PHOTOGRAPHY by EROS GOZE
EDITOR’S NOTE
On Being a Filipina
“There is something in the way the Filipina makes a meal, or
But for however hardy we are known, not far behind is
makes a point, or makes love, the way she finally decides on
the reputation of the Filipina as the sweet and yielding,
matters of her home or her country, or her heart, and firmly
nurturing woman capable of great love and care. We are
goes the distance with or without you.
obedient daughters, attentive wives, and supportive sisters
It is what makes you want to punch the wall with your first. What makes you weep and makes you weak – her constant presence, her quiet strength, the soft, water-drop persistence of her enduring life and love.” - Angelo R. Lacuesta Anyone who has the privilege of having a Filipina in his life would know how we are a wonderful and, oftentimes, confusing mass of contradictions. We are veritable amazons born from a line of formidable females. Our foremothers would toil in the rice fields even after childbirth - complete with infant in a sling on one side, and the rest of her children in tow on the other. Our Filipina warriors, fought valiantly in battles throughout
who came into the world bound by a strong sense of duty and responsibility towards the ones we love and those around us. We labor, we take care. We love and we triumph. We participate in society and nurture the hope of the future. For all our powers, our capabilities and gumption, it would seem that we are invincible. But not so. For however strong and resolute we are in almost all the avenues of our lives, oftentimes, we are weak when it comes to matters of the heart. And for all that Filipina selfless generosity, the same overly done to a fault, could also be our downfall.
our tumultuous history arm-in-arm with our brave men,
And so to the Filipina - our muse, our inspiration and
and even today as firm voices who have carved a strong
our advocacy’s continued challenge – we wish you more
and palpable presence in our country’s government and
mountains conquered and hearts won over.
economy.
importantly may you have so much more to give to yourself.
Our persistence is legendary and known globally. We,
Taas Noo, Filipina!
But most
from the wave of the unstoppable feminized migration, are conquering workplaces around the world with our hard work, ambition, determination and persistence.
LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
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TALKING LOUD
Write to us at: admin@illustrado.net or join the discussion at IIlustrado Magazine’s Facebook page
Hello po, I started working in Dubai five years ago. The story is the usual; I needed to help my family and my younger siblings. Now, my two siblings have finished school and they’re still not working and depending on the money I send home. I want to start saving and I want to spend on myself, too. I hate to say it, but I’m beginning to resent their dependency. If I can work, why can’t they? Do they expect me to support them forever?
Hi Illustrado, It was such a fabulous year for Filipina beauty last year with Meagan Young being at the top of list for winning Miss World. I hope you can feature past and present beauty queens in an upcoming issue. Ang ganda ng Pinay – bongga talaga! Thank you po! Jeps
~Name withheld upon request
Hello po sa mga ka-Illustrado, Mahigit na 15 taon na akong seaman. Nakakauwi lang ako tuwing matapos na ang aking contrata. Hindi man ako sanay magsulat ng ganitong liham, naisip ko subokan kasi nakita ko yun Woman of Substance nyo sa Facebook. Nagtiis kami mag-asawa na magkahiwalay para sa among mga anak, para sila ay makatapos at makamit ng magandang kinabukasan. Madami akong kasamahan sa barko, sa trabajo na nagkaka-watak watak ang pamilya dahil sad alas ng hindi magkasama. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon at sa aking misis na si Carolita na buo pa din ang pamilya naming hanggang ngayon. Siya talaga ang ilaw ng tahanan at matatag na tumayo bilang ina at ama nang ako ay nasa dagat. Awa ng diyos, nakatapos na an gaming panganay. Magtra-trabaho na sya si isang call center sa Maynila. Isa na lang ang pinapaaral namin mag-asawa. Hindi namin mapapa-aral yun mga anak namin kung hindi ako nag-abroad, pero hindi siguro magiging buo pa ang aming pamilya kung di sa tiyaga at alaga ng aking misis. Salamat, mahal. Ikaw ang buhay ng buhay naming lahat. ~Armando
Hi, We have received many letters like yours before and I certainly feel your predictament. You might want to check out the workshops of Atikha where they talk about dealing with family dependency and personal guilt. They’ll help you see that you may actually be hurting them rather than helping them by allowing them to be dependent on you. Good luck! ~Lalaine I hold the unpopular view that this Pinoy pride thing is just a reflection of us as a nation of low self-esteem. It’s one thing to be happy for Meagan Young or FilOther Nationality is in the spotlight, but it’s another thing to ride on the success of others. It’s like we’re grasping at straws for whatever recognition we can get our hands on as a race that has been kicked around and bossed around for too long. Other people’s hard work and their triumph do not have a halo effect. Or what I call the “remittance effect” – when one family member goes abroad and starts earning, the other family members think it nullifies their need to make a living for themselves. Let’s use the success of others as an impetus for us to do more and be better – for ourselves and by ourselves. ~A
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Hi Jeps, That’s a great suggestion! We’ll certainly consider it for future issues. Taas noo, Filipino! Lalaine Hi, I love Illustrado for its practical beauty and finance tips. The finance tips help me save for my beauty buys. Hehe. Just kidding po! The Colayco column is very inspiring kasi parang ang dali lang pala mag-save. I’m glad I read their column while I’m still young – more time to save. Thanks! Babet Hi Babet, The Colayco column is indeed a consistent favorite among our readers. We’re glad that is has been helpful in beautifying your bank account and your other physical assets. ; ) ~ Lalaine
CONTRIBUTORS MARCH 2014
NICHOLO JALLORES Nicholo Jallores is an advertising account executive, writer, singer, dancer, cardio junkie and a wannabe theoretical physicist. When he was young, his grandmother convinced him that anything is possible, and gullible child that he was he believed her. He engraved that mindset so deeply on the core of his being that now he walks around the city thinking that he can be anything and everything — a dangerous man. He eats his steak rare and mooing, because he believes that if one wants to have the best things in life, he must not be afraid of tasting a bit of blood in his mouth.
NIKKA SARTHOU-LAINEZ As a freelance writer and editor, Nikka Sarthou-Lainez enjoys being her own boss and having the flexibility to indulge in her other passions like food and travel. Every year, she vows to visit places she has never been to before whether locally or internationally, which is why her travel bucket list changes year after year.
ATTY. BARNEY ALMAZAR,
ABY YAP Our much-loved columnist Aby never fails to put a humorous spin on Filipino idiosyncracies in her column, “Onli in the Philppines”. Abi believes in the importance of spaghetti, travel, fat cats, and a fast Internet connection. Or, if the last one isn’t possible, an extended deadline will almost always do. Aby writes about women of substance in this month’s issue and talks about her own idea of what a WOS is. A woman of substance knows her what she’s capable of and uses her strengths to give meaning to her life and to those around her. My mommy, who has a great sense of humor and a mind of her own, never fails to show us through her example how to live, laugh, and love happily ever after. She is my idea of a woman of substance.
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Atty. Barney is a director at the Commercial Department of Gulf Law in the Middle East, Philippines and United Kingdom. He holds a UAE legal consultancy license and is a lifetime member of the Philippine Bar. He is a holder of Juris Doctor and MBA dual degrees with concentration on International Business and European Union Law (University of London).
NICAI DE GUZMAN Nicai graduated with a degree in Journalism from theUniversity of the Philippines, Diliman. A former reporter and producer at Kabataan News Network, she now works as a copywriter for the country’s leading mobile content provider. She also works as a contributor for SPOT.ph, Pacifiqa.com, and SexAndSensibilities. com. In her spare time, she volunteers for the Heritage Conservation Society-Youth, Little Deeds for Little Kids, and Probe MediaFoundation’s organization on population and development, Mulat Pinoy.To Nicai, a woman of substance makes use of her talent, knowledge,conviction, and fearlessness to create positive changes in hercommunity.
FRANCISCO COLAYCO Resident personal finance guru Francisco J Colayco has several best-selling books to his credit, and an advocacy on teaching Filipinos how to prosper. He points out that a quote from his first book, “Wealth Within your Reach” says a lot about what his idea of a woman of substance is, but he zeroes in on the woman who has shared his life for many years. “My most supportive wife, Mary Anne, will always be my idea of what a woman of substance is and should be. She provided me with the inspiration and utmost zeal to launch this advocacy of ours to promote financial literacy among our kabayans. In all, she was co-author, editor and manager who made this book a reality.”
MATTHEW ARCILLA Matthew Arcilla is an editor and writer based in Makati. Before going freelance, he was the editor-in-chief of the Fully Booked Zine, and the senior editor for UNO Guam. He spends most of his workday face first in a coffee mug. On weekends, he rolls platonic solids across a table and pretends he is a laser sword wielding space ninja. He currently lives in Makati with his wife and two cats. For Matt, a woman of substance defines herself. Her career is not beholden to anybody, her body belongs to no one and her appearance is not subject to anyone’s approval.
CHAMPIONING THE WORLD CLASS FILIPINO
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lalaine Chu-Benitez CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mon Benitez ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ana Santos COLUMNISTS Aby Yap Alfred “Krip” Yuson Bernadette Reyes Bo Sanchez Francisco Colayco CONTRIBUTING WRITERS – UAE, Mary Ann “Maps” PHILIPPINES, CANADA Santos SWITZERLAND Nephele Kirong Angela Mapa Nikka Sarthou Anna Oposa Nina Terol-Zialcita Barbara Marchadesch P.A. Escalante Candice Lopez Quimpo Princes Nedamo Dante Gagelonia Quay Evano Didi Paterno Rache Hernandez Excel Dyquianco Regina Layug-Lucero Kara Santos Mary Ann Marchadesch Sherry Tenorio Sonny Guzman CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS –UAE, PHILIPPINES & USA Eros Goze Alex Calueng Glenn Peter-Perez Cristina Linaza Dr. Marlon Pecjo Donald Rosales Raen Badua Filbert Kung Irvin Rivera CONTRIBUTING FASHION CREW - UAE Ginno Alducente Jessie Tabla Jojo Padua PUBLISHER – UAE Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai Media City United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 72280 Office 20C Tel: +971 4 365 4543, 365 4547 Fax: +971 4 360 4771 E-mail: admin@illustrado.net Web: illustradolife.com, illustrado.net Facebook: Illustrado Magazine Twitter: Illustrado Magazine PRINTERS Printwell Printing LLC P.O. Box 18828 Dubai, UAE STOCK IMAGES Dreamstime.com (Unless otherwise specified) Copyright Illustrado Communications FZLLC 2006 – 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC.
42
MAR 2014 CONTENTS
Pinoy+ Norwegian model Tini Dahl provides the beautiful canvass for this season’s fresh to fierce make-up looks.
features It’s More Fun to be a Woman in the Philippines 10 Women at the Top of their Game 12 Desert Rose: A Letter to the Filipina in the Middle East 16 The Role Reversal 20 She’s Got Game 22 Food Heroes 38
regular columns Editor’s Note 1 Talking Loud 2 Contributors 4 Illuminati: 7 Ladies of Much Substance 8 It’s What I Do 26 Money: Self-Sacrificing Women 30 Entrepreneurship: From Journalist to Entrepreneur 32 Law: Unconventional Entrepreneurs 34 Spiritual: A Tribute to Mother 36 Scrapbook 41 10 Things to Do 58 Bakasyon Grande: Baguio 70 My Pinoy Life In – Astana, Kazakhstan 74 On the Prowl, In the Know 78 Onli In Da Pilipins: Pinay Palaban 82
beauty & fashion Fresh to Fierce 42 Real Style, Real People 61 Filipino Global Fashion: In Full Bloom 64
70 74
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ILLUMINATI
Seven ladies of much substance by KRIP YUSON
I
recall that a year ago, my vote for Woman of Substance went to Grace Poe-Llamanzares, now Senator of the Republic.
How I wish that the ladies I will now cite would follow her lead, her good fortune, and her entry into a legislature that needs real substance as much as what it seems to have in terms of substance abuse. There is a male senator who speaks from experience even as he now decries what he claims to be marijuana’s terrible effects. He has done his own research, he says. And it’s better than any one else’s, including institutions, or the combined minds of liberal (read: rational and pragmatic) legislators in an increasing number of North American states as well as countries in Europe and South America. This senator’s abuse of his sense of entitlement may just be rooted in his showbiz background; not that it’s inherently shallow, but that he’s taken himself too seriously since. There are many others like him in our Senate, the products of name-recall privilege because their mugs and “sexy” bodies appeared countless times on movie and television screens. Only nearly as much
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as their number is that of our lady senators, any one of whom, I daresay, would be a match for the combined intellect of the showbiz machos turned Honorable Gentlemen. Well, I’m not too sure of Sen. Nancy Binay, but apart from refusing to join the posse that has tried to discredit her qualifications, I am sure that she can beat Sen. Lito Lapid in Scrabble any old time. Maybe even at Charades, too. And while I think Sen. Cynthia Villar sits there primarily because she is her husband’s wife, I’m sure she’ll easily outdo Sen. Bong Revilla in multiplying length and breadth of meters in figuring out any real property’s meaurement. Then we have Senators Miriam, Loren, Pia, and Grace. O, wouldst that the half-dozen be doubled at the very least in the next elections, so that our Honorable Ladies hold up exactly half the sky when it’s their turn to conduct privilege speeches. And here are my candidates for potential lawmakers of substance, among Filipinas who currently impress me as wielders of gravitas. (I skip those who already serve in government in some Cabinet, legislative or judicial capacity.) I imagine Emily Altomonte Abrera, current
Chairperson of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, towering over her colleagues on the Senate floor, not just vertically. Her intellect, experience and expertise as a former multinational advertising agency head honcho, spunk, charm, wit and courage should serve our country in good stead, indeed. Ask anyone who’s met her. I imagine the hyper-active activist and gung-ho advocacy doyenne Gang Badoy of RockEd Philippines lighting up the Senate sessions with her energy, smarts, networking genius, and authenticity as earnest public servant. Oh, and all the rockers throughout our country will be rooting her on! Bibeth Orteza, prizewinning scriptwriter, actress, director, producer, entertainment industry advocate (and not just because she’s married to film director Carlos SiguionReyna), formerly a UP Diliman Board of Regents member, currently a Board Member of MTRCB, speaks out her heart and mind like… excuse me… a man, the no-bones-about-it kind. She is passionate about rationality, but is liberal in her views (and lifestyle). She also does a mean jar of gourmet tuyo. Next, well, I have a new find. And let me
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on being a published fiction writer). I propose that Dr. Marjorie Evasco, poet, and Susan Lara, fictionist, run under the Liberal Party Kawomenan Wing in the next senatorial elections.
say right here that these ladies aren’t necessarily my friends, let alone intimates. But with that signing of a peace agreement between our government and the MILF, much attention has gone to UP Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who helped hammer it out — with Muslim men. Yes, she was appointed by PNoy as chief government negotiator (vice Marvic Leonen who became Supeme Court Associate Justice), but that doesn’t include her among my exemptions. She’s also known as a sister of Sheila Coronel, and yes, there’s a lady
of substance,too. But we seem to have lost Sheila, if temporarily, to American academe. So I’m keeping my choices to homegrowns and homestays. Further, I quote from an Inquirer article: “… Ferrer, a young grandmother of three girls, carried on her responsibilities gracefully, as any confident, independent, and intelligent woman would.” ’Nuf said. That makes five. Let’s add two more. I say we need women of letters in our Senate (if only so Miriam can’t claim exclusivity
Marj Evasco is one of our premier poets. A Metrobank Outstanding Teachers awardee, she represented our country at the Poetry Oympiad in London in 2012. Susan Lara, multi-awarded short story writer and author, once an invaluable staffer of former senator Rene Saguisag, has served as an administrator for PagIbig, and is currently the director of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, which has trained young creative writing fellows for over 50 years. How’s that for credentials? The power of the written word behind Susan and Marj, as well as all Pinoy writers in any language, plus academics and the culturally inclined! I think we have a winning slate here. Powered by seven wonderful women of substance!
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FEATURE
It’s More Fun to be a Woman in the Philippines? By Nicai de Guzman
A look back at Philippine herstory will show that the Filipina was not always the prim, conservative school girl who hid her smile behind a fan. Filipino women have been serious bad-asses since the time of Prinsesa Urduja. Even during the colonial era, there is Gabriela Silang, Melchora Aquino, and Josefa Llanes Escoda, just to name a few. So is it really a surprise that the country was named one of the most gender-equal and gender-friendly places in the world? The latest World Economic Forum (WEF) survey and World Bank (WB) statistics both placed the Philippines in the top 10 best places to be a woman, given the number of females in leadership positions.
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In the workplace
consideration of the employees’ conditions.
One of the people who attest to this report is Julie Manipis, 52, the regional manager for the human resources division of a chain of malls in the country. She said that the retail industry is a female-dominated business where majority of the executives are females.
“Being in HR, my only advantage is that they think that you are better in shaping the behavior of employees just like a mother,” she said.
“We play an equal part in the attainment of the sales target in the company. Women can easily build a rapport with the customers by letting them feel that they are cared for, without any hesitation,” Julie said. Julie also said that she thinks women make better managers because of their
Saroi Morando, 45, a director of an IT school in Quezon City, also believes that women perform better as managers because of their ability to compromise. “There will always be challenges in dealing with people; differences in character, attitude, quirks. I have an all-male faculty. If you think about it, it would seem quite difficult… But I guess it’s a matter of getting to understand them, and something innate
FEATURE
to women, patience, helps me run the school with less difficulty,” she said.
In government and legislation The WEF survey also pointed out that the Philippines has had two women heads of state – Cory Aquino and Gloria MacapagalArroyo. It is a feat that some of the developed G7 nations have yet to achieve. The Philippine Commission on Women also reported that for the 2010 national and local elections, 18.4% of elected posts are won by women, a slight increase from the 17% from the 2007 elections. Does this automatically translate to women’s issues being championed in legislations? Mikas Matsuzawa, former chairperson of Gabriela Youth in the University of the Philippines, doesn’t think so. “I attended a feminist workshop where some participants lauded the fact that the Philippines already have two women presidents. But I and another Filipino delegate were actually ashamed because though the president was a woman at that time we don’t feel that she is actually doing a great job of representing the cause of Filipino women,” Mikas said. Beth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, feels the same way. “Beyond the very good numbers based on official records and statistics, one should look deeper and analyze women’s actual situation… The situation of women on the ground, particularly the situation of women in poverty, remains problematic,” Angsioco said.
quite high,” Angsioco added.
In need of empowerment One form of violence, Mikas said, is belittling a woman’s capability to decide on her own. “At a community gathering for reproductive health, we heard that there were mothers who wanted to attend but weren’t allowed by their husbands to do so. When I heard it, I thought, it’s the 21st century but there are still women who can’t decide for their own bodies!” she said. Beth, a staunch advocate of the Reproductive Health (RH) law, emphasized the fact that it “remains in limbo” in the Supreme Court and not yet implemented. If this is addressed, maternal mortality rates and adolescent pregnancy rates will drastically go down, she said. “Women will be able to realize their aspirations of getting pregnant and giving birth only if and when they want. Women will have more control of their bodies, and therefore, their lives,” she said. While the fate of the RH law remains uncertain, does Beth thinks that the Philippines is capable of being 100% gender-equal one day? “I certainly hope this happens but I do not know if it will. Not knowing, however, should not stop us from working for it. Women’s struggle is far from over and we must continue.”
Pinay Women on the Global Scale The World Bank 2007-2011 Statistics and the World Ecomic Forum 2012 survey both show that the Philippines is one of the most gender-friendly and gender-equal nations in the world. The World Bank statistics showed that the Philippines is one of the only two countries whose percentage of women is greater than men in the areas of legislation, management, and government. In these fields, 55% of those who hold high-skilled occupations are women. The report also cited the Philippines as the only developing country where gender inequality does not seem to be a problem. Supporting this claim is the World Economic Forum 2012 survey, which ranked the Philippines as the 8th most gender-friendly nation among 135 countries. The gender gap index score of the Philippines is 0.7757, the country’s highest score in six years. The Philippines is the only ASEAN country in the survey’s Top 50 list. It is also the only Asian country who made it to the Top 10 consistently for six years The survey also noted the Philippines to be one of the top performers in the following development indicators: legislators, senior officials and managers, literacy rate, enrolment in secondary education and years with female head of state.
She said that while there are laws which address the issues of women, including the Anti-Rape, Anti-Violence Against Women, and Magna Carta of Women, the implementation is another thing. “If I were to do the gender equality survey, I will contrast the official data against the ground level situation to see the real gap. For instance, in terms of legislation, we have the Anti-Violence Against Women law, but the numbers of abused women remain
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FEATURE
Women at the Top of their Game by Nephele Kirong
Across three different countries and various fields, these Filipinas are enjoying the view from the top. In a world still dominated by men in the boardroom and the upper echelons of most organizations, three Filipinas stand out to show that they can hold their own. These three women are at the forefront of a shift to more egalitarian workplace where there is no gender and race that is preferred and only capability and achievement are recognized.
Sheila Coronel Dean of Academic Affairs Columbia School of Journalism
Meet Sheila Coronel, journalist and soon to be dean of academic affairs of the prestigious Columbia School of
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Journalism in New York. A co-founder of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Sheila’s work has not only made it into the eyes of discerning readers, but to the bulk of required readings of journalism students, which includes “At the Kitchen of Divine Mercy” – a part of a 2005 PCIJ report and a personal favorite. But more than that, her work tackles the plights and ills of Philippine society with books such as “Pork and other Perks: Corruption and Governance in the Philippines.” The relevance and insightfulness of her work landed Sheila a Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2003, which is considered Asia’s equivalent to the Nobel Prize. Sheila received an undergraduate political science degree from the University of the Philippines and a master’s degree in Political Sociology from the London School of Economics. Her career as a journalist started in 1982 as a staff of the Philippine Panorama
FEATURE
from the London School of Economics. Her career as a journalist started in 1982 as a staff of the Philippine Panorama magazine, reporting on the turbulent transition from Ferdinand Marcos to Corazon Aquino, among other issues at that time. She went on to become a political reporter on The Manila Times, while stringing for The New York Times and the London-based Guardian. By 1989, Sheila helped established PCIJ, becoming its founding executive director. PCIJ, a nonprofit media agency, promotes investigative reporting through incisive news stories on major social issues and by training journalists on in-depth coverage. Currently, Sheila is the director of the Tony Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism in Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. As a professor, she received the Presidential Teaching Award in 2011, the university’s honor for its best teachers. Upon assuming her new role in July, Sheila will continue to teach and serve as the director of the Tony Stabile Center, according to the university.
Minerva Matibag made history as the first female chief financial officer of the Korean unit of General Motors (GM), which produces notable American brands such as Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet. A Journalism graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University, Minerva also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the New York Institute of Technology. Before becoming an expat, Minerva worked for Channel 4, Business Star and San Miguel Corporation. She started her finance career in GM’s Asia Pacific office in 1997, Korean news agency Yonhap News reported. She went on to serve various finance-related positions in Singapore, Japan and Thailand, before becoming vice president and eventually CFO for the company’s Brazil and Korea units. “As GM Korea’s first female CFO, she brings a wealth of experience in finance in Asia Pacific and North and South America to her important new position,” said GM Korea President and CEO Sergio Rocha in a statement. With her transfer in Korea, Minerva will be swapping positions and locations with Carlos Zarlenga, who was the GM Korea CFO. Aside from Korea, she will be in charge of the finances for company’s operations in Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
Lou Dela Peña Chief Executive OfficeR Publicis Worldwide, Singapore
Minerva Matibag Chief Financial Officer General Motors, South Korea Moving to South Korea from New York, we can find a woman tinkering with cars—on the numbers side, that is.
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Going further south in Asia, another Filipina is making an indelible mark in the advertising industry. The Singapore arm of the French multinational advertising and public relations firm Publicis named Lou Dela Peña as its Chief Executive Officer. Lou graduated cum laude with a degree on English and Comparative Literature from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
She had worked as the managing director of Bates Philippines before transferring to Bates Singapore as regional business director. Prior to her appointment as CEO of Publicis Singapore, she was the general manager of TWBA Group Singapore. At TBWA, Dela Peña was part of the team that secured Singapore Airlines in 2007, according to M&M Global. Upon securing that account, she was made global brand leader of Singapore Airlines, setting up a global operating model for eight regional hubs. Also during her time in TBWA, she was awarded “Account/Business Development Person of the Year” in 2007, according to Adobo Magazine. The award recognized her role in “two of the region’s most competitive pitches—Singapore Airlines and Sentosa Resorts World.” Dela Peña told Adobo magazine that while she loved her time in TBWA, she was looking to stretch herself further. She will succeed Sam Cassels and report to Publicis Worldwide’s regional CEO Dean Bramham, effective Feb. 17.
FEATURE
Desert Rose:
A Love Letter to the Filipina in the Middle East By Nicholo Jallores Photo by FILBERT KUNG
Dear Maria,
You are a woman like no other, so the world doesn’t quite know what to make of you.
essence in deference to the expectation of others.
You are a curious beauty – a flower that bloomed in a tropical country, uprooted and repotted in an arid desert land. That you remain moist with hope and swollen with affection is a testament to your integrity and character. You stay abloom: a succulent fruit in an environment where women tend to be desiccated like dates, or robbed of all sweetness like pickles.
Are you Maria Clara or Gabriela Silang? Are you the virgin or the whore? Are you the maid or the madam? You have been taught to be prim and proper, but you are surrounded by decadence and opulence. You were raised to appreciate life’s simplicity, but you operate in an arena of ruthless ambition. You are forced to live a life of contradiction and confusion, but you must not despair – nor must you dilute your
You are beautiful, but you are also strong. The rose in the desert is adored for its petals; it can also be revered for its thorns.
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The Slave or The Slavedriver? You are often heralded for the passion that you put into your work. You are the
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You are beautiful, but you are also strong. The rose in the desert is adored for its petals; it can also be revered for its thorns. preferred employee because you work earnestly, to the best of your abilities, and have the uncanny ability to deliver beyond the expected. You are loyal, compassionate, and helpful – but you also tend to be meek, overly complacent, and incredibly easy to please. Filipinos are often mistaken for unflinching drones, devoid of imagination and incapable of entrepreneurship and foresight; good followers, but ineffective leaders. This is preposterous. You are a highly creative, resourceful person, and you never lack for vision. What you need to learn is how to celebrate your achievements and look past your limitations. Be assertive at the work place and know how to demand for what you are worth. Prove to the world that you can handle more, lest it concludes that you deserve less.
Ineng or Imelda? If you want to be successful, you must project an image of success. Much as you would like to emphasize the beauty and strength that lies within you, the world often assesses you at face value. You must learn how to use this to your advantage. Dress the part. Invest in good clothes and know that the whole package is necessary for success. Dress to be respected, revered, and adored; not to be shunned or ignored like office furniture, or gawked at and hooted at like a streetwalker. Of all your potential challenges this is the one that is most easily solved, so get this out of the way as quickly as you can. You have lands to conquer and kingdoms to run. Look like the queen that you are.
The Martyr or The Mistress? One of the best things about working abroad is that you get an opportunity to reinvent yourself. Small wonder if some married men take this as an opportunity to reinvent themselves as bachelors. If this works fine for you, then nothing else needs to be said. But if it does not, then steel yourself, because there are plenty of cunning and disarming kuya’s out there who would lie through their teeth to get into your pants. They will tell you they are single, but neglect to tell you that they are only single in the Middle East. God knows what attachments they might have in other time zones. Be wise; be very, very wise. Filipinas are sometimes weak when it comes to matters of intimacy and romance.
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It’s difficult enough to work in a foreign land, away from your family and friends back home. Don’t compound your suffering with unnecessary heartache.
Purita Or Seniora? Your remittances help your family and stimulates your home country’s economy. You are blessed because you are able to bless others through your hard work.You are compassionate and generous - sometimes to your own detriment. Learn how to save and be constructive with your money. Be financially protected. Think of ways to diversify your portfolio, instead of letting your funds sit idly in the bank, or worse, blowing it all away in the latest gadgets or designer bags. Invest in business, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or even real estate. There are plenty of resources online to help you learn how to manage your hardearned wealth. Another option would be to invest in higher learning. Look for afterwork seminars or workshops that you can attend, or online classes that you can sign
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up to. You are not just an ATM machine that regurgitates money at your family’s every beck and call. Invest in yourself and your future.
The Victim or The Vixen? Propriety is a slippery subject, because everyone likes to think that they have the monopoly of morality. At the end of the day, how you integrate your belief system with the customs and traditions of the Middle East is your call. But know this: the culture of this region will not rewrite itself for you overnight. It may seem absurd and ludicrous to you, but the local population holds it with utmost regard, and they tend to be fiercely protective of it. They struggle to maintain their identity, just as much as you struggle to maintain yours. You are a guest in this region, so be gracious to your host. Learn to be mindful of their values. Do not depend on western sensibilities to dictate how you
function in a Middle Eastern community. The west is not your moral compass; your common sense is.
And lastly, Maria… Be proud to be a Filipina. Wear it like a badge of honor, or perhaps more appropriately, a crown. Yours is the blood of the survivor. Your people have overcome tyranny, discrimination, dictatorship, and classism. Your country has overcome the worst of storms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other calamities. Your country’s economy continues to grow and spread its wings, despite the rampant corruption in the government. Your artists are lauded in the international stage. Your athletes continue to inspire awe the world over. You were born to defy insurmountable odds: a desert rose, a woman of substance. The world is yours for the taking. Seize it.
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THE ROLE REVERSAL By Excel V. Dyquiangco
She wears the pants in the family; he stays home and takes care of the kids and occasionally folds pants. How do they make things work? Excel V. Dyquiangco introduces us to two couples who are managing the reversal of roles. In the traditional family picture, the husband is the breadwinner of the family. He works. He toils. He labors. He brings home the bacon. The wife works, toils and labors managing a home and not an office, supervising children rather than employees.
center industry and because of their time differences, they barely saw each other at home. Their eldest daughter had even become closer to her yaya than both of them.
But what if, by some twist of fate, the husband decides to stay at home, wash the dishes, do the laundry and take care of the kids? And what if it’s the wife who brings home the bacon. In these reverse gender roles, how do they make their relationship work? Here is a story of two families who tackle these role reversals on a daily basis. Led by circumstances – one, intentional and the other, necessary – that have made their lives meaningful and significant. Best of all, they have learned to make it work.
Tomas and Loraine Koetz After more than two years working as an Incident Coordinator for a large multinational bank, Tomas felt the stress and the pressure. Not only did his schedule constantly shift, there were times when he had to fill in for another employee – which meant more time in the office. Loraine, meanwhile, was working in the call
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September of last year, Tomas and Loraine began seriously talking about what they needed to do. “It’s not about the money anymore,” says Tomas. “It’s about the stress and the time for the family. The solution was I chose to resign and be with our two daughters while she continued to work.” “My main reason for suggesting that is because of family,” says Loraine. “I grew up in an environment where our family is very close to one another. I want to have that kind of special relationship with my own family too. I don’t want my own children to grow up without her parents. Plus, my husband has been working for many years already – sometimes without any promotion or incentive at all – and I wanted
him to rest for some time.” Tomas admits that there were hesitations at first, especially when he wanted to buy some small stuff for himself. True, he has thought of going back to work several times but because of the encouragement given by his wife, he decided to forego that in the meantime. “First it’s for practicality,” he says. “And I get to spend more time with my family.” The adjustment for both of them was
FEATURE church now. In fact, they even have what is called a Saturday Spaghetti Night wherein everyone of the family is involved – the parents cook spaghetti while the kids help with the household chores. Their situation, in fact, has given them an opportunity to budget better. Interestingly, they don’t argue as much anymore. How do they make their relationship work? “I try not to step on his ego,” says Loraine. “I never say na wala siyang pakinabang--that is below the belt already. I also respect my husband even if I am the one working. Plus we give and take. Another thing, there is more patience between the two of us. We also never fight about money.” “One has to take responsibility for budgeting too,” says Tomas. “But the other party should know what’s going on. As proof, we have a whiteboard at home where we paste all our bills.”
Adech and Fatima Manalo As a stepping stone to the future, and a life in Canada, Adech allowed Fatima to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. During those eight years that she was living in another country, both of them had experienced difficulties and hardships in varying degrees.
such as laundry and washing the dishes. Keeping up with the kids is probably one of my main challenges. The day that my wife left for Hong Kong, at the last minute, she was still breastfeeding. I had to bottle feed our baby after that.” Fatima usually called home at least every weekend. In such funny moments, she had even instructed her husband how to fold the laundry over the phone. In Hong Kong, the responsibilities were not that difficult since she used to work as a helper in Manila. Plus her sister who also worked in the same country had already briefed her on what to expect when she was in that part of the world. “My first employer was Chinese and I just had to be in line with their tradition and culture,” she says. “For instance, I had to learn something about the way I need to cook my food – the vegetables, for instance, had to look alive with really green leaves and stalks. Their one cavan of rice only had to be consumed in less than a month! That was the way they ate.” While Fatima worked out of the country, Adech was becoming closer to their children; which, in some way, was becoming a struggle to his wife. “The kids are actually more open to Adech than me,” she says. “For instance, when they ask permission from me and then I say ‘no’, they go to Adech, hoping that he’d say ‘yes’ Sometimes, I could also feel that when the children hug my husband, it’s different when they hug me. I just know.” “We just need to explore everything so that we’d become closer,” says Adech. “It’s true when they say that you never know what you’ve lost until it flies away.”
fairly easy since they also have a stayout helper. Tomas oftentimes cooks baon for Loraine and each would have specific responsibilities. The husband would be in charge of the feeding bottle, for instance, and Loraine would have the responsibility of changing the diapers. Tomas admits he doesn’t have much patience in dealing with the kids so Loraine is usually left with those needs. During the weekends, the whole family goes out. They also have the time to go to
For Adech, it was about taking care of their three young children, one just more than a year old and still breastfeeding, and taking care of their household. For Fatima, it was about adjusting to a different culture and taste and adhering to a new set of rules and regulations. “It was hard,” says Adech. “This was the first time that I learned the true meaning of cleanliness and being in charge of the house. I also did some household chores
Fatima still reaches out to her children, showing them her love and support – and making sure that she becomes their confidante as well. They go out as a family, tour the streets and have fun. How do they make their relationship work? “We pray,” Adech says. “We make sure we maintain open communication. Sometimes we tell each other what we do – the specific details.” “Make time for your family as well, and budget for them,” says Fatima. “Be more understanding and have more patience.”
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SHE’S GOT
by Matthew Arcilla
T
hese ladies aren’t just playing computer games, they’re actually developing them.
It’s a commonly held but mistaken assumption that the world of game development is dominated by men. But the fact is that,
just as in any industry, it’s not gender that counts but skills. Meet three young Filipinas who have found their footing in the most exciting and innovative entertainment medium since film.
Luna Cruz, Creative Director Within the local game development scene, Luna Cruz is recognized as the first female game developer in the country. With over twelve years of experience to date, Luna got her start at Anino Entertainment, the first game studio in the Philippines. There, she wrote for Anito: Defend a Land Enraged, a role-playing game with a distinctly local flavor. For a brief time, Luna worked as a technical writer in the software industry. “That taught me how to write really short sentences for software UI.” Her next big position was as senior game designer at Boomzap Entertainment, a Singapore-based studio known for its hidden object games. “ I started there when we were about ten people and they just passed ninety now.”
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“[Boomzap] has really influenced me,” Luna says. “As a designer, I’ve definitely learned a lot. We got pretty good at making hidden object games that people like.” No mean feat, when you consider that their games have been downloaded millions of times. “The users are very vocal about what they like,” she says. “It felt very core, and if you’re a core gamer, you know how passionate players can get.” But after six years with Boomzap, Luna is gearing up for another leap into uncertainty and risk. She just co-founded Altitude Games, together with colleagues and friends, including CEO Gabby Dizon. At Altitude, Luna is serving as creative director, where they will ‘jumpstart [the] creation of original intellectual property in the midcore game space.’ “It scares the bejeezus out of me,” Luna says. “Now I’m back to square one. I’m going to make the game I’d like to play but I don’t know what the users will think.”
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games). Though she originally aspired to make comics for a living, she ended up falling in love with game development. During her spare time, she plays a number of board games and card games with her boyfriend as well as console games like Mass Effect and Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
Caroline Dy, Game Artist “Making games is not all just fun and games,” says Caroline Dy. “Developing something unique, intelligent, beautiful, engaging, and fun is hard work, and you really have to have enormous passion and patience for the craft.”
“You can pretty much say that my life revolves around [games] now,” she admits. Tinkering with game tools and editors is something of a pastime for her and she finds inspiration in her colleagues and her work. “Nothing is more inspiring than seeing your game come to life through the efforts of so many people.”
Caroline Dy is the senior lead game artist at Boomzap Entertainment, where she has a major hand in the direction in the production of game visuals. “[I make] sure that all art assets get done,” says Caroline of her duties. “That means knowing the game like the back of my hand, and making sure that everything looks pretty and consistent in a project.” Prior to the past seven years she’s spent in the game industry so far, Caroline pushed pixels for storyboards, comics and websites before she joined Flipside Games, which eventually took her to Boomzap. There she has had a major hand in the direction and production of art. Over the course of her time at Boomzap, she’s designed and produced assets for titles such as the Antique Road Trip series, Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles and the Botanica series. Caroline says has always been a gamer, with a fondness for old-school adventure games and Western CRPGs (computer role playing
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Kristine Tilos, Game Designer When Kristine Tilos got promoted to Junior Game Designer at Hothead Games, she thought she’d simply be doing mere grunt work that more experienced employees didn’t want to do. “It’s not that way at all,” she says, recalling her surprise. “I have an
equal say in a lot of things. My ideas are heard everywhere.” Before getting into game development, Kristine’s occupational path took some remarkable turns. First, she was an inclusion teacher for a child struck by a rare neurological disease. “He was a really sweet kid and he changed my life,” she says. “His muscles were constantly deteriorating [and] his motor skills were rough. Writing was really hard.” In addition to ensuring his safety, Kristine assisted in his academics. “I think working with him forced me to be responsible and become an adult.” After Kristine and her family moved to Vancouver in 2012, she found work at IKEA store and applied for a scholarship at the Vancouver Film School. “I found out that you could study game design. I didn’t even know that was a thing. I didn’t believe it,” she recalls. “It was that kind of feeling you get where if I didn’t apply, I knew I’d regret it.” At VFS, Kristine and her course mates produced Nuts for Gems, a third person flyer that draws inspiration from games like Spyro the Dragon and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. It won the Best Game award at VFS during Industry Night. Kristine’s currently works on front-end user experiences. During her free time, she tries to go outdoors, taking walks in Stanley Park or Granville Island, but games remain important to her. “I look at games really differently now,” muses Kristine. “There are some games that I play and all I see are screens and how it’s put together. And there’re some games I’m completely immersed in and enjoy them simply for what they are.”
IT’S WHAT I DO
It’s what I do
FILIPINO PROGRESS AND DIVERSITY AT THE WORK PLACE
RACHELLE HILL Manager, Marketing Fairmont Dubai
I am a marketer. My job first and foremost is to build, promote and protect a brand. As the marketing manager of an international hospitality company, I serve as an ambassador of the brand. I am in most times referred to as the ‘brand police’ at work.
I make sure every single marketing collateral found in the hotel follows the brand standard. I manage both the online and offline marketing aspect of the hotel and ensure that the brand is represented well on both platforms. I oversee the marketing of the hotels’ various properties. However, the most important and most exciting part of my job is creating unique experiences that personally connects the customer to our brand. I do this is by telling a story because marketing is essentially story telling. I study customer behavior and their purchasing patterns, understand what they want in a product or service, satisfy their needs and ultimately influence and convince them to purchase. I need to constantly be updated on the latest marketing and travel trends. Customer research and reports analysis are part of my daily task. This part of my job is crucial since nowadays marketing has evolved tremendously; with every customer now connected online, I need to keep up and make sure I know who my customers are and what marketing platforms they use to purchase products or services.
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Launching a marketing campaign is my favorite part. After proper research is done, I put together an offer or promotion and introduce it to the market with the intent of attracting customers to buy the offer. I then create a marketing plan around the campaign. I work closely with my design agency to make sure that the creative design is visually appealing and that the messaging is clear and cleverly done. Finally, the creative is rolled out in different marketing channels such as print, digital, social media, radio and other media networks. Rolling out a marketing campaign does not end there, monitoring and tracking of the campaigns progress comes next. We need to employ various advertising strategies and constantly evolve the product offering so that the consumers have always something new to look forward to and that our brand is always top of mind. Part of my daily tasks is also reviewing reports from online customer review sites prepared by my team. I ensure that I proofread and edit responses before they go online. I also monitor the hotel’s social media channels on a daily basis. I am personally in charge of the Facebook and Twitter account of the hotel and I love it. I like engaging our brand with our guests and talking to them on various topics in real time. The creative part of my day is my favorite. I review creative designs put together by my agency for different marketing campaigns. As we speak, I am already reviewing the creative for the grand re-launch of our award winning steakhouse. In September last year, I launched ‘Noire’ a unique dining experience that is a first in the UAE. Noire brings to the city the thrill of dining without sight. The concept is dining in a pitchblack restaurant and experience food in a different way. Servers don state of the art night vision goggles to help guide their way throughout the restaurant, and to assist diners with their multisensory experience.
IT’S WHAT I DO
SHEILA SALAZAR Assistant Producer for Studio One DUBAI one tV
I work as an assistant producer for Studio One, a daily lifestyle show on Dubai One TV. Working in television means you have to be responsible, organized, creative, adaptable and committed. My role requires me to provide content and logistical support to the producer by pitching stories, sourcing contributors, doing research and verifying facts, sourcing music and video as well as booking resources /facilities for field reports and live location shoots. My work entails a good understanding of TV production from research, edits, directing and other elements delegated by the producer or head of production. Part of my responsibility also requires me to be in the studio control room as Gallery Producer, in-charge of the live operation from briefing presenters/guests about the topic, updating the script and rehearsal. Producing live content for TV demands quick thinking and sound decision making to address sudden changes like a late guest, technical glitches—and many other possible things that can go wrong. To help me get me through what is usually a busy day, I start with my daily devotion to seek God’s guidance. Then I proceed to reading emails and review the schedule to ensure that crew and other resources are booked accordingly.
It’s what I do
FILIPINO PROGRESS AND DIVERSITY AT THE WORK PLACE
Reading newspapers and magazines is a must to keep me updated with the latest buzz and identify potential stories for the show. As soon as the head of production approves the line up for the week (normally on a Wednesday), research begins with finding guests/interviewees followed by initial phone interview to assess their suitability for the program.
I also prepare fact sheets about the guests and topics on a per episode basis. Once the script is ready, we produce graphics and other things needed for the live show. You can also say that guest relations is part of my work. I brief guests about the show and usher them to hair/make-up room. At the end of the show, I make sure a taxi is booked for them if they need one. It is important that they leave the studio thrilled with their TV experience. What makes my job interesting is the opportunity to meet various people from different backgrounds including internationally known personalities in the field of sports, music, television and other celebrities like authors and chefs. It is a demanding job, but I always remember to give back the glory to God. Be committed to our job to please Him. Only by His grace are we able to accomplish what we need to for our families back home. Faith is one thing, but integrity is another. Integrity should always be a habit.
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IT’S WHAT I DO
It’s what I do
FILIPINO PROGRESS AND DIVERSITY AT THE WORK PLACE
GENESIS KELLY LONTOC Head-Philippine Corridor at UAE Exchange
I am the Head of the Philippines Corridor at UAE Exchange. My company is involved in money transfer, currency exchange and payment solutions. I manage the Philippine business so everything that has anything to do with Filipinos is part of my responsibility. My mission is for every Filipino to love UAE Exchange and consider it as the preferred financial services shop. To fulfill this mission, I interact with various Filipino stakeholders. I listen to their needs and aspirations so that we would be able to develop relevant programs for them. My job entails a good balance between office work and fieldwork. I start my day early in the office in meetings. The latter part of my day is spent doing fieldwork. I will either be visiting our branches in the different Emirates or running a community activity for Filipinos.
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I decided to work overseas in April 2013. Coming from a fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) background in the Philippines, I faced a new country and new industry. I had to shorten my learning curve since there were high expectations for the Philippines business. Through God’s grace and hard work, we were able to achieve our 2013 business target. We take pride in this feat and we strive to achieve sustained business success. I believe that world-class commitment will deliver world-class results. We should have a conscious decision to give best effort in all that we do. We should aim to make a difference in this world. Taas Noo, Filipino!
IT’S WHAT I DO
ANA MARIA OLORESISIMO PALER Associate Director National Bank of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi National Leasing, Aviation & Transport
I’m involved with Abu Dhabi National Leasing (ADNL), the wholly owned asset based finance arm of National Bank of Abu Dhabi. ADNL provides all types of lease and lease finance facilities to large UAE, GCC and International Corporate Entities that have a presence in UAE. As an Associate Director, my role is intense yet gratifying. I primarily deal with Aviation, specifically I handle finance lease facilities for aircrafts, its engines and its spare parts. Sounds manly, doesn’t it? But it isn’t. Aviation is still a women’s world. My job is intense due to its peculiarity. You see, people view airplanes (in the business world, it is an aircraft) as an instrument to bring us to another world; to carry our goods for trade, our parcels to reach out and other important things for our use. While that is true, there is more to it. When I got involved with my job, I became more interested in every aircraft I got in to. I paid more attention to the business structure of an airline or any entity related to aviation, its engines, spare parts and components.
It’s what I do
FILIPINO PROGRESS AND DIVERSITY AT THE WORK PLACE
My role is exciting, however, every role is significant. My job is more of “relationship management” in its entirety. Without relationship, I would not be able to capture the true essence of my role. In any business development, creation of any credit standards, fulfillment of a regulatory requirement, gaining and maintaining solid business, administration of any deal-these all revolves around “relationship management”.
Relationships are very important! We deal with this everyday not only with our clients but even with strangers. I can say with pride that this is my area of expertise. At the end of the day every day, we must analyze what we have fulfilled, what we have gained, what we have achieved. Personally and professionally, this is what I deliver to my clients and this is what my colleagues learn from me. Most of all, this is where our net profit success sits. At this point, everything in my life and in my career is great. To every Filipino out there, whatever you do, whatever job you may have, whatever role you’re given – put your heart, mind and soul into it. Do not be disheartened. Cry out to God, He is our Father and He will never abandon you. Invest in your skills and talents; act on your plans and dreams; be prudent and diligent. Then, do not forget to pray and let God take care of the rest.
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MONEY
Self-Sacrificing WOMEN by francisco J. colayco
It all starts from the teaching in the Bible that says Eve was created from the bone of Adam. Then, it is emphasized in weddings that wives should be obedient to their husbands and husbands should love their wives. (However, it goes without saying that husbands who love their wives will not require them to be obedient. I just want to clarify this because some women might not like my statement reminding them to be obedient to their husbands.) Finally, the wife is the carrier who goes through the experience of childbirth and actual bringing up of the children.
W
ith all these activities in the life of a woman, it is natural that wives will tend to think more of their husbands, children and even parents before thinking of themselves. This kind of behavior is normally praised by society because it shows generosity and charity expected of a woman.
Women who are single and have never given birth, may not be as self-sacrificing as wives and mothers. However, as a general rule, they tend to behave in the same way following their own mothers as model. There should be some limit to this kind of behavior particularly when it comes to being financially independent. Studies show that women live longer than men. Therefore, women should be preparing as
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MONEY
early possible to live a “life alone.” They have to understand and accept that there is a strong chance that their husbands will die before them and that their children will have their own families to support. As such, women should prepare as early as possible: - Educate yourself: Read and study and join as many seminars as possible to be financially literate.
Maybe this is a sexist statement because even men can be addicted to shopping. But since women go to the grocery and do errands more regularly, it is natural that they are the ones who will be thought of as being hooked. Based on my wife’s knowledge of women, there are women who: - have the “genes or inborn traits” to shop and spend
- Make a financial plan: From my books, learn to make a financial plan and have a target savings and investment plan.
- see and learn by example
- Have the right attitude: Keep in mind that parents should not expect support from their children. Educate children so they can support themselves. At the same time, parents should save and invest so that they will not have to depend on their children upon retirement. This should be the case even if only one parent is still alive. Living with children could be an option to make life more convenient, but the objective should be for each to still be financially independent.
- really like looking for good deals all the time
- Make each family member part of the plan: Take time to communicate with your husband, children and parents on the objective for everyone to be financially independent. The change might not happen in this generation, but future generations can benefit if the plans start now.
The women who sacrifice and the women who shop But after having said all of this, there is another side of the estrogen coin. There are women who sacrifice and there are women who like to shop.
- are bored and use shopping as an outlet
You will notice that some kids even at a very young age show a very marked preference for clothes, shoes and beautiful things. More often than not, these kids will probably like to go shopping more and more as they grow older because that is where they will satisfy their curiosity. If their parents love to shop as well, that will encourage them even more to enjoy this “inborn trait”. If their parents don’t like to shop, there is a chance they will not have the chance to discover the activity. Kids who love to shop will normally end up hanging with kids who love to shop as well. Here is when the problems could begin. Some women are just bored doing nothing at home and window-shopping becomes a favorite pastime especially if the mall is airconditioned on a hot summer day. They will justify their window-shopping as being able to look for the best deals available.
mind-issues to being a “shopaholic.” I can just use my financial commonsense to give advice. For women who want to stop their addiction to shopping, the best start, I think, is to stop using credit cards and bring only minimal amount of cash on a daily basis. This way, they will not be able to buy much even when so tempted to do so. Second, they need to accept the fact that they have become “shopaholics”. Third, they should seriously want to stop it and, if possible set specific target dates. Finally, they should openly discuss this problem with their husbands and children. The next step would be for the whole family to be involved in a budgeting process, which will strictly set the Family’s Cash Flow so that there is very little leeway for buying anything out of the agreement. Everyone realizes that savings will be endangered if the agreement will not be followed. Use the formula Income - Savings = Expenses. There could even be a “Vacation Fund” where all extra savings can go so that everybody has a personal reason to want the savings and pressure the “shopaholic” not to backslide. These are my thoughts for women during this month of March dedicated to women. Let us help you reach your financial future! Join One Wealthy Nation today. Visit www. onewealthynation.com
I am not a psychiatrist so I do not know the
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Abigail Ho was a staple in one of Philippines’ largest broadsheet for more than a decade. But at the height of her career as a journalist, she made a leap of faith to join the corporate world. Little did she know her decision would give her the time to pursue her dreams as an entrepreneur. “I was still very happy at that time [with my job as a journalist] but it has always been my plan to move on someday so that made my decision easier,” said Abigail. Even when she was still a journalist, Abigail tried her hand at establishing a business. Together with fellow journalist Melvin Calimag, she sold smoked tilapia. She would buy the fish, smoke it, pack it and deliver the goods to customers. The business was looking good as orders began picking up. The blessing however turned into a nightmare for the novice entrepreneur. “We couldn’t put up with the demand because
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
From Journalist to Entrepreneur BY BERNADETtE REYES my partner and I were fulltime journalist at the time,” she said. But just as Abigail was relentless in pursuing her sources for interviews, she was unstoppable in pursing her dreams as an entrepreneur. She later tried the tiangge business selling readyto-wear clothing together with another journalist. Her new partner later changed careers and again the business ended. In 2012, the same year Abigail finsished her Masters in Business Administration, she joined Seaoil. A year later she joined British American Tobacco as a Corporate and Regulatory Affairs executive. Away from the daily grind of a journalist, Abigail found more time for herself and one of the things she started to work on again was starting up a business. Together with her boyfriend Alexis Flores and friends, Ysabel Fider and Tim Sy, she tried her luck on the catering business. Together they pooled P300,000 to set up their kitchen in Quezon City. Relatives and friends were some of their early customers. Soon word-of-mouth marketing and referrals helped them secure a steady base of customers. Job orders peaked especially during the holidays, this time she was able to put up with the demand. “All of my partners are fulltime in the business. This allows us to service our customers even if I’m not around on some occasions,” she said. Each partner is assigned a specific task. Given her knowledge in business administration, Abigail is in charge of marketing and occasionally bakes pastries required for a catering service.
“I started baking when I was 10 years old,” said Abigail. She later rediscovered her talent when she baked a cake for a friend. A confessed hoarder of cut-out recipes and cookbooks and avid fan of cooking shows, Abigail admits she needs more than her innate skills for cooking. She is currently taking up pastry arts at the International School of Culinary Art and Hotel Management in Quezon City. “As a homebaker I depended on instincts with cookbooks as my guide. I figured if I want to succeed I need to learn the techniques and enrich my knowledge,” she explains. Even her partners took up culinary lessons to better equip themselves with the necessary skill set to succeed in the business. While business is doing well these days, Abigail said she is not about ready to give up her corporate job. “Business takes time to recoup investment. I cannot afford not to earn a regular income as I’m supporting my family.” Time management is key to succeed in business even as she continues with her day job. “I’m in charge of maintaining our social media accounts. I do layout for our marketing collaterals too,” said Abigail. She learned to plot a schedule to better manage her time. Looking back, Abigail has no regrets making the move to pursue her dreams. It’s only a matter of time before this once journalist-turned-entrepreneur will start making headlines, only this time as one of the country’s finest entrepreneurs.
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LAW
Unconventional Entrepreneurs In this issue, Atty. Barney Almazar will show us how to launch a new business in a not so usual way and with little money required.
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LAW
Starbucks was opened by three guys contributing $1,350 each. Today, its annual revenue is $14.9 Billion. Logistics company UPS started with $100 and a bicycle shared by two teenagers. Currently, the industry giant delivers packages each business day for 1.1 million shipping customers to 7.7 million consignees in over 220 countries around the globe. The people behind these companies are unconventional entrepreneurs—they don’t just think out of the box, they invent new boxes. Utilizing creativity rather than money, they did not rely on old-fashioned business start-up requirements of fancy office space, huge capital investment, traditional marketing and a hierarchical organization in order to be successful. Instead, they started their business with less planning, more gut feel and quite
obviously, without tons of money. Just like them, you too can turn your passion into profits. Forget that kilometric business plan that’s been taking you years to finish. The only two important things in your business plan are the need of your customers you are aiming to provide (the product or service you would like to offer) and how will you deliver that need to your clients while making a profit. Once you have identified the business activity that suits you and the strategy to make your business viable, you are now ready to become your own boss. Inventing new boxes means generating fresh approaches in conceptualizing your business. And it’s never been easier especially with the free zones in the UAE. The UAE Commercial Companies Law requires a Permanent Establishment such as an LLC to have at least one UAE national partner (usually referred to as the local sponsor) who holds at least 51% of the company’s capital. In contrast, companies established in the free zones can be 100% foreign-owned. For a business startup, having full control of the company’s operations and assets is vital. Free zones are special investment models allowing its owners to do business without the complications normally associated to a Permanent Establishment. A free zone is a portion of a clearly defined and isolated land or setting, with a special tax, customs and imports regime, usually involving a status of extra-territoriality. The procedures and requirements for free zone company formation are a lot easier and simpler to comply with compared to setting up a Permanent Establishment. Through the “single-window” clearance approach, the bureaucratic process of filing separate applications with the Ministries of Economy, Immigration, Labor and the Chamber of Commerce is eliminated as you only deal with the free zone authorities. Free zones provide flexible employment visa allocations so you can employ staff as needed. In free zones, your new company is registered within days, not months.
There are free zones that do not require a physical office space, helping you keep overhead costs to a minimum. Many business start-up have failed by renting an expensive office rather than focusing on the business itself. For start-ups, an impressive office may not actually be a must since most deals are closed in golf courses or hotels anyway. Also, shared or virtual office services can be arranged for a fraction of the cost of a physical office. Savings can be better utilized better on marketing or product development. A free zone company is entitled to provide UAE residence visas for its owners and employees. Generally, visa application rules are simpler in a free zone as no deposits are required. In addition, free zone visas are valid for 3 years compared to 2 years for LLC. There are many ways to save when starting a business. Remember, far more important than financial investment is sweat equity or the efforts you will put in to make your business idea a profitable reality. Starting small is better than delaying your launch until you accumulate more funds. Just think of the “cha- chings: your cash register is losing each day you postpone your business venture.
The very basic requirement to start a business in the UAE is to secure a trade license. Under the UAE law, there are 5 available business structures you can choose from: Permanent Establishment such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Partnership; Branch Office, if you have an existing company abroad; Free Zone Entity; Civil Company for practice of profession (only in Sharjah and Dubai); or Commercial Agency (appointing a local agent to sell your goods and services).
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SPIRITUALITY
A tribute to Mother By BO SANCHEZ
I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. –Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President
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SPIRITUALITY
It’s Women’s Month, so I thought I would share with you what I once wrote about my mother. My mother passed away on April 30, 2013, at age 88. I wrote this article when she was 85.
I love my Mom. My mother is now 85 years old. But despite her age, she still remains to be an incredibly powerful woman.
She is powerful not because of her authority.
So why is my mother incredibly powerful?
She has very little of it now.
Because she prays.
She is powerful not because of her money.
Every day, she prays before the Blessed Sacrament.
She has very little of that, too. Thankfully, her son is rich, generous, and good-looking. (Adjectives given by her.)
Whenever any of her kids and grandkids have problems, she’d pray for us night and day, carrying our problems in her heart.
She is powerful not because of the force of her personality. She’s a gentle person. Now, at least. Oh, once upon a time, she was more feisty. Energetic. Spirited. A go-getter. Especially when it came to choosing my wife. But today, she has mellowed with age. By golly gee, I didn’t know I would see the day, but the great impossibility has happened: She has even become less talkative. I see this miracle included in my Top Ten Miracles in the history of the world. Between Moses parting of the Red Sea and Lazarus being raised from the dead.
That’s why she’s powerful. I believe my ministry is powerful because of her prayers. My sons, Bene and Francis are so blessed that they, too, have a prayerful mother. This space is not enough to write a tribute for my wife, Marowe. I thank God a million times every day that He led me to the woman who would be the best mother for my sons. Obviously, my letter above answers Illustrado’s question for this month: “What to you is a woman of substance and who for you embodies these traits?” My answer: All women who have the traits of my Mom and my Wife! To all of you, Happy Women’s Month!
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FEATURE
Food Heroes By Oxfam Philippines Our small farmers and fishers are heroes. Without them, life as we know it will grind to a halt. Food that nourishes our mind and body is the product of their everyday toil. There is a challenge to feed 93 million Filipinos – growing by 2 million per year – on increasingly degraded and shrinking agricultural lands and over-fished waters. The only way to ensure food security is by investing in small farmers and fishers. By putting more resources in their livelihoods, the government at the same time makes a commitment for us to have enough food to eat, now and in the future. This is only way to grow a new agriculture future. Unknown to many, feeding the country also falls on the shoulders of women. Women plant and harvest rice and vegetables and go out to sea and catch fish. In fact, they work longer hours because they also carry out household chores. But their work remains unheralded. Food Heroes pays tribute to Filipino women farmers and
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fishers who brave sun and rain, low pay and back-breaking work to bring food to our table and buoy up our economy. Food Heroes is part of Oxfam’s GROW campaign, a campaign for better ways to grow, manage and consume food. It is a campaign for the billions of us who eat food and over a billion of men and women who grow it, to share solutions for a more hopeful future in which everyone always has enough to eat. To realize the vision of a future where everyone always has enough to eat, we have to change the way we grow. We must make practical positive changes in how we produce, consume, share and manage food and other resources.
Food Heroes Profiles: Trinidad ‘Trining’ Domingo, Organic Rice Farmer, Nueva Ecija • Ka Trining has spent half of her life planting and growing rice, corn, vegetables, and root crops. Her deep bond with every square inch of their land has inspired her to
lead the struggle for agrarian reform and women’s rights. Being the president of the National Congress for Rural Women, Ka Trining has managed to continue tilling her 2 hectare rice farm and maintains her selfreliant household with various backyard vegetable crops, poultry and fruit trees. Rebecca ‘Becca’ Miranda, Farmer and Community Development Worker, Nueva Ecija • As the head of the national federation of rural women and an advocate of organic farming, Ka Becca has seen the benefits of chemical-free farming as an ethical business practice. In 2012, with the support
FEATURE
of Oxfamshe participated in the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) International Forum in Istanbul, Turkey. Women like Ka Becca have indeed gone a long way in improving their status in society. Still, challenges remain. In particular, governments must recognise the crucial role women play in feeding the world by ensuring women are in positions of leadership in institutions where agricultural, food security and climate change decisions are made.
Rosario ‘Sario’ Mendoza, Fisher, Naic, Cavite
Ligaya ‘Laling’Oria, Onion Famer, San Jose, Nueva Ecija • Ligaya “Ka Laling” Oria started organic farming in 1990. As a widow, she raised her six daughters on her own through onion farming. In completing the course on ecological farming, she was able to experiment for nine (9) cropping seasons and allowed her to make decisions on what farming technologies to adapt. She believes that organic farming enhances soil’s fertility. For Ka Laling, the most important lesson she learned as a woman farmer, it is this: yakapin ang buhay sa komunidad ng buhay (to embrace life in the community)
(string beans), kalabasa (squash), and other fruit trees, with her children. Nanay Nita is also an active member of Samahang Magsasaka ng 53 Ektarya, a local farmers organization fighting for land rights.
Gloria Bolando, Vegetable and Abaca Farmer, Lanuza Surigao del Sur
• Ka Sario’ is the chair of NAMAMANGKA, which promotes the recognition of women as farmers. Together with her husband Raffy and their seven children, they have sustained their lives making money out of fishing. Everyone in the family pitches in from the preparation of fishing implements to fishing to selling. As chair of the women’s group NAMAMANGKA, Ka Sario has led the organization in organizing a microenterprise on sardines-making, conducting leadership trainings for women, and in responding to cases of domestic violence and abuse.
Nita Oigoan, Vegetable Farmer, Macabud, Rizal • Nanay Nita Oigoan knows this only too well. Nanay Nita belongs to a community of small vegetable farmers fighting to keep the land they have been tilling for decades in Macabud, Rizal. A real estate developer has since laid claim on the land, challenging the community’s ownership. She continues to till her 6-hectare farm planted with mangoes, kaimito (star apple), ampalaya (bitter gourd), mango (mung beans), sitaw
• Nanay Gloria, a Manobo, divides her time between two family farms, making sure she visits at least one every day. On one farm she grows kamote (sweet potatoes), while in another, abaca and bananas. Harvesting abaca happens only once every three months, so Nanay Gloria and her family rely on the vegetables and root crops for daily food needs. She manages the Yuha tu Banwa, a community health and food bank where women can deposit surplus food and herbal plants which they can then borrow during lean months and in times of disasters. The Yuha is a traditional community practice that has been revived with the help of Oxfam to prepare Nanay Gloria and her village for climate change impacts.
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FEATURE
Zenaida ‘Zeny’ Mansiliohan, Vegetable Farmer, Agusan del Sur • Nang Zeny, an indigenous woman leader from Agusan, sees the benefit of floodresistant rice and vegetable varieties. As the vice president of the National Congress of Rural Women, she has advanced the rights of rural women who produce half of the country’s food. Oxfam brought Nang Zeny to meet with women leaders from around the world to discuss the failing food system and other economic issues confronting poor women at the Association of Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) Forum in Istanbul, Turkey in 2012.
Seaweed farming requires intensive work. In Nanay Aida’s case, her entire family – her husband and two sons living close to her – all help out from preparing the seaweed seedlings to “planting” them and harvesting them. Aside from this, Nanay Aida, like most women, takes care of her family as she prepares dinner, cleans up and attends to other household tasks. There is no electricity on the island so there is very little diversion. They maintain a motor battery at home for lighting the house. The battery is recharged regularly for 60 pesos. Using it to run the television would mean having the battery run out in three days time and would have been very costly. So, at 8:00 P.M. Nanay Aida retires to bed. She rises up again at 5:00 the following morning to attend to her many roles.
Aida Fernandez, Seaweed Farmer, Isla Cabgan, Surigao del Sur
Dolores ‘Dory’ Cabato, Vegetable and Rubber Farmer, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
• Nanay Aida, a seaweed farmer, lives on Isla Cabgan in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
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• Nanay Dory raises all her six children by herself. She tends a small vegetable farm, selling her harvest around the village and supplying local eateries. She earns extra income as an agriculture para-technician, giving advice on planting to other farmers,
and as hired labourer on her neighbours’ farms. She also worked as a house-help for one year and used her earnings to plant a rubber farm that she hopes to make money from in five years.
Nida Rizalado, Shell Gleaner, Mahaba Island, Surigao del Sur • Oxfam and the National Coalition of Rural Women have a continuing project called the Women’s Market where women farmers and fishers come to sell their sustainably grown produce. One of these women is Nida Rizalado, a shell gleaner from the island of Mahaba in Surigao. At low tide, Nanay Nida, together with other women, goes out to glean. Using a paddleboat, they go to a nearby sandbar and spend two to three hours collecting as much as four kilos of seashells on a good day. This would earn her around 200 pesos, enough to buy basic necessities such as soap for laundry, sugar and salt.
FEATURE
SPLASH UNVEILS SPRING/SUMMER’14 COLLECTION The Splash SS’14 highlights the very pulse of high-street fashion with a collection showcasing key trends. The Eden trend is best represented by Acapulco-inspired florals growing alongside Aztec stripes in alluring colours. You will find fit and flare dresses, crop tops and long maxi dresses with a lot of ruffles and frills. There is a variety of mix and match print patterns like surreal Tropicana prints, Naïve florals, hand-drawn prints and jungle camouflage. The 70’s inspired trend Nostalgia encapsulates bold geometric patterns of vintage upholstery and romantic fusion of paisley inspired floral arabesques, which make a grand and stylish comeback. Some key pieces are maxi skirts, blouson and off shoulder tops and dresses. The Rational trend is a flurry of origamilike fabric folds and laser cut patterns with mathematical precision. Available in maxis and oversize tops and dresses, the collection uses geometrical patterns and clean mesh like structures to create a mystifying illusion. Labeled Creed, the last trend for women this season features long flowing gowns, dresses with metallic effect, embellishments and
textures prompting you to channel your inner goddess. Classic combinations like moonlight white on white will impart an ethereal feel, while dazzling blues will lend a burst of royalty. For Men, this season’s first inspiration is seen in the trend Earthy Paradise. The collection uses washed tropical and botanical darks like the Amazon jungle, jaguar and exotic bird creatures as a core print direction. Choose from jackets, pants, resort shirts and printed chino shorts subtle ditsy florals and placement motif. Aloha shirt inspired tropical motif sweatshirts and tees in crewneck styles and shirts also form a part of the collection. The perennial nautical trend is dominant in the Resort trend. Traditional blue and white sailor stripes continue but are refreshed and mixed with graphics like globetrotting maps and prints. Indigo is an important color in this trend, while Hawaiian florals are mixed with authentic heritage and marine feel are fused with preppy details. Indigo jerseys, sweatshirts, sleeveless truckers and chambrays shirts are key pieces. Camo print is washed out and the leafy floral print is interpreted in blue tones for the nautical look.
Varsity is next on trend and caters to the youth drawing inspiration from ‘Goth and Sports’. Splash has updated the trend using bold and linear patterns with college fonts and an overlay of renaissance prints and minimal type slogans in clean palettes of grey, black and white. Baseball jersey tops, arc leg joggers and deep armhole vests with a luxe appeal are the key pieces whereas monochrome, tie and dye, leather look alike PU and mesh appear in various treatments updating the contemporary sportswear. California Surf trend is all about retro motifs, hippy Hawaiian prints which are mixed with tribal geometry and sporty accessories. Japanese surf prints are also big influencers for this look that features horizontal striped shorts, ombre look pastel t-shirts with small conversation motif shirts, resort shirts, tie& tees and vest with overlay varsity numbers. Spliced treatment in photo real images in sepia tones is an important graphic direction in a palette for faded pastels and washed out brights.
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SCRAPBOOK
CARLA NACARIO Dubai, UAE
www.carlanacario.com
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SCRAPBOOK
DARYL ESPIRITU Abu Dhabi, UAE https:/daryl.see.me
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BEAUTY Its 50 shades of nude! All about creating 3dimensional skin. Very raw and organic beauty. Dress: ALBERT ANDRADA
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BEAUTY
FRESH TO
FIERCE 6 WAYS TO LOOK LIKE A SIREN THIS SUMMER
PHOTOGRAPHER: PHOTO BJ PASCUAL MODEL: TINI DAHL ART DIRECTION / HAIR & MAKE-UP: GINO ALDUCENTE ASSISTED BY : MICHELLE SALCEDO AND MARY ANTONETTE MERCADO COUTURE BY : ALBERT ANDRADA
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BEAUTY Red carpet ready look , humidity skin, naturally contured cheeks and high definition lips. Dress: ALBERT ANDRADA
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BEAUTY
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BEAUTY Boy George Inspired flicked Open-ended eyeliner! Dress: ALBERT ANDRADA
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BEAUTY
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BEAUTY
The All Time Glam! A modern take on Veronica Lake waves Arched Brows, the Cat Eyeliner and red Lips. Couture by: ALBERT ANDRADA
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BEAUTY
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BEAUTY
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BEAUTY
China Doll, inspired by Shanghai nights , Flowers of W ar ladies.Viva Glam China!( silver cream eyeshadow and a perfect bat eyeliner) Dress: ALBERT ANDRADA
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BEAUTY Androgynous in a boyfriend suit by ALBERT ANDRADA.
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BEAUTY
Sleek edgy biker chic !The bold eyebrows and the smokey eyes.
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BEAUTY Silver Bracelets HAATI CHAI Top TOPSHOP Creamy smokey eyes Silver Skirt Darkshadow ROCKY GATHERCOLE andSpine nude Suspende skin Silver RAFAEL Dress:/ ALBERT ANDRADA BRUNO 214 DESIGNS Shoes CHINESE LAUNDRY
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BEAUTY Sleek edgy biker chic! Bold eyebrows and smokey eyes.
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10 THINGS TO DO
WITNESS LOCAL TALENT AT SIKKA The SIKKA Art Fair, a contemporary-artist led fair will run from March 15-25 at the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood (the Bastakiya area) in Bur Dubai. Organized by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, this 11-day art festivity aims to fuel the burgeoning art scene in the city as well as promote Emirati and UAEbased talents. Over 50 artists and creative talents representing about 25 nations are expected to grace the event. Admission is free. For further info, ring 043842000.
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JOIN ART DUBAI
Known as the largest and most established contemporary art event in the region, Art Dubai returns this year on its 8th edition. From March 19-22, Art Dubai will feature commissioned projects and performances, artists’ and curators’ residencies, educational workshops, the unveiling of works by the winners of the annual Abraaj Group Art Prize and the critically acclaimed Global Art Forum. The 4-day art affair is open to the public for an admission fee of AED 50 per person. Children, students under 18 and those with university/ college groups will enjoy free admission. For more info, call 04-3842000.
WATCH CAVALIA
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“A spectacular show enjoyed by audiences around the world involving magnificent horses and talented individuals” is what Cavalia promises. Book a seat at the Dubai World Trade Centre any time from March 2029 to catch this show which features about 43 beautiful horses of 12 different breeds that will display unique skills alongside 30 talented and skilled acrobats, dancers and riders from all around the world. A must for equestrian aficionados, the show fees are AED 250/150 for adult and children in the Reserve section; AED 500/300 in Gold section; and AED 695 for adult in Platinum section. For more information, call 04-3086124.
DO WHAT STARS DO
Want to be famous? Then visit Deira City Centre from March 20-22. The renowned shopping centre located at the heart of Old Dubai is running a Style Star Search, and you just might be discovered! The competition is open to the public who register on site during the 3-day search. At the event, photographers will be taking snaps of participants in a custom-built photo studio and on a fashion ramp. A prize worth up to the value of AED 10,000, plus a photo shoot with OK! Middle East magazine are up for grabs. Interested? For more info, call 050-1495904.
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10 THINGS TO DO Whether you’re into food, cars, music or sports, this month will take you through a number of activities that will make you fall in love further with your obsessions. The city of gold is filled with several options, and all you need to do is read our list, and make sure you’re set for an exciting journey beyond regular home-work-home routine. Enjoy!
LET THE SONG BIRD SERENADE YOU
Asia’s song bird Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid are set to serenade Filipinos in Dubai this month. The two exceptionally talented musicians are rocking the city in a one-night only concert happening on March 27 at the Emirates Golf Club. Indeed a perfect night out for couples who want to hear them sing hits such as “Narito Ako”, “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw”, among many others. Tickets range from AED 110 to AED 295. Concert starts at 9pm. For more info, call 04-4570336.
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DON’T MISS LORD OF THE DANCE
This must-see dance phenomenon by Michael Flatley is known as the “world’s greatest dance show”. The award winning international staging will take its final bow at the Dubai World Trade Centre on March 27-28. With only 3 performances set as the finale to the Riverdance Masters’ current world tour, the legendary show is a spectacular mix of music and dances. Lord of the Dance is a classic tale of good versus evil that has thrilled family audiences worldwide. Show schedule: March 27 and 28 at 9pm and a matinee on the 28th at 5pm. Tickets range from AED 250-700, available at Virgin Megastores and Virgin Online. For more info, call 050-2842020.
READY YOUR HATS FOR DUBAI WORLD CUP
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It’s one of the most glamorous events in the city. The Dubai World Cup is the culminating activity to three months of international horse races where a total of more than USD 36 million was awarded as prize money. With its combined prize purse of USD 27.5 million, the finale race at the Dubai World Cup is now considered as the most affluent day of racing in the world. A special Jennifer Lopez concert for attendees makes it the biggest annual social and sporting event this year. Be there on March 29 at the Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse in Nad Al Sheba. For tickets and other info, call 04-3272110.
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10 THINGS TO DO
BE ONE WITH EARTH HOUR Switch off non-essential lights for one whole hour on March 29 and show how humanity cares for Mother Earth. Here in Dubai, Earth Hour is celebrated from 8:30pm to 9:30pm where even the tallest tower in the world, Burj Khalifa will shut off its dazzling lights to participate in this global initiative. The annual environmental initiative is organized by the World Wildlife Fund and the Emirates Wildlife Society. For more info, call 04-3549776.
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VISIT DESIGN DAYS DUBAI
ATTEND BRIDE DUBAI
Design Days Dubai is the leading fair in the Middle East and South Asia dedicated to collectible and limited edition furniture and design objects. The attendance of leading international designers and galleries alongside up and coming design from across the world, workshops and live performances make this fair is a must-attend indeed.
If you’re planning a wedding then this freeadmission bridal exhibition is perfect for you. With a jewelry pavilion, VIP lounge and wedding dresses and organizers, this event is the only place to be if you or someone you know is planning on tying the knot soon. Open to public but note that children below 12 are strictly not allowed to the event for health and safety issues. The 4-day bridal affair will run from April 2-5 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre - Dubai World Trade Centre. For more info, call 04-3350673.
Design Days Dubai will be from March 17-21 at The Venue in Downtown Dubai. Admission is AED 50 for adults. Children and students under 18 and university/college groups are free. For more info, call 0504565393.
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REAL STYLE. REAL PEOPLE. Caught in the change of season? Or ready to peel off the layers for the coming summer? Take some style tips from these style savvy bloggers.
Yes, Aivan Magno definitely loves prints! Check out his cheeky styles in his blog - aivanmagno. blogspot.ae.
As sweet as spring. Laureen Uy of www. breakmystyle.com welcomes the new season with breezy feminine wear perfect for warmer climes.
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REAL STYLE. REAL PEOPLE.
Pretty style blogger Stephanie Dy steps out in two different cities – (Chinatown) NYC and Manila, with her very own version of street cred. Follow her style adventures at: fashionbandwagon@yahoo.com
Marching to the beat of her own drum – Oz-based Mega B’s style is big on attitude and her own indie take on style.
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REAL STYLE. REAL PEOPLE.
It’s a brave new world out there. Fashion entrepreneur Yen Salamoding sports his own brand of streetwear – a plastic jacket and another leather one mixed with fluoro animal prints. Check out his style at - styleyendustry.tumblr.com
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FILIPINO GLOBAL FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER: HERSON NEBAYA STYLIST: ARGIE SALANGO HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTIST: ROCHELLE LACUNA MODEL: SAM WALKER OF IDEAL PEOPLE MODEL MANAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: MARK LEVENSON OCAPAN
Button down, blazer and pants by Melchor Guinto
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FILIPINO GLOBAL FASHION Shortsleeved button down shirt and shorts by Edgar Buyan
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FILIPINO GLOBAL FASHION
Oversized top and pants by Argie Salango; Shoes by Levenson Rodriguez
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FILIPINO GLOBAL FASHION
Embriodered top and shorts byEdgar Buyan
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FILIPINO GLOBAL FASHION
Top and shorts by Dauson Bermtay; Cardigan by Dave Ocampo; Shoes by Nereku
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FILIPINO GLOBAL FASHION
Oversized top, high waisted shorts with flaps and blazer by Don Sevilla III
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BAKASYON GRANDE
Top 5 Things Baguio has always been the original “Summer Capital of the Philippines”— especially in the 1980s when metro denizens would almost always schedule an annual trip to this northern mountain city. Its popularity declined after the big quake in the `90s, but the destination has become attractive again since the infrastructure has been improved and it is now easier and quicker to do a road trip up north.
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BAKASYON GRANDE
to Do in Baguio by Nikka Sarthou-Lainez
T
T h o u g h summertime is the best time to escape the heat from the metro, it is also nice to visit Baguio from December to February to experience maximum coolness. On a good day, it could get as cold as 8 degrees Celsius—a good excuse to pack your sweaters and boots and head off to cooler pastures. A trip to Baguio would not be complete without doing the following.
1.Binge on strawberries This crimson-colored berry is the most famous produce of Baguio so it’s just natural to indulge in it when in season. Aside from getting it from the local market, you can also go pick fresh berries at the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet, which is just 30 minutes away from the city center. The best time to do so is from the months of November to May, but be prepared to shell out twice as much as you would in the market—
just think of it as an experience. Make sure to also try the strawberry taho that street vendors peddle all over the city— you can only taste that in Baguio!
2.Be vegetarian for a day It is easy to eat healthy in Baguio since the Cordillera region is also known for producing the freshest vegetables that are affordable as well. While there, you can treat your body to some nutritious food by dining in Baguio’s vegetarian restaurants. A must-visit is Oh My Gulay, an art-café along Session Road where diners can enjoy meatless delights such as OMG Rice, a hearty concoction of native brown rice with Mongolian sauce and ten kinds of vegetables, steamed tofu, and omelet. It’s a filling dish that won’t make you miss eating meat at all! Diners should check out the interesting artworks around the space as well. For a more fine dining vegetarian experience, head to Bliss Café, which offers dishes cooked with mock meat and other healthy options.
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BAKASYON GRANDE
3. Go park hopping A trip to the City of Pines would not be complete without visiting at least one of its parks. The city is peppered with public parks and pocket gardens where people can see lush flora and fauna. Find time to do activities such as horseback riding or going on a picnic with your family or friends. Check out the more famous places like Burnham Park, Wright Park, People’s Park, and Mines View Park. Take pictures of the beautiful scenery with pine trees in the background.
4. Catch up on your exercise Pack your rubber shoes and workout clothes and take advantage of the cool climate and hilly terrain of Baguio, which will make exercising more enjoyable. Whether you go running or brisk walking,
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your calves and glutes will surely get toned as you explore the city by foot. Try to avoid the main roads though, so you wouldn’t encounter a lot of vehicles and breathe in the unpleasant smoke they emit.
5. Immerse yourself in culture Baguio is home to a number of galleries but the one thing that visitors should not miss is a trip to BenCab Museum, which houses the artworks of Philippine National Artist Benjamin Cabrera and other local masters and contemporary artists. The museum is about 20 minutes away from the city center and there is a minimal entrance fee, but museumgoers may take their time to discover more about art and culture by walking through the Maestro Gallery, Erotica Gallery, and Cordillera Gallery, among
BenCab Museum
BenCab Museum BenCab Museum garden area
BAKASYON GRANDE
others. Aside from the museum space, visitors may also explore the establishment’s outdoor area featuring an organic farm and café. It is the ideal destination to appreciate both art and nature at the same time. On the way back to the city proper, you would have a chance to pass by the Woodcarvers’ Village along Asin Road and see woodcarvings on display at the side of the streets. Stop for a minute or two to see if anything catches your eye. Who knows? You might be able to bring home a piece of wooden furniture or carved figurines to add to your home interiors. These activities will definitely help you maximize your trip up north and rekindle your love for Baguio one way or another.
strawbery taho vendor
How to get to Baguio from Metro Manila Traveling via private vehicle is easy when you drive along the NLEX-SCTEX route then take either Kennon Road or Marcos Highway from Metro Manila to Baguio, which will take around five to six hours. For those who want to take the public transportation, commuters may choose from bus lines such as Victory Liner, Dagupan Bus Line, and Philippine Rabbit. For utmost convenience, take the luxury bus trip of either Victory Line or Genesis JoyBus that uses a more spacious bus with comfortable chairs, air-conditioning, television, Wi-Fi, and a restroom to boot. It may be a bit more expensive but the trip is quicker as there are no other stops along the way.
Oh My Gulay putanesca
Shop for souvenirs Don’t forget to buy these popular pasalubong items before leaving Baguio: • Sweet treats like Good Shepherd’s peanut brittle, strawberry jam, ube jam, and choco flakes • Pantry essentials like Benguet coffee and bee honey • Fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers • Furniture and woodworks from the Woodcarvers’ Village in Asin • Handicrafts such as hand-woven fabrics and sterling silver jewelry
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PINOY PLANET
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PINOY PLANET
My Pinoy Life In:
ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN
I have been working in Kazakhstan since 2008. I used to work as a private tutor to a Korean Middle school student in Shanghai but opted to move here in Kazakhstan for a change of environment and just like most OFs, the need for a better opportunity brought me here. Merle Jacildo
The Filipino community in Kazakhstan
Astana is a very beautiful city in the North although it is still developing. It was established as the new country’s capital in 1997. Most people don’t want to live here due to the long and severe cold winter months but over all, I can have everything that I want from restaurants, cinemas and other places for recreation. I am currently working as a private tutor to a prominent family here. I used to teach World History in an international school here. I did that for 4 years but for a change and because the offer was good, I grabbed this work.
There is a small group of Filipinos here in the capital city and we meet on holidays, Sundays, and whenever we can. There are not many Filipinos working in the country compared to other countries. There is no Philippine embassy here. I would say that my life here is checkered with joy and pain. There are times when I feel sad because of the stressful work and because I miss my family and friends back home. Nevertheless, I still consider myself lucky because I have a healthy relationship with my employers and my few Filipino friends here.
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PINOY PLANET
Olympia, WA from Tumwater Hill. Photo by: Sundodger at en.wikipedia
Adapting to the host country I learned to adapt to their way of living. First, I learned to eat horse meat as it is one of their delicacies. Second, I learned to drink tea after most meal, which is not commonly practiced in our country as we prefer cold drinks and/ or coffee. Third, I have also learned the Russian language so
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I could easily mingle with the people here since most people don’t understand and speak English.
Greetings to fellow Filipinos To my entire fellow OFWs, I wish you good luck in your job. I hope that you continue to work hard and always be positive and
productive in everything that you do. At the end of the day, you can make a difference in this world. God bless and mabuhay po tayong lahat!
PINOY PLANET
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ON THE PROWL, IN THE KNOW
Staring at Walls By Kristine Abante - Dubai
Before I came to Dubai I had this notion that it was a fake city devoid of any art, culture, history or inspiration. All I ever knew about it were all the man-made stuff: the tallest buildings, the gold, the Louis Vuitton’s, the Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s of the affluent Arab masters. Perhaps in some ways, on the surface it is true, but I would now rather reserve judgment. The truth is Dubai, of all places, has brought me face-to-face with art, as much as it did with consumerism. Unimpressed with grand shopping festival culture, I was drawn to the inner dungeons of the city, and pretty soon found my way to the backstreets of Al Quoz, in spacious empty warehouses converted into comfy loft galleries. Growing up in the Philippines, where much of high-brow art was reserved for the buyers or the academe, my initial idea of art galleries could be likened to my idea of museums and memories of boring school field trips.
10 Habits to Power up Your Day and Life By Rian Miranda – Riyadh
“Every day is a winding road,” Sheryl Crow sings in the background as I write this. C h a n g e is good especially if this affects your life in a constructive way. Before you go on reading this, I want you to go to the
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Staring at hanging paintings on the wall didn’t really appeal to me until Dubai, where the galleries have more to offer than any mall, and where staring at art seemed more interesting than staring at people in a bar.
Follow Kristine on www.band-aid-blues. blogspot.com
To its credit, in a few short years, Dubai has managed to attract a bustling creative scene. After 3 years of hosting the annual Art Dubai every March, it apparently has become one of the major avenues for showcasing the region’s best. My favorite author Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Art is a very human way of making life more bearable.” He couldn’t have said it better. Perhaps I will never be a Picasso, or a Dali or even anywhere close to drawing a straight line, but what I’ve seen compels me to write and drag people out of their comfort zones into a strange world of walls that talk. Don’t take my word for it! Check out the interesting exhibits at the Sikka Art Fair at the old Dubai Museum, Al Serkal Avenue in Al Quoz, or at the Gate Village in DIFC. For more information, log on to: https://www.facebook.com/ DubaiCultureArtsAuthority
mirror. Now, oftentimes people seek their happiness in outrageous ways but little do they know that the first and place to look for happiness is within yourself. And so, I share with you ten easy-to-do-lowcost tips on how to find your bliss and feel optimistic in a snap. 1. Hydrate. I’ve said this in one of my articles last year how water pretty much improves one’s contentment and state of mind. Drinking at least a liter of water literally helps your body parts run smoother and clears your head. 2. Sleep. Yes, zzz. When you’re tired and you feel that your mind is no longer contributing any positive effect on your decision and judgment, go to sleep. Recharge your body. If you normally snooze for five hours, try
stretching it to eight--but no more than that, unless you want to wake up with a migraine. 3. Share a hug. No matter how young or old you are, how overrated or cheesy it might be, you have to admit that hugging makes you feel immediately at ease. Set the tone for a better day by hugging your significant other, your parents, your kids, your friends. 4. Be grateful. Expressing gratitude makes you feel more rewarded. Say “thank you” to your parents for providing the best love and care over the years. Leave a thank you note to your other half before they wake up, thank him/her for sticking with you despite your differences and shortcomings. Send a thank you card to your friend(s) who remained true through the best and worst versions of you.
ON THE PROWL, IN THE KNOW 5. Compliment yourself. Believe in the saying that you should love yourself first to be able to share love with others. Give yourself a pat on the back for maintaining nice skin, for doing your own makeup the first time, or if you got through a grueling business meeting. 6. Exercise. Love your body! Find a workout routine that you actually enjoy. Do the basic yoga, running, plans, squats, step ups or even cross fit for at least 15-20 minutes a day. Personally, I prefer dancing as my daily exercise; it helps me feel even more energized and calmer. 7. Down time. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to an hour of down time every day and do nothing. Yes, the dishes are waiting to be washed; there are clothes to be folded.
But give yourself this unplanned time off each day and notice how fast it uplifts you. 8. Disconnect yourself from technology and social media. Try to practice at least one hour each day that you don’t look at your social network accounts or just leave your smart phone unattended and just relax. Believe me, it works wonders. 9. Have a personal playlist that would fit your current vibe. I have my own theme songs for me and my love, a separate one for spiritual songs, for work out, for sleeping or to perk up my day. Listening to the same songs over and over will help you better connect with its core message and will keeps you motivated.
10. Take account of your savings every day. There is nothing wrong with wanting total control of your financial affairs and making sure that you’re spending within your means. Having wealth consciousness makes you feel more responsible and happier. Try to establish all of these simple habits and feel empowered. By counting your blessings, you allow yourself to experience them. Follow Rian - Instagram: msrianmiranda, Youtube: www.youtube.com/rianmiranda blogspot.ae
RED CARPET READY
your mistakes. Rewarding, because photos of your celebrity client will be all over the world in seconds and you will either earn praise for a job well done or be booed by social media netizens.
red carpet unworthy than falsies that are too long for your lashes. If you are going for strong lips, line your lips to prevent the color from feathering. Fill it in for staying power. Dab with a tissue and apply.
March 2, 2014 marked the end of the Awards’ Season with the best and the brightest of Hollywood gathering for the biggest fashion show ever: the 86th annual Oscar Awards. Not only are the Oscar’s the platform for honoring the best in the celluloid world but it has become the major platform for actors to showcase their especially-made-forthem couture piece, mega watt jewelry and best of all, their make-up.
Let these simple steps help you in achieving that red carpet glam look wherever you go.
4.Dress properly. Actually, there is something more red carpet unworthy than falsies that are too long and half-glued--a dress that it is too short or too tight for your own comfort. If you are planning to fit into a dress that is 2 or 3 sizes smaller, do not crash diet! There is no red carpet event worth your health. Instead look for a dress that will hug you in the right places but will make you move with ease. Invest in undergarments that will keep it all together like Spanx.
What is a “red carpet look”? As a make up artist, I can tell you that this is probably the hardest look to put together but the most rewarding. The hardest because it has to be flawless; once the celebrity steps out, there is no Photoshop to help you out correct
3. Choose a feature to highlight. If you are going for a smoky eye effect, make sure to use products that do not run. Use waterproof eye liner and mascara. If you plan to don some flirty lashes, measure them before applying it. There is nothing more
By Anna de Leon - Dubai
1. Choose a foundation that does not contain SPF. SPF contains a high content of titanium dioxide that causes a white flashback when flash photography is used. It is imperative for your base to have staying power. Use a primer and a foundation that will make you look flawless even after all the besos on the red carpet. 2.Define your features by contouring and highlighting but blend like it is nobody’s business. I cannot begin to tell you ladies as to how important it is to ensure that there are no lines when you are trying to define your cheekbones or slim down your nose.
5.Smile. I always say this. A smile is really is your best accessory. Follow Anna – www.annadeleonmuastylist. blogspot.com E: annadeleon@live.com W: http://annadeleonmakeup.com T: duchess_1977 IG: annadeleon1977
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ON THE PROWL, IN THE KNOW
Ponytail Hairstyle for Spring Summer 2014 By Christina Linaza – Dubai, UAE
Before I came to Dubai I had this notion that I have worn my hair only two ways my entire life: in a ponytail and straight. Oh! And I tried crimped hair once on a photo shoot. Well, it’s great to know that ponytails are back again this season as it is my forever goto style. My hair is naturally wavy and you can’t imagine how frizzy it is when I get up in the morning. Ponytails are perfect when you are in a hurry or simply too lazy to do anything more elaborate with your hair. This spring summer 2014, you can enjoy different
The Bucket List By Leslie Fiestan - Riyadh
No, this is not a movie review, but has anyone seen that movie? If it doesn’t make you want to start living, then I don’t know what will. I have decided that now is the time to do the things I’ve always wanted to do. Doing them while I’m still alive and well is a good time as any, Does everyone have a bucket list? Some may ask what’s the purpose of even having that list, because for some, it’s better to
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ponytail hairstyles from curls to sleek braids, to up-do’s as seen on Hollywood’s red carpet. 1. High curly ponytail 2. Low ponytail 3. Sleek straight and clean 4. Braided Ponytail 5. Twisted Ponytail 6. Poufy Ponytail 7. Looped Ponytail 8. Triple Ponytail 9. Cascade Ponytail 10. Side Ponytail I am currently enjoying the side-low ponytail as seen in my previous outfit posts in my blog. Don’t forget to be creative and experiment with different ideas to add some style to your ordinary ponytail. Follow Cristina at www.tinayums.com Follow Kristine on www.band-aid-blues. blogspot.com
live everyday and accept what life has to offer and what lies in front of you. I often wonder and think about my past and how different my life would be if I chose to go the other way. If I had continued with my diet, I’d probably be sexy now. If I had been braver and followed my heart, I’d probably be engaged by now. If you think about it though, Gods always leading you to the path that he wants you to go. As the clichés go, if it’s meant to happen it will happen, people come into our lives for a reason, better to have love and lost than not love at all, take the risk, take the plunge--got what mean? So, what have I put on my bucket list to make sure I live my life without regret? TRAVEL: This takes months of preparation and you must have enough budget for the trip. I’d prefer to travel with friends but most of the time, our schedules don’t
match. One challenge I have yet to do is travel alone. My list includes going on a safari (not necessarily in Africa), seeing the castles of Europe and walking in the lavender fields in France. FOOD: I can eat anything--isn’t that obvious? But I’d like to know what urchins and octopus tastes like. I guess I can try even those insects as long as someone dares me. LEARN: One can never be too old to learn new things. Besides it’s good for our brain and body. GO FOR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES: Skydive, ride in a helicopter, paraglide, ride in a hot air balloon. Or just do something different like snorkel, hike, touch a snake (yeah, good luck to me on that), be in a magazine (Oh big check! Maybe even be a cover girl too.)
ON THE PROWL, IN THE KNOW
FALL IN LOVE: There’s always hope while my heart still beats. It would be just so awesome if I could find a special person who shares the same lust for adventure and we could cross out our bucket lists together. That would be so romantic. For now, this is my list on how I plan to enjoy my life. Every moment is a choice, every mistake is a lesson learned. Live your life with no regrets. Follow Les - http://lesfiestan.multiply.com/, http://lesfiestan.daportfolio.com/
Easy to do at home remedy for your skin By Tracy Ley - Dubai
We all wish for a flawless complexion. Skin that is glowing and healthy is skin that feels supple and smooth. I know skincare can be frustrating simply because we have no time to do it or don’t have the budget for it. If you are a firm believer of DIY treatments, then read on. Here are some DIY treatments for different skin types.
FOR OILY SKIN: * 1 avocado * 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice *1 egg white
FOR DRY SKIN: * 2 tablespoon real mayonnaise * 1 teaspoon baby oil
FOR DULL SKIN: *1/2 ounce organic apple cider vinegar *3 ounces mineral water *5 plain aspirin tablets, crushed
1. Combine all ingredients to make a paste. 2. Apply to your skin and wait for it to dry. 3. Rinse with cool water.
Directions: 1. Mix the ingredients together. 2. Apply to your face, neck, elbows and anywhere else that is dry. 3. Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse. FOR ACNE SCARS: *4 teaspoons lemon juice *3 teaspoons of plain yogurt *4 tablespoons of honey
1. Dilute 1/2 ounce organic apple cider vinegar with 4 ounces of mineral water. 2. Throw in the crushed aspirin and mix it well. 3. Apply when your skin is feeling dull. Follow Tracy on www.misstracyley12. blogspot.com and on Instagram: mstracyleydxb
1. Mix ingredients together. 2. Apply and leave it on for 15 minutes. 3. Rinse with lukewarm water.
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ONLI IN THE PILIPINS
Pinay Palaban By ABY YAP
Not everyone can hurl snow or even ice cubes at the enemy like Elsa, or blurt out highfalutin “Wah?!” (read: Ano raw?) words like Miriam Defensor Santiago to throw liars off balance. Luckily, we Filipinas are equipped with these weapons of warfare that would put anyone who gets in our way at our mercy begging for dear life and sanity. [Cue evil laughter here: bwahahaha.] So, don’t mess with us, boys. We may look pretty and/or pa-tweetums, but we’re fearless, fierce, and feisty too. Better believe it.
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ONLI IN THE PILIPINS
• The Voice All chairs will turn around when you make us scream in anger—we don’t care if we’re inside a shopping mall holding its grand sale. If you don’t want us to create a blockbuster scene, where you’ll obviously be the main star, don’t let us catch you HHWWPSSP (Holding Hands While Walking, May PaSway-Sway Pa) with someone else. We’d like to avoid any sampalan or sabunutan scene as much as possible.
• Mad Mouth There’s a reason why our mothers would scold us every time we used the term bunganga instead of bibig when we were still kids. Aside from bibig being a thousand times nicer to hear than bunganga, you won’t like it when we use the mouth as a machine gun. Ratatat! It will never run out of nasty things to say and you’ll just turn deaf one day.
• One Word Ewan. Okay. Wala. You know you’ve crossed the line when we start answering your endless stupid questions (e.g. the classic “What’s wrong?”) with a dismissive curt one-word reply. Deadly one-word answers will get your brain cells working harder than when you try to figure out crossword puzzles or Flappy Bird. What do these mean? There goes that stupid question again. Sirit? Five words: we want to kill you. Gets?
• The Silencer Once we raise an eyebrow a la Maricel Soriano with matching pamewang (hands on waist), you won’t be able to utter another vowel or consonant again. We
don’t need words or a Bella Flores taray style of kontrabida acting to tell you how disappointed we are in you. Don’t ever think of producing even a teeny weeny sound. Okay, breathing is allowed. Makuha ka sa tingin.
• Telenovela Talent Here’s a confession. We’ve always loved drama and we’d more than love to use it to annoy you to the highest level. Wailing, walling, single tear, sappy dialog, boring monologue, and even under-acting—more takes, the better—name it and we’ll win the Best Actress trophy in the next Star Awards for TV, giving Judy Ann Santos and Jaclyn Jose a run for their money.
• Bilmoko Binge You won’t see us fuming, but there’s no way you won’t feel our retaliation. <smirks> We’ll ask you to bring us to the most expensive restaurant where we’ll order the most expensive dinner and wine. Then we’ll go shopping for the most expensive jewelry, shoes, dresses, bags, pets--until you run out of money to spend on your extra-curricular activities. We’ll make sure of that.
• Facebook Persecution Don’t dislike us. But we can change our Relationship Status from “In a relationship” to “It’s complicated” then “Separated” and back to “Single.” The moment it’s updated, our 1,000+ contacts will post comments on the wall demanding what happened in no time. For sure, you don’t want to be another victim of cyber bullying or a subject of meme. Worst-case scenario? We may even block you.
• Hands Off Vanilla bubble bath: check. Floral-scented perfume spray: check. Sexy red lingerie: check. Aromatherapy candles: check. Time for bed! Hold it, where do you think you’re going? You’re outside the kulambo (even if we’re not using any mosquito net) tonight and who knows until when, which means you did something wrong, so you have to suffer the consequences. You can look, but you can’t touch. Ouch.
• Umaander de Saya Hey, Andres, our wish is your command! Prepare a buffet breakfast in bed. Clean up the cat poop. Show your abs and dance the Macarena in slow motion. En pronto! Clinging to that macho image won’t do you any good. You’ll perform everything you’re told to the best of your ability whenever and wherever we want it—or you’ll never be granted peace of mind ever again.
• Reyna ng Tahanan Let it be a reminder to you what the average Pinay’s job description is: tidying the home, doing the laundry, cooking meals, looking after the kids, keeping your fashion sense in check, budgeting household expenses, making life extra sweet aside from working on her chosen career. Concede defeat before we even consider resigning from our totally challenging post, for which we don’t get paid anyway. You can’t afford to lose The Queen.
Happy Women’s Month to all Filipinas anywhere in the world!
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