Roots & Wings August-September 2021

September 2021 Volume 11 Issue 4

Filipino Magazine in Europe

Photo by Carlo Midollini

From the Editor

12

resilient years of Pinoy storytelling. Every story featured in Roots & Wings in the last twelve years is a love story centred around the Filipinos at home in Europe, the host continent and at home in the motherland, the Philippines. Stockholm-based founder and publisher Rachel Hansen was passionate about narrating stories of Filipinos living and working in Europe. Her sister Oslo-based Luz Bergersen, 18 year old daughter Jenny and friends initially helped put these stories together. The team organised music concerts, art exhibits, cultural shows, and various events to promote the magazine.

Rachel recalls traveling considerably across the region and fondly remembers walking a good distance from Bern train station to the Philippine Embassy in Switzerland to welcome newly appointed diplomats. She met outstanding Filipino artists like Lolita Valderrama Savage, on our cover, who has supported Roots & Wings over the years. Rachel attended community celebrations, met Filipino celebrities, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and earned support for the magazine.

Over 600 catchy, unforgettable stories made it to publication in a dozen years.

They narrate the Filipinos’ incredible love for life and community, smiling and ever resilient, come snow or hail. These stories project a people’s sacrificial love for family back home, for Filipino art, traditions and hospitality ranging from pakikisama to bayanihan, that lingering taste for adobo, sinigang, and halo halo while advocating for our performing arts, indigenous visuals, and talents in Europe.

Each time Roots & Wings features a story, it uniquely weaves Filipino elements into something beautiful and uplifting. Every story is genuine and continues to value and promote the Filipino-European for years ahead.

Roots & Wings is elated to reach its 12th anniversary together with our cherished readers. Mabuhay!

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Editorial Team

Meet the Team

Betsy von Atzigen

Rachel Hansen

Marthy Angue

Ralph Chan

Rebecca Garcia Urbancik

BUREAU EDITOR AUSTRIA

BUREAU EDITOR, CZECHIA/GERMANY SOCMED MANAGER

Anton Miguel D. De Vera

Lily C. Fen

SOCMED AUSTRIA

LITERARY / BUREAU EDITOR SWITZERLAND

Gloria Hernandez Grejalde

FOUNDER/PUBLISHER

ASSOCIATE EDITOR PHILIPPINES

Lyndy Bagares

Jennifer Fergesen

WEB EDITOR NORWAY

BUREAU EDITOR ICELAND

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BUREAU EDITOR RUSSIA FOREIGN RELATIONS

Katrina Larida

Aimee Alado -Blake

Donna Patricia Manio

Apiong Bagares

BUREAU EDITOR SWEDEN

BUREAU EDITOR UNITED KINGDOM

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

DESIGN

Feedback Page

Would you like to join our Rawmags Team?

Do you have any feedback on the articles in the current or previous issue? Would you like to write a letter to the Editor? Email it to rawmags.betsy@gmail.com.

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Rawmags.com or follow us on social media: Instagram: @Rawmags Twitter: @rawmags Facebook: @rawmags you tube: @rawmags linkedin/rawmags

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Roots&Wings Roots&Wings Filipino Magazine in Europe

Published by Rachel Publishing Co. Stockholm, Sweden / St Gallen, Switzerland 2009-2021

Editorial Team

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CLICK ON THE TITLE TO SKIP TO PAGE

Contents ART Opera through the eyes of a painter / P6 [K]Ahon – An unplanned project that arose in the pandemic / P10

BUSINESS Cozy Threads Vienna: Following Your Passion / P13 The New Breed of Excellence / P6

COMMUNITY Kuya Thom Goes Home / P19 Lourdes, France same time next year… /P21 Thirty-first year wedding anniversary during the pandemic / P23

CULTURE Plants Legacy As Natural Treatments / P24

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Consul General Bids Goodbye to Frankfurt / P27 Filipino Food in Southern Germany / P30 Philippine Embassies and Consulates in Europe / P33

LIFESTYLE The imagination of an image-maker / P36 On Indigenous Foot-urism and what we owe to each other / P38

SPORTS Filipino-European Rockstar Footballers / P42 Philippines’ Olympics gold drought ends, tops ASEAN countries in ranking / P45

READER ENGAGEMENT Eleven Awesome European Destinations / P48

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Content

ABOUT THE COVER

Lolita Valderama Savage Artist’s Profile

By Davide Mamone Reprinted with permission WHEN Filipino American Lolita Valderrama Savage, an internationally recognised painter, moved to Italy for the first time in 1973, she would not imagine that sooner or later her art would have come up beside the romance L'Amico Fritz for an opera company. But the melodies produced by the composer Pietro Mascagni were so perfectly in tune with the colours and the harmony of Savage's art that Teatro Grattacielo could not avoid beginning a partnership.

The result is "Tableaux of Amico Fritz," a filming performance co-produced with Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy, scheduled to be released in September.

Ms. Savage, today you live and paint in Connecticut, but your career brought you everywhere.

Can you tell us about your first arrival in Italy?

Yes, it has been a beautiful journey immersed in the arts. Italy was my first trip ever in 1973. I finished university at the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest catholic

Firenze, the Società delle Belle Arti Circolo degli Artisti at Casa di Dante in Florence. Also, I own a second home in Firenze and have good friends all over Italy. I feel a bit Italian, for sure.

university in Asia, and the Philippines. Then I got an offer to go to Italy with a scholarship.

Where did you end up living in Italy?

I started at the Università per Stranieri in Perugia to learn the Italian language, and then I went to the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Firenze.

What is the first memory of Italy that you have?

My greatest memory was being exposed to all kinds of people. Both in Perugia and Florence, I found a very international environment.

And I loved that.

You were born in Manila, Philippines, and a U.S. citizen, but you have to feel a bit Italian, too.

My artistic career is strongly intertwined with Italy. My first international group art exhibition was at the Palazzo Strozzi in 1975. I am a member of many non-profit organizations and associations like the American International League of Florence, L'Associazione Culturale Giovanni Papini di

You are a successful painter internationally recognized. What is your attitude toward art and painting? What does it mean for you?

As an artist, I love beauty, happiness, and joy. This is what I put out in the paintings. I am not one of the artists that share their frustrations or pain through the canvass.

I think that that type of approach helps us better understand life, too, but my art wants to show the opposite, how beautiful the world and nature are. It is, I think, an essential message in a historic moment like this.

Let's talk about the upcoming project with Camerata Bardi and Teatro Grattacielo. How did the partnership begin?

I was introduced by Anna Balzani, who wrote a brilliant review about my last exhibit in Firenze, a show that was sponsored by the city of Florence and the city of Stamford, Connecticut, where I live. She approached me, and she told me, 'I think your paintings would get along amazingly with the Mascagni's music.' She then told me more about the L'Amico Fritz project, and I was so excited to be part of it. I could not say no."

What does make this combination so ideal?

"People should know that arts and music are the secret to putting people together. So, having my name and my paintings connected to Mascagni's melody is an honor.

It is all about arts, you know."

Cover

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USA

Opera through the eyes of a painter

When words fall short to portray one humble and celebrated in cultured arts, landscaped canvasses caress sopranos, tenors cantillate – breathing new life to art and theatre.

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Art

Text by Betsy von Atzigen

F

ilipino-American international artist Lolita Valderrama Savage, lover and painter of nature and valued Roots & Wings patron, presents a unique art project combining her painted landscapes with Pietro Mascagni’s opera "L'Amico Fritz." Lolita’s artworks usher singular harmony and calmness in nature, allowing all to come to terms with today’s chaotic world.

“I am very happy to be presenting opera through the eyes of a celebrated painter such as Lolita Valderrama Savage. I have always believed in the excitement of interdisciplinary arts as a way of reaching out new audience while providing youth with the opportunity to get familiar with operatic traditions and painting.” Stefanos Koroneos, General and Artistic Director of Teatro Grattacielo, tells OperaWire.

Watch Teatro Grattacielo, professional member of Opera America and Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy’s unique collaboration with artist Lolita Valderrama Savage on “Tableaux of Amico Fritz.” It was first performed at Teatro Costanzi in Rome in 1891.

Fast forward to 2021, Teatro Grattacielo of New York City brings it back to life on stage, on stream. The impressive diversity of talents set to perform in this opera moves art enthusiasts into a new world.

Engage in Lolita’s artwork and revel in her talent and flair, beginning from her very first international group exhibit at the Palazzo Strozzi in 1975.

Since then, she has toured her work throughout the world. Lolita is a Fine Arts graduate of the Pontifical University of Sto. Tomas, Manila with a Licenza in Pittura from the Accademia di Belle Arte in Florence. She attributes her artistic learning and discipline to Prof Silvio Loffredo of the Accademia and her former Swedish mentor, the late Staffan Hallstrom Lolita paints and resides both in Connecticut and Tuscany, married to Frank Savage, and moth-

er to Fredrik Antoine, Grace Erlinda, and Frank Alexander.

“Teatro Grattacielo was founded to promote the performances of those works in the operatic repertoire that are rarely heard in the United States.

Through performances at Alice Tully Hall and other venues, educational outreach and informal lecture concerts, Teatro Grattacielo provides emerging artists and music lovers with the opportunity to become familiar with lesser-known repertoire and performance styles, thus promoting the expansion and appreciation of operatic traditions with an eye on innovation and multi-media arts.” grattacielo.org/ mission-statement The showcase was filmed at Latea Theatre in New York City on August 25, 2021 and features a reduced version of the Mascagni scored as conducted by Felipe Tristan. Malena Dayen and Stefanos Koroneos direct the production. The “Tableaux” stars consist of Stephanie Lorentz, Pedro Sequera, Hyunsoon Kim, Athena Cristine Palombi, David Santiago, Rick Agster, and Kiena Williams.

ELEMENTS

THE JOY OF SPRING

From the artist’s private collection

From the artist’s private collection

Lolita Valderrama Savage Oil on canvas, 40x40 inches

Lolita Valderrama Savage Oil on canvas, 20x24 inches

Art

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AUTUMN ARRIVES

Lolita Valderrama Savage Oil -on -canvas, 40x40 inches From a private collection, courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Aureo Sales, New York USA

SCHEDULE of SHOW AND EXHIBITIONS

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Art

TTEATRO GRATTACIELO | L’AMICO FRITZ | by PIETRO MASCAGNI | NOVEMBER 14, 2021 | ELLEN STEWART THEATER

Watch it STREAMED ONLINE from September 2021 | For dates & tickets, visit www. grattacielo.org

MERCATALE

Lolita Valderrama Savage Oil on canvas, 40x40 inches From a private collection, courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Larry Morse

Opera L’AMICO FRITZ | by PIETRO MASCAGNI | streamed online from September 2021 onwards | For dates & tickets, visit www.grattacielo.org

Art

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AUSTRIA

[K]Ahon – An unplanned project that arose in the pandemic

By Ralph Chan

A

s we have all witnessed, the pandemic has caused a lot of pain, tears, and uncertainty for all of us.

For a long time, we were trapped in the dark and wondered if there would be an end. We looked for something like activities that would bring us joy and distraction. For many like me, one of these was the famous Filipino screenwriter Ricky Lee’s online script workshop.

Sir Ricky and his team conducted and organized the workshop. I was lucky enough to be part of it among many participants. Although we did not know each other personally and most of us have never seen each other face-to-face, it immediately felt like a familiar situation. Perhaps it was also because we were all on fire for one thing: to learn from a maestro how to write a movie script. In times like these, creative work is a relief, although it takes a lot of time, energy and is hard work.

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Art Film

Batch 24 It was not planned at all, but because of that workshop, this group of aspiring Filipino screenwriters – named Batch 24 – worked together on a film project. Since we all have to keep a physical distance from each other because of the pandemic and because some like me do not live in the Philippines, everything was handled electronically. That is also, what makes the project special.

Thanks to technology, project development and execution has taken place in the digital world. Who would have thought that a global pandemic and lockdown(s) would allow 62 aspiring Filipino screenwriters from around the world and their mentor to collaborate on a short film project? The pandemic and its effects on society, but also on individuals, gave us the idea for this film project. Our shared visual interpretations of isolation is the reason why this project was developed and executed.

[K]Ahon is a play on broken images, cuts and mirroring. This film is the result of the collaboration of all 62 participants in the Ricky Lee Scriptwriting Work-

Art Film

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shop Batch 24. With this film, the participants attempted to express the boundaries and limits visually and creatively. It shows that the lines that separate us are thin.

The same is true for relativity and duality. Every connection is related with disconnection, every interruption with organic affinity. Ultimately, all of them are relative continuance. All recordings were filmed by each participant with a cell phone in different locations in the Philippines, Austria, Canada and Japan.

It was put together during the pandemic.

To get a glimpse of how it was to work on the project, I spoke to some of the core members of the project on behalf of Rawmags, Roots & Wings e-Magazine. One of them was a a multimedia artist and director Jaime Pacena II. He has worked with several well-known artists in the Philippine entertainment industry, including directing the music video for Gloc 9’s Sirena. “[K]Ahon for me is really beyond what it is now. The form now of what used to be fragments of different perspectives (literally and metaphorically) is a glimpse of lives and views of the 60+ aspiring writers who came together during the initial stages of the pandemic where most of us are looking for something to hold on to outside the confines of our own quarantined lives.

For me, it was a moment of consuming each clip as if I was able to see what the others have seen, heard and felt. It gave me a moment to glimpse in where we all stood during the time where everyone is isolated from the world. Nung binubuo ko na siya it allowed me to go back sa first day of our class.

Saying hi to all of you, and to hear the first words of wisdom of Sir Ricky, until the time we progressed to more ‘painful ways’ of writing until we found our own voice in our own stories. Yung kahon na nagbigay daan para umahon sa hirap ng pandemic na ito. [When I created it it allowed me to go back to the first day of our class. Saying hi to all of you, and to hear the first words of wisdom of Sir Ricky, until the time we progressed to more ‘painful ways’ of writing, until we found our own voice in our own stories.

The box that gave way to rise above the hardships of this pandemic.]”

Another person in the core team was Leandro Reyes, a poet who wrote part of the screenplay.

“When I was writing the sequence for [K]Ahon I thought about how we are all going through small similarities and large differences. This vagueness allowed the exposure of 60+ different perspectives towards a singular direction.

The experience, to say the least, is very fulfilling. None of 12

Art Film

us met physically from start to end. Kanya-kanyang kuha ng footage, nagpool ng mga editors, may mga decisions na urgent. [Each footage was taken by the participant on his/her own. Editors get together when were urgent to be made.] The coordination was intense, but we all knew we could make it work, so we did.”

One of the participants who also shot some footages was the artist Jopie Sanchez.

“The [K]Ahon project to me was meant to encapsulate this very particular experience that no other set of storytellers but us would be able to have. Shot around April/May of last year, when the pandemic was still relatively new to all of us, it was visually documented and expressed our individual experiences and find a connection among each other despite the distance.

It is somewhat like figuring out how to connect and share this specific human experience given the circumstances, which was somewhat a bit of a challenge having had to shift to online interactions. Intended to have been cathartic at first, as a means to deal with adjusting to the state of the world during pandemic - I think, upon final output, it ended up being more of a celebration of what it means to be human and relate to each other’s existence instead.”

Other people in the core team were Sheenly Gener (Director), Kate Torralba, Mikey Amistoso, Darren Vega (Music and Instruments), Ricky Lee, Atong Redillas, Nina Beltran Yap, Jake Consing, Jonar Johnson, Jopie Sanchez and Kyle Jumayne Francisco, who served as producers. Not to be forgotten, everyone who is part of Batch 24 and who contributed to the project, but who cannot be listed here by name.

Our invitation to YOU! As writers and creatives, we try to portray the world from our point of view, how we see, feel and perceive it. As I wrote in another RAW article Heart-to-Heart Why (Austro-) Filipino Youth use SNS, Sir Ricky Lee once said: “Lahat tayo may kakayanang mag-kwento, kailangan lang natin ng tapang magsimula.” With this film project, we as storytellers have shown the effects of pandemic, isolation and lockdown from our respective individual perspective through a visual interpretation.

On behalf of Batch 24, I hope that I have been able to make our project attractive to you. We would be happy if you get to watch the film. It is part of the 33rd Gawad CCP Alternatibo 2021 (online) film festival. Salamat! See you at the festival.

AUSTRIA

Cozy Threads Vienna: Following Your Passion Interview by Anton Miguel D. De Vera Images & Video by @leggou_vision / Cozy Threads Vienna Partner

C

ozy Thread, an uprising business in Vienna popularly known among the youth for its ‘cozy’ loungewear clothing and premium garments is co-founded by 2nd Gen EU-FIL Diego Tarallo and Canadian-Serbian Filip Momcilovic in 2019.

Rawmags writer Anton Miguel D. De Vera, reaches out to Diego Tarallo, one of Cozy Threads founders, to share the story of their business and his experience growing up with the EU-FIL community in Vienna, Austria.

Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers? How is it being an entrepreneur at a young age and considering your migration background?

My name is Diego Agostino Uyaan Tarallo, 18, born in Vienna, Austria. I am a multi-citizen - my mother Lilian Tarallo is Filipino while my father is American-Italian Michael Anthony Tarallo. I started the company Cozy Threads with a good friend of mine and former high school classmate, Filip Momcilovic.

Being a young entrepreneur, it was difficult and stressful at first

- trying to figure everything out.

There were a lot of expectations coming from your parents, family, and friends. Especially among Filipinos, they want you to follow a certain direction which is common to the Filipino stereotype. My mother wanted me to become a doctor or a nurse for instance. She wanted the best for me by having a good-income occupation to provide for my family but personally, I wanted to do something different. My passion for music and sports has always been there and most especially, Cozy Threads was the first thing on my agenda

Business

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that I wanted to fulfill.

How did you embark on this journey of entrepreneurship with Cozy Threads?

The way Cozy Threads started, it was a school project in the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) in my high school at the International Christian School of Vienna (ICSV). We had to complete certain hours for creative, active, and serviceable work. Filip and I wanted to fulfill it by doing something different, something the school has never seen, so we decided to create a clothing brand. The project idea 14

Business

was to have it established by October 2019 and provide clothing that would support the Breast Cancer Awareness movement during that month. Due to the unexpected pandemic, we couldn’t get physical stands to set up all our clothes, but then, we were able to share our profit from our initial drops to the Breast Cancer Awareness movement. After the project was done, Filip and I decided to continue our passion from creating clothes, being creative, making designs, and providing them for people.

What are some of your inspi-

rations to the designs of your products, mainly clothing?

We originally wanted to make something “premium” or lounge wear that would make our customers say “Oh, this feels nice” in terms of quality and how it suits them. We built it around the word “Cozy” as our former classmates suggested in reaction to a warm hoodie or a crewneck sweater.

We also wanted our garments to stand out which means we need to make sure they're quality-checked before selling and that it is something we take pride in. We thought about the threads and we wanted

to make sure the threading is prestigious and perfect at least to our knowledge the way we want it.

In your experience, were there any specific Filipino-Austrian communities which helped develop Cozy Threads?

During the summers of my 11th and final year in high school (2019-20 & 2020-21), I did an internship at OVRDS (Overdose), another Filipino company based in Vienna that also produces garments and they’ve been in the game since 2013.

A lot of their garments have elements of Filipino designs, a lot of Filipino pride mixed in. So I knew I had to get on board because they had a lot to teach and I relate to them culturally, and so I wanted to learn from them through an internship.

They taught me how to speak and cater to certain manufacturers, where to get ideas from, how to get certain details in finalising products. Eventually, I even worked with them and helped them with some designs. They treated me as an equal and this is the kind of setting that Filip and I have been incorporating to Cozy Threads.

How has it been growing up as a 2nd Generation EU-FIL in Vienna, Austria?

Growing up in Austria, for the first solid 15 years, I wasn’t actively engaged with the Filipino community at all. However, I and my younger siblings Megan and Luigi, spent a lot of time with our mother who taught us a bit about her culture, being Ilocano and Filipino. So we weren’t necessarily distant from our Filipino culture. I grew up with that kind of family and came to love Filipino food, culture, customs and traditions.

When I was 15, I started to en-

counter and engage with Filipinos around my age. I met a couple of Filipinos in ICSV and we became good friends right off the bat. One of them soon invited me to go to their church at the Vienna Christian Centre (VCC)—a born-again Christian Community with the majority of its members being Filipino.

There will always be people who will question your decisions and it will not necessarily be out of backlash but merely out of interest.

Take those remarks as if they are interested rather than something that affects you negatively.

At the end of the day, this was a part of my culture and so I wanted to acknowledge it. To my delight, I enjoyed it a lot. I met a lot of good friends, and it quickly became a familiar place to me.

What kind of message would you give to young aspiring entrepreneurs like yourself?

Go and pursue your passion. Obviously it's going to be difficult in the beginning given that there will be expectations from other people, judgement and doubts. Instead of focusing on those kinds of people, focus on those that are there to help you, who encourage you to do your best. There will always be people who will question your decisions and it will not necessarily be out of backlash but merely out of interest. Take those remarks as if they are interested rather than something that affects you negatively. Just remind yourself that this is something you want to do, just like how I aspired to create Cozy Threads in Vienna.

You also have to enjoy what you are doing. The moment it feels like it's actual work, you are going to lose the passion you had. If you want to be an entrepreneur, you need to love what you do and work for it, especially in the beginning.

Think about it as a marathon and not a sprint. You should always find yourself reaching another goal to keep that passion and work into it. R&W Anton Miguel D. De Vera and the Roots & Wings Team are especially excited for Cozy Thread Vienna’s upcoming Fall/Winter 2021 collection. We wish Diego and Filip all the best in the entrepreneurial world!

Visit their Instagram Account @cozythreadsvienna and their website www. cozythreads.at to see more of their products and clothing brand.

Business

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SPAIN

The New Breed of Excellence How some Filipinos thrive and succeed on the south of Spain

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Business

Text and images by Jeno Pineda

I

n 2017, Rhea Zamora arrived from the Philippines to Marbella. She came with her one-year old daughter and stayed with her sister until she could find work. A couple of months after, her husband followed. Uncertain of the future but mentally and physically prepared for a new life, they never gave up sending their CVs to every office in town until she landed a job in a Scandinavian I.T. company and him, in a telecom office. Four years after, she and her husband have been both promoted in their jobs, and are proud owners of a new apartment.

Rhea’s success story might seem like an anomaly to many. Afterall, most people expect Filipino immigrants to be working in environments we were always typecast in—in homes doing domestic chores, or in restaurants as wait staff. But in Marbella, a small but cosmopolitan town in the south of Spain, the narrative of Filipino workers is changing. The new generation of OFWs and migrants are breaking stereotypes through excellence in their crafts, powered by their innate Filipino work values and ethics such as handwork, commitment, responsibility and compassion.

Marbella is one of Europe’s favourite playgrounds for the rich and famous. Here, million dollar yachts and supercars are but an everyday sighting. It is one of the most sought after summer destinations in Europe thanks to its almost 300 days of sun, a very diverse population and a chilled lifestyle. With hospitality as the biggest industry sector, people come here not only to spend some days in the sun drinking Sangria but also to become part of its robust workforce. And of course, the Filipinos aren’t an exemption. Every year, they flock on the Costa del Sol like seagulls to try their luck and experience the well-balanced life that the town has to offer.

Marbella is part of the Spanish region of Andalucia where there are approximately 5,000-6,000 Filipino inhabitants, according to Leah Beltran, President of AFILCOS FED, the largest Filipino community group on the coast. In Marbella alone, there are 1,500 registered Filipinos, most of whom are working in the domestic and hospitality sectors, although in recent years a rise of Filipino workers in other fields has been undeniable.

“There are many Filipino professionals here in Marbella. I know of doctors, lawyers, realtors and

From left: Aurora Directo, Rhea Zamora and family, Jeno Pineda in Marbella

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Jenny Baardsen (second from right) English teacher to international students

business people thriving in this place. They make us all proud,” said Aurora Directo who has made a name for herself in Marbella’s real estate industry. Originally from Baler in the Philippines, Aurora has been working as a realtor in Marbella for twenty years and is considered one of the best in town when it comes to selling multi-million euro properties.

Asked what it takes for a Filipino to be successful abroad, she said, “It is a given that we Filipinos are resilient and hardworking people. This is why we can be considered as one of the best workforces in the world. But to be able to achieve more, I believe it boils down to education. We should continue educating ourselves in any way we can and strive for excellence at all times.”

Excellence is also what Jenny Baardsen offers as an English teacher to international students. “We Filipinos are kind, patient and hardworking. It’s the perfect recipe to a good teacher, I think,” she said. Having lived in Marbella for over six years, Jenny teaches all levels of English from beginner to advance, and handles Cambridge Exams preparation.

Of course, success is not immediate and it is not a Sampaguita-laden road to travel. Rhea, Aurora and Jenny had also experienced hardships and criticisms because of their heritage. “I once took a wealthy client for a property viewing. From where he came, he couldn’t believe that I was a realtor because A, I am Filipino and B, I am a woman. He was making snide comments to the point of being rude,” Aurora said.

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Business

Rhea with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and officemates

“So what did you do?” I asked her.

“Well, we were in my car at that time so I stopped driving, open the passenger door, and politely asked him to step out. I hope he learned his lesson by the side of the road.”

We indeed hope he did.

SWITZERLAND / CAGAYAN DE ORO, PHILIPPINES

Kuya Thom Goes Home A grand walk in support of the children of Cagayan de Oro In celebration of true Filipino community Text by Lily C. Fen

T

homas Kellenberger fell in love with the Philippines and its people when he traveledthrough its islands in 2007. Inspired by the laughter of Filipino children despite their difficult situations, he soon after founded Island Kids Philippines. Its state-recognized arm, Philippine Island Kids International Foundation, Inc. (PIKIFI) provides food, shelter and protection to hundreds of

abused and abandoned children yearly. Focusing on family-oriented care, victim support and medical aid, PIKIFI runs a children's village and two day schools in Cagayan de Oro. More than 700 children receive basic schooling and practical training that allow them tangible prospects in the future. A few aim for university degrees. PIKIFI also provides emergency aid after climate disasters.

A year has passed since Thom came home to care for Ruth, his mother. Her eventual passing was soon

Community

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What a joy and a miracle! More than 700 children receive basic schooling and practical training at Island Kids Philippines’ Children’s Village, allowing them tangible prospects

Dr. Lisa Düerkop, president of Island Kids Philippines

in the future. A

(Germany), ensures that more people are aware of The

few even aim for

Children’s Village through various events in Germany.

university degrees.

She sees that a difference can be made when making

­—SOURCE

education and security available to poverty-stricken young ones in the Philippines. — ­ SOURCE

followed by the world shutting down due to the virus.

As the world slowly opens up again, Thom has decided to walk back to the The Children’s Village in Cagayan de Oro all the way from Switzerland. He hopes to find a way to heal after his loss along the way, as well as raise awareness and funds for the children of CDO. On the 25th of August 2021, Thom will embark on a journey that will lead him through 15,000 kilometers on foot. This trip will take up to two years, covering 22 countries, with Thom walking for an average of 30 kilometers a day. Some stretches, however, such as that going from Vietnam to Manila, require travel by plane or ship. He is scheduled to arrive at the child welfare center in CDO in the Spring/Summer of 2023.

To date, The Children's Village is at full capacity and PIKIFI turns down requests for new admissions almost every week. The demand for care places remains high. Thom plans to establish a second children's village in 2023, one that offers full-time care for abused and neglected youngsters. He aims to raise up to CHF 165,000 through his journey on foot, enabling him to build two houses for 15 children each and 20

Community

operate them for a period of one year. He would also like to arrange 30 sponsored childcare slots.

The journey is Thom’s goal—no matter how far he may get on foot, he invites others to join him in his walk for a cause, and help raise funds to further the projects of Island Kids Philippines. Since the Galva Swiss Company will cover Thom’s travel expenses, every penny raised for the walk goes straight to the young ones. Thom has discovered that he and his colleagues at Island Kids are able to aid the children directly while keeping administrative costs low.

To support Island Kids, whether financially or through raising funds while doing your own walk for the kids, contact Thomas Kellenberger at:

Island Kids Philippines Vorholzstrasse 12,3800 Unterseen, Switzerland or send an email to

info@islandkids.ch

www.islandkids.ch

FRANCE

Lourdes, France same time next year…

Text by Angela Fernandez

L

ourdes is a small market town at the foothills of the Pyrenees in the southwestern part of France, rich in natural and cultural resources and aptly called “where heaven touches earth.”

It is a bastion of spirituality­ —the apparition site of the Blessed Mother Mary to peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous between February 11 to July 16, 1858. In the first of eighteen encounters when asked by the fourteen-year-old Bernadette who she was, Mother Mary replied that she was the Immaculate Conception.

Bernadette received other messages: on the virtues of poverty and humility, of personal conversion and more importantly on the power of prayer, especially the rosary.

Since then, Lourdes has become one of the most important Marian shrines in the world visited each year by five million faithful from over 140 countries that come to seek both physical and spiritual healing.

In the spring of 2017, a high school classmate from the College of the Holy Spirit announced that The Volunteer Group, organized by a former teacher, had a free spot for Lourdes. Bored with my daily routine I readily filled out the

application form.

On September 5 of the same year, I set foot for the first time on sacred ground. The topography of Lourdes is incredibly impressive, with its river, lush fertile flat lands and hills and, of course, the Grotto of Massabielle where the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette. Strolling through the park I was imbued with a feeling of inner peace and a real sense of belonging.

As a first time volunteer there was much to discover. It was mandatory to attend a formation course where the “hospitalier spirit” was instilled in us; the right attitude to performing our assigned tasks no matter how menial they were. Volunteers came from all corners of the globe. In my group were many Filipina collegialas who had migrated abroad - to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, the Philippines, and myself from Italy. Our group was

Community

21

France

FRANCE

SPAIN

In my group were many Filipina collegialas who had migrated - to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the

Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes

1 Av. Mgr Théas, 65108 Lourdes France

USA, the Philippines, and myself to Italy.

directly under the Administration of the Lourdes Sanctuary that ran the daily activities, both religious and non-religious, of the place.

There are several tasks for the volunteers. Some accompany the sick pilgrim groups from their country of origin. They are normally housed in the Hospitalite Notre Dame di Lourdes a big modern architectural structure on the grounds. Most first timers are assigned to help in the kitchen, but the meals themselves were catered and delivered.

The busiest time for the volunteers is assisting the pilgrims who dip in the miraculous waters of the Baths. There are always long queues throughout the day and the volunteers make sure that the process is as smooth and peaceful 22

Community

for the faithful, taking special care that the sick pilgrims are aided in the best possible way.

The Sanctuary grounds have many churches and chapels where one can attend one of the numerous Holy Masses being said.

There is a daily procession of the adoration of the Holy Eucharist, and the breathtaking evening rosary procession where thousands of lit candles line the streets of the sanctuary whilst the Holy Rosary is being recited in different languages.

I may have started out taking part in this experience for the wrong reason but I can emphatically state that for me, the Lourdes experience has been both enriching and rewarding and has made me a returning volunteer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I was born in Dagupan City and earned my BSBA degree from the University of the Philippines. As an active member of international student organization of business and economics AIESEC, I came to Europe to undergo company traineeships in Berlin, Zurich, Milan and finally Rome where I currently live. I worked as a Market Analyst at the Trade Office of the Philippine Embassy in Rome. I am married to an Italian and together, we raised two daughters now working in London.

Angela Fernandez

AUSTRIA

Thirty-first year wedding anniversary during the pandemic Text by Mae Cayir

M

y husband and I will arrive at our 31st wedding anniversary, vaccinated against COVID19, in our mid-life years during one of human history’s markers: the COVID19 pandemic of 2020-2021.

Two socially-loving persons isolated at the 31st year of union is one that could potentially sway towards disaster or follow the course of grace. We were able to successfully follow the latter because there was no other option.

We are too old into our relationship to allow petty matters build into atomic possibilities. After all, it only takes one ‘pissibility’ of a thousand to break this union, especially during a phenomenon of global proportions that no one in our generation could ever conceive ever happening.

This, and a major car accident pre-pandemic that had us reeling in shock for months. It is still raw at almost two years to get into details here. Suffice it to say that we never anticipated ever having to deal with such an event in our lives. We could have erupted into a blame game, but it was far too traumatic that it sent us into a center of healing between us where we could bond in silence. We each knew the narrative behind this event, to the last alphabetical letter, that there was no need to

discuss and analyze it to the last detail. We were both spared of the immense weight of loss and injury that the other caused and was found guilty of. My husband, the driver, was cleared of guilt, but not the picture of the aftermath, one that we kept out of our minds by constructive distraction.

Our marriage started out with two people made up of molecules that had nothing in common down to its very core. The one enduring component that held this bond has been the innate love we do have for each other, one that we didn’t know we had. That knowledge only comes with the years unfolding.

Our marriage has not been one of any ease for either one of us. That, we never took for granted. Not only were we different of our respective composition, but we also came from different backgrounds.

He grew up in the healthy environment of nature, in one of many

villages that lies in the heart of Anatolia, Turkey. I was born into a million-city metropolis of Manila, Philippines, and grew up in a small island of Samar, in the city of Calbayog, where I spent my childhood with my family, extending to my mother’s side of the family.

When I first met my husband in 1989, the one trait that I felt we shared and would take us through to the long run of a marriage is our common background of cultures that has a strong core and sense of family. That can both be a blessing and a harbinger.

Marriages inevitably have to contend with the conflict that naturally arise out of families, both nuclear and extended. It is test of endurance and patience, tolerance and understanding. It can either make or break a marriage. Simple as that. And, thank God, in our case, it has been more of a blessing and wisdom.

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PHILIPPINES

Plants Legacy As Natural Treatments Text by PJV Images from the stuartxchange.org website, with permission from Dr Godofredo Stuart Jr.

A

fter practising medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, for three decades, Dr. Godofredo U. Stuart Jr. decided to spend his time between his ancestral home in Tiaong Quezon, in the Philippines, and the States. In April 1998, brimming with ideas, he started to build his hilltop house referred to by the locals as the “White House” in Pulang Lupa. In 2003 he returned for good and quickly realised that coming home presented unexpected challenges and that his vision needed to adapt to local realities and expectations.

It is sobering to learn how the benefits of the free medical consultations he gave were lost on many of his earlier patients as they could not afford the prescribed medicines and turned to traditional healers called albularyos, hilots, mangluluop or medicos who relied on colourful and cheaper treatments such as concoctions of roots, leaves and flowers, anting-antings, orasyons and bu-longs. (Ilonggo for medidcines) Faced with this challenge, he vigorously pursued his research on alternative medicine and the benefits and dangers of medicinal 24

Culture

Culture

25

plants, a study he had already started in Baltimore.

Wouldn’t you be intrigued by names such as monkey soap, lizard’s tail, parrot’s beak, dragonfruit or fish killer tree? More common to those of us who live in Southern Europe, it is fascinating to read how both the oleanders that line the highways in Southern Italy and the poinsettia that are synonymous with Christmas are poisonous. Marjoram, the site tells us, was used in ancient Egypt to disinfect and preserve food and the properties of aloe vera were known to the Assyrians.

Twenty two years on, and with more than 1,200 entries, he posts the results in his website at stuart-xchange.org with accompanying photos, detailed descriptions and in-depth reviews of their properties.

His comprehensive listing has received accolades from botanists, the medical field, researchers, teach-

26

Culture

ers, students, and yes, even chefs.

Dr. Stuart’s site also invites you to read various articles on a number of subjects on Philippine history, art and culture and stories from his travels inside and outside of the Philippines. It does not stop there; click on the link Art Galleries and enjoy a tour of the diverse art pieces he has sculpted, painted and created over the years.

On life during this time of the covid pandemic Godofredo says, “I think covid will be around for quite a while. We have acclimatized to this new normal.

I rarely venture out of Pulang Lupa; it has been 14 months of isolation, immersed in art, music and my work on plants. So much “new art” since your last visit. Music is an hour-a-day concert to my audience of one, and the plant research is four to six hours a day.”

Truly, our very own Filipino renaissance man.

GERMANY

Consul General Bids Goodbye to Frankfurt

T

he Philippine by her round of introducG overnment’s tory calls on officials of representative the host city and states in Frankfurt, under the Consulate’s Consul General Evelyn jurisdiction. In addition Austria-Garcia, is bidto establishing relations ding Germany farewell with key public officials, after a productive threeshe also enhanced netyear stint. The veteran works with groups such diplomat led a group of as the ASEAN Heads of consular officials, who Post in Frankfurt, Womre-opened the Philippine en Consul Generals, Inmission in 2018 with ternational Women’s seven federal states unClub, and German-Asian der its jurisdiction. Then Business Circle. On seSenator Loren Legarda, curity-related concerns, who currently serves as the Consulate organized Deputy Speaker in the several fora that were inHouse of Representatended to create awaretives, initiated the move ness of the Philippine to re-establish the consuGovernment’s peace inilar post, citing the city’s tiatives. standing as an economic Upon her arrival, Concenter and the imporsul General Austria-Gartance of better serving cia met with key officials the needs of overseas Consul General Evelyn-Austria-Garcia (right) with Ms. Heike Raab, State of city and state governFilipinos, given its stra- Secretary of Rhineland-Palatinate ­—PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANKFURT PCG ments, including, Mr. tegic location in Western Eduard Hechler, Director Europe. of International Affairs The Consul General then welcomed the new assign- of the Frankfurt City Government, Ms. Heike Raab, ment, as the region’s relations with the Philippines State Secretary of Rhineland-Palatinate, Dr. Stephan was replete with opportunities in the cultural and eco- Holthoff-Pfortner, Minister for Federal & European nomic realm. Moreover, the challenge of uplifting the Affairs and International Affairs of the State of North well-being of our kababayans persisted, as Southern Rhine Westphalia, Mr. Jurgen Lennartz, State SecreGermany was home to approximately 70 percent of tary of Saarland, Dr. Alfred Ruhrmaier, Chief of Prothe country’s total Filipino-German population. tocol, and Dr. Bernd Foster, Director for International Consul General Austria-Garcia’s duties official- Relations, of the Bavarian State Chancellery. (Photo ly began with the presentation of her credentials in courtesy of Frankfurt PCG) Wiesbaden in November 2018. This would be followed In the people-to-people arena, activities were or-

Foreign Affairs

27

Deputy Speaker Legarda cutting the ceremonial ribbon to open the Rizal

Consul General Austria-Garcia and National Museum Assistant Director Ana

exhibit, which coincided with the Consulate’s Philippine Independence Day

Maria Theresa Labrador welcome members of Filipino-German community,

reception in 2019. Assisting her are Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega

consular corps, academe and business sector to the Hibla exhibit. — ­ PHOTO

and Consul General Austria-Garcia. ­—PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANKFURT PCG

COURTESY OF FRANKFURT PCG

ganized to showcase various facets of Philippine culture. They included exhibits, such as the Hibla textile and Pagari Marawi jewelry shows, lectures on Jose Rizal and the performing arts, and concerts by the Pundaquit Virtuoso and MusicArtes. Through a donation by Dr. Fritz Hack Ullmer, the Consulate was also fortunate to have procured rare furniture items used by Dr. Rizal during his stay in Wilhemsfeld, which were subsequently put on display. Also forged were agreements with Ruhr University of Bochum (RUB) to create a Philippine Studies program and Ateneo Professor Dr. Stephanie Coo for research on Philippine materials in European museums. Several of these projects, including Hibla, the RUB agreement and Dr. Coo’s research grant, were initiated and made possible through the invaluable support of Deputy Speaker Legarda for which the Consulate is thankful.

In the economic front, the Consulate supported the participation of Philippine delegates to several trade fairs, pursued tourism promotion activities in close collaboration with the Philippine Department of Tourism Office (PDOT) in Frankfurt, and provided assistance to selected roadshows, such as those representing the construction and energy sectors.

Among the Consul General’s key initiatives was the “Investment in and Recruitment from the Philippines” roadshow held in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, which was convened in collaboration with the Management Association of the Philippines. Also

benefiting from Deputy Speaker Legarda’s patronage were the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Berlin and PDOT-Frankfurt, whose funding for their trade and tourism promotion activities, respectively, were generously augmented by Deputy Speaker Legarda.

An economic roadshow was organized by the Consulate involving representatives of the Management Association of the Philippines in the cities of Frankfurt (right photo above), Stuttgart and Munich. With the theme, “Shaping a Competitive Future,” the activity aimed to entice attendees to consider the Philippines as a viable investment destination and source of talent, and apprise them of the positive strides in the country’s economy.

The Filipino community under the Consulate’s jurisdiction were unanimous in expressing their delight with the Foreign Service Post’s re-opening. During the past two and a half years, over 18,000 consular services were rendered, including those during outreach missions. ATN cases involving the repatriation of individuals, welfare visits, labor and immigration assistance were also extended. Moreover, seminars apprising Filipinos of their rights and relevant programs of government agencies were held both in-person and online.

2020 and the first half of 2021 would be unlike any period the world had experienced. The effects of the coronavirus pandemic would be felt in every

28

Foreign Affairs

facet of our lives, including the operations of the Consulate. Many of the activities planned would have to be scaled back owing to the German Government’s lockdown measures. Notwithstanding the precarious health environment, the Consulate soldiered on with its responsibilities and adapted with increased use of the digital platform. Measures were likewise instituted at the Consulate to prevent and minimize the spread of COVID-19.

In a parting message to her constituents, Consul General Austria-Garcia said, “It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Frankfurt, which had become my second home. As I think back to the presentation of my credentials in November 2018, I recall with great pride at being appointed to such a vital post.

I had heard of the culture of excellence that seemed to pervade German industry and the people’s admirable qualities of being sensible, hardworking and

law-abiding. But I could never have imagined the amazing journey ahead. When I depart, I will take with me incredible memories. I will leave optimistic about the future of relations between the Philippines and the federal states we covered. Whether watching the Bundesliga, meeting German spouses of Filipinos, or visiting charming towns, I have been awed by this progressive country and the breadth of our partnership. I am truly grateful to Deputy Speaker Legarda for her relentless backing and to the hardworking and competent officers and staff of the Consulate, who I had the honor of working with. It has been a privilege to serve in Frankfurt and I bid my German friends, vielen Dank und auf Wiedersehen!”

Consul General Austria-Garcia will indeed be missed by the community, as she leaves an indelible footprint of service.

Upon her arrival, Consul General Austria-Garcia met with key officials of city and state governments, including (left to right), Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pfortner, Minister for Federal & European Affairs and International Affairs of the State of North Rhine Westphalia, Mr. Jurgen Lennartz, State Secretary of Saarland, Dr. Alfred Ruhrmaier, Chief of Protocol, and Dr. Bernd Foster, Director for International Relations, of the Bavarian State Chancellery. An economic roadshow (above) was organized by the Consulate involving representatives of the Management Association of the Philippines in the cities of Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich. With the theme, “Shaping a Competitive Future,” the activity aimed to entice attendees to consider the Philippines as a viable investment destination and source of talent, and apprise them of the positive strides in the country’s economy. — ­ PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRANKFURT PCG

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29

Mr. Adobo food truck at the 2019 Museumsuferfest.—PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANKFURT PCG

GERMANY

Filipino Food in Southern Germany Text & photos by the Philippine Consulate General, Frankfurt

S

ummer is upon us and with the gradual return to normalcy following the unprecedented year of the pandemic, picnics and outdoor grilling will again be staple activities for many Filipinos. Pork barbecue, adobo, pansit and lumpia are traditionally among favorites, but how can they be found in Europe our kababayans may ask.

Filipinos in the region need not fret as several individuals and establishments are satisfying the 30

Foreign Affairs

demand either by importing products from the Philippines or serving these sumptuous delicacies.

Mr. Adobo and AP Event Catering are Filipino food trucks operating out of Frankfurt, Hesse and Voerde, North Rhine-Westphalia, respectively.

While Mr. Adobo specializes in the Philippines’ unofficial national dish, the popular establishment also serves delectable versions of lechon kawali, grilled bangus and beef shortribs. Its services have been contracted by the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt for receptions at the Frankfurt

Convention Center as well as the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in Frankfurt for a number of its tourism promotion campaigns.

Not to be outdone, AP Event Catering has carved a niche in North Rhine-Westphalia with its pork barbecue, pancit bihon and lumpiang shanghai. It is even known to serve halo-halo!

Two Filipina-Germans known for their culinary skills are Malu Rodriguez-Scheich and Maite Hontiveros-Dittke. The Bad Homburg-based Ms. Rodriguez-Scheich was responsible for the succulent dishes served at the Consulate’s

2019 National Day reception with members of the Consular Corps among those in attendance. She was also persuaded to go on hiatus from retirement to cater a dinner hosted by Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia in honor of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and members of the Philippine delegation to the Frankfurt Book Fair. Also in demand are the catering services of Ms. Hontiveros-Dittke, who is based in Cologne.

Among her numerous work, she was contracted for a successful Filipino food-tasting activity organized for travel agents on behalf of an airline client and a cooking demonstration with Chef Claude Tayag at a recent edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair, where attendees were provided with samples of selected Filipino treats.

For those who are simply looking for ingredients and wish to cook Filipino food at home, numerous importers and retailers abound in the states under the jurisdiction of the Consulate. They include Shop Exclusive Pinoy Food in Heilbron, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Asia Shop Pinoy Store in Bamberg, Bavaria, Leizel’s Sari-sari Store in Langenwetzendorf, Thuringia, and four in North Rhine-Westphalia -

TOP: Ms. Hontiveros-Dittke (leftmost) and Chef Tayag (standing) provide a cooking demonstration during the 2019 Frankfurt Book Fair as part of the activities of the Philippine delegationMIDDLE: Deputy Consul General Emil Fernandez (left) with representatives of Filipinas Organic Coconut Products Corp., one of the participating exhibitors from the Philippines during the 2019 Biofach Fair at the Nuremberg Convention Center. BOTTOM: Madame Avancena delivering remarks during the opening of the Philippine Pavilion at the 2019 Anuga Trade Fair in Cologne.—PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRANKFURT PCG

Foreign Affairs

31

The Mabuhay food truck of AP Event Catering. —PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/APEVENTCATERING316C

Philippine Shop and Pinoy Asian Markt both in Cologne, Pinoy Food in Siegen and Sisterz Restaurant in Moenchengladbach, which is both a store and restaurant.

The Consulate’s Economic Diplomacy efforts not only aims to entice the German public with the Philippines’ culinary delights but also increase the amount of food products imported from the country. This is evident in its participation in events such as the Anuga Trade Fair, which is said to be the largest of its kind for the food and beverage industry.

Its 2019 edition saw the Philippines’ biggest delegation to the biennial fair thus far, with 19 exhibiting companies and 18 One Town-One Product participants.

Moreover, the event was graced 32

Foreign Affairs

by none other than Madame Cielito Avancena, a champion of small-and-medium enterprises and a businesswoman herself.

Participation in the Biofach Trade Fair has also yielded impressive results for Philippine exporters of organic food, such as coconut products, muscovado sugar, banana and cacao chips, with some US$56 million in sales recorded from 2018 to 2020.

Anuga and Biofach are two of a dozen trade and tourism fairs, where Consulate officials extend support to Philippine exhibitors.

Other major fairs include the Automechanika Fair for automotive services, Electronica Fair for electronics, Ambiente Fair for consumer goods, Boat Consumer Trade Fair for watersports and

the Bauma Fair for the construction industry. Several fairs have adopted hybrid models, to cater to visitors either digitally or physically.

This serves as a positive sign that physical contact is gradually being reintroduced. As a people who value interaction with others, Filipinos cannot wait for the day when social restrictions are a thing of the past.

And surely among the first order of the day will be reunions with friends and loved ones, where favorite dishes will be served.

Everyone is encouraged to do their share in promoting Philippine cuisine wherever they may be and to patronize Philippine food products, stores and catering services.

Philippine Embassies and Consulates Roots & Wings has 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.

AUSTRIA

Copenhagen, Denmark

Consulate General of the Philippines, Frankfurt

Embassy of the Philippines, Vienna

Tel (+45) 7141-5952

H.E. Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia

H.E. Deena Joy D. Amatong

Emergency (+45) 2273-3933

Westend Carree

Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim

Email: copenhagen.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Grüneburgweg 16-18, 1st Floor

20th and 21st Floor, ARES Tower

Facebook: @PHinDenmark

60322 Frankfurt Am Main

Donau-City-Strasse 11, A-1220

WWW.COPENHAGENPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Federal Republic of Germany Tel (+49) (0) 69 8700 66900

Vienna, Austria Tel (+43-1) 533-2401

FINLAND

Hotline (+49) (0) 151 6248 7425

Emergency Tel (+43-6991) 232-2034

Embassy of the Philippines, Greater Helsinki

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

Email: vienna.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Vice Consul, ad honorem Mdme. Teresita

Email: frankfurt.pcg@dfa.gov.ph

vienna.pm@dfa.gov.ph

Zurbano Ruutu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

WWW.VIENNAPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Ukonkivenpolku 3e, Fi-01610 Vantaa, Finland

PHinFrankfurt/

Tel (+358) 407 071 817

WWW.FRANKFURTPCG.DE

EMAIL: TERESITA.RUUTU@SAUNALAHTI.FI

WWW.FRANKFURTPCG.DFA.GOV.PH/

BELGIUM Embassy of the Philippines, Brussels H.E. Ambassador Eduardo José A. De Vega

FRANCE

GREECE

297 Avenue Moliere, Brussels, 1050 BELGIUM

Embassy of the Philippines, Paris

Embassy of the Philippines, Athens

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

H.E. AILEEN MENDIOLA RAU

H.E. Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec

Emergency Tel (+32-4) 8860-9177

Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim

26 Antheon Street, Paleo Psychico 154-52

Email: brussels.pe@dfa.gov.ph;

4 Hameau de Boulainvilliers

Athens, Greece

brusselspe@gmail.com

45 Rue du Ranelagh

Tel (+30210) 672-1883

Facebook: @PHinBelgium

75016 Paris, France

(+30210) 672-1883

WWW.BRUSSELSPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Tel (+331) 4414-5700

672-1837

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

Emergency (+30-697) 968-2921,

CZECH REPUBLIC

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

(+30-697) 968-2921

Embassy of the Philippines, Prague

Email: paris.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Email: athens.pe@dfa.gov.ph;

H.E. Ambassador Mr. Ombra T. Jainal

parispe.dfa@gmail.com

ATHENSPE@OTENET.GR

Senovazne Namesti 8, Prague 1, 110 00

Facebook: @PHinFrance

Czech Republic

WWW.PARISPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Tel (+420) 224-216397 (+420) 224-216397 /

HUNGARY Embassy of the Philippines, Budapest

GERMANY

H.E. Ambassador Frank R. Cimafranca

224-216385

Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin

1026 Budapest, Gabor Aron utca 58

Emergency Tel (+420) 607-850-764

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

Budapest, Hungary

Email: prague.pe@dfa.gov.ph;

Luisenstrasse 16, 10117 Berlin-Mitte

Tel (+36-1) 391-4300

praguepe@gmail.com

Federal Republic of Germany

Email: budapest.pe@dfa.gov.ph /

Facebook: @PHinCzechRepublic

Tel +49 (0) 30 864 95 00

phbuda@philembassy.hu

WWW.PRAGUEPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Emergency +49 (0) 173-521-5703

Facebook: @PHLinHungary

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

WWW.BUDAPESTPE.DFA.GOV.PH

philippine-embassy.de

DENMARK

ISRAEL

Embassy of the Philippines, Copenhagen

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

H.E. Ambassador Leo M. Herrera-Lim

PHinGermany

Embassy of the Philippines, Tel-Aviv

Arne Jacobsens Alle 13, 1st Floor, 2300

WWW.PHILIPPINE-EMBASSY.DE

H.E. Ambassador-designate Macairog S. Alberto

Foreign Affairs

33

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

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

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

Emergency +48 604 357 396

Emergency (+972-54) 466-1188

Email: warsaw.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Embassy of the Philippines, Berne

(+972-54) 466-1188

Facebook: @PHLinPoland

H.E. Ambassador Denis Yap Lepatan

Email: telaviv.pe@dfa.gov.ph;

WWW.WARSAWPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Kirchenfeldstrasse 73-75

filembis@netvision.net.il WWW.PHILEMBTELAVIV.CO.IL

PORTUGAL

SWITZERLAND

3005 Berne, Switzerland

Embassy of the Philippines, Lisbon

Tel (+41-31) 350-1700

H.E. Ambassador Celia Anna M. Feria

Emergency (+41-79) 542-1992

Rua Barata Salgueiro 30–3 andar

Email: berne.pe@dfa.gov.ph /

Embassy of the Philippines, Rome

1250-044 Lisbon, Portugal

info@philembassyberne.ch

H.E. Ambassador Domingo P. Nolasco

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

Facebook: @PHinSwitzerland

Viale delle Medaglie d’Oro 112-114

216-083-277

WWW.BERNEPE.DFA.GOV.PH

00136 Rome, Italy

Emergency (+351) 925-410-257

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

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

Permanent Representative

Emergency (+39) 328-690-7613

lisbon.pe@gmail.com

(+39) 328-690-7613

WWW.LISBONPE.DFA.GOV.PH

H.E. Ambassador Evan P. Garcia

ITALY

Email: rome.pe@dfa.gov.ph romepe2007@gmail.com WWW.PHILEMBASSY-ROME.NET

47 Avenue Blac, 1202 Geneva

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Switzerland

Embassy of the Philippines, Moscow

Tel (+41-22) 716-1930

H.E. Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta

Emergency (+41-79) 1369-114

Karmanitsky Pereulok 8

Email: geneva.pm@dfa.gov.ph / genevapm49@

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES,

Building 1, 121099

gmail.com

THE HAGUE

Moscow, Russian Federation

genevapm.dfa.gov.ph

H.E. Ambassador Jose Eduardo Malaya

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

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GENEVAPCG

(incoming)

Email: moscow.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Tel (+31) 70360-4820

moscowpe@mailfrom.ru

Emergency (+31)(0) 65261-1079

Facebook: Philembassy Moscow

Embassy of the Philippines, London

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

WWW.MOSCOWPE.DFA.GOV.PH

H.E. Ambassador Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo

THE NETHERLANDS

philembassy.nl Facebook: @PHinTheNetherlands WWW.THEHAGUEPE.DFA.GOV.PH

UNITED KINGDOM

6-8 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG

SPAIN

United Kingdom of Great Britain

Embassy of the Philippines, Madrid

Tel (+44) 20-7451-1780

H.E Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier

Emergency (+44) 78-0279-0695

Calle Eresma 2, 28002 Madrid, Spain (Chancery)

Email: london.pe@dfa.gov.ph /

Embassy of the Philippines, Oslo

Calle Guadalquivir 6, 28002 Madrid, Spain

embassy@philemb.co.uk

Nedre Vollgate 4, 0158 Oslo, Norway

(Consular Section)

Facebook: @PHLinUK

P.O. Box 1758 VIKA N-0122 Oslo, Norway

Tel (+34) 917-823-830 / 917-823-836; 917-451-

WWW.LONDONPE.DFA.GOV.PH

(+47) 224-00900 (+47) 224-00900

734 (Consular Section)

Emergency (+47) 902 41 171

Emergency (+34) 616-491-861

Email: helpdesk@philembassy.no

Email: madrid.pe@dfa.gov.ph /

Embassy of the Philippines, Vatican

WWW.PHILEMBASSY.NO

madridpe@yahoo.com

H.E. Ambassador Grace R. Princesa

Consular: info@philembassymadrid.

Via Paolo VI, 29, 00193 Rome, Italy

com / consular@philembassymadrid.com

Tel (+39-06) 6830-8020

Philippine Consulate, Reykjavik, Iceland

Facebook: @PHinSpain

Email: vatican.pe@dfa.gov.ph /

H.E. Consul Maria Priscilla Zanoria a.h

www.philembassymadrid.com

vaticanpe2@gmail.com

Skógarsel 39

WWW.MADRIPE.DFA.GOV.PH

https://dfa.gov.ph/about/dfa-directory/our-

NORWAY

ICELAND

foreign-service-posts-dfa

109 Reykjavik, Iceland Tel (+354) 897 5391 EMAIL: PHILCONSUL@SIMNET.IS

SWEDEN Embassy of the Philippines, Stockholm H.E. Consul Raul Dado

POLAND

Charge d’ affaires, ad interim

Embassy of the Philippines, Warsaw

Mobile +46 702 735 407,

H.E. Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz

+63 9054039435 (Viber)

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

EMAIL: STOCKHOLM.PE@DFA.GOV.PH

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Directory

VATICAN, ITALY

WWW.VATICANPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Directory

35

MANILA

Y

The imagination of an imagemaker

ou immeditherapy for his college deately get a gree. Armed with detersense of MJ mination and an innate Suayan’s suresense of style and design, ty and creative breadth MJ started out as a largethe instant you view his ly self-taught street phoimages. That’s the way tographer. He was later it is when you witness a mentored by some of the maestro in his element. country’s top lensmen In MJ’s latest Vogue Itaand, led by his passion for lia shoot, he uses old creative endeavours, MJ school practical effects made a name in the into achieve painting-like dustry by landing multiple images. When he reveals cover shoots and creative the photos on his camprojects for publications era, viewers could hardsuch as Tatler Philippines, ly believe they weren’t Lifestyle Asia, Mega, Mapost-processed. Only a nila Bulletin Style Weektalented artist-photograend, Metro Weddings, and pher with years of expeGarage Magazine. rience and a passionate While his flair for knowledge of form and fashion granted MJ suctechnique can achieve cess in Manila, his evocsuch a feat effortlessly, ative, emotion-packed within moments. work caught the eye of As an inquisitive child, Vogue Italia’s Deputy Edborn in 1978 to a creative itor, Sara Maino. She has family in Manila, MJ had said, “The first time I saw the good fortune of growMJ’s works, ‘twas emoing up in an atmosphere tional! He is a pure talof encouragement and ent and his artistic vision machinery, where his cugoes beyond any boundriosity was fed daily.

Text by Donna Patricia Manio Photos courtesy of MJ Suayan aries.” Maino, credited as “We used to live beside Guest editor Michellan Sarile-Alagao one of the pillars of the a small machine shop, ongoing renaissance of which, to a curious child such as myself back then, was Vogue Italia, launched the trajectory of many artists a perfect makeshift laboratory,” he reminisced. “That through Vogue Talents—a platform for creative minds was my first exposure to paints and chemicals. I can from all over the globe. still remember how chemicals reacted with each other MJ joins this roster of creatives, a model for Filforming into another compound. I was so amazed by ipino creatives on the global scene. Yet his journey, the changes I saw—the textures and colors are still so from the edgy street photography of Manila to the invivid in my mind.” In this creativity-nurturing envi- ternational world of high fashion, began from a place ronment, MJ and his siblings became adept at their of deep personal tragedy, and you can sense a certain chosen artistic disciplines. One of his brothers, Mico melancholy behind the power of some images. “The Suayan, is an internationally-acclaimed cover artist passing of my two beloved daughters, Helaena and for DC and Marvel comics.

Fiona, created this vast darkness in me.

While a true creative at heart, MJ pursued physical It was so huge that it almost consumed me. It has

Artist MJ Suayan blurs the boundaries between photography and art with his conceptual and evocative body of work.

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Lifestyle

been 12 years and the truth is, I haven’t really grieved yet. I haven’t talked about how I felt as I am apprehensive to open the floodgates of emotions and cope with the pain. That explains my aesthetic and style, I guess. It is through my art that I share my thoughts.

It is indeed a great help for me—therapeutic in a way.”

Perhaps this is what adds such depth to MJ’s work: raw emotion, imagination, and an awareness that both love and pain, must be shared.

MJ is already a respected and established artist, yet he continues to learn new things, and aims to take his craft further. “I am very critical of myself as an artist.

I wasn’t confident about my process and was never sure if I was doing it the right way. Partly, I think it was because of my lack of traditional or formal art education. It wasn’t until I discovered the works of two great photographers—Paolo Roversi and Nick Knight, with Roversi’s dreamy and ethereal style, and Knight’s use of digital and advanced processes in presenting his photography—that I got really inspired to continue creating art.” While mastering the various techniques of a craft is one thing, keeping a sense of wonder and an openness to newness is another, and this is also what keeps MJ’s ideas fresh and future-forward.

“I can’t control how a chemical would react to photo inks or how a flame would burn my images and create another interesting image.

What attracts me to the process is that it surprises me most of the time, with the images turning out better than I could ever expect.”

For the artist, this process is what he calls “cosmic.” As a creator, MJ also doesn’t believe in being confined to just one medium. He merges imagination and process through experimentation in photography and lighting, as well as man-

ual and digital image manipulation. For MJ, there is no end to finding new processes to help bring to visual life the dreams, concepts and feelings within his mind-soul.

In MJ’s recent Vogue Italia shoot, “Indigenous Futurism,” the artist has pushed himself to produce ethereal works of art. Despite the many restrictions caused by the pandemic, MJ was a true pro during the shoot, his movements almost clockwork-like in their measure and flow.

As someone who has worked with countless creatives, he realized that he can also help other talented individuals in our collective quest to bring Philippine arts and culture more awareness worldwide. “It has been my goal to bring local designers and creatives to a global spotlight thru my collaboration with international platforms-magazines. I strongly believe in the talent of the Filipino artist. If given the platform, Pinoys can be on par with other foreign artists—because we are.” Creative projects have continued to come his way despite the pandemic and MJ considers himself blessed for this.

Once the world has resumed a safer pace and travel restrictions lift even more, he plans to collaborate with other international artists and mount exhibits in Europe and the United States. Exploring and discovering new ways of making art is something that MJ will continue doing, as his works continue to have their distinct, dream-like quality that make audiences pay attention and, above all, feel. “Notice my works are somehow dream-like. It is because I don’t want to take away dreaming from my viewers. I want young creatives/artists to continue to dream or to imagine.

Once you stop dreaming it would be the end for an artist.”

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PHILIPPINES

On Indigenous Foot-urism and what we owe to each other

Story by Gilda Flores Photos courtesy of MJ Suayan, Rax Mercado, Joel Wijangco, Tal De Guzman, Victor Baguilat Jr., Mara Pinon and Roweliza Landicho 38

Lifestyle

Talented Filipino shoe designers and makers complete the looks of Vogue Italia’s latest fashion editorial featuring an all-Pinoy creative team.

T

he shoes we wear make a lot of long-lasting impressions and these may either be positive or negative. Some might even say that it depends on how we carry them, but at a time when it matters to know who people really are, many fail to walk the talk.

A team of Filipino creatives, true to their commitment to bring local talent to the world stage, has banded together for an advocacy story featured in Vogue Italia. It isn’t just all about glamor: it is about sharing Filipino-ness through art and design while raising awareness about indigenous culture in the Philippines.

Together with seasoned photographer MJ Suayan, acclaimed fashion designer Victor Baguilat Jr., ambassador for Philippine arts and culture Pia Wurtzbach, and luxury destination Okada Manila, a team of Filipino shoe designers recently had a photoshoot which highlighted Indigenous Futurism.

The fashion editorial also aims to showcase Filipino talent and craftsmanship, as well as the local industries that need to be acknowledged and supported, especially now in the time of a pandemic.

Shoes are an integral part of any outfit, but apart from bringing one’s attire together, shoes and shoe designs are may also be considered as an art form.

Lifestyle

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Joel Wijangco

Tal De Guzman

Mara Piñon

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Lifestyle

Joel Wijangco, Tal De Guzman, Victor Baguilat Jr., Mara Piñon and Roweliza Landicho were able to prove this through their respective skills, patterns, and innovations in the looks presented in “Indigenous Futurism.”

Joel Wijangco, a two-time awardee of the Philippine Footwear Design Competition, loves telling stories through his designs. He is known for adding cheeky, playful details to each pair of shoes he creates.

The look Cosmic Traveller Meets Palengkera No.2 resembles a coming together of both the future and the past. This aesthetic was shown through Wijanco’s shoe design. Inspired by the work footwear of Malabon fishwives, the shoes feature splashes and wavelike details. This blended well with the handwoven spacesuit made with fabrics sourced from Julongan Village, Kisangani, Ifugao.

De Guzman, in addition to being a shoe designer, is an accomplished social entrepreneur. As an advocate for local fashion and art, she founded Risque Designs, a label that carries sustainable, locally handcrafted footwear.

The Philippines is known for its vast flora and fauna; these add to the beauty of the country itself.

The look Golden Harvest Meets Pawikan on Repeat, aside from highlighting our flora and fauna, aims to bring attention to the issue of waste pollution in the agricultural sector. To complete the said look and what it represents, De Guzman took inspiration from the pawikan and used hand carved heels to mimic its intricate shells. The leg straps were inspired by seagrass and were made of handwoven local fabric.

Mara Piñon makes fashion fun and enjoyable through her delightfully whimsical designs. She owns an online shoe store which focuses on the concept of “wearable art.”

For the look Nectar of Life Meets Drip, art imitates life in a very interesting way. Using fashion and style to raise awareness on how bees positively affect our ecosystem, Piñon liberally added a playful touch of color to her shoe design since the patterns she made were akin to golden honey drippings. Piñon’s shoe design is an homage to the five out of nine species of honeybees that are native to the Philippines.

Roweliza Landicho is from a family of shoemakers and bagmakers. She loves to create and craft both bespoke and commercial products, which carry both versatility and style.

The story behind the look Seafarer meets Mother oh Pearl was the plight of around 17 million Indige-

nous Peoples in the Philippines. To honor the plight of the country’s IP’s, Landicho’s strappy heeledshoes made use of silver leather together with a carved platform plated with mother of pearl. It was a simple design that shows strength and power.

Artisanal accessories which were inspired by the characters and patterns of local weaves and textiles were also used to accentuate the entire outfit.

Victor Baguilat Jr., is a renowned international indigenous designer and stylist. In the course of his career, he has presented several of his designs at New York, Paris, and Melbourne Fashion Weeks.

Baguilat Jr.’s shoe design focused on the tensions between the military and Indigenous Peoples, which have been going on for years. He designed knee-high boots and paired it with a handwoven jacket with metallic details.

On the local shoe industry Marikina is dubbed as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines. It is home to the world’s largest pair of shoes as well as to local shoemakers and artisans. However, through the years, their local production has been affected by the increasing import of international products and the lack of attention that their products get in the digital age. This is not inevitable though. Our local shoemakers are talented and adept in their respective crafts. More designers, even those outside Marikina, have also joined the Foot-ure forward movement.

As consumers, we play a significant role in helping our local industries thrive and grow, especially now where the world is in quite a standstill.

Roweliza Landicho

Foot-urism isn’t just all about glamor: it is about sharing Filipino-ness through art and design while raising awareness about indigenous culture in the Philippines.

Foot-urism involves the present The shoe designers in the Vogue Italia photo shoot, as well as other shoemakers in the Philippines, have continuously reminded us of how talented Filipinos are and how important it is to remember and uphold our culture no matter where we are.

Culture and cultural representation should not just be viewed as commemorations during festivals and history lessons; they should be seen as a way of life, a warm embrace to our heritage and identity. This is the only way we can take steps to being truly foot-ure forward.

Victor Baguilat Jr.

Lifestyle

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GERMANY / PHILIPPINES

ROCK STAR

EURO-FILIPINO

FOOTBALLERS

Text & photos by Cedelf Tupas

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Sports

F

ootballer Stephan Schrock has played in some of the biggest, most iconic stadiums in the world during his career in Europe. With a career that spans almost two decades starting from youth level in Germany, Schrock saw action for three seasons in the German top-flight with Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt.

And while the midfielder will always cherish times when he went up against the best in the Bundesliga and played at packed stadiums, he admits there’s no greater feeling that could rival representing his mother’s country, the Philippines. It hardly mattered that he had to travel halfway around the world for a couple of matches during international breaks early in his national team career.

“As soon as I decided to play for the Philippines, I knew I would make my Nanay very happy,” said Schrock. “I love the country. I have Filipino blood, but this was also a tribute to my Nanay (Nanay is the Filipino term for mother.)

When I was six, my parents separated, and things got hard for us. My mom had to raise us, while working two or three jobs,” said Schrock.

“Football was always there for me, and it soon became my way out of those difficult times.

Schrock’s mom, Maria Cabizares hails from the Southern city of North Cotabato, but moved to Schweinfurt, Germany when she met Schrock’s father.

Almost a decade since he wore the Philippines kit for the first time, Schrock is now the captain of the national team, leading the squad in its first-ever AFC Asian Cup appearance in 2019 in the United Arab Emirates.

It’s a role he has embraced. Known for his fiery character, Schrock demands excellence from teammates and has also led by example, scoring the first goal of the Philippines in the continental competition.

The Philippine national men’s football team was given the monicker “Askals” - a Filipino term loosely referring to street dogs - back in 2005 by fans in an online

We are here because we have Filipino blood running through our veins regardless of where we grew up.

Stephan Schrock PHILIPPINE FOOTBALL TEAM CAPTAIN

forum. According to Cebu-based journalist Noel Villaflor, fans agreed that the Filipino football player must possess the traits of the askal: aggressiveness, resilience, unbridled loyalty.

“The Askal survives, even triumphs, amid meager resources, against all odds. It transcends bloodlines.” Villaflor said. With a slight tweak, the “s” was changed to “z,” the team’s monicker Azkals was born.

The term could not have been more apt since this was the time when the Philippine Football Federation scouted for talents overseas to reinforce the team. While the Filipino football program is still in the developmental stage, players of Filipino lineage in Europe were exposed to the sport early, under strong youth and club structures.

Among the early European-based players who were recruited for the national team are England-based Filipinos Phil and James Younghusband, Chris Greatwich and Chad Gould.

The Younghusband brothers, who were once on Chelsea’s reserve team, and Greatwich were instrumental in the

—PHOTO COURTESY OF CEDELF TUPAS

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Philippine Football Team Captain Stephan Shrock (17) holding the banner.. —PHOTO COURTESY OF CEDELF TUPAS

2-0 victory over then defending champion Vietnam in the 2010 Asean Championships in Hanoi. It was a win that sparked Filipino interest in the sport again and the players became celebrities overnight.

The sudden popularity of the team and the wave of support that came with it led to interest from players based in Europe.

One of them was Schrock , then making waves in the second division in Germany, who finally got to play for the Philippines, in the 2011 World Cup qualifiers. Schrock was given the rockstar treatment as soon as he stepped unto the Rizal Memorial Stadium pitch in Manila.

He gifted the fans with a memorable 44

Sports

goal in a 3-1 loss to Kuwait.

More than a decade on, Filipinos who grew up in Europe remain an integral part of the team. During the last Fifa World Cup qualifiers in the UAE, more than half of the squad were born in European countries, including Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, Germany, and England.

Schrock, of course, is the spearhead that links past teams to the current one.

“I just remind my teammates what we are fighting for.” said Schrock.

“When we’re with the national team, we’re not on a holiday or anything. We are here because we represent the country. We are here because we have Filipino blood running through our veins regardless of where we grew up.”

CUBAO AND QUIAPO TYPE BY AARON

TOKYO OLYMPICS

Hidilyn Diaz

Weightlifting­—Womens 55kg

THE PHILIPPINES TOPS ASEAN COUNTRIES IN RANKING Text by Gloria Hernandez Photo by Paolo del Rosario/Cignal TV Almost a century since the Philippines sent its first contingent to the quadrennial sports event in 1924, the country is yet to clinch an Olympic gold medal until this year when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz snatched the elusive award.

Sources: PTV News, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines_at_the_Olympics

Sports

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Nesthy Petecio

Carlo Paalam

Photo by Paolo del Rosario/Cignal TV

Photo by Paolo del Rosario/Cignal TV

Boxing­—Women's Feather Weight

Boxing­—Men's Fly Weight

An experienced Olympian, Hidilyn delivered the country’s maiden gold after lifting the combined weight of 224 kilograms in the women’s 55-kg class. She also set an Olympics record. She improved her previous performance at the Rio Olympics in 2016 where she won silver medal in the same event.

This year’s Olympic feat also featured the first Filipino female boxer who won a silver. Nesthy Petecio reached the semi-final of the featherweight division that ensured her of the medal haul.

Another silver was contributed by boxer Carlo Paalam who secured the medal after defeating Ryomei Tanaka of Japan at the semi-final match of the men’s flyweight division.

On the other hand, Eumir Felix Marcial, the lone professional boxer among the boxing contingent, snatched the bronze medal following the win in the quarterfinal match at the middleweight division.

RP leads ASEAN in Tokyo Olympics ranking The two-week sporting event also landed the Philippines on top of the ranking among the members of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with one gold, two silvers, and one bronze medals. It ranked 50th at the overall Olympic Medal Rankings.

Philippines bested for the first time in medal ranking its fellow ASEANs; In-

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Eumir Marcial

Boxing­—Men's Middle Weight Photo by Paolo del Rosario/Cignal TV

donesia ranked 55th, Thailand followed at 59th place and Malaysia at 74th place.

Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam failed to earn any medal during the competition. Thailand snatched the top post during the Rio Olympics in 2016 with two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. Considered as the country’s best ever performance in the Olympics, it was believed that the players were buoyed up by their stellar finish at the 2019 SEA Games when Philippines was the overall champion after garnering 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals.

Nineteen players, all first time Olympians, except for Hidilyn, competed in various disciplines at the international sports event that was delayed due to the pandemic. There are four in the boxing, three in golf, two in swimming, two in weightlifting, and one each in pole vaulting, gymnastics, skateboarding, judo, rowing, taekwondo, sprinting, and shooting. Skateboarding, meanwhile, is a new game introduced at the recently concluded competition.

History records showed that the Philippines was the first country in the Southeast Asia to join the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 and subsequently, the first to win a medal in 1928. Swimmer Teofilo Yldefonse won bronze in the Men’s 200-meter breaststroke at the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

There were 206 countries that participated in this year’s Olympics with a total of 11,091 athletes that competed in 41 different sports and 339 events.

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n e v e l E AWESOME

EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS

Cia doluptia essus ex et Vollent Photo by Michael Olwyler

Most of our Roots & Wings readers are travellers who like to explore European destinations. Some make these journeys out of their bucket lists. Many more turn these experiences into lifelong journeys. From our readers’ contributions this time - Italy, Germany and France top the list.

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Reader Engagement

France

The Road Less Travelled Text & photos by Michael Olwyler Michael was raised by adventurous parents who took him from his home in Pennsylvania, USA, to the magical town of San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico in the 1950s. He returned to the States to finish high school, and soon after was captivated by the majestic beauty of the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada east of San Francisco. He got a job with the Yosemite National Park where he picked up photography to immortalise nature. As a wilderness ranger for the US Forest Service, he worked his way from trail crew worker to management, but always stayed tied to the wilderness.

Then the travel bug took him to far away places like South East Asia, South America and Africa. He began working with the International Programs of the Forest Service and Colorado State University’s Center for Protected Area Management until his retirement in 2008.

Since then Michael has been archiving and accessioning the 40,000 black and white images taken by his parents, both photojournalists. He has already published “San Miguel and its people” and is currently working on photographs of the Philippines and the San Francisco Bay Area rock & roll era of the 1970s and ‘80s.

Michael shares his travel photographs online and here, some stunning photos of his 10-day trip in June 2019, which takes us on a path around the “white mountain” Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, crossing Switzerland, Italy and France; a call of the wild, to a road less travelled.

Covid restrictions permitting, he should once again be “hitting the trail” this year, aiming for the Dolomites in Italy and the Berner Oberland in Switzerland.

Notre-Dame de la Gorge, Les Contamines Montjoie, France

Michael Olwyler with Mont Blanc in the background

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Slovenia

Lake Bled Ma. Crizelda T. Arambulo Lake Bled is a beautiful glacial lake in the northwestern region of Slovenia. A picturesque and serene escape set amid forests and mountains, you can’t help but stare at the view and silhouette of the Julian Alps. For a unique Lake Bled experience, visit Bled Island on a traditional Slovenia ‘Pletna” (covered rowboat) that could carry 20 passengers, propelled by an oarsman who stands and rows with two oars. Rising from the pretty island church is the 52 metres high free standing bell tower. Visit the Church of the Assumption to ring the 16th century wishing bell for a blast of good luck for your journey ahead but only after climbing the 99 stone steps!

Italy

Summer in Venice Pilar Karen Sun I loved my visit to the most romantic city of Venice in the Veneto region of Italy. The architecture, the pink and white marble buildings, and the gondola rides crisscrossing hundreds of islands in the Adriatic Sea amazed me the most. Instead of walking the streets and roads, we travelled on waterways and canals.

While exploring restos across Piazza San Marco, we met a Filipino ice cream vendor who was only too happy to top up our vanilla ice cream cones for free!

Visiting St Mark’s Basilica during high tide was an experience, walking on planks set up by the locals within minutes of rising water. Venice is magical and

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Spain

Germany

Guggenheim Bilbao Museum

Mainau Island, Konstanz

Becky Torres

Janet Marie Ledesma

Hans Christian Andersen once said “to travel is to live.” Very apt description for the joy of discovering new places to explore and be surprised by on our European tour. The town of Bilbao was our first stop in Spain, motoring out from Barritz, France. Bilbao is known for the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, representing an architectural 20th century landmark by Frank Gehry with its rich collection of artworks on exhibit. Near the banks of the River Nervion was Louise Bourgeois’ massive bronze sculpture of the big Spider Guggenheim named Maman.

Have you seen more than a thousand variety of roses - queen of flowers - in one place? Mainau Island in Lake Constance, Germany exhibits a veritable firework of blooms in each turn of the season. Our summer visit to this 45-hectare flower island offered an impressive park landscape with magnificent flower displays, an arboretum of centuries-old trees, a greenhouse with tropical climate, a butterfly garden and the castle of Frederik I, Grand Duke of Baden overlooking the lake. Anyone wishing to offload stress, this is the place to visit in Europe!

Czech Republic

Prague F Jakob One summer evening, as we were driving into Prague, Czech Republic’s capital and largest city, my wife and children were taken by the fairy tale sight of Prague Castle from a distance. It lifted off the ground, a mesmerizing sight with its majestic illumination, seemingly floating on the clouds. That same evening, we toured the medieval Charles Bridge on foot, across the Moldau River. It’s about 500m long and 10m wide arch stone protected by towers and adorned by baroque-style statues. The family enjoyed traditional goulash on bread bowls in the Old Town Square. It remains a favourite family destination.

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Russia

St. Petersburg and Moscow Matez Quirante Chua Uniting classic and modernity, Russia’s St. Petersburg and Moscow are true wonders. Cultured and old, the contrasts between them attract many visitors. A visit to the famous Hermitage Museum and its 300 million artifacts, to the Tsar’s Winter Palace, to St. Isaac’s Cathedral, or to the Fortress of Sts. Peter and Paul is to tread in the footsteps of opulent royals. The awesome but imperialistic way of life of the Tsars can rival the most sophisticated of European settlements west of the Baltic region. A major attraction is the Church of Savior of Spilled Blood, built from 1883-1907 with its ornate colorful mosaic dome. The symbolic center of all of Russia is found in the Kremlin and Red Square where St. Basil Cathedral, an Orthodox Church-turnedmuseum is located.

Italy

Leaning Tower of Pisa Mae Itchon The Leaning Tower of Pisa is breathtaking; it is one of the most remarkable architectural structures from medieval Europe. The tower is a campanille or Bell Tower 60 meters tall, leaning at about a 10-degree angle. It stands next to the Cathedral of Pisa in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) in the city of Pisa, Italy. It is massively leaning and the buildings surrounding it are very attractive. It was an amazing sight that invites fun photo ops holding up the tower or pushing it over.

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Reader Engagement

Italy

The Amalfi Coast Text by Marites Bautista Photo by Fhe Busadre Perez Amalfi Coast is a fantastic 50-kilometer scenic stretch of coastline in the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, Campania region. My husband and I were seated on the front row of our bus, feasting on the views of the mountains, sea cliffs and holiday villas dotting the coast where people spend time in tranquility. Amalfi being the gateway, led us to Naples and Sorrento where we particularly enjoyed Ristorante Pizzera Tasso’s specialty dishes and drinks. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Meravigliosa esperienza!

Germany

Massive Art on Berlin Wall J Joseph Long before I was born, history recorded the city of Berlin as divided physically and ideologically into two contrasting zones. The Cold War halved this city with a wall 155 km long and 4 meters tall, and did the most unthinkable, brutal, and tyrannical acts the world has ever experienced. By the time the wall was demolished in 1989, it had became a massive gallery of murals thanks to Thierry Noir, French artist popularly credited as leading pioneer of art on Berlin wall. While you are in Berlin, among the ‘must-see’ landmarks are the Holocaust Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate as symbol of reunification, Potzdamer Platz, and Checkpoint Charlie.

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Switzerland

Einsiedeln Betsy von Atzigen, in memory of Barbara Jance Einsiedeln in canton Schwyz, central Switzerland, is one of the most memorable summer destinations my late mother ever visited. It is a very important pilgrimage place in Europe that hosts the relics of St. Meinrad and the miraculous Black Madonna statue in a majestic baroque Benedictine monastery whose history spans over a thousand years. We walked a wellmarked forest path up the mountain for the Stations of the Cross. A few meters away is the world’s largest nativity scene - Diorama Bethlehem. Pilgrims collect water from the Fountain of Our Lady believed to have healing properties. Pilgrims around the world come here for prayer and solace.

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2021SEP07

”I believe that in order for ideas to inspire a movement, it must be conveyed through art and design.”

LINKEDIN: KATRINA LARIDA

Katrina Larida is a multidisciplinary artist and designer. She completed Business Administration in Marketing at the University of the Philippines, Visayas and pursued Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design in New York.Katrina started her own sustainable and ethical womenswear brand Sage Winther, first released in Autumn 2020.Look out for her solo art exhibition in January 2022 and first fashion show at the Stockholm Fashion Week in February 2022.

Instagram: @laridaart @shopsagewinther Facebook: @shopsagewinther Websites: katrinalarida.com / sagewinther.com

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Photo courtesy of artist Lolita Valderrama

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