ISSUE 08
31•08•16
THE
KIDS
ARE ALRIGHT
The Millenials Issue #BagetsNowadays
Chiiild, PLEASE!
Deciphering the Mystery of the Pinoy Millenials
Amor-Solo See you later, “Forever!”
Style Survival Guide for Teens Hint: forget what’s trending
Millenials Vs. Everyone Else Ano nga ba ang pagkakaiba?
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EDITOR’S NOTE/ CONTENTS
#bagetsnowadays
ISSUE 07
They are branded as lazy, narcissistic, entitled brats glued to their digital devices, who are utterly dependent on social approval (i.e. post likes). Martha Stewart once said that they are “self-indulgent and lack the initiative to be successful.” But for all the negatives names millennials have been called, so come the positives - they are the most tech-savvy, enthusiastic, innovative, and if the recent crop of young technopreneurs who changed the world is anything to go by, they also have the amazing capacity for brilliance. So let’s not be so hard on our millennials. Sit back and let them prove their worth. After all, we once walked in their shoes as the “disaffected and directionless” Gen Xers.
31st • AUG • 2016
This issue which we have created with some brilliant “kids” from our community is dedicated to the young’uns. And yes you better believe it, the kids are alright.
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LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Editor-in-Chief
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PINOY PROGRESSIVE
ILLUMINATI: KIDS THESE DAYS >6 KEEPING UP WITH THE CON GEN: PARENTAL WOES >8 POWER TO THE PINOY: LESSONS FROM THE SCHOOL CALLED LIFE >9 OH ‘DEM KIDS! >10 USAPANG ILLUSTRADO >12 BAYANING THIRD CULTURE >14 GROWING NEEDS >22 ARE ASIANS BORN TO EXCEL AT SCHOOL? >24 TRENDMAKER!> 26 MONEY: TEACHING KIDS THE VALUE OF MONEY >50 LAW: COLLECTING CHILD SUPPORT FROM ABSENTEE FATHERS >51
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: ISA TABASUARES > 40 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: NATHANIEL ALAPIDE >42 SCRAPBOOK: DENIS DALISAY AND ALEXANDER YEE >44 ENTERTAINMENT >52 ILLUSTRADO CALENDAR> 55
FASHION & BEAUTY
EDITORIAL: NEO NORMAL >28 BEAUTY: BEAUTY TIPS FOR TEENS >34 REAL STYLE, REAL PEOPLE >48 WEARING IT WELL: USHI SATO >49
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JUST BECAUSE
MY PINOY LIFE IN DALY CITY>16 ILLUSTRADO STUFF >36 SASSY GUIDE: 7 THINGS A WOMAN SHOULD REMEMBER ABOUT LIFE >37 ONLI IN DA PILIPINS: BA FILIPINOLOGY >35 IT’S WHAT I DO: JOEL FORONDA AND JOYCE ALCANTARA >38 THE ANNIE B. CHRONICLES: CUZIN TO THE RESCUE! >53 THE PRACTICING MISIS: CEREAL BLUEBERRY-BASED SMOOTHIE BOWL >54
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Contributors
LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Editor-in-Chief “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, her natural knack for marketing and mass communications makes her a formidable authority in any dialogue regarding the rebranding of the Filipino image on a global scale.
NICHOLO JALLORES
My Pinoy Life In Daly City 16 Illustrado Stuff 36 Sassy Guide: 7 Things A Woman Should Remember About Life 37 Onli in Da Pilipins: BA Filipinology 35 It’s What I Do: Joel Foronda and Joyce Alcantara 38 The Annie B. Chronicles: Cuzin To The Rescue! 53 The Practicing Misis: Cereal Blueberry-based Smoothie Bowl 54
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.” In this issue, the Palanca Hall of Famer writes about kids these days, and how they make you want to go “Oh, kids these days…”
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.
BARNEY ALMAZAR, ESQ. FRANCISCO COLAYCO AJ MARASIGAN
AJ Marasigan’s a social activist with political opinions that are so usually peppered with profanity that its often unprintable. She also writes about love, feminism and gender equality through poems and articles you can sometimes find at Thought Catalog, Berlin Art Parasite and Elephant Journal. She’s a social entrepreneur by profession and runs an Events Management company. She will have her own Death Star someday.
PAOLO GABRIEL BENITEZ
A visual communications student, Paolo is an aspiring artist, seeking to make his mark in the world of cinematography and the performance arts. When not dancing in the living room in the middle of the night, he functions as a perceptive young man, seeking to learn how things are the way they are and providing insight on the various issues that plague his generation.
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.
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.
BETTINA MICU
CHANTAL MARAUTA
is a half-Filipina, half-Italian Third Culture Kid who was raised in Dubai and who currently studies International Relations at Brown University in the U.S. When she’s not studying, she’s an actress, a cheerleader, a regular writer for the online magazine “Post-”, and living up to her label as a self-proclaimed foodie, indulging in tasty food all over the world. Her food adventures are documented in her Instagram blog, @chantalscravings (follow follow follow!). She is in an exclusive relationship with chocolate lava cake.
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ANTONINO BENITEZ
A Straight-A student whose hair often gets him into trouble, Antonino is a quirky character, well versed in both Academics and The Arts, who never strays away from individuality. As he secretly fulfills his dream of becoming an astronaut, Antonino continues to walk through life hungry for new knowledge and in search of all things epic.
Bettina Micu is an 18-year-old Filipino Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger at www.bettinamicu.com. Born and raised in Dubai, she has worked with international brands, been featured in multiple local prints, and has recently bagged GARAGE Blogger of the Year 2016 since her digital beginnings in 2014. She continues to record her thoughts and process hoping to inspire youth around the world to work hard to achieve their dreams.
ROSAN K – PRACTISING MRS.
Rosan is a Desert Mermaid who always wants to stay wet wherever she goes. She tells impatient people that she is a Practicing Misis, a woman of hits and misses. Being told she won’t be able to get married without learning to cook adobo, she has now learned to make her own pesto, guacamole and her own flavored taho. She still doesn’t have her own kitchen
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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 ANNA DE LEON BARNEY ALMAZAR EXCEL DYQUIANCO FRANCISCO COLAYCO KRISTINE ABANTE CONSUL GENERAL PAUL RAYMUND CORTES TRACY LEY ORENCIO CONTRIBUTING WRITERS – UAE, PHILIPPINES, CANADA AJ MARASIGAN DANABELLE GUTIERREZ KENNETH EPHRAIM SURAT MAI BAUTISTA NINA PEÑALOSA-CARPIO RACHE HERNANDEZ REX VENARD BACARRA ROSAN KATLEA REODICA 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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SPECIAL QUARTERLY EDITION BI-WEEKLY PUBLISHER – UAE ILLUSTRADO COMMUNICATIONS FZ-LLC 2ND FLOOR, BUILDING 2, DUBAI MEDIA CITY UNITED ARAB EMIRATES P.O. BOX 72280 OFFICE 20C TEL: +971 4 365 4543, 365 4547 FAX: +971 4 360 4771 E-MAIL: ADMIN@ILLUSTRADO.CO WEB: ILLUSTRADOLIFE.COM, ILLUSTRADO.CO FACEBOOK: ILLUSTRADO MAGAZINE INSTAGRAM: @illustradomagazine PRINTERS ATLAS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS FZ-LLC PO BOX 14833 DUBAI, UAE STOCK IMAGES SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED) COPYRIGHT ILLUSTRADO COMMUNICATIONS FZ-LLC 2006 – 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF ILLUSTRADO COMMUNICATIONS FZ-LLC.
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ILLUMINATI
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Deconstructing the Filipino zeitgeist. In short, dibdibang pagmumuni-muni.
Kids these days B y > K r i p Yu s o n
Ah, kids these days. The old thrills may be gone, but replacing them are more and more instances of reality gone hyper. We shouldn’t ever dread the future, nor the imagined enemy — since long ago we figured out that the enemy is us, as kids and especially when we became adults.
W
hen one refers to kids these days, inevitably the subject of Millennials will come up. Not all of them can be considered kids anymore, or at all, since they’re supposed to be the generation of young people born between 1982 and sometime in the early 2000s, with these boundaries not exactly set in stone.
national broadsheet:
That means that our children and grandchildren who are barely in their teens to those already nearing their mid-30s are considered millennials — also known as Generation Y or the Net Generation, the demographic group that followed Generation X.
With good reason, others have defended Millennials, explaining their “softness” and malleability of character based on exactly the same variables of their easy passage early in life, but reasoning out that it’s perfectly understandable, and that they should just be left alone to mature in their own way.
Millennials are now acknowledged as having outnumbered the Baby Boomers, that outsize generation that came soon after World War 2 — understandably so, since all the soldier guys came back home, hungry for an era of peace and then some. Oh, Millennials have been getting it, in terms of negative criticism. Pampered, so self-entitled, incapable of institutional commitment, ignorant of history, aimless… Confident of their technological savvy and go-getter attitude, they are seen as the scourge of business establishments that experience high turnover. The complaint is that they simply resign when they can no longer handle pressure. On FB recently, there was this entry from Augusto Antonio Aguila: “I read in one thesis that Millenials have been pampered by their parents. They were allowed to watch TV or listen to music until the wee hours of the morning. They never experienced being subjected to corporal punishment. They were praised to high heavens for getting passing grades. Their parents also didn’t want them to experience what they had experienced kaya may sense of entitlement.” Then, too, Millennials have also expressed themselves with a mature voice, as Nash Tysmans recently did in an essay for a illustrado go>8
“What do I know about martial law? I’m a Millennial. I was not there. I did not have the privilege of winning our freedom by resisting the dictatorship. I have only my youth and the burden of memory.” And yes, Nash showed up at the Rizal Park rally that day, in protest of a controversial burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Even long before the current polemics on Millennials, more in reference to the Gen X-ers were publicly listed traditions of playtime that were supposed to have privileged us oldies. That our time wasn’t entirely taken up by gadgets, in lieu of which we climbed trees and played in the dirt, engaged in games conducted in large company out on a sandlot, fields or streets. We biked without helmets, earned our badges of youthful derring-do with cuts and bruises, but were quick to come home when summoned by our folks. But of course there will always be differences in the way kids grow up — as different generations and in different arenas within distinct national boundaries. The recent Olympics in Rio brought out the fact that black athletes can also compete favorably in swimming despite the fact that in America, public pools had long suffered from segregation. Meanwhile, scientific studies have also skirted increasing demands of political correctness by establishing that, true enough, genes and environment — inclusive of biomechanical attributes — have been strong factors in why East Africans are better at marathon running while West Africans are more suited to sprints. Or that Asian athletes with their smaller frames, specifically the Chinese, dominate sports that demand
agility and flexibility, such as Olympic diving, ping-pong and badminton. To each her/his own then of genetic and environmental influence. These are all general observations. Yet culturally, away from sports, we have long admired the way Japanese schoolchildren are diligently trained to cooperate with one another and their environment. They clean up their own classrooms and school facilities, in fact are freed from any scholastic tests until they reach Grade 4, in favor of exercising cleanliness, obedience, and teamwork. One could say however that these cultural differences start to pale when a global phenomenon takes hold. Kids the world over dreamt of flying on broomsticks and mastering wands and spells upon reading the Harry Potter series thence getting caught up in the movie versions as well. Before that, kids played with Lego blocks, and after, robot ensembles that could be transformed from vehicles to seemingly indestructible warriors. These days, Pokémon Go has everyone in thrall — in malls, parks, church plazas, private neighborhoods and establishments, out on the streets. Since its release in July 2016 in selected countries, since steadily expanded, the location-based augmented reality game developed by Niantic for iOS and Android gizmos has millennials AND their parents tracking an entire set of prey. And younger people, those we might say of Generation Z who are now pubescents at best, have joined in. Ah, kids these days. The old thrills may be gone, but replacing them are more and more instances of reality gone hyper. We shouldn’t ever dread the future, nor the imagined enemy — since long ago we figured out that the enemy is us, as kids and especially when we became adults. Okay, maybe “frenemy” is the better term, especially when applying it to the young whom we’ll never really outgrow — as we stay young at heart ourselves.
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KEEPING UP WITH THE CONGEN > Tales from your friendly neighbourhood Philippine Consul-General.
Parental Woes: The Difficulty of Letting Go By > Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes P erh aps it is in stin ct to worry much about our ch ildren an d th eir future. After all, th ey’ve relied on us sin ce birth . We bath ed, fed, decided for th em; n ursed th eir woun ds, guided th em th rough th e gruelin g reality of sch ool work, sh ielded th em from vicious souls – we did everyth in g for th em. Th us, wh en reckon in g comes, we are th en bombarded with doubts on wh eth er our ch ildren could actually take on fligh t.
O
ur oldest boy turned 18 this year and life in the university beckons. It’s time for him to build the foundations that would define his future in his terms, or so we said. During his senior high school years, my wife and I were heavily involved in the process of helping him choose a major, patiently detailing for him the pros and cons of each course and the career spectrum that could open up to him - only to be flabbergasted that he had long made up his mind about what to take. That he actually had chosen his path without consulting Mom or Dad raised our eyebrows. We thought, “How can he possibly know what he really wants? He’s just a boy.” It was unimaginable, from our perspective, for him to decide on his own as he had always been tucked under our wings. We were typical Asian tiger parents who thought that the only way their son could succeed was if he followed to the letter all that we had laid out for him, breathing over his neck every step of the way just to make sure he doesn’t take the wrong fork in that road of life. What if he made the wrong decision? What if he stumbled? How could we have lived with ourselves if he dodged success? No parent would like to see their children fail. Not to say that I as a child never did. As a matter of fact, I miscalculated my courses of action many times in the past and hitherto, I still do. To begin with, I wasn’t like the others who knew from the very beginning what they wanted to be. Graduating high school and entering college at 16 (schooled in the K-10 framework), I entered the tertiary phase of my education unsure of what I wanted to be, ambivalent about what profession illustrado go>10
to take. So I listened to Dad and Mom and took Computer Science. That was the wave of the future, they said. I realized, however, that software programming and engineering was definitely not my line (although I immensely enjoyed Math, Calculus, Statistics, Linear Programming, and all of the other core Math subjects). I feared that it was already way too late into the ballgame for me to change my mind - a fortune had already been poured into four years’ worth of matriculation fees. I thought that maybe it would just be best to simply finish college and decide later on what exactly tickled my fancy; another course maybe? Who knew. Fast forward 30 years and countless missteps after, I would like to think that I survived that moment of cluelessness. I found my niche somehow though it did take quite some time and believe you me, a lot of heartaches. In the interim, my parents must have been tormented with the choices I made, agitated by the possibility that I may have been drifting towards the sea of perpetual vacillation and irresolution. It must have been an eternity for them to wait for that epiphany to dawn on me and make me realize where I wanted to go. Just as I am now aware, parents believe that the failure of their children means failure for them as parents and as the incoming semester gets nearer and nearer by the day, I scare myself visualizing my son meandering aimlessly through college and through life just as my parents probably imagined I was. I definitely would be as upset as they were if I found out that my son would later on throw four years of an astounding university education everything into the air, waiting for serendipity to step in.
Perhaps it is instinct to worry much about our children and their future. After all, they’ve relied on us since birth. We bathed, fed, decided for them; nursed their wounds, guided them through the grueling reality of school work, shielded them from vicious souls – we did everything for them. Thus, when reckoning comes, we are then bombarded with doubts on whether our children could actually take on flight. Should we be so doubtful? Everyone knows the answer to this perennial riddle and we all say it time and again: let them grow and make their own mistakes. Though when it is our children’s well-being on the line, we shed this dogma off our consciousness and shift to overprotective-parent mode. Difficult as it is and as part of the hard lessons we learn throughout our lives therefore, we parents must also contend with the reality that our babies eventually morph into adults. Even if begrudgingly, we should accept that they will need to discover the world the way we did once, when we ourselves were young. Generations before now taunt me, in what is seemingly a rite of passage, reminding me how likewise anxious and jittery they were as we reached for our own stars. When we continually doubt that our children have taken into heart all that was taught to them, it does appear that we have lost faith in our efforts in molding new citizens of the world. And when we realize that the children we’ve raised are indeed capable, possibly even more than we are, of being responsible adults, the less time we have to worry about whether or not they would make the right decisions at every fork of their lives.
POWER TO THE PINOY
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Towards empowering Filipinos.
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LESSONS FROM THE SCHOOL CALLED LIFE
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By> Lalaine Chu-Benitez
Education is an admirable thing, but it is worth remembering from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.
A
ges ago, 20 year old me emerged from my very first job interview flustered and more than just a bit agitated.
There I was, bright eyed and bushy tailed, a fresh graduate of the country’s premiere university – the Alma Mater of 14 Philippine presidents, countless national artists and scientists – a consistent honors student since I was four, who has earned more than my fair share of academic awards in all of my 16 years in school – and I’m being offered a behindthe-counter sales job? Hah! Could anything be more insulting? My pride bled. Years later, however, I’ve realized how foolish I have been. Not that that job was for me, but because my silly arrogance was a total and utter sign of ignorance. The more experienced I have become, the more I have realized how little I really knew back then, despite all those years of excellent academic performance. It’s a curious thing – most of us would spend anything from 16 to 20, or even more years in school and yet, it is not what we learn within the four walls of the classroom that make us whole or useful human beings. Because in reality, education – the academic kind, that is, can
only make us aware and informed – but not wise. And as the years pass on, I have come to understand that the best lessons in life are the ones we learn ourselves – in the school called ‘life’. Here are just a few of those lessons worth learning:
Know how to present yourself in the best possible way – whether in the way you speak, the way you move, dress or present yourself. Even better, learn to be a decent person – someone who has manners and ‘delicadeza,’ who knows how to act appropriately and has concern for other human beings and the world, and an appreciation for the common good. Learn how to connect with people. Master the art of small talk, even if it’s just about the weather, because that is the modest start of all good conversations. Learn to embrace diversity and get along with people from all walks of life. Acquire the skill and art of eloquence. Your ideas, opinions and impressive intellect are worth nothing if you cannot express yourself and share your thoughts with others.
Understand how the universe works and how to spot greatness and the beauty in small things. Train yourself to cultivate thankfulness and happiness. Learn what it takes to weather storms, and how to keep getting up each time you fall down. Learn how to fly while keeping your feet planted on the ground. Most of all, discover who you are and what you are meant to do. Understand your true worth. Build the skill to ask for, demand and negotiate for what you deserve. Gain the confident stance to walk alone into a room full of people, and the confidence to stand for something you believe in. Find your purpose in life and what you can contribute to the world.
It really is not Math, Science or even highfalutin Calculus that fulfills our natural need for wisdom. It is both these simple and profound lessons we learn ourselves, the ones that bring us self-realization, facilitates our bonds with others and move us towards fulfillment that make us the whole package. Poet Oscar Wilde said it so eloquently, “Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.” illustrado go>11
FEATURE
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Armed with their selfie sticks, FitBits, and a full armory of smartphone applications, they tread the world with a never-before-seen sense of youthful chutzpah and clutter our Twitter feeds with their earth-shattering opinions. Such is their confidence that it becomes all too easy for us, the dinosaurs from the older generations, to dismiss them as self-entitled braggarts whose attitudes do not quite match their accomplishments, apples to apples.
T
hen the 2016 Presidential campaign happened, and the Millenials bared their fangs.
For the first time ever, we saw the real power of this new breed of thinkers. We saw not just a young, fledgling community, but an empowered voting bloc that had the clear and present capability to reengineer the nation’s long standing political systems. They spoke. We listened. And then we started shaking our heads, for as well-versed as the millenials may be in current issues, they seemed to be completely out of touch with our country’s history. Some of us ranted and rioted on social media. How could these 20-something’s be so disconnected with our nation’s past that they actually believe that the Philippines was a spring of wealth in the Martial times? It’s all too easy blame it on the fast paced technology. Living off Social Media must have distorted their perception and it clearly shows through their lack of
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empathy, social responsibility and utter sense of entitlement. Add to this the fact that the art of reading actual books seems to be on the decline. Perhaps this is what our society deserves for being such easy targets for click-bait articles and Buzzfeedstyle news. Funny how the way these noobs operate can be so different from the world as they know it. They Google their way out of everything. They Facebook and Tweet their every thought. They Instagram and Snap every single meal. They were raised believing that overpriced cups of coffee from international brands are acceptable in a country where there are more malls than hospitals, libraries and museums. And to top it all off, they even had the gall to weigh in on Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, urging the nation to “Move on na bes,” as if one can actually dictate on another human’s misery. Cringeworthy indeed, but also somewhat amusing - because despite all the harsh criticisms
that we have thrown and continue to throw at them, Millennials are in fact the most involved group when it comes to sociopolitical issues. They may not be politically correct or factual most of the time, but because they were raised to speak their minds and have all the information and technology at their disposal, they can easily jump in on any discussion. They can form an opinion, regardless of its depth, and they can and will proudly flag it around. According to William Straus and Neil Howe, back in 1987, Millennials were deemed to be the generation who will trail-blaze their way into the New Millennium. Like hybrids from the previous generations, they will be a better and wiser version. In the Philippines, we now know that Pinoy Millennial’s can be sub-categorized into two: the ones who were raised by the Baby Boomers and Generation X and the others who were brought up by the older Millennials.
FEATURE
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Oh ‘Dem
Kids!
Decoding the Mystery of the Millenials By> AJ Marasigan
And here’s where the line becomes muddled. You see, the older generation would say that Baby Boomers also had it easy. They may not have experienced the kind of war that the Silent Generation had to go through, but they were there when Plaza Miranda was bombed. They were adults when Marcos declared Martial Law. But then just when the whole dark era was about to come to an end, the Baby Boomers were already passing the torch to their yung’uns: Gen Xers. Now at one point, Gen X’ers were also perceived by their predecessors to be lazy, incompetent and entitled. It’s just a vicious cycle, so it seems. Unlike their predecessors, they had the luxury of living in a more technologically advanced world. They brought mobile phones and computers into homes. They essentially took on the burden of repairing a country that came from a tumultuous era passed on to them by the Baby Boomers.
But the real problem began when the first batch of Millennials became adults. Because they were raised by a generation who went through conflicts, and probably because they have heard so much about how Martial Law was like from their parents and grandparents, they took things rather lightly. They were aware of the stories but because they were not exactly there when it happened, they somehow did not have the muscle memory nor the zeal to sustain such wisdom let alone the initiative to pass it on to the next generation.
them with enough stories, like their elders have done for them.
Millennials are not lazy. Entitled and shortsighted, maybe - but certainly not lazy. In fact, this generation is very hardworking. They’re business oriented and can kick start social enterprises in the span of an afternoon. They create and innovate twice as fast. They feel entitled because they were raised that way. They lack substance and facts because, well, they were made to believe that the only way one can move is forward. The slightly older generation has neglected to equip
Let us remind our youth that change is not something you vote for but something a nation does collectively. A generation must learn how to capitalize on each other’s strength and make sure everyone gets to pass on the wisdom and knowledge of this generation to the next. It’s time for the Older Millennials to step in and pave a better path for the younger ones. Forgo the negativity and rally each other on sans the labels and prejudice.
In a society that believes that the only way to fact-check is through Google, Older Millennials must step up to reiterate the importance of human to human connection. It’s time the world stops undermining the younger generation and starts listening and talking to them regardless of their social and political stance. It’s never too late to teach them that humanity depends on its past, present and the future.
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USAPANG
ILLUSTRADO >
Say no to usapang barbero. Dapat, Illustrado!
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Oh to be young and have Internet access. You have all the energy in the world,
and all the world right at your fingertips. Recently, the Millenials – especially the
Pinoy kind – have been getting a bad rap.
MILLENIALS VS. EVERYONE ELSE
They are viewed as lazy, self-entitled,
spoiled, and non-conforming for the sake of not comforming (NOTE: not necessarily, OUR view ok? Don’t send us any funky emails, kids!). Why is there such a big divide between the mindset and zeitgeist of the new gen versus the old gen? When did the seam start ripping? Just what exactly is this proverbial difference? We asked from both sides of the age fence.
....... ....... ....... ....... As a “Millenial,” what do you think sets you apart from ....... those in the older generation?
Faryal Mansoor
Born to an era of great technological advancements, people from the younger generation are naturally practical. Millennials grew up with computers and the internet and this familiarity makes it easier for them to connect to the rest of the world. They tend to adjust readily to new programs, social networking websites and applications. In contrast, the older generation never really had to fully content with such life-altering technologies. Another factor that sets us Millennials apart is open-mindedness. Our generation seems to be more accepting of ideas that previous generations still consider taboo. For example, the older generations have stricter mindsets about sex, homosexuality and interracial marriages. This shows how mentalities keep evolving and vary from generation to generation.
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Sosep dela Cerna
Millennials are more connected, inclusive and global. Basing from a perspective of a collective behaviour rather than from an individualistic outlook, the generational gaps come from the degree of connectedness. With the job market being not just competitive but ambitious, the media culture being contingent to sources and social skills being measured by the number of online accounts - millennials connect to people and information for leverage. There is a demand of a modern knowledge-based economy, so as a millennial, you have to keep up to survive. And, thanks to technology that keeps giving thousands of platforms (and reasons) to stay connected, I, as a millennial, enjoy this advantage. We were born in an informationgathering society that only taps a finger to get access, paving the way for
Millennials to become the most educated generation. However, if you think about it, our predecessors can get as ‘millennial’ as they can if they adapt. Technology is a know-how and not an entitlement, anyway. But, as far as birthdates are concerned, we, Millennials, get to benefit from the pushbutton immersion of a ‘connected’ life.
Maria Ysabel R. Dinsay
There are quite a number of things that separate us Millennials from older generations. One of them is social media and technology. Social media has become integral to the way we live. Whether that is “good” or “bad” is up to how the individual uses it. Liberalism is another thing that stands out to me. Millennials now are very open to different sexualities, genders, religion, etc. Older generations may be a bit
USAPANG
ILLUSTRADO >
Say no to usap ang barbero. Dapat, Illustrado!
more conservative on this part. But again, the difference in and of itself is neither good nor bad. It’s just the way you look at it.
Abbey Ramos
Growing up in the age of Millenials, I can say that we’ve had more advantages than those who belong in the previous generations, and technology plays an important role in this conversation. In the past decades, resources were very limited and access to information was not as easy. Now,we have a greater wealth of options at our beck and call. Moreover, due to the advances in communications technology, my generation can look into the lessons of the past and use those learnings as we navigate the modern world. Being a Millenial has its advantages when it comes to things that we can do – but those advantages would be pointless if only if we are not able to maximize our resources and create new things. I consider myself lucky that I get to live in this exciting age.
As someone from the “older” generation what do you think sets you apart from the
luxuries. Even small things can satisfy us. Also, our generation is more outdoor-sy. We didn’t have smartphones and tablets, so we had less distractions and more time and energy for outdoor activities. Millenials are more independent than familial. They are more likely to consult the Internet for guidance instead of family members. Their way of thinking is more inclusive because they are more exposed to the different situations in life. They are more career-oriented, especially the women. They are the indoor type of people as they do all their activities through the computer in their fingertips which is not healthy in my opinion because they tend to just keep on sitting in their offices or homes. As technology develops the gap grows bigger like for example in language. The new ones creates new slang words to keep the old ones off the loop. Language is one of the factors that create gap between generations because the millenials adapt the language of the host country where they are living and does not learn the language of their native country. Another factor is the way of living, Generation X do their relaxation before bedtime while watching tv or listening to the music while the millenials spend their time surfing in the internet. They also have the habit of multi tasking but even though they are doing so many things at the same time thinking that they could finish all their work at once but still it seems to never end. You can say that I am biased but I can that even we did not have that much advance technology we were able to finish our work one at time with full attention.
What is the difference between these two generations? I think millenials have more options now in terms of job opportunities. There are now industries and technologies that make it possible for them to thrive by themselves as entrepreneurs or change companies in a shorter time span. With our generation, while we had with limited options, we stuck longer to what they chose to do and had more value for hard work and team efforts. This is a generalization, of course. In the end, it’s really how an individual is raised no matter what generation she or he belongs to.
Jinggay Dinsay
With the fast developments in technology and unstoppable surge of social media, I am concerned that the population in their late 30’s onwards might be the last generation to remember how it was to go out on the streets and play with the neighborhood kids; to sit down on the dinner table having real conversations instead of being glued to gadgets. Though communications can be sent out faster than you can snap your fingers, now more than ever, the value of “proper conversations” has spiraled down. I hope people will be more in touch with themselves, despite all the buzz of the modern day lifestyle and not let technology push us into forgetting our humanity.
“Millenials?” Al Perez Manlangit
Mica Tuaño-Fuentes
Angela Humaira Caguiat
As Generation X child, I have witnessed the advent of the digital age. But we are different from the new generation as we are more family oriented. We are very simple in a sense that we do not crave for
Being born in 1979, I technically belong to the Gen X. Being born close to the 80s though, I have been exposed to some Millenial sentiments but mostly because I’ve been there when we crossed from analog to digital and when social media boomed like crazy.
During my time, things were different of course. With all the high tech gadgetry nowadays and instant communications, it’s easier to socialize and reach out to other people with one click of the button. However, having said that, I think there is less warmth in the interaction among the Millennials today where everyone seems to be interested only in an instant gratification. I’m afraid patience is slowly becoming passé.
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BAYANING THIRD CULTURE: Perspectives of TCK’s living in an increasingly xenophobic world By>
Marie Chantal Marauta
Sometimes, a TCK’s “difference” is applauded, and even celebrated, by people who are in awe of how “exotic” and worldly they are. But, in times in which certain populations are getting increasingly more xenophobic (for reasons too vast to discuss in this article), being different can be frustrating. So how do TCKs define themselves?
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ecent years have seen a steady increase in media coverage on Third Culture Kids, otherwise known as TCKs. These are kids who spent most, if not all, of their formative years being raised in a culture that was completely different from that of either of their parents. As a result, most TCKs end up no longer truly identifying with one specific country or culture. Sure, when they are abroad, they can easily – and confidently - answer the question “where are you from?” with the name of their parents’ home country (or countries). But once TCKs set foot in these aforementioned “home countries”, this
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confidence slowly withers away. For many TCKs who are of mixed ethnicities, other people’s questioning stares and the general assumption that they are tourists is what reminds them that they do not fully belong. Couple this with the ambiguous accent undoubtedly acquired thanks to years of attending an international school abroad, and they realize just how different they are to people they consider their compatriots. This struggle is exemplified by Tina Wang, a teenager of Chinese descent born in Finland and raised in Singapore. “Although I’m Finnish by nationality, the assumptions made by others purely based on my Asian ethnicity has definitely affected my
conviction of being a ‘real Finn’” she says. And even if a TCK doesn’t look physically different, the changes, even subtle, in their accents when speaking their native language are enough to warrant quizzical looks or laughter. Still, the alienation from one’s own country doesn’t stop there. A TCK’s taste in clothes, music, movies or what they perceive as “cool” behavior is most of the time a far cry from that of kids of their same age in their home town. For example, while a Filipino TCK raised in Italy grows up assuming that greeting friends with a kiss on both cheeks is standard practice, they get heavily
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judged for initiating this same behavior when back in the Philippines. Sometimes, a TCK’s “difference” is applauded, and even celebrated, by people who are in awe of how “exotic” and worldly they are. But, in times in which certain populations are getting increasingly more xenophobic (for reasons too vast to discuss in this article), being different can be frustrating. So how do TCKs define themselves? “I think about this [topic] every day,” says Kim Yan, a nineteen-year-old Asian American who identifies with Chinese culture but was raised in the United States. For Yan, who considers herself very loyal to the U.S. (a patriotism seen in her eager support for American sports teams), the struggle lays in trying to explain her background to people who tend to assume that she identifies with one sole culture. “I don’t exactly know where my identity lies, but I’ve pretty much given up on figuring it out,” she says with a laugh. Similar strong patriotism for a country he now considers his own is felt by Louis Wei, a nineteen-year-old student and musician who identifies as Chinese-Canadian. “I’ve been fiercely protective of being a Canadian for as long as I can remember,” he states, attributing his love for Canada to the fact that it is a “mosaic” of different cultures, and so, “no matter how different I was, Canada always had a place for me.” Wei further claims that though his personal values do not align with typical Chinese values, he still considers himself “definitely Chinese,” showing how, though he is fiercely loyal to his acquired home town, he still feels tied to his roots. While TCKs such as Yan and Wei have found their “home” on the other side of the world, some TCKs feel less grounded in a specific country, as exemplified by Felix Merk, a citizen of both Germany and Finland who was born in Sweden and currently lives in the U.S. “Drawing lines [defining my identity] is a bit easier since I have a slight accent in English and so people pre-draw them for me. Yet, outside the U.S., people usually presume I’m American…which isn’t
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entirely inaccurate,” he says, showing how he is perceived differently depending on where in the world he is. Merk goes on to state how for him, “home” is not an entire country or culture, but instead it is where he grew up, and where his parents and siblings are. It is “specific people, specific houses, specific towns and cities” that, cheesy as it may sound, hold his heart more than an entire nation could. The utmost struggle of a TCK is stated by Jack Karafotas, a teenager who is German and American but grew up in the Czech Republic, who states: “Whenever I am in a country where I may consider myself from, I always feel foreign.” He continues, saying that he “only [identifies] as certain nationalities when [he’s] asked to do so,” in order to avoid the awkwardness of saying “I don’t really identify with anywhere fully.” So if some TCKs don’t feel like they really belong in any particular place, then why do they feel the need to classify themselves? “Belonging to a certain country or group brings a sense of comfort, of stability,” says Divya Santhanam, a nineteen-year-old who was raised in Canada, but who’s family originated from India. Yet, as she grows older, Santhanam has begun to appreciate
not having a simple, straightforward answer to the question “where are you from?” Living in Toronto, which she claims is “one of the most multicultural cities in the world,” has allowed her to have an incredibly international friend group that opens her eyes and her mind to different mentalities and cultures that she otherwise wouldn’t understand. “Our conversations reflect the diversity and cross-cultural dialogue that our increasingly globalized world needs,” she says proudly. “The complexity my identity brings, then, is my greatest strength.” As seen from the myriad of responses from TCKs worldwide, defining a TCK’s identity is a very arduous task. They have lived lives that are more complicated and exciting than your average Joe’s, and while some feel like they “belong” to their acquired home country, others still feel a little bit like an outsider wherever they go. But in the end, does the whole question of identity truly matter? After all, states Santhanam, “what are nations, but mere borders drawn by humans? Perhaps, the answer to the question ‘Where are you from?’ is rather simple: Planet Earth.”
The author, Marie Chantal Marauta
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MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday
M y P I N O Y Daly L I F E i n City,
B y Te r i s h a M a y M a r q u e z
My City
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n September 1999, my family moved from the Philippines to the United States. I was only one-year-old at the time. For 17 years, I have been living in California. To have a better life for my siblings and I, my parents made the sacrifice of leaving their home in the Philippines in hopes of having my siblings and I have a career and future. To my parents, America is where dreams come true, so to make my dreams come true we moved to the Land Of The Free. I live in Daly City, California with my parents, two brothers and my sister. We all live in one house, kind of like the Filipino Brady Bunch. I am lucky to have a close family that always supports me.
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MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday
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MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday
My Work
Since I am only 18 years old, I am a full time student and I also work part time at David’s Bridal. College is very expensive in America, which is a downside, so I work part time to help my parents with the expenses of school. Even though I do work, being a student always comes first so, I study when I can. My Community
Another name for Daly City is “Little Manila.” Daly City has one of the biggest Filipino communities in the Bay Area. Growing up, there was not much of a culture shock as other young Filipino immigrants’ experience. I grew up with people who were the same color and race as me. The Filipino community in Daly City is a tight knit group where it feels like every Filipino here is like family. My Life
Growing up Filipino is a blessing. I have learned the importance of family, respect, and hard work. But growing up where people have the same morals as me is a plus. Most of my neighbors, classmates, and friends are Filipino. We all grow up with the same culture and morals that I can relate too.
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MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday
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MY PINOY LIFE IN > Living the dream, loving the world, learning new things everyday
Because I moved to the US when I was only a year old, I do not speak Tagalog well. Even though my parents and family talk to me in Tagalog, I always respond in English. In school, my Filipino friends and I never practiced our Tagalog because our courses were all in english. If I were given the choice to grow up in Daly City or somewhere else, I would always choose Daly City. Being Filipino in Daly City, you will always have support from the Filipino community. My friends are also young Filipino immigrants who have moved to the US when they were young, and finding people who are on the same boat as me makes it easier to cope.
To my fellow Pinoys‌ Being Filipino is a blessing and it is something I take pride in. No matter where I am, I will always have the love and support of the Filipino community across the globe. I will always support my fellow Filipino friends.
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Illustrado Go> Pinoy awesomeness on-the-go for the progressive Filipino. Get your free copy now! Available at the Philippine Embassy and Consulate General, as well as in Filipino schools, restaurants and other outlets across the UAE
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Growing Needs By> Paolo Gabriel Benitez
“Do you have a girlfriend yet?” It’s a question, it’s a tease, or maybe even an insult.
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t a certain point in life, the youth begin to enter a phase known as “adolescence”. Definitively speaking, “the period of life wherein a child develops into an adult”. Typical effects of adolescence include hormonal outbreaks, acne, body hair and growth spurts (further amplified by “tuli” for the boys). It is a time where parents sit down with their children and give them “the talk”. As teens, we become hormonal. At a point, the topic of girlfriends and boyfriends will overrule all other subjects. Puppy love is common in everyone, but what sets us Pinoys apart is that the relationship game somehow starts early. At this day and age, it is unnecessary, and there are some pretty big reasons as to why, but before we get to that, we have to understand where it all comes from. We’d call family and friends over and have a tambayan at our place during weekends. One of the top three ice breakers is “do you
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have a girlfriend yet?” It’s a question, it’s a tease, or maybe even an insult. From this point, we’re pressured into thinking about having a significant other within our life. We stop, contemplate, and overcomplicate our lives with unnecessary thoughts. We’re stuck sitting there, asking ourselves if now is the proper time to make a move or not. Filipino media is also part of the blame. Let’s face it: we’re a cheesy people, and we love it. Romance films and telenovelas occupy a significant portion of the Filipino media landscape. In your typical “young love” telenovela, we’re introduced to a young, talented and semi-handsome boy who goes for the most beautiful girl in the world (according to his highschool’s standards), they’re introduced to growing pains and quarrels, but eventually gain each other’s love then they proceed towards a fairytale ending. While such is not always the case with relationships in real life, our young boys and girls can be easily pulled into believing so.
School is particularly the biggest part of our learning curve. Aside from being a center of academic knowledge, school is a hub of peer pressure. At a certain point, the topic of girlfriends and boyfriends will be set abuzz. People will pit themselves in a race against time in the hopes of finding “the one”. In my experience, I’ve met people who said “Paolo, I’m 16 and I don’t have a girlfriend yet.” This is even more common in Filipino schools surprisingly. In a school-type environment, we don’t need to be directly addressed to feel pressured. The lack of education on the subject is another reason. Schools are protective in the sense that they don’t teach you about relationships. Learning about couples and the various commitments involved is a lesson only taught through life experience. Now that we’ve established a basis on why the “need” for relationships at an early age is present, here’s a list of things that could help curb “the need.”
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Work on your talent
Talent is the product of passion and hard work. As youths, we are morally obliged to try out many things. We will pick up a niche for something new and drop an existing one. Having a girlfriend/boyfriend when your talent is in the works will only slow you down as your agenda will be chockfull of more dreaded “commitments”. Mingle with the opposite sex
You’ve just started mingling with the opposite sex. I can guarantee you’ve had a panic attack talking to the girls as well. In the case of some Filipino youths, gender segregated schools can make things seem harder. Conversing with the opposite sex brings a whole bunch of perks into your learning curve. You build up confidence and character and gain a new insight on life. Sooner or later you’ll realize that it’s better to make friends after all! After all, they last a lot longer than relationships. Take care of someone
Taking care of something, whether it’s a baby (not your baby) or a pet, will equip you with the necessary skills to live with someone in the future. “Future” aside,
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you will learn responsibility and time management, and those are two very essential qualities that will help you on the long run.
brain and keeps your heart rate steady. Experience the world on your own
Take it slow
We hear it asked often: “How can you love someone else if you are unable to love yourself?” This age-old adage still rings true today. You can only truly succeed in a relationship once you are able to establish a strong relationship with yourself. A whole world awaits (and we’re the globetrotting type), and some people unwillingly throw it away by jumping the gun early. It is top priority that you go out there and learn how to make your own decisions. Having an early relationship will only hinder that and set you back.
There will come a point in life where you ask yourself if whether you should make a move with that one girl you only knew for just about half of a year. Consider that you probably won’t be friends afterwards (despite the fact that she might say that). Making a move will either hinder your relationship or take it to the next level (with the latter having a very rare chance). There’s no need to rush! Keeping it casual lessens the heavy load at the back of your
From a very young age, we Pinoys are pressured into thinking that a relationship is the be and end all of all human endeavors. True, that a loving relationship is a wondrous thing, but there is infinitely more to life than what is written in romance novels. Peer pressure and a lack of guidance often lead us to making the hastier decision without thinking. Little do we know that this whole “relationship race” is less of a necessity than we think.
Talk to your parents (no, seriously!)
Your old man has a lot to tell you! Learning from the more experienced people in life may just be a culture shock at first. Over time, the daunting reality you think you may face would be less scary, knowing what to expect. Talking to the more experienced prepares you for the future on the long run.
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Are Asians born to excel in school? By>
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t’s no secret that we Asians are some of the most frequently stereotyped people in the world – with the majority of these labels half-truths and sloppy generalizations. But, if there’s stereotype that we Asians can be proud of, it is that we do extremely well in school. Being the only Filipino in a school populated mostly by Western students, I have realized that there is genuinely nothing comparable to our passion for learning and the value we recognize in education - but why is that? People often assume that just because someone is Asian, they are innately smart and therefore find it easier to excel at school. This is not true – at least, not entirely. One aspect that is often overlooked is the crucial role that culture plays in how most Asians approach their studies. Beyond genetics, it is our unique upbringing that sets us apart from our foreign contemporaries.
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Antonino Benitez
The Unbeatable Asian Work Ethic
With intelligence just serving as an added bonus, the real key to achieving those top grades concerns our work ethic and our attitudes towards what we do. Whether you belong to an Indian, Chinese, or Filipino family, Asians are all taught from very young ages that respect and hard work are imperative in all our actions. Viewed through an educational prospect, a student wouldn’t be able to achieve what they set out for if they barely put in any effort, or if they lack the commitment in learning. From an article published by NY Daily News, a recent study from 2012 showed that Asian-American 11th Graders spend at least six hours more than their White peers when studying. Further proving how success depends on more so hard work than brains, is the story of Xuan-Trang Ho. In 1994, a Vietnamese eleven-year-old girl came to America in seek of refuge, with no education and knowledge of English; as a
result of her drive for new opportunities and a better life, she graduated high school as the Valedictorian. I personally dedicate a good amount of time towards my studies, not because I am forced or pressured to do so, but because I believe it’s beneficial. Based on experience, studying hard leads to more than academic achievement – believe it or not, it’s quite fulfilling to know what you’re doing is good and has a purpose (that’s probably why we study a lot). Family Pride
Elaborating on this idea of self-competence and gratification, if there’s anything Asian students love more than receiving good grades, it’s showing them to our families and making them proud. ‘Family honor,’ usually associated with other notions such as respecting your elders, is a concept practiced by most cultures that suggests how bringing pride to your relatives can
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be reassuring - one source including education. However, being part of a culture where family ties take priority, any success from an Asian somehow translates to a success for their entire family. Researchers have even inferred that in society, an individual’s identity has a strong reliance on their families – thus, to feel a sense of recognition and purpose, they feel the need to meet such high standards and prove themselves and their status within the family. This potentially could be why some people forget about their own personal accomplishments – now this isn’t a good thing. I for one am guilty of this because, as a Filipino, family is habitually involved in most facets of my life. Even looking back at history, especially for Filipinos, the need to prove ourselves could have originated from our oppression by The Spanish – excelling in fields such as education may be a way to prove that we Asians are more than competent.
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populace wanting their child to attain a Bachelor’s Degree or more. Though true, it is statements like these that popularize common beliefs that Asian parents are harsh and demanding of their children – but that’s not entirely correct. The relationship between a parent and a child in an Asian family doesn’t wholly revolve around concepts of punishment and harshness, but more so on affection and discipline. It is the healthy balance between sternness and praise Asian parents possess that makes their child both feel cared for, and want to do their best in school. This type of parenting is regularly present in Asian households because parents especially want their children to prosper in life. Knowing that in countries such as the U.S.A., where many Asian immigrants settled with little to no education, it seems plausible that the parents only want more for their child, taking into account what they had to do and sacrifice for them in
the past. Growing up with particularly strict parents who heavily encouraged my brother and I to focus on our studies, I have come to appreciate the significance of parental discipline, and have even come to consider it as a built-in advantage. It’s like having a motivational speaker and life coach, right at the comforts of your own home. A lot of the time, just based on our appearances, and the colors our skin we feel disadvantaged compared to most. Unlike others, we don’t exactly have the most desirable passports in the world, and we need a visa to go most places. But if there’s anything other people don’t have on us Asians, it’s our devotion and drive, our compassion for others, and our wise guidance. And with these assets by our side, we can definitely do more than excel at school - we can excel at life.
Strong Parental Influence
Finally, and probably the most prominent factor of a student’s success relies heavily on the kind of parenting they have been brought up with. Perceived by most, Asians are notoriously known for having strict parents, who often set high expectations and pressure their children to do well, both in school and in life. In an investigation published at childtrends. org, in 2012, among a variety of cultural groups, Asian/Pacific Islanders had the highest expectations, with 84% of the
Beyond genetics, it is our unique upbringing that sets us apart from our foreign contemporaries.
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TRENDBREAKER! A Guide To Finding Your Own Style By >
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Bettina Micu
oday’s generation is very fashion conscious, arguably more so than their 90’s and 80’s counterparts. We live in a time where the scale and magnitude of media are heightened by strides in communications technology. The youth is constantly being bombarded by news of the latest trends, shoe releases, and what outfits the A-listers have been rocking. No matter where they are, they have access to an almost infinite amount of inspiration and information; from following their favorite brands on social media to taking wardrobe advice from style bloggers. No wonder fashion has become an inseparable part of the new generation’s worldview.
but one must bear in mind: keeping up with the world’s ever changing trends come at a great cost. Moreover, trends come and go at a dizzying rate. Sure, chokers and ripped jeans may be a big thing right now but once another trend replaces them, expect to be putting them away till it comes back around 10 years from now. We sometimes get so invested in trends we become completely unaware of the personal style that is boiling inside of us, just waiting to break through.
improvisation, no one will even notice you wore that shirt yesterday! Skinny jeans, a white button down, an edgy skirt, little black dress, basic tees, tennis shoes, and a nude pair of heels are just some of my basic essentials that are easy to find in the most affordable deals, so go ahead and spend the rest of your money on your lunch!
Here are some important tips on how you can assert your individuality through fashion at a great value!
Fashion resonates in everything that we do, even unconsciously, from the school bags on our shoulders, the watches we wear, and how we carry ourselves. We as the youth are always so into the latest fashion trends,
Instead of breaking the bank (or your parents’) on buying what’s “in” now, start your closet off with basic pieces that you can easily mix and match to make different outfits. Trust me: with the right
Don’t be afraid to wear what others may find weird. Wear what makes you feel good! Everyone has a personal style, and if you are struggling to identify yours, fashion offers a lovely path towards self-discovery. Take notes of what you like and why you like them, and then create moodboards or collages. Don’t knock collages as some silly elementary school project. They can be awesome tools for plotting your personal aesthetic.
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Basic is classic
Celebrate your identity
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Don’t dress to impress. Dress to express!
Dress how you feel, or how you WANT to feel! I am a firm believer that the clothes you wear reflect your mood. What happens within you manifests itself on your wardrobe, so be more self-aware. Having a low day? Add a little glitter or pink to your outfits, why don’t you? Don’t be afraid of anything- your style should be unique, just like you! And lastly, always remember: there are no rules.
As long as you are not offending anyone’s cultural sensitivities, always operate from the mindset that anything goes in this day and age. The inner child in me jumps for joy knowing that I can wear overalls accompanied by tennis shoes without being getting so much as a second glance. Wear what you want to, and not what you
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have to in order to fit into someone else’s standards. You don’t have to be “trendy,” as much as you have to be authentic. As with anything beautiful, style is subjective. What’s uncool to some could be inspirational others. Set trends instead of trying to follow them. Seasons may change, but personal style is forever!
I’ve learned that there are only a few things in life that are truly essential for happiness, and most of it is not based on material wealth. It’s not about what you buy. It’s about experiences. It’s about the different connections you make with people, with the environment, and the community.
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FASHION
Photographer: Raen Badua Wardrobe Stylist: Slava Nemish Makeup Artist: Eric Vosburg Hairstylist: Justin Arrellano Models: Alexander Dominguez | Red Model Management Danica Magpantay | Ford Models Paul Kiefer | Major Models Stephanie Retuya | Wilhelmina Models NYC
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Who says normal should be banal? In a time where the norm is to not conform, “conventional� may be the new unconventional.
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BEAUTY
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Kagandahan 101
Beauty tips for teens By> Anna De Leon
W
hat would you give to be 16 again? Probably a lot. However I see more and more 16 year olds trying to look 24. I always tell teenagers, “you have your entire life to be an adult, enjoy your youth.” But I understand that there is always an urge to tinker with make up so I came up with my must do’s for the young ones and the young at heart.
Take it from someone who has tried almost every type of beauty product and skin care regimen in the book: “don’t fix what is not broken.” If you have clear skin, don’t mask it with way too much foundation. Instead of a foundation, use a tinted moisturiser or a bb cream. This will even out your skin tone without the heavy feeling that comes with applying a foundation.
Do let’s face it. Being young means raging hormones, and that equates to break outs. This is something that must be addressed early on, as the key to flawless make up application whether you are 16 or 55 is clear skin.
Late nights studying for exams come with repercussions, and they are called dark circles. Those bad boys are almost impossible to outgrow. Instead of piling on the foundation, which will do more harm as opposed to making you look well rested, opt for a yellow toned concealer. The yellow undertone will cancel out the blue/violet undertones of your dark circles, making you look like you had 8 hours of sleep.
The Most 101 of Beauty 101’s: Clean your face, kid.
Before make up application, ensure that you have a clean face. Wash with a facial cleanser that suits your skin type, tone your skin to remove stubborn dirt and apply your moisturiser. If you have oily skin, use a water based moisturiser, preferably with SPF. Your foundation is your foundation.
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Play it smart with the concealer.
Get pretty pretty quick with creams.
Your makeup routine as a teenager has to be fuss free and requires as few tools as possible, because really, who wants to be cooped up in a chair for hours doing make up instead of hanging out with their besties? For this reason, I suggest cream products because you just need your clean
fingers to apply them. I love cream blushes as it gives you that glow only seen on a cherub’s cheeks. Go easy on the eyes.
Don’t touch those eyebrows and I mean it! The most that you should do is to invest in a clear mascara to keep your brows in place. I know you may be tempted to apply eyeliner and mascara and that is totally fine but commit to removing them. Opt for brown instead of black and of course don’t’ forget to curl your lashes to open up those lovely eyes even more. Take a tint.
A tinted lipbalm is what I recommend even to adults. Aside from its moisturising properties, it gives you a healthy hint of colour. Last but certainly not the least…
Enjoy your youth. Don’t be in a hurry to wear those high heels and those matte red lips because you have your entire life after university to do just that. This is the time for you to know, accept and love yourself, flaws and all, because no amount of make up will do that for you.
ONLI IN DA PILIPINS
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Filipinisms. Sometimes awesome. Sometimes facepalm.
BA Filipinology B y > A b y Ya p
Are you bold enough to major in BA Filipinology? See what it takes to earn a lifetime degree. F101: Family Few NOT – Required, 10 Units Understanding that the family isn’t just the basic unit of society; it is the society— at least for the Filipino family. A typical household consists of yourself and your parents, siblings, grandparents, and yaya who’s probably a distant kin, too. F102: The Godfather (and the Godmother) – Elective, 2 Units Discovering child-rearing assistance. Since many Filipino parents believe that the more, the many-er and the money-er, you luckily have a dozen of reluctant ninongs and ninangs. F103: What’s in a Name – Elective, 2 Units Identifying yourself. In ‘Pinas, most babies are called Baby and most little boys are nicknamed Boy. A brown dog is Brownie while a black one is — guess what? Blackie!
W ARN I N G : T his p rogra m is n’t for the u na d v entu rou s a nd /or the hu m orles s .
vacation, no-class days come the rainy season — we have so much to celebrate! F106: The Road – Required, 5 Units Exploring the streets of Manila. Be ready to do it at a snail’s pace during rush hour. Want it or not, the city’s roads could be downright horrifying when traffic is real messy and the jeepney you’re riding is a mobile disco. F107: Our Daily Bread – Required, 5 Units Debunking this claim because it’s rice that we need to survive. That is, sinangag for breakfast, steamed rice for lunch, lugaw for merienda, arroz valenciana for dinner, and suman for midnight snack. F108: Yummy! – Prerequisite: F106, 5 Units Digesting the idea of what’s yummy to the Filipino. Jollibee Chicken Joy brings us gastronomical joys. Lechon and chicharon warm (and kill) our hearts. We love what most people would find yucky: duck embryo, chicken head/neck/butt/ feet/intestines, pig ears/blood/intestines, crickets, frogs, dogs… are you hungry yet?
career, exaggerate the American accent. To run for public office, declaim in straight Tagalog. F111: That’s Entertainment – Required, 10 Units Expanding your interests. There’s no dull moment in the Philippines. Visit your neighbors as soon as you wake up for the hottest news. Come home by lunchtime for your favorite variety show. Do the telenovela marathon from afternoon ‘til night. F112: Do the Haggle – Elective, 5 Units Managing your finances. Remember this: every self-respecting Pinoy can smell the nearest tyangge/ukay-ukay and he/she calls it a done deal only if a tawad has been made — even if it’s just a PHP5 discount. F113: Reel Beauty – Required, 10 Units Prettifying the Filipina. Is it Miss Universe, Vicky Belo, or Snow White? Whoever’s fault it is, we can no longer stop buying papaya soaps and flat ironing our hair, aargh!
F104: Actions Speak Louder than Words – Required, 5 Units Reading into the Filipino’s non-verbal language. You can point direction with your lips, either greet or provoke someone by raising an eyebrow, smile to show you’re happy/embarrassed/shy/clueless/deadma, or not have any facial reaction at all when you’re tampo.
F109: The Latest – Required, 5 Units Recognizing Filipino Time. Because we’re staunch believers of the saying that “It’s better late than never,” Filipino Time means arriving 30 minutes to 3 hours late. It depends on the traffic/weather/mood or whatever reason we could think of.
F114: Career Orientation – Required, 10 Units Climbing the ladder of success. The trick is to do it slowly, strategically, and surely. Here are the options: (1) Join PBB Teens then co-star with JLC in RomCom films. (2) Hire a voice coach and upload your videos on YouTube. (3) Train hard to be a boxer and join international competitions.
F105: Happy Holidays – Required, 10 Units Listing down the many reasons to be happy and to party. Fiestas every month, Christmas as early as September, summer
F110: Speech Power – Elective, 5 Units Leveling up your communication skills. It pays to be multilingual. To enter showbiz, talk like Kris Aquino. To pursue a call center
F114: Practice Makes Perfect – Required, 50 Units As it’s been said many times, you learn by experience. So, enjoy your practicum and good luck! illustrado go>37
ILLUSTRADO STUFF >
EINSTEIN’S DREAMS BY ALAN LIGHTMAN
As a righteous counterpoint to the forward thrust of this issue, we’re celebrating some of our favorite stuff from the bygone decades. These aren’t just knick-knacks – these are venerated cultural icons!
Imagine Albert Einstein a few weeks before he arrived at the Theory of Relativity. Imagine what it must have been like inside his head. That is exactly what theoretical physicist Alan Lightman did when he came up with the idea for Einstein’s Dreams. The result: a collection of beautiful, crisply written short stories about time and space. An absolute cult classic, and a must, MUST read.
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
It is an accepted dictum in modern science that Stanley Kubrick was one of the most revolutionary filmmakers to have ever walked the planet. Another thing we can all also agree on is that a person who has yet to see 2001: A Space Odyssey is a person who cannot call himself a film buff. Every astronaut or space exploration movie you have ever seen has taken one or two or 3 thousand things from this movie. As a visual and musical spectacle, it remains unmatched up to this very day (although Interstellar comes close!). Watch it, if you know what’s good for you.
PRADA ROBOT
If you belong in the generation that witnessed (and had enough of a mind to appreciate) the turn of the century, you’ve seen the legendary Prada Robot. Perhaps you even own one, in the form of a keychain or bag. If you do, lucky you, as these babies are as cute as they are iconic. They mark a quirky moment in Prada’s long history, when the brand decided that it was taking itself too seriously and needed a bit of a pop culture in their aesthetics.
HOMOGENIC BY BJORK
Trust us when we say that 500 years from now, aliens will invade and colonize the planet and proclaim that Bjork was one of their advance scouts. And yes, 500 years from now, Bjork’s music will still be relevant. Homogenic is a stunning collection of lushly orchestrated sonic works of art that are simultaneously primal and progressive. You can’t call yourself a fan of music and not like this album. Just can’t, sorry. It’s your duty as a citizen of Earth to listen to it. SONY WALKMAN
Don’t laugh, but some of us really do miss our Walkman’s. There’s something about that clunky, chunky block of plastic that speaks louder of your commitment to music than the built-in iTunes on your iPhone. It’s not just a gadget. It’s a statement. It’s you telling the world that you’re ready to cancel it out and walk to the beat of your own drum.
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SASSY GIRL GUIDE
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Sizzling sisterly advice from one fierce Filipina
7 Things A Woman Should Remember About Life B y > Tr a c y L e y
S
ometimes, beauty seems to be all about chasing after lost youth, but I’ve gone through enough trials in my life to know that beauty should be about being your best self in the present moment – beautiful in the NOW. I remember when I was younger, I used to worry a lot about growing “older.” Society has conditioned us to think that the younger, the better; the newer, the fresher. But you know what? It ain’t necessarily so. So to all my young sisters out there: enjoy the journey! Enjoy your life as you travel towards the person whom you are destined to be, and remember these 7 simple things: Apologize
I know for some, apologizing is a sign of weakness. To me, it is not the case. I believe that apologizing can set you free and it is the act of being strong and courageous. It also shows that you have a good heart and that you value the relationship you have with that person over your ego. It’s never too late to apologize. A good apology consists of; I’m sorry, what can I do? How do I make it right? So go on ahead and tell that person you’re sorry and give them a BIG hug!
other people say. It is the only way to know if your friends/family or loved ones will like and love you no matter what. Say what you mean without being offensive and mean what you say without hesitation.“No matter how plain a woman may be, if truth and honesty are written across her face, she will be beautiful” –Eleanor Roosevelt
no one is going to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself. So be sure to build that confidence through whatever means possible. “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent” –Eleanor Roosevelt
Take advice
It’s great word to keep reminding yourself to keep going despite the rejection and the “no’s” you might hear as you travel along the road towards success. Just keep going and don’t give up. Sooner or later you will hear that glorious ‘yes’ you have been dreaming of all along. “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: my strength lies solely to my tenacity” –Louis Pasteur.
It’s important to take advice from people but it’s also important to take it from the right people. Listen to those who have worked in the industry you’re trying to work in. Listen to their words of wisdom but also take into account that, that was their experience and you’re a different person. “The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use of oneself” –Oscar Wilde No limitations
The only limits are the ones we place upon ourselves. There are no limits. If the brain can conceive it, you can achieve it. Like Napoleon Hill said “There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge”. I’d say, dream big and work for it.
Be real Build confidence
It is a make it or fake it world and to be honest, we shouldn’t take it seriously as no one will make it out alive anyway. For me, it is important to be real no matter what
It’s important to have confidence in yourself and your abilities because no one is going to give that to you. It is true that
Be tenacious
Your heart will get broken
Some of us are lucky and some of us, not so much. You may be lucky enough to find your true love early in life, get married and have kids. We will get hurt in a relationship no matter how much we avoid it. But if two people really love, trust and respect each other, they can overcome anything. If the relationship was not meant to be, we should move on, forget that has been and find a new venture. “You can’t start the new chapter of your life, if you keep re-reading the last one” -Unknown
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Filipino Progress & Diversity
at the work place >
it needs to be.
CAREER ADVICE
As an Electrical Engineer in a consulting firm, I review, analyze, and recognize technical problems in all electrical design and material submittals pertaining to construction. My role is multi-layered, and is at the core of an integrated building services design. Our skills include power system planning, power distribution, lighting design, life safety system, vertical transportation and construction
Believe in yourself. Every trial comes with its own reward. Be happy with what you have in life and make it a habit to share your blessings. Be an active contributor to the betterment of the world.
coordination. MY WORK DAY
JOEL FORONDA
Electrical Engineer-ADNEC Dubai, UAE MY JOB
To an optimist, the glass is half full. To a pessimist, the glass is half empty. But to an Engineer, the glass is always twice as big as
My typical day consists of managing the timely review of drawing and material submittals, plus handling the daily work inspection requests on the projects. Effective communication is crucial in my role. Most days, I have at least an hour of meetings plus an hour or two of answering emails. The rest of my time is spent investigating design problems. This requires collaboration with other engineers and architects.
MY JOB
I am currently working as a Senior Customer Relations Officer in one of the private Real Estate Developers in Dubai for almost two years. Part of my job is to interact with our investors, basically after sales, liaising with investors on project updates, handover of their properties etc. I am a people person and it has been my forte to be in the field of customer service, my job is indeed very interesting as you will get to know different kinds of people and being able to respond to various complains and yet know how to maintain the composure and professionalism. MY CAREER JOURNEY
JOYCE ALCANTARA
Senior Officer-Customer RelationETA Star Property Developers Dubai, UAE
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This is not my first job in Dubai. I have been working here for almost 12 years. I started my career in the hotel industry in one of the five star hotels, from reservations agent to Sales Executive for five years. Then I realized, its time to move out of my comfort zone and try a different field for a change, hence I shifted to the property industry and
joined as a Customer Relations Executive in one of the private developers in Dubai and eventually I got another opportunity to excel and joined in another private developer as a Senior Customer Relations Officer till date. The journey of my career has not been easy, it takes a lot of patience and determination to be able to stay in this very competitive city. CAREER ADVICE
The most important lesson I had learned is, to be humble and to believe in yourself that anything is possible and to keep on taking risks in life so that you can tell yourself that it’s better to try than never.
KWENTONG KABAYAN > True stories from ordinary people doing extraordinary things
SURVIVING THE
BIG C
B y > E x c e l V. D y q u i a n g c o
Let’s live it to the fullest. Life is too short to be spent on anger, worrying and whining. Forgive those who offended you, let go of hurtful past, spend time with loved ones, for you never know how much time you still have with them.
A
lthough she was born to a poor family, Rea Rabe never let her circumstances dictate her attitude. While a student at the Technological Institute of the Philippines, she got a scholarship and managed to finish her degree by being a working student. “I told myself that I will never allow my kids to experience what I have been through,” she says. “I was going to school with empty pockets and an empty stomach. I want to give my future family a good future and at the same time help other people who like me are struggling to make both ends meet.” Eventually in 2005 she was recruited in the Philippines to join Novotel World Trade Center as Payroll Supervisor. Seeing her potential, her Director of Finance promoted her to Accounts Receivable Supervisor in less than a year and later on as Credit Manager. After her credit management stint, she was given the opportunity to be Chief Account in Angsana Hotel by Banyan Tree in Dubai. Later on she moved to The Address Hotel Montgomerie as Chief Accountant and pursued another promotion with Jumeirah Creekside Hotel as Finance Manager in 2012. She was at the peak of her career with many hopes and aspirations. “The climb
up the ladder was so fast that I didn’t have time to breathe but still, I was very thankful to our Lord Almighty,” she says. “All of these are God’s blessing. I saw my prayers being answered and because of this, I want to bring back to Him the glory by serving Him.” Live Life to the Fullest
However in January 2013 her world suddenly stopped turning when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer Stage 3. “I suddenly saw myself from afar, looking ahead where the future seemed so dark and uncertain – I even thought that I was going to die,” she says. “I started to worry about the welfare of my family and then I remembered God. I sought Him and surrendered everything. I want to live my life for the Lord, for my family and to fulfil my dreams to help other people.” Interestingly a few weeks after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer, she was found to be pregnant. All her doctors advised her against her pregnancy, saying that the baby could cost her life but she remained steadfast in her faith. She wanted to surpass her giving birth and she knew deep inside her heart that the baby would extend her life. Soon she gave birth and
discovered that her cancer had developed even more to Stage 4. “The cancer has spread to both of my lungs, in front of my heart and multiple lymph nodes and in my stomach,” she says. “I struggled with the initial doses of the treatment. I was wasted. I doubted my ability to cope with the treatment. I was miserable. I cried out to God and He gave me my friends in church. I found encouragement and they strengthened my faith.” Now two years in treatment, her condition got stable. She related how God has indeed given her the miracle of healing - though she is still clinically ill, she knows how spiritually strong she is. “I still carry out my job as normal,” she says. “I enjoy my baking hobby, I run errands, take care of my active toddler and most of all, and serve the Lord God who gave us one life to live. Let’s live it to the fullest. Life is too short to be spent on anger, worrying and whining. Forgive those who offended you, let go of hurtful past, spend time with loved ones, for you never know how much time you still have with them. Go out and celebrate life! You only got one.”
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
>
Celebrating Filipino artistry, passion, and cleverness.
Isa Tabasuares Singer-Songwriter, Berlin
“Life is sometimes hard. Things go wrong in life and love, when this happens, make good art’, says the famous writer Neil Gaiman, and this is exactly how 37year old, Berlin-based singer-songwriter Isa Tabasuares found her salvation in music and the arts. My Journey I have been in Berlin for nearly a decade. I got accepted to Charite Univertiätsmedizin Berlin to study Masters of Nursing Science. Right after I graduated, I had the opportunity to do my Phd in the same university but halfway through, in 2013, I realized that I wanted to write more about my heartaches than to write scientifically. I was going through a bad break up. Everyday my heart wants to write songs and paint. I guess that is how I found my path in music and arts and why I ended up in the company of talented creative people here in Berlin. This city is just the right place to grow as an artist. My Music I enjoy a lot of pop and I love listening to jazz legends such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, so I guess I can consider them as some of my main influences. For my first album “The Mess I Have Made”, I have collaborated with a good friend and an award-winning Swedish singer songwriter, Siri Svegler. The songs are about the beautiful experiences of love and the growing pains that come with it. I recorded my album here in Berlin with my producer, Moritz Ecker. There
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are 9 original songs and one rendition of the song ‘Wag Na Lang Kaya’ by True Faith. My Personal Milestones Aside from working with Siri and Moritz on my soon-to-be released debut, I have also had the honor to play with some very talented jazz musicians her in Germany. I once shared the stage and opened a couple of shows for the brilliant British-Filipino singer-songwriter Mishka Adams here in Berlin. That was an awesome experience. In 2013, I visited the Philippines. This was the year I transitioned to music. I found myself singing for peace and the environment. I was on tour with the legendary Fantuzzi , Kate Torralba and my friends, Siri Svegler and Thomas Walter and other artists from Spain, New York and the Philippines like Waway Saway. My Plans Right now we are busy preparing for the release of the album. I am collaborating with Hineleban Foundation back home. They are a group of people who are dedicated to reforest, restore and enhance the
Philippine environment. For every album I sell is a tree planted in the Philippines. When I went back home in 2013, I learned that there is less than 2% left of our rain forest. I find this really sad and felt the need to get involved. Check out their website: http://hineleban.org/ I have a couple of solo gigs coming up as well. Kate Torralba and I will have a back to back concert soon in Berlin and then the record release party. I would also love to collaborate with a lot of my Filipino friends back home that are so talented and full of creative ideas. My Advice Be true to oneself. Try not to compare yourself with others. Let it flow and just be! Watch out for Isa’s debut album , soon to be released in Germany and the Philippines. Follow her on facebook : www. facebook.com/isatabasuares To check out more of her beautiful tunes: https://soundcloud.com/isatabasuares
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
>
Be true to oneself. Try not to compare yourself with others. Let it flow and just be!
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
>
My Journey
Painter & Sand Artist
Nathaniel Alapide
Celebrating Filipino artistry, passion, and cleverness.
My fascination with creativity started when I was around 9-10 years old. My father brought home an art book that contained the works of Picasso, Monet, Matisse and all the other great painters. It really piqued my interest as a young kid, so I began to research more about them and their works. Then a whole new dimension of imagination opened itself up for me. I started to express myself by drawing and painting, just like the artists that I was studying, and I was hooked! My Art
I’ve been painting since I was young, but I only got into sand art 2 years ago. I’ve always loved going to the beaches here in Dubai early in the morning, and I would always find myself staring at the contrast between the loose sand and the compacted sand that would always appear after the tide has receded. Then one day I realized that it is possible to use it as a canvas, so I started drawing on it and it felt good!
My Process
The process of creating works on sand is therapeutic. I have 2 ways of creating my sand art: the first one is where I prepare a drawing that will serve as my guide. The second one is where I just go by intuition – this is the method that I enjoy more. The most common question that people ask me is how I get the symmetry right, especially with the size of the artwork. The way I do it, I imagine myself from the ground slowly going up and sort of growing along with the artwork, while I visualize how it changes. This would be similar to painting, where you have to step back every now and then to look at the bigger picture. My sand murals are not always perfectly symmetrical, but just like in life, I just have to look at it from the right angle, and then it would seem perfect to me. As for my paintings, I find it hard to start with a clean, blank canvas so what I do is paint a thin layer of paint on it and just play by doing bold strokes - then I can begin with the main theme of the painting. I’m happy to say that one of my works won 1st place in the Virgin Megastore “Impact” Art Competition. Of course, a prize is the last thing on my mind when I create art, but it’s always good to be recognized for your dedication. My Inspiration
Inspiration is everywhere and present every time. You just have to keep yourself open to them. Currently, I am the only one drawing large-scale murals here in Dubai. My art form is different because you can see it outside in public, not inside galleries or hotels or museums. It’s a lot more communal. I make sure to bring extra rakes, so people can get their hands in on the art as well
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
>
Celebrating Filipino artistry, passion, and cleverness.
I think it’s the ephemeral nature of the sand art that makes it really compelling. Seeing something so beautiful, and then realizing that it will soon be washed away by the tide – there is that feeling of happiness and sadness at the same time. Not a lot of artwork can give you this kind of emotion, and not a lot of artists can produce it – which is why I take it as a huge honor to be employed by Jumeirah Beach Hotel as a full time sand artist and painter. It’s like a dream come true! I am also currently working on 2 exhibitions, which I am really excited about as well. My Advice to Aspiring Artists
Just keep doing what you’re doing and never stop learning new things. Learn to value the person that your art is helping you to become. That is art’s greatest reward.
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SCRAPBOOK >
DENNIS DALISAY Dubai, UAE www.denciomacher.com
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SCRAPBOOK >
ALEXANDER YEE Bahrain www.alexanderyee.com
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REAL STYLE, REAL PEOPLE
>
Authentic, street-level suave and swankiness.
EL LA IN E JO SE – A LA IA JA SM ar se D oh a - Q at .c om /a la ia jo w .in st ag ra m ht tp s: // w w
Oh these cutiepies. Oh wow. We can’t. Even...
AMARIS CIRELA GARCIA – ELLE Manila – Philippines www.instagram.com/amariscirela illustrado go>48
REAL STYLE, REAL PEOPLE
>
Authentic, street-level suave and swankiness.
RENEE HYDE, Dubai, UAE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ britsayahyde Photographer: Paul Borromeo
RD EN IL - CO BI E LY RA JA CO BA JA s ine Ma nil a – Ph ili pp r_ co bie am .co m/ cr az y_ fo gr sta .in ww /w ht tp s:/
JACOB MARELID Abu Dhabi, UAE www.facebook.com/jacob.marelid
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REAL STYLE, REAL PEOPLE
>
Authentic, street-level suave and swankiness.
JOSE DANIEL LEONIDO – JD Manila - Philippines https://www.instagram.com/speedlhen Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ josedaniel.leonido
ELLA MARGAUX MONTILLA – ELLA Manila – Philippines https://www.instagram.com/_theellabella_
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WEARING IT WELL
>
How to work it when you wear it coz you’re worth it.
Ushi Sato Fa s h i o n D e s i g n e r Style Blogger
What role does fashion play in your daily life? Fashion has been my dream, my job, and my career. It puts bread on my table and brings real joy to me. It plays a major role to what I am today as a person. Do you consider the “regular you” a fashionable person? I’d like to say I’m quite adventurous with my personal style. I’m all for making the ordinary look extraordinary. It’s always exciting for me when I take classic, reliable, everyday pieces and style them in a way that is completely surprising. What do you typically wear daily? I always gravitate towards a solid pair of jeans and a T-shirt, with a burst of something interesting, either an unexpected accessory or footwear. And I love good
quality denim. Some people invest on suits; I say invest in a good pair of denims that will last you years and years and works in all seasons. What can’t you live without? My wallet. What is your fashion philosophy? Perfect size matters. In fact, a great fit makes all the difference in the world. You can wear the most outdated wardrobe you can find, but if it fits you like a glove, you’ll still look fresh and well-put together.
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MONEY
>
Make money. Maintain that money. Money pa more!
Teaching Kids About Money By> Francisco J. Colayco
T
here are so many things we want to teach our child first like reading, writing, counting, sports, but as Evonne Lack and Sam Renick, authors of “Top 7 Ways to Raise a Money-Smart Kid” share, “Kids are constantly being bombarded with messages to spend money, and we need to counteract that. The earlier kids start developing good money habits, the better.” She provides us “seven tricks to turn money lessons from a fight into a delight.” Her tricks are really for the American environment but I’d like to translate them to the local Filipino environment. 1. Hand your preschooler a buck.
In peso terms, a buck is about P45. For our Filipino preschool kid 3-4year old, I would start with a P20 bill and P10, P5, P1 and 25-centavo coins. Even if your child cannot yet understand the value of each bill or coin, it is making him familiar in the same way that you show letters or numbers to him even if he doesn’t understand it as a start to learning how to read. 2. Dispose of “disposable thinking.
Evonne Lack says: “From broken toys to outdated TVs, almost everything
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gets tossed in our culture. By teaching your child the value of things, you set a cornerstone of financial literacy.” Kids can learn that possessions deserve our care. If something does break and your child cavalierly says, “It’s okay, we can just get another one,” take advantage of the teachable moment. Gently explain that replacing it would cost money, and that you’ll need to decide whether spending that money is a good idea. 3. Encourage delayed gratification.
Don’t immediately give your child what he asks for. Teach him to wait and for special “wants”, suggest that he put it in his birthday or Christmas “wish list. As they grow older and have learned to delay their gratification, you can start teaching them to save for things they want. You can teach them to put aside part of their allowance or do extra chores to have more money and then match or double their savings. 4. Table the taboo.
Children are smarter than you think and many experts say that kids benefit when they are part of family discussion on money. With the use of ATM and credit cards, kids could easily assume that money
will never run out because you can get it from machines and signatures. Keep things cool and casual, and don’t push the point. 5. Be a role model.
We all see how many children follow their parent’s footsteps. The same happens with money. As Lack says, “What you do will have a much greater effect on your kids than what you say. If you want your child to learn to save, make sure you’re saving some money yourself – and that your child knows you do it.” 6. Let them practice.
Learning good money management takes practice. So invest in a little play money (or make some!) for your preschooler so that she can play “store” with you, and consider giving your big kid an allowance. 7. Skip the lecture – tell a story instead.
Give a lecture on responsible spending, and you’ll get a glassy-eyed stare. But tell a story about a boy who must decide between buying lunch and buying a new action figure, and you’ll likely get rapt attention.
LAW
>
Get right with the rules. Here’s how.
Collecting Child Support From Absentee Fathers By> Barney Almazar, Esq.
A
noncustodial father has the responsibility to meet his financial obligations to the children he brings to the world. Even if the marriage has been dissolved, the ex-wife may still be entitled to alimony.
Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act considers the unreasonable deprivation of the child’s basic needs for survival such as food and shelter as a form of child abuse.
A common misconception is that Filipino fathers who are outside the Philippines are not within the reach of Philippine laws relating to family obligations. Article 15 of the Philippine Civil Code provides that laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal capacity of persons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living abroad. In fact, a petition to terminate the father’s parental authority over the child pursuant to Article 229 of the Family Code of the Philippines can be filed by the mother even if both of them are outside the Philippines.
The amount of support shall be in proportion to the resources or means of the father and to the necessities of the child.
What can be demanded from the father?
Under Article 194 of the Family Code, support comprises everything indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical attendance, education and transportation, in keeping with the financial capacity of the family. The mothers should note that Section 3 B (3) of Republic Act 7610 of the Philippines, otherwise known as the
Computing Child Support
The child’s monthly support is not a fixed amount and shall be reduced or increased proportionately, according to the reduction or increase of the needs of the child and the resources or means of the father obliged to furnish the same. In cases where parents have mutually agreed on the amount of financial support through a settlement agreement, the contractual support may be adjusted whenever modification is necessary due to changes in the circumstances manifestly beyond what has been previously contemplated by the parents. The father is given the option to fulfill his obligation either by paying the allowance fixed or by receiving and maintaining in the family dwelling the child he is required to support. However, if there is a moral or legal obstacle (for example, the father is living with his paramour), the latter alternative will not be allowed. The child
support laws are fair not just to the father but to the children as well. No father will become bankrupt due to a child support order. He may go broke because he is in debts or due to his wrong choices—but this is his problem, not his child’s problem and no child should have to pay for the bad decisions of his dad. Remedy under UAE Laws
The initial remedy is for the mother to send a demand letter to the uncooperative father pursuant to Article 272 (1) of the UAE Civil Code as amended by Federal Law No. 1 of 1987. Should the father fails to provide support despite several demands from the mother, a legal case can be initiated against him before the UAE Family Courts. The mother can also request the father’s employer to make direct monthly payments to her out of his salary.This is of course without prejudice to the filing executory reliefs before the Philippine Courts. Compared to Philippine laws, UAE laws are tougher on the miscreant fathers. Penalties for missing a support payment can be up to a year in the prison as UAE jurisprudence considers it a crime against the family if the father refuses to pay alimony and child support. illustrado go>53
ENTERTAINMENT
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Because there’s no business like showbusiness. Boom panes!
By> Kristine Abante
JaDine to be featured on Teen Vogue The phenomenal “reel-to-real” love team of James Reid and Nadine Lustre has caught the attention of of Teen Vogue, one the biggest Teen fashion magazine in the United States. Following a month-long tour across the US and Canada, the On the Wings of Love co-stars were photographed
being interviewed by Isis Briones, another Filipina who works as Teen Vouge’s Digital Manager. According to a report aired on “Tonight with Boy Abunda” on Wednesday, the feature article on the two will focus on their experience performing in more than a dozen cities, as well as their rise to fame
after the success of “On the Wings of Love.” A release date for the article has yet to be released. It also remains unclear whether the article will appear on an upcoming print issue of Teen Vogue or on the magazine’s online website. Photo : ABSCBN
Rock Icon Bamboo kicks off UK & Ireland Tour
Fresh from recording another series of the hugely popular TV show ‘The Voice Kids’, Bamboo will take to the road for a UK & Ireland Tour of several of the world’s most iconic concert venues.
Hammersmith, London (October 19) and The Olympia Theatre, Dublin (October 24) as he continues the promotion of his second solo album ‘Bless This Mess’, released in late 2015.
The music icon will play dates at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh (October 16), the Palace Theatre, Manchester (October 18), the Eventim Apollo in
Bamboo’s tour of the UK and Ireland will be produced and promoted by Spicy Lemon, the team behind Kamikazee’s hugely-successful
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‘Huling Sayaw’ farewell show at Manila’s SMART Araneta Coliseum in December 2015. It will be the third time Bamboo and Spicy Lemon have joined forces. The Dubai-based company also staged shows for Bamboo in the UAE in 2013 and 2014 and have drawn up plans for what will be the singer’s most ambitious shows outside of the Philippines. Photo : Spicy Lemon
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
“Cuzin to the Rescue”
O
nce upon a time, in the sleepy barrio called Capunitan in the quiet town of Orion in the no-SM Mall-yet-province of Bataan, there lived two dreamy lasses. They treated each other like sisters, even though they were just cousins. Up to their early teens, both even shared the same crushes. They never fought – except for that single incident when they had a fight on who was cuter – Bryelle Mondejar or Ronell Victor – which eventually got settled when they both realized that Jestoni Alarcon was, two thumbs up. But just like the song, some good things never last. Eventually, one of them left the barrio to pursue a degree in Mass Communications in fast-paced Manila. The other had to stay and continue her studies in the provincial capitol. That’s what I remember of Corazon Candelaria Catacutan Curapot – or my cousin Cookie. The last time we saw each other was during Miss Gay Undas in our town plaza five years ago – until I got a text message from an unknown number last week. “hI aNniE! C cUKi I 2, D2 nA riN mE sA dUbAi. kitA nAmn Ta U.” Little did I know that Cookie and I would cross each
other’s paths once again – here in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai. In our exchange of texts, I learned that my long-lost cousin Cookie arrived in Dubai over a month ago to work as a cashier in a newly opened restaurant. So one weekend, I decided to drop by her place so we could see each other. I imagined she’s already changed a bit from the barrio lass that I last in the town plaza years ago – but what I saw horrified me. Here’s Cookie’s new story: She shares a room with eleven other Pinays. They’re all burara and lazy. They all complain that they don’t have time to clean because of their shifting schedule. So Cookie, who is always organized, does all the cleaning for them, even their own laundry and ironing. They praise Cookie for her delicious cooking, so she also does all the cooking, even the washing the dishes. They always rant about their financial problems, so good old Cookie lends them money for everything. Aba..aba..aba! Now all that made my blood boil. And inspite of all these, Cookie does NOT mind at all. How pateticks!!! How can anyone be this naïve? Naiiva talaga itong pinsan ko o – napaka-clueless – hindi
naman nya kamukha si Alicia Silvestone! Hay naku, enough if this pa-martir effect. This abuse should come to an end. Now na – as in NOW! Wala sa lahi naming ang mga api. Stoooop meeeee!!! (Tigilan ako!!!) I quickly gave Cookie a lecture on how she should stop these people from abusing her kindness and generosity. For as long as Cookie doesn’t complain, these people na naturingan pa man ding kababayan will never return the favor and change their old habits. They want to eat? Eh di magluto sila! Their room is dirty? Eh di maglinis sila!!! They don’t have money anymore? Eh di manigas sila!!! From now on, they will witness a new Cookie – a woman with confidence, style and a new attitude. I will groom her to be just like me – independent, fashion fastforward, abilitated (ahem, maabilidad…), a go-grabber….mmmm….ano pa ba? So my darling cousin Cookie, toss that broom and start dressing up. The clock is sticking – the Dubai Summer Surprises is here. Sugod kafatiiiiid!!!!
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THE PRACTICING
MISIS >
Kitchen advise for the curious cook!
Skills Muna Bago Feels
“Grown-up versions of childhood favorites are always a party in the tum-tum (tum-tum - did I say that correctly)?” By> Rosan Katlea Reodica
Cereal Blueberry-Based Smoothie Bowl
S
o how do we deal with a millennial’s appetite? With the proliferation of Tastemade, Tasty, and other platforms showing less-than-a-minute videos of food porn, even food, a basic need, has to grab the attention of the information-loaded generation.
a reading market for my cookbook. See, millennials are a tricky bunch. Make us learn and we conquer stuff, yep, even just the lowly kusina.
Okay, yeah, truth. I am a millennial, on the older spectrum of it. And I sure do admit that this generation is a huge foodie generation, BUT - and I’m #sorrynotsorry for generalizing - most would love to just eat out and discover the “hidden gems” ironically blogged about or featured in hype portals. How many would take time to slave away in the kitchen on a daily basis? Sure, there’ll be the “hang-out tayo sa inyo” with the additional tagged video of a fry-crusted pizza smothered with bottled cheese spread, answered immediately with “G (as in game) na ‘yan!”
Cereal Blueberry-Based Smoothie Bowl
Cooking for a party, let’s do it. Cooking for my baon to work? UGH! Hassle much! Prove me wrong and I would be left without illustrado go>56
The following is a dish that won’t take the time away from #winning at life or your Pokemon Go. #peacebruh
Kinda like your cartoon-paired food in your #tbt days but makes you feel like an #adult DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: No biggie. At all. Wala nang kalan, kalan involved. COUNTER: Go crazy with your cereal base. Get the milk you’ve always wanted. For this we used canned coconut cream blended with frozen blueberries and raspberries. You can choose almond, soya, regular, chocolate, etc. Then add a bunch of texture before you pour in your cereal of choice! Load it with good fats and fiber from a selection of nuts such as almonds, macadamia, sunflower seeds or
add granola. Even fresh grated coconut! Slice and dice some fresh fruits. For this, I’ve used bananas and more berries. Since I don’t like my cereal flakes to be soggy, I add them in last when my mix has reached perfection: Kellogg’s Classic Cornflakes. Why not add in a bunch of 3 types of cereal if you love living life? Pwede pang-breakfast and merienda! Lasang mas-healthy at lakas makabata na halo-halo! Insert emoji with tongue sticking out. Pair this with Adventure Time! SKILLS UNLOCKED: Mixing, matching and giving in to childhood nostalgia while remaining a grown-up. The Practicing Misis Cookbook [No Fiancé Required, Guaranteed Gayuma-Free Recipes] Psicom Publishing Inc., 2016. Available in the Philippines in National Bookstore, Fully Booked and other leading bookstores nationwide. Social Media: @practicingmisis | #practicingmisis | #lukaretcooking
What to do yani?
ILLUSTRADO CALENDAR
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K. Here.
2016
SonE P T wards
Fill your schedule with these awesome activities!
Find your financial freedom!
Mo’ money mo’ problems? Renowned financial advisor Randell Tiongson will be in town to help sort you out. Sign up for his upcoming seminar, “Financial Freedom Journey, happening on the 8th of September 2016, Thursday, 6PM to 10PM, at City Seasons Hotel, Al Hamra, Abu Dhabi. For enquiries, call 0569196776.
Witness a spectacle of Eid fireworks!
Welcome the Eid Al Adha with a bang! Check out the fireworks display at the Beach in JBR, Dubai, happening nightly from the 11th to the 16th of September. Want to learn more? Head to www. thebeach.ae.
Sing and win!
Find victory via your vocal cords in “Sing Pilipinas,” dubbed as the 1st Videoke Challenge and Global Concert Tour for Global Filipinos. Live auditions will be held on the 26th of August in Dubai, and 2nd of September in Abu Dhabi. For more info, visit www.dnkevents.com.
Market, Market!
A night at the circus
Cirque Du Soleil returns to Dubai with Varekai – a breathtaking show that promises amazing acrobatics and world class production values for the young and young at heart. The show runs from September 16 to 24. Tickets are available at Tixbox.com.
The much-loved winter market spectacle, Ripe Food & Crafts Market, has extended its run this summer. Find the fresh and organic produces as well as artisan crafts at its indoor home in the Time Square Centre. From May to October, it is open only on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm.
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ADVERTORIAL
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Philippine Department Of Tourism Budget Increased 44 Per Cent From 2015 Dubai, August 23, 2016: THE Philippines’ newly-appointed tourism secretary Wanda Teo has announced to efficiently utilise the resources given to her for the promotion and development of the country’s tourism industry. Speaking about the announcement, Secretary of Philippines’ Department of Tourism, Wanda Teo, said: “It has gotten a substantial budget increase this year, up 44 per cent from the 2015 budget of 2.5 billion pesos (US$53 million) to a 3.61 billion pesos (US$76.5 million) sum for 2016.” No details have been revealed as to how the budget is to be allocated, but Teo added that information on
Nikon Middle East Unveils New DX-Format DSLR An all-new entry-level DX-format DSLR with easy connectivity to smart devices was recently announced by Nikon Middle East FZE. From outfit-of-the-day portraits to edgy street photography or one-of-a-kind culinary experiences, the new Nikon D3400 easily captures these visual contents for instant sharing to social platforms. Designed for aspiring photographers and users accustomed to shooting with their smart devices, the D3400 is the first entry-level DSLR enabled with SnapBridge connectivity via a built-in Bluetooth® low energy technology that automatically transfers all photos*1 taken with the camera to a smart device*2 with simple, one-time set-up. This eliminates the need to manually reconnect the camera to a smart
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device for each image transfer and connection is maintained even when the camera is turned off. Now sharing of images taken from the DSLR onto social media has never been easier. “The D3400 is an excellent introduction to DSLR photography for the always-connected user. Combining the best of both worlds, users can now create with DSLR imaging innovation for excellent image quality throughout the day, while enjoying the always-on connectivity of their smart devices to upload and share images,” said Narendra Menon, General Manager, Nikon Middle East FZE. “With its improved intuitive user interface, and upgraded kit lenses, the D3400 is a natural fit for smartphone users looking to capture and explore the possibilities of visual content creation.”
activities and transactions of the tourism ministry can be accessed from its soon-to-relaunch website. In the statement, Teo also lauded the country’s president Rodrigo Duterte on his plans to construct new highways and bridges to network major islands and tourist destinations. Referring to Duterte’s state of the nation address on last month Teo said: “We are elated and inspired by the president’s announcement that topping his list of priorities is the building of highways and roads that can provide easy access to our tourist sites.”
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