PHOTOGRAPHY by EROS GOZE
EDITOR’S NOTE
A very spiritual friend of mine shared the other day about how exasperated he is at how Christmas has evolved into this overromanticized grotesque pagan holiday that is centered around gifts, the Christmas tree, snow and Santa, all of which have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. He even told me that Jesus was not really born on the 25th December, and that historical evidence point-out that his actual birth happened in September. I don’t think I will ever be completely averse to practicing how we typically celebrate Christmas since we were kids – with all the lights, the gaiety, the food, the traditions and rituals. Those ‘feelgood things’ are part of what makes life colorful and enjoyable. However, it is good for the soul to take stock of what Christmas really should be about, every time we think of this most festive of occasions. In commemorating the birth of Christ, for me more than anything else, Christmas is about gratitude. It is a time to remember how blessed and so favored we are by the ‘Big Boss’ up there that He has given us our life and provided for everything in it. This time is also about family
Remember Christmas and real friends, whom, beyond all the ‘stuff’ – the designer bags, the cars, the latest gadgets, diamonds and other sparkly things which don’t mean much and you can’t take with you when you get struck by life, are what we only truly have in this life. Finally, Christmas is also about kindness and generosity - the only way to pay forward all the goodness that we receive. Some people might call it cliché or cheesy sentiments, but these are the things that make this occasion truly worth celebrating. So enjoy your festive spread, open those gifts with gusto and party all you wish, just don’t forget to say “thank you” and share a part of yourself to the world out there. May you and your loved ones be touched by the true spirit of the season. Maligayang Pasko.
Taas Noo, Filipino! LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
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TALKING LOUD
Write to us at: admin@illustrado.net or join the discussion at IIlustrado Magazine’s Facebook page
charge you will be held accountable for is disturbance of peace in that place. It is important to know that every illegal act is equal to one charge so if you did many acts which are considered illegal in this country, many charges can then be accounted to you.
Will your drinking land you in jail? Before you get caught up in the Christmas party season, check if your alcohol consuming habits are potentially criminal. Most people forget that the very act of drinking is fundamentally sinful in the Middle Eastern context. According to Atty. Barney Almazar of Gulf Law, “alcohol intoxication is a serious offense in Muslim jurisdictions as evidenced by the gravity of penalty associated to it. A person guilty of illicit sexual relation will be given 100 lashes while alcohol drinking warrants 80 lashes. This is because drinking is considered a crime against the rights of God.” From “Law: Intoxication in the UAE”, Illustrado Issue 90 – November to December 2014 ………….. Drinking alcohol is not really the issue here because, otherwise, we will not find alcohol anywhere. However, it is criminalized because many will simply use it as an excuse for their inappropriate behavior. Bar tenders don’t ask for your license in serving alcohol because you have not done anything wrong in this case. But if you became drunk and started trouble around you, the authorities will then ask for your license. If you have it then you can’t be charged for consuming it. However, another
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Knowledge is power indeed, the more we know the more chances we can save ourselves from falling into trouble. It is wise to help ourselves now than be sorry later for simply not knowing the law and not taking it seriously either. I know many are careless about these things. I have no clue why. But prison is for sure not your idea of a final destination here in the UAE. Gena Querol
makakahanap ka ng magaling kumanta. At kahit saang bansa, makakahanap ka ng mga Filipino musicians. Our singers are taking over the world! From “Pinoy Singers Unleashed” – Illustrado Issue 90 – November to December 2014 ….. Ang galling talaga ng mga Filipino singers – bar none! Hindi lang sa pagbirit kundi pati na rin sa vocal styling. Lahat yata ng Pinoy pinanganak para kumanta! Ofelia Amado Thank you so so much Illustrado Magazine! THANKS to writer Nicholo Jallores. Parang natunaw naman ako sa description ng boses ko... nakakakilig!!!
In my opinion, as long as you don’t turn like a wild animal in the zoo when you drink, and no one calls the police to complain about you, or you don’t drink and drive, then keep the shots coming. However, drinking comes with huge accountability – that’s for sure.
Cris Esmeria Bernardo
Christine Catolico Tilja
Carlos Castillano
There are tons of people who drink without a license. The assumption is, you need a license to store alcohol in your house. Bars don’t ask for your license to serve you alcohol; they just confirm you’re above 21 through an ID and assume that you must be a non-Muslim. Anyway, maybe we have to be more careful when we’re drinking in private homes. That’s when we usually get noisy hahaha ...
Thank you so much Illustrado magazine for this feature... Sobrang happy ako, sarap ng feeling pag gising mo eto ang mababasa mo. Illustrado magazine powerful ka talaga!!!
Peewee Artista
Bakit nga ba napakagaling ng mga Pinoy sa pag-awit? We’re developing quite a reputation for being a nation of singers - and with good reason! Kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas
Voice and beauty are just some of the gifts bestowed by God on us. Jeric Mercado Ehem! Wala na akong boses...
RJ Sandoval From the Philippines, to the USA, to here in Dubai and everywhere else around the world – Pinoys are rockstars! Our Filipino singers rock. They have the vocal power, the performance and overall stage presence. You can pit them against other nationalities and they can compete strongly. Ang galling ng Pinoy! Proud to be one! Hanifah Grace
CONTRIBUTORS
BO SANCHEZ
FRANCISCO COLAYCO
ALFRED “KRIP” A. YUSON
You’ve probably already read his best-selling books, attended one of his seminars, or even seen him on TV or online. Bo Sanchez – or Bro. Bo, doesn’t really need any introduction. This Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee, best-selling author and respected speaker shares worthwhile words of wisdom with Illustrado readers in his column on Spirituality. In this issue, Bro. Bo gives us a run-down on the secrets to having a merry relationship.
Resident personal finance guru Francisco J. Colayco and Illustrado’s Kabuhayan columnist has several best-selling books to his credit, and an advocacy on teaching Filipinos how to prosper. In his column this month, he shares how couples can discuss money and learn to work together to ensure financial wellbeing.
Esteemed writer Krip Yuson talks about a somber Christmas this time around. He has earned distinctions as a literary author of over 20 other books — from poetry, short stories, children’s stories, biographies, and translation. A Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall-of-Famer, Krip regales us with his musings in his column, “Illuminati.”
AMBASSADOR GRACE RELUCIO-PRINCESA
KRISTINE ABANTE
ABY YAP Aby’s Onli in the Philippines column touches on stories celebrating the exciting uniqueness, the sheer honesty and humor, of Pinoy culture. Aby captures Pinoy way of life so well that everyone can relate to her column or at least see one of your relatives among them! In this issue, Aby writes about the ‘25 Somethings that Make a Pinoy Christmas.’
KC ABALOS-ORENDAIN KC spends her time reading as many books as she possibly can and traveling to as many places as her piggy bank allows. She is a teacher of philosophy from UP, has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, and is also a dancer. Frustrated by all this, she is now a graduate student studying in Kobe University, Japan. In this issue, KC delves into how kababayans celebrate a Filipino fusion Christmas in different parts of the world.
Career diplomat, doting mother of five and servant leader, Ambassador Grace Princesa is the first female Philippine Ambassador to the UAE. Having spent over two decades in Philippine Foreign Services, she had previous postings in Chicago, Cairo, Geneva and Baghdad. This month, Ambassador Princesa stresses on the importance of Filipinos being wise – especially in managing their finances.
Dubai-based Kristine Abante calls herself an analog girl in a digital world. A struggling writer in the guise of a corporate executive, she believes in seven impossible things before breakfast and in silly things like peace, love and understanding. A cat person and fan of social media, she spends a little too much time in the internet. In this issue, Kristine looks into being a singleton during the most celebrated season of the year – “Baby it’s cold outside.”
BARNEY ALMAZAR, ESQ.
HERSON NEBAYA
Atty. Barney is a director at the Commercial Department of Gulf Law in the Middle East, Philippines and United Kingdom. He holds Juris Doctor and MBA dual degrees with concentration on International Business and European Union Law (University of London). He is a partner at Avanti Gulf, a recruitment company with access to 400 firms and 16,000 recruiters across six continents. This month he talks about the intricacies of employment contracts in the emirates.
Photographer Herson Nebaya’s has graced Accent, Elegant and Blanc magazines, as well as Male Models Scene and Megastyle online, apart from Illustrado. He has also photographed a commercial campaigns for Sennheiser and Listening in Style, as well as FADAL Manila. In this month’s issue, Herson shoots fashion at the “Fairground” with pretty Kelsey Merritt.
EXCEL DYQUIANCO Excel Dyquianco is both a vagabond and article. He has tackled all sorts of topics for illustrado including planning for the future (which included getting a memorial plan) and travel tips. This month, he gets off the wanderer’s trail to write about how small and independent Filipino groups are sharing kindness around the world.
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CHAMPIONING THE WORLD CLASS FILIPINO
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lalaine Chu-Benitez CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mon Benitez ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ana Santos COLUMNISTS Aby Yap Alfred “Krip” Yuson Bernadette Reyes Bo Sanchez Francisco Colayco CONTRIBUTING WRITERS – UAE, Mary Ann “Maps” PHILIPPINES, CANADA Santos SWITZERLAND Nephele Kirong Angela Mapa Nikka Sarthou Anna Oposa Nina Terol-Zialcita Barbara Marchadesch P.A. Escalante Candice Lopez Quimpo Princes Nedamo Dante Gagelonia Quay Evano Didi Paterno Rache Hernandez Excel Dyquianco Regina Layug-Lucero Kara Santos Mary Ann Marchadesch Sherry Tenorio Sonny Guzman CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS –UAE, PHILIPPINES & USA Eros Goze Alex Calueng Glenn Peter-Perez Cristina Linaza Dr. Marlon Pecjo Donald Rosales Raen Badua Irvin Rivera CONTRIBUTING FASHION CREW - UAE Ginno Alducente Jessie Tabla Jojo Padua PUBLISHER – UAE Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai Media City United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 72280 Office 20C Tel: +971 4 365 4543, 365 4547 Fax: +971 4 360 4771 E-mail: admin@illustrado.net Web: illustradolife.com, illustrado.net Facebook: Illustrado Magazine Twitter: Illustrado Magazine PRINTERS Printwell Printing LLC P.O. Box 18828 Dubai, UAE STOCK IMAGES Shutterstock.com (Unless otherwise specified) Copyright Illustrado Communications FZLLC 2006 – 2014 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.
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DEC 2014 CONTENTS
Meet fresh faced rising star - Pinoy+American model Kelsey Merritt in this month’s fashion feature – “Fairground” shot by Herson Nebaya.
features A Very Many Christmas: Filipino Fusion Celebrations 8 Baby It’s Cold Outside 12 Global Pinoy Acts of Kindness 18 Gonna Eat for Christmas 22
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columns Editor’s Note 1 Talking Loud 2 Contributors 4 News 6 Illuminati: Somber on yearend, but onto cheer! 38 10 Things to Do 40 Illustrado Scrapbook 44 Globetrotter’s Blog: Khel Recuenco, Italy 46 My Pinoy Life in Andorra: Arlene De Ocampo Bathan 52 It’s What I Do 72 Spirituality: Merry Relationships 76 Bayanihan Corner: A Wise Gift 78 Money: Starting your Married Life 80 Law: Employment Contracts 82 On the Prowl, In the Know 84
fashion Fairground 58 Real Style, Real People 68
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FEATURE
By KC M. Abalos
Pinoys may be scattered all over the world come Christmas, time but all it takes is a lot of love and a whole lotta food to make the holidays feel like home! We may not have snow in the tropics but if there is a real South Pole where it’s the Yuletide season all year long, then the Philippines would be a close second. We start rejoicing the birth of Christ almost right after Halloween. We play Christmas carols as early as the first day of September. It’s a good thing we use plastic trees, or pine trees would be dangerously close to becoming extinct! With over 10.5 million Filipinos working or living abroad, one wonders just how our kababayans celebrate our favorite holiday in their part of the world. Do they also ache for sweet purply puto bumbong? Do they playfully make snow angels? Do they have a nativity tableau or has Frosty, the Snowman been guarding their lawns? Read on and let’s ride Santa’s sled to crash Filipino Christmas parties all over the world.
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Happy Holidays Bernie Manansala and her clan have been residing in California since 1983. She shares her precious family photos and experiences during this minty, mistletoe-y season. “We celebrate Christmas just like we do in the Philippines. We have a big Christmas Eve dinner and open Christmas gifts at midnight. On Christmas day we go to church and visit relatives.”
Not much difference huh? “Not really. Customs are the same except they do not open Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. They open it on Christmas morning. Upon arrival to the US, my family frowned at waking up kids at midnight to open the gifts and waking up everyone else
but they respected that I wanted to keep the Filipino tradition of doing that,” Bernie states. The only thing that she and her family have to be careful about is how to greet their friends. “People here use Happy Holidays more than Merry Christmas to be politically correct as not everyone believes in Christmas. That is a controversy especially to Catholics and Christians who, of course, insist in saying Merry Christmas.” Well, a PC (politically correct) holiday is better than a conflict-ridden one! What is the one thing that she absolutely misses about a true blue Philippine Christmas? “I miss my friends, she says and adds with a grin, “and 13th month pay!”
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town and celebrate together. They still cook Filipino food and they go to midnight mass followed by Noche Buena afterwards. They make allowances though for more European fare such as roasted turkey and sweet panetone. It’s a kind of bread which literally means bread and token, symbolizing the hope for more bread and money. Sounds like they’ve got the essential stuff covered!
Fröhliche Weihnachten Meet Macha Jacinto. She just got married to her German prince this year but she’s been a resident of Deutschland for the past couple of years. In the Philippines, Macha and her family usually celebrate Christmas the way most of us do, by going to church to hear mass, eating together as a family (with aunts, uncles and cousins), and exchanging gifts. So Christmas is always about family, food, and gifts. And when asked what she misses most, she answers simply with family, food, and friends.
Buon Natale Crispie Fernandez and her husband have been working in Milan, Italy from as far back as she can remember. Since their second home is far away from our islands, they don’t get to go home as much as they’d want to. Crispie tells me what it’s like to be in Italy during this holy season. “Very simple. Just like an ordinary day. Kasi naman walang gaanong tao dito sa Milan. Most of the Italians go to the mountains to ski. Saka malungkot naman ang Christmas dito parang walang spirit, bonding lang ng kaunti. Mas marami ‘pag ganitong holiday season na nag-group tour kasi walang trabaho. They enjoy going out. May nagpupunta ng Paris, Switzerland, or others rest at home.”
But her adopted country has a different take on the holiday season which she has learned to appreciate. So she spills the sauerkraut on what they do during this merry time!
It sounds like a chic holiday, very European, jetting off to another country to unwind. Still, it’s far from the warmth of home so Crispie says other Filipinos prefer to stay in
“Christmas is not that celebrated. The tree is only set up on the 23rd or 24th. The exchange gifts happen only on Christmas Eve. And it is celebrated within the family, not with uncles, aunts or cousins. It is not
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FEATURE
a religious thing. So, they do have Advent Calendars and Advent Candles but they are more for decors and tradition.” Sounds like how most of the world celebrate the holiday season, right? Of course compared to the Philippines, it sounds simpler. It could be argued that we may be overzealous with our Christmas customs. But that’s exactly how we like it! Now, for the truly important stuff, what is a typical German Yuletide feast? “Usually, the family cooks goose or duck, which are traditional Christmas food. Oh, and there is the glühwein which is warm wine during this time of year… Oh and Christmas stollen, which is some sort of cake bread (home-baked!) and a loooot of cookies,” Macha answers.
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Sounds yummy or should we say, “Es ist sehr lecker!”
Vrolijk Kerstfeest Mariafe Medalla Barroro has been living in Belgium for almost 28 years. She spends the holidays with her two lovely children, her Belgian husband, and in-laws. She says that her experience may be slightly different from other Pinoys who live in Belgium. But her tale gives us an intimate look at a Belgian-Filipino household. Her story makes me want to go pack my bags and knock on her door come Christmas morning!
Mariafe answers, “Not a big difference. It only differs in HOW the two countries present it. Here, malls are also filled with Christmas decoration but starts only around the end of November and people install the Christmas tree only after the 6th of December.” What’s so special about the 6th of December? “December 6 is more important to the children compared to Christmas day, since they receive gifts from a cousin of Santa Claus. He brings gifts to kids who behaved well in the past months.” This info begs the question, when do the adults get their gifts?
“A five or six course menu is served with matching wine where the whole family will enjoy it for almost half a day. The table is well-prepared and the menu has been planned weeks before the big date. On the day itself, guests arrive well-dressed. The welcome drink is poured and the party continues until late at night or ‘till early the following day.”
Merry Christmas
Sigh, now this is my kind of party! Now, I got curious as to how Belgians celebrate Christmas. Is it so different from how we do it at home?
In Japan, Christmas is celebrated with fried chicken. Yes, chicken. People queue for fried chicken in popular fast food joints like KFC and others. After the finger lickin’
“Most Belgians give gifts on New Year’s Eve, I don’t know why they do that.” But Mariafe says that she always gives her presents on Christmas Day. Some habits simply don’t change!
FEATURE
goodness, strawberry cakes are eaten for dessert. The shops become filled with Christmas decorations. Real trees are used and carols can be heard in the shopping arcades. Santa-san can be seen in the big malls. Oh, and Hello Kitty is dressed in a cute Santa costume as well. There are many Filipinos in Japan and they come together as a community to
celebrate a more traditional Christmas. In places where there are many Pinoys, there is usually a church which has a Christmas mass. So before or after mass, the community has a party where Filipino food is shared. In our little community in Kobe, it’s difficult to look for the ingredients of fruit salad and pancit, but it’s worth it if it means you get a taste of home.
Where we spend our Christmas may not be in a setting where we can attend simbang gabi. Instead of the smell of bibingka, we may be tempted by the smell of gingerbread cookies. But in the end, what really matters is being amongst family and friends. Everyone sharing memories of Christmas past while creating new Christmas memories in our new home.
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FEATURE
By Kristine Abante
“Single. There’s a certain dignity to it”, goes a line from an old 90’s cult movie favorite, but this quote is especially challenged during the holidays, when the weather starts to drop, love is in the air again and you start to notice that snuggling in your comforter watching silly rom-com movies just doesn’t seem to be enough to compensate for the general lack of body warmth around you. And if you’re Filipino, it’s the time of year when there’s no escaping the myriad of Christmas parties and family reunions that will lead you face to face to that 98% chance of being asked the dreaded holiday quiz where is your significant other? Or when are you getting married? It can come out loud from your old pesky uncle who has had way too many San Miguels, or your very concerned Tita, your recently married friend, or it can be a discreet look of pity from those who are already too embarrassed to ask you for the nth time (like your Mom) but make no mistake about it, the question will come up.
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The truth is whether it bothers you or not, whether you care enough to admit it, being on your own during coupledom’s peak season is not an easy task, but there is definitely a silver lining to it all and that is - Hindi ka nag-iisa gurl (or boy) ! There are plenty of certified SMP (Samahan ng mga Malalamig ang Pasko) members out there. We talked to some of our fabulous filipino singles on how they cope with being on their own during the holidays.
Affected much? Danabelle Gutierez, a writer based in Dubai who recently published her collection of love poems “I Long to Be the River” says
that sometimes she feels she’s like she’s the last single person on earth, but other times it doesn’t matter. “I have been single for 11 Christmases. This Christmas would be the twelfth. Honestly there have been more Decembers where I don’t even think about it. I mean, sure, it would be nice to drink hot chocolate, cuddle up next to someone by the fireplace in a log cabin, while it snows outside, but I live in Dubai so there’s a slim chance to that fantasy. “ “My best survival tip is to live your life, surround yourself with the best people, eat all the best food, and make good art. If you’re a writer, write. If you’re a painter,
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paint. Whatever medium it is that you use, just make good stuff, and keep doing it.”, adds Danabelle. Admittedly a hopeful romantic, Dubai-based marketing exec Kate Narvaez opens up on her holiday blues. “It bothers me sometimes spending weekends alone or going out to a club or a restaurant with friends and not have someone hold your hand, dance with you, or just generally be cheesy with. I’m used to being single, holidays or not, but I have to admit it would really be good to meet someone special, someone for keeps.”
The Good and the Bad… Betsy Vergara, a Finance consultant based in New York shares that there are two sides to the coin, the best and worst part. “One of the perks of being single during the holidays is the element of openness to
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Fight for your right to party… Jake Javellana 31, video editor, who has been single since he moved to the UAE says that he’s immune to all the holiday coupledom stress. “I enjoy it (being single) to a certain degree, since you can do what you want and you don’t have to consider anyone in making decisions. The best part would be the feeling of being free. I am not that bothered since I am not big on holidays to begin with. I try to be more outgoing, meet people or I take up a new hobby so I will be busy.” Mackie Andres, 27, a sound engineer based in Manila also tries to take it easy and gets by his single status through tounge-incheek jokes. spontaneity. If you are a willing subject, you never know what’s in store for you during random invites to parties with other single friends. There’s also that freedom of doing the things that YOU would feel like doing, no need to please others. You can have one year that crazy/busy/crawl back to your apartment tired and hung over, and the
next year, you can be a total hermit. You can do what your heart pleases. The worst part is the constant reminder that you are not in a relationship. The Christmas events that are solely targeted
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for couples. Seeing coupledom peak everywhere esp. during the holidays, in the parks, restaurants, movies, media. I mean everywhere! Honestly we all have the tendency to crave affection from a beloved, but there’s no need to feel alone, as for me, I live in New York, where as they say “anything can happen”, so you never know, I’d rather enjoy and be optimistic, Betsy adds. Yvette Camba, a self-confessed scrooge who works for Emirates Airline also shares the sentiment. “I like the freedom and it doesn’t really bother me, but being surrounded by couples doing all sorts of PDA (public display of affection) sometimes gets to you. I suppose they’re entitled to that. For the most part its just irritating when you get asked all the time about “why are you single?” like it’s not allowed, or it’s such a crime to be on your own. Otherwise I love December, the nice weather, the jolly vibe, minus the traffic and freakish consumerism, I enjoy the joie the vivre it brings. ”
“How long have I been single ? As the Air Supply song goes: “All My Life...” I don’t really enjoy it, but hey the best part is no drama, of course, there’s also no love! Haha. Anyway, look at all the food this Christmas! “ If I could ask Santa for one thing this year it would be for this girl I like who is now online on Facebook to stop ignoring me. As much as I want to start a chat with her, I’m stopping myself because I know I will just be ‘seen-zoned’ ” , he says with a laugh.
Support groups and Shopping Priorities … Chai Boiles, 38, who broke up last Christmas
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with a long-term partner opens up about celebrating this Christmas alone.
based, Christine Consas shares her fair share of being alone.
Do I enjoy it? Yes and no . Yes, kase may mga friends and sisters naman ako dito sa Dubai, so I have a good support group. The best part is that I don’t have to worry about buying a Christmas present for the boyfriend, tipid diba? Of course, you also miss the tight hugs, nothing is better than having someone to hug during the cold months and if I can ask Santa for anything, I want a Husband! Ella Sison, 31, a chef based in New Zealand
I have been single for 6 years and 10 Christmases, not counting my noncommittal 2-year relationship. I travelled with him first see how it goes and then I finally decided to go on my own, go home and pick up the pieces. “It’s great to be home for the holidays, I’ve been away for so long that it feels good to be surrounded by happy people and people who love you, you realize there’s really no reason to despair, everything will fall into place at the right time.
shares the same sentiment on the relief of not having to think about presents.
Escaping the blues If being Single means not being commited to anyone, happy traveler and now Boracay-
“For the most part I’m not that bothered to be single during holidays. This job has saved from heartaches and going crazy but I must admit I do get a bit jealous, like when you gather up with friends, and you’re the only single person in the group there’s that moment when you start comparing yourself to them and thinking about how lucky they are while you sit there and wonder why you can’t I have the same thing? Of course, you also start to realize that it’s better to stay single and wait for the right guy rather than just find someone less ideal to cozy up with, just because it’s the holidays.”
Wishing, waiting and choosing to be happy
Make-up artist and Emirates Airline staff Erl Daguplo who has been single for 5 years says that it takes a brave woman to suck it all in.
“Sometimes kasi you feel that your’re “obligado” to give them nice expensive gifts during Christmas, at least now that I’m single I don’t need to think about it. The best part is being free from commitments but I have to admit there are nights of PMS and you just allow yourself to wallow in the loneliness.” “The best survival tip is to keep yourself busy, be happy and love yourself even more. There’s plenty of dating apps you can check out. Of course its nice to have someone special, but at the moment I’d rather focus on my career more than anything else.”
While travelling may allow you to escape the hassle of dealing with the holiday blues, cabin crew Joanna Ardiente, who gets to fly all over the world for her job thinks its also what’s keeping her from not finding a stable relationship.
Mykhel Reyes, IT professional based in Dubai is the single guy who doesn’t mind the wait.
“I’m enjoying the independence, but “inggit” strikes when you see all these sweet couples. For me, I normally cope with the holiday blues by using my travel perks to backpack to a far away land and just get away from it all.”
I believe that in everything you do, you have to be intentional. During this holiday season, you can choose to be happily single, and you can also chose to love. For me, I already found the perfect girl it’s been three years since I’ve known her. I’m holding out for her because I love her and when you love someone you don’t just stop. For the girls who are also in the waiting line, Mykhel has this to say – “Remember
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you are WOW - Woman of Worth - worth pursuing, worth caring for, worth the wait.” In the end, being single during the holidays is not so much about being alone as to opposed to feeling alone. Being alone may or may not be your choice but the truth is you really have no reason to feel alone. So chin up, put on that warm smile, face the Christmas music and get ready to give and receive a dozen holiday hugs from the people who thinks you are a wonderful adorable person, albeit still single.
Survival Tips on Being Single during the Holidays : 1. Bring a jacket. Too cold outside? Going to simbang gabi? Be prepared. Sure it’s hard to hug yourself, but having a nice warm coat or cool hoodie helps to fight the cold and while you’re at it put on a lovely scarf too. The best way to stay single during the holidays is to keep on being your fabulous self-sufficient best. 2. Say YES! Dinner invitiations? Christmas parties? December weddings? Karaoke get-togethers? Highschool Reunions? Go ahead, say yes and fill up your calendar with all these fun activities with friends and loved ones. As they say, if you can’t beat them
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join them and have loads of fun doing it! 3. Give love, get love. The holidays is the time for giving, and paying it forward. If you have so much love to give, let it not be put to waste. Share your blessings with others, pick out thoughtful gifts for friends and family, volunteer for a cause, adopt a pet, there are plenty of people (and animals) in the world who would appreciate your TLC. Give wholeheartedly, without expectations, and you will find that truly giving is receiving. 4. Indulge ! Treat yourself to that nice big present, a watch, a perfume, a dress, a dayspa, a holiday, you’ve been working hard all year its time to pamper yourself. No need to wait for a guy, or a girflfriend, or even Santa Claus. Go out there and get it for yourself, because , you know what honey, you can! 5. Just Smile. Yes bring on the Julia Roberts 10,000 mega-watt smile whenever people ask you about your lack of significant other. Show them that you choose to be happy about it rather than sulk or complain. A smile is enough, a smile is your way of saying, “thank your for that very interesting question, and no I don’t really need to explain myself.” Just smile and let them feel awkward.
6. Travel. If you have enough means to “get away from it all” and you’re not bothered by missing the Noche Buena at home, go out there and see a bit more of the world. Of course, it can get lonely on the road, but if you’re the adventurous type, there’s nothing like travelling to open up yourself to a world of possibilities. 7. Stay in and suck it. If you’re not the outdoor type, you are also allowed to stay in and wallow. That’s the beauty of being single, you’re not obliged to do whatever you don’t feel like doing. Cook a great meal, cozy up to a good book or a watch a series of feel-good holiday movies. Bridget Jones, Serendipity, Amelie, Breakfast at Tifannys, there is a long list of great movies to keep you entertained, laugh, cry get crazy, your kingdom, your rules! 8. Keep the Faith. Remember that Christmas is about peace, about hope and ultimately about love, the kind that perseveres, the kind that endures. Find peace in yourself and make peace with others. Believe in the magic, for those who don’t believe in the magic will never find it. Stay positive and awesome!
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By Excel V. Dyquiangco
Filipinos love to extend a helping hand. Whether there is an unexpected calamity, a need that has to be filled or a spirit and a heart that needs to be encouraged, Filipinos from all over the world band together for moral, emotional, physical and financial support. The recent calamity that happened in Leyte and Samar is a true testament to the never-ending love of Pinoys for one another. collect AED3150 which was intended for the air fare of the chosen Filipinas to be sent back home; a donation of cash and boxes of clothes, food, blankets and medicine to those affected by Typhoon Yolanda and a year-end program that involves sending gifts to the street children of Metro Manila.
Indeed, there are the big and established NGOs in the Philippines that can mobilize multitudes for charity projects, but then there are also independent “do-gooders” that offer their time and their limited resources generously. We look at several of these charitable groups from around the world that teach us the moral lesson - no effort, nor deed is too small to be a force for good. Even one person can make a big difference.
“Each and every time we have fund raisers, we always get overwhelmed by the support members show us, the time they give and the donations they give,” says Almario. “These make all the efforts of putting together an event worth it. And the most fulfilling part is when you see gratitude in our beneficiaries’ eyes and joy on their faces, when they say ‘thank you’, from the bottom of their hearts. These are the things that will make you do another program, another outreach project.”
Philanthropilipino, Dubai Through simple conversations with friends four years ago, Philantropilipino started with a vision of wanting to give back to the Filipino community in Dubai. “We want to create programs that are easy to manage, fast to execute, and can reach and benefit many,” says Creative Director Dawn Almario. Among the many activities done by the group, just this year alone, include giving 100 school kits to a public school in
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Montalban, Rizal; an outreach program at the OWWA shelter in Dubai where the group provided food and drinks to more than fifty abused Filipinas under the care of OWWA. A fund raiser and a movie night also transpired where they were able to
The future plan is to grow the group more, not just by numbers on Facebook, but to have more volunteers and more active members by continuing to do at least four major programs every year. “At the end of the day, Dawn and I are just enablers,” says
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Advertising Traffic Manager Olga Barcelona. “We don’t do this to promote that we do charity. We do this to pay it forward, to encourage people to share their blessings. We do this to show that in this crazy world that we live in, there is still a lot of goodness that surrounds us and there is hope.”
The Global Filipino Investors, Singapore In the short span of two years, The Global Filipino Investors or TGFI became the biggest online community promoting financial literacy to Filipinos - with more than
professionals in residential venues as well as in organizational functions,” says Building Consultant Rex Holgado. “And we’re still conducting free financial literacy seminars of, more or less 12, every year.” Aside from holding financial literacy seminars, the group also holds Outreach Programs. Recently, they have sent out relief goods to more than 60 families in Tacloban, Leyte. They have also entertained more than 100 kids through storytelling and outdoor games, and donated five pedicabs for the livelihood of chosen beneficiaries. TGFI Singapore currently sponsors three children from Isabela, Bohol, and Cebu through World Vision. This has been part of their advocacy ever since and they always encouraged their seminar attendees to sponsor kids in World Vision too. “It is our fulfillment if we see people being able to manage their finances well already,” says Holgado. “It is our fulfillment to bring those who need guidance away from those who are masked as financial literacy advocates but opportunists and scammers in reality. It is our fulfillment if more will volunteer and teach others too without selling anything and without asking anything in return. It is our fulfillment if one day there would be more financially literate Filipinos not just here in Singapore but in the Philippines.”
Project Pearls, California 40,000 current online members worldwide with active sub-communities in Singapore, South Korea, UAE, Brunei, Australia and many more. “We have been invited many times to conduct personal finance seminars to Filipino household helpers and even
Founded in 2008 by a mother and daughter in California, Melissa Villa and Francesca Villa Mateo, Project Pearls focuses its outreach efforts in Ulingan, Tondo, a slum and garbage dumpsite community where over 400 families contend all day with the heat,
fumes, dust, stench, flies, mosquitoes and vermin. Under the leadership of Melissa’s brother, Juan Villa, the organization has a weekly Feeding Program, monthly Birthday Program, yearly Scholarship Program and quarterly Medical and Dental Missions. “Growing up as an orphan, I realized that getting an education is the best survival tool,” says Melissa Villa. “And I empathize with children who are hungry for getting an education and living in poverty that prevents them from going to school. By starting an organization like Project Pearls, not only my daughter or I can give educational opportunities to these underprivileged children but we can also provide a venue for others globally to share their blessings and sponsor a kid to school.” Other programs include Brain Booster, educational activities that involve storytelling, reading, writing, math, educational games, arts and crafts, and music; After School Program which provides academic skill building and homework help, sports and recreation, exploration of special interests such as art, music, theater, dance, computers and technology, and crafts; and an Outreach Program at Helping Land also located in Tondo where this serves as a home to hundreds of families living in extreme poverty. The community sits next to an active dumpsite where production of “pagpag” (leftover food scavenged from garbage and processed, cooked and sold to other poor people) is the main source of livelihood.
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“As long as there are children living in extreme poverty and are deprived of their basic children’s rights to food, shelter and education, I don’t think I will get any fulfillment yet,” says Villa.
Fadgecakes, UAE “Our vision for every Filipino is that they would have the sweet life that they deserve,” says Founder and Owner Elmina Fajut who together with her husband Eric started Fadgecakes. “Our prayers are for every heart that they will make this world a better place to live in.” And so, Fadgecakes which gives cake baking and decorating tutorials for Filipino women and men in the UAE who may one day be instrumental in providing economic opportunities for their countrymen seeks to offer livelihood opportunities. “We aim to provide them with skills in baking and decorating cakes,” says Elmina. “By supporting Fadgecakes our customers not only get high-quality cakes, they also contribute in creating positive social and
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economic change in someone’s life.” The proceeds of the tutorials go to out of school children in the Philippines. “There are a lot of unforgettable moments but one is to feel that you can extend help and share the talent that God has given us because the talent that is not connected to God is meaningless,” says Elmina. “The best thing about Fadgecakes is to send unknown children to school; yes because a family can always thank us every time we extend our help but a stranger to us can’t possibly do that, and that is fulfillment for us.” In the near future, Elmina and Eric plan to step up and think of opening a small shop, to enroll and to get more training from the experts - in order that they can pass the knowledge and skills not only to their kababayans but to all those who believe that by doing small acts of kindness and charity, they can make this world a better place to live in. “Because in Fadgecakes we believe that everyone deserves a sweet life,” says Elmina.
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For Filipinos around the globe, Christmas is not just about religious traditions, giving and receiving regalo or caroling, parols, the belen and Christmas lights. The fact is, a large part of our holiday celebration revolves around the dinner table. Because Christmas can never be truly Christmas without the festive food! Of course, the farther you are away from home, the more you miss the delicacies and treats that you have grown up with. Remember the bibingka and puto bumbong you used to eat while sipping tsaa with pandan after simbang gabi? Or hamon, queso de bola, morcon, paella, buko salad, all sorts of sweet and sticky kakainin at marami
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pang iba? Pair all that with a teeming cup of rich traditional tsokolate drink, and the heartwarming feeling of our most awaited holiday in the year is basically complete. To help you prepare that taste buds-inspiring Pinoy Christmas table, we are sharing with you some well-loved dishes from our foodie
contributors from around the world. From firm favorites morcon, callos and embutido, inspired takes on paella, baked and smoked chicken a la Aristocrat, and sweet treats like bibingka, biko brazo de Mercedes, buko salad, sans rival and tsokolate, this Christmas spread is sure to take you back home.
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INGREDIENTS
3 tbsp tomato paste
700 g rib eye of round,whole then sliced into 1/3 inch thin single sheet
1 tsp dried oregano
150 g beef liver, ground
Freshly ground black pepper
2 pcs pickles, cut lengthwise divided into 4 pieces
Bay leaf
6 pcs streaky bacon 4 pcs hard boiled eggs, sliced half lengthwise 4 pcs 1/2 in x 5 in strips tasty cheddar cheese 1/2 cup raisins 1/4 cup flour FOR THE MARINADE 1/4 cup lemon juice 3 tbsp soy sauce FOR THE SAUCE 2 cups beef stock 1 cup red wine 2 large red onions, cubed 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 red capsicum 1 can chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp chopped basil
Salt Olive oil METHOD Marinate beef in lemon juice and soy sauce for at least 3 hrs. In a flat surface, lay down the beef and start placing your ingredients, starting by spreading the ground liver over the beef. Place the rasher bacon. Line up the cheese and pickles. Place eggs on top of the lined strips and drizzle raisins on top. Start to roll the meat enclosing the contents in the middle, making sure that all the fillings inside are intact and that the meat will not open. Now using a cooking yarn or a thick thread secure the meat vertically and horizontally. Sprinkle flour all over the beef then set aside. In a pan add oil and
brown the beef roll. Remove the beef and set aside. In the same pan, sautÊ garlic, onions and capsicum. Add wine to deglaze. In a pot, place the deglazed wine, beef stock, chopped tomatoes, bay leaves and the beef. Make sure that the beef is covered entirely with liquid otherwise add water, bring it to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the tomato paste, black pepper and salt (according to your taste) and simmer for additional 30 minutes. Remove the beef then set aside, remove the bay leaves then using a hand blender blend the remaining sauce to make a thick gravy, if it’s too runny because of the water then reduce it further by simmering in medium heat uncovered, if you find the sauce is rich then add some water. Season with salt and pepper then turn off the heat. Slice the beef roll crosswise at least 1.5 inch thick and place them on a plate, then pour tomato gravy on top. Garnish with olives and cherry tomatoes.
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INGREDIENTS
METHOD
500 g Ox Tripe, precooked, cleaned and cut into 1.5 x .5 in strips 1 small leg, cut into sections 3 pcs chorizo, sliced 1½ cups chickpeas, cooked 2 red capsicums, cubed ½ cup tomato paste 4 pcs tomatoes, diced 5 cups of beef stock 3 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp paprika 1 whole garlic, minced 1 whole red onion, chopped 3 pcs bay leaf Freshly ground black pepper Fish sauce Fried garlic Olive oil
In a pot sauté garlic and onions in olive oil, cook until garlic is golden brown. Add pork then brown on all sides. Add tomatoes and 4 cups of beef stock. Bring to a boil and slowly simmer for 1 hrs. Add more beef stock if necessary. Remove the pork leg, separate the bones and slice meat into strip. Place meat and bone back into the pot. Add the tripe, chorizo, tomato paste, bay leaf, chickpeas, soy sauce, paprika and simmer in low heat for 30-45 more minutes or until meat is really tender. Remove the bone then add capsicums, season it with fish sauce and simmer for 10 more minutes. Serve and top with fried garlic.
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INGREDIENTS 500 grams small octopus, cleaned 8 ounces Spanish Chorizo, sliced 1/2 inch thick on the bias Olive oil 8-9 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut pole to pole in 1/2 inch-wide strips 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 (14-1/2 Oz.) can diced tomatoes, drained, minced, then drained again 2 cups Calasparra rice (may be substituted with Bomba, valencia or Arborio rice) 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1/3 cup dry white wine 1/2 tsp saffron threads, crumbled then steeped in hot water 1 dried bay leaf 1/2 cup frozen peas, Thawed Pimenton, to season octopus Salt and ground black pepper, to taste 2 Tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for
garnish) 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In medium bowl, toss octopus, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 Tbsp oil, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp pimenton, and a squeeze of lemon then cover with plastic wrap and set aside in refrigerator. In a paellera, heat 2 tsps oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add red bell peppers and cook, while stirring occasionally, until skin begins to blister and turn a spotty black (about 3-4 mins). Transfer peppers to plate and set aside. Reduce heat to medium then add chorizo. Cook, while stirring frequently, until deeply browned and fat begins to render (about 4-5 mins). Transfer chorizo to bowl and set aside. Add enough oil to fat in paellera to equal 2 tbsps, then heat over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add onion and cook, while stirring frequently, until softened (about 3 mins). Stir in remaining garlic and cook until
fragrant (about 1 min). Stir in tomatoes and cook until mixture begins to darken and thicken (about 3 mins). Stir in rice and cook until grains are well-coated with mixture (about 1-2 mins). Stir in chicken broth, wine, saffron, bay leaf, and 1/2 tsp salt. Add chorizo to paellera, increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, uncovered, while stirring occasionally. Scatter octopus. Cover paellera with aluminum foil and transfer to oven. Cook until rice absorbs almost all liquid (about 25 mins). Remove paellera from oven. Arrange red bell pepper strips in pinwheel pattern and scatter peas over top. Cover again with foil and return to oven for about 5 mins. Allow paella to stand, covered, for another 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges separately. Tip: If soccarat is desired (toasted, browned portion of rice at bottom of pan), then return paellera to oven for about 5 more minutes once the paella has finished baking.
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INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons salt
1 (4 to 5 pounds) whole chicken, deboned
1 teaspoon pepper
3 hardboiled eggs, peeled ¼ cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons butter, melted FOR THE MARINADE ½ cup calamansi juice 2 tbsp soy sauce 1/8 teaspoon pepper FOR THE MEAT STUFFING 1-1/2 pounds ground pork 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained 1 onion, peeled and grated 1 large carrot, peeled and shredded 1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup raisins ¼ cup banana ketchup ¼ cup bread crumbs
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METHOD In a large bowl, combine calamansi juice, soy sauce and pepper. Marinate chicken in mixture for about 1 hour (under refrigeration), turning chicken occasionally. Drain chicken well and pat dry. In a large bowl, combine ground pork, pineapple, onion, carrot, bread crumbs, cheese, raisins, ketchup and beaten eggs until welldistributed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Through the lower opening, spoon half of the stuffing into the chicken. Insert the boiled eggs, positioning at the center line of chicken. mixture. Fill the chicken with the remaining half of the stuffing mixture. Sew the neck and lower openings
of the stuffed chicken. With a paper towel, gently wipe down surface of chicken to remove stray bits and pieces of the meat stuffing. Tie legs together with kitchen twine. Liberally brush surface of chicken with mayonnaise. Carefully transfer onto a lightly-greased roasting pan, tucking wings close to the body of the chicken to prevent them from burning before chicken is cooked through. Roast in a 375 F oven for about 1-1/2 hours, occasionally brushing with mayonnaise. At the last 20 minutes of cooking, liberally brush skin with butter and continue to roast until internal temperature reaches 165 F and skin is golden brown. Remove from heat and let stand for about 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. This will help re-distribute flavorful juices and to allow stuffing to set. Serve with ketchup or gravy.
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INGREDIENTS 800 g beef sirloin or tenderloin, cubed 6 cloves garlic, minced Âź cup Worcestershire Sauce 2 tbsp butter 4 tbsp olive oil Freshly ground black pepper Salt Fried crispy garlic, to garnish
METHOD Season beef cubes with salt, pepper, and garlic then set it aside for 5 minutes. Add olive oil to the meat then mix it to distribute evenly. Prepare a heavy cast iron pan then place in high heat. Once pan is really hot add and sear the beef until beef one at a side until turns brown. Do not over crowd the pan. Add the butter and Worcestershire Sauce and mix it well to coat the beef pieces evenly. Place in a sizzling plate or serving platter then top with lots of fried garlic.
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INGREDIENTS 800g minced meat 8 pcs Vienna sausages, chipolata or cocktail hotdogs, sliced 2 boiled small cardaba banana, mashed 4 tbsp flour 2 sweet large pickles, chopped 1 carrots, chopped 1 small white onion, finely chopped ½ cup raisins Ÿ cup green peas 2 eggs, beaten 4 hard-boiled eggs, cut in half Salt Pepper
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METHOD In a mixing bowl mix all ingredients together except for the hard boiled eggs and sliced sausages. Mix well. Place mixture in an aluminum foil then place eggs and sausages on the middle. Form a cylindrical shaped roll then wrap it tightly with foil. Place it on a steamer then steam for an hour. Remove from steamer and let it cool for 15 minutes, slice with foil on, remove the foil individually then serve as is or shallow fried with ketchup.
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INGREDIENTS
FOR SMOKING
5 boneless chicken thighs, cut into chunks 1/4 cup of Sprite or 7-Up
1 piece all-natural charcoal, about the size of a lemon
1/2 cup kecap manis or sweet soy sauce
1 tsp of oil
4 cloves of crushed garlic
Half of a large onion, sliced horizontally
Sea salt, to taste
METHOD
Freshly cracked black pepper A squeeze or two of calamansi juice 2 Tbsps vegetable oil FOR JAVA SAUCE 1/4 cup kecap manis or sweet soy sauce 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter or finely ground peanuts 1 garlic clove FOR JAVA RICE 4 cups cooked rice (cooked a day earlier and left in the refrigerator to cool) 1/4 cup margarine 1 tbsp annatto seeds 3 cloves crushed garlic Sea salt and pepper, to taste 2 tbsps soy sauce 2 tbsps tomato ketchup
Combine chicken marinade in zip lock bag and leave to marinate in refrigerator for at least 12 hours. For best results, marinate for 48 hrs. Let chicken come to room temperature when about to cook. Meanwhile, prepare java sauce by processing all ingredients in food processor until well-blended and they’ve reached desired consistency. Adjust by adding a little water if you want it thinner or more peanut butter and kecap manis if you want it thicker. Set aside. When ready to cook chicken, thread pieces into skewers and place on rack on top of jelly roll pan lined with aluminum foil and filled with around 1/2 cup of water. Bake chicken in 200C/400F oven for about 20 minutes, basting once with some java sauce, either halfway through cooking or right before baking. Check for doneness and remove. Prepare
wok for smoking process. Arrange cooked skewers in wok, leaving space in center. Put onion-half on small, hard ceramic or metal bowl and place in center of wok. Heat charcoal over flame until smoldering and red, then put on top of onion. Pour a little oil over live coal and as soon as it starts to smoke, cover wok immediately, making sure smoke does not come out. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes. The longer you let it sit, the more smoke will be infused into meat. Prepare java rice. Heat margarine in small saucepan and add annatto seeds. Heat gently over low heat until oil turns golden orange (about 5 minutes), swirling seeds several times. Strain oil then discard seeds. Pour oil into large wok and heat. Add crushed garlic and saute until fragrant. Add rice and fry for a few minutes, until all grains are coated with oil and have taken up color. Add soy sauce, then ketchup, then fry for another two to three minutes. Remove chicken from wok, discard coal and onion, and serve with java rice, java sauce and some pickled vegetables.
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INGREDIENTS 2 cups rice flour 2 cups sugar 2½ cup coconut milk 6 eggs, beaten 5 tsp baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 6 tbsp margarine, melted 2 pcs salted duck egg, sliced Grated coconut
Banana leaf METHOD Sift together rice flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Using a hand mixer beat eggs until frothy, add sugar and beat until sugar is dissolved. Pour egg mixture into the flour mixture and start mixing together. Add melted margarine and coconut milk. Mix evenly using a hand mixer at low speed.
Prepare some moulds lined with banana leaf. A muffin pan was used for this recipe. Pour in batter into your moulds up to ¾ full. Bake in a 190C preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven then place salted egg slices. Place back into the oven and bake for 15 more minutes or until cooked (top should be a bit brown, like the photo above). Remove from oven then brush with margarine and top with grated coconut. Serve while hot.
INGREDIENTS 4 cups young coconut, shredded 1 (30 ounces) can fruit cocktail, drained 1 (15 ounces) can sweet corn kernels, drained 1 cup pineapple tidbits, drained
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INGREDIENTS 2½ cups glutinous rice 4 cups coconut cream ž cup sugar Banana leaves For the topping 2 cups coconut cream 250 g palm sugar or dark brown sugar
METHOD In a pot combine all rice cake ingredients apart from the banana leaves, bring it to a boil while constantly stirring, then continue simmer while constantly stirring for 15-20 minutes or until the liquid is fully absorbed by the rice. Line a rectangular dish (11 x 7 x 2 in) with banana leaves then pour the cooked rice mixture, flatten and distribute
1 (12 ounces) nata de coco 1 (12 ounces) kaong 1 cup Eden or Velveeta cheese, cubed 1 (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 1 (14 ounces) can table cream
evenly across the dish. On a sauce pan over combine the coconut cream and palm sugar, cook in medium heat wilt constantly stirring until the liquid has reduced in half. Pour and spread the topping evenly into the rice mixture and bake on a 180C pre-heated oven for 20 - 25 minutes. Let it cool before serving
METHOD In a large bowl, combine young coconut, fruit cocktail, pineapple, corn, kaong, nata de coco, cheese, condensed milk and cream. Stir gently to distribute. Chill for a few hours or freeze until firm.
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INGREDIENTS
For the Meringue 10 egg whites 1 teaspoon cream of tartar 1 cup superfine sugar ¼ cup powdered sugar
For the Custard Filling 10 egg yolks, beaten 1 (14 ounces) can condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Zest of 1 lemon
METHOD In a double broiler over low heat, combine milk, vanilla extract, egg yolks and lemon
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zest. Cook, stirring regularly, for about 30 to 40 minutes or until mixture thickens into a spreadable paste. Transfer custard into a bowl and cover with wax paper until ready to use. In a bowl, combine egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, beat at low speed. As the egg whites start to turn opaque and begin to fluff into a thick foam, gradually add the sugar in small amounts and continue to beat while gradually increasing speed of mixer until stiff peaks form. The whipped whites will be smooth and glossy, with no sugar grains. Line a 14 x 16 baking sheet with wax paper and lightly grease surface of paper. Transfer meringue onto prepared baking sheet and using a spatula, spread evenly across into
about ¼-inch thick. Bake in a 350 F oven for about 20 minutes or until meringue is set and top has turned to light brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Using a fine mesh sieve, light dust top with powdered sugar. Place another layer of greased wax paper and another baking sheet over meringue. Gently invert meringue onto the new baking sheet and peel the wax paper on top. Spoon custard on top and spread evenly on cooked meringue, leaving about ¼ without filling. Starting on the filled side, carefully roll meringue into a log. Cover both ends of the brazo de mercedes with wax paper and chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. To serve, cut into desired thickness.
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INGREDIENTS
For the Meringue 8 egg whites 1 cup white sugar ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar 1½ cups toasted cashews, chopped
French Buttercream 320g butter, softened 8 egg yolks 1¼ cup white sugar 2/3 cup water 4 tsp rum 2 cups toasted cashews, chopped METHOD Meringue: In a mixing bowl add egg whites and beat until foamy. Add cream of tartar and gradually add sugar, continue beating until it forms stiff peaks.
Fold in the cashew nuts. Prepare 3 round pans (9 in) and line them with baking paper. Divide meringue equally into the pan then bake in a 160C preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until top is light golden brown. Once time is up turn heat off then leave meringue in the oven to dry it out, if you want a chewy texture you can leave it in the oven for 30 minutes but if you want it crunchy leave it in the oven for 2 hours, do not open the oven door. French Buttercream: In a large bowl cream butter using a hand mixer until light and fluffy. In another bowl beat egg yolks until light in color. In a saucepan add sugar and water, place it in stove top and bring it to a boil, continue to boil until it becomes thick like syrup. You can also test it by dropping a small amount of the sugar mixture in cold water it should form into a soft solid drop. Back to your egg yolks, beat them in high
speed while pouring a very thin thread of the sugar mixture. Add the butter and rum while beating in high speed. This stage your Buttercream might be a bit runny, if that’s the case refrigerate until it hardens but still easily spread. SANSRIVAL: Remove meringue in the oven then place them into a cake stand. Place one meringue in the bottom then spread a layer of butter cream on top, sprinkle ¼ cup of chopped cashews on top. Place another layer on top and repeat with the remaining meringue until all layers are used. Cover everything with the buttercream, smooth sides with spatula then sprinkle the remaining cashews. Freeze for at least 4 hours before serving. Don’t worry the cake will not harden.
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INGREDIENTS 1 (7 ounces) roll tablea cacao 4 cups milk 2 tablespoons peanut butter
METHOD In a pot over medium heat, heat milk just until bubbles begin to form around the edge and steam begins to rise from the milk. Stir regularly to prevent film layer from forming.
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Add the tablea and continue to cook, stirring regularly, until completely dissolved. Add peanut butter and stir until dissolved. If using sugar, add at this point. Transfer into a serving pot. Twirl batidor in chocolate mixture for about 2 to 3 minute or until frothy. If using a mechanical frother, insert frother whisk into serving pot and holding at a slight angle, turn on and move up and down for about 30 to 40 seconds or until frothy. Serve hot. For this recipe, Antonio Pueo Tablea Cacao brand which contains sugar, was used. If you are using pure tablea, sweeten the drink with sugar to taste.
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Meet our foodie contributors!
JB & RENEE MACATULAD Sushibytes.com Websushidesign.com
RAYMUND MACAALAY Angsarap.net Raymund Macaalay is an IT professional living in New Zealand. He says, “I’m neither a cook, nor a chef, but I love cooking and it is my passion. My brain is abused at work on a daily basis so cooking at the end of the day acts as my therapy for stress release. I have been cooking since I was 7 years old. I learned mostly by observing my Aunt. I learned to bake by assisting my mom during my younger years, and for the native dishes I learned it from my grandmother.” Raymund’s other passion is photography which explains the mouth-watering food shots in his blog. Together with his wife and daughter, he launched Ang Sarap in March 2010 to share their love for food with the rest of the world.
What started out as blog about nothing in particular blossomed into a food and travel blog for “traveleaters” husband and wife team JB and Renee Macatulad. Now, Sushibytes.com provides the best of both worlds for global nomads and foodies alike with sections such as ‘When We Wander’ the travel section, ‘I Ate Manila’ - reviews of new Manila restaurants, as well as Renéelicious Recipes where Renées mouthwatering culinary creations, such as this month’s fresh take on paella, inspired by their travels, are featured.
LALAINE MANALO Kawalingpinoy.com US-based Lalaine Manalo, creator of the blog Kawaling Pinoy, is a Food Service Director in a skilled nursing facility. She manages the daily operations of a fullscale kitchen that produces hundreds of mostly-from-scratch meals a day. But on Saturdays, Sundays and nights, she develops recipes, shoots food photos and writes about her culinary experiences for her blog. She shares, “I guess you can say, I do for fun, what I do for work.” She furthers, “My family meals are mostly the simple and basic afritada, adobo or sinigang, but I certainly do not shy away from balut, isaw, adidas and such things that make Filipino cuisine unique. One of the dishes I terribly miss from home is ginisang camaro or sauteed crickets in tomatoes. Yes, crickets!” Through Kawaling Pinoy, Lalaine showcases her passion for Filipino and Asianinspired cuisine one-pot-at-a-time.
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ONLI IN DA PILIPINS
25 Somethings that Make a Pinoy Christmas By ABY YAP
So, why do people say that we have the craziest Christmas celebration in the world? Before everyone becomes too busy making a list, shopping for gifts, and preparing the feast, let us unwrap Christmas in ‘Pinas and get to the bottom of this pang-Miss Universe question. 1. Something long
2. Something pretty
3. Something gigantic
Christmas countdown starts in September (because it ends in -ber like December, duh) and doesn’t end until Three Kings Day on January 6. We spend one-third of our year celebrating Christmas.
This is one occasion when everything around us is an eye-candy. Parols hang by the windows. Santa Claus statues guard the gates. Colorful lights blink all over town.
Hail, giant Christmas trees! The one in Cubao measures 86 feet while another in Makati is 120 feet tall, their lighting ceremony graced by the country’s biggest celebrities.
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ONLI IN DA PILIPINS 4. Something moving What’s C.O.D.? Bet you didn’t know it meant Christmas on Display, with slowly moving mannequins staging well-loved Christmas tales. It’s fascinating to watch and it’s free.
5. Something noisy Most kids are sintunado, some merely squealing with their tansan-crafted musical gizmo. But Christmas sans karoling is boring—we have to hear that “Thank you, thank you, ang babarat/babait ninyo!”
6. Something senti Romanticize long lost loves and nobody will judge you in the spirit of goodwill. So, let’s all rise for the national Christmas anthem of the Philippines. All together now: Pasko na, sinta ko…
7. Something cold It’s not only the weather; it’s also the S.M.P. aka Samahan ng Malalamig ang Pasko. This group longs for warmth as they have no special someone to spend Christmas with, awww.
8. Something heavy Believe it or not, traffic can still get worse, even worst in December. When everyone is going to the malls to shop and to hotels/ restaurants/videoke places to party, what do you expect?
9. Something taxing When there’s an outrageous traffic jam, there are maddening taxi drivers. They’ll either snub you or charge you an arm and a leg that you wish you could cut off their limbs for being anti-Christmas.
10. Something challenging Get up at 3-4 am, take a freezing bath, and be annoyed at dating teenagers as you try to stay wide-awake during mass for nine consecutive days. That’s Simbang Gabi.
11. Something rewarding At the end of the Simbang Gabi challenge
is a promise that your wish will come true. Worried that it won’t? Just indulge in mouthwatering bibingka and/or puto bumbong sold outside the church.
12. Something delicious Stuff yourself full of our Noche Buena handa: lechon, hamonado, morcon, relleno, paella, etc. A word of warning: when it’s sinfully good, it’s also dreadfully fattening. Binge now, starve later.
13. Something abundant Drop by any home during the holidays and there will always be food served to you. We make sure that we cook in cauldrons to feed the entire barangay.
14. Something extra Hello, 13th month! What you’ve been waiting for all year is here—and will be gone in days once you hit the malls and/or collect all 18 stickers to get a Starbucks planner.
15. Something new It’s time to buy a new outfit! (Think first day of school.) You have to look at your best for when you reunite with the long-time-nosee clan/gang on Christmas Day or New Year.
16. Something on sale With a growing list of inaanaks, there’s one place to go to for gift shopping: Divisoria. It’s where you can do the haggle, buy wholesale, and get huge discounts to beat bankruptcy.
17. Something generous Scrooges we definitely are not. We give presents and/or cash to everyone—family, friends, godchildren, colleagues, neighbors, village guards, garbage collectors, newspaper boys, sampaguita girls. We’re galante like that.
18. Something traditional Even in this age of Selfie, we’ll never forget to do a “Mano po!” as we greet the elderly and our ninongs/ninangs on Christmas
Day—especially if there’s aguinaldo waiting for us.
19. Something creative Something hairy or Brobdingnagian, or that starts with an A and ends with a Z. The more your brain cells scream, the more exciting (or frustrating) Monito Monita gets to be.
20. Something recycled We say don’t let anything go to waste— particularly if it’s a fruitcake, queso de bola, picture frame, or scented candle. Re-wrap and gift it forward. There’s surely someone else who’d appreciate.
21. Something from afar Even if a loved one abroad doesn’t make it home during the holidays, the great balikbayan box will. It’s packed with imported stuff, hand-me-downs, and lots of love for everyone!
22. Something fun Family reunions—even with grumpy aunt or weird cousin invited—always evoke something to smile about. There’s non-stop kumustahan, retracing of family trees, and reminiscing on the good ol’ times.
23. Something for laughs Niños Inocentes, an April Fool’s Day in December, gives you a chance to earn money. Borrow cash from the gullible on the 28th and don’t pay them back! Oy, don’t take this seriously.
24. Something clinking Now here’s an honest way to get something for your alkansya. Leave your shoes at your doorstep on the Feast of the Three Kings and these shall be filled with coins.
25. Something hopeful Fireworks, pot-banging, jumping up and down, wearing polka dots, and collecting 12 round fruits on the midnight of December 31 is your key to a prosperous New Year. Let the party begin.
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ILLUMINATI
by Krip Yuson
Can’t help but be relatively somber despite the Yuletide season. Karma seems to have had a sudden turn in my personal affairs, and it just had to wield the big stick at a critical point in this old geezer’s life. Oh well. Maybe it was bound to happen. Maybe I’ve been remiss with certain relationships, even as I was preparing to leave my sexagenarian decade early next year. Ageing has a way of catching up with us, one might say. But I’d been Peter Pan-ish about it all, until this apparent chokepoint. And no better time is there to celebrate youth and the future than at yearend, especially in a country where Yule festivities start so much ahead, and linger on till all of February. I landed in the hospital last week, and it was quite critical. I’ll spare you the details. Suffice it to say that two days in ICU and another two when the gastro lady doc
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refused to have me discharged, for good reason, have a way of towing one to near depression. I say near, only, because I’ve always seen any glass as half full if not entirely brimful, and to be imbibed with joie de vivre close to ebullient passion. In fact, a cock-eyed optimist have I been all these years of youth and maturation, even well towards the metaphorical winter of life, when no spring can be expected to follow. But bed-bound all those days within four walls that were unfamiliar had a way of sobering me down, not up, to assess what would be next in store. All the work that had to be shelved. The concern of my children. The imminence of shock when all the hospitalization bills are toted up. The prospect of having to spend time to recover, having to effect a lifestyle change. Thus, all worries, an uncertain future.
Still and all, my misfortune seemed to pale in the light of others.’ A former basketball idol had collapsed during a Legends game, and was taken unconscious to the same hospital. He remains in a coma as of this writing in early December. A young Filipino poet of much promise — albeit someone whom I did not have the fortune to meet and become familiar with — had an accident at the age of 30, and it was fatal. Reading the accounts of friendships with him from other young poets I know only saddened me more. His own work and obvious depth and complexity as an aspiring poet, and literature teacher, did not have a chance to develop further. One more demise of a poet, the internationally acclaimed Mark Strand, also brought regret and remembrance. We had been together, read together, in an evening of poetry in a classy venue in Antwerp exactly ten years ago. I hadn’t realized at
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“Cheers, then, for children, however far we have sallied forth from the time we were them.” the time that he was already 70 then, the age I’m approaching now. We read with four other foreign guest poets. But at the end of the evening, detached as he had been from the rest of the group before the reading, he came up to me and gave positive words about what he had heard me read, and how I had read. I have always treasured that episode, much as no further communication with the celebrity poet ever ensued. And now I read the encomiums and tributes in social media, while other Filipino and Singaporean poet-friends share some of his poetry. This particular one struck me: “The Dreadful Has Already Happened” — a poem that starts out strangely, with family images and scenes that are far from ordinary. It goes on in quatrains, until these last two: “The baby did not scream, but I remember that sigh/ when I reached inside for his tiny lungs and shook them/ out in the air for the
flies. The relatives cheered./ It was about that time I gave up.// Now, when I answer the phone, his lips/ are in the receiver; when I sleep, his hair is gathered/ around a familiar face on the pillow; wherever I search/ I find his feet. He is what is left of my life.” Surreal, a strange continuum, until we realize that it is presentiment, foreboding, that the poem eventually careens to: what else, little else, but the sense of mortality. I have tried to tend my garden again since I got back home to start my recovery. I am happy to be back in the morning sunlight, however unsure I am of what the rest of the future holds, or how much longer it will last. The fact that it will soon be Christmas initially seems to make for further dread of weight, as I might not be able to join the festivities as much as I have in the past. But then, thankfully, the wonderful government agency I’m with, as a board member, has plans that just might pull me
back into higher spirits. The MTRCB has scheduled the video-taping of an episode, our Christmas one, for our weekly TV show “MTRCB Uncut.” It will be held at an orphanage in Marikina, where we will give cheer to many children, play games with them, have fun amid all the gift-giving. The script stresses that the show theme will be that Christmas is for children; they are the very essence of the yearend holiday season. I look forward to that entire day. I hope to regain enough of optimism, spirit and cheer so as to be one with the festive flow: which is what life, come to think of it, really is, or should be. Cheers, then, for children, however far we have sallied forth from the time we were them.
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10 THINGS TO DO Catch your favorite hitmakers, join a 10K run, go on a shopping spree, and more. As we welcome 2015, here’s a list of activities to make your 2014 more memorable than ever.
Get your popcorns ready for the 11th Dubai International Film Festival
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Film buffs, grab your sodas and popcorn buckets, because it’s this time of the year again. The eleventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), an annual event on Dubai’s calendar, celebrates the most standout independent films and blockbuster movies from all over the globe. Starting from 10 December, the eight-day film showcase at Madinat Jumeirah will screen handpicked 174 award-winning films from 57 countries: 70 world premieres and over 100 film favorites from the region. With the filmmakers’ efforts in producing more worldclass quality film formulas, we want to skip work and catch all these flicks instead. Check www.dubaifilmfest.com for tickets and for the film line-up. With so many breakthrough cinematic gems and documentaries in the line-up, we recommend you catch everything. We heard some Hollywood and local movie personalities are making appearances so don’t miss out.
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Catch tennis wonders in the very first International Premier Tennis League Dubai and Manila never run out of firsts. For the first time in the world, the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) will be hosted in Manila (Yes, kabayans, in OUR very own Metro Manila!), Delhi, Singapore, and in Dubai. The inaugural tournament will kick off in Manila, and will hold its finals in Dubai. With Indian Premier League for cricket as an inspiration, the aim of this event is to create a new breed of tennis wonders, featuring 21 Grand Slam Champions and 14 current and former World Number Ones. Catch the final leg of the tournament at Hamdan Sports Complex from 11-13 December and get to know who will be hailed as the winner of the very first IPTL. A plus: expect appearances from Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Andre Agassi.
Visit Souk Festive Market and feel the joys of winter.
Winter is here. Madinat Jumeirah celebrates this occasion with Souk Festive Market, where food and drinks, basically everything winter and Christmas-related—is offered. Souk Festive Market unveils a magical winter wonderland between 17-27 December, so you have no reason to miss out. There are so many attractions: a traditional North Pole train, an ice rink, Santa’s Grotto, bouncy castle, and a Reindeer Rodeo. Aside from these, you can also take part in cooking classes with renowned chefs and taste-testing of food and beverage stalls. All visitors have the chance to experience exclusive test drives by Volkswagen, as well as a chance to win a trip for two and a three-night stay at Jumeirah Frankfurt. Souk Festive Market is open at 15:00-00:00 on weekdays and 13:00-00:00 on weekends. There’s also a unique brunch on Christmas and you can avail it from AED 250-850 per person.
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10 THINGS TO DO
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Shed a few pounds at We Run DXB.
Before we eat our heart out at this holiday’s Noche Buena, Christmas dinner, and leftovers, let’s make room for all the Christmas ham and sweets and shed a few pounds at the We Run DXB running event, hosted by Nike. At 19 December, gather with around 8,000 runners at Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai in this 10K running challenge for all levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Prepare for the race and run smarter by downloading the Nike+ Running App and having the Nike+ Race Coach, available on Google Play and the Apple AppStore. Visit www.nike. com/werundubai and www.fb.com/ NikeRunningMiddleEast for registration and for more details. You can register for AED 100, and you can download their app for free. Come on and indulge that fruitcake on Christmas. After that 10K, you deserve it.
Celebrate EDM as Live@Atlantis presents world’s top DJ, David Guetta Now this is what we’re all talking about. Get your summer party festival ensembles ready as the number one DJ in the world is bringing summer and EDM beats to Dubai’s breezy cold. Catch David Guetta on 18 December at Atlantis: The Palm as he, together with local DJs David da Luca, Natalie Brogan, and Hollaphonic, brings the region down with his electro house beats and infectious jams. Known for his collaborations with top artists in the music industry, Guetta has escalated from a DJ to a rockstar in a snap. Get your passes for this much-awaited dance party at Time Out Tickets and the Atlantis homepage, with regular tickets at AED 275 and VIP tickets at AED 450. Expect to hear not just his previous LSSinducing hits at this party, but also new tracks from his latest album. Everybody now! You shoot me down but I won’t fall, I am titanium…
Welcome 2015 with New Year Dubai
If you weren’t able to go back to the Philippines for the New Year salubong, choose the next best thing: celebrate Dubai New Year, in style, of course. To make your celebration purely Pinoy, you can still follow the Filipino superstitions: jump your heart out to add a few centimeters to your height, and fill your wallets with Pesos and Dirhams to be more financially blessed—celebrate two New Year celebrations at once. Gather your friends and family to iconic Dubai landmarks including Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, and Palm Jumeirah, and witness the fireworks and music in the city. Last year, Dubai set a new world record for the largest ever fireworks display. All the festivities will make us forget the scrumptious bilo-bilo and ube our Lola makes for Media Noche.
Party the night away with the biggest music stars in the world at #DXBNYE. Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof. Boom clap, as party rock is in the house tonight. 2014 flew fast and as the memorable year comes to an end, Meydan brings the hottest chart-topping hitmakers to the region—fresh from Hollywood. With hits from Pharell Williams, Busta Rhymes, Charli XCX, and Sky Blu from LMFAO, head over to Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, Nad Al Sheba, as these stars end the year with a bang with Dubai’s biggest NYE party. Meydan is a perfect venue, as you can also witness the Burj Khalifa fireworks while you’re at the party. A number of top-of-the-chart DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Seb Fontaine, Dimitri Vegas, and Like Mike will be present to produce bustling beats as well. Ticket prices are at AED 395-1695, and are available at www.ticketmaster.ae, www.virginmegastore.me, and www.platinumlist.net. Can’t join the fun (Boo.)? Don’t fret as the party will be broadcasted in over 130 countries globally.
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10 THINGS TO DO
Score great finds at Dubai Shopping Festival 2015.
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Get the most bang for your buck this year. What if one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to do less shopping and save more money, well, you should scratch that off your list as we all can’t resist the offers in this year’s month-long Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), a unique shopping experience offering endless number of discounts on your favorite brands. Malls and souks also offer different promotions and tons of prizes— including AED350,000 in cash and fantastic holiday packages in your favorite hotels and resorts. Enticing visitors from all over the world, the 20th edition of the largest shopping and entertainment extravaganza in the region surprises us with not just shopping, but also fun events and activities. With price slashes left and right, Dubai is truly the number one shopping destination. DSF runs from 1 January-1 February.
Get your first dose of kilig this 2015 as KathNiel performs live in Dubai.
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Ahhh, the joys of being in our lupang sinilangan, where showbiz chismis and teleseryes are not to be missed in every household. Everyone’s favorite love team, KathNiel, goes to The Indian High School in Dubai this January 1st to give us our first daily dose of kilig as the most popular on-screen (and off-screen? Hmmm.) couple opens the year with a bang. Let’s take a feels trip to memory lane, to those times when we get kilig like Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, giving us the joys of puppy love. We’ll never know, we just might find love like the remade Pangako Sa’Yo stars (Yes, they’re the new Ina and Angelo. More reasons to love our TFC subscription!) this year. Together with Boobay and Minnie Aguilar at the show line-up, you can score tickets, prices from AED299-399, by calling +971 56 147 7508. Get the Platinum passes and get a chance to take pictures with the stars, along with other prizes.
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Mamma Mia The Smash Hit Musical
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There’s nothing like watching a live musical production and singing along to its infectious tunes. Back in 1999, ABBA’s hits were turned into a West End/Broadway musical. Join this timeless storytelling of a woman’s quest in finding her real father, in the night of her wedding day, bringing three men from her mother’s past back to Greece, which they visited 20 years ago. In a play written by English playwright Catherine Johnson and composed by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, remade into an equally-successful film starring Meryl Streep and Colin Firth, catch this 9th longest running Broadway musical of all time. Reminisce Abba’s timeless hits, like “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia” as “Mamma Mia – The Smash Hit Musical” International Tour invades Dubai from 2-10 January. Score tickets on Platinumlist, with prices ranging from AED195-1295. Whether you love watching Broadway musicals, or you’ve seen the film, Mamma Mia will surely capture your heart.
SCRAPBOOK
RUSSELL D. SEVIDAL Riyadh, Saudi Arabia I got into photography as a hobby in 2011 to keep me from getting homesick here in Riyadh. At first photography was a bit of struggle; learning the techniques and proper handling of my camera is not that easy, that’s why I joined the group “Cameraderie Photography Club International.” The association, founded by professional Filipino photographers here in Riyadh, helps me build on my photography knowledge and explore even more. Being adventurous has led me to landscape photography. I love exploring places and being close to nature. Photography is now my passion. I have grown from just a being hobbyist into a true-blue photography enthusiast. I want to shoot photos not to only express my talent but also to tell stories.
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SCRAPBOOK
EVARISTUS REYES Kuwait City, Kuwait I was born and raised in the province of Nueva Ecija and am currently working for one of major US military contractors in Kuwait, as Subcontracts Administrator since 2006. Last year, I served as the President of Pinoy Digital Photographers in Kuwait (PINDOT), the biggest Filipino photography group in the country. Aside from photography, I love travelling, watching movies and reading books
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GLOBETROTTER’S BLOG
View of Saint Peter cathedral and Bridge of Saint Angel, Rome
What the place is known for
Where to stay
Pizza, pasta, wine, culture, scenery and most of all, it’s the birthplace of famous designers gracing magazine covers all over the world.
In Rome, I stayed in Yes Hotel, across Termini station. In Florence, I rented an apartment and in Venice, I was bunked at the Carlton Grand Canal. If I can always afford to stay in a 5-star hotel, I would prefer the Baglioni chain of hotels, Boscolo, Four Seasons, Bulgari, Danieli or the Bauer hotel.
How to get there From Dubai, Emirates Airlines has a direct flight to most of the cities in Italy - whether you fancy arriving in Rome, Venice or Milan.
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Must do/must see I keep coming back to Italy as there are so many things to do and see, and sky is the limit. This time around, I did the Naples and Pompeii tour and I was left wondering what really happened during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that killed more than half of the population of Pompeii. I also did the Best of Tuscany Tour which takes you to Tuscany, Siena and San Gimignano where I had the best Gelato in the world by Dondoli and saw the famous wine lands of Chianti.
GLOBETROTTER’S BLOG
Aerial view on Siena Cathedral, Italy
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GLOBETROTTER’S BLOG
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GLOBETROTTER’S BLOG St. Peter’s Basilica until recently was considered largest Christian church in world
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GLOBETROTTER’S BLOG
The country’s best kept secrets Not your typical tourist haunts but highly recommended - the flea market in Fiesole, Firenze is amazing. The Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini in Rome is not just your typical Italian restaurant. You also get a glimpse of artisan work with their collection of statues in different sizes and styles. I just love to dine in there.
Do it like the natives I made sure I had a taste of every destination’s speciality.
How to dress Dress according to the weather and place. Do not wear something that shows a lot of skin if you’re visiting churches and cathedrals. Lastly, walking is fun, so make sure your shoes are good enough for long walks. Gate In San Gimignano
Detail of Pompeii site. The city of was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius
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GLOBETROTTER’S BLOG
San Gimignano
What to bring Honestly I do not call myself a light traveller. I always end up packing a lot of stuff (clothes and shoes) no matter how I trim down what to bring. I guess, I just love dressing up. However, during this season, make sure you have a woollen jacket, very comfy shoes at least 2 pairs and something you can use for the rain as the weather is very unpredictable.
What to avoid Wearing or exposing a lot of jewellery. Avoid being too fancy.
Trip budget I normally plan ahead of time. This is my secret for getting good deals. I treat myself in a fancy restaurant every first night at each destination. I usually have a budget of 3050 EUR per day for food alone. Everything is pre-paid including tours.
Other tips
Fiesole, Firenze flea market
Whoever said shopping in Italy is always expensive definitely doesn’t know the right places to shop. Italy has got loads of outlets most especially for luxury brands.
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PINOY PLANET
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PINOY PLANET Panoramic aerial view of Andorra la Vella, Andorra
Arlene De Ocampo Bathan Loria, La Massana, Ordino, Encamp and Canillo), the capital is Andorra La Vella, and they have their official flower which is the “Grandalla.� The official language is Catalan. We do not have presidents and kings; but we have a governor and his 28 official advisors. Our heads of state is the President of France Francois Hollande and the bishop of Spain, Joan Enric Vivesi Sicilia. The population is around 80,000 people. Filipinos are probably 2% of all inhabitants. As a country between mountains you have the feeling of not seeing the horizon. If you look to the left and to the right you will only see mountains. But if it were not for the mountains tourists probably would not come.
I have been living in Escaldes, Engordany, Principado de Andorra for 22 years now. I moved here when I was only 8 years old, along with my sisters and my parents. I know that the reason was always to have a better life. My mother had to come alone in the beginning, and after a while brought us one by one to Andorra. Tell us something about your host city/country? Andorra is a very small country located between the Pyrenees Mountains, which separate France and Spain. The country is called the Principality of Andorra, which is composed of seven parishes (Andorra La Vella, Les Escaldes, Sant Julia de
Andorra is famous among neighboring countries due to our thermal waters and ski slopes. It is place full of stories, different cultures and winter sports. What we love about this country is that when the big snowfall comes the landscape becomes completely white. Here the weather is always changing. From September to October is autumn, and always rains. From November to February is winter, our country is completely converted to a white country by the heavy snow that sometimes falls. From March to May is spring when flowers begin to open up and you realize that summer is coming soon!! Summer is my favorite of the four seasons. There are lots of beautiful places in Andorra. For people who like to go walking in the mountains, there are many charming places and viewpoints where you can see the best views of our country.
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PINOY PLANET
Grau Roig ski station on the Grandvalira ski resort
La VallD’Incles for example. Here you can walk and enjoy the scenery they offer. There are many lakes where you can fish or swim even though the water is a bit cold. We have many hiking trails in Ordino and even in GrauRoig – these are two of the most beautiful parishes in Andorra. We have a chapel that is located in Canillo, which is called The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Meritxell (the country’s patron), is the oldest we have. I believe it was restored in the 17th century and was destroyed in 1972. Then a sanctuary adjacent to a church chapel was built by the architect Ricard Bofill. It pays homage to the Virgin every September 8, when the whole country gathers in one place.
Tell us about your life there. I’m a sales consultant at a jewelry shop named lluna Pena. It is a shop where you can find unique and different pieces of jewelry. We have a quiet life here. We work hard and the important thing is that I have my family with me. That’s what’s makes me enjoy being in a different country. I love spending time with my family. On days off, together with my husband and my daughter, we go visiting parks and places we have yet to discover. I
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also love reading scary books and romance and enjoy a good meal - whether Japanese, Italian or Mediterranean food. I love Caldea is located in Escaldes – Engordany, the only place where you can enjoy the hot springs. But what I don’t like is being in a small country where you can only see the mountains around you – somehow, you feel locked.
Is there a Filipino community there? There are about 800 Filipinos residing in Andorra, so we make up about 2% of the population. We have a Filipino community organization called FILAND and the current president is also Batangueño. We always celebrate national holidays like Christmas together and organize raffles and also help those who are in need back home. Our last project was to help victims of typhoon Yolanda. Though, I don’t have the chance to participate in a lot of Filipino activities as my lack of practice to speak Tagalog, since I grew up here, deprives me a little. Anyhow, I have my husband who is Filipino and we understand each other in a unique way by speaking a mixture of Tagalog and Spanish.
PINOY PLANET
View of streets with shops in Andorra la Vella
Ancient romanic bridge at la Margineda, Andorra
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PINOY PLANET View of the balneary of Caldea on December 10, 2011 in Escaldes, Andorra, designed by the architect Jean-Michel Ruols in 1994
Cityscape of footbridge and buildings at night. Andorra
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Residence houses at Pyrenees mountains. Andorra la Vella, Andorra
PINOY PLANET
Filipinos have a good image in Andorra because they see us as hardworking people, confident, responsible and highly responsive to the needs of companies who hire. The only difficulty we have is the language – since the official language here is Catalan and not Spanish.
What cultural practices/behaviors have you acquired from your host country? I have a mixture of different cultures in me. I love learning Filipino culture because I didn’t have an opportunity to be immersed in it. I like the freedom in this country, but I also like the education of youth in the Philippines. I don’t define myself as Filipino or Andorranian. I guess, I’m ‘undefined.’
Romanesque church of St. Cristopher, Andorra, UNESCO World Heritage Site - The cultural landscape of Madriu-Perafita-Cla ror Valley
When I return to my home country, I love people watching, especially their reactions, their words, their ways of dealing with adults and even how they treat you when you walk into a store and smile even when things go bad. It is completely different from here. It is complicated to implement that mindset here since cultures are quite opposite.
Your message/greeting to Filipinos across the globe –
Flor Grandalla
Being an OF is not easy, being in different place; different people will always cause confusion or sadness. The sacrifice of leaving your family behind not is in vain, however, as we did this for them to have a better future. We were born with the blood of a fighter! So fight for those dreams, you have to make them a reality!
Estany Primer - one of the three lakes of Tristaina (Estanys de Tristaina) in Andorra near the Ordino-Arcalis ski resort in the spring
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FASHION Allover print sleeveless dress (used as a top) by Jeffrey Rogador; white tulle skirt by Boo Malisi; shoes by Nereku
Fairgro PHOTOGRAPHER: HERSON NEBAYA STYLIST: ARGIE SALANGO MAKE-UP ARTIST: DIANE LORENZANA HAIRSTYLIST: MONG AMADO MODEL: KELSEY MERRITT STYLING ASSOCIATE: ALFY ALMONTE PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: MARK OCAPAN SHOT ON LOCATION - FUN RANCH, PASIG
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FASHION
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FASHION
Allover print neoprene sweatshirt and pleated metallic red sheen skirt all by Jeffrey Rogador; shoes by Nereku
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FASHION
White mesh overalls by Porfi Medina; blue denim catsuit by Alfy Almonte; drop earrings by Christopher Munar; shoes by Nereku
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FASHION Barong top and skirt with embroidery details by Sidney Perez Sio; drop earrings by Christopher Munar; shoes by Nereku
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FASHION
Oversized blue neoprene top with front flower embellishment and wide hemmed printed pants by Arnold Galang; Drop earrings by Christpher Munar; shoes by Nereku
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FASHION Red neoprene top by Jeffrey Rogador; red snakeskin trumpet skirt by Porfi Medina; shoes by Nereku
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FASHION
Oversized printed neoprene top, cropped jacket and shorts by Arnold Galang; shoes by Nereku
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FASHION Abstract print oversized neoprene top by Arnold Galang; skirt in blue leather snakeskin by Jeffrey Rogador; shoes by Nereku
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FASHION
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REAL STYLE. REAL PEOPLE. We’ve scoured the internet to bring you the best looks this season from Filipino style enthusiasts from all over the globe! ‘Tis the season to be edgy, and our fashionistas are living it up in some pretty unexpected looks for the cold season
Stylist and contributing fashion editor Andre Judd of Avantgardien.tumblr.com does rubber and neoprene with such ease. Photos by Anton Aguila.
Donning what seems to be the season’s ‘it fabric’ Karl Philip Leuterio shows us a different take on neoprene. Follow this minimalist’s style adventures at Inkarlcerating.com
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REAL STYLE. REAL PEOPLE.
When he says statement bag, he means it. Yen Salamoding of styleyendustry.tumblr.com wears his heart on his sleeve.
For fashion blogger extraordinaire Camille Co, it will always be – edgy with a side of femininity. Follow her at itscamilleco.com.
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REAL STYLE. REAL PEOPLE.
Canada’s Marc Bueno of thebuenofashionisto. com steers clear from the typical male staples in this cold weather ensemble.
Jan Javier of Canada shows us his take on layering for the season. Check him out at janjvr.tumblr.com
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REAL STYLE. REAL PEOPLE.
A kimono skater dress and a cape blazer for thelookbureau.com’s pretty Faith Rodrigues spells chic effortless style
Abu Dhabi’s Butch Cervantes (lookbook.nu/fashionwhoreffic) always shows-off his playful side through his fashion pairings.
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IT’S WHAT I DO
It’s what I do
FILIPINO PROGRESS AND DIVERSITY AT THE WORK PLACE
MIA CACHERO Business Development Director Gulf Publishing, Dubai I work as a business development director for Food and Travel Arabia. My job as a director can be very stressful, with monthly sales targets that I need to achieve, weekly sales reports, having to explore creative ideas to offer clients and of course, to say the least, one-on-one meetings with the owners of the company. However, it is also very rewarding and uplifting especially after finishing another month’s issue of the magazine and knowing that I have contributed something to the company and that I have achieved my sales targets. My typical work week routine comprise of meetings with advertisers – hotels, tourist board authorities and advertising agencies; attending hotel events; and traveling to other GCC
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countries to meet with potential clients and present the magazine. Being in this industry gives me so many opportunities such as meeting interesting people and building relationships with them, career growth and learning experiences. I started as a client servicing agent for Gulf News back in 2005 and climbed up to account group manager in 2009. The road leading to where I am now was far from easy, but every tiny bit of experience, good or bad, is worth it. To my fellow Filipinos out there who are aspiring to achieve their goals, just remember - hard work and dedication. Whatever it is that you are tasked to do, always give it your best! Confidence, in this day and age, is very important especially in an environment of mixed cultures, with different points of view. You need to be able to speak up and do not be afraid to voice your opinions or ask for what you think you deserve. Finally, be grateful to those people who have helped you. Be grateful to HIM and believe that HE will guide you to through.
IT’S WHAT I DO
LUISA SARSONAS Application Engineer Corodex Industries, Dubai I work as an Application Engineer for Corodex Industries. My profession has allowed me to work with various different technologies and environments while making the world better for our future generations. Somehow, I can say that I have a bond with the environment. Choosing a path least travelled especially for a lady in a male-dominated field is very challenging. As a woman, especially in the Middle East, sometimes you have to work harder to prove yourself. However, once you have proven that you are knowledgeable and hardworking, as a woman you may even have some advantages over men and this is what I like in my job. My typical day consists of meeting with people and getting updates on existing projects specifically related to Odour Control System. Some days I need to go to the site and do some site survey in order to have a proper and appropriate design. Considering the weather here in Dubai during summer, it could get tough. I would say that it’s not a fancy task - looking into wastewater treatment with all the waste and malodorous smells. But there is such a joy in my heart knowing that I am designing a system that will treat all that waste and convert it into useful resources. Moreover, controlling and preventing pollution are the main goals of my job. There are also days where I will be staying in my cubicle doing calculations to design biological reactors used in the wastewater treatment plant.
It’s what I do
FILIPINO PROGRESS AND DIVERSITY AT THE WORK PLACE
After a hard day’s work, I always make sure that fitness is always on my list. I am into sports such as, running, swimming and dragon boat. Belonging in a group of like-minded individuals who are passionate in sports will encourage you not only to do sports but to make it an integral part of your life. I have always believed that everything can seem difficult at first; however, having the faith to step out of your comfort zone and not giving up can make it easier and makes you get better at it. It challenges me to learn something new every day, be it technical or leadership skills, such as decision-making, problem solving, communication and time management skills. Working in the engineering field makes me realize that life is about learning and realizing that anything is possible if you have faith and put your mind to it. Once you realize that, everything else will follow. You will have courage to take the step towards your dream. On the one hand, mistakes and failures are inevitable, just part of being human, but learning from mistakes align yourself with your goals. There is a proverb that says sometimes the wind is against you, but remember, although you cannot change the wind, you can adjust your sail and as long as you persist you will succeed.
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IT’S WHAT I DO
It’s what I do
FILIPINO PROGRESS AND DIVERSITY AT THE WORK PLACE
ARNOLD MARQUEZ BAILING Art Director for Grey Group Riyadh As an art director, I give life to creative concepts and develop the look and feel of the “big idea” for broadcast, print and online media applications. My work is far beyond design, as part of my role is also to inspire the team, mentor designers, interns and actively participate in building strong bonding between the creatives in our agency. Work is fun. I get to meet lots of people, from clients, photographers, models, suppliers, artists and the likes. No dress codes. My work environment is like a big playground where everyone is young at heart. There is no typical day at work. It always varies, depending on the project or phase of the project were in. But as the day goes by, bunch of work comes in. Life in an advertising agency is way different than life in other industries. It is not the usual 9 to 6
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job. There is no idle time. It’s work and fun at the same time. You have to learn how to juggle between projects, and between clients while doing the daily nurturing of your creative side. Having worked on the same office environment for almost 12 years now has taught me to love my job. I have learned good work ethic, patience and the value of hard work. Being a Filipino, it gives me great pride to share our culture, and show how a Filipino worker is honest, humble, responsible, hardworking and has the ability to listen, think and adapt to any situation. To our fellow OFs, keep the passion burning! Never stop dreaming. Don’t be afraid to take the risk. Remember that those who risk can possibly find out how far they can go.
SPIRITUALITY
By BO SANCHEZ
MY little boy wanted a pet dog. But my wife doesn’t like dogs. So we gave him a potted plant instead. I know. We sound cruel, but that’s not true. We even disinfect the torture chambers in our basement regularly with Lysol. “You need to learn responsibility,” my wife told my son. “If you take care of your potted plant, we’ll know if you can take care of a pet dog.” The logic was superb. But for some reason, my son wasn’t too happy. My wife pinched me, indicating that it was now my turn to tell my son something. Anything. I’m adept in the language of pinchywoo. It’s an ancient dialect where people spoke to each other by pinching. In pinchywoo language, my wife wanted me to tell my son that he had to accept the fact that he’ll be the only boy in the entire galaxy that’ll have a potted plant for a pet. Isn’t that cool?
I had to think of something, fast. And eureka, my brilliant mind remembered a profound philosophical insight from an ancient source. I quoted Barney, the purple dinosaur. “Just imagine, just imagine!” I pointed to the plant and said, “Imagine this is a dog. Let’s give him a name. I suggest Ruff.” My son’s jaw dropped. “Ruff is unique,” I went on. “He doesn’t bark. He doesn’t eat. He doesn’t poop. He doesn’t walk. He doesn’t lick your face with saliva…” “Uh…maybe because it’s not a dog?” my son interrupted my creativity. “Shhh. Don’t say that,” I whispered. “The plant may hear you…” “I don’t get it,” my son said. “The plant has to think it’s a dog too.” His eyes rolled up to the ceiling. “Son, you only
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have to do one thing. You have to water it, everyday.” “Sure, Dad,” my son intoned with the great excitement and enthusiasm and zest of a… potted plant. Soon, he forgot about watering his pet plant. He found it boring. Hmm, I wonder why. And in a few weeks, Ruff the potted plant died. We didn’t bury him. After all, it wasn’t really a dog.
Water Your Relationships with Love Do you want to have happy relationships? Your relationships are just like plants. You need to water them daily or they die. For relationships, their water is love. If you don’t give your relationships enough time, or attention, or respect, or kindness— all of which are expressions of love—they too will die.
SPIRITUALITY
Happy relationships don’t just happen. You make them happen. Today, I want to share with you 4 powerful ways of creating happy relationships in your life.
1) Create Patterns of Connection My wife and I set aside Tuesday night for our weekly date night. Nothing touches that sacred time. Unless the Pope Francis calls me up to ask for my opinion on some Theological issue. Or President Obama requests for a videoconference with me on certain world issues he needs clarity on. This is what “Create Patterns” means. I don’t accept any speaking engagement or place any of my meetings on Tuesday nights. This isn’t easy. I lead nine nonprofit organizations, three of which are international. I also run a few small businesses. For over ten years now, my wife and I have been faithful to our Tuesday nights. And for my kids? On Monday evenings, I have a yummy dinner with my eldest son Bene. And over ramen, we talk about life and how to conquer the world. For my youngest son Francis, we have Monday lunch together-also Ramen. (Yes, both of them love that meat-based soup. I’m semi-veg, so I can’t eat that thing - so I eat whatever grass is growing around the resto.) We just talk about really serious stuff, such as the next project of Phineas and Ferb. Patterns don’t just happen. I make them happen regularly—or they don’t happen at all. But creating Patterns of Connection isn’t enough. You need to determine the quality of these connections…
2) Be Kind
- To give affirmation. - To be gentle. - To serve in the little things. - To smile and delight when you see them. - To encourage. Show kindness every day! The next principle is equally important…
3) Put Top Priority on People over Money Friends, there are some things more important than money. As I write this, there are many rich people who are breathing their last on their death bed, surrounded by their millions, but their heart is hungry for love—and they find none. Question: Does this mean that you can’t be wealthy?
4) Make Others Successful You can aspire to become a millionaire. But there’s something more important than becoming a millionaire: To become a millionaire-maker. If people are more important than money, you don’t want to be rich alone. You can’t. It’s against your identity and your core values. So you take others with you in this journey towards true wealth. You take your partners, your employees, your friends, and your family. You want to share your wealth. This is the greatest success you can achieve: When you help others become successful. Go! From my family to yours, have a merry, love-filled Christmas!
inspirational learning event, which is named after the Greek word kerygma, meaning proclamation of the Gospel. Founded by Bro. Bo in 2007, Kerygma Conference is now on its eighth year. Bro. Bo also founded The Feast, a prayer gathering he leads every Sunday at the Philippine International Convention Center, which includes a celebration of the Holy Mass. A Grand Feast caps every Kerygma Conference. Centered on the theme Lifted High, Kerygma Conference 2014 was held at the Philippine Convention Center, November 20-21, 2014, at the SMX Convention Center, November 22, 2014, and at the Mall of Asia Arena, November 23, 2014. Proceeds of the Kerygma Conference go to the various outreach programs of the Light of Jesus Family and Kerygma Conference that minister to orphans, street children,pregnant women in crisis, victims of sexual abuse, those in prison, abandoned elderly, and those who need counselling. Kerygma Conference is produced and mounted by Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television Foundation. Managing the event is the Executive Committee, composed of the following: Hermie Morelos, president, SVRTV and Shepherd’s Voice Publication;Randy Borromeo, vice-president and chairman, Kerygma Conference 2014;Chelle Crisanto, administrator and coordinator for External Affairs; Rowena Cequena, vice president for Corporate Services; George Gabriel, creative and program director;Anthony Rodriguez, events head; Arun Gogna, Feast Builder for Alabang Feasts; Obet Cabrillas, consultant for Youth Missions and Feast Builder for Valle Verde and Manila. For details, call 632-725-9999 loc. 2013, or log on to www.svrtv.com
I’m talking about old-fashioned kindness! - To speak with respect.
KERYGMA CONFERENCE 2014
- To be courteous.
With the Light of Jesus Family, the faith community he founded in 1980, lay preacher Bro. BoSanchez mounts the annual Kerygma Conference, an
- To show affection. (Hugs.)
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BAYANIHAN CORNER
By AMBASSADOR GRACE RELUCIO-PRINCESA
It’s my last Christmas in the UAE. I’m glad that divine inspiration allowed me to champion this financial literacy movement. It will be part of my gift and legacy to our beloved compatriots here and around the world, in order for them and us to maximize the gains and minimize the pains of overseas work. Over the past four decades, the labor diaspora of Filipinos has been massive and consistent. According to the December 2012 stock estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, there are approximately 10.5 million Overseas Filipinos composed of 4.93 million permanent residents, 4.22 temporary workers and 1.34 irregular migrants. The Gulf countries account for 67 percent of the outflow of OFWs. As of 2012, Saudi Arabia leads in the top ten destinations of OFWs, which includes five Gulf countries (Aside from Saudi Arabia, these are U.A.E., Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain), four are in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia) and with Italy, being the only non-Asian country.
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Meanwhile, International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s “Country Migration Report: The Philippines 2014” notes that Filipino migrants originate mostly from Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces (except for Pangasinan, Cebu and Maguindanao) and most of the migrants from the provinces of Mindanao are female domestic workers, directed to Malaysia and the Gulf countries. Over 70 per cent of OFWs are between 25 and 44 years of age. Women outnumber men in the annual outflow, at an average ranging from 55–60 per cent, and they tend to be younger. OFWs who are over 40 are mostly men. World Bank data for 2012 show that the Philippines, with remittances reaching US$24 billion, is the third-largest recipient
of migrant remittances globally, behind India and China. Remittances are estimated to contribute between 8 and 10 percent of GDP, making overseas employment among the most important sources of the Philippines’ export earnings. However, after more than 40 years of overseas migration, there is mixed to minimal evidence to indicate that it has contributed to the development at the micro level, particularly at the level of the community and the family. Lack of savings and investment among migrants, social cost of migration on the families, adverse impact on agriculture are just some of the issues and concerns at the community and family levels, according to studies.
BAYANIHAN CORNER
Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives, with the assistance from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), initiated projects that could mobilize migrant investment towards local economic development and one of these is the Pinoy Worldwide Initiative for Investment Savings and Entrepreneurship (Pinoy WISE) which is the financial education program of Atikha. Pinoy WISE does not only provide financial education but it also assists the OFs and their families to address family and other social issues that cause family estrangement, and links the OFs and their families to business opportunities, business advisory services, microfinance, etc. Since then, Pinoy WISE became a movement and was transformed as a network of national and local government units, migrant and family organizations, NGOs, cooperatives, financial institutions and private sector that promotes financial education, investment and entrepreneurship to ensure that migration will contribute to the development of the Overseas Filipinos, their families and communities. Aside from Atikha, Pinoy WISE convenors include the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the Department of Agriculture. On 23 November 2012, Pinoy WISE International was launched at the Abu Dhabi National Theater with yours truly as one of its champions. It was able to reach out to more than 5,000 overseas Filipinos. It was participated in by the Department of Agriculture, Union of Local Authorities
of the Philippines (ULAP), Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, six provincial local governments, agri-based cooperatives, government financial institutions and NGOs. Since then, almost 2,000 OFWs have attended the financial literacy program conducted both in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
ABOUT THE PINOY WISE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE With the theme “Engaging Overseas Filipinos in Migration and Development Initiatives,” the Pinoy WISE International Conference held on 7-8 December 2014 in Abu Dhabi aimed to provide a forum for Filipinos, whether individuals or organizations and associations, to discuss how overseas migration could have a deeper and beneficial impact at the community and family levels. The conference also aimed to mobilize overseas Filipinos and their families on both sides of migration corridor (sending province and receiving country) to save and invest to enable successful reintegration. Pinoy WISE convenors and partner government agencies (DFA, DOLE, OWWA, DILG, DA and ULAP), select Local Government Units (LGUs), other NGOs, Filipino community organizations in the Middle East and elsewhere will be invited to be speakers and/or participants during the international conference. The first day of the summit featured a keynote speech from the head of United
Nations here in the UAE , Sayed Aqa. He spoke about the nexus of migration to development. It also featured a panel discussion that highlighted the best practices of overseas Filipinos and their groups as well individual champions in the Philippines. The participants then attended any of the five breakout sessions/ workshops tackling various relevant topics. The second day had presentations of select representatives from the five sessions/ workshops of the previous day, as well as additional workshops and plenary session to discuss the ways forward. Almost 300 were involved in this pioneering international conference which brought together champions of the migration and development discourse. A National Organizing Committee (NOC) among Filipino community leaders under the Bayanihan Council, an umbrella organization of all Filipino organizations registered with the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., was formed to prepare for the conduct of the event. If you are interested to know more about this movement, contact Bayanihan Council/ NOC representatives Ms. Vivian Napeñas (Email: almavvn@ yahoo.com; mobile no: +971507713810) Engr. Antonio Morales (Email: tmorales@ flowserve.com; mobile no: +971508130297) A blessed Christmas and Prosperous New Year to us all.
Peaceful
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MONEY
Starting your Married Life by francisco J. colayco
A
As we discussed in a previous a r t i c l e , engaged couples must c o m m i t to discuss money matters regularly when they are married. At this day and age, couples that get married are usually old enough to have their own careers and individual lifestyles. So, here you are now, married but probably still in the honeymoon stage with some money from wedding gifts so it does not seem to be important to start talking financial planning together. You think it will
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destroy the romance and besides, you have the rest of your life to talk about it. Okay but without discussing the details, I recommend that each of you already keep your own notebook on the amounts you spend daily. This way you will have a basis for making your budgets when you are ready to sit down and talk. As much as possible, this should not take more than two-three months after you are married. Remember that you both agreed before the wedding on your views about money, the lifestyle that you want together and who will be responsible for keeping track of the money. Now is the time to settle down and join your finances. You have to plan carefully and communicate clearly as you discuss
your financial goals which will have a lasting impact on your future.
Where are you financially? Goal setting is the most important part of managing your money. Yet, this is the most neglected part. People simply assume that whatever they need in the future, they will just work hard to earn what they need. As a start, couples must define three “wealth basket� to fill up in the short, medium and long term: 1) The protection basket to cover life, health and income protection measures; 2) The capital accumulation basket to cover emergency needs, build up of education funds, build up of life goals like
MONEY
owning a home, cars and others related to your chosen lifestyle; and 3) The retirement basket to cover all your needs when retired, from lifestyle to health to maintenance of your desired social and community status. Start by making your Joint Statement of Assets & Liabilities. You can find the details of this in the Pera Palaguin Workbook available at bookstores. Make a list of your short-term goals (e.g., car, your own condo) and long-term goals (e.g., children, their education, your retirement). Number your goals according to their importance to you. Focus on the three topmost priorities and compute how much you need to reach your goals.
Make your Budget Then make your budget, which should list all of your income and expenses over a certain time period, at least monthly and annually. The spouse who agreed to be in charge of managing the budget should develop a record-keeping system. If you are going to take turns, make sure that you both understand the system so that both of you can easily locate important documents. List and total all your sources of income (e.g., salaries, allowances interest, dividends). Then, list your expenses. This is where the list you started immediately upon getting married will help you. Total your expenses and compare the two totals of your income and expenses. If you spend more than you earn, review your expenses and see where you can cut down on your spending. While you can think of earning more income, I am sure that you have not yet really identified your Needs and Wants as a married couple at this time. You will
surely be able to reduce your expenses if you put your collective effort into it.
Separate or joint Bank accounts? You will both have to decide whether to combine your bank accounts or keep them separate. A joint account makes it easier for record keeping and reduces the required bank maintaining balance. It requires that you both have the discipline to tell each other every time either of you deposits or withdraws from the account. If you might end up fighting because of penalties due to overdrawn accounts, it might be better to maintain separate accounts. A word of advice to the new bride; decide on one permanent signature as a married woman. Choose a short signature so that you do not end up wanting to change it in later years when you might get tired having to sign more checks and documents. Changing signatures later might require too signature cards to change in addition to forgetting which documents/cards had which signature.
Credit cards If you have a good credit rating individually, it is better to have a separate credit card for each of you so that if one of you ends up with poor credit, it will not negatively affect the credit rating of the other. A joint credit card makes both of you responsible for 100 percent of the credit card debt. In the Philippines, credit card companies usually require a co-guarantor. Thus, more often than not, spouses have joint accounts.
Right kind of Insurance
Check your health insurance coverage. If each of you has separate health coverage, analyze which one gives you better coverage versus the premium paid. Also, the family rate for such insurance usually has a lower premium than individual insurance. If you are blessed to immediately have a car or even two cars and/or a house, look into the possibility of one insurance company covering you at a discount.
Assets and Investments If either of you already have some assets like a car or even real estate and investments like fixed-income securities, equities, mutual funds, pension plans, all those should be in your Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Talk about how you will make these investments grow and how much you can add to it regularly. Consult with a financial adviser you can trust; preferably one who is not selling you any particular product. Find out more by availing of our complete set of books at Php 999 instead of its’ regular price of Php 1,420. Just call 6373731/41 or email books@colaycofoundation.com. Colayco Foundation also conducts regular seminars and workshops that can help you and your spouse learn more about managing your finances. Check our calendar by visiting our website at www.colaycofoundation. com or SMS 0917-8632131. Catch Pera Mo, Palaguin Mo on DZXL 558 every Monday from 11am to 12nn. May you have a happy, blessed, peaceful and prosperous 2007!
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LAW
ATTY. BARNEY ALMAZAR
In this issue, Atty. Barney Almazar will compare the two types of employment contracts and highlight the important distinctions including the treatment of statutory end of service gratuity entitlement as well as the consequences of termination and resignation. The labor laws in the United Arab Emirates are primarily governed by the Federal Law No 8 (otherwise known as the Labor Code) and ministerial resolutions issued by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. According to Article 38 of the Labor Code, the employment contract maybe for a limited or unlimited term. The most common type of contracts used by employers is those with unlimited term. However, this does not mean that unlimited contracts are always more advantageous than limited contracts.
Limited Term Contracts A limited term contract has a fixed duration of employment which both the employee and employer must observe. According to Article 38, the term shall not exceed 4 years and it may be renewed for an equal or shorter term. Renewal is not guaranteed as it will require the mutual consent of the parties.
Unlimited Term Contracts An unlimited or indefinite term contract is open-ended and will continue to be operative until terminated. According to
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Article 39, the employment contract shall, from its inception, be considered as an unlimited term contract if: it is not written; it is concluded for unlimited period; it was originally written and concluded for a limited term but both parties, without a written agreement between them, continued to perform it after its expiry; or it was originally concluded for the performance of a specific work that had no limited duration or that is recurrent by nature, but the contract continued after completion of that specific work.
LAW
Termination by Employer Limited contract automatically expires upon the arrival of the specified end date unless renewed by the parties. When the contract is renewed, the renewal shall be deemed an extension of the original term and shall be added thereto when computing the years of service. The employer is entitled to terminate a limited contract prior to its expiration if the employee is under probationary period or has violated Article 88 (working for another company while on annual or sick leave) or Article 120 (the ten exhaustive grounds for dismissing an employee without notice). In case of violation of Article 88 or Article 120, the employee may face a 1-year or permanent ban for violating the imperative provisions of the Labor Code. If the early termination of the limited contract is initiated by the employer for any other reasons, the employee must be compensated his aggregate wage due for a period of 3 months or the remaining period of the contract, whichever is lesser. On the other hand, an unlimited contract may be terminated by the employer at any time following its conclusion by giving the employee a notice in writing at least 30 days prior to the intended date of termination. For day-paid laborers, the notice period shall be as follows: One week: if the laborer is employed for more than 6 months but less than 1 year Two weeks: if the laborer is employed for not less than 1 year One month: if the laborer is employed for not less than 5 years. If the employer disregards to serve or reduces the notice period, he shall pay his employee “compensation in lieu of notice” equal to the wage in respect of the entire or reduced notice period.
In the same manner as limited contracts, the employer may terminate an unlimited contract without notice if the employee is on probation or violates Article 88 or Article 120.
Resignation An employee under a limited contract can terminate his employment prior to the expiry of the contract without incurring any penalties if resignation is under Article 121 which provides the 2 instances where the employee is justified to abandon his work: if the employer fails to honor his obligations towards the employee, as provided for in the employment contract or in the Labor Code if the employee is assaulted by the employer of the employer’s legal representative. If the early termination of a limited contract is not based on Article 121, the employee shall be required to compensate the employer for damages which shall not exceed half a month wage for three months or for the remaining period of the contract, whichever is lesser. The employee will automatically get a 6-month employment ban. If requested by the employer, a 1-year ban may be imposed by the Ministry of Labor. Unlimited contract may be terminated by the employee without notice if any of the 2 grounds specified in Article 121 exists. Otherwise, the resigning employee is required to give a 30-day notice (or such notice period stated in the contract). If the employee disregards to serve or reduces the notice period, he shall pay his employer compensation in lieu of notice. If the period of employment prior to resignation is less than 2 years, a 6-month ban will be imposed. If the employee did not give his termination notice or left his employment before the lapse of the 30-day notice period, the employer may request the Ministry of Labor to impose a 1-year ban.
End of Service Gratuity – Termination by Employer An employee, whether under limited or unlimited contract who has completed one year or more of continuous service is entitled to gratuity calculated as follows: 21 day’s basic pay for each of the first 5 years of service 30 day’s basic pay for each additional year up to a maximum of 2 years’ basic pay. An employee who is terminated while on probation or due to violation of Article 88 or Article 120 is not entitled to end of service benefits.
End of Service Gratuity – Resignation An employee under an unlimited contract who resigns (where the ground is not under Article 121) is entitled to gratuity computed as follows: continuous service of not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years: 7 days’ basic pay for each of the first 3 years continuous service exceeding 3 years up to 5 years: 14 days’ basic pay for each year continuous service exceeding 5 years: 30 days’ basic pay for each additional year up to a maximum of 2 years’ basic pay. An employee under limited contract who resigns (where the ground is not under Article 121) is not entitled to end of service benefits if the years of service is less than 5 years. Otherwise, the computation of gratuity is similar to unlimited contract. When negotiating employment contracts, employees must not only take a look at the net pay but also consider their career plans and intended length of service with their potential employers in order to maximize employment benefits and avoid labor bans.
ILLUSTRADO 85
ON THE PROWL, IN THE KNOW
By Tracy Ley - Dubai Following
the complexion.
regular use of lemons – both internally as part of the diet and externally on the skin – can
up from the November
- Apples: Vitamin C found in these fruit, helps
help keep your skin healthy and free from
issue on how
to firm and tone the skin. It prevents free-
scars. You could also use lemons for skin
to get fit, I
radical damage, protects your skin cells and
problems like acne, blackheads, etc.
want to share
delays signs of ageing. - Tomatoes: Tomatoes have an antioxidant
what fruits and vegetables
- Beets: They are a great source of
called lycopene which acts as a sunscreen
can give you
anthocyanins – a powerful antioxidant that
from within and has anti-ageing properties
that
reduces inflammation and slows down the
too. Tomatoes are acidic in nature and
glowing skin.
ageing process and helps prevent wrinkles.
applying their pulp to the pimple causes the
Most women
- Carrots: For the ultimate anti-ageing,
(and some men) go to great lengths to
wrinkle-fighting boost, add vegetables high
make sure that their skin glows and they
in vitamin C like carrots in your diet which can
- Spinach: Spinach is loaded with antioxidants
look attractive. However, beauty is skin deep
protect and improve your skin. They are high
which can help reduce the onset of wrinkles
and what you eat determines how you look.
in beta carotene which the body converts
making it a good anti-ageing product. It also
A diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins is
to vitamin A. Vitamin A is one of the most
strengthens your skin tissue and has anti-
considered good for your skin. But, if you are
important nutrients for healthy skin. You can
inflammatory properties which helps flush
confused as to what food items you should
also make these anti-ageing potions using
out the toxins.
eat, we give you a list of 10 foods that can
veggies.
healthy
skin to dry and the pores of the skin in the region get tightened.
- Amla: The extract of amla is rich in Vitamin
make you more beautiful from within: - Strawberries: Mashed strawberries mixed
A. This vitamin is essential in collagen
- Sweet potatoes: They contain vitamin A
with honey, avocados or yoghurt can bring
production, a compound that keeps the
which is anti-inflammatory and helps fight off
a healthy radiance to the skin. But you
skin looking young and elastic. Amla when
acne-causing bacteria. It also has vitamin C
can also use the juicy red fruit to whiten
consumed on an empty stomach has
which helps prevent acne and heals it if you
teeth. Strawberries contain malic acid, a
properties that slow down the degradation
already have it
natural whitening agent. (You can also mix
of collagen and helps the body produce
blueberries, raspberry and strawberry for a
more.
- Pumpkin seeds: It is packed with zinc, an
delicious smoothie) Follow Tracy – www.misstracyley12.blogspot.
essential in the creation of new skin cells and an aid in protein synthesis and collagen
- Lemons: Lemons are rich in vitamin C,
formation. It controls the production of oil in
which plays an important role in the synthesis
the skin and adds colour and brightness to
of collagen in the body. For this reason, the
com / Instagram: mstracyleydxb
By Ion Gonzaga - Dubai There are no colorful street lights, lanterns
and reserve a corner at home to setup the
is replaced by the sacrifice to stay up late to
and decorations, but Christmas trees at the
Christmas tree.
finish the mass after a stressful day at work. Also, there is no genuine puto bumbong and
malls and hotels in Dubai seem like they are competing for a coveted record of the biggest,
Now we’re nearing Christmas, Simbang gabi
tallest and brightest tree.
is here for the religious. But unlike in the
tsokolate outside the church.
Philippines, the mass is held around 8PM or
In Dubai, hotel brunches and dinners,
Filipinos overseas are one of the most
9PM in the evening - because there are only
staycations, Santa appearances at some
excited people in the world when it comes
very few parishes in the country and most
theme parks and Western-style Christmas
to decorating for Christmas. As early as
Filipinos have to go early to work. The essence
souks are some popular ways to celebrate
September we deck the walls with lanterns
of sacrificing to wake up early in the morning
Christmas.
ILLUSTRADO 86
But Filipino expats won’t just
ON THE PROWL, IN THE KNOW settle for that. They have another idea of
Christmas shopping feel here. Actually if the
nothing ever replaces being in the Philippines
being festive. The sentimental Pinoy brings in
balikbayan box is your thing, you’ve already
during pasko.
more Christmas spirit and the feel of “being at
finished shopping by November. In lieu of
home” in parties. Preparing Noche Buena may
that, many godparents these days shop at
Follow Ion Gonzaga - boydubai.com or on
not be the same compared back home but it
Amazon and other online stores to get the
Twitter @ionGonzaga
will still be a feast. Exchange gifts, Christmas
gifts delivered to the Philippines instantly.
carols, upbeat and fun parlor games for young
And instead of cash-in-envelop, they send
and old are shoo-ins.
Paypal money to their dear godchildren, #NamamaskoPo.
Because nothing replaces being with the loved ones, and this season is still very much about
And who says we can’t be together in photos?
reunions, the party is not limited to those in
Thanks to picture collage apps we get to put
attendance. It’s a must that the webcam is
our celebration photos in one. The next day,
streaming live on Skype. Almost everyone has
we’re already sharing fun via Youtube videos of
their smart phones in hand. Since we can’t go
our parties on Twitter with #ChristmasInDubai
knocking at our old neighbor’s door, we poke
and more.
them and send greeting cards on Facebook. Instead of the traditional exchange of “handa”
Filipinos could be the most connected people
we post pictures of our foods on Instagram
on earth, come Christmas. We can definitely
to let the world know what’s on our table
strive to make our Christmas as merry as to
#kainanNa.
how we celebrate it back home. But, we will never get used to this. Never. Before we
How do we send gifts to our family and friends
close our eyes on Christmas Eve, a tear or even
back home? Well, there’s really no last minute
buckets of it may fall unexpectedly. Because
By Kristine Abante - Dubai See, I came from a family of OFs, my grandpa
The world is big and there are plenty of other
was working in Saudi for most of his life.
holiday destinations, beautiful places - Paris,
Some of my uncles also spent time in the
Rome, Istanbul, or some place with actual
middle east and my Dad was in Riyadh for a
snow. When I was younger I used to dream
year. So, I know about the word “homesick”
of going away, of White Christmases, big
since I was young, but I never really fully
New Year’s Eve countdown parties, but now,
understood the term, until I myself left
I want nothing more than to just sit at home
home.
with family or share beer and laugh with old friends in some dingy joint. It doesn’t matter
I cannot think of Christmas and not think of home. The mere mention of the word instantly triggers scenes in my mind of busy manila streets during the holidays, people rushing about, long lines at the grocery or taxi stands, decor everywhere, malls playing nonstop cheesy Christmas songs all day, office Christmas parties, kids in their best Christmas clothes, my grandma’s cooking,
Simbang
Gabi, Noche Buena, early Christmas mornings, and jolly party nights, and just generally happy people all around.
Having lived in Dubai for a little over 6 years
if Manila is crowded or filled with crooks at this
now, I would always be homesick during
time of the year. It doesn’t matter that our old
this time, when the weather is a bit colder,
house is cramped and the streets are dirty and
when people are out more, and even though
noisy 24-7. In fact, I wouldn’t even care if we
I’ve built a good support group of friends over
only have a bottle of coke and a slice of ham
the years, I still prefer going home during the
on the table. I’d still rather be at home. And
holidays. Sure the flight ticket is going to cost
at 3AM after the hype of Christmas Eve has
double or triple, yes people back home will
died down, and everyone has gone to bed, on
expect you to bring presents, and there’s no
a silent night my crazy year winds down and
escaping the annual reunions that would most
I sit in my old room thinking this is when and
likely drain your year’s savings, not to mention
where l feel the most blessed.
expose you to relatives who would always want to know why you’re still single, but at the
Have a blessed holiday everyone!
end of the day, the truth is I don’t care. I would still rather be home for Christmas.
Follow Kristine on www.band-aid-blues. blogspot.com
ILLUSTRADO 87
ON THE PROWL, IN THE KNOW
By Anna de Leon - Dubai Happy holidays, everyone! The party season
THE EYES
THE OUTFIT
has officially begun! With that come a lot of
The party season doesn’t mean you have to
Yes, I understand that you have to be uber glam
preparations. Some put together looks for
pile on the eye make-up. Make sure that you
for the parties but you have to be comfortable
each party that they intend to attend. So,
blend very well. If you are going for a smokey
too. Make sure that the dress you are wearing
allow me to give you some tips on how you can
eye, blend. You aren’t going for panda eyes.
isn’t too tight, too short, and too long. If you
truly be the belle of the ball.
Halloween is over. Opt for waterproof mascara
are bent on wearing your killer heels, there are
if you can.
foldable ballet flats that you can tuck in your purse if your feet start to ache from too much
THE BASE As most parties are during the night make sure
If you want drama and are looking at putting
that your foundation does not have an SPF as
on some false lashes for that added oomph,
this will result in a flashback making your face
don’t forget to measure and cut the falsies so
significantly whiter than the rest of your body.
that it fits your eyes perfectly. Make sure to
Late night partying and have work the
Follow Anna – annadeleonmuastylist.blogspot.
and bind them with a coat of mascara.
com
a pink bluish and a gloss. This will freshen up
THE LIPS
your look after a night of partying.
If you are thinking of sporting a bold lip, lining and filling the lips with the same shade as your
Spray on setting spray before you head out
lipstick is important. This will make the lip
the door. This will make your make up last the
color last longer.
ILLUSTRADO 88
Lastly and I always say... Don’t forget to smile.
curl your lashes before putting on the falsies following day? Don’t forget your concealer
entire evening.
dancing.
ON THE PROWL, IN THE KNOW
By Rian Miranda – Riyadh There are two ways of spreading light: to be the
made me feel self-conscious but my attention
to contribute to a charitable institution. I
candle or the mirror that reflects it.
instantly went to the lady in front of me
know you may want the same thing too. But
-Edith Wharton
strutting in a dress with colorful round prints,
how come I haven’t done it yet? My reasons
plus noticeable accessories to match her
were always the same: lack of time, money,
It’s that most wonderful time of the year
outfit. I shook my head, smiled, and thought
knowledge, and fear that I may be unable to
again. As soon as December comes, we can
about how we really can’t please everyone.
sustain it. But after a decade of wake-up calls and witnessing other people’s tragedies, I
all feel everyone’s mood shift to excitement as the most anticipated day of the month
With the same remark, it made me wonder
came to one life-changing epiphany - all we
approaches. Most people feel generous buying
about the true essence of a Christmas tree.
have is today. Every day we are given twenty-
trinkets and mementos as gifts to their love
I researched and I honestly found nothing
four hours to live, and if we really want to make
ones. But there is one thing that has always
profound to explain its meaning. Hence, allow
a difference we better make every moment
been part of our tradition: the Christmas tree.
me to share my own perspective. I know for
count. Christmas is a time of unselfishly
I know some of my fellow Filipinos began
many of our brothers and sisters around the
sharing our blessings, be it through material
decorating their Christmas trees as early as
world, Christmas is a time of sadness. Because
gifts or random acts of affection that don’t cost
mid-September. But what is the real meaning
it reminds them of their inadequacy to afford
a thing. Like the Christmas tree, be someone
of the Christmas tree?
presents, and a generous spread of entrees
that when people see you, they would feel
and desserts is just wishful thinking. To some,
happy and be reminded to gratefully share and
Should we always have one at home during
they are sad because their loved ones are far
infect others with the same sunshine.
Christmas? Do we really need it? Like the
from home for different reasons. So I finally
traditional stuffed turkey every Thanksgiving,
concluded my own query with this thought:
Let us all look at Christmas trees in a new way
Christmas trees have become so popular
we, as individuals, can become the Christmas
beginning this year. Let us all genuinely be
since the late 17th century in every nation,
tree. I don’t mean dressing green, red, and
merry and light up each person’s day we come
bringing so much enthusiasm to each home as
brown outfits with glitzy jewelries. I’m talking
across with not only this season but all year
the family eagerly decorates a plain tree with
about spreading more kindness and love with
through.
fancy balls, colorful stockings, candies, gifts,
a dazzling smile that would light up anyone’s
and flashing lights.
day.
Maligayang Pasko!
One time, while I was walking downtown
My parents have taught me the joy in giving
Follow Rian - Instagram: msrianmiranda,
Manila, in search of a novelty ingredient, two
for as long as I can remember. Hence, planting
Youtube: www.youtube.com/rianmiranda
middle-aged strangers behind me said, “She’s
a dream within me in wanting to give back to
dressed like a Christmas tree.” Their statement
the world in some ways. I’ve always aspired
ILLUSTRADO 89