Roots and Wings February 2023

FEBRUARY’S TOAST TO LOVE!

February violets usher the

From the Editor

My California-based younger sister Pilar loves the colours lilac, violet and purple. Violet is the official birth flower of February. Both colour and flower daintily welcome this special month, refreshing the recent European visit of Pilar. Enduring memories were created as we hopped from city to city, from notable restos to Prague’s streetside Trdelník, a grilled spit flavoured pastry which we thoroughly enjoyed nibbling as we explored places, interspersed with her characteristic giggles. One other, stronger common thread that binds us is our common love for mum Susie, epitome of beauty, and of faith, iconic mother whose incredible stamina surpassed the unsurpassable. Because of love.

February is a short 28 days to dedicate to people we deeply care for.

Here’s more to Valentine – Daniel Ramonal’s ‘Before dating sites and apps, there were dance halls,’ The Filipinos’ love of the Sto. Nino as celebrated in Europe, Anton’s reminder of the sparkling youth in our midst ‘Ang Kabataan sa Austria’ and a host of fabulous stories in this issue.

It is more than a pleasure to congratulate one of our own, Luxembourg-based multi- awarded baritone Zip De Guzmán Jr. for winning the 35th Aliw Awards, and Nicola Espallardo, Filipina-British singer who made history in West End’s acclaimed musical ‘Wicked’ as refreshingly told by Siobhan Doyle.

Most importantly, our Team selected two new beneficiaries to Rawmags’ Social Entrepreneurship Program: the Dugtong-Dunong sa Pagsulong Scholarship and Educational Program and the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, which send to school children of low income families. We appeal and thank you for your very kind support.

Happy Valentine’s!

Betsy Jance von Atzigen Switzerland

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Marizel Arambulo SOC ENTREPRENEUR LEAD

Gloria Hernandez Grejalde CULTURAL EDITOR PHILIPPINES

Rebecca Urbancik Garcia ASSOCIATE EDITOR GERMANY/CZ

Aimee Alado -Blake LEGAL COUNSEL

Cipriano “Zip” De Guzmán Jr. BUREAU EDITOR LUXEMBOURG

Jeffrey Cabuay BUREAU EDITOR FRANCE

Katrina Larida BUREAU EDITOR SWEDEN

Jennifer Fergesen BUREAU EDITOR ICELAND

Lyndy Bagares WEB EDITOR NORWAY

Myla Arceno BUREAU EDITOR, UNITED KINGDOM

Anton Miguel D. De Vera SOCMED HEAD AUSTRIA

Donna Patricia Manio LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Becky Torres SOC ENTREPRENEUR LEAD

Mye Mulingtapang BUREAU EDITOR ITALY

Apiong Bagares DESIGN, PHILIPPINES

Daniel Ceeline Ramonal BUREAU EDITOR SERBIA

Mary Hyacinth Reguindin-Tondo BUREAU CO-EDITOR, UNITED KINGDOM

Donna Avellana Künzler BUREAU EDITOR SWITZERLAND

Ieth Inolino Idzerda BUREAU EDITOR, THE NETHERLANDS

Betsy Jance von Atzigen EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marthy Angue ASSOCIATE EDITOR PHILIPPINES

Ralph Chan BUREAU EDITOR AUSTRIA

Luz Bergersen BUREAU EDITOR NORWAY

Siobhan Doyle BUREAU CO-EDITOR, UNITED KINGDOM

Rachel Hansen FOUNDER/PUBLISHER

Contents

COVER STORY

Maia Magpantay p6

ART

Art for A Cause p7

7641 Reasons: A Fil-Swedish Art Exhibition PART 1 p10

FEATURE

Before dating sites and apps, there were dance halls p12

Pit Señor! p14

BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS

Manila in Milan p21

mrfmakesthings, handmade one of a kind creations p24

CULTURE

Atty. Leni Robredo, former Philippine Vice President visits Norway p26

Ang Kabataan Sa Austria, Young Filipino Voices Around The World p27 Being an introvert in an extroverted culture p29

Anne Solomon, The Ovfabpinay Doctor and Runner p31

DESIGN

Digital Transformation, Bianca Carague creates virtual worlds to change perspectives p34

JOBS

RawmagsJOBwing p37

DIRECTORY

Philippine Embassies in Europe p38

MUSIC

Filipina-British singer makes history in West End production of ‘Wicked p40

Raise the Curtains The 35th Aliw Awards ushersthe return of live performances in the Philippines p42

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Roots & Wings’ Social Entrepreneurship p44

AFilipina’s artistic voice echoing persistence, patience, passion for her art, accentuating a sense of adventure, tempered by discipline and faith. Multi-awarded and recognized Filipina artist Maia Magpantay from Angono, Rizal is a palette knife painter. She paints in oil using the palette knife. Maia expresses her simple imaginative art through vibrant coloration with roughening strokes and textures. Her interest in the simplicity of shapes and unique colorful fetes is her depiction of the celebration and modesty of life.

ABOUT THE COVER

Maia Magpantay

After bagging memorable awards for her artistic prowess, backed by a Fine Arts degree from Far Eastern University, Sampaloc Manila in 1998, her palette knife has been producing art pieces that found exquisite value in the legendary art historian Manny Duldulao’s book publication Philippine Art Now and in the pages of the Great Theme of Philippine Art: Mother and Child by the same art critique and author.

Prolific and achieving in her field, Maia was awarded Artist of the Year by the Municipality of Angono for excellence in art in 2004, and Outstanding Youth of Angono by the Local Government Youth Organization in 2007.

"I don’t care about people neither criticizing my paintings nor disapproving it. I work for the Lord and not for them. I just paint. Moreover, I learned through my experience that while the painting was rejected, its value increases. Therefore, rejection is a blessing. As Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily for the Lord and not for men."

Maia Magpantay’s name as an artist consolidated as she entered competitions with Letra Y Figuras, Filipino Soul Art Competition in Japan and Deovir

Art Competition (2003), the Art Association of the Philippines for her realistic painting “Binalot sa Katotohanan” (2003) - a man wrapped in a plastic sheet, depicting the lives of some people who live in a hypocritical world, the Concrete Aggregates Open Art Competition (2002-2003) and Pagalingan Pinay (2009). Her artworks have been widely recognized from the 8 solo exhibitions she created in Manila, BGC and Art Center, and from her 7 distinct major shows in various galleries, together with groups of art exhibitors from 1995 until now. She was featured in Good Morning Boss, in PTV 4 (2009), Personage (2013) with Ms. Carla Lizardo and in Bagong Pilipinas, Pop Art (2019).

Spurred by her art, Maia joined the Angono Ateliers Association (2000), where she became Secretary (2002-2005) and Vice President (2006). Her memberships include the Art Association of the Philippines (2000-2005), the Tuesday Group Association (2008-2010), The Aquarellist (2012) and the Art Wednesday Group (2015), where she was elected Secretary (2016 – 2018).

Maia was engaged as juror in various art competitions in Rizal namely, the Lion’s Club Poster Making Contest in TayTay, Parol Making Competition in Tanay, Interschool Art Competition in Pililla Rizal and World Art Experience Art Competition in Angono. She participated as a Facilitator of Water Color Therapy Session in Gateway (2017), Art for the Deaf, and Summer Art Workshop, Angono Artist Gallery (2004).

Stockholm-based Roots and Wings, the award-winning and longest running Filipino Magazine in Europe is proud to feature Maia on our magazine cover again. Editor

Images by the artist

ART FOR A CAUSE

Maia Magpantay

SHARE

Acrylic on board 20” x 15”

Artist Price

P 36,000.00

FLOWER HARVEST

Oil 5’ x 6’

Artist Price

P 260,000.00

WOO-MAN

Acrylic 36” x 24”

Artist Price P 110,000.00

THE LAST SUPPER

Oil 36” x 60”

Artist Price P 260,000.00

MOTHER AND CHILD

Oil 24” x 30”

Artist Price P 88,000.00

CARE

Acrylic on board 20” x 15”

Artist Price P 36,000.00

A part of your purchase supports Rawmags’ Social Entrepreneurship Program. For details, email rawmags.sponsor@gmail.com

SWEDEN

7641 Reasons

A FIL-SWEDISH ART EXHIBITION

PART 1

Images by Cawa Media

December 9 - 15, 2022 the Filipino-Swedish community in Stockholm were lavishly treated to a spectacular Art Exhibition aptly entitled 7641 Reasons.

As you can probably guess, the number was

inspired by the Philippine islands, and the boundless creativity of the Filipino people wherever they are. The Exhibit showcased the brilliance of ten Sweden-based female artists using a variety of art genres.

On display were paint-

Anna-Linda Gabriel

Helen Svendgaard

Aya Sunga Askert

Emelia White Eklund

Bella Q. Bardollas

ings, sculptures, pottery, lights installations – all representative of the Filipino identity, tradition, culture and history.

In her remarks at the Opening, H.E. Ambassador of the Philippines Maria Lumen B. Isleta lauded the organisers and artists as she characterized the exhibit as an effective mechanism in promoting greater appreciation and understanding of Filipino art and artists in the international community. She also called on them to continue to build on and reinforce the close cultural linkages between the Philippines and Sweden through their passion.

The exhibit was organized by FAAS - the Filipino Artists Association of Sweden founded by Aya Sunga-Askert, Helen Svendgaard and Mary Grace Svensson. It was sponsored by Elle´s Kusina and Westers Art. Established in 2018, FAAS is a community of established Filipino artists in Sweden and the organization continues to cultivate and support creative growth amongst its members.

Aya

FLUTTER

Multidisciplinary artist Aya Sunga Askert showcases her multifaceted pen strokes through FLUTTER, a collection of poems that celebrate love in all its passionate hues and that revel in the splendour of nature with wondrous appreciation. In this exclusive book, Aya explores different styles of poetry, from elfchen to sonnet, from haiku to prose. Flutter is a literary creation that attempts to pique emotional and intellectual curiosity and its sleek cover design aims to serve as an objet’d art that can be added to a reader’s home decor.

HANDMADE, UPLIT PRESENCE OF GLOWIES IN GLASS OR CRYSTALIN GLASS OR CRYSTAL

Anna-Linda has a Norwegian/Italian mother and a Filipino father. Half her life has been dedicated to working with glass as an artist, mainly in Sweden where she is permanently settled with her own family. She has a studio at the glass museum The Glass Factory in the kingdom of glass in Sweden and has done numerous national and international exhibitions and projects alongside public commissions. To develop collectively made art through curating programs that connect her with people is also a great part of her artistic practice. It is clear that the diversity of her cultural heritage has influenced her artwork. By sculpting with glass as a medium that carries the qualities of nature’s four elements both aesthetically and in its own material, Anna-Linda uses glass to explore our time’s relation to our common deep descent from nature.

Helen Svendgaard

ABSTRACT ART

Helen is an artist and photographer who works on colourful abstract art. Her time in an art school in Manila introduced her to the world of colours, while Sweden awakened her love for photography. Her works convey a sense of life and happiness. Most of her abstract paintings are sceneries of places she has seen and reflects motif shifts between impressionism and realism/ naturalism.

Bella is an artist that focuses on found objects, particularly botanicals. Her body of work, which she refers to as botanical abstracts, addresses pleasant emotions and a sense of belonging. For this collection, she used plants obtained during her walks, as well as flowers saved from various flower shops in Stockholm and Uppsala. These flowers were ready to be thrown away and would undoubtedly contribute to the rising amount of waste generated by the floral industry. This series of works is her response to the call for more sustainable practices in the arts.

Emelia White Eklund

PORTRAITS IN ABSTRACT

Emelia is a self-taught artist and a photography enthusiast. Her paintings vary from landscapes to abstract portraits. She loves being with nature and enjoys taking photos of flowers and places.

Anna-Linda Gabriel

Bella Q. Bardollas

BOTANICAL ABSTRACTS

Sunga Askert

SCAN ME FOR MORE PHOTOS OF THE EXHIBIT

If you wonder how grandparents swiped right (or left) back then in this part of the world, wonder no more.

Online dating sites and apps have given single men and women more opportunities to search for meaningful connections that hopefully lead to lasting relationships. Technology has expanded our options. Busybodies can now scope out the dating pool without needing to go anywhere and skip the first few awkward steps on the road to forever. However, long before the swipe-right or left dating culture emboldened by internet access, there were spaces called dance halls.

Dance Halls were like Tinder, FriendFinder, or OkCupid of today’s dating world. They were spaces where community events happened. There were performances and merry-making. Unlike dating sites and apps, though, one had to muster enough courage to physically approach someone and risk getting slighted by an innocent ‘no’ for onlookers to witness. There was also the prerequisite of knowing the traditional dance language of the community.

In dance halls, freestyle dancing was not the trend. The standardized one was recognized more by other members and musicians. The efforts of safekeeping the tradition were vital in the community where children at an early age were taught traditional dances in this part of Europe.

I was fortunate to have a glimpse of this dance hall culture during an anniversary celebration of a folk dance group in Méhkerék, a Romanian village in southeast Hungary. Anyone can see where the merry-making was happening. By merry-making, I meant the dancing, and there was a lot of it since people from Méhkerék know how to dance the night away.

Young people were assigned to set the pace, so they initiated the dancing. An elderly couple explained that young people traditionally led dance events. They did too when they were young, and their knees could still endure the skips or jumps of their traditional dances. They also said that dance halls were avenues for meeting prospects for marriages.

As I looked around, this was not a far cry

Before dating sites and apps, there were dance halls

SERBIA

Text and images by Daniel Ceeline Ramonal

from the current on-goings where young people were boldly interacting with one another and were, for lack of a better term, flirting openly. These days though, dance halls do not always lead to prospective marriages.

Although I was aware that various cultures relate differently to spaces like this, I cannot help but wonder and draw similarities from Filipino culture. In the Philip pines, social gatherings almost always have dances. In the singkil dance, for instance, the Muslim princess’ manipulation of the six fans impressed a conscious (or unconscious) advertisement to would-be suitors. We also have traditional dances that depict court ship, like the kuratsa, karasaguyon, and tinikling, to name a few. But if I was to think about what dance halls would be like back home, our bayle fits almost perfectly.

By my generation, bayle was revered loosely and even treated as a pun for light conversations. However, it was a practice that my elders remember with gladness. It reflected their generation’s form of courtship and entertain-

ment in addition to more conservative ones.

Bayle was considered the highlight of town fiestas in the Philippines. There was the usual food and drinks, the anticipated crowning of the queen, and some games, but the most memorable was always the dancing paired with live accompaniment. Young men and women wore their Sunday best. The women would be seated, waiting shyly, sometimes impatiently, for the men to approach them to dance. Some were lucky to meet their wives or husbands in bayles, while some nostalgically narrated how they met their first loves. Others heartily laughed because they were reminded of getting snubbed and made fun of after getting rejected.

Whether they are dance halls or bayles, or maybe dating sites and apps for the current time, it is interesting to see how courtships shared similarities and differed not just in places but also in generations. Every generation defines its courtship culture, but as for me, I was lucky enough to experience a bit of every form.

PIT SEÑOR!

By Betsy von Atzigen in Switzerland, Luz Bergersen in Norway and Evelyn Alcarmen Mueschen in Germany

Filipinos in Cebu and around the world gather in big numbers to celebrate the Santo Niño festival mainly on the third Sunday of January, preceded by novena prayers and hymns. It is a long-cherished tradi tion of bright displays of pageantry and festivities since the 16th century and the most popular of Filipino celebrations.

The festival commemorates the first ever visit of the Christ Child - the Santo Niño de Cebu and documented as the very first Christian relic that reached Philippine soil. It was a gift from explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu’s Rajah Humabon and his chief consort Queen Juana on account of their bap tism in 1521. To see the original statue, visit the side chapel of the Basilica del Santo Niño de Cebu.

Rooted in the deep faith of the Fil ipino people, the Santo Niño is one of the most beloved, and recognizable cultural and religious icons. He is glo riously welcomed by Filipino parishes and communities with special Masses, dances, fiestas, and processions carry ing the statue of the Infant Jesus.

SWITZERLAND

THIS YEAR’S Santo Niño festival was held on Sunday, 22 January in Sulz-Rickenbach, Zürich. It was attended by more than 600 Filipino migrants and their families coming from Aargau, Berne, Geneva, Luzern, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Vaud, Zurich, and other cantons in Switzerland.

In preparation for the festivity, participants placed at designated altar steps numerous statues of the Child King robed in royal regalia, adorned with jewellery, crowned, and holding a cross-bearing orb and a sceptre.

At the entrance procession to the altar, a group of brightly dressed women, accompanied by women and young girls carried the statue of the Santo Niño on a specially decorated carosa. An important segment of the celebration is the dancing of the ‘Sinulog’ - a

Cebuano word which means ‘graceful dance.’ It comes in three traditional simple steps performed while holding the revered Santo Niño statue. This dance originated in Cebu and depicted a ‘sulog’ or current of a river.

It is believed that one can find a statue of the Santo Niño in practically every Filipino home and is a mainstay of Philippine Catholic life. Viva Señor Santo Niño!

The event in Zürich was organised and coordinated by the Philippine Catholic Mission (PCM CH) Switzerland committee consisting of Rosemarie Perez, Overall Coordinator, Julius Requina, Zürich Coordinator, Cielo Salumbides, Zürich Secretary and Evangeline Vettiger, PCM CH Secretary.

NORWAY

THE SACRED HEART Filipino Chaplaincy – Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Oslo Chapter, SHFC/OLMC, headed by Chaplain Fr. Johan Dumandan, led the local Filipino community and their families in celebrating Sinulog –the Feast Day of our Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu.

The Philippine Ambassador, H.E. Enrico Fos and Madame Myla Antoinette Fos, with Philippine Embassy officials, were also in full attendance for the successful celebrations, the culmination of 9 day novena and masses.

A Sinulog Mass in Cebuano was celebrated in the feast venue, the venerable Oslo Katedralskole, followed by dinner and a program of music and dances. Talented performers who contributed special dance numbers: The Likha Scandinavia Cultural Group, Pinay & Proud Crew, Romerike Diversity Dance Troupe with special guest Sanny Gipgano, Hamar Dance Troupe, Drammen Group, and The Electrifying duo sisters from LGBTIQ, Filipino – Norwegian Association.

The beautiful voices of St. Laurentius Choir (Drammen), Mañago Brothers, Bobby & the Crew, Forever Young Group, Abi Magallanes Dado and LJ Amorsolo, shared their heavenly music.

The celebration was a great success, thanks also to «Imagination at Works», for the technical support during the rehearsals and during the event, and most especially for capturing the beautiful moments. Thank you to Gerald Hora and his creative team, for the beautiful stage designs. Many people contributed with their professional skills, talents and support, for love to Señor Sto. Niño.

The OLMC Council, led by Chairman Niel Christopher Baquiran, Jun Solas, Rosita Rodriguez, Bheby Gallego Teigen, and volunteers did a wonderful team effort, to come up with this celebration, which will be remembered for a very long time.

May Sto. Niño always be the cause of our unity and may we keep on imparting the values of humility, faithfulness and loyalty to God.

GERMANY

VARIOUS FILIPINO communities and organisations across Germany turned out in big numbers in the month of January to join the Santo Niño novena prayers and the annual fiesta this year.

The Santo Niño festivity was organised by the Filipino Mission in the Archdiocese of Cologne and Hermanas of four communities in Mönchengladbach, Cologne, Siegburg and Bergheim.

The Holy Mass was concelebrated by Filipino priests with Fr. Rodel Liguid SVD as main celebrant at the Steyler Missionare in Sankt Augustin, Nordrhein-Westfalen. The liturgy was led by other Hermanas while the main choir consisted of the Joyful Worship

Singers of Mönchengladbach community. The festive occasion continued in the Aula with dinner and programs of music and dances.

Viva Pit Señor! May God be always glorified!

This Italian city is home to Europe’s most varied Filipino food scene.

On a quiet street near Milan’s Don Giussani Park, Italians sit at an intimate, low-lit restaurant and deftly twirl noodles around their forks. These noodles are as precisely plated as they are at pasta restaurants around the city, but they’re made of rice and glossed in a paste of smoked fish flakes and crushed pork rinds, key ingredients in pancit palabok.

Across town at a city park that evening, after the school kids leave the basketball courts and jungle gyms, Filipinos take over and set up street food stands, domino games and DJ tables. They grill meat skewers on charcoal, hawk balut from Bologna, and sell bitter melon and long beans they grew in their back lots.

These are just two of many points on Milan’s Filipino food map, which ranges from high-end spots like Yum to hip takes on street food like Lomilan. It’s no wonder that Milan is home to so

many Filipino restaurants — the city is home to about 40,000 Filipinos, making them the largest immigrant population in the city and one of the largest Filipino communities in Europe.

Here are a few spots to get a taste of Manila in Milano.

Lomilan: Lomihan sa Milan

In the pandemic doldrums of 2020, five friends who worked in Milan’s hospitality industry found themselves unemployed as restaurants and hotels shut their doors. To keep themselves sane, they got together to make lomi — the rich, comforting chicken noodle soup associated with eastern Batangas. Over time, they perfected their recipe, making the thick egg noodles by hand and decking the bowls with toppings like pork belly and fried chicken skins. They sold the lomi on Facebook and hand-delivered it around the city.

In April 2021, that side hustle became Lomilan, a casual restaurant in Milan’s diverse NoLo district. With

Text and images by Jennifer Fergesen

Vendors sell siomai, halohalo and other street foods at a block party in Milan.

exposed brick walls and accents of black and gold, the business attracts a young crowd, especially Italian-born Filipinos in their teens and 20s who crowd the tables drinking gulaman and Aperol spritz.

I’d argue that the lomi, seductively decadent, could hold its own against any bowl of ramen that people queue up for in Tokyo. The five co-owners, all young men in their 20s and 30s, have not found it necessary to return to their hotel jobs. “When bad things happen, there’s always some good that comes out of it,” says co-owner Nico Bola, 28.

Minta

Not far from Lomilan by the Piazzale Loreto, Minta evokes a postcard of sunny village life — but whether that village is in Italy or the Philippines is up to in-

terpretation. Italian wine bottles and jars of preserved tomatoes are stacked along one wall, and Filipino woven baskets hang on the other. Pretend garlic and chiles, which belong equally in either place, are strung from the ceiling. The hybrid vibe is intentional, says Ann Christina Taglinao, who moved from the Philippines to Italy when she was 7 years old and co-owns the business with her Naples-born husband, Nicolo Mincioni. He is a longtime restaurant chef and dreamed of starting his own business. “This was his dream, so it became my dream,” says Taglinao. Mincioni reigns in the kitchen and reinterprets Filipino flavors through an Italian lens, with cohesive results. His pancit canton with shrimp recalls spaghetti con gamberoni, the noodles

This was his dream, so it became my dream

Ann Christina Taglinao CO-OWNER MINTA

Lomilan’s lomi comes topped with chicharrones, eggs, pork belly and other decadent extras. JENNIFER FERGESEN

Minta’s cassatella-like fried mango pie is an homage to Jollibee’s peach mango pie.

Nico Bola, 28, is one of five friends who started Lomilan after losing his hospitality job in 2020.. JENNIFER FERGESEN

Husband-and-wife team Ann Christina Taglinao and Nicolo Mincioni serve Italian-inflected Filipino snacks, light meals and drinks at Minta.

fresh and subtly seasoned. For dessert, he makes a fried mango pastry that’s an homage to Jollibee’s peach mango pie, but far better — delicately crisp and dusted in a snowbank of powdered sugar, it’s as good as Sicilian cassatelle.

YUM: Taste of the Philippines

Milan’s most formal Filipino restaurant is located in a tree-lined neighborhood in the center of Milan, just a kilometer from the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Unlike most Filipino restaurants in Italy, it attracts at least as many Italians as it does Filipinos — a feat in a place that’s so enamored with its own cuisine.

The hushed, date-ready atmosphere probably lends to this, as do the Italian inflections on Filipino dishes. Qwekqwek, the luridly orange street food, here comes in the form of arancini, the quail eggs encrusted in yellow-hued risotto. The pancit palabok is at once entirely Filipino and entirely Italian, each familiar ingredient calibrated to the balance of flavor and texture that characterizes the best pasta dishes.

Owner Marvin Braceros is about as close to a celebrity chef as Italy’s Filipino community has. He also owns a branch of Yum Milano in Makati (temporarily closed as of January 2023) and one in Malta, another Mediterranean country with a large Filipino population.

Secret Block Party

On warm weekend nights, a nondescript city park near a metro station becomes an impromptu barangay fiesta. This is one of the first places Lomilan debuted their wares before opening their brick-and-mortar. They still show up occasionally, among other vendors hawking street foods like pork barbecue, siomai and mami out of bicycles or the backs of their vans. You can also buy balut here (some of the tastiest I’ve had outside of the Philippines) and homegrown vegetables like pechay and alugbati. The basketball courts fill up with folding tables where old men focus on card games and dominoes,

and a few people even set up karaoke systems. The signs are in English, but the spoken languages are exclusively Filipino — dialects ranging across the 7,000 islands.

Many of Milan’s Filipino population work in hotels, restaurants or in homes as domestic laborers, and block parties like this one are among their only chances to socialize and relax among their compatriots. Some of the party’s features — selling food cooked at home, gambling in public — aren’t exactly legal, but authorities look the other way as long as they don’t cause too much trouble. Still, a crackdown could happen at any time, so one of the vendors at the party asked me not to identify exactly where it’s located. If you take the time to mingle in Milan’s Filipino community, you’ll probably end up being invited anyway.

TOP LEFT

Yum plates its pancit palabok to resemble the popular Italian dish spaghetti con gamberoni.

TOP RIGHT

Qwek-qwek arancini are encased in a yellow-hued risotto, like the saffron-scented risotto that Milan is known for.

BOTTOM LEFT

A vendor sells pumpkin, eggplant and chicharrones while working through her second liter of beer.

BOTTOM RIGHT

The author samples balut raised in Bologna at a Milan block party.

mrfmakesthings

HANDMADE ONE OF A KIND CREATIONS

Interview by Rebecca Garcia Urbancik Images by mrfmakesthings

I’ve known Mary since we were in the third grade — and this year marks our 26th year of friendship. How time flies! (We are practically sisters :)) Mary and I went to school together in New York and apart from having common interests, being in the same homeroom/classes, we also bonded over having Filipino roots.

Eventually, my parents and I moved to Europe which was particularly difficult especially when you already felt settled, had a good group of friends, established connections…but Mary and I certainly kept in touch over the years. Despite the different time zones and countries, one thing remains the same: whenever/wherever Mary and I meet/catch up — whether it be in New York, Europe or the Philippines, it seems as if time didn’t pass at all and we pick up where left off.

Visit Shop

Fast forward to 2020 when the pandemic hit, people were inclined to find certain hobbies and adjust to the ‘new norm’... and for some people like Mary, they found a creative outlet which in Mary’s case, eventually turned into a business. Currently based in Cork, Ireland, Mary is the maker and creator behind mrfmakesthings — a jewelry line of handmade, one of a kind polymer clay creations.

Mary, thanks for your time! Can you give our readers a short intro about yourself?

I’m a Filipino-Irish New Yorker currently based in Ireland. A primary school teacher by training, I love to learn new things, travel to new places, and have a passion for everything and anything with a unique flair.

How did mrfmakesthings come about?

mrfmakesthings was born in November 2020 as a creative outlet during the pandemic. Like many of us, I was eager to explore and expand

my creativity. I loved the idea of being able to make something myself that I could share with others.

Where do you get your inspiration from when it comes to the designs?

Living in Ireland, I am lucky enough to be surrounded by the beauty of the Irish landscape. I love to take inspiration from the natural world around me, from the orange crocuses in my garden to the vibrant, evening winter skies. I also take inspiration from the everyday, whether it be from a pattern on a sweater or the colours of a sign at the local grocery store. I like to think that my Irish and Filipino roots also play a role in how my designs come about. Growing up within these two cultures has taught me to believe wholeheartedly in embracing the uniqueness and individuality of oneself, and I believe this translates into my designs. I think my best ‘making’ comes from going with the flow. I like to sit down at my work space, trusting the process as I go, to make something completely unique. I don’t tend to plan my designs ahead of time as each piece is one of a kind. And I love how organic and natural the final pieces turn out.

What kind of materials do you use?

Many of the pieces are made of polymer clay, but

sometimes I also like to incorporate other materials such as resin, sea glass, paint, and gold foil. All of the pieces are made with hypoallergenic findings for those with sensitive ears.

Can you talk a little bit more about your product range?

The general focus has been on earrings, but I’ve recently been working on necklaces and bracelets. Occasionally, I make rings and brooches too. I also absolutely love when I receive custom orders—I am always up for new challenges, and am thrilled when I can create something meaningful and distinctive for my clients.

Where do you deliver?

Currently, mrfmakesthings delivers to Ireland, Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. Be sure to check out the Etsy shop for all the latest one of a kind pieces: www.etsy.com/ie/shop/mrfmakesthings and follow along on Instagram at @mrfmakesthings for exclusive content and the latest updates.

A special thank you again to Mary for taking the time to do this interview. I encourage our Rawmags readers to check out mrfmakesthings on Etsy or instagram. You will be sure to find beautiful and unique pieces for you and your loved ones :)

Atty. Leni Robredo

former Philippine Vice President visits Norway

Atty. Leni Robredo, former Vice-President of the Philippines visited Oslo, Norway from 26th to 27th January. She was the special guest speaker at the ‘Seminar on Integrity in International Collaborations in an Open Science Environment’, held at the University in Oslo (UiO), on the 27th.

Dr. Rosemarie Bernabe, ‘Ethics in Global Health Communities’ theme leader, convened the distinguished panel of speakers to the seminar held at Professorboligen, a venue within the UiO Law Faculty complex in Karl Johan gate, Oslo.

The day before the seminar, Filipino community supporters gathered at the University of Oslo’s Domus Bibliotheca, upon arrival of the FVP. The group of enthusiastic supporters gathered for a very warm welcome, ‘Meet and Greet’ with the former VP.

The program started with an introduction to the Filipino community in Norway, by ‘oldtimer’ community leader, Ruben Gerardo. Rally videos before the last elections were shown. The much-awaited speech by the former VP was followed by Q&A from the audience. To close the meeting, the group sang ’Rosas’, while the former VP handed out pink roses to everyone.

FVP Leni Robredo, joined Filipinos in a Mass at St Joseph Church in Oslo in the evening of the 27th. After the mass, a special dinner in her honour was arranged in the church hall. In lieu of gifts, donations were made to ‘Angat Buhay’, the non-profit, non- governmental organization founded by FVP Leni Robredo, to help the poor and especially those in remote areas.

The visit and program of FVP Atty. Leni Robredo in Oslo were arranged by the University in Oslo, upon initiative of UiO Professor Dr. Rosemarie Bernabe, PhD, with invaluable support of Judy Malundo Gonzales, Dr. Aibee Rodriguez, PhD, Macel Ingles, Jun Solas, Neil Christopher Baquiran, and other community leaders.

Text by Luz Bergersen, images by Kiko Bustamante and Rhyan Elivera Olivo

Ang Kabataan Sa Austria

YOUNG FILIPINO VOICES AROUND THE WORLD

Our very own Philippine National Hero Jose P. Rizal, once said, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan,” (The youth is the hope of the nation). As we become more globalised, we find that young Filipinos can make impacts of hope and pride both in our homeland and overseas.

With more than 13,000 Filipinos born in Austria, many of whom see Austria as their home, these Filipinos continue to trace back their roots of being Filipino by learning more of their heritage and sharing their culture through different media such as arts, business, music, literature, education, public service, and more. This article aims to showcase the advocacy and talents of young Filipinos and hope to establish a series of recognition for these young role models from different parts of the world in the future. Here are some young, astounding Filipino voices born and/or residing in Austria.

Alfonso Joaquin De Jesus De Vera, 19

Born in Quezon City, Philippines, Alfonso Joaquin De Jesus De Vera grew up and studied in different parts of the world such as Sweden, U.A.E, the Philippines, and Austria, making him a certified Third Culture Kid.

In his first year of residence in Vienna, Alfonso was able to participate and compete in a nation-wide bilingual speech competition called “Sag’s Multi” in 2017, wherein he demonstrated how social media is connected to our identities as individuals. With basic knowledge of the German language, he was able to finish as one of the top finalists speakers. Today, he is fluent in German, French, English, and Tagalog.

He is currently enrolled in the A-Level Matura Exam in Advanced English, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and German at the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium 3 in Vienna, Austria. He is 19 years old and is a strong proponent of racial equality, specifically Asian equality, which is reflected in his thesis: Ras-

Text and images by Rawmags Team and Contributors in Austria

Christel Joy Lambino Gaño

Alfonso Joaquin De Jesus De Vera

Marilyn Velasco Magoo

simus gegenüber den Minderheiten der Asiatischen-Amerikaner und Pazifikininsulaner in den USA / Racism against Asian-Americans and Pacific-Islanders in the USA.

His paper focuses on the inequalities and prejudices Asian-Americans and Pacific-Islanders have faced throughout US history. Alfonso tries to educate his peers on Filipino culture, through deliberative discussions and sharing everyday experiences about its national and cultural identities, in addition to talking about other Asian cultures. He has also helped and supported local Filipino church communities in Vienna.

In his spare time, Alfonso enjoys reading, online gaming, computer programming, and fashion.

Marilyn Velasco Magoo, 26

Born in the USA, with her mother from the Philippines and her father from India, Marilyn Velasco Magoo grew up in Vienna, Austria. Marilyn currently works in Public Relations for Union of Youth Centers as well as being an independent (video-)journalist.

As a half Filipino and half Indian growing up and living in Austria, she was always seeking a way to connect with her cultural roots. It started when she was 18 years old, when she and her family participated at various events for the Igorot Cordillera community through dancing and performing arts.

In her early twenties, she gained a lot of experience in the media field and event management. With that knowledge, she was able to contribute to the Filipino community. In February 2020, she and other Filipinos in Austria co-founded RAMBAK Austria, which hosts Gag-Ays (meet-ups), workshops about Filipino culture and participate in larger events like Pamana Parade and KUBŌ Festival. She was also able to shine a light on the Filipino diaspora with her video report about the second generation living in Vienna for “die_chefredaktion”. Just recently, she became a Community Communicator for the city government where she acts as a bridge between the Filipino community and the city administration.

She aspires to continue representing our roots and our community to highlight the unique stories of our people in Austria.

Christel Joy Lambino Gaño, 28

Christel Joy Lambino Gaño is currently a Marketing Manager for a global tech company in Austria and Switzerland. At 28 years old, she’s already making an impact in the tech industry by often times being the only Filipino and person of colour in decision making meetings or tech conferences. For this, she has rightfully won a few awards.

She successfully completed her Graduate Program at FH Wiener Neustadt. One of Christel’s proudest moments during her studies was to be able to pioneer and establish an Exchange Study Program for Fiipinos from the University of the Philippines, Diliman with universities in Austria.

Even more inspiring is that she’s the owner of the Filipino clothing brand Ligaya Apparel, seeking to drive support amongst the Filipino community and different cultures. Although Christel was born in Austria, she is actually a global citizen, having worked for countries like the Philippines, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Morocco, and Germany.

Looking at the bigger picture, she tries to support the Filipino community by communicating the importance of Filipino cultural identity and by volunteering at Filipino events. Outside the community, she tries to help organize charity activities. Christel finds a balance by playing tennis, the piano or spending time with family and friends.

Representation is a significant aspect that these young Filipinos value and they have expressed its importance in their personal, academic and career lives. They continue to amplify social awareness regarding the Filipino diaspora in their own unique work and support local community-building between Filipinos and other nationalities for us to live in cultural harmony. We are honoured and proud to be able to showcase these young and bright Filipinos in this special issue of Roots & Wings Magazine and would like to especially thank Marilyn, Christel, and Alfonso for their voluntary enthusiasm to be featured in this series.

We hope to see many more young Filipinos dedicate their work in appreciating Filipino culture and communities in different parts of the world.

Being an introvert in an extroverted culture

Everyone knows that Filipinos have big personalities, have big families and celebrate big fiestas. The big positive energy that Filipinos spread all around them is such an enrichment to everyone who gets to experience this. As much as Filipinos exert extroversion, we shouldn’t forget the introverts.

According to the American Psychology Association1, introversion is defined as this: orientation toward the internal private world of one’s self and one’s inner thoughts and feelings, rather than toward the outer world of people and things. Introverts are relatively more withdrawn, reserved, quiet, and deliberate; they may tend to mute or guard expression of positive affect, adopt more skeptical views or positions, and prefer to work independently.

Personally speaking, being an introvert in a very extroverted culture has been challenging in a lot of ways.

What’s wrong with me?

I’ve always been the quiet type. And I never had trouble with this until peers and even Titas pointed it out to me. Being approached like this really did make me question whether something was wrong with me. Even though I felt fine. But apparently other people had a problem with it.

‘Why are you sitting here by yourself?’

Big gatherings tend to become a lot for introverts. The overstimulation, noise and energy drains us. I would be lying if I said that I haven’t gone home early from a party due to

Text by Esther-Marie Tidoso

these reasons. Sometimes, in order to hold out longer at parties, I would just retrieve into the background. That would also mean that I find myself sitting by myself.

‘I never know what you think. Could you please express yourself more?’

Having just recently set foot into the corporate world, I was quite overwhelmed by the culture that encourages assertiveness. Not being used to such a professional environment, I had a hard time adapting as an introvert. Sitting in meetings without saying a lot, I could sense that my colleagues would get irritated by the fact that they couldn’t read me and gauge my opinions. That seemed to bother them a lot.

‘Do you have a girl-/boyfriend?’

Every Tita’s and Tito’s favorite question. Over the years I have attained a thick skin towards that question. I remind myself not to take it personal and see it as a question out of curiosity. In a lot of cultures it seems like a status to have a significant other. In Filipino culture, I often feel, it’s all there is. As a pretty career oriented person, I would hardly get questions about my aspirations, which triggered a lot of frustration, making me think that I’m less because I don’t apply to the masses.

One last story that has pretty much left a mark on me: I was being laughed at a lot when I was a kid. I think humiliation is one of the

biggest fears for introverts, hence being shy in front of a big audience. There was a time in our church group, when I mustered up all my courage to recite a poem and felt confident. But then I began to stutter and couldn’t quite find my way back. That’s when some Titas started to laugh. Maybe she found it cute or sweet, but to me it felt like humiliation. Today, I got past it and found ways to be confident on stage.

New year, same me

On January 2, we celebrated World Introvert Day. It’s a day that acknowledges the reserved, the deep feelers and thinkers. It puts them - although sometimes uncomfortable - in the spotlight. Since the world is pretty much aligned towards extroverted personality types, I am glad that more and more awareness is spread.

I can speak for myself, but here are some tips that I would want to give you:

a Respect our space: Sometimes introverts just need a short break and be alone in order to recharge. Don’t take it personal.

a Peace over everything else: Oftentimes, people misunderstand our nonchalance with indifference. If something bothers us, we voice it out. If not, then it means we just want peace.

Don’t tell us that we should be more like ‘this’: Why is it that introverts have to change? Why can’t extroverts not be quiet for once as well?

We are a lot in our heads: one silly look and we start analyzing the whys of that one look. Judgment triggers a lot of thoughts in our heads. We learn how to deal with it.

There are so many things that we introverts can be proud of. We bring balance and peace in every situation. Our introversion does not limit us to anything because we already know where we can grow and where we can take action. Navigating through life as a reserved personality type in a very extroverted world, is not easy.

However, our contribution to the world isn’t worth less. As time passes and we start into the new year, I am realizing that everything is fine with me and that being an introvert is neither a weakness nor a nuisance.

1 https://dictionary.apa.org/introversion

PHOTO BY BARTHELEMY DE MAZENOD ON UNSPLASH

Anne Solomon

THE OVFABPINAY DOCTOR AND RUNNER

Dr. Anne Silao-Solomon was born and raised in Mandaluyong City, Philippines. She has been living in the USA for 17 years now. She is currently the Medical Director for Capital Caring in the Western Loudoun and Arlington regions of Northern Virginia. Anne has been named as one of the Top Doctors of Northern Virginia for 2 consecutive years (2021 and 2022). She is happily married and has 2 children. During her spare time, she runs marathons and ultramarathons.

In this article, Anne shares her inspiration-

al story of migrating to the United States and the ultimate task of maintaining a work-life balance as a doctor, wife, mother and runner.

Moving to the United States and Family Life

With her dad having his own medical practice in the Philippines, it was a general expectation that Anne would take over the practice one day. However, fate had something else in store. Anne recalls, ‘It was never my plan to work in the U.S. but somehow, I had a sense of adventure in my 20s that I wanted to pursue my own independ-

Text by Donna Künzler, images by Anne Solomon

ence in another country. I was inspired by a friend to take the USMLE (US medical licensing exam) and eventually got into a residency program in the U.S.’

Seventeen years on, the U.S. is now home for Anne and her family. She and her husband Carlo, also a Filipino, a U.S. Army veteran and a firefighter at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue squad, have been married for 16 years and have two boys: Avery (11 years old) and Cal (9 years old).

Raising children in the U.S. is definitely a challenge especially when the parents have highly stressful and demanding jobs. Anne narrates, ‘What I noticed is that when we are both at home, we rarely talk about our jobs. We try to decompress by walking around the neighbourhood, going to restaurants, doing household chores together, watching TV, and planning for our next getaway. I think that the daily, mundane things in life are our happiest moments. We are both exposed on a daily basis to death and dying that every single day that we share together, we consider it as a gift.’

Anne and Carlo are doing a great job as both kids belong to the gifted and talented program in their school and have black belts in Taekwondo. Anne shares, ‘It is a delight taking care of these little humans. We try to incorporate Filipino values that we feel are admirable such as placing importance on family, paying respect to our elderly, prioritizing education, and hard work. We immensely enjoy traveling as a family during the kids’ formative years as we feel that the world is the best classroom where they can derive inspiration and knowledge.’

Hospice and Palliative Care as a Profession

Anne was first exposed to the field of hospice and palliative care during her last year in residency and decided to pursue it as a career.

Anne recalls, ‘I was drawn to it. Hospice and Palliative Care was not a field (back then) in the Philippines — I wanted to learn more.’ She admirably has been in this field since 2010.

As per Anne, ‘Hospice is a specialty consisting of interdisciplinary team members that provide care for those with life limiting illnesses. Palliative care is a more general term that is helpful at any stage of a serious illness to help with symptom management and to help patients understand their choices for medical treatment.’ As a Medical Director, Anne leads a team of nurses, social workers, chaplains, and

bereavement counsellors to develop a comprehensive plan of care for patients that have serious or life-threatening illnesses.

I agree with Anne that the concept is still foreign to Filipinos. She elaborates, ‘I feel that we are still a death denying society, that we try to avoid talking about end-of-life care, preferences at the end of life. Most Filipinos lack any advance care planning so when a medical crisis occurs, most family members panic and eventually make decisions that are burdensome to their sick loved ones.’

It should be noted that this medical field applies a holistic approach to patient care. Anne explains, ‘I look at the whole person, I don’t ask just about the physical problems and pains. I ask about the multidisciplinary support.’

Anyone who meets Anne and learns of her work would most likely feel sympathy, pity, or curiosity as this medical field deals with terminal illness and death daily. Despite the general perception that her field is full of glum, Anne shares that the rewards are more profound. ‘When people ask what I’m doing, most of them get that sad look and say, God bless you… I don’t know how you do it.’ What I tell them is that it

is immensely fulfilling and enriching, that you get to experience things most people do not get to experience, a connection with life which is life-altering in the most positive sense.

For those who are interested in the development of Hospice and Palliative Care in the Philippines, you can read it here: https://www. pshpm.org/our-history.

Running

With a demanding job and family life, it’s important for Anne to de-stress and do what she loves: running.

Anne started running when her kids were still toddlers, initially to lose some of the postpartum weight but eventually began liking the energy that she felt and has not stopped since. She further expounds, ‘It’s been my refuge, my anxiolytic. It is where my emotional, mental, and physical needs are satisfied. No matter how overwhelming my day is, it somehow reassures me that everything will be alright.’

Anne has set some ambitious running goals for herself: 1) run the 6 major marathons (NYC, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo, London, Chicago), 2) run 1 marathon in every continent, and 3) run a 100-mile race. And what achievements she has made so far: she has run 14 marathons including all the major marathons, 3 ultramarathons

(an ultramarathon is defined as a race that is longer than a marathon), and she’s scheduled to run a marathon in Oceania this year to complete all continents. She will attempt to run a 100-miler soon.

Anne usually plans 1-3 races a year, train 16 weeks per race, running 6 days a week (usually after work). Her family travels with her in most races so they can still have quality time before and after each race.

Giving back

In 2019, Anne and her husband founded ‘Aral Gabay’ foundation. Its aim is to provide financial support to hardworking students from low-income backgrounds in Marinduque for their college expenses. Their goal is to support at least 4 students annually.

Create your own story

Anne’s work has given her a different perspective in life – one that is very positive and insightful. She concludes, ‘When you see the sickest of the sick day in and day out, you cannot help but derive life lessons from them. It makes me want to create and be in control of my own narrative because one day, it might be too late to do the things you want to do in life. So better do it now.’

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

BIANCA CARAGUE CREATES VIRTUAL WORLDS TO CHANGE PERSPECTIVES

Text by Ieth Inolino Idzerda

Images by Bianca Carague

It was to pursue her master’s degree in Social Design that brought Bianca Carague to the Netherlands in 2018. Armed with her learnings from the prestigious Design Academy Eindhoven, the 27-year-old artist builds virtual worlds that tell stories about different possible futures. She has since then done exhibitions in London Design Biennale, Dutch Design Week, and Triennale di Milano. Her works have been featured in Vogue, Elle

Decor, and FRAME Magazine among others. Roots and Wings speaks to Bianca to understand her work process and to find out what it’s like to be an artist in the Netherlands.

Why did you choose to study and stay in the Netherlands?

I almost went to Milan because I got a full scholarship in a school there. The scholarship made sense and I thought there’s where I should go. But the program in the Netherlands just aligned with me a lot more. It’s very progressive here in terms of design, compared to

BUMP GALAXY is a Minecraft server for mental healthcare that Bianca grew to 3,000,000+ sqm of virtual landscapes for care during the peak of COVID-19

Milan which can be commercial. I made it happen. This is where I wanted to go. It’s forward thinking because the problem solving is long term. After two years of studying, I moved to Rotterdam because I was thinking of a place to set up my studio. There are a lot of artists and designers here. I like the energy and I already know a lot of people.

How is it living in the Netherlands?

I’m here completely by myself and I have no problem with it. Perhaps because I studied first so I was able to build a pretty strong support system, although very non-Dutch. I think I only have three Filipino friends. I love them but I hardly see them. Maybe I have non-Dutch friends because my Dutch is not that good yet.

It’s difficult to make Dutch friends and I end up being surrounded by expats. To practice my Dutch, I go to this fish stall to get kibbeling–my all time favorite Dutch snack. After a long conversation, they go, ‘There are a lot of Filipinos in Rotterdam. Like a lot.’ But I don’t know where they are.

Can you tell us about your work?

I’m an artist. Before moving to the Netherlands, I was very design focused. I used to do interior design and design furniture. I also used to work with street vendors and Aetas in the Philippines for designs with focus on social impact. But since moving to the Netherlands, I have shifted to art. I now have my studio in Rotterdam. I say I’m an artist. It’s like between artist and designer but I prefer being an artist. My practice consists of building virtual worlds that tell stories about different possible futures. I have a difficulty saying whether I’m a designer or artist because the research part is design. But the execution is art.

I like games and I do virtual landscapes. For a long time, right after graduation, I was working on video games for mental health. I would modify existing gaming landscapes and mechanics to facilitate various forms of therapy. I would work with people that would design games, but also therapists and other mental health professionals to see what they need and how I can translate it into a game. A huge chunk of my time post-graduation was dedicated to that. But apart from mental health efforts and gaming, I was also doing exhibitions and commissioned works from Dutch institutions. I was also concerned with other social themes like the future of literacy and post-truth fake news. I guess in general, it’s really telling stories, building worlds that talk about certain social issues and world events.

When they teach you design in school, especially in the Philippines, they teach you to solve a problem. But my practice is less about solving problems, but more on opening people’s minds to different ways of looking at a problem. Because really I think how you solve a problem depends on how you understand the problem. If I solve a problem, the solution I come up with is the outcome of my perspective or how I see the problem and what I think is a better outcome. So my work is less about telling people that this is the solution. Obviously,

GEN C: CHILDREN OF 2050 Imagined four different types of children that could exist in the year 2050.

I did the research but it’s more about inviting people into this world that I built and to make their own conclusions.

‘Bump Galaxy,’ the interactive virtual space you created for mental wellbeing, has become really popular. Can you tell us more about it?

It started with the question, what if playing can also mean caring? What would a video game look like if it was designed for therapy? So I made things that I thought would be helpful for myself. I was working through my own things at the time, and I was like, well, what if I translate my own experiences into a gaming, into a virtual landscape and see what happens? I built it and shared it during the pandemic, just when quarantine started. That’s when I started inviting people to play Minecraft with me.

My Minecraft server grew from a very small floating temple in the forests to more than three million square meters of virtual land designed for mental health. I designed maybe five to ten percent of it, but then it really grew because I was inviting other people to play with me and build it with me. For example, they would come in, let’s say a therapist would come in, and she’d see what I built and she’d say, you know what? This is nice, but I think it needs something different. And then she’ll have an idea and I’ll say, okay, let’s build it together.

You also had an exhibition last summer in Tetem (Enschede, Netherlands) called ‘Gen C: Children of 2050.’ What was special about it?

It was an exhibition about the future of children. After doing research on climate change, I came up with four different kids that could

exist in the year 2050 and how their lives might be different in the future because of the climate crisis. I focused on technology, education, and family. With four main themes, I designed children’s bedrooms so that visitors would experience what it would be like to be a kid in 2050 by going through the exhibition.

The exhibition was there and I was doing workshops with people so that they could immerse themselves and also have their own ideas and add things on top of what I already built. So doing the workshops, I use these ideas and insights to develop the exhibition into a final one, three months later. That’s really less about imposing solutions, but more about just inviting people into how I see problems and just inviting them to come up with their own solutions. And that way, they see mine, they see each others’ solutions, and we just all have a little bit more open minds.

Where do you see yourself years from now?

I like the Netherlands. I think it’s really friendly for artists. In my opinion, it’s the best country to live in if you’re an artist. They’re really supportive in terms of opportunities to show your work and funding. But five years from now, honestly, the only thing I learned in the last two years is that things can change so fast. So I don’t know. But I like the Netherlands.

Our theme for February is love on accelerated digital transformation. When you hear that, what does it mean to you? What kind of love? Laughs. I’m going to say, for me, the first thing I think of is love for my family. To me it’s like a virtual space. I don’t know if I’m biased because I always make 3D virtual spaces. I think, let’s say in the future when the digital world is super accelerated, you know you could just enter a virtual space and it almost feels just like being with family in person. Maybe it’s not in the living room. Maybe you’re in glittery mountains in the clouds. I think that’d be really nice. I think we can travel to impossible places with our loved ones with our digital bodies. That’s what I would imagine.

My practice is less about solving problems, but more on opening people’s minds to different ways of looking at a problem

@biancarague is a Netherlandsbased Filipino artist and designer.

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Directory of Philippine Embassies in Europe

Roots & Wings e-Publications have been making an impact on the Euro-Filipino community in the last dozen years by promoting Filipino culture, art, entrepreneurship, outstanding Filipinos in various fields, community events and providing current contacts to diplomatic missions within Europe. See list here.

Embassy information changes all the time. Help us update this directory by emailing rawmags.betsy@gmail.com.

AUSTRIA

Embassy of the Philippines, Vienna

H.E. Irene Susan B. Natividad

Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim

20th and 21st Floor, ARES Tower

Donau-City-Strasse 11, A-1220

Vienna, Austria

Tel (+43-1) 533-2401

Emergency Tel (+43-6991) 232-2034

Email: vienna.pe@dfa.gov.ph vienna.pm@dfa.gov.ph

WWW.VIENNAPE.DFA.GOV.PH

BELGIUM

Embassy of the Philippines, Brussels

H.E. Ambassador Eduardo José A. De Vega

297 Avenue Moliere, Brussels, 1050 BELGIUM

Tel (+32-2) 34033-77 to 78

Emergency Tel (+32-4) 8860-9177

Email: brussels.pe@dfa.gov.ph;  brusselspe@gmail.com

Facebook: @PHinBelgium

WWW.BRUSSELSPE.DFA.GOV.PH

CZECH REPUBLIC

Embassy of the Philippines, Prague

H.E. Ambassador Mr. Ombra T. Jainal

Senovazne Namesti 8, Prague 1, 110 00

Czech Republic

Tel (+420) 224-216397

(+420) 224-216397 / 224-216385

Emergency Tel (+420) 607-850-764

Email: prague.pe@dfa.gov.ph; praguepe@gmail.com

Facebook: @PHinCzechRepublic

WWW.PRAGUEPE.DFA.GOV.PH

DENMARK

Embassy of the Philippines, Copenhagen

H.E. Ambassador Leo M. Herrera-Lim

Arne Jacobsens Alle 13, 1st Floor, 2300

Copenhagen, Denmark

Tel (+45) 7141-5952

Emergency (+45) 2273-3933

Email: copenhagen.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Facebook: @PHinDenmark

WWW.COPENHAGENPE.DFA.GOV.PH

FINLAND

Embassy of the Philippines, Greater Helsinki

Vice Consul, ad honorem Mdme. Teresita

Zurbano Ruutu

Ukonkivenpolku 3e, Fi-01610 Vantaa, Finland

Tel (+358) 407 071 817

EMAIL: TERESITA.RUUTU@SAUNALAHTI.FI

FRANCE

Embassy of the Philippines, Paris

H.E Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West

4 Hameau de Boulainvilliers

45 Rue du Ranelagh

75016 Paris, France

Tel (+331) 4414-5700

(+331) 4414-5700 4414-5701/2 (Consular)

Emergency (+336) 2059-2515 (+336) 2059-2515

Email: paris.pe@dfa.gov.ph

parispe.dfa@gmail.com

Facebook: @PHinFrance

WWW.PARISPE.DFA.GOV.PH

GERMANY

Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin

H.E. Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega

Luisenstrasse 16, 10117 Berlin-Mitte

Federal Republic of Germany

Tel +49 (0) 30 864 95 00

Emergency +49 (0) 173-521-5703

Email: info@philippine-embassy.de, consular@ philippine-embassy.de

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ PHinGermany

WWW.PHILIPPINE-EMBASSY.DE

Consulate General of the Philippines, Frankfurt Westend Carree

Grüneburgweg 16-18, 1st Floor

60322 Frankfurt Am Main

Federal Republic of Germany

Tel (+49) (0) 69 8700 66900

Hotline (+49) (0) 151 6248 7425

Assistance to Nationals (+49) (0) 151 5354 6841

Email: frankfurt.pcg@dfa.gov.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ PHinFrankfurt/ WWW.FRANKFURTPCG.DE

WWW.FRANKFURTPCG.DFA.GOV.PH/

GREECE

Embassy of the Philippines, Athens

H.E. Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec

26 Antheon Street, Paleo Psychico 154-52

Athens, Greece

Tel (+30210) 672-1883

(+30210) 672-1883

672-1837

Emergency (+30-697) 968-2921, (+30-697) 968-2921

Email: athens.pe@dfa.gov.ph; ATHENSPE@OTENET.GR

HUNGARY

Embassy of the Philippines, Budapest

H.E. Ambassador Frank R. Cimafranca

1026 Budapest, Gabor Aron utca 58

Budapest, Hungary

Tel (+36-1) 391-4300

Email: budapest.pe@dfa.gov.ph / phbuda@philembassy.hu

Facebook: @PHLinHungary

WWW.BUDAPESTPE.DFA.GOV.PH

ISRAEL

Embassy of the Philippines, Tel-Aviv

H.E.  Ambassador-designate Macairog S. Alberto

No. 18 Bnei Dan Street, Tel-Aviv, 62260 Israel

Tel (+9723) 601-0500 (+9723) 601-0500

Emergency (+972-54) 466-1188

(+972-54) 466-1188

Email: telaviv.pe@dfa.gov.ph; filembis@netvision.net.il

WWW.PHILEMBTELAVIV.CO.IL

ITALY

Embassy of the Philippines, Rome

H.E. Ambassador Domingo P. Nolasco

Viale delle Medaglie d’Oro 112-114

00136 Rome, Italy

Tel (+3906) 3974-6621 (+3906) 3974-6621

Emergency (+39) 328-690-7613 (+39) 328-690-7613

Email: rome.pe@dfa.gov.ph romepe2007@gmail.com

WWW.PHILEMBASSY-ROME.NET

THE NETHERLANDS

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE HAGUE

H.E. Ambassador Jose Eduardo Malaya (incoming)

Tel (+31) 70360-4820

Emergency (+31)(0) 65261-1079

Email: thehague.pe@dfa.gov.ph / thehague@ philembassy.nl

Facebook: @PHinTheNetherlands

WWW.THEHAGUEPE.DFA.GOV.PH

NORWAY

Embassy of the Philippines, Oslo

H.E. Ambassador Enrico T. Fos

Nedre Vollgate 4, 0158 Oslo, Norway

P.O. Box 1758 VIKA N-0122 Oslo, Norway (+47) 224-00900 (+47) 224-00900

Emergency (+47) 902 41 171

Email: helpdesk@philembassy.no

WWW.PHILEMBASSY.NO

ICELAND

Philippine Consulate, Reykjavik, Iceland

H.E. Consul Maria Priscilla Zanoria a.h

Skógarsel 39

109 Reykjavik, Iceland

Tel (+354) 897 5391

EMAIL: PHILCONSUL@SIMNET.IS

POLAND

Embassy of the Philippines, Warsaw

H.E. Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz

Ul. Lentza 11, 02-956 Warsaw, Republic of Poland

Tel +48 22 490 2025 and +48 694 491 664

Emergency +48 604 357 396

Email: warsaw.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Facebook: @PHLinPoland

WWW.WARSAWPE.DFA.GOV.PH

PORTUGAL

Embassy of the Philippines, Lisbon

H.E. Ambassador Celia Anna M. Feria

Rua Barata Salgueiro 30–3 andar

1250-044 Lisbon, Portugal

Tel (+351) 216-083-274; 216-083-276; 216-083-277

Emergency (+351) 925-410-257

E-mail: lisbon.pe@dfa.gov.ph lisbon.pe@gmail.com

WWW.LISBONPE.DFA.GOV.PH

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Embassy of the Philippines, Moscow

H.E. Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta

Karmanitsky Pereulok 8 Building 1, 121099

Moscow, Russian Federation

Tel (+7-499) 241-0563; 241-0564; 241-0565)

Email: moscow.pe@dfa.gov.ph  moscowpe@mailfrom.ru

Facebook: Philembassy Moscow

WWW.MOSCOWPE.DFA.GOV.PH

SPAIN

Embassy of the Philippines, Madrid

H.E Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier

Calle Eresma 2, 28002 Madrid, Spain (Chancery) Calle Guadalquivir 6, 28002 Madrid, Spain (Consular Section)

Tel (+34) 917-823-830 / 917-823-836; 917-451734 (Consular Section)

Emergency (+34) 616-491-861

Email: madrid.pe@dfa.gov.ph / madridpe@yahoo.com

Consular: info@philembassymadrid. com / consular@philembassymadrid.com

Facebook: @PHinSpain

www.philembassymadrid.com

WWW.MADRIPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Consulate General Barcelona

Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro

Rambla de Catalunya 33, Planta Principal 08007

Barcelona, Spain

+34 938 28 83 12

BARCELONAPCG.CONSULAR@DFA.GOV.PH

SWEDEN

Embassy of the Philippines, Stockholm

H.E. Consul Raul Dado

Charge d’ affaires, ad interim

Mobile +46 702 735 407, +63 9054039435 (Viber)

EMAIL: STOCKHOLM.PE@DFA.GOV.PH

SWITZERLAND

Embassy of the Philippines, Berne

Chargé d’Affaires Josephine M. Reynante Kirchenfeldstrasse 73-75

3005 Berne, Switzerland

Tel (+41-31) 350-1700

Emergency (+41-79) 542-1992

Email: berne.pe@dfa.gov.ph / info@philembassyberne.ch

Facebook: @PHinSwitzerland

WWW.BERNEPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Permanent Representative

H.E. Ambassador Evan P. Garcia

47 Avenue Blac, 1202 Geneva Switzerland

Tel (+41-22) 716-1930

Emergency (+41-79) 1369-114

Email: geneva.pm@dfa.gov.ph / genevapm49@ gmail.com genevapm.dfa.gov.ph

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GENEVAPCG

UNITED KINGDOM

Embassy of the Philippines, London

H.E. Ambassador Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo 6-8 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG

United Kingdom of Great Britain

Tel (+44) 20-7451-1780

Emergency (+44) 78-0279-0695

Email: london.pe@dfa.gov.ph / embassy@philemb.co.uk

Facebook: @PHLinUK

WWW.LONDONPE.DFA.GOV.PH

VATICAN, ITALY

Embassy of the Philippines, Vatican

Hon. (Mr.) Charlie P. Manangan

Charge d’ Affaires

Via Paolo VI, 29, 00193 Rome, Italy

Tel (+39-06) 6830-8020

Email: vatican.pe@dfa.gov.ph / vaticanpe2@gmail.com

https://dfa.gov.ph/about/dfa-directory/ourforeign-service-posts-dfa

WWW.VATICANPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Filipina-British singer makes history in West End production of ‘Wicked

she has made history becoming the first ever Asian to play the iconic role of Elphaba in the West End production of the highly acclaimed musical Wicked.

Born to a Filipina mother and an English father, Nicola used to always put on shows for her family growing up which led to her parents enrolling her in dancing in singing lessons. Years after performing in the living room,

‘I was over the moon,’ she reminisces about the moment she got the call. ‘Being in Wicked and playing Elphaba has been my dream ever since I saw the show on my 13th birthday.’ Nicola auditioned for the role several times but couldn’t quite believe it was fi-

Text by Siobhan Doyle and images by Dujonna Gift, Troy David Johnston and Alex Ballester, UK

nally happening – she says she felt incredibly lucky to be working on a show she always wanted to be a part of. ‘I still pinch myself every time I do it.’

As a child, her musical-loving parents would often take her to the theatre for special family outings. This sparked her deep interest and passion for the theatre world: singing along to soundtracks, learning the choreography in the living room, and making her own costumes.

Initially, Nicola wasn’t sure she could actually pursue a career in musical theatre. But as she got older, she discovered drama schools from theatre programmes and later pursued a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre at the Guildford School of Acting in Surrey, England. Following her degree, Nicola joined the ensemble cast of Les Misérables in 2018 and a year later was cast as a cover for Eponine in the staged concert of the show.

In 2021, Nicola played an array of roles in a stage production of A Christmas Carol. And last year, she became the first Asian to play Elphaba (perhaps better known as the Wicked Witch of the West for all the Wizard of Oz lovers out there) in a UK production of the show.

Her dream role in a musical has been Elphaba ever since she was a child. ‘Being the first is a great honour, and I really hope I will be one of many,’ she says, expressing the importance for the global majority to see themselves in stories such as Wicked. ‘We can all connect to what it feels like to be an outsider,’ she adds.

Nicola reflects on the representation of Filipinos within the UK theatre scene, stressing how she wishes to see more of us playing roles we haven’t seen us play yet. ‘For a long time, it looked and felt like there were only certain shows and characters you would see us play. That’s simply not the reality.’

She praises the talent, versatility, and tenacity of the Filipino theatre community, drawing inspiration from the likes of Rachelle Ann Go and Eva Noblezada whom she says ‘floored’ her in the West End revival of Miss Saigon (2014-16) and admired them playing strong women in shows such as Hamilton and Hadestown respectively following the Miss Saigon run.

Nicola recalls when Lissa deGuzman, the current US National Tour Elphaba who is also a mixed Filipina, reached out to her after her debut.

‘For the first time, I felt such sisterhood from across the pond.’ And she hopes that much like Lissa she continues to play roles that ‘help push the boundaries for the Asian community’.

When asked about what she thinks the UK theatre industry can do to seek more Filipino talent, Nicola

emphasises the importance in equity versus equality.

‘While there are many fabulous Filipino performers undeniably we need more,’ she explains. ‘So, it’s important first for young Filipino performers to see themselves on stage represented. To feel inspired. To see it’s possible to live out their dreams and pursue it. This is how we can foster real change within the industry.’

Nicola continues to be a swing/cover of Elphaba in the 2023-2024 cast of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London, UK.

Nicola, proud mixed race Filipina English actor breaks new barriers by appearing as the first Asian to play Elphaba in the widely acclaimed musical WICKED on UK stage.

Raise the Curtains

THE 35TH ALIW AWARDS USHERS THE RETURN OF LIVE PERFORMANCES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Text and images by Zip De Guzmán Jr.

After a year of hiatus due to covid pandemic restrictions, the curtains were raised once more on December 5, 2022 for the 35th Aliw Awards at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel. It was a breath of fresh air for many artists in the live entertainment industry in the Philippines.

The Aliw Awards is one of the most prestigious and the oldest award giving body that recognizes all the live entertainment spectrum in the Philippines. It was founded by the National Press Club in 1975 and established by renowned Philippine journalist Alice H. Reyes. On its first award ceremonies held in 1977, Asia’s Queen of Songs- Ms.Pilita Corrales received the Entertainer of the Year Award. Other notable recipients of Aliw Awards include Celeste Legaspi, the late Rico J. Puno, Basil Valdez, Kuh Ledesma, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga, Freddie Aguilar, Sarah Geronimo, Dulce, Tessie Tomas, Bert Marcelo, Liza Macuja-Elizalde, Lani Misalucha, Nonoy Zuniga, Erik Santos, Gerard Santos, and Charice Pempengco.

The Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel was enthusiastically crowded with celebrities and some of the finest artists in the country. The recipient of the 35th Aliw Award Entertainer of Year is Gerard Santos who was also the Entertainer of the Year in 2020. He also received the Best Actor in a Musical for ‘I Will, The Musical’. The Best Major Concert award was given to the Megastar, Ms. Sharon Cuneta and Asia’s Songbird, Ms.Regine Velasquez.

Other notable awards include the lifetime achievement awards given to John Lesaca, Vic Del Rosario, Nanette Inventor and Jay Enriquez; Hall of Fame Award given to Geleen Eugenio; the Legacy Awards given to Shirley Halili-Cruz, Atty. Persida Rueda

Acosta and Nona Ricafort; Special Awards were also given to Senator Bong Revilla and Senator Cynthia Villar, Juliet Yap of Soroptimist, Nelia Cruz Sarcol, OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio, Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Marichu Tellano of National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet.

The Excellence Awards were given to the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP), the Philippine Heritage Society, the Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines and Club Bulakeña.

The event was hosted by Miss World 1973 1st runner-up Ms. Evangeline Pascual and Pop-Tenor Johann Enriquez who also won Aliw’s Best Male Host. The event was directed by Jose Maria Hilario while the TV coverage was directed by Joey Nombres who is an Aliw Trustee.

The awards night would not be complete without live performances from some of the country’s top artists including Kathy Hipolito Mas who sang the Aliw Awards theme song, Jade Riccio, Kea Chan, Nina Campos, Janah Zaplan, Carla Guevarra Laforteza, Sheila Valderama Martinez, Jon Joven Uy with musical accompaniment provided by Martin David Band.

The Aliw Awards Foundation is headed by its founder and president, Alice H. Reyes with officers and trustees: Aristeo Garcia, 1st vice-president; Brian Lu, 2nd vice-president; Tess Tan, secretary; Francia Conrado, treasurer; Joey Nombres and Dennis Aguilar, PROs; Jose Dadulla Jr., auditor; Rema Manzano, ex-officio trustee, and trustees Ofelio Cajigal, Aisha Reyes, Birdie Reyes III, and Jory Reyes.

Editor’s note:

The author of the article, Filipino baritone Ciprino De Guzmán Jr., was nominated in 2 categories and won the Best Male Performance in a concert award. He is a teacher, musician and an opera singer based in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

WINNERS OF THE 35TH ALIW AWARDS

1. Rudolf Golez - BEST INSTRUMENTALIST

2. Cipriano De Guzmán - BEST MALE PERFORMANCE IN A CONCERT

3. Nina Campos – BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A CONCERT

4. Owin Odum - BEST NEW ARTIST (MALE)

5. Kanishia Santos - BEST NEW ARTIST (FEMALE)

6. Jon Joven Uy - BEST MALE CROSSOVER SINGER

7. Jade Riccio - BEST FEMALE CROSSOVER SINGER

8. Sheena Lee Palad - BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGER

9. Johann Enriquez - BEST MALE HOST

10. Shiela Valderama Martinez - BEST FEMALE HOST

11. Kathy Hipolto Mas and Ana Feleo tied - BEST FEMALE CLASSICAL PERFORMER

12. Sherwin Sozon and Ivan Niccolo Nery tied - BEST MALE CLASSICAL PERFORMER

13. Nicole Laurel Asensio - BEST R&B/JAZZ ARTIST

14. Janah Zaplan - BEST FEMALE POP ARTIST

15. LA Santos - BEST MALE POP ARTIST

16. Project Juan - BEST NEW GROUP ARTIST

17. EJ Salamanti - BEST STAND-UP COMEDIAN

18. ‘Alay Kina Alice at Agnes’- BEST DANCE PRODUCTION

19. MJ Arda - BEST CHOREOGRAPHER

20. CLSU Maestro Singers - BEST CHORAL GROUP

21. Xander Go - BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

22. Tex Ordoñez De Leon - BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY

23. Kayla Rivera - BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

24. Gerald Santos - BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

25. OJ Arci - BEST MALE FEATURED PERFORMER IN A PLAY

26. Lhorvie Nuevo - BEST FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMER IN A PLAY

27. Audie Gemora - BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

28. Carla Guevara Laforteza - BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

29. I Will Actors Ensemble - BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

30. Josefino Chino Toledo - BEST MUSIC DIRECTION FOR A PLAY OR MUSICAL

31. Antonino Rommel Ramilo - BEST COMPOSER FOR ORIGINAL MUSIC

THEATER

32. Ice Seguerra - BEST CONCERT STAGE DIRECTOR

33. Ivan Lee - BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR A CONCERT

34. Chris Millado - BEST STAGE DIRECTOR FOR A PLAY

35. Pat Valera - BEST STAGE DIRECTOR FOR A MUSICAL

36. Anak Datu - BEST PLAY

37. Mula sa Buwan - BEST MUSICAL

38. Tanghalang Bagong Sibol, Malabon City - BEST CULTURAL GROUP

39. BEST FESTIVAL PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE (3 WINNERS)

Masskara Festival 2022 of Bacolod City

Fiestang Caragan 2022 , Mabalacat, Pampanga

Pandang Gitab Festival of Lubang, Mindoro Occidental

40. BEST FESTIVAL CATALYST/ORGANIZER (3 WINNERS)

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez of Bacolod City

Mayor Crisostomo Garbo of Mabalacat, Pampanga

Mayor Michael Orayani of Lubang, Mindoro Occidental

41. BEST SPECIAL EVENTS PRODUCTION (2 WINNERS)

Opera, My Master My Slave

Taal: A Homage to Filipino Heritage Artistry

42. Nazer Salcedo - BEST SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR

43. BEST VENUE FOR THEATER AND CONCERTS

Science City Gymnasium

Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija

Filipino Baritone Cipriano De Guzmán Jr. (left) Best Male Performance in a Concert and Rudolf Golez, Best Instrumentalist

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM - 2023 BENEFICIARIES

DUGTONG-DUNONG SA PAGSULONG SCHOLARSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Fr. Nolan A. Que, Sta. Cruz & Tondo, Manila

On its second year this 2023, Roots & Wings has selected two (2) new beneficiaries to be the recipients of sponsorships from generous donors for its Social Entrepreneurship Program. These two beneficiaries, the Dugtong-Dunong sa Pagsulong Scholarship and Educational Program and the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation share a common mission of providing support to less fortunate, low income families for their children in pursuit of education.

In 2014, as part of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila Educational System’s (RCAM ES) mission of spreading Catholic education, I was given the chance to work with Cluster 5 and 6 that consist of 6 schools in Sta. Cruz and Tondo in Manila – Espiritu Santo Parochial School, Holy Child Catholic School, Manila Cathedral School, San Pablo Apostol Learning Center, San Rafael Parochial School, and St. Joseph School. Seeing the collective effort of the community to help one another, I, together with the administration of Clusters 5 and 6, continue to envision to help learners achieve the Catholic education they deserve. Thus, the Dugtong-Dunong sa Pagsulong (DDSP) Scholarship and Educational Program was born.

DDSP aims to provide quality Catholic education to the youth of Sta. Cruz and Tondo who experience financial constraints especially during the pandemic. This program is also a means to help our students to improve their way of life using the knowledge and skills they acquire from our schools. With God’s grace, we were able to help 2,602 scholars for the School Year 2022 - 2023. We have scholars not just from Manila but also from provinces like Bohol, Samar, and Palawan. Not only that, we also have multiple adopted communities from Quiricada, Tayuman, Capulong Bridge and even the children who live in the Manila North Cemetery.

We believe that Catholic education is a passport to a better future for our children. With that said, guided by the vision and mission

Text by Becky Torres, Rawmags Social Entrepreneurship

of the RCAM ES, we aim to develop our students into morally upright individuals and responsible members of the Christian community with a strong moral and social conscience strengthened by Catholic education. We believe that despite not having the resources, hope and fortitude will be realized for our students. We hope that they too serve as glimmers of hope for others in their own communities –that everything is possible and not even poverty can stop anyone from achieving their dreams. Hence, we consider the DDSP as a gift and a mission that we, as a Catholic educational system, share with others, especially to the least, the lost, and the last of the community.

As we were entrusted by God to look after these students, we always make sure that we will not stop looking for generous hearted donors who are willing to help us reach and evangelize more young people through education.

THE YELLOW BOAT OF HOPE FOUNDATION Mon Corpuz, Volunteer Partner through Black Pencil Project

The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation (popularly known as Yellow Boat Project) was inspired by the children of Layag-Layag, Zamboanga City who had to swim to school in 2011. The idea behind it is to pool individual small funds to help these children get to school safe and dry. From one humble yellow boat with the words “Bagong Pag-asa” (New Hope) imprinted on its body, the 100% volunteer-driven foundation is now providing scholarships, feeding program, school supplies, medical assistance and livelihood projects to help parents sustain their kids’ education.

Aside from boats, they have also built bridges, dormitories, learning centers and classrooms to improve accessibility of basic education around the country.

One of which is q 4-classroom

building in Barangay Labney, Mayantoc, Tarlac - a remote mountain community of Aeta-Abeling tribe in Eastern Zambales. With the help of its sponsors, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation partners with local volunteer group Black Pencil Project to build “Yellow School of Hope” in preparation of Labney Elementary School’s bid to offer secondary curriculum in 2017. Three years later, Labney became a fully integrated K-12 School by the Department of Education with a record high 100% increase in enrollment.

Our Mission: Making the world a better place for children’s education.

Our Goals: To ensure that every child in the Philippines can experience quality education through the provision of solutions that allow them access schools daily, be given excellent teaching, be provided with exposure and broadening of horizons and also ensure support to each family through livelihood programs.