The Magazine for the International Filipino
15 November - 15 December 2008
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EDITOR’S NOTE
The normality of being abnormal I used to be a very opinionated 15 year old wearing a single dangling earring reaching down to my shoulder, and a geometric haircut which was long on one side and short on the other, sporting clothes and tinkering with ideas which were deemed too radical for my time then - inordinately chastised by the nuns in my conservative all girls convent school for being – well… different. Everybody else seemed like the usual sweet teen with predictable fashion choices and even more predictable philosophies in life, so I stuck out like a sore thumb for a lot, but somehow became a sort of rebel leader igniting a mini revolution for those girls who dreamt to speak their minds and wanted out of the cookie-cutter existence where everybody was expected to be of the same homogenous mould – the benchmark then for being ‘normal’. Most of us Pinoys grew up in a predominantly conservative environment where we were reared to embrace what was common and expected and what felt safe within our typical cultural definition. We like to dress the same, we are averse to sticking out and are hesitant to voice out honest opinions. We also excruciate at the thought of having a life which is less or more than the ordinary (“what will the neighbors say?” – some of us would think). Majority of us would remember turning up our noses to folks we considered as ‘oddities’ or nonconformist – whether it was because of the way they look, or how they projected themselves, or their ideas and what we perceived they stood for. We felt unnerved when we see people who were considered an anomaly among the pack regarding them as outsiders or ‘abnormal’. Well, times have changed and thankfully so. With our better exposure and opening up to the world, we have come to the stage where there is an explosion of diversity even within our
community. Our definitions have transformed and are still evolving. We see what once were deemed eccentric incorporated in our usual life. We now have exposure to different ideas and schools of thought. Now whether that’s good or bad (in case you are one gunning for exclusivity within your own alternative field), it undoubtedly signifies a richer spread - part and parcel of the plethora of mindset and lifestyle choices we have today. All of us have more breathing space to exercise our individuality because being different is not so different anymore. And so this November, at that time of the year when Filipinos customarily like to look at the ‘darker’ side of things, we thread on the edge and look at alternative Pinoy culture with much indulgence. We look at punk lifestyle, ghosts, tales from the dark side and horror flicks, surrealism and deviant body art and go off tangent from the usual definition of beauty with a stark and gritty fashion feature shot in the dark alleys of Malate – giving you an alternative and out of the ordinary perspective on Pinoy life which is nothing short of engaging. Anchoring this issue, are all the other good stuff you have come to expect from Illustrado each and every month. At the cusp of major world change, as we watch America (potentially) make the extraordinary decision of electing a head of state who has come from the disadvantaged minority - a race once regarded as slaves in the country’s history - the issue of diversity couldn’t be more significant. We are very fortunate to be living in a changing world, in times when the ‘abnormal’ has become ‘normal’. TAAS NOO, Filipino! LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Send your letters to: editor@illustrado.net
helpful, especially the one about managing your money and credit card. I suppose a lot of us are in this very situation – having financial difficulties is a part of our daily life. But what can we do? This is the reality of being an OFW. We are sending most of our salaries to our loved ones back home, and because of that very little money is left in our pocket. Without the help of the credit card how can we survive, right? Well that’s what most of us think. But my personal conviction in life is that each of us should have self discipline on how to use these cards, so as not to put ourselves in deeper trouble. Self control is very important. And of course as Mr. Colayco said, we should “work hard and save hard.”
Dear Illustrado,
Taas noo, Pinoy! John Rey Sanchez Dubai ………………………..
Edna Laraya Dubai Dear Edna, Do e-mail us samples of your work at : editor@ illustrado.net Ed
Dear Editor,
…………………………
Illustrado October was such a terrific issue once again! Especially your fashion pages - ang galing talaga! I am fond of taking pictures as a hobby and seeing such great images makes me want to be a professional photographer someday.
I got hold of your magazine four months ago, when I visited a friend’s flat and I have been hooked to Illustrado ever since. I find your stories interesting especially the ones that discuss business. I have read with much eagerness your recent feature on franchising, because I’m dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur someday.
Thank you for the inspiration. Aimee Honorata Dubai ………………… Dear Illustrado, Thank you for such an informative October release. Your featured articles are so true and
Looking forward of your next issue. Keep up the good work! Keep on inspiring us. Thank you! Arnel dela Cruz Sharjah …………………………………. Hello! I am an avid fan of Annie B! Annie is really a fighter! A pure blooded Filipino! Mapag pasensya hanggang kayang mag pasensya pero “kapag napuno na ang salop,” according to FPJ, we will fight for our right until we prove ourselves.
Thanks for making such a useful magazine such I love Annie’s attitude – her being positive in life despite the challenges and the bad people she as ILLUSTRADO! Keep it up! encounters. If every Filipino thinks like Annie, we can help our country to be on top. Mabuhay ka Edna Lumabas Annie! Dubai
…………………………………….. Finally somebody said it – that Pinoys do have the ‘entrepreneurial bone’ in them. Most people Dear Illustrado, assume that Pinoys do not have what it takes to go into business, so it’s great to see that there Thank you for giving the Filipino community are statistics that prove that a lot of us have the something to look forward to every month that’s guts to go into such ventures. full of positive, intelligent and beautiful stuff. I think we Filipinos deserve the break that your Now we know that we’ve got the basics, we only magazine has given to us all - a chance to make have to work on improving our skills so we can ourselves feel good and at the same time build put our natural inclination for entrepreneurship well our country and out people’s image to the to good use. We have to be more professional, outside world. keep updated and try as much as possible to take advantage of the tools and opportunities I am an aspiring writer who feels passionately that technology provides us. Also, we need to for our kababayans and would like to contribute learn how to take risks in a very positive way so to your efforts. How do I go about this? we can all move forward towards progress. Appreciate the thumbs up, Illustrado.
the information you are sharing with your readers, hopefully this dream can be a reality soon.
You are really making an effort to open the minds of OFWs to go and invest by giving us lots of ideas on how to start up a business. It’s very encouraging especially for people like me who don’t want to be an OFW my entire life. Success for me means that I will have the option to stay in the Philippines, with a solid business that can provide for me and my family. With the help of
Leslie Ann Salvacion Sharjah ………………………………….. Ang galing-galing ni Annie B! Illustrado your last Annie B. episode was one of the funniest ever! We really enjoyed reading about Annie’s escapades especially against Negastar – Leonie. In fact, it’s true, if you’re (un)lucky enough, you will meet a Negastar in your own circle or place of work somehow. You know, we laugh, but the truth is napaka-realistic ng situations ni Annie. But I love the way your writer spins the story to make it such a funny read. So, bravo Annie! Keep up the faith, as they say … Nor Umali Al Ain
CONTRIBUTORS
Shar Matingka Possessing a hugely eclectic persona, this self-declared Bohemian, now with a fairly huge tattoo on her left arm that screams ‘Wisdom and Liberation’, continues to walk against the mainstream crowd. Still in the conference and training industry, Shar now works as a web administrator which is clearly the opposite of what she does outside the corporate world. A writer, songwriter and self-taught photographer, Shar often takes the time to ponder on life and ‘philosophize’ it on her blog and old-school handwritten journal. In this issue, Shar indulges in one of her favorite pastimes – art, with surrealist Danny Sillada, and takes us through her life-changing session with an elusive tat artist in the emirates.
JR Bustamante Contributor JR Bustamante’s fixation with spine chillers and the supernatural is put to great effect with her Multo Atbp and horror flicks article in this month’s issue. The writer has a very rich resume having made copy for TV, print and radio, for PR campaigns and for marketing communications. JR has also done AVPs and even a little bit of events management. Mostly though, she writes features for magazines and newspapers — a field she had plenty of experience in dating back to her university days where she served as an editor for her college newspaper. When not busy writing, she dabbles in photography, painting, interior and fashion design
Gabbie dela Rama-Talan Illustrado’s entertainment writer Gabbie went a little crazy when she once agreed to hang on to five separate editorial positions at the same time. She’s come back to her senses now as she tackles two; she doubles as the Editor-in-Chief of In-Print and Associate Editor of Homestyle. With her rediscovering of the concept of free time, she has taken to pursuing some of the more important things in life: watching vintage anime, stuffing one’s face with brie and adjusting to married life. This month, she chats with a pair of otherworldly talents in the two separate Valenciano brothers articles.
Dac Rivera Thoroughly trained through theater, TV Network and Advertising production, Dac Rivera has found his new love in fashion Photography. Being dubbed as the “last apprentice” of top photographer Mark Nicdao, Dac is starting to create his own path by creating a credible mix of fashion, lifestyle, products and advertising gigs. “Everything has to start small” says Dac…. rest assured this resident Photographer from the group Wildbunch is taking his sweet time but carefully making big strides.
Sherry Tenorio Sherry is one of the freshest face in Illustrado’s contributor’s list. Beware, her petite frame may be deceiving – she can surely blast you with her quirky ideas and witty quips. This bankerturned-journalist enjoys being in the lifestyle and business scenes in Dubai, uncovering and writing stories for a number of recognised magazines in the metro. She has met royalties, interviewed CEOs and celebrities, attended only VVIP parties but she still remains to want only three things: write, take pictures, and be a member of UNICEF or something to that effect.
Janet dela Fuente Manila stylist Janet dela Fuente has a natural sense for creativity, making her an ideal fit for the magazine’s fashion pages. She has worked with some of the country’s best and brightest photographers and directors and other respected people in the advertising and entertainment biz. Her styling portfolio consists of many appearances in glossies as well as shows and events. Janet traces her influences to theatre, travel, diverse cultures and the eclectic Manila lifestyle. She collaborates this month with photographer Dac Rivera for a dark and dirty fashion feature in the after-hours streets of Malate.
Publisher & Editor-in Chief Lalaine Chu-Benitez Assistant Editor Mikkel Bolante Art Directors Paula Lorenzo Ron Perez Contributing Writers Philippines & U.S. Carlito Viriña Bernadette Reyes David Poarch Aby Yap Ivan Henares Gabbie dela Rama-Talan Chayie Maligalig Apple Lopez Karen Galarpe Vic Lactaoen Victor Sollorano Lorraine Balita KC Abalos JR Bustamante Excel Dyquianco Jude Cartalaba Isabelo Samonte United Arab Emirates Maripaz Febrero Giselle Estrada Dawn Almario Sonny de Guzman Antonella Andrada Shar Matingka Jonie Jose Michael Vincent Serrano Contributing Photographers Philippines Marlon Pecjo Charles Lu United Arab Emirates Pot Ph Illuminado Ong Kris Lee Mariyah Gaspacho Contributing Stylist Zekundo Chu Janet dela Fuente 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 2008. 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
November 08 CONTENTS Features Pinoy Punk Eulogy 10 Bulletcells 16 Multo Atbp 18
Columns Editor’s Note 1 Letters to the Editor 4 Contributors 6 Famous Filipinos 22 Kabuhayan: Ur Van, Ur Business 26 Kabuhayan: Khush 28 Successful Pinoy: Nakakatakot! 30 Illustrado Profile: Adela Sanchez Banzon 34 Coconuter: Fields of Gold 51 Hilig Pinoy: Go Karting 58 Usapang Kanto 63 Onli in da Pilipins 64 The Annie B. Chronicles 66
Fashion, Arts & Design Creatures of the Night 36 Market Round Up 50 The Surrealist Reality of Danny Sillada 52 Blue Smoke 56
38
Carlo Adorador and Diana Santos roam the greasy streets of after hours Malate in this issue’s gritty fashion feature.
52
Places Bakasyon Grande: Zambales 60
Entertainment Special Entertainment Feature: Gary, Paolo & Gabriel Valienciano 70 Pinoy Horror Movies 74 Hot Releases 77
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10 FEATURE
PINOY PUNK eulogy By Mikkel Bolante, Photography by Carlo Gabuco
“Punks not DeaD!” they ProuDly exclaimeD, as their brightlycoloreD mohawks blew in the winD anD their boDy Piercings glinteD in the sun. while Punk rock music, or at least its many incarnations — harDcore, oi!, anD emo among others — seem very much alive toDay, the iDea that Punk is, as the term goes, ‘not DeaD’ is very much uP in the air within the Pinoy home scene, at the moment. “Malaki na ang pinagbago ng punk,” laments longtime punk Peng. “Dati underground lang siya pero mainstream na siya ngayon.” While to the normal person, the thought that one’s culture has been accepted into the mainstream sounds like a positive thing or in fact, something you should aspire for, it stands that, at least according to the punk way of thinking, assimilation into the mainstream is very much equal to “Punks Not Dead!” “Parang pwede mo na yatang sabihin na patay na,” he says. Remembering Punk
In the mid-70s, there emerged a genre of rock music that promoted ideas of individualism and non-conformity, with hints of nihilism and an anti-establishment
ideology. Spearheaded by bands like the Sex Pistols and the Clash in the United Kingdom, and the Ramones in the United States, the movement quickly found its way around the world and established a very rebellious subculture that drew the world’s attention. The Sex Pistols in the UK were a big hit even as they sang about anarchy (‘Anarchy in the UK’), criticized their country (‘God Save the Queen’) and trashed even their own record label (‘EMI Unlimited Edition’). As the punk scene developed, some subgenres began to emerge. Hardcore became one of the more dominant subgenres; it was characterized by aggressive vocals and music, politically relevant lyrics and violent slamdancing. Oi! music (said to be called such because of one band’s propensity to repetitively shout Oi! Oi! Oi! before a song) was another subgenre that was eventually
associated with the skinhead type of punks. “Iba yung mga paniniwala nun,” says Peng. He explains that the skinheads were meant to resemble the disciplined nature of soldiers, very much unlike many of the other punk scenes, where members of the culture would often wear flashy accessories. “May sariling Skinhead Bible pa nga sila eh.”
The punk movement is well-known for the distinct, and often shocking physical attributes of people associated with it. Punks were known for spiked hair and mohawks, tattoos and piercings, and antifashion statements in their clothes; some would rehash their clothes by putting tears or rips in some places or redecorating with safety pins or other odd items. In 1978, the punk movement was brought to the Philippines by radio station DZRJ-810 AM disc jockey Howlin’ Dave (David Dante in real life) via the Sex Pistols. In the few years that followed, Filipinos got to know other punk acts and eventually developed their own. In 1980, the first Pinoy punk concert was organized. The Brave New World concert was held on the Philippine Trade Exhibition grounds.
FEATURE 11
Today’s Filipino underground punk bands get together for a wild night of rock at the Xaymaca Bar in Timog, Quezon City.
12 FEATURE
One of the key events in the development of punk in the country was the establishing of Twisted Red Cross, an underground label that produced compilations of some of the local punk rock bands like Urban Bandits, Betrayed, Wuds, Private Stock, among others. This venture was spearheaded by Tommy Tanchanco of the band Chaos, one of the groups that played in Brave New World. The movement grew stronger in the early 80s, when the deviant ideologies of the foreign rock bands were easily imbibed by the growingly rebellious youth. The early 80s in the country was the latter part of the Marcos dictatorship — which ended with the People Power Revolution in 1986. While it may be unrelated, it would be interesting to note that the latter part of the decade coincided with the tapering off of the momentum of the first wave of punk in the Philippines. Punk Evolution
While it was easier to identify punk rock in the past, it has become increasingly difficult to
assess what falls under the category as more and more subgenres were borne out of it. “Nung una punk lang talaga yun. Pero galing sa punk, nagkaroon ng hardcore. Galing naman sa hardcore yung emo, na sumisikat ngayon,” says Peng. That, he says, was meant to be the softer side of the hardcore genre. “Para hindi naman puro galit.” There are many other types of music now that are considered to have punk roots anarcho-punk, skate punk, goth rock, pop punk. It gets to a point now that it’s hard to tell what all these smaller genres have in common with each other. What is it that makes punk what it is? It’s not just the music. “Halimbawa, yung Parokya ni Edgar, may elements of punk yung sounds nila, pero hindi na punk rock yun kasi nakuha na ng mainstream yun.” It’s also not just in the ideology. Peng and his friends joke about how they used to debate if Michael Jackson — who epitomized individuality and non-conformity just as well as punks did — should be considered punk; or Madonna, who did the exact same thing.
“Marami namang makulit diyan na hindi mo matatawag na punk.”
It’s definitely not the fashion either. “Madalas and totoong punk hindi nagsusuot ng ganoon kasi mainstream na rin yun. Kahit dati, mas marami yung audience na naka-porma. Pili lang ang bandang maporma.” So what makes punk what it is? “Hindi mo rin masabi eh,” Peng answers after some thoughtful consideration. Selling out
As if the diversification of the genre wasn’t enough to prove its death, punk’s controversial relationship with pop culture doesn’t help its case any. For a culture that’s so anti-establishment, so anti-conformity and so anti-mainstream, one has to admit — it’s pretty darn mainstream now. Punk clothing is hip and trendy. You can find punk fashion in shopping malls. That goes against everything punk stands for right there.
14 FEATURE
And as Peng mentions earlier, you hear punk sounds on the radio, played by bands that aren’t even connected with the genre. In fact, some bands that can be considered punk bands are signing with major labels, hitting the radio charts and appearing on MTV. One band selling out to the mainstream is bad enough, but what do you do when your entire culture has been assimiilated by something that you claim to be the anti of? If deceased Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious could see what’s happened to the genre he helped popularize, he’d be turning in his grave. This was a guy who (as legend says) couldn’t play a lick of bass, and yet he lived the rock star life as one of the best known personalities in the genre. He once led the Pistols in a spit-in-your-face punk rock version of the Frank Sinatra classic ‘My Way.’ He got away with everything in life, except a drug overdose that gave him a punk ending to his punk life.
Still Twitching
Not to say, though, that there isn’t a punk rock scene in the Philippines today. Peng actually still actively goes to gigs around the cities. Despite his belief that his beloved genre is just about dead, he still is and always will be a punk. Peng is a painter by profession, and he has often incorporated elements of punk in his works. It is not uncommon to see a couple of mohawks in the backgrounds of his paintings. He recalls his introduction to the culture. “Nung una, naimpluwensiyahan lang ako ng mga kakilala, tapos nakinig ako sa mga records,” he says. “Doon lumabas yung ideologies ng punk. Para rin siyang art.” Peng explains further, “diba sa mainstream music, kailangan aral yan; technical. Pero dito, walang ganun. Minsan, three chords, paulit-ulit lang; kapaan. Minsan iniiba lang yung timing pero otherwise, pareho lang rin.”
He likes that despite those limitations, punk songs always sound different, and are able to say different things. “Isa rin yun sa paraan nilang mag-protesta.Yung message nila kaya naming gumawa ng kantang ganito lang, na maganda.” Doubts
Today, there may be doubts on the matter of punk being able to unite the many diverse genres it has spawned and still be used to encompass the entire genre. Or has its numerous offspring all become viable, independent genres on their own? Punk lives on in the hearts and minds of those who subscribe to it. Dead or not, there will always be a little of punk that will last forever, and unlike many of the dead, it may have a chance for revival sometime in the future. For now, though, it may be but a memory; a shell of its former glory. But Punks Not Dead, as long as punks won’t let it.
16 FEATURE
In Digging the Underground,
Bulletcells Found By Sherry Tenorio
Punk rock may no longer be a strong movement (though it has influenced a great number of rock music genres today) in the Philippines, but in small pockets, there are glimmers of a revival of the underground scene. One such flicker of hope is in the Filipino community in the UAE where the crowd has begun to look for something more experimental — and found Bulletcells. I barely understand rock, not to mention the differences of various genres like alternative, school rock, grunge, hardcore, progressive and what have you. I am a fan of the infamous Eraserheads, and humming their songs is about how far my knowledge of rock goes. Not until I met Jay, Ryan, Boyet and Edmond (missing was another member, Cesar, who was in the Philippines at that time) of the band Bulletcells did I realize that more than just the blinding lights onstage, the audiences screaming with excitement, and the whole glamour that surrounds the rock star scene amidst the head banging and free falling — being in a rock band actually entails hard work.
Following a passion is one thing. Commitment to follow this passion is a different story. The members of Bulletcells, though, prove that they can reach their dreams because of their united goal, and their ability to respond to each other’s commitment. Once upon a time There was nothing exciting about their beginnings. Boyet and Ryan were old friends who felt the need to pursue their passion for music. In 2006, an officemate of Boyet introduced them to his son, Jay — an aspiring drummer who was looking for a venue to showcase his skill with percussions. The trio performed acoustic numbers and covers at friends’ parties just for the chance to play.
A year later at a graffiti exhibit, Jay met fellow painter and occasional bassist Cesar, who he asked to join the group. The last piece was set in place when newcomer Edmond took over the group’s vocals in June 2008, right in time for an appearance at The Blacksheep’s Strong South Project, a monthly gig at the Submarine Bar at Dhow Palace Hotel (Bur Dubai), where they hoped to showcase creative Filipino souls in Dubai. They have a conventional origin; not the least bit bizarre. But what they immediately realized was that their members, regardless of personal influences, blended perfectly with the others to form a cohesive unit ready to voice out their opinions through original compositions.
FEATURE 17
contributes in arranging the music in order to solidify the originality of their compositions. Boyet says that a song takes a month or two to complete. Jay admits that they chat or call each other even during office hours just so their little project advances. The band does work on the side to save up for equipment necessary to complete their studio. Everyone pitches in to support the group’s expenses. But being able to transcend all the difficulties and limitations are what makes the group proud of their achievements. Their musical capabilities are apparent in their songs Learning to Breathe, Of the Sadness, and What Is. They often receive good feedback from their eager audience, which include other nationalities, and that’s what keeps them inspired to improve in their craft. One of their favorite comments was when their performance was favorably compared by audience members to that of the band Incubus. They were referred to as “Incubus clones from the Philippines.”
and somewhat modest goal, considering what they’ve already accomplished. They’ve shown the ability to carry on the fervor, but remain calm and patient. Bulletcells are a good model to follow, not only for the musically-inclined or the creative types but to any Filipino. They proudly proclaim that potential, regardless of talent will never be accomplished without commitment. It’s not as simple or easy as that, though, but it’s definitely possible. Just ask Bulletcells.
The Boys of Bulletcells Boyet Santos (Lead Guitar) loves to write without structure. This Caviteno is a Graphic Designer by day for an events and marketing company. He used to work for the Concept Group.
Promising The Bulletcells, for the present, are taking it slow — one step at a time. Though the future looks to be really exciting, the band does not feel the need to rush. The genre they play (which they describe as post-hardcore/ alternative/progressive rock is, insofar, unique in the Dubai Filipino community. It helps that their fellow bands in the Blacksheep Project all play different genres.
Getting the right pitch The band is fresh; just barely started in 2006 and only formally did onstage performances this year. No wonder the group, who like most Filipinos in Dubai have to maintain practical day jobs, continues to struggle with time management, financial support and exposure. They practice regularly; every Friday at Kapitan Kiko’s. That’s the band’s ‘big brother’ and number one supporter, who volunteered his house in Rashidiya to serve as the group’s pseudo-studio. Boyet and Ryan are the songwriters — but the rest of the group
Blacksheep is expected to release a compilation CD of originals performed by bands under the Strong South Project — and that includes Bulletcells who are tapped to do a song or two. Along with these are plans to do an Eraserheads tribute in December and a UAE tour. Many of these developments are still under negotiations, but the group remains positive that plans will push through. All of these, they already consider great blessings. But what they’re really looking forward to is the demo CD they are planning on releasing in the coming months. They prefer taking the long approach — a slow process where they can ensure the quality of their product, rather than settle for a halfbaked demo that may decide how far this group goes in the future. As they said, they’re in no rush. “We don’t aim to be famous,” the group agrees. “We just want people to appreciate our talent and our music.” That’s a tempered
Jay Rozel (Drums) pays the bills as a Graphic Designer in an advertising agency, but paints and joins exhibits aside from being a member of the band. He is from the province of Quezon. Ryan Mateo (2nd Guitar) has been in Dubai since 2002. This bud from Las Pinas worked in the Administration Department of Al Futtaim Real Estate. He is now associated with a consultancy group. His past-time is watching Tom & Jerry. Edmond Malinao (Vocals) hails from Malabon and Cagayan de Oro. An Interior Designer by profession, this guy enjoys re-assembling stuff. Cesar Diego (Bass) was a Fine Arts graduate of Far Eastern University. He is a deep thinker as shown in his love for arts – he is a painter, photographer and graphic designer. *The name Bulletcells came from Boyet’s highschool band name Bullet Days which literal translation in Filipino is ‘balang araw’. The group wanted to retain the word Bullet. They thought of different words as second name, and finally agreed to use the word Cells. This was fitting as it signified variety which when combined would form a unified output. For more info, log in to officialbulletcells.com or send an email to info@officialbulletcells.com and/or bulletcells@gmail.com
18 FEATURE
MULTOS Atbp.
Alive and Well in Pinoy Pop Culture By JR Bustamante
Why do Pinoys still PerPetuate the belief in asWangs, White ladies, nuno sa Punso, and other mythological creatures? it has already been established that these creatures are figments of former colonists’ imagination - ingrained in our ancestors’ minds to keeP them in Place. yet to this very day, Pinoys still sWaP stories of exPeriences or encounters With these suPernatural creatures. could it be that there’s more to them than just tall tales? Ghost hunting in Pinas
Aswang
The question of whether these spooks actually exist depends largely on what province a person is from or how the person was raised. Definitely, you would get varying reactions from folks hailing from Capiz, Siquijor and Camiguin, but even the ones from Metro Manila will have contrasting opinions on the topic.
The most famous of Filipino mythological creatures is the Aswang, a Filipino version of the vampire or ghoul. They may resemble ordinary humans by day, but transform into a variety of beings at night; the better to feast on us hapless innocents. They can take the form of a bat, a pig, or a black dog, among others. Some aswangs change form at will but others need a catalyst, like oils concocted by evil magicians. They have a thing for human liver and as extra treat; they’ve been known to feast on pregnant women. If you can’t stand these guys, better steer clear of the provinces of Capiz, Antique and Iloilo.
Apparently, you don’t have to travel far to catch sightings of these otherworldly creatures. Take a jeep or cab ride to the white-lady-hotspot at Balete Drive in New Manila. As the rumors go, better not look into your rear view mirror when you cruise along the street past midnight — unless you want to catch a glimpse of her sitting in the backseat. You will never run out of haunted homes in Metro Manila as there is always one in every subdivision that people say is inhabited by an unhappy spirit or two. To find it, just ask the locals. But in case you do happen to encounter any of them, it might be best to know what kind of creature you are dealing with and how to protect yourself from them.
Multo Multo is the Tagalog word for ghost, from the Spanish word muerto, which means death. The Pinoy multo is often a spirit of a former family member or close friend who can’t seem to stop paying regular visits. These encounters are called minumulto or dinadalaw but what one has to be wary of is the ‘sinusundo’ kind of visit. That can be translated to ‘being fetched’ and that’s not a good thing because there’s only one place a multo can take you to, and that’s the afterlife.
Manananggal A manananggal is an aswang or sorceress who can divide her body in two. She would visit small villages and introduce herself as a pretty newcomer. When it comes time to feed, this self-segmenter chooses an isolated place to leave her lower half while her upper body hunts at night. That’s when her hideous true form emerges — half a hag with huge batwings. She’s the one with a thing for pregnant ladies. Climbing the roof of the house of the mother-to-be, this foul beast stretches its tongue until it is as thin as thread, and then uses it to enter the womb and eat the baby inside. Other times, she seduces warm-blooded males, luring them to an isolated place before eating them alive. Sunlight can be fatal for the manananggal when she is in her monstrous form. Legend has it that to kill one of these, one has to find the lower half left behind for the night. Putting salt or garlic on the torso will prevent the upper half (the dangerous one) from reuniting at the waist. With the two parts separate, just wait for the sunlight to finish the job. As they say, prevention is better than cure. A mixture of salt, ash and raw rice
FEATURE 19
has been believed to repel these witches, so surrounding the house with this concoction would be wise. The smell of burning rubber is considered a deterrent as well. Kapre Tall, dark and absolutely repulsive, the kapre lives in the forest among the trees particularly balete, acacia or mango trees. They say if you are lost in the woods and seem to be walking around in circles, then you’ve probably got a kapre tripping on you. If this happens, you need to wear your shirt inside out and you’ll find your way home. If you want to limit your encounters with these creatures, they are known to avoid wide open spaces or non-smoking areas. Yes, they love their tobacco. Tikbalang If the Greeks have their half-man, halfhorse centaurs, then we’ve got our flipped around version with the tikbalang — human-bodied beasts with the head (and hooves) of a horse. Like the kapre, they like to cause travellers to lose their way, especially in forests and mountains. They are said to possess the ability of making a person hallucinate to the point of madness. If you’re female, then you better be extra careful, because they’re notorious for wanting to mate with human females to reproduce. The theory is that the Spanish merely propagated belief in many of our mythological creatures is apparent in the case of the tikbalang, since there were no horses in the Philippine archipelago until the conquistadors invaded the country. Tiyanak Tiyanaks are babies who died before being baptized. After death, they go to a chamber of hell called limbo where the unbaptized were said to go and become evil spirits. Tiyanaks could also be the offspring of a demon and a woman or the aborted fetus of a mother who comes back for revenge. Appearing as normal babies, these little monsters lure humans near before showing their true appearance — red skin, red eyes and no hair — and proceeding to eat their unknowing victims.
20 FEATURE
Nuno sa punso The nuno sa punso are goblins or elves who live within mysterious lumps of soil, such as anthills. They can either provide good luck or the worst misfortune depending on how they’re treated. Superstitious Pinoys often utter the words ‘tabi-tabi po,’ asking permission to let them pass without harm. Those who fail to do so risk offending the nunos or worse, stepping on their homes. Strange and sudden illnesses are attributed to these little beings, so it’s best to be polite when encountering small mounds of earth. Diwata Diwata or engkanto are fairies, nymphs, goddesses or enchanted persons that are believed to be the guardian spirit of our natural treasures such as forests, seas, mountains, land and air. Acacia and Balete are large trees where Diwatas are said to reside. They shower blessings or hurl curses depending on whether you do good or bring harm to the forests and mountains. Maria Makiling is one of these diwatas, guardian of Mount Makiling in Laguna province. Though the engkanto is a general term for most supernatural beings, the term connotes
fairies who reside primarily in the forests and the sea. Mangkukulam The mangkukulam is the Filipino word for a witch or sorcerer, deriving the name from the word kulam. In the Visayan provinces, it is known as mambabarang. The verb kulamin means “to place a hex,” and a curse in Filipino is a sumpa. The mangkukulam uses dark magic by reciting a spell while piercing the part of a doll where suffering will be experienced by the person the doll represents. The mambabarang, unlike the mangkukulam, uses magical insects to bring harm to his victims. These insects are released after reciting incantations, then they will search for their marked victim and burrow under her skin to impregnate her. The pregnant mother is killed later on and her abdomen opened to eat the growing fetus. Superstitious folks still attribute certain illnesses or diseases to kulam, especially in the provinces where they are treated by an herbal doctor called albularyo. In some rural provincial areas, people rely solely on the resident albularyo for treatment.
Spirituality of Pinoys Most Pinoys are born religious. When they reach two months of age, they are baptized into the Catholic faith without question. Religion has become part of Filipino identity which is apparent from the numerous churches which is the focal point of each village or community in the country. Even the annual celebrations or fiestas are in honor of religious characters. The belief in the spiritual world is deeply ingrained in all of us. And because of this, belief in other spiritual entities is inevitable. Most of us believe that the soul of a human being after death will proceed to heaven unless they have not repented for their sins — in which case, they go the other direction. There are also spirits, both good and evil, that are believed to have stayed behind on Earth due to unfinished business. With constant reminders of the soul and the afterlife in Sunday mass and this month’s All Souls Day, it comes to no surprise neither is it a stretch for the imagination for Filipinos to believe in the possibility of spiritual creatures existing as well.
24 FAMOUS FILIPINOS
Billy Crawford Hip-hop Sensation Billy was a young discovery — he entered Philippine show business at age 3 and became a regular on everybody’s guilty pleasure TV show That’s Entertainment in the mid 80s to early 90s. At age 11, Pinoy audiences said goodbye to the little boy when he and his family moved to the USA. There, he continued developing his performing skills and pursued a music career in R&B and hip-hop. At age 14, Billy shared the stage with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson as a backup dancer at the 1995 MTV Music Awards. He released four albums, some of which were big hits in the US and around Europe, particularly in the UK and France. Some of his songs, like Tracking (2001) and Bright Lights (2004) became hits even in the Philippines. He was tabbed to sing on the soundtrack of the kid’s favorite Pokemon: the First Movie. On a personal level, he was once linked to pop singer and actress Mandy Moore. In 2005, Billy was cast in the Hollywood film, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist. Despite his blossoming career overseas, Billy has recently returned to the Philippines to hold auditions for backup dancers and to host the reality TV talent show Pinoy Dream Academy.
Arnel Pineda Journey Frontman Who hasn’t heard of the amazing story of Arnel Pineda? Living proof of the power of the internet, Pineda was a journeyman musician — bouncing around bands as well as in between the Philippines and Hong Kong — with limited success. He eventually settled in the Philippines as the lead singer of the Zoo band. The band was a regular working band, with several gigs in both Manila and Olongapo. The band did cover numbers but also released an album called Zoology, in 2007, with several tracks penned by Pineda. As part of Zoo, Pineda’s performance in one of their gigs was captured on video which was posted on the popular website YouTube. Little did the singer know that the casual move would change his singing career forever - he got the shock of his life when he received an email, and later on a call from Neal Schon of the American band Journey. Schon was impressed by the way Pineda had covered their original songs and invited the singer to be the next frontman of the band. Pineda has even reached such a status that Rolling Stone Magazine was said to have manipulated phrases from an interview with him just to make an interesting story. Pineda claims he was taken out of context when quotes of him claiming to be unhappy with his newfound fame appeared in an article in the music magazine.
26 KABUHAYAN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Money, Assets and Investing Aside from this though, the company donates PHP1,000 to the micro-financing arm of a Christian foundation for every van sold, contributing to the startup of many small businesses. “As of December of 2007, we have helped more than 1,680 families and created over 3,300 jobs,” says Lee. In March of 2008, they attended a Thanksgiving Event with their partner foundation, the Center for Community Transformation. It was also attended by many CCT member, many of whom were helped by the UMC donations in their businesses.
Ur Van, Ur Business By Mikkel Bolante
ELIZABETH LEE OF UNIVERSAL MOTORS CORPORATION (UMC) TOOK A LONG HARD LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND KNEW THAT TIMES WERE TOUGH ON MOST PEOPLE. HER COMPANY WAS NOT RELEASING NEW MODELS, SALES WERE DOWN AND DOWNSIZING SEEMED ALMOST IMMINENT. IT DIDN’T LOOK ENCOURAGING, BUT SHE REALIZED EVERYONE COULD USE A LITTLE HELP THESE DAYS – AND THAT FACT COULD BE TURNED INTO A WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMPANY AND ITS CUSTOMERS.
Elizabeth Lee
Amidst a challenging economic landscape and declining product sales, Lee and her mother conceptualized the ‘Ur Van, Ur Business’ promotion — a mobile business venture that uses the Nissan Urvan to help supplement income for aspiring entrepreneurs. UMC takes vehicle marketing a couple of steps further than just merely selling a van. “First, by offering easy payment terms,” begins Lee. “Second, teaching buyers the elements of entrepreneurship via a roving school; and third, by helping ensure the success of SME businesses.”
“We are now in the business of making a difference in other people’s lives,” says Lee. “Selling vehicles are the vessel by which we accomplish our mission of helping people help themselves.” And it has not only benefited Urvan buyers and micro-entrepreneurs, but the promotion has also benefited UMC itself. They received 10,000 inquiries for the Nissan Urvan within the first 9 months of implementation. In the first year of the program, the total industry of vans ended with a decline of 9% of total sales. The Urvan was able to buck the trend by growing by 14% and grabbing 25% of the market that year.
Of course, it all starts with the purchase of one of their Nissan Urvans. They specifically package the vehicle as a means for additional income. There are several variants of the vehicle, which includes a 12-seater, a 15-seater, an 18-seater, an Urvan closed van and an Urvan ambulance, all depending on what nature of business one wishes to pursue. Recently, they have also made available a van with a seating capacity of 21. Lee says that it “allows you to ferry more people on a single tank of fuel offering significant savings and increased profit potential per trip.”
As proof of the program’s success, Nissan Global is planning on replicating the program started here and applying it to their other countries of operation. “It’s a Filipino idea,” she says. “That has now become global.”
The purchase of the van, depending on the variant, will set a prospective entrepreneur back by around PHP950,000 to PHP1,350,000. Any additional capital will depend on the specific vehicle-based business. “Options include using the Urvan for a shuttle business, carpool, cargo van, van rental, ambulance, and several other creative types of roving or mobile businesses,” says Lee. Other suggestions from Universal Motors include flower deliveries, laundry services, mobile eateries, water deliveries or school bus services.
But their persistence paid off. “Twenty beneficiaries of the micro-finance program we donate to are applying to purchase the Nissan Urvan since their businesses have started to grow,” she says. “We invested in them and they have come to invest in us.”
An additional perk is the free roving entrepreneur school called Asenso Negosyo Academy that teaches the basics of entrepreneurship to Urvan buyers, giving them the tools to help their business succeed. “We continue to work together to help bridge the gap, overcome the initial hurdle, and make it easier for our clients to start their business,” she says. “Several financing schemes are available depending on the preference of the customer. Most times, we tailor-fit it according to their needs.”
She admits that she received her share of criticism and doubts when they first started the idea. “They said, ‘Why help the poor? They can’t afford to buy our vehicles. What would be your ROI? You should do something for those who can afford to buy our cars.’”
In more recent months, they have begun to target OFWs as potential customers and business partners. “With the hard-earned money of our OFWs, we want to provide an option for investment,” she says. “Having a business back home empowers the family and lessens the need for the OFW to work abroad.” Ms Lee believes there’s a capable businessperson inside each and every Filipino, and it’s up to the people to make the decision to make it happen. She also knows how important it is to give back to the community. “One of my favourite quotes is from Napoleon Hill who says, ‘No man can become rich without enriching others.’” Certainly, her experiences have proved the point.
28 KABUHAYAN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Money, Assets and Investing
Scuni
KHUSH By Bernadette Reyes
JOLLY DELA PEÑA, A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNT IN ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S BIGGEST AUDITING FIRMS WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF HER CAREER WHEN SHE DECIDED TO QUIT HER JOB TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR — A BOLD MOVE THAT SHE NEVER REGRETS TO THIS DAY. “I don’t miss being an accountant. I enjoy dressing up mannequins and making accessories,” says Jolly. Before she resigned from the firm, Jolly and an officemate used to sell bags and belts to colleagues during lunchtime and in between coffee breaks. Her partner soon got tired of peddling and later bailed-out, but Jolly took pleasure from the business and carried on. In 1994, she resigned to become a full-pledged businesswoman. She is now the proud owner of a number of successful fashion jewelry stores in the country. In 2006, Jolly partnered with Cynthia Simolde to wager on another business, this time involving products made of crochet. The partners thought the stakes were high but they trusted their instincts and carried on. They sold their first batch of cellphone
holders made of crochet in a bazaar. Much to their surprise, the crochet items were wellreceived by customers. The business was very promising the partners thought, prompting them to open their first kiosk under the brand name Khush. At that time, the kiosk was filled with products limited to hair accessories such as ponytails, headbands, bandanas and turbans, fashion accessories such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings and auxiliary items such as glass coasters, placemats, coin purse and cellphone holders. The year was marked by modest but promising growth. In the summer of 2007, the business got bigger and better when Jolly and Cynthia decided to expand the product line to include beachwear. The small items remained as staples but
Khush began to carry bathing suits, boleros, ponchos, shawls, tube tops, shorts skirts and dresses. Soon sandals and slippers made of crochet were included in their now extensive line. “We tried selling these products and customers patronized them so we decided to open new branches in SM and Robinsons Malls,” says Jolly. Khush has demonstrated tremendous growth in so little time. Just over two years after its pilot store opened it now has eight locations around the country with branches in Trinoma, Robinsons Ermita, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Metro East, SM Sta. Rosa, Market! Market!, Ali Mall and Ayala Mall, Glorietta. Interestingly, all the items supplied to these stores are handmade by farmers from the
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
KABUHAYAN 29
Money, Assets and Investing
Turband
Scuni
province of Tarlac. Composed primarily of housewives and children who find time to crochet after school, they work hand in hand to meet the supply requirements of the stores. Since the production people did not have formal crochet lessons, the first few months of operation was marked by a series of failures. “When we started to make shrugs, the measurements of the sleeves were not the same. It was difficult because we were losing money,” she recalls. But they were not about to give up. The production people were taught about the proper way to crochet. They underwent training and were provided with books so they could perfect the craft. In no time, they were able to manufacture quality products that are fit for commercial distribution. Still, the business faces another hurdle which can hamper profitability. Since all the products are handmade the delivery of products are sometimes delayed. On the average, each worker can finish three small items per day. With only about a hundred workers involved in the production, only 300 finished products are ready for delivery by sunset. Lesser output is expected during the months of August and September when the farmers are busy harvesting their produce which greatly affect the delivery of finished products. Jolly admits that at times the deliveries are behind schedule but the store manages to fill its stands with
Shrug
String Hairband
products because she depends on four groups of suppliers who take turn in supplying her kiosks with finished products. The Filipiniana section of department stores usually carry crochet items in shades of white, brown and cream which can be too dull for the eyes. To make the items more attractive to customers, Khush uses bright and vibrant colors of yarn for its products. Jolly says the store used to carry products in shades of black, white, red and pink, but later decided to include more color variety to its products. This allows the stores to capture a bigger market from as young as teenagers up to late adults. “Every product has twelve colors so they have more choices. We make our items colorful para yung mindset na pang matanda lang ang crochet, mabura,” she explains. Items are also constantly spruced up to make sure they put up with the current trend in fashion. Jolly and Cynthia also make sure they are able to travel outside the country every two months to get fresh new ideas. “Every two weeks, the old stocks are replaced with new designs,” says Jolly. “Because of traveling, we are able to get new inspirations for our products,” Cynthia adds. For a relatively small product line, Cynthia suggests a kiosk is a better option than a boutique. The lease payment is more affordable therefore the return of investment is
Waistband
also faster. A store space in big malls in Metro Manila usually costs three times as much rent than it would in smaller malls situated outside the metropolis. Business turnover for Khush is also fast owing to the affordable prices of its products which trickle down to the overall profitability of every store. “Mababa lang ang selling price namin kaya we rely more on volume to speed up turnover,” they say. A coin purse at Khush sells at PHP25, turban retails at PHP35 while a cellphone holder costs no more than PHP50. The starting capital amounting to PHP50,000 was easily recouped in less than a year. The business partners admit they learned the ropes of the business the hard way. But with sheer luck and a lot of determination they manage to pull the business through tough times. “We didn’t have mentors. We started from scratch. It was trial and error for us, ‘pag di kumita charge to experience,” Cynthia explains. Lately though they started joining trainings and seminars and have enrolled in short courses to help them improve their business management. At the end of they day, Jolly and Cynthia are proud to have introduced a fresh concept in the market and made their business successful. But they take more pride being of help to small farmers to augment their income.
30
SUCCESFUL PINOY
Success Principles
Nakakatakot o Mas Nakakatakot? (Balancing Your Life with Success) By Jeffrey ‘Ximo’ Ramos
Buhay na Patay o ‘Buhay na Patay’ When you see a corpse coming alive before your eyes, what will you do? You will definitely be scared and probably run away as fast as you can…and then, you will come back with all the ka-barangay, with holy water and sharp wooden tools and strike ‘it’ in the heart. Parang horror film talaga ha! But what will you do, if you see your life dying because you see no hope, things are not falling in their proper place and your dreams are fading away? Napaka morbid ba ng topic ngayon, ano? But you know sis and bro, whether you like it or not all of us will die. This is a fact! But how is this related to success? I will ask you these few questions: Do you know when your birthday is? Yes. You know the answer. What is the date today? You also know it. But do you know when you will die? No. This means that you have LIFE ahead of YOU. This also means that whatever your dreams are; whatever you hope for can be achieved in your lifetime! Therefore, your age NOW is not a hindrance for you to become rich; nor for you to become a manager or to have your own business or even to have your dream partner in life. Sabi nga ng mga ninuno natin, hanggang may buhay, may pag-asa. The question is, may pag-asa sa ano? May pagasa kang mabuhay ng tunay na matagumpay! Success Redefined “I want to get rich, I want to help people, I certainly want to be happy, I want a unified family, I want to love and be loved; I have so many goals in my life too. And it is good, for I know what to do”. -SuccessfulPinoyAko Filipino Generation
Boo! Nagulat ko ba kayo sis and bro? Halloween na naman at nandiyan na naman ang takutan, mga horror movies at siyempre yung tradisyon na pagdalaw sa mga puntod ng mga patay. Pero nakakatakot ba talaga ang patay? O, mas nakakatakot ang mabuhay?
Breeding
the
New
The question now is: Do You Know What to Do? Success is redefined as the balance of all the eight aspects of your life: work/career; health and fitness; recreation and free time; finances; personal goals; contribution to the larger community; relationships; and personal relationship with God through success principles and divine wisdom. These were discussed in earlier issues of Illustrado and a chapter on the subject can be found in the book, I Know What To Do! Pinoy Success Handbook.
SUCCESFUL PINOY 31
Success Principles Isa-isahin mo ang aspeto ng iyong buhay versus • Work/Career - Kumpara sa mga multo di ba mas nakakatakot isipin na lumulutang lang ang iyong career sa kawalan? Ilan taon ka na sa iyong trabaho at di ka pa rin mapromote promote. Alamin mo kung tama ba ang iyong career path. Check your interest versus the company you are in. Ask company management about their plan for you and check your commitment to your company. May be it is time for you to move on. • Health and Fitness – Look at yourself in the mirror from head to toe. If you look like a ‘kuba’ pero nasa harap yung umbok, di ba mas nakakatakot iyon? Ang laki laki na ng tiyan mo na parang nasa loob yung “anak ni Janice.” It is not only not sexy, but very unhealthy. • Recreation and Free Time – Ubos na ang oras mo sa pagta-trabaho, mataas na ang iyong posisyon pero wala ka namang oras sa iyong sarili. Kayod ka ng kayod! Talo mo pa yung ‘manananggal’ na nag sa-sideline. Huminto ka naman. At least, yung manananggal nag vo-volt in at nagpapahinga! • Finances - Di ba nakakatakot mawalan ng pera kapag kailangan mong bayaran ang isang pangangailangan? At mas nakakatakot kapag ikaw ay na-corrupt ng perang iyong tangan! Mas nakakatakot ka pa sa isang “vampire” na nangsisipsip ng dugo ng mga mamamayan. Kaya balance lang at ilugar ang pagiipon sa tama. • Personal Goals – Isn’t it scary to see your dream today gone tomorrow? Better are the ghost and souls that come and go. Keep your dream alive everyday – always speak it out, tell it to your peers and visualize it until it becomes a reality. • Contribution to the larger community – It is your divine responsibility to help others and it is your nationalistic role to alleviate those who are less in life. Kapag di mo ito nagawa, mas nakakatakot ka pa sa mga duwende na gumagala sa paligid ng nuno sa punso. Give and it will come back to you - baka masuwerteng duwende pa ang mag abot pabalik sa iyo. • Relationship – Di puwedeng mag isa ka lang sa buhay. You need a partner, or a friend, a colleague, etc. In short, you need a relationship. Kung mag-iisa ka lang, hindi successful iyon. Mas nakakatakot ka pa sa isang ‘Halimaw sa Banga’. • Personal Relationship with God – You may have all 7 aspects mentioned above. But if you do not have this one, you are not truly successful! I will not preach but I will only teach. It is your relation and not your religion that will give you success. It is your communion with the Creator. If you do not have this one, it is really scary! More scary than all
the horrible creatures combined. Now, the secret is to balance them, if you are strong in one, use it to balance the other. Tapangan ang sarili habang hinihintay ang suwerte Mayruon nga kayang suwerteng tao? Kung ikaw ang tatanungin ilang tao ang iyong personal na kakilala na nagtagumpay dahil sa ‘suwerte’ sa buhay? Ako kasi masasabi ko na ang tao mismo ang gumagawa ng kanyang ‘suwerte.’ Kailangan lang niyang tapangan ang sarili na gumalaw – tungo sa tamang lugar at tamang oras. Saan kaya yung tamang lugar at tamang oras? Well, for starters siguradong hindi sa loob ng iyong bahay; hindi sa ibabaw ng iyong kama at hindi sa paraan ng iyong pagtulog! Kaya’t maging matapang. Go lang nang go! Mas may tiyansa kang makakuha ng ‘suwerte’ sa labas ng iyong bahay kaysa sa ibabaw ng iyong higaan. Out there is the right place and now is the right time. Huwag tutulog-tulog. Be brave…for your luck is on its way. Rebuke, Patalbog! At saan nga ba nanggagaling ang mga kahinaan ng ating loob? Ang takot? Mga dahilan nang pagkawala ng ating tapang at bilib sa sarili na nagiging sanhi ng pagkasira nang ating kinabukasan at kung minsan pagkamatay ng ating buhay? Ang kalaban ng tagumpay ay talunan; at ang buhay naman ay kamatayan. Kaya kapag humarap ka sa ‘pader ng kaaway’ – rebuke it! Rebuke patalbog! JUST HAVE FUN AND DO IT “Some you win and some you lose. Be glad when you win. Don’t have regrets when you lose. Never look back. You can not change the past. I try to learn from it. We can’t all run big airlines or trains. Many people have more modest goals. But whatever your dream is, go for it. Always beware if the risks are too random or too hard to predict, but remember, if you opt for safe life, you will never know what it’s like to win.” - Sir Richard Branson Global Icon, owner of Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Galactic which offers flights into space
All these directions and success principles are being used even by little kids! You have done it, I have done it. We ride bikes kahit na ilang beses nang sumemplang; we eat chocolates and ice cream even when the doctors did not allow it – but we did it, got away with it and we
had fun doing it! It is when we grew up, that we became more insecure and scared. We have forgotten our innate courage and sense of adventure. Well, ito na nga, kung kailan ka pa tumanda, ano pa ba ang iyong ikakatakot? Sabi nga ni Richard Branson, “screw it, just do it!” We have to awaken that little adventurous child in us time and time again and let the “youthfulness” guide us to ‘true success’. You Should Know what to Do “The fastest way is the way you know.” - Simon Ramos Sergeant-Fireman
My dad is a retired fireman and whenever I drive out, I would always ask him for the fastest route. He would always give me the short-cuts but would always say at the end: “the fastest way is still the way you know.” Now, that I am in Dubai and my Dad is in the Philippines I can no longer ask him. I just have to rely on whatever I know. It’s the same in the search for true success – the fastest way is still the way you know. Sis and Bro, I hope these things have added to your knowledge. So, umpisahan mo nang seryosohin ang iyong buhay dahil mas nakakatakot ito kung iyong pababayaan!
32 ADVERTISEMENT
Redefining Leisure THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF LEISURE IMPLIES THE LACK OF WORK OR DUTY, WHICH MAKES A “LEISURE LIFESTYLE FOR THE WORKING CLASS” A BIT OF AN OXYMORON. BUT SEASONED DEVELOPER LANDCO PACIFIC IS SET TO CHANGE ALL THAT WITH TRIBECA PRIVATE RESIDENCES, A SPRAWLING 9.7 HECTARE COMPLEX OF MID-RISE RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS ALONG THE EAST SERVICE ROAD IN MUNTINLUPA CITY.
“It’s our first dip to the urban market. With this, we hope to change thee urban landscape, to offer something new to a wider market.” emphasizes TRIbeca Project Head Marjorie Siao. Just a few meters from the Sucat Interchange of the South Luzon Expressway, TRIbeca is highly accessible to the Makati and Alabang Central Business Districts and the rapidly booming areas of Southern Manila, an important consideration for TRIbeca’s target market. Unlike most condominium projects, TRIbeca is more than a vertical box for living in; the residences will be suffused with the resort living amenities. The fifteen towers and the surrounding grounds inside the gated community, master planned by architectural firm Recio + Casas, are
generously spaced to maximize natural views and refreshing breezes from nearby Laguna Lake. A landscaped Central Park and strategically placed fitness circuits, gardens and other function areas allocated as “Active Spaces” make up 65% of the complex. Balancing practicality and pleasure, concierge, housekeeping, and in-room massage services will exist alongside residential necessities such as water stations and groceries, all conveniently located within each cluster. An eclectic range of shared amenities – barbeque pavilions, giant chessboard, life-size doll houses and WIFI access in active areas – makes the project suited to residents of all shapes and sizes. In fact, though initial sales were targeted toward the urban market, there is already a diverse group of unit owners; loyal second home owners from Landco’s other developments, yuppies and families enjoying the hard earned fruits of labor here and abroad, and empty nesters embracing simple but pleasurable lifestyles. As TRIbeca Sales Director Barbie Lanuza notes, the sheer range of buyers gives testament to the widespread appeal of the project, especially because “ TRIbeca offers its unit owners luxurious living that they can afford.” This diversity reflects in the model units, notes designer Eric Paras of Novocon Design and Construction, who did the interiors of the model units for Chelsea Place, the first set of towers to rise on the site. “My designs were based on TRIbeca in New York, which is a melting pot of culture,” he says, likening it to the cosmopolitan vibe of the development. The Aqua Park, designed by Efren Aurelio, is a sprawling 1,800 square-meter multi-activity pool with areas marked out for all members of the family and incorporating Landco’s trademark infinity pool, massage cabanas, beach pool among others. The facilities are available for the use of unit owners even while their units are being constructed. By making their trademark leisure lifestyle accessible to the urban market, Landco is set to redefine urban resort living – and that means a lot to look forward to. By Beatriz Estela M. Tianco, as edited from the original article “Looking In,” appearing in the March 2008 issue of Homestyle Magazine. For more information on TRIbeca Private Residences,call (632) 842-8000. You can also log on to www.tribeca.com. ph.
34 ILLUSTRADO PROFILE Guerrilla Collaborator In November of the same year, Adela’s family returned to Bataan which was badly devastated. The war still raged around them. She and her relatives traveled secretly at night passing through the river coastlines; hiding themselves from Japanese troops who patrolled the area. Adela’s enthusiasm to serve brought her to volunteer at the Bataan Provincial Hospital. Her father – who furtively helped guerrillas by supplying food – was massacred by Japanese soldiers on one such attempt. That event pushed her to participate even more actively in the war efforts. As a nurse, she facilitated the distribution of medicines through guerrilla allies who posed as civilians.
Adela Sanchez Banzon
The Philippines’ Florence Nightingale By Jude Cartalaba
BARELY TWO MONTHS AWAY FROM ADELA SANCHEZ-BANZON’S GRADUATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES (UP) SCHOOL OF NURSING, ON DECEMBER 8, 1941, HAD WORLD WAR II BROKEN OUT. THE JAPANESE ATTACKED US FORCES IN THE PHILIPPINES ONLY HOURS AFTER THEY HIT PEARL HARBOR IN HAWAII. THE YOUNG LADY WHO DREAMT OF BECOMING A NURSE, WAS IMMEDIATELY THROWN INTO THE HARSH REALITIES OF WAR, EVENTUALLY EMERGING STRONG AND PROVING HER DEVOTION TO HER CALLING BY UNSELFISHLY CARING FOR OUR WOUNDED COUNTRYMEN. Born to Care
Call of Service
It was her aunt, Josefa Banzon Sioson, a schoolteacher, who had influenced Adela to go into nursing. Despite her grandfather’s opposition to her plans, she was convinced right after high school to pursue it with the help of her aunt’s close friend, an internist, named Dr. Gonzalo Austria.
On April 9, 1942 when Japanese finally took over and defeated the combined PhilippineAmerican troops, Adela’s father went to Manila to fetch her to go back to the province – to San Pascual, Hagonoy, Bulacan where most of her relatives evacuated. She was already a full-fledged nurse at the time, fresh from her successful board examinations.
There were only a few nurses then, especially in her home province in Bataan, and teaching was a popular profession during those days. Most of those who pursued nursing at the time did so not because of plans of to earn dollars overseas, but rather to earnestly render service to their countrymen. Adela was only 20 years old when Japanese soldiers occupied Manila. Following her vocation, she stayed put in the city despite the alarming situation. While pursuing her studies, she and other nursing students were assigned to serve on the side by helping out the casualties of war. “Bataan was badly damaged during that time, but I had to learn how to be strong. Wala naman akong magagawa, even if my relatives were in Bataan, I needed to stay back in Manila and to focus on graduating and helping the wounded. There was no room for giving up,” narrates Adela her face glowing with the nostalgia showing grace and elegance even at her ripe age of 86.
In Bulacan, where a lot of the houses were turned into makeshift hospitals, accommodating the sick and the wounded the newly-registered nurse wasted no time in serving her countrymen affected by the horrors of war. “Stench was all over the place, but we did not mind it. A lot were suffering from gunshot wounds that were even gangrenous and had maggots feasting on their flesh; there were also those who were sick with diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, and other illnesses that led to eventual deaths,” she recalled. The volunteers from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) who traveled from Manila and extended medical services in that area found her and invited her to join the team that would later put up a makeshift emergency hospital supported by the Philippine Red Cross. The team was composed of volunteer doctors and nurses from all over the country.
“It was very dangerous.” Adela recalls how it was to work underground with the Filipino guerrillas. “The Japanese would raid hospitals. But the experience was incomparable. Being a nurse during that time is something I am proud of. It was an opportunity to serve my countrymen in the midst of war. It was not just about being a nurse in ordinary life.” Nursing as Vocation For 11 years (1942-1958) Adela dedicated her life to caring for her countrymen – from being a nurse and dietician to chief nurse in Bataan Provincial Hospital and then transferring to two other hospitals in Laguna and Manila as chief nurse. She retired from the Department of Health after 44 years of service. She admits that if she had not taken nursing, her life could have been drastically different. “To make the long story short, the said line of work was not lucrative,” she said, “But it is more than that. It is a life of servitude,” stresses Banzon who lived the life of compassion, committed to patient care. “The devastation and suffering during the war was unimaginable. However, it was a chance for me to serve the many unsung heroes who fought gallantly during that time.” She is one of the few who willingly took the road less traveled, and we are all the more fortunate because of it. Adela Sanchez-Banzon received the following awards in recognition of her heroic deeds - Galing Pilipino Award in August 2007, Outstanding Daughter of Balanga Award in April 2002, Soroptomist International of Bataan Award in March 1997, Arellano Memorial High School’s Most Outstanding Alumni Award in April 1996, Florence Nightingale Award from the International Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland in 1985, Award of Recognition for Long and Dedicated Service from the Board of Directors of the Minister of Health National League of Nurses in July 1986 and the Humanitarian International Record Award as an Outstanding Chief Nurse in August 1984.
36 FASHION
Photography: Dac Rivera of Wildbunch Post Processing: Ron Perez Styling: Janet P. dela Fuente Makeup: Bem Abeleda Hair: Marie Sorsona Models: Carlo Adorador of Raven Models, Diana Santos of DMV Models - Manila
All clothes and scarves by Jerome Lorico On Diana: Chokers, cuffs and fascinator by Cher Nuguid (all chokers and cuffs), bangles by Victoria Marin, shoes by Janylin Designer/Store Credits Jerome Lorico - + 63 918 493 9997 Cher Nuguid - +63 906 467 3080 Victoria Marin - Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City Janylin - Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati City
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From the world renowned creative gene pool of the global Filipino, Illustrado is proud to present the remarkable crop of top designers trailblazing on the catwalks and magazines from the Philippines to the Gulf region – our top picks for this year’s Style Honor Roll.
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50 FASHION ROUND-UP
Cool and casual in the city –
Max Winter 08
Max features a cool and casual city look good enough for work and play for winter season 2008. This winter, the fashion retailer focuses on the metallics trend for ladies with jacquards, satins and jerseys that make up casual pieces versatile enough to transform into glam evening wear with the least bit of effort. To keep fashion addicts warm are chunky ponchos that is anything but the usual knitwear. Favorite animal prints, as well as tartan plaids and tweed jackets also define the look of the season. Contrasting with the holiday female wear is the subtly tailored menswear in offer, featuring subdued shades in grays and browns and fashion colors rust, mustard and green in a variety of rich fabrics like moleskin, velvet and corduroy. Making a comeback, as well are seasonal argyles, winter plaids and country checks. For comfy casual staples, Max takes denim to new vintage heights upgrading fabrics with stone washing and details like whiskers, fray marks, and rips spelling hip high street savvy. Max also has an array of stylish boots and shoes, as well as colorful accessories, for both ladies and gents to complete the slick city look.
prettyFIT
November Offer
Straight from the catwalk, prettyFit’s new autumn/winter collection embodies contrasts and opposites, harmonized in color and style for maximum fashion impact. Tones and shades for everyday are combined with delicious deep shades for night-time glamour. Feminine twists and contemporary detailing provide the final touch to chic autumn/winter style. Glittering fabric and metallic lambskin as well as natural and refined leather in warm, earthy tones are accented with diamantes, delicate colored gems and textured stones for unique shine and shimmer. Check out the evening court shoe with ankle-wrap frill detail – the ultimate steal for evening glamour. Female styles feature comfy, sophisticated pumps, essential strappy flats, elegant stilettos, chunky heels, flattering wedges and platforms for that extra stylish lift. During the month of November prettyFIT is giving away a limited edition clutch for every single purchase worth AED 400 at its Deira City Centre, Mercato and Mall of The Emirates
Jewelry Give-Aways at Liali MAF group recently launched the ‘Najm’ credit card in conjunction with JCB International (Japan Credit Bureau). As an exclusive partner for their October to the 31st December 2008 promotions, Liali Jewellery will be giving away the following instant prizes to shoppers using the MAF JCB credit card - purchases from AED500 – 1000 - pearl bracelet, AED1,001 – 2,000 – single strand pearl necklace, AED 2,001 to 5,000 – multi-strand pearl necklace, from AED5,001 and above - diamond and semi-precious pendant in 18k solid gold. Shoppers spending AED5,000 will also get a free desert safari ticket, while those spending AED8,000 will get tickets to Jumana or Bateaux Dubai. The offer is valid in all Liali stores around the emirates on all purchase of jewelry in diamond, pearls, precious and semiprecious stones. They promotion is not applicable to the purchase of loose diamonds, gold bars, gold jewelry and gift vouchers. Gifts cannot be exchanged for cash or refunds.
Virtual nomad David Poarch journeys through life from the Philippines and back to the US
COCONUTER 51
With my hectic, jam-packed schedule between school and work, this was a rare opportunity to have a moment that was not channeled to productive pursuits but instead for a bit of indulgent relaxation. Standing among those sunflowers, it felt like time stood still. The scene reminded me of endless afternoons spent watching the tranquil bukid in my hometown in the Philippines. I was somehow put at ease by the flowers’ natural serenity. Yet, another thought entered my head; these plants were specifically grown for a reason, and that was for the production of sunflower seeds and the extraction of sunflower oil. Just as we have to work, these sunflowers also serve their part within our industrial society; they hold an artificial purpose as part of civilization. Some of us are lucky enough to be doing what we love, and thus our jobs no longer feel like work. But for the rest of us (the majority of us), we have to do what we essentially have to do, and in some cases, it has to be done until we’re in the grave. Migrating back into the United States, I was fortunate enough to have obtained a decent job in just a few months despite the current economic slump. And for someone like me, who has only put in 5 years of work thus far, my life as a corporate employee is only beginning. Still, that is enough time to realize that employees get the brunt of the blows in the economic food chain. And from that realization rises the popular dream of becoming your own boss. In the Philippines, the Department of Labor and the media are actually working together to instill this ‘dream’ in the minds of Filipinos by showcasing successful microeconomic samples and strategies on television in the hopes of increasing small businesses and entrepreneurship within our impoverished nation, where wealth is concentrated amongst the small percentage of the elite and foreign businessmen. Unless you have a high-paying job or are in a lucrative career path where you can move up the position/pay ladder quickly and significantly, being an employee is a very slow-rising process. In terms of progress, there are some that actually stay at a plateau, and there are also some who actually drop in pay or position, or worse, get laid off. Typically, pay is usually set at a fixed rate, which for me leaves little room for incentive and motivation, whereas running your own business is largely performance-based. And this not only keeps the work from becoming forced, monotonous, and lifeless, but also allows one to climb the virtual ‘food chain’ faster. But not all of us are fortunate enough to have a brilliant business idea. Moreover, a lot more of us don’t have the money for investment or capital. The more money one has, the more money one can make, and if you don’t have very much, you really can’t do very much either. Magnates, political moguls, and business tycoons, or the ‘kings’ and ‘queens’ of the financial arena, can attest to this. But for the rest of us, we have to settle as ‘pawns’ in a largely cubicle nation. Working in a cubicle myself, I’ve made some observations throughout the years, which have left me quite disturbed. I have noticed that the
Fields of Gold By David Poarch
FOR A TIME, EVERYDAY ON THE WAY TO WORK I WOULD PASS BY AN OPEN FIELD FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT SUNFLOWERS. ONE AFTERNOON, I THOUGHT I’D TAKE A LEISURELY BREAK FROM MY CAREER AMBITIONS AND WALK BRIEFLY AMONG THESE BLOOMS, WHILE THEY LASTED. I DIDN’T REALIZE HOW MUCH THE PURPOSEFUL LIFE OF THE SERENE FLOWERS IN THESE FIELDS OF GOLD SOMEHOW RESONATED WITH ME AND SO MANY OTHERS IN THIS INDUSTRIALIZED EXISTENCE WE CALL MODERN LIFE. situation of pawns is not nearly anywhere close to being healthy at all. Many of my past coworkers were aging quickly, the majority of them being overweight. Most were battling the stress that typically comes in the workplace and were exhibiting it through tired eyes, nervous behavior, aging facial features, and of course an unhealthy physique. Some of them are so sleepy that they catch themselves unintentionally dozing off at the desk, and I don’t blame them. Many pawns stay cooped up in the office for several hours at a time, never able to soak up some healthy sunshine, and very few of them see the light of day until the late afternoon, unless they are fortunate enough to have a window. They hover over a computer for years, gradually turning into ‘hunchbacks’, ultimately deforming their posture. Furthermore, their stagnant day-to-day routine and thus lack of physical activity bids their youthful and leaner frame farewell. And really, what animal actually does that in the wild? Our ancestors sure didn’t sit in one spot staring at an object for several hours a day. I bet that even a snail or sloth moves more than the typical cubicle pawn! And if the pawn isn’t working on the weekends, it’s usually spent for rest and recuperation, as much of their energy may have been sapped by the stressful work week, not to mention the potential stresses in the home and their personal life. And don’t even think about taking a long vacation unless you plan on quitting your job all-together, because your boss isn’t going to want to lose track of you or have you gone for very long while there is work that needs to be done (and there is always work that needs to be done; it’s never-ending).
Add on to that a daily meal of junk or fast food, a regular dosage of sugar or jolts of caffeine, plus perhaps a bad habit or two (smoking, drinking, etc.), and the pawn just packs on more horrors to their health. Thus it is only rightfully so that employers provide workers’ health insurance, since they prompted the problems to begin with. But at least the pawn has retirement to look forward to, right? Wrong. Who’s going to look forward to that when one has aged drastically and is simultaneously battling all sorts of illnesses? And so in the end, the pawn is virtually used up to the last drop (or dime)... But, a pawn need not be a pawn forever. There is hope. With a little luck, hard work, and education, even a pawn can climb the ladder. And so, here I am, once again a pawn working hard, but also back in college in pursuit of becoming something higher. You see, the benefit of education is actually two-fold, providing a degree entitling one to more money and providing priceless knowledge for those who have an open mind and a willingness to learn. There are many things about modern life that I don’t agree with, but the pursuit of knowledge is something I totally believe in. And armed with knowledge and free thinking, we have the instruments that provide the means of addressing and solving many of today’s problems—the world’s and our own. It is the way to ‘uprooting’ the sunflower in each of us - a quicker path to the other ‘fields of gold’ that will eventually set us free.
52 ARTS & DESIGN
Broken Vow
Convergence
THE SURREALISTIC REALITY OF DANNY SILLADA By Shar Matingka
Salvador dali, hiS SurrealiSt art aS perSiStent through time aS hiS legendary maSterpiece of melting clockS, once Said, “i don’t do drugS. i am drugS.” Surrealism is an offshoot of Dada and an avant-garde movement juxtaposing reality with our innermost thoughts, rational and irrational fears, desires and intentions tucked away from the watchful and judgmental world. It is a mad, defiant creation of art with strong subliminal messages that inconspicuously take form in simple, irrelevant objects eternally fixed on canvas. If all the diversities and classifications of art-on-canvas were in a ship as big as the Titanic, Dada and surrealism would be the precursor of a cataclysmic mutiny pushing imagination, reality and dreams to the limits to create colorful and intriguing chaos. Such neo-bohemian methods in a Filipino setting can be vividly distinguishable through the aesthetic dimensions of our very own Danny Sillada. In one of numerous excerpts describing his art, he was christened as the ‘Filipino Renaissance Man.’ Although one would argue that majority of his paintings and art
installations are not at equal proportions with the historical masterpieces of the Renaissance movement in Europe, the importance of his work cannot be underplayed. It is safer and more fitting to categorize his art as surreal; pure, unadulterated surrealism. For the Filipino art community, it is an abundance of strange visual treasures. Danny Sillada has established himself as a neo-ethnic artist, his masterpieces overflowing with vibrant incoherence, transcending movements spawned from legacies of surrealists. Not many of our contemporary artists can recreate a poetic replica of a disjointed reality captured on canvas as Sillada can, and that too with such wild abandon. Distinct geometrical patterns with simple objects, a signature characteristic of time fluidity injected with hallucinatory flows, the blood of his emotions fleeting in seamless strokes where a person can get lost forever in random speculation on what was meant to be conveyed. Minds are left bewildered and slightly disturbed yet visually gratified
– these are some trademarks of Sillada’s surreal work of art. At the tender age of seven, Danny’s thirst for art manifested itself. Identified as a gifted child with the flair for immortalizing his emotions and the world around him through sketches and paintings, he began with portraits of teachers, classmates and relatives and landscape painting. Between 1977 and 1982 in Davao Oriental, he earned the Gifted Art Award in Cateel Public Elementary School and Award of Excellence/ Artist of the Year Award in Maryknoll High School of Cateel. A proud native of Davao, he has remained consistent with preserving his roots and advocating ethnic culture in his paintings. No one would ever guess that the now fulltime artist nearly became a man of the collar, who for a time, armed with an MBA from the Ateneo School of Business, also swam with the sharks in the corporate world. To
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Surreal 12
the genuine artist the rigid policies and the ‘mechanical’ lifestyle, both in the seminary and his two-year stint as head of a department, were invisible bars that caged his fervor for life beyond ordinary perception. In 1995, Danny Sillada left the corporate world and became a full-time painter, professing that the crossover to follow his passion was just as grueling and painful a process as a woman experiences during labor. Elements of Danny’s surreal paintings are cutouts of his life infused with his own visual interpretations of society and the morality that encircles its boundaries. The beauty of surrealism is that you don’t entirely get what you see. Instead, you get what is hidden and you guess what is felt. With that thought, there are endless possibilities because surrealism is indeed a visual treat beyond our imaginations, even our dreams. Danny Sillada flawlessly injects colorful and lingering surrealistic fundamentals without replicating the independent works of surrealist legend Salvador Dali. Although, they might have something in common, but that is only true for the concept of odd objects displaced in time. One might ask, what is the difference then between a Dali masterpiece and a Sillada? The answer is quite simple. A signature component or piece is a given for every painter, but for a
Solitudo
surrealist painter the oddity of objects put together in a beautiful mess is very personal and specific, including how these elements are consistently rearranged in many autonomous ways on every new canvas.
of his masks until the delicate and simple details of curves and strokes was mentioned to him. But here, it goes to show that this stranger genre of paintings is spontaneous, random and sometimes fleeting.
If ants always represented decay in Dali’s paintings, a Sillada painting would depict a sphere on the top right of the canvas that always signified home or the sun or the moon that greeted the artist every time he woke up in his Davao house that was facing the Pacific Ocean. Also, we find masks, which are somewhat feminine or androgynous, in some of his works. Danny says he hasn’t really noticed the androgynous features
With twelve one-man shows and numerous awards and citations, Danny Sillada’s name and fame will soon be an inspiration both in the academic world of budding and inspiring artist and art enthusiasts. He is the living symbol of possibilities and, no doubt, lives up to it. A multi-faceted artist indeed, Danny is a poet; he writes about anguish and suffering
54 ART & DESIGN
Tower of Eden
simple way of reaching out to the younger crowd; something they can groove to and connect with easily).
The Kite in My Dream
Painter, poet, existential philosopher, performance artist – Danny Sillada is simply a ‘celebration of life’ to borrow a film title from award-winning, next generation filmmaker, Kamil Roxas. Crossing boundaries and exploding inhibitions – Danny’s incredible surreal paintings make a difference in our society. His art teaches us to embrace life in vibrant and bizarre moments and to keep our memories well. Art is drugs.
Surreal 13
but also balances his saturating melancholic words with his remarkable metaphors of women’s trials and tribulation, her pain and suffering, her tears and predestined role in society, her strength and compassion. Danny is also known for his performance art and forerunning extraordinary ‘ethno-techno’ music – a rare hybrid of ethnic/ tribal beats and digital ambient sounds, particularly mimicking nature, fused with hip-hop. (Why hip-hop? He believes it’s a
Surreal 7
56 ART & DESIGN
By Shar Matingka
Thursday came so quickly. There’s always something about Thursdays in little UAE – the small Middle Eastern country with big ambitions and mammoth milestone projects. Thursday after work has to be something interesting, something to really look forward to after wrestling with Sunday’s best surprises thrown at your desk and the aftershock of it at least until Tuesday morning. My department was dead quiet and almost empty I felt we were in a graveyard with huge LCD monitors for tombstones. Twenty minutes before we called it another weekend, people scrambled in and out of our division and randomly talked about how they would to spend a Thursday night. I sat quietly at my desk hastily finishing up my work. Five minutes left, the weekend would officially start. It was just enough time for me to prepare myself in the ladies’ room. I took out a tube of cream anesthetic and applied it evenly on my left arm. I had an unconventional, life-changing agenda for this Thursday evening and it wasn’t a trip to the spa - I was getting a tattoo. Much is said about tattoos. People get themselves inked with a building ounce of pain as the seconds go by in long hours of a tattoo session. We hear an average five sentence story re-visiting the ‘temporary insanity’ as some may call it and the reason behind the images they decide to embed permanently on their limbs. Sailors traditionally got themselves inked to chronicle special or tragic moments in their lives in the sea. In Middle Eastern countries, there is a delicate taboo associated with the art with respect to the prevalent conservative culture. In the UAE, though comparatively lenient and moderate from her neighbors, tattoo remains an intriguing impermissible artistry. Of all forms and expressions of art, body art is the sexy outlaw that rouses controversy, curiosity and criticism for various reasons that involves acceptability in watchful societies. My tattoo artist is one of a few known in the emirates. Unlike the others, he is popular but impressively elusive just like blue smoke.
‘I call him Blue Smoke’ Most people refer to him as ‘the guy from Sharjah’ and a few attentive ones know him simply as Ronaldo. His craft is well-marketed. Networking sites like Friendster and Facebook gave him the opportunity to attract a steady level of clientele. They come flocking to his doorstep every week and walk out sore and red with stunning details of their tattoo beyond expectations. Nine years in the making of an expert tattoo artist with a diverse clientele, Ronaldo earned a metaphoric impression as an underground celebrity as eminent a character as Mario Puzo’s godfather or don. Beating the rush hour and traffic jam in DubaiSharjah border was nearly a futile challenge. I reached his place at 10:00 p.m. The way up his floor was a journey. I was about to change. Like everyone else who decides to get a tattoo, I have my story. I did not decide this on a whim.
It took me months to measure what it would mean in my life. Ronaldo is not just your typical backdoor tattoo artist whose parlor boasts an odd collection of useless urban junk and walls covered with pictures of tattoo samples and sketches. Contrarily, he lives in a cozy and welcoming home. Also a proud father and a husband to a very amiable wife, Ronaldo extends the extra effort to make his clients feel comfortable. As normal as the next family room with the conformist set-up of moderately hi-tech gadgets and shelves decked with family photos, Ronaldo’s tattoo area remains camouflaged in the TV area. If it’s anyone’s first time to be in a tattoo parlor or in this case a tattoo artist’s home, one would be unsuspecting of the oscillating unit underneath the sofa. A huge leather ottoman is fixed adjacent to the sofa. In it, are ample supplies of surgical gloves, disinfectant, huge rolls of cling wraps, disposable towels and small bottles of tattoo
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My tattoo required two sets in the session: tattooing the stenciled image and another tattooing within the outline from the first set using a fresh new needle. He attached the needle onto the tattoo gun. A foot switch is connected to the oscillating unit. He tapped it with his foot and the tattoo gun gave off what was like the sound of a miniature drill. The unit rapidly pricks the skin between 80-150 times a second. The speed can be adjusted. In his experience, to get the relatively right amount of pressure and speed of the needle pricks on the skin, it also takes a good ear to listen to the intensity of that small drilling noise. If it’s too fast, it would hurt the skin even more, producing more of wounds than tattoo in a few days. If the intensity is too light, the ink on the tattoo might not last long enough. The first simultaneous pricking on my skin felt like a hand lightly tapping on sunburn. Talking to Ronaldo isn’t so difficult. Asked about how he connects with his clients through his art, he said the most fulfilling stage is seeing how a tattoo becomes as unique as the individual who wears it. The beauty of body art is in the transformation of the human body into a unique canvas. Be it a permanent memorabilia on the skin or for thrill’s sake, tattoos are deviant art that unintentionally cause curiosity among the rest of the crowd who bear none. While tattoo is still frowned upon in some societies, artists sharing the same capabilities and chutzpah as Ronaldo bring out the soul and life of a misunderstood art. Very rarely we come across an impressive work of art on skin. There is this plain uninteresting tattoo and there is also that which expresses the art in a more dramatic and more appreciative way.
ink. Single-use needles that come in different sizes occupy one of the drawers beneath the plasma TV. Getting marked for life First we conceptualize the design in his computer. I gave him the text for my tattoo and asked him to come up with a design that would match the text. I wanted something not too flashy, something a little more like tribal design, something neutral and sensible. He printed out two copies of the design using tattoo stencil paper. He stuck the first copy on my left arm, rubbing the area with the stenciled design evenly on my skin, then, he stripped off the paper. I was asked if the size and design was okay to go ahead with. It was perfect. The second copy was just a back-up in case the stenciled tattoo was placed too high or too low on my arm. I sat on an armless chair and felt the same way I had my first dental appointment as a child. But I was determined and it was too late and shameful to chicken out.
No citations. No award-winning works. No recognition. He never took part in organizations and tattoo guilds. But Ronaldo has a winning reputation and the signature quality of his tattoos. The solitary artist treads his own style and his own rules. He is like a shadow you won’t ever find until and unless he decides to show himself. Working for an advertising company by day, he manages his time after work hours for tattooing. As mentioned earlier, we all have our reasons and stories behind our tattoos. With so many clients walking in and out of Ronaldo’s place, it is quite understandable and forgivable that he remembers people by their tattoos and hardly by their names. Every art form has its own world of eccentricities and criticisms. Like any other form of art, tattooing has its share of discrimination and is probably one of the most censured of arts. But I guess it’s meant to be misunderstood because it’s what makes it exceptional and individualistic. Ronaldo – thanks for the tattoo.
58 HILIG PINOY
The Need for
Speed By Excel Dyquiangco
FORMULA RACING HAS NEVER BEEN THIS CLOSE TO HOME. WITH SEVERAL RACING TRACKS SITUATED IN SOME PARTS OF THE METT TROPOLIS, CART RACING — THE TERM FOR MOST AMATEUR RACERS — HAS BEEN ONE OF THE ONLY FEW SPORTS TO COMBINE SPEED, AGILITY, ADRENALIN AND A UNIQUE KIND OF RUSH. AND THIS TIME AROUND, BOTH LOCALS AND FOREIGNERS TROOP TO THE HEART OF THE METRO TO EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT KIND OF THRILL THAT CAN’T BE FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE. Cart racing is an avenue where people of all ages (kids as young as seven can get behind the wheel) test their speed and endurance and try to exceed their expectations. And this sport is indeed highly addictive — with a mixture of different kinds of sensations and emotions. So what is it about cart racing that makes it so attractive — even to the young ones and the young at heart? According to Jean-Marc Freihuber, or better known as Jeff, Managing Director for City Kart Racing in Sucat, Paranaque, cart racing is a unique sport that provides various types of awareness — the speed, the excitement of driving and the pressure that the driver feels at every curve trying to pass the car right in front of him are just some of the factors that makes this such an exceptional sport. “The feeling of the G force on your body, the thrill of the late braking, the emotion, the adrenaline rush after the race and the satisfaction and pride when you improve and reach your goals,” he adds. “And above all, cart racing offers the excitement of racing
at high speed, with the vision of everything passing super fast in front of your eyes.” Indeed, while cart racing is a sport that involves a lot of speed and excitement, Jeff says that there is more to that with cart racing. In fact, it is a sport that not only improves coordination and split decision making, it also teaches about the rules of life. More than the organization, the flexibility and the skill, this sport also offers the spirit of camaraderie, teamwork, and — surprise — it soothes fears and calm nerves. Sounds a little bit improbable, doesn’t it? How can such a sport promote such values? “Cart racing is actually a very good way to calm super active kids,” he says. “One of the best things is it helps you in dealing with your own fear — especially the fear of driving — and to learn how to control it and to improve.” And apart from the excitement and the exhilaration of revving up the engine and gunning the wheel, cart racing also serves a different kind of purpose: that this is a good sport to get together and to bond with family and friends. Sharing the experience, the
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exciting races, splitting the dice between them to see who the fastest is or simply learning how to drive are just some of the things that each family member can relish. “We actually have a lot of OFWs coming to City Kart Racing,” Jeff says. “Some even buy ‘rides’ as gifts to their relatives here in the country.” But just like any other sport that involves speed and car in one breath, how safe is cart racing and what measures are being done to ensure the safety of the drivers? Jeff shares that at City Kart Racing, he works hands-on to guarantee the protection of the passengers — to make it not only fun-filled but secure as well. He says that the carts are made of plastic which make the cart impossible to flip. The engines of the carts are also covered, therefore, the driver won’t get burned while placing their hand on the engine cover. These carts are also checked and cleaned everyday. Aside from that, their marshals are also trained and briefed extensively. On top of that, the tires that serve as walls in the tracks are secured properly. That way, drivers won’t get hurt if they accidentally bump into the walls. So there really is nothing to fear and worry about, isn’t it? It’s all in the name of fun — the secret to maximizing the sport. In cart racing,
there is no room for being too competitive or being too serious in this sport, or else, “they are out of here.” “Give a chance to feel the emotion, thrill and excitement in cart racing,” he says. “Allow yourself to have goosebumps while driving.” Jeff hopes that eventually, he will be the one to discover the next Michael Schumacher right here in the country, and he admits that he goes to work everyday just for that.
Jeff invites OFWs and their families to try out cart racing: “I am sure one of the best things is that we are way cheaper than what they can find in other parts of the world. But also our track (unique in Asia) has an elevated bridge, a tunnel, the safety is at par with the European standard. They should try to invite their friends for a party and their family for bonding.” City Kart Racing is located in Km18 West Service Road, Sucat Paranaque with telephone number: (+632) 8217087.
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Zambales By Ivan Henares
AnAwAngin in SAn Antonio, ZAmbAleS iS fASt becoming A populAr deStinAtion for thoSe Seeking A beAch to get AwAy from it All. there Aren’t too mAny AmenitieS on thiS Secluded beAch. in fAct, there Are none. it’S A fAvorite of thoSe who wAnt to cAmp out with nothing but bAre eSSentiAlS And the beAuty of nAture. there Are only two wAyS to get there — by pump boAt or viA A 5-hour chAllenging hike up mt. AnAwAngin. We decided to do the latter and a night hike at that! We left Manila at 1 am and, after a leisurely drive, arrived in the town proper of San Antonio, Zambales. Our destination was Pundaquit, a barangay several kilometers down the road by the beach. Those who get lost can easily ask the local tricycle drivers how to get there. We finally made it to the jump-off at 4:30 am just in time to start our night trek.
The sun was up by the time we neared the peak, and the heat added to my exhaustion (it was another sleepless night and being the designated driver, I could not catnap). But to make the long story short, we reached the pass leading to the beach. The view of Anawangin Cove was nothing short of fantastic. But instead of going down to the beach, the group decided to go up a few more meters to reach the summit.
The silhouettes of the mountains showed us why Anawangin is such a popular destination. As the sun slowly rose, we were greeted by the beauty of the environment. Nature, indeed, is the best landscaper. We marveled at how the bamboos, the trees and the rocks were artistically arranged creating this surreal scene.
With that settled, we all thought going down was going to be a breeze. But it wasn’t! There were plenty of rocks, and to make things even tougher, the grass was tall enough to cover the rocks so you couldn’t see if you were about to step on soil or rock. And that could spell disaster if you lost your balance. It’s a good thing I got myself a pair of Colombia Titanium Kailua sandals the night before and it did me wonders.
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We finally made it down. But not before we almost got attacked by a wild carabao. According to our guide, there are a lot of them in the area so it was best to be careful. It was a good thing our guide saw it in time and scared it away. The famed beauty of Anawangin Cove has spread far and wide as being one of the best beaches in the country. And we were finally there, well almost. It was an exhausting trek to Anawangin Cove. But the hike to the beach was not yet over. At sea level, we still had to navigate a kilometer along a dry river bed. The bizarre landscape felt mysterious, in a way. It didn’t look like I was in the Philippines with all the pine trees right beside the beach. Walking the dry river bed with that pyramidlike mountain in the background added an eerie feel to an already surreal trek. Anawangin got its name from nuang the Ilocano word for carabao since there is an abundance of it there. The memory of the close call with one remained fresh on our minds. After several meters under the hot summer sun trekking on the rocks, we finally made it to the shady cluster of pine trees. I wonder how they got there. Our guide said many were planted after the Mount Pinatubo eruption but he added the trees were there even before. To add to the mystique were crystal clear streams that reflected the tall pine trees on the surface like you were in some enchanted forest. And to think this whole area was devastated in 1991. That shows how fast nature heals itself. And then the beach finally appeared. It was a long strip of near-white volcanic sand dumped by Mount Pinatubo. The locals said that before the eruption, this area was mostly rock. The sand from Mount Pinatubo had created a wonderful playground for beach lovers. And it’s even more wonderful that the locals take good care of it. So whatever they charge you, they most probably deserve it. After taking photos, I went for a dip in the beach. The cool water washed away all the exhaustion from the climb, all the stress from school. It was a great way to reward ourselves after the tiring walk. From Anawangin, we had prearranged with our boatman to pick us up and bring us to Capones Island. Capones Island has always been famous for its white sand beaches and
the Spanish colonial lighthouse perched on top of a hill. It was the last stop for our San Antonio, Zambales trip. I noticed the island was so picturesque as we slowly closed in on it. When we finally made landfall, I was raring to find a shady place to take a nap having had no sleep for the last 30 hours. And I did and found myself cozy on the sand drifting away to la-la land. Since we didn’t have much time left, we had to forgo the hike up to the lighthouse. Add to the fact that it was hot and I had already consumed my supply of water. So we were content with making one round by boat on the way back to Pundaquit. What’s sad about Capones Island is that it’s riddled with tourist garbage and vandalism.
The fantastic rock formations have been converted into modern petroglyphs etched with names of tourists who do not know any better. And the sand was full of garbage! It would be good for the Municipal Government of San Antonio, Zambales to prioritize efforts to clean up the island. They can charge fees to pay locals to ensure that the place is kept clean all the time and to reprimand tourists who vandalize the rocks or leave their garbage on the island. Boatmen could also be trained to brief tourists who hire their boats. They have to remind tourists that everything they bring to the island, especially garbage, they should bring back home with them. In fact, the community should take the initiative to make sure the island is clean since it is their
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The boat ride back to Pundaquit was about 30 minutes and it was relieving when we finally made it. You usually take a shower at the house of the boatman. But since we wanted to leave as early as possible, we just got rid of the sand and freshened up. On the way back to Subic, we stopped by the house of President Ramon Magsasay in Castillejos, Zambales. We made a last stop in Subic for a hefty meal at one of the Korean restaurants before motoring back to Manila. A perfect way to end what has been a very fulfilling trip.
source of income. Of course, tourists should share in the responsibility of caring for the environment. As the saying goes: “Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.” Anyway, the boats to Capones and Anawangin are quite small. It can fit about four people. Don’t even try to be stingy since the waters around Capones are known to
be quite rough especially in the afternoon. And these are open seas. So it’s best not to overload especially since there are no life jackets. We learned about the rough waters firsthand as we went around to check out the lighthouse. There were just four of us and the waves were pounding and water was getting in our small boat. We did get our photos but not with ease.
How to get there You can take any bus from Manila to Iba or Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Buses to Zambales leave the Victory Liner stations in Caloocan (about 23 trips from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight) and Pasay (four trips from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.) Fare to San Antonio is about PHP235. Get off at the town proper of San Antonio and charter a tricycle to take you to the jump-off point in Pundaquit. That’s about PHP50 per person or PHP200 per tricycle. Boat rentals to Anawangin and the nearby islands range from PHP800 to PHP1200 depending on your itinerary.
The view from your regular Juan dela Cruz
How do you cope with culture shock?
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Usapang Kanto Compiled by Jonie Jose
I did not find it difficult to cope in the UAE. Months before I went to Dubai, I have already researched about the lifestyle in the UAE. So when I came, I was somehow aware of the culture. It became even easier when I learned to adapt to the lifestyle here. You can’t help it! We have to go with the flow, otherwise we’ll be left behind and alone. RIAH DEL CARMEN
I remember when I first got here in Dubai, I experienced culture shock. I felt like a fish out of water. It took me months to recover. I had to understand first the language, the gestures, the culture, even the smallest thing just to cope with it. No matter how broadminded or full of goodwill a person may be, a series of props has been knocked out from under him. We just have no choice but to ride on it. ANTHONY CUACHIN
Before I left for Dubai, I was so paranoid that I had to ask my friends, who have been here for quite sometime, about how life is in Dubai. I really had to because I’m a shy person. When I got here I had to make a lot of adjustments before I was able to cope with regular life. I used to go places and talk to my friends who’ve been here for years to have the strength I needed to adapt to the new environment. ELIZABETH INSO
I’m so thankful that I have gone through the adjustment. A piece of advice for the newcomer: don’t sit around being so negative because it prolongs and deepens your gloom. Plan something pleasant to look forward to. Set goals for yourself such as learning five to ten new foreign phrases each day, research about the dos and don’ts in the UAE, and a lot more. Also try hard to adjust to the UAE environment... That’s what I did. CHARISE EUSTAQIO
I’m a flexible and practical person, I can easily adapt to the environment I am in. My secret is to extend myself to learn and love other cultures because no man can survive in this world alone. We need other people in order to pursue our dreams in life. Especially in a foreign land, we all badly needed ‘pakikisama’ and this includes adapting to the prevailing cultures. JULES PANTALEON Ang hirap!!! Especially if you are a first timer and you don’t have a single friend or relative here. Everything is new. We should make up our minds either to resist the culture in which we find ourselves or surrender to it. What we need to do is to inch our way toward a new and more flexible personality. GERALD GARAN
I was a bit shocked when I first came to the UAE. Though some of my relatives were already here, it wasn’t enough to comfort me. Culture and traditions here are entirely different from our own, so what I did is I got exposed, I visited different places and interacted with different nationalities. Learning their laws and reading through websites also helped me cope in the UAE. JERICO FERNANDEZ
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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.
Tales from the Dark Side (And Some from the Light Side, Too!) By Aby Yap
BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP, SAY GOODNIGHT TO THE BENT OLD LADY IN BLACK PEERING INTO YOUR WINDOW. SHUT YOUR DOOR TIGHT; THE BLOOD-DRENCHED WOMAN MIGHT BE OUT FOR REVENGE. WRAP YOURSELF IN A THICK BLANKET; THE DECAPITATED MAN IS STILL SEARCHING FOR HIS HEAD. BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU TOSS AND TURN IN BED; THE PALLID LITTLE BOY BESIDE YOU MIGHT SUDDENLY WAKE UP — AND NEVER AGAIN GO BACK TO SLEEP. FOR THE NIGHT IS STILL AND ONLY THE QUIET ANGUISH OF THOSE COUNTLESS WANDERING SOULS COULD BE HEARD ALL THROUGHOUT. SWEET DREAMS….. BWAHAHAHAHA! The Haunted Yes, all you have to do is fill in the blank; and presto, a bloodcurdling tale! From Aparri to Jolo, there’s definitely a lot of places in the Philippines to give you goose bumps — the kind that’s perfectly fit for the approval of The Midnight Society. Are you afraid of the dark?
Now imagine being roused from a deep slumber by your cell phone’s text alert “Uyyy, me text ka na naman…” only to receive a message like the one above — at exactly 3 am, or so the clock tells you. Is that scary or what?! Blame it on the Pinoy’s insatiable yearning for the unknown, their wild and wicked imagination or spooky sense of humor. We love to get a good fright and pass it on to someone else, and laugh it off. Just pray the recipient feels the same way or you could end up with one less Friendster contact — and that wouldn’t be as funny.
Take Baguio for example. The city is cold — and its stories even more chilling. Some say that anybody who passed by Loakan Road would attest to this. Your otherwise trusty auto unexpectedly becomes faulty before quitting working altogether. Or you feel as if you’ve just stumbled into the Twilight Zone as the path becomes unfamiliar — even though you’ve been taking this route since you first got your driver’s license! And that enchanted pine tree that used to be at the center of the road, the one that many attempted to cut down, but simply couldn’t because of strange reasons: (1) broken chainsaws, (2) bad weather, or (3) sick tree-cutters. This tree has been standing for the past 200 years until the local government intervened and had it cleared in 2001. But the tale didn’t stop there. Up to this day, some still believe that the ‘departed’ pine tree continues to hunt down all those who destroyed it for taking away the home of countless spirits. Baguio is also synonymous to tales of haunted hotels (especially following the 1990 earthquake tragedy), and the infamous Teacher’s
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Camp, built on what is said to be a former battlefield of native warriors. So don’t be surprised if, while in dreamland, you start hearing moans of agony or cries for help. We also have Corregidor and Clark Air Base, Pampanga known to be haunted by World War II victims. Everyone who knows how these places played a part in the Japanese invasion doesn’t need any more convincing that there are indeed ghostly dwellers here. Most of which, of course, are soldiers, whose march drills and combat practices apparently still echo in the air today. In the hospital ruins, one might hear typical ER activities — hurried footsteps probably belonging to doctors and nurses on their way to save lives. And if you get lucky or unlucky (depending on how adventurous you are), you might even see their dying patients pleading for salvation. But let’s not go any further. In Metro Manila, we already have our fair share of apparitions roaming the streets at night, and very much willing to indulge the thrill-seeker. Taxi drivers see teenagers in front of the fire-devastated Ozone Disco in Quezon City calling to them. On Concha Cruz Drive in BF Homes Subdivision, Parañaque City is a mainstay white lady, who terrorizes drivers without companions. She’d suddenly cross the street, appear on your rearview mirror, or worse, ride in the backseat. BF Resort in Las Piñas City boasts of a different ghostly tale — a phantom red box-type Lancer that chases cars then disappears in the dark. Urban Legends, anyone? This one happened to a friend of the aunt of the cousin of the boss of the mistress of my neighbor. Huwat?! Now for urban legends, you’d need paper and pen to draw the entire network before you figure out who really experienced the incredible incident. But if you’d rather go through the excitement of hearing a good story than being concerned about its credibility, then simply listening would do. For horror story fanatics, New Manila is as familiar as it gets. This Quezon City area is famous for Balete Drive, a street haven for a number of balete trees believed to house all sorts of spirits — from restless souls of the dead to other supernatural beings with whom we share the world. There are big houses built during the Spanish period, and thus assumed to be haunted. In the 80s, they say there was a crazy old man who allegedly went after a couple who got stranded on the road. The guy left to seek help but never returned. The deranged man did though, sneering as he held the poor guy’s head, proudly showing it to the girl who was waiting inside the car. With the horrible sight forever etched in her mind, the girl was driven to a state of ‘Sisa’.
former construction site that now serves as a tomb to dozens of workers who got buried alive when it collapsed in 1981. Rumor says that Imelda ordered the pouring of cement into the collapsed area in time for the film festival instead of freezing the operation to rescue the injured and retrieve the dead. Thus, reports of ghastly sightings and sounds soon surfaced. However, reporter Howie Severino’s documentary on this establishment came up with not even a single name of a worker supposedly buried underneath. Another story is that of the San Juanico Bridge for which the blood of several kidnapped children was allegedly offered for its completion, again on Imelda’s order. What about Ferdinand and Bongbong? Some claim that the ex-president is still alive and only a clone lies in the coffin. His junior, on the other hand, is already dead; Bongbong was killed while studying in London. In his place is a first-rate, surgeryborne copycat: his cousin. These amazing urban legends make Elvis sighting rumors and the X-Files sound like child’s play. And now a quick rundown on the most popular but totally absurd Pinoy favorite tales — the alien rendezvous on Mt. Banahaw, an aswang ship landing on Manila shores, HIV-infected people injecting unsuspecting SM Cinema viewers with HIV-contaminated blood, Jose Rizal being the father of both Adolf Hitler and Mao Zedong (oh, and that he was also Jack the Ripper, as revealed by his initials), Robina Gokongwei of Robinsons shopping malls has a twin brother — half-human/half-snake, no less — who almost gobbled up Alice Dixon in Robinson’s Mall.
There’s also the ever-popular white lady, who was raped either by Japanese soldiers or a cab driver — depending on who’s telling the tale. There are theories as to the origin of Balete Drive’s white lady story. It was created either by: (1) two reporters who happened to be bored and ended up drunk one night or (2) UP Psychology majors who did an experiment on how quick rumors could spread.
And how about some appetizing urban legends? Jollibee uses worms (not bees – surprise!) in its burgers. Ma Mon Luk and Kowloon uses ‘sio-meow’ — that’s cat meat to you — for their siopao. One KFC bucket contained a bonus fried rat. And guess what McDonald’s apple pie in the Philippines was reportedly made of? What could be worse than worms, cats or rats? Sayote, that’s what.
The Marcoses star in some of the most classic urban legends but the most notorious of which is the Manila Film Center tragedy — the
Be afraid. Be very afraid. Bwahahahahah….
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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. Photography by Mariyah Gaspacho
Paris Walang Kaparis Every year, the global fashion industry comes together to celebrate Fashion Week. Lahat ng bonggang bongang fashion designers from all over the world display their latest collections in run-away fashion shows para ibenta sa lahat ng buyers from all countries. Dito rin magkaka-alaman kung sino ang wagi at a la ocean deep sa fashion season. Para sa isang aspiring fashion executive na tulad ko, ito ang Oscars night – the highlight of my career. Bago pa lang ako sa company namin kaya’t ngayon pa lang ay nag-iipon n ako ng pogi points para balang araw ay baka sakaling dinggin ni Bathala ang mga panalangin ko at palarin akong maka-attend ng Fashion Week. Dito sa opisina, lahat ng empleyado ay nangangarap na mapasama sa delegates ng Fashion Week – konting palpak eh minus points agad sa iyong chances – kaya lahat ay consyus at motivated dahil hindi lamang free trip to Paris – the fashion capital of the world - at free clothes from the latest collections ang naghihintay sa iyo – this will definitely define your fashion career. When it rains, it’s four. This is my favorite motto now – kasi totoo pala ito. Unang una, ang mortal kong kaaway na si Leonie – ang babaeng ipinanganak upang yurakan ang pagkatao ko – ay nakabakasyon ngayon ng isang buwan. Abot langit ang saya ko dahil walang kontravida ngayon dito sa opisina. Pangalawa, na-permanent na ako dito sa company matapos ang 6 months of probinsionary period. Ikatlo, may increase ang sweldo ko – haylavet!!! Pero hindi ako labis makapaniwala na matapos ang sunod sunod na blessings in the sky na mga ito ay may darating pang good news. Last week pa matamlay si Ivanka – ang executive PA ng aming Managing Director. Akala namin ay nagdadalang utaw sya kasi madalas syang lagnatin at nagdududuwal miski hindi naman nya ako nakikita. Kahapon ay na-discover nya na hindi pala sya Preggy Liwag – may bulutong sya. Eewwww!!! Miski naawa ako sa kanya habang madali syang pinauwi ng aming HR at ipinagtabuyang parang may
ketong, naisip ko rin naman ang kapakanan ng karamihan sa office namin – paano kung mahawa ang mga hindi pa nagkaka-bulutong? Ang chaka nun ha? Anyway, habang lahat ay pinandirihan si Ivanka, ako naman ay nagmagandang loob na tulungan syang mag-abang ng taxi at bumili ng antibiotics upang makasiguro na hindi na lumala pa ang pakiramdam nya. Pay it forward – parang yung sa pelikula – tutal isa din naman si Ivanka sa mga kumakampi sa akin tuwing inaatake ako ni Evil Leonie the Negastar eh. Kinabukasan, halos mapa-back flip ako with matching split nang i-announce sa opisina na since may bulutong daw si Ivanka at hindi makakasama sa Fashion Week ay ako na daw ang papalit sa kanya. Huwaaaaaaattttt??? Totoo ba itu?!! Matapos akong sampalin ng aking seatmate na si Minerva ay nahimasmasan ako…pero hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala ang isang barrio lass from Barangay Bagumbayan, Orion, Bataan, Region 4, Philippines ay makakarating na rin sa Paris - sa wakas. After 5 minutes, naging tampukan na ako ng inggit at pagkamuhi sa opisina. Naiintindihan ko naman sila – ke bago bago ko pa nga lang tapos join na agad sa Fashion Week. Eh kasi hindi sila nagovertime last week para tulungan si Ivanka sa Powerpoint presentation nya at mag-book ng hotel at restaurant kaya hindi siguro sila na-consider. If I were them, I’d feel the same. PERO AKO PA DIN ANG PUPUNTA NG PARIS AT HINDI SILA. So, care ko sa mga side comments nila? Hmp!!! Ces la vie!!! (O, French yan ha?) Kinabukasan ay hindi na ako nagaksaya ng oras – may I secure na ako ng 6 months bank statements, salary certificate at No Objection Letter, medical insurance certification, airline at hotel bookings at kung anik anik pa para sa aking Schengen Visa application. Habang nag-nonovena ako kay Santo Niño,
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San Simon, San Felipe, San Mateo, Santa Maria at pati na kay Santa Claus para sa approval ng aking visa ay panay naman ang praktis ko ng pagsasalita ng French – mahirap na – baka mapag-iwanan ako at imbes na makakilala pa ng aking Mon Amour (nakanampuchaaaaa, French uli yun ha?) ay maging Les Miserable lang ako. (O, French na naman - o ha?). Nag-rent din ako ng mga French movies tulad ng Amelie, Paris Je T’aime at Last Tango in Paris para lalo kong ma-feel ang nalalapit kong adventure. Minu-minuto ko rin pinakikinggan sa aking iPod ang La Vie in Rose at Lady Marmalade para masanay ang aking tenga sa wikang Pranses. Ang effort ha? Nang palarin akong ma-approve ang aking Schengen visa (Dizzziziittt!!!) ay nag-shopping na ako ng aking mga magiging outfits – mabuti na lang at madaming bagong collections sa Karama – tiba tiba ako! Pramis, kinareer ko syempre ang aking mga outfits – hindi biro ang magiging makakasalamuha ko sa Paris – mga crèam de la crèam ng fashion industry – kaya hindi ako dapat magpa-talbog sa mga outfits! Para makasigurong totally wagi ang Hat Couture ako, pito ang binaon kong beret – iba ibang kulay! O di ba? Annie B isa kang Femme Fatal Attraction!!! Bonjour, Paris! One week later, isa nang ganap na katotohanan ang aking pangarap. Habang lumalanding na sa Charles de Goal airport ang aking eroplanong sinasakyan ay unti-unti ko nang nakikinita: makaka-kain na rin ako ng authentic French Fries! Matapos ang aking 5-minute retouch ay humanda na akong harapin ang aking French conversation. “Excuse moi, Mademoiselle….”, sabi nung poging airport security guard. “Weeee?” O ha? Sagot ko nga sa kanya. “Je suis désolé mais il ya un problème.” Sabi nya, ewan ko ba, nahilo ako sa accent nya. “There’s some problem with you..” sabi ni Oswald, ang aking officemate na nasa likuran ko. Naku, ano kaya yun? Baka napagkamalan kaya nilang terorista ako? Baka tumulo ang patis dun sa check in luggage ko? Nakuuuuu……
“Madame, Il semble que vous êtes en possession de fausses marchandises. Cela est contraire à la loi….” Tuloy-tuloy ang salita nung security guard…hindi ko maintindihan…nose bleed na itu! “Annie, you’re wearing and carrying in your luggage fake brand items. That’s illegal in this country. They have to detain you for questioning.” Pagta-translate ulit ni Oswald sa akin. Oh nooooooooooo!!! Yung Louis Vuitton Speedy 40 handbag ko daw ay peke – eh malay ko ba, regalo lang sa akin ni Ranjit yon – yung makulit na Pana na may crush sa aken. Pati raw ang Gucci boots ko peke daw – eh ilang beses kong kinulit yung tinderong Morrocan sa Karama sabi nya original yon, factory defect nga lang kaya mura. Pati yung gamit kong maleta na Prada, ja-peyks din daw!!! Eh hiniram ko lang naman sa flatmate ko yun – binili nya pa man din sa Bangkok yun last vacation nya. Anu ba yan – lahat pala ng branded items ko eh puro peke?!!! Nung pati yung Her Bench cologne ko eh sinisinghot-singhot nila eh nagtaray na ako…..”Echusa mwa…dis no faux!!! I buy from Manila myself!!!” Nakakapikon na ha?!!! Dinala nila ako at mga maleta ko sa isang maliit na kwarto. Isa isa nilang nilabas ang laman ng mga maleta ko. Lahat inispeksyon. Wala akong nagawa….eh kasi karamihan nga daw ng dala ko eh ja-peyks! Humanda yang mga tindero sa Karama…..ire-reklamo ko sa 7Days yang mga yan! Dalawang oras ang nakalipas – halos himatayin na ako sa gutom, nerbiyos at takot – nang dumating ang boss ko. Maya-maya, matapos nyang kausapin in French (na hindi ko napagaralan kaya hindi ko ma-intindihan) ay ibinalik na nila sa akin ang mga bagahe ko at pinalabas na ako from the room. Hiyang hiya ako sa amo ko. “I’m sorry, Rami….promise I will not buy fake from now on…” mangiyak-iyak kong sabi sa kanya. Aba, pinagtawanan lang ako. Tuché! Pagdating ko sa hotel ay nawala ang lumbay ko from that horrible experience. Ginising ko ang sarili ko: “Eto na Annie B. Dizzizit!!!” Pagbukas ko ng bintana
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ko, akala ko Eiffel Tower ang makikita ko – hindi pala, firewall. Ok lang – nasa Paris na ako!!! La Vie-da Loca!!!! Mabuti na lang at walang sabit sa trabaho ko at tuwang tuwa sa akin ang mga bossing ko – maliban lang sa pinagtawanan nila ako tuwing ikinuwekwento ko yung aking faux experience. Para hindi na ako ma-tsugi, sinuot ko na lang yung mga outfits mula sa ukay-ukay collection ko. Bonggang bonga ang Fashion Week. Feeling ko laman ako ng Vogue Magazine sa dami ng mga fashion models at magagarang damit na mga nakita ko sa mga fashion shows. Para rin syang Oscar Awards dahil puro flash na sunod sunod ang sumasalubong sa mga celebrities na nagkalat. Habang may break, nagyosi muna ako sa labas ng Hall. May isang ale na sumalubong sa akin at nagtitigan kami visa-visa (from head to head). Akala ko pinagkamalan nya akong fashion model kasi tinignan nya ako mula ulo hanggan paa. Sabay naglabas ng kanyang yosi…sus, makikisindi lang pala. Later on, isa isang pinakilala yung mga guest of honor sa Dinner Party na hosted ng Vogue – si Ana Winter pala – ang kanilang sikat Editor in Chief - yung babaeng nakisindi ng yosi sa akin. Sayang! Hindi man lang ako nakapagpa-kodak sa kanya. Pang-Facebook ko pa naman sana yun. After that unforgettable Fashion Weekend, feeling ko supermodel na rin ako. Ang dami kong nahalbat na freebies from different fashion brands!!! Siguro
naman hindi na ako haharangin ulit sa airport nito noh? Pagkatapos ng trabaho, nag-explore na ako. Nagsolo flight na lang ako kasi lahat ng mga kasamahan ko eh may kanya-kanya din rendezvus (Ooooo, French naman yan…). Miski nuong una ay naligaw at nahilo-hilo ako sa pagsakay ng tren ay natutunan ko din later on ang mga pasikot-sikot. Sobrang ganda ng Paris – ang mga lumang building nila ay na-preserve ng husto at halatang ginagastusan ang pag-rerestore sa mga ito. Pinahahalagahan nila ang mga historical landmarks nila at kitang kita sa effort nila ito. Una kong nasilayan paglabas ko ng Metro Train station ay ang Ark De Triomph – naloka ako!!! Akala ko sa picture eh para lang syang Monumento sa Kalookan pero hindi pala….naka-nganga ako habang nakatingala sa gitna ng mga nagdadaanang sasakyan. Then, rumampa ako sa Champs Elisey – kung saan matatagpuan lahat ng pinaka-bonggang shops at stores sa Paris. Halos mapaluhod ako sa pagkamangha nang makita ko ang Louis Vuitton Megastore – jusko ang laki-laki – isang buong building na naglalaman ng lahat ng luxury items nila. Laway na laway ako nang masilayan ko ang mga paninda nila. Pilit kong dinededma ang wallet na dati ko pa gustong bilhin sa Burjuman store nila pero hinihintay kong mag-sale. Two years na yon pero hindi pa rin nagbabago ang presyo. Pero matindi ang sutsot sa akin ng ahas ni Satanas. “Bilhin mo na, Annieeeeeeee…” sabi sa isip ko. Ayaw tumigil. So para matanggal ang stress eh inilabas ko ang aking credit card at sabay dampot nung wallet papuntang counter. Pagkaskas nung cashier eh isang malalim na hinga at makapal na lunok ang ginawa ko.
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“Hindi bale, I work hard naman. I deserve this.” 200 times kong paulit-ulit na sinabi sa sarili ko yan. Nang lumabas ako sa building ng LV habang bitbit ang aking shopping bag, nawala lahat ng pagod at stress sa katawan ko. Pramis! Patuloy akong nag-catwalk sa kahabaan pa ng Champs Elisey feeling Carrie Bradshaw sa “Sex & The City”. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam!!! Maya-maya pa ay hindi ko namalayan na halos 5 kilometro na pala ang nilakad ko – sa sobrang ganda kasi ng mga tanawin ay hindi mo mapapansin ang nilalakad mo. Nang biglang bumulaga sa aking paningin ang Eiffel Tower! Ang laki-laki! Ang taas-taas! Syempre super pa-picture ako. Gusto ko sana sumakay dun sa elevator pataas ng Eiffel Tower para makita ko ang view ng Paris kaya lang ang haba haba ng pila. Baka bukas pa ako makasakay kaya nagpa-picture na lang ako ng nagpa-picture. Nagpunta din ako sa Luvre Museum. Akala ko imbento lang yung pinakita sa “Da Vinci Code” – tutoo pala. Excited akong makita in person ang painting ni Mona Lisa – naloka ako kasi ang liit lang pala nya – ang layo pa mula sa viewing area kaya hindi ko natitigan. Habang namamasyal ako sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Paris ay kung anu anong bagay na sobrang ganda ang mga nakita ko. Problema lang eh since hindi ako masyadong marunong mag-French ay hirap ako magtanong ng directions. May isa pa ngang babae na nagtaray sa akin nang tanungin ko sya kung saan
ang CR sa wikang Ingles. Hello, CR lang hindi nya maintindihan? Sinigawan ba naman ako? May mga Pinoy din akong nakasalubong pero hindi sila sumasagot miski Tagalog ang pagbati ko sa kanila. Akala ba nila porque naka-French coat sila at naka-beret eh maitatago nila ang mga ilong nilang sarat? Yan ang hirap sa ating mga Pinoy eh – masyado tayong pa-sosyal. Ang laki ng pride natin. Eh ano kung DH ka o taga-linis ng bahay? Baket, matino namang trabaho yon ah? Hanap buhay din yun ha? Hay naku, mga kabayan ko……. Hindi ko mapigil ikumpara tuloy ang Paris sa ating bansa – o sa Maynila man lang. Sana tulad ng mga Pranses, pahalagahan din natin ang ating nakaraan. Dahil malaki ang maidudulot nito sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa rin – mismo! Sana ay mag-invest din tayo sa magaganda at malalaking mga tulay, building, transportation system at palagi nating gawing malinis at maayos ang mga ito. Pwede naman yun eh. Kung hindi lang pasaway ang karamihan sa atin. Pero sa isang banda, at least tayong mga Pinoy, miksi mahirap lang ang bansa natin, very hospitable at friendly naman tayo - lalo na sa mga foreigners. Tayong mga Pinoy hindi lang matulungin, lagi pang nakangiti at panay ang English para lang masiyahan ang mga foreigners. Ipinagmamalaki ko pa rin Pinoy ako. Taas noo, Pinoy!!! Totoo nga na ang Paris ay walang kaparis. Pramis, babalik ako dito. With better wardrobe next time. Au Revoir!
70 SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE Set Apart
Gary Valenciano: Still On Top of the Game By Mikkel Bolante
It’s been quite some time. It’s been a while since he earned himself the title of mr pure energy; even longer still, since the his first solo concert to a sold-out araneta coliseum crowd or the release of the first of his twentyfive albums or his introduction to audiences through old-time tv shows like the pilita and jackie show, germspesyal and penthouse live. It’s been twenty-five years and counting. Gary Valenciano has accomplished quite a bit in his career — countless hits on the Philippine radio airwaves, sold-out concerts, a couple of movies and a ton of TV commercials. On his 25th year in the industry this year, he has celebrated by going on a concert tour that takes him practically around the world. He has blazed through key cities in Europe — Belfast, Vienna and London — where he received an overwhelming positive response from his audiences. He has played the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, the first Filipino performer to do so, where he shared the stage with special guests like the Jabbawockeez (dance group and winner of the MTV reality TV show America’s Best Dance Crew — some members of which are Filipinos), his good friend Martin Nievera and his two sons Paolo and Gabriel. This month, he will be holding a major concert where it all began — the Araneta Coliseum — in celebration of his twenty-five years in the biz.
La Salle Greenhills singing group Kundirana, responsible for other local Filipino singing luminaries such as Ogie Alcasid, Randy Santiago, Dingdong Avanzado, and more recently, former South Border vocalist Vince Alaras and Philippine Idol Finalist Gian Magdangal.
It’s been a long and fruitful road, but perhaps, one with the end not yet in sight.
With so many younger acts influenced by the works of Valenciano, though, it seems he is already being treated like an elder statesman in the industry. In October, a tribute concert was held for him in Magnet High Street in Taguig — where top bands like Sandwich, Sponge Cola, Imago, Pedicab, Greyhoundz, ChicoSci and his son’s band Salamin played covers of his songs.
In the Blood Maybe a career in music was destined for Valenciano. After all, his mother Grimilda Santiago Ortiz, who his father met in New York, was a popular opera singer in Manila in the 1960s. In high school, he joined the famed
Little wonder then that his love, passion and talent for music has been passed down to his own children: Paolo and Gabriel, who perform with their father on tour, and young daughter Kiana, who has also appeared in some of her father’s concerts and recordings. He is supportive of his children’s ventures into the showbiz industry. His oldest son Paolo is the frontman of a rock band, while Gabriel has inherited his father’s skill in dancing. It doesn’t seem, though, that he’s ready to pass on the torch as the country’s most scintillating performer anytime soon.
Valenciano’s career isn’t merely famed for its onstage brilliance, however. What sets him apart is the fact that he is actually just as known for his heart. He is not ashamed to proclaim his strong faith. Some of his songs are admittedly songs about spirituality — Take Me Out of the Dark, Shout For Joy, The Warrior Is A Child, Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos, Could You be Messiah, among others. He has released a whole album dedicated to his faith. Gary has even appeared in stage plays that are religious in nature — like in the Trumpet Playshop production Joseph the Dreamer, where he played the lead role. While some had doubts about his decision to be outspoken about his faith on and off the stage — especially around the time he was going on to the prime of his musical career — the choice served him well. He not only received the emotional fulfillment of singing praise — but his career continued to flourish in the direction he had committed to. Gary was involved as a spokesperson for two separate UNICEF campaigns — the Fill The World With Love campaign in 1991 and an iodized salt program in 1997 — before he was eventually tabbed by the United Nations to be the UNICEF Ambassador of Good Will for the Philippines in 1998. In that role, he has visited many small villages and places devastated by tragedies around the country, spending time with children who need it most. In this respect, Valenciano remains unmatched in the Philippine entertainment scene; a talented performer that is more substance than style — which is saying a lot when one is familiar with just how much style he is capable of. Looking Ahead His career longevity is impressive not merely because of the length. Lots of artists have reached twenty-five years; but to be twentyfive and relevant the way Mr Pure Energy is — that’s truly something to celebrate. Nobody knows what the future holds for Valenciano — especially with so many talented young acts waiting in the wings. But the bright performer is not one to be fazed by thoughts of uncertainty. “It’s facing the unknown that excites me,” Gary says. In true Gary V fashion, though, he downplays his future accomplishment in the biz but rather focuses on things that truly matter. “It’s not about new things to do, but new things to give back. I’m really eager to find out what the next twentyfive years will be like.” Garry V will be having a concert in Dubai on the 27th of November 2008 at the Aviation Club Tennis Stadium
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE 71
Rising Son
In our neck of the woods, there remains one true dance monarch and that is of course, Gary Valenciano (or Gary V). Younger dancers moving to more recent styles and tunes (i.e. hip hop) would not even think of holding a candle to this master showman. Possessing none of the foppishness and effeminacy often mistakenly associated with male dancers, Gary V has always been inimitable and stylishly so. So, it would be only natural to presume that his offspring would inherit this flair for movement, as is the case with 20-year-old Gabriel, his youngest son. But it would be quite the surprise to learn that it has actually been said that the son can out dance his father.
Gabriel Valenciano
By Gabbie dela Rama-Talan Photo courtesy of Paolo Valenciano
Fred Astaire, John Travolta, Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, and who, in this generation, would have thought until Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice” video—even Christopher Walken. They all share one thing in common, which is the ability to enthrall once they start to dance, and whether its to the beat of a certain tune or something that only they can hear, the effect remains the same for whoever is watching—electrifying and for those who possess two left feet, enviably so.
“Better than my dad,” Gabriel questions warily. “I never really liked hearing people say that I’m better. I’m younger so naturally I’m more fluid, but my dad is 44, and the way he moves and his stamina for his age is quite shocking,” he laughs. Gabriel—friends, family, and admirers call him Gab—has joined his father onstage quite a number of times both in and out of the country. But he is proudest of opening for “XXTreme,” a concert that took place five years ago in the Cuneta Astrodome, to celebrate Gary V’s 20th year in showbiz. Gab was 15 then. Comparison to his father is inevitable as Gab is an almost mirror likeness of the former— the same lithe, long frame, dark good looks, down to his curly, close cropped hair. It’s a bit scary actually. You would think that this would weigh heavily on Gab, that he would be living in his father’s shadow especially since his older brother Paolo, who is vocalist of local hard rock band Salamin, is very much his own person, having chosen a career path quite different from that of his supportive father. Gab is quite frank and at ease when questioned about this, which is pretty much indicative of the kind of person he is: mature for his age and brimming with confidence. “It would be fair to say that there’s a lot of pressure and expectations from people all around the world, which cannot be avoided. Being the ‘next Gary V’ really isn’t my goal though. But in the eyes of the public, I guess there’s not much I can do but to just perform in the best of my ability and give them what they deserve.” To take this as a sign of resignation would be easy—if Gab weren’t such a talented person in so many and myriad ways, that is. Besides his true passion for dance, Gab is an actor, model, producer, host, choreographer, and a percussionist. It is a dizzying list, and one, which he does not take lightly. It is almost as if he knows that despite the constant comparison to his father, his place in the sun has already been mapped out for him and not by any other means but by his own drive to succeed.
the camera and when the photographer asks me to pose I CAN’T! Haha! I freeze! But it’s funny and exciting naman so I can confidently say I enjoy it.” Despite the flurry and impetuosity of youth, remarkably, Gab has aimed a well-defined stake at his future. “One thing a lot of people don’t know about me is that I enjoy producing music. Now that’s something I want to do for living.” He sees himself as a producer and a director in L.A. or Nashville, Tennesse, home of Christian music in the USA.
Second to dancing, Gab enjoys playing percussion. “I love grooving and just jamming with other percussion enthusiasts,” he says. He has even jammed with Salamin when they opened for American band Switchfoot during their concert here last September 2007. He is almost as passionate about choreography as he is about playing percussion. “Seeing something you created is actually just as pleasing as performing. Put both together... enough said,” he finishes. Modeling, he has dubbed as his least favorite alongside acting—“ I enjoy it but I grew up in an environment where looks aren’t everything but, I do enjoy it naman.” Besides being the image model for the clothing brand, Whoops!, Gab has endorsed the skincare line Bioderm, BPI, Globe, and Alaska though he confesses to being more at home appearing videos than in photos—“I grew up moving A LOT in front of
It seems Gab is dead serious about this aspect of his career. “I’m swiftly moving into producing and arranging rather than dancing. It’s like learning to fall in love again and it feeling like the first time. I just can’t enough of it,” he emphasizes. He remixed and rearranged the seminal “Shout for Joy” for Gary V’s latest album Rebirth. “I added a House/Electronic feel into it... best part is when I hear it being played, the feeling’s surreal,” he enthuses. He is also excited though a tad secretive about an upcoming project he calls “Project Atlantis,” and why the name? “Because it represents the lost city and what I’m doing is related to something being lost. Wait for it nalang and find out!” This aside, you have to take a step back and wonder how someone with such a powerful legacy and so little privacy can actually be as well—pleasant, well rounded, and as unaffected as Gab. You could expect a little neuroticism from someone so exposed to the limelight and yet, he is just like any well-adjusted, normal boy on the cusp of adulthood. Gab Valenciano may very well be compared to his father, a comparison he rightly cherishes, but it is in all likelihood that this amazingly talented person will come into his own—Jack of all trades but most certainly the master of himself.
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The Reluctant Showman: Paolo Valenciano
Top left: Paolo with his father, celebrated singer, dancer, and actor, Gary Valenciano during the Gary V. tribute night at Mag:Net Café, High Street, Bonifacio. Top pic: Paolo Valenciano
By Gabbie dela Rama-Talan
PAOLO VALENCIANO SHAKES HIS CURLY HEAD, LOOKS HEAVENWARD, SIGHS AND SAYS, “IF I SAID IT BEFORE, I’LL SAY IT AGAIN. I DO NOT ENJOY SHOWBIZ.” AFTER HAVING BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION COUNTLESS TIMES, IT IS QUITE UNDERSTANDABLE. BEING THE ELDEST SON OF THE ICONIC GARY VALENCIANO AND BROTHER TO GABRIEL, WHO IS FAST BECOMING A NAME IN THE INDUSTRY, HAS MADE MANY INEVITABLY ASSUME THAT PAOLO TOO, WILL TAKE HIS “RIGHTFUL PLACE” UNDER THE UNFORGIVING GLARE OF THE KLIEG LIGHTS. WE STAND CORRECTED. To place this 23-year-old under intense scrutiny would probably yield some surprising results. For one, he possesses a quiet reserve that speaks of good manners and good sense, rare in one who is at the apex of youth, which more often than not goes hand-in-hand with brashness and heedlessness. And as far as misconceptions go about rock and roll being the devil’s music, Paolo, who is frontman for Salamin, an upcoming hard rock act, does not fit the bill of wasted, misguided youth. He is not the one you see at the bar tossing down one drink after another, chatting up some bimbo, before careening madly on stage, botching lyrics, and screaming tonelessly before passing out in a puddle of his own puke. Paolo is the kind of musician who gives rock and roll a good name, singing because
he has a true passion for music — no crotch grabbing, shenanigans, or attention-hungry publicity stunts — just pure performance. And if there’s anything he inherited from his father, it is that and his undeniable singing talent. He takes his involvement in music a step further with his recording/dance studio, Studio V, which he co-owns with Gabriel, and is host for music show “MP3,” aired on TV5.
what changed the course of his life. “One day I turned on the radio and the first song I heard was ‘Freak on a Leash” by Korn,” he grins. It spiraled upward from there as Paolo began to listen and look for more of the same sound. “From Korn, to System of a Down, then to Mudvayne… one day, I heard ‘Pigface’ by Greyhoundz, and that opened my eyes to OPM (Original Pinoy Music),” he finishes.
It has been a lifelong dream of his to be in a band. But nobody, least of all himself, thought that he would be singing the kind of music he does today. At 12, Paolo was more into hair gel-coated pop acts, specifically ‘boy bands.’ “I was so into the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, its not even funny,” he says. A few years later, at 15, he was to hear
In the beginning his parents were disapproving of the music. “Like normal parents, they hated it. And yes, they burnt a couple of my cassettes. But after awhile they were finally okay with it. So, when I joined Salamin, I guess they knew it was inevitable,” he says. And true enough, the “okay” turned into sincere support. “I get wisdom from him
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE 73 Right pic : With Kjwan’s frontman, Marc Abaya Group pic: The boys from Salamin: (from left) Sho Hikino (guitars), Miks Bersales (bass), Miguel Dualan (guitars), EO Marcos drums, and Paolo, recognizable despite the hand covering the lower part of his face Bottom pic: Performing at Saguijo Bar and Café with Salamin
[my dad]. He helps me out when it comes to writing songs, vocal arrangements, and stuff like that.” A guest at one of Paolo’s birthday parties was so surprised to see Gary Valenciano listening to all the bands that were invited to play there that night. “Many of these bands were really hardcore,” and “There he was looking like he was really enjoying it, and when his son’s [Paolo] band started playing, you could see a real look of pride on his face,” she enthused. In fact, Gary is quoted to have mentioned in an article posted on the ABS-CBN Kapamilya Aficionado blog, “I feel great that Paolo came out of his own shell and is doing well. Hindi ko malilimutan na kahit madaling araw na naririnig ko pa rin si Paolo na kumakanta, tumutugtog at nagsusulat pa ng mga kanta. At ang sarap ng pakiramdam na sinasabi ng mga tao na kakaiba siya sa akin at hindi kami kinocompare sa isa’t isa dahil Paolo really excels in his own field.” The support doesn’t end with his father. His mom Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, talent management marvel, is a beacon for Paolo, guiding him through the ins and outs of his career. “She has more common sense than I do,” Paolo says. “I think she’s what keeps the whole family together.” That the Valencianos are very spiritual is well known. Listen to any album of Gary Valenciano and you’ll be blown away not just by his talent, but also by the sheer sincerity of his praise and gratitude for the Creator. Paolo is no exception although he admits that he was once “lukewarm” in his beliefs, finally forging a more personal relationship with the big man up there after several wake-up calls, the most intense being his near-brush with death in a car accident just this year. “I could have died, or worse killed someone but I was spared. I am very fortunate to be where I am now, so I respect the Being that spared me,” he says quietly. Paolo is conscious of his shortcomings, as open with his strengths as he is with his weaknesses. “Everything I do or write must be based on His word. This is where
I get my strength. Human zeal has never really worked for me. If I focus on myself, I don’t get anywhere. By nature, I am selfish, impatient and bitter. And on my own, I can’t get over these weaknesses. It’s all about letting go of who you are to allow Him to use you.” Talent, pedigree, good looks, and a pleasant demeanor are all well and good but these mean nothing without a sense of purpose, or most importantly, strength of character. For all his reticence with regard to being in the limelight, Paolo is remarkably
straightforward about where he wants to be career-wise. “I will be in a band for the rest of my life,” he enunciates. “Some have mentioned that if we make heavy music, we will never make money. I don’t believe in that. Instead of adjusting to what the Filipinos want, I’d rather figure out a way to make them want what we want. And if still it doesn’t work, there are other countries that are friendlier to our kind of music. I don’t know. I guess I want to dream big.” And it seems that Salamin is acting upon this same sentiment, having released their self-titled debut under NUGEN Records with their sophomore release in the works, being named MTV Philippines’ Rising Star in 2007, and garnering a nomination for Best New Artist in the 2007 NU (107.5 FM) Rock Awards. Add to that the fact that they have a large, staunchly supportive fanbase present during all their gigs and you can be certain that they won’t be disappearing from the music scene anytime soon. When all is said and done, Paolo Valenciano, reluctant as he is to shine, does just that, but he does it his way, on his terms, living up to his father’s legacy, not by carrying the same torch, but one he fashioned on his own.
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Kuwento ni Lola Basyang
Ghost storytelling is hardly a walk in the park, especially when you’ve got an audience that grows increasingly skeptical as they progress in age through the years. What used to scare people in previous eras may not be as effective today. The glaringly limited special effects of bygone decades would be disastrous if used today. Times are changing, and with it come improving technology and increasing expectations from the audience. With the depressing realities of life that people must deal with, normal folks need an outlet to release their stress. Horror flicks take them to an unfamiliar world where the unknown can take them by surprise. The filmmaker must then be up to task in creating a believable environment that can satisfy the thrill-seekers in the audience. To keep up with the expectations, one must always be up-to-date with the current horror scene.
Mark A. Reyes: CREATING THE “BULAGA” FACTOR IN PINOY HORROR MOVIES By JR Bustamante
TakoT ka ba sa dilim? many Pinoys seem To find enTerTainmenT in The acT of scaring Themselves To deaTh by waTching horror movies. a TesTimony To The facT is ThaT among The ToP Ten hiT movies in The counTry are a handful of scary flicks — including The ToP-grossing filiPino movie of all Time, The claudine barreTTo and kris aquino sTarrer sukob, which earned PhP186.4 m aT The box office. Joining iT in The ToP Ten are ouiJa and feng shui. Spaniards and Creatures of the Night
The obsession with horror and ghost stories traces its origins back to the Spanish colonial period, says horror genre director Mark A Reyes. During this time, the colonists created mythical creatures that they implanted on their subjects to keep them scared and thus, easier to control. There are many creatures
that prevail in the minds of Filipinos, especially in the provinces. Spooks like the tianak, manananggal, kapre, aswang and more recently, the ‘white lady’ have all become part of the Pinoy consciousness. Are they merely figments of our imagination? Perhaps this question is what keeps the candle of fascination burning.
Directing Tianaks
Reyes, the director of movies like Tianak 2 and the non-horror ITALY, describes the leaps and bounds that the Pinoy scene has taken from the years past. “The Computer Generated Images (CGI) and Prosthetic Departments have younger artists that are adept with modern materials,” he says. “The artistry now is far, far in advance.” “Secondly, taste in direction comes into play,” adds Reyes. “There are younger directors more attuned to Hollywood. So the kind of quality that comes out on screen or the kind of cut is far more improved than what used to be done.” Mark shares more of his personal and candid views on directing and creating horror or ghost stories below: Q: What do you think is the formula for a horror flick to be a hit in the country? MR : “The formula for a horror flick to make money, unfortunately, still boils down to the cast. The fact is that Pinoys look for celebrities. I won’t mince words. No matter how good your material is — if you don’t have the right stars in it, it won’t sell. Rarely will a story take precedence over the stars. Even
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if I presented a story that is high in concept that hasn’t been done here, it will take a lot of encouragement for the producer to say yes to it. They would usually go back to the traditional tried and tested formula.” Q: Are there any other values presented in horror movies aside from entertainment? MR: “It’s all sheer fun, unless there is a religious aspect to it. Basically, most, if not all, of the horror films I’ve done always end up with religion as the saving factor, the center of it. When I do that, everyone likes it — the producers, the Church, MTRCB (Movie, Television Review and Classification Board) — because it has a redeeming value. You always show that good triumphs over evil.” Q: What makes up the majority audience of your horror movies? MR: “Basically, it’s the kids, aged eight years and up. If you target the kids, the parents go along with them so that is double the ticket sales.” Q: With all your years in the industry, what have you learned about your audience or the movie-going public in general? MR: “They are beginning to be fickle. With easy access to cable and cheap DVDs, their parameters — in terms of cinematic sensibilities — are so wide. They can distinguish a good quality film from a bad one. Unlike before, the masa was contented after seeing a Pinoy film. Nowadays, they compare Pinoy films to Hollywood so directors have to be on their toes.” Q: Do you often have to compromise a great idea with the limitations in audience acceptability? MR: “Most of the young directors would want to push the envelope and do more. The older directors tend to be laid back and just do the usual — what pleases the producers. Kaya mas sakit sa ulo ang mga younger directors for the producers. Only when the producers get tired of arguing, they would let a young director do an experimental type [of movie]. You must have a way of making them lambing to allow you to try a new style.
Q: Do Pinoy horror flicks have a fighting chance in the international market? Why do you think so? MR: “Well, Sigaw right now is a movie in Hollywood by Yam Laranas, so I don’t see why not. Q: What do you think of Japanese horror flicks? What do you think makes them a big hit with the international audience? MR: “What made Asian horror, especially the Korean and Japanese, unique or iconic is that it is not all about shock and awe, unlike Filipino style which is puro gulat. [The usual] Filipino style is ‘don’t open that door’, because when you open it, there is that ‘gulat’ factor. With American films, like ‘The Shining,’, ‘Carrie,’ and ‘The Exorcist,’ mas psychological yan. If you noticed, before the Japanese use surprise, there is a long set up like in ‘The Ring’ and ‘Shutter.’ Pag nagulat sila very minimal but they really wait for it. Then there’s always a deep story behind it. The Japanese and Korean film makers analyzed what all the horror movies were doing and decided to try another route. People took notice because their style stood out: there is more artistry in the shot and less gulat. Less is seen so the movie is scarier. And that is how they created a subculture in Asian horror movies.” Finally, Mark opens up and shares his personal views on the status of the Philippine movie industry: “Sad to say, but the Philippine movie industry is in a coma with the glimmer of hope resting on independent films. It has been dying for the longest time from 200 films a year down to only 15. With rising prices, cost of film, and taxes, it is getting really hard to produce. The only way to survive is to have the government ban Hollywood films — which will never happen. But then again, we are survivors. We have the Mother Lilys and Siguion-Reynas out there who will keep us alive.” On a final note, Mark suggests the following solutions for the ailing movie industry: not to tax film makers, develop a culture for cinema by encouraging the children to watch Filipino films. “If no one watches Pinoy films anymore, what’s the point?”
SHAKE RATTLE & ROLL
SUKOB
OUIJA
FENG SHUI
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Patayin Mo Sa Sindak Si Barbara (1974) This is ‘the’ 70s horror movie directed by Celso Ad Castillo, with a powerful performance from Susan Roces. Its plot revolves around a curse made by a dying wife on her cheating husband and presumed lover. A re-make in 1995 was directed by Chito Rono. Gabi Ng Lagim Ngayon (1980) One of the Philippine’s horror movie greats, this classic boasts a great ensemble cast which include Charito Solis, Alma Moreno, Rio Locsin, Bembol Roco, Chanda Romero, and Mark Gil. Haplos (1982) This gentle ghost story is set during World War II. It combines images of Japanese soldiers in contrast to a backdrop of a laid back, rural life. The film boasts of an eerie sad musical score with great performances from Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon, and Rio Locsin. Shake, Rattle, and Roll (1984) Directed by big-name directors Emmanuel Borlaza, Ishmael Bernal and Peque Gallaga, this Regal Film box office hit presents a trilogy of episodes namely, “Baso,” “Pridyider,” and “Manananggal,”. Tiyanak (1988) Synonymous to the phrase “Ang Anak ni Janice,” this movie imbedded in viewers minds an unforgettable image of a crying, adorable baby who turns into a monster. It starred Janice de Belen, Lotlot de Leon, and Ramon Christopher.
Huwag Kang LiLingon! Pinoy scary movies that have become classics are those that made quite an imPact visually in the minds of moviegoers. though advanced sPecial effects were not available then, film makers just dug deeP inside their creative minds to deliver great horror movies. the result was simPly the right mix of unforgettable characters, great actors, amazing Performances, and effective scary Plots to make a memorable Production that was a masterPiece of the era.
Impaktita (1989) Director Peque Gallaga delivered this suspenseful movie worthy of praise. It stars Jean Garcia, Aga Muhlach, Richard Gomez, Gloria Romero, and the late Nida Blanca.
All books and CDs available at Fully Booked, Philippines, visit www.fullybookedonline.com
HOT RELEASES 77 By Gabbie dela Rama-Talan
Your Universe Rico Blanco Erstwhile Rivermaya vocalist Rico Blanco finally breaks his selfimposed silence with the release of his first solo album Your Universe. After his split with the rest of the band in mid-2007, leaving a rather unfinished, tension-laden atmosphere in his wake, this album could very well be one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2008, answering the question as to why he decided to end what seemed a mutually beneficial relationship with Ang Banda ng Bayan and strike out on his own, once and for all. Was it worth it? The album besides being a satisfactory show of Blanco’s hitmaking prowess is also quite ambitious in his decision to amass a group of highly visible and talented musicians to session on the various tracks, among these are—surprisingly—former Rivermaya-turned-Bamboo bassist Nathan Azarcon, Radioactive Sago’s horn player Wowie Anzano, and Pupil and Archipelago’s drummer Wendell Garcia. Of all songs “Yugto,” which can only be described as an extravagantly produced mish-mash of various genres, world music included, with strong rock overtones, sounds a tad complicated on the album itself—a bit of a sensory overload. But live, is a completely different monster, almost guaranteed to blow the most critical of audiences away. The title track, which is straightforward and reminiscent of today’s prevailing, almost ‘dancey’ rock trend, is personally, a favorite, with the inclusion of a string arrangement working to its benefit. All in all it is an album worth giving a listen, each track totally different from the rest. One thing this album says for sure is Blanco is a man not limited by genre or for that matter, lack of gumption.
Greatest Hits Teeth In the angst-fueled, grunge period of the ‘90s, Teeth reigned supreme, personifying the surfeit of vice—more alcoholic than anything else—and the idealism and playful rebellion of the era— not quite as anarchic or as destructive as its punk predecessor. Hits like “Laklak,” proved to be the anthem for a youth eager to proclaim itself “legal” by swimming in inebriation and puddles of puke. “Princesa,” an all-time favorite that speaks of love at first sight, a song whose weakening effect has not diminished over time. This double CD includes these tracks and more in the first disc while the second contains rare footage of the band playing live at Pulp magazine’s 2001 Freakshow and at the NU Rock Awards in 1995 and 2000 as well as the videos “Prinsesa” and “Shooting Star.” The band eventually disbanded after vocalist Glenn Jacinto fell ill with its members forming a number of the present day’s more popular acts: drummer Mike Dizon forming the band Sandwich and Pedicab; bassist Dok Sergio and guitarist Jerome Sergio forming Daydream Cycle with the former joining Ely Bundia’s Pupil and now defunct Mongols. So, lace up those ten-hole Doc Martens (12 if you were cool enough), don that inappropriately warm, decade-old flannel longsleeve polo, pop this in your CD player and imagine your older yet not any less willing body slam dancing, your unwashed head banging away, grit your teeth and howl, “Long live Pinoy alternarock!”
78 HOT RELEASES By Gabrielle de la Rama-Talan
On Cursed Ground and Other Stories By Vicente Garcia Groyon Vicente Garcia Groyon, a professor at the De La Salle University’s Communications department, is an award winning film producer and writer. His novel The Sky Over Dimas won both the 2002 Palanca Awards (grand prize) and the 2003 Manila Critic’s Circle National Book Awards (Best Fiction). On Cursed Ground (UP Press, 2004) is his first collection of short stories, a total of nine. It received the 2004 Manila Critic’s Circle National Book Awards (Short Fiction). It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes this book such a riveting read, precisely because there are quite a number of reasons: first, the author’s style of writing seems effortless, with words free flowing, unimpeded by superfluous flourishes. More importantly, his writing does not seek to intimidate. Instead, it is welcoming, and this is what drives the second reason home. The reader is lured into a story that from the onset reads nothing like it unfolds to end. His prose is simple yet captivating, prompting the reader to keep on going. Then, all of a
sudden, the truth insinuates itself like a sneaky, slithery viper, rearing its somewhat repulsive head. The third reason resides in the very nature of the stories in this collection, which reveal ordinary lives that mask the at-times ominous nature of the human condition. And what is more, his stories are essentially Filipino in setting and nuance. For example, in ‘Tenacity,’ Groyon tells of a local callboy jilted by his American lover despite promises of a better life abroad. But what really disturbs here is not the boy’s personal heartbreak, but rather that he will delude himself and repeat this vicious cycle, in hopes of finding the very thing that escaped him; that it is not merely the boy that Groyon is alluding to but Filipinos in general. What hits even harder is the irony; that in being tenacious — what is generally perceived as a good thing — we are setting ourselves up for fall after fall after fall. An excellent read that possesses the thrill of a horror novel, with very human characters instead of monsters, and instead of some demonic dimension, the mundane world, as we Pinoys know it.
Soledad’s Sister By Jose Dalisay Written by one of the most lauded Filipino writers, Jose Dalisay, Jr, Soledad’s Sister was shortlisted for the prestigious Man Asian Literary Prize in 2007. Dalisay, a Palanca hall of famer (after having garnered 16 Palancas in five genres), wrote his second novel aided by the David TK Wong Fellowship — awarded to a writer wishing to write about the Far East — and a Rockefeller Grant. The story opens on a rather morbid note — a coffin containing one Aurora V Cabahug has arrived in NAIA from Saudi Arabia. “One of over 600 overseas Filipino workers who return as corpses to this airport every year.” A far cry from the typical tear-jerker commercials of OFWs returning home triumphant, laden with gifts and inspiring stories with which to impress their already grateful families, this is more reminiscent of our Flor Contemplacions and Sara Balabagans. However, since it is a work of fiction, readers are allowed to read the book for sheer entertainment without the specter of truth
hanging over their heads, but rather nudged slightly by its relevance every now and then. It is a case of mistaken identity as somewhere in the town of Paez, Aurora aka ‘Rory’ is singing karaoke in stilted English to a motley bunch of run of the mill natives mixed with local politicos and rowdy Koreans. With the aid of Walter, a complacent policeman, Rory makes her way to Manila to pick up the body of her sister Soledad, only to have the corpse stolen from right under their noses. Dalisay’s genius is evident in the richness of his characters made palpable by his writing — so palpable that there are times the reader may forget that it is fiction. A brilliant and engaging read that leaves one in no doubt of the author’s talent.
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. 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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