ILLUSTRADO Magazine Dec 2006 by Illustrado Magazine

EDITOR’S NOTE

Are you rich or poor? ‘Tis the season of indulgence… And all around you are the material trappings of the most popularly celebrated holiday in the world. The malls are full of giant trees decked with holiday trinkets, shop windows display the season’s fineries at 50 percent off, begging you to shell-out that bonus you never received, at home, flat mates rush to buy presents and goodies for THE night of the year, at work, colleagues discuss a DHS100 minimum for this year’s exchange gift exercise, as well as the ‘forced’ contribution to the company barbecue, your inaanaks are starting to queue, and most of all, that cargo box is still waiting for you to fill it up with more chocolates, corned beef and ‘rubber shoes’ for your relatives back home… is your wallet feeling empty already? Are you feeling rich or poor? The cliché goes that Christmas is not about materialism; it’s about family and the foundations of the religious belief of most Pinoys. What the ‘cliché-conspirators’ failed to mention is that this season is also about indulgence. Just like giving in guiltlessly to a warm multi-layered chocolate fudge cake oozing with calorie goodness, one should also indulge in other things. In the same way that you feed your hunger, you also have to feed your senses, your mind, and ultimately your soul. And amazingly, these indulgences, far better than the material kind, do not require a heaving wallet. So make yourself mayaman for a change. Snatch the cheerfulness that surrounds you and make it your own. Revel in your newfound self-esteem and growing Pinoy pride. Feel great that inspite of your struggles here, you are one of the most important persons in your family. Indulge your soul. Do something good to a kababayan without expecting any repayment, because doing so will make you feel good – and as strange as it may sound, that is the perfect ‘selfish’ indulgence! This month’s issue of Illustrado is all about enjoying the senses – from our sumptuous fashion spread presenting Frederick Peralta’s decadent gowns, captured by Illustrado’s brilliant Manila crew in opulent San Agustin, to a truly special Noche Buena food and interior design feature, to the stuff that Filipino Christmas holidays are made of – can you smell the bibingka? To pander to your Filipino ego, we look into our national prowess for dance, interesting people and places, traveling the breadth of the Ifugao rice terraces to Cebu and Madinat Jumeirah’s clubbing scene. Satisfying your more intellectual whims, we delve into the important issue of childhood in the Gulf, as well as news on the Philippine economy. And to help you feed your soul, this month’s Kabayanihan lets you figure out the big difference between bayani and baliw. Illustrado is all about indulging your innate wealth.

So, here’s to a richer you this holiday season!

Taas Noo Filipino! Lalaine Chu-Benitez Publisher/ Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

Maripaz Febrero

Maripaz grew up with two passions – art and journalism. She decided to combine both by majoring in Advertising at U.P.’s College of Fine Arts, while enjoying sketching, painting, sculpting and yes, copywriting. Her career spanned years of conceptualizing and writing copy for Manila’s most prestigious ad agencies. During the past decade, Maripaz has been associated with leading agencies in Bahrain and Dubai, still writing for world renowned brands. For well-deserved breaks, she turns to one of her first loves – journalism, and digs up stories about famous Filipinos around the world.

Lisa Cruz

Law Diche

He took film studies at U.P. Diliman with the conviction that he could one day write the Philippine’s greatest screenplay ever. That seems like centuries ago, and Law is still teetering his way to greatness. Meanwhile he’s picked up a ‘gig’ and currently works as Senior Copywriter for a Singapore-based ad agency. The screenplay can wait…and greatness is a state-of-mind.

After fainting at the sight of her blood being drawn, Lisa Cruz decided to shift from pre-med to painting and later discovered photography as a more immediate medium. Lisa thinks her writing is still evolving. But her love of places and people has always been there. She adds: “Henry James once wrote, ‘In the arts, feeling is always meaning.’ And through my words and photography – I hope to draw friendly blood from Illustrado readers."

Illustrado’s Manila Fashion Crew

Olive Ybañez

Our Bakasyon Grande contributor grew up travelling and is fortunate to have experienced Boracay in the 70’s and in varying stages of development. To Olive, an open-mind and the guts to live a little like the locals is the recipe for a truly enriching travel experience. Olive has contributed to several Philippine travel guides as a freelance writer, and is currently a Management Development Trainer for a US-based BPO (Business Process Outsourcer).

Louie Aguinaldo

The way Louie started his career in photography can only be described literally: beautifully. His subjects? Model portfolios for his own agency. Until a top Philippine television network took notice of his talent and gave him more varied assignments. Since then, Louie Aguinaldo has expanded his craft to doing photography for advertising, fashion, food and beverages, products, people, and concerts. Louie’s photography can be seen in this issue’s Fashion Feature.

Pam Quinones

Whoever said ‘youth is wasted on the young’ – must not have heard of Pam. Only 25 years old and bursting with imagination, Pam is a product of Istituto Marangoni, one of Milan’s foremost fashion schools. She’s also the Fashion Editor of Chalk Magazine and our Stylist for this issue’s Fashion Feature. Pam has also written and ‘styled’ for various publications like Metro Magazine, Inquirer, Philippine Star, among others.

Marcus Maguigad Bobby Timonera

One of the talented few who have written and photographed Mindanao continuously during the last 20 years, Bobby’s works are timeless chronicles of the beauty and struggles of the island. Our ‘man of the south’ is now one of the editors of www.mindanews.com, a Mindanao-based cooperative, and is currently working on publishing his own coffee table book on Mindanao festivals.

Illustrado’s über cool Manila Fashion Shoot Coordinator Marcus Maguigad’s defining rebel moment was when his dad caught him getting a nose-piercing by ice pick from his equally punk rock brother. This young fashion photographer who used to sport a Mohawk-do imaginatively styled using egg whites, has taken a break from snapping photos to do gigs. He currently plays percussions for three very ‘happening’ bands in Manila right now – Tribo Manila, Rawassenbly with Artstrong and Boy2Quizon, and is also a Production Manager for Sound in Color.

December 2006

Features

Christmas Abroad: Pinoy-Style

Batang Pinoy: Growing up in the Gulf The Philippine Economy Remains Bouyant My First Christmas Away from Home

Columns

Famous Filipinos Kabayanihan: Bayani o Baliw? Coconuter: Home is Where the Heart Is Wish You Were Here

The Annie B. (Batobalani) Chronicles Usapang Kanto: Paskong Pinoy – Pera o Puso?

Fashion & Beauty Frederick Peralta at San Agustin Designer Profile La Mesa Noche Buena

43 60

Food, Shopping & Entertainment

Filipinos and the Art of Movement Filipinisms: Pasko…Paksiw! Pinoy Trivia: Know Your Christmas Traditions

66 Shopping: Pinoy Shopping On-Line 67 Food: Noche Buena a la Alba 68 Phoebe: Another World Class Pinoy Act 76 Manila’s Hot Releases 77 Hilig Pinoy: How to Make a Parol

People & Places Almost Filipino: Dylan Wilks – A Car for a Village

Bakasyon Grande: Ifugao – Stirred not Shaken Cebu Cruisin’: Vudu

Pinoy About Town: Jammin’ at Jambase Pinoy Planet: ‘Sing’ and the Blues

Filipiniana Arts & Culture

Illustrado Profile: Michelle Mabel Cruz

Mercator model Aze wears sumptuous Frederick Peralta creations in historical San Agustin for Illustrado’s opulent Christmas fashion feature.

Illustrado Face of the Month: Anne de Leon

Illustrado Readers’ Festive Gifts & Promotions 29 Carcassonne Jewellery Diamond Discount 41 The Elizabeth Arden Beauty Give-Away 64 De La Salle Montessori - Adopt A Scholar

Alba Restaurante Español Buffet Lunch Give-Away Giordano Discount Coupon

Sunflower Tours Discount Coupon

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ALMOST FILIPINO

DYLAN WILKS

E G A L L I V A A CAR FOR Text and Photography by Lisa Cruz The first time I saw Dylan Wilks, he didn’t look rich to me but he did look happy. It was in an interview at one of the local TV stations where Wilks talked happily, almost joyfully, of how he sold his brand new BMW M3 to fund a Gawad Kalinga village in Bulacan and that he decided to sell his multimillion pound business and move to the Philippines to dedicate himself in building communities for the Filipino poor – yes, our poor, our country, not his. Still I couldn’t help wondering - is that guy for real? It would be almost two years later that I would see Wilks again, up close and in person for this interview. Still sporting that blissful look, he was utterly courteous as he shook my hand and asked for a few more minutes so he could buy some food for the children. The children, I assumed, were family or friends he brought along for the meeting. But on our way to the parking lot, I saw him hand over the burger and fries to two street kids who were milling around his car, a modest old Honda. If Wilks’ story was a Pinoy teleserye, it would have all the classic elements of drama, conflict and triumph and yes bida, a hero, and a bayani. To hear it for the first time one struggles not to be skeptical and not be filled with disbelief. But meeting Wilks and listening to him tell his story, one is inclined to be amazed and inspired, without a doubt. Dylan Wilks was born to a poor family in 1974 and raised by his mother in Bradford, a council estate close to Leeds. There he managed to get a scholarship at Bradford Grammar, where the wealth of his classmates both fascinated and inspired him to make some money for himself. “It was there that I realized that I was as good and can be better than other people, even if they were richer than me.” Unfortunately, a family conflict sent him to France for several months causing him to lose his scholarship. Forced to drop out of school by 17, Wilks then worked for a fish food firm selling aquarium and pond products. There he paid attention and learned the workings of the mail order business closely. “After a couple

“ You can look at my face and see I am English, but you look here and you can see I am puson g pinoy.” Wilks with eyes glossy, points at the Philip pine flag pin he wears proudly on his lapel. “I wear thi s everyday, what ever country I am in, every single day to show I am proud of being associated with such wonderful peopl

ALMOST FEATURE FILIPINO ILLUSTRADO realized I’ll never get rich working for somebody else. It was like a light bulb hanging above my head. I knew I had to start something for myself.” At 20, Wilks applied for a loan at the Prince’s Trust and got 2,500 pounds in 1994 to jumpstart Gameplay, a computer games mail order company. From his flat he called the major suppliers of computer games and got them to agree to supply him stock at very competitive prices. Working 24-7 for the next five years, Wilks rode the worldwide boom in videogames and expanded his business into a multilmillion pound enterprise that included a TV channel and gaming websites making his company one of the biggest computer games business in Europe. In between working hard, Wilks loved traveling fast. He got himself a Ferrari 355, a BMW M3, a helicopter and a private jet to take him on his European trips. In 2001, he went public and GamePlay became GamePlay.com. Wilks got a seat on the board and retained shares valued at 16million pounds, enough to put him 9th on the list of the Top 10 young rich entrepreneurs in the UK under the age of 30. At 25, Wilks was at the top of his game but felt at the lowest point of his life. “I remember lying awake one night asking God, why am I rich? I realized it was a special life and that I should be thankful to be so blessed and yet it wasn’t making me any happier. It became clear to me then the difference between pleasure and happiness. That pleasure was like a fire that needs to be constantly fueled with something new and that it always comes with a pricetag. And that happiness is something I will have to seek through helping people.” After selling his company, Wilks then went around the world looking for causes he can support to help the poor. After six months he came back disappointed. “I saw a lot of people with good intentions but nobody could show me even one slum they have managed to

change.” It was about that time when a Filipina friend who came to visit told him she regretted going to the UK because the cost of the plane ticket could have built two houses for the poor in the Philippines. She then told him what Gawad Kalinga was about – a holistic community development transforming an entire slum into a peaceful community - and of GK’s 777 plan - building 700,000 homes for 7,000 communities in seven years. Wilks was more than intrigued, he wanted to check it out for himself. He immediately made arrangements to go to the Philippines to meet with GK’s Tony Meloto. It was a trip that would change his life and lead him to the loves of his life, literally. On January 2003, Wilks met with Tony Meloto who took him to two GK sites in Caloocan and Quezon City. “It was such a shock for me seeing a Gawad Kalinga site for the first time. It was like a piece of heaven, walking into a rainbow of GK houses. What impressed me most was that finally here was a place that used to be a slum but has now been transformed into a peaceful community.” Upon his return to England, Wilks immediately emailed Meloto to pledge $100,000. Meloto then told him that if he was really interested, then he shouldn’t just send money, but that he should come back and help build the houses himself. To which Wilks not only responded and made the gesture doubly significant by choosing to sell his precious BMW M3. “I wanted to do something tangible, a symbolic act to show my commitment to the work.” From that act would come forth the Gawad Kalinga M3 Village consisting of 63 houses and a school in San Jose Del Monte Bulacan. On April 2003, Wilks came back to help build the BMW village. He initially planned to stay for six weeks, then decided to stay for six months. He has been in the Philippines for more than three years and has not returned to the UK for more than ten days since. “I fell in love with the Philippines, I fell in love with GK, I fell in love with the daughter of Tony Meloto, (Anna Meloto-Wilks of whom he has a one year old daughter).” Wilks is happiest traveling tirelessly around the world spreading the GK gospel of community and ‘bayanihan’ as Gawad Kalinga’s International Partnerships Coordinator. He has been to GK branches in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe. He looks forward to visiting the Middle East and would relish meeting up with Filipinos anywhere in the world that he might be. “We need to focus on what’s good for one another. For Filipinos who have gone abroad, and have sacrificed so much, for Filipino workers missing the Philippines, missing their loved ones, I want them to see the good things happening in this country.” Of GK’s goal of 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities by year 2010, 1000 communities have been built. “I feel it’s possible, that change is really going to happen.” “You can look at my face and see I am English, but you look here and you can see I am pusong pinoy.” Wilks with eyes glossy, points at the Philippine flag pin he wears proudly on his lapel. “I wear this everyday, whatever country I am in, every single day to show I am proud of being associated with such wonderful people.” Wilks looks at home sitting at the wooden chapel inside the GK site in Filinvest, Quezon City. Despite the humid weather he looks fresh wearing a simple light orange print shirt. Does he ever get any of those ‘what could have been’ moments? “It isn’t always easy but I never doubted. I feel very strongly, I have very deep convictions that this is where God wants me to be. Whenever I feel disheartened with what’s going on in this country, I go to a GK site and see the real transformation, and am quickly reminded of why am here in the first place.” Even with most of his money gone, Dylan Wilks looks definitely richer now. And most certainly, he is for real. Illustrado 27

FEATURE

Famous Filipinos By Maripaz Febrero

Our search continues for outstanding Pinoys around the world. At siyempre naman, we were not disappointed. For our December issue, here’s a gift basket full of extremely talented kababayans who make us truly proud being Pinoy.

In the Ring

Pacman does it again!

WBC International Super Featherweight Champion It took Manny Pacquiao just three rounds to send Erik Morales off to retirement, and maybe to oblivion. Pacman’s sheer power was so overwhelming that Morales himself described it as, “…a power like I’ve never felt before.” Although Morales was obviously battered, Pacman walked away from the fight without a scratch, and a US$3 million purse (a whooping PHP150 million!) and a guaranteed share of the pay-per-view revenue, estimated to reach at least US$2 million. Hailed as the Grand Finale, the fight between our Pambansang Kamao and Mexico’s three-time world champion garnered the third highest attendance in boxing history. Thousands of our kababayans from all over the US traveled to Las Vegas to show their support.

In Hollywood

Lalaine Vergara-Paras Renowned Actress and Singer

Born to Filipino parents originally from Batangas and Pampanga, Lalaine Vergara-Paras grew up and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. Lalaine, as she is commonly known in Hollywood, played ‘Miranda Isabella Sanchez’ on Disney Channel's highly rated show, Lizzie McGuire, starring Hilary Duff. Lalaine's road to stardom began with a job on the Broadway production of Les Miserables, where she played Cosette. She was also in several television commercials, including Microsoft and Burger King, and among her many acting achievements was portraying ‘Chloe’, a young ‘ Slayer-In-Training’ who commits suicide, on the hit TV-Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In 2003, Lalaine released her first independent album, Lalaine: Inside Story with six songs written by herself, including Life is Good, Can't Stop, and Save Myself. She has performed all over Southern California, and in Hawaii with Disney's Imagineers. Her song You Wish, written for the movie of the same name, was in the Top 30 Radio Disney songs for six months. Lalaine has a record deal with Warner Brother's Records. Check her new single I'm Not Your Girl on AOL Music or Yahoo! Launch.

In Arts

Eliseo Art Silva

Internationally-recognized Pinoy Muralist Eliseo Art Silva belongs to a new generation of painters who meticulously carries out significant historical research before the creation of a mural to tailor each one to its specific content. He has painted more than 50 murals in Seattle, New York, Michigan, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Maine, and the Philippines. Eliseo is nationally recognized for painting the country’s largest Filipino American mural: Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana (A Glorious History, A Golden Legacy) in Historic Filipino Town, Los Angeles.

Illustrado 22

Pinoy international showbiz scene-stealers: Who’s who

Leeann Tweeden

Model and Sizzling TV Personality Leeann was born in Manassas, Virginia, of Spanish/Filipino/Norwegian descent. She graduated from Osbourn Park High School a year early, and deferred her acceptance to Harvard to pursue a career in modeling. In 1992, just two years after leaving her Virginia high school, Leeann won first place in the Venus International Model Search.

Who invented the videophone?

Gregorio Y. Zara Gregorio Y. Zara, Filipino scientist - invented the two-way television telephone or videophone (1955) patented as a ‘photo phone signal separator network’. He also discovered the physical law of electrical kinetic resistance called the Zara effect (around 1930). Gregorio Zara graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1926 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1927, he received his Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and graduated with a Doctorate of Physics from Sorbonne University in 1930. On September 30, 1954, Zara's alcohol-fueled airplane engine was successfully tested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In 1995, Leeann appeared on the American television series EdenQuest, and became a regular on the ESPN2 series Fitness Beach in 1996. She has appeared on several other series including Blue Torch, High Octane, Star Search, Toughman and Wild On. Since 2001, Leeann has been a correspondent on the television series The Best Damn Sports Show Period. She has also gone on USO tours, including one in December 2004 to Camp Liberty in Iraq. Ranked #70 in Maxim's Hot 100 of 2006, Leeann is currently working as the co-host of Fox Sports Mansionpoker.net's PokerDome Challenge series.

Nicole Elikolani Prescovia Lead Vocalist for Pussycat Dolls

Who was first to warn the world about global warming?

Josefino Comiso Josefino Comiso - a Filipino physicist working at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center studying global warming in the Arctic. He was the first person to discover a recurring polynya in the Cosmonaut Sea, south of the Indian Ocean. A polynya is a semi-permanent area of open water on sea ice.

Nicole Elikolani Prescovia was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a Filipino father and a Hawaiian/ Russian mother and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. Nicole took on her stepfather's German last name Scherzinger, and began her life as a performer in Louisville, attending the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School and performing with Actors Theatre of Louisville. Nicole majored in theater arts at Wright State University, but put her studies on hold in 1999 to sing backing vocals for the rock band Days of the New. In 2001, Nicole Scherzinger competed in the premiere season of The WB's television show Popstars, on which she earned a spot in the all-girl pop group Eden's Crush. The group's 2001 single Get Over Yourself hit the Billboard Hot 100’s Top Five. Following her stint with Eden's Crush, Nicole joined The Pussycat Dolls who now have worldwide status as a popular singing group; their Billboard top five hits include Don't Cha, Buttons, Beep and Stickwitu. The album PCD went platinum in 2006.

Haaay! Nakakataba naman talaga ng puso, di ba? We hope that you are now as enlightened about your kababayans as we are. You have to accept it we just can’t avoid being famous having so much talent, natural showmanship and of course, tantalizing personalities. Enjoy and Merry Christmas po sa inyong lahat!

Illustrado 23

KABAYANIHAN They say life is made more meaningful by small, random acts of kindness. Nothing fancy, just simple, kind deeds that make one’s day better than the last. We are all given a chance at kabayanihan, the opportunity to do something good for our kababayans or our community, whether we see it or not. I’d like to think that much of the heroism that we see in our expat community today is courtesy of kapwa Pinoys who seize such opportunities.

By Ina Elle Crisostomo

Every day we are given new resources, new means to make a difference, it could be a better-paying or a more influential job; an extra income; a bigger place to live in; new friends; a new love; a stronger, healthier body; a big idea; or simply new experiences. How we nurture or use such gifts is what defines us.

Helping out a kababayan is intrinsically a good gesture. However, doing it mindlessly or worse, with vested interest, corrupts the very act of goodwill drawing a clear line between a good deed, as opposed to foolishness or opportunism disguised as a noble act. There are classic examples of this dichotomy within our very own community ‘backyard’ – see if you can spot the difference between a bayani versus a baliw.

Illustrado 24

KABAYANIHAN

Bangko ng bayan

He’s a classic - the hero of the family. The one everyone runs to for help; the one who never seems to know how to say no. He faithfully sends money to old folks back home - which is good. But will also lend puhunan to his friends or family at the drop of a hat, no matter how many times they've blown one business venture after another. Just the other day he sent tuition money to his niece so she could shift to another course (again!). Ok fine! I suggest you don't go looking for this guy - last time I saw him he was topping up his loan (for the nth time) so he could pay his rent and credit cards.

Mr. Package Deal

He’s the person who made it possible for you to go abroad. Could be a friend of your ate or kuya, kumare or kumpare of your parents, a friend of a friend, a ka-baryo, or simply a kakilala. He’s the one who arranged for your visa, ticket, and booked your short-term accommodation in Dubai. Nice eh, but all this at a cost - of course, nothing is free! But what a price! By the time you get to Dubai you realize that you’ve been charged at least twice the amount. You decided not to complain…because the same guy tells you not to worry, “Mababawi agad ang gastos mo, madali lang maghanap ng work sa UAE.”

Landhoard… este landlord Your friend lives in her two-bedroom hall flat, along with a dozen other kababayans. So as you enter the flat for the first time, you start doing the maths, and wonder how

on earth can 14 people fit comfortably in a place like that? So you peek into the first bedroom, and find two double deck beds. You move on to the next and find another set of beds…bringing the total to eight. The only place left is the living room which you realize had two partitions: one also having four beds, while the other had two, which your friend proudly claims she shares with her landlady (wow, from standard to deluxe!). That brings the total to 14 beds. Good. Now if only you could figure out where you would sleep without dislodging your friend’s landlady. Mmmmm. “No worries,” the landlady assures you, as she unbuckled her folding bed, and squeezed it in the middle of the two beds. She sleeps well, you know…she’s the queen of all livable space; doesn’t pay any rent or utility bills, and earns a hefty monthly net profit at that! So why should you lose sleep on it?

Mr & Mrs 5-6

This couple would have made a fine pair, if only the figure above referred to their height. I remember during the early 90s when UAE banks were still very strict in giving out loans, these ‘angels of death’ ooopps I mean ‘angels of debt’, used to earn a lot of money from the misfortune of many. But with easy access to fast loans and value-packed credit cards these days, it’s unlikely that you’ll be at the receiving end of their generosity, except at select labor camps and hotel accommodation, where they prey on the dire needs of our low-paid kababayans. So pray that you don’t max out your personal loans and credit cards Mr & Mrs 5-6 have a way of following the scent of desperate kababayans. And if by some

unfortunate chance they find their way to your door…just keep your cheque book and passport ready. Ahhh...yes, they’d want that too – how else do you think they would lend money to a high-risk borrower like you?

Loverboy

He knows a bagong salta when he meets one, especially if she’s a dalagang Pinay. Our loverboy will make sure that he becomes her ‘first’ friend in Dubai. The one she’d call if she needed anything, from a grocery number to a postage stamp, or maybe even spend time with when she’s sad. Oh man, he’ll pick up and drive her to job interviews, even offer help on visa extensions, or with that extra cash for Kish. He's the guy with all the advice: "Ingat ka sa Arabo." He’ll regale her with legends of the many luxury cars (puro second-hand naman) and businesses he had owned through the years…tales of past loves that never came to be; and the touching story of how his wife in Manila left him for another man; and even bore her with stories about life in the UAE during the 80s and early 90s. Yap…you guessed it right…maganit ng Gulf veteran si Mr. Loverboy, kaya nga he lets our dalaga call him kuya (para di halata). Si dalaga naman 'feeling' safe. So the next time you decide to extend your hand to a kababayan, think carefully. You might be privileged and fortunate compared to most, in a position of respect and with the capability to help others. However, how you carry out your gesture of ‘kindness’, whether in earnest or with strings attached, will ultimately define what kind of person you really are.

Illustrado 25

FASHION

Within the backdrop of a 17th century architectural icon, under the imposing gaze of baroque frescoes, antique chandeliers and the grand walls of Intramuros, gleam the lavishness of intricate beadwork and rich embellishments, sumptuous fabrics, and the unmistakable touch of designing brillianceâ&#x20AC;Ś a statement of unapologetic opulence. Overall Coordination: Marcus Maguigad Photography: Louie Aguinaldo Styling: Pam Quinones Model: Aze of Mercator Models, Manila

FASHION

Gold lace overlay fishtail gown

FASHION

Metallic argyle stretch gown with black ruffled collar

FASHION

Layered peacock dress

FEATURE

Beaded fuschia caftan with silk tube dress

FASHION

Sheer long-sleeved body suit with metallic pattern, paired with black silk and tulle ball gown

FASHION

Apple green sculpted tube top paired with dyed organza skirt

FASHION

Frederick Peralta Mention wedding gowns to most style-savvy Manileñas and chances are, the first name that comes to mind is Frederick Peralta - he of the sumptuous and opulent gowns, who despises the aesthetics of minimalism, consistenly designing luxuriously embellished creations that always ensure that weddings are nothing less than a grand show. Frederick Peralta, pride and joy of the Philippine fashion industry, winner and first Philippine representative to the prestigious International des Jeunes Createurs de Mode young designers competition in Paris, has been spinning his brand of magic in the stylish runways back home for over two decades. A talented artist, who has also dabbled into radio, showbiz, writing and just recently his personal line of couture beddings, Frederick Peralta’s humble beginnings, could be traced to his hometown of Dueñas, Iloilo, where he worked as a newspaper boy and served as sacristan at the community church, in his youth. Frederick attended college at Lyceum, Manila, taking up Foreign Service, but later became an apprentice to fashion designer Gregg Centeno instead, for two years. Thereafter, he went on his own, and the rest is fabulous history. At 25 years in the business of glamour, Frederick conti-nues to wow the country’s fashion cognoscenti teaching the ‘young ones’ a thing or two in the art of opulent style. This year, his show became the undisputed

showstopper at the Philippine Fashion Week 2006, held in April at the Fort Global City’s NBC Tent. The legendary designer received a standing ovation for his 30-piece bridal collection painstakingly created with indulgent accoutrements, which can only be Frederick Peralta’s. Inspite of his tremendous success, Frederick Peralta remains with his feet firmly planted on the ground, “I’ve achieved all my dreams. Now I’d like to make a difference in other people’s lives.” Illustrado is honored and grateful for Frederick Peralta’s involvement in this month’s fashion feature.

Ballet Philippines ILLUSTRADO FEATURE

By Giselle Estrada Photography by Ben Chan

Proof that Filipinos can acquire the skills of original western arts, master and excel in them is the Philippine’s premier dance company – Ballet Philippines. The company evolves continuously as it uses the disciplines and tenets of the West and combines it with the Filipinos’ innate imagination and creativity. Ballet Philippines has the sole distinction of being the first artistic performing group of the Cultural Center of the Philippines with 36 years of leadership in the artistic arena of Philippine dance. Its impressive repertoire of over 359 works accumulated over the past 36 years is unmatched by any other dance company in the Southeast Asian region. Although wide in range, the most prominent dance creations are uniquely Filipino in terms of movement, theme, design and inspiration. Ballet Philippine’s repertoire of dance masterpieces are without equal and it displays the company’s potent dance tradition, flexibility of style and electrifying sense of theater. Bestowed with worldwide critical and popular acclaim, most of the choreographies combine the formal beauty of ballet and contemporary dance expressions, buoyed by brilliant leadership from seasoned masters of ballet.

Artistic director Augustus ‘Bam’ Damian has to his distinction a twenty-year long career in Europe which took him through six different theaters all as principal dancer – among which are the Bejart Ballet Lausanne, Switzerland, Theatre am Gartnerplatz in Munich, the State Theatre of Bern, and Ballet Art Francois Klaus in Switzerland. He has had the opportunity to perform at some of the world's most prestigious theaters such as the Paris Opera Garnier, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Het National in Amsterdam. Moreover, and had the privilege of performing with a number of Europe's great ballet stars. Executive Director Ma. Alexandra ‘Sandy’ Hontiveros started performing at the age of five, joined a two-year world tour with Fiesta Filipina, was a member of the Tony Fabella Jazz group, the weekly Penthouse 7 television dance show, as well as three command performances for Morocco’s King Hassan. She also co-founded and danced with Hotlegs and eventually moved on to other areas of television and stage production. Sandy shares her experience in ‘commercial’ dance companies to help maintain Ballet Philippines’ youthful mindset and limitless resource of talent, inspite of it being an old company.

ILLUSTRADO FEATURE

Bringing to life a wide range of characters is versatile dance master Alden Lugasin, Ballet Philippines’ Associate Artistic Director. With his exposure to world class ballet masters and choreographers, he has created some of the most stirring dance works namely Impasse, Life is a Rope, Aku (awarded the silver medal, solo category at the Concours International de Danse de France in December 2000), Swans… Fluttering Disturbances , Tuol Sieng (S-21 Prison), Swimming the River Pasig, Insomnia, FireWaterWoman, Bungee Corded Underwater Dancers @ a Mall with a Shopping Cart, and Buhay. The latter was performed in Cambodia during the ASEAN Culture Week. Today, Ballet Philippines continues its legacy of making dance a vital and dynamic art form. Their various dance pieces are an embodiment and reflection of the Philippines today – grateful with the wisdom of the past yet very much an active participant of the ever-changing present. Ballet Philippines dances to stimulate minds, expand the horizons, and stir the souls of the viewing public.

Bayanihan Dance Troupe ARTS & CULTURE

By Giselle Estrada Photography by Ben Chan

Is life tough for you, these days? What with stress from work, a too-hectic schedule, topped with the alarmingly escalating traffic situation in Dubai, Sharjah to Abu Dhabi, one gets desperate for precious R&R. Or perhaps, you just need some serious ‘alone’ time with your other-half to rekindle the flame? There’s really no better way to get away from it all, without going too far, than to visit Hatta Fort Hotel – a haven nestled at the foot of the Hajjar Hills. It takes about an hour and a half, on a leisurely drive from Dubai, to reach Hatta Fort. On the Aweer road, just follow the signs and go beyond Ras Al Khor interchange, passing Dragon Mart on the right. It’s a straightforward drive, the signs easy to follow and very picturesque all the way. You’ll feel like you’re in a different

ARTS & CULTURE Is life tough for you, these days? What with stress from work, a too-hectic schedule, topped with the alarmingly escalating traffic situation in Dubai, Sharjah to Abu Dhabi, one gets desperate for precious R&R. Or perhaps, you just need some serious ‘alone’ time with your other-half to rekindle the flame?

stress from work, a too-hectic schedule, topped with the alarmingly escalating traffic situation in Dubai, Sharjah to Abu Dhabi, one gets desperate for precious R&R. Or perhaps, you just need some serious ‘alone’ time with your other-half to rekindle the flame?

There’s really no better way to get away from it all, without going too far, than to visit Hatta Fort Hotel – a haven nestled at the foot of the Hajjar Hills.

It takes about an hour and a half, on a leisurely drive from Dubai, to reach Hatta Fort. On the Aweer road, just follow the signs and go beyond Ras Al Khor interchange, passing Dragon Mart on the right. It’s a straightforward drive, the signs It takes about an hour and a half, on a leisurely drive from Dubai, to reach Hatta Fort. On the Aweer road, just follow the signs and go beyond Ras Al Khor

ARTS & CULTURE By Giselle Estrada Photography by Ben Chan

GELTO

There’s really no better way to get away from it all, without going too far, than to visit Hatta Fort Hotel – a haven nestled at the foot of the Hajjar Hills.

Being in Hatta Fort Hotel is more like being at home, than being in a regular hotel. You feel a certain sense of privacy, while at the same time, the hotel’s friendly and pleasant air encourages you to step out of your cozy cocoon anytime to explore your surroundings.

You are led to your room through a garden path dripping with bougainvilleas and generous greens. Hatta has very homey It takes about an hour and a half, on a leisurely Is life tough for you, these days? What with stress from work, a too-hectic schedule, topped with the alarmingly escalating traffic situation in Dubai, Sharjah to Abu Dhabi, one gets desperate for precious R&R. Or perhaps, you just need some serious ‘alone’ time with your other-half to rekindle the flame? There’s really no better way to get away from it all, without going too far, than to visit Hatta Fort Hotel – a haven nestled at the foot of the Hajjar Hills.

ARTS & CULTURE

OTLEG

It takes about an hour and a half, on a leisurely drive from Dubai, to reach Hatta Fort. On the Aweer road, just follow the signs and go beyond Ras Al Khor interchange, passing Dragon Mart on the right. It’s a straightforward drive, the signs easy to follow and very picturesque all the way. You’ll feel like you’re in a different world as soon as you set eyes on Big Red (a giant sand dune popular to dune drivers and quad bikers), an area where the sand has a curious reddish upper layer, as if baked in the heat of the sun. Further down the road, where the Omani border lies, are vast flat lands with the backdrop of barren rocky mountains with a peculiar craggy surface, drive from Dubai, to reach Hatta Fort. On the Aweer road, just follow the signs and go beyond Ras Al Khor interchange, passing Dragon Mart on the right. It’s a straightforward drive, the signs easy to follow and very picturesque all the way. You’ll feel like you’re in a different world as soon as you set eyes on Big Red (a giant sand dune popular to dune drivers and quad bikers), an area where the sand has a curious reddish upper layer, as if baked in the heat of the sun. Further down the road, where the Omani border lies, are vast flat lands with the backdrop of barren rocky mountains with a peculiar craggy surface, looking as if they have been feasted on by giant “anays” (termites) eons ago. Once you hit a roundabout with a miniature fort, you know you have arrived. A modest driveway leads you to the hotel, a sprawling property spread across 80 acres of landscaped gardens, where the grass is green, the sky is a refreshing blue and everything looks fresh and bright. The vast spaces, the lively mesh of greens, white and fuchsia flowers, the distant view of the imposing rocky mountains, and the quietly pleasant ambiance immediately puts you in a relaxed mood, as soon as you enter the gate. Being in Hatta Fort Hotel is more like being at home, than being in a regular hotel. You feel a certain sense of privacy, while at the same time, the hotel’s friendly and pleasant air encourages you to step out of your cozy cocoon anytime to explore your surroundings. You are led to your room through a garden path dripping with bougainvilleas and generous greens. Hatta has very homey

Loyo

win y Ed

to b Pho

Filipinos & the Art of Movement

ARTS & CULTURE

By Lalaine Chu-Benitez Second to the Filipino’s love for singing is our love for movement. In a country with such rich heritage, dancing is but one component of our culture, which has been truly well endowed with the influences of both the east and the west. From our tribal beginnings, the Filipino tradition for dance has been supplemented and enriched by our long history with western colonizers and Asian neighbors. Whether we are depicting a tribal ritual or an age-old manner of courtship, regally executing an arabesque or a pirouette learned from western discipline displaying our refined sense of culture, or experimenting with new age forms, or even rocking our bodies with frenzy to the latest hip-hop beats, one thing is certain – Filipinos love to dance. Dancing is part and parcel of the Filipino way of life. We dance to relax and celebrate with our friends and family. We dance to express a higher appreciation of the arts, or to promote our culture in faraway lands. And in a country full of vivid color and smiling people, we dance just to dance. But whatever the reason, dancing, just like singing, is one art form that Filipinos do with the utmost passion - an ode to our joie de vivre, our innate love for life. And it is with this natural affinity and love for form and movement, not to mention our penchant for acquiring and mastering technical discipline learned from different influences, that Filipino dancers have become well-known the world over. Ever since the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company became a hit at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (where it was judged the best of 13 national troupes), the world has become aware that dance, culture, and the arts in general, are thriving in our part of the world. Now our skilled and talented compatriots are recognized around the globe, from the entertainment venues in Asia, on fabulous Broadway, to the world’s most prestigious theatres such as the New Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts or the Paris Opera Garnier, among others, or even as champions in international professional competitions, or strong contenders on American TV dance programs. Illustrado is proud to present three homegrown dance groups, distinctively different in terms of style and credo, but nonetheless very similar in their passion for their discipline, and in embodying the strength and excellence of the Filipino’s innate talent for the art of movement.

Illustrado 43

Christmas Abroad Pinoy Style FEATURE FEATURE

By Maripaz Febrero

Do you miss spending Christmas in the Philippines? Like so many Filipino expats around the world, Christmas won’t be Christmas for a lot of us unless it is spent with all the beloved trimmings of a Paskong Pinoy. Pasko, a corruption of the Spanish pascua, is the most awaited and the best loved holiday amongst a thousand others in our fiesta-laden calendar. We have unique traditions that have evolved into forms of ‘art’ through the years, shaping the way we mark our Christmas season – labeling it Pinoy style. As Paskong Pinoy tradition has it, Christmas is in the air the minute the first ‘ber’ month (September) arrives. We start buying boxes of Christmas cards and tree ornaments, as lights suddenly spring up in shopping malls, restaurants, and even jeepneys careening along the streets. Every weekend, we crowd the Christmas tiangges offering every kind of merchandise imaginable. These feverish activities go on, non-stop, through October, November and up to the last minute of December 24. The whole country, whether in rural or urban areas, literally lights up with holiday anticipation. Christmas parols adorn windows of houses, shop displays, and lamp posts along major thoroughfares with festive colors or explode in blinking, pulsating, and revolving excitement on sidewalk stalls. So how is it any different from Christmas celebrations elsewhere in the world? It turns out there’s a BIG difference. Take it from some kababayans who have experienced Christmas in various parts of the world.

Illustrado 7

FEATURE celebrate. Here we only stay in the house. We would be lucky if even one of our friends can come down and have a drink with us. I've been here for 14 years, long enough for me to get used to it. My family has experienced how to celebrate Christmas in the Philippines and they can't believe the amount of relatives and friends who visited us on that day!” - Shirley Suarez-Berry in London

“Everyone who has ever spent Christmas away from the Philippines would agree there's nothing like Christmas at home. Here you get one day…that's it. People laugh when you put your trees up like a month before, after Halloween in my case, ha-ha! My own husband doesn't understand all the fuss Pinoys go through at this time. Christmas here is celebrated on the 25th. We share a family dinner on the night of the 25th. Nobody does Christmas Eve celebrations here. They always say Christmas is the 25th. So the 24th here is like an exclusive Pinoy thing. My family usually gets invited to Noche Buena at some Pinoy friends' house or if I'm in Seattle, at my mom's house. I don't set up anything myself as I have the next day, the 25th to attend to. In the States where I have more family, we attend mass in the morning of the 25th, makes you miss the midnight mass in Manila. Giving presents of course, that's a universal thing. My kids don't have ninongs and ninangs as they're not Catholic, but that's one thing I still see among Pinoys,

Illustrado 8

“We still try to go home to Manila for Christmas and New Year every year. It's the only way I could get my son Carlo back to his roots and his family.

the relationship between godparents and inaanak is still cherished. But that's about it really. The spirit doesn't really go on until the Feast of the Three Kings. We don't even play Christmas songs before and beyond the 25th of December. For me, well at least I get two full days of Christmas wherein I've merged two traditions - the 24th with the Pinoys and 25th with my own family. That's a lot of presents for my kids, Jung and Mckenzie, so they're happy. I do miss the blessedness of Christmas back home though. Somehow it's not the same here. You have to try a little harder here to keep that joyous spirit alive.” - Caca Reyes-Loughrey in Vancouver, Canada “Christmas pudding here is very nice but I don't like the taste of it - too many fruits in it. Christmas here is a bit boring, not like in America or the Philippines where we have lots of relatives and friends coming round to

There were only two occasions when we spent Christmas away from Manila since we moved overseas in 1994 - once in Singapore (2002) and once in Sydney (2005). On both occasions, we still had our Noche Buena, but in a 5-star hotel’s restaurant, and opened gifts on Christmas Eve. Then we went to see the sights and shopping on Christmas Day!” - Debbie Coloma in Singapore “Here in Dubai, you feel the season’s cheer in the shopping malls, mainly. You see giant Christmas trees and display windows enticing you to buy gifts. I’m lucky because I have a lot of friends here. So even if I’m away from the Philippines, I still get to enjoy the season with barkadas and people I care about. Every year, we would gather at a friend’s flat for Noche Buena, which is normally a ‘potluck’ affair. We would eat, drink, exchange gifts and have fun until the morning. Masaya naman. But of course, nothing beats being back home, where I’ve got my parents and siblings, and syempre, my favorite lola. “Nakaka-miss!” - Marvin Tan in Dubai

PINOY TRIVIA A collage of Philippine facts bringing you closer to home

KNOW YOUR

Christmas

TRADITIONS By Maripaz Febrero

How to Celebrate a Filipino Christmas The story of Christmas in the Philippines began centuries ago, when the Spanish conquistadores landed on our shores in 1521. Soon afterwards, the Spanish friars who came with them full of missionary zeal Christianized the natives. But it was only in 1525, during the rule of conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi that the Feast of the Nativity was officially celebrated. A historical account narrates that, sometime in the early 14th century, a Franciscan priest from Italy named Odoric celebrated the first Christmas mass along the shores of Lingayen, Pangasinan. The idea of Christmas was easily adopted by the newly-converted natives who decided that the feast coincided with their annual harvest time when they offered thanksgiving gifts to their various gods and ancestors. Today, Christmas is celebrated the longest in the Philippines. As early as September, bright tinsel and twinkling lights go up even in the humblest homes as festive Christmas carols are played nonstop by radio stations, and in shopping malls.

Step 3: Hang parols or star-shaped lanterns outside your window or door – originally used with candles inside to light the way to church in the dark hours before dawn. Step 4: Enjoy purple colored native rice cakes called puto bumbong so named because they’re steamed in a small bamboo tube or bumbong and bibingka or rice cake garnished with salted egg and grated coconut. Step 5: Keep coins handy for little carolers who tend to break up in small groups, or go solo to get more change from each house in the same neighborhood. Step 6: Watch the panunuluyan on Christmas Eve, a re-enactment of Mama Mary and St. Joseph’s ordeal while looking for shelter in Bethlehem. Step 7: Attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve with your family in new clothes and shoes.

So for those of us who have no idea what Christmas is like for Pinoys, here are some useful tidbits, and those of us who know only too well can reminisce.

Step 8: After Midnight Mass, gather friends and relatives for the Noche Buena feast and exchange of gifts.

Easy instructions on how to celebrate a traditional Pinoy Christmas

Step 9: Visit family and friends on Christmas Day.

Step 1: Play Tagalog Christmas songs such as Pasko Na, Sinta Ko

Step 10: Continue celebrating until the Feast of the Three Kings in January.

Step 2: Attend Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi from December 16 till December 24, a nine-day Christmas novena

Other Pinoy Christmas essentials Pamaskong Gift Basket

Popular Christmas gifts from companies to employees and from suppliers to clients, these

baskets are stuffed with goodies that could range from fruitcakes, queso de bola, cocoa, spaghetti and chocolates, all the way to pate, wines and gourmet cheeses.

Xmas Envelope

This is given to the garbage collector, policeman, street cleaner, newspaper boy, postman, security guard, manicurist – practically anyone who provides year-round services.

Last Minute Christmas Shopping

The highest point of the Pinoy Christmas is shopping just before the malls close on Christmas Eve. Adrenalin pumps fast as you speed up and down the escalators collecting precious gifts you didn’t have time to buy, only to drain away as you wait in the long queues at the cash registers.

Coma-inducing Traffic Jams

Going from one shopping mall to the next in search of the perfect gift for loved ones become sheer hell with all manner of vehicles on the roads – cars, taxis, busses, jeepneys, trucks, tricycles, karitelas – and street vendors on the sidewalks. The Pinoy Christmas spirit doesn’t quite end after December 25. Yuletide decorations stay up longer – the Christmas belen stays ensconced in its place of honor in every home. Strains of Christmas carols still hang in the air, the Christmas lights twinkle on, the Christmas tree sparkles on, the wreathes glitter on, the angels smile on and family get-togethers go on until every visiting relative has left town or the last balikbayan friend has been seen-off at the airport. The laughter, the feasting, the gift-giving, the religious fervor only seen around the holidays, all linger long after the decorations have been stored away – that’s Christmas, Pinoy style!

Illustrado 71

A young Pinoy rediscovers his roots COCONUTER Feelings of anxiety fluttered through my veins as the airplane dipped slightly and began its descent towards Manila. With only $200 in my pocket, I didn't really know what was in store for me, but I was excited to be independently taking the plunge into an adventure of what I could only describe as semi-unknown. I clung onto the scapular my mother had given me before I left, for added strength. Looking out the window, I noticed the outside scene changing. The Philippine terrain was now peering through the clouds. And just as the clouds began to fade, so did my volatile thoughts and expectations as the solidifying reality came closer with the approaching ground. I had a big grin on my face coming off the plane going into Ninoy Aquino International Airport. A Filipino band dressed in barongs played familiar OPM songs as I approached the customs checkpoint. Upon picking up my luggage, I rolled out of the airport with a spring in my step. A crowd was waiting outside, but it was easy to spot my titas as they shouted "David!" and waved excitedly. The ride to Subic was filled with joy and laughter. A feeling of comfort swirled in the air inside the vehicle as words were spoken in Tagalog. Seeing their faces unleashed so many old memories that had lied dormant for so many years. A lull in the conversation allowed for a chance to take in the surroundings. Other than the intense heat that was evident upon stepping out of the airport, I noticed the humongous billboards along EDSA. The pollution was also apparent from the smoke emanating from the crammed vehicles wildly weaving through Manila’s highways. But past all the towering structures and the heavy traffic was the more serene scene of the provinces. Seeing this raw land with its luscious green fields and the trees swaying to the breeze, and mountains in the

distant horizon relieved me. With a more relaxed disposition, I took a nap. The sharp tilting of the vehicle had awoken me. These zigzags were familiar, and it only took a few moments before I realized that we were nearing Subic as I stared at the familiar bay from above. The sun was already setting when we reached my lola's old house. Set on a land that used to be a rice field and surrounded by nearby mountains was a simple and unfinished hollow block home. Inside were my younger cousins who happily welcomed me and didn't fail to liven up the otherwise sullen rooms of the home. Dinner was already prepared – sinangag and adobong barilyete at pagi caught by my tito. The blended aroma of the toyo from the adobo and the bawang from the sinangag was tantalizing. After receiving a helping of ulam at kanin, everyone seemed to migrate to their own puwesto in the open sala. My titas and titos sat on the kawayan sofa, my younger cousins next to the radio, and my older cousins and I sat on the floor. The doors were open to let the breeze in while we ate na nagkakamay. Despite our separate puwestos – our meal had a very comfortable and homey feel to it. After dinner, the radio's volume was turned up as a dance CD played. My younger cousins were having such a fun time dancing to the music and trying out all sorts of dance moves. Free-spirited, they were a joy to watch. But as I looked over to my older cousins, who were my closest friends and playmates as a child, I could feel a certain distance. When as children we would have impulsively let loose, now we contained our natural reactions. So I got up and joined in on the fun, inviting my older cousins to do the same. They shyly refused at first, but after I attempted to dance the otso-otso and the

spaghetti, they could not help but burst into laughter and join in as well. My titas and titos jumped on in as they could not help themselves either. Turning up the music even more and everyone having a wonderful time, the hardly embellished home was emanating with reunited joy. After becoming exhausted from all the fun, it was time for bed. There was no air-conditioning, but with the windows opened, a cool evening breeze flowed in. I laid down on a thin foam mattress set on the floor. Staring at the swaying blue kulambo over me faintly highlighted by the glow of the moon through the window could have had anyone in a peaceful trance. But my mind wandered…thinking about my family back in the US. I felt like something was truly missing inside of me. I could not help but feel that I was off on a lonely journey. I clung onto the scapular my mother had given me, as thoughts of regret crept in. I slept with tears in my eyes. Bright golden rays of sunshine gleaming through the jalousie windows had awoken me. I put on a white sando and a pair of shorts and went out to sit at the front steps of the house. The birds were chirping, the chickens busy searching for food, and the rooster was tik-tilaoking bringing in the glorious morning. The mix of the yellow-green rice fields, the red-orange dirt, the dark green mountain forests, the blinding white clouds, the cool and gentle blue sky, and the warm yellow sunshine left me in awe. The land was just simply beautiful. Why would anyone want to leave such a place? How could a land so rich harbor people that are so poor? Are my instincts wrong for bringing me back to this pristine land? I don't know. Perhaps just like the flowing free-spirit of young children, it is just natural to follow one's instincts. And amidst such resplendence, something was telling me that there was something worth discovering in this land that had been calling to me for so long.

Home is where the heart is By David Poarch

Illustrado 51

LETTERS FROM THE EDGE of the teeming Metropolis

By Carlito Viriña Photography by Ben Chan

As Christmas draws near I mentally calculate how much damage this one will bring on my measly savings (as if I earn enough to keep a few bills in the bank!). I’m no math wizard and these mental calculations don’t amount to any specific figure, but my guesstimate is it’ll be big. More than I can afford, as usual.

Hey, bud! Hi there, dollar earner! Guess we’ll miss your beautiful mug, again this Christmas! It’s been a long time since you last ‘christmased’ here. Has it been two, three years now?

and starts contemplating murder. I’m just hoping one of them is released, though. But I don’t feel lucky. My boss is a heartless creep.

So anyway, the carolers are also out early. Not You’re either vacationing in Europe or the States. even December when I saw three gangly kids with their bottle cap percussion and Milo can Now if you don’t want us to find about your drums already on the prowl. But, of course, that escapades to, where was it, Crete? Or was it was the area near Velasquez in Tondo, where Florence? Don’t put out your pics online. many gangs of kids on the streets look like I know you’d rather stay put in Dubai than come carolers even if it was a hot summer night. Well, home and give pasalubongs and aguinaldos you know my rule with carolers: I don’t give to nieces and nephews you only see during the before the 24th and none after the 25th. holidays. Even those nieces and nephews you don’t recall ever being related to and also seem As Christmas draws near I mentally calculate how much damage this one will bring on my to be ten, twenty years older than you are. But c’mon, you must admit that there’s no place like measly savings (as if I earn enough to keep a few bills in the bank!). I’m no math wizard and home at this time of year. these mental calculations don’t amount to any specific figure, but my guesstimate is it’ll be big. Christmas season started early this year as always. When the ber months come, everybody More than I can afford, as usual. starts feeling ‘Christmassy’. But I just think it’s unfair to Halloween! Little jack-o-lanterns, scary, Christmas in Manila has become so expensive! It’s no longer what gift you put down beside the hideous rubber masks and glow-in-the-dark skeletons swaying and jiggling around with Ang names on your list, but whose names you will forget and avoid bumping into this Christmas. Pasko ay Sumapit! as background music. Thank God for SMS though! A very sincere and Thirteenth month pay? Christmas bonus? Wala heartfelt text message will do for some of my pang balita. They’ll probably be released at the friends this year. You included. very, very last minute. Like after 3pm of the The price of petrol has gone down and 24th. You know, that crucial minute before a lowly employee brings a rusty bolo to the office continues to be rolled back. But the prices of other goods remain sky-high, or, if they’re not,

it’s pushing manufacturers to come out with products in smaller packages. Corned beef is now available in 100g tins. Just enough for one pan de sal sandwich. Coke has the sakto bottle out. You need to consume at least three of those just to make you burp. We also now have 10g deodorants and 8ml shampoo sachets. Hmmm…are we evolving as Liliputians? Or do we have a growing population of dwarves that the government is not telling us about? Sorry, if I’m beginning to sound like Ebenezer. Christmas just seem to have lost its flavor with me. Fading youth? Maybe. Or it could just be a bad case of fading wealth! Anyway, I’ll miss your company this Christmas. I’ll gather up the gang, swing by Grappas, your favorite hang, and order a couple of mugs of Czech beer. We’ll even have an empty chair at our table in your honor, and we’ll drink to your health. And we’ll all wish you were there to settle the bill. Kaya, aguinaldo namin? Five pesos lang nga pala si Aguinaldo. Ben Franklin na lang. Maski dalawa. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, bud! Cheers!

Illustrado 53

The view from your regular Juan dela Cruz on the street

Usapang Kanto By Jonie Jose

Paskong Pinoy! What’s your priority -

pera o puso?

Breadwinner Pera para masuportahan ko ang family ko sa Pinas. Kasi nag-iisa akong anak, parang ayoko ng magtrabaho ang parents ko. It’s my turn to provide for them. And love-life ay istorbo lang sa pagpapayaman. -Christine Romero

Proud Pinoy

Tis the season

Money matters

Puso! I believe this is the main reason many expatriates live in Dubai, It’s not really about money, but it has something to do with love. What pushes every Filipino to work abroad is our tremendous love for our family, relatives and friends. It is just so sad that many people are thinking it’s all about money. Our sacrifices of leaving our family back home show our great love for them. The money that we get here is the fruit of our labor. Bottom line, we make sacrifices for love.

Pera, kasi ang puso given na dahil my family is already there – loving me. Financially, I’m still not contented. If I’m financially stable, I could share my blessings with my family. Therefore I’m also showing my love for them.

Do you think you can sacrifice everything without love? What we should treasure is love, and not money. Once you shared love, it will be cherished forever; money once spent is gone. So show your love to one another especially this Christmas. Let us not forget His love for mankind is the reason for our existence.

We are outside of the country [Philippines] because of money, right? I’m only new in Dubai pero I’ve experienced celebrating Xmas here and it’s like parang wala lang. Yung puso mo andun pa rin sa Pinas. Iniisip mo yung mga gatherings na dapat sana ay pinupuntahan mo, hindi lang yung mga tropa mo, pati na rin yung mga relatives mo malayo man malapit na kamag-anak. Ang Xmas dito sa labas, more on work at work pa rin even on December 25. Let’s put it this way, kailangan natin ng pera kasi mahal natin ang ating mga kapuso.

-Cesar Valondo

Being an OFW, my first priority or reason for coming to Dubai is money so I can help my family. Second, I want to prove to everyone and to myself that as a Filipino “I can do it” I am different. That Filipinos can compete with any nationality. That we are in the same level or even better than Europeans and Americans especially when it comes to work. Better, because we put our heart at work.

-Joan Mangunay

Here and there

-Juan Art M.P.

-Raymond Romero

Hirap sa Pinas

Love can wait Siyempre pera muna, sa ngayon kasi wala pa nga akong work eh. Makakapahintay naman ako para sa puso ko. -Maricel Laxamana

Illustrado page

Pera dahil marami pa akong pangarap sa buhay ko. Hindi ako pumunta dito sa Dubai para magpakahirap, mas masarap pang maghirap sa Pinas kaysa dito. Simple common sense lang yan. Ayokong mangyari sa akin na nasa Dubai ka nga, hindi ka naman kumita, nag hirap ka pa. Sa totoo lang, yung mga pumili nang puso, kaplastikan ang mga sagot nila or nagpapakunwari lang na puso daw ang pinunta nila na in the first place. Kaya nag-abroad para kumita ng pera. Period.

I’ll choose money para makapagpadala ako sa Pinas, I’m in Dubai to earn and to provide for my family. I’ll sacrifice, being away from them, because I love them so much.

-Kenneth Davis

-Hanna Dela Cruz

Here to earn

Ifugao:

BAKASYON GRANDE

Stirred not Shak By Olive Ybañez Photography by Lisa Cruz

Everyone feels the need to get away at certain times. Usually, it’s when life becomes too stressful – with too much change or, if you’re unlucky, because of lack of change. The question is when you do go, would it be to where the action is or would it be to find quiet moments to recharge the spirit, feed the soul? Then you find a place where the questions need not be asked – Ifugao.

What got me going

Months after the start of the US-led war in 2003, I was still on a burnout track. As a supervisor then in a contact center that handled a travel account, the announcement of the impending war had me dealing with the inevitable travel aftershocks. One day I woke up at the end of my rope and knew I needed a break from it all.

Surprise, Surprise

A cold and foggy morning greeted me when I got off the Autobus that took me on an 'eight-hour plus' ride from España Avenue to Banaue, one of the highland towns of Ifugao. Situated deep in the Grand Cordillera range, Ifugao province is at least 1200 meters above sea level with certain points reaching an elevation of 2900 meters. It is home to the

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hardy tribes collectively known as Igorot. It is the site of General Yamashita’s last stand. It is the land of the Eighth Wonder – the Ifugao Rice Terraces. I looked out expectantly into the fog, as it dissipated and revealed before me a ramshackle building with some tricycles and locals in modern garb but still with the face of their forefathers. Oh well. Modern world had come to Ifugao a long time ago.

Moments of epiphany

After a few minutes I soon found my way to the nearby Banaue Hotel. There was a choice of pension houses and inns of course, but for some quirky reason I ended up staying at the town’s only hotel for PHP2,000 per night. Later on I would find out that there was not a single cash machine in town. The nearest outlet is one and a half hours away by bus. The modern world was not so close after all. Modern life was the hotel. Thank goodness they accepted plastic money! The room that was assigned to me didn't have air-conditioning, but who needs one? I stepped out to my balcony and listened to the silence. There was no sound but for the rustling of the leaves and that of my own breathing. I sat there and stared at the beauty of the un-terraced mountains ahead until my phone alarm went off. It was for a conference call that I had already endorsed. It was a good

thing that I did because there was no signal. I tried to recall my last thoughts and found none. That’s when I realized I effortlessly went into a mind-blank state. How strangely comforting to know one can sit still for nearly an hour and the world will not crash!

Time well spent

It was almost 9am and I decided I will go wherever and do whatever my fancy takes me. My belly full with good breakfast downed with mountain coffee, I walked along the street leading to town. There’s an old house to the right with a big garden and a jeepney parked outside, full of books. It turned out to be a missionary’s house. A mountain face with moss growing on it and spring water trickling down from someplace above it. I walked past the Banaue Museum, and a group of young boys walking to school, some of them chewing moma (betel nut wrapped in tobacco leaves). Unlike in other local cultures the habit of betel nut chewing, start quite early among Ifugao children. The town wasn’t much. It was small and busy yet with a strange sense of slowness. It’s as if they were in a slow motion picture. The reddish tinge on the streets and sidewalks (caused by moma spits) gave it the eerie shadow of a Kill Bill movie. The requisite municipal hall sits on one end of the street. I followed a top heavy jeepney and found the market. My eyes had to adjust to the darkness inside. There I saw rows upon rows of the most beautiful vegetables I’ve ever seen. Their freshness was a stark contrast to the

BAKASYON GRANDE

ken for a breather. I looked out and the terraces were all around as far as my eyes could see. They converged in a deep valley that had a river running through it! Some of the terraces go all the way up to the top of the mountains, disappearing into the clouds above. I was in awe. I remember whispering to myself “I’m on a stairway to heaven.” deeply lined face of the Igorot vendor standing by the stall. I continued to walk around the town to watch life unfold in the mountains. There were more stores, some of them selling Tinawon, the red rice of the Ifugaos and wood carved souvenirs and trinkets. I was back at the hotel before sunset.

It’s a New Day

The next morning came, cold and foggy like the last. By the time I finished my breakfast, my driver-guide was waiting for me by the reception. By 8am I was well on my way to see the marvel of the ancient world! The terraces are spread out over the Cordillera range but I especially wanted to see Hapao and Hungduan. This is supposedly where General Yamashita was cornered and forced to surrender. Whereas terraces that day-trippers see at the Banaue Viewpoint are mud-walled, those in Hapao and Hungduan are stone-walled. But first things first - my guide insisted that we go to the Viewpoint, "where everyone gets to have his picture taken with the locals and the view”. The terraces were bare though, because it wasn’t planting season yet but I did get a great view and a good picture (for a minimal fee) with old Igorots in their traditional garb.

Rice Terraces Magic

After what seemed like an hour of bumpy ride, I could not see any trace of modern life save for the long line of children in white shirts who were on their noisy way to school. Before I knew it we were in the middle of the grand terraces of Hapao. We drove deeper into the mountains until we stopped by the roadside

So I just sat there and took in the view until we moved on. After many twists and turns, we came to a lookout that placed closer to the other side to the valley. Grand seemed somewhat anemic a word to describe the view. I stood there and tried to picture the people who carved them out of these mountains over 2,000 years ago. They worked with nature so that they may survive, not knowing that such a feat would be a tribute to their innovation and resilience as a people for hundreds of years.

Matthew

As I got ready to take some pictures, an old man came up from below! His name was Matthew. He lived on the terrace just above ours. Unlike my guide, he has lived there all his life getting his education from the missionaries and had never gone out of Ifugao. His brothers and sister have all left their terraces to him in favor of what they saw as a better life in the lowlands. For him there is nothing better than waking in the cool mountain air and preserving the life he had always known. He said his goodbyes as he had to go to town for a meeting on the coming cañao – a thanksgiving festival. I offered him a ride in my tricycle, but he offered to walk me through the mountains. “It’s faster” he said. I graciously declined and he waved goodbye. Another hour of bumpy tricycle ride through the mountains of the Cordilleras and I see signs of modern life again. The children walking back to school after spending their lunch break at home. Electric wires…more tricycles and jeepneys. Then I saw Matthew walking out of the municipal hall. The meeting was done and he’s on his way home. He was right. Mountain life is simpler. Smoother.

Getting to Banaue Recommended mode of public transport Banaue Autobus: +632 7362831/3083 Manila to Banaue - departs once daily (at 10pm) from España Avenue, Quezon City. Banaue to Manila – departs once daily (at 5pm) from Banaue Terminal. How much is the fare? PHP362 (AED27) one way. Air-conditioned with two short stop-overs. What’s the best time to travel? October to May Before you go: Read: Surf Banaue on Google for extra information. Pack: Light sweaters, towels, wet wipes, hat, a good pair of hiking boots, liniment (the long hikes can be a killer!) first aid kit and raincoat if possible, flashlight and extra batteries, plenty of film or extra memory card for your camera, and cash in small denominations. Where to stay Banaue Hotel and Banaue View Inn. People’s Lodge is recommended for backpackers. Rooms here are small and sparse but clean. Rates start from only PHP800 a night. Where to eat & drink Try the restaurant at the Banaue Hotel. Also visit Las Vegas Café in town – serves a hearty meal from PHP100. Average cost of a guide PHP600 for a maximum of four people.

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ILLUSTRADO FEATURE FEATURE

Since 2004, Arroyo has undertaken significant belt-tightening reforms, including boosting the value added tax rate from 10 percent to 12 percent the corporate tax rate and excise levies, which combined have substantially narrowed the fiscal deficit and stabilized national finances. The numbers on the Philippine economy remain buoyant and observers and investors have started to take notice. Lately, the World Bank, an institution usually known for its conservative estimates on Philippine growth prospects, said the Philippine’s economic growth is strengthening amidst external slowdown and has predicted a 5.5 percent gross domestic product (GDP)

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growth rate this year and 5.7 percent growth rate in 2007. GDP refers to value of goods and services that is produced, traded, and paid for within the country’s borders. In the first eight months of this year, net foreign direct investments registered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Philippine Central Bank, reached US$1.36 billion, a 60 percent jump over the same period last year. Led by US, Japanese, German and British investors, foreign funds are pouring into manufacturing, led by outlays into paper, chemicals, electronics and steel, as well as services, including business process outsourcing, tourism, engineering and construction. Healthy capital inflows are boosting the local bourse. Francis Ed Lim, president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Stock Exchange, notes that the stock market has recently reached highs not seen since the heady days preceding the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. What these trends are telling us is that the Philippine economy has gained resilience and it’s possible that it already has shaken off the boom and bust cycles that the country was notorious of following the Edsa Revolution. In fact, economic planners now believe the Philippines is gathering momentum

towards 7 percent growth level by 2010. For a developing economy like the Philippines, achieving higher GDP growth rate means the expansion of economic activities (opening up of factories, shops, and offices) that provides jobs to millions of people. Behind these encouraging trends is the emergence of new growth drivers which include crop production, processing and export (e.g. banana, pineapples, coconut products); livestock, poultry and aquaculture; marine products (tuna and seaweeds); electronics; furniture, fashion garments, jewelry; mining; shipbuilding; and outsourcing. The global environment of course has really been cooperative to the country’s export sectors. From January to September for instance, cummulative exports grew by 16 percent, owing to strong purchases from the United S tates, China, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Taiwan, Germany, Thailand and other countries. The emergence of third and fourth generation technologies in telecommunications, the rising trend towards smart cars, continuing breakthroughs in ‘pervasive computing’ and proliferation of mobile gadgets have boosted the country’s electronics and semiconductor industries. Besides, most global corporations these days, particularly those that are based in the United States have come to accept the importance of outsourcing as part of their

FEATURE

By David L. Llorito Photography by Ben Chan

as part of their corporate strategy. Many of them have realized that the Philippines could be the best place to outsource some of their operations not only for cost effectiveness but also for quality of service. In fact, local players in the Philippine outsourcing business are now moving up the value chain by engaging in what they call ‘five star outsourcing’ including analytics, market research, valuation research, investment research, online teaching, patent filing, legal insurance claims processing, and media content supply. But the continuing strength of the Philippine economy does come from internal factors as well, specifically on reforms achieved by the country in the last three years. Multilateral agencies credit the government's reform policies for the improved performance, particularly those measures that Arroyo implemented soon after the controversial 2004 presidential election. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently noted that until recently the Philippines had suffered from ‘policy drift’, which resulted in mushrooming public debt and unwieldy external financing obligations. That, the IMF said, had left the economy vulnerable to both internal and external shocks. Since 2004, Arroyo has undertaken significant belt-tightening reforms, including boosting

the value added tax rate from 10 percent to 12 percent the corporate tax rate and excise levies, which combined have substantially narrowed the fiscal deficit and stabilized national finances. Non-financial public sector deficit was slashed from 5.3% of GDP in 2003 to 2% of GDP by the end of 2005. Those reforms have importantly freed up funds for priority spending, including badly needed outlays for new infrastructure. They've also helped to rein in galloping inflation, which has dipped from around 7.5 percent last year to currently below 6 percent. Those improving fundamentals have made the peso one of Asia's best-performing currencies this year, up more than 10 percent against the greenback, year-on-year as of mid-October. In fact, Moody’s Investors Service, a global ratings agency, has recently upgraded its outlook on the Philippines to ‘stable’ thus reaffirming the Philippines’s progress in implementing key economic reforms. An upgrade allows entrepreneurs as well the government access to cheaper funds abroad. But more importantly it means a vote of confidence that could further strengthen investor’s interest on the Philippines. The Philippine economy has long been dependent on overseas remittances to prop up consumption and economic growth. For this year, the government expects dollar remittances to reach US$13 billion. Current trends seem

to suggest that remittances will remain as one of the most important pillars of the economy in many more years to come. The Philippines has developed a nice reputation in overseas employment over the last three decades and it is likely that demand for Filipino labor for continue to grow. The challenge in the next several years therefore is increasing the share of investments and exports in the country’s economic growth. This could be achieved faster if government could pour in more investments in crucial economic and social infrastructure. This is necessary for the number of jobs to grow faster than we are generating them today. In the last 12 quarters, the Philippine economy has been growing at the rate of 5-6 percent and yet unemployment rate remains high at more than 8 percent. This is because, in the brave new world of globalization, economic growth has largely been driven by technological innovation and change. This phenomenon suggests that the benefits of growth have largely accrued to the well educated ones. Experts say that we could only start soaking up joblessness once economic growth has reached the level of 7-9 percent. Necessarily, there should be greater efforts to upgrade the country’s educational system. That seems a long way to go but the numbers so far seems to say its possible for the Philippines to get there in due time.

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CEBU CRUISIN’

Vudu

Raising the Bar in Cebu Clubbing

By Jan La’O

Well on its way into its fifth year in the business, multi-awarded Club VUDU continues to break grounds in Cebu's night scene. With its constantly evolving, inventive and cutting-edge clubbing concept, VUDU is setting the pace of what once was a relatively languid Cebu nightlife.

JP Chiongbian, the brains behind VUDU says, "VUDU's resiliency stems from having the foresight to predict and identify the latest party trends, offering Cebuanos what they need: good service and value for money. We're not only here to give the city a good night scene but also to show the rest of the Philippines and the foreign tourists that Cebu is a world-class city that is continuously on the upswing, and VUDU tries to exemplify this characteristic by giving services and amenities of world-class standards." VUDU was designed to be different, and it's getting the attention it deserves as a local landmark - much like its famous exports and attractions: Guadalupe mangoes, locally-made guitars, tourist sports like the Magellan's Cross, the Lapu-Lapu Shrine, the Taoist Temple, and the new Mandaue-Mactan Bridge. Even avid ‘partyphiles’ from all over continue to rhapsodize about their VUDU experience, which makes VUDU the hottest party destination in the whole of Visayas and Mindanao. From being an upscale lounge that catered to the cosmopolitan chic set, VUDU went through a series of reinventions – and how it

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has kept its set of habitués and expanded its niche market at the same time is simply legendary. After the underground explosion in the 90s fizzled, it brought about the renewal of the alternative music scene with its Alternative Nights every Wednesday. It also fueled Cebu's R&B craze with its Friday R&B Nights, while Saturdays attracted lively crowds to its House Night parties. VUDU's nightly offering gave the young and hip Cebuanos every reason to go out even on weeknights, and even more reason to dress up. After over four years of lording over the club scene, setting the standards and trends in clubbing, VUDU has taken a big leap as it recently underwent a major facelift that will change the way Cebuanos party. VUDU - Reinvented After over a month of major renovation, VUDU is back on the scene with a whole new look, giving the local clubbing set a better and bigger place to party. True to VUDU's patented fashion, this reinvention has once again set a trend in clubbing. The new VUDU offers devotees the best of both worlds. Ravers now have the whole expanded ground floor for dancing with its select suite of hard house music and latest intelligent lighting technology. Architect Buck Sia designed the industrial-warehouse interiors that feature dynamic elements that move with structures: using textured concrete, iron sheets and acrylic that

transfrom walls into floors, and walls into ceilings, creating a complete design continuum. While retaining the much-talked-about Jon Unson hunter-gatherer mural (that backdrops the DJ pulpit), the whole ground space is filled with everything new – from amber-colored walls, back- and up-lighting, to silver-stone filled acrylic bar counters. Meanwhile, it's a different world altogether on the now famous VUDU mezzanine. Enclosed in acrylic/glass and concrete, this whole VIP Lounge is washed in beige and brown, conducive for cozying up while house music is playing in the background. Very modernist in concept, the lounge area features the same acrylic bar counters (with multi-sized gray and silver stones), while textured walls look more streamlined and connected through a movement of lines, made even more moving and dynamic with back- and up-lighting effects. VUDU also features some of the country's best DJs, as well as riveting international acts. Located at Crossroads Banilad, VUDU is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9:00 p.m. onwards. For Cebu's fickle-minded partyphiles, Club VUDU features different musical genres at the Main and VIP rooms, from house music, chill-out, R&B, hip hop, live acoustic bands and indie music. For more information and party updates, log on to www.vudu.com.ph.

Stepping out of the proverbial ‘kabayan box’. beyond Pinoy cafeterias and videoke PINOY ABOUT TOWN

By Antonella Andrada Thursday night at the stylish Madinat Jumeirah – I didn’t realize how much of a nightmare traffic could be in this place, considering that it is one of the more exclusive watering holes in Dubai. There was a huge car pile up all the way from the Madinat-Al Sofouh intersection and cars were directed to the Mina Salam hotel parking, each one moving slowly in a beeline squeezing into the already heaving basement car park. Just the same, no traffic or long walk on stilletos could put a damper on my excitement – after all, I’m about to indulge an obsession I share with a lot of Pinoys – JAZZ. We weave our way into the intricate and sometimes confusing hallways of the antique-style Madinat Souq. Jostling against curious tourists looking for Eastern souvenirs in the many oriental-themed shops, Dubaians simply hanging around, as well as cool diners and bar-hoppers headed for the different upmarket outlets in this throbbing weekend night venue. We turned into a dimly lit hallway off Dome Café and found ourselves at the entrance of one of the emirates’ most exciting club in recent years. Tucked away into the deep bowels of the Madinat is JamBase – a vibrant jazz bar that is fast becoming, if not already, THE Thursday night haunt of ‘sophisticated-Dubai’. A tense hostess greeted us at the entrance before we descended the dark staircase to where the action was. No wonder! The place was absolutely swarming with people, a pleasant surprise especially since the bar is not exactly your usual ‘pop’ music destination. What with the recent growth of the local jazz scene encouraged by events such as the annual Dubai Jazz Festival or Blue Note concert series, it seems that more and more Dubai clubbers are getting into this once locally uncommon musical genre. Last year’s clientele was mostly jazz aficionados who come for the great sounds and the chic ambience – sophisticated, matured and musically inclined. This time, you see a younger, hipper group mixed with the regulars, who seem to be there to be seen more than to listen to the music. Just as well, it gives the bar an electric ambiance; definitely more people to appreciate the good sounds from the resident band, the good eclectic menu, as well as the ‘smashing’ cocktails – and I mean ‘smashing’.

At Jambase, it’s ‘hip-Dubai” at it’s most chic – the women were very fashionable sporting the latest look and the year’s must-have accessory – cleavage, while the men ranged from relaxed elegance to de riguer black, to a full white linen suit (I couldn’t miss this guy sipping champagne at the bar, standing out from all the darkly dressed men). The décor of the bar is polished contemporary – clean dark wood and streamlined design everywhere, punctuated by organic accents. A circular sunken dance floor with the band’s stage all in black, was the focal point of the venue. And on the tables and the bar rested these exaggeratedly long stemmed wine glasses - elegant crystals to sip your favorite ‘grape’ from. As for the drinks, the ‘grapes’ are standard, however, the ‘Cosmo’ has to be spoken about. The concoction is just lethal. I’ve tried more than enough of these babies in the other bars in town and didn’t feel a thing. However, the bartenders at JamBase are probably very generous, two Cosmos and I was almost swimming in the dance floor to ‘Pick Up the Pieces’. Good thing, my man had enough sense to hold me by the waist to keep me grooving and not falling. Fun! Cosmos next time? No thanks; I’ll stick to my usual red grape, please. We left the bar while the place was still bustling, just a little before midnight. The walk through the souq then down to the parking took quite an effort. A small price to pay though for the rollicking good time we had with the great sounds and amazing vibe of JamBase. As we passed through the Madinat roundabout, I looked out the car window and saw the sea of younger hippies lining up at the entrance of Trilogy and felt a bit smug. You can be matured and sophisticated and declared a freak by pop music enthusiast because you listen to jazz and the blues. But at JamBase, you can have fabulous fun simply chilling to the sounds, soaking up the atmosphere or dancing to the tunes that you like. And it doesn’t have to be in the latest sweaty disco. Jazz and JamBase? Absolutely recommended!

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PINOY ABOUT TOWN Stepping out of the proverbial ‘kabayan box’, beyond Pinoy cafeterias and videoke

Rest,Relaxatio andRomanc By Giselle Estrada Photography by Mon Benitez

Hatta Fort Hotel

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flat lands with the backdrop of barren rocky mountains with a peculiar craggy surface, looking as if they have been feasted on by giant “anays” (termites) eons ago.

Once you hit a roundabout with a miniature fort, you know you have arrived. A modest driveway leads you to the hotel, a sprawling property spread across 80 acres of landscaped gardens, where the grass is green, the sky is a refreshing blue and everything looks fresh and bright. The vast spaces, the lively mesh of greens, white and fuchsia flowers, the distant view of the imposing rocky mountains, and the quietly pleasant ambiance immediately puts you in a relaxed mood, as soon as you enter the gate. Being in Hatta Fort Hotel is more like being at home, than being in a regular hotel. You feel a certain sense of privacy, while at the same time, the hotel’s friendly and pleasant air encourages you to step out of your cozy cocoon anytime to explore your surroundings. You are led to your room through a garden path dripping with bougainvilleas and generous greens. Hatta has very homey

spacious chalet-style rooms, spotlessly maintained, (after 7 years of consistent visits, I am happy to report that I haven’t seen a spec of dust in the shining wood ceiling panels!). Not only good for sleep, but also for unwinding sessions. You can sit at your own private balcony overlooking the gardens while sipping tea and just get lost in the moment, while the rest of the world tick-tocks away. Or even better, ask the hotel staff to prepare an intoxicatingly fragrant Elemis aromatherapy bath for you (or for two!), in the comfort of your own room. For superb dining, spend a romantic elegant evening at the candle-lit Jeema or a relaxed alfresco breakfast or lunch at the Gazebo, a coffee shop above the hotel’s main pool. The food and drinks are excellent and surprisingly reasonably-priced, unlike most of the smart eateries in the city. If you’re just visiting for the day, another good option is to enjoy a long lazy brunch by the Rock Pool.

If you’re in an active mood, there are lots of activities on offer. Apart from their swimming pools, there is a 9-hole par 3 cross-country fun golf course, mini golf,

on ce

PINOY ABOUT TOWN

putting green, field and target archery, skeet and trap, clay pigeon shooting, floodlit tennis court, jogging and walking routes. And if you’re looking for adventure, pack a picnic basket and head-off to explore the wadis on a 4-wheel drive. The wadis are perfect at this time of the year, except during rainy bouts when visitors are warned to be careful. Pick your own spot, complete with a private dipping pool, whip out the barbecue, your favorite drink and enjoy! Over and above everything that Hatta Fort has to offer, the most special compliment has to be given to its incredibly accommodating staff (some of whom remember guests’ wedding anniversaries!). You won’t see anybody in a bad mood in Hatta. The always-smiling staff would actually go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and happy. Most of the staff we have spoken to, a lot of them Filipinos, have been working there for almost a decade. And the pleasure shows in their work. That’s why we keep coming back (and that’s why we hate leaving!). Kudos to Signor Magnaldi, the hotel’s charming General Manager, for having kept Hatta Fort Hotel the welcoming special place that it is.

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PINOY PLANET

‘Sing’ and the Blues

By Giselle Estrada Photography by Ben Chan

By Law Diche

For a long time to come, most Filipinos will remember Singapore as the country where Flor Contemplacion, a Filipina domestic helper, was hanged.

“You said you were going to a conference.”

For the time being, it is my home.

Anyway, after a few more exchanges, she let me off with 30-day Social Visit Pass, and my first brush with Singlish, which needs quite a sharp ear, in my case at least.

Nestled on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula lies and just 137 kilometres north of the Equator, this island city-state is the smallest country in South-East Asia. How small is that? Well, its area is 699 square kilometers, while Metro Manila is 636. If you kick in a few more areas of Rizal or Laguna then Singapore is just about it. The day I left for Singapore was particularly uneventful except for the longing and sadness that was slowly creeping in as I kissed my 4-month-old daughter Nyx, 5-year-old son Lance, and my beloved wife Margie, goodbye. The thought of finally becoming an OFW has not really sunk in yet since the agreement with my current employer was a “let’s see what happens in a month” thing. It really was a sort of vacation after five long years at an MNC ad agency back in Manila. What was also creeping in that day was what would soon become a bad case of allergic rhinitis the moment I set my foot on Changi airport. I was sneezing non-stop and with the recent SARS scare, the thought of being detained and probably deported back, maybe even boxed up and quarantined, were running through my mind as I approached immigration. The immigration officer, however, was more concerned with where I will be staying and my purpose of visiting. “I’m going to visit some friends”, I said (since I’m coming in as a tourist) as I gave her, arguably, my most charming smile. She answered back, “So do you have an invitation to the conference?” “Conference what?”

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“Uhm, I said was going to visit some friends.”

Earlier on the flight, I had quite a lengthy conversation with a kababayan who was gushing over how modern Changi Airport was, one of the best in the world. And he was right. The first thing that crossed my mind was, “This is way too clean for me.” Stepping outside the airport, this thought just kept repeating itself. The streets were very clean. There were no electrical posts to block the greenery. Even the HDB flat I stayed in spelled s-a-n-i-t-a-r-y. Which compounded my allergic rhinitis further. HDB stands for the Housing Development Board, which I believe, is the equivalent of our National Housing Authority. I shared the flat with two families who occupied the rooms on the second floor while I stayed in the only room downstairs, and had the whole level pretty much to myself. These guys where from mainland China and spoke no English at all. However, their courteous smiles were warm. Perhaps because, just like them, we were foreigners in the Lion City. The next few days, was a gustatory discovery - food is as diverse as the people who live here. It may not be the best but the variety was a delight. Frankly though, their supposed national dish, Chicken Rice, much touted by my Singaporean colleagues, and much anticipated on my part, was a bit of a disappointment mainly because I was expecting something more glamorous or sophisticated, even exotic, in terms of preparation and presentation. It turned out to be Hainanese chicken, one that you can order at North Park or some other Chinese restaurant in Manila. But lest you think otherwise, it’s

Places and faces, through the eyes of a Pinoy viajero. It’s a small planet, a PINOY PLANET actually great. The difference though is the sticky rice itself, which according to them is cooked with chicken stock, therefore its sticky, tasty, oily mien. Another popular dish, which I have grown fond of, is Nasi Lemak. It is actually of Malaysian origin, and I‘ve read somewhere that it’s the unofficial national dish of Malaysia. It comes as a platter with cucumber slices with chilli sauce, small dried anchovies, roasted peanuts, sunny-side up fried egg and fried chicken. Being a true blue Pinoy however, I usual opt for the ‘safer’, more generic Chinese rice fare- a combination of various ‘ulam’, where you can choose meat or veggie from a wide, ‘turo-turo’ style selection. Weekends are Lonely Planet moments as I literally trekked through streets, with a mid-sized backpack with extra shirts as ‘baon’ since I prefer walking and discovering every nook and cranny. Walking along the long stretch of downtown Orchard Road, I soon discovered, gets you just about all the ‘important’ tourist shots you need. This stretch offers a cacophony of malls and shops that most tourists frequent. By the way, it’s a virtual United Nations out there, as you see people of all colors and sizes walk past you. Walk on and you can already get to Fort Canning Park, the Singapore Management University, an architectural beauty, to name some of the ‘tourist spots’. Up ahead would be several churches including their first, St. Andrew’s Cathedral. From that point, you can already take a stop at the magnificent Esplanade Theatre whose architecture reminds you of a honeycomb or even a close-up of fly’s eyes. From there, simply cross the bridge and you’ll be smack right at the Merlion, perhaps the most famous symbol of Singapore, a statue with a lion’s head and fish’s body, a definite stop for all tourists, as the Luneta Park would be. But as I would soon find out, as most OFWs probably had long before me, all these sightseeing can only get you so far. Despite the long and distant trekking, all the walking I‘ve done, the longing and sadness that had been building up from the day I left finally caught up with me. A classic case of “you can run but you can’t hide”. Very soon, alone in my room, a lump started to grow in my throat. I felt a hot flush in my eyes. I found myself talking to my Baby Tsina’s (Nyx’s nickname) photo. Looking at those big dark eyes with chinky slits on the side was enough for me to break down. Staring at 2T’s

(Lance’s nickname) tooth-deprived grin is enough to make me cry and laugh at the same time. Yes, that is possible. Any self-respecting, homesick OFW like me would say yes, that is so true. What I used to believe was a scene reserved for cheesy, OA, Pinoy drama flicks. It was devastating. And it was also exhilarating. I was cursing myself for leaving home, but Wow, I’m also an OFW now. Then, I felt like going out and getting drunk. But I dismissed the thought as soon as it came. A bottle of Singapore’s Tiger beer, what San Miguel beer is to us, is about S$5--that’s P150. I need at least six of those, and that would set me back almost P1000, ouch! But you can’t drown yourself in wistfulness forever lest you’ve got some masochistic inclinations. Fortunately, my Dad, an OFW himself who worked fighter planes in Iran, and I lived in different ages. While my Mom used to take us to the airport to meet Dad’s colleagues who were either leaving or coming home so we can send each other letters, (a specially tough thing to do during the Iran-Iraq war), this time, we have the Internet. So, thank God for webcam. For Yahoo Messenger. For Skype. For VOIP calls, a wonderful alternative after some call center lady misinformed my wife that SMS charges are the same so that my Globe bill ballooned to over P6k in just a month. Thanks for eRadioPortal that still allows me to listen to NU107. Thanks for www.PinoySg.com where forums alone make you feel very much at home. Thanks to my job, that has given far better prospects for my children’s future. And hey, kudos to us OFWs for keeping our country’s economy afloat. Yup, this is quite a good time to become an OFW. Despite the blues.

Illustrado 1

DESIGN FEATURE Christmas is a time, when most of us feel homesick and long for the familiarity of home. Unlike living abroad, back in the Philippines, one is truly immersed in the experience of the holidays. The festive spirit envelopes you – you feel it in the air, hear it on the airwaves and you see Christmas decorations all around, from the parols and trinkets that adorn homes, to street lights, to elaborate shop window displays celebrating the season of joy. That is why it’s worth making an effort to infuse your living space, not only with the generic red Christmas balls and gold tinsel, but also with cheerful familiar little things – if only to bring you closer to home. Illustrado challenged Vincent Subeldia, Interior Design expert and Regional Visual Merchandising Manager of the popular home furnishings store Home Center, to put together a memorable holiday setting evoking feelings of home, focused around the most special night of the season. Designing for Noche Buena, as Vince quite rightly puts it, is often underrated. “Oftentimes so much effort is placed in preparing the scrumptious holiday feast but very little attention is given to how this is presented at the dinner table.” Vince adds that “The key to great entertaining, whether you are doing it for your partner, your family or for a big group of friends, is tantalizing the senses, which starts visually.” Vince also believes that the Christmas season and all its visual elements should be injected into the Noche Buena setting, turning our age-old Filipino tradition into a more interesting affair. “One must try to translate the season’s sparkle, opulence and magic into the dining table and create a theme to make this joyous occasion even more memorable than the usual, ” he explains. For this feature, Vince put together a Filipino-inspired table setting reminiscent of elegant dinner parties back in the Philippines. “This setting is quite eclectic – marrying ethnic, contemporary and traditional Filipino elements. The color scheme breaks away from traditional Christmas colors and uses the more elegant and warm palette of ecru, gold, copper and the natural colors of shell and bamboo,” he said. Here’s the rest of what Vince has to say about our La Mesa Noche Buena feature: Getting that traditional Filipino feel is quite a challenge when one is living out of home base. Using contemporary accessories made of

Illustrado 72

homegrown materials is what lent that Filipino flavor to this setting. Accessories like candle holders and Christmas balls made of capiz shells, earthen vases with bamboo trim and placemats also made of bamboo that you would not normally consider for an elegant setting are fused well with sparkling glass and metallic finishes. The centerpiece is an assemblage of contrasting elements of earthen pottery, pearl finishes and glittering glass, which reflect the light of the candles. Each plate setting is anchored on a bamboo placemat by a traditional copper-finished service plate, followed by a salad plate and soup bowl in fine off-white crockery with a muted rose design.

The design of the flutes and wine glasses remind me of the Filipino Barong Tagalog with its striped gold pattern also reflected on the dinner napkins. The napkins which are rolled instead of folded are dressed dramatically with an opulent looking curtain tie back, which a guest can take home as a Christmas souvenir. To make each setting more personalized, especially if you have guests, a name card is placed where a short Christmas message can be written on the reverse side. To add more dazzle votive candles on copper and gold trimmed glass bowls are also scattered across the table.

DESIGN FEATURE

LA MESA

Noche Buena

By Giselle Estrada Photography by Phot Ph

Vincent Subeldia, originally a Business

Burberry, and Hugo Boss.

Management major, graduated at the top of his

involved in the Philippine Centennial Museum

class at the Philippine School of Interior

project as Associate Designer.

He was also

Design and has to his credit a range of stores,

Vincent currently works for Home Center as

showrooms, restaurants, hotels and salons, as

Regional Visual Merchandising Manager. His

well as residential projects.

While doing

job in the leading furniture and accessories

freelance interior design Vincent also worked

retailer in the Gulf, he says, has taught him to

as Visual Merchandising Consultant for Duty

integrate his background in business with his

Free Philippines, Fashion Walk and Sportmart

passion for design.

commercial

projects

spanning

where he gained exposure to designer luxury brands such as Cartier, Salvatore Ferragamo,

Illustrado 73

ILLUSTRADO FEATURE DWSIGN FEATURE

DESIGN FEATURE

With such elegant opulence on his Noche Buena table display, we asked Vince if decorating for the season meant spending a lot of money, “A great table setting does not necessarily require the finest china, fancy crystals or expensive silverware. What makes it interesting and memorable is the unexpected. A silver napkin ring for example is something that is lovely but using a fancy glittering curtain tieback is truly memorable. It all depends on how you use your imagination and resourcefulness.”

Top Tips in Decorating Your Home for the Holidays • Create your own Christmas theme. It can be as simple as choosing a color palette consisting of three principal colors, or decorating with everything that’s meaningful and memorable to you.

• You can hang wreaths on doors and walls and trim the top of your windows and paintings with garlands decorated with ribbons and trinkets. Candles are the perfect accessory to your tables and mantles.

• Start by dressing up your Christmas tree and work your way to the other areas of your home. Try to decorate most of the areas of your home to feel the spirit of Christmas felt everywhere.

• To make your Christmas decorating more meaningful find old family photographs, cards and mementos to hang on your tree or display on your tables. This will remind you of loved ones back home.

• In choosing a color theme, limit your colors to three and stick with it. You can use a variety of textures and materials but in the same color palette to keep your décor solid and visually strong.

• Use your imagination to create a beautiful and suitable Noche Buena setting for your family and guests. Just because you entertain casually, it doesn’t have to be boring.

• Decorate your Christmas tree densely to keep it looking lush. Do not just hang ornaments randomly everywhere, but rather create a pattern around your tree for each style or color of Christmas decor. Light up your tree with single colored Christmas lights to keep the look elegant.

• Having a small living space doesn’t mean that there is no need for Christmas decorations. You don’t need a villa or a huge flat to surround yourself with festive cheer. The more limited your space, the more you need to liven it up with the spirit of the season. It’s good for the eyes and good for the soul!

All design and table elements courtesy of Home Center.

Illustrado 75

Couture

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JOEY BALUYOT • +971 050-6858811 • +971 050-

ILLUSTRADO FACE OF THE MONTH CELEBRATING PINOY CHARM

ANNA DE LEON RADIANT BEAUTY Fresh-faced beauty Anna de Leon calls herself a ‘true blue kulasa’ (Scholastican), her feminine demeanor a dead give-away of her convent-bred background. Anna grew up in a close-knit family in Manila making it difficult for her to leave the Philippines. She moved to Dubai two years ago and is now comfortably settled in a promising marketing career in one of the region’s fastest growing airlines.

Anna is a fervent supporter of ‘girl power’ and says tongue-in-cheek, “We should see more women CEOs, Managing Directors, Inventors, Political figures, Prime Ministers and while effectively performing their jobs and being mothers at the same time, they walk into their offices in their well pressed power suits, Louboutins and beautifully made up faces.” She says, ultimately, she believes that being a good woman and raising good children is one of the best contributions that any

woman can give the world. When asked about her hopes for the Filipino, Anna states, “My hope for the Filipinos is for us to see our value. We should never sell ourselves short.” As for being an ‘Illustrado’, Anna says with conviction, “I consider myself an ‘Illustrado’ because as far as I am concerned, there is no other category that Filipino expats should be in. We should be proud of our heritage and at the same time be accepting of others.”

Illustrado 65

FEATURE

It’s 4:30 PM on a weekday. At the far end of New Dubai, Mikaela Santos sits at the dining table for her Arabic revisions. On the other side of town, Swedish-Filipino Jonas Lindstrom goes through his drums practice at a music school in Wafi, while not far off Mark Rivera sulks in their living room couch for yet another TV marathon all alone - waiting for his parents to return from work. Just like any other weekday, teenager Shaina tends to her younger brother as surrogate mom in their shared flat in Khalidiya St., while in a villa in posh Jumeirah, Kieran tinkers with his collection of electric cars while his iPod Nano blasts pop music to his young ears. Just another typical afternoon in the life of a batang Pinoy, growing up in eclectic U.A.E.

Children of the Pinoy Diaspora Children of the Filipino diaspora – batang Pinoy raised outside their home country; growing up with unique challenges, not to mention opportunities, versus their ‘homeland-based’ compatriots. Due to the distinctive circumstances shaping their childhood, batang Pinoys form a subculture of their own, totally different from their original home, or for that matter, even their host country. At closer inspection, one cannot help but ask - are they in a position of advantage, or are they paying the price for their parents’ decision in choosing the life of a Filipino expatriate? Whereas adults expatriates remain bonded to their original nationalities and carry with them the traditions and values of their homeland, children born and bred outside the boundaries of their original culture, whether with Filipino or mixed nationality parents, are in a category of their own. This is especially true for Pinoy expat kids who are born in the Gulf, or were relocated here during their formative years. American Sociologist Ruth Hill Useem calls them ‘Third Culture Kids’ (TCKs), a term which refers to “someone who has spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own [as a child], thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture”. Being a TCK brings with it both positive and negative aspects to the childhood of a batang Pinoy.

It Takes a Village Growing up abroad is a totally different experience, as compared to being raised in the Philippines. For starters, the social structure in the Gulf is very different from what we have back home.

FEATURE

Batang Pinoy

f l u G e h t n i Growing up By Lalaine Chu-Benitez Photography by Joel Guerrero and Mac Antonio

At closer inspection, one cannot help but ask - are they in a position of advantage, or are they paying the price for their parents’ decision in choosing the life of a Filipino expatriate? In the Gulf, however, where the presence of entire families is uncommon and where knowing one’s neighbor is an exception to the rule, Filipino children oftentimes suffer from a form of isolation during their childhood years. Add to this the fast paced life in cosmopolitan cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where most Filipino fathers and mothers have to maintain jobs, a lot of our children grow up ‘home alone’. This situation in turn, results to the faster maturity of these kids. As observed by sociologists, TCKs usually grow up to be fiercely independent. Another impact of this set-up is that children tend to form stronger bonds with their parents and family members. As we all know, parents play a crucial role in shaping the children’s value system, and in the absence of an ‘extended family’ scenario, this responsibilty becomes more pronounced. Photo courtesy of Bernadette Lindstrom

As expatriates, a few of us are lucky enough to be surrounded by their entire family, let alone extended families. And as the African proverb popularized by Hillary Clinton goes – “It takes a village to raise a child”. Back home, blessed with the presence of parents, siblings, lolas, lolos, titas, titos, cousins, as well as friendly neighbors, Filipino children have the benefit of growing up within the protective ‘cocoon’ of a close-knit community, providing them an environment filled with the intimacy of familial relationships, where values are learned automatically. Parents also benefit from the practical support such a social system provides – because after all, there will always be a

member of the family or a neighbor whom they can rely on, in case they need help.

Illustrado 13

FEATURE Shared Flats and Boredom On a more practical note, batang Pinoys are also affected by limited living space – a byproduct of today’s skyrocketing rents and cost of living. Kids who experienced growing up in a house, in a familiar neighborhood back home where they can roam, will find shared flat living quite stifling. Whether due to financial or logistics reason, Filipino children here also have limited options in extra curricular activities. Apart from school and the mall, there is not much for young people to do. Afterschool activites such as sports and the arts do exist. However, due to the sometimes prohibitive costs involved, not a lot of Pinoy parents can afford to provide their kids such diversions.

Rich Cultural Perspective But for whatever they are lacking, Filipino kids make up for a richer multicultural perspective. Because everybody else is culturally different, they do not see themselves as any different. This exemplifies the typical multicultural value of a child reared in the ‘borderless world’ that is the Gulf.

Filipino children here, a lot of them attending international schools, are more cosmopolitan. They get along easier with anybody and are more comfortable interacting with different nationalities. They also have the linguistic edge of being able learn and practice several languages – Tagalog, English, Arabic, and in some cases even French. This richness in cultural exposure and understanding provides

Long time Gulf residents Archie and Annie Espera exemplify what many Filipino parents go through in the Gulf. They brought their daughter, Arianne, to Bahrain when she was only five years old, before eventually transferring to the UAE.

When asked on what advice she could give to parents raising their kids in the Gulf. Annie replied, “Sometimes kids will go through a difficult phase and it is important that we make a conscious effort to understand their struggles within the unique (cultural) situation they are in.”

I asked Arianne how was it like growing up in the Gulf. “I consider myself a ‘latchkey child’ because I grew up alone”, says the bubbly 16 year old. “I’d go home from school and eat lunch by myself. My parents would come home in the evening and that’s when I would spend time with them. It was always like that when I was growing up.” Annie remembers with a sad note, “She literally looked after herself because my husband and I had very stressful jobs. In a way, nakakaawa din siya. At times it was very heartbreaking, especially when she used to get sick and she would call me on the phone asking me to come home. We felt that she was lonely, especially because she’s our only child.” “As a parent, I felt guilty but it was reassuring that she was not alone in this kind of a situation.” Referring to the lack of family support, Annie concludes, “That’s what’s abnormal with growing up out of our country.” I asked Arianne how she coped, and she confidently replied, “I got myself busy.” To which her mom added, “She grew up fast. That made her very strong and self-sufficient. Her outlet was her circle of friends, just like an extension of her family.” I then asked Annie what she thinks makes her daughter different from children brought up in the Philippines, “Apart from being independent, Arianne is very exposed to different cultures and that’s definitely an edge for her future. She can get along easily with other nationalities. She’s also seen a bigger part of the world compared to kids back home.” On being a Filipino, Arianne states, “I’m a Filipino at heart, and I think it’s important for Filipino kids to know how to speak their own language; while at the same time I also would like to think that I shouldn’t be hanging out with Filipinos only. I have friends from different nationalities, and I also enjoy their company.”

them a built-in advantage they carry with them throughout their lives as ‘global citizens’.

Children of the Pinoy Diaspora According to social research, one of the main issues of TCKs not unique to Pinoys is the search for national identity. Whereas children would identify themselves as ‘global citizens’ who belong everywhere, a lot of them grow up with the feeling that they belong nowhere. In the Gulf, it easy for Pinoy kids to label themselves as Filipinos. They might be nationalistic, as learned from their parents and community, and able to speak the language. But knowing that one is Filipino is totally different from understanding how it is to be one.

FEATURE

This dilemma becomes a difficult reality when these children visit the Philippines, where they feel different from almost everybody else; more so when they eventually have to settle there for good.

Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together So how do parents help their children to avoid the pitfalls and soften the complexities of life as a batang Pinoy growing up in the Gulf? Certainly, it all starts with good parenting, and providing a loving home, as well as maintaining a close relationship with one’s offsprings and being sensitive to their issues, regardless of career considerations. It doesn’t, however, stop there. Filipino expatriate parents also have the responsibility of strengthening their children’s national identity by teaching them the mother tongue, and most importantly imparting to them homegrown values and traditions. One practical thing that parents can do is to ensure that their kids visit the Philippines from time to time, acquainting them with the reality back home, and encouraging them to form relationships, albeit ‘long distance’, with other family members. On a social level, it is also important for families to seek support systems that extend outside the home, something that is uncommon to most Filipinos due to our timidity. We should sometimes take a cue from our bolder and more pragmatic ‘co-expats’ especially the Westerners, most of whom establish intimate social circles where their children can meet other children and establish relationships of their own, while parents provide assistance to each other. As expatriate parents whose decision to leave the Philippines has affected our children’s childhood and lifestyle, we need to provide affirmation and support to ensure that the pieces of their expat ‘puzzle’ fit. It is only but fair that we invest more time and patience, for our children, because the life of a batang Pinoy growing up in the Gulf, is not always kid’s play.

Illustrado 15

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Noche Buena a la Alba Photography by Ben Chan

Noche Buena is one of THE occasions in the year when we Filipinos always make an effort to prepare something special, away from the usual lutong bahay dishes, which make up our daily, or even weekend, staples. ‘Tis the season to dig for old family secret recipes or to look at our rich multi-cultural heritage to put together a gustatory feast fit for celebrating with family and friends. In keeping with the holiday’s rich traditions, Illustrado has invited one of the best fine dining institutions in Manila for an extra special Noche Buena spread. “You haven't tasted paella unless you've tasted Alba's paella,” is what culinary writers in Manila have to say about Alba Restaurante Español’s most popular dish. Known as the ‘Home of Traditional Spanish Cooking in Manila’, Alba has served generations of Spanish food lovers in Manila for over 50 years, and is synonymous with exceptional Spanish food and excellent fine dining service. Founded in 1952 by Señor Anastacio de Alba, who hails from Avila, Spain, the restaurant continues to serve traditional Spanish fare and is a favorite among Manila’s discriminating diners. Señor Anastacio de Alba, who also founded the famous Spanish restaurants, Patio de Alba, La Mancha, and Casa Colas, has popularized rich Spanish favorites such as Paella Valenciana, Callos a la Madrileña, Lengua Sevillana, Tuhod y Batoc, Solomillo a la Pobre, Cochinillo Asado, as well as homemade specialties like Jamon Serrano, Chorizo de Bilbao, Pamplona, Salchichas Madrileña, Chistorra, and Butifarra among others. Alba has several branches around the metropolis – the main outlet popular for its romantic dinners is in Polaris St., Bel-Air Makati, while two other branches are in Tomas Morato and Eastwood in Libis. Discerning clients who keep coming back for the fine rich food steeped in tradition, as well as the warm and inviting ambiance, frequent the restaurant. Alba Restaurante Español shares their recipe for three great dishes fit for festive Noche Buena.

FOOD

Illustrado 1

FOOD Noche Buena a la Alba

Paella Marinera

Pollo a la Romero

Lapu-Lapu en Salsa Verde

Spanish rice cooked with seafood and vegetables Yields two servings.

Roast chicken with rosemary, shallots and mushrooms. Yields two servings.

Lapu-Lapu in green sauce Yields two to three servings.

Ingredients: 3 tbsps. Olive oil 1 tsp. Chopped garlic 1 tbsp. Chopped onion 50 gms. Shrimps, medium size 50 gms. Squid rings 50 gms. Fish cubes 6 pcs. Clams 50 gms. Crabs 25 gms. Red and green bell peppers 15 gms. Tomatoes 2 tbsp. Tomato sauce 2 cups Fish stock 1 pinch Saffron 10 gms. Salt and pepper 110 gms. Rice (California or Japanese) 10 gms. Peas 1 Lemon, cut into wedges 1 Hardboiled egg, sliced Procedure: 1. Sauté garlic and onions in olive oil. 2. Add shrimps, squid rings, fish cubes, clams, crabs. Cook for 2 minutes. 3. Add peppers. 4. Add tomatoes and tomato sauce. 5. Pour in stock. Add saffron. Season with salt and pepper. 6. Add rice and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Reduce fire. 7.Cover paellera with foil and continue to cook for 15 more minutes or until rice is done. 8.Garnish with lemon wedges and hardboiled egg slices FISH STOCK Yields 1 liter Ingredients: 10 gms. Butter 40 gms. Onions, finely chopped 20 gms. Celery, finely chopped 20 gms. Carrots, finely chopped 500 gms. Lapu-Lapu bones ¼ cup White wine 1 liter Cold water Parsley stems ** Sea bass or grouper can be used as substitute for Lapu-Lapu. Procedure: 1. Butter the bottom of the pot, then place the onions, celery, carrots and the bones. 2. Set the pot over low heat and cook slowly for about 5 minutes, until the bones release some juices. 3. Add wine and bring to a simmer, then add the water and let simmer for another 30-40 minutes. 4. Strain.

Ingredients: ½ Chicken ½ tsp. Rosemary leaves 1 tsp. Garlic, chopped ½ cup Aromatic wine ½ cup Olive oil 1 pc. Carrot, small 1 pc. Celery stalk 1 pc. Bay leaf SAUCE: 2 tbsps. Butter 6 pcs. Shallots, finely chopped ½ cup Brown sauce Salt and pepper to taste VEGETABLES: 2 tbsps. Olive oil 5 pcs. Marble potatoes, cooked 5 pcs. Button mushrooms 5 pcs. Shallots, whole, peeled Salt and pepper to taste. Chopped parsely for garnish. Procedure for chicken: 1. Marinate chicken for 12 hours in rosemary, garlic, wine and olive oil. 2. Add carrots, celery, and bay leaf to the marinade and roast for 20-25 minutes or until done. Procedure for sauce: 1. Sauté shallots in butter. Add brown sauce and the juice left from the roasting pan. 2. Reduce sauce until thick. 3. Season with salt and pepper. Procedure for vegetables: 1. Sauté potatoes, mushrooms, and onions in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. 2. Garnish with parsley.

Ingredients: 400 gms. Lapu-Lapu fillet All purpose flour for coating 1/3 cup Olive oil 4 cloves of Garlic, finely chopped ½ Onion, medium size, finely chopped Salt and white ground pepper to taste 1/8 cup White wine 1-2 tbsp. Parsley, finely chopped 100 gms. Clams 1/3 cup Fish stock, or as needed Procedure: 1. Coat the fish fillet pieces with flour. Set aside. 2. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan that is large enough to hold the fish comfortably. Add the garlic and onions. 3. When the onions start to caramelize, remove the pan from the heat and arrange the fish in it. 4. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and parsley. Add the wine, broth and the clams. 5. Set the pan over low heat. 6. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens. When the fish turns white, the dish is ready to be served.

Travelling home e v i soon? est ft F Gi

Win a Free Buffet Lunch for Two at Alba Restaurante Español! Illustrado Ill ustrado is giving away to three lucky pairs the chance to sample Alba’s legendary Spanish cuisine in any of their branches. SSimply imply answer the question: Where are the three branches of Alba Restaurante Español located? E-mail your answers to: admin@illustrado.net Specify - Subject: Alba Contest Contest open until the 31st December 2006.

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Nexus prides itself on advising clients to make smart consumer choices, so that time and energy is spent directing funds into the appropriate insurance products. Getting the right information about the type of product being purchased is of critical importance and Nexus is ideally placed to offer expert advice. Potentially complicated areas such as purchasing medical cover may involve checking the geographic area of cover, waiting periods, and options to renew. Nexus provides information about the types of products, which are available, and how they measure up to a client’s needs. Most people rely on trusted friends and family as a source of information if they have experience of certain insurance and financial products. Because the company is unbiased and independent, its sales people are also a source of top quality information where customer needs are put first and a wide range of products made available for their unique requirements. It is important people realize the positive and negative features of the financial options they are exploring, such as quality, price and service – and the fact that no one option is perfect with all positive features and no negative ones. Knowing those priorities is the most important guide for people – and one Nexus helps clients understand.

The independent status of Nexus means it can offer financial and insurance products and services from the whole marketplace, providing high net worth clients from the Philippines with a wide choice of highly-rated, leading providers from around the world.

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FEATURE

My First

Christmas Away from Home

Who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas in Manila? Carols fill the air. Bright, colorful lights twinkle happily in every building and home. The chilly December air forcing us into our jackets and sweaters. Last minute shopping. The pealing of church bells inviting all to mass. The Noche Buena with keso de bola, hamon china, castañas, roasted pinipig over a mug of piping hot cocoa.

loneliness, but I knew I deceived no one. Also for the first time in so many years, I had the sincere desire to go to church and talk to Him. Ask for strength to just survive the day. But alas, there are no churches in Saudi Arabia.

But it was when I was not in Manila where I felt the true spirit of Christmas. I felt it on my first Christmas away from home when I was thousands of miles away.

Luckily I was invited to join a Christmas party hosted by co-workers of a friend and former boss from Manila to a Red Sea Villa along Madina road. With kare-kare, chicken cordon bleu (bought at this Filipino restaurant called Mabuhay), inihaw na bangus, adobo, my hunger for a taste of home was sated. And with countless glasses of sadiqi cocktails, my thirst for good, old Filipino camaraderie was slaked.

I was sad, alone and dreadfully homesick. And I am grateful for it. It was Christmas 1991. I was in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I remember we had work that day. Our Creative Director had already flown home to London a week earlier. Conveniently, some of the Lebanese account guys had also gone on holiday. Some went home, while others flew out to some swanky European destination to meet up with friends and family. The unlucky ones, a few Filipinos (me included), a smattering of Indians and a few Sudanese held the fort for a boring, uneventful Christmas day at the office. Though Christmas was not celebrated in the whole of Saudi Arabia, I felt it’s overwhelming presence within me. I felt it throbbing in my heart. If I had known it was going to be this excruciatingly painful, I would not have signed up for this. Calling home only made it worse. I tried, with much effort, to sound normal to clothe my

Illustrado 28

“I will endure this,” I swore to myself, and will live to tell the tale.

By Lito Viriña

kabayan!,” I understood what that look must be like. They, too, had probably survived their first Christmas away from home, and recognized me as one who was about to endure it. Perhaps some of them were experiencing this painful ordeal for the first time, too, and looking at me for assurance that everything will be alright. Christmas need not reside in places where it is openly celebrated. With keso de bola, hamon china, castañas, roasted pinipig over a mug of piping hot cocoa. The true spirit of Christmas remains alive within our hearts. It is charity, kindness and compassion.

I soldiered on for the next couple of months until it was time for my bakasyon.

Every Christmas, my thoughts are with the countless Filipinos, forced to spend their first Christmases away from hearth and home, risking sanity and limb to provide their families what they could not if they stayed and worked in Manila - a decent home, a good education, food on the table and whatever little luxuries their hard-earned dollars could buy.

I read somewhere that war veterans, at unguarded moments, have this dazed look in their eyes. A stare recognized by other vets that sparks a bond of friendship when just moments ago there was none.

And also every Christmas, I remember those Filipinos who opened their home to me and shared their humble feast when I was sad and alone on my first Christmas thousands of miles away from home.

I didn’t quite understand what that meant. I couldn’t relate to it then.

I am forever indebted to them for keeping watch over my sadness and for entertaining me with banter and good cheer.

I survived my first Christmas away from home terribly hung over, with all my faculties intact, but still hurting inside.

When I recall the faces of our compatriots who passed by me on the streets of Jeddah that Christmas evening in 1991, strangers bound by a profound experience of sadness, recognizing the sacrifice in each other’s eyes, and greeting one another “Merry Christmas,

“Thank you. Thank you. Ang babait ninyo! Thank you!”

This season of giving, De La Salle Montessori will Adopt a Scholar 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 February 2007 issue. Address all mails to: editor@illustrado.net Subject: Adopt a Scholar Program

FILIFINISMS

By Sonny Guzman

Joy to the World, tatlong…… Pula, puti, asul…. Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, …..ni Sabel! Mapula, maputi, tanggal ang ……! Hey! Oooopss…..I apologize for getting carried away. Here abroad, no amount of food, booze, decorations and even shopping can ever come close to what we have back home. The holiday celebrations: Christmas and New Year - Pinoy style - afterall, is truly unique, creative and very, very festive – not to mention the longest celebrated event in the world. Eh saan ka pa ba makakakita ng Paskong tulad nito?

Only in the Philippines will you ever find these Pinoy trademarks when celebrating the holidays: • Inday Badiday’s Countdown to Christmas at Eye To Eye • The lighting of the Gigantic Christmas Tree in Cubao with Kuya Germs and the cast of Walang Tulugan • Decorations galore right after All Saint’s Day up to pre-Valentine’s Day, Christmas Carols over the radio at start of the “ber” months • The nativity presentation at COD, Santa Claus in every mall • Family reunions, school reunions, exofficemates’ reunions, barkada reunions and many other kinds of reunions • Christmas Trees na may support na tali at bato sa paanan (naluma na kasi over the years) • Gigantic and colorful parols from Pampanga • SMC ‘Samahan Ng Mga Malalamig Ang Christmas’ • The UP Lantern Parade • Christmas Caroling at every house in your neighborhood • “Tenk yu, Tenk yu, ang babait ninyo, Tenk yu!” or, “Tenk Yu, Tenk Yu, ang babarat ninyo, Tenk Yu!” (depending on your tip) • Monito Monita, Kris Kringle, Secret Santa in the office, at home and in school • New clothes and shoes – Katas ng Pasko

Illustrado 60

• Aguinaldo: gifts from godparents, bosses and corrupt politicians • Godparents who hide from their godchildren • Puto-bumbong and bibingka • Fruitcake – the older, the better! • Queso de Bola, Fiesta Ham na nabubulok, Tsokolate, eh! • Simbang gabi and the wish you get to make upon completion of the nine masses • Christmas parties galore • Production numbers during Christ mas parties • The 13th month tax-free bonus!!! • Star City, Boom na Boom, Payanig sa Pasig, Big Bang sa Alabang, • The endless shopping for gifts and goodies • Traffic chaos during Christmas rush • Taxi drivers, janitors, security guards, garbage collectors, the police and traffic officers demand for pamasko • Noche Buena and Media Noche • Fireworks and firecrackers, Super Lolo, Bawang, Sinturo ni Judas, Trompillo, Fountain, Kwitis, Lusis, Trianggulo, 5-Star, Diyablo, Watusi, etc. • The smell of kalburo – for the kanyon during New Year • Tindahan ng mga paputok sa Bocaue. Hours later, mga sunog at putukan ng mga factory ng paputok sa Bocaue • Christmas bazaars, tiangge at Green hills, Club Houses and Sports Clubs • The Metro Manila Film Festival: from the parade, actual showing and awards night

• Dressing up in stripes and polka dots during New Year’s Eve • Jumping when the clock strikes 12 midnight during New year so you get taller • Leaving the cabinets, closets, cash registers, doors and windows open at the stroke of midnight to invite good luck and fortune inside the house when the New Year arrives, or, your open invitation to the AkyatBahay Gang • The Pasabog ng Pera or coins at the stroke of midnight for good luck • New Year’s Resolutions that are meant to be broken

The list is endless. The memories, priceless. No matter how weird and sometimes absurd these qualities maybe, wala pa rin talagang mas sasaya pa sa Paskong Pinoy. I wish you Happy Reminiscing as I shuffle thru my iPod’s Tagalog Christmas Playlist. “Ang Dish-yembre Ko ay malung-kot… ’Pagkaaat….. Miss Kitaaaa……Kung Kris-maaaas…..”

“Paris B.”

FILIPINISMS

Hello. My name is Annie B. And I am a fashionista. (Applause) For a fashionista, life in Dubai can get very intense. As in! As they say, you are what you wear. That’s why a daster is connected to a feather duster - pang-Best in Day-Off, ika nga. One Friday, I had to petsit Coffee - my neighbor’s puppy. Wow! Paris Hilton has Tinkerbell and I have Coffee! I found the perfect outfit to hit the nearest mall - tank top, denim mini skirt, Manolo Blahnik-looking SM Parisian sandals and my faux Dior bubuyog shades. I’ll show Dubai’s high fashion crowd what I’m made of! Dizzizit, Paris B! You are the universe! Alas! My would-be grand entrance turned into a major disaster! While entering the mall, Coffee ran fast, disappearing into the crowd. So I did what any yaya would do – chase after my alaga, in my heels and shades! Co-ffffeeeeee!!! Co-peee!!! Koo-pe!!! I began to lose my new British accent. I checked out this Optical Shop but they said they don’t sell coffee…just sunglasses. Halleeer??? Then I tried the café – they told me to choose a flavor from their menu. Grrr…. Oh nooo…what will my neighbor say? Must find that doggy now… but wait – Mango has a Sale!!! Coffee must have guessed from my outfit that I’m planning to go to Mango. Aha! Finding Coffee and sale outfits in Mango – hitting two dogs with one stone! Dizzizit!!!

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.

The shop was filled with Pinays – like hungry amazonas hunting for their japorms and killer weapons. Of course, birds with the same feathers pack together! Go kabayans – attaaaaaack!!! Half an hour later, two blouses, one cigarette pants, and last season’s in-demand pastel cheongsam – all at half price, still no Coffee. I’m really in deep seat now! And thirsty. And famissed. So I hit Starbucks and ordered a Grande Mocha Props, “decapitated, without whiff cream, please.” I was almost crying – where’s Coffee? What to doooo?!!! Then I heard barking from behind. A bunch of teenagers were playing with a puppy. Hey, it’s my Coffee!!! She quickly jumped over the table and ran towards me. I spilled my propuchino over my tank top – qebs! – Coffee is back!!! As I thanked the kids, I noticed security guards approaching. Was it my shouting? I posed like Paris Hilton. Dedma.

Annie B.’s Fashionista Guide The Budget Fashionista

K-Mart (Karama), Carrefour and Lulu regulars. Adventurous but budget-conscious. Nothing wrong with that, just don’t get surprised to find dozens of your clones at St. Mary’s.

The True-Blue Fashionista

Signature-shoppers in Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols and Villa Moda. High maintenance trends followers. Expect clones in places like Trilogy, Peppermint, even Spinney’s.

The Pinay Fashionista

“Excuse me, ma’am, no pets inside the mall.”

Practical but clever, SALE regulars. Whether in Zara, Mango or Giordano – you look cool without hurting your pocket! Great finds help them blend in with Dubai’s trendy crowd. Just make sure not to sit across your clones in Acoustic Pinoy or Jules Bar.

(Dedma pa rin.) “What?” (In thick British accent) “What the bloody hell do you mean?”

The Kabayan Anti-Fashionista

“Take your dog outside the mall now, Ma’am.” “But she is not an askal. She’s European-bread. Her name is Coffee. And this is Starbucks! Hello, coffee? Starbucks? Halleerrrr??!!!” But no amount of brand dropping convinced the guards that I should be sashaying down their corridors. “No pets allowed,” they slammed on my face. But what about those ‘pets’ carrying shopping bags inside? Sure, they might be fashionistas, but Coffee looks better than them!

Standard kabayan costume - oversized basketball jersey, puruntong and tsinelas topped by an April Boy Regino-esque bull cap. Perfect for a miting de avance at the barangay hall!!! But puh-leazeee!! Is this outfit appropriate in a bar inside a hotel, whether two or five stars?!!! Unless you’re ten and below, check yourself in front of the mirror before hitting the next club, honey! Remember, you are what you wear. A faux fur jacket with a sweaty and oily face, even in the middle of December will not make you a fashionista – unless you’re headed to Ski Dubai.

HILIG PINOY Pinoys’’ toys, hobbies and obsessions

How to make a

PAROL By Joel Guerrero

Natatandaan mo pa ba nung gumawa ka ng parol na school project? If you’re male, thirty-something, born and bred in the Philippines and you studied sa ‘Mababang Paaralan ng …’, chances are, you’ve had the experience of creating our very own Pinoy symbol of Christmas, the parol, with your bare hands. Making a parol is folk craft. And why not? The parol is as Filipino as patis and jeepney. Way before we Filipinos started decorating our homes with Christmas trees, wreaths, bells and other western symbols of Christmas, parols in different colors, designs and materials, already hung in the homes of the entire neighborhood – in the cities and villages. It is a way of heralding the joyous season, a representation of the star of Bethlehem guiding the Three Kings. So anywhere in the world you go, if you see a parol proudly hung outside a home, you can be sure that it is a Filipino home. According to historical accounts the traditional parols, made of bamboo sticks, Japanese rice paper and lit by a candle or an oil lamp, were used by Filipinos in the early days to illuminate their way to church for Simbang Gabi. After returning from mass, the villagers would then proudly hang their parol in their windows. These simple lanterns symbolized the solemnity of the holidays for Filipinos back then. From its humble beginnings, the parol has developed into a more modern version with the use of newer materials such as colored plastics or cellophane, as well as electric lighting, and now in it’s most high-tech form, there are parols made from a mix of both traditional and modern materials such as those made in Pampanga with capiz shells, incorporated with an amazing kaleidoscope of blinking lights. Some of these ‘mega-parols’ are called giants and can be as big as 20 feet! But whatever the design, and whether it is low-tech or hi-tech, one great thing about the parol is the way it can bring the warm spirit of Christmas to your home, or even the nostalgia of all those things that make holiday in the Philippines so special, and how, when created as a family project, it can give you a sense of closeness with your loved ones.

Illustrado 66

So why not make your very own special parol this Christmas?

Making the Frame Use bamboo sticks, which you can buy from hardware or gardening supplies stores, like Ace Hardware. Split the bamboo in the middle and cut into five pieces of equal length. Remove the soft inner sides and smoothen the sharp corners. Arrange the equal sized pieces to form a five-point star and tie the sticks where they meet. Use abaca or any other versatile string. This is the first half of the frame. Repeat the process to make the other half. Then put the two frames together and tie the sticks together at all points.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Prop the two halves apart by using equally sized little poles positioned inside the center of the frame to make it bulge. Secure these little poles with nails. The finished frame should bulge in the middle and taper down in all five directions.

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Decorating your Parol Finally, cover the frame by gluing your choice of material – from papel de Japon, crepe paper, to cellophane or other colored plastics or textured special paper. Further embellish by adding parol accessories like a tail or halo, or any colored cuttings you might fancy. Last but not the least, enjoy your holiday project!

ENTERTAINMENT

By Jan La O’

Destined to become a star, the soul and R&B Pinay International artist simply called ‘Phoebe’, at the tender age of three, just grabbed the microphone from her mom and began singing in front of the local community. "I guess you can say that’s where it all began…singing came naturally to me,” the young talented Pinay relates. A tour de force compared to the likes of Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston, 23-year old foreign-based World Soul and R&B Pinay artist, Phoebe is another class act the country can be proud of. Born and raised in Manila, Phoebe began touring as a back-up vocalist at the age of 16 bringing her to Hong Kong in 2003, where a UK producer discovered her. From there, Phoebe worked her way up with performances in many of London's famous venues as well as in other parts of Europe. She wrote and recorded songs and had the privilege to work with producers who have collaborated with Celine Dion, Terri Walker and Cher to name a few celebrities, in effect helping establish her in the music industry as an act to be reckoned with. Phoebe recently released her debut album Love Revolution, under Alpha Records in the Philippines, which has been massive in Europe. The album is now receiving rave reviews in Asia as she undertakes her world promo tour, proudly representing her home country, the Philippines. As a singer and songwriter, Phoebe is thoroughly involved in her music’s creative process. It took her about a year to finish her first album Love Revolution – a labor of love she enjoyed immensely. “We wanted to make sure that we chose the right songs. When it's your first album it's important to define who you are. It's those first impressions that count. I believe Love Revolution has captured all aspects of my personality.” Phoebe's amazing vocal strength can be heard in her emotionally - charged

ballad entitled Crying Like A Girl. "When you're recording a great ballad like `Crying’ you have to get to somewhere special. You have to have the emotion and pictures that portray the words you're singing. Recording the vocal for that song occurred at a sad time in my life. I'd just split from a long relationship, I was miles away from home and my emotions were high. I guess my producer realized it would be a perfect time to record that vocal. I went into the studio not really knowing what would happen and the result is what you hear. We had the vocal down so quick, capturing just the way that I felt. I lived every single word in the song." Her inspirations range from singers of the 70s and 80s -- from Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle, Glady's Knight, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. "Whitney has always inspired me and of course the biggest inspiration in my life, is my one and only mom." Young Phoebe also dreams of collaborating with Stevie Wonder some day. Asked what she loves most about singing, Phoebe enthuses, "It's the beauty of it...where it takes you, feeling each word and singing from your heart, it can take you to many different worlds. I get so charged up when I'm performing - I want my audience to be a part of me, it's very important that I can touch everyone with my songs. You know everyone has 'that' song that belongs to them. I can see it in their eyes when I perform, sometimes they sing along with me, every single word and that's something very special." As for being a Filipino, Phoebe declares with pride, “Yes, I am a Filipino! I do have relatives back in the Philippines, they are in Batangas. My grandmother, my cousins, aunts and uncles are all mostly there. I also have family in Manila and Makati. I was born in Manila and remember my early childhood there, growing up, I had lots of fun and friends. I always look forward to going back.”

Illustrado 76

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