Radar Manila Issue 1 by RadarMNL

ISSUE 01 APRIL-MAY

Welcome to the party that is MANILA.

CARLOS CELDRAN

INSIDE:

Tequila! Acrobatics! Top music! Eats!

FREE! SERIOUSLY RADAR / April - May 01

p.26 Taxi Cab Hits p.26

Contents

Manila Boat Club

Filipino Food for the Foreign Palate

p.18

p.07

Asia Music

p.20

M Cafe

p.22

Malate

p.28

p.26

Swardspeak Dictionary

p.26

Be On The Lookout

Acro-yoga

p.10 Carlos Celdran

p.14

The Skinny on Juicing

p.32

Featured Artists

Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;toda Madre

p.24

p.16

p.30

Ramenila

02 RADAR / April - May

VYNE

The Crew

Credits Chairman: Mark J. Kooijman Publisher and CEO: Isabelle Gonzalez CFO: Antonio Arellano Board of Directors: Jelmer Ikink

Smarter than the Average Bear. – Yogi Bear

Do or do not, there is no try. – Yoda

Izzy Gonzalez Editor In Chief

Alexa Pierson Marketing Director

Izzy worked in and around politics before

Alexa has a bead on all things hip in Ma-

not to run for senate. Having written for

trends: she sets them. Marketing Direc-

moving to publishing after she decided top broadsheets and major magazines around the globe since 2009, she brings a wealth of media experience to the table and looks forward to putting your brand on the radar.

Soo Foo Woo

Jay Magsaysay Distribution Supervisor: Edgar Valiente Contributors: Lester Gopela Hallig Fatima Potenciano Moki Villegas Julia Nebrija Joseph Villaroman Janice Buenaventura Israel Hertz Eunice Rodriguez

nila, and not simply because she follows tor by day and world-class DJ by night, Alexa’s determination and drive can open up doors for your brand and keep you on the jet-set’s radar.

, EDITOR S NOTE Dear Cabbages,

L’homme le plus classe du monde. – Georges Abitbol

Cash rules everything around me. - Wu Tang Clan

Romain Rivierre Head Photographer

Micki Aviado Art Director

Romain is a French photographer based

Micki moved from America to the Phil-

things in post, and therefore has a noto-

of advertising. The grueling hours and

in the Philippines. He doesn’t like doing rious reputation for being a perfectionist.

His keen eye and insightful depiction will highlight your brand in a way that nobody else can.

ippines to work in the fast paced world

demanding work ethic hardened him

into a graphic design machine, bringing a fresh, international feel to everything he touches.

It is finally here! You now hold in your hands the inaugural issue of RADAR MNL, the newest perspective on life in Manila and how truly amazing it is. With the help of our first-class contributors and stellar team, our first issue is a visual application of the multi-faceted awesomeness that is Metro Manila – and this is just a mere taste. It took a lot of blood, sweat, candy, and tears to get this far, but we have nowhere to go but up! Sounds cheesy, but I cannot help but gush over this new baby. Inside this issue we have the multi-faceted Carlos Celdran, top DJs, brand spanking new restaurants and hotspots, as well as a few tidbits to keep you interested and wanting more. So savour this issue, and all succeeding ones, like a meal – acquaint yourself, roll it around a little, dive in, then digest. Radar MNL – feed your head!

Izzy RADAR / April - May 03

APRIL

Calendar Sunday

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Beer Pong Nation Chihuahua Mexican Grill

6 13

Meraki: Maidens of Sound

SYGNS Time in Manila

3 Todo Blanco Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toda Madre

Summer Siren Flow Camp and Music Festival

Silverfiltre Arcadia Album Launch Rocket Room

Project 420 Philippines : Summer Beachside Party San Juan, Batangas

24 23

Saturday

Pa-Good Vibes Nite: The Ukelele Manila 2nd Anniversary Party - Route 196 Bar

#baddecisions Wednesday Black Market

SOULECTION: The Sound of Tomorrow: Manila Session feat. ESTA (LA) + The Whooligan (SF) Black Market

04 RADAR / April - May

Mojito Madness Skye W High Street

Jazz Thursdays Hip Hop Special 121 Bar & Grill

Friday

Earth Day 2014 Arroceros Park

Sunday

Monday

May

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday

SUP YOGA with Lesley Dimson Valladolid, Loboc, Bohol

6 5

Wanderland 2014 - Makati Circuit grounds

Zero - Imperial, BGC

18 19

25 26

20 27

14 21

Saturday 1335Mabini Presents Causality 1335 Mabini St., Manila

1 Trance ‘til Dawn featuring Jordan Suckley (UK) Black Market

Priscilla - Queen of the Desert the Musical - RWManila, Newport Theater

Ghost: The Musical Carlos P. Romulo Theatre, RCBC, Makati

M Café Sessions

BOOM TCHACK The Rooftop Raves

30 29

TIME presents: a Darkrom Dubs Label Night with Silicon Soul & Nadja Lind

RADAR / April - May 05

By Lester Gopela Hallig

Sound of the underground By Lester Gopela Hallig

06 RADAR / April - May

g At any rate, we are glad that the record label Asia Music is here to bring back the dance sound to where it started—underground. The existence of Asia Music itself is proof positive that electronic music is a global force. In the case of Asia Music, which is based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysiavv, and in Manila, the Philippines, it is making lovers of quality underground dance music available for them. The label was founded by CEO Oscar Oka, with Pav Parrotte as Director for Music & Business Development, and Ali “Alinep” Nepomuceno as A&R Director.

dance music will always be there, Asia Music is hopeful that the sound of the underground will soon catch on. They chorus, “It is not pop. Underground music has a lifestyle attached to it.” Since its inception in 2007, Asia Music has signed the most exciting Asian dance music acts around: Aldrin, Akien, Marshall White, Nicky C, Jalebee Cartel, Alinep himself, Indra7, Vertigo, Dezz, Aldwin Macapagal, Kazu Kimura, Elvis T, mAD Live!, Q’ Hey, Justin de Guzman, Norman Chung, Shiro, Jemir

Already spinning in its seventh year, Asia Music’s aim is to provide a platform for the regional Asia-based house, techno, and electronica music producers and DJs to share and showcase their productions to the rest of the world.

ack in the mid-90s, electronic music was already being heralded as the “next big thing”. We remember MTV and Channel V devoting entire hours just for this type of

music. We also recall artists like Portishead, Massive Attack, Tricky, and Moby becoming bywords of the genre. Heck, even Everything But The Girl got in on the act, trading their acoustic jams for the drum-and-bass sound inspired by Spring Heel Jack. At the time, nobody dared acknowledge the electronic elephant in the big room: how come nobody was dancing when, irony of ironies, it was considered “party music”? Had the supposed promoters even double-checked on the BPM, they would have somehow gotten a hint. The good news is, it is never too late to get it right. We reluctantly say “thank you” to electronic dance music (EDM) for bringing what is, in reality, house music to the current generation (think of it as a rebranded candy but with louder packaging). However, we would still insist on reading up on the history of the genre, as it is the only way to truly understand the relevance of the sound. That would merit another article in itself. (Across) Clockwise from top left: Pav Parrotte, Marshall White, Alinep, Martin Lugtu, Shiva

The group acknowledges that, just like any other venture, the recognition has been slow. “It is always difficult especially considering that this is underground music. Right now we see the possibilities for growth, which is always a good thing.” What Asia Music hopes to see are more people, more regular crowds building up in the underground. Right now, they say, the appetite for this kind of music is growing. While the crowd that goes for commercial

Blanco and many more. The artists come from the Philippines, China, Japan, Malaysia, India, and many others. They are head over heels in love with the sound being produced by their new signee from Syria, Knights Templar. The group also DJs as individuals and as a collective, and boasts of a wide range of major musical influences: reggae, Ritchie Hawtin, Squarepusher, the Carpenters, Tangerine Dream, 80s electro pop bands, jazz, acid, salsa, techno, house. Filipino inspirations? Groove Nation tops their list. “Groove Nation started it all here,” they agree. “They introduced the concept of putting up warehouse parties and raves, and

RADAR / April - May 07

The guys stress that they are just as comfortable DJing in a 50,000-capacity venue as in an intimate, smaller club. Again, it is all about telling a musical story and, dare we say it, taking the crowd to a journey that will always remember. Many veteran clubbers would always remember a particular night based on a record that talked to what they were going through at the time. The label acknowledges that the Philippine music scene has always been about local artists singing the usual OPM ballad on one end and the bands doing rock and roll on the other. However, they note that there have been individuals doing something uniquely fresh and distinctive, and venturing into dance, rock, and ethnic music.

bringing in international acts. We also dig Up Dharma Down and Drip.” All these provide the perfect backdrop for a group (and a label) that has the history of dance and danceable music running through its veins. At the end of the day, it is one’s understanding of music that will translate to an understanding of human emotions. When a record starts playing, it taps into raw human emotion. The music is more than just a beat. It is a story. And who isn’t affected by a good story?

They frown when people say that original Pilipino music is crap music: “Those who criticize are not looking hard enough.” Asia Music is currently showcasing its talents to various venues around the continent, doing promotional events, and simply getting the label out. The search for the right artists continues to be on top of their list. Mind you, Asia Music is more concerned with substance than anything else. Sure they can release eight tracks a month if the quality of new material is that high, but if there is none, then no release is going to

Asia Music is happy that a club like Time provides them with a venue for underground dance music. Regulars know what to expect from Time’s DJs. That fact alone allows the DJs to stick to their true sound, making it easier for them to deliver without compromise. Truth be told, they watch out for the dreaded clubkid who hands the DJ a list of requested tunes, together with the words “Play something danceable”. Apparently, that clubkid is at the wrong club. All is not lost, however. There are still clubbers who fully embrace the underground sound, the kinds that dance even to the most obscure record. Radar has been told that their average follower is more youthful than young, with a clear understanding of what the underground has to offer. 08 RADAR / April - May

Asia Music. Good taste at large.

happen just for the sake of. The guys are quite happy and contented being featured in magazine and having their mixes featured on the top groundbreaking electronic music internet radio and DJ mix subscription service Frisky Radio. In the meantime, the boys are happily, lovingly putting together the type of electronic music that makes the crowd, as what the song goes, jack to the sound of the underground.

The M a ny Fa ces o f

Ca rlo s Celd ran By Julia Nebrija

RADAR / April - May 09

hen we first told Carlos we wanted him to be the feature for this inaugural issue, he reacted - “that’s not gas-gas already?!” As he moves

from changing how we see Manila, to how we live in it, in our eyes, he is anything but over played. We sit down for the interview, on an uncharacteristically quiet Sunday afternoon, and I start to feel awkward. Carlos is a friend, neighbor, and recently, my work mate. I tell him it’s kind of weird to write about him. “It’s weird to be written about!” For someone who shares everything with his 206,000 twitter and 63,724 Facebook followers (that’s just his public page, not his personal) and who constantly opens himself up to spectacle and criticism, it’s odd to hear him say this, but not totally surprising. To those who know Carlos from Facebook or TV, he’s “that tour guide in Manila” or “that Damaso guy”. It’s hard to give Carlos a specific title; artist is the closest, but even that he only sort of likes. His self-professed tagline is “a simple man who is trying to change the way you look at Manila, one step at a time.” This process, this changing people’s perspective about the city is his art, and his method continues to evolve. His Manila story starts with art. At the age of 14, Carlos took a job with the Manila Chronicle and Business World as a cartoonist. The opportunity provided a bridge to a world unfamiliar to him in the gated community where he grew up. With no car of his own and the driver occupied, Carlos figured out from the maids how to get the employee jeepney from the house to the gate, the bus from the gate to the LRT to Luneta Park, which he’d walk across to the newspaper offices at the back of Manila Hotel to hand deliver his drawings. “It felt like Sesame Street. I’d skip outside and sort of take an incredible journey.” Except that the Manila version included a host of firsts. “It was the first time I saw someone take a sh*t in the street. It was the first time I was propositioned by a pedophile. It was the first time I fell into a manhole,” he laughs. Even now I can see the sparkle in his eyes as he narrates these early discoveries outside the walled community he remembers as boring and isolated, devoid of the social, economic, and cultural diversity he found beyond the gates. 10

RADAR / April - May

ing he was good at it. Fresh from finishing his undergraduate degree at the Rhode Island School of Design and two years living in New York City, Carlos was seeing the city with a more refined eye. His expectations were higher. “New York is where I learned the standard; the greatest city in the world gave me the rules.” Rules he has since been applying to create his own walkable, diverse, culturally vibrant Manila. After working stints in the theater world, he and his new bride decided to join forces with the Heritage Conservation Society. Carlos took people on walks of Manila to raise money for the Society. He and Tesa threw fundraisers, getting artists to donate works for auction. With their movement concentrated in Manila, the couple left their house in Pasig and settled into a pre-war apartment in the neighborhood with a bay view, much like the apartment Carlos had wished for after visiting his cousin. It was a dreamy, promising time, but when the Society was unable to save the Jai Lai building in 2000, they became disillusioned with the approach. “I was in tears watching them bulldoze it,” says Tesa. Carlos went independent with his tours, molding them into a scripted performance, punchier with each delivery. It’s hard to imagine that his audience members could once be counted on one hand, made up mostly of family or close friends. Today it’s a Lonely Planet “must-do” that can attract 150 audience members. After ten years of encouraging people to “Walk this Way!”, Carlos can perform the script in his sleep.

In high school he took an internship with Benedicto Cabrera, better known as BenCab, the National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts, up north in Baguio. This move helped him graduate from cartoons to fine art. Meanwhile the arts scene is Malate kept calling to him. He got a Volkswagen beetle, “Of course, I did”, he says rolling his eyes, and started exploring the City of Manila once again. From a residential playground of the elite, to a war torn wasteland, to an emerging art haven in the ‘70s, Manila had the historical pull and the cultural movement that continues to hold Carlos’s attention today. He started frequenting the Blue Cafe, a mythical Malate favorite, where he’d perform spoken

word and “bad performance art” he laughs. His cousin Anita Celdran was living there at the time in the former Balagtas apartments. “She was a major force. She was living in a hip apartment with all these hippies and artists.” Carlos credits the parties at her place for opening his world to a bohemian urban culture that became his own benchmark. “I thought she was the hippest thing in the world, ever. I thought, I want to be like that.” When he started courting his wife, Tesa, he took her on walks around Manila. Together they explored the streets, looking out over the Pasig River and up at the crumbling but beautiful buildings lining its neighborhoods. Tesa remembers Carlos narrating their walks and think-

One would think he’s tired of giving the same show, multiple times a day, multiple times a week for a decade. But Carlos sees his performance as a meditation. As an artist, he’s lucky that his practice happens to also be his bread and butter. This year his Livin’ La Vida Imelda show, penned from his Imelda tour formerly shown in the Cultural Center of the Philippines will open off Broadway in New York. If the phases of Manila can be classified in waves, the first being the 70s when artists first opened galleries and started living in the area, the 80s to late 90s when cafes, restaurants, and bars flourished and the nightlife was legendary, Carlos sees a third wave on the horizon for Manila. But the city today is a much different landscape. The Balagtas apartments were demolished and a generic condominium stands in its place, a RADAR / April - May

FEATUR E

common story. The majority of neighborhood originals have closed or relocated to Makati. Crime and poverty are still a harsh, if not an increasingly prevalent reality. Probably the only thing that’s the same are the girlie bars still bathing the streets in a pink and blue glow. The girlie bars and Carlos’s unbreakable spirit. Last year, Carlos took a photo of me tending a garden I planted on our street. The photos I posted just a day before received only 40 likes. Carlos’s reached almost 2,000 and the next day I was featured on 24 Horas. The popularity was not for my effort as much as it was for Carlos’s relatable message. The caption to the photo read, “Start simple. Start small. Start with yourself.” On the surface there’s nothing small or simple about Carlos. He is constantly in front of a crowd. He’s been jailed for the Damaso stunt he pulled in support of the reproductive health bill, 12

RADAR / April - May

where he allegedly offended religious feelings by silently yet defiantly raising a sign during an ecumenical religious conference. From the outside he seems like a go big or go home character. But on a typical day Carlos practices this mantra. He bikes to the neighborhood wet market to buy groceries, walks his dogs in Luneta park, buys vintage barongs at Vizcarra’s or trinkets in Quiapo, hosts meetings or performances at his apartment, instagrams the sunset for his #sunset alert, then wanders the streets in Malate to keep tabs on what’s happening. It’s that anything goes, open frontier feeling of Old Manila that works so well for a personality like Carlos. It’s exactly the random mash-up, halo-haloness achieved in real urban villages, the ones outside the gates and the private developments, that fuel the culture he is fighting so hard to preserve and cultivate. Basically, Carlos wants to change the way we

live in our cities, or at least offer an alternative to the current vein of commercial driven consumerism. Not an urban planner or designer by training, Celdran has an intuition and eye for understanding how life in the city can be shaped with a natural sensibility lacking in many professionals. He sees the city as its own brand, one that continually evolves and can be consumed in whatever way we decide. It’s with this outlook that Carlos is transitioning from city narrator to city-doer. Instead of a Volkswagen he has a pick-up truck to cart around all the tents, chairs, and equipment needed to produce Viva Manila’s Intramuros Sunday Pasyal. With new titles, like Tourism Consultant to the City of Manila, come new responsibilities. “People think that you enter city hall and then they give you a magic wand to do whatever you want. People expect you to fight for every cause. You want me to go against city hall? That’s not how it works.”

RESTAURA N T

Carlos is learning the art of diplomacy, of trying to please a number of people and find a positive middle ground for moving things forward. “Why don’t you fix the Met theater and stop pollution in Manila Bay. How can one man do that?” Art and culture are what he knows best, so that’s where he’s concentrating the bulk of his energies. What started as a hash tag to generate social media excitement, is now a non-profit with Carlos at the helm. With a mission to revitalize Manila as a livable and creative city, Viva Manila is looking to the future. The third wave is coming, and Carlos is there to make sure there’s enough wind to create a swell. Those following his lead are getting used to the unconventional nature of this work: “We have to help organize a medical mission for the kalesa horses”

“We should check out the new Mindanao karinderia behind the mall” “Did we get the permit for the spirit lanterns?” “Let’s go to the public consultation on the Rizal Park redevelopment”

The rest of us are exhausted just reading the list of activities Celdran is part of. But like any performer, he’s energized by an audience. As his wife Tesa says “He’s all heart.” Carlos has a voice people want to hear. His stage happens to be the city, his audience its inhabitants and we are ready for as many encores as he’s willing to give.

“We need 100 adobo meals for the volunteers” While all the moving parts might not seem related, they come together because they come from the same intention- to heal the soul of the city. On a Saturday night, Carlos helped the reproductive health community put together a fundraiser at the Manila Collectible, a store and cultural center in Intramuros. On the open roof terrace, with Manila Cathedral in the background, the actors read a collection of pieces in honor of National Women’s Month. There was energy, there was art, there were the revolutionary seeds of progress. RADAR / April - May

: a l i u Teq

s i t i k n i h t u o y n More tha Perhaps you recall the worst hangovers of your life—red-hot coals where your eyeballs should be, train-track spikes hammered through your brain or the ugliest butterface asleep on your arm. It’s enough to make you howl like a coyote. These experiences of tequila, while unpleasant, are fairly common. And yet, tequila can be so much more. Tequila itself is a fine spirit, offering a wonderful drinking experience unmatched by other fine liquors. Like other classy beverages such as champagne and bordeaux, tequila is named after its place of origin, Tequila, Mexico. Unlike these other spirits, tequila holds fast to its origin since all tequilas are manufactured only in Tequila. Tequila has rich traditions surrounding it,

RADAR / April - May

and yet many people are ignorant of just how great a drink it really is. This is what brothers Aljor and Sante Perreras faced when they came to the Philippines. They had lived most of their lives in California, where they grew up eating dishes like tostaditas in their friends’ houses. Their palates became attuned to the vibrancy of Mexican cuisine, which primed them for the intricacies of tequila and a deeply ingrained love of Mexican flavors. Over the course of their careers, they travelled the world and collected experiences of tequila, sampling new brands, experimenting in partnering it with different cuisines. When Aljor came to the Philippines and was faced with ignorance of a culture the Philippines has had a long friendship with and its national drink, he immediate-

ly set off with his brother and best friend to open A’Toda Madre. Named after a popular mexican phrase, A’Toda Madre is where you can go to taste good tequila partnered with delicious dishes leading to greater enjoyment and understanding of Mexican culture. Aljor and Sante are more than happy to share their expertise; Aljor is taking it even further as he studies to earn the title of tequilier. To anyone who comes to the bar, they are happy to discuss the basics of tequila, starting with the most popular types: Tequila blancos have been bottled within the first 2 months of distillation of the blue agave plant. Reposados have been aged longer than

blancos, but less than a year. Añejos, as the name suggests, have been aged at least 1 year. Extrañejos have had at least 3 years of aging. The longer aging in oak barrels allows the añejos and extrañejos to take on richer notes, and so these tequilas should be drunk from snifters to allow you to savor the bouquet of your fine drink. All tequilas, no matter the type, fall into two categories: the ones that use 100% agave and mixtos. Mixtos are the ones which tend to sully tequila’s good name, as the sugars which are mixed with the agave cause hangovers. A’Toda Madre does not serve any mixtos.

A’Toda Madre places the same level of care and attention on its menu. Adapting the family recipes of the Mexican households they dined in growing up, A’Toda Madre offers traditional staples such as tostaditas and tacos with pollo de chipotle, chile verde or steak. The deliciously bright cueritos enfurtidos is a thick salsa rojo you decadently scoop using chicharones. The dessert is also deliciously sinful. The Mexican flan is dark chocolate, shaved white chocolate and chilies to bring you sweetness with a kick. The margarita cheesecake comes with sweet agave syrup and brings the balance of sour, sweet and salty that has made the margarita one of the most famous cocktails in the world.

Returning to the drinks, A’Toda Madre has signature cocktails such as the Hot Mama Margarita which adds a pleasant level of hit to a traditional margarita made with good tequila. They also have some of the rarest boutique tequilas like the Partida Elegante Tequila, of which only 1300 bottles were made, and Casamigos tequila, which was developed by George Clooney and two friends originally just for the enjoyment of their families. If you’re ready to explore the worlds of new experience that fine tequila can bring, visit A’Toda Madre at Sunette Tower, Durban Street corner Makati Avenue. Tuesdays are Bachata/Salsa Night!

RADAR / April - May 15

Ra menila 12 The

Best Ramen Places in the Metro

It goes without saying that the ramen trend in Manila is not about to go away any time soon. So we here at Radar MNL have done a round up of the top twelve ramen spots in Manila, for your dining pleasure. Here are our picks:

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen

Ikkoryu Fukuoka opened its first branch at the East Wing of the Shangrila Plaza Mall in 2013It specializes in tonkotsu ramen, which originated in Japan’s Kyushu region and is made from pork bones which have been boiled for several hours to achieve its rich flavor. Try their Black Garlic Tonkotsu, which is made from their house specialty mixed with special garlic oil.

Ramen Nagi

Butao, a ramen chain originally from Hong Kong, is famous for its Black, Red and Green King variants. Black is for garlic and squid ink, Red is for spicy, Green is for basil and cheese, and a Limited flavor that rotates through other different flavors. You can also customize the toppings, spice level and chewiness of your ramen noodles!

Tamagoya

This hole-in-the-wall restaurant located in Lower Antipolo is one of Manila’s best kept secrets when it comes to ramen. With prices that go as low as less than 200 pesos a bowl, it’s no wonder so many people line up to eat here. Order the Stamina Ramen, which is a lightly spicy miso-based broth seasoned with chasyu pork slices, vegetables and seaweed.

Ukokkei Ramen Ron

Famous for its ramen and its infamous Chef, hop on down to Pasay Road before 6:00pm to grab a bowl of Tantanmen, a thick and spicy miso broth with ground pork! The Chef is said to make only 10 bowls a day, so be early!

Wrong Ramen

Famous for its fusion ramen flavors, such as their F.U. Ramen, which is basically bacon and eggs on top of ramen – AKA breakfast in a bowl. Be sure to come early, as there is limited seating in this Burgos Circle resto!

RADAR / April - May

Kichitora of Tokyo Famous for its paitan ramen, which uses chicken bones instead of pork. Go for their Paitan Ramen or Paitan Tsukemen, which is noodles with dipping sauce.

Mitsuyado Sei-Men

They specialize in tsukemen, which is ramen noodles with the sauce served separately instead of as a soup. If you’re brave, try their Double Cheese Tsukemen – ramen noodles with yuzu broth, served with cheese sauce and parmesan on top of the noodles!

Shinjuku Ramen

One of the oldest ramen houses in Manila. Their ramen list is extensive, but the Karakuchi Negi Ramen, a deep red and spicy miso based broth with thick chasyu slices, is outstanding.

Ramen Yushoken

The best and only ramen place in the south. Located in Alabang, do try their Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen, a soy sauce based broth with garlic oil and chasyu slices.

Tampopo

Named after the 1985 movie, this chain from Singapore which opened in Greenhills Promenade Mall specializes in both tonkatsu and ramen. Try their Deluxe Tampopo Black Pig Shobu Ramen, which is made from boiling pig bones for days and uses top-grade kurobuta pork.

Ramen Santouka

Originally from Hokkaido and now in Glorietta, Ramen Santouka specializes in Shio Ramen, which is salt-based broth and light in taste. Try their signature Shio Ramen, which is topped with umeboshi, or Japanese dried plums!

Ramen Bar

Located in Eastwood and McKinley Hill, we recommend you try their RBS #1 – a shoyu-based ramen broth with chasyu, egg, naruto (fish cake), seaweed, ramen eggs and so much more. Where are your favorite ramen places in Manila? RADAR / April - May

You want me to eat WHAT?

Filipino for the Food ForeignPalate By: Timmy Potenciano

Filipino food is having a moment. Andrew Zimmern rightly predicted it a few years ago, and now the whole world is catching on. With an influx of backpackers and vacationers gracing our archipelago, it’s only right to help educate them on what Filipino food is all about. Unlike its Southeast Asian counterparts, Filipino food gets its inspiration from Spain, China, America and Malay regions in Asia – which accounts for the diversity of flavors and cooking methods. Here are some dishes that foreigners must try when they’re in the Philippines –and no, there’s no balut in here, folks.

Rice This may seem so simple, but the truth is, rice is the great mediator between the rich and often strong flavors of Filipino cuisine. Without a bowl of rice at the ready to balance out the flavors, how can we expect our foreign brethren to fully appreciate a garlicky mouthful of adobo, or the sampaloc tartness of sinigang?

Adobo Unlike Thai food, where the recipes for each dish are standardized, Filipinos each have their own special touch to their dishes, and adobo is no exception. You can have it the standard way, cooked with garlic, soy sauce and vinegar. You can have it sa puti, which has no soy sauce, or sa pula, which gets its red color from atsuete seeds. You can have it with pineapple, with tomato, with coconut milk. You can have it with pork, or chicken, or both. Even beef. There is no single way to encompass what may be our national dish, and trying as many as possible would be a great way for a dayuhan to get acquainted with the Filipino palate.

Balamban liempo As you can see, Filipinos love pork. But as Anthony Bourdain discovered, the best pork is down south in the Queen City of Cebu. Yes, we’re getting a bit regional here. While the Italians have porchetta, the Cebuanos have mastered the art of liempo. Imagine pork belly, stuffed with fragrant herbs like lemongrass, garlic and spring onions. Imagine that tied into a bundle, and baked in an oven until the outside skin is crisp and bubbling, while the inside is succulent and juicy, and infused with the flavor of the herbs. In a word: divine.

Halo-halo Every country has its own iteration of a cold dessert involving ice and sugar. The Japanese have kakigori, Americans have snow cones, and the Filipino people have halo-halo. Literally “hodge podge,” halo-halo is served shaved ice, milk, and ice cream, and any combination of the following toppings: ube (purple yam jam), sago (tapioca), gulaman (jelly), crushed rice (pinipig), jackfruit, leche flan, and even ingredients like red beans, kidney beans and even cheese! Mix all these in a tall glass and you have the perfect dessert for the sweltering hot summer days.

Pancit Foreigners who are accustomed to eating noodles from our Eastern Asian nations won’t be too hard pressed to taste pancit, a noodle dish inspired by the Chinese migrant workers who brought a taste of home to our shores. Like adobo, there are different iterations of pancit to be had. Pancit Palabok is made with rice noodles and has a bright orange sauce, usually topped with smoked fish and crushed pork rinds. Pancit Malabon is made from thick noodles and has a bright orange sauce made with fish sauce and crab fat. Pancit Canton is similar to China’s lo mein or chow mein. Pancit Sotanghon uses vermicelli and often contains chicken, and is best served with a dash of calamansi juice. The list goes on.Filipino cuisine as a whole is an evolving and dynamic form of cooking and is definitely the underdog as far as Asian cuisine is concerned. But hopefully, with this list, they’ll learn to love our cuisine.

RADAR / April - May

Restaurant Directory The 1900 Restaurant 1900 M Adriatico (02) 521-6682

106 Shaw Blvd., Kapitolyo, Pasig City 637-0049; 633-2927

Bamboo House Restaurant

Fu Lin Garden

Bianca’s Cafe & Vinotek

Gene’s Bistro

Bistro Lorenzo

Hanafubuki Japanese Cuisine

Cafe De Malate Coffee Shop

House of Minis Steaks Gourmet Specialties

Consolacion Building, Quezon City Tel No. : 911-3024

A Taste of L.A.

171 Roces Ave., near Tomas Morato, Quezon City Tel No. : 374-0745

Aberdeen Court

Alba Restaurante Español 38 Polaris St., Bel-Air, Makati 02 - 896 6950

El Cirkulo Restaurant

134-A Timog Avenue Quezon City Tel No. : 923-0445

24 Hour Dimsum & Noodle House

7842 Makati Avenue Makati City Tel No. : 899-3190

Ang Tunay Na Pansit Malabon Restaurant

7431 Yakal, Makati City Tel No. : 815-1359

53 Annapolis San Juan Tel No. : 722-2027

1427 Leon Guinto Tel No. : 521-2519

Alda’s Pizza Kitchen & Restaurant

Cafe Ysabel

Aldy’s Garden Restaurants

Casa Marcos Inc.

1313 M Adriatico Tel No. : 521-1910

266 Rizal Avenue Ext Kaloocan City Tel No. : 362-3666

Aldy’s Garden Restaurants

266 Rizal Avenue Ext Kaloocan City Tel No. : 362-3666

Alex III Restaurant Wilson San Juan Tel No. : 726-4212

Alfredo’s Steak House Sct de Guia Quezon City Tel No. : 374-3576

Ang Bistro Sa Remedios 1911 M Adriatico Tel No. : 523-9153

455 P Guevarra San Juan Tel No. : 722-0349

186 Tomas Morato, Quezon City Tel No. : 920-7346

Charlie’s Restaurant & Bar 1414 Roxas Blvd Pasay City Tel No. : 522-2187

Crystal Jade Restaurant Greenhills Commercial Center, San Juan Tel No. : 722-5508

Dayrit’s Burger & Roastbeef House EDSA Plaza Mandaluyong City Tel No. : 633-4537

East Creative Asian

2nd Level Rustan’s Makati, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel No. : 812-0233

900 Pasay Rd, Makati City Tel No. : 810-8735

SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City Tel No. : 634-6507

84 Mother Ignacia Quezon City Tel No. : 373-3656

Milelong Building, Makati City Tel No. : 844-5310

104 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave.(C-5), Ugong, Pasig City Tel No. : 721-1410

Kamameshi House Elliptical Road Quezon City Tel No. : 721-1410

Kashmir Indian Cuisine

Festejo Building, Makati City Tel No. : 844-4924

Kaya Korean Restaurant Jupiter Street, Makati City Tel No. : 895-0404

Kowloon House

16 West Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. : 373-2949

Whistle Stop Restaurant 116 Jupiter Street, Makati City Tel No. : 890-4728

The Tamarind Bar & Grill

Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. : 922-6511

Annabel’s Fine Dining /Flowers & Gifts 194 Tomas Morato, Quezon City Tel No. : 923-0445

RADAR / April - May 19

Oh, Oh,

What What

a Night! It

really depends on where in the

listening to has shaken the dance floor of

than not, there is one night of the

gigs usually charge entrance.

world you are, but more often

week that is, as the kids say, off the chain. In

M, including international acts whose other

Manila, that night just happens to be Thurs-

As one of the lead prognosticators of the

um Café.

“For Manila in general, weekdays really

day, all because of one great place: Muse-

Known fondly as M, this chic lounge has been making waves in the scene since 2006. Built adjacent to the Ayala Museum,

goings-on at M, Stefan Lowenstein has said,

work. Here [at M], we’re pretty casual. There is less pressure to impress, so people feel comfortable enough to be themselves.”

this writer remembers when an entire por-

Lowenstein in particular has been responsi-

box of museum artefacts that nobody was

ment, by actively searching for a wide vari-

tion of the floor was dedicated to a display

allowed near. About 20% of the entire first floor was effectively no more than storage.

But following renovations, and the addition of a new outlet named Kabila in 2012, M is 100% happening.

Perhaps what sets it apart from other nightspots is the fact that the people who come

up with the nights are musicians and con-

ble for a large part of the Thursday moveety of music to bring to the public. Another mainstay and main man of M, Mr. Marcus

Manguigad urged, “We don’t have the

same deterrents as other places, so there’s no excuse not to have a good night.” No

dress code, no minimum order, and enough tables for everyone. Basically, no pretensions.”

noisseurs of great taste, rather than people

The authenticity of M is something that sur-

ue, M began making waves in 2006, with

first time, having heard of the place from

who are in it for foot traffic and PR. As a ven-

DJ Elian Habayeb (congrats on the recent nuptials, by the way! As of print, Elian and

wife Ines Cabarrus have finally tied the knot, to the delight of the entire food and music

community.) on deck and Mark Jentes run-

prises many people who come over for the

friends or colleagues. This authenticity, the desire to provide proper music to the discerning patron, has stunned locals and expats alike.

ning the night. More and more people start-

“Manila in general is not a prime stop

half-outdoor concept that provided great

Wisniewski, Vice President of the Raintree

ed to gravitate towards this half-indoor/ music, great drinks, and great mingling.

From then, it began to grow into the place to be every Thursday night. Everyone worth 20 RADAR / April - May

on tours for foreign acts,” said Andrej

Hospitality Group. “We manage to con-

vince them to come over during a tour and get a feel of the city – even perhaps play at M—and they leave, shocked at how the

scene is so full.” This experience is patently

different from when international acts go to Hong Kong, Singapore, or Bangkok – they have learned to undersell, so if in case

something goes wrong, expectations are

managed. Manila on the other hand doesn’t bother selling; it simply over-delivers.

The reason behind why Thursdays at M Café

have been a thing for almost a decade is be-

cause of their formula for each night: 20% intensity, 80% ingenuity. Everyone from

yuppies, expats, newly-returned folk, old

mainstays – each can attest to how a night at M is different from any other.

In general, the venue itself looks intimidating and pricey, with large imposing glass

windows, customised tables and chairs,

Secondly, you may only talk to the DJs if

lations. “Our humour keeps us humble,

what track that was, or if you may buy them

comfortable sofas, and huge art instal-

though” laughed Wisniewski. “We set out to have a good time, and more often than not, we achieve that goal rather easily.”

There are a few unwritten rules of M, however: if you’re an expat looking to be a sex-

pat, there are other places for you to get a taste of the local flavour. Working Girls are

actively discouraged from hanging out try-

you are congratulating them, or wondering a drink. No requests, no “here, plug my iPod

in”, no “make it louder!” – have a little respect. There are boundaries you should not

cross, for decorum’s sake. Otherwise, you will be known as “ugh, that really irritating

person who kept bugging the DJ to play that sh*t track. This is not (insert name of dive bar/club here), don’t they know that?”

ing to land a john, for the comfort of other

Thirdly, if you cause a scene, you will be es-

could spot them by where they sat – name-

who have been banned from coming to M

guests. There was once a time when you

ly, on the wall of shame nearer the street corner than the bar. However, with security constantly on the lookout, and even the patrons themselves making the effort to keep

the place as classy as possible, the wall of

shame has now just become another place to sit, with no stigma whatsoever.

corted off the premises. There are people

because they simply forgot how to comport themselves and made other people uncomfortable. That is the level of care that management takes to ensure that everyone has a good time.

Because of the team behind M, the artists who perform, the excellent choices of food

and drink, and the community atmosphere,

it has never really lost its mystique. “We let it grow organically,” Lowenstein said. “It wasn’t something that we forced to

( A b o v e) A n dr ej W is n iews k i, M r. M arc u s M an g u ig ad , S t ef an L o w e n s tein

happen, but we’re pretty happy with how

it turned out.” Other, less established venues, are plying the PR route and hoping for

a habit to form. M created a product worth

selling before selling themselves, and that is why it is still around.

RADAR / April - May

Manila By #VivaManila Free Manila Baywalk/

Food Harbor View

The two kilometer stretch between the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the United States Embassy, is the most accessible stretch of public waterfront in the city. Take a stroll here, ignore the smell and occasional filth, and instead take in the large palms set against a breathtaking sunset. People-watching here is prime. People get massages, lovers sit on motorcycles and listen to music, bikers practice tricks, newly-wed couples take portraits, fishermen try their luck. Come here to see a slice of Manila.

Looking for a perfect date spot? Take that spe-

Rizal Park

Restaurant

cial someone to Harbor View Pier at sunset for a view of Manila Bay and the city skyline. The name is pretty straight forward, the restaurants jets out over the water on a long pier. When the sun goes down, candle lit tables and a bay breeze give the place a romantic feel. It’s primarily a seafood restaurant where you can order by the kilo for large groups, but it’s also nice to go for a drink and appetizers. The kilawin tanigue (local ceviche), sugpo sa taba ng talangka – prawns smothered in crab fat and sprinkled with pork rinds, and adobong pusit –baby squid in adobo and squid ink sauce are always good bets. If you don’t want a local San Miguel Light or Pale Pilsen, try the Green Mango shake. Exact address: 1000 Katigbak Parkway, Rizal Park (Behind Quirino Grand Stand, at the side of Ocean Park)

Shwarma Snack Center Then walk over to Rizal Park, the city’s primary park. Newly renovated, the park offers a host of programs, usually on the weekend at 6pm or 7pm. Nightly you can catch the Musical Dancing Fountain, a water and light show set to popular Filipino and American songs. There are fireballs, just saying. Check out the National Parks Development Committee Facebook page for up to date event listings. Start at Roxas Boulevard, pedestrian crossing near Aristocrat Restaurant, and wind your way around the city at a leisurely pace.

22 RADAR / April - May

Shwarma Snack Center comes in two parts, a casual canteen style establishment and a slightly fancier version just across the street. The canteen side has a more limited menu, less charm, and no hookah service, but it is also a bit cheaper, so if you are looking to just grab food, take a seat there. If you want a more proper sit down meal, get a table on the upper deck across the street. Located on a side street, it’s pleasant to sit outside. SSC caters to the Arab business owners and OFW contractors concentrated in the neighborhood, so the food is legit. If you have a large group just go for the menu sets which include

a kilo of mixed kebabs and various side dishes. Order a hookah, sit back, take in all the dialects flying around you and for a while pretend that you are somewhere else. Salas St between M.H. del Pilar and Mabini St.

Bistro Remedios Bistro Remedios is the closest thing to a homecooked meal in a charming Filipino ancestral home. Antique interiors showcase early Spanish-Filipino design and a three piece band serenades tables with traditional Tagalog songs and the occasional American classic. Dishes may seem small but Filipino food is quite hardy, especially when eaten with rice. Recommended dishes: Adobong Puso ng saging (Sauteed heart of banana with shrimp, vinegar, and pork cracklings), Crispy Tadyang “d original” (marinated deep fried beef ribs), and the Sinigang na Baboy, the quintessential Filipino tamarind-based soup, liberally doused with chunks of pork belly, radish, green beans, tomatoes, and pepper. If you don’t feel the sting in your jaw, you’re not doing it right. 1911 M. Adriatico Street corner Remedios Circle, Malate, Manila

Evening The Other Office

There’s a karaoke bar on every corner of Ermita

and Malate, but there’s only one piano bar. The Other Office feels like a place from another time, with a long bar, dark wood interiors, and fake foliage, you could very well be in a small town American joint. The piano player knows most old school songs --don’t practice your acoustic version of Lady Gaga here, pretty please-- but classics like Moon River will get you encouraging claps on the first cord. The Other Office is a working-man’s escape, as the expression goes. As urban folkore has it, when a wife asks her husband where he is, and he’s off tending to indiscretions, he’ll say “the other office.” One gets the feeling that some of the women there aren’t wives, but then again, the under-the-radar vibe is part of Malate’s charm. 1130-CA. Mabini Street, Ermita, Manila City Tel 02-522 4085.

1951 Formerly Penguin Bar on Remedios Circle, a Malate neighborhood original, 1951 continues a legacy of local, independent live music and chill atmosphere. Neighbors and friends mingle here with the visiting hostel crowd. Located in a two-storey house, the downstairs has the dance floor and live music and upstairs has a main living room, a balcony for smokers, a lofted nook and a back room for more intimate conversation. Food and drinks are basic, there’s local art on the brick walls, a good mix of people, and an energy difficult to find in any other bar. Best nights are Friday and Saturday when there are live bands.

Late night Destination Heaven

On nights with gigs, there’s a 100 peso door charge.

Don’t look for a sign, just look for the shirtless dancing men in a courtyard just off Nakpil corner Orosa. These muses direct you to the door of Heaven, a gay nightclub with a fantastic drag show at 2am and then again at 4am. The stage is lifted above the crowd, flanked by two long staircases, which make for a dramatic descent. Costumes, choreography, and top notch lip-syncng make this the show to catch while in town. It’s also not too crowded, so you easily watch the show and even dance along which will likely earn you attention from the back up dancers (if you don’t want a crotch to the face, don’t stand near the staircase).

1951 Adriatico Street, Manila City

Nakpil corner Orosa, Malate, Manila

ZZYXZ You can’t miss this club on Remedios Circle. It’s a giant black box with illuminated letters and massive signs outside warning you NO DRUGS ALLOWED, punctuated by larger than life hand cuffs. Don’t be alarmed. There’s no entrance fee and it’s one of the best dance parties in the neighborhood. Western and Korean top 40, laser lights and the standard MC keep the mostly Korean crowd moving until 6am. It’s a proper dance floor, no standing tables blocking your way. People are letting loose after a long work week, with minimum pretension and minimum prostitution compared to other clubs in the area. 10pm-6am Bocobo St corner Remedios Circle RADAR / April - May 23

INDULGE YOUR SENSES IN

VYNE VYNE, the newest boutique restaurant and freestyle tapas bar from the makers of HYVE, offers a new and unique dining experience. Offering a wide variety of sumptuous tapas and other pub favorites, VYNE promises to tantalize even the most discerning of taste buds. With a vast selection of wines and spirits coupled with interiors that meld together contemporary modernism and urban cool, VYNE is the place to be to hang out and chill in BGC. The graffiti-lined walls, ultra-luxe furnishings, and elements of industrial design give the place a certain je ne sais quoi and a distinct personality. Celebrity chef Rob Pengson describes the concept of it being a freestyle tapas bar as a way to combine creative food to go with drinking. “Freestyle” because it allows us flexibility to cross borders and “Tapas” because Filipinos are familiar with it and enjoy nibbles in between drinks. The décor reflects the style of the food: whimsical, free, raw, but full of passion and character. The distinctive graffiti was created by four artistic gentlemen, each hailing from different urban and street art backgrounds, namely: Jessie Zamoranos, Bergel Conception, Alvin Manlangit, and Errol Orbita. For table reservations and other inquiries, please contact 09175530197. VYNE is located at the 8th Floor of W Global Building, 9th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

24 RADAR / April - May

Nightlife Directory Agave

18 BC

Blind Pig Speakeasy

Global City, Taguig (63 2) 403-6003

(02) 856-0529 Business Hours: M, T, W, Th, F: 7:00 am - 2:00 am

0917 549 2264

Bonifacio High Street Bldg. B3, 5th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio

Barcino

Rizal Drive at Forbes Town

101, Forbeswood Height Rizal Drive, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (63 2) 900-0726

Barcino

Burgos Circle, Forbestown Center 29th St., Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig +63(2)2915305

The Distillery

108, Forbeswood Heights Condominium, Forbes Town Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (632) 8569014

The Keg

G/F The Fort Strip, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig +63(2)659-5484

Jill’s Bar

8 & 9 The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (02) 818-4557

121 Grille and Restaurant

2/F Allegro Center, 2284 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati (02) 856-0529 Business Hours: M, T, W, Th, F: 7:00 am - 2:00 am Sa: 5:00 pm - 2:00 am

2/F Allegro Center, 2284 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati

Sa: 5:00 pm - 2:00 am

19 EAST

2/F Allegro Center, 2284 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati (02) 856-0529 Business Hours: M, T, W, Th, F: 7:00 am - 2:00 am

227 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati

Prohibition Liquor Lounge 3F Greenbelt 3, Esperanza Street, Ayala Center, Makati (02) 621 6790

Café Curieux

Bel-Air Soho Polaris Street cor. Badajos

Sa: 5:00 pm - 2:00 am

Street, Makati 0905 482 6371

Al’s Bar

Exit Bar

23 Aguirre Ave. BF Homes, 12345, Paranaque

B-Side

The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., Makati Hours: Tues - Sat: 9:00 pm- 4:00 am

Backdoor Blues Cafe

2/F Allegro Center, 2284 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati (02) 856-0529 Business Hours: M, T, W, Th, F: 7:00 am - 2:00 am Sa: 5:00 pm - 2:00 am

Bagaberde Grill and Bar

Boom na Boom Grounds, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd. corner Gil Puyat, Pasay City Hours: Tues - Sat: 6:00 pm - 1:00 am (02) 831-2242; (02) 394-7672; (02) 392-6766

Corinthian Plaza 121 Paseo de Roxas corner Legaspi Street, Makati (02) 551 1283

The Curator Coffee and Cocktails 134 Legazpi Street corner C. Palanca Street, Makati 0917 585 9005

Saguijo Cafe & Lounge

7612 Guijo Street San Antonio Village , Makati

Amber Club & Bar

Unit F, The Fort Entertainment Center Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (63 2) 887-6838

Balay Resto Lounge

Boom na Boom Grounds, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd. corner Gil Puyat, Pasay City Hours: Tues - Sat: 6:00 pm - 1:00 am (02) 831-2242; (02) 394-7672; (02) 392-6766

RADAR / April - May 25

Ingles” by the Spanish-run publications in 1888 was formed by group

Gently Stream

down the

hen thinking of boat races, most people immediately associate the sport of rowing with collegiate crew, Harvard, Yale, Princeton – and most recently, the Oxford-Cambridge

BNY Mellon 160th Boat Race, where Oxford walloped Cambridge with an 11-length victory – the largest winning margin since 1973. However the Philippines, and most specifically the Pasig River, is not top of mind when discussing the sport of rowing, and yet we feel that it should be. The Manila Boat Club is the oldest existing sports club in Manila, founded in 1895. Facilities for rowing, naturally, and the country’s first squash courts outside the US Embassy are housed on a quaint riverside property nestled deep within Sta. Ana. Originally referred to as “El Club de los

26 RADAR / April - May

of proper English gentlemen who lived and worked in what was t hen Southeast Asia’s chicest destination.

The sport in the Philippines may be traced to one “Jock” Williamson, a Scottish chartered accountant who arrived in Manila in 1882. A natural athlete suffering from a knee injury stemming from a particularly rousing bout of football, Williamson decided rowing was perhaps more suited to his current state and religiously kept at it in order to maintain his physique and health. Considered by many to be the greatest of team sports, rowing needs absolute synchronization of force, speed, and stroke to make that little boat move. Except for single sculls, each rower in the boat must move with the rest as one in order to gain speed, and maintain balance. Perhaps this is part of the beauty and uniqueness of the sport, and the reason as to why so many of the top universities around the world encourage their students to take up the sport: move as one, think as one, be as one. The Manila Boat Club works closely with the Philippine Rowing Association and in fact has sponsored four team members for the 32nd Hong Kong Rowing Championships back in 2010. As a direct result, the Philippine National Rowing Team won several Gold Medals. Looking forward, MBC intends to encourage school children and University students to get involved with both rowing and squash. A Cadet

Directory King Gym

225 Rizal Ave. Ext 10th Ave. , West Grace Park,Caloocan City, Metro Manila, 1400 ,Philippines

Contender Boxing Gym

8 Ortigas Ave ext. corner Countryside, , Brgy Sta. Lucia,Pasig, Metro Manila, 1600 Philippines

Gil’s Fitness Gym Program is currently in the works for the youth of Sta. Ana and surrounding Universities in the Metro. Currently, the Club provides facilities to the Ateneo Rowing Team to assist the school in their inter-varsity challenges throughout Asia. It is hoped that De La Salle University will also take up the oars once again, so as to foster the famed rivalry in yet another avenue, echoing the Oxford-Cambridge race in the Philippine context. The first international regatta to be held in the Philippine since the 70s took place in January of 2013 at Paoay Lake in Ilocos Norte; the great outcome of the event spurred a new Boat Club being built on the lake itself, and the creation of a sister-club for MBC, run by MBC board member, Quintin Pastrana. Current Chairman James Stratton said of the sport, “Rowing is a wonderful thing to have on your resumé. Top universities around the United States and the UK are always on the lookout for good rowers, and being a rower certainly sets you up for life. Dedication, discipline, teamwork – these touchpoints really do help propel a person forward.” All in all, if you’re looking for a new thing to do on a lazy afternoon – or looking to maintain your physique with absolutely no strain on your knees, look no further than the Manila Boat Club.

141-A 15th Avenue, East Rembo, Fort Bonifacio,Makati City, Metro Manila, ,Philippines

Gymaholic Fitness Center Dr. A. Santos Ave,, Ireneville Subd., Sucat,Paranaque City, Metro Manila, ,Philippines

Pounds Gym

Ground Floor City Tower Condo, 810 aurora boulevard corner N.domingo st. Cubao,Quezon City, Metro Manila, 1111 Philippines

Obsession Gym

Penthouse (7th Flr.), 5438 Osmena Highway, ,Makati, Metro Manila, 1233 ,Philippines

Fitness First Platinum

3/F RCBC Plaza Tower 2 Ayala Ave Cnr Sen. Gil Puyat Ave Makati City Metro Manila 1226 Tel: +(632) 845-3480

RADAR / April - May 27

Learn to Fly by Moki Villegas

What relationship do you have with your body? Do you hate it? Is it your best friend? Has your body ever surprised you with what you and it can do? If your body hasn’t amazed you yet, then try AcroYoga. “Acro-what?” you ask. In 2003, Olympic acrobat Jason Nemer and New York yoga teacher Jenny Sauer-Klein co-founded AcroYoga by adding yogic awareness to acrobatics and healing arts. But you deny it: “I’m not bendy enough for regular yoga, let alone whatever AcroYoga is!” One of the physical benefits of doing this is enhanced flexibility and overall well-being. Body-builders don’t start out with rippling muscles, nor swimmers with perfect strokes. If flexibility is something you want for your body, then AcroYoga is the perfect place where you can start. What makes it so perfect? AcroYoga is not something that you do alone. It’s a partnerand group activity, building teamwork and unity as you go along. Each pose has at least 3 participants: the flyer at the pinnacle of the pose, the base supporting the flyer, and a spotter who ensures everyone’s safety. 28 RADAR / April - May

In your first lesson, you can rotate among all 3 roles, rounding out your skills. Flying looks impressive, and being up there may be something you never thought you’d do, but it feels great. It’s also simpler to do, than explain. Chris Ekelund and Lee E’lshan of Yoga+ brought AcroYoga to Manila. As certified AcroYoga teachers, they’ve been jamming in the park with friends and just about anyone interested. Over the months, they’ve built a solid group who is happy to welcome anyone to the AcroJams, what the participants call a sort of structured play led by instructors and advanced students on Sunday in the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati. Whether you’re looking for a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, a novel way to stretch your back and realign your bones without any mantra chanting whatsoever, or an excuse to meet fit individuals who like contorting their bodies – AcroJams is the place for you.

RADAR / April - May 29

THE SKINNY ON

JUICING By I s r a e l H e r t z

hen I was younger and much fitter, “juicing” meant that you were

taking anabolic steroids and/or creatine, as well as a cocktail of fitness drugs that boosted results to the ridiculous (while shrinking other incredibly important portions of the body. See: your neck). Nowadays, it has no stigma whatsoever. It has actually become fodder for polite dinner party conversation. Ladies trade smoothie recipes, blokes brag about their latest slow juicer that keeps all the healthy enzymes, and you’re left wondering why Jack Lalanne couldn’t have done his infomercials now when people actually cared about “the untold benefits of juicing”. Juice advocates come off somewhat as snake oil salesmen, but what exactly are they harping on about? Juicing allegedly can boost your immune system, lower the risk of or even ease symptoms of cancer, cleanse your body of toxins, and even help you shed a few kilos while you’re at it. But, according to Jennifer K. Nelson, R.D., L.D., a registered dietician with the Mayo Clinic since 1978, director of clinical dietetics and an associate professor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic’s College of Medicine, “juicing is probably not any healthier than eating whole fruits and vegetables.” Phytonutrients, or the vitamins, minerals, and plant chemicals are all found in juice form, however important sources of fibre are eliminated by this process. Some juicing gurus and their avatars urge that 30 RADAR / April - May

juicing is better for you than eating whole fruits and veggies because your body can absorb nutrients better in this manner, and it takes away the need to break down fibre.

est, fruits and veggies are quite awesome all on their own). So put that in your juice box, and suck it!

At this point, there is no sound scientific evidence that extracted juices are healthier than the juice you get by eating the fruit or veg itself. But Nelson recommends it for people who need to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet; i.e. most of us poor slobs. She warns however, “if you do try juicing, make only as much as you can drink at once because freshly squeezed juice can quickly develop harmful bacteria.” So in fact, all the juicers out there are simply reaping the benefits of a good diet. Juice in and of itself is no more special than fruits and veggies (although let’s be hon-

If you let the juice sit, you must acquit! Throw that sh*t out, its nasty.

Wellness Directory Human Touch Spa 233 Bayanan Street, 1772 Muntinlupa City (0929)819-7376, (0906)156-6240

The Spa

L/G Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa (02)850-3490, (0917)928-0840

Spaholics Home Spa

(Home Service Only) (02)633-5880, (0917)531-3531

Phaen Boren Spa

Unit 107 Civic Prime Condominium, Civic Drive corner Market Drive, Filinvest, Alabang, Muntinlupa (02)510-6912, (0915)324-8595

Empress Jaya Day Spa

2nd Floor, Sycamore Prime Building, Alabang-Zapote Road, Alabang, Muntinlupa (02)850-9055, (02)850-9666, (02)850-8841

Kartini Spa

Alabang Town Center, Madrigal Avenue, Muntinlupa City (02)807-4356, (02)788-0242, (02)825-1498, (0917)816-1368, (0916)381-5772

MBay Health Spa 778 Quirino Avenue 1000 Manila (02)522-1945

Thai Boran Massage

Home Service Only (02)354-9621, (0920)910-9385

Far East Massage and Spa

Shui Hilot Healing Spa

Cosmic Serene Spa

Asian Massage

2614 Global Building Arellano St. cor Pablo Ocampo, Manila (02)409-6869, (0915)235-3131, (0921)252-7343

Unit 120 Pacific Regency, 760 P. Ocampo St. Malate, Manila (02)567-0722

Cosmopolitan Spa URC Bldg, Blumentritt, Espana, Manila (02)781-0205, (0915)584-2737, (0905)416-4279, (0927)333-0333, (0922)895-2400, (0999)377-9104

Cicada Spa

2466 1 Leon Guinto Street, Cor Estrada, Malate, Manila

Smithval Spa

Vizcarra Oandasan Bldg., 507 Gen. Malvar St. Malate, Manila (02)387-8595, (0917)919-6957

Mass Therapeutic Optimum (MTO) Spa 1709 Apolinario Mabini Street, Malate, Manila, 1004 (02)400-9775

Chisou Spa

Ground Floor, Hostel 1632 Adriatico St. Malate, Manila (02)387-6819, (0918)938-3899

Lasema Jil Jim Bang Spa

MGC Lasema Plaza, 7232 Malugay St., Bel-Air, Makati City (02)830-2222 loc.123

Ground Floor, Tropical Palms Bldg., Dela Rosa St., cor. Perea St., Legazpi Village, Makati City (0932)309-3678, (02)393-231

Ground Floor Goldrich Mansion Bldg., 4658 Cuangco Street corner South Superhway, Brgy. Pio Del Pilar, Makati City 1200 (02)728-5263, (0917)882-7426

Wensha Spa Center

1st and 2nd Level, Pasda Mansion Bldg., #4 Timog Ave. Cor. Panay Ave., Quezon City (02)375-1399

Ace Water Spa

399 Del Monte Avenue, SFDM Quezon City (02)367-8040 to 41, (02)367-8061 to 62, (02)415-0164

Zamara Spa

Glamourific Day Spa

4131 Ponte St., Pasong Tamo, Makati City (02)543-8225, (0916)475-7907, (0947)520-2336

Unit 106 Sterten Place Condominium, II6 Maginhawa St, Steacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Village, Q.C. (02)239-2784, (0917)550-8024

The Oils & Scrubs Spa

Asian Massage House

Arogya Ayurveda Center

Maison De Spa

Ground Floor, Gervasia Centre, 152 Amorsolo St. Legaspi Vill., Makati (02)519-6782, (0917)525-008

8398 Mayapis Street, San Antonio, Makati City (02)403-4048, (0906)249-2463

Fifth Sense Spa

Unit 14&15 Kingswood Arcade Chino Roces cor. Vito Cruz St. Makati City (02)986-0316, (0921)767-908

Frank Stone Spa & Wellness Centre 1130 Davila St. Corner Pasong Tamo, Makati, Philippines 1233 (02)895-6205, (0929)100-9878

No. 573 Nakpil Street Corner Bocobo Street, Malate, Manila (02)536-6894, (02)528-4686, (0917)817-2748 One Pacific Place, 161 HV Dela Costa Street, Makati City (02)384-6832, (0917)803-3297

Green Palm Spa

1409 Vito Cruz Ext., ABC St., San Antonio Village, Makati (02)871-9862

Homme Spa and Wellness Center 100 Kamuning Road Quezon City (02)414-6377, (0906)327-5335, (0918)578-7461

RADAR / April - May

through the

looking glass

DEE JAE Pa’este Describe your style in five words; if your art was indicative of a certain time period (past, present, or future), what would it be? Ancient, Futuristic, Organic, Balanced, Universoul I think the beauty of the art I do is bringing together all time periods into one moment and space. I blend in ancient art and symbols from different cultures, and connect it with present day and also futuristic elements as well. Inspiration? Apart from main themes and individual pieces, what formed your trademark style? My style is always changing and growing depending on where I am at or what I am inspired by. Most of it stems from my fascination with lines and patterns and also traditional tattoo arts and body markings. Its a mix of the things that I’m attracted to that i can translate back into me art. Largest project/biggest achievement to date? Are you involved in other projects besides visual art? One of my favourite pieces I’ve worked on was with Bonifacio Global City where they allowed me to paint giant 30ft murals and also lead an art tour and do events for the Art Fest month around the BGC Area. I love being involved in community events where we can all gather, share art and good energy and be creative. I am all about creating spaces for people to be creative in. Aside from painting, I am heavily involved in doing Pop Up events with my company Manila Pop Up, and also hosting food nights and tour for friends and people visiting. Really engaging in exploring all the amazing flavours and fun that Manila has to offer.

32 RADAR / April - May

How long have you been painting/tagging/sketching professionally? What sparked your interest? Who urged you to pursue it?

I’ve been painting professionally since about 2000, that’s when I started designing and making a living off of my art. It was always a natural progression into doing what I do now. I’ve only known art all my life, so its like living out my dreams -- being able to travel and share what I do for a living. My family is full of creatives and they have always supported me to do what I love and love what I do. I couldn’t see myself ever doing anything else. I wake up, I take this tiny idea I have in my head then I get to paint it on a giant wall for everyone to see. It’s kind of surreal. Is there a project you especially want to tackle, a magnum opus of sorts? How has your style evolved over the years? What will you be doing next? Where can people see your art? I am always thinking of new projects to work on as a way for more people to find a connection to public art and creativity. I am planning on doing a sustainable art/ mentorship program with the youth of manila and also street children who usually don’t have creative outlets. It’s called ImagiNatives and it has been a work in progress for the past few years. It’s an idea that stems from my own mentors showing me the good within me using art as a tool and empowering skill. As for what I will be doing next, I have a year of Mural painting, designing, hosting and tour guiding ahead of me, and I’m excited to spread more art to new places in the philippines outside of the metro. Right now my art is all over the city, BGC Hight Street Central, SM North EDSA Skydome, Sensei Sushi, Songkran Thai, Flotsam and Jetsam hostel La Union, Kasbah Boracay, Asia Grand View Resort Coron and many more places. So keep your eyes peeled and mind open. Also follow my instagram @deejae408 or my website www.deejaepaeste.com

Jean Hill Describe your style in five words; if your art was indicative of a certain period (past, present, or future) what would it be? Present: Modern, edgy, sensual, vibrant and fun! Inspiration? I simply open my eyes, collect ideas and put them together just as how they are formed in my imagination. Largest project/biggest achievement to date? Are you involved in other projects besides visual art? I have a clothing line collection and did art exhibits at bars like Rose, Café Curieux, Society Lounge and Sofitel Hotel from 2011 to 2013. Today, I design and make uniforms, costumes for events and am an entrepreneur! I’m one of the co-owners of Goto Monster, and put my design to work making comfort food.

How long have you been designing professionally? 6 years, I started as a graphic artist and co-owner of a funny t-shirt company called Lalaughka Inc. in 2008. What sparked your interest? Who urged you to pursue it? I grew up with crafty, artistic and talented people. Started at 5 with a box of crayons, old collection of paper dolls from my aunts, my early books are my lola’s dress catalogs from the 70’s. The need to produce humorous art and statements for Lalaugka Inc triggered my interest to practice and create. Is there a project you especially want to tackle, a magnum opus of sorts? KAMA ZOOTRA - Obviously from the book KAMA SUTRA the book of life, love and intimacy.

I enjoyed putting this collection together featuring different animals in sensual poses, printed with vibrant colors, signed and framed. My partner and I decided to print and make the series in different mediums: printed on a card, t-shirt, special paper & framed, the last was printed on a film and made into a wall lamp. What will you be doing next? I would like to continue doing modern and innovative art. Play around with new materials, and learn more of art and design Where can people see your art? Google/FB: Jean Hill Clothing and Design Email: jeanhill@hotmail.ph Mobile: 09164806080 By appointment only

RADAR / April - May 33

Culture Vulture

Picks:

Art in the Park For the past eight years, denizens of Makati have been treated to a taste of culture in their very own backyard via Art in the Park. Established by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, the whole reasoning behind the event seems to be a push towards “affordable” art – when in truth and in fact, *this* vulture thinks that that descriptor somehow diminishes the talent of those involved. There is a lot to be said about buying art, especially in this economy. Luxury purchases are few and far between, and investment in something like art pieces comes far after new properties or business ventures. So why do people buy art? In 2012, Barclays Bank released a report entitled “Profit or Pleasure? Exploring the Motivations Behind Treasure Trends” which reported that only about a tenth of their sample population said they bought art “purely as an investment”, with the majority of those questioned citing enjoyment of the piece as the motivator behind the purchase. Of course, Barclays Bank asked 2,000 rich people in seventeen different countries. This may impact the buying trend, but certainly not the motivation behind purchasing art itself. No matter the price-tag, the artists featured at Art in the Park 2014 are superb. On the whole, Philippine art has come a long way in the past decade or so – as evidenced by the whimsical metal pieces of Pete Jimenez or the pastiche to contemporary culture by Danger Sanchez, using a clever take on light-play to create a wholly breathtaking effect that makes even the most square of us all ask, “why so serious?” Mainstays in the art scene like the Pettyjohn pottery studio prove why time and time again, people go back to the classics. A playful statement piece of blue ceramic 34 RADAR / April - May

flowers reminiscent of the Ming Dynasty makes a wonderful conversation piece in any home, and is surely worth “the investment”, if we’re still gauging buying art as a purely commercial practise. New forms of art have also surfaced, with special emphasis on the Philippines being at the forefront of animation and character design. Borg Sinaban and Ossie Tiangco Ocampo show that art’s only limitations are the ones we give ourselves. Nana Buxni, a filmmaker whose emphasis lies in social commentary took something that everyone had (a camera phone), and put it where nobody thought to look (Tondo and disaster-stricken areas in and around the Southern Philippines), in a manner that was rather unexpected (on acetate, backlit to showcase contrast and depth). Fonz Recto, an up-and-coming painter known for his works en plein air at various events, showcased a number of pieces that tackled contemporary and abstract themes in a post-modern Impressionist flair, while Tina Fernandez of Artinformal asked us questions about life, creation, the universe, everything by setting forth a goat-headed bust. These are merely some of the talents that were on showcase at Art in the Park – and this vulture was glad to roam the fair and see the world through an artist’s eyes that sunny day in the park. Affordability should never be a factor in buying art; buy a piece because it makes you feel. Feel anything, and you will have done the artist proud.

Directory Galerie Francesca

Door Bitch

Unit 2B Treasure Trove, Level 3 Festival Supermall Alabang 02 - 659 - 2667 ; 02 - 570 9495 www.galeriefrancesca.com

A.P. Art Gallery

1130 M.H. Del Pilar Street corner A. Flores Street, Ermita, Manila 02 - 522 - 4603

E. Santos Art Gallery

1205 M.H. Del Pilar, Ermita, Manila 02 - 523 0076 haddisantos@yahoo.com

Galeria de las Islas

Silahis Cenre, 744 Gen. Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila 02 -527 2113 galeriadelasislas@yahoo.com

Galerie Anna

7th floor, Ramon Magsaysay Centre, Roxas Blvd cor Dr. J. Quintos St., Malate, Manila 02 - 567 9483 galerieanna@yahoo.com If you have tried to get into any of the major clubs or bars in Manila since the 90s, chances are you have run across Aslie Aslanian. An imposing lady with a daunting stare and reverberating laugh, Aslie is the final say on what does and does not come up to scratch for the places she polices. From her days at Sanctum and the famed ABG’s, to more recent reigns at Republiq and 71 Grammercy – L’imperatrice can bring the entire city to its knees with a simple nod or shake of the head. Some friendly neighbourhood advice when you’re out and about in Manila: it doesn’t matter if “you always get in on other nights” – if you don’t pass muster, then you will stay on the stoop. Regardless of which “owners you know”, unless your name is on the list, you shall not pass. If you show up dressed like you were just squirted out of Coachella, you’re going to be sent away. If you show up at a gig and there is a cover, pay it and move on –nobody cares about how many times you have gotten in for free. Lastly and most importantly: never piss off the door bitch, or that door might very well hit you where the sun don’t shine.

Hiraya Gallery

530 U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila 02 - 523 3331 hiraya@info.com.ph www.hiraya.com

Rudy Gallery

1114 A.Mabini St., Ermita, Manila 02 - 400 6050

1335 Mabini

1335 A. Mabini St., Ermita, Manila www.1335mabini.com

The National Art Gallery

Level 4, North and South Wings, Museum of the Filipino People, Rizal Park, Manila 02 - 527 1219

Galerie Raphael

Unit 2C-06, Piazza Serendra Mall, BGC, Taguig 02 - 856 3034

MABINIEXTN

La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati extn@1335mabini.com RADAR / April - May 35

Hits and Runs By Lester Gopela Hallig

We have yet to meet a taxi driver without musical taste. In the years that we have taken cabs (not in a forcible sense, mind you), we have discovered and rediscovered that taxi drivers are tuned in to music. Sometimes the radio would already be turned on, the volume turned up enough for Mr. Driver to hear where we want to go. Sometimes he would be tentative about it, waiting to see that the passenger seems open enough to listen to the radio. More often, we belong to the latter. Maybe it is the way we conduct ourselves, so formal and all. But then again, this is not about us. This is about the cab drivers and what they listen to. Majority of the cab drivers we hailed, hollered at, and high-fived with (yes, we did), prefer to listen to today’s hits—current and recent. While majority of them are averse to actually sending requests to the radio, they do, however, appreciate catching their favorite songs while on the road. “The best way to lighten up the mood while driving,” one of them said. What we did was, quite simply, hand them an empty sheet and write down the songs they enjoy listening to nowadays. Narrowing down the songs that made it to this list was, we must confess right now, a no-brainers. Songs that appear consistently in their lists naturally show up in this issue’s list. We made it our business to list down the top 10—only because eight songs kept cropping up in their choices. Fair enough, right? 36 RADAR / April - May

PSY songs – We are talking about ‘Gangnam Style’ and ‘Gentleman’. Believe it or not, this funky Korean gets our cabbies going with his brand of humor-laced, EDM-leaning pop. Sure, he is not as hot nowadays as during his ‘Gangnam’ heydays, but that does not mean his hits are incapable of putting our drivers in a feel-good mood. Why, they even dance in their seats if they wanted to.

Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’ – Katy has already scored with fresher tunes as ‘Dark Horse’ and ‘Birthday’ but ‘Roar’ is a completely different animal. Taxi drivers say this sounds awesome in the morning. The chorus is something they will not hesitate singing along to. “Very empowering,” they chorused.

Pink featuring Nate Ruess’ ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ – We know what you’re thinking: this song is so over. Yes, that’s true, but there is no denying how insanely catchy this song is. If it is catchy, our cabbies want it. They will stop searching for another station once the record starts spinning. This song was supposed to be on the way out already, until a certain female elevator operator resuscitated this monster hit. We ourselves are witness as to how this smash hit can make cab drivers tap happily away on their steering wheels.

Bruno Mars songs – Whether it’s ‘Treasure’ or ‘When I Was Your Man’, expect the Bruno Mars fans to come out of the woodwork. Yes, they are proud of his Pinoy heritage. But they are happier to hear his songs playing through their car speakers. Mars knows where to push the button on regular listeners with his brand of vintage-leaning, current-oriented sound. We are amazed, though, and we hope (sincerely hope) that this won’t go down badly, that they can recognize the otherworldly voice of Mr. Mars. Well, whatever rocks our cabbies’ world, we are so on it. After all, if a driver is happy, chances are, he will carry out his job well.

Idina Menzel’s ‘Let It Go’ – First of all, we recall telling our inner circle this: how come the ones who love ‘Let It Go’ are male? We already are aware of little boys shamelessly singing along to Elsa whenever they watch the (hopefully not pirated) DVD of ‘Frozen’. To learn that taxi drivers like this song so much, wow, that is new. They said it is an uplifting record, the type that is easy to sing along to. “Sometimes we go at it during the chorus!” As long as we are being driven by cabbies who feel-good, as opposed to the cranky type, we have to give in to their frozen delights.

Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ – Well, well, well. Why are we not surprised? Again, it’s all about the brain-embedding chorus, the kind that just would not go away (so warmly reminiscent of Carly Rae Jepsen’s erstwhile inescapable ‘Call Me Maybe’). One driver said, “We play this at home, but in the middle of traffic, this song does not fail me!” We guessed ‘Happy’ helped him avoid killing someone who was acting like a complete a** on the road—in which case we approve.

Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball’ – ‘Wrecking Ball’ is the new anthem. Taxi cabs turn into moving videoke joints whenever Miley swings by the radio station. Not literally, of course. “When there’s heavy traffic and this song comes on, I can’t help singing along to it,” one cabbie admits. We also could not help but hope that he is fully clothed while mouthing the lyrics to this indestructible record.

Jonalyn Viray’s ‘Help Me Get Over You’ – Now this came as a complete surprise to us. We were like, ‘Really?’ Apparently, these cab drivers’ idea of relaxation was to watch ‘My Husband’s Lover’ on their time-off. Some were quite defensive when pressed further: “Ah it’s my wife who was a fan of the show, the song just got stuck in my head!”, “This song is from ‘My Husband’s Lover’? I didn’t know!”, “If it’s good, I’ll listen to it, and this song is good!” Oh men, excuses, excuses.

Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ – Admit it, RiRi has a knack for the catchiest pop tunes and the catch-worthy cab drivers. This gem of a record scores big on their musical menu because of its fun, sing-along quality. “Rihanna is sexy!” the taxi driver helpfully explained. Uh-huh. Like that would explain everything. If you ask us, the song may sound silly at first listen (really, we don’t think writing that song was that much of an effort), but try hearing it at half-hour intervals and you will, in all likelihood, start wishing that ‘Diamonds’ is played more often. We reckon the drivers did.

Oldies – Please take the term ‘oldies’ seriously. Now think Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Matt Monroe, and all those musical greats whose music we used to hate (we love them now—must be our age showing). Now think that a lot of cab drivers are not that young anymore, and so they will listen to songs that bring them happy memories. The great singers of the past may have been singing about loss and heartaches, things that any clear-minded driver will avoid, but these songs told stories. The drivers we talked to would not think twice about moving to another radio station if bad news are being broadcast. “We would rather hear songs that spoke to me. They may be sad songs, but we feel good hearing them again,” one cabbie declared. We hear—and feel-you.

RADAR / April - May 37

Swardspeak Dictionary n entire sub-culture vernacular propagated on the principle of Malapropism or Dogberryism, or the use of an incorrect word in place of a

wordwith a similar sound which results in a nonsensical, often humourous utterance. The word malapropism is a bastardised loan word from the French term “mal a propos” meaning inappropriate, via the character of Mrs. Malaprop, a creation of author Richard Sheridan who wrote the novel The Rivals, where Mrs Malaprop constantly mixed up words to comical effect. Dogberryism stems from “Officer Dogberry”, the name of a character in Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing. The word “Swardspeak”, according to writer-director Jose Javier Reyes was allegedly coined by columnist and movie critic Nestor Torre in the 1970s. The origins of the different words in this vernacular however spread into various cultural touch points which evolve over time. By using swardspeak, it is said that Filipino gays are able to resist the dominant culture of their area and create a space unto themselves. Gay people who speak the language almost exclusively are humourously referred to as Bekimons, a contraction of Baklang Jejemon. Swardspeak is also spoken by babaeng bakla, women who associate mostly with gay men. And without further ado: a swardspeak primer.

patola n. a guy who identifies as straight yet has sexual relationships with gay guys; relationships that are usually kept secret by the patola but somehow becomes fodder for gossip. A play on the Filipino words patol and patola. Patol has no direct equivalent in English but in this context can be loosely translated as “to engage,” or “to confront”. Patola is the local name for loofah or Vietnamese gourd, a vegetable with a rather robust and suggestive shape.

38 RADAR / April - May

haggardo versoza

duty free

adj. haggard, exhausted.

adj. the opposite of dakota harrison plaza.

A combination of the English word “haggard” and the name of Gardo Versoza, a Filipino actor known as a sexy (and later on, action) star in the 90s.

The term is a play on the Cebuano word dyutay (pronounced as ju-tay) which means “a little bit” or “a small amount.” Duty free shops, on the other hand, are retail outlets where goods can be bought for less since the outlet is exempt from paying taxes or “duties.” We can then logically infer that we are describing a male prostitute with no managerial overhead, or much to show below the equator. In short, literally, he passes the savings onto you.

pagoda tragedy adj. tired, exhausted, can be synonymous to haggardo versoza. From the Tagalog word pagod which means tired and the phrase “Pagoda Tragedy” which is an actual event that happened in 1993 during the river festival in Bulacan when a floating pagoda carrying the Holy Cross sank, killing more than 200 people onboard. Filipino humour is very irreverent, so don’t worry about offending people when you use this phrase. Unless, you know, you’re talking to an actual relative of the people who drowned. if you find that you have done so already, smile it off.

dakota harrison plaza adj. describes unbelievably huge male private parts. Dako is the Cebuano word for “big”. Harrison Plaza, on the other hand, is a shopping mall in Malate, Manila that’s known for being a popular hunting ground for male prostitutes. Put them together and you have a well-equipped man who is willing to slum it.

bitter ocampo adj. bitter, resentful, upset. A play on the name of Diether Ocampo, a Filipino actor who had a prolific career in soap operas during the 90s up to the early 2000s. Bitter (sort of) rhymes with Diether, provided you say his name with a thick and comical Filipino accent.

gutom jones adj. hungry. From the words gutom, a Tagalog word which means “hungry,” and Tom Jones, the singer who was popular during the 60s up until the 80s. His songs remain karaoke staples in the Philippines, especially in celebrations where food and karaoke go very well together (which, in the Philippines, is virtually any celebration you can think of).

thundercat n. an old man, particularly an old gay man. From the Tagalog word tanda which means “old.” Tanda almost rhymes with “thunder” especially when said in the whimsy-effected tone used in swardspeak. It’s incorporated into the word Thundercats, which is a Japanese animated series that aired on Philippine television in the 90s.

echoserang froglet pureza station n. someone who insists on poking his or her nose into other people’s business, can also be used to refer to someone who lies unneccesarily. Exact origins unknown. May have come from the Spanish word hechicera which means “witch.” The froglet may have been added for comedic effect, or to subtly disguise the barb.

jubis adj. very fat. Comes from replacing the first syllable of the English word “obese” with the nonsensical syllable “ju” to form jubis.

payatola kumenis adj. opposite of jubis. A combination of the Tagalog word payat which means “thin” and the name of the Iranian religious leader and politician, Ayatollah Khomeini, known for his legendary tolerance of people with opposing positions.

jowa n. boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. A corruption of the Tagalog word asawa (husband/wife) that is done by replacing the first two syllables of the word with “jo” to form jowa. Although it comes from the Tagalog word for husband/wife, it is more commonly used to refer to a boyfriend/girlfriend rather than to a husband/ wife.

shunga

backstreet boy

adj. penniless, a variation of purita mirasol.

n. a cute boy standing behind you.

The first syllable of pureza sounds like “poor.” Pureza is also a station on the Manila Light Rail Transit System (MRT) line and was so named because of its location on Pureza Street in Manila.

The Backstreet Boys were an American boyband that was popular during the 90s. They were worshipped by girls and gay men alike, as they were considered to be the standard for good looking men at the time.

luz valdez v. to lose. Luz Valdez is a Filipina actress known for playing suffering or loss-ridden grandmother roles in film and television. Her first name sounds similar to the English word “lose.”

gelli de belen v. to be jealous. A Filipina actress and former child star, Gelli de Belen is known for her comedic roles in film and television. Her full name (sometimes shortened to just her first name, Gelli) has become synonymous to the word “jealous” because of the similar-sounding first syllables in the words and not necessarily because the green-eyed monster drives her to work every morning.

malupita nyong’o adj. amazing, excellent. A fairly recent addition to the swardspeak dictionary, this term is a play on the Tagalog word malupit (which in some instances can mean cruel but in this context means “amazing” or “excellent”) and the name of the Kenyan-Mexican actress who shot to global fame after winning the 2014 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Lupita Nyong’o.

mahalia jackson adj. expensive. A play on the Tagalog word mahal which means “expensive” and the name of the American gospel singer from the 40s to the 70s, Mahalia Jackson.

murayta adj. opposite of mahalia jackson. A play on the Tagalog word mura which means “cheap” and Morayta, a street in Sampaloc, Manila that was in turn named after Spanish writer Miguel Morayta, a supporter of the Propaganda movement during the Spanish colonial rule.

n. idiot.

julie andrews

Comes from replacing the first syllable of the Tagalog word tanga (“idiot”) with the nonsensical syllable “shu” to form shunga.

v. to be caught cheating or doing something inappropriate.

purita mirasol adj. poor and miserable. Purita and mirasol are corruptions of the English words “poor” and “miserable,” respectively.

Julie Andrews is a famously straightlaced English film and stage actress known for her roles in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, among others. Her first name, if spoken using Hispanized pronunciation would sound like “huli”, which in turn is the Tagalog word for “catch” or “caught”. A popular straight term for this is “Huli ka, balbon!” which roughly translate to “Caught you, person with copious amounts of body hair!” RADAR / April - May 39

Sex and Dating App-ropriate Excitement:

a Foray into app-based online dating

By Julia Nebrija

woman sitting next to me at a dinner party recently threw a bit of wisdom my way, “if you want to meet some-

one, you need to go out at least three times a week with a different circle of people.” Her comment was puzzling at first, because every time I go out, I see someone I know. Even when you try to be anonymous- stuffing your face around a lazy susan in some back corner of Chinatownin pops your cousin’s friend you met two weekends ago while surfing in La Union. We have busy lives, we get into patterns, spending our free time catching up with friends and family or exploring new hobbies and past times (and by hobbies I mean buying all the gear and participating sporadically), and to us these existing circles get smaller and smaller over time. Metro Manila is actually 12 million strong and yet it feels like a cluster of villages. The face-to-face, old-fashion dating culture in this city leaves much to be desired. The barkada blanket makes it difficult to meet new people out and about. Most bars have large tables, where groups sit together, hardly moving from these invisible fortresses, except to use the bathroom. Can I please get a packed bar where we have to all cram together, fight to get a drink and then accidentally bump into someone that ends up being cute and interesting? And the notorious round about nature of Filipino social etiquette can be paralyzing. When’s the last time you went out and met a total stranger? Most people we meet are introduced to us by someone we know. In a way, new circles are hard to come by.

I saw a guy recently I found intriguing. He was on the other side of the room sitting with a table of friends about six deep. He was wedged 40 RADAR / April - May

Th e i m pe n et rab l e b ark ada f o rt ress. in the corner. I ran over the scenario in my head. Walking across the room, hovering at the edge, in front of all his friends, under a spot light, introducing myself, all the while likely embarrassing him and creating a rich, frothy source of chismis. I mean, I’m confident, but that would scare the sh*t out of me. Besides, it seems totally creepy, although not as creepy as following someone to the bathroom on his barkada break away. Given this context, online dating should be the solution. Four out of five of my friends, who are now married back home in the US, met online.

A Filipina friend here recently flew to Dubai to meet up with a British windsurfer she met on Ok Cupid. On the flip side, I know three women who asked to be transferred to different country offices, not because they were unhappy with their career tracks, but because they had been living in Manila for several years and weren’t finding suitable partners. They were in their mid-30s and not getting younger, so off they went. Good luck ladies! I hope it works out! I want to stay in Manila, so last week I got online. I’ll start with the bad news first. Some profile photos are not real. Not like it’s a college photo of you with hair and abs, yet in reality you are forty and have neither hair, nor muscle, but as in it’s completely not you. Some misrepresentations are obvious. Clearly Dingdong Dantes is not winking at me. But a New Zealand rugby player? That one threw me off. He explains that he wants to separate out the women who are chatting based on looks and those who really want to meet someone nice. Touché, but your

profile and messages tell me nothing. You ask how my day was and then for my phone number so we can be text-mates. No thanks, unless you’re also on the Smart mobile network. His point has merit though. Especially with apps like Tinder and Skout, where you scroll and scroll random faces, the ones which look sexy to you are bound to be the ones you click on. Even when we don’t mean to be shallow, when there’s nothing else to go off of, the tone of someone’s voice, his or her smell, laugh, smile, the tension between the two of you, it is all pretty superficial to begin with. To the guy who said I should message him if I want to have sex with him this weekend, I hope you get lucky.

ONE PART ZEST, THREE PARTS BUZZ.

To the guy living in Phuket as a professional online gambler who said he wants to meet white women because he thinks Thai women look like monkeys, I hope you lose all your money and then get jailed at the next Full Moon party. It wasn’t all passive entertainment. I messaged a few guys of substance, who seemed genuine, professional, “eligible” men. Unless Futurehus’s profile photo turns out to be a Danish celebrity chef I’ve never heard of, he seems like a winner.

It’s been a brief but dynamic week communicating in this bizarre realm. Here are a few of the highlights: Thank you to the guy who said I was beautiful and asked me to marry him. I was stuck on the LRT platform and your message made me smile. Props to the guy who crafted the following: Prompt: I’m really good at... Answer: I have cat like reflexes, now you see me, meow you don’t. To the guy who wrote a short chapter of erotic fiction detailing every step of a potential night in bed together as his self-summary, I think you have a future in writing novels of this genre. I don’t want to meet you, but I enjoyed it. For the fear of plagiarizing, I’ll just pull out some choice bits: yoni, pink love button, bucking, tangy, and “miracles of the universe”.

Unfortunately, there’s no good news, yet. But people who’ve been successful online say it takes time and effort. You really need to go on everyday, weed through the bullsh*t, write honest, thoughtful messages to those diamonds in the rough, and in general approach it like a task. And if you are serious about getting a ring on it, you should use services which require paid memberships. My Gmail inbox has 3,508 unread messages. It’s unlikely I’ll manage several online dating profiles. I think I’d rather spend the little free time I do have going out and doing things I like, with the people I like, and instead just work on bolstering the courage to walk across the room and blindside the dude in the elusive corner. That said, if bjotho83 writes me back, I’d be psyched. A little about him: “Korean + Norwegian= Korwegian, no joke.” Who doesn’t want to meet that guy?

Always Refreshing.

RADAR / April - May 41

Eaten Out :

Post- Coital S

By Fatima Potenciano

Food

o you’ve just finished doing the nasty. After a hot and heavy round of romping, bumping uglies, hopping on the good foot and doing the bad thing, you and

your partner find yourself tired and really, really hungry. The act of eating after sex is kind of like the reward after the reward - the proverbial icing on the cake. That being said, this writer spoke to a bunch of horndogs and asked them what they like to eat after sex, and the answers ran the gamut from expected to downright surprising. Here are some of the 10 things people like to eat, post-sexual intercourse.

It’s a fairly known fact that chocolate releases hormones that simulate the high you get when having sex. So it goes without saying that drinking a hot, rich cup of Pinoy hot chocolate after sex tastes (and feels) really freakin’ good.

8. Boxed mac and cheese. 3. Leftover Adobo sandwich.

You know that joke about going into kitchen to make your lover a sandwich? It definitely applies to this situation. Just stroll into the kitchen, grab some bread, stuff it with leftover adobo, and voila! Instant gratification for your post-sex munchies. You could just make one for yourself, too, if you so choose.

4. Bread. 1. A cigarette.

I know, I know. While not technically a food, the act of smoking a cigarette after coitus is almost automatic (at least for those of us who haven’t managed to kick the habit yet). Any smoker will tell you: there’s nothing like a nicotine headrush after sex.

2. Leftover fast food.

One of the most common answers I received about what to eat after sex was leftover food, simply because it’s convenient. When you’re really tired, you’ll basically eat whatever’s at hand a box of leftover Chickenjoy from Jollibee comes to mind. Yum. 42 RADAR / April - May

7. Tsokolate-h.

Or, if you’re really, you know, lazy, you could just go down to the local panaderia and get yourself some Spanish bread or pan de regla.

5. Nathaniel’s Buko Pandan Salad.

For the sweet toothed lovers out there, nothing beats rummaging through the freezer only to find a box of creamy, frozen buko pandan salad from Nathaniel’s waiting for you.

6. Pancit Canton.

Or any other kind of instant noodle for that matter, is a good, cheap way to fill your belly after sex. Plus, it only takes about five minutes to prepare! Score!

If you want to be slightly fancier about instant noodles, a creamy bowl of mac and cheese from the box after sex is sure to ht the spot.

9. Chips.

This is practically a no-brainer. A bag of chips, whether corn or potato, pretzels, lentil, puffed rice or other, is one of the most convenient postsex munchies. Just add a bowl of store-bought dip and you’re set. PS: for the health-conscious lovers out there, veggie sticks like celery or carrots are great, too, if all you’re after is the crunchy mouthfeel - minus the guilt.

10. Fruit.

Lest I be accused of being a junk food junkie, there’s something to be said about how nice it feels biting into a juicy apple or rip banana after sex. Or a bunch of refrigerated grapes or sliced ripe mango, for that matter.

All the World is a

Stage

This is prime real estate. Get on it, quick.

By Moki Villegas

I celebrated the end of International Women’s Month with a theatrical reading by Upstart Productions on the rooftop of the awesome Philippine culturespace Manila Collective Co. in the old walled city of Intramuros on a Pasyal Sunday by Viva Manila right after the lights out of Earth Hour. Hipster?! Who? Me? Viva Manila is a citizen-led initiative to revive the city of Manila. Its flagship project Pasyal Sunday does that by closing Intramuros to vehicular traffic and turning it into a weekly festival for artists, performers and small local businesses.

Manila Collective Co. is one of the local businesses empowered by Viva Manila, and it proclaims itself the awesome Philippine culturespace in its promotion of Philippine products, activities and events. If you would like to buy beautiful cloth made by T’boli tribespeople, or take a class in pangalay motion meditation, or somesuch experiences, then this is the place for you.

Upstart Productions is a theater company whose goal is to incite and maintain an artistic uprising with original material and brash new takes on existing ones. They accomplished this on this night by proving that table readings are not just middle step in movie-making; a reading can transport you into a story as effectively, if not more so, than a film.

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As we lounged on chaises, loveseats, banigs and sundry sit-ables while sipping mango cocktails on a culturespace’s roof, the Upstart talents swept us up in a story about women’s equality with men in a battle of words and beliefs between a nun and a priest. The performance was marvelously evocative as the characters’ levels of certainty rose to desperately righteous heights and ebbed to the lowest pits of crippling doubt. One stand-out was veteran actress Giselle Toengi, who portrayed a mother willing to turn a blind eye to a number of everyday horrors done to her son, in the hopes of a better future for him. The debates between nun and priest, with the looming backdrop of the Manila Cathedral behind the actors, held iron beliefs in what were right and wrong, yet that iron was heated to fanaticism which led to it being deformed under new pressures of experience. The message I drew is that women are equally able to wage a moral battle where they can “meet Triumph and Disaster / and treat those two imposters just the same.”

RADAR / April - May 43

L et u s put y ou on the m a p .

44 RADAR / April - May