PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ CREATIVE DIRECTOR MON BENITEZ ASSOCIATE EDITOR NICHOLO JALLORES COLUMNISTS ABY YAP ALFRED “KRIP” YUSON BARNEY ALMAZAR PAUL RAYMUND CORTES FRANCISCO COLAYCO CONTRIBUTING WRITERS – UAE, PHILIPPINES, CANADA, SWITZERLAND ANGELA MAPA ANNA OPOSA BARBARA MARCHADESCH CANDICE LOPEZ QUIMPO DANTE GAGELONIA DIDI PATERNO EXCEL DYQUIANCO KARA SANTOS MARY ANN MARCHADESCH MARY ANN “MAPS” SANTOS NEPHELE KIRONG NIKKA SARTHOU NINA TEROL-ZIALCITA P.A. ESCALANTE PRINCES NEDAMO QUAY EVANO RACHE HERNANDEZ REGINA LAYUG-LUCERO SHERRY TENORIO CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS – UAE, PHILIPPINES & USA EROS GOZE RAEN BADUA IRVIN RIVERA JEF ANOG ALEX CALUENG CRISTINA LINAZA ROZEN ANTONIO HERSON NEBAYA PUBLISHER – UAE ILLUSTRADO COMMUNICATIONS FZ-LLC 2ND FLOOR, BUILDING 2, DUBAI MEDIA CITY UNITED ARAB EMIRATES P.O. BOX 72280 OFFICE 20C TEL: +971 4 365 4543, 365 4547 FAX: +971 4 360 4771 E-MAIL: ADMIN@ILLUSTRADO.CO WEB: ILLUSTRADOLIFE.COM, ILLUSTRADO.CO FACEBOOK: ILLUSTRADO MAGAZINE TWITTER: ILLUSTRADO MAGAZINE INSTAGRAM: ILLUSTRADO MAGAZINE PRINTERS PRINTWELL PRINTING LLC P.O. BOX 18828 DUBAI, UAE STOCK IMAGES SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED) COPYRIGHT ILLUSTRADO COMMUNICATIONS FZLLC 2006 – 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF ILLUSTRADO COMMUNICATIONS FZ-LLC.
FILIPINO TRAVELER
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If you have yet to travel to Georgia, here are the reasons why it should be your next must-visit destination.
HEALTH
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Be a well woman with these important health checks
FROM THE EDITOR Realizing the ultimate challenge for Filipinas in the 21st century
FEATURES
8 Onwards, 21st Century Filipina. 14 Where’s your girl power, boy? 22 A Tribute to Nanay 24 Have we truly closed the gender gap? 26 The Filipina: Beauty at its gentlest 48 Women We Love 50 The Queen of All Gems from the Pearl of the Orient 92 Pinays Take Charge Pledge 96 Of Being Single, Kiwi Crates and Cassava Cakes 102 Oh girl please! Nonsense Women Say
COLUMNS
6 Contributors 18 It’s What I Do 38 Illuminati: Are we (still) sexist? 40 Law: UAE & Philippine Laws Every Filipina Should Know 43 Money: The Instinct to Provide
44 Health: Well Woman – 5 Health Checks Every Woman Must Have 66 News: PBC Dubai, PBC Abu Dhabi & Philippine Department of Tourism 68 News: Art Dubai 2016
FASHION & BEAUTY
54 St. Chapelle’s Impalpable Dream 70 Dan De Lima 72 Yen 74 Happy Andrada 78 Avel Bacudio 82 Illustrado Beauty 94 Hiyang! Top 5 Pinoy Beauty Products 112 Illustrado Faces
TRAVEL
98 On my own 104 Why visit Georgia?
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BEAUTY
GIRL ABOUT THE WORLD There is something very empowering about doing things on your own – travelling included.
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FASHION
Dramatic gothic inspirations realized in couture. Michael Cinco takes us beyond the stained glass windows of Sainte Chapelle.
A look at the legendary Filipino beauty products that have made many a Pinays look their best
IN THIS ISSUE
CONTRIBUTORS LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Editor-in-Chief/social advocate/aspiring urban farmer “almost superwoman” (almost but not quite) Lalaine Chu-Benitez has been driving Illustrado’s advocacy towards Filipina empowerment for almost a decade now. She believes that the Filipina’s greatest challenge at this very moment lies beyond further education, skills improvement, recognition and financial might – something quite simpler than what we tend to expect.
NICHOLO JALLORES Associate Editor Nicholo Jallores tries to be everything - careful and vigilant, in that he does not end up as nothing. He wants to make it clear that THAT sentence isn’t nearly as forlorn as it sounds. AÑA RAMIREZ Danabelle Gutierrez is the author of I Long To Be The River and & Until The Dreams Come. She is a vagabond, born in the Philippines and raised everywhere; she has been moving from country to country and taking photographs along the way since she was eight-years old. Her three-decade long life journey seems to have taken a longer pit stop in Dubai where she now lives, loves, and writes TRACY LEY ORENCIO Beauty maven Tracy Ley Orencio, a.k.a. “Ms Tracy Ley” in her hugely popular blog, is all about girl power and loving oneself. In this issue, however, she points out the annoying things women say that leave men confused, to which they still have to respond properly to. Let’s face it boys. You can’t win in this one!
KRIP YUSON Krip Yuson will soon have his third novel a follow up to launch of his seventh collection of poetry, “Islands of Words & Other Poems.” He thinks that the Philippines should have its third female president soon, and that the rest of the world should also be ruled by women.
ANNA DE LEON “Life devoid of Makeup and Fashion is life lived in mediocrity.” - Anna de León Empowering Women through Make Up and Fashion has always been Anna’s passion.
CONSUL GENERAL PAUL RAYMUND CORTES When not performing his duties as the head of the Philippine community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, or the obligations of a dutiful dad, Hon. Paul Raymund Cortes, a passionate patriot, mulls over how to further drive the growth of Filipinos by promoting a more progressive mindset. Here, he questions common belief that the Philippines has narrowed the gender gap. ATTY. BARNEY ALMAZAR The ‘People’s Lawyer’ Atty. Barney Almazar advises UAE-based Filipinas on important laws they can use to protect and advance their interests at work, family and community in general. “Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less” - Susan Anthony, social reformer and feminist who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement. KRISTINE ABANTE To quote the great Albert Einstein, “I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious.” I am always looking for the next great adventure wherever I could find it. Writing is my way to relive the experience twice and hopefully to encourage others to join the ride. My blog is dedicated to BUZZ! If you like music, art, travel, adventure and all around good vibes, stick around and I’ll try my best to get you a backstage pass. (not literally!).
QUAY EVANO Quay Evano, a Fil-Canadian journalist, photographer, graphic designer and musician owes his success and talents to his Mom. And yes, he learned how to cook from his mom as well.”
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FROM THE EDITOR
ONWARDS,
21st
CENTURY FILIPINA. By LALAINE CHU-BNITEZ
Head of State. Prima Ballerina. Chief Justice. Captain of Business. Fighter Pilot. Tony Awardee. Scientist. Diplomat. Athlete. Artist. Activist. Soldier. Miss Universe. Indeed, the Filipina has gone a long way in recent years to rise above the stereotypical role of traditional women. Not just the pleasant, alluring and sunkissed presence on Amorsolo’s canvas, our womenfolk have advanced to become strong, intelligent, capable modern women, whose resolve and ability to accomplish and prevail is undeniable. We are more fortunate than a lot of our counterparts around the world. Belonging to a country which ranks 7th among 145 in gender equality according to the most
The ultimate challenge of our generation of Filipinas is to realize our shared destiny, and with that, our intrinsic duty to contribute to narrowing the disparity between our achievements and struggles by propelling each other upwards and onwards.
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recent World Economic Forum Report, and 2nd among all nations with the most female senior business leaders according to Grant Thornton’s Women in Business Report of 2016, we are surrounded by females who not only take care of the family and home, but also keep the wheels of business and government turning. We have Filipinas in virtually all fields of endeavor and we have heroines in our history, as well as everyday heroes who toil in faraway lands to provide for their loved ones. Despite the progress, however, the Filipina continues to grapple with the intriguing contradictions of her bipolar public persona, and her less than perfect circumstances.
FROM THE EDITOR
THE FILIPINA DICHOTOMY We’ve seen her in her various incarnations - as the soft and yielding, “easily fainting” Maria Clara of Noli Me Tangere, as well as the bolo-wielding revolutionary leader and babaylan Gabriela Silang. We’ve glimpsed her donning the habit as the devout nuns of People Power in EDSA, and then barely-clothed as the bar girls of Ermita. She has held the most powerful position in the land – that of President, twice over with Cory Aquino, and then Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, but she is also the pained face of abused domestic helpers scattered all over the globe. Even with the robust representation of Filipinas in our country, our women’s health, by and large, continues to be denied proper protection with our government’s failure to enable the proper implementation of the reproductive health bill – a law that has been contested for the last 14 years, and until recently, eviscerated and clipped before it could hit the ground, with the removal of key provisions as well as funding. For each single content online devoted to Filipina achievers, there are over 50 on those in the flesh trade. And then, against the millions of progressive female OFWs, who have braved venturing abroad and who have succeeded, we also have millions of underprivileged sisters back home who live in abject poverty and disadvantage.
Curiously enough, Filipinas have come to represent, some of the most powerful people in our country, as well as the most vulnerable. BRIDGING THE DISPARITY So, as women of the Philippines, what should we make of this gap, this contradiction? To acknowledge the disparity is not enough. Far from encouraging breast-beating on account of our inadequacies and struggles, or for that matter, saying that we should merely be giving ourselves a pat on the back for the strides we have made so far, we should understand instead - how far we have gone, and how much farther we NEED to go. For those of us who are lucky enough to belong to the fortunate set of women who are educated, economically independent, who are progressive and have the liberty and the wherewithal to pursue dreams and ambitions, and who understand that they have a choice on everything in life – be it concerning their bodies, their careers, their relationships, their families, the larger community and the world they belong to, a new frontier lies there for the conquering. The next summit the empowered Filipina has to scale does not simply lie in the pursuit of further education, or higher positions in the career ladder, more investments or financial liquidity, greater awards or recognition, nor even more seats in the government. The latter are
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merely useful stepping stones that will help boost us to meet the demands of the real endeavor that lies ahead. The ultimate challenge of our generation of Filipinas is to realize our shared destiny, and with that, our intrinsic duty to contribute to narrowing the disparity between our achievements and struggles by propelling each other upwards and onwards. As empowered women of the 21st century who have the privilege of understanding and personal choice, we should take interest in the welfare of our womenfolk and leverage the advantages we have earned through the years to pull fellow Pinays into better circumstances. And the opportunities to help are limitless - whether it is by sharing knowledge, providing opportunities, contributing to provide a better representation of Filipinas online and around the world, among others, we only need to tap what we already have – that innate Filipina quality of being an emphatic nurturer with the talent, the resolve and the ability to conquer everything we set our hearts and minds to. In the end, it is not just about celebrating our successes and landmarks; it is also about putting our hands together for the work that needs to be done. Because we can only really go as far as the poorest, the most oppressed and the least privileged of our women can go. Filipina para sa Filipina.
OPINION
WHAT IS A 21ST CENTURY FILIPINA? Empowered women weigh in on what makes for a truly contemporary Filipina in this age of technological advances and globalization.
hold no difference despite nationality, citizenship, or economic class.
YASMIN BALAJADIA-CORTES, OD Spouse of the Philippine Consul General Dubai, UAE A 21st century Filipina is an empowered human attuned to the privileges and capabilities of the advances of science and technology available to all. An empowered Filipina is aware of her rights as a human being, within the bounds of the laws and policies of the state or country where she resides, and within the bounds of moral laws. She is confident of what she can contribute to global society, aware of what role she plays in the development of the community she has adopted and the motherland she continues to call home. She should also know that despite categories labelled upon people, everyone is a human being, whose wants, needs, dreams, and hopes are universal and
Filipinas of the 21st century must be aware of the advances of science and information technology and how these could make them better informed. They must use these to better their knowledge of how the world can work for mankind’s benefit, and to ease living conditions, at the same time, to make themselves better people. The information available to everyone at the touch of their fingertips should make Filipinas gain an even more balanced perspective on issues and concerns that matter to society. The ability to understand our world through greater information must make our 21st century women more open to new and even radically different viewpoints. She must, at no point, be closed to previously held truths. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MARIA CRISOLOGO-ESPIRITU COON United States Navy, Medical Service Corps Health Care Administrator Stafford, Virginia A generation of women destined for
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greatness! That is what comes to my mind when I hear the phrase “21st century Filipina woman”. To fulfill greatness in this generation, Filipinas should first have a strong sense of spirituality. Regardless of religion, a sense of spirituality provides us a deeper source of strength that this physical world cannot supply. This source of strength has kept many Filipina women resilient today and throughout history. Filipinas already possess the characteristics and attributes for greatness; intelligence, resilience, compassion, industriousness, perseverance, hospitality, passion, strength, courage, and family values. Many times over, Filipinas have overcome adversity, however, Filipinas should not merely survive life but rather, they should strive to always better themselves, uplift others, and make a positive difference in the world. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, Filipina women should leverage them and work together towards ensuring the success of future Filipinas. To thrive in these times, Filipinas should constantly thirst for knowledge, magnify their talents, cherish relationships, respect tradition (but don’t be limited by it), embrace modern times (but don’t be corrupted by it), uphold their integrity, and strive for a better future. Filipinas should also embrace being Filipina and do their part in bringing honor and pride to our people,
OPINION
communities, and culture. We play a big role in shaping future generations by instilling strong morals and values of integrity, honor, courage and sacrifice. As members of society, Filipinas should exercise their right to vote and elect government leaders not for their popularity but for how they would represent, serve, secure safety, progress, and relevance of the country and its people at national and global levels.
ATTY. ELEANOR LUCAS ROQUE Tax Lawyer Makati, Philippines The 21st Filipina is the best of both worlds. She is old world because she keeps her traditional values like respect for parents, importance of family, and fear of God. She is new world because she is innovative, brave and ambitious. She is not afraid of change and would in fact welcome it. We see Filipinas all over the world, leading strong organizations and nurturing strong families. Filipinas should be proud of their heritage. We should not pretend to be anything else. We should be comfortable in our own skin. In most places I go to, I proudly proclaim that I am a Filipina. I see a lot of positive reactions. We should all be ambassadors of the Philippines. It is important to be innovative and adaptable. Everything is changing at a very fast phase. Your ability to change
and adapt can decide whether you will be successful in life or in business. A few years ago, hard work was valued the most. Now, no matter how hard you work if you cannot outrun the competition, you will not survive in business. Previous established corporate practices are being questioned by millennials joining the work force. The world is changing and we have to change with it. After all, any disruption is an opportunity. We should always have a continuous thirst for knowledge. Never stop studying. No one can educate herself too much. If you are interested in something, learn it. If you cannot spend the time or money for formal education, there is always the internet and YouTube. For example, I have learned acrylic landscape painting through YouTube. Before that, I had no artistic training and I can only draw stick figures. Now, my mom is running out of walls to hang my paintings. It is very Filipina to ignore or negate a compliment thinking that doing so is being humble. There is a difference between humility and self deprecation. We are not known for promoting ourselves and making sure that we get the recognition we deserve. It is about time we learn to accept the limelight when we deserve it. But probably more important is the ability to identify when the limelight has to be directed to us. We are the queen of our court and it’s high time our subjects learn it. JOAN FATIMA M. TUANO Assistant Guest Relations Manager at Amanyara, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies For me in my early twenties, it means it is time to pave my way to success. It is time
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to figure out who I am, and think about how I plan to go forward. Shall I open a business? Change specialties? What exactly makes me happy? Bake cupcakes for a living? Being a Filipina in general, I am an excited chameleon looking forward to wherever life takes me. Given our vibrant history, being colonized and fighting for our independence, along with the fact that the country is a stunningly unique archipelago in South East Asia, we are destined to be global acrobats. Opportunists hungry for all life have to offer. My advice for Filipinas today is to be strong and confident about who they are and what they want to achieve in life. If in doubt, travel the Philippines or even volunteer to disconnect and rediscover yourself. Plan your day, weeks or months with a goal in mind and go for it. Open up your minds and take chances. Live life, it is extremely short. It is never too late to follow your dreams, try something you never had time to do and most importantly, believe in yourself. Most of the incredible things in my life have happened because of luck and simply putting myself out there. Be interested and be interesting. Read the news. Follow fascinating people in your industry, stalk them and ask them to mentor you (like I did). Fill up your profile with experience and achieve all-star profile status on Linkedin. Ask questions, never leave doubts unanswered. Listen, listen and then talk. Improve your
OPINION
cultural intelligence and strive to be one with your colleagues especially when away from our ‘kababayans’. Don’t be afraid to try something new, and always strive for continuous improvement. Work hard, play hard, and then save even more.
go the extra mile to reach their goals. Filipinas should be ambitious, have goals and know that they deserve only the best. Filipinas should be global citizens. This doesn’t mean letting go of being a Filipina, but understanding that we have an added responsibility of belonging to a world-wide community of people. Filipinas should stop thinking too low of themselves. This is one trait that most Filipinas have which I dislike the most the lack of self-confidence that hinders most Filipinas to do more than what they are capable of. One can never be more than what they are if they don’t even try.
OLGA BARCELONA Head of Operations - Brash Brands Project Leader - Philanthropilipino Dubai, UAE A 21st Filipina is someone who is successful in their chosen careers whilst giving hope to the younger women who are just starting their careers. These are the women who are proud of what they do and who continuously thrive to move with the times and challenge conventional views. These are the Filipinas who support other Filipinas and inspire others to give back and pay it forward. It’s not just being able to provide for their families, it’s also about being able to succeed in what they do, not just locally, but globally. 21st century Filipinas are industry leaders, they are powerful, they know what they want and they do it and they never forget to give back to society. Filipinas in this day and age should let go of timidity. We should be more confident because we have it takes to be leaders. We can be powerful and we should be empowering other women, instead of just competing with them. Filipinas should be brave enough to challenge themselves to better. Filipinas should be tenacious and
PERLA RAMOS PAREDES DALY Life Coach, Volunteer, Writer and Artist Publisher of Pinay.com Austin, Texas 21st century Filipinas can dream bigger than their 19th century counterparts because they have more opportunities for growth and potential, and there are more resources today that empower people. Now, it is increasingly acceptable for women to be educated, successful, financially independent and happy. And it is great that she can contribute to society. Today, because of travel and technology, Filipinas can be global citizens, experiencing multiple cultures and
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perspectives, interweaving them with Philippine heritage and traditional values. And what really makes a Filipina a global citizen is when she acts to make a difference for herself, her family, and also for her village, communities, and for the world. Filipinas in this day and age should see different options for themselves; develop personal growth not just material growth; have a higher degree of self awareness, and a healthier self-worth; have a great attitude no matter what age they are. They also should be flexible, willing to hear feedback and to learn, change and grow and strive to be a better person for themselves, for others and the world. Share their success by helping others grow and shine. There are two attitudes that we can change. “That there isn’t enough and that we deserve so little”. And that “Bahala na” means we give up our power. These are limiting beliefs that reduce our happiness, successes and our light. The next change that we can make from inside is that we can see God, goodness, true happiness and success, as Light. If we can shift our thinking and beliefs that each of us has a divine light gifted within us, then things shift to “I can shine,” “everyone can shine” and when that happens then divine light is increased manyfold. That is why pinay. com’s tagline is “Shine, Pinay, shine” and it’s underlying theme is shine mentality and ‘liwanag’.
F E AT U R E
Where’s Your Girl Power, Boy? A Male Feminist Call-To-Arms By NICHOLO JALLORES
Boy, where would you be without yo’ wimmin’? You have a mother who nurtures you; girl friends who enrich your character and add value to your understanding of the world; probably a sister, or a wife who teaches you what it means to be a part of a family. In the work place you are surrounded by tigresses and lionesses: women who make things happen whilst boys like you sit back and argue who gets what credit for a job that he did not do. Without ‘dem wimmin’ your days in the world would most likely be flat, crippled, and boring. Without ‘dem wimmin you simply would not get by. Now here comes the harder question: what have you done for ‘dem wimmin lately? Sure, you know the whole lollipops and roses drill. You are well versed in the art of Making A Woman Feel Valuable By Placating Her With Stuff and Compliments. Your mom has no cause for complaint – why, you treat her like the queen that she is! It’s like she wins the lottery every Mother’s Day! But barring the usual tricks and theatrics - most of which are rooted in a predominantly masculine culture anyway, funnily enough - what part have you played in making sure that the world is a safe, fair, and balanced environment for women? What have you done to empower
them? See, women have gotten so used to empowering themselves, that most of them have forgotten or are simply unwilling to admit that they need YOU to empower them too. They need your support. Newsflash, boy: you don’t need to be a girl to be a feminist. You just need to be a decent human being. You can “respect” them all you want; open doors and jars for them, let them through the door first, carry their bags and never fail to give them your seat in the train, but the inconvenient truth of the matter is that until you assert an active voice in the fight for gender equality, your efforts to make women feel valuable are just drops in the ocean. If anything, your textbook heroics could only be reinforcing the “damsel in distress” and “knight in shining armour” stereotype. Chivalry does very little to empower women - all it actually accomplishes is make men feel, well, chivalrous. Ok so you “respect” women – how do you feel about your female colleague getting less pay than you, even though you both have the same job designation? Yeah so you think Serena Williams is the greatest female athlete in the world – what does it mean to you that she gets paid less than Roger Federer when she wins a grandslam?
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F E AT U R E
If you truly value the women in your life, then it is your duty to aid them in reinforcing their worth in the society; not as gentle, delicate, hapless beings to be rescued, patronized and appeased with earthly trappings, but as intelligent, efficient, formidable equals who deserve the same opportunities, rights, and rewards as you do. You will acknowledge that gender-based biases are one of the ills that hold humanity back from realizing its true potential. You will begin to internalize the simple truth that women are not the great “other” – that
essentially, men and women are really one and the same in all the ways that matter. Think you can do this boy? Think you can be a man? Ok. Empower your woman. When asked why his 30-person cabinet was comprised of equal parts men and women, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau simply said, “Because it’s 2015.” Oh if only the rest of world is as abreast of the times as Mr. Trudeau. Sadly, it is mostly not. Even in this day and age, women in many parts of the world are still relegated to the status of second-class
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citizens. As of 2013, there are almost as many women in the planet as there are men, with a percentage difference that is close to insignificant. In terms of population distribution, the gender gap is practically non-existent, but this is not reflected in the way society works as a whole. This is what happens: we applaud women and recognize their achievements out loud – and then we marginalize them in secret. Here are some hard and cold facts on how prevalent gender inequality and violence against women still are in this so-called
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Violence Awareness Network - hbv-awareness.com
modern world. If you call yourself somewhat of a supporter of women’s rights, this information should infuriate you. And if it does not… well, why on earth are you still reading this article? Go oil your chainsaw or something.
Among the 5 women you know who are in a relationship, at least one of them is getting beat up or sexually assaulted by her boyfriend or husband. That is how real that statistic is. So… bro’s before hoes, still?
Women who are employed full time are generally paid 23% less than their male counterparts. It doesn’t matter if you have the same education and depth of experience as the men – if you’re a chick, you get less pay. It doesn’t matter how you phrase the question – the “why?” of this will always lead to some form of corporate misogyny.
In India and Pakistan, an average of 1000 women are murdered yearly for their family’s honor. “Honor killings” is probably one of the most diabolical ideas ever conceived by the human mind, cultural context be damned. An entire clan colluding and acting in concert to kill a female family member who went against their orders – terrible! And yet it is still a common practice in some parts of the world. If you are a woman aged between 15 and 44, you would sooner get raped or beaten up by your partner than die of a car accident, cancer, war, or malaria. That is how high the probability is of a woman experiencing some form of abuse from a man in her lifetime. Scientists are close to finding a cure for cancer. How close are we to finding a cure wanton violence against women? The world’s governments invest billions on infrastructure and road safety. How much do they invest on protecting women from domestic harm? *Source - The Honour Based
An estimated 15 million girls under the age of 18 are forced into marriages worldwide. Is she a daughter, a sister, or a goat? Imagine if you, as a young boy, were obligated by your family to marry an adult woman that you barely knew. Imagine your rage. Why then should you be okay with certain cultures forcing young girls into marrying strange adult men? What part of that set-up is acceptable to you? 30% of women in relationships experience some type of physical or sexual violence from their partners.
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Only 30% of the world’s researchers are women Our world is evolving at a breakneck speed, and the female of our species have very little say in it. Societal expectations play a crucial role in the way women are educated and employed. The current scenario, as it seems, is that men get to be the visionaries, and the women have to do the clean up - and this is despite the widely accepted scientific dictum that men and women have equal capacity for intelligence. No one gender is smarter or dumber than the other. Why then must women settle for playing second fiddle to men? Why do they have to dumb themselves down to fit into social standards that they had no part in creating? Some people will tell you that at this point, the notion of gender inequality is passé; that the fight for women’s rights has already been won, and that any further talk of it is just flogging the dead horse. That is untrue. As long as there is a group of women in any part of the planet that experiences some form of social inequity – be it in the workplace, in the streets, or in the home – the fight for women’s rights has NOT been won. Women still need the support. Women still need YOU. What can you do as a fledgling male feminist to fan the flames of gender equality? Here are some ideas: Don’t be afraid to speak about gender inequality when you see it. If you are not in the position to eradicate it singlehandedly in your immediate environment, you can, at the very least, call it out. Ask questions. Initiate a discussion. Make it matter. Don’t allow the issue to become irrelevant. If you see that the women in your company are being treated unfairly, do not hesitate to bring it up with the HR. If you see girls in
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your school being bullied by other guys, report it to the admin. Stay vigilant and watchful. Extend your support to organizations that advocate women’s rights. Volunteer your time, make a donation, or simply post links to their websites on your social media platforms. Every effort counts. You don’t always have to take the revolution to the streets, as there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the movement from the comforts of your own home or office desk. Be an example to your guy friends. Let’s be real here. Some men will always be jerks when it comes to the issue of gender equality. In a group of 5 men, there will always be at least one or two who think that it’s perfectly acceptable to hoot at a girl in the street. Don’t be afraid to set them straight. Tell them that their behavior is both disruptive and destructive. And if they do not listen, find another group of friends to hang out with. Why would you want to be associated with chauvinist pigs anyway? They are scum. You are not scum. Find other friends. Speak to the women around you about their rights, and how willing and able you are to support them any way you can. There are women who have gotten so used to an imbalanced society that they do not know when their identity and dignity are being violated. Inform them. Be that spark of reason that sets their progressive spirit aflame. And if you know a woman who actively and tangibly advocates women’s rights, offer your support. Just for women to know that there are men out there in the world who are willing to lend their voices in the battle cry for equality is already a huge
vote of confidence. Here’s the thing about women’s rights: most of the people who are in the position to sign off on those rights are actually MEN. This is why it is important that we do not let the women carry this torch alone. You can and you need to be in the fight. Our mothers, sisters, wives, friends, and girlfriends cannot do this by themselves.
important virtues that all of us have to live by though, I honestly can not say it will truly manifest in my lifetime because there are still numerous cases where women suffer from many forms of abuse - physically, mentally, and emotionally - but I have high hopes, for there are big organizations that advocate gender equality and we should all be part of them.
Be a man, boy. Be a feminist.
We asked a couple of guys about their views on the issue of male feminism and gender equality. Here’s what they have to say!
MAI BAUTISTA
Advertising Account Manager
CHOLO JUAN
Gallery Assistant Manager/Graphic Designer/Visual Artist A male feminist is someone who will stand up for women’s rights. We are created equally regardless of social status and everyone must be treated equally. Some people look down on women’s capabilities but women can be great leaders too. They excel in many fields and industries. I consider myself a male feminist. I respect the rights of every woman just how I greatly respect my mother. What does gender equality mean to you? Gender equality for me is one of the most
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Actually I have no idea. I think that being a male feminist, or being a plain feminist itself is no longer applicable to this time and age. Because there’s no need to be one. Women are given the same opportunities and treatment as men. Women have proven time and again they are not inferior to men. I think that feminist issues of today are not about feminism itself, but by-products of other new-age problems – self-validation, domination for power, supremacy, and money (well that’s not really new too!), etc. Gender equality means that people won’t have to judge me if I, as a man, choose not to offer my train seat to a woman, unless she’s pregnant or sick or old. Gender equality to me means that a young father won’t have to feel guilty if he is domesticated while his wife is earning millions. Gender equality to me means my girlfriends being able to sleep around as how men do it.
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ILLUSTRADO TAKES A PEEK AT THE LIVES OF 3 POWER PINAYS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES UP THE LIFE OF A SUCCESSFUL FILIPINA LIVING EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST.
Recently elected as the new Chairman of the Philippine Business Council in Abu Dhabi, Jan Barlow is a formidable mix of a business woman and tireless community leader who considers time as a doting wife and mom an essential and worthy part of her life. MY CAREER
I am co-owner of Pacific Consulting Services, a consulting company in Abu Dhabi. We write policies and procedures for local and multinational entities, as well as other services such as training manuals and catalogues. My husband and I have had this business since 2000. I joined PBC in 2008, and have been involved with PBC events and projects since then. I think success comes simply from doing what you say you are going to do. It is not about being brilliant or inspired. With our customers, if we say
on my daughters. I want them to grow up to be good Catholic ladies and to choose suitable husbands. I am also interested in being able to guide our community members, particularly if they have plans to set up businesses. One thing that we really need in PBC is a knowledge base, and I would like to start building that, so that people with entrepreneurial ambitions can obtain checklists or guidelines for particular types of business.
LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST EVERYDAY
JAN BARLOW Entrepreneur, PBC Abu Dhabi Chairman Abu Dhabi, UAE
that we are going to provide a deliverable on a particular date, we have to do that. We tell our daughters the same thing: keep your word and fulfil your commitments.
WHAT DO FILIPINOS NEED TO DO TO GET AHEAD GLOBALLY?
It is not about traits. It is simply about delivering value for customers or employers. This starts with being competent, and not making excuses – no “palusot”. If we can think clearly, start with realistic plans and deliver results, we can succeed. Obviously, education is important, but more important is personal integrity and effort.
MY DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS
I am a mother, so my main attention is
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As a working mother, I am usually up and about till 12 midnight and make sure that the man of the house is served dinner no matter how late he comes home. My usual day starts with a cup of coffee at 7am while giving a foot rub to our dog – Lili. By 8:30am, I am seated at the farthest corner cubicle of our office, if not out with client meetings or doing onsite duty, checking all my emails and answering each one of them (including the Council’s). At 10am, normal rounds with different projects, checking all due dates and internal meetings with our production team. At 12 noon, I am absorbed with finalizing against checklists due deliverables – forms, flow charts, procedures and policies. Work continues until 5pm. By 5:30pm, out of the office (as a rule) or I will get a boot from Mr. Barlow, and should be at the house by 6PM. If at home with Mr. Barlow, I prepare dinner and we eat together while the girls sit with us and we listen to their stories of the day. By 7:30pm, if very busy, I go back with Mr. Barlow to the office to wrap up more work, if not, then I stay home with my girls – and do the never ending “have you done your homework”. By 11am, I switch off home Wifi and I am usually cleaning up cupboards or reading a book, till Mr. Barlow comes back home again.
MY MANTRA IN LIFE
I am a Roman Catholic. The Church teaches us how to live.
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MY DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS If I can just give a third of what my mom contributed in this world, I would feel accomplished. She was a CPA, financial controller, professor, student, charity worker, pastor, cancer patient, fighter, prayer warrior, daughter, sister, mother, best friend.
Marketing and Communications professional Danelle Ruth Palang manages what is otherwise the exhausting life of a 5-star hotelier with mild mannered equanimity as she sees the “grand design’ in her everyday life.
There is still so much work to do in this lifetime. We haven’t accomplished anything yet. I wish to wake up one day in a world that is full of selflessness, each of us not merely thinking of ourselves.
DANELLE RUTH PALANG MY CAREER God’s favor. This is all His favor. It has been tried and tested in my career that no amount of hard work, level of education can bring one person to truly succeed in life other than through His favor. The challenges that turn into opportunities, the strength on days when there is no rest [or food] in sight; the people from all walks of life whom I meet along the way, a son and sister who keeps me grounded – these are all instrumental in keeping me on my toes, motivated and hungry. Then of course there’s Dusit Thani who believed in my potential and entrusted me with so much more than I deserve. WHAT DO FILIPINOS NEED TO DO TO GET AHEAD GLOBALLY? I was once asked during a job interview if I had anything else to add. I then asked the interviewer to align the line on the bottom of each of his hand as he puts
Director of Marketing and Communications Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai
his palms together. Universally, anyone who does this will discover that the other middle finger is longer than the other. I asked him to put the palm that has the shorter middle finger in front of his face and loudly command that hand to grow longer, 10 times. I asked him to put his hands back together. He was surprised to see that his middle finger actually grew longer. That interviewer hired me. I have been working with him for seven years now - four years in Manila, two years and counting in Dubai. I used that opportunity to give him a glimpse of what I can do, what any of us can do. We were all created to be great. It is up to us to realize that greatness.
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LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST EVERYDAY My day is about beating deadlines. No matter how early we plan ahead, some other thing pops up. No such thing as first in, first out. Every day is a constant tussle to be organized and work within schedule. It is imperative that we address all the requirements of our guests, partners and the members of our team with equal importance. They are all considered our clients in this department. For me and most of the people in the industry, we are rarely able to separate work from personal life. It sounds horrible to some but it is a good thing most of the time. Being an hotelier is a lifestyle. I gain friends at work, dine and wine in the hotel’s award-winning restaurants, work with multi-awarded chefs and colleagues, and meet guests travelling from different parts of the world. Dusit Thani is my home away from home. Working for and with them allows me to live this life to the fullest. And for that, I am eternally grateful. MY MANTRA IN LIFE Why worry, when you can pray.
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Iman Suguitan is a contemporary Muslim Filipina who is both an entrepreneur and community advocate. She runs her own business, contributes to the Muslim community, whilst pushing forward a social entrepreneurship initiative, at the same time preparing for a family with her husband. MY CAREER I am the founder and managing director of Ahsant Premium Hotel Supplies & Specialized Gifts. I am also the brand director of Nypa – a lifestyle brand offering furnishings and amenities to hotels. I am in this business because I love establishments that give a sense of relaxation and beauty, and hotels do that! The first time I ever stayed in a 5-star hotel in Manila, the middle income-bracket, young, tropical city girl in me thought, “Wow, this is heaven on earth! Air-conditioning all day, you don’t need to clean up, it’s so quiet, it’s so luxurious!” My staff in Ahsant and I take
IMAN SUGUITAN Entrepreneur and Cacao Farming Advocate Dubai, UAE
great pleasure and pride in being able to contribute to the guests’ unique hotel experience. WHAT DO FILIPINOS NEED TO DO TO GET AHEAD GLOBALLY? It might sound harsh, but for me in order to get ahead globally, Filipinos need to stop patting themselves in the back the minute they accomplish something. Jack Welch said that the end of excellence is when people become so comfortable with what they achieved that they actually believe it’s ok to relax and be satisfied. If you look at the stalwarts of excellence of our generation, those who have really broken through the global scene, they show us that the key is discipline and a never-ending wanting to be better, and that want translates to hard work.
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Now there are traits though that we Filipinos should never lose. One is our ability to look at the glass half full. I see this when Filipinos thrive when the pressure is on at work, when we can laugh even at the most dire circumstances, when we are able to deliver great results despite bad company – may it be at work or at home. Malasakit at maagap, those are two superb Filipino traits. MY DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS I dream of a lot of children. Four. I’ve always wanted to be able to pass on all this knowledge to them, to leave a legacy. But while my husband and I are still waiting, I’m trying to do as much as I can for myself, the Muslim community and for our country. As an expat, I dream of a day when non-Filipinos start truly appreciating our contribution to this country. And maybe the greater dream is that we Filipinos need not go outside of our country and expect to be appreciated by other nations because we are already appreciated by our own government and our own countrymen. I think this could start by having a mindset of pulling each other up. Days of crab mentality are so last century. If we will ever become a truly great nation, we have to help each other. I will go back again to my earlier suggestion of just having a mentality of excellence. Beat your own record and on your way to the top, pull some people up, too. This is one of the reasons why we are championing this new social enterprise which I and
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my sister started. It’s called “OFW para sa Magsasaka” wherein the OFW invests his money into cacao farms in the Philippines, farmer tills the land, then they share in the income. Not one person or family just becomes rich, as what is happening now, as many as possible in the value chain will have financial success. One thing I have learned the past six years that I’ve been running Ahsant in Dubai as sole owner and director is that if you’re not too greedy, you can actually create equitable business, very simply, everyone is happy – from yourself, to your staff, to customers and suppliers. So my dream stretches to making even more people happy beyond Ahsant and beyond UAE! It would just be so good to help alleviate poverty among farmers. Then the selfish dream is to one day go back to the Philippines and stay there for
good; I think I have the same dream as most OFWs, that we never have to leave children trying to earn money, that if we were to travel, it’s because we travel to enjoy and not because we’d lose money if we don’t fly back to the country where we are foreign workers. LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST EVERYDAY I wake up for the first prayer of the morning - salatul fajr, and try as much as possible not to go back to bed. My sister and I work from about 6am to 8:30am on “OFW para sa Magsasaka” then we go to our respective offices to our regular work. I only work 4 times a week, something I started this year. I have two day-weekends plus Tuesday, my “knowledge day” wherein I only do things to increase or share my knowledge. Right now this is dedicated to Islamic studies and learning Arabic, plus I co-curate a blog called Sister, Sister, Brother (www.
sistersisterbrother.blogspot.com) which is a journal of the modern Muslim which aims to connect with other cool Muslim professionals around the world who, like us never abandon our religion no matter how modern or how forward thinking we are. It also aims for non-Muslims to better understand us, especially in these times when beyond the Middle East Islamophobia is ever-present. I use weekends for exercise, seeing close friends or business friends, having chickflick movie nights, and campaign for the causes I believe in through social media. I’m able to do everything seamlessly because of the people who surround me. My Ahsant team is superb. My husband and sister are also my two best friends. Not only do they believe I can fly, but they keep me grounded. Islam is a huge part of how we enjoy our lives and we’re proud to say it. MY MANTRA IN LIFE “Tie the camel and do tawakkul.” It’s from a hadeeth, or a story from the time of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) wherein He was asked “should we tie the camel first and then trust/rely in Allah (tawakkul) or should we rely in Allah then tie the camel? The Prophet answered, “Tie the camel then do tawakkul.” This means you work hard first and then you leave everything to Our Creator. For me, when I say work hard, that means I need to be sure that I gave my utmost best; may it be for a product we are developing, a speech I’m crafting, or even the weights I’m lifting in the gym. So when things don’t happen as I want or I don’t get the results which I want, it’s very easy to say - “It was simply not meant for me because I did my absolute best.”
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F E AT U R E
A Tribute to Nanay My mother, Marietta Paras Evano, never went to college. She was only able to finish high school in Tagdon, one of the remotest towns in our home province of Barcelona, Sorsogon where electricity was almost nonexistent even in the early 1980’s. Her father, a fisherman and an elementary school teacher, and her mother, a housewife, simply couldn’t afford it with 11 children to feed. If only she had the opportunity to study, maybe she could have been a secretary, a businesswoman, a doctor or a nurse. Instead she became a very important person in the world. She became a mother - the greatest mother to me, to my siblings, and to our friends and relatives who consider her as their Nanay Mayet.
Loving, self-sacrificing, resourceful, patient and nurturing – these are qualities typical to Filipino mothers. Quay Evaño pays a simple but moving tribute to the Nanay who sacrificed everything for their family who is a mirror image of what a mother means to most of us.
If motherhood were a college degree, my mom would simply have graduated Summa Cum Laude and have a Ph. D degree by now. Heck, she’d even be considered a genius. And if love, compassion, determination, sacrifice, and kindness were subjects in school, well, my mom would be the greatest teacher any class would ever have. My mom is one of my greatest teachers in this life, along with my father and my uncles and aunts and family friends who helped our family. She taught me how to love unconditionally; to always treat people right and be friends with them; to always see the good in everyone; to be humble and ask forgiveness when you’ve made a mistake; to give even when there’s nothing left to give, and to just help others as much as you can.
Painting of Marietta Evano by his son Quay Evano
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She taught me that love is the greatest gift you can give to your children or to anyone. Growing up, we were very poor. There were countless times when we didn’t have food to eat. My siblings and I would envy our friends and neighbors who had so many things in life but we were still thankful because our mother filled our home with her love. That love made us strong, sustained us through the years and sustains me still. I remember one of my best friends telling me that he liked hanging out in our home because he felt more loved by my mother than by his real mom. He said that we were so lucky to have a mother who loves us so much and not afraid to show it to us. Yes, we are lucky indeed. My mom made many sacrifices so that my sisters, brother and I will have a better life than she had. At times when we hardly had enough food on the table, she wouldn’t eat anything - not even a single bite - so that her children would be able to partake of whatever small amount of food we had. I still clearly remember her tears falling down her cheeks every time this happened and she would apologize to us for not being able to give us enough food to eat, or when she couldn’t give us things that we needed like money for school projects, or when our electricity was cut off because we couldn’t pay the bill. But my mother would work on her sewing machine until the wee hours of the morning so that hopefully next day, she’d have some money for us for food and for our other needs. She’d labor through the night, just drinking water to
F E AT U R E
fill her stomach and with the love for her children giving her strength. My mother is a fantastic dressmaker, having studied it in vocational school. Thanks to her talent in dressmaking, she was able to earn money at home while taking care of her five children. She had many customers in our neighborhood, but being the kind person she is, she would only charge a very small amount for her work. She’d take on any job she could, like helping out in washing the dishes in a friend’s house after a party or wash clothes for others. But first and foremost, she was known as the best dressmaker in our area. We owe a lot to her dressmaking skills not only in terms of additional income for our household but for giving us confidence in our appearance. Even though we didn’t have money to buy new clothes, new bags or new toys, my mom made us these things from the extra fabrics left over from her sewing jobs. She made the curtains in our home, the bed sheets, our school uniforms, our bags, our shorts, etc. I still clearly remember my favorite pajama, the one that she made using sacks of flour (the Tagalog term I believe is “katsa”), which was partnered with my favorite bed sheet and pillow case also made from the same material. She dressed us up well. She told us that being poor does not mean you also have to look poor and dirty and “madungis” (unkempt). She made sure we always had clean clothes to use and looked our best. My mother, and my father as well, are good with people. I learned from them that you should welcome anybody in your home. Many people – relatives, boarders, family friends, friends of friends, neighbors – lived or hung out in
Cesar and Marietta Evano Family
our tiny home. It was always a home full of people. Up to now, I still don’t know how my mother did it. I do not how she raised five children, doing almost everything – cooking our food, washing the dishes, washing our clothes, taking care of us when we were sick, sewing clothes for us and for other people, helping our neighbours, sweeping the leaves in our yard, cleaning the house, and just doing anything imaginable for the betterment of her family and her community. My mother’s strength up to now surprises me. She is definitely one of the world’s Supermoms. Maybe she is from Krypton and not from Sorsogon. There are thousands of things I want to tell the world about my mother. Maybe I could write a novel about her life just to show how great a person she is. I could go on forever writing praises about her but I know that those praises will still not do her justice. In simple words, she is like a living saint to me; a person of utmost beauty, kindness, goodness; a person who radiates with an incredible love for life and humanity in her heart. (I always think of my mother’s character as very
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similar to Mother Teresa and you know what, they share the same birthday). The greatness of a person lies in many things – in his or her talents, in the genius of his or her mind, leadership qualities, one-of-a-kind skill, etc. My mom’s greatness simply lies in her being a mother. Some people in the world were destined to be great athletes, leaders, politicians, artists and celebrities. My mom may not have discovered a cure for any disease; she may not have led a revolution, or landed on the moon, or made an impact in our society, but she made the world a better place for the many people that she touched with her incomparable love and kindness. My mom was not destined to do any of these. She simply was destined to be a great mother who has made this world a better place for our family. Now it’s my turn to make this world a better place for my children. I love you Mama.
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HAVE WE TRULY CLOSED the GENDER GAP? B y C O N S U L G E N E R A L PAU L R AY M U N D C O R T E S
The Philippines has always been proud to claim that our society is one of the most gender equal societies in the world. We are, according to the World Economic Forum 2015 Report on Global Gender Gap, among the Top 10 countries in the world that have the least gender disparity, a distinction we have had in the past five years. Our women are privileged with as much opportunities as men. They are as educated and literate as men. They have taken on top roles in business and governmental institutions more than ever before. That women can occupy leadership positions in the community with almost similar likelihood as men manifests our belief in the equality of sexes. Yet though the gap has been narrowed and arguably even closed, stereotypes and sex role obligations remain deeply entrenched. Have we, then, truly closed the gender gap? Our society delegates certain behavioral standards for men and women from the confines of our homes to the immediate community and the state. Women are expected to be homemakers while men are the breadwinners of the family. Social patterns anticipate mothers lording over homes as budget planners and executors, meal supervisors, and performers of actual household chores. Everything on parenting from child
rearing to school work and activities, and even the early intellectual development of a child becomes primarily mom’s domain as she is perceived as more caring and more nurturing, and has a greater ability to empathize than dad. Home aesthetics are acknowledged as within the purview of motherhood as it is more feminine to be attuned to beauty and order. Dad, on the other hand, must bring home the bacon. Quite simply, his main task is to ensure food on the table and enough finances to pay the bills. In addition, carpentry, electricals, doit-yourself repairs or any physical undertaking at the home is the manly thing to do. Consider scenes from films depicting dad busy tinkering with maintenance of the family car or doing his assigned outdoor chores and you get a fair picture of what we obligate men to do in the family. On the community scale, women are preferred to take on certain positions in the organizational and corporate structure because of character traits of assigned to them. It is supposedly women’s fastidiousness that make them ideal for tasks that necessitate combing through voluminous information. Because of their apparent ability to multitask better than men, executive assistants or secretaries are mostly women. When the task is about ensuring meticulous execution of plans, we
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F E AT U R E
prefer women. Men, as science theorizes, tend to see to see the bigger picture and are the better sex when it comes to building and managing systems, hence, leadership roles. They are physically larger and stronger and thus, it is more acceptable for them to do more physical tasks. That women bear children while men don’t is, I believe, the most essential difference between the sexes. It is physiological. Apart from that, both men and women can take on character and personality traits we have hitherto assigned. Both can be nurturing parents. Both can take on physical roles at home and at work. Both can be tasked with administrative minutiae. Both can perform roles delegated to each other by society without fear of judgment. I will not argue with neurological science that upholds truths about how men’s and women’s brains are wired differently though I assert that both men and women can both be doting parents, can both multi-task, can both be emotional, and can both be strong and decisive leaders.
Only when we believe that there exists no divergence between males and females other than physiological can we, with conviction, truly close the gender gap. When we realize that there are no societal rules on how the masculine standard is to be less loving or caring or how it is feminine is to be less aggressive and more subservient can we fully embrace the tenet that men and women are equal.
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Only when we believe that there exists no divergence between males and females other than physiological can we, with conviction, truly close the gender gap. When we realize that there are no societal rules on how the masculine standard is to be less loving or caring or how it is feminine is to be less aggressive and more subservient can we fully embrace the tenet that men and women are equal. We can begin by ceasing to frown at dads who opt to stay home while mom is at work or by stopping to snicker at men who earn less than their spouses. We must cease scoffing at men who allow the ladies to dabble into physical repairs at home because they are better at it. We should dismiss the idea that a dad is henpecked because his wife makes the decisions in the family. We should get rid of the template roles fathers and mothers take on in the family. To consider alternatives to what men and women are predisposed to must not be scorned and met with disdain. Otherwise, the equal opportunities that our legislation has ensured for women and our celebration of the greater role of women in Philippine society is just lip service.
THE FILIPINA
BEAUTY at its GENTLEST By KRIP YUSON
Faces of the Filipina. Faces of diaspora — with the best of intentions. Which is to keep the Filipino in a blessed state of cheer, health, fortune, and pleasant mien. Close-ups, profiles, full-view forms in water, backlit, turbaned, toweled, veiled, bedazzling amid a bounty of peacock feathers — to simulate via painted blue eyelid! Ahh! A continuing, evolving marvel is the face of the Filipina, the face of beauty that is so evidently in equipoise — maybe between East and West, maybe between cultures, maybe between the birthright of grace and today the expatriate’s resolve to do right by self, for family and clan and country. It is a unique kind of beauty that is so easy on the eye. For it is beauty that speaks of inner light, of levity in equilibrium. It is beauty that can be so languid it suggests levitation. The smile is of the greatest ease. No easel can capture it short of sleight-of-hand, which when it comes to a camera turns somewhat superfluous. All one really has to do is point the lens at such honesty of face, thus record the truth that is gentle beauty. Excerpts from the book The Gulf Through the Eyes of A Filipino Photographer Published by Illustrado
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THE FILIPINA
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Photographer: ALLAN DESIDERIO FOR ILLUSTRADO Model: WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE 2008 HONOREE –TRACY JAVELONA
THE FILIPINA
Photographer: ALEXCALLUENG Model: JAQUELINE BOQUIRON
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THE FILIPINA
Photographer: RAMON “MING” MARBELLA
Photographer: JAY-AR EGALLA
Photographer: PJ TIONGSON Models: PJ TIONGSON & MAAN BAYOT ILLUSTRADO 31
THE FILIPINA
Photographer: MICHAEL NANQUIL
Photographer: CHRIS CALUMBERAN
Photographer: DANABELLE GUITERREZ Model: ABBIE ILLUSTRADO 32
THE FILIPINA
Photographer: PJ TIONGSON
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THE FILIPINA
Photographer: Divino Rex Kintanar Model: Alessandra Chiara Pudda
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THE FILIPINA
Photographer: JOSEPH “ROI” VALDEHUEZA
Photographer: SAMMY BODOTA
Photographer: HARRY CRUZ Model: PJ TIONGSON ILLUSTRADO 35
THE FILIPINA
Photographer: CHRISTOPHER SANAN
Photographer: DANABELLE GUTIERREZ Model: JULIE
Photographer: MARIO CARDENAS Model: TESS SARMIENTO-CARDENAS ILLUSTRADO 36
THE FILIPINA
Photographer: DAN DELIMA
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THE FILIPINA
Photographer: EROS GOZE FOR ILLUSTRADO Model: TANYA HYDE ILLUSTRADO 38
THE FILIPINA
Photographer: DAWN ALMARIO
Photographer: DANABELLE GUTTIEREZ Model: ANNA DE LEON
Photographer: LESLIE FIESTAN
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I L L U M I N AT I
ARE WE (still) SEXIST? By KRIP YUSON
It may take the world another millennium, at the very least, to achieve this notion of equality. But there is no reason at present to prejudice our aesthetic appreciation of the female form.
Yes, of course we still are. To a certain extent. By us I mean we Filipinos. I would think, however, that we have made progress in this area by leaps and bounds, and would be much higher than the median level if a global reckoning were to be conducted.
Proof of this is the recent finding that next to Russia, the Philippines has the most number of women in executive and managerial positions. Russia as Number 1 appears to be a shocker, but hey, we don’t have winters and are thus not privy to full considerations.
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A few weeks ago, I participated in a literary event billed as “Wordello” — a pun on bordello, conflating it with what makes up literature. The activity was mounted to raise funds for Likhaan: UP Creative Writing Institute. The idea was to prepare an
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environment (in this case a large hall at the new Green Sun boutique hotel) that would simulate a bordello, and appear as a kinky venue for the following: poetry readings, spoken word and other performances, a body calligraphy session, and to top it all off, a kinbaku eye-opener, referring to the Japanese practice of rope bondage as a curious performance art. Of course the subject of the body painting was a young female, with her back as the canvas for illustrations and wording. The high point of the evening was the kinbaku presentation, with yet another young female ceremoniously trussed up in ropes by a young man who appeared to be well-practiced. He knew his knots, in other words. The lady in a sleeveless blouse and black lace shorts was tied up in geometric patterns, front and back, then her lower limbs, and hauled up a scaffolding, with one leg stretched vertically away from the other. I must say, watching the spectacle live for the first time, that it was a unique aesthetic experience. I have yet to research further on the art of kinbaku to find out if men are ever made the subjects of rope bondage. I highly doubt it. It isn’t so much the supposed submissive nature of women that make them such natural subjects for this sort of creative expression, but their possession of natural physical attributes that, at least in my view, install them as far superior specimens for visual appreciation. On an aside, I have numerous friends in the LGBT community, some of whom I enjoy close relations with, exempt of anything physical unless they play team sports. I can admire hunks who can dunk a basketball ten feet up from the floor, or
bend a football with a kick from 30 yards out into a protected goal. Or marvel at how male gymnasts can perform their nearly superhuman acts of derring-do. Apart from this armchair sportsman’s high regard for athleticism, however, nothing in the male form raises my testosterone level. On the other hand, my eyes glisten when they fall on a woman’s fetching figure. And my lips fall dry upon further appreciation of particular elements that comprise her aesthetic bounty. The curves, her lips, limbs, neck, shoulders, waist, navel, sacral dimple, well-turned ankles, etcetera. Since I’ve enjoyed this full gamut of visual appreciation from boyhood, what I suggested is that we of a certain masculine predisposition would imagine a female as either madonna or a woman of ill-repute, to be placed on a pedestal that is a metaphor for reverence or wishful thinking, inclusive of the salacious. Oh, as well as all other types between that polarity: trophy date, bride, wife and mother of our children, unreachable goddess, a “pards-babe,” Significant Other, and whatever other imaginable iterations of the wished-for partner may come to mind. Does that make us sexist? In a way, it does. Depending on the male’s evolution towards becoming a more enlightened individual, the predilection described above can unfortunately remain on a simplistic level, or with good fortune, welcome a sea-change from macho attitude. In particular, our archipelago seems to have been early blessed with a partiality to acknowledge the special skills of women, other than those most men would reduce them to, as mere horizontal partners and
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breastfeeders for the children, thence homebodies whose turfs remain the kitchen and laundry area. But we had our pintadas as much as we did pintados — human canvases for elaborate ink designs. And more importantly, we reserved a special niche for the babaylans, whether actually female or cross-gender, as spiritual or intuitive antennae for the tribe. No doubt our centuries of experience under the Spanish yoke supplanted much of this early worldview. Still, elements of a highly matriarchal society remained, so much so that our pantheon of heroes included heroines, and eventually the distinction of having the first woman president in Asia. The glass ceiling remains, as it does in much of the world, thanks in part to the existence of men like Donald Trump as well as those of a certain culture and thinking that still suppress the idea of gender equality. It may take the world another millennium, at the very least, to achieve this notion of equality. But there is no reason at present to prejudice our aesthetic appreciation of the female form with an accompanying denigration of female capability to accomplish things even better than men, and not just equally with all vestigial sexists. Liberté! Fraternité! Sororité! Egalité! Better yet, there may and should come a time when women rule the world, while men can content themselves with their continued service as chefs (now opening up to gender equality as well) and the manufacture of good spirits — which we can then enjoy sipping and sharing with our mistresses, er, masters of the universe, plus all gender-bender friends possible.
LAW
LAWS EVERY FILIPINA IN THE UAE SHOULD KNOW Here are some significant female-oriented laws in the UAE and the Philippines that Filipinas should be aware of. These laws were created to help protect and advance the interests of women in relation to their work, family life and the community in general. By BARNEY ALMAZAR, ESQ.
1. UAE LABOUR LAWS Equal pay for equal work – Article 32 A working woman shall be entitled to the same wage as that of a working man, if she does the same work. Night shift prohibition - Articles 27 & 28 Except those holding managerial, technical and medical positions and during emergency situations, women may not be made to work from 10 pm to 7 am. Article 29 Women may not be employed where jobs are hazardous, harmful or detrimental to health or morals.
Maternity Leave – Article 30 • 45 days with full pay if she has completed 1 year of service; otherwise, 50% pay
labour laws. Hence, complaints must be lodged with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
• Up to 100 days of unpaid maternity leave if there complications resulting to pregnancy or delivery
2. UAE IMMIGRATION LAWS
• Maternity leave is not deductible from annual leave Paid Nursing Break – Article 31 18 months from delivery, a mother is entitled to 2 additional breaks each day (maximum of 30 minutes each) Note: Household service workers are covered by immigration rules, not
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Visa sponsorship Daughters, regardless of age can remain on their father’s sponsorship as long as they are unmarried (sons can only be sponsored by their parents until age 18, unless they are enrolled in a university). A working woman can sponsor her husband’s visa which is renewable annually. A mother can request the court to transfer
LAW
Marital Problems & Family Disputes – how to deal with them • File a complaint against your husband at the Family Courts • Bring passport and marriage certificate (attested) • A counsellor will help you reach an amicable settlement • If settlement is not possible, you will be referred to the judge for divorce
the visa sponsorship of her children from their father to her. Wife’s visa depends on the validity of her husband’s visa Giving birth in UAE • You will need to apply for your baby’s UAE birth certificate within 30 days of delivery • To obtain Philippine citizenship of your baby, register the birth with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate. • You can apply for passport for your newborn at the same time you register the birth • Apply for a residence visa for your newborn upon completion of the steps above Notes: It is illegal to be unmarried and pregnant in the UAE. The original passports and marriage certificate of the parents will be required for the issuance of the birth certificate. If the father is not in UAE, immigration stamps to prove that you were outside of UAE at the time of conception has to be presented. If your baby was born in the UAE and has a health card, immunizations and vaccinations are free. 3. FAMILY CODE AND CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES Article 15 of the Philippine Civil Code provides that laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal capacity of persons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living abroad. A petition to terminate the father’s parental authority over the child pursuant to Article 229 of the Family Code of the Philippines can be filed by the mother even if both of them are outside the Philippines.
What can be demanded from the father? Article 194 of the Family Code Support comprises everything indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical attendance, education and transportation, in keeping with the financial capacity of the family. Note: Section 3 B (3) of Republic Act 7610 of the Philippines, otherwise known as the Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act considers the unreasonable deprivation of the child’s basic needs for survival such as food and shelter as a form of child abuse. 4. UAE PERSONAL STATUS LAW
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Last Will and Testament If you do not have a will in the UAE, the default rule is your son will get twice more than your daughter. If your husband dies leaving no children, the wife gets 25% inheritance but if the wife dies leaving no children, the husband gets 50% inheritance.
LAW
5. UAE PENAL CODE Crimes against honor - Article 359 A punishment of confinement for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding ten thousand Dirhams or either punishment shall be inflicted on any person who obstructs a female in such a manner as to violate her prudence by word or deed, on a public road or at a frequented place. Child Support – Article 330 Shall be punishable by confinement for a period not exceeding one year and by a fine not exceeding ten thousand Dirhams or by one of these two penalties any individual against whom a self-executing judgment is rendered, imposing upon him the payment of alimony to his spouse, any of his relatives or legal dependents, or the payment of salary of the guardian or foster-mother or rent of a house and who, after three months from the day on which he has been warned to pay, refrains from performing the obligation although he is capable of fulfilling it. 6. CYBERCRIME LAWS Defamation - Article 21 Punishment of imprisonment for a period of at least six months and/or fine ranging from AED150,000 to AED500,000 to whoever using a computer network, electronic information system or any information technology means for the invasion of privacy of another by publishing news, electronic photos or photographs, scenes, comments, statements or information even if true and correct. For more information, readers can visit www.gulflaw.info or call 04 444 9404. Gulf Law and volunteer Filipino lawyers hold monthly free legal aid and seminars at the Philippine Consulate in Dubai and Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
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MONEY
THE INSTINCT TO PROVIDE: Women of substance need not be women of sacrifice B y F R A N C I S C O C O L AYC O
The motherly instinct of a woman is so pervasive. It practically includes the protection not only of her own children but of everyone she perceives to need her support. This actually starts from childhood as the little girl plays with her doll and little animals that she nurtures.
As the child grows into the adult world, she begins to realize the need for money to get what she wants. Her parents have instructed her and her siblings on the virtues of hard work, thrift, and savings. However, knowing from experience, most parents only gave general instructions because they themselves did
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not know the details of how to save and how to grow their savings. Where then will the child learn? Unfortunately, even schools do not teach the basic rules of the management of personal money.
MONEY
Most children who have some basic understanding of the need to save are focused on saving for specific purchases for the future. As students, they have aspirations that they cannot get with the little money they receive through allowances and gifts. When they graduate and start earning from a job, it is natural that their immediate reaction is to spend their earnings very quickly. Worse, they learn to use credit cards and conveniently forget that they have to pay the credit card company for their purchases.
The mother is the protector. Frequently, her help is at her expense, using the savings that is actually for herself and her retirement.
WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE, WOMEN OF SACRIFICE
PAY YOURSELF FIRST The foremost commandment that I give to all who want to listen to me is very important to remember and practice. The First Commandment of Savings: “Pay Yourself First”. This means that you follow the main formula:
THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS If you are following the foregoing advice, then you should be so happy and secure, right? You cannot end there. You need to invest your savings in an option that will surely earn you an amount higher than inflation because the value of your money will slowly erode through the years. If you keep your money in your closet or pillow or just in a savings account, then the amount you saved will buy you much less in the future. If your savings is not sufficient when you cannot earn money anymore, then you will suffer as you will not have enough to sustain your desired lifestyle. This simply means that you need to learn how to invest your savings properly.
Who rescues them? It is usually the mother if she can find a way to do so. She is the “protector”, remember? Frequently, her help is even at her expense, using the savings that is actually for herself and her retirement.
This kind of reaction happens to you, our female reader, again and again in different types of situations. Buying a child or a grandchild a toy that you really cannot afford and many similar acts. You sacrifice for those you love and many times, it is the wrong kind of sacrifice. This is especially wrong if you do not save for your future thinking that someone will take care of you. You don’t consider that your husband and/or your children might die ahead of you or they might not have the means to take care of you in your old age, even if they wanted to.
“gift” to your favorite loved one in your expenses to form part of your 80 percent. Or, you could find some kind of sideline to provide you the extra income.
INCOME - SAVINGS = EXPENSES
There are two types of investment: lending and ownership.
You make a budget where you deduct maybe 20 percent of your savings first before you even start thinking of your budgeted expenses.
Putting money in the bank is a lending investment. Money in your savings account or time deposit is actually your loan to the bank. In exchange for using your money, the bank pays you interest. Interest is the fixed income that you get while your money is kept in the bank. Here, the bank guarantees the payment of interest (depositor’s income) and the principal amount in the deposit. Because of this guarantee, the interest rate is relatively low as the risk of losses to the depositor is also relatively low.
You might say you don’t have any income because you do not work. You need not be so strict with yourself. If you have an allowance or household budget that you control, consider that your income. You can just find ways and means to spend within the 80 percent portion to make it fit the needs of your family. If you manage to save more than 20 percent, all the better. If you are saving and investing using this formula, you should add your
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Ownership investment, on the other hand, is actually the acquisition of assets like shares of stock and property with the expectation to periodically earn income
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generated by the asset and eventually to accumulate gains due to the increase in the value the asset over time. In ownership investment, gains or losses are actualized only when the asset is sold. Generally, ownership investments are more suitable to meet long-term goals. This should be your goal for your retirement. At the risk of oversimplifying, you could be guided by the following economic laws: a) the higher the return the higher the risk b) the longer the investment period, the lower the risk c) the longer the time, the higher the return The time to start saving is now
Note how important it is for you to start saving early. If you are older, you can no longer take risks as there will be no time to correct mistakes. Like many people, you will probably tend to think that going into business is the solution to your problem. However, you also have to be prepared and accept the reality that only 5-15 percent of people who start their own business achieve success within the first five years. You can only succeed if you are able to adhere to the following four fundamental principles in running a successful business: 1. Determined passion 2. Sustainable market 3. Capable technology 4.Dependable accounting
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If anything is missing or does not have full commitment, you are better off with another option. Now, you are probably so excited to have your savings working for you. Wait! Don’t be so quick to give away your earnings. Always remember that you cannot share what you do not have. If you give away all the earnings, you will have nothing or little earnings for yourself or to give away when another emergency arises. Always exercise caution and prudence. You need to preserve your savings and capital so you can share more in the future. There are a few good mutual funds that accept a minimum of P5,000 as an initial investment. Thereafter, you can add P1,000 each time into your account. You can write us at info@colaycofoundation. com for the links to these mutual funds
H E A LT H
WELL WOMAN:
HEALTH CHECKS every WOMAN MUST HAVE The Medical City Dubai’s Dr. Heidi K Regudo shares the most important health checks every woman must have.
BLOOD PRESSURE AND BODY MASS INDEX (BMI ) BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. It is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease and diabetes. According to Department of Health and Human Services on women’s health, here are the guidelines for the BP measurement: Ages 18-39: at least every 2 years if you have normal BP 120/80, or less than 120/80. Once a year if you have BP 130/90 and if 140/90 or higher, see a doctor. Ages 40-49: at least every 2 years if you have normal BP 120/80, or less than 120/80. Once a year if you have BP 130/90 and if 140/90 or higher, see a doctor. Ages 50-64: at least every 2 years if you have normal BP 120/80, or less than 120/80. Once a year if you have BP 130/90 and if 140/90 or higher, see a doctor.
BREAST EXAM
PAP’S SMEAR
Women with family history of breast cancer and who were exposed to chest radiation before age 30 are at risk of developing breast cancer. Make it a habit to do self-breast examination (SBE) a few days after your period. It’s even better to do it monthly so you get familiar with your breasts. This would help as an early detection system for breast cancer.
The Pap Smear test is used as a screening method for Cervical Cancer. According to age, women should take the Pap test as follows -
Ages 20-30: an ultrasound can be done if there is a lump/mass felt on the breasts. See a doctor for further evaluation.
Ages 40-49: every 5 years. Get an HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. Ages 50-64: every 5 years. Ages 65 and above: ask your OB if you need to continue monitoring
Ages 40-44: can start screening with mammogram if they wish to do but is a must if with family history of breast cancer. Ages 45-54: must get a mammogram yearly. Ages 55 and older: have a mammogram every 2 years
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Ages 18-39: every 3 years starting at age 21 or before age 21 if sexually active. Get an HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.
BONE MINERAL DENSITY (OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING) Osteoporosis is a condition wherein bones become brittle and fragile as a result of hormonal changes or vitamin D and calcium deficiency.
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Ages 50-64: see a doctor to check if you are at risk of osteoporosis Ages 65 and older: Get this test at least once CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD SUGAR
(WHO) definition of being healthy as “a complete state of complete physical, mental and social well being, not merely the absence of disease,” Dr. Regudo shares the following simple tips women should practice daily to keep themselves in the pink of health -
Having elevated cholesterol and blood sugar level puts you at risk for developing hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Starting at age 20, get a cholesterol test regularly if you are at increased risk for heart disease. Do the diabetes screening if you have elevated blood pressure>140/80 and if you have family history of diabetes.
• Eat a balanced diet. Have 3 meals per day. Don’t skip so you don’t overeat during the next meal. Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day.
Staying healthy is a choice
ng your work at home. Spend quality time with your family and hang out with your friends.
Echoing the World Health Organization’s
• Believe in yourself. Always smile and face every day as a new challenge. • Always pray and thank God despite the hectic working schedule. Being busy is a blessing.
• Have at least 6-8 hours of sleep and exercise regularly at least 30-60 minutes per day
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Dr. Heidi K Regudo
F E AT U R E
THE WOMEN WE LOVE B y E X C E L V. D Y Q U I A N G C O
QUEEN TAMAR
From Amelia Earhart to Florence Nightingale to Mother Teresa, we love women whose stories have not only become inspiration but have left an indelible legacy in the world. Society would not have evolved as quickly and rigorously if weren’t for the pioneering efforts and actionable examples set by empowered women of substance, strength, and character. As Eleanor Roosevelt says, “We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.” Filipino and non-Filipino, those who are still with us and those who have passed, here are several women who have looked at fear straight in the face and managed to make possible what seemed to be irrefutably otherwise.
MALALA YOUSAFZAI
For the first few years of her life, Malala Yousafzai lived a peaceful and tranquil life in her nation of Pakistan. When the Taliban took control of their once touristic town, she began to defy their rules and regulations by saying that women should have the right to basic education. In her speech in September 2008 entitled, “How Dare the Taliban Take Away My Basic Right to education?” she talked about honor and justice. Because of these resistances, she was shot in the head but survived. Now, she stands as a paragon of women empowerment not just for people in the Middle East and Asia, but for the world entire. Image source:worldbank.com
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Also called Tamar of Georgia or Tamar the Great, Queen Tamar reigned as Queen regnant of Georgia from 1184 to 1213. Upon the death of her father, George III, in 1178, she faced extreme opposition. Through her indefatigable political will and military savvy, she successfully neutralized these challenges and ushered in what up to now is referred to as the Golden Age of Georgia. Such is her strength that even modern-day Georgians refer to her as “King” Tamar. Image source: www.badassoftheweek.com
GEENA ROCERO
In a forum attended by thought leaders, Geena Romero hushed the audience with these words: “I was assigned boy at birth
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based on my genitalia.” The air was thick with shock at first, but by the end of her speech, she had captured the support and admiration of the entire room, including that of her agent Ron Gerard, of Next Management. Like many transgendered women, Geena’s journey into full womanhood started at an early age. She started competing in beauty pageants when she was 15. Now, she is widely recognized as one of the world’s strongest voices in the subject of transgender rights.
AISA MIJENO
Aisa Mijeno garnered global recognition after her face-to-face discussion with US President Barrack Obama and billionaire Jack Ma during the APEC Summit held in Manila last year. She is credited as the inventor of the Sustainable Alternative Lighting lamp, or SALt lamp – a low-cost, sustainable, and environment-friendly light source that is powered by salt. In an interview, Aisa recalls, “I used to be part of Greenpeace Philippines and did personal immersions/volunteers across rural communities, and there I learned so many things. Most of these people are so poor and underprivileged that they endure long hours of walking just to get kerosene for their lamps.” Image sourse: www.t3me.com/en/news/science
ROSA PARKS
It all started with a bus ride. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger during a ride on a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama. That small act of defiance turned Rosa into an icon for the civil rights movement in America. Her outright refusal to subscribe to
society’s racial expectations gave the African-American community the impetus it needed to proactively bring about cultural change.
HOLLY HOLM
An American mixed martial artist in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight division and also a professional kickboxer and boxer, Holly Holm is known for ending what seemed to be the unstoppable dominance of Ronda Rousey. Her victory against Ronda is considered by many as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. But beyond her skills in the octagon, Holly has received praises for her sportsmanship, humility, and grace – the complete antithesis of Ronda, who was as famous for her trash talk she was for her Judo. She did not only defeat Ronda – she defeated the notion that a female fighter needs to display “masculine” aggression to be considered a worthy champ.
NIEVES FERNANDEZ
Nieves Fernandez’s life story is basically an action film. Once a school teacher, she eventually the only popular Filipina guerrilla leader during World War II, Captain Nieves Fernandez was responsible for rounding up native men to kill and resist the Japanese. During the course of her fights with the opponent, she became wounded which caused a scar on her right arm. Image source: http:// rarehistoricalphotos.com
EUGENIA APOSTOL
Known for her role in ousting two
disgraced presidents – former presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada – Eugenia Apostol was not only popular in the political arena but an innovative leader in the publishing industry, being an editor of the “Sentinel”. With the publication, she began to realize what “media freedom” was all about. She was one of the recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award and was one the founders of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org
URSULA BURNS
The AfricanAmerican woman who successfully turned the company Xerox around from bankruptcy shares that people need to face challenges head-on. “But if you’re thrown into it, don’t run away because it’s probably one of the best experiences you can have,” the Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns, who is also the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company after another woman, says. In 2014 she was rated as the 22nd most powerful woman in the world. Image source: http:// metrographicsreporter.com
MICHELE BUMGARNER
Born to a German father and a Filipina mother, Michele Bumgarner started out as a race chick driver at the tender age of nine years old after following in the footsteps of her dad and her brother. From then on, she has received numerous awards and left and right and would love to become first female to with the IndyCar series. “Hopefully I’ll also be the first Asian, and First Pinay to do that, so yeah,” she says. “I mean it’s a big goal, but I think it is very much plausible. I just have to keep working at it.” Image source: http:// www.mb.com.ph/
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F E AT U R E
THE QUEEN of ALL GEMS FROM
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F E AT U R E
THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT
“Having the golden South Sea pearl worn by men and women all over the world is true honor. It symbolizes the beauty and skill of the Philippines, whose National Gem is the South Sea pearl. It also shows the importance of caring for the environment. Etched upon its surface is every environmental change it has experienced while growing in the womb of the oyster. The pearl is a symbol of the health of the planet: Without a beautiful environment, we cannot have beautiful pearls.” JACQUES BRANELLEC
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F E AT U R E
It has been hailed as the Queen of all Gems; its color likened to the rich gold of a glorious sunset with an unparalleled luster that brings forth an unparalleled glow that somehow enhances the beauty of its wearer rather than distract from it. The golden Philippine South Sea pearl is truly a remarkable gem not only because of its undeniable beauty but also because of its origins. For over three decades, Jewelmer Joaillerie has been cultivating golden South Sea pearls, the Philippines’ National Gem, in their farms in Palawan, southern Philippines. Often called the last frontier because of its rich natural bounty, the islands of Palawan were also part of an ancient trade route where merchants traded riches from the east for pearls that the Badjaos (sea-faring nomads) dove for in the surrounding waters. It is perhaps appropriate that Jewelmer found its home in these same rich, life-giving depths. Founded by Filipino Businessman Manuel Cojuangco and French Perliculturist Jacques Branellec, Jewelmer Joaillerie sustainably cultivates their golden pearls through a process that takes between four to five years and 377 individual steps. The entire journey of the pearl from the hatchery, where goldlipped Pinctada maxima oysters are bred by Jewelmer’s biologists, to the operating table, where the oysters are inserted with a bead nucleus that would become the heart of the pearl, to the day-to-day care that the pearl farmer provides to the oyster, ultimately culminates in the birth of a breathtaking natural gem that reflects the care and attention it had received. The pearls are then sorted and graded according to luster, size, shape, color and skin purity by expert graders before the top 2-3% of each harvest are set into the most imaginative and artful settings
borne out of the imagination of a team of designers. Each design is carefully thought out to enhance the beauty of the pearl. Mastercraftsmen translate these visions into reality using techniques that were passed down from prestigious jewellery houses in Place Vendome, Paris. Under their skilled hands, the designers’ vision comes to life. The results are wearable pieces of art set in 18-karat gold and accentuated by the finest gem stones and have captured the hearts of pearl lovers all over the world. Being part of what the company calls the Jewelmer Experience is entering into a world of luxury and beauty that is unique blend of French-Filipino culture. From its pearl farm, booths in international trade shows such as Couture in Las Vegas and
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the International Jewellery show in Hong Kong, their showrooms, to their annual collection launches, pearl aficionados are treated to an exclusive unforgettable experience. Jewelmer Joaillerie has since received recognition for their efforts. Award giving bodies such as the Cultured Pearl Association of America has provided accolades to the company and in the year 2014 Jewellery News Asia has chosen Jewelmer as Honouree for Brand of the Year and Outstanding Enterprise of the Year. The lustrous beauty of the golden pearl has since caught the eye of numerous personalities such as Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Emily VanCamp. Currently, Jewelmer Joaillerie operates 13 showrooms in the Philippines, and has
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retail presence in 22 countries worldwide including its recent opening in Dubai. On the 15th of April, a grand openingat the Desert Palm Hotel in Dubai and an event in Abu Dhabi on the 16th of April will celebrate the luxury brand’s debut in the Middle East. “Having the golden South Sea pearl worn by men and women all over the world is true honor, “ said Jewelmer Joaillerie President and CEO Jacques Branellec. “It symbolizes the beauty and skill of the Philippines, whose National Gem is the South Sea pearl. It also shows the importance of caring for the environment. Etched upon its surface is every environmental change it has experienced while growing in the womb of the oyster. The pearl is a symbol of the health of the planet: Without a beautiful environment, we cannot have beautiful pearls.”
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FA S H I O N
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SAINTE CHAPELLE’S
IMPALPABLE DREAM f
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NEWS
PBC DUBAI TARGETS 500 MEMBERS BY END-2016 The Philippine Business Council (PBC) Dubai is aiming to have 500 members by the end of the year as it is now actively encouraging professionals to sign up. This was announced by PBC-Dubai chairman Marian Celeste ‘Bobbie’ Carella during the group’s pioneering ‘Speedy Gonzales’ networking event held over the weekend, February 20. The highest number of members recorded in the council’s almost 15year history is 50, with more than a dozen corporate members and the rest individual members. “In the old constitution only entrepreneurs and directors of companies could be members so last year the membership intake was suspended. Considering the profile of the Filipinos in Dubai and Northern Emirates, it was amended and ratified to include professionals as well,” explained Carella. Individual membership now covers professionals, entrepreneurs and selfemployed people who are influential within the Filipino community. Corporate members are represented by SMEs and large companies owned by Filipinos like Dubai-based marketing
PBC Dubai
and magazine publisher Illustrado Communications and Philippine broadcasting conglomerate ABS-CBN, respectively. Non-Filipino owned companies targeting the Filipino market have also been active corporate members such as Western Union, Al Rostamani International Exchange and Giordano. Carella said that interested individuals and companies can register on its website: www.philippinebusinesscouncildubai. com. She added that the council will celebrate its 15th year anniversary in June with another edition of its highly successful PBC Dubai Interface held last June 2015. It was created as a platform for foreign and Philippine businesses to discuss and explore opportunities on the Filipino market in the UAE which is the 4th largest ethnic grouping. The inaugural event brought together about 200 entrepreneurs and top executives from the Filipino community and other expatriate groups, as well as UAE and Philippine government dignitaries. The Philippine Business Council of Dubai (PBC Dubai), a non-profit organization established in 2001 under the patronage of the Embassy of the Philippines and the Philippine Consulate General of Dubai and the Northern Emirates, is the only Filipino organization recognized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the esteemed role of facilitating business opportunities
for the Filipino community and their commercial partners in the country.
PBC ABU DHABI GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2016
Leading business executives, entrepreneurs, members new and old, and community leaders participated in the Philippine Business Council (PBC) Abu Dhabi’s General Assembly held on the 22nd January 2016 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. During the event, corporate members were given the opportunity to showcase their products/services. The General Assembly, hosted by Agnes Marelid, featured addresses by outgoing Chairman, Agnes Stott-Briggs and reports from Director of Trade, Investment and Entrepreneurship (TIE) Jovy Tuaño; the election of new officers was presided by Corporate Secretary Attorney Michael Barney Almazar. During her annual report presentation, Agnes Stott-Briggs highlighted a number of key activities that the Council ran in the past two years in the UAE. Jovy Tuaño reported on the PBC’s participation and representation at forums and events regarding trade and investment both regional and in our home country. The event was ended with all valid votes counted and sealed results of the election. The General Assembly, was immediately followed by a special meeting of the newly elected officers on February 2,
PBC Abu Dhabi-photo courtesy of Laliebeth Petancio, Kabayan Weekly
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NEWS
2016, with the results of the elections as follows: BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016: Chairman – Jan Barlow; Vice Chairman – Elham Ali Al Tunaji; Corporate Secretary – Atty. Michael Barney Almazar; Director of Events/Sponsorship – Ma. Teresa Keating; Director of Healthcare and Well-Being – Dr. Joey Villanueva; Director of Trade, Industry and Entrepreneurship – Jovy Tuaňo; Head of Special Projects – Agnes StottBriggs. COORDINATORS: Membership – Agnes Marelid; Communications – Angela Muir; Events – Vicky Mikkelsen To learn more about the PBC Abu Dhabi contact Chairman Jan Barlow at M: +971 50 761 2441, Email: jan.barlow@ philippinebusiness.org.
PHILIPPINES ADOPTS NATIONAL CRUISE TOURISM STRATEGY The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has completed its first Cruise Tourism Development Strategy under the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Ted Blamey, Principal of CHART Management Consultants was tapped by USAID and DOT to lead the team in undertaking an extensive field work, interviews, analysis, and direction-setting in 2015 to finalize the cruise strategy. Joining him were CHART’s Associates, Capt. Luigi Nappa and Rod Davies. To date, the Philippines has largely been undiscovered, with its more than 7,000 islands providing many excellent opportunities for cruise tourism. The Philippines offers rich diversity – from ancient Spanish heritage, culture and history through bustling metropolitan centers to pristine beaches and stunning
scenery. “We also boast of world-class shopping, dining, gaming, and perhaps the warmest welcomes on the planet,” said Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. who heads the newly formed Cruise Tourism Committee for the Philippines. In 2015, the Philippines attracted 52 port calls for an 18 percent rise from last year’s total of 44. Cruise passenger volume also rose to 69,802 in 2015, up 16 percent from 60,183 passengers in full-year 2014. The growth in cruise tourism in the country is attributed to the strong support from the government and private sectors, as well as the enthusiasm of major cruise lines to visit not only one island, but several islands across the Philippine archipelago. “As a key element of the strategy, we are determined to build new dedicated cruise facilities, most especially in Manila. A superior cruise port and terminal in the capital, with its extensive airlift and ground facilities, will create a compelling reason for large ships to spend time in the Philippines. Once here, they can achieve outstanding port density with efficient cruising speeds,” said Undersecretary Bengzon. The Cruise Strategy also identified developments in the Turquoise Triangle that linking the popular tourist
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destinations of Manila, Boracay, and Puerto Princesa in Palawan. The potential for new cruise destinations in the north of Luzon, where ships departing East Asian hubs can arrive the next day, has likewise been pinpointed in the plan. “Developing the Philippines will be great for the Asian cruise industry” said Ted Blamey, CHART Principal. “As the mainstream Asian source markets begin to develop, slightly longer cruise durations will become popular. This is especially because they will allow much more diverse itineraries, offer distinctively different destinations and optimize winter deployment. The DOT is to be congratulated for their foresight in commissioning the strategy. It is perfect timing”, he added. The Philippine Cruise Strategy project originated from the recommendation at the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Forum in Manila in 2014. “The active participation and sage advice of the CLIA members and the USAID executives was hugely beneficial. And without the enthusiastic support of many DOT executives and buy-in from the government and private sector, this work would not have been possible. The Philippines is going to be a cruise destination to watch!” said Mr. Blamey.
NEWS
ART DUBAI CLOSES IT’S MOST DIVERSE AND EXCEPTIONAL EDITION TO DATE
Czar Kristoff,Dayong Detail Red,2016, The Artist and Thousandfold
Gail Vicente and Tanya Villanueva New Feelings,2015,Courtesy of the Artists and Project
The tenth edition of the leading art fair of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia attracted a record 27,516 visitors. Art Dubai’s tenth edition closed on Saturday March 19 with participating galleries and artists reporting one of the most successful years of the fair to date. Welcoming international and regional artists, collectors, private museums, institutions and curators from over 90 countries worldwide, Art Dubai reaffirmed its position as the world’s most global fair. Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who toured the fair during its Opening Night, the fair preview was inaugurated by the Crown Prince of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by, among others, HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development;
HE Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Chair of Dubai Culture; HE Hilal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing; H.E. Saeed Al Nabouda, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Acting Director General; HE Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); HE Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).Art Dubai is a joint venture between the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Middle East Fairs Ltd.
Roberto Chabet,Trap,2010,Courtesy of Ringo Bunoan
with The Abraaj Group, who celebrated their inaugural Abraaj Week alongside the fair, and was sponsored by Julius Baer and Piaget. The fair took place at its home, Madinat Jumeirah. Maserati was the Automotive Partner of Art Dubai 2016. The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority is a strategic partner of Art Dubai and, along with Dubai Design District (d3), supports the fair’s year-round education programme.
The popular Art Dubai Ladies Preview was opened by the children of HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Antonia Carver, Art Dubai’s Director, said:“With our tenth edition, we’re looking forwards not back, embracing the potential of the UAE and the region’s arts scenes. The exceptional feedback received from collectors, galleries, artists, museums and curators and the everincreasing attendance figures from both local and international audiences – from ever more diverse locations – illustrate the maturity of the fair and the crucial role it plays in both the wider region and the art world calendar.”
Art Dubai 2016 was held in partnership
Among its record number of visitors,
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Issay Rodriguez,Soft Ignorance,work-in-progress,Courtesy of 98B and Ringo Bunoan
Julius Redillas,Love of Country, 2016,The Artist and 98B COLLABoratory
Selecter FM session with Catalina A,2015,Post Gallery
Art Dubai 2016 hosted 95 international museums and institutions, including Centre Pompidou, Paris; Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum, New York; London’s British Museum, V&A, Tate; among many others.Many museums brought groups of curators and patrons to the fair, taking advantage of Art Dubai’s extensive, Gulf-wide VIP programmes.
MARKER 2016: PHILIPPINES This year, Art Dubai’s Marker, a curated programme of galleries and art spaces, which focuses each year on a particular theme or geography, turned its focus to the Philippines. Marker 2016 was the first such showcase of Filipino artists at any major international art fair and is the first such exhibition in the Middle East to date, aiming — as in previous editions of
Roberto Chabet,Towards 1001 Isthuses,2012,Courtesy of Ringo Bunoan
Marker — to nurture cultural exchange between its focus country and the Gulf. Led by curator-artist Ringo Bunoan, Marker 2016 highlighted independent and artist-run spaces in Metro Manila. Artist-run spaces have long been vital spaces for the development of Manila’s contemporary art scene, allowing artists to create and present works outside the conventional frameworks of museums and commercial galleries. Ringo worked closely with independent spaces to develop a group exhibition that showcases a new generation of artists from the Philippines, in all its diversity; Marker 2016 encompasses divergent media, and addresses ideas of community, place, intervention, collaboration, labor and alternative economies. The exhibition featured 98B, Post Gallery, Project 20, Thousandfold, among others,
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Jayson Oliveria,From A Distance Its The Mona Lisa,2015,The Artist and Post Gallery
and includes photographs, videos, paintings, soft sculptures, works on paper, and textiles by artists including Mark Barretto, Tammy David, Jed Escueta, Miguel Lope Inumerable, Gino Javier, Czar Kristoff, Wawi Navarozza, Katherine Nuñez, Jayson Oliveria, J Pacena, Julius Redillas, Issay Rodriguez, IC Jaucian, Gail Vicente, and Tanya Villanueva. Serving as an anchor to the exhibition is the work of Roberto Chabet (19372013), a pioneering Filipino conceptual artist, teacher, and curator who played an active role in several artist-run spaces throughout his lifetime. Marker 2016 included a major installation by Chabet. Alongside the exhibition of artworks, Marker 2016 also featured a selection of artist books, monographs, zines, and other independent publications from the Philippines.
FA S H I O N
DAN DELIMA
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FA S H I O N
DAN DELIMA
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FA S H I O N
YEN
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FA S H I O N
YEN
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FA S H I O N
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FA S H I O N
HAPPY ANDRADA
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FA S H I O N
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FA S H I O N
HAPPY ANDRADA
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FA S H I O N
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FA S H I O N
AVEL BACUDIO
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FA S H I O N
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FA S H I O N
AVEL BACUDIO
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BEAUTY
ILLUSTRADO BEAUTY Over the last decade, Illustrado has captured some of the Philippines’ most beautiful faces from around the world. We look back at our most memorable beauties, captured by our best lensmen.
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BEAUTY
Photographer : Eros Goze Model: Danica Magpantay
Photographer : Eros Goze Model: Meg Arreza
Photographer : Tinayum & Mariyah Model: Clarita De Quiroz
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Photographer : Eros Goze Model: Kylene Ganigan
BEAUTY
Photographer : Eros Goze Model: Meg Arreza
Photographer : Filbert Kung & Glenn Peter Perez Models: Chrizenda Cecilio & Max Medina
Photographer : Doc Marlon Pecjo Model: Charmagne Aknine
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Photographer : Filbert Kung Model: Girlie Benitez
BEAUTY
Photographer : Melson Bolonggaita Model: Bea Rose Santiago
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BEAUTY
Photographer : Rozen Antonio Model: Lou Bunyi-Pareja
Photographer : Eros Goze Model: Gwendoline Ramos Ruais
Photographer : Doc Marlon Pecjo Model: Model Anna Sideco
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Photographer : Diana Carl Model: Irvin Rivera
BEAUTY
Photographer : Irvin Rivera Model: Manuela Basilio
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BEAUTY
Photographer : Filbert Kung Model: Sarah Meier-Albano
Photographer : Filbert Kung Model: Valerie Clacio Weigmann
Photographer : Filbert Kung Model: Ana Rose Bradborn
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Photographer : Herson Nebaya Model: Jodilly Pendre
BEAUTY
Photographer : Filbert Kung Model: Jasmine Maierhofer
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BEAUTY
Photographer : Irvin Rivera Model: Jennifer Gaines
Photographer : Doc Marlon Pecjo Model: Catriona Gray
Photographer : Herson Nebaya Model: Kelsey Merritt
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Photographer : Herson Nebaya Model: Olivia Medina
BEAUTY
Photographer : Filbert Kung Model: Sarah Meier-Albano
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Pinays
TAKE CHARGE The PINAYS TAKE CHARGE Pledge
Dear Empowered Filipina, We are fortunate to belong to a country and community where we are recognized, treated with respect and provided equal opportunities. However, we still have a long way to go towards achieving our full potential, especially outside our own country where we are sometimes looked at negatively, or where we can easily fall into bad situations. It’s time that we face our pressing issues and take control of our life. We invite you to take the Pinays Take Charge Pledge which hopes to inform and remind you of some simple guidelines that should help you towards success, and to avoid problematic situations. This is a project that hopes to contribute to the Empowerment of Filipinas around the world. Let us all take one step forward.
1. My body is my own. I will take care and protect it, knowing full-well that I should not depend on somebody else to do so, or to make that decision for me. 2. I will be careful in trusting others, especially strangers and strange men. I know that by befriending strangers, or putting my safety in the hands of people I don’t really know, I could be putting myself in danger. 3. I will be aware of the rules and understand the customs and cultural sensitivities of my host country, and will adhere to these without fail. Ignorance is not an excuse and could land me in trouble. 4. I will dress appropriately at all times. I will dress depending on the place, the occasion, the people I will meet and the environment that I am going to. 5. I will be aware of my verbal and body language. I will be careful with what I say and what I do. I know that my words, actions and Filipino friendliness can sometimes be misunderstood as a sexual come-on by strange men. 6. I will protect myself and fight back, whether verbally, physically or otherwise, if somebody attacks or harasses me or makes me feel threatened. I will show them that Pinays are strong and will not allow themselves to be victims. 7. I will nurture myself. I know my worth and I will
Go Pinay! Taas Noo, Filipino!
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not settle for less than what I deserve. I will be true to myself and continue to grow my talents, my skills, and passions as I tread the path towards success and true independence. 8. I will live with self-respect and will safeguard - not sell out - my values. 9. I will make my own decisions and understand that whatever choices I make, I will have to be responsible for them completely. 10. I will love myself, knowing that nobody else can love me as wholly and completely as I can, and that I cannot give love if I have no love. About PINAYS TAKE CHARGE The Pinays Take Charge campaign is an advocacy project of Illustrado in line with the Women of Substance endeavor created to contribute to Filipina empowerment. The project seeks, not only to create a more positive image for
Filipinas in the region, but also to assist in addressing problems and concerns relevant to Filipinas. The Pinays Take Charge Guidelines have been written to provide simple guidance specific to prevalent Pinay issues in the region – to inform, educate and alert Filipinas to possible causes of problems. The information and provided herewith come from insights from countless Filipinas interviewed or who participated in the research of this project. To know more about Pinays Take Charge or to be a part of this movement email us at: admin@illustrado.co, or call (+971 4) 365 4543. You can also visit our website: illustradolife.com or our Facebook Pages – Illustrado Magazine, Go Pinay. LIVING IN THE MIDDLE EAST Bear in mind that the Middle East has a totally different culture to the Philippines and certain behaviors and practices,
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which are considered normal or are tolerated in the western world, can get you into trouble. Some ‘simple things’ that can get a woman in trouble – • Chatting and smiling innocently and referring to strange males as “My Friend” • Accepting a ride from a stranger or going into a stranger’s flat • Allowing unknown males into your home • Dressing in clothes which are considered too revealing – i.e showing thighs (wearing shorts), uncovered shoulders, cleavage and other sensitive body parts, especially in public areas or locations where there are a lot of bachelors Did you know that these things are prohibited, punishable by law and can get somebody in jail? • Getting pregnant out of wedlock • Having a physical relationship with a man who is not your husband • “Living in” (cohabiting) •Public display of affections - kissing, etc.
BEAUTY
HIYANG!
TOP 5 PINOY BEAUTY PRODUCTS By ANNA DE LEON
Pia Wurztbach bagging the Ms. Universe crown makes one wonder as to what makes the Filipina stand out among a bevy of beauties from around the world. The answer may lie along the aisles of our groceries back home, and now even here abroad, in the beauty products that have taken care of our beauty queens, our mothers and even us growing up. Before the likes of Likas or Hortaleza beauty products dominated the shelves, these were the legends! Here are our top picks of legendary Filipino products that will help you elevate your own beauty to a “confidently beautiful with a heart” status. 1. ESKINOL - If it has worked for Ate Vi after all these years, it will work for you. I have tried all the toners in the world, but Eskinol beats them all and I mean ALL! No toner in the world can remove dirt that is in the deep recesses of your soul, more than this one! And if you are looking for armpits, singit, siko, batok, tuhod and alakalakan that is worthy of extreme close up, then stock up on bottles! There is no nook and cranny of your body that Eskinol can’t reach! Deep seated dirt and dead skin, better hide! 2. PAPAYA SOAPS a plenty - being a tropical country, papaya is everywhere but that is not the only reason why we love papaya! We love
it because of its whitening properties. The Philippines could easily have the most number of papaya soap variants in the world. 3. TAWAS - to say that we are obsessed with smells would be an understatement. We Filipinos have a unique way of branding smells like, “amoy araw”,”parang damit na hindi natuyo ng maayos” and the list goes on. It’s no wonder that we use nature’s gift to eliminate smells that will make us dig into our smell dictionary to term. 4. CALAMANSI – It’s unclear how Filipinos became obsessed with showing off white armpit. Having white armpits has become a status symbol and what better way to make that happen than turning to another one of nature’s gifts, the calamansi. 5. THE HILOD - Before the loofah, the shower mitts, there was the hilod! This pumice stone will remove all your dead skin like it is nobody’s business! Use with caution because it can skin you alive and you might end up looking like Deadpool! So, there you have it. How many of these Gandang Pinoy items have you used? Did it work? Are you still using it? Tell us all about it!
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BEAUTY
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is a prime example of natural gandang Pinay.
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F E AT U R E
OF BEING SINGLE, KIWI CRATES, and CASSAVA CAKES By DANNABELLE GUTIERREZ
I
have been single for thirteen years. Let me say that again, in case you missed it, my singleness is thirteen years old. It’s funny, because there are actual humans of the same age who are getting into relationships and here I am, tap-tap-tapping away on a keyboard, sipping my tea. A few weeks ago, I was out to dinner with two very good friends of mine and their significant others. When you’ve been single for as long as I have, third-wheeling or fifth-wheeling is nothing new. What was particularly special about this certain dinner was that eight years ago, those particular friends were my “single-since-birth- I-did-not-evenrealize-single-since-birth-was-still-a-thingthat-actually-happens” friends, not only that, but they were also the “older-than-me-but-stillsingle-which-makes-me-feel-like-it’s-okayto-be-single” friends, and now they are both in what seem to be very serious relationships. Four-years-ago-me would have viewed this as a tragedy. Four-years-ago-me would have taken
this as a blow from the universe and would have questioned every single thing about her life. Back then, I would have cried and wondered at the very dramatic conclusion that I was the last single girl in the world. Now? Well, now, I wonder why I ever cried about the fact that I am single. I mean, so I’m single, so what? It’s not like my life is filled with excruciating loneliness. I mean, sure, there were some low points that would have been more palatable if I had a hand to hold and there were some high points that certainly would have been higher, if not sweeter, had I been able to punctuate it with an exclamation mark smooch from my very own wild pogi lover boy - but whatever. I have been blessed with some very amazing friends who have been with me for the high’s and the low’s. Plus, lover or no lover, bad times are still going to be bad times and good times are still going to be good times and right now good or bad, I don’t seem to have very much at my disposal, as
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I am either working for the job that puts food on the table or working on a project that feeds my soul. I haven’t exactly been exerting myself to find a man and let all my single girls raise their hands up and say: “And neither should you have to! Amen!” Of course, this is not to say that I have given up on the idea of meeting someone, no. I have not given up on the hope that someday, some guy is going to hold my hand through this absurdity that we call life. And yes, I have made many attempts at meeting men. There were Tinder attempts, and there were meeting-afriend-of-a-friend attempts, I mean these aren’t very valiant efforts, but with my schedule, this is about as valiant as they are going to get. I mean on top of everything, a busy girl still needs to sleep, do her laundry, and you know, shop, and meet her friends. Today was one of the very seldom moments that I am actually free enough to meet a friend for coffee to catch up. We decided to meet at a cafe in Deira at 4pm and since I had a few hours after church, I decided to do my groceries at Carrefour before meeting my friend. Now, let me tell you something about doing your groceries when you’re hungry -- Don’t. Especially, when the supermarket happens to have special deals on everything, because you will eventually leave the store with a tendirham crate of kiwis, among many other things. And really, what are you going to do with a crate of kiwis? I managed to finally get to the ten minutes late, carrying two environmental sacks of groceries, frothing apologies to my friend for
cafe big and one,
And yes, I have made many attempts at meeting men. There were Tinder attempts, and there were meeting-afriend-of-a-friend attempts, I mean these aren’t very valiant efforts, but with my schedule, this is about as valiant as they are going to get.
being late; and two, for being late and looking like a ‘Kabayan Kakanin’. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You see them all over the Dubai, carrying Carrefour bags with apologetic smiles offering you sinful ‘kakanin goods’ on the down low - the very ones who offer you those sweet delectable cassava cakes, and you know you shouldn’t, because you’re on a diet, but it’s ten dirhams, you argue with yourself, and you’re helping a kabayan out, so you give in to buying that glorious 2000-calorie goodness. Anyway, after a few hours, a cup of coffee, a fruit cup, and lots of laughs later, my friend had to leave for another engagement, while I chose to stay and think about what I was going to write for this article. I mean, it’s about being single; the stories I could tell on this topic are endless. So there I was, staring off into the horizon, making ‘munimuni’, and getting lost in my thoughts
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as most writers do, when lo and behold, a ‘Kabayan Kakanin’ comes by with his bags of temptation. And I know him, because I’ve bought from him before, so I smile and say “Kamusta, Kuya?” “Ati, maglambing lang aku sa’yu, ati,” he said. “Naku, Kuya, ang dami kong bitbit, saka na ako bibili sayo ha? Next time na lang,” I replied. “Sigi na, ati, maglambing lang aku sayu,” he said again as he came closer and sat right next to me, “Ati, sigi na. Maglambing lang aku sayu. Akin na ang kamay mo.” I’m thinking, What? Kamay ko? Baket? And before I could even think of how to respond to this in a way that wouldn’t offend him, he took my hand and started massaging it while saying, “Meron pu akung biko, suman, may tikuy pu, empanada...” Mind you, at this point, I was still trying to bring myself back to reality after getting lost in my own thoughts of writing, so I’m looking at my hand and I’m looking at Kuya who was still massaging my hand and reciting the contents of his kakanin sack, “...bibingka, turun, may pichipichi. Sigi na ati, maglambing lang aku sayu, plehs.” And I’m thinking, What? How? Who? What??? How did I manage to get myself in this very absurd and awkward situation? And how do I get out of it? I mean, I know I hoped for someone to hold my hand through this absurdity that we call life, but I don’t think this was exactly how I wanted it to go. Nope. Not like this, ‘plehs’, not like this. And so I did the only thing that seemed right, I resignedly said, “Okay sige na nga kuya, pabili na nga ng isang cassava cake.”
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On my Own By KRISTINE ABANTE
There are many reasons why solo travel for women, especially for pint-sized pinays like me, can be less popular or a bit more of a challenge for those wanting to spread her wings and explore the great beyond.
There is still nothing quite like the feeling of waking up to a bus load of strangers after an 8-hour bus ride, on a crispy morning and having a century-old rustic city Vigan laid out before you like a gift waiting to be opened.
Raised in a country that values community over independence, with most parents usually overprotective of their girls, and for a good reason, particularly if you lived in Manila where there is always that 50-50 percent chance of falling prey to the next scammer, being an independent traveller is not exactly encouraged in the Philippines, but as with any kind of exploration, the rewards almost always outweigh the risks.
My very first trip abroad was company sponsored press tour of Macau. I asked my boss if I could extend my trip to explore Hong Kong on my own. Again, I’ll never forget the excitement of having to find my way to the budget hostel that I booked, tucked in the inner city streets with a tattoo parlor downstairs. I hauled my luggage onto the old-school elevator the size of a fridge and checked in on a room that seemed custombuilt for my size.
There is something extraordinarily exhilarating and powerfully liberating about heading out into the unknown on your own.
At 20 years old, alone in a foreign land, I felt like I was being born again, the world was fresh and ripe with every kind of possibility. For a moment I was free from the judgment and the requirements of others.
I realize that long before the release of Eat, Pray, Love and the popularity of “travel-while-yoursingle” blogs, I have often ventured out by myself. It started with short trips, like going to the bookstore or the mall at age 11, progressing from short walks, to taking jeepneys, trains, and then one day, discovering the so-called Partas bus line in Cubao that would let me travel as far North as I wanted to be.
Years later, after a couple more solo trips, I would find myself hauling my luggage once again, this time on the steps of the Metro in Paris and eventually finding my way to mini café sipping french wine and celebrating my decade-long declaration of independence.
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Sure there are benefits of travelling with a group of friends, and seeing the Eiffel tower with the love-of-your-life must be the stuff of our Hollywood romcom daydreams come true, but I would still suggest women in their prime to go out of their comfort zones once in a while and dare to experience the world like nothing else. And before you launch into Les Miserables-level of self-pity and start pretending that “he is beside you”, consider for a moment the perks of travelling on your own. TOP 5 THINGS YOU GET FROM TRAVELLING ON YOUR OWN : 1. Your schedule (and your life) is your own. When you travel alone, you don’t need to adjust to the expectations of others. You don’t have to be somewhere at 8am if you don’ t want to, you can sit in a park bench for as long as you like or
go have a drink with a complete stranger without anyone telling you (except your inner intuition) not to. 2. You learn to rely on yourself. Selfsufficiency is key when travelling solo, planning your itinerary, being responsible for your own safety, getting lost and finding your way, these are things that you are forced to master, and these skills will come in handy at any situation later on in life. 3. You learn to enjoy your own company. Lots of people are uncomfortable sitting by themselves, or eating alone by themselves. I am not one of those. By travelling solo, I learned to enjoy a good cup of coffee on my own or take a walk down quietly in a beautiful city alone with my thoughts. Often we are too crowded with our connections with other people that sometimes it is good to be reacquainted with yourself, and find solace in knowing that YOU are enough.
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4. You get to meet other people. Travelling on your own doesn’t mean being lonely. In fact, most times it runs the opposite. Without the constraints of a group or a significant other, armed with anonymity, you can easily open up to strangers or even fellow travellers and have the most amazing time with them. A great way to explore a new place is meeting locals and sharing the experience. 5. You become more interesting. I believe that when you travel solo, you get to have more “take-aways”. Aside from the knick-knacks and fridge magnets you bring home, travelling adds to you, your soul, your personality, your history. You get to have more interesting anecdotes at dinner conversations, more stories to tell your spouse or your boyfriend, your future kids and grandchildren. You actually get to own memories that belong only to you and that are yours to keep forever.
Illustrado go>. Pinoy awesomeness on-the-go for the progressive Filipino.
Coming soon.
F E AT U R E
GIRL, PLEASE!
Nonsense women say By TRACY LEY ORENCIO
Women are fantastic, intelligent, magical creatures of light and love. Well, most of us anyway, most of the time. As fabulous and magnificent as we can be, there are times when women say and do the wrongest things – myself included! I’ll be the first to admit that as a woman, I say a lot of things that men probably find absurd. It’s not as if I do it intentionally.
1. “Nothing’s wrong, I am fine!” OMG this is such a classic line! I am not sure how many times I have said this in my life but seriously guys, take a hint. When we girls repeatedly say that there is nothing wrong, trust me, there is definitely something wrong. Do not ignore us. Let me say that again. DO NOT IGNORE US. Instead, ask us how you can improve our day. Also, be careful when were PMS-ing, because this will definitely lead to a loooong night of tears and bitterness. Best thing to do is to make the conversations short and sweet and just get us some chocolate, or give us a back massage. 2. “Do I look fat?” This is another classic girl question. Most likely, this means, “I’m feeling a little
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insecure at this moment, so regardless of what you really think, tell me I’m beautiful.” This question is definitely a trap, and it is definitely screaming for attention. In this case, honesty may not always be the policy. Choose the path of least resistance and just give her a compliment. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it will save you a lot of trouble. 3. “It’s totally cool if you hang out with your ex”
Ok first of all, if you have someone in your life, this is a big NO! Its just plain unacceptable to hang out with your past lover even if your present girlfriend says
it’s ok. We don’t need to spell this out for you boys! Whatever you do, don’t hang out with your ex. God help you if we catch you. 4. Go have fun and do whatever you want. Its ok!
Now, this is another trap. When we say this, it really means that you should not go out but instead, just pet us and love us. I repeat, do not go out and have fun. 5. I will get ready quickly. It will only take a minute.
I don’t know what the problem is, but women can take forever to do anything.
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I seriously think men know this. Women do take forever because they put an effort with their make up, dress and accessories. Guys, when this happens, find something that you can do and just appreciate the effort. I know there are still various statements that we women say and the list can go on and on. But please do not hate me as we can never deny that we have said these phrases at least multiple times in our lives. I know it takes two to tango in a relationship or in a date, but always remember that we do make mistakes and it serves as a learning curve for us.
FILIPINO TRAVELER
WHY VISIT GEORGIA? By NICHOLO JALLORES
This article is part of a series of Georgia travelogues entitled #MeetMeInTbilisi, written by the same author, and has been edited ever so slightly (but with great thought and loving dork-iness) to fit a single-feature format.
Georgia is a small, landlocked country in Eurasia, nestled snuggly in the fertile lands between Eastern Europe and West Asia. The government is a unitary, semi-presidential republic. The official language is Kartuli. The currency is called lari. The capital is Tbilisi. Mmmmkay. Now that we’ve gotten the boring, obligatory Wiki type of description out of our way, let me tell you honestly what Georgia is: Everything. It’s everything a traveller could ever dream of: rugged but safe; charming and yet progressive; quiet, but abuzz with life. It’s heritage is a gorgeous tapestry of Asian exoticism, Middle Eastern vigour, and European charm. The food is great, the people are kind, the weather is paradisial. And on top of it all, a trip to Georgia is likely to be the most budgetfriendly holiday you’ve ever had.
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Please excuse me if I sound like a brochure, or like I work for the Georgian tourism authority. It’s just that my holiday in Georgia was such a magical and transformative experience, I can’t help but speak of it exclusively in superlatives. Sure I ran into a few kinks here and there but those were made irrelevant by all the wonders that Georgia had to offer. Why visit Georgia, you ask? Hah! Why not? Let’s prefix this narrative with the 3 reasons why you shouldn’t visit Georgia: 1.) You don’t have money, and 2.) You’ve used up all your leave allowances 3.) You just physically can’t. Other than those two, you have no excuse to not see this amazing country. Here are the reasons why I think you and every Filipino should visit Georgia. 1.) THE LANDSCAPE IS BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE Tbilisi alone is worth the trouble, but it gets even better as you visit the neighboring towns. One day you’re in the desert-like plains near the Azerbaijan border; the next day you’re up on a verdant hill looking at a thousand-year
old church. Today you’ll be visiting an ancient monastery carved on the side of a rock cliff; tomorrow you’ll be skiing in snow slopes that rival the Swiss Alps. There is just so much to see and do in this small country in a short amount of time! 2.) IT’S CHEAP This is likely to be one of the most budgetfriendly holidays you will ever have. You essentially get a full-fledged European experience, at near the cost of what you would spend in Thailand or India, and certainly nowhere near the living standards in Dubai, or even Manila! Sulit! 3.) IT’S (ALMOST) VISA-FREE Getting in is easy. Filipinos who are based in the Philippines just need to apply for an e-Visa online, while those who are based in the GCC get visa upon arrival. Basically, you get the look and feel of Europe sans the cost and hassles of getting a Shengen visa. Of course, visa policies change all the time, so it’s better to consult the official Georgian government portals. 4.) GEORGIAN FOOD IS AMAZING Freshly baked breads, steaming
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dumplings, robust barbecues and roasts, rich stews, spicy soups - Georgian food is as close to gastronomic heaven as French or Italian cuisine, but receives nowhere near as much global attention. I am by default a hearty eater, but my appetite in Georgia was just shocking, and so will yours if you go with an open mind and mouth. 5.) GEORGIANS ARE GRACIOUS AND HOSPITABLE I know every country likes to say that their people are hospitable, but in Georgia, there is truth to the advertisement. The Georgians I’ve met are as kind as their reputation suggests. Naturally, I did run into some random douches, but there are douches in every corner of the planet. On the whole, I find that Georgians are gracious, helpful, and genuinely caring. 6.) TBILISI IS SAFE FOR TOURISTS At least safe enough that you can pull out your smartphone and take photos all day without having to worry that some goon will mug you for it. The crime rate in Tbilisi is relatively low, there’s police everywhere, and there is a hotline emergency number that you can
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call: 112. I’m not saying it’s impossible to get mugged in Tbilisi, but at least it’s not Manila. You all know exactly what I mean. 7.) A LOT OF TIMES, YOU’LL FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE GEORGIA ALL TO YOURSELF The population density is low, and they only use around 5 to 10 percent of their land area. There aren’t a lot of people around, especially in winter, so there’s more space for you. I had the privilege of exploring Georgia off-season, and very often I found myself alone in the ancient sites - which was great! It felt like a secret world. For travellers looking to get away from it all, this is a marvelous thing.
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I stayed in Georgia for almost two weeks – plenty of to wander aimlessly around Tbilisi as well as see the famous landmarks in the neighboring provinces. However, I am quite aware that not a lot of people have the luxury of having as much time for a holiday. The good news is that even if you only really had 2 or 3 days to spare, you could still have a pretty spectacular experience in Georgia, as Tbilisi alone is worth the trouble. It’s small, but it’s bursting with interesting sights and wonders. Here’s my list of the top things to see in Tbilisi!
TOP 5 THINGS TO SEE IN TBILISI The best part about exploring Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi: getting lost in Tbilisi. Everywhere you look, there is always something interesting to see in that charming, ancient little city. I went there armed with maps, travel apps, and guidebooks, but as soon as I stepped on those hill-y, cobbled streets, I knew that the best thing to do was to throw caution to the wind and let my curiosity lead the way. I thought I was going there to see stuff, but as it turned out, I just went there to get lost. I’m no travel guide, and I am obviously not from Georgia, but I believe I’ve spent enough time getting lost and finding things in Tbilisi to have a clear idea of what tourists would want – no, NEED to see. Two days to explore the city would be great, but it is possible to squeeze all of
the most important sites in just one day. It’ll be a tight fit, yes, but it’s possible. My suggestion: prioritize these sites so you could tick them off your to-do list. Go for the big guns first so you could be flexible about the rest of your schedule. I’ve chosen and ranked these sites based on two factors: 1.) sheer awesomeness, and 2.) cultural and historical significance. These are the destinations that, I think, you absolutely need to see. Miss any one of these and your visit in Tbilisi would be incomplete. Fortunately, these sites are within walking distance of each other - assuming that you are a person of a reasonable level of fitness and physical endurance. Otherwise, you could always take a cab. If you start in the morning around 10am, you should be able to cover this list in one day, with enough time for a leisurely lunch.
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5.) MTATSMINDA PARK I was a little hesitant about putting this in the list because, well, it’s a theme park, and to have a theme park in a country as awesome by default as Georgia just seems absurd to me. Like, did they really have to, even? But the reason this needs to be on your to-do list is because it offers the best view of the entire city of Tbilisi. I promise you, that view will take your breath away. To get there, you will need to ride a funicular at the foot of the mountain – that by itself is a real treat.
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4.) BRIDGE OF PEACE In the context of Tbilisi’s rich history, the space-age design of the Bridge of Peace could seem a little misplaced, but you absolutely need to see it because it is just so gosh darn beautiful. Crossing the mighty Mtkvari river, it connects Old Tbilisi to the newer districts of the city and takes you to Rike Park where you can ride a cable car up to the Narikala Fortress.
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3.) SAMEBA CATHEDRAL Also known as the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, Sameba one of the largest religious buildings in the world in terms of area. It’s a baby compared to the ancient churches that you will find across Georgia (it was completed in 2004), but it does not fall short in the shock and awe department. That entire complex looks like heaven on Earth!
2.) ACHISKHATI BASILICA I discovered Achiskhati Basilica largely by accident. It was never part of my itinerary. I was just walking along Old Tbilisi looking for the Bridge of Peace when lo and behold this small, rather humble structure came into view. And then I went inside and promptly had a bit an out of body experience. Towards the end of my stay in Georgia, I learned that Achiskhati Basilica is the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi. Built in the 6th century, this humble building is the grand daddy of the city’s churches, albeit also being one of its smallest. Perhaps this explains why the place seems to be imbued with such palpable spiritual energy. It is the beating heart of the city.
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1.) NARIKALA FORTRESS The Narikala Fortress was the first site I visited when I arrived in Tbilisi, and the last site I visited before I left. To me, this site represents the spirit of the city: ancient and battle-weary but still standing, with eyes fixed firmly on the future. Narikala Fortress offers the view of Tbilisi that you often see in postcards, in addition to being a few minutes walk away from other tourist destinations like the statue of Mother Georgia, the Abanotubani Sulfur Baths and the Botanical Garden.
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I have to warn you though; the Narikala Fortress is situated on a hill that you will need to traverse on foot, and it is mostly in ruins. You will find yourself doing some legit hiking and even a bit of rock climbing, but trust me – it is worth every effort. Just make sure you don’t fall off a fortress wall and into the ravine, because that’ll be a real drag. Runner ups: Sioni Church, Metekhi Church, Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi Natural History Museum
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