ILLUSTRADO GO> ISSUE 4 > 05-06-16

ISSUE 04

05•06•16

Freedom # K A L AYA A N 2 01 6

Buhay Mo Yan

So take control!

Passion into Millions

We’ll show you how it’s done

Isang Bangka Tayo

How you and I can help make the Philippines better

You’re Not Special.

Get with the program.

EDITOR’S NOTE/ CONTENTS

ISSUE 04

5th • JUNE • 2016

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#Kalayaan2016 We’re celebrating Philippine Independence Day this month and here at Illustrado, we went beyond the context of national sovereignty to look at the other forms freedom, which for many of us simply means getting unstuck – from old baggage, bad habits, a lifestyle we hate, or from ingrained limitations.

So, don’t let me hold you any longer. Go, read, fly…

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LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Editor-in-Chief

PINOY-PROGRESSIVE

KEEPING UP WITH THE CON GEN: MUSINGS ON INDEPENDENCE >4 TAKING CONTROL: DON’T ROT IN LIFE’S RUTS >6 16 HABITS PINOYS NEED TO GET RID OFF >10 USAPANG ILLUSTRADO: WHAT CAN FILIPINOS DO TO HELP NATION BUILDING? >12 IT’S WHAT I DO >14 ILLUMINATI: THE TYRANNY OF BUCKETLISTS >33 MY PINOY LIFE IN SHANGHAI: MELCGOR SARIBAY >34 MONEY: CONVERTING PASSION INTO BUSINESS >44 LAW: PUTTING IT IN WRITING >45 BLOG: TOP 5 REASONS THAT EXPLAIN DUTERTE’S LANDSLIDE VICTORY> 52

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SCRAPBOOK: RAMIL SUNGA & MARICRIS FABI CARLOS >16 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DANABELLE GUTIERREZ >40 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: JOSH CORPUZ >42

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BEAUTY & FASHION

FASHION EDITORIAL: FREEDOM! REAL STYLE, REAL PEOPLE >26 10 COMMANDMENTS OF THE SUMMER GODDESS >30 WEARING IT WELL: FRANCIS “KIKO” CAGAYAT> 25

JUST BECAUSE

ILLUSTRADO STUFF >29 ILLUSTRADO CALENDAR >46 ENTERTAINMENT >48 FOOD: REST FOR THE WICKED – CLAMS AND PASTA >49 ONLI IN DA PILIPINS: PINOY POWER 50 ANNIE B CHRONICLES: EYEBALL >51 RIGHT NOW, PHILIPPINES >54

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Contributors

LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Editor-in-Chief and aspiring urban farmer “almost superwoman” Lalaine has been driving Illustrado’s mission to uplift Filipinos in the region for almost a decade now. A former corporate dynamo living in Dubai for over 20 years, she shares nuggets of useful insights, not to mention tough love, with kababayans through her column “Power to the Pinoy.”

CONSUL GENERAL PAUL RAYMUND CORTES When not performing his duties as the head of the Filipino community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, or the obligations of a dutiful dad, passionate patriot Paul Raymund Cortes, mulls over how to further enrich the local Filipino community by promoting a more progressive mindset.

KRIP YUSON Krip Yuson will soon have his third novel published, titled “The Music Child & the Mahjong Queen,” a follow-up on his seventh collection of poetry, “Islands of Words & Other Poems.” Here, the Palanca Hall of Famer talks about how travel can be transformative.

RACHE HERNANDEZ FRANCISCO COLAYCO

Francisco Colayco is an entrepreneur, venture developer and financial adviser who has written many books that advocate Filipinos to financially prosper. He is Illustrado’s resident money columnist and personal finance guru.

ABY YAP

What makes the Pinoy tick?

Aby Yap’s long-running column “Onli in Da Pilipins” often answers that question.

She talks about artistas, the pabebe, and the familiar Pinoy life, turning it into something fun and extraordinary. With a talent for finding every Juan’s funny bone, Aby’s wit and obvious affection makes the Filipino a whole lot more lovable.

Rache Hernandez graduated from UP-Diliman with a degree in Communication Research and currently works as a writer for a prominent company in Dubai. In this issue, Rache offers advice on how to take control of one’s life and not rot in a rut.

BARNEY ALMAZAR, ESQ.

TOYM Awardee Barney Almazar, Director at Gulf Law in the Middle East, Philippines and United Kingdom, is ‘the’ legal vanguard for Filipinos in the country. He has authored 4 books dedicated to inform and educate kababayans in the region about the legal system, as well as financial literacy.

ION GONZAGA

Top Filipino blogger, Ion Gonzaga has the gift of expressing the realities, hopes and thoughts of the typical ‘Juan dela Cruz’ with his aptly named renowned blog – boydubai.com. His site has become an important virtual venue for raising awareness about OF-related issues as well as an important platform for spreading information about the latest Filipino community events in the country.

EXCEL V. DYQUIANGCO NICHOLO JALLORES

Associate Editor Nicholo Jallores’ greatest ambition is to become an astronaut, believing that if he falls short of it, he’ll still end up pretty darn awesome.

ANNA DE LEON

Life devoid of makeup and fashion is life lived in mediocrity – a sentence that Anna has lived by since she discovered her 1st Vogue magazine at the age of 9. Empowering women through beauty has always been her passion and she believes that women can rule the world in their stilettos, red lips and razor sharp intelligence.

Our “Mr. Right Now, Philippines” writes and edits for a coffee table books publishing company. Since his boss is the biographer of Fidel V. Ramos, he sometimes mingles with top tier politicians. At one time, FVR even asked him to do push-ups (and we don’t know how that went!). Excel is also the author of the immensely popular children’s books “I Don’t Like to Eat” and “Lala Burara” (Messy Lala).

KRISTINE ABANTE

(Quoting Albert Einstein) Kristine Abante says of herself, “I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious.” An entertainment industry expert, who spends her downtime looking for the next great adventure wherever she could find it, Kristine uses her writing to relive her experiences twice and to encourage others to join the ride.

From The Publishers of Illustrado Magazine

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ CREATIVE DIRECTOR MON BENITEZ ASSOCIATE EDITOR NICHOLO JALLORES COLUMNISTS ABY YAP ALFRED “KRIP” YUSON BARNEY ALMAZAR FRANCISCO COLAYCO KRISTINE ABANTE EXCEL DYQUIANCO CONTRIBUTING WRITERS – UAE, PHILIPPINES, CANADA ANGELA MAPA ANNA OPOSA BARBARA MARCHADESCH CANDICE LOPEZ QUIMPO DANTE GAGELONIA DIDI PATERNO KARA SANTOS MARY ANN MARCHADESCH MARY ANN “MAPS” SANTOS NEPHELE KIRONG NIKKA SARTHOU NINA TEROL-ZIALCITA PRINCES NEDAMO QUAY EVANO RACHE HERNANDEZ REGINA LAYUG-LUCERO SHERRY TENORIO CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS –UAE, PHILIPPINES & USA EROS GOZE RAEN BADUA IRVIN RIVERA JEF ANOG ALEX CALUENG CRISTINA LINAZA ROZEN ANTONIO HERSON NEBAYA CONTRIBUTING FASHION CREW - UAE, HONGKONG, PHILIPPINES GINNO ALDUCENTE JESSIE TABLA VALENTINO MONTUERTO JASMIN

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KEEPING UP WITH THE CONGEN > Tales from your friendly neighbourhood Philippine Consul-General.

Musings on Independence Day By > Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes

When it dawns on us that no one else can make the Filipino dreams come true but Filipinos, only then do we become truly free: free to achieve anything we desire without having to rely on any other country or people.

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We celebrate the day we successfully unshackled our country from the three-century rule of the Kingdom of Spain. For the first time in the history of our people, we were proud, sovereign, and independent, albeit tragically short-lived.

One hundred and 18 years thereafter, over 102 million people call the Philippines their motherland; almost 13 times the 8 million people who found themselves comprising Asia’s first republic. We ask: where are we headed to?

Our statistics estimate that 10% of all Filipinos or a little over 10 million are elsewhere across the globe, spread out in some 190 states. Some 600,000 call the UAE their second home; a region that has for decades provided the economics for so many lives back in the Philippines.

Employers around the world all agree that the Filipinos are the ideal employees.

They’re cheerful, industrious, respectful, responsible, focused, highly skilled, incredibly productive – the superlatives continue on and on. The work ethic of our nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers, architects, accountants, office managers, household service workers, and all those in the service industry is regarded as the norm by which everyone else must be measured.

The surge in the Philippine demographic not only in the UAE or the Gulf Countries but also in Europe, the Americas, and

Asia - is expected to continue for years to come. It is indeed heartening to know that everyone in the world loves us. For foreign employers, it is it difficult to imagine their world without Filipinos. After all, we raise their children and make homes for them.

We teach their young and provide care and nurture for their sick. We build the magnificent structures that become their cities’ icons. We learn their music and serenade them in their language. We run their world.

For as long as our people do not foresee the motherland as a viable option for our families to live, study, work, and raise the next generation of exemplary Filipinos in, there will never be an America or Hong Kong or Canada or a Middle East without us. Deep in our hearts though, we yearn for the time when leaving the country is only by choice; when the environment back home would compel us to take our chances there instead of looking for these elsewhere. While clearly those before us could not take us closer to this dream, its fruition now lies within our grasp. To begin with, however, we must understand that we cannot simply wait for such blessings to fall onto our laps. We must take charge of our own fate and will it to realization.

Only we Pinoys can ensure that the processes we devise to maintain law and order in our country are strictly enforced.

Only we Filipinos can innovate and build our own society in a fashion that creates and provides an economic environment that

is conducive to growth.

Only we Filipinos can demand that our educational system is to be kept rigid, rightfully demanding that our children be schooled in the highest standards.

Only we can insist that the government leaders whom we have elected to manage the macros of the country are held to the highest forms political, economic, and judicial accountabilities, and anything that would compromise these standards will not be tolerated or accommodated. When it dawns on us that no one else can make the Filipino dreams come true but Filipinos, only then do we become truly free: free to achieve anything we desire without having to rely on any other country or people.

I call on all Overseas Filipinos to continue nourishing that dream of returning home.

Let us be relentless in pursuing our wish to provide the home we imagine for our families. Now is the time for us to raise our own children, and teach them in the manner we have done so for others. Let it be our time to take care of our own sick, the way we have for the aged and infirm of the world. We call on our very own to design and engineer our own structures the way we built the mega structures in foreign cities. This clarion call cannot be put off until tomorrow. It has to start now, believing that when we do, Inang Bayan becomes the envy of the world, for the world’s best are back home where they belong.

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TAKE CONTROL Don’t rot in life’s ruts By> Rache Hernandez

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Does it seem like each new day is the same as the last?

Do you feel like you’re not challenged, that very little engages you and everything else bores you? Does it seem like life is leading you, rather than you leading the life you want?

The book says that sometimes, people get into a cycle of struggling to become something, even if they don’t know what that something is. Because of this, energy and effort is expended on things that are unimportant, things that just get them by.

This, in turn, creates a feeling of frustration and failure.

“Yes” to all? You, my friend, are in a rut.

The 7 Habits of Highly-Effective People by Stephen Covey echoes the same insight, theorizing that being in a rut is drifting without an end goal in mind, while Robin Sharma’s “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” preaches against life without a purpose.

What is a rut?

“Being in a rut” signifies a feeling of frustration for perceived loss of control over how life is turning out to be. Some experts believe that this is a new concept that is a result of the endless list of choices we are besieged with, thanks to the information revolution. However, at its basic definition, being in a rut is also akin to anything from mid-life crisis to post-natal depression, “conditions” that have existed way before computers and the internet.

The unfortunate thing is that life seems to be riddled with many opportunities to get stuck in a rut - career, a relationship, finances, and more.

Why do we get ourselves into a rut?

Various mainstream books have either directly or indirectly tackled the concept of being in a rut. The Purpose-Driven Life

by Rick Warren, for example, interprets being in a rut as living without a purpose.

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How do we get out of a rut?

Having a life purpose is central to avoiding the rut traps that come our way. To state it simply: know your purpose and then take control. The “7 Habits” suggests “beginning with the end in mind.” “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari,” adds that “anyone can revolutionize their lives once they revolutionize the direction in which they are moving.”

Ready to take control of your life? Take inspiration from people who actually did just that.

Getting down to business Ray Magno, an entrepreneur, joined his wife, Maria, in Dubai in 2011, living their

3-year old daughter behind in the Philippines. “It was a heart-wrenching decision,” he said. “But, in the end we were doing it to provide a comfortable life for her.”

Ray recalled that as call center employees in the Philippines, his and his wife’s professional and financial lives were largely determined by the direction their company wanted to take: if the company goes down, so would they. Ray and Maria decided to take control by coming up with a plan to work abroad for 3 years, after which they should have saved enough money to settle in the Philippines. Also part of their goal was to have a family car, their own business, and a retirement home.

As soon as they landed jobs in Dubai,

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“Having a life purpose is central to avoiding the rut traps that come our way. To state it simply: Know your purpose and then take control.”

they set out to realize their goal. And true to plan, they saved enough in 3 years to allow them to go home to the Philippines.

They then started working on the other aspects of their goal. They started with the car, which they got easily. Next was the business, which was a little more difficult.

“We attended a lot of seminars, conducted researches, and even signed up for a financial training set up by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” Ray said.

Ray and Maria opened their first business in 2014: a spa center they called Zenatic Massage and Spa in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

After a little over a year, they set up a foreign exchange trading company called MFX, and a few months after, a café and coffee beans supplier, Brews To Go. In the coming months, they plan to open additional Zenatic branches, get Brews To Go coffee beans in grocery stores and supermarkets, and increase the clientele of MFX. “It’s not easy,” says Ray of his journey to taking more control of his entrepreneurial life. “You have to give your business 200% of your effort.” But he reiterates that having a clear direction provides numerous guide posts along the way. “We were very goaloriented from the very start,” he explained.

“We knew what we wanted: to enjoy a comfortable life with our family intact. And then we followed that up with detailed plans and preparation.”

Facing the music Racquel (not her real name) started in Dubai as an HR assistant in a manpower placement agency. Here, she met Gina, who had been with the company longer, and helped her to settle in and learn the ropes of her job. They became fast friends, with Racquel usually becoming a sympathetic listener to Gina’s myriad issues.

A few years after, Gina got into quite the financial mess that started with her husband getting fired. She was also about to give birth to their first baby. She took out a bank loan, with the intention of using that to give birth in the Philippines. Somehow, the money was used elsewhere, and she only had Racquel to run to for financial help.

Even though Racquel and her husband were also finding it hard to make ends meet, considering all their financial responsibilities (Racquel’s husband just arrived in Dubai and hadn’t landed a job yet, and Racquel had to send money to her parents back home), she took pity on Gina and loaned her cash she advanced from her credit card. Gina promised she would pay back the loan, which she did for the first couple of months, and then defaulted. She also suddenly stopped all communication with Racquel, who, by this time, was already working in another company.

Racquel did her best to make the payments for the cash advance, until the recession

hit. On some months, she could only pay the minimum amount, on other months, she couldn’t pay at all. The loan and its interests snow-balled, until it became unmanageable. The bank started calling Racquel incessantly; she never picked up.

One day, they showed up in her new office and met with her and the HR manager.

That’s when Racquel made a decision.

“I had to move forward from that difficult situation,” Racquel said. “To do that, I needed to face the music, so that I can close that chapter once and for all.” This way, Racquel took the reins, no matter how treacherous the road was, and the destination was freeing herself of the debt.

That had become her purpose.

Fortunately, the bank offered a settlement scheme that Racquel could manage. She used most of her salary to satisfy the terms of the settlement. At some point, extra financing would come from unexpected sources, like company bonuses and friends who would pay back little loans, which Racquel believed were a manifestation of God’s help. She has since lost the debt, but gained a treasure trove of life lessons.

Do what you love Alex Callueng, now a self-employed photographer, was working as a Resident Liaison in a prominent asset management company in Dubai when he was made redundant – twice. He eventually landed another job as an Asset Controller in another company, but his illustrado go>9

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Alex saved enough money to get himself into fashion and beauty photography. He did a lot of research in the field to prepare himself and get a grasp of the current trend. To date, he has done editorial and commercial projects for some of the most renowned fashion, glamour, and fitness magazines in the UAE, as well as in other countries such as Russia, Qatar, and Singapore. experience of being made redundant made him feel that he had failed. Worse thing was, he felt like he failed in something that he didn’t like doing. He realized it was high time he started doing what he really loved to do. “I failed while doing something I didn’t want to do,” Alex explained. “I might as well take a chance in doing what I love.”

As an employee, Alex felt he had a lot of opportunity to slack off. “When you have the usual 9 to 6 job, you can do your thing – accomplish some work, chit-chat with colleagues, eat, and then when it’s time to go home, you go home.” He craved more direction, more control. So Alex embarked on his dream of doing something he loved; he became a photographer.

“I was concerned at first,” Alex admitted, when asked about making that drastic professional change. “I am a father; I have a family to provide for. If I lose my job again, taking care of my family would be very difficult. But I braved it. I knew that I had to do something to serve my life.” illustrado go>10

But it doesn’t stop there for Alex. He continues to keep abreast of the trends so that he can hone his craft and advance his business. “Research is a never-ending process,” Alex said. “I am always on the lookout for new things and ideas. There is always a desire to be better. The day I start believing that I am better than the next photographer, that’s the day my business is doomed.”

How different is his life now from when he was a regular employee?

“It’s a bit scary,” he said. “I cannot slack off anymore as I’ve sacrificed a lot – money, time. But the perk is, I have more control.

That gives me more freedom.”

In the end, Alex credits the success he now enjoys to knowing exactly what he wanted in life, being aware of his purpose. “When you figure out who you are and what you want to do, just do it,” he advised. “It will be hard sometimes. But you will be doing what you love, and that will more than make up for it.”

Determining your purpose You’ve heard it before: having a purpose lends meaning and focus to life, and gives you a sense of fulfillment. But, how exactly do you find out what your purpose is? The “Purpose-Driven Life” by Rick Warren talks of two ways of determining your purpose: speculation and revelation.

Speculation Speculation is the type of method that most self-help books recommend. It essentially involves doing some soul-searching, looking within yourself to get in touch with your inner desires. It also encompasses talking to other people and taking time to observe. From these, you can start developing personalized theories on what your purpose is and how you can let that guide you through life. Along the way, you will experience a sense of fulfillment with the knowledge that every step you take is towards the realization of your purpose.

Revelation The second method takes on a more spiritual approach, in that instead of starting with yourself, you start with God. Think of yourself as an invention. To know what your real purpose is, you should ask your Inventor. This can be accomplished by establishing a relationship with God through prayer and meditation.

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16HABITS OFS NEED TO CHANGE By> Ion Gonzaga – Boy Dubai

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All nationalities have certain habits attributed to them. It has become a norm to define the character of a person by his nationality - not right at all, but this seems to be inevitable in a melting pot country like the UAE. Forget inferiority complex, maniana, ningas kugon, and crab mentality for now. Let’s look at 16 specific habits, attitudes and behaviors that we Filipinos need to change to cope up in this heterogeneous workplace and community.

1. Ok Lang Apathy. Oftentimes, we say OK LANG to ‘play safe’ and avoid hurting others. We think it shows that we care, but actually it shows that we don’t. The word for it is “lackadaisical.” At work, it’s a sign of laziness to challenge the status quo and strive to deliver better results. It also reflects our inability to make decisions.

Bahala na si Batman! Try to proactively say more than “ok lang.” The people you talk to would surely love to hear more than a halfhearted response. Don’t be passive. illustrado go>12

2. I’d Still Say Yes One of the many reason why we cannot easily say no even if we already have too much on our plate is because we are overly cautious about creating negative impressions. We cannot please everybody.

There’s no harm in saying no, or in turning down favors. Sometimes, out of hiya(shame), we just keep accepting whatever comes to us. In the end we become inefficient and we suffer.

Sometimes, saying no is wiser.

3. With a Smile When scolded by the boss, some Filipino employees still leave the room smiling.

Let us not justify this by saying that we are among the happiest people on earth.

Smiling after the boss’ meltdown sends wrong signals. It could be perceived as insensitivity or unresponsiveness. Some people admire the trait. There are also those who feel that the gesture is quite insulting. Let’s keep our emotions checked at all times. Be sensitive in a good way.

4. Lifestyle Upgrade We have a tendency to upgrade everything when we receive pay hikes or when we

move to higher-paying jobs. We change cars, buy more shoes, upgrade mobile phones, coffee and dine out more often, etc. And then we complain how tough life is. That’s funny. The best things to upgrade when we receive bigger salaries are actually our savings and investments.

5. English Only Please We “downgrade” our English to reach out to other nationalities who are not as fluent in the language. There’s really nothing wrong about the humility, but some of us have the tendency to absorb the “carabao English” in the way we speak, day-today. “Like this, like this,” “Same same,” “Different different.” Please stop. Learn from the Americans and the British. They don’t break the language yet they are always understood. At least in this aspect, be the influence, not the influenced.

6. Ikaw na ang busy!

It’s a blessing to be busy, but not finding time to learn new things because you’re always busy is a lame excuse. If there’s a will, there’s a way. Set aside a time for personal growth. Weigh the invites, as opportunities knock only once. Being an

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OW should not hinder you from learning and going after growth opportunities.

7. DSF - Dubai Splurging Forever We always look forward to the sale seasons.

It seems that some of us are so irate about money that we want them gone in no time.

Please save first before you spend.

8. Accepting Defeat Because we tend to be so uninformed about our rights as OFW’s, we tend to fold up when arguments happen. If we’re not aware of our rights, how can we fight back when we’re oppressed? We are too quick to back down and accept defeat. With knowledge comes a stronger sense of self-worth. We gain confidence and a winning mentality by keeping ourselves informed – about or workplace environment, government legislations, etc. – and using our practical know-how to back up our sentiments.

9. Tourism Enemy No. 1 We tend to talk about what’s unpleasant about our country as if we’re vying for the “Worst Country in the World” award.

When Indians talk about how bad traffic in Mumbai is, we respond by boasting that Manila’s traffic is the same or worse.

When we brag about the wrong things, we unconsciously discourage other nationalities from discovering the many things that are great about the Philippines.

I do not say to candy-coat. Just do not exaggerate our displeasure that it affects others badly. Remember: we OFW’s are the Philippines’ brand ambassadors.

10. “Pa-Star” Filipino Time Need I say more? I’ve seen worse here in Dubai. People are becoming disrespectful of others time. Birthday parties, meetings, out of town trips - if you don’t care about your time, respect others. People have grown disrespectful that they come late for hours and hardly notify the concerned parties properly. Setting the meetup time earlier is not a solution. It’s encouraging the ‘pa-stars’ to carry on with their habits.

And please, don’t say you’re “on the way” if you’re just about to take a shower. This is one of the reasons why I left some groups in Dubai. It’s not cool when we’re nonproductive.

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11. Celebrations to the Moon and Back We love to celebrate everything - new job, pay hike, pay day, new car, new bedspace, new flat – as if everything should be some kind of milestone. We easily give in to the “libre naman dyan” pressure. We prioritize impressing our friends over staying true our actual financial capacity. Remember: milestones are important precisely because they are rare, so keep them scarce!

12. Balikbayan Box Mentality Many items in Carrefour or in Lulu are already available in the Philippines these days. I understand the sentimental value in sending material things to our loved ones, especially if they are gifts for special occasions, but doing it regularly can be unnecessarily tedious. Instead of wasting time shopping for the usual grocery fare and packing them in enormous boxes that are likely to be defiled in immigration anyway, just send the money. It’s quick, it’s practical, and it saves you from worrying if your box reaches your family in one piece.

13. Double Standard on Racism When other nationalities talk bad about us or our country, we take offense, raise our voices and launch petitions. We feel insulted when Filipinos are shown in a bad light, even on fictional TV shows. We condemn bloggers and celebrities who express their dissatisfaction over our food, our culture, our country. But oh how we mock them about of attitudes, habits, hygiene, etc. like we are the only perfect creation on earth! Let’s move on from hypocrisy, please. Don’t dish it if you can’t take it.

14. ‘Plus One’ Surprises Bringing a friend to a party isn’t bad if you politely ask the host about it ahead of time.

Surprise the party host with your presents, not with your uninvited guests. Consider that the reservation is for a limited number of attendees only, and the venue might be conducive only to that size of the expected crowd.

15. Kabayan Favor Many of us see having a kabayan in any situation an advantage, and why not?

Finding compatriots is one of the happiest things ever, especially to those living without their families here in Dubai. But in the professional world, Filipino business owners try to bargain freelance services of Pinoy photographers, event planners, web designers, and others because “kabayan naman tayo eh.” Being a kabayan is not a discount card. Always consider the time, effort, and resources that your kabayans have invested to make themselves worth your business. Let’s not bring down the profiles of our compatriots because they are our fellowmen. Instead, uplift and respect and feel the pride on what they do as your kabayans. We must help each other first.

16. Bitterness Bitterness is the new language of the envious. Just look within the Filipino community. There are some who feel unhappy for the achievements of others.

Instead of celebrating happiness, they look at what could be wrong. You can’t taste the sweetness of cake with a bitter tongue.

----------Guilty? We all could relate in at least one point above. Start the change. Overcome these habits before they become totally tagged to your identity.

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USAPANG

ILLUSTRADO >

Say no to usapang barbero. Dapat, Illustrado!

How Filipinos can help in Nation Building The 2016 campaign period is over. Move on move on din pag may time! Now that we know who will lead us in the next 6 years, how do we as caring citizens of the Philippines participate in the improvement of the republic? What part must we play in nation-building?

Majah Moralde I believe that nation-building does not solely lie in the hands of the officials that we elect into office - it begins with each one of us. This is the reason why I voted for aspirants whom I think will be effective in public service; those who are responsive to people’s concerns (especially the marginalized sectors), and have proven track records in honest governance, and a vision for sustainable peace and development for the entire country. As an individual, contributing to nationbuilding also means being a law-abiding citizen, a responsible family member, and a supportive friend. It also means supporting organizations that will help my fellow Filipinos in times of calamities, or in fulfilling their dreams of graduating from college through scholarships. Nationbuilding also means being competent in my field of work as a Filipina expat in Dubai. It means using my voice to hold the elected officials, whoever they may be, accountable to their sworn duties and responsibilities.

It means continuing to hope and believing that together, we all can build a better Philippines.

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Donald Rosales Filipino people are chaotic. Our deteriorating country needs a strict disciplinarian, hence, I voted for Duterte. I would rather we suffer the pain of discipline than suffer the pain of regret. But whoever wins, I will remain a law-abiding citizen. I can only hope that the winning candidate will be the right President for the Filipino people.

Nhel Morona The election perod is over and we are about to start a new life. As per the newly elected President’s slogan, change is coming. As an OFW, I look forward to a better future under the new administration. I, along with

many of my fellow OFW’s, welcome his idea of offering peace to all revolutionary forces, specially the CPP/NPA/NDF. His idea to work with the left will manifest as soon as pursues the peace process. He made a lot of promises that many of us found overwhelming, but the truth is that those promises will not prosper unless we do our share of the task as citizens of our nation. I believe it is now our time to participate in rebuilding by promoting real democracy thru genuine land reform and industrialization on a national scale.

We must always remain vigilant against all people in the government who use their power for corruption. Activeness on our social networks will help promote our advocacies, but it is more important to have collective actions whenever it is necessary. As individuals we can participate by simply following the rules of law, from simple littering to heinous crimes.

We might not be able to help as much as the other well-known personalities, but we must do all that we can to help rebuild our nation as a whole.

Jay Hilotin “Bash and you will get bashed” became the mantra of the vicious prelude to the May 2016 Philippine vote. Those who engaged in a molehill of positive campaigning got a mountain of bashing. We know the rest of the story: presumptive President-elect Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte’s camp, the ex-generals, keyboard warriors, religious figures and technocrats behind him and his very combative army of supporters ran a brilliant campaign. The result: a 5-million+ lead over the second-highest

USAPANG

ILLUSTRADO >

Say no to usap ang barbero. Dapat, Illustrado!

(Mar Roxas) in votes. That’s the first takeaway for me. The second is that we now live in a world warped by social media.

The recent Philippine vote was a textbook case for this: People will believe and share “facts” that confirm their pre-existing opinions. They dismiss those that don’t. To everyone’s horror, the hardcore partisans are less likely to change their views and are more likely to claim that fact-checkers themselves are “biased.” The net effect: they are more likely to spread their views aggressively to their friends. That’s what happened to me. I think before the web came, this had always been the case. But social media has magnified it to a massive extent. And in a world where people get most of their information from friends, factchecking may not reach those who need it most. Which leads me to the important point: now, everyone has the power to become a purveyor of information — and disinformation. This potential becomes exponential with social media. In the thick of the campaign, it no longer mattered whether or not what people posted on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube were based on facts. What mattered was the score.

It came to a terrible point where we were willing to kill each other over our political ideologies. Then came this horrifying realization: is this evidence yet of an inevitable war prophesied in Matthew?

“Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come

to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘A man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughterin-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’.” It was like a war of all against all. There was, however, a common thread that held everyone: love of country and the desire to make things better for ourselves and our people. The fact that it didn’t take much time for the other presidential candidates to concede dulled the wounds of those who lost. Duterte’s call for unity and healing was a touching one. So we’re still one people, after all. There was no defiance in defeat (except in the VIP race), and there was magnanimity in victory.

There’s a reason for everything. I feel it’s time for Filipinos to pray hard as a people so the Lord would guide our next leaders.

And those things indeed would get better for all of us. After all, it’s the same country that we love and cherish. Pagpalain ang Pilipinas!

Vice Consul Weng Daquipil After the polarizing elections, it is time to support whoever is elected. It is time to stop the hate tirades and incivility towards each other. It was sad to witness this on social media day in and day out.

On the other hand, I was also comforted with what I was seeing on the ground.

During the overseas voting period, many

exercised their right of suffrage. Many in the community also did their part in ensuring smooth elections in the Embassy: from volunteers directing voters where to go and what to do, to Filipino community groups who provided transportation from those living away from the Embassy. This is nation-building personified. You participate in the process. You make your voices heard.

And then you do more.

In my line of work, I often witness how overseas Filipinos participate in nationbuilding. Two months after I arrived in the UAE, typhoon Yolanda happened. In the aftermath of the disaster, Filipinos all over the UAE lent support and assistance to those affected. As years went by, I had several more discoveries. Many skilled and talented Filipinos also spend their free time teaching and sharing their knowledge to fellow compatriots. Many also spend regular time with our wards at the Embassy providing much needed support, whether these are medical services, psychosocial, financial or even moral support. As Anthony Bourdain aptly states, we have this unique propensity to look after each other.

Many OFWs have become philanthropists.

Let us keep this Bayanihan spirit alive among us. This is the very foundation of nation-building.

Another significant contribution we can do towards nation-building is to invest in the Philippines. By doing so, overseas migration will have a more beneficial impact not just to one’s families but also at the community levels. I hope overseas Filipinos become investors in emerging industries that ultimately lead to job generation for our fellow Filipinos back home.

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Filipino Progress & Diversity

offices, to designing skyscrapers, up to doing urban planning and landscape architecture. Our diverse clientele to name a few are Google and LinkedIn. My primary job is preparing 3D visuals through computer-aided software which will be used as a communication tool to clearly express the design intent to clients.

It will also be used as a marketing tool to sell a certain project. 3D Architectural Visualization is an interesting field. It is a blend of Architecture/Interior Design and Visual Arts, hence I can be technical and artistic at the same time.

My work day

JULIUS DURAN Architect – Perkins + Will Dubai, UAE

My job

I am an architect working here in Dubai for 7 years. Perkins & Will is an international design firm with its homebase in the US. Our projects range from doing high-end villa interiors, to designing corporate

My everyday routine here is driving to a nearby Metro station from where I live (because I stay far from where I work) and taking the train to bring me to my office.

This is my way of beating the horrendous rush hour Dubai traffic. Weekends are spent in the mall, with the family, maybe hit the beach or do some camping if the weather permits. I live together with my wife and son, which is the best thing as it drives homesickness down to a minimum.

I started my OFW life in Abu Dhabi and made the shift here in Dubai when my wife

My job

I am a Dentist by profession in the Philippines, but here in Dubai, I am a Dental Assistant and Clinical Coordinator at The Dental Studio here in Jumeirah. I have been working here for almost eight years now, and I am very happy. I take part in many dental procedures, mainly Prosthodontics, Surgeries, Periodontics, Endodontics and Orthodontics. I mainly do CADCAM Dentistry here (Digital Dentistry), and I am also responsible for Radiology and Licenses. My job is interesting in the sense that I am rebuilding what is lost, and being a part of the team responsible for restoring smiles and self-confidence.

VENCER MONTES Clinical Coordinator The Dental Studio - Dubai, UAE

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My work day

I always keep myself challenged. My mentor here in the clinic would show me

At The Work Place >

(who’s also an architect) had a job offer here. So the choice was either she or I would have to travel back and forth Dubai and Abu Dhabi, or I could just find work in Dubai as well so our family could just be rooted in one city. Good fortune may have been on my side at that time, because it did not take long for me to find a job. So here I am.

Career advice

We Filipinos are a resilient and hardworking people who always take pride on whatever we consider our own. Given the right venue and opportunity, we can rise to be at par with the best in the world. We as a people are emotional and sensitive at best, which means we have passion. That passion, if channeled in the right path, will bring us closer to whatever we are aiming for. All of us working here abroad, whether you’re a service crew or a manager, have the same dream and aspiration: a better future for ourselves, for our family and loved ones, and for our country. So let’s hold on to our dreams, stop complaining or pointing fingers at the mistakes or inefficiencies of others and just do our best. Do good and be good. Together we will be the best!

cases and I will replicate them. We never rest on our laurels. No matter how well we do, we always find ways to do better and perfect what is already perfect. This keeps us on the edge and ahead of everybody.

What I also love about what I do is seeing how my efforts help restore the confidence of an individual. Seeing our clients happy is what makes our day.

Career advice

My message to all of us, Filipinos: do not think less of yourselves! We can make a difference. Never settle. We can always do better, be better, and be the best! We are a proud nation. Lets show the world what we can do!

POWER TO THE PINOY

>

Towards empowering Filipinos.

When you realize that you are nothing, that’s when your potential to become anything and everything, starts

You’re not special. Get with the program.

By> Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Fresh off the plane? Or, been here for long but still haven’t caught up with the game? Throw away the baggage that you are carrying from whatever you deem as “nakasanayan” back home, because certain things don’t serve a good purpose out here in the big, wide, competitive expat world.

For the privileged and the entitled, your privileges and entitlements stop when you left Philippines soil. You are not in Makati anymore or in your family hacienda. No matter how much you try to stick to your Makati-yuppie twang or colegiala English, you are bound to speak regular down-toearth Tagalog with your kababayans, as well as varying incarnations of English in an attempt to communicate with everybody else.

You say you’re famous in Pinas? Bad news - your personal ‘brand’ is worth nothing here. And yes, you would have to introduce yourself properly and fill-out forms like everybody else. You need to line-up and go through the process to get things done.

Your political/social connections won’t allow you to take shortcuts. Company CEOs do it, business owners do it, rank and

file do it. So why not you?

On the flipside, for the less than privileged, know that you’re not in the barrio anymore, bhoi or neng. You are not less than anybody else out here. People don’t have the right to disrespect you, nor do you need to act subservient just because your family is poor. Alternatively, you don’t get a hall pass for the same reason, so remember that you cannot get away with excuses like - “mahirap lang po kasi kami,” or “kailangan ko po kasing kumita para sa pamilya ko.” It doesn’t help, and the truth may hurt, but nobody really cares.

There is no caste system in this land.

People are not classified depending on whether they belong to a posh village or the “gillage” (the edge of the village). We all go to the same supermarkets, eat the same food, and go to the same cheerful Pinoy restaurants to get our fill of home.

Starbucks is not a status symbol and having coffee there does not make you “sosyal”, just the same as buying “tuyo” doesn’t make you cheap or “mahirap.”

Filipinos and expats, all of us are in the same boat. We are all expendable. We are

replaceable. There are a thousand other people who could fill-up our space. The same rules apply to us, whatever our pay packets are, whatever positions we have, whether we travel business or economy, or whoever we are back home.

On the bright side, not being “special” also means that here, anyone can start with a clean slate. So, if you have the aspiration, determination and the wherewithal, this is a place where you can reinvent yourself.

And we’ve seen it so many times with the success stories all around us. How did they do it? Well, first and foremost, they realized they were part of this big race where everyone starts from zero, they tried their best to gain and grow from that equal footing, and competed as best as they can.

Because you see, when you realize that you are nothing, that’s when your potential to become anything and everything, starts.

So, let go of that false pride. Let go of that smallness.

Power to the Pinoy. Compete without looking back.

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SCRAPBOOK >

Arch. RAMIL SUNGA KUWAIT http://www.flickr.com/photos/obadia/ http://500px.com/mhels

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SCRAPBOOK >

MARICRIS FABI CARLOS PHILIPPINES https://www.facebook.com/krisfabicarlos

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ADVERTORIAL >

NIKON HOSTS ITS FIRST EVER ‘PHOTOGRAPHERS TOWN HALL MEETING’ IN THE REGION

L-R: Shahin Mohamed, Mohamed Kashif Joosub, Jay Alonzo, Anil George, David Goff, Martin C. Grahame-Dunn, Daniel Cheong, Catalin Marin, Dany Eid, Shaji Shanmughan, Zaher Abass, Aref Hussain

7th of May 2016 – Nikon Middle East FZE brought together 11 of the Middle East’s most respected photographers for a panel discussion held on the first day of this year’s Photography Live event in Dubai. Entitled “Photographers Town Hall Meeting,” the rare gathering saw the lensmen examine some of the most pressing issues that beset the imaging industry in the region today.

World-renowned photographic trainer, educator and consultant, Martin GrahameDunn served as host and moderator of the meeting, to a packed audience of photography professionals, hobbyists, and enthusiasts.

“It’s rare to see a focused discussion of photographers like this in the region, and we are happy to have accomplished this feat for an event as influential as Photography Live,” says Narendra Menon, General Manager - Sales and Marketing for Nikon Middle East FZE. “Nikon has always been about building connections and communities. As a global imaging brand, we see ourselves as a nexus of various cultures, view points, and aesthetic sensibilities, so we take it as a responsibility to conduct activities that bring together different mindsets and perspectives, with the objective of fostering unity in diversity.

The panel of photographers was a veritable who’s who of the Middle East’s imaging community: Aref Hussain, Anil George,

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Catalin Marin, Daniel Cheong, Dany Eid, David Goff, Jay Alonzo, Mohamed Kashif Joosub, Shahin Mohamed, Shaji Shanmughan, and Zaher Abass. Over the course of 2 hours, the photographers mulled over some of the key issues concerning the state of the photographic industry in the region.

Is photography a lucrative business?

Most professional photographers began their career in the corporate world, having shifted only to professional photography after years of honing their skills as hobbyists. But despite having the requisite knowledge and experience, many photographers still find it difficult to translate their vision and craft into value propositions that can be easily understood by clients. After all, how does one monetize an artform?

Zaher Abass elaborates: “Photography is an art. We cannot say directly if a painter is a professional or not. People will evaluate your art. Some professional photographers give workshops and make money out of workshops. But who can evaluate if their work is worth 100,000 dollars or 100 dollars? There is no guaranteed future if you leave your day job to become a professional photographer. Photography is an art. It is a passion.”

Anil George observes how rapidly photography has changed and continues

to change as new innovations are introduced in the market: “The definition of ‘photographer’ has changed a lot over the years. The term ‘entry-level’ is almost completely gone, as hobbyists are able to acquire professional-level skills quicker than ever before. That makes the competition much more fierce, with respect to making a living out of taking photos. What gives a photographer the edge is his ability to effectively manage his enterprise. Making business proposals, servicing clients, overseeing social media – these must all be part of a photographer’s persona. It’s more than just clicking the camera.”

Catalin Marin offers some very practical advice on pursuing photography as a career: “The thing about photography is you can’t chase the money. That is the wrong way to think about it. You have to put your personal time in it. You have to put your heart in it and work on yourself first – on being self-critical enough to not just assume that you are a great photographer because you bought a great camera. Once you are honest enough with yourself about the quality of your work, that’s when you can start approaching clients and building a portfolio.”

Mohamed Kashif Joosub shares a valuable trade secret: “Find your niche. Every photographer has at least one or two specializations, whether it’s wedding, fashion, events, etc. When you find and

ADVERTORIAL >

focus on your niche market, that’s when you start making money out of your craft.”

How do we make the Middle East a photography-friendly hub and center of excellence?

How important is education and accreditation?

The level of artistry and skill of Middle East-based photographers are at par with the global best. However, the region lags in providing specific market legislations that could turn what is now still considered an artistic community into a viable and sustainable industry.

Martin Grahame-Dunn stresses on the importance of implementing a system of accreditation for photographers: “It’s time to start moving forward. It’s time to start measuring. It’s time to supporting and formalizing a system by which you know where you’re at and your clients know what to expect from you as a professional photographer.”

David Goff echoes David Goff’s sentiment on the topic of industry accreditation: “The region is desperately in need of some kind of formal, recognized association with a structured training and accreditation program. Obviously, the more you build your qualifications, the more you build up your price. But it needs to be recognized, it needs mentoring, and it needs regular training systems.”

Education plays a crucial role in the efficient implementation of a regionwide accreditation program. Jay Alonzo emphasizes: “Hobbyists who want to be pro invest so much in equipment, but they don’t invest on education. I think we should educate two sectors: the

clients, so they understand the process, and the photographers who want to be professionals, so they learn how to find their niche.”

Dany Eid sees immense value in photographers acquiring key entrepreneurial skills: “Photographers need to be educated on how to manage their craft as a business. I’m talking about administrative work, marketing, pricing, client servicing, finance and accounting, and so on. More than the creatives, it’s proper business management that helps bring success to a professional photographer.

The Future of Photography In the Region The town hall meeting lasted for 2 hours, with the photographers exchanging view points on topics ranging from the government’s role in empowering the imaging industry, to the relevance of social media to a photographer’s business. The discussion concluded with an audience Q&A portion.

In the end, the photographers were united in agreeing that the future looks bright for photography in the Middle East. Tarek Abdelrahman, Regional Head of Customer Satisfaction Department of Nikon Middle East FZE, elaborates, “While there are is still plenty of room for improvements with regards to formalized accreditation in the region, there is no deficit in the artistry of Middle East-based photographers. We have one of the most passionate visual arts communities in the world – a fact that we take to heart as we continue to provide opportunities for learning to anyone and everyone who would like to use a camera to its full technical and creative potential.

Through the Nikon School, we are able to foster a sense of unity and shared destiny amongst the photographers, and empower each of them with the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed. Indeed, the future looks bright for the photography industry in the Middle East, and it is our distinct honor to see it ushered in by such committed and talented artists.”

About Nikon School Nikon School, a global initiative by Nikon with branches in countries including Australia, Malaysia, India and now UAE, is a series of educational photography classes that aims to enhance the creative and technical skills of photographers, educating them on how to make the most of their DSLR camera. The courses cater to participants of all levels, from absolute beginners to professionals, with all classes taught by Nikon-certified instructors.

About Nikon Nikon is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognised for setting new standards in product design and performance for its awardwinning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Middle East FZE distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX compact digital cameras; Nikon sports optics as well as the Nikon 1 advanced cameras with interchangeable lens system in over 50 countries. For more information, visit www.nikon-mea.com. Connect with Nikon and other photographers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NikonMEA and on Instagram, @NikonMEA.

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REAL STYLE, REAL PEOPLE

>

Authentic, street-level suave and swankiness.

ents from some of the fashion statemthe and playfulbloggers these fierceavvy Get inspired bymost around globe! style-s Filipino

CAMILLE CO Manila - Philippines itscamilleco.com

JEROME CENTENO Milan - Italy thechicstyler.com

JIM PAOLO JOQUICO Dubai - UAE fashionchameleon.ae illustrado go>22

MAHRYSKA GASPACHO Dubai – UAE mahryska.com

REAL STYLE, REAL PEOPLE

>

Authentic, street-level suave and swankiness.

ANDRE JUDD CHANG , Manila - Philippines avantgardien.tumblr.com

TESSIE & JP SINGSON, Paris - France jponfashionspeed.com

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REAL STYLE, REAL PEOPLE

>

Authentic, street-level suave and swankiness.

PAUL RIYADH C Manila - Philippines paultheprguy.blogspot.com

TINAYUMS LINAZA Dubai – UAE Iamtinayums.com

RALEENE CABRERA New York - USA raleene.com

NINA PENALOSA-CARPIO Dubai - UAE smilelikenina.com illustrado go>24

ILLUSTRADO STUFF >

COUCHSURFING Don’t be a couch potato. Be a couch surfer! Taking its cue from the newfangled concept of “sharing economy” Couchsurfing is “a hospitality exchange and social networking website.” It offers a unique way of travelling by connecting you to people with whom you could stay during your trip, instead of booking the usual hotel room or hostel bunk. If you have trust issues, that may sound like the makings of a terrible slasher flick, but believe us – it really works! And it could be an infinitely rewarding experience to the open-minded traveller.

MARMITE A lot of people despise it for its weird, rusty, slightly fishy, hyper-salty taste, but if you’re a Filipino, this poses no more threat to you than bagoong. If you’re trying to cut down on your meat consumption – which you should, for the environment’s sake and your own – Marmite offers a powerful hit of 100% plant-based umami-ness. You can spread it on your toast, or add it to stir-fries and stews the same way you would add patis.

NETFLIX Our dependence on Netflix is such that we have forgotten what life was like without it.

The concept is simple: stream all the movies and TV shows you want for as little as US $7.99monthly. The result: goodbye to your social life. You can kiss dating goodbye too, while you’re at it. Why venture out into this cruel world when you can just stay home and #NetFlixAndChill?

Money can’t buy happiness, but admit it - sometimes you just gotta have your stuff! Get a load of these interesting, very Illustrado sundry. Can’t live without ‘em!

GOCASH PREPAID TRAVEL CARD Does everything a credit card is supposed to do, but in reverse – that is, you load it up instead of receiving a nasty bill at the end of the month. You ask, “Why do I need a prepaid card when I already have a debit card?” Well, you don’t – but it helps you manage your finances better by sort of giving you a “cap” on your expenditures. Some of us here in Illustrado use it for iTunes purchases and Netflix subscriptions. And as the name suggests, it could be very useful for travel, when you don’t exactly want to wave your debit card around all the time.

BOOTS BOTANICS SKINCARE LINE Would it be that we were all like Gwyneth Paltrow, who could afford to actually develop her own brand of organic skincare in her spare time. For us lesser mortals, there’s Boots Botanics – a line of organic facial products that offers Hollywood-level pampering and nourishment at pedestrian prices.

Kaartehang abot-kaya!

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BEAUTY

>

Kagandahan 101

10 Commandments of the Summer Goddess By> Anna De Leon

1. Know that you are the Summer Goddess.

This is the 1st commandment to owning it this summer. Keep in mind that the sun bows down before you with your beauty and radiance. Keep your skin at its best by wearing sunscreen.

2. Show off that glow by keeping your skin clear of embedded dirt by indulging in a deep cleansing facial ritual in the comforts of your home. Steam, then use your favorite facial cleanser. Used a mild scrub to exfoliate and indulge in your favorite deep cleansing mask. Tone to equalise your skin’s PH levels and don’t forget to moisturise 3. Summer is about showing off your tan but not when you have scaly skin. Don’t scare the sun gods with flaky skin when you don your off shoulder tops. Exfoliate and slather some glow enhancing lotion on your shoulders. You will never get a cold shoulder. GUARANTEED. 4. This is the season for open toed sandals. Keep the soles of your feet soft

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7. Try giving up hot styling tools and let your hair air dry. This is will give you authentic beach waves instead of slaving away with your curling iron.

with lotion because there is more nothing unsightly than parched as the Dubai desert soles on sandals.

5. Keep your make up as light as much as possible - and I am not just talking about colours. If you are used to wearing a full coverage foundation, shift to a bb cream for a change; from matte lipstick go for glosses; black eyeliner to brown.

6. Because cold water from the tap is a rare commodity during summer months in Dubai, make sure you condition the tips of your hair like there is no tomorrow. Avoid applying conditioner on the scalp because this will flatten your hair even more.

8. Scent is very personal, but my suggestion for scorching summer is just switch from heavy EDP to colognes.

From Spicy, woody scents to citrus ones.

9. This is the season for shorts, sleeveless tops and bikinis. Don’t beckon Apollo to rise by donning your summer staples without shaving. Word of Caution. Do not shave and swim in the beach immediately.

You have been warned.

10. Last but not the least, SMILE. Let your hair down and enjoy the Season of the Sun.

WEARING IT WELL

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How to work it when you wear it coz you’re worth it.

KIKO CAGAYAT S T Y L E B LO G G E R - JA PA N

What role does fashion play in your daily life?

I love everything about fashion, art, interior and architecture. Everyday, i am always daydreaming about what to wear, what furniture to buy and it gives me enthusiasm in life.

How important is it to you?

It’s important if you’re working in a fashion industry. For ordinary people, I suggest to give priority first on what you love.

Do you consider yourself a fashionable person?

Japanese men are very fashionable and I want to keep pace with them. I consider myself a fashion person but not avant garde What is your typical daily wear?

I go to work with a t-shirt, parka, jogging pants and a pair of sneakers. Nothing fancy.

Favorite thing to wear My colored contact lenses because I look old wearing eyeglasses.

Can’t live without?

Family (clingy). iPhone with an internet connection.

Fashion philosophy Wear whatever makes you feel beautiful

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FASHION

PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA MODEL: DEVON SPENCE STYLISTS: ART HUNTER & BRANDON NIQUOLAS MAKE-UP: JOSEPH ADIVARI PRODUCTION: FRANCIS GUM ISAAC PUNO

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FASHION

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FASHION

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FASHION

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FASHION

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FASHION

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ADVERTORIAL >

JEWEL CORNER ROLLS OUT ITS SPECIAL GIFT VOUCHER FOR RAMADAN 2016 Welcoming the holy month of Ramadan, Jewel Corner will reward its valued customers a mall or hypermarket gift voucher of Dhs100 in value on the purchase of diamond jewellery worth Dhs999 and above. The offer will be featured across all its stores in the United Arab Emirates and other GCC markets during the holy month. In addition to the prominence of diamond, the collection also exhibits intricate designs in gold.

Ramadan, an auspicious period, presents immense retail opportunity as families frequent malls, supermarkets, and hypermarkets to purchase the necessities for the month. Abhijit Achwal, General Manager of Soft Touch Jewellers LLC, explains that enhancing the value of purchase is the cornerstone of Jewel Corner’s philosophy, especially during the holy month: “We recognize the importance of Ramadan for the religious and social fabric of UAE and the region. The mall and hypermarket gift vouchers are aimed at bringing greater value to the shopping experience of our customers, and allowing them to expand their shopping cart for the month after choosing from our wide range of diamond collections.”

While shorter working hours, higher footfall at shopping complexes, and high consumer demand are the retail hallmarks of Ramadan, this is also supplemented by shopping for Eid-al-Fitr, a ceremonious celebration that marks the end of the holy month. According to a report based on credit and debit card transactions, overall spending in the UAE during Ramadan in

2015 - compared to 2014 - jumped 14%.

The increase was supported by spending in supermarkets (12%) and fashion items (12%) amongst others.

“Since Jewel Corner provides affordable jewellery options, we are confident that our exquisite jewellery and variety will be the preferred choice for customers looking to surprise their loved ones with a gift for Eid. We are also anticipating high footfalls at our stores and have taken the appropriate measures to ensure consistency in our services.”

For those who prefer spending quality time with family within the confines of home, the brand’s exclusive e-commerce portal (www.jewelcorner.com) provides access to its extensive collections, in addition to supporting the purchase decision with videos that give a holistic view of each product. Jewel Corner is present through 35 stores across the GCC such as United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.

WITH PAYREMIT, OFWS CAN NOW PAY ONLINE WITHOUT CREDIT CARDS Good news for OFW without credit cards!

You can now shop online at selected websites – simply checkout using PayRemit. May birthday sa Pilipinas? Order party package and gifts online at padala. goldilocks.com, store.smartpinoy.com, and sendah.com. Need an OEC? Applying for one is now much easier! Simply register at bmonline.ph. Want to send a balikbayan box? halpU.com shops and ships everything for you, hassle-free.

PayRemit is a payment gateway for OFWs who do not have credit cards. OFWs simply transact online, and then go to selected remittance counters to pay. This service, which is supported by Ventaja International Corp., is available in 26 countries with 55 remittances agents and their 500+ branches. PayRemit will be adding more merchants in coming months – a major airline and an appliance center.

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Gretchen, who has been an OFW in Dubai for 3 years, shared her experience. “It is very convenient and time-saving. My OEC is ready to be printed less than 1 minute after paying at a UAE Exchange counter.

Amazing! Long queues and waiting are finally over!”

Last May 4, 2016, PayRemit launched four permanent booths – each equipped with a laptop, printer, and hotspot – inside remittance centers. “Filipino brands can use the booths to showcase their products to our kababayans,” said Joana Lim, Ventaja’s marketing director. “We want OFWs to realize how convenient and easy it is to transact online and pay thru remittance. Those applying for OEC will save time and money as they can even print their certificates at the booths for free!”

In Dubai, the booths are located at UAE Exchange Rigga Metro, Karama Center, and Satwa Al Bada. In Abu Dhabi, the booth is at UAE Exchange Al Wahda Mall.

PayRemit is the latest product of Ventaja International Corp. Ventaja is no. 1 collection partner for the Philippine government, i.e. SSS, Pag-IBIG, and Philhealth. PayRemit is available at the following exchanges: UAE Exchange, Delma Exchange, Emirated India, Al Ghurair International Exchange, and Progoti Exchange.

ILLUMINATI

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Deconstructing the Filipino zeitgeist. In short, dibdibang pagmumuni-muni.

The Tyranny of Bucket Lists B y > K r i p Yu s o n

“The older you get, the more you like to think that your bucket list is shortened. But more often than not, it is lengthened. The more places you experience, the more there appear to be on other distant horizons. You get greedy with travel.

R

Remarked the 19th-century Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson: “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.”

I used to subscribe to this principle, eschewing target destinations in favor of just getting away, and living the spirit of adventure in its purest sense. In my youth, I always imagined how it would be to undergo serendipitous passage, as in Basho’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

You traveled, stopped along the way whenever you felt like it — to enjoy the sight of a waterfall or a pond, to linger by a lagoon, to laze upon a beach. Then moved on. Oh, there would be a final destination, but getting there was half or more of the fun.

As you age, however, you begin to appreciate the package tour. In lieu of surprises along the way, and the necessary welter of decisions made at every turn, there is the benefit of having everything planned out for you. Escort service comes with the disadvantage of a clockwork schedule that seems at times to be one of fits and starts. But you do get to the landmarks and take photos of them, and increasingly more important, have photos of yourself taken while adding yet another notch to your selfie belt.

When one speaks of travel these days, it’s often related to bucket lists. We all have particular destinations in mind, to add to the roster of memories of conquests of foreign lands.

The older you get, the more you like to think that your bucket list is shortened. But more often than not, it’s lengthened. The more places you experience, the more there appear to be on other distant horizons. You get greedy with travel.

Decades ago, I took a train from Helsinki to the arctic crcle, that imaginary sphere where the Lapland was ruled by reindeer and Santa Claus. I wondered if Carlos P. Romulo, whom I imagined to be the most traveled Filipino, had ever set foot there. I was determined to outdo him.

I reached Romanievi, where I was treated to a spicy home meal by a Finn I had shared a berth with on the train, together with his young son. They also took me toward the border with Russia, and pointed out some rampart on a distant mountain where the neighbor’s sentries were supposed to be stationed.

I failed to see any reindeer, let alone Santa and his elves, but I considered myself fortunate for having taken Lapland off my then incipient bucket list.

Save for Antarctica, I have touched base with all known continents, thanks mostly to invitations to attend poetry and other literary festivals. The most enjoyable, owing to their quaintness as destinations, have been Medellin in Colombia, Granada in Nicaragua, the Midlothians in Scotland, Newbridge in Ireland, Shiraz in Iran, and Durban in South Africa.

But my bucket list remains long, internationally: Machu Picchu, the Galapagos, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Montana, New Orleans, the Isle of Islay, St. Petersburg, Easter Island, Bora-bora, and anywhere in the northern hemisphere that I may marvel at the aurora borealis or northern lights.

Even within our country, my bucket list still has Bantayan in Cebu, Kalanggaman Island in Leyte, Tawi-tawi and Amanpulo.

Hooray for bucket lists, which keep us wishing for or willing the extension of our longevity. The spirit of adventure remains, even if now we yearn to travel not just to go, but to assure ourselves that we can say: Been there, done that.

We can only accomplish that desideratum by arriving here, there and everywhere.

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MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday

My PINOY LIFE in Nihao! China, is beautiful, historic, and definitely worth visiting. It is very different from the negative comments you may have heard about it in other countries. I too had a negative notion about China before I came over, but I was surprised by how good the developments are in this part of the world, especially in the cities like Shanghai and Beijing

By> Melchor Saribay

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s

I have been living in Shanghai since January 2011. Before that, I was living and working in Dubai for Creative Kingdom Inc., an American architectural design & master planning company from 2005 to 2010. At around July 2010, Halcrow, a multinational urban design and engineering company, offered me a better job opportunity in Shanghai. At first I declined the offer due to the fact that I did not know much about Shanghai and the language, and that I enjoyed working

with my previous company. At that time, I was working in our office in Thailand which was located in Chiang Mai, a popular tourist destination in northern Thailand. After several meetings and negotiations, I was convinced to accept and move to Shanghai on January 2011.

My City

Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city with a population of approximately 24 million people composed of the local Shanghainese, migrant workers from all over China and foreigners from all over the world. It is the

MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday

China Shanghai the Huangpu river and Pudong skyline at sunset.

People practice Taiji on the Bund , Oriental

Pearl Tower in the distance. One of the top ten attractions in Shanghai.

premier financial center of China and a popular tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as the Bund, Yu Garden and the former French Concession, as well as the Lujiazui skyline with its modern skyscrapers.

Shanghai has many parks, museums and is in close proximity to several beautiful watertowns. It has been reported that Shanghai Disneyland will be open to the public on June this year.

My Work

I am an architect and urban designer/ planner. I am responsible for leading several teams of urban designers and architects in the concept and detailed urban design of large scale developments such as new towns & cities, central business districts, mixed-used, commercial, residential, industrial and resort developments located all over China and sometimes in the Middle East when I am requested to help our offices there.

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MY PINOY LIFE IN >

Lantern festival, Yuyuan garden

My job requires me to travel extensively all over the country where our projects are located; that’s roughly around 20-30 trips a year by plane or high speed train. To give you an idea of how taxing this can be, remember that China is bigger than Europe.

There was a domestic trip that I had that

Pink and white tulips blooming in a garden at the Shanghai Flower port in shanghai China.

Shanghai Zhujiajiao town with boat and historic buildings

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took 6 hours by plane from Shanghai. It was the city of Urumqi in Xinjiang province located in western China.

My Community

There are more than 3000 Filipinos living here in Shanghai, and there are different Filipino groups here that can be classified by profession, hobbies and sports.

MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday

The few organization or groups that I know of are: • FilsDrawing - an organization of Filipino Designers composed of architects, urban designers/planners, landscape designers, interior designers and graphic designers.

• United Architects of the Philippines - Shanghai Chapter • Pinoy Roadies - Filipino cycling group • Filsba - badminton • PMAS – musicians The Philippine Consulate organizes and sponsors an annual event wherein all Filipino residents and groups in Shanghai are invited to celebrate the Philippine Independence day.

My Life

Life here in Shanghai is very comfortable. It is a multi-cultural city and it is not so difficult to blend in as there are a lot of establishments where English is widely understood and spoken. Naturally, being able to speak the local language is very helpful. I only know and understand a few words, but I have survived 5 years here. At work, my colleagues speak to me in English and translate for me during meetings with clients and other consultants.

We live at the Lujiazui CBD area located in the Pudong New District. It is a mixed-use area that has commercial, office, residential, entertainment, dining, retail, and recreational spaces, as well as several tourist destinations. We live in a residential development that is composed of 8 high-rise apartments and has its own park, children’s playground and a nursery & kindergarten. It is very conducive for a young family like ours. It is within walking distance to a riverside park and boardwalk where I take my kids for a walk in the morning on weekdays before I go to work, when the weather is good. Shanghai has four seasons and winter can be very cold. Sometimes, the air quality is bad due to the pollution.

Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai word financial center

I get to and from work by subway or taxi, Shanghai has a very good public transport system consisting of taxi, bus, ferry and the metro/subway that can all be accessed using just one transport card. Shanghai has the most extensive subway network in the world.

It is more than 600km long and has 366 stations.

Plans and constructions are on-going for additional lines and stations to make sure that by 2020, every part of the city will be less than 10 minute walk from a subway station. It is also a very safe and walkable city.

Traditional shopping area in shanghai at dusk

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MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday

Shanghai in the night time. View from the bund

On weekends and sometimes in the weekday evenings, I go cycling with my Filipino friends or with a cycling group consisting of different nationalities, and ride within and to the outskirts of the city. There are many cycling destinations within Shanghai.

Almost all roads have one dedicated lane for cycling or scooters. On weekends and holidays my family and I like to just simply go out to eat and have coffee in one of the many restaurants, bars and coffee shops in the city. Dining or eating/drinking is one of the popular activities for people in Shanghai. It is reported that there are about 45,000 restaurants, bars, coffee shops and food kiosks in the city.

Before we had children, my wife and I would go on day trips to nearby resort cities such as Suzhou and Hangzhou which would take 20 minutes and a bit more than an hour by high speed train respectively.

Shanghai is only 3.5 hours flight from Manila and less than 2 hours flight from Seoul, where my wife is from, so it is very convenient for us to go home during the holidays.

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Tourists visit Xintiandi alley

China.Xintiandi is a stylish pedestrian street composed of

Shikumen architecture(literally Stone Street).

MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday

The Shanghai museum of Natural History.

It is one of the the largest museums in the ASIA.

During my stay here, I’ve learned a couple of really interesting things:

Street view with Oriental Pear tower on June 1, 2013 in

Shanghai. Shanghai is the largest city by population in the world of more than 24 million as of 2013.

• Drinking tea is very popular in China. There are so many different teas for different occasions and seasons.

• Giving out business cards with two hands with the card facing the recipient • When a client proposes a toast to you, you must give the toast in return. Refusal would be disrespectful. If they drink it bottoms up, you have to do the same.

• Personal relationship is very important, even in a professional environment. There is no such thing as a meeting “request.” All your efforts and good deeds will amount to nothing if you fail to attend to a meeting called by the client. There are instances where we would travel 3 hours by plane or high speed train and stay overnight in another city just to have a 20-minute meeting with a client for a minor adjustment to the design. In other countries this could be done via a simple email or teleconference.

To my fellow Pinoys…

Nihao! China, is beautiful, historic, and definitely worth visiting. It is very different from the negative comments you may have heard about it in other countries. I too had a negative notion about the China before I came over, but I was surprised by how good the developments are in this part of the world, especially in the cities like Shanghai and Beijing.

Detail of the sculpture at Jing’an International Sculpture

Exhibition titled “City Fantasy”. It features 68 sculptures by 31 artists from eight countries.

FYI, China is not a cheap place to live in for expats.

From my experience, the cost of living is more expensive here in Shanghai than in Dubai. Shanghai is currently the 6th most expensive city in the world.

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

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Celebrating Filipino artistry, passion, and cleverness.

Danabelle Gutierrez Writer

Danabelle is the author of two highly acclaimed books of poetry: I Long to Be The River, which was published in June 2014, and & Until The Dreams come, published in September 2015. Here, Danabelle takes us through her journey as a writer and shows us a glimpse of what her mind looks like on the inside. Hint: it’s gorgeous.

Her Artform I like to think of writing as an overflow something that can’t be helped or forced or held back. You do it because there is this urgent, compelling need to say something.

Poetry is some form of a scream, sometimes a whisper, sometimes a thought.

And I guess that’s what I like about it. It is all of that and it is none of it.

I started enjoying the art of writing when I was in middle school: mainly prose and a bit of very bad poetry. I wanted to be a rockstar and I wanted to write songs. The rockstar bit hasn’t happened, but poetry is a form of singing, I suppose. Back in 2012, I started writing a novel, which shouldn’t have been a big deal. Since I was in high school, I’ve had the habit writing novels that I could never finish. What made this 2012 attempt special was that I actually finished it. I was very proud of that - that I had set out to do something and followed through with it. However, after reading through it, I realized that I did not like it very much.

But I didn’t want to give up. I couldn’t let one piece of work stop me from what I wanted to do, which was to write. So I sought advice and tips from several writers, and the one common advice that kept coming up was, “just keep writing”. So that’s what I did. Unfortunately, I couldn’t focus on a story or anything longer than

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a page and everything that was coming out of me was prose and poetry. But even then, I still did not want to give up, so I stuck with it, and after a while, I realized I had more than enough poems to publish a book, so I released “I Long To Be The River” in 2014 and after that, I stuck with the advice to just keep writing.

Her Process I’m not really sure if I actually have a “process,” because I’m usually surprised at how and when the words make it to the page. I wish there was a pattern or a formula - like if I do A and B and C, a piece would come out - but most often, I find myself staring at a blank sheet of paper or a white screen with a blinking cursor waiting for me to say something. Some days, nothing comes out. I still show up everyday, though. I read, then I write in between. Sometimes, I hate what I write with a passion. Sometimes, I like it. Some days, I even like it so much that I put it in a book and share it with whoever is willing to listen.

Her Work While my work is MY work, I like to think that when someone else reads it and experiences it, then the words are no longer mine, but theirs. And I suppose the same can be said for all poetry. We write for ourselves, but what we’ve written is for another person to experience. I am not as concerned about being unique or distinctive as I am concerned about being compelling and good.

Her Journey The highest point in my journey as a writer so far was the & Until The Dreams Come book launch and exhibit, held in November of 2015. Being invited to read poetry and being a featured artist to several events are

high up there as well. I mean, a few years ago, I was just a girl, writing whatever I felt like writing, and now I get invited to speak in nice places and people actually seem to like the words that come out of me and they actually want to hear me say them out loud.

Being a self-published writer is not the easiest thing. It has afforded me a lot of freedom with expressing my artform, but spreading the word out there is not as easy, as distribution is limited to online sales, which sometimes involve a hefty shipping price. I recently teamed up with CommonRoom PH and have had some amazing response from the Philippine market. This is where I am currently working on the administration and business side of publishing to try and get a wider

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

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“Let me bite your sugarcane lips.

Consider the silk sheets on fire.

Consider love like a raging storm with hurricane wings.

There is no gentle here.”

- E x c e r p t fr o m W ild Th in gs & Th eir W ild Fires by Dan abe l l e G u ti e r r e z , a s p u b lis he d in h er 2 0 1 5 book, & U n til Th e Dream s C o me

that I’ve written so far, but I’m still writing.

I’m still trying.

Her Advice to Aspiring Writers I am reminded of this quote by Dorothy Parker:

distribution for the books to make my work more accessible and affordable.

Her Goals I am attempting to write my third book which is taking longer than I would have hoped, but I’ll get there, I’m sure. This is just one of those times when the blank sheet of paper and white screen with a blinking cursor are waiting for me to say something substantial and I have nothing great to say. I’ve hated almost everything

“If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.”

Writing is hard, but it is necessary; a requirement, if you may. See, wanting to write is not nearly enough. You have to have that need for you to do something this excruciating. And so, if you feel that it is something that you need to do, that you

would rather die than do anything else, then just keep writing. At some point you will get frustrated, but all it means is that you want to get better at your craft. There is nobility in that.

Also, read. Read as much as you can as often as you can. Reading is as necessary as writing. I think it was Stephen King who said, “If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time to write.”

So read, read, read, and write, write, write.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

I Long To Be The River & Until The Dreams are available at FNDesigns in Dubai, CommonRoom PH in Manila, and Amazon. com

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

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Visual Artist

JOSHUA CORPUZ

Celebrating Filipino artistry, passion, and cleverness.

His Artform “I draw” is how I usually answer people when they ask me what I do. That’s because I’m usually too lazy to delve into details about what I do. But if we need to be a bit more in-depth, I do conceptual art and illustration for a living. To further elaborate: I design characters or creatures and prepare storyboards and animatics for pre-production work. And no, it’s not the same as graphic design. And no, I can’t and won’t draw you or your nephew’s face.

I enjoy drawing because I get to create and design things and tell stories with them, from things that exists to imaginary scenarios. What I love about it is that there’s exactly no end and limit to it except for your own imagination. Getting paid

to draw dragons is pretty dope, though I prefer to work on my own stuff than a client’s. I work on a freelance basis only because I get the most satisfaction out of it, plus I don’t have to answer to anyone’s expectations.

His Process Detailing how I work would require plenty of screenshots and about 10 or more additional pages, but here’s the gist of it: 1.)

I figure out what I want to draw, 2.) I think about the context of the image, 3.) I find proper references, 4.) I work on it for 2 to 5 days. Regrettably, I haven’t been working on a proper personal piece lately due to professional demands.

His Journey I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, inspired by video games like the Final Fantasy series and Legend of Mana and anime like Digimon and Shaman King. I had my first freelance client while I was still studying: Paizo Publishing, which was quite a big and impressive account. Sadly, they dropped me after 2 gigs for not being able to meet the quality that they required at that time. That was a very important learning experience for me. I’ve also had the privilege of working for Volta - an outsourcing studio that works on triple-A game titles. Getting to work for big companies is fun and all, but getting to meet and learn from all the people that I look up to has got to be #1 in my highlight list.

His Advice for Aspiring Artists Keep at it. The more frustrated you are, the better. Never be satisfied at your current skill level because you would risk stagnation. Remember that there’s always room for improvement. Though of course, it wouldn’t hurt to pat yourself on back once in a while for learning a new thing or two. https://joshcorpuz.artstation.com/

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

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By> JOSHUA CORPUZ

Celebrating Filipino artistry, passion, and cleverness.

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MONEY

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Make money. Maintain that money. Money pa more!

, Whe n you find the righ t nich e in a busi ness you coul d esta blish a real nam e for your self.

Som etim es, find ing the righ t busi ness is a com bina tion of seve ral “pas sion s.” You have t to be more spec ific in defi ning exac tly wha you are good in.

Converting your Passion into a Business By> Francisco J. Colayco

In choosing a business that is best suited for you, one main factor to consider is how much “passion” you have for it. As time passes, I begin to see more and more how the word “passion” can be misinterpreted or misunderstood. Let’s look at this further by understanding some ways you can determine your passion. Remember that you are looking for a passion that can also be your business.

Ask yourself these questions: What is it that you really love to do and are you any good at it?

Let’s take the example of cooking. Let’s say you love to cook and are happy doing it. People say the food you cook really looks and tastes good. Let’s assume that cooking is your passion.

If you succeed in doing it, will you be proud of yourself?

In the case of cooking, each time you are able to make a special dish you are particularly proud of yourself. You practice so often so as not to make any mistakes.

Your self-pride increases as you continue your love for cooking. Here, we can assume that cooking is your passion.

How about if you do something which is the complete opposite?

Will your chosen activity destroy your self-pride and cause you extreme embarrassment?

Still in the case of cooking, when you prepare a dish that is really bad, do you say it is because you are not practicing enough? Or does it really cause you extreme embarrassment because your illustrado go>46

level of expertise clearly is far too low from where it should be? If your standard for excellence is low and you thus allow yourself to accept major lapses in your skill, then perhaps, cooking is not your passion.

What is it that motivates you to do something over and over again and not be tired of doing it?

In the case of cooking, will you be tired of doing the same dish over and over again?

If you will become tired of repetitiously doing what you love, perhaps, it is not a passion but just a hobby.

Let us continue with the questions you can ask yourself to determine what your real passion is, as a basis for putting up a business. Now, time to think about the other things that relate to what you think your “passion” is 1. Look at the things that you actually hate to do - your “antipassion” For example, you don’t really like to go to the market because you don’t like the smell of raw meat and the chaos. Or you don’t have much patience to wait and you want results quickly. Surely, finding the best ingredients at the right price is crucial in any cooking business. Patience is a must in becoming a culinary expert. You have to accept that some dishes are best cooked on a very low fire and very very slowly. In such case, can you really make cooking your business?

2. Is what you call your passion actually just your hobby?

In the cooking example, to make it a

business, you need to continuously do the same things over and over again. Passion is an intense desire and enthusiasm for something. It is almost like you will “die” if you don’t do it. On the other hand, a hobby is just something you love to do when you want to do it.

3. How much time and effort did you invest on your passion?

As an aspiring chef, do you analyze cook books and practice what you learned? Did you go out of your way to find a mentor to teach you? Are you constantly talking to people about it to learn more? You feel that as long as you are trying, even if you fail at times, you still feel a sense of pride because you did it and learned from it.

When you find the right niche in a business, you could establish a real name for yourself. Sometimes, finding the right business is a combination of several “passions.” You have to be more specific in defining exactly what you are good in.

A passion for excellence and creativity may seem to be mutually exclusive. Excellence demands precision and discipline while creativity thrives on throwing out rules and thinking out of the box. And yet the most successful chefs are the best examples of precise cooking techniques applied in creating new recipes with previously unheard of combinations of meat, fruit, herbs and vegetables.

The challenge then is really for you to discover your passions and find a way to combine them in developing a product or service.

LAW

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Get right with the rules. Here’s how.

Put it in Writing: Why Making a Will in the UAE Should Be Your Top Priority One of the most important documents every OF should have—a last will and testament.

Writing your post-mortem demands should not be intimidating as you will discover in the process, what matters most in your life.

By> Barney Almazar, Esq.

If you’ve been putting it off simply because it seems daunting, you are definitely making a big mistake. Life is not certain, especially in a foreign land. By making a will, you can distribute your assets according to the needs of your loved ones.

Article 17 (5) of the same code is quite contradictory: “The law of the United Arab Emirates shall apply to wills made by aliens disposing of their real property located in the State.”

Reason #1: Keep the family together When you die without a will, it may create tension among your heirs in deciding who gets what. A lot of siblings end up in costly legal battles when they cannot agree on the estate distribution. When drafting your will, consider appointing an impartial executor of your estate. Do not name someone who is a major beneficiary of your will. A good will makes your intentions clear, avoiding rivalry as each heir exactly knows what goes to whom according to your wishes.

To harmonize the apparent contradiction, only movable assets (jewelry, cash, personal effects) of the deceased can be distributed as per his national law while the distribution of his real or immovable assets (such as land, house or condominium unit) will be governed by UAE laws.

When the heirs go to the UAE court, even if the testamentary dispositions are valid as per the national laws of the deceased (such as disinheriting a family member or favoring a non-heir over “forced heirs”), the UAE court shall have the discretion to strike down the same as it is contradictory to Sharia (as courts are bound to uphold principles of Sharia). By having a valid will drafted to conform both UAE and Philippine inheritance laws, you will be able to take advantage of the rules favoring the manner in which you would like your assets distributed. If you do not have a will, you are giving the courts unbridled discretion in distributing your hard earned assets.

Reason # 2: Peace of mind UAE laws may not favor Philippine succession rules.

Article 17 (1) of the UAE Civil Transactions Code states: “Inheritance shall be governed by the law of the deceased at the time of his death” which implies that if a non-Muslim Filipino dies in the UAE, his assets will be distributed following the provisions of Philippine law. However,

Reason # 3: Custody of your kids Although the next of kin is the default guardian of your minor children, your relatives may not be present in the UAE. You will need to appoint an interim guardian while arrangements are being made for your relatives to collect your children (as they cannot stay in the UAE without visa sponsors). If you want a specific family member or a non-relative

If a person dies without a will, his assets will be distributed as per the default provisions of the law. Persons who are not considered by law to be heirs will be excluded from the distribution of assets.

The will allows a person to favor a certain individual or the flexibility to control the distribution of his assets after his death.

to look after your children, you will have to specifically designate such person in your will. Otherwise, the court might step in and commit your children to social welfare or hand custody over to a relative you may not approve of.

Case in point A widow asked for our firm’s assistance regarding the transfer of her husband’s assets under her name. She was still grieving when she came to the office with her 2 young children as her husband had died just several days ago. Her husband was only 42 and left no will. Their two apartments were under his name. His bank accounts were frozen and she does not have enough cash on hand to support their daily needs. Since survivorship rules do not apply in the UAE, conjugal assets will be frozen until the issue of inheritance has been decided by the local courts. This process may take time as documents will be required to be authenticated from his home country. To make matters worse, the in-laws contested her inheritance, accusing her of causing their son’s sudden death.

And another hurdle: her and her kids’ visas were cancelled since they were all under the deceased’s visa. Unless she can get a new sponsor, she and her kids will need to leave the country in less than a month.

This unfortunate situation could have been prevented if a valid will had been executed.

The start of the year is always a good time to write your will because as you undergo the process, you will find yourself thinking ahead and planning for your and your family’s future. It’s truly a selfless act. illustrado go>47

What to do yani? K. Here.

ILLUSTRADO CALENDAR

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Here are our list of things to do, places to go, and events to attend…

2016

JUNE

Play Sports Indoors 05 June - 27 August 2016 Can’t take the heat but still want to stay active this summer? Book a court at Dubai sports world and enjoy a game of football, basketball, volleyball, or tennis with your friends, sans the scorching Middle East humidity.

Make magical memories at The Majilis 06 June - 07 July 2016 Experience the bounty of Ramadan at The Majilis, located at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Enjoy daily Iftaar and Suhoor, prepared by DWTC’s world-class chefs.

Iftaar will be served daily at 7pm to 9pm, followed by Suhoor, at 9pm to 3am.

photo credit: GoDubai.com

Photo credit: GoDubai.com

Celebrate Ramadan And we don’t just mean Iftaar! Ramadan is the holiest of times in the Islamic Calendar – a period of reflection and stillness for our Muslim brothers and sisters. For a change, why not internalize this sense of devotion and dedicate some of your extra time to charitable causes, or perhaps even learn something new?

This may even be a good time to try out that new diet you’ve been thinking about.

Whatever it is you want to do, let it be positive and different. photo credit: Ramadan-2016.com

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What to do yani? K. Here.

ILLUSTRADO CALENDAR

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2016

JUNE

Watch a sports match at Nad Al Sheba 06 June - 27 June 2016 An annual event held during Ramadan, the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament brings together some of the most esteemed athletes in the region. Witness popular sporting matches such as paddle tennis, volleyball, track and field, and even archery!

Photo credit: DubaiCalendar.ae

Watch a sports match at Nad Al Sheba 06 June - 27 June 2016 An annual event held during Ramadan, the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament brings together some of the most esteemed athletes in the region. Witness popular sporting matches such as paddle tennis, volleyball, track and field, and even archery!

Photo credit: DubaiCalendar.ae

Enjoy a whole new world at Modhesh World!

27 June - 27 August 2016 Summer in Dubai is not complete without a visit to Modhesh World - a spectacle of colors and surprises for the young and young at heart. The event has become and international spectacle, having attracted more than 500,000 visitors in its past editions.

Be an EntrepCHAMP! June 18, 2016 Learn the finer points of entrepreneurship from successful businessman, motivational speaker, and best-selling author Paulo Tibig! Jovy Tuanio, CEO of Asia Gulf Companies, will also be on hand to discuss how UAE-based entrepreneurs can support each other in the region’s highly competitive environment.

Photo credit: PBC AbuDhabi

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Because there’s no business like showbusiness. Boom panes!

By> Kristine Abante – Dubai

Maria Isabel Lopez a scene-stealer at Cannes Lopez tells her side of the story after her red-carpet appearance at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in France gained more attention on the Internet than director Brillante Mendoza and lead star Jaclyn Jose who went on to be proclaimed as Best Actress.

In the article she wrote on Glitter.ph, Lopez apologized to Direk Brillante and Jaclyn for unintentionally stealing the scene at the film festival.

All eyes were on Maria Isabel Lopez, who played a supporting role in Brillante Mendoza’s critically acclaimed film Ma’ Rosa, after she grabbed the spotlight at the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival.

Donning an emerald dress designed by Albert Andrada at the red carpet, the veteran actress gained attention for her attention-grabbing poses during the group photos, which showed noticeable ‘space gap’ from her companions.

It turned out the red carpet incident has engendered memes and humorous hash tags that are currently going viral.

The actress wrote: “I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to my director Brillante Mendoza and the lead actress Jaclyn Jose that there was no intention on my part to be a scene stealer and take the spotlight away from them. I was just being me.”

She added that this was her second time in Cannes, since she also attended the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in 2009 for the film Kinatay, also directed by Brillante.

At the controversial group photo during the red carpet, the actress justified that the trail of her gown was being stepped upon and she constantly needed to push the trail towards her.

“That’s the reason for the ‘space’ that I created between me and the rest of the actors. As they say inside the Paris metro, ‘Please mind the gap.’ My gown was being stepped upon and if you can only see how dirty it is on the tail.”

Lopez clarified that she wasn’t making a scene. “I was simply protecting myself from falling down and from making the gown dirty.”

Photo credit: from Festival de Cannes Facebook page

Beware of the Flying Ipis All-Girl Indie-band Flying Ipis have set their sights for “world infestation”, taking their brand of garage punk rock all over the globe. The band was handpicked to represent the Philippines at this year’s South by SouthWest SXSW, the largest interactive music festival in Austin Texas.

Most recently, they were invited by Breakthrough DXB to headline a gig for indie-artists at the Music Room in Dubai.

Led by former high-school classmates Deng Garcia on vocals, Ymi Castel on Guitars, Tanya Singh on bass and Gaki Azurin on drums, the band’s notoriously cheeky name (“ipis” = “cockroach” in English) endeared them and their music to rising cult status.

Asked for advise on how they managed to stand out from the saturated scene and launch their career on the international stage, vocalist Deng Garcia had this to say illustrado go>50

“It doesn’t happen over night. You have to have the passion for music, or you will burn out. We can play every night and not have enough sleep, we’d still play.”

The band has opened for international acts Japandroids and Metric, played for local rock fests and festivals, notably the Oktoberfest, Fete de la Musique, and the Jack Daniel’s Indie Fest.

Flying Ipis has released their first fulllength album “Give Ipis A Chance” in 2013.

After their successful gig in Dubai, the band is now busy working on their second album “The Roach Motel”, to be released sometime this year.

Photo credit JD Valdez, from Flying Ipis Facebook page

FOOD

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For the Young, Single, and Hungry

Rest for the wicked By> Nicholo Jallores

CLAMS STEW WITH ANCHELLINI PASTA AND SAUSAGE

There is something about shellfish that is simultaneously sophisticated and primal. They look elegant on the plate, and feel like a nuclear explosion of deliciousness in the mouth.

Nothing tastes of the ocean as much as shellfish – not even fish.

Heck, maybe not even the actual ocean. And shellfish packs so much flavor per square millimeter, cooking with them feels a bit like cheating. Your soup is a little bland? Throw in some clams. Your pasta needs a bit of depth and interest. Bung in some mussels.

They’re like the bacon of the marine world. They just make everything taste better.

This dish is one of those rare things that offer both comfort and complexity. It’s the kind of food that is best served to the hung over, because the carbs in the pasta are ultra relaxing, but the flavor profile is so vibrant, it could jolt anyone back to life. There are two flavor powerhouses here: the clams and the sausage. I used a sausage called hamonado, which is sweet (think candied pork) and Filipino in origin. I could’ve used chorizo just as well, but I wanted to support the ocean-y sweetness of the clams with a a sweetness that’s more earthbound. Plus it’s cheaper and more readily available.

YOU’LL NEED: 2 tbsps. Olive Oil (not extra virgin. If you don’t have olive oil, don’t bother with a quick trip to grocery. Just use any flavorless oil) 2 cups of diced sausage (Preferrably one that will hold its shape when cut, like chorizo, or Filipino hamonado. But if you don’t have that, it’s still good to have crumbly bits of sausage.)

1 large onion, diced

Now this is looks like an unnecessary step, as you can most definitely just bung in the pasta along with the stew and cook both together in one pot – but then you’d have to add extra water. Plus, the anchellini will release a lot of its starch, which could make your stew simultaneously soupy and gummy, instead of stew-y. It’s up to you. This is your meal. Have it your way.

2.) In a separate pot, sautee the sausage in a bit of olive oil, using medium heat. Once you’ve smelt their sweet and salty goodness, add the onions, garlic, and ginger and sautee until the onions have softened.

2 cloves of garlic, sliced or minced 1/2 tsp. ginger, grated or minced 1 1/2 tbsp. Tomato Paste 1 tsp. sriracha sauce (or if you don’t have it, you can use chili pepper flakes. Or even a fresh red chili. You just need a bit of firepower.)

Cherry Tomatoes (I left them whole, coz I like how they burst in your mouth when you eat them. You can cut them in half if you’re in a knife-y mood) 1 cup of dry white wine (don’t use anything other than dry wine here. There’s enough sweetness from the sausage already.)

A kilo of clams 1 1/2 cups of anchellini pasta (or any other small pasta like orzo, or even macaroni) Flat-leaf parsley (Not the curly type, which is basically useless.)

Shaved parmesan for topping (Not to be a purist, but only parmesan will work here.

If you don’t have that, don’t bother with adding cheese. It’ll still taste great.)

HOW: 1.) Cook the anchellini pasta separately, in lots of boiling water and a handful of salt.

3.) Add the tomato paste and the sriracha sauce. This is an important step, as the flavor of tomato paste improves when it is sauteed in a bit of fat. Do this for about a minute, then add a cup of white wine. Scrape of the awesome brown bits in the bottom of the pan, and reduce the liquid to about half. (If you’re not using wine, you could do the same technique with a bit of the water that the anchellini have cooked in.)

4.) Throw in the clams, add 2 cups of water, season with a bit of fish sauce, and close the lid. Clams will take about 3 to 5 minutes to cook and unfurl. As they cook, they will release their salty, ocean-y juices into the stew. MIND BLOWING! 5.) When the clams have opened up, bung in the cooked anchellini pasta and the chopped parsley. Simmer for a a minute or two just to allow the pasta to absorb some of the stew liquid.

6.) Serve on a nice, big bowl and top with shaved parm and a scattering of chopped parsley.

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ONLI IN DA PILIPINS

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Filipinisms. Sometimes awesome. Sometimes facepalm.

Things We Wish We Were Free From, Forevermore

So we take the bad with the good—and for that, every single one of us deserves a sparkly monument in Luneta!

Because frankly speaking, it takes true martyrdom and sheer love of ‘Pinas to deal with the worst each day of our lives without calling it quits.

We could only wish upon a star that none of these ever happened for as long as we lived.

B y > A b y Ya p

1. Traffic The story of our lives. The dire situation of our main thoroughfares pays no heed to the basic right to get to one’s destination sans the stress. Traffic shaves a minimum of four hours off our daily existence time we could use for something more meaningful than cursing MMDA. 2. BV Shoo, Bad Vibes! Our morning officially starts with Facebook checking (or checkin) and it doesn’t help make the day worth looking forward to when news feeds reek of bashing, bullying, and beast-mode posts.

Loosen up, people! It’s a wonderful world.

3. Corruption Everyone claims to be vehemently against it and yet would rather settle traffic violations with a Ninoy bill when caught. So much for the son’s tuwid na daan <face-palms>.

Lest we forget, corruption isn’t exclusive to politicians, though they undoubtedly earn more.

4. Gossip While it can prevent the rise of serial killers in our midst, think of all the lives tsismis could ruin. The fathers who work hard, illustrado go>52

the mothers who love unconditionally, the daughters… you get the drift. Let’s just stick to cracking showbiz blind items.

5. Brokenness This #hugot goes to MRT/LRT. It’s OneMore-Chance level heartbreaking to ride one. The AC malfunctions. The doors don’t close even while the train is running. The train suddenly stops and we have to walk on the railroad tracks to get out of misery.

6. War As Boy George sang, it’s stupid. There’s no sense fighting over who’s the most kilig love team today. The truth hurts, but JaDine, AlDub, KathNiel, and LizQuen don’t care. We have too much going on in the Spratly Islands and Mindanao to worry about it.

7. Trapos So what do you do with trapos, or wornout rags in English? You throw them away. That’s what we should be doing to our traditional politicians then—pronto!

Because we’re already sick and tired of the same, old, and boring lies este rhetoric, mga kababayan.

8. Elections This warrants its own space after what happened in the craziest election ever in Philippine history. Friendships ended.

Monsters arose. Logic died and nearly everyone became fantards. A national apocalypse every six years will have us all bleeding to death. Never again.

9. OA-ness To be declared persona non grata for calling someone hipon or shrimp (zero face value, though very sexy) is a little too much. But we’re over-reacting, touchy, and juvenile like that. It’s an acceptable behavior as our telenovelas can attest, where everyone is in a sigawan/sabunutan/ sampalan fest.

10. Philippine Passport Traitors we’re certainly not, but we’ve grown weary of being treated like secondclass travellers. We demand equality, and the understanding that not every Pinoy plans to go on TNT (Tago Nang Tago)! A lot of us simply want to Travel Nang Travel.

Visa denied is dream shattered.

ANNIE B CHRONICLES

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Th e ad v e n tur e s a n d mi s ad ve n tu re s o f a ‘ n o t s o a ve ra g e ’ P in a y tr y i n g to ma ke i t i n th e c o s m o po lita n c ity o f Du b a i

“EYE BALL” – I told him that my visual statistics are 36.23.38….I’m finally had to reveal that those are really my lucky lotto numbers.

It was confirmed - a dinner date, Thursday night 7:30pm at Tagpuan Restaurant in Karama. I’m finally meet the man of my dreams. Maybe he is just being humble – what if he’s really a millionaire kabayan who’s been looking for the right girl to bring to the altar and be his queen in the kingdom of the rich and the famous lifestyle? Jumeirah Janes, here I come!

I

It all started with this…

Machogwapito25: Hello der!

ASL? :wink: Pinayhotchick: hey! I am 24 years old. Filipina in Dubai. U? :smile: Machogwapito25: Kumusta Miss Kabayan?

I’m 29, mestisuhing Pinoy, taga-Dubai din for 15 years now. :wink: Pinayhotchick: Us in 15 years?!!! ang cool mo naman…so fluent ka na mag-arabic?

Machogwapito25: Shuhada, habibti? How long are u here in Dubai?

Pinayhotchick: Newbie pa lang me…4 months pa lang…:smile: Machogwapito25: Wowowee!!! Fresh na fresh ha? Well, let me be your guide!

Pinayhotchick: Talaga??!!! How nice of you naman. Promise yan ha? Sky’s the langit?

Teka, may wheels ka ba? Haha – kasi papano tayo gigimik di ba?

Machogwapito25: But op cors! Ok na ba sayo ang Mitsubishi Pajero? :wink: Pinayhotchick: Coool!!! 100 pogi points!

I’m interested! :smile: Yes the hopeless romantic in me finally gave in. After a month of everyday chatting and exchanging of emails, we agreed to meet each other in person thru an Eye Ball. At first I was hesitate to meet him

As my date is truly romantic, he reserved a table outside the restaurant – Dinner Al Presko!!! Romatic na, presko pa! I thought I was already late becoz there were just old people having goto. I sat down in one of the tables, feeling like Julia Roberts in the movie “Pretty Woman”, waiting for my date to surprise me. I ordered a glass of Sago’t Gulaman to freshen up and ease my tension. Then suddenly, this DOM kabayan from the other table looked at me and smiled. Ngiii!!!!... I know I had mestiza features so that’s why he might think I’m a Russian you know. The he suddenly waived his hand – the nerves! What does he think of me? A waitress?!!!! So I just ignored him and pretended to sip Gulaman. Then, he called me in a familiar name.

“Pinayhotchick?”, as he walked towards my table.

“Bakeet?!!!” As I faced the other direction.

“Miss ikaw ba si Pinayhotchick” He pulled a chair and sat comfortably.

“Eh ano ngayon sa yo?!!!” “Excuse me, but as you can see, I am waiting for my date….”

Then it occurred to me, “Oh noooo!” Could this DOM Kabayan be…

“I’m machogwapito25!” he blurted out.

All of a sudden, I’m stopped. (Natigilan ako.) How come this guy is different from the one in the chatroom? He said in our chat that he is mestizo and looksalike Robin Padilla with a little bit of Piolo Pascual…but how come he is like Dencio Padilla with a little bit of Panchito?!!! I thought he is just

25 years old – but from his looks I think he’s been in Dubai for 25 years now. But the bling-blings in his finger, his wrist, his neck and his teeth flashed a blinding light on me – dedma na sa hitsura but I think this guy is really loaded!

“Sige nga, if ur really machogwapito25, where is your car?

He picked up his car keys and pushed on of the buttons.

Bleep! Bleep!

I turned around and saw a red Pajero behind me – with the lights blinking on and off. So dizzizit….wala ng urungan… magka-subuan na…deal or no deal? Game na? Game naaaa!!!!!

“Hi machogwapitooooo!!!! I’m pinayhotchick. I’m Annie B. I’m a pleasure to meet you.”

“Whew! Akala ko iindyanin mo na ako eh.

Kasi at first it’s like you are hesitate.” DOM Kabayan said. “Bay da wey. I’m Anastacio Antonio. Call me Ashton for short.”

I got excited. “Alam mo yan ang gusto ko sa lalaki – ang may personality! Bukod pa sa iyong CAR-acter-ahihihi! You know what, kapag nag-anniversary tayo next year, I want to have dinner in this very same restaurant – in this same table pa mismo!

Romantic ba? Syempre susunduin mo ako at ihahatid sa office ko sa Media City, tapos sabay tayo magdi-dinner every night, then every Sunday magsisimba tayo together.

Tapos every weekend magpi-picnic tayo sa park, o kaya mag-a-out of town or magbibeach. O sa museum naman kaya? Ang romantic di ba? Tapos manonood tayo ng sine then kakain sa restaurant then kape sa Starbucks – you know….”

Ashton: “Ha? (sabay-lunok) Ahh…ehh.. di ba pwedeng getting to know each other muna tayo?

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BLOG

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Top 5 Reasons that Explain Duterte’s Landslide Win By> Kristine Abante-Dubai, UAE

Wondering why 15 Million of your kababayans elected an unlikely candidate during this year’s election? Here are the top 5 reasons, from the perspective of a Filipina who grew up in the ‘Gates of Hell’ (Manila, Philippines), raised on banned books and notorious rockstars -

1.He presented us with an alternative to the traditional politicians who held the reins of power ever since they took it from dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Thirty years since EDSA’s people power, these selfserving oligarchs who installed themselves as the supposed bastion of decency and democracy made themselves and their friends richer (read George Orwell – Animal Farm) while the rest of the country remain in poverty, suffering from the lack of infrastructures and basic services and held hostage by unending corruption, rising criminality and deadly drug cartels.

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We have been pushed to our limits, so we took our protest to the ballot – such is the beauty of our hard-earned albeit flawed democracy.

2. He had proof of concept. It is easy to blurt out promises, outline agendas, during campaign period. Everyone has a great vision and platforms, but once elected they bungle up on the execution, because of the lack of political will. We Filipinos are sick and tired of empty promises. We have heard every grand plan for the last 30 years, and yet most of these remain, just plans on the drawing board.

Fortunately for Mayor Digong, his 22 years of service in Davao City which paved the way for a free 911 emergency hotline, the first of its kind in Asia, among many other achievements were enough to convince the majority that he can actually deliver.

He gave us jaded Pinoys a sense of hope – that, things can change for the better if only we can all be inspired to work together.

3. He rallied for social justice .

Unlike his opponent who paraded his Wharton-degree to a crowd that can barely afford to go to school, and who campaigned

BLOG

with alienating slogans such as “Ibalik ang disente” (bring back the decent), Duterte was flawed but he was true to form, promoting social equality and inclusivity.

He is unapologetically left-leaning. He always did specify in his speeches - if only people cared to watch them in full, that, he is for social equality. Center left, with the idea that economic growth should be shared with the rest of the country and should not rest in the hands of the few.

He also espoused resolving the historical injustice done to our brothers in Muslim Mindanao and the indigenous communities whose development had been stalled heavily by civil wars that ran for decades. Having lived in the territory, his understanding of what happens on ground gives him a better perspective and better position to negotiate for peace – a prospect that even Communist party leader JoMa Sison (incidentally his old university professor) is willing to support.

4. He tells it like it is, in a language that the country understands . For us working in the music industry, we all know the reason behind every successful rockstar. They connect. Your fears, your hopes, your desires, dirty jokes, shameless gutter language, are all part and parcel of delivering a truth that goes for the jugular.

To be fair he did really hit a lot spots that were completely uncalled for and were unacceptable. But, you have to admit it worked. Ask yourself, had he not been controversial, had he delivered straight boring speeches, would the amount of vitriol – and the daily media coverage been the same? He was a relatively unheard of Mayor from the South, without stolen Yolanda funds to pay for multi-million TV ads. But his foul mouth ensured him a spot

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on the front page every day, and candidates ended up talking about him more than their own platforms.

On the other hand, the majority of Filipinos who could not comprehend stock market charts are the primary target market of his campaign. Every low blow punch from his wealthy powerful opponents only made him more relatable, and made supporters more invested in him, rabidly defending him upon every attack. In fact, the bond he forged with his prime audience was so strong it was enough to play on their conscience and make them pick up their trash after attending his biggest rally of almost a 1million people – something unheard of in the Philippines.

So there you have it, dear friends abroad and international media. Remember before you go on record, always check the facts with the ones who are involved on-ground and try to respect the choice of your kababayans, for they, all 15 Million of them, have their valid reasons.

Meanwhile we all look forward to another chance of building a bright new rocking Philippines!

Follow Kristine: www.bandaidblues.com

5. He was the only one who proposed federalism. He won the election with the slogan - “Change is coming”, because people were not only desperate for change, they wanted radical change. There is no better way to demonstrate that change than to include a proposal to overhaul the rotten presidential system whose bureaucratic processes have made things worse for the rest of country.

The centralized government that controlled the budget encouraged wide-spread endemic corruption and a slow trickle of services to marginalized communities.

With the Aquino administration, the biggest example us the mismanagement of the Yolanda disaster relief effort - just ask Anderson Cooper.

Furthermore, for non-Filipinos curious about Philippine politics, I suggest you read up on the Pork Barrel controversy and the current probe being done on our incumbent President Aquino on his involvement on the DAP issue.

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RIGHT NOW PHILIPPINES

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Ti mel y i s s ue s ( or n on -i s s ue s ) th a t m a tte r a n d m a k e n o is e !

B y > E x c e l V. D y q u i a n g c o - M a n i l a

Jaclyn Jose and Other Cannes Highlights IT’S MADAME VICE-PRESIDENT Call her Madame Vice-President. After weeks of heated exchanges between the two camps, the wait is finally over. The Liberal Party candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo was finally declared the Vice-President of the Philippines.

This came after the House of Representatives ended the tabulation of the total number of 166 certificates of canvass and finally showed her leading the tally at 14,418,817 as compared to Bongbong Marcos who got 14,155,344 or just 263,473 short of votes. Robredo, who initially had her eyes set on a Senate seat decided to go for a higher position when the original favoured candidate of the Liberal Party for Vice President, Grace Poe, decided to run for President herself.

No word yet on both camps but Noynoy Aquino had already claimed victory for Lobredo even before her proclamation as Vice President. “In the final measure, our candidate who did not plan to run and who started with 1% in the polls and 70% awareness rating still won,” the outgoing president says during an interview. zenhealth.com

It’s the first in the Philippines and the first in Southeast Asia. Veteran actress Jaclyn Jose finally won for herself and her fellow Filipinos a Best actress award at the recentlyconcluded 69th Cannes Film Festival.

She says in her acceptance speech, “I am so surprised. I just went to have the red carpet walk with my daughter (actress Andi Eigenmann), my reallife daughter and my daughter in the movie also. To Cannes, thank you so much, thank you to the jury, thank you that you liked our film.” She beat Hollywood greats Charlize Theron and French actress Marion Cotillard.

Aside from Jaclyn, Vanity Fair also named her co-star in the movie, her daughter Andi Eigenmann, as one of the best-dressed. And who could ever forget Maria Isabel Lopez’s dazzling green gown that turned heads during the red carpet?

Emirates.com

Three Little Ducklings What started as a nursery rhyme turned into a full-fledged viral video with people from cyberspace hammering the song in different variations. Three Little Ducks is the story of a Mother Duck and her three little ducks who decided to go swimming on a pond with the ducks leaving one by one and eventually returning to the Mother – one after the other.

The nursery song has been around for quite some time, but because of its catchy tune and the power of television and social media, some

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In the movie Ma Rosa, Jaclyn plays a mother forced to sell drugs who eventually was captured by corrupt policemen.

netizens caught on the quirky and upbeat melodies. Pretty soon, people decided to jazz up the song a bit by doing different deviations. There is a Tagalog version entitled “Three Little Bibe”, with gay lingo words and tunes, sung in a classical style and with divas belting out the tune in high-pitched notes.

With such a nursery rhyme in so many different tunes and lyrics, you’ll never listen to the song the same way again. godsbreathpublication.com

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