pepper. fries. 3. Season with salt and
PROCEDURE
For the dressing: 3 lemons, squeezed 1 garlic bulb, minced/puréed 1 tbsp. thyme 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. honey 1 tsp. ground black pepper 1/2 tsp. salt
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RECIPE
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T HE GET
NEAR FUTURE
A classic European mystic card gets an Asian reinvention TEXT OLIVER EMOCLING PHOTOGRAPHY PATRICK SEGOVIA
Madame Marie Anne Lenormand is one of the most celebrated fortunetellers in history. She foresaw the death of Marie Antoinette by guillotine four years before it happened, and 10 years before Napoleon Bonaparte became the French Emperor, she had predicted his coronation. But one thing she couldn’t foretell was her own death. According to anecdotes, she had believed she’d live for over 100 years, but instead died at 71. Despite the rather large miscalculation, centuries after her death, Lenormand’s legacy lives on through a 36card deck named after her. After taking a short course on Jungian archetypal studies, intuitive and artist Oliver Roxas created his own Lenormand oracle deck. Though the deck has European roots, Roxas injected Chinese philosophy and ideals to it. “I found many connections and similarities between traditional European meanings and Chinese meanings. These are evidence of [Carl Jung’s theory of ] collective unconscious,” he explains. Each card from Roxas’ Lenormand deck still abides by traditional meanings, but he also added new interpretations that are based on his meditations. The meanings also change when you place a card in conjunction with another one. There is something ominous about tarot and oracle cards. These occult objects are often seen as indicators of misfortune, as premonitions. To some extent, there is fear when one consults these objects, and it springs from the desire to know the uncertainty of the future—a usurpation of time’s natural flow. But more than a tool of prediction, oracle cards intend to unravel meanings about the self. “Sometimes, the cards do not give answers,” Roxas suggests. “It is helpful to read the cards with a sense of non-expectation, to trust the cards and your intuition.” Oliver Roxas. oliverroxas@gmail.com
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