ILLUSTRADO Magazine_Dec 2009

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THE MAGAZINE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FILIPINO

15 DECEMBER - 15 JANUARY 2010

The

issue

36

Holiday Issue

TO EACH HIS OWN CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FOOD SPECIAL JOY AFTER ONDOY MALAMIG BA ANG PASKO MO? PASKO A LA DUBAI BETTING ON MACAU CHOCO PINOY ANNIE B: NAUGHTY OR NICE?

EDITOR’S NOTE

Of Endings and New Beginnings It’s the most “curious” time of the year…

Not because of the holidays and parties, or the gifts and merriment, but because of the significance of being right smack in the middle of two opposing poles in the continuum of time. Just like the two-faced mythological Roman god Janus, we are at that point during the year when we are able to look at the events of the past, while looking ahead to what might transpire in the future.

It’s a strange and intimidating position - just like being perched on top of a mountain where you can see things clearly 360 degrees. The past was just yesterday – you are still reeling from it, and yet you know that it’s over and done with; while the future lies just before you – you can smell and taste part of it, but you’re really not quite there yet.

From this vantage point, we look at a year that will go down in the annals of history as one of the most challenging times ever – for the whole world, for different countries, nationalities, conglomerates and companies, even for regular folks like you and me. This year saw unprecedented nerve-wracking developments with the continuing financial crisis. We’ve seen the effects of the malevolent economic specter that was just but a ‘fear’ the same time last year. Institutions went belly-up, companies crashed, small enterprise folded up, and people lost their jobs, their houses and savings, and their sense of security.

Closer to home, while struggling with our usual challenges, we’ve also been hit by the bitter forces of nature with the typhoon to top all typhoons. We have experienced an environmental landmark that has been unprecedented for decades and seen the heartbreaking effects on our vulnerable homeland. As if that wasn’t enough, just recently, we also had to witness one of the most brutal killings in Southern Philippines, which has not only fuelled further political and military unrest, but has also aggravated our national shame.

Though, amazingly, we stand here, today – whole, alive and kicking; able to breathe and carry on for another day, another year.

Where we are right now, is not only a curious point in time – but an empowering position as well.

What a great feeling it is, to know you have survived one of the toughest years in history, and that FINALLY, 2009 is coming to an end. Even greater to know is that everything just doesn’t stop here – we are allowed to start afresh and address our shortcomings this past year.

We are at the cusp of change, in transition to, hopefully, a more progressive situation in our lives in 2010. Being here, seeing the past and the future at once gives us the power to avoid our mistakes, make better choices and redeem our fate towards progress and improvement.

This time around, we don’t need just optimism; enough of just sunny smiles and unshakeable belief! That can only benefit us so much. Most importantly, we ALSO need commitment and the resolve to act. The time to do ‘something’ - whether for our own sake, our community’s, our country’s or for even for the world, is here. There is so much opportunities for change out there, that we can sink our teeth into. Let’s do it and make something good happen.

So, a wistful goodbye to 2009 and an enthusiastic welcome to the new life that 2010 brings.

My dear Illustrados, here’s to endings and new beginnings…

LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send your letters to: editor@illustrado.net

According to them, the ghosts on the second Thanks in advance! floor even tapped people on their shoulders when they were inside the washrooms brushing Elmer Balangue - Sharjah their teeth.

Annie B’s “Nakakatakot!”

It might have been a blessing in disguise that the government announced that villas should Hi Illustrado! Annie B strikes again! be occupied by one family only, so we needed to shift a couple of weeks after that incident. I was laughing so hard when I read your previous Much as I would like to get to the bottom of months’ issue. I can totally identify with Annie things (as I think the ‘girl’ B’s fears – especially her fear from credit card is Filipina), I’d rather stay payment collectors! They are so irritating actually. away from that place as They keep calling you like you’re not going to pay far as possible. I could’ve up. And what about those telemarketers pushing lit a candle but offered credit cards and loans over the phone? That’s her a prayer instead, and why so many people are getting tempted to spend requested her to not visit and spend like there’s no tomorrow. Nakakatakot me again. talaga!

Chummy Pilapil Santos - Dubai Dear Editor,

Post-Halloween Ghost Story Fever Hi Lalaine! This might be a bit late for Halloween, but here goes: I used to live in one of the villas in Hor Al Anz. Our room was located on the top (third) floor of the villa. From the steps, you will find two rooms on your left side, two bathrooms on your right, and in front of you would be the corridor leading to the balcony and our kitchen. I believe everything on that floor was not really part of the house and was just added for extra income to the owner. In fact, you have to step out of the balcony before you can enter our kitchen. Our kitchen is just a small room with two gas ranges on it. The sink is located just outside its doors.

One night, arriving late, I got hungry and decided to cook. That night was not particularly cold but I felt extremely uneasy. Shivers were running up and down my spine. It felt like someone was watching me. I decided to brush the silly feelings aside and proceeded to cook my meal. As I was doing so, something, or rather ‘someone’ caught the corner of my eye. The ‘girl,’ as I clearly recalled, was wearing a gray shirt and faded dark blue sweatpants with green lining, and she stepped right in front of the sink.

My head ‘ballooned’ right there and then as I tried my very best not to panic. I was telling myself rationally that it might just be one of the girls washing their plates or something. As the hairs on my arms started to rise, I stepped back from the stove and took a peek to see who’s there. When I realized that there was no one there and if that ‘someone’ will even try to hide behind the sink, she will fall to her death as the sink is located at the corner of the balcony.

Good thing I got enough sense to turn off the stove and ran for my dear life passing by the sink and whoever it is that made her presence felt. When I got to the bedroom and recounted what happened, my roommates told me stories about ghosts on the other side of the house.

Anyway, keep on doing what you’re doing. Annie B rocks!

Tory Camiling - Dubai

Thank you for sharing those ghost stories in your Team Annie kami! Greetings from the Al Ain November 2009 Halloween issue. It was spooky beauties! but it was such a fun read!

Norhaina Yaranon – Al Ain Which reminds me of a story I heard from a friend who claimed to have a ‘third eye.’ She says every time she would pass by the Dubai Internet City late at night (she worked in Jebel Ali), she would see an apparition of a family- a couple and a kid, who were wearing ragged clothes and looked like they were covered with blood. She assumed that they must have had an accident in that area, hence, they continue to appear on that side of the highway.

Miscellaneous Greetings

Florie Cedeño - Dubai

Love, love Illustrado :) ♥ Tanya Hyde - Dubai

Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran

Thank you Lalaine, Butz and Rey for giving justice to my jewelries and for gving me the honor of bejeweling your cover! More power!! Cheers and my best regards!

Gerry Ereñeta Sunga - Manila

Maraming salamat po sa pag-feature nyo sa group namin!More Power!

Rico Canosa, PINDOT - Kuwait I love what you are showing in all your magazines.... love em all!

Roselle Nool

BRAVO!! More power!

I don’t know whether I should believe her or not. Nelly Rodriguez Varsamos I personally never had any experiences of such Illustrado Team! Congratulations! I got my copy of kind – at least not here in Dubai. the magazine today. I love it. And my story is there.

Anyway, thank you again. I hope you keep giving Ha ha. I was surprised.

Fretsyl Ching Elizalde-Egnora us such interesting articles.

Always very informative and uplifting! Thanks Illustrado for such educational issues. My favorite is your Kabuhayan column, including your Pinoy Entrepreneur articles and Mr. Colayco’s articles on money management.

I’m an aspiring entrepreneur (my wife and I have been building up our savings and researching our target business) and it’s very encouraging to read the materials you are publishing. It’s good to have expert guidance on such issues, especially on finances, and to hear the experiences of Filipinos who have made a successful business out of their dreams.

I would appreciate it if you could consider including information on business registration in the Philippines – as that would come handy for people who have plans to do business back home.

Congratulations to the Editorial Staff of Illustrado!!!

Uber gorgeous front cover! I>m sure the inside pages (of this issue particuarly) are as spectacular and spooky.

Brian Tenorio - Manila Galing ng Pinoy!!!

Rowena Navarro - Dubai Hi Lalaine, thank you so much for featuring me in the Globetrotter section and wow I was surprised to see it on a two page spread.

Cesar Parroco - Dubai

CONTRIBUTORS Bernadette Reyes Bo Sanchez

Author and motivational speaker ‘Preacher in Blue Jeans’ Bo Sanchez calls on our innate generosity this Christmas season and tells us how a small contribution to aid the needy can count a lot in his article ‘Growing PHP20 to Millions.’

GMA TV reporter, freelance writer and travel enthusiast Bernadette Reyes takes us to where the Asian high rollers go – to the nostalgic and electric city of Macau. Bernadette also gives us a peek into an interesting entrepreneurship venture - Filipino chocolates - in our Kabuhayan column.

Chef Mico Galliguez

Irreverent Chef Mico Galliguez is not only a whiz in the kitchen but also a gifted photographer especially when it comes to his favorite subject – food. Chef Mico gives Illustrado readers reason to salivate with his sumptuous images of noveau Filipino cuisine in The Grand Chef Challenge this month.

Loraine Balita

Travel junkie, freelance writer and college instructor Loraine takes time off from her usual ‘trippin’ to contemplate what has made a big difference for Filipinos in this very challenging year in ‘The Revival of Bayanihan.’ Included in her story are some charitable organizations that could use extra help from Overseas Filipinos.

Jeffrey ‘Ximo’ Ramos

“Money is the root of all philanthropic deeds,” according to ‘I Know What to Do’ author Jeffrey ‘Ximo’ Ramos. In this issue, Ximo shares with us another essential truth - how money can be used to propagate goodness instead of corruption.

Aby Yap

Want to be reminded of how eccentric we Pinoys are? Then read Aby Yap’s column ‘Onli in da Pilipins.’ A chockfull of the weird, fun and strangely true, Aby chronicles all the stuff that makes us the unique people that we are. In this issue, she talks about all the ‘Rs’ that define the Filipino holiday season.

Excel Dyquianco

Eternal optimist Excel Dyquiangco, a freelance writer and aspiring author, captures the proverbial ‘silver lining’ on the dark clouds in ‘Joy after Ondoy’ an article showcasing the Pinoy’s strength of character and indomitable spirit despite hardships. Excel also writes about a distinctive native fabric that distinguishes fashion from the Southern Philippines.

38 Publisher & Editor-in Chief Lalaine Chu-Benitez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS UAE, Philippines, USA Aby Yap Anna Lorraine Balita JR Bustamante Jude Cartalaba Bernadette Reyes Karen Galarpe Bo Sanchez KC Abalos Chayie Maligalig Krip Yuson David Poarch Atty. May Flores Excel Dyquiangco Mike Martin Francisco Colayco Shar Matingka Isabel Warren Sherry Tenorio Isabelo Samonte Sonny Guzman Ivan Henares Jeffrey ‘Ximo’ Ramos Vic Lactaoen Victor Sollorano Jesse Edep ART DIRECTORS Tom Bolivar Paula Lorenzo Ron Perez CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS UAE Illuminado Ong Pot Ph Eros Goze Melandro Sanggalang Mac Antonio Jit Sanggalang CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS PHILIPPINES Dr. Marlon Pecjo Glenn Peter-Perez Filbert Kung Parc Cruz CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS & FASHION TEAM UAE Zekundo Chu Basil Yunting Jessie Tabla PUBLISHER - UAE Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2nd Floor, Building 2, P.O. Box 72280 Office 20C Dubai Media City, UAE Tel: +9714 365 4543, 365 4547 Fax:+9714 360 4771 E-mail: admin@illustrado.net, info@illustrado.net Web: www.illustrado.net, www.illustrado.agilaglobal.net PRINTERS PRINTWELL PRINTING LLC P.O. Box 18828 Dubai, UAE Copyright Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2006-2009. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC.

CONTENTS

DEC 09

Girlie Benitez goes ‘back home’ in this month’s neo-nostalgic fashion feature.

FEATURES To Each His Own Christmas 8 Joy after Ondoy 14 The Revival of Bayanihan 15 Malamig ba ang Pasko mo? 18 Pasko a ‘la Dubai 21 Holiday Food Special: The Grand Chef Challenge 57 A Delightful Taste from the Philippines to the World 72

22

REGULAR COLUMNS Editor’s Note 1 Letters 4 Contributors 6 Contents 7 Illuminati – Holidays are Forever 22 Kabuhayan: Choco Pinoy 26 Pinoy Entrepreneur – Mary Ann Montesa 28 Pinoy Pro 30 Kabuhayan: Money – A Smarter and Kinder Christmas 32 Successful Pinoy: Money is the Root of all Philanthropic Deeds 34 Spirituality: Growing PHP20 to Millions 36 Illustrado Scrapbook 52 Community 73 Onli in Da Pilipins 86 Annie B Chronicles: Naughty or Nice? 88 Illustrado Faces: Jay Carpio and Niña Peñalosa 93 Classifieds Listing: Filipino & Filipino-Oriented Establishments 98

FASHION Fashion: Going Home 38 Not your Ordinary Sarong 50 Stylemonger: Bur Juman Runway Art 51

PLACES Pinoy Planet: Betting on Macau 76 Globetrotter’s Blog: Pauline Moreno in Peru 80 Bakasyon Grande: A Luxurious Holiday at the Manor at CJH 82 Trippin’ – Shopping Divi-licious! 84

57

8 FEATURE

By JR Bustamante

To each his own

Christmas

Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Mer Kurisumasu, Fröhliche Weihnachten, Selamat Hari Natal, Maayong Pasko. All may be translated to the same thing but the meaning behind Christmas and the manner of celebration may be different for each nationality. As Pinoys, we have been raised in our own religion-centered culture and thus certain customs and beliefs have been ingrained in our minds unique to our nationality. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to assume that these beliefs are universal and that other nationalities should feel the same way as we do. If their ways don’t conform to ours, we think of them as strange and unusual. But for one minute, let’s get out of our limited point of view to a global perspective, and look at Christmas in other people’s eyes.

One Christmas, One World Though we all have different ways of celebrating Christmas, we all agree in one thing ----the idea of celebrating a day of being with our loved ones and being nice to our fellowmen is something everyone looks forward to on Christmas Day. Australia: Christmas is one big beach party Can you imagine Santa in beach shorts and riding a jet ski? Where else will you see that but in Australia. Strange as it sounds, Christmas day in the beach is the tradition in this country. The tropical climate makes a beach party the ideal option for Christmas revelers.

New Zealand: Oh Christmas tree, Oh Pohutukawa tree “Christmas here happens in the summer so during the summer holidays so many Kiwis go to the beach and have a family barbeque to celebrate. Picture this . . . Santa on the beach wearing sunglasses, a bright red hawaiian shirt and shorts plus sandals getting a tan!

That definitely is not your regular Santa, but it is for them.

They also have a New Zealand Christmas tree called a Pohutukawa tree. Its red flowers start to bloom around December, a nice sign of the season.

Christmas on the beach

FEATURE 9

Pohutukawa Tree. Auckland Cornwallis Beach, New Zealand

Displaying Christmas lights outside the house has only started a few years ago and only a few are doing it, unlike in the Philippines where decorations, lights, and parols are everywhere. You also don’t hear Christmas carols as much as in Pinas. That’s why many Pinoys feel that Christmas here is malungkot, kulang ang Christmas feeling, the build up and the real himig pasko.

Hong Kong XMas Night time

An article I read mentioned that only 10% of Kiwis believed that religion was the most important thing about Christmas. Many of them see Christmas as simply a family day, unlike Pinoys who see it as a season of celebrating the birth of Christ.”

-Ayn Rand Benitez, New Zealand resident Hongkong: Skyscrapers a-glow with Christmas Cheer Tall buildings with smooth glass façade make a great canvass for Christmas light art. Every year is always better than the last with each company trying to outdo each other. Imagine the sky lit up in Hongkong with colors glowing from each building like a gigantic Christmas card you can see from a far distance.

“Christmas in Hongkong is so unique. Almost everyone lives in a flat where there is no space for a huge tree or lawn decorations so the main décor is lights. Hongkong has a lot of skyscrapers that have smooth glass facades where they display their Christmas lights.

There are lots of lights so it’s very nice. In Hongkong, the tradition is to outdo each other with something unique and beautiful in light color and design. They are motivated by prestige and success. With the unmistakable message of Christmas spending for luxurious gifts all over the place, commercialism and materialism are felt strongly in Hongkong. Very few countries have the ability to use lights to their maximum advantage with a grand effect on tall, “glassy” buildings that are so close together. Thus, it has become Hongkong’s trademark identity.”

–Leonard De Guzman, former Hongkong and Singapore resident Tokyo: Santa on Motorbikes “About 15 - 20 years ago on Christmas Eve, Japanese businessmen would pass by the bakery or department store on their way home to buy a Christmas cake . . .and that was already the spirit of Christmas.

10 FEATURE the main décor for Christmas. The season starts on December 8 and culminates on January 5 with the Three Wise Men leaving gifts for children. Like the Philippines, Christmas day is spent in church and with family and friends then celebrating with grand feasts. But unlike the Philippines, there is one unusual Christmas tradition that happens primarily in Granada and Jaen called “Hogueras”. In this peculiar custom you’ll see people jumping over bonfires to protect them against illness.

Continental Christmas Europe, Middle East, America and Asia view Christmas in a different perspective.

In Europe, Christmas is more intimate—for couples and families.

You have couples sitting infront of the fire, riding reindeers amidst snow and the like. Because of the extremely cold, snowy weather, Christmas is celebrated within a small group like the immediate family who live near each other or live in the same house.

Christmas has been around in Europe forever, so though it may not be very religious, it is definitely very historical. The concept of Christmas originated in the Middle East but it was developed in Europe. A lot of the traditions like the Christmas tree, the mistletoe, reindeer, white Christmas are all European. Santa Clause came from Scandinavia before he came over to the United States. Santa Clause was originally St. Nicholas, a kind, old man who made presents for poor kids. Christmas has a lot of historical importance in Europe unlike in Asia wherein Christmas came in with the westerners.

A re-enactment of the three wise men’s pasage in a Spanish street.

Now a days, you can find everyone in commercial business wearing Santa Claus outfits while selling or delivering their goods, like the KFC delivery man on motorbike, Pizza Hut, Dominos Pizza, etc. all looking like Santa. It’s really fun to see, especially when you see five of them on the road one after the other. The promo guys and girls at most convenience stores like 7-11, AM/PM, Lawson, would also dress in Santa costume to attract passers-by, on foot or in vehicles, even though most of them are not even Christians.

To let other Pinoys know if a Filipino is living in the house or apartment, they will hang a parol outside their homes. The Japanese or other foreigners don’t have that kind of lantern and they can’t buy it here. We are all proud to show others that we are Filipinos.”

- JB Galarpe, Tokyo resident Kazakhstan: Christmas Feast of Bolognese with a Twist “Since this is Muslim country, very few people celebrate Christmas here. For those who do, they have the same tradition like Pinoys of having a house party and cooking traditional food. But instead of lechon, most of them cook special dishes like “Besh parmak”, which is a combination of horse meat and pasta noodles, then invite friends and relatives to their homes.”

-Jules Casabal, Kazakhstan resident Spain: Jumping Over Christmas Bonfires This religious country has banished Santa and instead allowed entry to the Three Wise Men. Other non-religious icons as well are not displayed, instead nativity scenes called “Nacimiento” is

In Asia, especially in China, Hongkong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, where Communism, Islam and Buddhism reign, Christmas is more of commercialism because it focuses more on the giving of gifts rather than the historical and religious aspects.

Religion is a very anti-communist sentiment---but everyone likes the gift giving idea.

In the Philippines, Mexico, and South American countries, Christmas is more religious in nature because of the Spanish colonization for more than a hundred years and the introduction of Catholicism.

Giving presents pushes the idea of spending and commercialism as well in the United States. During Christmas time, they put more importance in the public giving act, charity, kindness, happiness and the like.

Most Unusual Christmas “People from other countries notice how different Christmas is in the Philippines. They love the fact that it is about family togetherness and the celebration of the birth of Jesus.”

-Leonard De Guzman “My family still continues the Pinoy traditions here but I think Christmas in the Philippines is still the best. We miss it a lot.”

-Ayn Rand Benitez Because we have lived Christmas this way all our lives, we don’t realize that foreigners find us strange. Starting Christmas preparations as early as September, waking up early for nine days of simbang gabi, having noche buena, inviting the whole baranggay aside from the whole clan to celebrate in our home . . .we must admit it is unusual, more than in the other countries. But hey, do we know how to party or what?! If there was an award for the best merrymakers for Christmas, it should go to the Pinoys. And that makes the Philippines the place to be during Christmas time. Let’s party on, world.

y Jo 14 FEATURE

after

Ondoy

By Excel V. Dyquiangco

The recent catastrophe brought about by super typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng has not only resulted in millions of properties destroyed and hundreds displaced; it also provided a potent reminder of the Filipino’s undeniable strength in adversity, our indomitable spirit and our undying hopefulness.

W

hile the disaster saw forged alliances in unexpected places, rich and poor, young and old, men and women went out of their comfort zones to reach out to those who were in need. Even more amazing were those who lent a helping hand despite having lost their houses and possessions to the flood, as well.

Such was the case of Alex, a pastor from an outreach center in Pasig City, whose home was a complete wreck and his possessions totally gone. Yet, he and his family all had huge smiles on their faces and even went out on an arm and a limb to help out neighbors. They waded in waist-deep waters to give out relief goods, encouraged those who were in distress, and brought comfort to the needy.

So what’s his secret? Despite such challenging times, what makes Filipinos like Alex still capable of rising above challenges and giving when they themselves had lost everything?

“One reason is that we’re used to poverty,” says Dr. Michelle Mariñas, general psychiatrist from The Medical City in Pasig City. “Compared to [people in] first world countries, we know how to adjust easily whenever disaster strikes. So this incident is probably nothing new to us.” She adds, “Another reason is that we are a happy-go-lucky people. We don’t take things too seriously. Two weeks after the incident, and then we’re fine.”

She adds that for some Pinoys who are faced with such dire circumstances, optimism plays a very vital role. Instead of looking at it as a crisis, they look at it as opportunities in disguise. They can actually thrive in such an ordeal, and better yet, have begun to rise above any type of situations – no matter what time of the year. And this Yuletide season is no exception.

Here are some other inspiring stories from people who have lost millions, have gotten back up and are rebuilding their lives, remaining full of hope especially during this occasion of merrymaking.

Millions Lost Last year was a totally different Christmas for businesswoman Marica De Guzman, who hails from Bauang, La Union. It was her first Christmas away from her family as she had to be in Manila for her father’s kidney transplant. It was impossible for them to go back to the province less than a month after his operation so they spent Christmas in the metro. They had a very simple Christmas dinner, without the usual trappings. But despite that, Marica considers her dad’s successful operation the best Christmas gift she had ever received.

When Ondoy came almost a year later, the damage was to Marica’s business was extensive. Stocks worth millions were swept away by the river. Their equipments were submerged in floodwater and were either totally or partially damaged. Their office and warehouse became a total mess and worse still, they had no insurance to back them up. “Up to now we have yet to resume normal business operations having lost almost everything,” she says.

But Marica’s unwavering faith and the love within her family is what gives her the strength to carry on each day despite what happened to her business. “If there is one thing I am sure of, it’s that I will be spending Christmas with my parents and sisters and to me that is what really matters,” she says.

A Bright Christmas Joel Adajar, a twenty-three year old banker from Pasig City, has something to look forward to this season. Despite the fact that their house is still submerged in waist-deep water and most of their properties were completely wiped out from Ondoy, he is excited awaiting his dad’s arrival from Dubai. It’s the first time that their family members would be complete in seven years.

“We are very hopeful this Christmas, and instead of looking at what happened to our home, we look at our blessings,” he says. “This is actually one way of just getting over this unexpected circumstance in our lives.”

With all their possessions washed away, Joel and his family remain optimistic. He says that the real essence of Christmas is about the birth of Christ and believes that spending time with the family, and loving one another, makes all the difference in the world. He adds, “Better things are yet to come, and I believe that God has a plan for all of us.”

FEATURE 15 Braving the Streets “Our Christmas celebrations are always grand. We gather, pig-out, play games, and exchange gifts,” says thirty-two year old government employee Jesse Santos also from Pasig City. “It’s our annual family reunion.” Now that Ondoy has passed, he says that they would probably be up to the same things again – exchanging gifts and pigging out!

This, coming from someone who got stuck for hours on the road during that Ondoy onslaught, spent the night at a relative’s house and was shocked to find their house in chest-deep water when they reached home the next day. Since there was nobody home, they weren’t able to move their electrical appliances to higher ground.

Four of their dogs died, their appliances got busted, photo albums wrecked, cabinets warped and their whole house was in disarray.

His secret to having a joyful Christmas celebration?

“Knowing that my security lies in God and not in the things of this world gives me the strength to endure the unpredictability of this life,” he says. “These tragedies and calamities are a constant reminder to all of us that the only safe place is with God, and that the only safe investment is up there.”

The Revival of

Bayanihan

By Loraine Balita

Is bayanihan dead? Now that concrete slabs, metal bars and glass walls have replaced cogon leaves, sawali, and bamboo shaft for Juan Dela Cruz’s iconic nipa hut, have we indeed lost the spirit completely to oblivion? While some say this unique facet of Filipino culture is long gone, with modernization bringing it to its untimely demise, the Filipino’s reaction to the whiplash of Ondoy and Pepeng has proven otherwise.

N

o more than 24 hours after the last gush of water, Filipinos rushed to their kababayans’ aid. Taking out all that has been kept in their closets: clothes, blankets, and towels and giving off whatever is left in their cupboards: noodles, canned goods and rice. Clearly, for most Filipinos “isusubo nalang ipamimigay pa.”

And even at this time of economic crisis, a staggering number of Filipinos from all over the world, with no hesitation, willingly shelled out a portion of their savings in an effort to help out. Donations poured in from all parts of the globe including the UAE. Even the

youth joined in, with college students holding fund raising drives and volunteering their time and services to repack and distribute relief goods to flooded areas. Rizal who believed that the youth is the hope of this country would have been proud.

Video clips showing Filipinos swimming in floodwaters to come to someone else’s aid, and neighbors helping each other dig out vehicles buried in mud have been circulating online. These, like old artworks on bayanihan, depict our people’s noble spirits.

During the course of the recovery it also wasn’t too uncommon to see a kababayan helping others when in fact they have been flooded themselves. And now stories are being told and retold about a number of people’s heroism, those who went out of their way to help save the lives of others even if it meant giving up their own.

All of these along with the deaths of our so-called “Ondoy heroes” shall serve as a reminder to all of us that this is where bayanihan has gone. It is not dead. But rather, has been with us through generations, ready to spring into action as soon as a kababayan needs a helping hand. It is in our blood, our being, our spirit and it shall live on and manifest itself in various ways even when there are no more nipa huts to carry.

Keeping the spirit alive Now that we have been given a clear reminder of our innate Filipino capacity to help, it is now our turn to take the initiative and be an active part of the endeavor to help rehabilitate the needy sectors, of which there as so much, back home. If there was one thing the recent disasters have taught us, it is that generosity of spirit will help us all pull through.

There are so many ways one can help out in the Philippines; whether you would like to provide financial aid, or go into volunteer work, any kind of effort counts and no contribution is too small. To get started, one of the first things you can do is to look up existing groups

16 FEATURE

and NGOs which have a variety of advocacies and projects. Here is a short list of just a few institutions and foundations caring for people from all walks of life even animals, who will be more than happy to receive help, especially during this Christmas.

Kanlungan ni Maria - Located north of Manila, this institution has sheltered the aged, most of who were abandoned in the twilight of their lives. Here lolos and lolas are given a place they can call home.

Address: No. 17 Lansones Road, Antipolo City, Contact: Fr. Uldarico Dioquino, Telephone: +632 696-3110/ 697-0274/ 650-8102 Recovery, Empowerment, Networking & Employment for Women Foundation (RENEW) - Based in Angeles Pampanga, RENEW is an international NGO that offers 10-17 year old victims of prostitution and sex trafficking hope and a new life through their projects, seminars and scholarships. Here women victims are guided through their recovery, and are empowered with knowledge and new skills. RENEW’s volunteer placements in positions like teaching, fundraising, and community development can last for as short as a week to six months or even longer. Address: No. 717 7th Street, Lankandula, Mabalacat, Pampanga, Email: info@renew-foundation. org, Child Sponsorship: sponsor@renew-foundation.org, Telephone: +63 918 466 0052, website: www.renew-foundation.org Bagong Kulturang Pinoy (BKP) - First established in Massachusetts USA, BKP is a non-profit organization aimed at developing the reading culture among young Filipinos living in impoverished areas in the Philippines. The group’s volunteers who believe that “Filipino children can read their way out of poverty” gather books that are then used to establish mini-libraries in various areas in the Philippines.

Address: BKP, Inc. 28 Carlisle Rd. Acton, MA 01720, USA, Email: bkp.org@gmail.com, Telephone: 001 978 263-2729, website: www. aklatan.org Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) – A non-profit organization with volunteers dedicated to protect the welfare of all animals. They are committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of animals in the hope of finding them new homes. The group campaigns against dogfights, and animal use for entertainment purposes. PAWS has also lobbied for the passage of the country’s first anti-animal cruelty law— Animal Welfare Act of 1998. Address: PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center – Aurora Blvd., Katipunan, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Email : philpaws@yahoo.com, Fax: +63 2 475 1688, website: www.paws.org.ph

A child reading books from one of BKP’s mini-libraries

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RENEW Foundation during one of the rallies held near Mall of Asia

PAWS May Felix rescuing Lyndon(dog) from a rooftop

18 FEATURE

Malamig ba ang pasko mo?

By Sherry Tenorio

During sad or serious moments, we Filipinos surprisingly can find ways to make things seem light. Despite the gravity of certain situations, we employ humor churning out witty quips and terrible jokes, and match it with the usual asinine grin. Most of the time, our creative prowess effectively diffuses such incidents, but there are moments that are simply unbearable – like when you talk about being single, especially at Christmas time.

S

ingle Pinoys probably made a collective frown when the terms “Samahan ng Malalamig ang Pasko” or SMC, and “Singles for Christmas” or SFC were invented. There is absolutely nothing funny about the nonexistent groups that bind together people spending their holidays alone. Though the intention is supposedly well meaning - trying to cheer singles by promoting the idea that they are not alone, holidays and single blessedness simply do not mesh well together.

Christmas on your own

Happy couples holding hands and exchanging gifts during Valentine’s make us singles, creep. We even have an unspoken jaded remark: “Magbe-break din kayo!” But, admittedly, we silently hope to have a special someone when Christmas comes. As a banker friend China Alcantara, an official member of the NBSB gang (short for No Boyfriend Since Birth), confesses, “We have 365 days in a year. I totally get it if we can’t find ‘The One’ before Valentine’s Day. I can argue it’s because of the lack of time. But not being able to hook up and be part of someone after 360 days - it is quite a shocker, right?”

No wonder, singles hear an imaginary ‘timer’ when the ‘ber’ months start. We feel extra pressure on the dating and relationship front, anticipating awkward moments during family gatherings when we’re innocently asked - “Anyone special right now” or when we’re brutally prodded, “You’re not getting any younger. So, kelan ka

na ikakasal?” We also try to avoid party invites that say “plus one” because we have huge difficulty thinking about who on earth can be our “plus one.”

Holidays are supposed to be fun and merry. But, as the old cliché goes: reality bites. That is why during Christmas, we feel alone and empty and stressed out, because the simple truth hurts. It does not help that the world around us tells us that it is necessary to be part of a couple. It does not help either that we are conditioned to think that the holidays will be more special when there is actually a special someone.

“Listening to holiday cheer gets me lonely. Seeing couples trying to outdo each other’s gifts make me sick. I wonder when I’ll be able to experience that again,” says a brand manager (refused to be named) who recently came out of a long relationship. He sadly adds, “Love is the essence of Christmas. Yet, I cannot share this love.”

According to Dr. Mitchell Flaum, a renowned clinical psychologist - “Images of warm loving families during the holiday season create expectations that cannot always be fulfilled. Singles or newly separated individuals may feel frustration and depression during this time of year. They need to realize that they are not alone, and in order to do so, they have to find a surrogate sense of family.”

Jay Henson, a program director at a non-profit organization, reveals, “It helps that friends try to be sensitive about my situation. They refrain from all those gory ‘when are you getting tied up’ talks. But

FEATURE 19

I still feel bad being in a roomful of people, cheerily surrounding a Christmas tree, finding myself with no one to hold. The emptiness does not subside at all.”

However, there are people who do not mind being single during Christmas. Darwin Tiambeng, an architect who has been single for years believes, “There is nothing to be lonely about. I cannot imagine myself sulking over not having a special someone during this time of the year. Why should I bother myself with such negativity? It’s simply unacceptable.”

Beating the Christmas blues Admit it or not, being alone during Christmas is a difficult thing. It is the time when what we are lacking in life gets magnified against the backdrop of familial gaiety and our own failed expectations and unanswered desires. However, knowing that many people all over the world are lonely at this time of the year is old news. What would be more interesting, instead, is being able to see a genuine sense of joy from people who do not mind being single during such a trying season.

Christmas is a time for celebrating love and giving. Do we singles have reasons to celebrate? Absolutely. The key to feeling truly joyful is a change of mindset that will beat the singles blues.

being single and relish being ‘available to mingle.’ Say yes to holiday invites ditching the ‘plus one’ rule. Dress to the nines, and attend the holiday parties with enthusiasm. Circulate, meet new people, and refrain from being a wallflower.

More importantly, realize that Christmas means more than just gifts and parties. Re-discover its true meaning by focusing on its definitive sense. Take this time to get closer with your real friends and immerse yourself in the spiritual enrichment that comes with the season.

Christmas is a season for being genuinely grateful – a great occasion to show gratitude for the most amazing display of affection in the whole history of mankind. No matter how hard it may be, let us not be bogged down by what we feel is lacking in us. Instead let us join the world in thanksgiving by spreading true joy and honest love.

And for a change, let us be thankful for being single. As they say, happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.

Fabulously Single at Christmas As a single, I normally travel with my sister and our friends. We hop on a plane and go off to new places to discover. It’s our reward after a year of hard work! This is the luxury of being single … you just go whenever, wherever!

First and foremost, we have to believe that we are complete even without that special someone. Do not succumb to the dreamy romantic hype that your happiness solely depends on someone else’s presence. It is healthy for our emotional wellbeing to be able to build confidence, independence and contentment within ourselves – and that holds true whether one is single or is in a relationship. We should prep up by being positive, by taking care of ourselves and focusing on being the complete person that we are. This in turn, helps us grow the capacity to share happiness with others, and prevents us from feeling a twinge of jealousy whenever we see couples being happy.

Though, I’m also very lucky since my family is here so it’s not really a big deal for me to be single. Although, I must say that Christmas in the UAE is less festive than it is back home.

I miss the Simbang Gabi, endless parties, truckload of gifts, the bibingka and puto bungbong. Having spent many holidays away from home made me appreciate our traditional way of celebrating filled with Filipino warmth, love and lots of giving.

Develop a ‘single and fabulous’ mantra, and live by it; take pride in

Marianne Silloriquez, Dubai

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Being relatively new in Abu Dhabi, I’m anxious on how to go about spending Christmas the way I used to back home surrounded by family and dear friends.

Christmas food, red wine, karaoke and good friends make the holidays worthwhile and bearable.

As a single, the weather here doesn’t help but it sur e is a good time to focus on what really matters in my life in the midst of splurging.

For the bachelors, I would suggest, go to a singles bar, drink and be merry. Who knows if you might get lucky? As for me, I’ll be donning my board shorts and hit Jumeirah beach for a day of surfing.

John Medina, Abu Dhabi

Most of the time, it may seem that everyone you know is in a relationship.

It is a little depressing to see your friends having these great boyfriends or husbands while you always come home to an empty house everyday. In my case, I don’t entertain those kinds of thoughts. Being single and fighting the blues is not easy, especially when you got used to having someone for a long time. My golden rule is to keep yourself occupied: pamper yourself, have a glass of wine, throw your hair up and do all those beauty treatments that you have been wanting to try like mud masks, deep conditioning treatments, etc. Not only will they relax you and boost your confidence, you also don’t have to worry about making a big mess or not looking your best.

I enjoy my freedom, big time! I go out dancing with friends and I’m always busy with stuff and activities. Being single allows you to do whatever, whenever you want. And for me, the best thing about being single is that you can keep dating. Nothing can be compared to the excitement of meeting someone new. And anyway, being single is just a phase. I believe that I will eventually find that special someone - there’s no rush.

Angel Villena, Dubai

Being single is a great concern for a lot of people. Although it is true that having someone can help add to your happiness and personal fulfilment, being single is not the end the world. Staying positive and being grateful is what I keep doing right now. I also make sure that I am responsible for everything that I do and I do not to forget my spiritual responsibility.

I’m a typical expatriate – the internet and phone, those are the things that keep me connected with my family and friends back home.

Shopping is a part of life whether single or not; everyone loves to shop - it fulfils our personal needs. I believe that a person’s selfworth is not measured by his or her relationship status. Yes, you can be happy being single - and whole. It’s your choice.

Mylene Leon, Dubai

It will be my second Christmas here in Dubai. The first one I had was spent just like a regular day. It was a very sad one; I had only a few friends back then.

But I think this coming Christmas will be totally different. Though there’s still the thought of sadness since I’m not with my family, I’m really looking forward to an unforgettable experience.

Being a single person during this kind of season is not as bad as it seems. I still have good friends around to spend my Christmas with.

We’re actually planning to spend it by the beach; we will have a barbecue and will have so much fun.

Portia Lamberte - Dubai

FEATURE 21

Pasko a’la Dubai Sure. You’re away from home. Far from your family and missing out on the authentic Pinoy Pasko that includes simbang gabi, puto bumbong, bibingka, Noche Buena etc. But fear not. Here in the UAE, we can still celebrate the season with the solemnity and cheerfulness it deserves with stuff beyond exchange gifts and overnight videoke marathons. So blow away the holiday blues and let us serve you Pasko a’la Dubai.

By Sherry Tenorio

Acitore | Dreamstime.com ©

Party via the WWW Don’t fret. You can celebrate the Christmas Day with your loved ones back in the Philippines. All you need is a laptop and internet service.

Ask your family to log on, open the web cam, and stay online for as much as you like so that you can see the happenings back home.

What will be nicer is hooking your computer to an LCD television (if you have one) to give you even better viewing. Invite your friends for lunch or dinner, and have them greet your family. This will definitely lessen your loneliness, and it will allow you to extend and share your overseas life to your family in the Philippines.

Give Love on Christmas Day If you are feeling charitable then we suggest that you visit the consulate offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We have a number of less fortunate OFs who are housed in our consulate offices. These are mostly women who require clothing, beddings, phone cards, and simply loving ears to listen to their stories. You may opt to participate through community groups that usually serve them food on Christmas parties, but you and your friends can also take the initiative and help on your own terms.

Complete the Misa de Gallo Although you cannot attend the traditional 4am simbang gabi, the Church of St. Mary in Bur Dubai and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Jebel Ali allow you to relive our very Filipino custom every evening from December 15-24. Cap off the nine nights of novena with the Christmas mass during the 25th followed by lunch or dinner with family and friends. Don’t forget to make that special wish as it’s been said that finishing the simbang gabi can get your wish granted.

Spend and Splurge Take recession to the side, for once, and spend for Christmas. Pamper yourself if you have the means. Buy yourself a rare gift - maybe an expensive watch, branded bags or shoes, a trip abroad, an overnight stay at the Burj Al Arab, a gala dinner or even a day of luxury spa.

Whatever it is, as long as it can make you happy (not guilty) - go for it. Remember that it is the season of giving, and that includes giving to yourself, as well.

Christmas tree & windtowers in the emirates

Christmas Outdoor Go outback with your adventurous pals and re-use those camping tents. It will be nice to go to the desert, find a secluded but safe location, and be one with nature. Pack lightly, stay alert, and be sure to use your scouting skills in order to survive an overnight stay against the cold and the uninvited insects in the desert. We heard that there are great sites in Hatta, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.

Sing Some Carols They say that caroling is not “uso” in Dubai. Well, think again. No one says you are prohibited to do so. Tell your friends or your community organization to create a group for Christmas caroling. Disseminate the information and volunteer to serenade during Noche Buena or Christmas dinner. If you get proceeds from the caroling, donate it to a good cause. Otherwise, consider it as a new fun experience.

Make it a Children’s Day Teach your kids one of the basic elements of Paskong Pinoy – ‘pamamasko.’ Forewarn your friends that you’ll be visiting them on Christmas day so that your kids can experience this Filipino tradition, without expecting money or any gifts. Moreover, if you have the resources, invite your friends’ kids over. Dress up like Santa Claus, and host a Children’s Party. Prepare parlor games and ask the kids to perform, and simply celebrate the same way you would if you were in the Philippines.

Bum and Rest It will be nice to wear those winter suits and go out merrily. But, it will be equally nice to stay home with in your pajamas, do a movie marathon, sleep and eat. To avoid the blues, ask friends to join you in this restful fete. Ask not only your Pinoy friends but extend the invite to your expatriate friends, too. Share Christmas in this relaxingly warm setting. As the day ends, you’ll find it more exciting and invigorating among other Christmas celebrations you’ve been to.

22 ILLUMINATI

Holidays are forever

By Alfred A. Yuson

A panoramic view of the Makati/Fort/Rockwell skyline at night.

Ah, holidays. Among many other dubious distinctions, our country is said to have the most number of officially declared holidays in the world.

S

ince our Prez, a former Economics prof, embarked on that rather novel notion of “holiday economics,” every single reason has been brought to bear as rationale for extending weekends. A traditional public holiday — and we used to have just ten of these — that fell on a weekday was advanced to the nearest Monday.

That way, the presidential policy explainers said, the Pinoy family could get better chances to bond together on a long weekend, maybe take the opportunity to go out of town and do their noble bit for domestic tourism. That’s all fine for holiday resorts, employers shot back, but what about the enforced overtime-pay arrangements for workers whom certain businesses can’t afford to all allow an extra leave, else a production or distribution or service line suffers?

The debate is still on, mostly on the loud side of the poo-pah sector that keeps shaking its head at every new or newfangled redletter day that adds to payroll responsibility. Exporters are among these, as calendared orders from abroad can’t quite factor in the spontaneous holidays.

Of late maybe Malacañang has seen some light in such contrarian arguments from the pillars of industry. Post-Ondoy, a twinge of conscience had the Palace nullifying previously planned national holidays late in November on account of the end of the Muslim Ramadan, which lay so close anyway to a traditional official holiday, Bonifacio Day on November 30.

Nationalists were quick to point out that it was a good thing the Great Plebeian remains thus honored. After all, much of the archipelago had always been befuddled over why everyone had to take a day of rest when only a small percentage of the population had to start on and eventually break a month-long fast.

Academic personnel are always among those whose work habits are affected by constant declarations of ad hoc holidays. It used to be that I favored Mondays for my weekly largesse of literary wisdom in the Ateneo.

But last semester the Admin wised up, or so it thought, by taking away Mondays from the schedule of part-time professors handling three-hour, once-a-week classes, since it was the day most susceptible to the vacationing whims of Malacañang. So now my classes — since expanded to two, one for Fiction and the other for Poetry — have been given over to Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Well and good. Except that during the UAAP basketball season from June to October, games are held on Thursdays. And if on that day our varsity champions happen to be performing in the afternoon at the Araneta Coliseum, guess where this prof’s sense of priorities lay, without benefit of bilocation. Easy. Wow, Cubao!

At the end of the day, as everyone relishes saying now — at this point in time and even as we speak — it becomes each man, woman and gay for him/her/itself as far as declaring holidays goes; which is probably why, collectively, Pinoys unarguably enjoy what’s said to be the longest Christmas season in the world. That’s not even counting the time one starts to hear Christmas carols in malls or over radio as Day One. This could be as early as September.

Unofficially, it all starts with exacerbated traffic gridlock as every shopkeeper within a 30-kilometer radius of Metro Manila heads to the urban malls for holiday season supplies. Count in every single entrepreneur, sari-sari storeowner and street vendor. Value-formoney pakyaw or wholesale habits die hard just before Christmas.

There is wisdom in stocking up early and so much more than on

ILLUMINATI 23

Eehgow | Dreamstime.com ©

regular runs for noodle packs, canned goods and toiletries.

Severe notice is given by mid-November, by way of stretching traffic to and from malls. Exasperation increases as December rolls around, especially since socials also begin escalating by the day, adding to the roster of tiangges and bazaars at every other neighborhood village, empty lot or streetside emporium. Book launchings, art exhibit openings, parties and overweaning business are the order of the day, er, holiday, season, that is — which is officially unveiled when the Araneta Center switches on countless Tivoli lights to illuminate a giant Christmas tree (a la Rockefeller Center, NYC) by the Big Dome by mid-December.

It’s the eve of the nine-day Simbang Gabi tradition that begins at dawn of December 16. Officially, Yuletide has embraced the Philippines, or maybe it’s the other way around. And it used to last till January 6, the old date for Three Kings, before the modern-day calendar of movable feasts pegged that for the first Sunday of the first month of the New Year.

But it’s also balikbayan season, and thanks to its peripheral confluence with cheap international fares towards late January, why, the Santas from abroad who are our dear blood relations or otherwise stay on, or come too late for the Media Noche feast but not ever that late for gift-giving.

In any case, it’s the best time to enjoy all kinds of reunions in beloved Pilipinas, where degrees of separation cannot ever exceed 1.5 as against the world’s norm of six. It’s the coolest time of the year, with a mild sun but sharp sunlight, little humidity, and pellucid hours on a beach or mountain.

The genuine holiday is in the heart, some chicken-soup-for-the-soul type of inspirational writer is bound to say. Well, tinolang manok in some Boracay resort or Sagada lodge would certainly do even more justice for the season. And while we’re sipping and supping, with family and friends, the desideratum can’t be far behind: Why not holidays forever?

Glue area

Glue area

26 KABUHAYAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Choco-Pinoy

By Bernadette Reyes

Like millions of Filipinos, Raul Matias has experienced working and living overseas paying only a quick visit back home during Christmas to spend the season with family and friends. But unlike many Overseas Filipinos (OFs), Raul took the road less travelled and opened his own business in Manila. He has since settled back in the country to be with the people he loved, not only for Christmas but all year-round.

“E

ven when I was in the States, I never forgot the Philippines. That’s why I made a definite plan to come back. I want to come home. I don’t want to spend the remaining half of my life living abroad, away from my country,” says Raul who began his professional career as a physical therapist in the US. According to Raul, the job was too much of a drag that he decided to take on corporate employment instead, an endeavor which he eventually found no more exciting than the first.

To break the ennui, he started attending chocolate-making classes in the US but later felt the need for more serious training. He later went to professional chocolate-making schools in Europe and Canada in a bid to become a world-class chocolatier. “I wanted to learn the techniques from each of these countries, get their best practices and apply it to my craft,” he says.

In 2005, Raul started selling his home-made chocolates in gourmet stores. “It was a hard sell,” he recalls. “You don’t know how to start or who to approach.” As if right on cue, fashion designer JC Buendia asked Raul to be one of the sponsors at Philippine

Fashion week where guests had the chance to sample what he calls ‘Pinoy chocolates.’ “VIP guests received a box of chocolates I made as giveaway. It seemed they liked it because orders came soon afterwards. I even got a bulk order from the lead vocalist of Journey, Arnold Pineda, for his baby’s christening,” says the delighted Raul.

He was happy with the modest orders he got from time to time until the opportunity to open his own shop came in April this year.

Machiavelli Chocolatier sits on a modest 24-square meter space in Rustans Makati selling proudly Philippine-made exquisite chocolates named after popular Pinoy sweet ingredients. The Purple Yam Yum for instance is made from ube, an exotic root crop from the Philippines blended with milk chocolate; Pili Bon Bon, a praline made of freshly roasted pili nuts from the Bicol Province and covered with creamy European milk chocolate; Coconut Screw, a classic combination of coconut (buko) and screwpine (pandan) leaves wrapped in either white or dark chocolate. The Yema De Manila on the other hand is inspired by the leche flan, a well-loved Pinoy dessert dating back from the Spanish era, while the Ivorie Jack is partly made of jackfruit, a tree native to the Philippines. Other flavors include Muscovado Grass, Mangosteen-Dark, Dusty Negros, Mung Bean Bon Bon, Mango Lait, Guava-Asia and Lychee Noir.

FEATURE 27 would not opt to change careers at all. “I don’t see my boss everyday.

I don’t work with the same people everyday. I don’t bring my work at home and I’m not stuck in the same place every time.” For Ailene, who had been with the leading Dubai airline for over ten years, being a flight attendant is very gratifying.

Jacqueline Anders, who works for a major carrier in Abu Dhabi, has a different sentiment. “I love this job because every time I do something different. I meet interesting people like celebrities, politicians and members of the royal family. Since Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways host a lot of events, I had the chance to have the likes of Christina Aguilera, Shakira and the band of Bon Jovi onboard,” she revealed. The perks of the job are absolutely fabulous: the free travel around the world, the shopping, beautiful hotels and amazing layovers, among many others. But, she doesn’t see herself doing it for long. “It is perfect for single people,” she explained, “but I’m married, so I don’t think keeping this job Jacqueline Anders for a long time is a good idea.”

Exploring Options Becoming a flight attendant is not the be all and end all of careers in the travel industry.

The first Filipino instructor at Emirates Flying School, Michael Bautista also applied for cabin crew positions with no success.

Subsequently, he found his niche in the aviation industry, and is now the school’s Chief Flight Instructor. Although he is Michael Bautista currently engaged with teaching and training, Michael recalled the very reason why being a flight attendant was his first choice. He said, “I think a lot of us wanted the job due to the good pay, good standing of the company, perks for the family and a chance to travel the world while being paid.”

Nonetheless, the rejection he got was more of a blessing – he landed a role he simply excelled at.

Galo Calizo, who is now working as a travel consultant to an oil and gas firm, was an ex-Senior Travel Consultant for a renowned international airline. Despite his current job satisfaction, Galo is consistently reminded of the benefits with his former company.

He said, “What I liked most back then were the trainings that were conducted twice a year, one in Zurich, the other was in Brussels.

Other than the glory of traveling, I gained a lot of knowledge from attending those trainings.”

He also enjoyed travelling at discounted rates and got the options of 50% (confirmed seat) to 90% (based on availability) discount on travel fares anywhere in the world. He recalled, “What I actually miss from working in an airline company is the ability to use my long weekends to travel to anywhere. Imagine, I used to pack my bags to Italy or Germany to spend my weekend.”

Travel benefits are a huge advantage to permanent employees and their immediate family members. In Galo’s case, his parents and siblings had discounts in flying. Married employees, on the other hand, have benefits for their spouse and children. Also, high ranking staff could request certain upgrades to business class, and to first class during special occasions like weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and etc.

Moreso, as mundane as it may sound, airline employees could also bump into international personalities on-the-job. Galo remembers meeting the late King of Pop Michael Jackson on a flight from Muscat to Dubai. Although crew members are expected to be discreet while serving famous guests, sometimes the excitement is just too much to resist. Once, an Emirates Airline’s newsletter featured a photograph of three smiling Filipino ground attendants posing with ‘the’ Angelina Jolie. Getting a glimpse of the stars is certainly one of those episodes when someone could say, “I love my job, I love my job, I love my job!”

Making It Real Just like any other job with its pros and cons, with the perks of airline crew life also come the usual difficulties, including moving through different time zones which ruins the body clock, absence at special occasions due to shifting schedules, and the mere danger every time one flies. There is much ado behind the glamour that according to Jacqueline, “People do not realize that when we are up there, we are just like normal employees. We work hard, and most of the times, we multi-task. We can be waitresses if the passengers want drinks, chef if they want meals, nurse when there’s injury onboard, and even a nanny to crying babies. It gets hectic at times; but that what makes it all worthwhile is knowing that I have done something special for someone that day.”

Ailene furthered, “Our job may look glamorous and easy but there is also great responsibility in it. Part of our job description is to give care courtesy to our customers so they will elect to fly with our airline. There are days when we have early morning duty which lasts for more than 12 hours. We attend to sick customer. We have to check the aircraft for any suspicious items. We have to check and clean the toilets. We have to assist mothers with infants and elderly customers. We have to feed 300 customers in a one hour flight.”

Galo recalls an incident which puts into sharp focus the irony of living the life of a high-flyer. He remembers the last time he travelled to the Philippines on business class and had to be served by someone he knew. “I was really happy that I could enjoy such a comfortable experience until I recognized the man who was serving our row.

Frankly, it was no fun knowing that the man I asked for a cup of water is a friend of a friend. Good enough, Daniel was very professional and carried on as usual after greeting me.”

26 KABUHAYAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Choco-Pinoy

By Bernadette Reyes

Like millions of Filipinos, Raul Matias has experienced working and living overseas paying only a quick visit back home during Christmas to spend the season with family and friends. But unlike many Overseas Filipinos (OFs), Raul took the road less travelled and opened his own business in Manila. He has since settled back in the country to be with the people he loved, not only for Christmas but all year-round.

“E

ven when I was in the States, I never forgot the Philippines. That’s why I made a definite plan to come back. I want to come home. I don’t want to spend the remaining half of my life living abroad, away from my country,” says Raul who began his professional career as a physical therapist in the US. According to Raul, the job was too much of a drag that he decided to take on corporate employment instead, an endeavor which he eventually found no more exciting than the first.

To break the ennui, he started attending chocolate-making classes in the US but later felt the need for more serious training. He later went to professional chocolate-making schools in Europe and Canada in a bid to become a world-class chocolatier. “I wanted to learn the techniques from each of these countries, get their best practices and apply it to my craft,” he says.

In 2005, Raul started selling his home-made chocolates in gourmet stores. “It was a hard sell,” he recalls. “You don’t know how to start or who to approach.” As if right on cue, fashion designer JC Buendia asked Raul to be one of the sponsors at Philippine

Fashion week where guests had the chance to sample what he calls ‘Pinoy chocolates.’ “VIP guests received a box of chocolates I made as giveaway. It seemed they liked it because orders came soon afterwards. I even got a bulk order from the lead vocalist of Journey, Arnold Pineda, for his baby’s christening,” says the delighted Raul.

He was happy with the modest orders he got from time to time until the opportunity to open his own shop came in April this year.

Machiavelli Chocolatier sits on a modest 24-square meter space in Rustans Makati selling proudly Philippine-made exquisite chocolates named after popular Pinoy sweet ingredients. The Purple Yam Yum for instance is made from ube, an exotic root crop from the Philippines blended with milk chocolate; Pili Bon Bon, a praline made of freshly roasted pili nuts from the Bicol Province and covered with creamy European milk chocolate; Coconut Screw, a classic combination of coconut (buko) and screwpine (pandan) leaves wrapped in either white or dark chocolate. The Yema De Manila on the other hand is inspired by the leche flan, a well-loved Pinoy dessert dating back from the Spanish era, while the Ivorie Jack is partly made of jackfruit, a tree native to the Philippines. Other flavors include Muscovado Grass, Mangosteen-Dark, Dusty Negros, Mung Bean Bon Bon, Mango Lait, Guava-Asia and Lychee Noir.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP KABUHAYAN 27

Some of the names were purposely used to identify the Philippines with particular products such as the Negros Crunch made from Muscovado ganache with crunchy almond and hazelnut in milk and dark chocolate. “Muscovado used to be one of the most prominent export commodities of the Philippines especially from the Negros region until the late 1970’s. Now it is known as “Barbados sugar” I want Machiavelli to rightfully take it back for the Philippines,” says Raul.

While others thought the Filipinized name might work to the brand’s disadvantage, Raul takes it from a different standpoint.

“Sure foreigners might ask, ‘What’s with the name?’ I don’t look at it as a problem but more of a challenge to educate the people and at the same time an opportunity to make our country known. Take for instance Palawan vintage truffles, not only do they get to taste the Palawan honey but at the same time they will learn that Palawan is a great vacation spot in the Philippines,” he explains.

Traditional flavors such as Cashew Nut Praline, Burnt Honey, French Toast, Italian Red, Praline Nature Bon Bon, Grand Marnier and Coco Cocoa are also in the shelves for the conservative. Also in the making are other exclusively Pinoy flavors such as Bananaque, Kaymito, Kape Batangas and the return of Turon de Casoy which Raul believes will be a big hit even to the foreign palate. Aside from chocolate pralines, Raul also came up with Camote chips half-dipped in fine Machiavelli chocolate.

Only a year after its commercial launch, Machiavelli has already won over a steadily growing clientele including Filipinos and foreigners alike. Perhaps it’s the universal brand associated with the philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli which catches the attention of foreign customers. Whatever it is, Raul guarantees old and new patrons - whether a foreigner or a Pinoy - an epicurean pleasure in every bite. A lot of innovation and experimentation goes into each flavor says Raul but he also assures the chocolate flavors he makes are well-researched to guarantee customer satisfaction.

To make Machiavelli even more Filipino, some of the pralines are designed on top with logos representative of the Philippines such as the kalesa, jeepney and bahay-kubo made of cocoa butter.

These are then packed in exquisite deep-purple boxes with brown

trimmings, a design collaboration between Raul and Anton Tantoco Huang, custom-made to give this sweet treat the glamour it deserves.

I call it couture chocolates; its glamour you can eat,” says Raul.

While raising capital was never a problem for Raul who comes from an affluent family, he admits he had his share of setbacks; first and foremost was his lack of business education and training. Neither did he take culinary studies apart from the education he acquired prior to opening the business. To compensate for the shortfalls, he read lots of marketing books and sought practical advice from family members engaged in business prior to the execution of his plans. His natural talent for cooking may have also helped him in perfecting the flavors. “I didn’t know how to make chocolates but I know how to cook so at the very least I know how to balance flavors. As for the marketing side, I’m lucky I’m able to learn marketing concept just by self-study,” he says.

Machiavelli is poised to introduce itself not only in the Philippines but in neighboring countries as well. “I want to invade Southeast Asia with my chocolates. If the Japanese can do it with their nama (fresh) chocolates, Filipinos also can. But my chocolate has to have something Pinoy about it because I’m a Filipino through and through,” says Raul.

As Machiavelli gains recognition, Raul says he will always have a penchant for Chocnut and Goya chocolates and would never want to steal the limelight from these sweet delights Pinoys have come to love. “I can never deny my love for Chocnut and Goya chocolates. These are reminiscent of childhood memories and they will always have that unique taste exclusively theirs. But at the same time I want Machiavelli to have its own following.

This is a unique Pinoy creation that I brought home, something Filipinos like you and me can be proud of,” says Raul.

28 KABUHAYAN

Pinoy Entrepreneur

Mary Ann Montesa

Quick Solution Cargo Services Abu Dhabi, UAE Mary Ann Montesa stumbled into entrepreneurship after her medical condition brought her to a new direction in life. Despite the physical, operational as well as cultural challenges she has faced, in a market and industry where there is little regard for Pinay capability, Mary Ann has succeeded in establishing a thriving enterprise that has gained the confidence of corporate clients. She shares her experiences on Pinoy entrepreneurship with Illustrado.

Please describe your business.

Our business is a freight forwarding company.

We cater to both local and international air, sea and land cargo, clearing and forwarding, import and export, local moving and packing offices and villas. We also handle exhibit cargo.

Why did you establish your own business?

I established my own business in January 2004 when I lost my job after having surgery in my spine (slip disc) and I did not have the option of going back home since I am only the one who supports our family since my father passed away. I started my business at a very tough point in my life and I struggled hard because I could not walk properly, nor sit down in a chair. I didn’t have enough strength and capability to work for long hours at that time. But, I didn’t lose hope and faith in God and I always said to myself that I can do it. My family back home is my strength and inspiration, and all that I have done right now is for them.

What was your start-up capital and basic operations set-up?

I started in 2004 with only AED20,000 and worked as a “one-woman-show” doing marketing, picking up cargo, documentation, filing and etc. When I used to get a job for packing and moving, I had a Filipino contact that used to work with me on part time basis.

I had a small place in the city proper of Abu Dhabi which I designed by myself to make it

presentable to clients.

What obstacles did you encounter?

I encountered lots of obstacles since I started my business especially in finances. It was so hard to hit the target since I had so much competition but I was always ready for the challenges. I encountered clients who wanted to cheat me and some clients who underestimated my capabilities just because I am a Filipina. But I have proven to them that a woman can also do a “man’s work” competently. As I went further in my business, I have gained respect and see that my clients now treasure our talents, patience, creativity, ideas, dedication and hard work. I learned a lot in all of our activities, with all the trials and the success gained at the end of job.

But my strongest shield in life is our almighty Father whom I always lean on and give thanks and praise to for all my endeavors.

Where are you now? How far have you gone?

So far, since we started, I could rank myself from zero percent to 70% of my business career. We now handle corporate clients, for both import and export, and our client base is increasing constantly. Our existing customers continue to support and trust us and they also recommend us to other contacts. We also now have our own office in Manila, which also handles the door-to-door delivery of our shipments from Abu Dhabi, as well as import shipments from Manila to Abu Dhabi as well.

We now have agents in different countries to further mobilization our business and from a

“one woman show,” I now have eight (four in Abu Dhabi and four in Manila ) full time staff working with me.

How do you feel about being an entrepreneur?

As an entrepreneur, you can plan and do what’s best for your business, devote more time in order to succeed and reach your dream, as the “pilot of your own airline” in life. You meet more friends, business people and associates. The bad thing is that I tend to spend more time working and less time for myself, or for my old friends and family.

But I always tell them to try and understand my situation because I’m doing it for the success of my business and for my family as well. I could not forget my friends who really supported me and never left me when I was down and struggling in the beginning. Until today, they are still behind me, proud of my achievements and for where I am now.

Would you recommend going into business to other Pinoys?

I will encourage other Pinoys to be entrepreneurs, than to be employees forever.

In business, there are always ups and downs; every time we fall down gives us strength, and the experience not to repeat the same failures. Never give up, face the problem and try to solve it and do it slowly but surely.

Don’t entrust your business to somebody else; you should be the one to handle it and work for it. Your business’ success will rely on your patience, the time you put in it and hard work.

30 PINOY PRO Celebrating the Professional Pinoy Janet Tuano Vice President and Manager, IT Risk and Security Union National Bank Janet M. Tuano is an IT audit professional who is based in Abu Dhabi. She started a career in auditing at an esteemed accounting and auditing firm in Makati City, where she also trained and specialized in IT auditing. Prior to moving to Abu Dhabi in 1997, she worked as an IT audit manager in a commercial international bank in the Philippines. Her experience and keen interest on assurance, control and governance in the field of IT has lead to her new assignment as Vice President and Manager for IT Risk and Security at Union National Bank. She leads a team responsible for information security governance and business process assurance.

Jan, as she is fondly called, is married to Jovy Tuano, President of the Abu Dhabi Philippine Business Council, and has two teenage kids, Joan and Jose Mari.

Dong N. Dimal Visual Merchandising Manager Giordano Fashions LLC University of Santo Tomas BS Architecture graduate Dong stumbled into Visual Merchandising when he got his first break as creative visual artist at Robinsons Galleria in Manila, fresh from college. During the course of his early career, he did displays and merchandised for brands such as Diesel, People R People, Bossini, Florsheim and Naturalizer, while designing shops and interiors of residences. He also worked in Jakarta, Indonesia as Visual Merchandising Consultant for Matahari Putra Prima Ltd – the umbrella company for the Matahari and Galleria chain or department stores and the Mega M hypermarket.

Dong moved to the emirates in 1998 and has joined Giordano Fashions LLC originally as creative artist. He moved to a buyer and creative position and then Visual Merchandiser in-charge for the MENA region, where he became instrumental in setting up the department. In 2000, he was promoted to his current post as Visual Merchandising Manager.

Janet Barlow Technical Writer Pacific Consulting Services Jan Barlow is a Technical Writer at Abu Dhabi based Pacific Consulting Services a company specializing in technical communication, training, and instructional design. She has seven years of experience with documentation projects as technical writer and project manager and is rresponsible for all the technical manual projects in the company, leading a team of three technical writers/specialists. Jan has specialist knowledge in international best practices in all major document types - e.g., policy and procedures manuals, technical reference manuals and business process analysis. Jan has a Computer Science degree from the National College of Business and Arts (NCBA) and a Diploma in IT from the International Electronics and Technical Institute (IETI), and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). She worked as an

Arnel G. Ramos Finance and Administrative Manager Intervid International FZ LLC Finance and Administrative Manager Arnel Ramos joined multinational Intervid International FZ LLC in 2003 as Accountant and was promoted to Chief Accountant immediately after his probation. He assumed his current position in 2006 after passing qualifications as Certified Management Accountant. Arnel started his career in Dubai in 1999 as Accounting Administrator at the Dubai Quality Group and later joined Union Properties, PJSC, as Subsidiary Sr. Accountant, before transferring to multinational BJ Services Middle East Company.

Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), and an MBA in Corporate Finance and International Marketing from the Jose Rizal University, he is also a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Microsoft Office Specialist – Expert Level and a Certified Internal QMS Auditor.

A dynamic community leader in the emirates, Arnel is one of the founders of Filipino Digerati Associations in UAE, serving as incumbent President, a founding adviser of Pilipino Nationalistic Association, UAE (PINAS, UAE) and Corporate Treasurer of Filipino Expatriates Association (Filex).

Lou Olvido-Parroco Senior Compensation and Benefits Analyst Schlumberger-Regional Support Center Middle East Lou Olvido-Parroco is a seasoned HR professional who always strives to accomplish meritorious standards in all her undertakings. She has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and also took up graduate studies in Public Administration. Lou has gathered fourteen years of professional experience, twelve years of which were from various prestigious establishments in Dubai namely the Dubai Duty Free, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Development and Investment Authority. In February 2006, she joined Schlumberger, one of the major multinational service organizations in the oil and gas industry where she was given a regional role as a Mid-Career Recruiter for Middle East and Asia. In her post, she has recruited hundreds of experienced Engineers and Scientists for placement across the company’s MEA operations. Due to her consistent outstanding performance she was promoted early this year to another challenging regional role as a Senior Compensation and Benefits Analyst. Lou’s outstanding performance has gained the trust of her employer and she has been sent to represent the company in various meetings in countries such as China, India, France, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, etc.

IT Instructor in Abu Dhabi’s Professional Training Institute before joining Pacific Consulting in 2002.

An Executive Member of the Philippine Business Council – Abu Dhabi, Jan is married to Peter Stephen Barlow and has two daughters – eight year old Frances, and six year old Rosamund.

PINOY PRO 31 Peewee Dizon-Bauman Regional Brand Manager - Lux and Lifebuoy Unilever Middle East UP Broadcast Communication graduate Peewee Dizon-Bauman began her career at Unilever Philippines in 2002 starting as a Sales Executive for Unilever skincare products. She then moved on to work for the local marketing team of Dove, Vaseline and Pond’s for a year and a half. In 2005 she became Regional Brand Manager for Pond’s in South East Asia based in Bangkok. A year after, she was promoted to Ponds Global Brand Manager for the anti-ageing segment. In 2007 she launched the first Unilever anti-ageing range - Pond’s Age Miracle in South Asia, South East China, Latin America and Spain.

Peewee is presently residing in Dubai with her husband Andy, who is currently taking up his PHD in marine science. In their free time they like to hang out at the beach, skateboard and dance to Brazilian music after home-cooked dinners. Peewee says that her job in Unilever is fun but temporary. Her ultimate dream is to be a yoga teacher and to own a breakfast cafe.

Neil Rumbaoa Director of Communications Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai Neil started his career at the Makati Shangri-La right after getting his Hotel and Restaurant Administration degree in UP Diliman. He has not left the Communications Department since and is now presently working at the Shangri-la Hotel, Dubai as Director of Communications since October 2007, responsible for advertising, collaterals management, public relations, press relations and special events. He has launched various facilities and handled PR events of various Shangri-La hotels he has worked in, including the group’s first Chi Spa Village at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu. Prior to Dubai, he was Director of Communications in Edsa Shangri-La. An outdoor enthusiast and a certified diver, Neil counts travelling and communing with nature as his passions. He’s also active in various hotel CSR activities. Part of the community-related projects he helped initiate were the re-launching of the Save Our Species Foundation with the International Flora and Fauna Society. He also helped set up a foundation for indigent children in Mactan Island in Cebu, Philippines. He is also member of his hotels’ Green Team in charge of the Communications of the Environmental Management Program for ISO 14001 and is also a Certified Trainer handling some of Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai’s in-house training programs.

Rosemarie Tacorda - Ramos Assistant Marketing Communications Manager Burj Al Arab Hotel Pinay go-getter Rosemarie Tacorda-Ramos works in the rarefied 7star environment that is the world’s most luxurious hotel - the Burj Al Arab Hotel, as Assistant Marketing Communications Manager.

A Dubai resident for the last nine years, Rose is a BS Hotel and Restaurant Management Graduate of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and is currently a Chartered Institute of Marketing UK Candidate for a Professional Diploma in Marketing. Rosemarie has worked with the various Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts Group properties namely the Emirates Towers, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, the Jumeirah Corporate Office and then eventually Burj Al Arab, since 2000, working her way from administration, subsequently growing into the highly competitive field of marketing.

Rosemarie is married to “I Know What to Do” author and Illustrado columnist Ximo Ramos, contributing to her husband’s advocacy to help Filipinos become successful. She also shares her blessings through Compassion International where she has sponsored several kids around the world, with the ages 4 to 7, eager to be an instrument of their success and progress in life.

Rosemarie’s ultimate dream is to go back to the Philippines one day and use her international experience to help improve tourism in the country.

32 KABUHAYAN MONEY

A Smarter and Kinder Christmas

By Francisco Colayco

This year, Christmas in the Philippines will be most different from all previous years. Before, there were all kinds of setbacks around the world, but still in the Philippines, Christmas carols were playing as early as September. In fact, in September of previous years, I was already advising people to start planning their gifts early and establishing their budgets.

T

his time, not only are we still reeling from the global economic crisis that started a year ago but also from Ondoy and Pepeng which caused unprecedented devastation.

Although the stores started putting up Christmas décor in October, the “Christmasy” feeling is somehow, not the same. Perhaps, there will still be Christmas sales but it may not be as big as it used to be.

All social levels were affected by these catastrophic calamities. Floods affected the very poor, the middle class and the rich including those in the most affluent villages.

Even the rich who would normally have the buying power are cutting back because they prefer to share more with those who are still trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.

Of course, there will still be Christmas if we remember what Christmas really is - the birthday of Jesus Christ who was born in a manger. All the consumerism of Christmas is man-made. It is time to enjoy the happiness of being with friends and families in an atmosphere of love and sharing. This becomes especially important because some lost loved ones and others are so thankful because they managed to survive.

In whatever activities you do to celebrate, use only part of your Active Income and none of your Passive Income. To review, Active Income is income that you receive from working. For those employed, your

Christmas Bonus is part of your Active Income. You will not receive a bonus, if you are not working. If you are self-employed, you should pay yourself a Christmas Bonus as you would any of your employees. Don’t spend all your Active Income but set aside a part of it for your savings.

Your Passive Income is the income from the growth of your savings that have been wisely invested. As a general rule, only Passive income should be spent for your Wants that you truly feel are important.

Here are some activities you might want to consider. Perhaps these are not all that applicable in your present environment.

Nonetheless, share these ideas with your family, friends and other relatives in the Philippines.

MONEY KABUHAYAN 33 Filipinos love raffles. Have a Bingo session in the office in lieu of a party held in an outside restaurant. The budget for the Christmas party can be converted into cash as prizes for the raffle. Children can be invited to this affair, if they wish.

Spend the last working day before Christmas or before the New Year having a simple merienda. No fancy food but just having fun drinking, singing, dancing and story telling in the office.

Let us remind each other to count our blessings regardless of our present predicament. Let us share and make every Peso count. Some of these practices, to be effective, are best held in small companies or among a smaller group of people in a big company. Whatever you or they do, be happy that you are blessed to have this time among friends to share love and friendship during the “most beautiful time of the year.”

Clean up your closets and have a “small garage sale” by bringing items that you have not used in the past six months to the office.

Ask your officemates if they want any of it and whatever is not taken can again be sold in other garage sales or donated to your favorite charity or calamity victim. As they say, “One man’s garbage is another man’s gold.”

Christmas reunions and parties, even if simpler, abound during the season. There is little time to enjoy them if you have to spend the time shopping. You may choose to just give your full presence to these reunions and parties. Think of ways you can entertain your friends and relatives. Maybe you have a special musical or a story-telling talent.

Practice it and share the fun and the laughter that you might elicit because of your act.

Kris-Kringle is a practice in many offices.

This is the exchange of small gifts on a daily basis leading to the big exchange gifts on the last working day before Christmas.

However, this could create stress since the items required for each day are usually not readily available and again requires some last minute shopping. Perhaps, you can create a different type of Kris-Kringle where no storebought gifts are exchanged. Little acts of kindness or service can be given throughout the next year in the form of certificates. For example, a certificate might say: “I promise to give ______ a free home-cooked lunchbaon at the time he/she requests for it

during the month of January 2010 provided I have ___ days notice.” Or another certificate might say “________ is entitled to a free shoulder massage during break-time during the month of February 2010.” Or another one to say “I cannot be upset with _________ for one whole day during the month of March, 2010.” The persons who receive these can then claim the rewards at the appropriate time.

My personal family and my family at the Colayco Foundation for Education join me in wishing all of you a Blessed and Meaningful Christmas and a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous 2010!

Maramaing salamat at pagpalain nawa tayong lahat ngayong Pasko at sa darating na Bagong Taon! Mabuhay!

Let us share with all those who are less fortunate than us. You could get together with your officemates or even a small group in the office to visit an orphanage or a unit in an old folks’ home or even go to visit Prisoners as an “outing” instead of a Christmas party of just eating. You can bring your shared food to eat together with those you visit.

Instead of an exchange gift to be given to each other, agree to prepare a special package to share with a poor family. For example, each package could contain: ½ kilo rice, ½ kilo sugar, 2 cans sardines, 2 cans Vienna sausage, toothpaste, 2 toothbrushes, 2 bars of soap, 1 box of detergent, 2 small towels, 2 simple shirts. Agree on the sizes and quality of each item. Ask each officemate to involve their children or their siblings in putting together the package to make it more meaningful. You could also bring this gift to the orphanage or prisoners or old folks’ home you decide to visit.

Garage Sale

34 SUCCESSFUL PINOY SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

Money is the Root of all Philanthropic Deeds

By Jeffrey ‘Ximo’ Ramos

Pag-usapan naman natin ang pera, ok lang ba? Tama ba na pag-usapan natin kahit katatapos lang ng bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng? Na halos lahat ay nawalan ng kabuhayan at kinakapos sa pera? Magpa-pasko at wala man lang pambili ng Noche Buena!

Ngayon lalo natin dapat pag usapan ang pera mo pera ko, dahil – ‘money is the root of all philanthropic deeds, sis and bro!

By this time sis and bro, YOU should know that money is not the root of all evil.

Remember in our previous discussion on cultural redemption? When we have redeemed the concept of money as a blessing and not a curse? Hindi pera ang pumapatay, hindi pera ang nagnanakaw, hindi pera ang sumasama, hindi pera ang nananamantala.

Ang TAO na hindi marunong humawak ng ‘makapangyarihan’ na pera; siya na hindi marunong mag ipon ng pera; siya na hindi marunong magbigay ng pera; siya na nagmamahal sa pera!

ating mga ate at kuya, “Sige na, ikaw na ang maghugas ng plato, bibigyan kita ng sampung piso” (Nuong kapanahunan ko, malaki na iyon ha! Uy, nag isip ka ng edad mo bigla no?)

Sa ngayon, ito rin ang ginawa sa atin ng mundo dahil pera ang ginagamit na item for trading.

Pampalit ng serbisyo o bagay na gusto mong mapasa iyo. So, recognize this fact. Huwag maging ‘ipokrito’. Mahirap kasi iyong dasal tayo ng dasal na magkaruon ng magandang buhay at manalangin na maging masagana, tapos ang bukang bibig ay ‘’masama ang pera.”

Ito ang sabi sis and bro.

Reaching your millions We have been given an abundant life – and money is part of that abundance. God wants us to be rich and prosperous. Now, being rich is a state of mind and a state of your wallet.

Sabay iyon. Kapag inisip mo na mag iipon ka na, dapat may nakikita sa iyong pitaka.

First, save 10% of your income. Itabi mo.

Kunwari wala na. Naaalala mo ba yung pakiramdam na naglilinis ka ng bag mo or wallet, tapos, di mo inasahan bigla kang nakakita ng bente o isang daang piso? Di ba ito ay nakalimutan mo na. Ngayon you are 100 pesos richer.

Recognize money’s importance and power “Money is not everything but it surely affects everything.”

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with much grief.

Ito ngayon ang sinasabi mo sa sarili mo. ‘Sa dinami dami ng kinikita ko, ganun rin kasi ang gastusin at bayarin’. Ok, let us rewind.

The purpose of money is to buy what you do not have. If you have a plantation of vegetables, you do not need to buy some in the market; but you would need to buy pots and produce fire to cook your vegetable in, thus, you need money.

It is when you worship money that it becomes a sin. So, educate yourself. God has created everything! That includes money. Saying so, as an inheritor of His creations, money can be yours. So, recognize its importance and be aware of its power – for power corrupts.

Do you still remember the time when you have nothing? When you were not yet earning – no job, no source of income? And when you got hired, received your first salary – you told yourself ‘I will save’. So kaya di ba? Balikan mo yung ganuong pakiramdam – kaya mo yan!

Automatically save 10% para automatically you get your millions.

Alam mo na may dalang kapangyarihan ang pera. Sabi nga nuong bata pa tayo ng

So, gusto mo ng pera? Dapat lang na ang sagot ay OO! Gusto mo raw ba ng pera? Iyon ang tanong, hindi mahal mo ba ang pera?

Pero bro, di ba mabagal kapag nag ipon

SUCCESS PRINCIPLES SUCCESSFUL PINOY 35

lang? Well, ang purpose kasi ng pag iipon ay para may madudukot ka sa araw ng pangangailangan. At isa sa araw na iyon ay kapag may pagkakataon kang makapaginvest upang mapalago mo ng mas mabilis ang iyong ipon. So, invest your money. Look for legal and moral ways to invest. Read financial books and understand money by asking financial advisors and business gurus like Mr. Francisco Colayco. They can guide you on the specifics of your money – the risks involved and ways of earning. Remember our discussion on ‘compound interest’? Na sa pag iipon at pag iinvest makukuha mo ang inaasam na kayamanan. Sa akin lang, laging pag-isipan na pasalamatan at papurihan ang pinanggalingan nitong yaman.

Deal money with others fairly ‘Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.’

Have you been asking God to give you money for something you want while refusing to pay someone what you owe him? Ayan!

Guilty ang marami sa atin. Hihingi at kapag nabigyan, di babayran ang dapat bayaran! At nagtataka later on kung bakit kinukulang pa rin. Malinaw kasi ang isang success principle – deal money with others fairly.

The longer you refrain from meeting your obligation the farther away your money becomes. Mahirap bang lunukin ito? Weigh mo. Dapat ba akong magbayad? O itago ko muna iyong pera habang “sila” ay naghihitay sa kanilang pera. Hmmm. Isang palaisipan na obvious ang kasagutan. Freedom is a requirement to true success. And everytime you do not pay your debt, ika nga, you bond yourself, imprisoning your potential.

There is a higher reason why you have money Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?

This is the reason why we get corrupted. Ito yung rason kung bakit mo nasasabi, “Bakit kung sino pa yung mayayaman sila pa yung masasama”. Yes, there are such Pinoys na may knowledge sa pagpapalago ng pera pero walang wisdom sa pag trato sa pera. The wisdom is – ultimate service to God. Gamitin mo ang perang sa iyo ay ipinahiram lamang sa mga gawain para sa Kanya. Sa bawat negosyo mo na naitayo; sa bawat ipon mo na dumarami – share how God has changed your life.

Kaya sis and bro sa kapaskuhang ito, sa pagbigay o pagtanggap ninyo ng ‘pera na aginaldo’ isipin na ang pera ay hindi minamahal (kaya ang presyo ng bilihin nagmamahal) bagkus ito ay tagapaglingkod sa inyo upang gamitin sa pagbigay ng pagmamahal sa kapwa at pagbigay puri sa Ama na nagbigay ng lahat.

Isang mapagmahal na Pasko at maperang bagong taon sa inyong lahat!

36 SUCCESSFUL PINOY SPIRITUALITY

Growing PHP20 to Millions By : Bo Sanchez

We give gifts not only to our loved ones, friends, co-workers, or clients. More than any time of the year, the Christmas season is also the time people give gifts to the less fortunate, visit homes for the elderly, orphans, street children, women in crisis, even those in prison.

B

ut let me tell you about people who give not only during Christmas, but also all year round. Here’s my story...

Today, Rey has produced 54 college graduates. They are Certified Public Accountants, graduates cum laude from the University of the Philippines, and top 10 board placers.

It all started with PHP20.

He has sent five poor kids to school from families devastated by Mt. Pinatubo.

In 1979, Rey Ortega was having breakfast with four friends.

And eight poor kids from families crushed by flash floods in Infanta, Quezon.

While reading the newspaper, his eye caught an article about 200,000 out-ofschool street kids in Metro Manila.

And seven kids from blind families in Antipolo.

The figure blew his mind. He couldn’t believe it. 200,000 kids on the streets?

He told his four friends about it and pulled out his wallet. “Look, I have an extra PHP20 here. We may not be able to help 200,000 street kids, but if we chip in, we can send at least one of these kids back to school.”

And five poor young seminarians who wanted to be priests.

As if this wasn’t enough, Rey began an orphanage last year.

He didn’t want these kids roaming on the streets. He wanted to give them a home. So he and his wife opened their own home to 10 orphans!

Thankfully, they now have a separate house for the orphanage. They now care for 19 orphans.

It hasn’t been an easy path.

Immediately, his friends agreed. And together, they marched to Tipas Elementary School in Taguig, Rizal.

They talked to the principal and asked, “Do you know of a student graduating from grade six who can’t go on to high school because of poverty?”

The principal said yes. “Her name is Rodora Lopez.”

In its previous location, his orphanage was in a subdivision. But 88 homeowners in that subdivision signed a three-page “rejection” letter, refusing to have an orphanage in their village. The news crushed him.

But Rey prayed for another place that would welcome God’s little children. Recently, he found another place in Pasig. The kids now attend the Feast, our Sunday gathering in Pasig.

So Rey sent Rodora to school.

The following year, he sent another one.

The year after that, he sent another.

And he has not stopped ever since.

Being a businessman, Rey had the money to fund his work for God. Just last year, from his own pocket alone, he spent more than half a million pesos for his orphanage and his scholars.

SPIRITUALITY SUCCESSFUL PINOY 37

So you can imagine, from his first PHP20 in 1979, he has now given millions away. (Not to mention his sweat, blood, and tears.) But that’s how God has prospered Rey’s own business since 1979.

Yes, God provides for his work.

He Cares, our ministry for streetkids. Founded by my friend Jodean Sola. He sends streetkids to school, feeds more streetkids each week, oversees a relocation housing project for families, and a micro-lending livelihood program for mothers of streetkids. (I’ve been working with Jodean for the past 20 years now, and I’ve always been inspired by this big-hearted man.

I believe that this is the purpose of wealth.

God will enrich us so that we can give more.

Gawad Kalinga. A successful ministry led by Tony Meloto, Gawawad Kalinga builds houses for the poor. We partnered with Gawad Kalinga to build 120 houses in Montalban, Rizal.

When you give, He will prosper the work of your hands.

Rey’s friends have not stopped helping him either. With much patience, he knocked on doors, called up friends, and wrote many letters. Last year, they were able to raise PHP830,000 for his scholars.

But today, the children’s needs have grown far beyond what Rey or his friends can fund themselves.

So I’ve partnered with Rey. He is now a member of my community. We have put him in charge of our own scholarship program. And we’ve adopted his work as our own. We now provide funds for both the scholarship program called Pag-Asa ng Pamilya, and the orphanage called Tahanan ng Pagmamahal.

Rey is a very special man.

His passion, his courage, and his love for the poor, blesses me so much.

Grace To Be Born. Grace To Be Born is a new ministry for unwed mothers and their babies. Grace To Be Born is campaigning against abortion and convincing pregnant women in crisis not to abort their pregnancy. The ministry recently inaugurated the dream halfway house of Grace To Be Born which will serve as a temporary home for unwed mothers and an orphanage for abandoned babies. The Grace To Be Born shelter is located in 53 Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave., Kapasigan, Pasig City, almost across the street from the Meralco branch office. It is one block away from the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Pasig Plaza. Grace To Be Born stems from the loving heart of my long-time friends who have supported my ministries.

The prime movers are Betty Go Roxas Chua, Sebastian Roxas Chua, Rey and Myrna Ortega who also run the Tahanan ng Pagmamahal.

Prison Ministry. My community’s Prison Ministry visits the Women’s Correctional Institution in Mandaluyong at least once a month to counsel the inmates and help them cope with life in prison.

Everything big can start with PHP20.

Because as we give the little we have, God will bless us abundantly.

So the list of our work for the poor is growing, and I’m very happy.

Here they are: Anawim, our home for the elderly. We care for abandoned elderly in Montalban, Rizal. We provide shelter, food, medical care, and love to those who have been forgotten by their families and society.

Recently, the Board of Trustees made a five-year plan for Anawim which includes a fund-raising campaign for the construction of duplex homes so we can accommodate more abandoned elderly.

I want you to pray if God wants you to help us help others—by including our street children, orphans, women in crisis, prisoners, and abandoned elderly in your gift list. If you hear His voice saying “Yes”, log on to www.kerygmafamily.com and be part of our borderless, international, non- physical family that wants to change the world for Jesus. As a way of saying thank you for your monthly love offering, I shall supply you with a mountain-load of spiritual nourishment every day.

As Rey Ortega says, you don’t have to help 200,000 streetkids.

You just need to help one child…

38 FASHION

Going Home There’s a feel in the air that’s just like home…

Reminiscent of youthful delight; of country checks, peasant pretties and innocently flirty bows; of prints, patterns and shapes that take you to a neo-nostalgic style journey that’s oh-so warmly familiar.

Photography: Glenn Peter Perez and Filber Kung (Blackfox Photography) Styling : Mike de Guzman and George Palmiano (MGP) Hair and Makeup : Clarence Model : Girlie Benitez

FASHION 39

Red checkered strapless dress by Jellybean; red equestrian hat, red jeweled bangle and

40 FASHION

Purple plaid peasant top and floral peasant skirt by Jellybean; taupe fringed suede belt from People R People; candy-colored acrylic bangles from SM Department Store; black opaque stockings from Cocco and gray suede Maryjanes from Mango

FASHION 41

42 FASHION

Blue chiffon blouse with ruffled sleeves by Maldita; black tiered shrug from BYSI; checkered pencil skirt by Jellybean; feather fascinator by Dimple Lim; leather gloves from Mango; black acrylic bangles from SM Department Store; purple printed wide belt from Ensembles; black opaque stockings from Cocco and multi-colored faux croc shoes by Janylin

FASHION 43

44 FASHION Baby doll top with polka dots and peasant skirt with liberty print by Jellybean; star-print shawlpink, purple and blue ceramic bangles black opaque stockings, all from Cocco; strappy faux python shoes by Janylin

FASHION 45

Red checkered blouse with puffed sleeves by Jellybean; black tiered skirt from BYSI; checkered bow tie from Folded and Hung; miniature hat with lace appliquĂŠ, black studded wooden bangles and eyeglasses from SM Department Store; shoes from Mango

46 FASHION

Checkered blazer from MarithĂŠ + Francois Girbaud; purple pique shirt, checkered jumpsuit and polka-dotted ribbon tie by Jellybean; black knee-high socks from SM Department Store; gray cutout platforms by Janylin

FASHION 47

White bold-sleeved satin blouse by Jian Lasala; checkered leggings from Black Sheep by Maldita; black ruffled and sequined bib chokers, black acrylic bangles and black studded wooden bangles, all from SM Department Store; purple suede fringed belt from People R People; Gray suede Maryjanes from Mango

48 FASHION Red tunic top by Marithé + Francois Girbaud; white shawl with black piping used as a belt by Maldita; green and gold printed ribbon tie by Jellybean; checkered tights – stylists’ own; white and gold bangles from SM Department Store; T-strapped reptile-skinned platforms by Janylin

SHOPPING GUIDE:

BYSI– Ground Level, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia CMG – 2nd Level, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia Cocco – 3rd Level, Annex Bldg., SM North EDSA Dimple Lim – 095748381 Ensembles – 2nd Level, The Row, Glorietta 5 Folded&Hung – 2nd Floor, Glorietta 5 Janylin – Ground Floor, Glorietta 5 Jellybean – 2nd Level, Bldg. A, SM Megamall Jian Lasala – +63 915 580 5945 Maldita – Ground Level, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia Mango – Ground Level, Glorietta 3 Marithe + Francois Girbaud – Ground Level, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia People R People – 2nd Level, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia SM Department Store – SM Makati, SM Mall of Asia

FASHION 49

50 FEATURE

NOT JUST YOUR ORDINARY SARONG

By Excel V. Dyquiangco • Photos by Gelbert Aplal

It’s more than just fabric – it actually embodies rich cultural heritage in a simple yet beautiful piece of textile. Even more than that, the Inaul, known as the popular sarong exclusively worn by both men and women in southern Philippines, actually signifies distinction and royalty.

A

tubular skirt that wraps around the lower half the body, Inaul symbolizes the unique culture of the people of Cotabato City. Its intricate woven design from the fusion of different colors represents tradition as it captures the Maguindanao symbol of distinction and royalty.

Colors of yellow and orange mean royalty while red means bravery. Green signifies peace and tranquility while white, the color of purity, speaks of mourning and sadness. The other color black, on the other hand, represents dignity.

Even the highly complex art of weaving Inaul contributes to the richness of the fabric. The most famous of the weaves is the plain weave such as the binaluato (rainbow), makabimban (stripes), or panigabi (taro). A weft weave includes sinodengan, matampuhayseko, kawang and sinukipan designs. The practice of tie-dying is another rare method locally called binaludan (ikat).

A versatile fabric, Inaul can be used in different ways. Women wore it as a malong skirt oftentimes used in special events such as weddings and parties and men, on the other hand, wore it around the waist as trousers also worn during special activities. Inaul can also be used as a turban wound around a man’s head. Folded Inaul malongs can be used as a basket, baby cradle or bag. And they may also be used as a blanket, curtain, mat, or pillow case. Nowadays, however, Inaul is more commonly used for dresses and gowns for women and polo barongs or tuxedos for men.

“We just want to show one of the distinctive trademarks of Cotabato – and that is through this fabric, fashion has taken on a different meaning with Inaul,” says Bai Sandra Sema, head of the Tourism Council and wife of Mayor Muslimin Sema of Cotabato. “Inaul stands for a culture that seemingly has a different taste and flavor from the rest of the country – and this is what all Cotabatenos possess.”

The Inaul in a modern setting The transformation of Inaul from an ordinary garment to a modernized and updated piece of fashion seems effortless. Casual wear, gowns and other formal or corporate attire can take on a different look once the unique Inaul touch is added.

But here is where the similarity between tradition and modernism ends. According to Bai Albaya Wampi, President of the Al-Jamelah Inaul Weaving Center in Cotabato, acquiring a modern look doesn’t necessarily mean showing more skin. In fact, this part of Cotabato culture is specifically onservative.

“We need to preserve the culture and heritage of the province by representing Inaul as covering more than the usual – which means that there are no backless attires, or any of that sort,” she says. “Just bear in mind that we’re doing this not just for business – we’re doing this because this is something that is locally grown, and we’re proud of it.”

Even top designer Renee Salud, who showcased his Inaul designs spanning corporate to leisure wear during the “Araw ng Kutabato” in Cotabato last June agrees with Bai Albaya about leaving culture “untouched.” He is all praises for Inaul and said, “Inaul is actually a design in itself already – no too much elaboration and embellishment [is needed]. Inaul has played the essence of Cotabateno pride.” Renee adds that his real purpose of holding an Inaul fashion show is also to project the fabric as a wearable, flexible material so people would eventually realize that it doesn’t serves only as a lowly “tapis.”

Worldwide Maguidanao Fashion Foreign dignitaries from Saudi Arabia and some parts of the Middle East and Americans have also begun to take notice, especially during anniversary celebrations in Cotabato. And because of this, Bai Albaya says that their sales have indeed shot up.

Earlier this year, Bai Albaya and her team also joined the WOW Philippines trade fair held at the Mega Trade Hall in SM Megamall.

The group intends to join other such trade fairs in the future and with the help of fashion designers like Renee Salud, they hope to get Inaul to the catwalk and eventually to stores nationwide.

“Hopefully, all of these activities, will promote Inaul not only as a traditional Muslim or Maguindanao cloth that you can use in your everyday designs, but a very important part of the unique culture of the Cotabato people,” stresses Bai Albaya.

STYLEMONGER 51

Filipino Talent Showcased at Bur Juman Runway Art Competition

By Butz Fuentes • Photography by Eros Goze

“O Ric Vicencio

2nd Prize Winner- Rollan David Manuel

pposites Attract” is this year’s Runway Art fashion competition’s theme.

Held on the 10th to 11th December at the Bur Juman shopping mall in Dubai, the annual event celebrates the region’s fashion minds, taking creativity to an ultimate new level. The event was a summit of avant garde creators and style warriors; a contest where only the best surfaced triumphantly in the style arena. A creative bunch of young and promising designers competed for the the Runway Art Amateur Category. The Professional Category, on the other hand, featured an all Filipino group of competitors whose works can be classified as quirky, eccentric, wacky – definitely avant garde.

The Grand Prize winner for the Professional category was Ignacio Loyola’s entry: “Culture Future.” He bagged the top award and a AED20,000 cash prize in a unanimous judges’ decision with his unusual contrasting creation of synthetic rubberbands and organic twisted recycled papers. His moulded bodice of paper twines in curvy motif extended to a peplum skillfully fastened with metal straps.

The wrought technique is time consuming; patience and stamina are virtues needed to achieve and finish this wonderful piece of art.

The elastic rubberbands were astounding as well, woven in precise patterns transforming into a well fitted and absolutely flawless jumpsuit - no basic pattern, no fitting forms! Magnifico, hijo!

The Second Prize winner was Roland David Manuel’s “Checkmate” inspired by a game of chess, playing with one thing in mind - to win and overthrow the opponents. And he literally did just that.

Running away with a AED15,000 prize money and trophy, but not my sharpened ax, Manuel’s haute presentation of black and white

Grand Prize Winner- Ignacio Loyola

ensemble came as a surprise to many a famous and established names in the Dubai fashion circuit. Thinking sheer craftmanship alone can guaranty his climb to the top, it seems that the designer was so “inspired” by Valentino’s leaf cut outs at the hipline, the origami details of Dior’s Couture Collection three seasons ago, Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel bodice and Dior’s Egyptian Nefertiti head piece, which completed the look and screamed - “checkmate!” Checkmate indeed, to his own work though, and not his competitors. Because in a legitimate contest like this, such copied creation, especially for the others who burned the midnight oil and put supreme effort in coming up with something original, is simply unacceptable.

Ric Vicencio’s Aphrodite and Ares entry was laudable; safety pins were the main elements in his mini skirt warrior diva outfit. Patterned and painstakingly attached, the safety pins shimmered under the spotlights. The Roman inspired war headpiece and shoulder shield recreated a strong woman against all odds in love, career and style.

Toby Lavares came up with an amusing but relevant entry: the “Union of Opposites” echoing the environmental advocacy - Save Earth-Save Water. Different facets of water and forms were translated in his white and lucid interpretation.The metal faucets with flowing beads looking like water flowing until the hips was refreshing - just like Lavares’ personality up close.

Ramil Garrote Noveda’s “Limar the Warrior Princess” was taken from Philippine folklores and myths – fire and ice, red and white. Noveda is one of the best designers in Dubai’s junior club. Having already won several awards in prestigious competitions, his entry somehow fell short. The unexplainable appearance of a skeletal umbrella and dainty beehive hair just didn’t add luster to his piece, yet in totality it is still worth praising. Do it better next year Ramil!

Other entries included: “Angel” Villiar D, “Sun and Moon” by Ferdinand Madriaga, “Le Moulin Rouge Lady” by Jolly Cabrera, “Natural Fact” by Joseph Lalongisip Jr, and “Lady of Fire” by Rocky Gathercole.

52 ILLUSTRADO SCRAPBOOK

A platform for budding Filipino creative talent

Wilfred Dy Abu-Dhabi based Filipino-Canadian Wilfred Dy is a fashion designer by trade and a photographer at heart. As a talented designer, Wilfred who specializes in bridal fashion has not only worked for several ateliers in the Philippines and Canada, but also taught fashion arts at the La Salle College International – Vancouver and the Vancouver School Board. He has also won various fashion citations – including the Best Designer Award at the Vancouver Fashion Week in 2002 among others, and has participated in a number of prestigious fashion shows in Vancouver, Manila and Cebu. Unsurprisingly, Wilfred specializes in fashion photography and his distinctive images stand out for his extremely elegant portrayal of women and his use of vivid color.

Illustrado welcomes entries to Illustrado scrapbook from all photography enthusiasts in the Gulf. Please send your highresolution images and mini-profile to illustrado@inbox.com.

ILLUSTRADO SCRAPBOOK 53

Donald “Onang” Rosales A native of Davao, Donald “Onang” Rosales works as a Tour Guide in an events company in Dubai and is very passionate about photography. He loves to take portraits and indulge in travel photography. When not shooting with his camera, he spends time with his bass guitar playing his own experimental scale.

Jimbo Cayetano Interior Designer Jimbo Cayetano, who has been a resident of Dubai for nine years, stumbled into his favorite hobby, photography, just a year ago. What initially was a necessity and a tool to document projects he’s involved in as a designer became a passion – a passion to freeze time, capture various moods, forms and the play of light and shadows. He has managed to apply his backgrounds in Visual Arts to this new found medium, hence the elements of styles and principles of design became second nature in taking photos. His favorite subjects are mostly portraits and human anatomy and he enjoys taking both monochrome and colored photos.

54 ADVERTORIAL

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ADVERTORIAL 55

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LIVING AREA Karen sofa set with three-seater plus two two-seater sofa – AED 7,950; Pachya carpet - AED599; Essem coffee table - AED795; Essem end table - AED595; Shunex sofa table – AED 995; Reese arm chair - AED1,250; Evan planter stand (large) - AED 445; Evan planter stand AED395; stella wall unit - AED1,950; Persol nest of tables – AED695; Jacqueline mirror – AED345; Elle wooden candle stand 31 cm – AED59; Elle wooden candle stand 22cm - AED49; Amo deco elephant gold - AED99

CHRISTMAS TREE Eight-foot Christmas tree – AED499; deco hearts (small) – AED9 each; deco hearts (big) – AED15 each; X-mas balls – AED5 each

66 GRAND CHEF CHALLENGE Pomfret and Scallop Terrine, Lapu-lapu Ceviche with Lemongrass Crusted Scallop, Papaya Caviar and Vanilla Foam Ingredients *4 Portions Lapu-Lapu Ceviche 200 grams lapu-lapu 130 grams cucumber, diced finely 100 grams ginger, diced finely 130 grams red capsicum, diced finely 50 grams coriander, chopped 15 grams sugar 2 grams sea salt 2 grams black peppercorn, cracked 300 ml lemon juice Pomfret and Scallop Terrine 80 grams pomfret fillet 2 pcs scallops 100 ml fish stock 2 pcs Thai broccoli leaves, blanched 2 pcs gelatine leaves Remaining ceviche marinade Lemongrass Crusted Scallop 4 pcs scallops 100 grams lemongrass, chopped finely 50 grams butter 20 grams coriander, chopped 50 grams bread crumbs 1 gram sea salt 1 gram white peppercorn, ground Papaya Caviar 2 liters corn oil 200ml papaya juice 20 grams sugar 2 grams textura agar Garnish 200 ml milk 4 pcs vanilla beans 1tbsp honey 100 grams cucumber, sliced 100 grams carrot, sliced Micro herbs garnish

Chef Allan Briones

Demi-Chef de Partie - InterContinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi A graduate of the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA), Chef Allan Briones also took up Hotel and Restaurant management in Manila. A Demi-Chef de Partie for The Yacht Club of the Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Chef Allan has previously worked for the Emirates Palace, the Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Oakwood Premiere in the Philippines. He is also part of the ‘opening team’ of the Intercon Abu Dhabi’s soon-toopen Belgian Beer Café.

Chef La Nina

Commis 2 Chef - InterContinental Hotel, Abu Dhab Young Chef La Niña Alvarado is a member of the Intercon Abu Dhabi’s The Yacht Club kitchen team.

She has been working for the prestigious hotel since December 2006. Chef La Niña has taken Food and Beverage Services courses at the Punlaan School in the Philippines, a project of the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc. (FPTI), a non-stock, non-profit organization supported by the country’s hotel and restaurants industry and several NGOs.

Preparation: Lapu-Lapu Ceviche – Prepare marinade by mixing all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl except lapu-lapu. Cut lapu-lapu into 3mm thick slices and soak in marinade. Cover with plastic film and leave in the fridge for 4 hours until taste is well combined. Transfer lapu-lapu into another bowl and leave with little bit of marinade. Keep the remaining marinade from ceviche for terrine. Pomfret and Scallop Terrine - Marinate pomfret fillet and sliced scallop with remaining ceviche marinade for 2 hours. Remove from marinade. Mix with fish stock and bring to boil. Soften gelatine leaves in cold water and add it into boiling stock. Remove stock from the heat and set aside. Cool to room temperature. Prepare terrine mould.

Place blanched broccoli leaves inside and arrange marinated pomfret, scallop and stock. Keep the terrine mould in the fridge until set. Slice into portion sizes before serving.

Lemongrass Crusted Scallop - Sauté lemongrass with butter in a pan until lightly brown. Remove the lemongrass from the heat, blend in food processor with remaining ingredients except scallop. Preheat the oven at 180C. Pan-fry the scallop, place lemongrass crust on top of it and bake in the oven for 2 minutes. Papaya Caviar - Keep corn oil in a deep container in the fridge overnight. Heat up a pan, bring papaya juice and sugar to boil and reduce it in half. Add agar powder into the juice until well combined.

Remove reduced juice from the heat and cool it down until approximately 40C. Drop the juice into the cold oil until set into small caviar shape. Remove the caviar from the oil and gently wash in running water.

InterContinental Abu Dhabi The InterCon in Abu Dhabi offers 390 spacious, modern rooms and suites. The well-appointed tastefully furnished rooms feature panoramic views of the city skyline. Club InterContinental floors offer guests superlative levels of personalised service, as well as access to the Club Lounge.

The hotel also has six trendy award-winning restaurants.

GRAND CHEF CHALLENGE 67

Tender Braised Beef Short-Rib, Tamarind Pickled Aubergine and Peanut Butter Cream with Baby Bok Choy and Anchovy Bagoong Jelly Ingredients *4 Portions Tender Braised Beef Short-Rib 1.8 kg beef short-rib with bones 2 pcs carrot, chopped ½ pcs celery, chopped 2 pcs onion, chopped 3 pcs bay leaves 2 pcs star anise 2 cloves garlic 5 pcs black peppercorn 10 grams sea salt 50 ml fish sauce Tamarind Pickled Aubergine 2 pcs large aubergines 50 ml white vinegar 50 grams sugar 100 ml tamarind extract puree Peanut Butter Sauce 5 ml vegetable oil 50 grams onion, finely chopped 5 grams garlic, finely chopped 100 ml stock from beef short-rib 25 grams roasted peanut, blended finely 25 grams peanut butter Peanut Butter Cream 150 grams peanut butter 50 ml cream 50 ml milk 1 egg yolk 25 grams sugar 80 ml double cream Anchovy Bagoong Jelly 5 ml vegetable oil 10 grams onion, finely chopped 2 grams garlic, finely chopped 2 grams green chili, finely chopped 80 grams anchovy 40 grams bagoong 10 grams sugar 50 ml fish stock 5 grams textura agar Garnish 8 pcs young bokchoy 1 pc red chili, sliced finely chives

Preparation: Tender Braised Beef ShortRib - Preheat the oven at 180C. Sear the beef short-rib on a hot frying pan. Place all the ingredients in a deep roasting pan together.

Fill up the pan with water until well covered.

Cover with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Braise it in the oven for 2hours. Remove from the oven once meat is tender braised.

Remove the bone from the meat and cut it into the portion sizes. Strain the stock and keep it for the sauce. Tamarind Pickled Aubergine - Boil vinegar with sugar and reduce it into half. Add tamarind extract puree and remove from heat. Slice aubergines into portion sizes. Deep fry until lightly browned.

Marinate with tamarind puree. Peanut Butter Sauce - Sauté onion and garlic together with oil. Add stock and bring it to boil. Add peanut butter and roasted peanuts together. Simmer for 5minutes. Peanut Butter Cream - Whisk egg yolk and sugar together in a mixing bowl.

Bring cream and milk to boil in a pan and pour it into the egg mixture. Place mixture in a double boiler and stir it until thick. Melt peanut butter over low heat, remove from the heat and mix with thickened egg mixture.

Fold mixture with double cream and set aside in the fridge. Anchovy Bagoong Jelly - Sauté onion, garlic, chili with oil until golden brown. Add anchovy and sauté for 5min. Add bagoong and sauté for another 2 minutes.

Add sugar and fish stock, and bring it to boil.

Combine with agar and remove from the heat.

Pour it into a mould and set aside until firm.

Remove from the mould and cut into portion size.

Leche Flan Scented with Pandan Leaves, Served with Banana Chili Bruchetta and Basil Seed Sauce Ingredients *4 portions Leche Flan 400 ml evaporated milk 300 ml condensed milk 200 ml fresh milk 8 egg yolks 150 grams brown sugar 150 ml water 2pcs pandan leaves Banana Chili Bruchetta 8 pcs pistachio biscotti 2 pcs banana 500 grams brown sugar 500 ml water 1pc red chili julienne Basil Seed Sauce 30 grams basil seed 100 ml syrup from the leche flan 20 grams sugar Preparation: Leche Flan - Caramelize brown sugar with water until lightly browned. Put the caramel into a flan mould. Reduce fresh milk with pandan leaves into half. Strain and cool it down to room temperature. Mix all the milk with the egg yolk. Pour the milk mixture into the mould and place it into a bain-marie with water. Place the bain-marie into a steamer for 1 hour.

Let it cool in the mould. Remove the leche flan from the mould and keep the syrup aside. Banana Chili Bruchetta - Preheat the oven to 180C. Caramelize brown sugar and chili with water until lightly browned.

Slice banana and arrange in a baking pan. Pour caramel onto the sliced banana and place it in the oven for 2 minutes. Arrange the banana on the pistachio biscotti.

Basil Seed Sauce - Reduce the syrup with sugar until 2/3. Bring 50 ml water to boil, add basil seed and cook it for 30 seconds. Remove the basil seed and mix with syrup.

68 GRAND CHEF CHALLENGE

Chicken Barbecue Ingredients: 1 kilo chicken breast 1 cup of soy sauce 1 whole garlic peeled and crushed 1 small onion minced 2 lemons ½ cup of 7-Up 1 tsp ground black pepper 5 tbsp dark brown sugar 1 cup banana sauce (ketchup) Preparation: Soak bamboo skewers in water overnight to avoid splitting and burning. Cut the chicken into ½ thick x 1” inch wide x 1 ½” inch long pieces. Slide chicken onto skewers and set aside. In a large bowl combine soy sauce, garlic, onion, juice of 2 lemons, 7-Up, ground black pepper, dark brown sugar and banana ketchup.

Using a whisk, mix ingredients well and pour marinade mixture onto the chicken. Cover and set in the fridge at least overnight, or for up to 2 days.

Barbecue over hot coals or gas grill until chicken is done. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or barbecue sauce.

Chef Ofelia Fuentes

Breakfast Chef, Sails Restaurant – Renaissance Hotel Dubai Chef Ofelia Fuentes is the ‘smiling face’ behind the Renaissance Dubai Hotel’s Sails restaurant where she works as the Breakfast Chef. This year, she was the Head Chef of the Filipino promotion at Spice Island, the original buffet in Dubai where she introduced Filipino cuisine to different nationalities. She was able to start her own business from her savings and today she still runs two bakeries in the Philippines.

The Renaissance Dubai Hotel The Renaissance Hotel in Dubai is a luxury hotel set in the cosmopolitan business district near Dubai Creek, the Dubai Creek Golf Club, the Dubai World Trade Centre, chic shopping and attractions. Dubai International Airport is 4kms away. The hotel has 281 well appointed rooms, including 203 deluxe rooms, 41 club rooms and 37 suites, and features an exciting choice of restaurants and bars offering guests a range of dining options such as Spice Island, Sails Restaurant, Harry’s Place, Tiki Bar, Aquarium Lounge and Pool Bar.

GRAND CHEF CHALLENGE 69

Beef Caldereta Ingredients: ½ kilo beef brisket, cut into cubes 2 tbsp of soy sauce 1 cup of unsweetened pineapple juice 1/2 cup of tomato sauce 1/4 cup of tomato paste 3 tbsp of cooking oil 2 cups of water 1 pc of onion chopped 1 tbsp garlic minced 3 colored bell pepper

2 cups carrot and potato cubes ½ cup green peas 1 can liver spread Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 kilo of beef brisket (cut into cubes) Preparation: Put the beef in water. Boil for about 1 minute and then drain the water.

Heat the oil over medium flame. Sauté garlic and onion. Add beef cubes. Brown the beef in batches. Add pineapple juice and soy sauce. Add water combined with tomato sauce and tomato paste. Bring to boil till the beef becomes soft. Blanch carrot and potato in hot oil and then add to the beef. Add the green peas and liver spread. Stir it. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with 3 colored bell peppers.

Ube Halaya Ingredients: 1 ½ kilo ube yam (purple) 1 cup butter 3 cans of condensed milk 1 can evaporated milk ½ cup grated cheese 2 cups coconut milk 1 cup sugar A small amount of violet food color, if necessary Preparation: In a big pot, boil the unpeeled ube yam and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Drain and let it cool. Grate the cooked ube yam. In a big bowl add the coconut milk, sugar and the butter. Mix well for about 30 minutes and then add the condensed and evaporated milk. Blend for 15 minutes. Add a pinch of food color and continue mixing until you get the right sticky consistency. Add the grated cheese while mixing. Refrigerate before serving and garnish with cheese.

70 GRAND CHEF CHALLENGE

Supreme of Chicken Haling Halang and Prawns with Oriental risotto cake, sautéed pumpkins and string beans Ingredients *Good for 4 persons 4 pcs chicken breast Salt, pepper, paprika 1 tbsp flour 1 egg, beaten 4 big prawns, peeled with tail on Lemon juice 200 ml chicken stock 2 stalks lemongrass, lower part only 100 ml cream 100 ml coconut cream Pinch turmeric powder 1 red chili 200 grams squash 150 grams string beans Stuffing 100 grams spinach leaves 1 cup malunggay leaves (moringa), blanched 20 grams red onions, chopped 1 tsp garlic, chopped 50 grams chicken meat, finely ground 50 ml cream 1 tbsp vegetables oil 1 egg Salt and pepper to taste Risotto Cake 120 grams jasmine rice 1 pinch saffron 300 ml chicken stock 1 tsp onions, chopped 1/2 tsp garlic, chopped ½ tsp ginger, finely chopped 1/4 tsp red chilies, finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, roasted, skinned, diced 1 tomato, peeled, diced 50 grams zucchini, diced 20 grams shiitake mushrooms fresh, diced 2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Preparation: Stuffing - Sauté the onion and garlic in oil. Add the blanched malunggay and spinach.

Sauté for 2 minutes until wilted. Add the cream and seasoning and cook until cream is reduced and thickened. Cool the mixture. Add the ground chicken meat and egg and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Risotto Cake - Sauté the onion, garlic, ginger and chili in little oil. Add the rice and mix well until rice looks transparent. Add saffron, half of the chicken stock and simmer until liquid is absorbed. Add the diced zucchini, shiitake and the rest of chicken stock. Cook until rice is aldente.

Add the diced tomato and bell pepper and heat through. Add parmesan. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Spread ¾ inch thick in oiled tray and let cool. This can be prepared one day in advance. Chicken and Prawns - Place chicken breast on working surface. Flatten with heavy knife.

Divide the stuffing , roll and fold the meat on top and secure with toothpick. Season meat with salt, pepper and paprika, roll in flour and dip in beaten egg. Brown the chicken in sauté pan. To finish,

cook in 160C hot oven for 15 minutes. Marinate the prawns with salt, pepper and lemon juice for 5 minutes. Sear in little oil. To finish, cook for 5 minutes in hot oven. Sauce - Slightly crush the lemongrass stem with the back of knife, combine with the chicken stock. Simmer and reduce to ¾. Add cream, coconut cream and red chili and simmer to reduce by half. Season and remove the lemongrass and chili. Strain sauce if needed.

To finish - Cut the peeled squash as desired.

Sauté with chopped onion in butter. Add a little water and cook for 5 minutes with pinch of salt and pepper. Keep covered. Cut string beans as desired. Blanch in hot water and refresh. Sauté with chopped onions and garlic in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Panfry the risotto cake in nonstick pan on low heat until light brown. To serve, place the risotto cake on plate topped with the prawns. Cut the chicken breast into 3 pieces and arrange in fan shape. Garnish with vegetables. Pour sauce around the chicken and scatter a few slices of red chili for décor.

Chef Konrad Walter

Executive Chef – Manila Hotel Swiss national Chef Konrad Walter trained in Switzerland, and started his culinary career in prestigious hotels in his home country at a very young age. He has since been immersed in his craft and has worked in Scotland, Macau and Bahrain before moving to the Philippines in 1993 – first with the Puerto Azul Beach Resort and eventually the Manila Hotel.

The Manila Hotel An ageless and historic hotel where Manila has celebrated its most important events and the world’s personages held court and left their mark, the Manila Hotel is a beautiful grand edifice at One Rizal Park. An icon which has a rich reservoir of stories, accumulated from almost a century’s worth of history within its walls, the Grand Dame has had the most illustrious of guests to have ever visited the Philippines and Asia - including statesmen, royalty, socialites and the jet set from all over the world.

GRAND CHEF CHALLENGE 71 Fresh Lumpia of Slipper Lobster and Pomelo Ingredients *Good for 4 persons Lumpia Wrapper 30 grams cornstarch 60 grams flour 2 eggs 130 ml water 1 pinch salt 1 tsp vegetable oil Filling 4 slipper lobster tails, cooked ½ pomelo 80 grams turnips, cut into strips 80 grams carrots, cut into strips ½ tbsp oil ½ tbsp white onions, finely chopped ½ tsp fresh mint, chopped ½ lemon, juiced Salt and ground white pepper to taste Sauce 100 ml mayonnaise 1 ripe mango 1 tsp ginger, finely chopped Preparation: Lumpia Wrapper - Mix the egg with water and beat with whisk. Add the dry ingredients and mix to a thin batter.

Add salt and oil to finish. In a nonstick pan cook thin crepes like pancake. Filling - Remove lobster meat from the shell and cut into strips. Peel pomelo, remove skin and membranes and tear into pieces, remove any seeds. Heat the oil in a sauté pan and cook the onion on low heat until half cooked. Add the carrots and turnips and sauté for a while without losing the

crispness. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let the vegetables cool, combine with the lobster meat and pomelo. Add lemon juice and chopped mint. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Mix carefully without breaking the strips. Sauce - Combine all ingredients together in blender to a smooth sauce.

Trilogy of Filipino Dessert Puto Maya, Food for the Gods, Sorbetes con Camote at Keso Ingredients Preparation: Puto Maya - Rinse rice well Puto Maya and place in thick bottom sauce pan. Add 300 grams glutinous rice coconut milk and bring to boil. Reduce 750 ml coconut milk heat and cook for 15 minutes or more.

Foods for the Gods Mold the cooked rice in any desired shape.

100 grams butter Food for the Gods - Combine sugars and 100 grams brown sugar butter and beat cream. Add egg one at the 100 grams white sugar time. Add the rest of the ingredients and 2 fresh eggs mix. Bake in shaped mould or in baking ½ tbsp molasses tray, 1 inch thick, in 220C hot oven for 150 grams all purpose flour 20 to 25 minutes. Serve cold. This keeps 1tsp baking soda well and can be made in advance. Sweet A pinch of salt Potato Ice Cream - Peel sweet potato and 50 grams chopped dates cut into 1 cm size cubes. Boil in milk and 50 grams chopped walnuts sugar until fork tender. Let mixture cool.

50 grams honey Then blend in food processor and strain.

Tamarind Sauce Add condensed milk and dairy cream.

100 ml cream Freeze in ice cream maker. When nearly 2 tbsp sweet tamarind paste ready, add the diced cheese and freeze for Sweet potato ice cream w/ cheese: 2-3 minutes more. The diced cheese should 250 grams sweet potato, orange color remain whole. Tamarind Sauce - Combine 350 ml milk tamarind paste and cream and cook for 50 grams sugar 5 minutes or until paste is dissolved and ¾ can sweetened condensed milk integrated into the cream. Pass through a 225 ml cream strainer, use cold. Fruit Puree - Combine 80 grams processed cheddar, diced equal amount of fresh papaya, mango To Finish: and pineapple in blender and process to a 80 ml mixed fresh fruit puree (mango, smooth puree. papaya, pineapple) 80 grams mixed fruits, small diced or pearls (mango, kiwi, strawberry, melon) 1 tbsp fresh coconut grated or toasted desiccated coconut

72 FEATURE

An enterprising man, Roberto Castañeda became a laughingstock when he first thought of the idea of making wine from the Philippines’ favorite fruit - mangoes.

But nobody is laughing now. He founded Don Roberto’s Winery Corporation in the Philippines that now exports mango wine to the world and has given global connoisseurs a gustatory experience that is uniquely Filipino.

By Isabelo A. Samonte

F

ilipino wine-making culture dates back to several centuries prior to the coming of the Spaniards in 1521. Our history is replete with traditional wines made from rice and corn, sugarcane and berries, coco and palms. These were virtually ‘heirloom recipes’ that served as a legacy and a big challenge for the enterprising Castañeda.

Extending that, he tirelessly pursued his idea and produced two blends - the Green (dry) Mango Wine, and the Yellow (sweet) Mango Wine. The rare taste, he says, is the first of its kind in the world that could compete with quality wines in the global market.

He said. “It is a Filipino wine for the world! A quality product that our fellow Filipinos can be proud of.”

“Philippine mango is known to be the best mango in the world. And the best wines can only come from the best fruits”, said Roberto.

We have been blessed with the ‘carabao’ mango, known around the world as the Philippine mango, a fruit with a delightful combination of sweetness and piquancy grown only in the fertile soil back home.

The idea of bringing out this native taste from the Philippines to the world is an amazing challenge.

As a table wine, Don Roberto is great for all occasions especially big milestones like weddings, anniversaries, and holiday celebrations.

With much nostalgia, Roberto recalls, “my own daughter used it for her wedding.” He said, “The green variant is best consumed during the meal and the yellow one, which is a bit sweeter, after meal as a dessert wine. Then, the brewed coffee wine, which we also produce, is great to cap off the meal, just like a coffee.”

As founder and owner of the winery, Roberto closely oversees the step by step production line processing from intricate fruit selection, quality tasting, aging, up to the very last details. He also ensures that packaging and shipping are world class. As a result of his devotion to quality, Don Roberto’s mango wine has won the PHILSTAR Award for packaging excellence from the Packaging Institute of the Philippines, twice, and has received world recognition with the

Product Label Gold Award at the FINAT International Labeling Competition held in Austria in 2003.

Apart from his growing foreign clientele from Asian and western countries, Roberto also has an increasing amount of patrons from the Filipino communities abroad. At their headquarters in Imus, Cavite in the Philippines, one will see walk-in visitors - foreign guests and ‘balikbayans’ sampling his wines. As unfading tradition, his products are now becoming one of the most sought after ‘pasalubong’ items and have become a big hit in every fiesta celebration and national events for Filipino communities particularly in the US and Canada.

Roberto recounts, “In Vancouver, I could only bring a few boxes, so when I was down to several bottles, and many were still eager to buy, what they did was to bid for the few bottles that were left.”

Mango wine really is unique and something new from the Philippines to the world. It springs from a well-loved fruit that grew in rich Philippine soil blessed with a unique taste that is the only one in the world. The passion for mango wine is also a blessing for the Filipino growers who have nurtured mango plantations as part of their native culture and tradition.

Roberto Castaneda dreams of having his own mango orchard as a bastion of mango wine where Filipino culture is being molded.

There, he can continue what he is doing, looking after the planters as they care for the seedlings, the farmers tilling the soil, the growers tending the trees, the traders caring for the fruits and market, the entrepreneurs innovating, and consumers to ultimately enjoy their labor of love. It might sound like any other entrepreneur’s dream, but with Don Roberto’s mission of reaching out across the miles to share Filipino culture to the world – it is a noble and remarkable one.

Roberto Castañeda

COMMUNITY 73

Mary Jane Alvero-Al Mahdi and Manuel Perito Jr. Honored with 2009 Bagong Bayani Award Dubai-based Illustrado Women of Substance Honoree Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi and Manuel Perito Jr. were presented with the Bagong Bayani-2009 awards by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at a ceremony in Malacañang Palace, on the 4th of December 2009.

The CEO of Geosciences Testing Laboratory in the emirates, Mary Jane is a veritable role model and well Manuel Perito Jr. respected figure in the local Filipino community. She was the first Filipina to have received the Emirates Business Women’s Award in 2008 and is also one of the founders of the Digerati Association which provides computer training to thousands of Filipinos in the country, sharing her blessings through volunteerism. Mary Jane received two awards - the 2009 Bagong Bayani for the Most Outstanding Employee and the Blas F. Ople Award for Natatanging Bagong Bayani.

President Gloria Macapagal Aroyo with Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi

Risk Innovators 2008 for Risk and Insurance (an online portal based in the US) most notably for his company initiative in creating an infocomics named ‘Super Oman’ - a risk management superhero advising on loss control and safety for Oman Insurance corporate clients.

Manuel’s accolades also include various internal awards from his company and he is also credited for facilitating the hiring of Filipino employees within his organization by showing exemplary work ethics.

Manuel Perito Jr., a Senior Manager at Oman Insurance, was chosen as Outstanding Employee. He is a multi-awarded safety professional who has received various recognition from award-giving bodies such as Ideas Arabia organized by the Dubai Quality Award (DQA) and

The Bagong Bayani Awards is an annual search for outstanding and exemplary Overseas Filipinos – a new breed of heroes who have brought honor to the Philippines.

Philippines FloodVictims Receive Aid Raised through Giothon – Hakbang Buhay

many miles away,” said Valeriano, “We are very pleased with the sum that we have collected and are keen to transfer this aid to the people affected by the typhoon.”

Giothon - Hakbang Buhay (Walk for Life-Flood Relief) donated AED 525,000 to the Red Crescent Society – Dubai Chapter. Funds were raised during the walkathon, spearheaded by Philippine Business Council as well as direct donations made by businesses and individuals at various outlets, including Giordano, Western Union and Fitness First.

The entire amount collected was handed over to Mohammed Zaroni, Manager of the UAE Red Crescent, Dubai by Benito Valeriano, Philippine Consul General in Dubai.

The month long fundraising campaign began in October with the Walk for Life at Safa Park, Dubai, where more than 8,000 people attended to show their support and donate to the Flood Relief Fund. Supported by the Philippine Consul General in Dubai and organized by the Philippine Business Council, Giordano, Western Union and ABS-CBN, the event sparked interest among several organizations and institutes that continued to contribute through corporate donations.

“It is extremely encouraging and very moving that people made the effort to contribute to the cause in their own special way, either through the event or direct donations, to help the thousands of victims so

“We’re amazed at the combined efforts of all parties who have gone to great lengths to be part of the Flood Relief Fund. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, has helped significantly. Our donation will help feed families, supply them with medicine and provide support to rebuild their homes and their lives,” added Lucille Ong, Chairperson, Philippine Business Council, Dubai.

The largest single contribution of AED 120,000 came from Barclays Bank and their employees. The students of the Green Fields Community School also collected over AED 5000 from fellow students and family members. DUBAL made a direct contribution to the Red Crescent of AED100,000.

Left to right: Lucille Ong – Chairperson, Philippine Business Council, Mohammed Zaroni – Manager, UAE Red Crescent, Dubai and Consul General Benito Valeriano – Philippine Consul General, Dubai.

74 COMMUNITY

PCU-Graduate Program Middle East Graduation Thirty two graduates of the PCU-Graduate Program Middle East received their diplomas in PhD and masters on the 4th December 2009 at the Philippine Christian University’s 66th Commencement Exercises held in Dubai.

The students were from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE. Seven received Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management diplomas; six of them are Bahraini locals including Atty Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Ghatam, a senator from Bahrain. One received Master in Management Major in Educational Management while 24 received their Master in Business Administration diplomas.

“International banks have agreed that the world is now experiencing the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression. Therefore the graduation of these great minds is a success because we are creating business leaders at the time when business models are being challenged,” Dr Ed Malagapo, Dean Graduate Program Middle East said.

“We at PCU consider the need to have a highly relevant regulatory mechanism for the mutual protection of the providers’ systems as well as the students themselves,” Atty Felix Carao Jr, Chairman, PCU Management Committee, said.

The university has, in September 24, renewed its membership in the Internationalization Association of Universities (AIU) based in UNESCO 1,rule Miollis, F-75732 Paris Cedex 15, France. The association has begun monitoring trends in the internationalization of higher education as well as cross-border higher education.

Present in the event were Grace Relucio Princesa, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE and Edwin Mendoza, Philippine Vice Consul for Dubai.

Instead of simply jumping into the bandwagon of investment banking to structure derivatives or sell equities, graduates were urged to strengthen their entrepreneurial spirit. They were also encouraged to help others.

Holders of graduate titles, especially MBAs, have been widely scrutinized as of late as most of the financial crisis architects have an MBA or higher degree.

MBA graduates all over the world have not been insulated from the recession as tight credit markets and low confidence levels dry up the job market. Most MBA schools however saw applications rise as individuals seek to beef up their qualifications.

Dr Greg Melchor De Lara, Vice president for Academic Affairs, said PCU’s vision and mission statement recognizes the need to integrate values of faith, character and service in building and enhancing the quality of life.

PCU, for one, is expanding in Asia and Middle East with an aim to produce academic services in sustainable and profitable way. PCU has programs in South Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia/Bahrain and UAE.

“This is what makes PCU distinctive and different from the other institutions of higher learning,” he said.

Manny Librodo Photography Workshop in Dubai Photography buffs were treated to two days of exceptional photography in a workshop facilitated by Manny Librodo and organized by 77th Street Productions on the 6th and 7th of November.

Based in Thailand, Manuel “Manny” Librodo is a teacher by profession and a serious photography hobbyist with expertise on portraiture. He is one of the most sought after lecturers in the industry, conducting photography and postprocessing workshops all over the world for several years now. His work is widely known and appreciated by many photographers around the globe.

1St Place - Jim Rivera

The event was sponsored by Grandstores/Nikon, Sandisk, Warehouse Club, Le Meredien Hotel, FMO/DJswitch, Explorer Publishing, Ramee Cruise, Rocky Gathercole, Kanna Manila and The Cabinet Room.

2nd Place - Jude Cruz

.3rd Place - Harry Cruz

COMMUNITY 75

FMCC ‘Souljahs’ Form in Dubai FMCC Souljah is a worldwide organization of the Filipino fanatics of Francis Magalona: hailed as the King of Rap and a legend in the Philippines music industry, his songs features politically conscious and thought-provoking rhymes, exhibiting nationalistic pride. The Souljah (slang for soldiers) group will serve as a support organization ready to lend a helping hand to Filipino communities here in Dubai, in the Philippines working together as “One Race, One Blood and One Love” under one command: “To Be Ready To

Defend The 3 Stars and A Sun” (the the Philippines and its people) and the belief “Pambihira Ka, Pinoy!!”

The FMCC Souljah Dubai Chapter was organized and formally established on the 4th of October 2009 at the Zaabel Park, in Dubai, with some 30 initial registrants. In its two months of existence, the group has already taken on some significant projects to pursue their cause. Among their recent endeavors were the “Souljah-ng Pinoy, Tulong-Tulong Sa Mga Biktima ng Ondoy” - a donation drive for Ondoy victims in the Philippines, and participation at the “Giothon” fund drive.

For more information on the group, visit their Multiply site - www.fmccsouljahs.multiply.com.

Ongpauco family who have grown the brand into one of the leading traditional family restaurants in the Philippines,” said Ishwar Chugani Commenting at the opening, Happy Ongpauco said, “This new addition to Barrio Fiesta’s global presence marks a new chapter in an institution and business that has grown over the last 50 years.

We are pleased to be sharing these gastronomic delights with food lovers of the UAE and offer the Filipinos here a taste of home. ” Left to right: Patricia Chugani, Happy Ongpauco – DirectorBarrio Fiesta Group of Companies, Syed Salahuddin – Managing Director – ETA-Ascon Star Group of Companies, Benito Valeriano – Philippine Consul General, Ishwar Chugani – Executive Director – ETA-Star Retail Group and Dinesh Chugani

Barrio Fiesta Opens in Dubai Pinoy favorite Barrio Fiesta fired up its kitchens on the 10th November for the first time in the UAE as it took its first steps into the Middle East market. Present at the opening was Philippine Consul General Benito Valeriano, Mr. Syed Salahuddin, Managing Director of ETA-ASCON Star Group, Happy Ongpauco, Celebrity Chef and Director, Barrio Fiesta Group of Restaurants and Ishwar Chugani, Executive Director of ETASTAR Retail.

“The opening of Barrio Fiesta is an exciting milestone for ETA-Star Retail, as well as the

Established in 1952, Barrio Fiesta currently has 50 restaurants in the Philippines and the U.S.A. The Dubai outlet is located in the new extension of Bur Juman Centre. The restaurant covers an area of over 3,000 square feet and when fully operational will have a capacity to serve 100 people. A lot of attention to detail was put into the design of the restaurant; with authentic materials and decorations sourced from the Philippines.

76 PINOY PLANET

Putting a bet on

Macau

Sia Van bridge

By Bernadette Reyes

Perhaps nowhere in the world can anyone experience the rich and ancient history of the Chinese and the nostalgia of old-fashioned Portuguese tradition against a single modern backdrop of grand hotels and casinos than in Macau – a city where taking risks is the order of the day.

T

o see Macau’s inviting pictures in the glossy pages of lifestyle magazines is like indulging in eye candy that’s why when my friend Angelo Cacal offered to take me on tour to the city for my birthday, I accepted without batting an eyelash. It was a three-day vacation but its memories will definitely last a lifetime.

As soon as we landed in Macau, I laid my eyes on the soaring Macau Tower with much delight. But the joy disappeared and was replaced by fear as soon as I stepped on the glass floors of the observation deck standing at a height of 223 meters above ground.

Once I got past my trepidation though, I was able to appreciate the magnificence of the city right before me with the Tower offering a 360 degrees panoramic view of everything including the Pearl River Delta. The spellbinding tourist attractions and the swanky casinos of the Macau Peninsula are equally as interesting as the fishing villages and beach-lined bays of the countryside, Coloane.

A leisurely stroll around Macau brought me to places I used to see only in pictures. I literally jumped with joy the moment I stepped on the wave-patterned stone mosaic of the Senado Square with its elegant fountain in the middle of the plaza. Every tourist has to have at least one picture taken on this piece of architecture - but I had about a dozen of mine as the place is indeed a sight to behold. The wave patterns brought me to the Holy House of Mercy, the Lou Kau Mansion, the taoist Na Tcha Temple, the Old Walls, and finally to Macau Tower

PINOY PLANET 77

Senado Square

Heading further down south to Coloane revealed a different side of Macau with green hills and valleys surrounding traditional villages. A stark contrast from the glitzy north, the streets had a cozy feel with grey bricked houses and temples and inhabitants absorbed in their unruffled way of life. But just like the cityscape, this small village is as picturesque but this time with a countryside appeal. Amidst the vegetation are parks and barbeque areas such s the Seac Pai Van Park, a 20-hectare site with ponds, waterfalls, gardens and a mini zoo perfect for families on vacations. The Hac-Sa and Cheoc Van beaches on the other hand are popular places for downtime under the sun.

Macau’s gaming revenues exceed those of Las Vegas and Atlantic City combined

the famous Ruins o f St. Paul, built in the early 17th century. One can only stand before it in awe, thinking how the facade withstood the fire that destroyed the rest of this Jesuit church.

At nightfall, we walked along Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, Macau’s Main Street bustling with life with casinos such as the Hotel Lisboa and Casino, the Wynn and the

MGM Grand all in full swing. A free bus ride on the Macau Ferry Terminal brought us to more swanky casinos such as The Venetian Macau and the City of Dreams in the village of Taipa. Of all the casinos, I especially liked the Venetian which houses the Grand Canal Shoppes that spreads across almost one million square feet of retail space and offers gondola rides on all of its three canals reminiscent of Venice in Italy.

Perhaps, it’s the inherent beauty of Macau or the electric atmosphere of the casinos that led close to 12,000 Filipinos to take their chances in this Chinese territory.

According to the Macau SAR Immigration Commission, as of August last year, 11,937 Filipinos are registered holders of Macau non-resident permits with many of them are engaged in the service industry. Some landed white-collar jobs like Edward Vincent “Budz” Cabanag who was hired as an architect. Budz has been working here for barely a year yet he has familiarized himself with the streets of Macau and to a great extent manages to speak the native

78 PINOY PLANET

St Paul’s Ruins- the landmark of Macau

language. He says it’s almost easy to absorb yourself in Macau with its simple living amidst the fancy surroundings. “Mukhang mahal ang mga bilihin dito pero hindi. Kung marunong ka lang mag-ipon dito, uuwi ka ng ‘Pinas na maraming pera,” Budz said adding that MOP100 (Macau Patacas), equivalent to approximately PHP600, is more than enough to buy a week’s worth of food supplies. With his competitive salary, Budz not only saves money but has enough to indulge in luxury items once in a while.

Even tourists couldn’t resist Macau. For the period of January to August 2008, a total of 225,283 Filipinos have holidayed in the city and there’s every reason to.

Aside from the scenic surroundings, Macau offers gastronomic delights as its cookeries tempt visitors with more than just the usual dumplings and dimsum. This is one city where authentic Chinese cuisine meets western gourmet, and a host of other multicultural tastes. One popular fare is Macanese – a mixture of Portuguese and Chinese and the best way to sample this is to visit the oldest of Macau restaurants - Fat Siu Lau established in 1903.

The Chinese words on the menu can get

confusing but sticking with the staples would most likely get you an enjoyable meal. For first-time visitors like me the Bacalhau, known elsewhere as codfish, is a must-try. Depending on your preference, this well-known Portuguese dish may be served grilled, stewed or boiled. As it is perhaps, Macau’s most famous Portuguese dish it is offered in most restaurants. The Galinha Portuguesa is also worth sampling.

This savory dish is chicken baked in the oven together with potatoes, onions, egg, saffron and curry. Another chicken dish is the African Chicken seasoned with piquant sauce made with garlic and capsicum and Portuguese spices. The best place to try it is Solmar on Avenida da Praia Grande. For dessert or light snack, try the Portuguese tarts. While many stores sell this sweet treat I found this hole-in-the-wall pastry shop called Margaret’s Café e Nata located at Rua Almirante Costa Cabral which offers one of the best Portuguese tarts in town.

Towards the end of our three-day visit to Macau, we met a Pinoy who willingly offered to take our photo at the Holy House of Mercy Church. He said he’s been in Macau for a month at the time we met.

He had a number of callbacks but hasn’t

had any successful in his job applications yet. Still, the Pinoy I met was full of hope.

“Suswertehin din ako,” he said before we bid goodbye. I wouldn’t have any means of knowing if he successfully landed a job in Macau but I am certain about one thing – Macau has been, is and will always be a place of taking risks not only for high rollers but for ordinary Filipinos alike who are willing to wager their life away from family to bring the jackpot prize back home.

Famous egg tart dessert of Macau

May tatakbuhan ka ba sa panahon ng matinding pangangailangan?

Kabayan, sa panahon ng hindi inaasahang kagipitan tulad ng aksidente, malaking operasyon, pinsala dahil sa anu mang emergency gaya ng sunog at iba pang “acts of nature” – may mahihingan ka ba ng tulong? At sa tagal ng pinagtrabaho mo dito sa ibang bansa, ikaw ba ay may insurance coverage na nakalaan kung anu’t ano man ang mangyari?

SUMALI SA FILEX Ang foundation na binuo upang makapaglikom ng pondo para makatulong sa mga Filipino expats sa UAE sa panahon ng matinding pangangailangan.

MAGING MIEMBRO NGAYON Lahat ng mga Filipino dito sa UAE – 18 years old and above, ay maaring sumali sa Filex. Membership Fees: 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP - AED10 contribution plus AED15 para sa annual insurance, or LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP – AED 30 plus AED15 taon-taon para sa annual insurance coverage.

MGA BENEPISYO Ang mga miembro ng Filex na nakapagbayad ng katumbas ng 3 minimum contributions (o lifetime membership) ay maaring tumanggap ng tulong na financial mula sa foundation base sa pagsusuri at angkop na pasya ng Filex Board. Ang financial aid facility ay magsisimula sa June 2009.

Lahat ng mga miembro ng Filex na may valid UAE residence visa at nagbayad ng karampatang insurance fee (AED 15 per year) ay magkakaroon ng annual insurance coverage na may kasamang accidental death, total disability, medical and repatriation of remains to the Philippines. Ang lahat ay makakatanggap ng angkop na insurance certificates.

Maging miyembro na ng FILEX ngayon.

Mga kabayan,atin ito.

MEMBERSHIP & INQUIRIES Upang sumali, tumawag sa Membership Committee headed by Isabel Warren ng Dubai (call Raffy at 04-3417964) and co-chaired by Fred Camba ng Abu Dhabi (call Myrna at 050 5610489).

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80 GLOBETROTTER’s BLOG

Every month Illustrado features seasoned travel tips on destinations around the world from Filipino globetrotters based in the Gulf.

Destination:

Peru

Globetrotter:

Pauline Moreno

Photopraphs Courtesy of Pauline Moreno

How to get there You can fly from Dubai to Sao Paolo (14 hours), then Sao Paolo to Lima (four hours). There are also several flights from Amsterdam, Madrid, and London that go straight to Lima.

Where to stay We stayed mostly in backpackers’ inns and hostels which cost us about AED20 to 40 per head per night. But there are several other accommodation choices. Do take along a Lonely Planet Guide book to Peru (bible of every traveler you’ll see in Peru) which has suggestions on places to stay or ask the natives for information.

How to dress If you are backpacking towards the Andean altiplano in winter, carry lightweight, wind-resistant, rainproof jacket. Wear layers to keep you warm

and make sure you have a good and sturdy walking or hiking shoes if you are doing a hike to the mountains.

you get yourself a travel and health insurance. To avoid carrying a heavy backpack from the beginning, you can buy most of the things in Peru.

If you are heading towards the Amazon jungle, thin and comfortable clothes are a must as it is hot and humid. Make sure you bring long trousers and white long sleeved shirts: mosquitoes do not like white colored clothes. Protect yourself from Amazon mosquitoes; they are pure evil!

Must see and must visit We planned for almost 3 months, researching and getting ourselves super fit for a month of grueling high-altitude hiking with my 14kg backpack.

What to bring Earplugs, sleeping bag, Swiss army knife, duct tape, toilet paper (most public toilets do not provide them), wet wipes (in case you cannot take a shower while trekking), good walking shoes and proper hiking socks. Strong insect repellant, first aid kit, zip bags, high-altitude sickness medicine, water purification tablets (tap water is not safe to drink). Finally, make sure

We visited so many places including Lima the bustling capital of Peru known as the City of Kings. Arequipa

GLOBETROTTER’s BLOG 81

– where you can find the great El Misti volcano and two of the world’s deepest canyons - Canyon del Colca and Canyon del Cotahuasi. Islas Flotantes and Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca - the world’s highest navigable lake and South America’s largest lake.

Cuzco and the Sacred Valley – the lost city Cuzco is the heart of the mighty Inca empire; this is where you begin your trek to Machu Picchu.

Evenings are the best time to see the wild animals in the jungle. We saw giant bull frogs, tarantulas, anacondas, rattlesnakes, owls, caiman alligators, etc. During the day time we trekked to see old trees, medicinal plants, the famous Victoria Regia giant water lilies. Our guide was a local Amazon man who carried a machete and took us piranha fishing. I managed to catch seven piranhas and he made a necklace out of piranha teeth for me!

We took a seven day trek to Machu Picchu climbing over 4,800 meters near the amazing glacier-clad peak of Salkantay. We had mules to carry things, a porter, cook and guide.

We slept in our tents on 0 degree temperature, possibly lower. It was quite difficult especially when the snowfall made the trail slippery. The trek was beyond exhausting, but it was worth it. When we reached the top of Machu Picchu after 3,000 flights of stairs at five in the morning, it was the most amazing and awe-inspiring sights I have ever seen.

What to avoid Peru is known as one of the most dangerous places in South America.

Luckily, we never experienced anything bad. Just make sure you don’t wear jewelry or any pieces that might be attractive to thieves. Do not display your money. I carried my money inside my shoes, bra and belt bag all the time and made sure I kept money in different places in case of emergencies. For this trip I didn’t even bring my mobile phone; there are always public telephones and internet shops everywhere. Make sure you don’t walk alone at night, follow the guides and avoid unpopular places.

On bus rides, make sure valuables are close to you. Be a hard target!

After the freezing Andean excursion, we headed to the hot and steamy Amazonas flying from Lima to Iquitos.

We stayed in the jungle for five days, canoeing and doing night jungle treks.

How much money do I need for this trip For this month-long trip I only spent about AED4,000 (air fare excluded) including local flights in Peru and a bit of shopping. There are lots of choices on budget accommodation and food is also relatively cheap in Peru.

Ultimate tip Backpacking in Peru felt like an actionadventure packed movie!

Seeing the ancient temples, wild rivers, jawdropping terrain, mysterious Nazca lines, vast Andean mountain ranges, the marvelous Machu Picchu, the breathtaking Lake Titicaca and it’s floating man-made islands, infinite coastal deserts, the steamy and great Amazon jungle, cloud forest and basin, distinctive flora and fauna, the unbelievable menagerie of wildlife, billions of stars, burst of colors of their sunrises and sunsets, hallucinogenic shaman rituals in the Amazon, diverse culture, traditions and amazing indigenous people - I should have taken a year’s leave so I can really enjoy and experience the amazing continent-like, fantasyland that is Peru.

82 BAKASYON GRANDE

The Manor

at Camp John Hay: A Luxurious mountain retreat

By Vic Albornoz Lactaoen • Photography by Donelon Oco

A

visit to the city, however, wouldn’t be quite complete without heading to The Manor at the well-loved Camp John Hay. The former American military reservation camp is still a favorite sanctuary of city-based vacationers who long for the scent of pine amid the cool mountain breeze. All the developments within Camp John Hay are in fact geared towards retaining the lushness of the surrounding pine groves.

At 5,000 feet above sea level, The Manor at Camp John Hay is a splendid presentation of Baguio’s natural beauty and bounty.

Nestled within 246 hectares of Baguio’s most beautiful tract of prime land, the four-story structure was designed to blend seamlessly with towering pine trees while the majestic Cordillera mountain range provides a magnificent view. The Baguio stone exterior finish, shingle roofing and tinted glass windows lend the building a warm and friendly look.

BAKASYON GRANDE 83 view. However, the best comfort food on a chilly night like this is a hot serving of potato and spinach gratin, a dish that’s creamy inside and crusty cheese on top. If you are lucky, the chef will even engage you with stories of his childhood, and how he is reminded of it whenever he spends time at Little Camp John Hay. Since my photographer and I were practically marooned at The Manor for almost a week, we were given sinful servings of cheese cakes, apple jalousie with whipped cream, crème brulee, chocolate mousse roll, ice profiteroles with chocolate sauce and a host of other sweet treats every time we dined at Le Chef. At nearby Le Chef Delicatessen, the comforting aroma of freshly baked breads and pastries laced the air. The tasty, delicate morsels have become much sought-after delicacies that guests from Manila bring with them as gifts for family and friends especially for the holidays.

In the evenings, the nippy weather is the perfect excuse to unwind in the comfort of The Piano Bar, a cozy sitting lounge beside a fireplace where one can enjoy fine piano music or a three piece band and a lady singer, while sipping your favorite cocktail to accompany light, savory hors d’ oeuvres. The well traveled pianist was regaling us with a wide repertoire of popular classics, jazz and local favorites, prompting most of us guests to linger longer than the usual.

During the daytime, guests at Camp John Hay can also go hiking in the eco-trail, while the more adventurous can pitch a tent in the campsite. And since Baguio is horseback riding country, there is Shulan Ti Kabadjo where one can experience a pony ride along a bridle path and riding circle. Those who are looking for pampering can go for a massage, laze in the Jacuzzi or sauna at the Palm Garden Health Spa. Guests can indulge in a wide range of treatments and therapies that are administered by highly trained professionals.

The Manor is distinguished not just by its impressive architecture but by its cozy interior as well. Paneled walls and wooden furniture evoke a Filipino-colonial feel and emulate the atmosphere, the history and the fond memories of the real Baguio. Wooden shuttered doors open to outdoor patios with breathtaking views.

As popular is its reputation as the city’s prime food, leisure and pleasure destinations. Its dining outlets offer the best in “euromediterasian” as Billy King calls his cuisine, fine wines and topnotch entertainment with its dining facilities – thanks in no small measure to imaginative Chef Patron Billy King who manages Le Chef and the hotel’s other food and beverage facilities. Local and international dishes showcase the freshness of Baguio’s produce as well as newly caught marine delicacies from nearby Dagupan.

This holiday season, imagine yourself sitting in front of a warm open fire with a glass of wine in hand, comfortably seated in the middle of a dap-ay as if you own the place. In Ifugao culture, the dap-ay is a stone line area for tribe gatherings, but here at Little Camp John Hay, a new part of The Manor’s garden where parties are held, it is transformed into a lounge nook in the midst of pine trees and blossoming hydrangeas. With the stars aglow, enjoy delicious canapés while you cozy up to the intimate ambience. You don’t have to worry about the cold weather as pillows and even blankets can be provided for you by the engaging hotel staff. Want something to go with your wine? Head to the long buffet table where you will find sumptuous dishes - from sushi to grilled ostrich, kebabs to prime steaks, this is the best place for a holiday buffet with a cool garden

Today, Baguio City is a bustling metropolis of 350,000 people and Camp John Hay is a recreational destination for families and business. “When Camp John Hay or CJH Development Corporation (as it is popularly known) began developing 246 of the 690 hectares under the Bases Conversion Development Act, their goal was to create a high quality tourism facility and an ecologically friendly residential community that blends with the environment,” according to Ramon C. Cabrera, General Manager of The Manor. “Having become guardians of a century –old forest containing 250,000 trees, “the forest was to remain king,” added Ramon. 195,000 seedlings have been planted within and outside the camp to ensure sustainable development for generations to come. There are efforts to limit the cutting of trees, but for any tree that is sacrificed, 100 are planted to replace it, sites Ramon. To make guests feel integrated into this environment, there is a self imposed building limit where no structure can be higher than four levels. Building materials were predominantly lumber, stone and logs.

While great care has been taken to nurture the land, CJH, also offers a wide assortment of activities. Other facilities at Camp John Hay include an 18-hole, par 69 golf course designed by the Golden Bear International of Jack Nicklaus; an 18-hole mini golf for children; picnic grounds where picnic tables set under the towering pine trees may be arranged for a perfect gathering with family and friends; an indoor recreation hall - The CAP John Hay Convention Center where the local advertising congress and other major conventions are regularly held. Or visitors can take a two-kilometer eco-trail which I experienced and this lead to scenic picnic areas and a lush botanical reserve nearby. Although it was raining the whole time in this trip I was in The Manor, I promise to visit in the future the art park used for poetry readings, sculptures and art exhibits. And if one morning I awake having dreamt of Camp John Hay’s historical past, I’ll bring my minus one and videoke equipment and perform at the Bell Amphitheatre to cap the historical significance of CJH.

84 TRIPPIN’

Divi-licious Shopping

By KC M. Abalos

It has been a difficult year in the Philippine islands. Between the storms, the endless bickering of politicians, and the prevailing economic hardships our people face, it’s astonishing really, how we can still smile and sing. But we still do! Smile and sing, that is—and with the most beloved holiday coming up, Filipinos won’t let any flood mar the glitter of Christmas.

C

ome hell or high water, Pinoys WILL celebrate the Christmas season. Maybe with a little less tinsel, maybe with a smaller slice of hamon, but with no less love or excitement. So with a slight tightening of our belts, let’s usher Christmas in.

And the best way to do this is to — go to Divisoria!!!

Ok, so it’s not SM or Rustans.

But hey, if you’ve been to the markets of Bangkok or Hongkong, then Divisoria isn’t that far off in terms of ambience. Gritty, noisy, and smelly — it’s not for the faint of heart but you’re not a true-blue shopaholic if you haven’t tried your bargaining skills here. Two years ago, even the iconic Imelda Marcos herself did her Christmas shopping in Divisoria.

Most people, even those from Metro Manila shy away from the congested lanes of Divi because they’re scared they’ll get lost meandering in its many streets or their wallets will get stolen, but these things can happen anywhere you may be, whether you’re in Rome or New York. So, try it just once and you will definitely get hooked.

Cheap prices, a variety of choices, and anything you need all in one place, how can you not love Divi? But to make it easier, here is a guide to the best bargains in the best place for Christmas shopping while in Manila — Divisoria!

How to get there Yes, you can bring your car but traffic in the area is really bad and you’re risking a few scratches to your ride if you insist on travelling this way. The best way to go is to take the LRT towards Recto. From there, it’s just a five minute ride via jeepney (PHP7) or a 10 minute ride via sidecar, locally known as padyak (PHP35) towards the major malls.

Even laden with your shopping sacks — yes, you’ll buy so much stuff, you’ll need sacks — you can hire a sidecar to take you to and from the train station. You can also mall hop via the ever friendly sidecars.

Where to Go Contrary to what people know, Divisoria is actually one big general area littered with malls and shops. Here is a guide where to go (what you’ll say to your sidecar driver) based on the things that you need to buy:

TRIPPIN’ 85

10 Must Buys in Divisoria Wet Tissues - You can’t find them any cheaper anywhere else! Baby Wipes go for five packs for PHP100 and facial wipes go for four packs for PHP100.

Clothes - From leggings that go for under a hundred to three for a hundred tank tops, you’ll find them here. Trying things on may be difficult but imagine, you can buy an entire wardrobe for less than a thousand bucks!

Socks and Hankies- Even street side stalls sell three, four or even five pieces for PHP100!

Textiles and other sewing materials - From luscious silks to crisp faux cotton, you will find it here. Rows upon rows of stalls with textile bundles and rolls.

Gift Wrappers - 50 sheets of plain or frosted gift wrapper will only cost you PHP25.

Fresh Produce - Divisoria is one big open market. Its streets are littered with carts and stalls selling the freshest vegetables and fruits.

Tutuban Center Mall - An overwhelmingly huge arena for readyto-wear clothes and shoes. It’s an actual mall where you can find the usual stores in most metro malls. And it is humungous! So if you find something you like, you might as well buy it because it’s difficult to retrace your steps.

168 Mall - A treasure trove of anything and everything you might need. From universal remote controls to Hello Kitty items, from umbrellas to ready-made curtains, they have it all. The best thing about this place is that everything can be bought wholesale (six to a dozen items count as wholesale).

Divi Mall (Divisoria Mall) - Older than 168, it may be dingier but the prices are cheaper. Yes, it’s possible to go cheaper – only in Divisoria!

Tabora - This lane is a haven for wedding planners and brides on a budget! Located at the back of Divine Mart, it sells all sorts of raw materials for souvenirs and decorations.

Divine Mart - A bazaar full of fabrics and other sewing materials.

Dressmakers flock here for the best textiles and even ready-to-wear gowns!

Accessories - PHP20 pesos for a pair of beaded earrings. And if you buy a dozen, you can get it for as low as PHP10. Perfect as a gift for the ladies!

Souvenirs and other trinkets - Even companies buy from here whenever it’s that time of the year. You can buy in bulk and get bigger savings with items such as figurines, pens, and calendars.

Plates, mugs, glasses, and utensils - Planning to open a restaurant or do you have a big party coming up and need to pimp your foodladen table? You’ll find a variety of items here, without breaking your budget.

Food - It’s proximity to Binondo makes Divisoria a destination for Chinese cuisine lovers. 168 Mall has a food court that boast of the best pancit. For only PHP60, you can feed a party of four with a heaping plate of noodles.

So yeah, it may be a lean Christmas but that doesn’t mean we can’t spread the love and a little material blessing to people we hold dear. With a place like Divisoria, it’s not just the thought that counts, it’s the coins too!

86 FILIPINISMS

Onli In Da Pilipins - 1. n. a phrase used to define anything or anyone that only exists anywhere in the 7,107 islands of the Philippines || 2. adj. a phrase used to describe a Pinas episode or a Pinoy persona so rare one would never find anywhere else in the WWW (whole, wide world). It merits a documentation of some sort.

ChRistmas and New YeaR: “R” You In?

Story by Aby Yap

Now don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten your Christmas and New Year alphabets!

No, ‘R’ isn’t for the Reindeer prancing by the window pane.

Neither is it for the Round fruits beside the bottle of champagne.

For us Pinoys, ‘R’ is for the Reunions we’re obliged to attend in the spirit of Christmas season.

‘R’ too, is for Resolutions we excitedly list and immediately abandon right after the New Year’s Day celebration.

Salo-salo Together Reunions in the Philippines aren’t just mere gatherings of clans, families, extended families (count the neighbors if not the entire barangay), and friends from college/high school/elementary/ kinder/prep/nursery — well, you get the picture. Like it or not, they can

also be your worst noontime variety show - except that they’re unscripted, they last all day/night long, and you’re not allowed to be just part of the stunned/horrified audience; they want you alive and kickin.’

That is, if you don’t want lola desecrating your wonderland and pinching you in those secret spots, ouch!

Yep, for the love of lola and lolo, in the name of goodwill to all kin, Pinoys gamely join in the different ‘segments’ of the grand family reunion. There’s that long Intro of each and every one of you present every time a guest comes in — and you can only smile at the long-lost third cousin who’s the pamangkin sa tuhod of tiyong’s kumare. Never mind if there’s caldereta stuck between your teeth. There’s that most evaded Q&A portion where you’re nearly always an unwilling interviewee in what’s worse than a police interrogation.

Questions range from easy (“Whose child are you?”) to average (“How much do you weigh?”) to difficult (“When will you marry?”) to revolting (“Why aren’t you married yet?”).

To further test your dignity, there’s the ‘talent portion.’ Well, it’s not only kids who can dance/sing/act/declaim this time of the year. Adults, too, can dream, believe, survive the Videoke machine challenge or the “Nobody but You” dance showdown.

Don’t expect too much, though. Kids get to be called cute and warmly applauded; they can even win a prize no matter how horrible they perform. Adults are simply asked to leave the stage in worst-case scenarios — but the good news is, you’ll never have to worry about preparing for this portion again! Just ignore the TH (trying hard) reputation.

FILIPINISMS 87

Besides, you can always explore your ‘winnability’ in the games department.

Show ‘em your speed in Egg Relay, your freezing power in Stop Dance, your acting frustrations in Charades, or your smarts in Pinoy Henyo. You can also keep a permanent post near the buffet table — oh, the mouth-watering hamon, lechon, morcon — to participate in the unofficial Stuff Your Stomach contest. But make sure you have ready first aid (rolls of tissue) in your bag. If your strength lies in knocking down cases of SMB, then Brag Your Beer Belly is your battle. A.k.a “spilling family secrets,” this might be just what you need to get to know each other better, or to reconcile erring parties and finally have a big group hug, awww! (Bring out the digicam!)

Pambansang Promises Quit smoking, start exercising, lessen whining, boost savings, etc. From making personal resolutions year in, year out, why don’t we try to expand our goals to the national level this 2010 (Naks, keeping up with the elections!)? For starters, let’s erase many annoying-should-be-proclaimedobsolete lines from our everyday lingo and hopefully soon from the Pinoy mentality, yay!

I resolve never to say… altogether now!

(Every slip of the tongue merits a singaw.)

• “Ang mga Pinoy (insert ugly trait here)” and its many variations of “Pinoy talaga!” “Pinoy kasi!” “Hay, ang Pinoy!” and “Ang Pinoy nga naman!” when referring to every negative attribute that’s typically Filipino. Besides, aren’t you also Pinoy?

And to make everyone happier, why not play Santa by presiding over the Exchange Gift ceremony? As long as it’s nicely wrapped, no one will notice it’s just recycled presents of mugs and picture frames you’re giving away. However, if you’re a balikbayan, your humanitarian work doesn’t end here, unfortunately, as kids and adults — many you don’t even recognize—start lining up for your blessing.

Crisp PHP20 bills are handy in this case, but they won’t spare you the kurips label.

Take it easy. It’ll be another year ‘til you see your exponentially growing tribe again. By then, you’d have already missed everyone — including that humungous-nosed nosey aunt.

• “Parang hindi sa Pinas!” when admiring what’s beautiful in the Philippines and its counterpart “Walang ganyan sa States (or any other country)!” when criticizing anything repulsive. So Pinas now is the land of the pangits? That says so much about you, noh!

• “Pwede na ‘yan!” when considering the quality and usability of something. It’s twin “Ganyan talaga, eh.” the passive, and “Eh kasi ‘yung (insert something to blame)” the aggressive, are always on the defense when you pose the question “Why?” Time to aim high and work for it!

• “Dedma lang!” or “Sila-sila lang ‘yan!” when asked to take a stand in the family, workplace, community, or national issues. Worse version is “Bahala na ang Diyos/si Batman/si Daddy/si Mayor/si Boss/ang aso ko, etc.” Shouldn’t we take more accountability for our lives and for those around us?

• “(Insert name of person becoming successful) ibagsak!” to put down people because you’re envious of their hard-earned achievements is just plain low. You’re what Julia Roberts was referring to in the movie ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ - “The pus that infects the mucus that cruds up the fungus that feeds on the pond scum.” Yucky.

• “Wala ka sa lolo ko…” is funny when delivered by Jimmy, Vic, and Joey. But when you use it to name-drop your so-called contacts in the AFP/PNP/NBI/NPA just so you can brush off the law, it becomes a bore. “Eh kung pwede sana…” or “Kung pwede lang naman…” is pretty lame, too. Now if you’re on the receiving end of such lines, please, scrap that “Ang lagay, eh…” crap.

• “Hindi naman,” “Sobra ka naman,” or “Nye, wala lang ‘yun” sounds a cute reply when you’re being complimented, but a simple “Thank you” should be enough, especially if you’ve really worked hard for it. “Dyahe kasi…” when giving people an honest assessment because you’re afraid to hurt their feelings won’t work, too. Daboy said, “Walang personalan, trabaho lang.”

• “I am Juan.” seems fine except it’s commonly used by Juan and Juana to psych themselves up for the number One spot of any queue, say when driving on the road or waiting for the jeepney. Hence, the alamat of the singit.

• “Mamaya na...” is lazy Juan’s pauso, on the other hand. Instead of doing whatever needs to be done right away to produce high-quantity and quality output, we daydream “Pag nanalo ako sa lotto/ Wowowee/etc…” Oh, another bad script that has to be rewritten. Now na!

88 FILIPINISMS

Chronicle

36

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.

Photography by Eros Goze

Naughty or Nice?

Feel na feel ko na. Sa pagtulog, doble na ang kumot ko. Pag gising ko, nirarayuma na ako sa sobrang pangangatog buong magdamag. Kailangan nang itodo to the max ang heater pag nagsha-shower.

Pwede nang mag-layering ng outfits.

Carry na mag-boots at mag-fur. Mabilis na rin maubos ang lip balm ko sa kakadry ng mga luscious lips ko. Hindi na kami nagbubukas ng AC. Malamig ang simoooooy ng hangeeeeeeen…..Ayyy, magpa-Pasko na naman!

Puno ng drama ang taong ito para sa ating lahat. Madamdaming mga pangyayari na nagdulot ng mga sugat at nagmarka ng mga peklat sa ating mga puso at isipan. Mga kaganapang hindi natin inasahan na darating at susubok sa ating mga powers. Malalagim at kagimbal-gimbal na karanasan na wish ko lang ay sana hindi na mag-I Shall Return at magbunga pa ng sequel in the near future. Mga mapapait na kaganapan na pilit nating gustong kalimutan sa sobrang pait at asim na dulot ng mga ito.

Mula nang unang lamagapak sa pagmumukha ko ang 2009 - right in my face - ang isang pagkalutonglutong na “DENIED”sa aking US Visa application. Halos gumuho ang mundo

ko ng ipagkait sa akin ng tadhana ang inaakala kong chance of a lifetime ko upang makatungtong sa US of A para makita na in person ang Disneyland, Statue Of Liberty at Golden Gate Bridge.

I guess pang-Enchanted Kingdom, Luneta at San Juanico Bridge na lang muna siguro ang kapalaran ko as of now. Pinagkait din sa akin ng Consul na yun ang pangarap kong makapagaudition sa American Idol Season 8 – hindi ko tuloy nakilala si Adam Lambert. Nai-share ko man lang sana sa kanya ang mga pang-performance level na make up tips ko baka sakaling sya pa ang nanalo. Oh well, humanda kang US consul ka, may araw ka rin.

You haven’t seen the last of Annie B. The first pa lang!

Simula rin ng taong ito nang madama nating lahat to the maximum level ang hagupit ng Global Economic Crisis.

Akala ko dati parang yung favorite subject ko lang sa school noon ang Recession. Iba pala kapag nakaharap mo na sa totoong buhay. I saw my friends and colleagues losing their jobs almost every week since this crisis started.

Kasama nito ang mga kaibigan kong napilitang umuwi sa Pilipinas - forced retirement, redundancy, retrenchment, lay off… parang laro lang ng basketbol

ang tunog pero masaklap pala ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng mga yun. Hindi lang mga trabaho ang nawala sa kanila kundi pati na rin kinabukasan ng kanilang mga pamilya. Words cannot prescribe to what I felt during those times. And the worst is far from yet to come. Hindi pa tapos ang global recession kaya we should all raise ourselves. Let’s hope for the best and inspect the worse.

Nakilala din natin this year ang bagong sakit na dumapo sa marami – ang A H1N1 virus o ang Swine Flu. How baboy di ba? “My brother is not a piiiiiggg”… say nga ni Ate Guy sa pelikulang “Minsa’y Isang Gamugamo.” Laking perwisyo ang idinuot ng sakit na ito lalo na tuwing bumi-byahe ka. Hindi lang jetlag ang pwedeng iexcuse ngayon kasi kailangan nang magpa-quarantine sa tuwing may flight ka. Pagsalubong mo sa airport imbes na ang bayo ng ng Duty Free at kahon ng Goldilocks Ensaymada eh Swine Flu na ang bagong aabangan mo sa arrival area ng airport. Kaloka!

Ngayon taon din tuluyan ding namaalam ang dalawang taong inidolo nating lahat. Una, si Michael Jackson.

Sa kanya ko natutunan ang mga da moves ko tulad ng moonwalk, scissors,

dobol scissors, front scissors at syempre back scissors. Nangolekta din ako ng mga plaka, cassette tapes at CDs nya.

Kakaiba talaga sya – tuwing lalabas sa TV ay laging may bago syang pakulo at talaga namang na-sha-shock ang mga tao sa kanyang ka-weirdohan. Tulad ko madalas ay outcast sya at namimisinterpret ng karamihan. Ganyan talaga kaming mga artist – kakaiba at hindi ordinaryo lang. Asus!

Minahal nating lahat si Dating Pangulong Cory Aquino. Sya ang simbulo ng People Power na syang nagdulot sa atin ng panibagong pagasa noon at syang mananatiling inspirasyon tungo sa demokrasya at world peace.

Salamat din kay Tita Cory, naging fashionable ang pagsuot ng kulay dilaw. Mahirap yun ah? Sige, subukan mo, kapag hindi ka napapagkamalang si Mohdesh o walking Post It. At saka si Tita Cory tiningala pati ng mga ibang lahi miski hindi sya glam at fabulosa tulad ni Madam Imelda. Kahit na may pagka-teacher o librarian ang itsura ni Tita Cory ay naging sikat sya at lovable sa lahat ng mga tao sa buong mundo.

Wa effort di ba? Matapang din sya.

Biruin mo naka-siyam na kudeta ang sinagupa nya pero hindi pa rin sya natsugi sa pagkakaupo sa Malacañang!

Ilang scandals at kahihiyan din ang binigay ni Kris – pati STD nito – pero nakayanan nyang pagdaanan.

Imagine??? Kaya naman nang iwanan nya tayo ay nagdalamhati ang buong Pilipinas. Nauso pa ang revival ng mga kantang “Bayan Ko”, “Handog Ng Pilipino Sa Mundo” at “Magkaisa” at nagbigay daan ang kanyang pamamaalam sa showbiz career ng apat na soldier/guards na tumayo sa tabi ng kanyang kabaong papunta ng libingan.

Aminin nyo miski papano nagkaroon kayo ng kanya-kanyang crush dun sa apat na yun ha? Ako type ko yung pulis – kamukha nya yung kaklase ko noong Grade 5 na naglagay ng babol gum sa buhok ko. Nasan na kaya si Pedro Mahumot Jr., ngayon?

Hindi rin natin maikakaila ang matinding hagupit ng mga Bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng. Just when we thought na expert na tayong sa pag-welcome sa mga unos sa atin taon-taon, hindi inaasahang ang magkasunod na delubyong parusa ni Mother Nature ang talaga namang sumubok sa powers nating mga Pinoy.

Winasak ni Ondoy ang Metro Manila pati na rin ang mga kapit-probinsya nito. Northern Luzon naman ang tinamaan ni Pepeng. Walang na-exempt sa pinsala, mayaman man o mahirap.

Syempre napatunayan na naman natin na hindi tayo handa sa mga ganitong kalamidad. Nabuking na iilan lamang

ang rubber boats na nag-rescue sa mga naging biktima ng mataas na pagbaha.

Nakakaawa ang mga walang laban nating mga kababayan na na-stranded sa mga bubong ng mga bahay nila.

Madaming naipit at natrap pati sa mga sasakyan, mga puno at iba pang lugar na nakaka-walang poise. Moral lesson: mag-aral lumangoy! Bumili na rin ng mga furniture na siguradong lulutang sa baha tulad ng water bed, inflatable sofa at la mesang gawa sa styropor.

Para next time, hindi na kailangan pang maghintay ng rescue team, kayo na mismo ang magsagwan papunta sa mataas na lugar using your very own possessions. Malaking investment din ito for the coming natural calamities in the future. Aminin, patindi ang patindi ang lakas ng bagyo habang tumatagal.

Ito na yata ang kinatatakutan nating Global Warning.

Kaya magsilbi sanang babala ito sa ating lahat. Ika nga ni Lourna Pal, “Save the trees….. it’s God’s geeeeeeeft to humanity!” habang itinataas ang mga kamay at nakasuot ng white long gown sa gitna ng kagubatan.

At kamakailan lamang ay nagpayanig sa buong mundo ang karahasang naganap sa Maguindanao.

Napakaraming mga inosenteng buhay ang walang kuwentang ibinuwis, most of them journalists who are just doing their duty to report the truth to the whole nation. Nakakalungkot, nakakatakot at nakakayamot.

Napakalagim ng pangyayaring na dahil dito ay inihanay na rin ang ating bansa sa Iraq at Afghanistan bilang isa sa mga pinakamapanganib na mga lugar sa mundo para sa mga journalists.

Sikat na naman ang Pilipinas. Wow, Philippines!!!

Kung puro ganito ang memories na iiwanan sa atin ng taong 2009, may gana pa kaya tayong mag-celebrate ngayong Pasko? Para saan pa? Nagluluksa pa tayo sa pagka-ulila sa mga idolo natin ah? Sariwa pa, mamasa-masa at namamaga pa ang mga sugat na souvenir ng mga hagupit at dagok ng mga kalamidad na rumagasa sa ating bansa. Masakit pa, mahapdi at mapait na ang feeling ng mga sob stories na naexperience ko this year. It’s hard to let go. Madami pa akong mga issue…wala pang clowsure. Haaaayyy…tawagin mo nga si Bitter Ocampo.

Pero sabi nga nila, when God closes a door, he locks it down. Ay tama ba? He opens a window naman! Sa kabila ng mga bad news na walang hinto nating iniyakan ngayong taon ay sunod-sunod din naman nating pinalakpakan ang mga masasayang pangyayari na nagpangiti,

FILIPINISMS 89

90 FILIPINISMS

nagpatawa at nagpaka-proud sa ating mga puso. Hayan, nababawasan na ang pagma-maasim ko.

Lubos akong nagpapasalamat kay Lord, at pati na rin sa aking mga boss, for still having my job. Mas madugo man ang workload ko ngayon ay hindi ko na rin gagawin pa ang tumalak at magmaganda dahil maswerte pa rin ako for not being one of those victims of the unemployment bonanza extravaganza na miski pa usong-uso ay hindi ko papangarapin pang salihan. Kaya tuloy pa rin ang monthly remittance para sa pamilya ko. Fight to win pa rin ang pang-mahjong ni Nanay, ang pang-tong its ni Tatay, ang pang load nina Ate at Kuya at pambayad sa cable ng pamilya ko. Sarap ng feeling ng nakakatulong!

Naudlot man noon, I’m still glad to have met Adam, ang aking bagong Prince Charming. Sino mag-aakala na ang isang langit na tulad nya ay magkaka-interes sa isang lupa na tulad ko? Latest update: we’re super in touch with each other. Thanks to Fezbook and Tweet-tweeter, we are able to keep track of each other’s lives. He visits me every three months and we’re getting there. Where? Secreeeeeeet! Hihihihi.

Bastaaaah. Haba ng hair di ba?

Oooppsss….teka….natatapakan mo.

Charrrrrrr!!!

Change is good. Korek na may isang malaking check yan! Kakabit ng pagbabago ay pagasa. Yan ang napatunayan ng ating mga American brothers and sistahs nang hirangin nila si Barrack Obama bilang bago nila presidente. Ibig sabihin, ang mga bagay na hindi nila ma-imagine noon ay nangyayari na ngayon. Good news ito pati na sa buong mundo at nagsisilbing inspiration para sa atin lahat. Malay mo, sa susunod eh mauso na ang bilbil?

At malaos na ang pagiging payat. May pagasa pa, mga kapatid!!!

Waging-wagi din ang Pinoy Pride this year nang makamit na naman ni Pambansang Kamaong si Manny Pacquiao ang kanyang 7th World Boxing title kamakailan lang.

Napatunayan na naman nating mga Pinoy na pagdating talaga sa tapang eh wala tayong sibat na uurungan. Maliit man at hindi kagwapuhan eh hindi patataob si Manny sa kung sino mang dayuhan na hahamon sa lakas at galing nya sa boksing. Kaya naman bonggang bongga lalo si Mareng Jinkee sa mga karay-karay nyang Chanel at Hermes bags – all colors pa! Go Team Jinkee!

Pagdating talaga sa pagboto sa text, wala pa ring tatalbog sa ating mga Pinoy.

Hindi lamang tuwing Miss Photogenic competition ng Miss Universe natin napatunayan yan kundi pati na rin sa pagkakapanalo ni Efren Peñaflorida bilang CNN Hero of the Year. Talaga namang deserving sya dahil sa malasakit at kabayanihang ipinakita nya para sa mga batang mahihirap. This just goes to show that you don’t need money to be able to get an education. Isang ulirang halimbawa si Efren sa buong mundo na hindi hadlang ang kahirapan upang makamit ang edukasyon. Magandang PR na naman ito para sa ating bansa.

Saan ka naman nakakita na pati mga batang kalye eh nakakapag-aral din?

Proof ito na mataas talaga ang standard ng education sa Pilipinas – miski nasaan ka pa nag-aaral. Mabuhay ka Efren!

Dito naman sa Land of Shopping, nagbunyi ang buong sambayanan – lalo na ang mga Wa Karu (walang kotse) nang sa wakas ay binuksan na ang pinaka-aabangang Dubai Metro.

Dagdag pogi points na naman ito sa Dubai since ito ang kaunaunahang MRT dito sa buong Middle East. Kaya goodbye, mga maaarte at echoserang taxis! Sa konting barya, carry ko na ngayong mag-mall tour nang hindi nangangarag sa kaka-commute. Pwede na ngayong mag-breakfast sa Deira City Center, mag-kape sa Al Ghurair, mag-lunch sa Burjuman, mag-dessert sa Dubai Mall at mag-merienda sa Mall Of The Emirates sa loob ng isang araw.

Dubai Metro, sakay na!!!

Sa kabila ng lahat ng good news ngayong taon, ang pagsasama-sama, pagdadamayan at pagtutulungan ng mga Pinoy matapos ang bagyong Ondoy ang pinaka-winner para sa akin. Kakaibang level ang pinakita nating bayanihan noong panahon ng crisis. Mayaman at mahirap nagtulungan para sa ikabubuti ng iba at ng buong bansa. Super cry me a river ang emote ko noon habang pinanonood ang Rescue Operations sa TFC! Akala ko forever nang magiging stranded si Cristine Reyes sa bubong ng bahay nila. Buti na lang sinagip sya ni Papa Richard Guttierez sakay ng isang motorboat. Kung hindi, malamang ginawan na siguro ito ng bagong pelikula ni National Artist Carlo Caparas. Buti na lang hindi natuloy. Nakakabilib talaga tayong mga Pinoy. Miski anong bagyo o baha man ang humagupit sa atin, hindi tayo nagpapatalo. Yan ang fighting spirit! Kaya kumain tayo nang kumain ng lata-lata ng Fita! Put Fita the fighter in you.

Ayan… according to my Bad versus Good list for 2009, tabla lang halos ang score. Madaming masasakit na pangyayari pero hindi rin naman nawalan ng happy moments. Nasa sa iyo yan kung paano mo tatapusin ang taong ito. One thing for sure, past is past and tomorrow is another day.

Sabay-sabay tayong mag-wish na sana, next year will be a much, much betterer year – the bestest!!! Huwag mawawalan ng pag-asa, kabayan. Basta manalig ka lang lagi, do your vest and He will do the rest. Merry Christmas sa inyong lahat!!!

Happy Birthday, Lord!!! Dizzizit!!!

92 ILLUSTRADO FACES Celebrating innate Pinoy charm

Jay Carpio

Dubai

Photography by Eros Goze Fashion courtesy of Giordano

ILLUSTRADO FACES 93 Celebrating innate Pinoy charm

Nina PeĂąalosa

Dubai

Photography by Eros Goze Fashion courtesy of Giordano

DUBAI BRANCH SUNFLOWER Supermarket: 04 3964611 SABA International Trading: 04 3388944 QUEEN SABA Trading: 04 3392931 Fax: 04 3392931 Email: Sabaship@emirates.net.ae

Where true beauty shines

Let your natural beauty come through with Mayumy’s fabulous pampering treatments and signature .salon and spa products

Beauty offers this season: Get 20% off on cellophane treatments every time you do a rebond Get up to 50% discount on all our in-house products Spend AED150 and get a AED50 gift voucher Spend AED500 and above and get an amazing body scrub of Milk & Oatmeal absolutely free

Location: Al Bada Oasis Tower, Satwa, Dubai Behind Chowking – In front of the Iranian Hospital Telephone no.: 04 345 6799

ASIA EXPRESS SHIPPING AGENCY 603 Office Court Building, Oud Metha Road, P.O. Box 50438, Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714-336 9666; Fax: +9714-336 8959 e-mail: lorenzo@aesa.ae

• AESA - well known for customized full package “ALL IN” rates for export vehicles both commercial and personal under OFW category to the Philippines • AESA - specialized in moving containerized shipments of household goods/personal effects to the Philippines • AESA - also handles foodstuff, fresh and frozen fruits (perishables) and condiments from the Philippines to the UAE • AESA has team of professional, dedicated, efficient and, most of all, experienced personnel ready to provide solutions to any of your freighting requirements worldwide.

• AESA offers a wide range of logistics control and supply line management services.

Shipping Agency, Ship Broker and Management, Chartering and Ship handling, International Freight Forwarding (IFF), Airfreight & Sea freight, Cargo Consolidation, Project Logistics, Customs E-Clearance Facility, Brokerage (Airfreight & Sea freight), Road Transportation & Hauling (Containerized & Break Bulk mode), Local Distribution, Packing & Removals, Warehousing & Cold Storage, and Marine Insurance Agent.

ALWAYS EXPRESS, SECURED ALL THE TIME! CALL US 04-336 9666

MADE IN THE U.S.A.

SUNFLOWER SUPERMARKET TEL: 04 3388944 • 3388632 • 3964611 FAX: 04 3392931 • 3964573 Exclussive distributor in the U.A.E.

Let your child experience the joy of learning

PHILIPPINES: +6344-760300

DUBAI: 04-398 6218

99 CLASSIFIEDS - ILLUSTRADO PARTNERS FILIPINO & FILIPINO-ORIENTED ESTABLISHMENTS BEAUTY SALONS BUR DUBAI, DUBAI Beauty Secret Concord Building 2, Mankhool, Bur Dubai Tel. 04 358 1477 KARAMA, DUBAI Fingers & Toes Salon M4 Karama Gold Bldg., Beside Jumbo Electronics, Karama Tel. 04 336 6495 Fingers & Toes Salon Shop 70 Al-Attar Center, Karama Tel. 04 335 7656 Reflection Beauty Centre Shops 7-8 Al-Attar Mall, Karama Tel. 04 334 1033

Saba International Trading Supermarket Near Dana Hotel Tourist Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel No : 02 6457800

ABU DHABI Queen Saba Supermarket Behind Al Salama Hospital Hamdan St. Tourist Club Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel No : 02 - 6777626 Queen Saba Supermarket Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel No : 02 - 6666280

ABU DHABI Hundred Island Foodstuff Madinat Sayed Tel. 02 634 4084

Salt & Pepper Satwa Tel .04 345 3459 MISCELLANEOUS

SMA Supermarket Bank Street Tel. 04 357 2802

ABU DHABU Pretty Style Fashion and Perfume Kainan Filipino Restaurant Beside Wonder Gift Island, Salam St. Mazda Building, Tourist Club Tel. 02 676 8110 Tel. 02 671 5580 DUBAI Kainan Filipino Restaurant Dana Express Travel Fortune Hotel Bldg, Tourist Club Near Fish R/A, Opposite Claridge Hotel, Tel. 02 645 5565 Deira Tel. 04 224 8887 Kainan Filipino Restaurant Back of Alaska Fashion, Hamdan St. Falcon Crest Tourism and Cargo Tel. 02 671 5850 Flat 105 Binsougat Bldg., Murraqabat,

DEIRA, DUBAI Grand Mart General Trading Al- Murraqabat, Deira Tel. 04 297 5888

DEIRA, DUBAI Salt & Pepper Warba Branch Deira Tel. 04 262 8203

Thai Importing & Trading Tourist Club Area Tel. 02 676 8663 BUR DUBAI, DUBAI Maxim’s Supermarket Mankhool Road Tel. 04 598 5302

SATWA, DUBAI Mayumy Salon Al Bada Oasis Tower, Satwa (at the back Moonlight Supermarket of Chowking) Near Clock Tower Tel. 04 345 6799 Tel. 04 2942422 SUPERMARKETS

RESTAURANTS

KARAMA, DUBAI Red Ribbon Bakery Karama Tel. 04 396 8675

KARAMA, DUBAI Queen Saba Trading Karama Branch, Fish Market Tel. 04 337 1416

Salt & Pepper Karama Tel. 04 396 3770

Sunflower Supermarket Karama, Dubai UAE Tel : 04-3964611 Fax : 043964573

SATWA, DUBAI Big John Restaurant Satwa Tel. 04 344 5677

SATWA, DUBAI Well Goal Supermarket Satwa Tel. 04 344 9851

Deli Bite Restaurant Al Bada Oasis Tower, Satwa Tel. 04 345 3845 Majestic Restaurant Satwa Tel. 04 332 9860

Deira Tel. 04 265 0144 John Keone General Trading C-7 5th Floor, Arbift Tower, Baniyas Road, Deira Tel.04 329 1912 Spring Glitters Souq Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Dubai Tel. 04 271 3375 or 06 533 5668 Verses (T-shirt Printing) Villa 26 St 23b, Mankhool Road, Bur Dubai Tel. 055 886 7985 SHARJAH Philippine Tailoring Yarmook, Sharjah Tel. 050 352 7934

To be part of our Classifieds Listing – please call: 04 365 4543 or e-mail us at: admin@illustrado.net.

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