The Magazine for the International Filipino
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NOVEMBER 2007
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The Supernatural
Pinoy
Dancing with the Dead Fashion: Pinay Vamp Investing in Franchising Moomooo in the City Manila’s Gothic Scene The Annie B. Chronicles
EDITOR’S NOTE
Give in to the Pinoy
dark side...
i
t’s November - post Halloween and Todos Los Santos, and my mind is filled with scenes from my childhood where I can faintly hear the fiendish voice of Ben David bellowing “Gabi ng Lagim!” promptly followed by the bloodcurdling howl of a dog, which you and I only know so well. I can clearly recall those dark ‘black out’ evenings at home, when the rain ever so slightly chilled the air, and all you and your siblings had for amusement was that old radio, a lone candle in the room casting eerie shadows on the wall, and your elders telling you “Tulog na, ayan na ang aswang…” Booo!
LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Publisher and Editor
Pinoys love a good scare – don’t we? It’s just one of those silly little things that make our communal existence all the more interesting. It’s part of the colorful cultural fabric that binds us all. Who else can you tell about creatures of the night, mythical beasts and hanging out at the cemetery for laughs? A Pinoy of course! It’s all about our weird sense of humor and the ability to see the insanely funny or irreverent in what should otherwise be somber and scary, not to mention our shared experiences on the bizarre happenings around the country – true, imagined or invented – parties in cementerios, aswang in the city, lawmakers who listen to duwendes, a haunted house in everybody’s neighborhood, men who marry fairies, women who give birth to fish and other creatures, a fridge that eats young girls, and an ‘anak ni Zuma’ look-alike rumored to be devouring women from a dressing room in a famous shopping mall, among so many others. Scary? Probably. Amazingly crazy? Absolutely. The great thing about having a darkside, particularly of the Pinoy kind, is that it provides relief to our mundane daily existence, giving contrast from the otherwise sterile routine of modern living. Because if everything was new, bright and breezy, and all was prim, proper and predictable – wouldn’t life be just a tad less thrilling? Illustrado’s November edition lures you to give in to your Pinoy darkside, with interesting articles like ‘The Pinoy Supernatural’, ‘Dancing with the Dead’, ‘Moomooo in the City’ and ‘Onli in the Pilipins’, discussing our mystical fixations. This issue’s fashion spread takes you further into mysterious depths with the promise of dark neo-gothic seduction in ‘Vamp’ - short for ‘vampira’. Even our fave kabayan sweetheart Annie B. goes ghost-hunting ‘party-style’ in this month’s chronicle episode. Onto lighter things, we give you our staple of interesting people, places and Pinoy stuff in an issue packed with page-turning pieces. So enjoy November and allow yourself to indulge in the weird and wonderful world of the Pinoy. Taas Noo, Filipino!
CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Marlon Pecjo This month’s contributing fashion photographer ‘Doc’, as he is affectionately called by friends, loves shooting fashion editorials for the major dailies and magazines in the Philippines, in between travels around the world where he finds uncommon meaning in common images. His training as a radiologist and medical student at the University of Santo Tomas gives him a keen eye and clinical sense in cutting right through the clutter obstructing our view of reality and seeing his images allows us to partake in his perspective on life. Inspired by Herb Ritts and Patrick Demarchelier, Doc Marlon Pecjo, says he doesn’t have a particular style but professes an affinity for texture and patterns in his photography.
al Manlangit Travel buff Al Manlangit is a firm believer that traveling enriches a man’s experience. Al loves to soak up the local culture while visiting countries like the US, Spain, India, South Africa, Portugal, Germany, Sweden, France, among a host of other interesting places. The quintessential Pinoy expat, Al has lived half of his life in the Gulf. He is an architect working as Chief Designer for a contracting firm in Kuwait and is also an avid hobby photographer with a soft spot for Pinay beauty.
Brownmonkeys
The Brownmonkeys is a Dubai-based design collective with a moniker that expresses the group’s ‘primately’ playful approach communicating subtle concepts through the fun and uninhibited creation of art. Composed of multi-disciplinary artists - Eyan Lomuntad (Monsterfunker), Kris Balerite (Dozign), Josef Domer (Suavecito), Lewis de Mesa (Art Life Flip), Victoria Viray (Prettymonkey) and Rollan Rodriguez (Dogboy), Brownmonkey’s bring their signature fun urban pop art to Illustrado this month in their interpretation of the November Pinoy ‘ghoul fever’ in their artwork entitled ‘Byaheng Capiz’.
janet dela
Fuente
Janet’s creativity and natural fashion sense enabled her to quickly establish a strong client base as soon as she entered the Philippine fashion biz, allowing her to work with some of the country’s top photographers, directors and other highly respected creative people in the advertising and entertainment business. Her styling prowess has been featured in various glossies as wells as shows and events back home. This young lady’s approach to style reflects her background in theater, inspirations taken from her travels, and her love for the diverse culture and eclectic lifestyle of Manila.
chayie Maligalig Rosary Diane ‘Chayie’ Maligalig hopes to become a full-pledged journalist in the near future. A pseudo poetess by night and a social development worker by day, she believes that love and peace make the world go round. She dreams to conquer the world and share her writing with everyone she meets, writing the story of her life in the process.
FROM OUR READERS
john Versoza Creative writing enthusiast Jon Versoza has been living in Dubai for the last two years now and has previously “survived” Saudi Arabia for six years. He is a self-confessed “obsessivecompulsive” whose biggest dream is to have an audience. He says that writing for him is a playground where he can become himself amid the stressful corporate world he exists in – “It is the only time when I can be myself, think freely and write with candor and pure lust”. Jon shares with us his meandering thoughts, this month, triggered by the sight of rain in Riyadh.
Mary jane ‘Mj’ Bautista Abu Dhabi-based MJ Bautista, who works in the medical field, says she was born and raised in “a typical OFW family” – her father spent a number of years abroad while they were growing up, and now her three siblings are also working away from the homeland with their families. Gifted with the passion to write, MJ wrote a heartfelt piece for this month’s Illustrado to commend our kababayans hardwork, perseverance and love for family.
Publisher & Editor Lalaine Chu-Benitez Art Directors Paula Lorenzo Ron Perez Contributing Writers Philippines Carlito Viriña David Llorito Bernadette Reyes Lisa Cruz Mike Martin Jan La’O David Poarch Aby Yap Ivan Henares United Arab Emirates Maripaz Febrero Giselle Estrada Dawn Almario Sonny de Guzman Antonella Andrada Shar Matingka Jonie Jose Michael Vincent Serrano United Kingdom, Singapore, Oman Cecile Samson-Aquino Law Diche Cathy Cheng Doña Contributing Photographers Philippines Ben Chan Charles Lu United Arab Emirates Pot Ph Monina Uy Joel Guerrero Kris Lee Contributing Stylist Zekundo Chu Pam Quinones Advertising & Retail Sales Michael Maguigad Subscriptions & Admin Frances Therese Macaya Publisher Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2nd Floor, Building 2 P.O. Box 72280 Office 20C Dubai Media City, U.A.E. Tel: + 9714 365 4547 Fax: + 9714 360 4771 email: admin@illustrado.net Website: illustrado.net Printers Delta Printing Press L.L.C. P.O. Box 37140 Dubai, U.A.E. Copyright Illustrado Communications 2007. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC
07 November CONTENTS Features The Supernatural Pinoy 8 Dancing with the Dead 12 Pinoy Chikka Goes Global 16
Columns Contributors 2 Letters to the Editor 4 Famous: Jokoy 18 Illustrado Profile: Westpoint Philippine Idol 20 From our Readers: On Being a Filipino 22 From our Readers: Rain in Riyadh 40 Kabuhayan: Investing in Franchising 42 Kabuhayan: Interview with RGV 44
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Successful Pinoy 45 Coconuter: Gone Fishing 52 Usapang Kanto 64 Onli in da Pilipins 66 The Annie B. Chronicles: The Pinoy Spirit 68 Filipinisms 71
Philippine Supermodel and PETA spokesperson Isabel Roces graces this month’s darkly seductive fashion feature.
Community Spotlight: OPPPS 72
Fashion Pinay Vamp 24 Model Profile: Isabel Roces 38 The Soulful Femininity of Pearls 39
Arts, Culture & Advocacy A Passage to Asia’s Best Design Destination 46 Nationalism in Action: Yabang Pinoy 50
People & Places Manila Trippin’: Quiapo 54 Manila Trippin’: Aruba 57 Pinoy Planet: South African Safari 58 Pinoy About Town: Moomooo in the City 62
Entertainment Manila’s Gothic Scene 74 Hot Releases 76
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Send your letters to: editor@illustrado.net
with the not so extraordinary shots. I have shared these with a few Briton expats friends, promoting the Philippines as one of the best, if not the best dive destination of choice in Asia. Perhaps some of them will join me for next year’s Summer Dive Trip to APO Reef in Coron or the Balicasag Island (Bohol). More power to Illustrado! Regards, William ‘Boyet’ Damot, Dubai
Thank you for featuring Pinoy sporting moments in your last issue!
I sensed true wisdom in this book written with passion, providing divinely inspired directions in order to mentor every Filipino to overcome negativism and conquer success. I also appreciate the manner by which it was written, reaching out to every class of society by making use of simple language that everybody can
I’m a true blue Pinoy sports fan and admire our great kababayans – whether it’s Manny Pacquiao, astig Dave Battista, or noong ‘kapanahunan’ – si JAWO, ang galing talaga ng Pilipino!
comprehend.
We’re always behind-the-scenes, being the shy and humble people that we are. So it’s amazing to have all these out in the open.
I would like to commend Jeffrey Ramos for his dedication and passion to share his talents and to reach out to his fellow Pinoys. May you and your masterpiece inspire and trigger the growth of more dignified and dedicated writers of which I dream to be one day.
Ipagmalaki natin ang gating kakayahan. Mabuhay and galing ng Pinoy! Santi Montemayor, Sharjah
I’ve read about three issues of the magazine so far mostly passed-on by my officemates here at Dubai Festival City. The latest one I read was the Sept 15Oct 15 2007 issue (1st Anniversary Issue). I find the magazine truly uplifting. It makes one proud to be Pinoy. I was recently in the Philippines for a vacation and made it a point to take a dive trip to Anilao, Batangas. Comparing to dive sites I’ve visited so far in Fujairah (UAE), I would say (with sincere objectivity) that Anilao is far, far better. How much more if we compare to dive sites like Apo Reef, Balicasag (Bohol) or Tubbattaha…all renowned dive sites back in the Philippines! I hope you’d feature an article on diving in the Philippines in your future issues. Our dive destinations truly showcase the natural beauty of the ‘Pearl of the Orient’! By the way, I attach some pics from that trip. The underwater shots were done by my friend James Loyola – a business news consultant and underwater photography enthusiast; while the pics on the Lemery landscape and Anilao sunset were done by me. I am an amateur and newbie photographer so please bear
I got hold of the book, ‘I know What to Do! A Pinoy Success Handbook’ by Jeffrey Ramos. I was enlightened by the concepts he presented, I realized that when I dream it should not merely end there but I should commit myself towards its realization. As I read this book I evaluated my present status and I realized my flaws - why most of my dreams never materialized. I also learned that I don’t have to limit myself and that I can make all my dreams come true by choosing to do the right thing, free from the evil or corrupt means of attaining it. It’s so amazing because when I shared this book with a friend and she shared it with her fellow at work, who is so desperate, frustrated and hopeless with the lack of progress in his job, it changed his perspective in life. He was so encouraged and motivated. Lately I saw him pouring his free time and effort to grow spiritually and seek the realization of his dreams.
Dear Editor,
Hi to the Illustrado Magazine Staff especially to Publisher & Editor Lalaine Chu-Benitez.
his country on a wider scope… How then can we be successful, faced with all the evils, threats, injustices and corrupt practices dominating our contemporary times?
To all the Illustrado Magazine staff, Mabuhay!
Kudos Illustrados! You’ve proven that we Filipinos can compete worldwide! Thank you for uplifting and boosting our morale. Mabuhay ang mga Filipino! - Roger Caballero, Fujeirah Dear Ms. Lalaine, I saw High School Musical sometime back and I really loved the songs. I immediately got hooked – it’s the stuff teen dreams are made of. The lead actress was cute, sweet and could really sing. Little did I know na half Pinay pala si Vanessa Hudgens! It’s good to know that we’ve got international stars among us. Very promising pa! Thanks for featuring her. Chinkee Valenzuela, Abu Dhabi Dear Editor, Greetings! I would like to salute you and your staff for your remarkable goals and patriotic passion in coming up with literary pieces and motivational articles with the intention of informing, encouraging and empowering every Filipinos towards enlightenment. I do believe that your are the channel by which God is pouring His wisdom in order to bring about the abolition of those strongholds that are binding every Filipino towards his dream’s fulfilment and the progress of
Garganda, Dubai
Dear Editor, Thank you for always bringing informative articles to the community. I would like to comment on your previous articles ‘Rich Pinoy, Poor Pinoy’ and ‘Why There are So Many Poor Filipinos Abroad’. It’s a sad fact, I admit, that so many of us live beyond our means. Sabi nga nila – kinakayang yakapin yung poste kahit hindi kaya. That’s why no matter how long we’ve been out of the country, marami pa rin ang hindi stable. But then again, there are also those Pinoys who have managed to smarten up and make their situations a lot better. These are the ones who don’t only live for the day. They have a definite plan for the future and are working hard trying to be wise with their money. I hope that our kababayans, especially those who are needy, learn from those good examples. Sana, maging marunong na tayo sa paghawak ng pera natin. Respectfully Elmer Cabangon, Abu Dhabi Hi po! Fan po ako ni Annie B. Tuwang tuwa po kami ng mga kasama ko sa kanyang mga adventures. Sana po dagdagan niyo pa ang mga sinusulat ninyo na nakakatuwa, yun lang po kasi ang pumapawi sa pagod namin sa pagtatrabaho na malayo sa aming mga pamilya. - Josephine Valderama, Abu Dhabi
BYAHENG CAPIZ An ode to Todos Los Santos by
8 FEATURE “Sorry hindi kita pwedeng ihatid,� is an apology often uttered by relatives of the dead during wakes in the Philippines. Superstitious belief dictates that relatives of the deceased cannot bring visitors to the door or bid them goodbye as these could mean that the guest will be the next one to die. There are numerous superstitions or pamahiins most Filipinos believe in. They are part and parcel of age old native customs which gives credence to the existence of supernatural forces and beings. This may be attributed to the fact that Filipinos are deeply spiritual and recognize that there are things beyond their own dimension of reality.
The
Super Natural Pinoy By Rosary Diane Maligalig
Animism started it all Animism, which is defined as the belief in souls, started it all. Indigenous tribes from different parts of the Philippines believe that the world is inhabited by spirits and supernatural entities, both good and bad and that respect should be accorded to them through nature worship. From then sprung the faith in the supreme deities known as Bathala, for the Tagalogs, and Kanlaon, for the Visayans. Others practice ancestor worship of which anitos are the gods. These customs have been deeply ingrained in daily life in the islands, long before the Spaniards arrived.
Different ethnic groups in the Philippines use a variation of animistic practices. There is what we call hilot or midwives, witches and warlocks known in local terms as mangkukulam, as well as soothsayers referred to as manghuhula. Sometimes, when a person falls ill and nothing could be found medically, people would often attribute the unexplained ailment to kulam and would then rely on the manghihilot for healing. On the other hand, those who are in need of a peek at what’s forthcoming would often consult a manghuhula to divine the future. Another popular mystical concept, this time connected to kulam is gayuma. Gayuma is the local translation for love potion.
With all these customs come superstitious folk beliefs or pamahiin, which provide some sort of guidance on how people view the unknown and their means with which to appease the gods that control their environment and future. Filipinos have a number of folk beliefs about life, family, luck, wealth, death, and etc., dictating concepts such as - brides should not be wearing their gown before the wedding day, or that siblings should not wed the same year, or that a lost traveller should invert his or her clothing to find his way back home, including finding meaning in trivial occurrences like seeing a black cat is most certainly a bad omen, or that breaking a mirror will bring seven years of bad luck.
FEATURE 9
Aswang atbp. As superstition is ingrained in our cultural psyche so is the belief in beings other than our traditional deities. Young or old, Filipinos in and out of the country, whatever their ethnic group or religion, it is almost certain that they have all heard about our rich pantheon of supernatural creatures. There are different mythical creatures that we know of in the Philippines. There is the popular aswang, tiyanak, duwende including the diwata, engkanto, ekek, kapre, manananggal, multo, nuno sa punso, sirena, siyokoy, tikbalang, among a host of others. The aswang is what is known as a vampire locally. The diwata is the local version of a fairy and the engkanto is a general term for all supernatural beings. The ekek is a bird-like human which feeds on flesh and blood and the kapre is known as the ‘Filipino Bigfoot’ who lives on trees and smokes a pipe. The manananggal is an aswang that can fly and is able to separate itself from the lower half of its body. It is believed to eat babies. Multo, on the other hand, is the local equivalent of ghost and nuno sa punso is the goblin of the anthill. The nuno is related to duwendes or elves that are known to either
reward or punish humans. Sirena and siyokoy are mermaids and mermen in local terms, respectively. One of the most popular of the mythical creatures is the tikbalang, which is a half-man and half-horse creature and last but not the least is the tiyanak, which are babies who died before receiving the baptism rite and therefore are believed to have transformed into goblins. All of these creatures welcome us into the realm of the ‘supernatural’ as we may call it. We may ask - where is the proof? Is this fact or fiction? Volumes upon volumes of personal experiences from our fellow Filipinos will indicate some evidence of their existence. Among which, the most recent popular case was that of Judge Florentino Floro, Jr. who revealed that he regularly sought counsel from three duwendes. Although paranormal expert Jaime Licauco argued that Mr. Floro is mentally fit, the latter was still dismissed by the Supreme Court who deemed him unfit to serve as a judge.
transforms into a tiyanak. So now we ask, are these things possible in real life? Are these creatures for real? Do they bring healing and comfort or darkness and fear? While kulam or gayuma may be the easiest, fastest ways to get what we want out of a situation or to win a beloved one, there is more to them than mere magic and mysticism. While pamahiin are a part of our daily lives — there is more to the belief in supernatural beings and forces. Behind this phenomenon is a culture of deep spirituality that believes in the unseen - in an omnipresent force who rules over His beings. SUPERnatural SUPERstition? The influence of animism has a lot to do with how Filipinos have become inclined to have faith in the supernatural. The heritage of our ancestors who worshipped anitos and believed in things such as kulam and pamahiin sealed the importance of such belief system in our society today.
‘Anak ni Janice’: Totoo ba? Who will not recognize the phrase “anak ni Janice”? It was popularized by the horror blockbuster of the same title back in the ‘80s where the baby of actress Janice de Belen
As these values have become very much part of our everyday lives and our cultural consciousness as Filipinos, let us not forget, that things are best not overdone. Although social norms in our society have, to a certain
10 FEATURE extent, been dictated by pamahiin, it is good to see the logic behind these beliefs also. Like the aversion to sukob or why siblings cannot marry in the same year, could just as well be for simple and practical reasons such as money, and not because of some ill fate that might befall the newlyweds. As much faith as we have in the supernatural, let us not forget that while it may be good to take heed, it is even better, once in awhile, to break free from culture and see things in a logical, more practical perspective. As superstitious Filipinos we may be, there are other things to consider such as our faith and the reality of the lives we live. Whether it is for practical, logical or religious reasons, while it is not bad to believe in what we have learned growing up, especially in that which has been passed through the ages, it is not always appropriate or constructive to do so - and there are certainly exceptions to every rule. So the next time you see a black cat crossing the street, that does not necessarily mean that you will have bad luck. Perhaps, ‘Felix the cat’ just ranaway and wants to make his presence felt in your life – ‘un-supernaturally’.
To believe, or not to believe? That is the question. • Before you bathe in a spring or river, you must first ask permission form the engkantos who dwell there. Otherwise, you might fall ill. • Before passing over a small hill, you must first ask permission from the nunos so that you will • A black cat crossing your path is a bad omen. not get sick. A black cat is a demon in disguise. • A lingering black butterfly is a sign that one of • Dreaming of fish, trees, or snakes means good your relatives just died. fortune, money, or happiness. • A falling spider that lands on you is an omen • Lying down with your feet facing the door will that someone close to you will die. bring you an early death • Do not form groups of three or thirteen, or one • Do not mend your clothes while wearing them, of you will die. or harm will befall you. • If you dream that one of your teeth is being • A person who is headed somewhere should pulled out, this means that a family member not proceed with her journey if she trips on will die. something after leaving the house. Otherwise, • It is said that the soul of the deceased returns something terrible will happen to her. on the third, the fifth, and the seventh days after • A person who breaks mirrors faces seven years death. of bad luck. • Be careful that your tears don’t fall on the dead • Whistling at night invites evil spirits. or on the coffin. If they do, the dead person will • Wearing a diamond protects the bearer from have a difficult journey to the next world. evil-minded people. • Never sweep the floor at night, or you will lose • If a spoon falls during a meal, you will be all your wealth. visited by a woman. If it is a fork, a man will • Whoever pays his debts at night will become be visiting, while if it is a teaspoon, it will be a poor. child. • If you have to leave the table before finishing • A wound inflicted on Good Friday will take a your meal in order to go on a trip, turn around long time to heal.
Here are some well-known Pinoy pamahiins – to be taken with a grain of salt :
the plates on the table so that your trip will be safe. • If dogs howl at night, it means that evil spirits are lurking around. • When walking with friends, especially at night, always travel as a group of even number. If it is an odd number, one of you will be taken away by the spirits to make the number even. • If you choke briefly at mealtime, someone far away remembers you, or is talking about you. • Never give a pair of shoes away for free. Either throw the shoes up in the air and let the prospective owner pick them up, or let him or her buy it for small change. • Before throwing hot water onto the ground, give a warning to the elves. When harmed, they may retaliate by making you sick. • Carry a piece of ginger on your body when you visit a place not frequented by others, so that the evil spirits of that place will not harm you. • If someone sneezes while you are about to leave your house, postpone your trip or something bad will happen to you. • If you happen to get lost, invert your clothes and you will find your way. • A person who always uses a bandage on Fridays is a witch.
12 FEATURE
Dancing with the Dead
a
The weird, wild and wonderful world of Pinoy Undas
t the height of his popularity in the 80’s, pop star Prince a.k.a. T.A.F.K.A.P (The Artist Formerly Known As Prince), there were rumors that one of his fetishes was sleeping on top of graves. Back then I thought, “Yeah right, big deal!” Don’t we Filipinos do that during All Soul’s Day? Now the story goes that Prince would sneak into cemeteries and sleep there… well wait, the “urban legend” was that he would have a girl with him and they would party on top of graves, if I remember it correctly. Well if that was remotely true, I would bet something like that must have happened and still is happening too during our Pista ng mga Patay or Undas. After all, if you consider how we celebrate this day, it is indeed a feast, frenzy – a rousing revelry where you can literally lose yourself, as a manner of speaking.
By Law Diche
countries and cultures celebrate it. In Mexico, ‘Day of the Dead’ celebrations can be traced to indigenous peoples such as the Aztec, Maya, P’urhépecha, Nahua, and Totonac whose rituals go back to as long as 2500 -3000 years. How creepy can these guys get? In the post-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth. In European countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and France, people would bring flowers to the graves of dead relatives. The same goes for Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Croatia, Romania, Austria and Germany. Japan’s Bon Festival which is actually a Buddhist holiday is an occasion for family reunions. In Korea, it’s called Chuseok or Hankawi. People would visit ancestral tombs, clean them up, and then offer food, drink, and crops.
A Date with the Dead To appreciate how ‘wonderful’ our own dead celebration is, let’s take a look at how other
The Chinese’ Qingming Festival, usually occurring around April 5 along with Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth
month in the Chinese calendar, is also a time to tend to the graves of departed ones. Another Chinese tradition is the Chinese calendar’s seventh month designated as Ghost Month where ghosts and spirits come out from the underworld to visit earth. So what’s the common denominator of other countries’ ‘dead’ festivals? It’s the clean-up of dead relatives’ graves, lighting of candles and offering flowers. And that’s just about it. Pretty boring we would say huh? This is how we do it So while other cultures are wont to have a somber affair, ours is literally a festival which is perhaps as riotous as our Christmas and New Year season. Well actually, our celebration is supposed to be a somber affair too. The tradition is based on the Catholic doctrine that prayers of the faithful on earth may help purify souls in Purgatory. Offering prayers and masses then are made for the repose of the souls who died not in the state of grace. But, you know us Filipinos – we find all reasons to turn any occasion into a party. So if we celebrate
FEATURE 13 Christmas for the living, we also celebrate All Soul’s Day for the dead. Preamble to a Party My first vivid recollection of this festival was going with an uncle the grave of a recently deceased great-grand dad for a clean-up, days before the Todos Los Santos ‘party’ began. In fact, a week or even earlier, cemeteries would be abuzz with activity – painting jobs, dirt removal and sometimes people would be decorating tombs with flowers in advance. But of course, putting flowers early on are optional as they are likely to be stolen, so kayo rin. Markets, flea and super alike, even department stores would be literally deluged with candles of all shapes, sizes and designs (which is kind of unnecessary really if you consider the fact that everything will melt anyway, but that’s just me). Of course, people from all walks of life would be seen gobbling them like pancakes along with the flowers. Elsewhere, an exodus, a ‘diaspora’ if you will, is happening as bus stations and airports get jam-packed a few days before and after the occasion. Hence October 31 is usually declared a holiday for travel time to the provinces.
Dancing and Dining The party begins on the eve of November 1. And boy do we celebrate it. The last time I went to North Cemetery, the vision I saw depicted the height of commercialism as virtually all the major fast food chains had their spots there, sharing the limelight, so to speak, with the perennial entrepreneurs, a.k.a the vendors of balut, chicharon, tokneneng, day-old chicks, and so on. Even Potato Corner has their, well, corner there. Mind you, it’s not just the fast food chains either. There were credit card representatives, MLM guys, and oh, this one really bowled me over- there were real estate companies! Seeing them suddenly made me hear voices like Pantheon kayo dyan, dalawa veinte cinco!, Mausoleo, up and down, low down payment, 5% only!” or something to that effect. Amid people praying the rosary, there would always be loud blaring music of the videoke kind. Consequently, videoke singing is not that far behind. Like they say, “My Way” is the sure way, the song that is, to sing if you’re raring to join the dead, right smack at the cemetery to boot.
As kids play with candles, adults would be playing cards - tong-its tayo boy. Speaking of candles, I do remember that all those melted candle wax collecting serves a special purpose back at my lola’s house as they are recycled into floor wax. I actually used to draw things on the floor with those candle wax before I “make lampaso” (naks so kaka naman). Fistfights would be a common scene; snatchers too. Some cemeteries would also have a carnival, karnabal like we normally call it. The best thing about this celebration of course is that it becomes a sort of impromptu family reunion. Like Christmas, it’s a time for one to catch the latest tsismis about relatives and stuff. Party on! A few months ago, Prince was in the headlines again. This time around, it’s because he released his latest album, for FREE– as in, he’s giving it away, can you believe that? Naturally, the music labels biz people were furious and have ganged up on him. Well I say, if the poor guy gets nostalgic and needs to escape from it all, he can enter any of our cemeteries any time. It’s free as well, there’s no need for him to sneak in. And he’ll be thoroughly pleased. I bet somewhere, he’ll be in good company hearing someone play Tom Jones’ hit “Kiss”. For those not in the know, it’s a Prince original. So yeah- “Everybody dance now!”
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16 FEATURE
Pinoy Chikka
Goes Global
Talk about Pinoy small talk that has gone big and global. We are talking here about Chikka Asia, a Filipino company credited for developing the first instant messenger service that enables millions of people across the globe to send text messages to cellular phones from computers via the Internet. And it keeps on reinventing itself as it tries to conquer new markets across borders. By Dave L. Llorito
L
ately, Chikka launched its latest innovation, the Chikka 2.0, a browser-based messaging platform capable of performing value added services including transfer of mobile call credits, the delivery of mobile content such as ring tones and images, besides its traditional short messaging and multimedia messaging services, directly accessed from the World Wide Web. According to Chito Bustamante, Chief Operating Officer of the 250 people-strong Chikka Asia, Chikka 2.0 features version 4 of the Chikka Messenger which is interoperable with Google Talk and now also connects to Yahoo!, MSN, AIM, and ICQ. Chikka 2.0, Bustamanate explained, will also support social networking and usergenerated content (UGC) which “hallmarks the new breed of popular sites on Web 2.0.” “Users will be able to set-up personal profiles, upload photos and videos, or blog within their Chikka profile page,” he said. “Sharing of images and other mobile content
between users is also possible through drag and drop function.” “We believe the future of mobile services lies in the convergence or the seamless marriage of the Internet, accessed through the personal computer, mobile phone, and the bricks and mortar media,” said Dennis Mendiola, Chikka’s Chief Executive Officer. “Hence we repositioned Chikka Messenger to be less of a host of our own community [subscribers] than a mobile connectivity enabler of established online communities.” According to Bustamante, Chikka’s wireless applications are currently deployed through the networks of 50 mobile carriers in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, India, Japan, Indonesia , Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong . Based on download demographics, more than half (53 percent) of Chikka users are from the Philippines, followed by 18 percent from the US and Canada, and 8.5 percent from the Middle East, especially the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Other countries account for the remaining 20.5 percent. Chikka Asia has come a long way since it
debuted in 2001, a time when many Webbased companies in Silicon Valley and the other parts of the world where folding up due to the bursting of the ‘dotcom’ bubble. Most venture capitalists during that period avoided funneling money to new dotcom firms but Chikka got the attention of financiers knowing the new company has a unique and innovative business model. Through Chikka Messenger, people across the globe could send text messages to cellular phones anywhere through the Web. The messages sent create chargeable replies from which Chikka shares a percentage with telecommunication carriers like Globe Telecom or Smart Communications. The messaging service proved so popular that from practically zero in 2001, Chikka Messenger now has close to 40 million subscribers worldwide. Company data shows that Chikka Messenger has over eight million registrations over the last one year, helped by increasing internet penetration in the Philippines and abroad. And in the same period, more than 150 million chargeable mobile transactions were generated, apparently boosted by its forays into the global marketplace.
FEATURE 17 Chikka Messenger now connects to all major operators in the United Kingdom and is also being tested for operations in Spain. In 2006, Chikka Messenger went live over the networks in India, hosted by the Indiatimes. com thus linking millions of Indians all over the globe. Lately, it has launched iText, a sender/ receiver-subsidized mobile-to-mobile text messaging facility in the US, UK, Hongkong, and Singapore . The same service will be launched in Indonesia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic before 2007 ends.
Dennis Mendiola is the CEO and founder of Chikka Asia, Inc., the Philippines’ most successful dotcom. He has led a distinguished career, always being a pioneer and leader in his chosen field. His work has brought him all around the world, but he never lost sight of his home – the Philippines. Eventually, Dennis would come home to share his knowledge and experience, with the goal of contributing to his country’s progress. the most coveted mobile messaging market. With limited resources but with an opportunity to ride the mobile wave, he embarked on the ambitious project which was to be the world’s first mobile instant messenger. Before he founded Chikka in 2000, Dennis spent five years investing private equity as Managing Director and Founder of Next Century Partners, Ltd., a private equity investment company that focuses on the Dennis has made his mark in the Internet and areas of wireless, broadband and other IT mobile space, leading the way with founding sectors in targeted countries in Southeast Chikka – today the most widely used branded Asia. Prior to this, he was an investment banker electronic communications medium by at Bankers Trust in Singapore and Morgan Filipinos, including millions of overseas Stanley in Hong Kong. He also previously Filipinos workers. Chikka’s development headed corporate finance and strategic actually began in early 2000, even as global players where busy discussing “the next killer planning at the Subic Bay Metropolitan app” at world telecoms gabs. He proceeded to Authority in the Philippines. His notable career began as a management consultant at launch it in 2001 in the Philippines, probably
the prestigious McKinsey & Co. in New York. Dennis is an electrical engineer by education, with training in programming and logic design. He holds an MBA with honors from the Harvard Business School and graduated summa cum laude at the University of Pennsylvania, completing a BS in Economics (Wharton) and a BS in Electrical Engineering (Moore). Under Dennis’s guidance, Chikka is currently present in 15 countries with services live over the networks of 45 operators, and is arguably the most successful wireless applications developer from this part of the world. Pioneering in products such as the world’s first mobile instant messenger to run on SMS, and the world’s first variable peer-topeer credit transfer mechanism, Chikka has continuously innovated to provide services with high and universal utility.
18 FAMOUS FILIPINOS
JOKOY
A Stand Up Kind of Guy JoKoy began his stand-up career in 1996 at a comedy club in Las Vegas. The city’s bright lights matched his burning passion for comedy and the stage. Soon he was making everyone laugh, and fans were impressed by the high energy and physical emotion he exuded onstage. JoKoy quickly moved from ‘open mic night’ to being one of the most requested comedians at ‘Catch a Rising Star’ - a signature show at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
a
talent coordinator from Los Angeles spotted JoKoy and landed him his first television appearance on the nationally syndicated show BET’s Comic View. Audiences have now laughed with JoKoy on two seasons of Comic View and watched him become a ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ winner. Since then JoKoy has performed his energetic brand of comedy for the American troops stationed in Japan, Korea, and Okinawa as part of the USO tour. He has also opened for headline acts such as Dave Chappelle (Chappelle’s Show), Mike Epps (Next Friday), and Snoop Dogg. JoKoy has also toured the college circuit as a featured comedian and performed in comedy clubs across the country. JoKoy was born at an American military base in Japan to a Filipina mother and American father. From age six to twelve, he lived with his family at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. When his parents divorced, his mother raised him. He remarks, “I’ve been raised by Filipinos all my life. I may be halfCaucasian but I am Filipino to the core.” He finally settled in Seattle with his family, and dreamt of becoming a stand-up comic. Watching Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg in their 1980s performing heydays, he could barely wait to graduate from high school in order to break off on his own and pursue stardom himself. Like countless other performers in the entertainment industry, the road to success wasn’t smooth. But perseverance paid off when he finally landed an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’ and achieved one of
the most incredible and rare feats that any comic could hope for: a standing ovation on his first appearance. With his career newly afire from that success, he found himself in greater demand and landed an appearance on ABC’s fellow latenight show ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ He also headlined ‘Asian Elevation’ a show touted as “the premiere Asian Pacific American talent show.” JoKoy is part of a small but die-hard group of Asian-Americans who have braved the stand-up comedy world. He’s proud to be mentioned alongside Pat Morita, Kevin Shea, Edwin San Juan, Dan Gabriel and current ‘MAD TV’ star Bobby Lee, but he feels that the time has come for Asian-American comics to truly kick in the doors to success. On stage, JoKoy is able to elicit waves of laughter by talking about anything from bathroom habits to male-female relations to his personal stories of life with his 3-year-old son. “I owe this kid so much money; he’s now 90% of my act. It’s like living with a crazy midget.” But his strongest barbs come in attacking the stereotypes held against his race: “Being Asian in LA means you get the worst compliments. ‘Oh, you’re Asian? I love orange chicken,” he squeals in an excited Caucasian girl’s voice. “Don’t thank Asians for orange chicken, thank the Mexicans. They know how to cook it.” He added, “Asians are always considered to be bad drivers. I drove here; I’ve got a car. We build the best cars; you don’t think we can drive them? You think an engineer at Lexus is bragging about what he built, but when asked to drive, he goes (in thick Asian accent) “Oh no, I just build cars?”
Speaking of his inspiration for material and the road he’s traveled thus far, JoKoy also notes how amazed he is to be actor/comic Jon Lovitz’s official opening act for both Lovitz’s weekly Wednesday night shows at West Hollywood’s Laugh Factory and for Lovitz’s popular national comedy tour. But as he notes, sometimes all the timing falls into place. “They say it takes you 10 years to find your [comic] voice, and it really came around my ninth or 10th year onstage. I realized I know how to say something and say it funny, and no matter the topic, I can make it funny,” he explains. “Some things I say are my point of view — being Asian in America and then about my son also and observational offthe-wall stuff — but it’s all delivered the same way. I’m having fun, and people just get it.” JoKoy also hopes to have his own stand-up special inked soon with Comedy Central. “That would be my dream,” Koy says. The as-yet-untitled program is described as a variety show with elements of sketch comedy injected with JoKoy’s special brand of humor. JoKoy cited series like The Carol Burnett Show and In Living Color as influences for the potential series. JoKoy will executive produce, while his manager, Jamie Masada, is on board as a producer.
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20 ILLUSTRADO PROFILE
West Point Philippine Idol:
Cadet Mario Feliciano IV Mario with Cadet Achanzar
Mario Cadet Captain, Brigadier Commander, WP Class
By Aby Yap
The Philippine flag is steadily rising in the West. It gracefully waves not only in the arenas of entertainment and sports, but in the military field as well. At the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York, Cadets Mario Feliciano IV and Christy Isis Achanzar of Class 2008 proudly wear the colors blue and red on their uniforms, and “Philippines” is proudly engraved on their nameplates.
w
hile Achanzar is soon to become the first pure-blooded Filipina to graduate from the highly acknowledged institution, Feliciano also makes history by achieving the highest cadet leadership level. He was the first Filipino and the first foreigner to assume the post of Regimental Commander taking charge of the summer training of Class 2010’s 1,487 cadets. And who knows - next year he could be named Brigade Captain or First Captain of the USMA Corps of Cadets leading a troupe of 4,000 men and women. If this should happen, then he will again become the first international cadet to hold this distinction. Growing Pains and Gains With a father from Zamboanga City and a mother from Tehran, Mario is a product of two different cultures. He and his three other siblings, though all natural-born Filipinos, at one point possessed both Filipino and Iranian citizenships. They were all raised in Kuwait.
Mario admits that growing up in such an environment has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. As a child, he remembers that it was not easy to get along with Iranian kids in their neighborhood in Tehran - they even used to call him “Chinese boy.” This was the same case with Filipino kids in their neighborhood in the Philippines who labelled him “Saddam Hussein”, because he looked different. Despite difficulties Mario learned from both worlds, carefully honing positive traits he found from each culture. His Iranian side taught him to stand up for what he believes is right, to take pride in himself, as well as to be conservative, loyal, faithful, hospitable, and fair. His Filipino values, on the other hand, included creativity, innovativeness, diplomacy, understanding, family-orientation, perseverance, as well as being simple and humble. These, he says, are what make him the unique individual that he is today. Living in Kuwait, Mario says, was a whole different story. “My neighborhood friends were of mixed nationalities – kids from Ghana, the Philippines, Iran, Vietnam, India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Kuwait, Hungary, etc. It wasn’t easy for the kids to single anyone out as we were all different from one another. In a way, being different made all of us better friends.” His Father’s Son “You need to fight graft and corruption,” Rosauro Feliciano told his son before he was even 10 years old. For a young boy, this did not make sense. But the idea made an indelible mark in his bright, impressionable mind. Inspired by his father to do his best to help his country, Mario became aware of the Philippines’ domestic problems. At the age of eight, his father gave him valuable career advice, saying that he has two choices - either to be a politician by becoming a lawyer, or become a respected leader by being an officer. “I chose to be an officer. I believe that it is only through respect, honesty, character, duty, responsibility, courage, loyalty, and integrity that a person can gain the trust of his fellowmen. As a military officer with all these qualities, I can gain the trust of the
ILLUSTRADO PROFILE 21
Mario And Cadet Achanzar with Miss Lea Salonga
Filipinos so that I can be a leader to them,” Mario explains. Thus the next nine years of Mario’s life were spent for physical, mental, and moral preparations to join the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 2003. This was also the reason why he decided to drop his Iranian citizenship. At the PMA, he became a member of the Debating Team, which earned him recognition for his good performance. The West Point Story Together with Achanzar, Mario was selected to represent the Philippines at West Point in 2004. Had he not repeated his plebe year which he already took at PMA, he would have had graduated this year. Yet Mario insists, “West Point was a blessing in disguise for me!” It is a blessing indeed, not only for him but also for each Filipino that he represents – because every single feat of Mario brings pride to his kababayans. Knowing this very well, he states, “Ever since I was given the honor of being a Cadet at West Point, I always did my best to excel in whatever I did. I worked hard and maintained a good overall standing in my class. At times I sacrificed personal pleasure just to ensure that I do well at West Point, and eventually bring honor to the Philippines.” Expectedly, all his hard work paid off. In his junior year, Mario was named Cadet 1SG and Cadet Battalion Sergeant Major, and
Mario with family
finally the Regimental Commander for the summer’s Cadet Field Training. In his last post, he exemplified the kind of leadership that he would like his subordinates to have, even sharing in the suffering of the lowest ranking cadets through the cold and rainy nights in the field. Unfortunately, he could not keep this rank longer because of some technicalities. Apparently, the highest rank he could obtain is that of 2nd Regimental Command Sergeant Major, one of the top ten leadership positions in the Corps of Cadets, which Mario currently enjoys. Genuine Pusong Pinoy Even with his Filipino-mestizo features, Mario’s pusong Pinoy can never be camouflaged. He declares, “The true Filipino is one who voluntarily chooses to serve, bleed, and die for the Philippine flag and nation. He should be willing to proudly stand up and seriously commit to helping make the Philippines a better place, despite issues of graft and corruption, terrorism, stereotyping and exploitation, among others.” According to Mario, it is a shame to be called ‘Filipino’, when a Pinoy makes it big abroad then totally forgets his country. To give back to the motherland what he has so abundantly reaped, Mario hopes to be a politician or an influential leader in the Philippines one day. However, he dreams of having a successful military career first. “I was told that an officer in the Philippines gets no prestige or true respect from his men if he
MArio and Jason Kidd, NBA Point Guard Superstar
doesn’t experience combat. So I hope to join the Infantry in the Philippine Army and train at the Philippine Scout Ranger School.” Mario realizes the extreme risk of getting killed in action though. “I even sometimes wonder how I would be of help to the Philippines in the future if, God forbid, something does happen to me,” he confesses. However, his courage and strength lie in something else other than his arms and skills. He recalls his guiding verse in life from Jeremiah – “I know my plans for you. They are to prosper and not to hurt. They are for a future and a hope.” Mario concludes, “That’s when I realize that it’s all in God’s hands.”
22 FROM OUR READERS
“On being a Filipino” Illustrado reader MJ Bautista, reminds us of the joys and pains, trials and heartaches, of the resilient and selfsacrificing Pinoy who has left the homeland only to find, more than just material comforts, the intangible rewards of a life lived with conviction and a selfless purpose.
I
did not choose my skin color. I did not choose the way my nose would look like nor did I choose the color of my eyes. I did not choose the blood that will run through my veins. I did not choose to be born with a bent silver spoon. But I chose to breath in this life. I chose to live. I chose to survive. I chose to serve. I chose to love. I chose to be happy. I chose to walk and sometimes run, a few kilometers back and forth, from sunrise to sunset, rain or shine, to get my education - an endless walk of desire to learn. My passed-on old books with missing pages were my treasures. I never owned a book, never bought one, I could not. I would go in a bookstore and come out with nothing in hand, but have read all the books on the shelves. I can spend the rest of the day there standing on my callused feet. Many times I would miss meals. But I would feel full by the time I get home, trying to remember ‘my day’ and ‘my books’ as much as I can, before I fall asleep in the piercing coldness of the floor. Going to school was the best opportunity I had. After school, I would sell rice cakes on the street. On weekends, I would be busy cleaning other people’s houses, cutting grass and doing laundry. I was able to save some money to buy books for my younger brother on his first day in school. I wanted him to be able to enjoy the color of the pages and appreciate the story. I was so happy seeing his hungry eyes light up with awe. I did not say I am the hope of the nation.
Jose Rizal said that. My country believed that. And so I claimed. I cannot help it. I have TO BE that hope and I wanted to. Jose Rizal is right. I have to lose the idealism early on. Again, I walked on my feet, this time out of my homeland many thousand miles, flying instead of running, careful not to look back, enduring the strangeness of the air, its coldness and heaviness. I found myself stumped in uncertainty, the days and nights passed longer than I could imagine. In a state of oblivion, I asked myself, what am I doing here? My heart longed for home but then resigned myself to the surreal truth. I did not escape reality. It is there, right in front of my face - I embraced and pursued it bravely. I did not go away without a heavy heart. Old photos filled my bag. My tears flew freely as I ascended into the shifting sky. I don’t know when I will be back. The paper says three years – a long time indeed. But the price is right - more than enough to buy a shelf of books, delicious food, a comfortable mattress, a decent abode and maybe, even a nice car. I was away for more than 10 years. Where did I go? It does not matter. It is where millions of Filipinos go. What did I do? Does it still matter? Let me tell you. I am one of the people who build the tall buildings and skyscrapers. I am one of your ever dependable domestic helpers. I am the one who busses your table so you can enjoy a good cappuccino. I am the one driving you – bringing you to work in the morning and to your home at night. I am one of
those who offer you the most fashionable ‘it’ bag which I could not even afford to buy in my lifetime. I am the one in the middle of nowhere together with the surge of the unpredictable squall and seagulls with my own voice’s resounding echo. I am one of the many who cares for the sick and the dying. I am the one who carries the green-colored passport. I am somebody’s mother, father, daughter, son, wife, husband, sister, brother and special someone who temporarily left home and promised to be back in due time to compensate for the significant events missed and time lost. Forgive me for those moments. We are the same people who share the same degree of loneliness, may be a different level of contentment and euphoria, albeit wholly immaterial passion towards work and family. I have achieved notoriety in this great expanse and existence, in the pursuit of life. I can’t believe I’ve been away this long, more than a decade and still counting. I rest my case. I am going home. I am bringing home the fruits of my labor carefully packed in a box full of delight, which give relief to my already coarse hands. I am still the same old story almost forgotten, but still standing tall amidst the irreversible and inevitable. I never had anything tangible. I never had anything that sparkles. I never had a book. I am not afraid to lose them now. I only have the intangibles. I chose to be strong. I chose to smile. I am a Filipino. I miss my country. I miss my home.
24 FASHION Text: Lalaine Chu-Benitez Photography: Doc Marlon Pecjo Model: Isabel Roces Stylist: Janet dela Fuente Hair and Make-Up: Bem Abelleda
VAMP “Look into my eyes”,
her hypnotic voice whispered chillingly. “I can taste your fear… even more, your desire.” Step into the shadowy depths of enigmatic hues and textures, and wickedly decadent embellishments impossible to resist – the colors of the night, the hedonistic caress of fur, leather and taffeta and the lethal glint of stones and metal. Let yourself be hopelessly drawn into the dark seduction.
FASHION 25
FASHION 25
Touch Me Not
Embellished nude tulle gown with Egyptian fur and leather, inspired by the map of the Philippines by Amir Sali; patent leather boots with leaf detail by Brian Tenorio for Tenorio Manila; ‘Kangla’ ornamental cuff by Edgar Sali
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28 FASHION
Into Her Lair
Dark blue chiffon dress with lace detail by Puey Quiñones; black net stockings, stylist’s own; violet and black satin pumps by Janylin; seaweed inspired neckpiece with Swarovski crystals by Edgar Sali.
FASHION 29
The Color of Blood
Gathered red jersey gown with silver studs by Happy Andrada; black net stockings, stylist’s own; python print platform peep toe shoes by Janylin; rosary-inspired necklace by Dennis Celestial
Deja Vu
Amir Sali corset embellished with matte crystals and metal, gray taffeta dress worn as a skirt by Happy Andrada; zebra print pumps by Janylin; jet black tights – stylist’s own; metallic ball necklace and bangles by Get Happy, cut metallic chain necklace by Amir Sali, mini hat by James Reyes
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32 FASHION
Orange Illusion
Orange coat dress in Thai silk with hand painted details and silk organdy leaves by James Reyes; black patent boots by Brian Tenorio black tulle used as hair accessory, stylist’s own
A Smile of Malevolence
Fully embellished metallic painted shell top by Chris Diaz; Kendo-inspired trousers by James Reyes; metallic cuff by Dennis Celestial
FASHION 33 Deha light brown singlet and green razorback cropped top combo, with Meeting hot pants; accessorized with Deha leg and arm warmers in grey, green cotton visor and maroon flip-flops
Mistress of Shadows
Taffeta Duchess satin gown by John Herrera with metallic strap bustier by Dennis Celestial; satin pumps by Janylin; bangles and cuff with ribbons by Dennis Celestial; black tulle used as hair accessory – stylist’s own
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Designer & Shop Guide Amir Sali (+63-9163175317), Chris Diaz (+639177401097), Dennis Celestial (+63-9276398053), Edgar Sali (63-9163175317), Happy Andrada (+639175242779), James Reyes (+63-9176236183), John Herrera (+63-9178337625), Puey Quiñones (+63-9167763098) Brian Tenorio of Tenorio Manila available at Solea, 3F Power Plant Mall and Prince Plaza 1, Legazpi St. Legazpi Village, Makati Get Happy available at Rustan’s Department Store (Makati), Shangri-La Plaza (Mandaluyong), Gateway Mall (Araneta Center) Janylin at Power Plant Mall and Glorietta 1 (Makati), Robinson’s Galleria (Ortigas), Megamall (Mandaluyong), and Greenhills Shopping Center
Queen of the Damned
Black leatherette corset with metal studded top and black bubble skirt by Dennis Celestial; black tulle used as hair accessory – stylist’s own
FASHION 37
38 FEATURED MODEL It is hard to imagine her as the same girl who appears on the pages of our gothic-inspired feature all vamped up and glowering. It might translate to being passionate and hardcore to her causes, but if anything, Isabel is the embodiment of lightness and ease. I recall what supermodel and then-editor of CosmoBride Tweetie de Leon said upon shooting her, “She transforms with make-up”. Despite the fact that she’s a sophisticated model who can wear the unwearable, at the end of the day she is also the girl who wears very little make-up and unkempt hair haggling her way at the Gold Souq and scavenging bazaars for the best deals. Clearly Isabel Roces is the least of all model stereotypes. But then again how can one have a preconceived notion about the grand daughter of the late newspaper publisher Don Joaquin ‘Chino’ Roces?
Anything But Dark
Looming all grim and somber in Illustrado’s pre-holiday spread, Isabel Roces speaks to Michael Vincent Serrano on how she leads a life that is anything but.
t
o be seated right across model and PETA spokesperson Isabel Roces for brunch at More Café - a fork’s throw away from her Dutch potato salad infused with green apples and gherkins sans veal and turkey bacon - is about as close as one can get to being able to eat like a vegetarian, or at least feel healthy, through her unforgiving guilt-free diet.
“I don’t have bags smaller than a DVD case, I carry PETA’s Chew On This DVD all the time as a starter kit for people who are curious about vegetarianism.” I guess being pinned and photographed in a dress made of lettuce or sitting underneath a mountain of chili peppers with little else on can only draw people closer to pledge veg. The largest animal rights advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) approached Isabel back in 2004 at a time when celeb-vegans Alicia Silverstone, Pamela Anderson and Drew Barrymore were well-known PETA endorsers. She has been a vegetarian since the age of 15, a result of watching a documentary that showed how animals are slaughtered before they get served hot on our plates. Going vocal about her diet from then on, paved the way for her to be part of the first PETA ad campaign shot in the Philippines. “To be able to communicate my beliefs on animal rights and perception of health through a well-known organization such as PETA, that not only shares my viewpoint but has the greater advantage to enlighten people worldwide, is like the stars aligning themselves to my will. It was inevitable.”
“I do not rely on the prominence of my name to open doors for me, but rather going the extra mile through my own efforts and determination in everything I do makes me live up to the name.” Often using the word “stumbled” on how she got into modeling, it was the launch of fashion designer Rhett Eala’s new ready-to-wear line back in 2000 that kicked off her catwalk career. Winning MTV Asia’s Model of the Year award the same year PETA took her in, made Isabel Roces a household name in the world of Philippine fashion. Since then she has worked in various locations all over the world including Paris, Croatia, Japan, Hong Kong and Switzerland. Earlier this year Jewelmer sent her on assignment to Moscow to lustre in their exquisite pearl parures, just one of her many engagements with the reputable jewelers. “Like any job, it’s not as easy as it looks. A model can’t be too visible for a period of time that people start to get tired of her face. She needs to diversify when an opportunity crops up; this shows perseverance and indicates fashion longevity. Look what Kate Moss has done with Topshop and Tyra Banks with her show. I have La Copa.” These days, Isabel has turned her focus on La Copa, her first venture in to the fashion retail business. Running it with her fashionably business savvy partners Melanie Go and Regina Sambalido for the past six months has given her a challenge that not only keeps her busy but trains her to be an aggressive entrepreneur (she cut short her vacation in Dubai last June to oversee advertising for a sample sale). The La Copa boutique holds an impressive collection of chic clothes sourced from all over the world, aiming to provide customers with one-of-a-kind pieces with it’s very limited stock. Personal stylists providing assistance to the fashion conscious clientele creates a whiff of chic atmosphere that many of the local shops sorely lack. It could be mistaken for spontaneity, but attention to small details as such highlights her perfectionist attitude to seeing things done the right way. A healthy lifestyle that cares for animals, completely unassuming and not self-conscious, and a shop that makes it easier for customers to express their own individuality - Isabel’s dark side may very well be her relentless drive and undeniable passion in what she does and in what she believes in. This truly makes her a star shining brightly in the dark
JEWELLERY FEATURE 39
The Soulful Femininity of Pearls Discovered 5,000 years ago, pearls are the oldest known gems to mankind. Unlike diamonds, that are rough and need to be cut and polished to bring out their true luster and iridescence, these born beauties need no cutting or polishing. From pristine white to darkly seductive black, the variety and inner glow of pearls allow a woman to express her different alluring facets.
Enchantment from the heavens There are many myths surrounding the origin of pearls and their symbolic role to various cultures through time. The Persians thought pearls were formed by rain. In Asia it was believed that pearls were formed from the tears of angels. Be it a sign from heavens or a gift of nature, pearls offer an enchanting legacy of creation. Pearls were rare in Europe until Alexander the Great brought East and West into contact with each other in 4th century BC. The Romans further helped the pearl trade flourish. In the 13th century, the crusaders brought a passion for pearls to Western Europe.
How a pearl is born One of the few gems created by an organic process, pearls are grown inside live mollusks – either pearl oysters, fresh and saltwater mussels, or some species of clams and abalone. When an irritant enters the oyster’s flesh, the discomforted host creature secretes nacre around it to relieve the irritation. On its way, the irritant is surrounded by epithelial cells, which form a pearl bag. This in time forms a pearl. Natural pearl, thus rarely have a solid nuclei. It has no core and is a product of good fortune. In cultured pearls, man starts off the natural process by inserting the nucleus into the oyster’s gonad to stimulate the nacreous deposits. The nucleus is a bead or core, made of mother of pearl of a freshwater mussel and a piece of tissue from the mantle. Man then steps aside to allow nature to create its miracle. The only difference between a natural pearl
and a cultured pearl is that the latter has a core of several mm in diameter and is a result of man’s intervention.
require care from the wearer, to ensure that the surface is not damaged through regular wear and tear.
The uniqueness of pearls
Finally, no one understands a pearl and satisfies its needs better than a woman. The pearl will retain all its brilliance, freshness and iridescence only when in contact with a personality who will know how to anticipate its desires
The main grading considerations for pearls are their luster, surface, size, shape and color. Luster is the brilliance emanating from the pearl - its shine, brightness and innate sparkle. It is the glow that comes from deep within the pearl and the essence of quality. This is the most important factor in the establishment of value. The criteria of surface, on the other hand, dictate that the smoother and more blemish free the pearl, the higher the price. All pearls in normal commercial price ranges are slightly marked on the surface. The extent of marking affects the value of the pearls because of the rarity of a clean surface.
Leading jewelry chain Liali features exquisitely designed excellent quality pearls from natural to cultured - pearls that dominate the jewelry market like Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, Keshi, differentiated into two brands – Sakura and Kimono.
Pearl strands, ear studs and jewelry created from sea water pearls like the lustrous white Akoya from Japan, Australian South Sea Pearls, Tahitian Black pearls come under Sakura, Unsurprisingly, the larger the size the more where the pearls are also relatively larger in size expensive the pearls, keeping all other factors ranging from 5.5 mm to 22 mm. Every pearl in constant. Sometimes a small difference in each Akoya strand of Sakura is certified by the size can mean large differences in price, Academy of Japan Gem Science Laboratory, especially at the higher price levels. As for Japan Tokyo and endorsed for quality by shape, round pearls are priced more than the Pearl Exports Bureau of Japan on all the non-round pearls. Natural pearls are rarely relevant criteria. rounded. However, a non-round pearl with excellent luster has more value than a round Under the Kimono range are all strands, studs pearl with poor luster. and pearl jewelry using Keshi pearls and freshwater pearls that are produced inside Pearl colors run the whole range from mussels in lakes and rivers. Freshwater pearls lustrous white to shades of off-white, pinkin Kimono are relatively smaller in size than the white, gray white and golden white. Rich sea water starting from 4 mm up to 12mm. and luxurious black pearls are rare and are therefore considered as the connoisseurs’ Winners of the Liali Kimono Pearl Give-Away choice. in Illustrado’s Anniversary Issue: Ermie Uson, Apart from the quality of pearls, fine jewelry design is also important to keep, or even further raise the worth of this precious gem. To keep its uniqueness and value, pearls also
Sahara Chandran, Edgar Andora, Lorievy Sallave, Catherine Arnobit, Anna Liza Angeles, Myla Saligumba, Roxanne Enriquez, Elvira Lagua and Josefina Pineda.
40 FROM OUR READERS Jon Versoza, Illustrado reader, takes us on an intimate walk down memory lane as rain in Riyadh reminds him of his charmed childhood days in Zambales, his checkered youth in Manila and the all consuming sweet smell of the downpour from the heavens.
I
t rained. It was seven in the evening. McDonald’s looked like an empty ballroom and I was, as usual, suspended from the smell of burgers and fries as I kissed the credence of my sybaritic self - looking holy in my uniform and slithery hair, standing at the singles section, by the glass that separated Grease Paradise and The Wet Earth.
Rain in Riyadh war under the madness of childhood with the agile caress of the wet season streaming down our faces, while our hairs were tossed magically by the force of rainwater.
We tasted rain on our lips as we cursed the day away. We were eternal! We were virgins. Our tempestuous tones were lost to the My eyes went to the parking lot where not Angelus, our mother’s spaghetti and the more than six cars were lined up like teeth, way Scooby Doo shuddered against makeassaulted by heavy rain falling from the believe ghosts in his mighty dog life. We firmament. Too bad those cars had no life spent hours boring each other by the porch, to celebrate ‘heaven’s piss’ - as I called it as a inventing names for sons and daughters child. Angels barely wept on this side of the that we’ll sire in time, waiting for that smell. planet, so I fancy that even non-living things That spell. The smell of wet soil - that fertile MUST experience the fundamental joy of the smell, penetrating gloriously into every fiber rainy spell. It is an aberration that the desert of our being. After we’ve taken our showers, was not blessed with perpetual precipitation, I would go back to the porch inhaling the but well, nature, by itself, is an aberration so whiff of the cloudburst’s epilogue. I would one can’t contest that. Or perhaps I can. I sit there, mosquitoes humming nicely around will dance naked and stick my tongue out to my pink feet, while I opened my lungs to the skies every month for more rain in Saudi smell the EARTH. A scent that, as a teenager, Arabia! I compared to afterglow in bed, after a great consummation- so warm, musky and So I stood there, juxtaposing the aroma of soothing. the black asphalt road outside to the way the earth smelled beautifully back in Zambales There were days back in high school when I after a good rain. I then wondered where thought that the rain was a sign of something the voices of my sisters’ went after we played wickedly deleterious about to happen. A
stupid runny nose during periodical exams, a massive attack of bad dreams, or being stuck at home feeling lazy but having to obey my mother’s constant “clean this-clean that” which was still annoying. Nevertheless, mother rain was the ticket. I would pray hard for a storm all the time! Even right there, while singing the national anthem during flag ceremony every time the sky looked encouraging - because I wanted to elude Miss Mathematics teacher who enjoyed seeing me wet my pants during board work. She knew I never understood Geometry and she made sure my aversions drowned in her sea of theorems and postulates. Damn, I loved that woman - she was terribly evil. Rain somehow changed when I lived in Manila. The sky must have starved and turned greyer and greyer as the years went by. Drizzles felt like unrequited love, storms a dying love and puddles in the street were destined to be remnants of my drunk and drugged self – summoning high degrees of melancholy, insecurities and sleeplessness that generally defined my college years. Rain calmly reminded me of washing the debris of my soul’s thirst down the drain – recording and remembering the bad times. The heart gets darker as you grow older as the ‘relics’ would say. It’s true. So shamefully true. Every intake, every fiber of lust, every puff, every surrender. Rain brought it all down, but then again, my favorite song changes everyday, just like my smile doesn’t always mean times are good. And so I stood there, in this city called Riyadh where rain is scarce and missed. A child. An adult. Dying to run outside and bathe the present grimes away, tumbling a little, to be baptized anew. I am going home soon and I can’t wait to meet the rain.
KABUHAYAN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Money, Assets and Investing
Investing in Franchising There was a time when a good franchise business would cost millions of pesos but now start-up entrepreneurs don’t have to spend a fortune to buy a business proven to bring in profits. By Bernadette Reyes
A franchise is a business method of marketing products and/or services that has been adopted and used in a wide variety of industries and businesses offering entrepreneurs the ability to own and manage a business that has been proven to be effective. A Franchiser is a company that grants a person or another company an exclusive license to sell its products or market its services, and operate under its name in a particular area. A franchisee, on the other hand, is a person or a company which has been granted the rights by the franchiser. In the Philippines, franchising has gained popularity over the years because of its ability to offer business owners better chances of success than they would otherwise have if they set up their own independent enterprises from scratch. Since franchises have a proven business system that is passed on to franchisees, the latter are exposed to lesser risks and business mistakes are minimized. The franchiser which owns the established and successful brand acts like a ‘big brother’ who mentors the franchisee. The franchisee
rides on a system-wide marketing campaign initiated by the franchisor which results in helping sell the brand. The downside to franchising is that an entrepreneur must go through a learning curve which may prove difficult for newbies and costly in case of business failure. Running your own franchised business may also require you to spend an enormous amount of time which could deplete you if you are halfhearted about owning the business. Exactly how much it would cost to buy a franchise would depend on what business you would like to undertake. Investment consists of initial fees including payment for the use of the franchiser’s trademark and business system; security deposits; building cost for the outlet such as expenses for leasehold improvements, equipment, furniture and fixtures, and construction management and design fees; pre-operating expenses including the cost of registering the business and training the franchisee’s employees’ and initial operating capital. Also, be ready to set
aside an amount to cover the initial inventory of goods and the expenses required to operate the branch for the first few months. With these calculations, an entire franchise investment could range anywhere from PHP100,000 up to PHP20 million or more. Generally, a local brand would cost cheaper. For instance the franchise fee required for clothing company Folded & Hung cost approximately PHP500,000 but a known foreign clothing brand like Kamiseta might require PHP2.5 million or more just for franchise fee. If you are hesitant to shell out big money you may opt for food cart businesses such as Buy the Bucket, Magic Melt, NY Fries & Dip, Potato Corner or Waffle Time whose total investment cost, including franchise fees, would be somewhere around PHP200,000 or maybe even less. If you are bolder or have bigger money to invest then you may go for bigger stores or shops like Ministop and 7Eleven Convenience Stores or salons such as Jesi Mendez, Ystilo Salon, Reyes Haircutters or Tips n’ Toes which normally requires millions of pesos to cover all the costs.
KABUHAYAN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Money, Assets and Investing
It’s important to check with the franchiser the total cost of investment to know exactly how much money you’ll need to buy the franchise, secure the permits and build and operate your outlet in the first few months. Don’t be swayed easily by some advertisements that claim you’d only be needing, say, PHP10,000 to secure a franchise. Some ads only post the necessary franchise fee to attract investors so always ask for the total franchise investment to know exactly how much you would need. The franchise agreement between the franchisor and the franchisee sets down how much a franchisee pays for the package including the management fees or royalties. A royalty is a continuing fee that you pay to your franchisor for allowing you to use his trademark and business system. Usually royalty is equivalent to a percentage of your sales. Owning a franchised business doesn’t stop at having enough capital necessary to cover the expenses required to put it up and run your outlet. Make sure that the business matches your ideals. You would know a particular franchise suits you if you are in tune with the
existing business system of your prospective franchiser because once you bind yourself to that franchisor you can’t go against its established rules and procedures. If you are scouting for that perfect franchise that would match your taste and preference, there are regular franchising exhibits and seminars which feature franchisers and their products and services. You may also surf the Internet to check on franchiser’s websites which usually outline their franchise offering or you may get in touch with the Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. Finally, ask yourself if you can commit to a fulltime business and if you are determined to work hard to make it succeed. Usually, franchisers have a set of criteria in choosing the franchisees they can work with. In all cases however, the first step would be to submit a letter of intent, fill out the necessary application form with your proposed location, and several meetings with the franchising manager for interviews.
will be made available. The franchise manager will meet with you regularly, visit your branch and assess your operations every once in a while so they may make recommendations to improve the business if necessary. On top of that you franchisor works on the advertising of the brand through extensive marketing campaigns and brand-building to maintain its popularity and consequently increase your chances of success.
There is no specific time required to operate a franchise but it is ordinarily long enough to allow the franchisee to recoup the investment and there is also an option to renew the contract when it expires. However, if after a few months of operation you find the business is not for you, you always have the option to bail out. In most franchise agreements the franchiser has the option to buy back any franchise being offered because it owns the brand and the business name. Otherwise you may look for a buyer who would accept the All throughout the application process up to same terms your franchiser. the time the business is already operational, support and assistance from the franchisor
KABUHAYAN
REAL ESTATE
Money, Assets and Investing
One Million Homes for the Masses
An Interview with RGV Congressman Rodolfo G. Valencia, also well-known as RGV, is a familiar name in the Philippine real estate sector. He joined politics in 1987 armed with expertise earned from the corporate world and was empowered to represent the province of Oriental Mindoro in 1988 to 1992. He then lead the province, first as a Governor from 1992 to 2001 and as a Congressman from 2004 to 2010. A gentleman respected by his peers and constituents, he is credited for ensuring the protection of Mindoro’s natural resources making the island one of the greenest and most efficiently-managed provinces in the country. A seasoned businessman, and community builder, who started selling real estate at the age of 16, RGV also has the distinction of receiving a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines) Award in 1983 in the field of human settlements, and in 1984 was merited with the prestigious Anvil Award as the author of the RGV Pabahay Program – the most outstanding project of the year in the field of housing. Having a passionate advocacy with particular stress on urban and community development, agriculture and housing, RGV has built 10,000 homes for OFWs in Saudi Arabia – the first Filipino realtor who ventured into the kingdom during the ‘80’s. In a recent trip to Dubai, RGV spoke to Illustrado unveiling plans of an ambitious program slated to provide one million homes to the masses. “Nobody wants to touch low cost housing – social housing,” he remarks. “But with our project, with the support of the government, we aspire to provide houses to everyone, especially to those who do not have a home.”
By Lalaine Chu-Benitez • Photography by Ruben Aranda Mirabel
Through government support and partnership with the private realty sector, RGV plans to bring in an inventory of low cost projects from Luzon, Visayas through to Mindanao – in essence providing potential buyers the opportunity to choose houses from virtually anywhere in the Philippines. This provides a contrast from major real estate companies which tend to focus on prime units based in the main cities of the country. Apart from the availability of longterm financing from trusted institutions like the Pag-Ibig Fund, the project also aims to provide the added support of licensed appraisers, as well as systems which will ensure that all transactions are legal and properly documented. The project will be implemented in close collaboration with the government and is targeted to kick-off in early 2008. With the upsurge of regional operations from Philippine real estate companies in the last year, and the keen interest on the high-potential OFW market, RGVs project is
set to ad another valuable niche that would help Filipino expats from all income levels to channel their earnings into affordable and sound property investment. For a very busy businessman who sits at the board of 30 various corporations, an ambitious social housing advocate, not to mention an active politician who has firm plans of transforming Oriental Mindoro to the Philippines’ version of Singapore, RGV affirms that as long as he is able to do something good for the Filipinos, he has no plans of retiring any time soon. Revealing an endearing sentimental side, he recalls his experience with the Filipino families he was able to help through the years, particularly the OFWs of Saudi Arabia, saying – “Ang natulungan mong magkabahay, hindi ka makakalimutan. Dahil ang pabahay ay pagtupad sa isang pangarap.”
SUCCESSFUL PINOY How does one gauge success? Should it be based on money, relationships or fame? Dubai-based Jeffrey Ximo Ramos author of ‘I Know What To Do! Pinoy Success Handbook’, explains that in order for us to be really successful, we should know first how well we are doing today.
Know how successful YOU are The Eight Aspects of Success The reason we do not know if we are successful or not is because we are not familiar with how to truly gauge success. One by one, let me introduce to you the eight aspects of success: Work and Career If at the end of working hours you come home tired but feel fulfilled and at the end of the month you are smiling when you receive your paycheck - that is one aspect of success. Finances Naglalakad ka sa mall at biglang nakita mo yung signature na sapatos na tatlong buwan mo na inaasam-asam, excited ka. Nagpakuha ka ng size, mayroon; sinukat mo, nagkasya; humingi ka ng beige color para match sa isusuot mo, may available; tinanong mo ang presyo, 50% off pa. Ano pa ang hinihintay mo? “Thank you for your assistance ha, saka na lang.” Paprankahin na kita. Kung wala kang pambili ng bagay na gusto mong bilhin - kulang ka nitong aspetong ito.
Hi, again, successful Pinoy! Yes, you! Ikaw at wala ng iba. Ang sarap pakinggan ‘no? It is indeed a good feeling to be called successful. But are you currently successful? Our topic this time is how to measure your success first – because it is impossible for you to go where you want to be, or to become who you want to be, IF you do not know where you stand right NOW. Correct! We will measure how successful you are at this very moment. Ready? Gawin mo na yung gagawin mo bago tayo mag umpisa. Ready ka na? First, look at your self in front of the mirror – mula ulo, mukha hanggang paa. Ayos ka na ba sa iyong nakita? Now, open your wallet. Mayroon ka bang nakita - o puwede na? Look inside your house. Satisfied? Look at your wife and your kid? Okay ba sila? Yes? Now, ask them if they are ok? If they say yes, then I want you to look outside your window and look at the people around you. Successful ba sila? If your answer to all these is “YES!”, dalawa lang iyan - tunay kang matagumpay na Pilipino (congrats sis and bro!) or niloloko mo lang ang sarili mo!
Recreation and free time Malinaw that your free time should be ‘free from worries’ at panghihinayang. Otherwise, you cannot consider it as free time. Tandaan mo na useless lahat ng iyong pinagpapaguran at pinag-iipunan kung hindi mo rin maienjoy ang mga ito. Bear in mind, that the very reason kung bakit ka nagtratrabaho at nagpapayaman – ay upang magkaroon ng quality ang iyong buhay. Quality life means quality time. Health and Fitness Tingnan mo ang iyong sarili sa salamin: your face then your body. Ask yourself; am I presentable or do I look like a table? Guwapo ba ako o mukha akong kuwago? Katawang Coca-Cola bottle ba ‘ko o 1.5 galitro? Successful Pinoys are successful - even physically. They look good, feel good and live good healthy lives. Relationships This pertains to your loved ones: your wife, parents, children, relatives and friends. Napakalawak na subject matter pero isa lang ang buod ng talakayan – matagumpay na relasyon – how you would relate to them, and them to you. Laging two-way ang isang relationship. Kaya intindihin, alamin at gawin ang nararapat dahil ang isang successful
Pinoy ay may katuwang sa lahat ng kanyang tagumpay – he shares his trials and triumphs. Ang kanyang relasyon mismo ay kanyang tagumpay. Personal Goals This is different from your career and your love life. These are the things you want to have, and the dreams you share with your family. These are your aspirations na ikaw ang makaka-experience at ikaw lang ang makakafulfill. Contribution to the Community Sabi nga ng dating Pangulong Diosdado Macapagal, “…We must help bridge the gap between the poor man and the man of wealth, not by pulling down the rich to the level of the poor, but by raising the poor towards the more abundant life.” Naiintindihan mo ba ito? Kung ginagawa mo na ito, maituturin kang tunay na Successful Pilipino. Personal Relationship with God I am not going to preach, I am only going to teach. Have you asked the question, “why me?” (habang nag-iisa ka). Sino ang kinakausap mo? It only shows that there is a Supreme being. This is actually the ‘Secret’. Why? Because when you unlock this, you unlock all the seven other aspects of success. Know where YOU are and where you are going Now, that you know the aspects of success, measure your success by grading yourself in each segment. Categorize whether you are ‘poor’, ‘middle class’ or ‘rich’. Pakiramdaman mo lang. Write it down. Di ba ngayon pa lang kita mo na kung matagumpay ka? Now that you know, you can fill up the void in your barometer of success. Kung saan ka kinukulang, doon mo punoan o dagdagan. So, if someone asks you this time whether you’ve got it made, you can now answer. Not only do you know whether you are successful or not – you also know what to do to get to where you want to be! ‘I know what to do!’ is now available in the UAE through Illustrado. Please call 04-365 4543 to reserve your copy or e-mail info@illustrado.net
46 ARTS & CULTURE
A Passage to Asia’s
Best Design Destination Like most success stories, Manila F.A.M.E. International started with a goal: to tap the immense potential of Filipino artistry and craftsmanship, as seen through Philippine arts and crafts, and make that paradigm shift from being largely a supplier of raw materials to becoming innovators of world-class design products.
T
hus, in 1993, shortly after the inception of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the trailblazing Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers Exchange or Manila F.A.M.E. was organized. Its objective: to bring together pioneering entrepreneurs in the different crafts and usher local design products into the international arena. Back then, however, most local companies were not yet prepared for the stringent standards of the international market, and although the potential has always been there, a lot of work had to come into play for local design products to suit the highly sophisticated markets of Europe, Japan, and North America. The next important step: bring in worldrenowned designers and product specialists by launching the Best in the World-Product Specialist Program. “We showed these designers the wide array of indigenous materials and the incredible range of
craftsmanship, and have them work with the local companies to develop new and exciting products for the show,” says then Executive Director Mina Gabor. Within months after initiating the manufacturer exchange series, the Apparel Market Week was launched, followed by what was to become CITEM’s flagship show – the Manila F.A.M.E. Gifts and Houseware Market Week (in October). These maiden exhibitions were aimed at creating a marketplace for Philippine-made products that put a premium on innovative design and fine craftsmanship, in an effort to put the Philippines in the design map. Energy ran high with eight noted international design consultants who were commissioned to collaborate with local entrepreneurs on various product development projects: Nat Bauer for home linens, Jack Larsen and Docey Lewis for handloom and textiles, James Penland for shell crafts, Neils Refsgaard for ceramics, Rafael Sanchez for fashion accessories, and Philip Cutler and Frank Sander for furniture. The international designers’ collaboration
with local manufacturers gave way to exciting new products that were, at once, modern and traditional, blending industrial manufacturing practices with indigenous materials and techniques. It was the birth of a new design aesthetic. “It had taken a lot of persuasive skills and a hefty chunk of the CITEM budget to convince these experts to come to the Philippines, so we were determined to make full use of their services, matching them up with as many of the participating companies as possible,” recounts Gabor. The results were better than anything CITEM had hoped for. The aggressive international campaign brought in a respectable number of international buyers who were entranced by the fresh product design and innovative use of indigenous materials. The show, which generated over US$9.4 million in total sales, was a preview of bigger and better things to come. 46 Shows in 24 Years Just like the products it showcases season
ARTS & CULTURE 47
after season, the Manila F.A.M.E. International we know today is a result of years of constant reengineering in response to the ever-changing times. “Most of the changes CITEM has made over the years were strategic in nature, often in view of international exhibition trends and the changing preferences of our markets,” says the late Ely Pinto-Mansor, the CITEM veteran who assumed the agency’s leadership when Mina Gabor was summoned to higher office. Undoubtedly, it was the biannual Manila F.A.M.E. Market Week that had consistently reaped success among CITEM’s many innovations. In 1999, it gathered 1,399 exhibitors, attracted 4,758 foreign and 2,076 local buyers, and turned in a whopping US$ 235 million in total sales, the highest ever for any CITEM show. In 2000, Manila F.A.M.E. Market Week, newly accredited by the prestigious Union des Foires Internationales, had to give way to a new image. The latest incarnation of CITEM’s flagship show – the Manila F.A.M.E. International – was launched in April 2000 to expand the scope of its services and offerings to visiting buyers and respond to the general trend in the international exhibition circuit. It introduced three subfairs, namely A Marketplace for Home Ideas, The Fashion Store, and, Christmas Village Occupying the halls of the World Trade Center Metro Manila, East Pavilion, and the entire exhibition area of the Philippine Trade Training Center, the Manila F.A.M.E. International had too many times been compared by international buyers to shows in Paris and Hong Kong, in terms of the quality of product offerings and presentation.
48 ARTS & CULTURE
To date, there have been 30 Manila F.A.M.E. Market Weeks and 16 Manila F.A.M.E. International shows, carrying the same brand of creativity and idealism that fuelled CITEM’s maiden shows. Design is Key Product design has been a major force behind the success of Manila F.A.M.E. International. Starting with the pioneering Best in the World-Product Specialist Program, exhibitors were given an international design perspective and the rare opportunity to collaborate with design luminaries Fred Palatinus, Philip Cutler, Paola Navone, Edward Frank, Gerald Tyler, and Martin Marley. The foreign consultants were paired with local designers from then Design Center Philippines to bridge the knowledge gap. Apart from working on product design of exhibitors that sign up for the program, the design consultants were expected to provide the creative hand in putting up the ‘special settings’ for the new products. By the end of Mina Gabor’s term in 1990, over 100 product specialists were going around the country, developing and curating new product lines and improving available technologies. Emerging Filipino design
talents were eventually tapped in the early 90s with the signing on of interior designer Budji Layug and subsequently, Joel Enriquez, Tony Gonzales, Tes Pasola, and Val Padilla. The launch of the Merchandise Design Consultancy Program (MDCP) in 1997 paved the way for other local designers PJ Arañador, Carlo Tanseco, Rachy Cuna, Michael Salientes and Tina Bonoan, among others to collaborate with Manila F.A.M.E. exhibitors. Foreign-based Filipino designers who had made their marks in the design capitals of the world were likewise recruited to the program, including Melissa Camacho, Federico de Vera, Conrado Velasco (USA) and Josef Crisanto (France). The MDCP did not totally do away with foreign designers as German floristmeister Detlef Klatt, the quirky New Yorker Doug Fitch, Cologne-based graphics and textile designer Kim Lipfert, British designers Nick Paterson, Nick Jinkinson, and Naomi Filmer, the eccentric Rene Jan Coster who is named by Swarovski as one of the top 16 designers in the world, and William Gordon, recipient of two IDEA awards, joined CITEM’s roster of consultants. In its 20th anniversary edition in October 2003, the highly acclaimed Filipino design
ARTS & CULTURE 49
Innovative Philippine products at Index Dubai 2007 For the sixth time, with the support of CITEM, ten Filipino home furnishing companies have joined Index Dubai 2007, earning rave reviews from the regional interior design business
collective Movement 8 teamed up with exhibitors from the furnishings, home accessories, and holiday décor exhibitors, while British jewelry designer Naomi Filmer collaborated with fashion accessories manufacturers. Recently added to this distinguished list are Ricky Toledo, Chito Vijandre, Daniel Dela Cruz, Dindo Magallanes, Viña Domingo, and Dante Austria, who all collaborated with Manila F.A.M.E. exhibitors in 2004; William Gordon and Vic Barba, and Cesar Gaupo, Bea Valdes, and Yvonne Quisumbing-Romulo in 2006, and Darwin Avilles and Chito Prieto in 2007.
It was Manila F.A.M.E. International that pioneered the presentation of design products in special lifestyle settings. This concept, originally conceptualized as a focal point for the different sections of the exhibition, has since been copied by other shows in Asia.
“Innovations that come with every Manila F.A.M.E. edition, in terms of product offerings and presentation, would always create noise in the region’s trade fair circuit. There was definitely no room for complacency,” says Felicitas Agoncillo-Reyes, current CITEM Executive Director and DTI Assistant Secretary.
The local delegation to the Middle East fair included Angel Whispers Gifts and Crafts (home accessories, collectible items), Art ‘N’ Nature Mfg. Corp. (home décor), Asia Embroidery (home accessories), Designer’s
Creative ideas kept pouring in every edition of Manila F.A.M.E International, making it on top of the must-see events in the region’s trade fair circuit. And with CITEM’s unrelenting efforts to put the show forward, as well as up the ante of Philippine design, buyers worldwide can expect more surprises in future years.
Asia’s Queen of Trade Fairs Manila F.A.M.E. International soon became the Asian standard for putting up a good show, earning the title Asia’s Queen of Trade Fairs.
sector.
“Manila F.A.M.E. will always be a work-inprogress,” says Agoncillo-Reyes. “The need to continuously innovate and seek new ways to reach out to a global audience will always be integral to the success of the show. And we are definitely not running out of ideas.” Indeed, Manila F.A.M.E. International, which celebrated its 46th edition last October 2007, has gone a long way from its humble start. And judging from the consistently good turnout every buying season, the world’s design radar will always point to the Philippines as Asia’s Best Design Destination.
Décor Inc. (flower arrangement, artificial plants), Design Menu…by Speedy Crafts Int’l (home accessories, collectible items), Enpekei Int’l Inc.(home décor), Kriska Do Int’l (home accessories, decorative vases), Lightworks Resources Inc. (furniture, artwall, vases with water feature), Robles Heritage Inc. (furniture, lamps, home accessories), and Stoneworld Impex Inc (accent tables, home décor). Last year, the Philippine’s participation in this event settled a total of US$ 6.67 million in export sales—a 39% increase from 2005’s business deal of US$ 4.8 million, with delegates winning exclusive hotel and distributorship contracts, as well as sizeable order bookings with the trendy and functional proudly Philippine-made products.
50 NATIONALISM IN ACTION
Yabang Pinoy: Making Filipinos Proud to be Filipinos
By Apple Lopez
“Nations, whose NATIONALISM is destroyed, are subject to ruin.” Muammar Al Qaddafi The youth is oftentimes viewed by elders and society, in general, either as the hope of the nation or as the ‘disgrace’ of the country. More often than not, rightly or wrongly, they are often perceived as the latter. Blame it on the escalating issues of drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, and the school drop-out trend which plague young people all over the world today.
But is that really all that the younger generation could offer? Enter a group of young Filipinos who want to create a difference in the way we think about the youth and the nation, giving rise to a movement devoted to re-igniting patriotic fervor among our people. Yabang Pinoy started out as the thesis of Maricris Sarino for her college paper. Seeing that such a movement could actually help create a difference among our countrymen, she shared the idea with her friends Marge Manalaysay and Patrick Joson. The rest, as they say, is history. Though the three prefer to be anonymous, referring to themselves as volunteers, they cannot deny the fact that what they have set out to do ignited a flame of hope and patriotism, inevitably leading the way for other young Filipino entrepreneurs and artists who hold an unwavering dream for the Philippines. And no, this is not just your ordinary youth movement. Yabang Pinoy moderators and volunteers do not believe in expressing themselves through political demonstration. Instead of protest banners the Yabang Pinoy group makes use of a braided abaca band, created by the men and women of Baranggay Ilaya in Muntinlupa City to signify Pinoy pride, resilience as well as exceptional talent; quite rightly so, as the abaca is an indigenous Philippine fiber known for its exceptional strength. Yabang Pinoy aims to strengthen Filipino national pride by putting to the fore proudly Philippine made products – in turn encouraging Pinoys to develop self-worth and confidence in their abilities. The group has been around promoting Pinoy pride for over two years now, and at present has already over 10,000 members
all over the globe. In this short span of time Yabang Pinoy had already initiated numerous projects and campaigns aimed to revive the spirit of nationalism. Aside from donating books and educational materials to various schools in the provinces, the group’s projects include the Yamang Isip, Yamang Dagat, the Bigkas Pilipinas spoken word album, and the recently concluded and well-celebrated Global Pinoy Bazaar 2007.
together, not as competitors, but as a group who strongly believed that Filipino products are definitely at par with global standards. The bazaar was sponsored by Happee Toothpaste, Splash Corporation, Digiprint, Binalot, and AIR21. Event proceeds will go to the Children’s Environmental Awareness and Action Foundation (CEAAF) whose thrust is environmental education on the richness of biodiversity in the Philippines.
The Global Pinoy Bazaar was held at the Rockwell NBC Tent in Makati City last October 21, 2007. The event showcased Filipino products from all over the country, highlighting our innate creativity and ingenuity. The fair also promoted the “Plastic Free” advocacy and encouraged shoppers to bring their own bayong or purchase a Yabang Pinoy bayong to support environmental conservation. Additional highlights of the fete were the performances of the Bigkas Pilipinas team spearheaded by Kooky Tuason and the awarding of Yabang Pinoy Gapos Lahi, Guhit Pinoy and Likha Pinoy contests.
Global Pinoy Bazaar 2007 was a definitive experience, especially for those who are somehow losing faith in our country - an eye-opener that emphatically stressed that Filipinos really have a lot to offer the world.
“The Global Pinoy Bazaar is a one-day fair that brings together both on-the-rise and professional Filipino entrepreneurs who have globally competitive Pinoy products to exhibit,” says Landa Bautista, an active Yabang Pinoy volunteer. “Gusto naming umikot yung concept that if you’re supporting Filipino products, you’re also supporting the Philippines and the Filipinos.” The event was a roaring success with Filipinos from all walks of life participating in the fair. Well-known celebrities such as KC Concepcion, Lino Cayetano, JM Rodriguez, Mylene Dizon, Paolo Paraiso, and Jeena Lopez among others also showed their support. Many Pinoy entrepreneurs gathered
Yabang Pinoy admits that it is still a long way before the whole nation will join in their advocacy. Still they are resolute about pushing on with their voluntary efforts by continuously initiating innovative projects to show Filipinos that they can make a difference in today’s chaotic world where love for country is slowly getting eroded. As Landa Bautista puts it “we are in the stage of influencing a group of influential people, and hopefully, it’ll trickle down to the all Filipinos.” Now, those who don’t believe in Jose Rizal’s assertion that “the youth is the hope of the country” could very well find their negative perceptions disproved as they watch these young Filipinos share their precious talents, abilities and time to show us that we have a lot to be proud of – mending our fading nationalistic spirit. It is a brave move from such young minds that will contribute to real progress and development in our country.
Ipagmayabang natin na tayo’y Pilipino!
NATIONALISM IN ACTION 51
Author’s Avenue team
Yabang Pinoy
Patty Eusta
quio
Gima Lumauig of Proudly Ifugao
Bambi Manosa
Cathy Escano of Atillo
and children
KC Concepcio an
d JM Rodriguez
Tamila Tapales Bags
Indie Art Manila
Nina Yuson - de Guzman of Sapato Manila
Michelle Joson models Yabang Pinoy Maria Clara bayong
The T-Shirt project team
Halo Halo
52 COCONUTER
A young Pinoy rediscovers his roots
GONE FISHING
Clear skies and calm waters made the day ideal for fishing. Waves quietly lapped at the shoreline as we pushed the bangka into the water, stirring the early morning tranquility. We took a short detour towards the nearby town market in order to buy a couple packs of alkaline AA batteries for the digital camera. After doing so, I hopped back into the boat, and we took off looking for a good fishing spot.
s
By David Poarch
unlight glittered across parts of the ocean’s surface. We chugged along until the water’s color changed from green to varying shades of blue. We just chose a random spot to fish where the water was a deep dark blue. With a quick whirl, the metal bar that served as a weight, plunged into the water and took my fishing line towards the hidden depths of the ocean, only to stop when it hit rock bottom. Equipped with four hooks baited with small shrimp, we waited for the rock fish to bite. With the line so deep into the ocean, it was difficult to differentiate between the feel of a bite versus the normal current. It took a little while to become accustomed and finally be able decipher which vibrations required action. One has to be very alert, because a true bite requires a quick tug from the fisherman’s arm in order to ensure that the hook ensnares the fish and does not let it wiggle loose. Our fishing equipment was not very fancy, but rest assured they were effective nonetheless. Soon, we were pulling in all sorts of rock fish, like lapu-lapu, mulmol, and bisugo. Fishing was quite a delight and a bit addicting. The fish that we caught are actually quite expensive at the market – with a kilo of lapu-lapu fetching you some PHP350 pesos. Fishing is actually a means of living for many of the people in the province, providing food on the table, and money when sold. Unlike the monotonously mechanical jobs of modern civilization, fishing has a certain appeal due to its unpredictability and its dependence on the fisherman’s discretion. Hence, the amount and type of catch is dependent on the fisherman’s skills, experience, diligence, and decisions. It’s a way of living that is flexible in the sense that one can decide when one would like to fish. If one would like to spend the whole day and night fishing in order to bring in a plentiful catch, and then rest the next day or two, one could do that. Or if one would
like to fish for a set amount of hours per day, or fish only for food, they could do as they please. It is a huge contrast from work in the modern world which is highly regimented and uncompromising. In a matter of an hour, we caught enough fish to make a decent meal for a whole family. The catch was just in time because our skin was beginning to burn and the waves began to roll. We took a short break at a nearby island. Rice, grilled pusit or squid, and spicy vinegar made up our morning meal. We sat there eating with our hands, as Filipinos traditionally do, enjoying the spectacular tropical scenery. It was a serene and relaxing break, as blue birds chirped atop nearby trees and a light wind whistled through the surrounding shrubbery. I wasn’t able to explore too much of the island as I saw several “no trespassing – private property” signs. I was informed that someone tried to nab a few coconuts in the past and was caught by the owner. The owner then forced him to take down all the coconuts from the tree and drink all of the juice in one sitting – a tough punishment indeed. On the way back to the mainland, I noticed an eye-catching beach that jutted out from the island. Its pristine white sand and clear waters were so stunning that I couldn’t resist making a stop. I walked a bit into the water and it seemed to suddenly deepen like an underwater cliff not far from the shore. I was told that many children and a handful of adults that were poor swimmers have disappeared at the very spot. Soon, the wind began to pick up and the waves grew larger. The fisherman who accompanied me alerted me that it was time to head back before the circumstances grew worse. So we all ran back to the boat and rushed back to the mainland bobbing up and down to the rolling waves. We were soaked upon return from the splashing waves, but had a warm belly and a certain satisfaction to comfort us as we had, perhaps, the best lunch ever – fish that we caught with our own hands.
ILLUSTRADO MODEL SEARCH
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54 MANILA TRIPPIN’
QUIAPO, Heart of Manila Text and Photography by Ivan Anthony Henares
When we say Quiapo, the first things that come to mind are images of the Black Nazarene, the multitude of people that makes an annual walk of faith with the image during the 9th of January processions, and the Basilica Minore (Quiapo Church) with the myriad of hawkers and stalls, herbal medicine and anting-anting vendors, as well as fortune tellers that abound the adjacent Plaza Miranda. But unknown to most, Quiapo is much more than just that.
MANILA TRIPPIN’ 55
I
was lucky to have attended the launching of the book Quiapo: Heart of Manila. It was my chance to walk around the famed Hidalgo Street area where the event was held. The back of the book reads: “Quiapo district in the City of Manila is more than the Nazarene and Quezon Boulevard. It has excelled in painting, music, cooking and the arts. It harbors landmarks which are unique in the world. It is also neighborhoods in charming 1900s settings. In revitalizing the metropolis, Manila’s centuries-old districts deserve as much care as the suburbs.” The welcome message of Dr. Fernando N. Zialcita, anthropologist and professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, really set the tone for the book and Quiapo as a unique district. Here are some interesting excerpts from his speech: “If Quiapo were in Melbourne, the rich and famous would be scrambling to live in it.” These are the words of Dr. Trevor Hogan, an Australian sociologist who taught some courses in urbanism at the Far Eastern University over five years ago and who loved the streets, alleys and corners of Quiapo. I run the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista center for
culture in Quiapo. We get visitors from the different embassies, like the Spanish and French embassies, who come on their own. Employees from the Department of Tourism tell us that they now get many requests for information on Quiapo. But why Quiapo? Isn’t it dirty, polluted and crime-ridden? Why do foreigners enjoy exploring the side-streets? The heart of major cities abroad is not the shopping mall, not the gated communities but districts like Quiapo, where the rich, the middle class and the poor mix together, where your place of work is close to where you live, where the streets are lively throughout the day, and where there are beautiful historical landmarks. “In addition, there are experiences unique to Quiapo. Calle Hidalgo may now be disorderly; but it still points like an arrow to San Sebastian Church. ‘The street is like a stage-set’ exclaimed a young Italian architect. Calle San Sebastian may be a small winding street. But it has beautiful 1920s mansions over which San Sebastian rises. On special days, the entire church is lit up. If you walk around the district, you will find inspiring scenes. For
instance, between the accesorias decorated with ornate balusters and grilles, you will find patios where neighbors exchange stories while sharing steaming arroz caldo. “Quiapo is where different cultures meet. The bells of Quiapo Church alternate with the sacred call to prayer at the Golden Mosque. On another street, the Ocampo Pagoda shows off Japanese icons: carp for strength, a turtle for long-life, a dragon for Imperial majesty. You can enjoy this mixed experience only in Quiapo, the heart of Manila which is the heart of the Philippines. One of the many reasons we wrote the book was to show that if Quiapo were more orderly, it will be a showpiece.” Indeed, Quiapo is a showpiece. I finally got to walk along Hidalgo Street which Butch Zialcita had always been telling us about. For the longest time, there had been plans to revitalize the street as a heritage district which was supposed to be spearheaded by the Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) located along the street. But that was ages ago. Several years have passed. The fabled and historic Enriquez Mansion, the birthplace of the UP School of Fine Arts which was
56 MANILA TRIPPIN’
housed there from 1909 to 1926, had already been ripped out of the heritage street and transferred to that property in Bagac, Bataan leaving a large empty space in what would have been the centerpiece of the heritage street. But there is still hope if we act fast. And I hope the professors there get their act together and start working to rehabilitate their area the same way that the Far Eastern University made a great effort to clean up and prepare a rehabilitation plan for Nicanor Reyes Street and its environs. I missed the program at the Bahay NakpilBautista along Bautista (formerly Barbosa) Street where an exhibit on Juan Nakpil, national artist for architecture, was opened. The house was designed by equally renowned architect Juan Arellano for Dr. Ariston Bautista and his in-laws, the Nakpil family. I came just in time to catch the group walk down Hidalgo Street (which was formerly known as Calle San Sebastian) towards the current Calle San Sebastian where the book launching was going to be held. The street actually has several American-era houses, among them the Yturralde House, which Butch mentioned was once used as the consulate of Monaco! Basilica Minore de San Sebastian Quiapo is the only Manila district with two
minor basilicas. We are all familiar with the Black Nazarene. But I’ve always believed that the hidden gem of Quiapo is the one in Plaza del Carmen. This is the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian, the first all-steel church in the Philippines and in Asia, and the second in the world. I was looking through my archive of photos which I took long before I started writing. Among them were photos of the San Sebastian Church which I shot way back in high school during an alternative class day exposure trip to old Manila. The church was one of our stops during that trip. And to tell you honestly, I was not ready for what I was going to see.
The structure was prefabricated in Belgium, dismantled and shipped back to the Philippines. It was said that after three earthquakes that leveled the earlier San Sebastian churches, the Recollects decided to use an unconventional material to build an earthquake proof church, which explains why the structure is entirely made of steel. But nothing is decay-free and we all know that the biggest enemy of steel is iron oxide, more commonly known as rust! This is why the World Monuments Fund (WMF) included the structure in the List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 1998. Inclusion in the World Monuments Watch entitles the structure to grants for restoration. And I find it sad that the custodians of the church rejected the US$25,000 grant given by the WMF maybe because of jurisdiction issues with the Philippine government.
Upon entering, this young high school student never realized that such a treasure existed in the country. And I remember distinctly Fr. Mac Reyes knocking on the walls of the church to prove to us that the structure But I do hope Quiapo is revitalized and preserved, not just its churches or was indeed made of steel! elegant mansions, not just the wonderful streetscape. We must preserve its unique I would later find out that the Philippines way of life – because it reflects the essence used to have much more than that. But the of our distinctive and rich culture. Let’s very structures which made us the Pearl walk the streets of Quiapo to find out of the Orient, architectural treasures that spanned hundreds of years, were flattened by what that is all about. the American Army in a few days during the liberation of Manila.
Aruba Bar & Grill
MANILA TRIPPIN’ 57
SM Mall of Asia By Mike Martin
S
o the wife does the groceries, the kids are playing video games at the amusement center, and it’s a weekend. If you believe the drudgery and monotony of your life is inescapable - you may be right. Or you may just be at the wrong side of the mall.
Aruba is here to facilitate the diversion, folks! It’s right at the very heart of the mall synonymous with the Pinoy psyche and according to the word on the street, the biggest mall this side of the Pacific Rim - SM’s Mall of Asia. Step right in and throw your cares away. When you consider all the things that we need to take care of any given day, the question most likely raised would be: “How long has it been since you partied anyway? “ I had gone on Ron Chua’s invitation. Ron’s family partly owns the place, and since Ron definitely knows where to have fun in the metro, I gamely agreed. The traffic was horrible as it always is in Manila, and although you could go through three major arteries to get there (EDSA, Buendia and Roxas Boulevard) it would be accurate to leave one hour earlier than the meeting time. Aruba sits right after the initial reclamation area, for you folks who have been out of the country for a while. The roads are four lanes on each side, it’s the old metro’s arteries that are proving to be the stumbling block in what would have been a ten-minute drive max if you came from Greenhills or Makati. I am already a little jaded with all the reviews I have been doing lately, but I was not disappointed. Aruba has a cozy welcoming ambiance with its subdued tones and elegant styling, I believe you’d find yourself hard pressed to not go in at the least if you ever passed by; it is that striking. Simple tasteful colors, and none of those gaudy ‘rasta’ festival paint jobs that have been quite prevalent lately. Remember those stylish Nokia or Hugo Boss commercials? Being in Aruba is like being in those advertisements. So fashionably hip, I think the saying had gone. This establishment would work well for a variety of occasions (they accept party reservation folks) since the place doesn’t have a distinct mark to
it yet, like Xymaca or Metro. A concert with the top local rock group would feel just as home there as your clan reunion would. The keywords are – subdued and elegant, which makes the place quite flexible. The drinks are standard of course, pop concoctions and all that. Which folks usually expect when they’re out bar hopping. Don’t you just hate it when it takes thirty minutes to figure out which is rum cola from the list? The food is another thing though. I had usually watched Ron with his finicky attitude toward service and the quality of food he eats whenever we go out. After Aruba, I guess I am a convert. The food is meticulously prepared - a feast for the eyes and the palate as well. The menu is fairly run off the mill, as most places in the metro have a similar set-up that sticks to what usually sells best, and then they just change the dish’s name to suit the establishment. The difference with Aruba is – you probably never got anything as meticulously prepared as their dishes. It almost felt like you were in a Japanese owned establishment. The owners are quite passionate about doing what they do, which spells p-e-r-f-e-c-t for any customer. It feels like any great hang out place should: it’s okay when you’re alone, cool when you’re with someone, and freaking blasted when you’re with the gang. As soon as you’re in the gloves are off, much like an exploding feline. So stretch to your heart’s content. The owners enjoin you. This is, after all a no frills unwind zone. I wasn’t able to get zonked out due to worrying about the drive home, but hey, pound for pound this joint is one for the ages. Aruba has balance, variety and impeccable service. If the restaurant business worked with zen principles as a general rule, this would be textbook material. Four and a half stars!
58 PINOY PLANET
A South African
Safari Text and photography by Al Manlangit
The word ‘safari’ conjures thrilling images of primeval Africa - the wild animals, expansive savannahs and the promise of adrenaline-packed adventure. And so it was with great anticipation that my wife and I drove the 5-hour, 550 km distance from Johannesburg to Limpopo – a province northwest of the capital, close to the border of Mozambique. Packed inside our suitcases in the rented Nissan car’s trunk were thick, warm clothing because it was winter there – quite a contrast to the hot, sweltering summer air in Kuwait where we have come from.
O
ur first stop was a privatelyowned game reserve named after a colorful African birdGwalaGwala. The 12-hectare property had six tented accommodations. We stayed in one of these charming tents - erected on a raised wooden platform complete with a bedroom, a toilet and shower, including a verandah overlooking a gurgling stream surrounded by trees where small monkeys swung around and watched us with utmost curiosity. We were strongly advised to zip-up the double flaps of the tent’s entrance to prevent the mischievous creatures from getting inside and wreaking havoc. Imagine if they got in then took your passport and valuables before making off into the forest –what would you do? About two hundred meters away from our tent was the main lounge which overlooked
a swimming pool. Right next to it was the boma - an enclosure where dinner was served under the stars which peeped through the canopy of trees above. A roaring campfire provided warmth and the ambiance for guests to share stories and drinks until late into the night. Further away stood a huge jackalberry tree with a tree house which we climbed to have brunch. Overall the camp was laid back and relaxed. Our daily itinerary centered on the game drives. We woke up at 6:00 AM, had a quick coffee and some hors d’ouvres before riding off into the jungle in an open 4x4 LandRover with a ranger and tracker who held a shotgun mounted on the bonnet. We came back at about 10:00 AM, for brunch and some rest before trundling off again for the afternoon drive at 3:00 PM. We got back four hours later just in time for dinner at the boma. On the way to camp, we would stop by a
clearing where drinks were served along with kudu (beef jerky), dried mangoes and nuts of all shapes and sizes. This was a great moment that we immensely enjoyed. Imagine listening to the strange nocturnal sounds of the jungle while a luminous constellation in the heavens winked back at you, as you tilted your head to drink a warm Budweiser. I couldn’t think of anything more sublime than this.
PINOY PLANET 59
They call it the ‘big five’ - buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion and leopard. These animals are considered the fiercest and most difficult to hunt, and they are the main reason why close to two million people visit game reserves annually. We were brought to neighboring Thornybush to hunt them down (with cameras and videos, of course!) since GwalaGwala only had giraffes, zebras, antelopes and other benign creatures. Game drives are done in the morning and late afternoon since animals are generally more active at these times. During midday, most of them rest in the shade or in the dense bush, remaining quite still, which makes them harder to find. On our first day, we easily saw four of the ‘big five’, save for the leopard which is the most elusive. We also came across a herd of elephants stripping the bark off acacia trees with their trunks, about a hundred buffaloes wading through a sea of dried grass, munching their way through a clearing, as well as a family of rhinos in the middle of the road. Later, we also passed some lions bedding down for the night. There were about eight of them, and their paws were still bloody from the day’s kill – probably an impala unlucky enough to end up as dinner. These fascinating and unforgettable scenes were repeated daily. On a guided drive, you traverse rough terrain without having to follow dirt roads in order to spot game closer. Communication through two-way radio between rangers ensures good sighting opportunities - if one finds an elusive prey, the others are notified of its location. The tracker, a local guy from the Shangaan tribe, can hear and smell animals hiding in the bush. As he looks for telltale marks on the road and surroundings, the ranger drives the jeep and makes a running commentary on anything
Ensaymada
60 PINOY PLANET
from the deadly tamboeti tree to the mating habits of kudus and the family history of a pride of lions. In front of him is a shotgun - in case of emergency. He told us that he never had to use before (yeah, I thought, our scouting party could be the first time he would need to, I thought apprehensively). There were eight of us in the group and it was fun going into unmarked trails – lurching through boulders on a dry riverbed amidst the tall grass and ducking under thorn-covered tree branches in search of wildlife. This was how we found the elusive leopard one early morning. After tracking her footsteps on the soft sand, we spotted her gracefully slinking through the golden grass in search of prey. She didn’t mind us following her at close range for about half an hour. Animals in these reserves are so used to being approached by vehicles that they almost totally ignore them. The first time we saw lions, I was quite nervous as they stood there staring at us from just eight meters away. What if they bounded the jeep and dragged us out for lunch? But they paid us little attention after the initial ‘eyeballing’. The ranger cautioned us though, not to do anything reckless like jumping up and down our seats, or waving our hands to attract attention. Needless to say, nobody dared to move a muscle! We’ve seen other animals like the cheetah, giraffe, zebra, hyena, warthog, jackal and chacma baboon, including the antelope family which is subdivided into kudu, eland, impala, nyala, waterbuck, duiker, bushbuck and steenbok. We had a field day spotting all kinds of birds through binoculars. At this time of year though, we were told, many birds have already made the annual winter
migration to Spain and parts of southern Europe where it was warmer. The vegetation was no less interesting. We’ve encountered the medicinal bushwillow and marula tree, the shady acacia, the thorny morokolo and the sinister tamboeti tree whose sap could cause blindness and its wood-smoke, once inhaled, could send you running to the toilet in no time, because of its diarrhea-inducing chemicals. After being acclimatized and getting used to life in the wild, it was time to move on to neighboring Kruger National Park. It is a huge territory stretching roughly 350 kms north to south and 60 kms east to west comprising some 20,000 sq km of low mountains, undulating plains, flat savannahs, and several major rivers. The park has 22 fenced-in camps with a selection of cottages, huts, chalets or tents. We stayed in a comfortable lodge in Hazyview, one of the neighboring towns adjacent to the park. We drove every morning to the entrance gate (there are about 8 of them) that opened at 6:00 AM and drove around the whole day before exiting at 5:30PM when the gates closed. The self-drive adventure was different because we had to find animals by ourselves and this was hampered by the fact that you were not allowed to stray from the paved road’s surface. Because of the dangerous nature of the surroundings, visitors are also forbidden from going out of their cars at any time except in designated areas. We had a scary close encounter with a big herd of elephants that suddenly materialized out of the trees from a nearby river. Stranded in the middle of the road, I was afraid that
they’d squash us inside our puny car! But it was great fun watching zebras and giraffes crossing the road, hippos wallowing in the muddy watering holes and wildebeests kicking up a dust cloud as they scampered through bare, reddish earth. The bushveld experience is all-pervasive. Memories created from scenes observed each changing day will definitely stay with you for a lifetime. After all, how can one forget the exhilarating experience of a journey back in time and the primal beauty of an African sunset?
If you tell me, I forget. If you show me, I remember. If you let me do it, I understand...
62 PINOY ABOUT TOWN
MOOMOOO
IN THE CITY By Jonie Jose • Illustrations by Marvin del Rosarioo
Do you believe in what you cannot see? Do you believe in ghosts? Back home, the belief in the paranormal is quite commonplace, with ghost stories galore from almost everyone you know. However, in a place like the UAE, especially in cosmopolitan Dubai where almost everything is brand-spanking new, is there a place for moomooo in the city? Ghost Sightings To discover the answers, I googled “ghost in Dubai” and found 1,270,000 stories to browse. Obviously, it’s impossible to go through all the stories - and most of the entries were misleading anyway. But some caught my attention as they seemed authentic. To start off, here are a few links that will somehow make you believe, or at least consider, the existence of ghosts in these parts. In YouTube, a Pinoy male is filming around his flat with his webcam, when he sees a woman with long hair standing in the corridor, who then suddenly disappears. The man gets shocked and shouts - “Nanay!” http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=SBaSuxdcGdo Secret Dubai blogspot features a host of stories about ghosts and urban legends. In this link, the writer talks about a Scandinavian couple who threw a party in their flat in Sharjah. Apparently friends of the couple got photos of the party developed. They were surprised to see an Indian lady standing in the corridor. The guests were all Scandinavians, and there were no other visitors. Upon seeing the photos, the couple was astonished. For some time they had been noticing what appeared to be a reflection on their balcony, as they sat inside. They had assumed it was someone from a neighboring flat, mirrored onto their window by some trick of light. When they saw the photo of the strange Indian lady in the corridor, they recognized
it as the mysterious figure on the balcony. Investigation from other tenants revealed that a housemaid jumped to her death from the very same balcony. The building watchman recognized from the picture that it was the same woman. http://secretdubai.blogspot.com/2006/10/ sharjah-ghost-story.html
control of the vehicle, which overturned.” Gulf News, June 24, 2005
“A dead body was found burnt near Bu Kadra interchange on Wednesday night. Civil defence teams found the dead body as they were putting out a fire in the grass on the side of the road. The body was found near the interchange on Dubai-Al Ain road, after Among the other entries featured in the same the Zabeel interchange at about 9pm. Gulf News, January 12, 2007 blog is the story of a notorious roundabout in the city. The blog goes - “… anyone who Is it all a coincidence? has lived in Dubai since before the Bu Kadra Roundabout was destroyed will remember Pinoy Ghost Confessions the fenced-off trees on the roundabout. I think the story goes something like this: Saeed Abu Kadra died there (and was buried) Things were becoming very interesting. So to pursue the subject further, I had to get first about 55 years ago in a tribal war. Many hand account from Filipinos themselves. Here weird things happened on that roundabout. are some of the stories that will give you chills I personally know of three people whose down your spine. cars were flipped over mysteriously there and the police did not prosecute -because of ‘Black Lady’ encounters the location. Smoke used to emanate from G.P., a 40 year old father of three lives with his the tops of the trees. When the bulldozers family in a flat in an old building in Barsha. were eventually called in to destroy the Sometime in July this year, he inadvertently roundabout a lot of rumours went around about how they were tossed about. They did left his video cam on, unknowingly focusing locate his body and moved it to a graveyard.” it in front of the toilet. The video cam apparently captured the image of a girl, about 12 years old, wearing a long black abaya. The To prove the strength of this story, I researched on the Gulf News online archive. I apparition was floating and passed through the door of the bathroom - from wall to found these news items wall. The recording lasted for a second. G.P. was shocked when he saw the clip, when he “An oil tanker driver yesterday escaped with minor injuries after his vehicle carrying 4,000 downloaded the contents of his video cam in gallons of petrol flipped over and caught fire September. on the Ras Al Khor Road, police said. The driver came down Bu Kadra interchange and Weird goings on in his flat added to his worries. His mother-in-law, who is living with was on the Ras Al Khor Road when he lost them, says she can hear strange things in the
PINOY ABOUT TOWN 63
Video capture 1 flat, such as the bathroom shower turning on by itself. G.P.’s two year old son, at times, appears to be talking to someone, with his chin-up, even if nobody’s there. Two years ago, this time in his villa in Hamriya, G.P. also had a run-in with another ghost. He saw a lady in black in her mid ‘20s at around 1:00 am appearing out of nowhere. He asked, “Sino ka?” Then she just disappeared. His mother-in-law saw the same lady washing dishes next to their housemaid. Hatta Horror M.A. another Dubai resident, who professes to have a ‘third eye’, recounted another ghost sighting, this time in Hatta. Last winter M.A., his family and friends went off-roading in the wadis of the Hajjar mountains. Armed with food and equipments, his group opted to camp somewhere in the rugged mountain range. Throughout the day, one of his friends was baffled at how his car kept locking and unlocking for no reason. During the evening, despite the darkness, the group was in high spirits celebrating through to the wee hours. At 2 AM in the morning, M.A. was roused by his wife who asked him to fetch milk for his young boy from their car. M.A. went out of their tent and walked towards the car. As he was standing by the door, he suddenly saw a
Video capture 2 man sprinting, as if being chased, right in front of him. The man was floating in the air – his feet never touched the ground. Suicide story Another Filipino family has encountered strange happenings in their flat in Sharjah opposite the Liberty Showroom. A couple of years ago, their Filipina babysitter was playing with the kids in the building corridor when she suddenly saw a tall man dressed in a black kandura running towards the kitchen. She followed him, and then he quickly ran to the bathroom. She kept on pursuing the man, but he suddenly disappeared. One time, the kids’ uncle visited and found one of his nephews hiding at the back of the door. The child was crying and was having palpitations. When asked why, the child replied, stammering – “There’s a ghost!” The family then asked the building watchman about the history of the flat, and they were told that a man committed suicide there. The family eventually relocated to a new building. Moomooo or No Moomooo? Curious about the veracity of the ghost claims, I wanted to experience the phenomenon myself. So I asked a ‘seer’ of the paranormal to come with me to the Bur
Video capture 3 Dubai graveyard. We went there at around 11pm and stood at the gate for some time. The place is so dark and full of trees; the only light available was from lampposts. I felt so cold, but couldn’t see any ‘thing’ or ghost. The seer told me to just keep clicking my camera – unfortunately, all I had then was a mobile cam. Shortly after our adventure, we downloaded the images into a laptop to check for any paranormal signs. The result was unbelievable and creepy! We have captured faint and almost transparent images of what clearly looked like people in the dark. I wondered why I did not see those apparitions on site and was told by the seer that ghosts are almost always invisible to the naked eye. Apparently, these entities are moving at another speed. Cameras, on the other hand, move much quicker than the eye, thus they are able to seize these images. Still my logical mind couldn’t believe it! So are there really ghosts? Whether it’s ghosts or any other paranormal being – there’s ‘something’ definitely out there. They are like the wind - you cannot see them, but you can feel them. So the next time you sense something weird going on, don’t look behind you – unless you’re brave enough!
64 The view from your regular Juan dela Cruz on the street
Usapang Kanto
Naniniwala ka ba sa
By Jonie Jose
multo?
Seeing is believing
Multo?! Marami akong naririnig na mga kwento tungkol sa multo at karamihan sa kanila ay naniniwala dahil sila raw mismo nakakita. Pero para sa akin, hindi pa rin ako naniniwala because I haven’t seen any ghost since I was a child. Siguro ganito na lang – “to see is to believe.” Ricardo Pateno
Go away, ghost
No...Multo? Waahh....scary..pero sorry, I don’t believe in ghost! Just because I never encountered such things. Maybe the ghost knows na takot ako. Lakas kasi ng pangontra ko. Prayers lang mga ‘tol! Mary Ann Esnaldo
Proven
Oo...naniniwala ako. Before talagang it’s a big ‘no-no’ for me kasi hindi naman ako nakakakita. Sa akin, pag-namatay na, wala na. Kaya lang nong namatay ang brother ko na wala kaming idea kundi pakiramdam lang ay don ako naniwala. Ipinaramdam nya sa amin na wala na sya at naprove namin ‘yon after three weeks. Patay na pala talaga sya. Kaya ngayon, naniniwala na ‘ko. Ann Budta
Scary!
Hindi masyado pero takot ako sa multo kung makakakita ako. Para kasing sa isip lang natin ‘yon. Siguro dahil hindi pa ko nakakakita. Ako rin hindi ko alam kung bakit, basta “Ayoko no’n”. Mark Citra
Kathang isip
Nope! It’s all in the mind. Minsan sa sobra nating pag-iisip tayo na mismo ang gumagawa ng mga bagay na pwede nating makita sa pag-iisip natin. Minsan sa sobra nating lungkot at takot eh nakakapag-isip na tayo ng kung ano-ano. Aristotle Mayuyo
You can feel it!
Yeah... I do believe in ghosts though I haven’t seen them even once. But there are times that I feel they are just behind me and it makes me feel so cold. I’m not sure if they really exist or if they are just in people’s minds, but I truly believe in MULTO! Cherry
Third eye
Oo...naniniwala ako but I haven’t experienced it yet. Wish ko nga makakita ako eh para ma-prove ko talaga sa sarili ko na may multo talaga. Joey Seyer
Located In Satwa Near Iranian Hospital
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66 FILIPINISMS
Onli In Da Pilipins - 1. n. a phrase used to define anything or anyone that only exists anywhere in the 7,107 islands of the Philippines || 2. adj. a phrase used to describe a Pinas episode or a Pinoy persona so rare one would never find anywhere else in the WWW (whole, wide world). It merits a documentation of some sort. By Aby Yap • Illustrations by Marvin del Rosario
FLIP, NO?!
“OA!” “Over!” “Exagg!” “Super!” “Grabe!” “To the max!” Most of the time, ka-Pinoyan is just synonymous with ‘overkill’. We tend to go overboard when pointing out something, feeling all kinds of emotions, observing mundane activities, and remarkably so, in celebrating special events. I’ll show you exactly what I mean. Campaign Craze Every time an election is held in the Philippines – it’s show time! It does not matter whether the actors are running for the leather seat in the Palace or the wobbly chair in the baranggay office. It’s guaranteed that there will be always scenes straight out of a Dolphy movie. If these comic incidents have left our jaws aching from laughing so hard when they were merely ‘scripted’ for the big or small screen, what more when they are actually happening in real life? In the city alone where I live, the comedy of the Baranggay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections is nothing short of ‘torrential’. The gimmick level is (sorry, Smart Telecoms) beyond amazing. It would threaten the campaign strategists of 2010’s national elections, maybe even fashionistas and celebrities. Imagine a political parade of people in pink led by a couple of supporters in angel attire in already busy, cramped streets. While it might have evoked an epiphany in some, my mother almost yelled, “Hindi namin kayo iboboto, nagpapa-traffic kayo!” (“We won’t vote for you, you’re causing a traffic jam!”). Had she been along Shaw Blvd. when a motorcade adorned with red balloons was staged for a Kapitan wannabe, it would have been a riot.
On walls, stores, houses, Meralco posts, and any ‘uncomplaining’ surface could be found all kinds of candidates’ posters bearing unique slogans and interesting pictures. Some were expensively printed, others where in white cartolina or bond paper written in black Pentel pen. Who would dare challenge Popcorn running for kagawad with his vow, “Makakamtan nyo lahat ng para sa inyo!” (“You will achieve everything that is due to you!”), or Kamlon’s “Ang Pagbabalik... ni Kamlon!” (“The Return of … Kamlon!”)?
ni Kashmir,” a man banking on his “physical uniqueness” – “Vote Supot for Kagawad,” and someone on mutual endorsement deal with America’s most loved fast food – “McDo for Mc Donough.”
A mobile campaign device such as a tricycle covered with every imaginable streamer, banner, poster, sticker, etc. of the candidate would definitely merit an “OVER” rating. But the tricycle’s driver wearing the candidate’s face on his cap, shirt, rainbow-colored vest, and whatever he has got on – this would be the classic case of “OVER NA!”, “SUPER PA TO Most faces on the photos would fit the Kapitan or Kagawad title, but a few must have THE MAX”! joined the wrong competition. A Friendster or ‘Mr. Pogi’ pose could at least attract votes, but Pinoy Fright a half-naked, toothless man grinning would November is always a good excuse for a have dentists chasing him instead. Then there Shake, Rattle, and Roll movie marathons. was the candidate named Joy who couldn’t It is also the best time for friends to gather muster a smile, ironically. And of course, for a sleepover to scare the wits out of each there were a couple of family photographs, other (holiday horror). Whether it is simple which left people guessing who among those storytelling or a ghost hunting dare, Filipinos pictured was the aspirant. There were also just love to be frightened. Crazy as it may faces one could never recognize as if the sound, we do really enjoy getting goose photos were taken decades ago. bumps while covering our eyes. We scream, and then we laugh at our own silliness. That Campaign jingles adapted from popular is how “OA” we could be when the November songs could certainly help in the “name moon invites all souls among our company. recall” tactic. Due to budget constraints, (Bwahahaha ala-Ben David!) however, some candidates had to resort to their own creativity. These were just a few Before Casper, the foreigner ghost, of the priceless results: a son depending on befriended us, we were spooked by our his father’s popularity – “Vote Dindo, Anak
FILIPINISMS 67 own mythical kababayans. As children, we rarely obtained real punishment from our elders for sneaking out to play instead of taking a siesta, or coming home late for dinner. Instead, they chided us by narrating terrifying tales of creatures who roam the world anytime of the day or night, looking for naughty mortals for their meal. Needless to say, their tricks worked. Of course, who would want to be kidnapped by diwatas (fairies) or engkantos and engkantandas (male and female nature spirits)? They might be fair, beautiful, and rich, but they would take anybody they desire to their palace as prisoners, never to escape forever. As for duwendes (dwarfs), there are two types - the white or good duwende who give their human friends gold, and the black or bad one who make people’s possessions disappear or cause mischief and injury. Then there’s the grumpy nuno sa punso (ancestor on the mound) who’s sure to give the person who has disturbed his home just punishment. So thread carefully the next time you pass a hillock for you might get jinxed. Although night time is perfect for playing taguan (hide-and-seek), kids in the countryside would always fear for tiyanaks, kapres, tikbalangs, aswangs, and manananggals. Popularly known as “ang anak ni Janice” (the child of Janice de Belen from that Shake Rattle n Roll movie), the tiyanak could transform from a small horrible creature into an adorable baby to lure unsuspecting victims. The presence of a kapre, a very hairy giant living in a huge tree, is made obvious by the smell of his tobacco. With a body consisting of a horse’s upper half and a man’s lower part, the tikbalang’s temper should be avoided. The most infamous in the troupe are the aswang and manananggal, said to be the tikbalangs relatives. The day would see them as young, attractive women. Come night time, the aswang would apply magic oil on her body and transform into a big black animal in search of human flesh. The manananggal, on the other hand, could separate her body into half. With wings like a gargoyle’s, the upper part would look for a pregnant lady to prey on, while the lower body stayed behind. To protect one’s self against these two creatures, salt and garlic would come in handy. Countless other supernatural beings like the white/red/black lady, the headless priest, haunted house, flying coffin, and many more Philippine urban legends remain to be explored. But that is yet another side of the spooky smorgasbord we fill ourselves up with during this time of the year – scaring ourselves to death while we enjoy the utter absurdity of it all. Now isn’t that just “SUPER!”
68 FILIPINISMS
The Annie B.(Batobalani) Chronicles
The adventures and misadventures of a ‘not so average’ Pinay trying to make it in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai.
A HALIMAW S
BANGA
That’s the Pinoy Spirit! When I was a little girl, my lola would always use all kinds of horror stories and scare us to death, just to have her way. “Kapag hindi kayo natulog, kukunin kayo ng mamaw…” “Kung hindi kayo magkukumot, hihilahin ng aswang ang mga paa nyo…” “Kapag hindi ninyo inubos ang pagkain n’yo, babangon kayo mamayang hatinggabi at maglalakad habang natutulog papuntang kusina para kumain…” “Kapag hindi kayo nagsuklay magiging bruha ang buhok ninyo..” Of course, we followed her rules as we were all scared of having closed encounters of the ghostly kind. Weather we truly believe her or not, there is no denying to you and me that ghosts really exist. Being Pinoys, we grew up with all sorts of horror movies that continue to haunt us upto this day and age. I cannot forget how Janice de Belen was almost eaten alive by their human chomping pridyider, how Herbert Bautista battled it off with the manananggal Irma Alegre and how PJ Abellana, Arlene Muhlach and Joel Torre were possessed by unfriendly ghosts from the past while playing Spirit of the Glass….yes, these thrilling tales were from the first ever Shakes, Rattles & Rolls movie. And how the evil but still oh-so-pretty ghost of Dawn Zulueta played her madayabolical revenge on her sister, Lorna Tolentino in the remakes of Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara. Or how Kris Aquino witnessed helplessly devoted
her loved ones die one after each one another because of a series of bad luck and unfortunate events in Feng Shui. And how the white as Johnson’s Baby powder monster Maritess Gutierrez ate Romnick Sarmenta and other innocent victims in Halimaw sa Banga. But the most scarriest Pinoy movie for me of all the times is Sa Init Ng Apoy: about a newlywed couple of Rudy Fernandez and Lorna Tolentino who spent their unromantic honeymoon during Semana Santa in a haunted house in chilly Baguio which has the devil in disguise George Estregan as their tenant. I cannot never ever really forget the scene where Lorna Tolentino’s head turned 360 degrees centigrade-farenheit all the way around and her bed floated up and down in the air. Looksalike that all time classics hall of famer scene from Linda Blair’s Extorsist. Ngyiiiii….it always gives me ghostbumps all the time. Just recently, inspired, or rather, possessed with the spirit of Halloween, I spent the entire weekend bar and party-hopping in Dubai - in search of the most fun-filled and colorful Halloween party of all lifetime. First stop was a hip bar somewhere in posh district of Jumeira. Lots of beautiful, sparkling, fancy people. Designer labels, branded clothing, high class society, ne! But wait, what? No costumes? Wait a minute. Is this a party or what? As usual, just a room full of powsers, trying to outdo each other with their superfacial boring projections. Nothing new – seems like a typical weekend full of pretendiousness. Before even finishing off my overpriced Margarita, I bid goodbye bunot to the place! Manigas kayo sa pagkabato! Next party, a newly opened club along Lamcy area. Aba, cool dudes and chika babes all over me. And in costume! Bongga wagi! So I mingled around, hoping to strike an interesting night ahead of me. I told several guys about our very own versions of multo: the manananggal,
FILIPINISMS 69 MANANG BOLA
AWW!!! AKO MINULTO!
HA!!!!
SI JANIC PRIDGEIDAT ANG ER
AHA AHAH
BW
ANG SAYA-SAYA!
WRESTLING WITH FRED FLINSTONE
ANG MGA IMPAKTO, BOW!
the duwendeng itim, the tikbalang, the mambabarang, the tiktik….. no reactions. Hmmmm…..is it me? Am I not scarry enough? Nothing seems to ever catch their attention. After chuggling my Long Island Iced Tea, I decided to call it tonight. Datzzit!!! I never imagined Dubai could be this boring during this Halloween. Just before I boarded the taxi, I got a call from Cherrie, my party animal pa-morningan fight-to-win gimmick friend. “WRU, girl?”, she asked. “Eto, La Ocean Deep from gimmick….pauwi na.” “Ohmygosh, you have to come to this parteee! Halloween Costume Parteee!!!”, she screamed at me. “Uy, talaga? sige punta na ako dyan. Now na!”, I replied. “As in! Now na, now na!” sabi nya. Fifteen minutes later, I found myself gatecrashing into this party – full of Pinoys! And people in colorful, dazzling and gliterring costumes! Ay, ang saya saya! I danced with different characters in all shapes and sizes – from Dracula, to Wolverine, Julius Caesar, Gladiator, Sailor Moon, Geisha, Fred Flinstone, Jack Bauer, at kung sino sino pang maligno!
LVERINE!
WO BAGAY KAMI NI
MUMMY?
We had a blast recalling our favorite Pinoy horror movies and came up with a unano-mous decision – that Manilyn Reynes, once labeled as the Star of the Next Generation, is the undisputed Pinay Horror movie queen! Ohmygolly, why didn’t I ever think of that? Just think about all of the hit Pinoy horror movies during the 80s and upto now - she’s always starring in them. After dancing the night away, we sang our hearts out loud thru the videoke – I scored 98 after singing the Aegis’ hit song, Basang basa sa Ulan! Time went by so fast, it was already 5:30 am when we noticed the sun is almost rising. Pa-morningan nga itu! During that weekend, I got to prove once again that we Pinoys really know how to partee. I guess that’s part of our being escapists and resilient. Having a bad day? Got problems? Feeling homesick? Just be with kabayans, eat, drink and be Mary and partee all long – you’re guaranteed to forget all your troubles, blues and woes away. Ibang klase talaga magkasayahan ang mga Pinoy – todo bigay puso talaga!!! Kaya siguro no matter how we feel, we always carry that big smile wherever we go. Iba talaga ang Pinoy!
70 FILIPINISMS
ENGLISH IN PGH Ano ba ito?! Isa na namang makabagbag damdaming leksyon sa Ingles Pinoy. Heto daw, para sa mga nag-aaral na maging doctor o may balak pag dating ng panahon. Ganito daw ang mga ‘medical terminologies’ sa PGH – courtesy ng ating world wide web. SENTENCES FOUND IN PATIENTS’ MEDICAL CHARTS at PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL (PGH): • Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year. • On the second day, the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared. • She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night. • The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed. • The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993. • Discharge status: Alive but without permission. • The patient refused autopsy. • The patient has no previous history of suicides. • She is numb from her toes down. • While in ER, she was examined, X-rated and sent home. • Patient was alert and unresponsive. • Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid. • She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce. • The lab test indicated abnormal lover function. • The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stockbroker instead. • Skin: somewhat pale but present. • Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities. Sa PGH, may tinatawag na Central Block. Nandoon ang Radiology Department kung saan ginagawa ang mga X-rays, Ultrasound, CT Scan at Radiotherapy. Dito daw maoobserbahan ang ‘evolution’ ng mga Pinoy medical terms. Heto raw
ang madalas na tanong ng mga taong nanghihingi ng direksyon papunta sa CT Scan : “Dok saan po ba ang Siete Scan?” “Doc saan po ba magpapa-CT Skull” “Doc saan po ba CT Scalp” “Doc saan po ang CT Scam?” Sa departamento naman daw ng Pediatrics, makikita naman ang pagmamahal ng mga nanay sa kanilang mga anak na may sakit. Pilit nilang tinatandaan ang mga gamot at tawag sa sakit ng kanilang anak. Doktor: “Mrs. ano po ang mga gamot na iniinom ng anak niyo?” Mrs 1 : “Doc phenobarbiedoll po.” Doktor: “Ah baka po phenobarbital. “ (Gamot sa convulsion ang phenobarbital) Doktor: “Mrs. ano po ba ang antibiotic na iniinom ng anak ninyo?” Mrs 2: “Doc metromanilazole po.” Doktor: “Ah baka po metronidazole. “ (Gamot sa amoeba ang metronidazole) Doktor: “Mrs. ano daw po ba ang sakit ng anak ninyo?” Mrs. 6 : May ketong daw po. Sinuri ng doktor ang balat ng pasyente – wala namang senyales ng ketong ang bata. Doktor: “Mrs. sigurado po ba kayong ketong ang Sakit ng bata?” Mrs : “Eh iyon po ang sabi ng doktor niya dati. Mataas daw po ang ketong sa ihi dahil may diabetes.” Doktor: “Ah ketone po yon! (Ang positive ketone sa Ihi ay senyales ng kumplikasyon ng diabetes.) Ang Pinoy nga naman! Ang galing-galing!
SAUCE IT SPREAD IT LOVE IT
Ang Rich na Lasang Pinoy Available in all suking tindahan all over the U.A.E.
72 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Overseas Pinoy Professional Photographers Society
OPPPS The Overseas Pinoy Professional Photographers Society (OPPPS) projects the professionalism and no-nonsense approach of its founders. More than just a group that dabbles in the art of picture taking, the club’s clear goal is to give Filipino photographers, of any skill level, the opportunity to enhance their talents and know-how through the active exchange of ideas, techniques and constructive critique, as well by providing the environment to nurture such talents in training programs, contests, field trips and more. Formed in January 2003, the group is accredited under the auspices of Philippine Consulate General/POLO/OWWA in Dubai, and enjoys the support of the local Philippine government, Pinoys in the media sector, including other various Filipino community organizations in United Arab Emirates. OPPPS provides its members the opportunity to learn through continuous practice by organizing activities and conducting seminars, workshops and clinics such as - Fundamentals of Photography, Digital Photography, Photography for the Web, Studio Made Simple (Indoor and Outdoor), Going Places with Camera and OPPPS (field trips), Simplified Photo Journalism, Photo Essay and other photography related topics. These programs are conducted by experienced Filipino photographers of the highest caliber who are passionate to share their talents with the larger community. OPPPS activities are open to members and non-members; however membership with the group offers certain advantages such as the chance to participate in club photography contests and to publish one’s portfolio and stock photos on the group’s
MARIYAH GASPACHO MEIJI D. SANGALANG
website, as well as the opportunity to get more personalized feedback on one’s works through constant members’ review and critique, among others. OPPPS, although a non-profit organization, welcomes voluntary membership contributions and sponsorship to fund its beneficial activities. To join the club, or for any other enquiries, contact: Overseas Pinoy Professional Photographers Society (OPPPS) c/o Philippine Overseas Labor Office Overseas Workers Welfare Administration P.O. Box 64229, Dubai, U.A.E. Email: oppps_uae@yahoo.com Mobile Phone: 050-4961650
SPACHO
MARIYAH GA
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT 73
RUBEN ARANDA MIRABEL
NPAI
MILO TORRES
ROBERT SE
JONATHAN M. FORTU
CO
CESAR PARRO
LITO
JOHN HIPO
CESAR PARROCO
74 ENTERTAINMENT Of lace and leather, of crucifix and gargoyles, of velvet and corsets, of silk and lust, of churches and demons, of blood and desire, of nightmares and longing, of shadows and mourning, of love and dark tales - the spellbinding temptations of gothic music. For those of you who walk the path of sunshine and the sugar-coated milieu of pop culture and grind to repetitious top hits in mainstream bars and clubs, take a shovel and dig deeper into the isolated world of Manila’s Gothic scene.
Manila’s GOTHIC Music Scene
t
he advent of Manila’s Gothic scene started when bands Dominion, Iconoclast and dark wave act Prominence of Cathedrals discovered one another at an event that also featured metal bands in the early 90s. Before that dark, cold fateful night, the local goth subculture had no exposure despite the active movement and recognition of different gothic (music) genres in the United Kingdom. The pioneer goth bands – Dominion, Iconoclast and Prominence of Cathedrals – along with other friends sharing the same musical preferences, revolutionized the music scene with their avant-garde dark melodies. They stormed the underground scene by being regulars at Club Dredd – the only Manila club in the nineties that was home to experimental and revolutionary bands. One important trademark besides pallor, the gloomy dress code, dark makeup, and sometimes a pair of grey contact lenses creating that creepy iridescent vampire
By Shar Matingka
stare, is the unwritten rule of anonymity. Commercializing their music into the mainstream could earn disappointment in the underground community. Although there is absolutely nothing discreditable about clawing their way out into the sunshine and promoting their music in the conventional way, the essence of being underground and revolutionary rests largely on mystery and elusiveness. Inspired by romanticism, ‘film noirs’ and other dark themes with dramatic elements such as suicide and tragedy, Manila’s goth scene produces melodies people would not want to hear everyday. Not because it sounds ghoulish and disturbing, but mainly to preserve the genre’s innate hypnotic dark fantasy. The first generation of Manila’s Goths have taken their musical influences from international bands like The Cure, Joy Division, New Order, David Bowie, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Sisters of Mercy, Swans and other post-punk bands. From various experimental themes, goth music has formed several sub-genres over
the years and continues to define itself collectively as different and individualistic in comparison with other rock genres. A few sub-genres could found in Manila’s goth scene. The first of which is Dark Wave which emerged sometime in the early 80s, employing poetic and intellectual lyrics coupled with an undertone of melancholy. Ethereal is another type that is easily distinguishable by its male/female ‘breathy’ high-pitched vocals, almost as if the wind breeze is singing to you. There is also Gothic Metal which also has its own diversified classes, but basically has its roots from heavy metal and doom-death, oftentimes campaigning pessimistic moods and the downfall of mankind fused with guttural vocals. It is not surprising to find trails of supernatural influences and religious references in certain lyrics. Some gothic songwriters in the gothic metal genres take inspiration from atheism and theorize the existence of man and how the world came to be. Religious sectors would find this blasphemous. However, it is a revolutionary form of artful expression. Then there is
ENTERTAINMENT 75
the industrial gothic music. Manila has her own industrial act forerun by bands like Decay Transit whose members include first generation goth and former Iconoclast session keyboardist, Chris Concepcion. In terms of musical instruments, synthesizers are widely used in dark wave, elektro, industrial and ambient subgenres. The violin and piano are also used in most subgenres as no other instruments can execute a classic and melancholic dark theme. These are often fused with modern instruments like synthesizers and electric guitars. Notable goth bands conquering the underground scene since the emergence and discovery of fellow goths in Manila include Names Are For Tombstones, The Late Isabel, Dominion, Skies of Ember, Scarlet Tears, The Slave Drum, Decay Transit and Sea of Rain. A few of these bands have recently
established themselves in the international gothic scene, reaching as far as Japan, Amsterdam, Belgium and Sweden. They haven’t set an international tour, but the support in promoting their albums worldwide came from underground and established goth bands in Japan and Europe. With goth rock surfacing in pop culture as a trendy angst-ridden style that has become descriptive of an adolescent phase among young fans, how does one differentiate ‘posers’ from ‘authentics’? Let’s put it this way - it’s like composing a baroque painting. One cannot apply ordinary strokes. It requires elements and certain techniques that would identify it as baroque. The same goes for gothic music. It takes one to know one, too. As for the common impression that Manila’s goth circle is all about snobs and the eccentric elite - this is simply a misconception like any other peculiarity
the common crowd would be reluctant to explore. Chris Concepcion of Decay Transit quoted about the ‘suicidal option’ for established and respected goth bands to commercialize themselves into mainstream, “I do’nt think it will ever be 100% commercialized. Why? It’s because people are naturally afraid of things they don’t entirely understand or know. There will always be attempts. But to sustain the effort, personally, I don’t think it would last.” For the mainstream crowd, listening to at least an album or two of Manila’s best goth bands comes highly recommended. One would be amazed how the musical quality measures up and sometimes even surpasses international gothic acts like Lacuna Coil and Within Temptations. We have our very own exclusive circle of ‘Night People’ with exceptional creativity no matter how bizarre and out-of-this-world they are – an underground treasure sure to give any Pinoy ‘musicphile’ chills down the spine.
76 MANILA’S HOT RELEASES
Books and CDs are available at Fully Booked, Philippines. Visit the website at www.fullybookedonline.com
By Gabrielle de la Rama
Love Letters and Other Souvenirs by Jose Mari Chan
What Filipino is unfamiliar with the strains of Jose Mari Chan’s ‘Beautiful Girl?’ This gentleman performer holds the distinction of being the only local artist to have garnered two Diamond Awards — this besides his other millionsselling albums. In celebration of his 40th year in the industry, the legendary crooner delivers the music goods with a compilation of renditions of his favorite songs in Love Letters and Other Souvenirs. Covering everything from Bacharach to Mancini to Gershwin, and Lloyd Webber, Chan enthralls listeners of the romantic ilk with these classics. Though known more for his songwriting, he manages to do these music masters justice with his sincere passion for the art of song. Another plus factor in the compilation is the involvement of some of today’s young artists such as a more mature yet still charming Aiza Seguerra, the stunning Agot Isidro, and one of Chan’s gifted offspring, Jose Antonio. Songs from films like The Thomas Crown Affair (‘Windmills of Your Mind’), An American in Paris (‘Our Love is Here to Stay’) and, Picnic (‘Moonglow’ and the Theme from ‘Picnic’) will sweep you away in waves of nostalgia— probably what Chan had in mind when he cooked up this love missive from his past.
Kami nAPO Ulit Muna: Tribute to APO HIKING SOCIETY by Various artists
As a follow up to the first Apo Hiking Society tribute album ‘Kami nAPO Muna, Kami nAPO Ulit Muna’ takes up where the first left off in what is definitely an album chock-ful of great music from today’s top acts. In terms of choice of artists, it seems the album was conceptualized with more than just popularity in mind. The humor-factor soars in this battery of acts with bands like Radioactive Sago Project, Itchyworms, Kamikazee and of course, Parokya ni Edgar, among others giving songs of the revered trio, their signature twist, and thankfully, a shot (or two) of well-placed irreverence. Though a few tracks straddle the fine line between passable and bland, the majority successfully pays homage to one of the most endearingly talented acts in the history of Pinoy music. Outstanding renditions are Hilera’s ‘Mahirap Magmahal Ng Syota Ng Iba’, Itchyworms’s ‘Princesa’, and Concrete Sam’s ‘Heto Na’. With APO Hiking’s two tribute albums and ‘The Best of Manila Sound Hopia Mani Popcorn’, it seems the trend for remakes has hit its peak, and will eventually take a downward spiral but, before it does, let’s hope it spawns just one more—TVJ (Tito, Vic and Joey), anyone?
My Bossa Nova by Sitti A few years ago, in the Philippines, the term bossa nova would have been met by eyebrows lifted quizzically or slate-blank stares, today it would probably elicit something like, “Oh, yes! Isn’t that what Sitti sings?” It is reputed that Sitti Navarro single-handedly put bossa nova on the music radar of most pop-oriented Filipinos. Besides being a good performer, she’s easy on the eyes and is apparently, extremely blessed with brains (she was valedictorian and recipient of several awards in high school). Her latest and second studio release ‘My Bossa Nova’ consists mostly of covers though it does include ‘A Song for Penny Brown’, which she co-wrote. It deviates from her first release Café Bossa in that tracks are covers of nonbossa nova songs. And, interesting to note is her choice of artists, which cover a pretty broad range in terms of genre and era. Examples of these are current pop sensations Madonna, U2 and the Spice Girls, Sade and Basia, early 90s jazz and soul divas are also covered. Interesting is her cover of 70s arena rock’s poster boy Pete Frampton’s ‘Baby I Love Your Way’. Like all her other albums, this one is definitely a prime example of easy listening, and has the power to set that light, positive mood. Must-listen tracks are ‘Time and Tide’, ‘If You Leave Me Now’ and ‘Smooth Operator’.
MANILA’S HOT RELEASES 77
Public Faces, Private Lives By Lorna Kalaw-Tirol, Artworks by Nonoy Marcelo Lorna Kalaw-Tirol has managed to do the unthinkable: compile the very private profiles of over 24 larger-than-life Filipino personalities in one, slim volume. Acclaimed writer, journalist, and historian Nick Joaquin, who pens the book’s foreword, describes the author as having “all the qualities of a good profilist.” And, goes on to extol her rare ability of training an altogether different spotlight on her subjects, revealing hitherto unknown aspects of their character. Kalaw-Tirol explores a wide gamut of personalities, ranging from the elegantly beautiful Chona Kasten to tragic widow turned first female president Corazon C. Aquino to economist Sixto K. Roxas—all these culled from what remains of an impressive portfolio, celebrating not only her subjects but that which has made her an award-winning journalist.
John L. Gokongwei Jr.: The Path of Entrepreneurship By Marites A. Khanser A truly inspiring story of a self-made man who has paved the way for Filipino entrepreneurs, ‘The Path of Entrepreneurship’ is the first time John Gokongwei has acceded to telling the tale of his remarkable rise in the business world. It is an honest retelling of his life, and his collaboration as co-writer makes it all the more sincere. In it we discover how his success was borne not of ambition but on his sheer determination to survive.
Looking for Liling: A Family History of World War II Martyr Rafael R. Roces, Jr By Alfredo Roces
It is the year 1944, and the Philippines was under the thumb of the East. Rafael ‘Liling” Roces, head of a resistance movement paid for his nationalism with his own blood—he was beheaded by the Japanese. This is his story.
This book will explain the success behind the Philippines’s first Chinese-Filipino taipan. From Cebu to Manila to China, this staunch industrialist has carved his own niche, and it is through this book that we are privy to his journey where valuable lessons can be gleaned.
Written by his youngest brother, Alfredo, the book tells more than just the story of one man. Rather, it paints the picture of a longforgotten era in Philippine history, and is as much a portrait of the country as it is of family. ‘Looking for Liling’ is a superbly crafted memoir that will recall a sense of national pride.
I know What To Do Pinoy Success Handbook by Jeffrey ‘Ximo’ Ramos
So you want to be successful – but do you know what to do? Author Jeffrey Ximo Ramos unlocks the secrets to achievement in his substantial motivational tome ‘I Know What To Do’. Lifted from his personal learnings from the challenges and triumphs of living in the United Arad Emirates, the book is packed with useful tips and fundamental truths that can help you accomplish your dreams. It is divided into three main sections – How to be successful, how to maintain success and how not to get corrupted by success. With its words of wisdom, not to mention the writers’ interestingly casual style and wit, the book promises to be a veritable ‘success handbook’ one would eagerly be reaching for, from time to time. Now available in the UAE through Illustrado. Please call 04-365 4543 to reserve your copy or e-mail info@illustrado.net
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