ILLUSTRADO Magazine April 2007 by Illustrado Magazine

The Magazine for the International Filipino

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APRIL 2007

ยน % L I ZABETH ! R DEN ) NC

EDITOR’S NOTE

Stop and smell...… our beautiful islands How many of us have actually been around the Philippine islands? Well enough to know that we have quite a gem of a place, blessed with nature’s bounty, just sitting right under our noses? If you’re like me, an old resident of the Gulf, who left the homeland barely out of my teens, chances are, you must have seen more tourist destinations in other countries, than our very own holiday haunts back home. For starters, do you know that we have five of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites? From rustic Vigan to our baroque churches, to the Rice Terraces, Puerto Princessa subterranean park and the Tubbataha Reef – these Philippine wonders are considered of outstanding value to humanity, and are in the same league as the pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal of India and the majestic Grand Canyon of the USA. Of course, we do have our world-class beaches, resorts and other leisure destinations, beyond popular bakasyon venues Boracay and Baguio, which are pretty as a picture with a vibrant local culture to match. But did you know that on top of the usual holiday activities, one could actually go surfing, rock-climbing, rappelling, white water rafting, even spelunking in our own native backyard? And if nature or adventure tripping isn’t for you, you could always immerse yourself in culture, history, and entertainment, or simply soak up the pulsating vibrancy of metro life. True to Illustrado’s promise to uplift the Filipino, this issue celebrates our beautiful country – giving you, my dear Illustrados, yet another reason to be proud of. We have diverged slightly from our regular monthly fare to give you the best of Philippine destinations in Bakasyon Grande Special Feature – a project made possible by the support of the Embassy of the Philippines in the UAE, led by H.E. Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, and the Philippine Department of Tourism. So the next time you feel stressed out and in need of a breather, look at your vacation schedule and put in your agenda that you must visit the Philippines for a proper holiday – instead of just the routine trip to see family and kamag-anaks. Because there’s so much to see, do and experience in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Taas noo, Filipino!

Lalaine Chu-Benitez Publisher and Editor

Publisher & Editor Lalaine Chu-Benitez

April Model Rachel Tan poses in the bukid in Lulu Tan Gan’s stylish knitwear in this issue’s fashion feature

Associate Editor Elle Crisostomo Art Directors Paula Lorenzo Ron Perez Contributing Writers Philippines Carlito Viriña David Llorito Bernadette Reyes Lisa Cruz Mike Martin Jan La’O David Poarch

CONTENTS

United Arab Emirates Maripaz Febrero Giselle Estrada Dawn Almario Sonny de Guzman Antonella Andrada Jonie Jose

Settling in the Philippines: Coming home for good to the Pearl of the Orient 6 Education in the Philippines 10

United Kingdom Cecile Samson-Aquino

Columns

Contributing Photographers Philippines Ben Chan United Arab Emirates Pot Ph Joel Guerrero Contributing Stylist Zekundo Chu Advertising Sales Michael Maguigad Ryan Iñigo Retail Sales Mars Sagario Subscriptions & Admin Frances Therese Macaya Publisher Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2nd Floor, Building 2 P.O. Box 72280 Office 20C Dubai Media City, U.A.E. Tel: + 9714 365 4547 Fax: + 9714 360 4771 email: admin@illustrado.net Website: illustrado.net Printers Delta Printing Press L.L.C. P.O. Box 37140 Dubai, U.A.E. Copyright Illustrado Communications 2007. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC

Features

Famous Filipinos Kabayanihan: Who is my Kabayan? Kabuhayan – Money, Assets and Investing Usapang Kanto: What’s your dream vacation? Community Spotlight The Annie B.(Batobalani) Chronicles Filipinisms

14 39 36 48 72 75 80

Fashion Rural Rhapsody 16 Fashion Spy: Revelation to Fashion 26 Illustrado Runway: Furne Oné 28

Arts & Culture Amor for Amorsolo 40

People & Places Face of the Month: Leila Ravi 35 Bakasyon Grande Special Feature: Beautiful Philippines 50 Almost Filipino: Abu Nader 46

Food & Entertainment Lani Misalucha – Simply Phenomenal 73 A Gourmet Spin on Pinoy Favorites 76

Special Promo Skechers’ Voucher Give-Away 74

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send your letters to: editor@illustrado.net

being ‘illustrious’ – i.e. distinguished or noble. Thus, when you say ‘Illustrado’, it will have a significance to Pinoys, but it will also ring a bell with other nationalities and be partially recognizable because it sounds like ‘illustrated’ or ‘illustrious’ in Spanish, Italian, and indeed, even in English.

More funny stuff, please! Jojo Vincul - Sharjah

You would be amazed because we already have a secondary readership composed of other nationalities. Because when we created the magazine, we decided that we should promote the Philippines and its people, not only to our immediate community - but also to a larger global multi-racial audience because we have so much to offer. So in essence, the name is a very specific decision – to create a brand that can sustain recall. I think the double ‘L’ does not really dilute the meaning; instead, it enhances our cause making it more appealing and memorable to a larger audience. Lisa, thank you for your earnest comments. We do appreciate your keen interest in our humble effort to uplift the Filipino. We hope for your continued support. Sincerely, Lalaine Chu - Benitez

Dear Lalaine,

Dear Editor,

Haha! Ang kalokohan nga naman ng Pinoy! Illustrado, many thanks sa inyong POP-Culture issue. Nakakaaliw ang mga antics ng ating mga kabayan. It’s true! Pilyo tayo and we like to have fun. Sumakit ang tiyan ko sa katatawa sa inyong funny signs! Ibang klase… Okay, aaminin ko na – meron din akong poster ng mga asong nag-to-tong-its sa dining room! Katabi nung wooden spoon and fork!

Well done for putting together the concept behind Illustrado magazine. The articles are fresh and explore the values, beliefs and innate skills of our people. The approach taken by the magazine is quite different from the day-to-day tabloid and commercialized news that somehow influence others’ perception of us as a nation and people. Out of curiosity, I’ve always wondered why you decided to spell ‘ Illustrado’ with a double ‘L’. If you are referring to the word, which means ‘learned’, or ‘enlightened’ which is actually a Spanish word, then it should be spelled with only one L - one of the many Spanish words we adopted and now form the part of our very own Tagalog language. Personally, I thought spelling it incorrectly dilutes the meaning and message you want the readers to reflect on as part of the general approach of the magazine. Just a thought.... Lalaine, my comments above should not dilute what you and your team have done - the fact remains that you have been doing an excellent job; something you should be proud of.

March Issue is so much fun and kikay. Pinoy na Pinoy talaga ang dating! I didn’t know that we have this site (by Jojie) na puro katatawanan ang content. Haha! I also love your fashion feature na tinatawag na “Bakya Mo Neneng”. The Bakya looks so good and I didn’t realize na pwede shang maging ganun ka-fashionable. Hay..ang mga Pinoy talaga very creative and artistic. You just made an incredible change! Mabuhay mga Kabayang Illustrado! Cheena Manigbas - Sharjah, UAE

Hi Illustrados! Hope all is well. I’ve seen your publication in my friend’s house and I noticed that you have this “Community Spotlight” section. I felt so proud when I saw these Pinoy Chefs who won the competition at the Salon Culinaire 2007. It’s good to hear that we have multi-talented kabayans who were acknowledged for their skills and creativity. Maki Ancheta - Abu Dhabi, UAE

Thank you, Illustrado!!

Kind regards, Lisa Gonzales - Dubai

I’m a newbie in Dubai – struggling and feeling very lonely. It was so great when I found Illustrado! It was like coming home. Your articles on Pinoy OFW life ring so true and I felt happy reading about stuff in Manila. My loneliness just melted away. Your positive attitude really made me feel good.

Dear Lisa,

Kudos friends, keep it up!

Keep up the good work! You make us proud!

Thank you for your very good comments - as an Editor, I live to receive such constructive criticism because it can only make us better. So your note is most certainly, well appreciated. Your query on the spelling of Illustrado is a question, which we have been receiving from very ‘switched on’ individuals like yourself. We are aware of ‘ilustrado’ from the time of inception of the magazine, but we intentionally used the double ‘L’ because our rationale is two-pronged: (1) the magazine is about the enlightened Filipino, (2) the brand name is also supposed to denote ‘illustrated’ which is reflected in our bold approach to aesthetics, as well as

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Missy Lanares - Abu Dhabi

Hello to the Illustrado team! Imagine my surprise when my teenage son brought home a copy of Illustrado Magazine, which was given to him at school. I didn’t expect that he would get a magazine from school and most of all, it was a surprise that he even got interested to read it! But when I opened it, I realized that what you have in the magazine is really interesting – and inspiring for us Filipinos. The things that you publish are not only informative but are also very wholesome and

something for us Pinoys to be proud of. So please continue this great effort. There’s a real benefit to us Pinoys. Thank you very much, Anna Liza Cabral - Abu Dhabi

LOVED what you did with the bakya. Parang feel ko na magpa-crate from Manila. Our wooden shoes are soooo way cool! ‘G’ Medina - Dubai

Dear Illustrado, Salamat sa inyong nakakaaliw na magazine! BTW, love ko si Annie B! Ano bang next na mangyayari sa heroine namin? Taas noo, Filipino! Zaldy Oliva - Sharjah

Dear Lalaine, Thanks! At last there’s something we could be proud of. Syempre happy ako reading of all your articles title to title, word for word. By the way, I made this during my husband’s stay at the Dubai Hospital. It was a long stay that lasted for two months. Grabe...... I almost lost my mind. Thank God he’s a bit OK now. Sasamantalahin ko na to give my thanks to all the nurses at the Ortho Ward especially to Tita Belen, Yardly, Virgie, Jo and the team of Dr. Noorodin Ramesh, Pradeep, Aala and Mahmoodi, as well as Ahmad the staff nurse. Thank you so much regards to your Illustrado family. Cristy Rey - Dubai

WAGAS NA PAG-IBIG Alam kong itoy pagsubok na aking malalampasan. dahil nariyan ka at akoy tinatanaw. Itulot na mangunyapit at di na bumitaw, sa iyong mga kamay na lagi nang nakaagapay. Idulog sa iyo pighati at lumbay. na wari ko ba’y iyo nang tinalikuran. Salamat panginoon ko at akoy nasumpungan. pinagaling sa sakit na nararamdaman. Na minsan isang araw muling magbabalik ang dating ako inukit mo nuong araw. Tulong na nanggaling sa iyong kaharian. buong puso na idinulog sa aking harapan. Wagas mong pag-ibig pinadama sa akin. tunay na dalisay at walang kaparis. Salamat panginoon ko, maraming salamat.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send your letters to: editor@illustrado.net

More funny stuff, please! Jojo Vincul - Sharjah

Dear Lalaine,

Dear Editor,

Thank you, Illustrado!!

Kind regards, Lisa Gonzales - Dubai

Dear Lisa,

Kudos friends, keep it up!

Keep up the good work! You make us proud!

Illustrado 4

Missy Lanares - Abu Dhabi

something for us Pinoys to be proud of. So please continue this great effort. There’s a real benefit to us Pinoys. Thank you very much, Anna Liza Cabral - Abu Dhabi

LOVED what you did with the bakya. Parang feel ko na magpa-crate from Manila. Our wooden shoes are soooo way cool! ‘G’ Medina - Dubai

Dear Illustrado, Salamat sa inyong nakakaaliw na magazine! BTW, love ko si Annie B! Ano bang next na mangyayari sa heroine namin? Taas noo, Filipino! Zaldy Oliva - Sharjah

FEATURE

Settling in the Philippines Coming home for good to the Pearl of the Orient By Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Sometime in your life, as a Filipino living abroad, you would inevitably encounter the question - “where should I eventually settle?” A hard one to answer taking into account our all-too familiar concerns with our country, which made most of us part of the eight million kababayans scattered all over the world, in the first place.

Although majority of us would have no doubt that they will go back to the Philippines someday, many of us, for varied reasons, aspire and prefer to emigrate for good to countries such as the USA, Canada and New Zealand, among others, which offer the possibility of naturalization. However, while so many of us are looking beyond our fair shores dreaming of a better life, scores of non-Filipinos are moving to our country, by choice, in search of the good life in what they regard as the modern day ‘Shangri-La’ of the Far East.

The Philippines’ foreign invasion According to a survey done by Hong Kong-based PERC (Political and Economic Risk Consultancy) in 2000, the Philippines ranked number one as the favorite place to live for expats in South East Asia. The country was followed closely by Singapore and Japan. Another PERC survey, this time in 2001, revealed that expats found the Philippines and Thailand as the countries offering the “least stress”, while Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam were viewed as the “most stressful countries to live in”. Inspite of the Philippines being troubled by corruption and political upheavals, according to the consultancy, there was a tendency “to make the most of a bad situation, while the people’s upbeat attitude rubs off on foreigners”. PERC added, “One of the most amazing things about the Philippines is the almost indefatigable optimism of its people.” Whether these rankings have changed in recent years, it is not clear.

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But if the growing immigration figures are to go by, the Philippines’ position as a favorite ‘settling down’ destination for a considerable number of foreigners still holds true. Among the many foreigners – Asians, Australians, American and Europeans, who have opted to make the Philippines their home, the biggest groups are the Americans and the South Koreans. Owing to half a century of colonization, as well as modern day political ties, American presence in the Philippines is relatively high. Apparently, the Philippines has the second largest population of American citizens out of the US, many of whom have been naturalized. It is estimated that there are 110,000 Americans in Manila alone, excluding temporary residents. According to a 2006 article in the Korean Times, the second largest immigrant group in the country, the South Koreans, mostly businessmen, students, missionaries and retirees, number 46,000. This is a significant population on top of tourists, who in January 2007 alone totaled 77,000 – higher than the 55,000 visitors from the US. The presence of these expats can be felt around the country with the growing number of restaurants, groceries and Korean-oriented business establishments mainly in Manila and Cebu, and most significantly in well-known Koreantown in Makati’s Baranggay Poblacion. Over on the WWW, thousands of websites, created and maintained mainly by non-Filipinos endorse settling in the Philippines, promoting the promise of an “easy life in a tropical paradise”.

FEATURE

Easy living in paradise Despite the negative aspects, which could discourage potential resident expats such as traffic congestion, pollution in the cities, the endemic corruption and political upheavals which the country is notorious for, expats still find substantial positive reasons which motivate them to make the Philippines their home. For a lot of foreigners, the Philippine islands are considered a tropical paradise with great natural beauty and moderate weather throughout the year conducive to a life of relaxation. The easy pace of life outside the Manila metropolis is something that a lot of expat retirees seek.

The ability of majority of Filipinos to communicate in English as a second language is definitely a great factor, which helps expats to interact with the local population. The wide usage of English in the media, street signs, even in the spoken language and everyday life cannot be found in any other country in Asia. Add to that the Westernized ethos, due to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colonial history, and expats are able to adjust to the local culture with much ease. Financially, life in the Philippines for expats is considered â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a walk in the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; - almost literally. The low cost of living in the Philippines allows them a very good lifestyle, which is normally unaffordable in their own countries of origin.

FEATURE Settling in the Philippines

Babalik ka rin? According to expats, for a mere US$1,000, they can live in a decent rented house, afford household help, including a driver, and enjoy eating out, as well as other recreational activities – which the Philippines has a very good range of from sports, to hobbies as well as excellent nightlife and entertainment. So essentially, expats can live like a king at a fraction of the cost, and enjoy a life of comfort and leisure. Most of all, in line with the PERC findings, foreigners seem to appreciate the generally good-natured Filipino persona, as well as the local community and family orientation. For a people touted as the ‘happiest in Asia’, the admiration is well deserved. In answer to the outside interest in the Philippines, the government is encouraging foreign residency by offering special visas, including for retirement which provides multiple entries and indefinite stay. A recent decision to lift the ceiling on foreign real estate ownership has also added to the attraction to settle in the country.

With so many non-Filipinos pursuing their piece of what seems to be the ‘Philippine dream’, one wonders whether Filipino expats like us, some of whom have become international nomads, are missing out on the big picture. Perhaps, a lot of us may not be as financially blessed as our foreign immigrants who receive their pensions in dollars, enabling them to lead a life of leisure. Perhaps not all of us are destined to lead privileged lives, lounging in a hammock by the beach all day with no pressure to earn a living. But the fact of the matter is - our homeland is still a place, which could offer the dream of a good life, a life as good as anybody’s standards, and is definitely worth hoping for, despite all the difficulties that beset us today. The question is if we will allow ourselves to realize this, and how we will utilize our time away from home to weave our very own - Philippine dream in our fair islands.

Ikaw, babalik ka ba? Illustrado 8

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FEATURE

Education in the

Philippines By Bernadette Reyes

In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith said that the economic development of a country is a function of the quality of its education. That is, the more and better educated the people, the greater the chances of economic progress. In the case of the Philippines, the government is giving the education system a face-lift as it attempts to move towards a more sustainable economy. Bernadette Reyes explores the current state of Philippine education and the options one would have when planning to study in the country. State of Education in RP For several years, the Philippine education system has been hounded with pressing issues manifested by soaring tuition, exodus of students from private to public schools, declining percentage of passing rates in licensure exams and budget constraint, the last being the biggest obstacle of the sector. The education sector is receiving only 2.2% of the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), a far cry from the United Nation’s recommendation of a budgetary allocation of 6.6% of GDP. Of this fund, the biggest chunk is channeled to basic education, which received PHP105.30 million in 2004. Appropriation for higher education is lowest, receiving only PHP1.05 million during the same year. Allocation for higher education was depleted such that of the 6.2 million high school graduates in 2004, only 2.4 million have gone to college, according to the NSCB (National Statistical Coordination Board). Despite these problems, the government through the DepED (Department of Education) said it has conscientiously rolled out efforts to improve education in the country. “With our continuous dialogue and partnership with both the CHED (Commission on Higher Education) and the TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), we expect to further improve our nation’s capacity to provide relevant education for our people,” DepED Secretary Jesli Lapus said. DepED is working towards making Philippine Education more globally competitive by re-designing and developing the school curriculum, and training more qualified teachers. It has also pushed for the integration of ICT (Information Communication Technology) in schools. Student organization NUSP (National Union of Students of the Philippines) said it is beginning to see the positive results of the DepED’s effort. “We are optimistic. In fact we are beginning to see

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Improvements. We are also beginning to attract lots of foreign students nowadays. But we shouldn’t be complacent that is why we want to have further reforms implemented,” NUSP secretary general Alvin Peters said.

Key universities in the Philippines Higher education in the Philippines is provided by private and public institutions under CHED’s supervision. Currently, there are 1,647 institutions in the country offering tertiary education. Of this number, 1,465 are private institutions and 182 are public schools. Following is a brief look on some of the key universities in the Philippines.

University of Santo Tomas Known as the oldest university in the Philippines, the UST (University of Santo Tomas) is a Catholic university located in España in Manila. Aside from offering primary and secondary education, UST is also one of the most popular universities in the country offering undergraduate studies program. Academic programs also include postgraduate programs and certificate course in technology, electronics and entrepreneurship. It also boasts of a medical school whose graduates regularly top licensure exams. The university’s Academic Year is divided into two semesters. The first semester begins June to October and the second semester from November to March. Per semester tuition ranges from PHP26,000 for an undergraduate course to PHP70,000 for Medicine. A foreign student may need the equivalent of US$4,000 to US$6,000 a year to meet the expenses in Manila. Students may pay in full but those who are tight on cash, are given the option to pay their tuition in three installments.

FEATURE

c Photography: Foto â&#x20AC;˘ Agency: Dreamstime.com

Medical Tourism in the Philippines By Bernadette Reyes

The Philippines, with its large pool of world-class medical specialists, up-todate medical equipment and facilities housed in some of the cleanest hospitals complemented with the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magnificent wonders spread over its 7,101 islands, is fast-becoming a choice destination for medical tourism. Medical tourism is a recent concept that fuses together the provisions of cost-effective medical care with that of tourism. Medical care may range from the provision of traditional health and wellness needs to alternative health care such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and neutraceuticals. Medical attention is then coupled with either short or longterm tourist packages in international health zones where foreign patients can recuperate and even retire. With the improved standards of medical care and lower cost of air travel, medical tourism has become a rapidly growing industry in the Philippines. Although the country has been a destination for medical tourists for several years now, the PMTP (Philippine Medical Tourism Program) was formally launched only last year to further promote the Philippines as a preferred destination for medical tourists where cost savings are significant. A wide range of services is being offered to medical tourists locally. Cosmetic and plastic surgeries have been the most popular procedures although other elective surgeries such as hip and knee replacements are also offered. The Philippines also have medical practitioners specializing in weight loss, ophthalmology and dentistry. In the Philippines, prices of medical treatment are very competitive

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even when compared with rates in developed countries. Lower overhead costs and professional fees make it possible for doctors in the country to perform procedures at a fraction of the cost of the same services in other offshore destinations without sacrificing quality. A general checkup in the United States costs US$5,000 on the average, while it will cost only the equivalent of US$500 in Philippine hospitals. Coronary bypass surgery, which clocks up US$50,000 in the US, may be availed for half the price locally. Kidney transplants can reach up to US$150,000 abroad while it will only cost roughly about US$25,000 in the country. Liposuction in other countries usually costs over US$25,000 while in local clinics, the same procedure would only cost US$4,000. The cost of health care treatment is not only rising in the US, UK, Canada and Europe; the waiting period to obtain health services and treatments in these countries is also long.

Aside from the affordable cost of medical treatment, the Philippines is also home to well-trained and highly skilled medical practitioners at par with international standards. Doctors and other medical staff are fluent in English and receive training and professional experience in some of the best schools and institutions.

FEATURE

The Oblation- The University of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; famous landmark

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De La Salle Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Yuchengco Hall

Exams are administered either on-campus or in testing centers around the country. UST also has International Testing Centers in the Middle East including the Philippine School in Doha, Qatar; the Philippine International English School in Kuwait; the Philippine School in Bahrain and the Philippine School in Jeddah. In the UAE, there are two testing centers namely the UIPS (United International Private School) in Dubai and the PISCO Private School in Abu Dhabi. Likewise, Saudi Arabia has two testing centers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Riyadh Embassy and the International Philippine School in Al-Khobar

Ateneo de Manila Campus

De La Salle University Another key university situated in the heart of Manila, De La Salle University-Manila offers undergraduate courses in the fields of Business and Economics, Computer Studies, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences. It also offers graduate degree programs, and MBA and DBA programs. DLSU is the first private university in the Philippines awarded with Level IV status by the (PAASCU) Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities for having demonstrated excellence in the academic discipline.

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DLSU operates under a trimestral system. Its academic calendar consists of three regular trimesters of about 14 weeks each, with the first term beginning in the last week of May to the end of August. Second term commences in the second week of September up to the third week of December while the third term starts on the first week of January and lasts until the third week of April. Aside from its curriculum, the school offers a variety of activities to further enhance the learning experience of students outside the

FEATURE

The Philippines’ Oldest UniversityThe University of Santo Tomas

classroom. La Salle competes in more than 12 inter-collegiate sports including the (UAAP) University Athletic Association of the Philippines and other local and international tournaments. Students with inclination in various sports activities including Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Fencing, Judo, Lawn Tennis, Swimming, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Volleyball can join the respective sports varsity teams. For those with a passion for dancing, they may opt to join the Pep Squad. Clubs have also been organized to harness students’ talents.

Ateneo de Manila University Established by the Jesuit Fathers, ADMU (Ateneo de Manila University) in Quezon City embraces the teachings of its founders. The school offers basic education and undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Arts and Sciences. ADMU also has presence in the provinces including Cagayan, Zamboanga, Naga and Davao also offering undergraduate programs. The school has the Non-Academic Formation Program composed of more than 40 student organizations and institutions functioning for different thrusts and goals. Students who wish to study in the university must pass the ACET (Ateneo College Entrance Test) administered annually. Foreign applicants, or those living or studying outside the country that cannot be in the Philippines to take the ACET during the testing dates may replace it with the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) taken within the last two years prior to application. The application period for foreign freshmen applicants for School Year 2007-2008 has already ended. Inquiries for School Year 20082009, will commence on the second week of June.

University of the Philippines As the country’s premier State University, the University of the Philippines has seven constituent universities including UP Diliman, UP Baguio, UP Los Banos, UP Manila, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao and the Open University. The Diliman campus is the university’s flagship campus and offers the largest number of degree programs. Other campuses are known for specific areas of specialization. The UP Open University on the other hand provides educational opportunities through distance learning. UP offers 246 undergraduate degree programs and 362 graduate degree programs distributed among its constituent universities - the

most offered by any university in the Philippines. The cost of each academic unit in the Diliman, Manila and Los Banos campuses will be raised from PHP300 to PHP1,000 and from PHP200 to PHP600 in the Baguio, Visayas and Mindanao campuses effective this June following the UP administration’s demand for a 300-percent increase in tuition. Graduates of Philippine high schools may be admitted as freshmen into the University based on the performance in the UPCAT (UP College Admission Test). A foreign applicant or a Filipino who graduated from a secondary school abroad may be admitted in the University upon completion of a high school program in the country where he had his secondary education or by qualifying in an international foreign-administered examination such as GCE (General Certificate of Education) Examination or SAT. A graduate from a high school abroad may also take the UPCAT. The Philippines is also home to institutions offering vocational and technical courses for those who prefer to take up short-term programs. Some of the most common vocational courses offered in education institutions in the country are care giving and practical nursing courses. For technical courses, Engineering and Information and Communication Technology such as call center agent and medical transcription courses are common. TESDA said these are among some of the highly preferred short-term courses due to the apparent high employment absorption rate in these fields. Students enrolled in short-term courses are given the chance to obtain a college diploma through the Ladderized Education system implemented by TESDA and CHED. Through this system, technical and vocational students can acquire skills through preliminary training, earn equivalent credits for higher education from the training, enroll in a related higher education course or obtain a college degree. More than 200 institutions have started offering the ladderized programs this school year. The government has outlined the Medium Term Higher Education Development and Investment Plan – an ambitious initiative that requires PHP79.9 billion to succeed. The government is yet to produce the full subsidy but it’s working on it. Philippine schools apparently have their share of lapses, but they should never be defined nor limited by setbacks, but with the genuine effort to overcome challenges and rise above them.

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Famous Filipinos By Maripaz Febrero

Our list of famous kababayans keeps getting longer. And why not? More and more of us are earning accolades abroad through sheer talent and hard work. Qualities that we seem to be born with, di ba? So hold your heads high as you browse through our latest batch of outstanding Pinoys.

In ballroom dancing…

Pinay dances her way to stardom!

Cheryl Bautista Burke is now a two-time Emmy nominated professional dancer based in New York City. She is best known for winning the second and third seasons of ABC’s American version of Dancing with the Stars with Drew Lachey (February 2006) and Emmitt Smith (November 2006). Burke grew up in San Francisco, California and comes from a family that loves to dance. She began her ballet lessons at the age of four, and performed throughout the Bay Area. When she was 11, she discovered ballroom dancing and decided to change her focus. She began training in both standard ballroom and latin dances, and by the time she’s 13, Burke was competing and traveling all over the world. She graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School in 2002. Burke is of Filipino, Irish and Russian descent. For Cheryl, dancing is a way of life. It provides a medium for her to express her inner feelings and passion all the while maintaining focus and composure during extremely high-pressure situations. It is dancing that has made her such a competitor (both on and off the floor) and made her strive for perfection in anything that she sets out to do. Cheryl says that her dancing style is unlike anyone else’s. She takes pride in being a ‘rule breaker’ and feels that her greatest achievements in dancing have yet to come.

In football..

Pinoy in American Football Tedy Lacap Bruschi was born on June 9, 1973 in San Francisco, California. He is the son of Anthony Sr. and Filipina Juanita, one of three children. His stepfather, Ron Sandys, was a professional tennis player and probably inspired him to excel in sports. Tedy attended Roseville California High, where he lettered twice in football and was a two-year captain, earning all-conference; all-northern California and all-metro honors as a defensive tackle. He also earned a letter in wrestling and two letters in track, competing in the shot put, discus and triple jump. He wrestled in the heavyweight division and was selected as the Patriots’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award in 2000 and 2005. The same year Tedy served as honorary chairman of the Hyannis Port Challenge, a cycling event that served as a fundraiser for Best Buddies. Tedy and his wife, Heidi, have three sons, Tedy Jr., Rex and Dante.

Illustrado 14

FAMOUS FILIPINOS

…In football

Pinoy Football Legend Paulino Alcántara Riestrá was a Filipino/Spanish football player and manager who spent most of his playing career at FC Barcelona. He was born on October 7, 1896 in Iloilo City, Philippines. He also played for the Catalan XI, the Philippines, and Spain. Alcántara made his senior debut for FC Barcelona at the age of 15 and remains the youngest player ever to play or score for the club. He also scored a remarkable 356 goals in 357 matches, making him the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. Alcántara is also the first Filipino and Asian player to play for a European club. He pursued a career in medicine after retiring as a player in 1927 at the age of 31. On July 5, 1927, FC Barcelona played against Spain in a testimonial in his honor, with whom he later served as club director between 1931 and 1934. In 1951, Alcántara was one of three selectors that coached Spain for three games.

In the congress…

UN awards Filipino peacekeepers Robert Cortez ‘Bobby’ Scott is a Democratic politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia, currently representing the state’s 3rd Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. The district takes in most of Richmond, along with parts of Norfolk, Hampton and Scott’s home in Newport News. He is of African, American and Filipino descent. Scott was born on April 30, 1947 in Washington, District of Columbia. He graduated from Harvard University and Boston College Law School. Scott was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates as a Democrat in 1977 and was elected to the Senate of Virginia in 1982. He first ran for Congress in 1986 from the 1st District, which included his home in Newport News, but lost to Republican Herb Bateman. He was later elected to Congress for Virginia’s 3rd District in 1992. He is the first AfricanAmerican Representative from Virginia since Reconstruction, and has been re-elected five times with no substantial opposition. Having a maternal grandfather of Filipino ancestry gives Rep. Scott the distinction of being the first American with Filipino heritage to serve in the United States Congress.

In beat reporting…

Yet another Pinoy Pulitzer Prize Winner In 1997, a Pinoy won the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting. His name is Byron Acohido, Aerospace Reporter for the Seattle Times where he has worked for the past 10 years. From 1985 to 1987 he worked at the Dallas Times Herald as an editor and business reporter. Prior to that, he worked as a business and general assignment reporter specializing in the criminal justice system at the The Herald in Everett, Washington. In 1993 he won the Aviation and Space Writers Association Premier Award for Jet-engine pins: how big a risk? and Flight 811: terror in the sky. He has a B.S. in journalism from the University of Oregon and enjoys coaching youth sports, running and gardening.

Columbia University President, George Rupp (left), presents Byron Acohido with the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting.

Yes, dear kababayans, it’s all true and fully documented for public consumption. We can all bask in the collective glory of national pride, knowing that our country can never be obscure or be left behind in the international achievement polls. Kaya TAAS NOO, Filipino! Illustrado

FASHION

Illustrado 16

FASHION Text: Lalaine Chu-Benitez Photography: Louie Aguinaldo Styling: Pam Quinones Hair styling and Make-up: Robbie Pinera Model: Rachel Tan Clothes: TG Tan Gan, Tango, Topshop and Zara-Manila Accessories: TG Tan Gan, Nullah and Rebel Gear-Manila

Rural Rhapsody It’s summertime ... The gentle warm breeze blows through the yellow harvested fields of your memories, the smell of hay hanging in the air, the vision of plants, trees and flowers familiar color the surroundings with calm joy. The countryside beckons… Illustrado takes the bold, modern and confident Filipina back to her rural roots, with Manila’s fresh fashion offerings of relaxed knitwear with a demeanor as laid-back as the swaying grass, and style as elegant as softly colored bougainvilleas. An ode to the Philippine summer…

FASHION Beige tube dress with dual straps, by TG Tan Gan, vintage earrings by Rebel Gear

FASHION

Two-tone bell-sleeved fairy-hemmed knitted dress by TG Tan Gan, bronze studded belt by Nullah

FASHION Yellow spaghetti strap top by Zara, white slim jeans by Topshop, beige knitted cardigan by Tango and knitted ball necklace by TG Tan Gan

FASHION

Old rose spaghetti strap top by Zara, bubble knitted skirt by TG Tan Gan, belt stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own

FASHION

White tank top and white slim jeans both by Topshop, ocean green slouchy knitted cardigan by TG Tan Gan

FASHION Beige V-neck knitted dress by TG Tan Gan, bronze studded belt by Nullah

FASHION

Pale melon bell-sleeved wrap-around top by TG Tan Gan, white slim jeans by Topshop

FASHION

FASHION SPY

Revelation to Fashion by Michael Vincent Serrano

Saw that gigantic pouf coif that is Imelda Marcos pouting at her studded gold compact, moments before her 70th birthday bash at The Manila Hotel last year. Imelda Marcos – at least 1.5 million hits on Google. I click on a thumbnail to enlarge the photo. Siyempre hair, jewels, and shoes in place, I study her pink taffeta terno - intricate beading, invisible seams, and impeccable fit - definitely haute couture. As I have a penchant for anything fashion related, including fashion iconography, I wonder just how much do Filipinos really understand about the world of fashion? Do we know the history of Chanel? What is prêt-a-porter? Is there really an Imelda in all of us? With the sartorial challenge at hand, I ring up friends for their fifty cents: “Filipinos are label-holics. We buy things that are inversely proportionate to our incomes. We enter shops and grab what is presented to us. Other than that, we don’t bother to know anything else about fashion,” said Miss R, a flight attendant. True, we know very little about the clothes and accessories we buy. Fashion insiders may have a profound knowledge of fashion terms, collections, seasons, materials, production, and house histories. But what about us noninsider consumers? We depend mostly on fashion magazines, boutiques, and what people are generally buying. Without doubt this fashion formula is wrongfully affecting our personal style, leaving nothing to our imagination. And more importantly it doesn’t provide us with the proper information we need before we spend a small fortune of our hard-earned money. We don’t buy cars without learning its specifications and the reliability of the manufacturer; it is in that sense that we should know why we’re shelling out more than a thousand dirhams for a Prada buttoned-down shirt. Di ba? “I don’t buy branded clothes, they’re grossly priced and I see no difference between them and the clothes I buy from thrift shops,” said Miss G, a make-up consultant. On the contrary, aside from the label, designer items are astoundingly priced because they’re usually handcrafted and made of the highest quality materials that can last through years of use. Prêt-a-porter or ready-to-wear collections even though industrially produced are equally expensive due to the technical expertise of the fashion houses that produce them. Consider the precise pattern cut to the careful stitching and crisp ironing, together with the materials and design makes up much of the garment’s price. For those who are part of the upper crust of the world’s consumer pie, haaay, haute couture is undeniably the choice expression of genuine luxury. Hundreds of hours to produce by hand, haute couture pieces are custom-made to fit the gourmet-fed bodies of the filthy rich. Haute couture designers and their hordes of mastercutters, seamstresses, and beaders work closely with their patrons, requiring three or more fittings to get the exact shape and draping that makes the item unique to the owner. Thus with all the service provided, haute couture pieces don’t come with an affixed price tag, but an invoice only for the client’s eyes ensuring the item’s worth. Prices range from AED40,000–AED350,000. More haaay.

Illustrado 26

Adding insult to injury, designers have come up with demi-couture, a blend of prêt-a-porter and haute couture. The latest expression means handcrafted clothes from haute couture studios that sell like ready-to-wear or off-the-rack pieces at revoltingly high prices. Talk about a ‘People Power’ revolution. Yet unlike haute couture, demicouture doesn’t conceal its cost. It’s a tight-lipped rule that no-matter how expensive it goes, all ready-to-wear should bear a visible price tag. Designers and fashion houses make no apology for the cost of these items, claiming it is entirely adequate to the expense of production and rarity of work. “I invest in fashion only because my job requires me to do so, otherwise I wouldn’t dress-up so stylishly if I were only a dog walker,” said Mr. H, a luxury shop sales assistant. The very point of fashion is to make us look and feel confident at all times, in this world where image and impression goes a long way. If we are appropriately dressed and well groomed, it translates that we took the time to think of how we look in consideration of the people around us, making us pleasing to the eyes and providing our lives with a smooth flow as possible. Wouldn’t your eyes hurt when you see someone wearing a batik-printed polo in a formal gathering?! Ay nako. It is significantly essential that we look chic and stylish in our everyday lives, nothing is more appropriate than gardening in crisp white Helmut Lang shirts and RL khakis, and nothing provides the best impression more than a bespoke Italian suit during a job interview. Fashion genius and former Gucci creative director Tom Ford once said, “I only hire people I could have lunch and seen in public with.” Go figure. As I embark on this mission to share my passion for fashion, I searched the net for exciting news on Filipino fashion icons and the latest on Filipino fashion. I came across this bit from a Filipino publication: Thirty-five year old ‘designer-of-the-moment’ Nicolas Ghesquière from the iconic fashion house of Balenciaga had a stopover in Manila during the first week of November last year. A dinner party was thrown in his honor, with guests including every form of Manila’s cognoscenti, and none other than Madame Imelda Marcos topping the elitist list. Monsieur Nicholas had his eyes fixated on the former first lady, marveling at her every move, and presumably her coif and jewels. Mrs. Marcos during her heyday was fortunate to be dressed by master couturier Cristobal Balenciaga himself, and when asked how it was when she first met him in his atelier she said, “He didn’t say much, but when he spoke all he said was Perfect, Perfect.” Now I wouldn’t be surprised to see butterfly-sleeves and ternos on this year’s haute couture runways, especially from Balenciaga. Sana.

SUBSCRIPTION

ILLUSTRADO RUNWAY

HIGHLIGHTING FILIPINO CREATIONS ON THE CATWALK

Illustrado 14

Runway Photos by Mac Antonio and Joel Guerrero

Amato by Furne OnÃ© HAUTE COUTURE FASHION SHOW EMIRATES TOWERS MARCH 2007

ILLUSTRADO RUNWAY

Photo courtesy of AMATO

ILLUSTRADO RUNWAY DESIGNER PROFILE

Furne Oné Destined to be a genie that transforms fantasies into realities, a relentless artist who meets a lady’s every wish, Filipino designer Furne Oné has made a definitive mark in the haute couture scene in the Gulf.

A designer that can hardly be considered of humble beginnings, after winning the Young Designers’ Award in the Philippines, and gaining much deserved recognition, Furne moved to Paris to serve an apprenticeship at the colorful and theatrical House of Christian Lacroix. Thereafter, the big apple beckoned him and he answered to diversify his experience as a lingerie designer for Natori.

But Furne’s true calling came when he landed the coveted position of personal designer for one of Dubai’s royals. He quickly discovered that his innate desire to translate words, thoughts, vague images and a projection of one’s individuality into a single design gave him unrivaled satisfaction.

After seven successful years, Furne opened his very own couture house - Amato. A mere couple of years later, he boasts a roster of over 1000 local women and a waiting list of over six months.

Amato has become a label synonymous with exotic hues, playful construction, diverse inspirations, and ingenious combinations of accoutrements, converting the anxious client that came in with a mere dream, into a besotted woman eager to reveal ‘her’ very own creation. Photo courtesy of AMATO

ILLUSTRADO RUNWAY

Photo courtesy of AMATO

ILLUSTRADO FACE OF THE MONTH

CELEBRATING PINOY CHARM

LeILA RAvI SweeT Teen Pretty Leila Ravi is an Indian-Filipino teen born and raised in the U.A.E. Like most 14 year olds, Leila enjoys going out with her friends to the movies and partying. But unlike most teenagers, her plate is full with a myriad of extra curricular activities making her one very well rounded and talented young lady. To begin with, Leila loves music, plays the piano and has recently started to play the violin, as well. She is also into a lot of sports and enjoys tennis, golf, basketball, softball, and swimming. A fan of martial arts, Leila took up karate and is know considering expanding her skills by learning judo. During her downtime, Leila likes to read, write and sketch. Hobbies aside, Leila’s main preoccupation these days is her studies especially with her ‘O’ levels coming up soon - definitely more than enough to keep this clever young beauty busy.

Illustrado 35

KABUHAYAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Money, Assets and Investing

Former OFW Creates Thriving Business Back Home

Like millions of Filipinos leaving the country to find greener pastures, Roderico Cane once tried his luck as an Overseas Filipino Worker in Jeddah, but after almost three years of working in a foreign land, he went back to the Philippines only to realize that his expertise would reward him, not abroad, but back home. This realization was made sweeter by the fact that he need not be away from his family. By Bernadette Reyes

Starting from scratch In 1995, shortly after returning home after a two and a half year’s stint as a shift supervisor for Nestle in Jeddah, Cane couldn’t find a decent job in his hometown in Butuan, Agusan del Norte. Realizing that he couldn’t stay jobless for long, he applied his knowledge of the food manufacturing business on one of Agusan del Norte’s most abundant natural resources - bananas. Thus with a starting capital of PHP20,000, Cane and his wife started making banana ketchup in a small space in their backyard. From this small investment, Cane was able to engineer his own equipment for production, enough to meet the requirement of one of his early customers, Tita’s Café, Butuan’s biggest snack house where he supplied five gallons of ketchup daily. “Since I am a mechanical and industrial engineer, I designed my own machine and equipment, tailor-fit to make the production process efficient,” Cane said.

Business opportunity It didn’t take long before Cane needed to move to a bigger location as production increased, as well as in alignment with regulatory requirements of the BFAD (Department of Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Food and Drugs). As quickly as business opportunities presented themselves, the greater the need for Cane to pump in much needed capital to legitimize and sustain operations. His short stay in Jeddah didn’t allow him to save enough money, but his siblings came to the rescue and were able to draw together PHP600,000 to put up new assets to meet the manufacturing standards of the government to continue his business. His business caught the attention of financing institutions almost effortlessly. In an entrepreneurial training conducted by the DTI and the Butuan Chamber of Commerce in 1998, Cane was able to bag a PHP2 million loan contract. During the training, the participants including Cane were asked to present a case study of their business. His presentation was so promising that one of the panelists, the head of the loan section of the DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines) offered him the loan on the spot. “I presented Joy Table Sauce and they saw the potential of the business. DBP offered a loan right away.” Cane could not believe his fortune until a check for PHP2 million was handed to him. The additional capital paved the way for business expansion outside the CARAGA region to include Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Illustrado 36

KABUHAYAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Money, Assets and Investing Business hurdles Cane confessed that his business is not always a walk in the park. He tried stacking up his product on the shelves of grocery stores through distributors in his attempt to penetrate new markets, a move which didn’t prove to be lucrative for a new product such as his. “Sa groceries ang tagal bumalik ng capital. Consignment kasi tapos kadalasan post-dated pa ‘yung mga cheque na binabayad nila,” Cane complained. His product was also not as popular as the leading brands hence grocery shoppers opted for the more popular ones. Smartly enough, he reverted back to his own marketing strategy, and created his own marketing force and took charge of his own product distribution. Owing to sheer determination and excellent product quality, Joy Table Sauce captured a sizeable market share in no time. “Kahit na wala kaming advertisements, pi-nush lang namin nang husto yung product sa mga mini-groceries at wet markets hanggang sa marami nang nagka-interes,” Cane recounted. In fact a survey conducted in 1999 by the DTI and BFAD, data showed Joy Table Sauce was able to capture 40% of the market in Butuan as compared with the leading brand’s 30% share. Cane claimed he is confident that margins will continue to grow, as more and more consumers realize that Joy Table Sauce uses fresh ingredients, as compared with the other brands which use powdered ingredients.

Business Advice Cane said neither he nor any one in his family has had previous exposure to business but pointed out that determination coupled with a keen insight was his ticket to success. “Madali lang mag negosyo kahit wala kang experience or formal schooling sa

business, kasi ang kailangan mo talaga commonsense,” Cane explained. He saw the potential of the business early on after sensing a high customer satisfaction for his product. He followed closely the demands of his market and responded to these needs to keep old customers and win new ones. Cane also realized that innovation also plays a major role to remaining strong in the business. His ketchups used to come in bottled containers, which translated to bigger production costs. During a visit to the wet market, he noticed that some of the products sold such as mayonnaise and margarine were contained in cellophane packs. He quickly adapted this technology and was soon able to cut back on cost by as much as 50%. Today almost 80% of his total production comes in cellophane packs. Not only was he able to put up a new factory due to this packaging shift; he was also able to save enough money to expand his business to include production of vinegar and soy sauce to supplement revenues. For those who have great business ideas but do not have the money, he advised that lack of capital shouldn’t stop an entrepreneur from pursuing business. There are financing institutions ready to lend a hand if they see the potential of a business. It will also help if you have friends or relatives willing to lend you collateral when starting out. Chances of making it big are greater for those who have feasible business plans and have some savings to jumpstart the business. “Kung ako ngang walang naipon nung nag-abroad ako, sila pa kayang may naipon, magagawa rin nila ang nagawa ko,” Cane said enthusiastically.

Success Story Joy Table Sauce has gone a long way since it started operation as a backyard business in 1995. The business has not only won the attention of consumers but private institutions as well. In 2005, Joy Table Sauce received an award from the organizers of the 11th CARAGA Business Conference as the most improved SME. From a production capacity of only 10 gallons per day 12 years ago, the factory is able to produce 1250 gallons today. Joy Table Sauce has already captured a steady ground in the Visayas and Mindanao; where it has over 70% market share in the provinces. There is no stopping a thriving business such as Cane’s from expanding such that this year, he plans to expand further in the province of Panay in Iloilo. Looking back, Cane said he had no regrets about working in Jeddah since his experience proved to be worthwhile, thanks to his kind employers. But after reaping the fruits of his hard work, he said he was even more thankful he made the brave decision to stay in the Philippines. “Sabi ko no’n sa sarili ko ‘yung perang kinikita ko sa Jeddah, siguro kung uuwi ako sa Pilipinas kikitain ko rin. Pero yung time na lumipas malayo sa pamilya ko hindi ko na maibabalik ‘yun,” he recalled. Now, Cane has never been happier – not only is he earning handsome income from his business, he is also able to spend quality time with his family - an opportunity he would never trade for greener pastures in a foreign land.

For queries and free consultation on KABUHAYAN issues, send us an e-mail at: kabuhayan@illustrado.net

KABUHAYAN INSURANCE

Money, Assets and Investing education. In the course of my work as an insurance and financial adviser for many years, I have experienced that when I start talking about children’s education, most parents would suddenly listen intently with great interest and enthusiasm. They open up and start talking excitedly about how they wish their children would, one day, become doctors, engineers, nurses, dentists, accountants, or successful professionals in other fields. This is a confirmation of a very Pinoy attitude when it comes to children’s education - we take pride in having children who are degree holders.

Insuring Your

Future by Ben Parco

A Boring Topic Let me begin by saying that, based on personal experience, many people find life insurance and personal financial planning to be a boring subject that no one would prefer to talk about. In fact, a colleague of mine jokes that if you like to enjoy a party and not run out of people to talk with, avoid talking about the subject, or the room goes empty in no time at all. But for families who experience the tragedy of losing a breadwinner unexpectedly, life insurance can serve as a beacon during this very dark time in their lives. So please read on.

Other Important Uses of Life Insurance I hope that the previous articles I have written on the subject have made you aware and truly appreciate the value and importance of buying a life insurance policy. For hundreds of years, people who understood this brilliant concept relied on the financial security that only life insurance provides. Although the primary function of life insurance is to protect a family’s financial future to enable them to continue their standard of living, it can also be used to fund your children’s college education, your retirement and pay off a mortgage. Let me therefore explain in this issue how this unique financial instrument can really help you ensure that your dreams and aspirations are achieved no matter what happens.

Children’s Education I remember during my younger days that when my parents talk with their friends, they always mention that the only lasting ‘pamana’ they can give us is a good

Whether we are aware or not, we have good reason to invest in our children’s college education because according to statistics in the US, those who attend college are much more likely to experience economic success later in life than those who only complete high school. According to a study by the College Board in 2005, women ages 25-34 with bachelor’s degrees earned 70% more than those with high school diplomas and for men the difference was 63%. Also, the Census Bureau reports that in 2004, college graduates earned about two thirds more than those without a college degree. With these statistics, we can conclude that a college education is a worthwhile investment but it is also getting very expensive. It is therefore prudent that you start saving immediately for your children through a life insurance policy because it gives you the peace of mind and a solid guarantee that whether you live or die before your children enter college, the money you have intended for their education will be there. There is no better way to save for your children’s education but through life insurance.

Retirement Another important use of life insurance is funding for your retirement. For 40 years or more, your life, and probably the life of your family, revolves around your job or your business. One day you retire and practically every aspect of your life is different. There could be less money, more time, and no daily structure. You can expect to spend about 16 to 20 years in retirement, too many years to be bored, lonely, and with less money in your bank account. I am sure you want your retirement to be rewarding, active, and rich in new experiences. But you have to plan early. It is never too early to begin planning for your retirement. Some experts even suggest starting while you are in college. Remember the longer you wait, the less influence you will have on the shape of your life in retirement. You should therefore anticipate your retirement years by analyzing your long-term goals. What does retirement mean to you? Does it mean an opportunity to stop work and rest, or does it mean time to travel, develop a hobby, get involved in your favorite charity, or start a second career? Where and how do you want to live during your retirement? Once you have considered your retirement goals, you are ready to buy a life insurance policy specifically designed for this purpose. This will make sure you live a dignified life in retirement and not depend on dole-outs from your children or your children-in-law.

Mortgage Protection For Property Buyers In this issue, I would like to finally touch on one of the basic uses of life insurance known as Mortgage Life Insurance. Many OFWs, like you and me, dream of owning a house and lot or a condominium unit but due to limited resources, most of us would be able to afford to buy properties now on installment basis with a low down payment and mortgage the property to a bank. The main concern of installment property buyers is what happens in the event of their death, disability, or serious illness before the mortgage is paid off. This is a big risk on their investment and a serious problem that only life insurance can solve. There is no other way. So if you are planning to buy a property on installment anytime soon, make sure you have a specific life insurance cover equivalent, at least, to the mortgage amount. This specific cover will give you the assurance that in the unfortunate event of your untimely death or disability, your family can remain in the house they have probably learned to love.

Identifying Your First Priority If these are major concerns in your personal financial planning today, then you need to consult your Insurance and Financial Broker and together you can identify your first priority and guide you through the process and start doing something about it immediately. The ideal situation would be to make provision for all these priority areas simultaneously but like many of us, resources are limited so we should make arrangements one at a time according to order of priorities. Till next time.

Ben Parco is a Dubai-based insurance specialist who has been working working full-time in the insurance and financial services industry since 1990. He’s been a member of Million Dollar Round Table, U.S.A. (an elite international network of leading insurance and investment financial services professionals/advisors) for the past four years, and is a Holder of Financial Advisers International Qualification (FAIQ) Certificate from the Chartered Insurance Institute, U.K. For queries and free consultation on KABUHAYAN issues, send us an e-mail at: kabuhayan@illustrado.net

Illustrado 38

Tributes to the Filipino Spirit KABAYANIHAN

by Aby Yap

In Dubai, they say every other nationality is your friend. You are either Winnie Munsod or Oscar Orbos to them. You are a godparent to one of their children. Every Filipino that you meet along the way - whether you are passing by the countless offices you’ve dropped off your CV at or you are asking directions as you get lost in the Quiapo-likeness of Satwa or amidst the illogical order of buses in the Bur Dubai station – they are your ‘kabayan’. Kabayan or ‘countryman’ has been popularized by then news anchor/ TV show host Kabayan Noli de Castro, who is now the Philippines’ second most powerful politician. Calling us his kabayans has indeed earned him votes that catapulted him to a seat in the Senate, later on to the chair next to the president. How everybody with political ambitions must have tried hard to follow our kabayan’s footsteps by calling every Pinoy…kabayan!

But who really is my kabayan? Is he the smiling person next to me on the bus stop, the cheerful cashier at Carrefour, and the generous fast food crew giving an extra free bun? Or is she the receptionist who refuses to accept my CV because they are not hiring Filipinos? Or the landlady who charges too much for a cramped bedroom, perhaps the recruiter who promises you a ready job in the UAE only to find yourself abandoned in this strange land? Coming to work in Dubai has opened my eyes to both the best and the worst in the Filipino. This is the race I was born into, my own blood, my countryman. I have already witnessed the bad in the Philippines but I thought it was because of poverty that lead us to do vicious things to each other like stealing from the wealthy and killing for a piece of bread. Maybe if we were all made equal – all our stomachs full, all our minds educated, all our hearts pure – then there will be no need for politicians because we would be living in a heaven on earth. But that changed. When I see Filipinos in power suits here raising their eyebrows at those on visit visa looking for a job anywhere, anytime; when I hear snide comments about whether those wearing blazers are doing ‘part-time’ in some catering service (as if that is all Filipinos could do); or when I smell the greed of those who have already transformed the visit visa phenomenon into a money-making scheme, I start to have doubts. It is clearly not poverty or inadequate education or even lack of religion that could turn people into monsters. These very same individuals probably earn more than thrice what their Philippine counterparts make. They are college graduates from good schools. They go to church regularly on Fridays, Sundays, as well as all the holidays of obligation.

But in my heart, I believe that the best of the Filipino still far outweighs the worst. I have not only heard about it. I have also seen it. Moreover, I have even experienced it first-hand. I get goose bumps when I listen to stories of how a lady acquaintance took into their small flat three unfortunate Filipino men who were victimized by illegal recruiters in the Philippines. I feel proud when I see my kabayans helping each other in job-hunting. Like when they refer somebody whom they just met in the office they applied at, knowing full well that this stranger could very well be his/ her own competition to that lone vacancy. I weep silently when people whom I have just known and lived with for only a year listen to my angst of homesickness. And, they comfort me like the family I have had since the day I was born. There was one thing I heard before that I could not forget until now, because it was funny but sad. When I first came to Dubai, I listened to how some of my kabayans would ignorantly refer to the white people – the Americans, the British, the Europeans – as ‘expats’. They would say it as if they were the only expatriates here and Filipinos are not. I told them that we might be brown but we are also ‘expats’ like the Indians, Pakistanis and all the brown people I know. It is an ugly picture, I know, but it is reality nonetheless. There would always be discrimination among nationalities. Provoking the idea might be, this is a feature of any society, however civilized it is. But what I am saying is that while we Filipinos might not be superior to other nationalities, we are also neither inferior. We are equal to everybody else. There are many faces to my kabayans. As diverse as we look on the outside, we also feel differently inside. Thus we act unpredictably towards each other. You see, Dubai is a vast Pinoy Big Brother house to us, wherein only the fittest could survive. We toil all day with the rest of the other nationalities but whose tongues and souls could never be our own. We nurse our sadness all night while thinking of loved ones whom we would never have a chance to embrace for a year or two or maybe even three years just so we could save more. All these for two reasons: it feeds our families back home and it makes most of our dreams come true. It is reasonable. But the question is how to be a kabayan in the profoundest sense of this overused word. Am I my kabayan’s keeper? Indeed, I am. You also are. Every Filipino should be one. We should work hand in hand and push each other up, as we are the only ones who best know one another in this foreign country. After all, we are all ‘magkababayans’ facing the same struggle and hoping to emerge as winners in the end.

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ARTS & CULTURE

By Cathy Cheng- Doña

landscapes, seascapes, animals, farmers and dalagang bukid (country girls) of Daet that will forever dominate his heart and become the constant subject of his works. In Daet, the Amorsolo family lived modestly. He and his brothers studied in a public school and were taught Spanish at home. But all that changed when his father died in 1895. The loss of the family breadwinner left the Amorsolo clan destitute. And this unfortunate incident forced them to move back to Manila. To another painter’s home, his mother’s cousin Fabian Dela Rosa.

It Runs In The Blood

Our love for Amorsolo and his work is undying. Just last year, this Pinoy impressionist continued to impress us with an exhibit of his paintings at the Ayala Museum for fresh pairs of eyes to see. But how exactly did Amorsolo’s love affair with the paintbrush begin?

It was under his uncle Fabian that Fernando would learn his painting fundamentals, and later on be influenced by his style. Fabian taught how to mix paints and take command of the brush. It was from his uncle that he inherited his love for drawing portraits, landscapes and everyday scenes. Both uncle and nephew were masters of these techniques and were equally noted for it. But life in the Dela Rosa household was not exactly a bed of roses. To make ends meet, Bonifacia embroidered to earn money, made her own masterpieces with needle and thread, while his son sold watercolor postcards to a bookstore for 10 centavos each.

It All Began In Daet

From Postcards To Prized Paintings

Art stole Amorsolo’s heart when he was just a young lad. Born in May 30, 1892 to Pedro Amorsolo and Bonifacia Cueto, he was a true-blooded Manileño but spent the first 13 years of his life in Daet, Camarines Norte.

At the tender age of 17, Amorsolo enrolled at the art school of Liceo de Manila as a scholar and garnered honors in painting and drawing. Later, he studied at the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts where his uncle Fabian was director.

It was in Daet that the first seeds of love for painting were planted in him, not so much by his parents but by the natural beauty of the province. It was in its sprawling rice fields and abaca plantations that he made little excursions with paper and paint in his hands. The lush green fields, the golden hue of rice and abaca were the first colors that inspired his young imagination. Little did Amorsolo know that it was the

Illustrado 40

It was in the university that he began to uproot his own style and cultivate his talent for interpreting Philippine sunlight. Backlighting, the skill that’s said to be his greatest contribution to Philippine Fine Arts, was Amorsolo’s signature. It was a technique in which all the figures seem to be outlined against a glow of light.

ARTS & CULTURE

After graduating with several medals of excellence in 1914, Amorsolo became the apple of every art collector’s eye. He reaped the fruits of his labor through victories in competitions and in exhibits both local and abroad. His first bite at success was a second prize for his painting Levendo Periodico at the Bazar Escolta organized by the Asociacion Internacional de Artistas in 1908. In 1922, he won first prize at the Commercial and Industrial Fair in Manila Carnival. Three years later, he held a one-man show at the Grand Central Gallery in New York City. And in 1929, he succeeded his uncle as Director of the UP School of Fine Arts. The boy who used to sell 10-centavo postcards was now selling multi-million peso paintings.

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One True Amor Amorsolo did not only have an eye for art but also had eyes for two beautiful women. His first wife Salud Jorge with whom he had six children; and his second wife Maria Del Carmen whom he married after 15 years of widowhood. She bore him eight more kids. Despite his enormous love for family, our country remained to be Amorsolo’s one true amor. Digging deeper into the life of ‘Nanding,’ as his kin fondly called him, one will discover that his love for art was a reflection of his love for the nation. The breathtaking scenery

ARTS & CULTURE

of the countryside, the beauty of shining brown maidens and the humility of farm life persistently instilled patriotism in us. Amorsolo rose to fame during the pistaym (peacetime) period where the Philippines was in hiatus between the revolts against Spain, the United States and Japan. In the face of these foreign influences, Amorsolo’s paintings remained 100% Pinoy. His

Illustrado 44

work wasn’t just eye candy. It was an eye opener. After three colonial rules, his masterpieces played a crucial part in the Filipino’s quest for identity and sense of self.

Frozen in time Today, while we live in contemporary flats and lead fast-paced

ARTS & CULTURE

lifestyles, the bamboo-thatched nipa huts and the slow tempo of rural life seem to belong to a bygone era. But these images are forever frozen in Amorsolo’s art.

while bahay kubos turn into skyscrapers, barrios into cities, morenas into mestizas, Amorsolo continues to woo us. Woo us into saying ‘I do’ to our country, a pledge he kept until his death in April 14, 1972.

Even today, his works are like love letters addressed to modern day Filipinos like us. Though he writes with images instead of words, the message remains the same. Love thy country. And

Illustrado 45

ALMOST FILIPINO

By Blair Agero

Court to Palace and Back As his endeavors flourished, so did his ties and friendship with the Filipino community. So much so that the first Filipino basketball team was named after the gentle Emirati who has become a key figure in the lives of many Filipinos in the country. Mr. Nader also became a perennial guest of honor and patron to many community celebrations and events. But his affinity with the Filipinos does not end in just tending business and social ties. His inclination to help is deeply rooted, to the point of assisting honest but needy Filipinos even with their legal woes. Like an overflowing oasis, news of Mr. Nader’s kindness reached the Philippines. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recognized his unfailing support to the Filipinos in the Emirates, and showed her appreciation by having him as guest for lunch. This, he recounts, was one of his most important visits to the country.

Dream Turned Reality Just like the visionaries of the emirates, Mr. Nader once imagined that his country of deserts and dunes would one day become a burgeoning ground of international commerce and trade. Later on in his life, part of that vision held Filipinos as an integral part of the country’s development. “It is not what a man says, but what he does that defines him.” These words ring true for Mr. Abdul Razagh Mohammadi, or Abu Nader as many fondly call him, a man who has become known as an Emirati with a golden Filipino heart.

Solid Foundation It took just two Filipinos to build a professional relationship with the local businessman, which became the solid foundation for his affinity with the community. The Group General Manager of Al Wasl Travels and Tourism, Mr. Nader, recalls, “It was about 15 years ago, when I needed a secretary and a staff for marketing that I recruited two Filipinos. I found that they provided good assistance and that I can trust them. They were very hard working and honest people.” He goes on musing, “I have a lot of experience in doing business in Dubai. And I have been familiar with Filipinos. I realized that they have contributed to the development of business here in the emirates. So I focused on them.” This mindset has led Mr. Nader to establish other businesses, aside from Al Wasl Travels and Tourism, which are of benefit to the community. These ventures include Philippine Supermarket in Satwa and Abu Nader General Trading, which are being run mainly by Filipino management and staff. Plans are also underway to open Philippine Supermarket branches in Deira and Karama, to further strengthen his bond with the Pinoys.

Illustrado 46

He recalls, “Twenty-two years ago, this area where we are working was a desert. I thought then that this would be a center for business in the future.” “Those days, I thought about how I could help the Filipinos and bring them here to assist us in improving business in the country,” he recollects. “Now the dream has become real and there are so many Filipinos here in the emirates.” So what compelled him to hold the Filipino community dear? He answers enthusiastically, “If you are kind to them, they will repay you with very good service and honesty. For me they are the best among the other nationalities.” There is no doubt, that apart from just having sinigang na hipon as his favorite Filipino dish, or wearing barong Tagalog, this local has already grown within him, a heart that beats for the Filipinos. And just as well, the Filipino community in the UAE holds him high and with great affection. To which he tenderly remarks, “I just want to thank the Filipinos for all the good service they are giving us and for helping in the country’s development.” “I want them to be just to be same as they were before - to continue their loyalty, honesty and hard work. To become even more faithful to the UAE, and to improve their relation not only in business, but also socially with our country and people.” And he adds to close, “We believe that the Filipino community is one of the best there is.”

AL WASL TRAVELS Nobody beats our distinctly fast and reliable service

We: Process visit visa and visa change applications efficently Recommend and organize practical and quality hotel accomodations Present interesting travel and tour packages Offer reasonable rates for plane fare Suggest economical lodging like furnished apartments All these at your convenience with the assistance of an all-Filipino staff under the management of Mr. Abdul Razagh Mohammadi (Abu Nader)

United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 143523 Dubai Tel :+971 4 228 88 77 Fax : +971 4 227 53 35 e-mail: costumer_service@alwasltc.ae

The view from your regular Juan dela Cruz on the street

Usapang Kanto

What’s your

dream vacation?

Compiled by Jonie Jose

Down Under Romance in Rome To Paris with love

Paris, because it is the most romantic place in the world! Of course, I would love to go there with someone close to my heart. MARICEL TEVES

EUROPE! I want to visit the Vatican City and hear mass! It is one of the places that Christians would love to visit. Europe is where people would like to fall in love over and over again! I also want to ride a gondola and be with the person I want to spend my life with. It’s so romantic! I think December is the perfect time to visit Europe because I am a very affectionate person - it would be nice to cuddle during the cold season.

Hello Australia! Syempre nakakaloka ang place, tulad natin same season pero syempre the best ang beach nila - definitely everybody will love it! Mas relaxing kasi unlike going out and spending your vacation sa crowded place. Of course when you go on vacation, it should be with your loved ones. JENNY

JACK FERNANDEZ

Pinas first

Philippines, kasi mas comfortable kang makakapamasyal sa sarili mong bansa. And besides, the Philippines has so many beautiful places to visit. Other countries have many things to offer, pero para sa akin, trabaho lang ang maganda sa ibang bansa considering na mas malaki ang income compared sa Pinas. Explore ko na lang muna siguro ang buong Pilipinas tsaka na lang ako mangarap ng bakasyon sa ibang bansa. RONALDO (BUBUY) BUENSALIDA

Longing for London Spot to see

Paris has been my dream vacation ever since and I want to be there during Christmas season. Romance is always in the air and the beautiful spots there are what I hope to see and enjoy.

Since I was a child, I have dreamt of having a vacation in London. It’s a beautiful place to visit. Of course this will be more enjoyable if I go there with my special someone. CLARK SARABIA

JINKY ARCE

Have a great time!

My dream vacation is to visit Canada and have a great time skiing and snowboarding. I am very positive that it will come true because my cousin is living there, so it will be easier for me to get there. So Canada here I come! DONALD DIAZ

Home and away

I used to dream of having three days shopping spree in Hong Kong, a relaxing weekend in Hawaii and a holiday in Paris...ahhh…What a perfect vacation indeed! But that was before. Having stayed in a foreign land for more than a year away from my family, there’s nothing more special than to come home to the Philippines and spend my time with my family. Seeing my daughter, feeling the warmth of her embrace and her loving kisses and hearing her angelic voice as she utters “I Love You Mama” is more than a dream come true. MONET BEQUIZO

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Illustrado 58

BAKASYON GRANDE

Beautiful When God created the world, he was very generous with the Philippines – giving the country no less than 7,107 beautiful islands with pristine beaches, majestic mountains, rich forests, flora and fauna and natural and cultural wonders among which are five of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. When was the last time you experienced the beauty, the thrill and the relaxation afforded by our fair islands? Whether you are in need of a respite, in search of adventure or looking for cultural inspiration, there’s so much to see in and around the Philippines. Explore what the country has to offer in this Bakasyon Grande Special Feature highlighting some of the best Philippine destinations.

Illustrado 50

BAKASYON GRANDE

Philippines

Special feature in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Embassy of the Philippines in the UAE. Materials courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

Photography:

George Tapan (courtesy of the DOT) Ben Chan Lisa Cruz Al Benavente

BAKASYON GRANDE

LEISURE

Cebu It was in the province of Cebu that Ferdinand Magellan first set foot in Philippine soil back in 1521. Even before the Spaniards came, trade with the Chinese already flourished in the province. Prosperity has continued, and today, Cebu City, known as the Queen City of the South, has become a thriving, highly urbanized center that comes second to Manila’s bustling metropolis. Only a few minutes away from the city are numerous white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, and swaying palms, making Cebu a perfect destination for both business and leisure. Mactan Island is a coral island and famous scuba diving and beach site. It is also the site of the Export Processing Zone. Malapascua Island is endowed with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the west coast is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The sleepy little market town of Moalboal was one of the first places where scuba diving caught on in the Philippines. From here, you can dive straight off Panagsama Beach, which is home to an extraordinary array of coral, anemones, sponges, and a swarming host of brightly colored reef fish. Cebu is famous for guitars, dried mangoes, Magellan’s Cross and the Sinulog Festival - its biggest and most popular festival honouring the Holy Image of Senyor Santo Niño de Cebu, as well as the world-class rattan and wicker furniture manufactured in the province.

BAKASYON GRANDE

LEISURE

Boracay The palm-studded island of Boracay the ‘Beach Capital of the Philippines’ – with its white, talcum-fine beach, balmy weather, and warm, crystalline waters – is like a hypnotic magnet. In this tiny, butterfly-shaped island on the north-western tip of Panay in Western Visayas, days can be spent simply lazing on the beach while nights are for indulging in the tropical party lifestyle. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach hailed as the ‘finest beach in the world’. The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. White Beach is so fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby powder! The code in Boracay is strictly informal. There is an undeniably easy atmosphere in the island, where walking barefoot than shod is the rule rather than the exception. Even swinging discos have the beach for a floor, giving dance a new twist. There are no hang-ups here. During the day, tourists having a soothing massage under the shade of a coconut tree beside the shoreline is a common sight. And from dusk to dawn, Boracay turns into one big party place where everyone is welcome to join in. Diversions are not a problem, with leisure activities calendared throughout the year and amenities offered by some 350 tourist oriented establishments. Apart from beach bumming and party hopping, there is surfing, scuba diving, trekking, mountain biking, and a little bit of golf.

BAKASYON GRANDE

Siargao Sojourn Picture us on an island, naked. Ooops! Not that picture. Picture us on Naked Island, an immaculate strip of sandbar with nary a shrub on it, our calves and ankles sinking as we ran around on powdery white sand surrounded by turquoise blue waters that shimmered with corals in the colors of the sun, earth and yes, heaven. By Lisa Cruz Around it, half an hour by boat is Guyam, an islet uninhabited except by a handful of tiny nipa huts fenced by almost postcard perfect palm trees much like the ones on TV’s Gilligan’s Island. Another thirty minutes by kayak on the other side is the island of Daku (meaning ‘big’ in Visayan), a small fishing village perfect for snorkeling. All three isles sit calmly across this enthralling 27 mile stretch beach paradise in Surigao del Norte that has attracted an increasing number of local and foreign tourists and, oh yes, before we forget, surfers worldwide. Welcome to Siargao. Where you can get wild on water, waves, and whatever. Getting to this prized hideaway wasn’t easy but worth every drop of sweat with the long route we bravely took, peso pinching adventure lovers that we are. Two nights, three days by bus across Quezon province thru Camarines Sur, then Samar, Leyte and then by the big boat, the ‘Roro’ (roll in, roll out) to reach Dapa port to finally make the ferry ride to Siargao Island. For easier, but not necessarily shorter travel, from Manila, we suggest you take the plane to Butuan City. From there, take a two hour bus ride to Surigao City where you will take a short jeepney ride to the pier to take a two-hour ferry ride to Dapa (Siargao’s main port town). Arriving in Siargao, take another 45-minute jeepney ride to reach the town of General Luna. Here in the heart of this small town you can experience ‘Cloud Nine’, hailed as one of the world’s five toughest breaks, and frequently compared to the famous surf of Hawaii and Australia. Its proximity to the Philippine Deep, combined with the huge swells of the Pacific, is touted as the secret of its wave power. Surfing season starts from August to March, but you can catch a good wave at any time of the year. An international surfing contest is held at Cloud Nine, with international and local participants every October.

Photo by Marco Malaca

BAKASYON GRANDE

Photo by George Tapan Courtesy of the Philippine DOT

Cloud Nine breaks notwithstanding, our group decided to forego surfing, more for lack of ability rather than initiative. Instead, we set out to swim at General Luna’s high tide - once at dawn, when the water was at its freshest and in the evening by the full moon. It wasn’t the greatest experience but it definitely gave us more thrills, or maybe chills was more like it. After one of our night swims, we decided to lie and rest near the town plaza. All six of us spread out on the lawn and a couple of park benches. Sometime before midnight we were roused from sleep by one of our companions and encouraged quite convincingly to go back to our guesthouse. Apparently, she saw a young woman – wandering and hovering over our sleeping heads. Whether she imagined that or not, we didn’t stay to find out! The next day, all six of us hopped on a habal habal motorcycle to visit the municipality of Pilar, also on Siargao Island. The habal habal is the Filipino version of taxi on two wheels. It takes from five to seven passengers, sometimes more, including the driver. Along the way, we managed to crash briefly on a wedding reception for a quick lunch. Pilar’s

beach faces the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by limestone and granite sculptures. The view definitely looked something straight out of National Geographic. As I savored the breeze sitting at the rear end of the habal motorcycle, I closed my eyes for a split-second nap that shook the rest of the bike. Leave it to our world-class driver to hold his ground and keep all of us steady. All in a day’s work. Only in the Philippines. Right after Pilar, is Magpapungko, a natural rock swimming hole perfect for picnics. ‘Pungko’ is Surigaonon for sitting on your ankles; ‘Magpupungko’ as the rocks seem to be sitting on the water. At low tide its floors reveal limestone of assorted shapes and sizes. We treaded very carefully on the beach, which was strewn with hard corals and sharp rocks. From there we slowly waded into Magpupungko Lagoon. It starts shallow from about five feet then goes deeper to about 15 feet. Some townsfolk say a photographer supposedly drowned when he failed to notice that the current had already swept him farther than he could go back. So much for getting carried away with your images.

Not to be outdone is Siargao’s sumptuous seafood - all fresh and cheap. All that one has to do is walk down the nearby market and choose from the daily catch of Blue Marlins, tuna, groupers, crabs, squids, octopuses and even stingrays which are sold fresh by the friendly fish vendors and fishermen. For our own brand of General Luna nightlife, nothing beats the now classic videoke experience. For that, we checked out Maridyl’s on the main street and cajoled one of our companions, a choral group soloist, to serenade us with a Regine Velasquez cover, to go with our cheap beer and peanuts. To cap our final night, we feasted on beer and Ruth’s chicken barbecue walking through the Boulevard till we reached the end of its brightly lit wooden bridge. As we looked down to bid goodbye at the moonlit waters of General Luna, we decided to take one last quick dip. Like many before us, we went to Siargao Island expecting waves, but we found so much more than just the best surf break in the Philippines.

BAKASYON GRANDE

Zamboanga Quetal Ustedes? From the moment you hear those words, you realize how Zamboanga earned its name as the Philippines ‘Little Spain’. Here indeed is a quaint pocket of history torn from mainland España - a place unlike any other in the Philippines. While Spain’s three-century reign left its indelible imprint on the country, nowhere was its legacy perhaps so concentrated and embedded than in Zamboanga, which took for its native tongue, Chabacano – a mix of 60% Español and 40% native words. There is more to Zamboanga than this. As far back as the 13th and 14th centuries, it was already a trading center with a vibrant culture of its own, emblazoned against the horizon in the vivid colors of the native vinta sails that fluttered gaily off its shores. And when the Castillan flag of Spain first appeared in the horizon off Caldera Bay (now Recodo) in 1593, Zamboanga opened another epoch in its colorful heritage, one that would leave a legacy so rooted that from it would spring much of the city’s romance and allure.

BAKASYON GRANDE

LEISURE

BAKASYON GRANDE

Mountain Province Bounded by Isabela on the east; the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, and Abra on the north; the provinces of Benguet and Ifugao on the south; and the province of Ilocos Sur on the west is the Mountain Province – a vast area where 83% is mountainous while 17% make up hills and levels. It is a region full of rivers, falls, mountains, and caves, which is a frequent summer holiday and eco-tourism destination. The rugged mountains of Northern Luzon offer fabulous scenery and give one a close look at some of the Philippines’ most fascinating tribal groups. It is a trekker’s paradise - a popular traveller’s hideaways offering beautiful mountain vistas and make fine bases for hikes ranging from easy strolls through rice terraces and tribal villages to extended backcountry treks. Points of interest include Baguio- the Philippine’s summer capital, the Banaue Rice Terraces, the Sagada caves feature shimmering underground streams with golden or silvery stalactite and stalagmite formations and cool natural pools inside, the Mainit, Mornang and Sadanga hot springs, as well as the Hanging Coffins. Mountain Province is known as the ‘Weaver’s Paradise’ due to the presence of various weaving centers sporting different designs that bespeak of the province’s cultural heritage. Loom weaving is done in Sabangan and Sagada. Samoki, a village in Bontoc, specializes in backstrap weaving. Various colorful woven materials like knapsacks, placemats, bags, and purses are among the popular products.

BAKASYON GRANDE

ADVENTURE

BAKASYON GRANDE

Photo by Marco Malaca

ADVENTURE

BAKASYON GRANDE

ADVENTURE BATANGAS

Apart from its famous dive sites, Batangas’ centerpiece attraction is Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. The volcano is known to be the smallest in the world. Surrounded by a lake, it is situated on an 8.8-kilometer islet, lapped by the 27-kilometer-long lake. Both the lake and the volcano are situated on the crater of an extinct volcano.

ALBAY

BOHOL

Scenic Bohol casts an enigmatic charm drawn from the many archaic mementos spread throughout the oval-shaped island: from the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier to 16th century watchtowers and Jesuit Baroque mission churches. The Chocolate Hills, all of 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, are undoubtedly the most famous tourist attraction in the province. Among these hills that abound in Central Bohol, two have been developed into top-class resorts.

The province of Albay has a distinction of having the world’s most perfect cone - Mayon Volcano, also known as Bicol’s fiery maiden. Her name was derived from the Bicol word ’Magayon,’ which literally means beautiful. The peak, likened to the legendary beauty Daragang Magayon, is often concealed by clouds urging first-time visitors to stay longer to admire her charm. Despite her enigma, which has left a trail of death and destruction brought about by 15 eruptions, her tantrums have become spectacular fireworks displays to behold.

BAKASYON GRANDE

Photo by Al Benavente

BAKASYON GRANDE

ADVENTURE

Laguna Laguna, Resort Province of the Philippines, is a haven of fresh and pristine bodies of water such as hot springs, lakes, and waterfalls. Most notable is Pagsanjan Falls, formerly called Magdapio Falls, and referred to as ‘shooting rapids’. Another is Lake Caliraya, located between Cavinti and Lumban. The strong mountain breeze that blows from the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and the distant Mount Banahaw makes the lake an ideal place for aqua sports like wind surfing, water skiing, sailing as well as game fishing. Laguna de Bay, Southeast Asia’s largest fresh water lake, stays pristine throughout the year due to regular rain showers. Innumerable hot springs abound in the province, including the famous Hidden Valley Springs, located in a secluded part of Alaminos town. A trip to Dalitiwan River, in Botocan Majayjay, is an exciting adventure because of the rugged terrain and the cool river gushing through the rocks and boulders along the watercourse in sweeping currents. The mystical Mt. Makiling in Los Baños is an inactive volcano, rising to about 1,109 meters above sea level. It is indeed endowed with nature’s beauty, making it ideal for all types of nature tripping, from trekking to bird and butterfly watching and even camping. Laguna also plays an important role in the country’s history as the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero. A number of churches of Spanish-influenced architecture in intricate Romanesque and Baroque design, mostly restored to their original elegance, are also found in the province. The province is also a huge showcase of Southern Tagalog craftsmanship – known for its distinctive woodcrafts and embroidery.

BAKASYON GRANDE

HERITAGE

Ilocos Sur The province of Ilocos Sur is a living museum of a spirited past. A national shrine, a national landmark, a national museum, heritage museums, ancestral houses, period houses, cobblestoned streets all share space in the timeless land of Ilocos Sur. Found in the province is the historic town of Vigan, which was inscribed in UNESCOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Heritage List in November 1999. Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town with architecture reflecting the union of native, Chinese and European cultural elements creating a unique townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.

BAKASYON GRANDE

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte is known for having the best of nature and culture. Apart from its excellent beaches, parks and waterfalls, the province is also home to a number of shrines and museums, including the Malacañang of the North. It’s most outstanding cultural attraction is the Paoay Church. Built of coral blocks and stucco-plastered bricks, the architecture is a unique combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental. Construction of the church was started in 1704 and completed in 1894. A few meters away is the coralstone belltower which served as observation post of the ’Katipuneros’ during the Philippine Revolution. Paoay Church is included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Cavite

A place with a glorious past - the province of Cavite abounds with great objects, and subjects, of culture and history. It is the birthplace of a good number of Filipino heroes and it has an interesting range of sites associated with the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Found in the province is the residence of the first president of the republic, Emilio Aguinaldo, which is also the site where the Philippine Republic was proclaimed on June 12, 1898.

BAKASYON GRANDE

Manila Manila is one of Asia’s greatest cities. Historic, bustling, aweinspiring, the ‘Philippine Cosmopolitan Capital’ is a blend of cultures and flavors that offers an endless serving of places to see, sights to behold, and experiences to never forget. At the heart of Manila is the ‘Walled City’ – Intramuros. Constructed in 1571 during the Spanish colonial period, it is one of the world’s best-preserved medieval cities. Here, old churches like the San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in Metro Manila and one of the four Philippine Baroque Churches inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, as well as one of the oldest fortifications of Intramuros – Fort Santiago, share space with art galleries, theaters, and a nature park. Manila is also home to Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the president, the National Museum of the Philippines, as well as Rizal Park - one of the largest parks in Southeast Asia, dedicated to Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Five-star hotels and restaurants, some of them housed in historic buildings, make the perfect party place in the city. The nightlife offers everything from dazzling cultural shows to futuristic discotheques, lively casinos, sensational entertainment lounges, and fashionable cafés.

BAKASYON GRANDE

HERITAGE & CITY LIFE

Makati Philippine urban lifestyle and affluence are nowhere more pronounced than in Makati, the country’s classiest city. Bustling and modern, this city southwest of Manila is the country’s financial hub nicknamed ‘Wall Street of the Philippines’. Major banks, corporations, department stores as well as embassies are based here, as well as the Makati Stock Exchange. Right in the heart of Makati, spread along Ayala Avenue, is Ayala Center, the country’s business and financial center. Encompassing the Glorietta and Greenbelt shopping malls, among others, Ayala Center is also a commercial complex completely at par with the world’s most modern business cosmos. Within it is the Ayala Museum, among the city’s primary repositories of history, culture, and heritage, along with the Filipinas Heritage Library and Museo ng Makati. Makati has the highest concentration of the country’s finest hotels, restaurants, department stores, boutiques, exclusive jewelry shops, art and antique stores, bookstores, and most other commercial establishments. The city also has the most exclusive residential subdivisions, including Forbes Park, where many of the country’s wealthy and powerful families make their homes.

RESORT FEATURE

El Nido Resorts Condè Nast Traveler 2006 Green Lister and Smart Travel Asia’s Top Leisure Resorts Awardee, internationally-renowned El Nido Resorts occupy two of the four islands in El Nido, Palawan where tourism development is allowed. The resorts are located on Lagen Island - a showcase of El Nido’s flora and fauna, providing a wealth of opportunities for wildlife observation; and Miniloc Island – which offers breathtaking views of limestone cliffs and rich marine life. Snorkeling areas, dive sites, lagoons, secluded beaches and picnic sites are all within easy reach of the resorts. The resorts offer activities as diverse as the environment. Sunbathe or have a picnic lunch in secluded beaches, kayak in secret lagoons, explore isolated islands, take a mangrove tour, snorkel with colorful tropical fishes, have a relaxing massage or spa treatment, rock climb or go scuba diving. El Nido has more than 20 diving sites, all easily accessible from the resorts. The closeness of the country to the equator also allows guests to enjoy nightly spectacles in the sky. Stellar wonders like the North Star, the Southern Cross, and other heavenly formations

in the Milky Way, which may not be seen in the night skies of other countries, can be clearly viewed from El Nido. Because of its diverse attractions and world-class facilities, El Nido Resorts, has become a favorite haunt for adventurers, corporate guests, as well as honeymooners. website: www.elnidoresorts.com e-mail: holiday@elnidoresorts.com

FEATURE

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Dubai Ladies Bowling Club Gala The 10-year Dubai Ladies Bowling Club has proved to be a great informal social organization for ladies of different nationalities who share fun through non-professional bowling. The club started with 40 ladies and is now composed of 80 members from 10 different countries, including 15 Filipinas. The ladies are seen here with their spouses during their first gala dinner in March, sponsored by Liali Jewellers. The Dubai Ladies Bowling Club is open to anybody who wants to join. The ladies bowl every Wednesday, from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM, and their next league starts in September.

ENTERTAINMENT

Lani Misalucha Simply Phenomenal! By Jan La’O

It was an evening in September of 2003 at the Aladdin hotel’s 7,500-seater Performing Arts Center when Lani had her first taste of the Sin City’s magic. Backtrack a few months before that fateful night; at the height of her very successful Philippine-based career, she was about to call it quits. “Early 2003, one of my producers in the US, Mendrei Leelin, invited us to go to the US to talk about something very personal,” Lani recalled. Puzzled by this unknown personal matter that couldn’t even be discussed over the phone, Lani and her husband Noli didn’t know what to make of it, as they already had other plans made. They were all set to migrate to Canada with their two daughters and pursue a quiet life. Lani was to stop singing, be a stay at home mom and take care of her family, while her husband was to explore new job opportunities. Everything was pretty much set, it was just a matter of submitting some papers. But fate would have them venture into something else. After some thought, they threw caution to the wind and decided to put Canada on hold. They jetted off to meet Leelin in Los Angeles, who surprised them with a trip to Las Vegas. There, they watched several shows, and just did the whole Vegas experience, since both Lani and Noli have never been to the city before. Then one particular evening, Lani and Noli were brought to Aladdin to watch the performance of Hawaii’s Premiere show band, the SOS (Society of Seven). In the midst of a packed audience, Leelin urged Lani to step up on stage and casually jam with the group. She gladly agreed and happily belted out numbers like You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me and Last Dance.

That impromptu performance was so impressive that the crowd cheered and applauded her on for more; some even thinking she was a regular. Leelin had an intention and a motive that night and it worked. “Parang nag-click kami right away, ang ganda ng chemistry namin kahit doon lang kami first time nag meet ng band. Nakakaaliw yung experiece na yun,” Lani shared. From then on, the rest as they say, is history. In 2004, she became the first ever Asian to top bill in a main showroom of the Vegas Strip; and had a successful 15-month run at the Bally’s Hotel. She continues a 5-day week performance with a staggering 14 costume changes in every show; and only 10-15 seconds time allotted per outfit change. She’s booked to perform at the Flamingo until January 2008. Lani has received outstanding citations from Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, who gave her a certificate recognizing her as the first

Asian to headline in a main showroom on the Las Vegas strip; and another one from Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn recognizing her as a “phenomenal talent and a wonderful addition to Las Vegas entertainment industry.” Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. of San Francisco even made August 17 ‘Lani Misalucha Day’ to give due recognition to her talent as an artist. After roughly three very successful years abroad, our very own Asia’s Nightingale’ and ‘Vegas Strip Superstar’ flew over to Manila for a month-long visit month to promote the album Lani Misalucha (which she had recorded two years ago but had only released last year and finally promoted this year), and to produce a sensational third major concert, Missing You, which was a big success last March 17 at the Big Dome. She may now pretty much consider Vegas as her new address, but she still gets home sick and misses the simple and zany beauty of the Philippines. “Iba pa rin yung kinalakihan mong lugar…iba yung kinalakihan mong mga kaibigan.” She also admits to missing the small streets and of course the food, and that if she could just find a way around all the quarantine regulations in the US, she would bring so much foodstuff over. So after her visit to the Philippines, what’s next? “Pagbalik ko sa Vegas, work again! The contract with Flamingo is until January 1, 2008. We’ll see what happens after that.” She never planned to be a professional singer and to be based in Vegas either. Simply equipped with a full three octaves of vocal power and beauty, plus a heart and soul that just loves to sing, Lani will continue to conquer and reach higher heights. A true diva who has sung for royalty including the King of Malaysia, the Sultan of Brunei, President S.R. Nathan of Singapore, and Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines, there is only one word to describe her – phenomenal! Illustrado 73

FILIPINISMS The Annie B.(Batobalani) Chronicles

The adventures and misadventures of a ‘not so average’ Pinay trying to make it in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai.

It’s happening – my skin getting dry, my nose is moisty, my armpits are sweaty, and my bungangaraws are hume-hello….yes, summer time is just around the corner - all the signs are telling me to hit the beach! I grew up in Bataan, which is surrounded by water. So, before I discovered my best friends Nivea, Kokuryu, San-ing and Likas Papaya, I sported a golden tan until my early teens. Yes, I was once an exotic barrio lass imagining myself as a beach goddess – ala Rachel ‘Kokak’ Lobangco - shmboom…shhboom! So imagine my excitement when I learned from my friends that there is a place in Dubai that will bring back my childhood memories– the Jumeirah Open Beach. Just a few steps away from the city, anyone can enjoy the panoramic view with clean, mouthwash bluegreen waters and almost-Boracay white sands – beach party na itu!!!

as we were doing our version of Viva Hot Babes’ Bulaklak. Aba, aba, aba! Who are they making fun to? We may be all under 5 feet and 2 inches but our legs are definitely shapelier and our skin smoother than theirs. They look like a bunch of Super Sireynas wearing those tacky colorful swimsuits anyway. After realizing that these beaches won’t stop copying us, we decided to set our banig in another area. Then I gave them the finger. Etong sa inyo, o! We continued to explore the rest of the beach when I suddenly spotted a fafa – some Arab guy who’s looksalike Collin Farell – jogging. I had to put on my Jackie Lou Blanco spirit in an instant and started jogging away. I ran as fast as I could so the cute habibi would notice me, but after twenty minutes, I got the feeling he’s not interested. So I stopped and since I was already fully warmed up, I decided to try the water and thought of other tactics to attract other guys. Sayang naman ang outfit ko, noh?

One Friday afternoon, my flatmates and I headed for the beach – by chance, try to meet new guys and display our pang-Temptation Island outfits. Armed with kalderos of adobo, menudo, karekare, spaghetti and of course, steamed rice with matching litros of softdrinks and home-made iced tea (para kumpleto ang emote while sunbathing di ba?), we set up our area at the beach enough for everyone to see us. Of course, the traditional kodakan would always be there – for new pictures to send to our family back home and upload in our Friendster.

While doing my backstroke, I didn’t notice that I was swimming far away from the shore. Suddenly I realized that I was alone and felt the current becoming stronger. Then in a wink of an eye, I saw something coming towards me…it was a black fin ….as in ANAK NG PATING……Jaws na itu!!!! Oh noh……I paddled as fast as I could, but the more I moved, the more I sank into the water – I’m losing control……..Jaws koh…..I think this is the end of my life…..I could feel the water getting colder….dizziz-so-not-it!!! HEEEELLLLPPPPP!!!! Sakloloooooooo………Jaws ko pooooo……may pateeeeeeeeeeng!!! The boat is sinkiiiiing!!!

But by sudden twist of faith, a group of six-footer white leghorns in cheap hair dye started laughing

Then I felt a strong force grabbed my hair……anak ng…wala namang ka-poise-poise itu oh…..

I felt like a dog being rescued from drowning. When we reached the shore, the guy who saved me pulled me out of the water dragging my left arm..araaay….teka, teka….then he said, “Hay, salamat, akala ko nalonod na….akala ko nagainom ng tobig. Mukhang cunsyus naman pala si Ati eh…….” I saw his face – “uy, kisig Pinoy!” It was the Pinoy lifeguard. Before the opportunity walks away, I quickly pretended to be unconscious – so that he’ll revive me by mouth-to-mouth resusotacion – French kiss na itu!!! But I think he knew that I was faking it. Still I didn’t move….as my friends were starting to panic and tarantated. Deadma pa rin ang lola nyo – pagkakataon ko na to noh! But instead of the Pinoy lifeguard coming close to me, it was an old Indian guy with long and kinky beard that wanted to give me a mouth-to-mouth. “Ok, I kiss Filipini now…..” Oh noooooooo….. I quickly opened my eyes and breathed loudly – hirap pala magpigil ng hininga!!! “I’m ok! I’m ok!!!” I shouted just as the old bearded man was trying to lay me down on the sand again..”I sed, I’m okeeeeyyy!!! Maga-patuka na lang ako sa ahas!!!! Dizzizit!!! Ayoko na….who thought my first beach escape would turn out to be such a disaster? From the Russians to the pa-delicious Arab jogger to the sharks and to the Father Tropa lifeguard wannabe? Hay, this is too much! Hindi kaya ng powers ko! Next time, I will just sun bathing in my flat rooftop by myself…at least there I can peacefully relive my childhood beach fantasies. Yes, life is a beach…but mine is a double bitch!!!

Illustrado 75

FOOD

A Gourmet Spin on Pinoy Favorites By Cecile Samson-Aquino Photography by Joel Guerrero

Can Pinoy food ever be gourmet? Can our favorite comfort foods cooked simply in the kitchen, served plain sans style and relished in unsophisticated abandonment, ever be elevated to the status of haute cuisine?

Illustrado challenged two seasoned chefs based in the UAE to transform regular Pinoy fare to an elegant international class meal. Husband and wife team Johann Roldan and Chari Balinghasay share more than just their innate passion for food. Both hail from Parañaque and attended the Philippine Women’s University where Chari studied HRM (Hotel and Restaurant Management), while Johann took up Fine Arts. Armed with their degrees, both found themselves at the famed Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati where they earned most of their culinary experience. While Chari was geared for a life in fine cuisine from day one, Johann was able to change his career path through a culinary training opportunity, and eventually benefited from his fine arts background in the area of food styling. Now in the UAE for the last couple of years, the husband and wife chef work for one of the country’s finest five star hotels. Posed with the challenge of refining Pinoy fare, Chari remarked, “Of course, we can elevate Filipino food and make it more international. People say that the Chinese, Spanish, American, Japanese, etc. have influenced our cuisine, but actually, we also have our very own style. It’s time that we show our originality.” Asked about tips on how to achieve this, the good-natured chef who’s very passionate about her work replied, “Pwede ring maging gourmet kahit simpleng pagkain, basta pag-nagluluto ka, masaya ka.” For this Illustrado food feature, Johann and Chari took Pinoy favorites lumpia, adobo and suman and transformed them into a proper three course menu fit enough to be served as an elegant Asian lunch. The lumpia, a perennial native snack was turned into a scrumptious fresh salad – hubad style, while the new spin on adobo shows an alternative way of enjoying marinated chicken. Capping the menu is a surprisingly delectable twist on the traditional suman. Add to that an interesting presentation and voila - it’s gourmet Pinoy at its finest

FOOD

Appetizer

Heart of Palm Salad Serves 4 Prawns, medium sized, blanched and peeled - 8 pcs Spring roll wrapper, quartered, crispy fried - 3 sheets Heart of palm (ubod), blanched - 2 cups Spring onions, thinly sliced - ¼ cup Red and green capsicum, thinly sliced - ¼ cup Onions, thinly sliced - ¼ cup Tomatoes, thinly sliced - ¼ cup

DRESSING: Lemon juice - ¼ cup Honey - 3 tbsp Red chili, thinly sliced - 1 pc Fish sauce - 2 tbsp Sesame oil - 1 tsp Combine dressing and ingredients. Toss all the vegetables and prawns with the dressing. Arrange everything on a plate garnish with sesame seeds and spring onions.

Main course

Grilled Chicken Pandan Serves 4

Chicken thighs - 400 gms Pandan leaves - 20 leaves

Marinade: Garlic, minced - 2 tbsp Black peppercorn, freshly crushed - 1 tbsp Sugar, white - 2 tbsp Soy sauce - ½ cup Sesame oil - 2 tbsp Lemon or calamansi juice - 3 tbsp Mix all marinade ingredients. Put the chicken and marinate overnight. Wrap the chicken with pandan leaves. Grill until done.

Illustrado 77

FOOD

Coconut Rice Pudding wit h Ube and Mango sauce

Dessert

Serves 4

Sticky Rice (malagkit) - Âž cup Coconut milk - 1 cup Sugar - Â˝ cup Water - 1 cup

SAUCES: Ube, boiled, pureed and strained - 4 tbsp Mango, pureed and strained - 4 tbsp Cook sticky rice with coconut milk, sugar and water, stirring constantly until done. Put in desired mold. Set on a plate with ube and mango sauce. Garnish with cashew nut white brittle.

SAUCE IT SPREAD IT LOVE IT

Ang Rich na Lasang Pinoy Available in all suking tindahan all over the U.A.E.

FILIPINISMS Mahilig ka ba sa balut? Do you have a giant wooden spoon and fork in your dining room? Pray tell your name is Bhoy, Jhun or Baby? It’s undeniable – unique talaga ang Pinoy! Even the way we travel or drive – speaks out for itself. Pinoy ka ba? You can be so easily singled-out. Read on, ‘my prend’.

a e k i l g n i D r i v yan Kaba

You drive a car, which proudly bears foreign license plates to publicize your latest travel destination. You hang a rosary on your car’s rear view mirror. You drive a jeep with your family name prominently written on the rear. Your car chirps like a bird, plays a tune, or simply attracts atten-tion when you put it in reverse. Your car horn can make at least three different sounds.

T rTahveePl iinngoy Way You don’t know the meaning of traveling light. Your second piece of luggage is a ‘balikbayan box’. You’ve mastered the art of packing a suitcase to double capacity. Packing means jumping up and down on your suitcase to get it to close. You’re often seen at airports standing next to eight boxes. Your carry-on luggage requires a small forklift. You unpack and repack luggage and boxes in public in international airports. You collect items from airlines, hotels, and restaurants as ‘souvenirs’. You feel compelled to give pasalubong to all your friends and relatives each time you return from a trip.

You can squeeze 15 passengers into your five-seater car with-out a second thought. You keep your car seats covered in plastic. You think traffic regulations are recommendations, not rules. Signs like “No left turn” or “No U-turn” apply to everybody but you. You think a yellow light means “Step on the gas, you’ll make it!” and the guy behind you is counting on you to do just that. You drive where there’s space, even if it means converting a two-lane street into a four-lane road. You know that no last minute maneuver on the road is consid-ered presumptuous. Your ability to create your own parking space in a totally jampacked parking lot puts Houdini to shame.

So how did you do? Scored all of that? Then, Pinoy ka nga! You have been identified and you can’t deny it!

In the spirit of giving back to the community, De La Salle Montessori, in cooperation with Illustrado, will provide a deserving Filipino child a full academic scholarship package for school year 2007-2008. Open to all Filipino kids from 3 - 5 years old, with Philippine passports and valid UAE residence visas. To be eligible for this programme, please send in your nominee to the Editor, along with a short letter or essay (not more than 500 words) on why you think he/she deserves to be in this program. Remember you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be related to your nominee, you just have to have a good and valid reason behind your recommendation. All entries will be reviewed by De La Salle Montessoriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s academic board, and the scholarship recipient will be announced in Illustradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s June 2007 issue. Address all mails to: editor@illustrado.net Subject: Adopt a Scholar Program