TFC All Access Vol 2 Issue 4

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Enrique and Liza

Enrique’s Big Confession “I’m in love with Liza”

Pia WURTZBACH

She’s Miss Universe!

Her tough journey to the top TFC-MARCH-APRIL2016.indd 1

Jericho Rosales

Echo Celebrates 20 Years in Showbiz A Very Happy Man

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Vo lu m e 2 • I s s u e 4 TFC ALL ACCESS IS PUBLISHED BY

ABS-CBN INTERNATIONAL 150 SHORELINE Drive Redwood City, 94065 USA (650) 508-600

Swing into Spring with LizQuen, Jericho and Pia! Life imitates art. Jericho Rosales’ showbiz career is no exception. From a hopeful dreamer to an award-winning actor, Jericho looks back at his humble beginnings as he celebrates two decades in showbiz.

Now happily married, he takes on his most important role yet: the lifetime leading man of the woman he vowed to love forever.

Now, could this be love? Even in a room full of people, Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano have eyes only for each other.

From their successful on-screen pairing in Forevermore to their super kilig off-cam moments, this hot tandem proves that forever does exist!

For real-life couple, Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga, love knows no boundaries. Read on and discover how their relationship broke through different cultural backgrounds and continues to remain strong.

Hail to Queen P! Meet Pia Wurtzbach who’s had her share of ups and downs long before winning the coveted Ms. U crown. Find out how she handles success and defeat by simply being ‘confidently beautiful with a heart.’

Plus, get a head start on how to turn your office into your own fashion runway!

All these and more in the new season of TFC All Access! Happy reading, Kapamilya!

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Your TFC ALL ACCESS Team

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ENRIQUE AND LIZA

ENRIQUE’S BIG CONFESSION “I’m in love with Liza”

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PIA WURTZBACH

SHE’S MISS UNIVERSE! HER TOUGH JOURNEY TO THE TOP

“Like” us on Facebook and get special fan-only surprises!

JERICHO ROSALES

ECHO CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN SHOWBIZ A Very Happy Man

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STORY COURTESY OF STARSTUDIO MAG A ZINE FEBRUARY 2016

It’s been great, a lot of learning, a lot of challenges, but it’s fine. Masaya kami ni Kim together. It’s a whole new world for me, and I feel so blessed to be a husband to Kim.”

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Since marrying Jericho in 2014, Kim Jones has grown slowly into her role as his wife. Here, StarStudio takes an intimate look into the life that they share as husband and wife

By Tinna S. Bonifacio

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n March 2014, StarStudio published a lengthy piece on the Boracay wedding of Jericho to fashion, travel and lifestyle blogger Kim Jones.

It’s been a year and seven months since then, and the two have been getting along famously. Kim has settled comfortably into her role as Mrs. Jericho Rosales, and has taken over many of the things that Echo’s personal assistant Sally Balasbas, 48—who has worked for him for nearly 10 years—used to do.

“Malaki ang nabawas sa akin,” says Sally. “Kasi si Echo, sanay na siya ngayon kay Kim. Si Kim kasi, very hands-on din. Nu’ng nag-Malaysia kami tinutulungan ko si Ms. Kim mag-ayos ng gamit ni Echo, sasabihin n’ya, ‘No, Sally’ kasi mas malaki pa daw ‘yung bagahe kesa sa akin. Gusto niya, siya na sa gamit ni Echo. Hindi na gaya dati na ‘Sally, Sally’ si Echo. Ngayon kay Kim na. Dati gusto niya, kasama ako lagi mag-shopping pero nu’ng dumating si Kim, silang dalawa na lang. Hindi na talaga nila ako sinasama. Siguro ayaw din ni Ms. Kim, gusto kasi niya normal lang sila na tao.”

Kim says Jericho “makes a fabulous husband…the best husband”.

She thinks back to the time they first met. “We got along, but I think it was more on a friendly level,” Kim says.

Honestly, she was surprised that they clicked. “I was new in the Philippines, I had just come from Australia, and our cultural differences were so distinct and strong that I think it was not the right time at that point because we were so different, even our sense of humor. He couldn’t understand me, or my Australian accent, and I wasn’t really used to (speaking) Filipino, so it took a little bit of adjusting at first.”

Surfing brought them closer together. It was the turning point in their relationship.

“We were going out for about two to three months before we started dating. Then we slowly started seeing each other more and more, and he invited me on a trip to La Union and he taught me how to surf, and I think that was probably the first time when I thought that, ‘Pwede na’. He’s just in his element when he’s at the beach. If you want to know Jericho, take him to the beach.

Take him to the province. You know, he’s not a flashy guy. He likes the simple things in life. And I think that’s when you get to

When they first met, says Kim, Jericho didn’t get her sense of humor and had problems with her Australian accent. But a shared love of the beach and music, plus their faith in God, is what helped draw them together. The couple attend church service regularly and try to maintain what a pastor once told them: “To be HOT (an acronym that stands for ‘humble, open and teachable’).” So far, says Kim, their life together has been great, and Jericho has been a “fabulous” husband. (Inset) Echo and Kim during their 2014 Boracay wedding.

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know him really, really well, and that’s when I started to have feelings for him.”

Almost two years into their marriage, Kim says it’s been great and amazing.

She has brought numerous changes to the way Jericho lives. Although Kim admits that she’s not much for cooking or baking (she has her own website and other things that she is busy with, like her own hosting career), she has her own life while still being one half of a couple. Kim is very much her own woman, with her own ideas about what married life should be.

“It’s just not something I choose to be,” she explains about the ‘cooking and baking’ thing. “I don’t think every wife has to be a Martha Stewart to be a good wife. You can show love in so many different ways. I have plenty of friends who love cooking and baking, that’s their passion, but that’s not how I would describe myself as a wife.”

As a wife, Kim says, she’s “very loving”. Jericho describes Kim as “extraordinarily patient” with him. “My darling Jericho, we all have moments, but yes, he has a few more moments than I do,” she says with a laugh.

Jericho has a more street-wise way of describing the woman who now shares his life, although you realize he means it in the most affectionate way possible.

“She’s a tough chick, astig ‘to.”

Sally has seen them in some of their unguarded moments, when they have their little arguments. “May mga maliliit na bagay lang na hindi pinagkakaintindihan. Ang madalas nilang pagtalunan ay oras talaga.

Punctual kasi si Ms. Kim. At saka si Echo, ang bilis magbago ng isip, fickleminded. Eh si Ms. Kim, kung may sinabi siya, ‘yun na talaga ‘yon.”

Kim admits: “Yes, that’s one of the things we butt heads on, time management, punctuality, organization.

But he’s aware of that now.”

Jericho agrees: “She brings organization to this house, from grocery lists to Christmas lists, she wraps the gifts…I’m the handyman in this house, I’ll take care of what needs fixing, but she’s very organized, and very loving.

She loves her staff; she likes taking care of them.”

Like any other couple, they have their arguments. When those happen, the couple gets ‘HOT’, something they learned from a sermon their pastor gave in church. ‘HOT’, Kim reveals, is an acronym for ‘Humble, Open and

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Teachable’.

Part of that is learning to adjust and adopt new habits. Since Kim came into his life, “I’m now (more) organized and good with money,” he says.

Jericho has really become more organized since Kim entered his life. “We’re still working on things, and yes, he’s more aware of time now, but I think his biggest improvement, is he goes around the house saying ‘OHIO’, ‘OHIO’ for different tasks. That means ‘Only handle it once’. So if you have ten e-mails, just look at them once, handle them, then get rid of them.

That’s how he deals with things now, or at least he’s trying,” she reveals about her husband.

He has also learned to “respect my body more, because I want to grow old with this woman. I want to be 60 and still be able to carry her”.

He started eating healthier (they take more grains and fish, and try to consume less pork and fat). They also work out together. This is part of Kim’s influence on him. Having meals together is also something they enjoy.

“Our maid cooks,” says Jericho. “Our breakfasts are easy. Kami ni Kim, we cook together. We do things together.

We’re both equal sa bahay. We deal with almost everything together. Lunch, dinner, parties (the day of the shoot, they were in the middle of organizing a party for their wedding ninongs and ninangs, and were discussing whether they wanted salmon on the menu).”

Sally observes that ever since he married Kim, her boss has also become more of a homebody.

“Si Echo ngayon, diretso uwi na siya lagi. Hindi na siya pala-gala. Uuwi ‘yan agad, lalo na ‘pag alam niya na nandiyan si Ms. Kim.” They both have thriving, busy careers, but make a conscious effort to do things together despite the conflicts in their schedules. Sometimes they work out together, ortt, as they did on one occasion, watch the soccer games or practices of Jericho’s 15-year-old son Santino (or Saint).

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“Mainly, we just want to do what we want to do. We have a lot of dreams,” says Kim. “We’re creative people, so it’s things we just love doing, a lot of it is just travel-related. Yeah, we’ll be traveling, and I know Echo wants to expand his businesses (which are still in the planning stage).”

Sally, who Echo has come to look at as more than just a personal assistant, has always been wishing for the best for the happily-married couple, but sometimes she feels melancholic for her boss—proof of how much Jericho shows his sincerity to people.

“Di ko alam pero depende kasi,” she says. “Kahit naman anong pagod ko sa showbiz, ang tanong lang naman diyan ay kung kaya ko siyang iwan. Kung bibitawan na niya ako, ok. Pero kung ako siguro, mahihirapan akong bumitaw. Hindi lang siya boss, pamilya ko siya. Kaya kapag may tampuhan kami, umiiyak talaga ako.

Malapit na malapit talaga ‘yung puso ko sa kanya.”

In the end, she has only one wish for Echo, and by extension, for Kim. “Sana hindi siya (Echo) magbago. Wish ko sana maging happy kayo ni Ms. Kim dahil deserve n’yo talaga.”

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Echo first appeared on television via Eat Bulaga’s “Mr. Pogi” segment.

When he won in the said contest, he became a regular host on the noontime show. From there, he got started with his acting career with projects like TV shows Esperanza and !Oka Tokat and movies like Magandang Hatinggabi. Throughout the late 90s, Echo’s fashion sense evidently echoed a hip hop kind of style that’s on the classic gangster spectrum. It was a period that often saw guys wearing baggy clothes: oversized shirts and wide-legged pants. During this time, another remarkable thing about Echo’s look was his curly hair.

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By this time, there was no question that Jericho’s a great actor and a dashing style icon.

With more mature projects which cast him in characters with stylish flair like Green Rose, Dahil sa Pag-Ibig and The Legal Wife on the small screen, his fashion style also noticeably turned sleeker, more dapper and more versatile. Even his casual outfits look well thought out, what with the handsome pairings and fun color combinations. When it comes to formal wear, Jericho has always impressed in well-fitting tailored and bespoke suits, obviously never failing to pay attention to details like the cut, material and accents.

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Jericho Rosales has been part of showbiz for almost two decades now, and over the years, his fashion sense has echoed various style genres. Undeniably one of today’s most dapper, well put together men in local showbiz, Echo has an interesting archive of fashion looks (that are somewhat reflective of the roles he had portrayed both on the small and big screens) which went from a cool and hip boy-next-door charm to a modern gentleman flair so bespoke it fits right into Savile Row’s style bible

Jericho’s dossier during this period featured pretty varied projects, the likes of fantaserye Ang Panday, drama series Pangarap na Bituin and Kahit Isang Saglit, and films Pacquiao: The Movie and Baler.

As the industry saw him more and more as an actor with depth, his fashion sense on- and off-cam levelled up as well. Replacing his The Hunks-esque muscle tees were pique shirts, button-downs (which he sometimes layered with sharp blazers for a smarter appeal), and more tailored pants. His hairstyle became shorter and cleaner looking, too!

By Grace LiBero-cruz

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Echo hit mainstream success when he starred alongside Kristine Hermosa in the teleserye Pangako Sa’Yo, a popularity reinforced with remarkable appearances in movies like Tanging Yaman and Santa Santita. In 2001, Echo— who was then already among the regular hosts on Sunday noontime musical variety show ASAP—became part of the sexy boy group The Hunks with Piolo Pascual, Diether Ocampo, Carlo Agassi and Bernard Palanca. This period saw Echo ditching the baggy clothes for pieces that cling closer to the body. There was an obvious transition to smarter casual choices of polos and button-downs layered with shirts. And since he was also part of The Hunks and the TV show Bora: Sons of the Beach, sexy plain white shirts and sandos, muscle tees, and sexy denim jeans were among his wardrobe picks.

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AN ANACTOR’S ACTOR’Slife life Jericho Rosales started out 20 years ago as a would-be matinee idol, went on to become a teleserye star in the groundbreaking Pangako sa ‘Yo, and punctuated his 20th year with yet another Best Actor win for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Walang Forever. StarStudio revisits his beginnings, explores his thoughts on the actor’s craft, how he evolved, and where he’s headed

By Maan D’asis PaMaran Photos By shaira luna

Fulfilling his promise: Pangako sa ‘Yo

When you started out 20 years ago, you were practically a newbie actor, with no experience. Then you got cast in Pangako sa ‘Yo, which turned out to be a career-defining project for you. What was that experience like? Were you nervous being on the set, acting in front of the camera, and taking instructions from your director?

Everything you mentioned. But on top of it all, I was on a beginner’s high. Because of the reaction we got from the viewers, I became more responsible with my projects. The response we got encouraged me to be better not just as an actor but as a person.

Then at one point, after Pangako sa ‘Yo, your projects were coming one after the other, and you established yourself as a certified A-list actor.

Then your showbiz life went down, then up, then down, then up again.

You were dealt some tough breaks.

Was that difficult to face?

Siguro para sa mga tao, it was painful to look at. But for me, ‘yun ‘yung character ko nu’ng bata pa ako.

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permanent thing I knew was that I will get there eventually. Whatever problems or situations I’m facing, I’ll be okay.

Coming back was actually hard.

Every time I come back, there’s a brand new experience. Mas may wisdom ako. I’m not the type of person na if I don’t work in a month, magpa-panic ako. Ako, relaxed lang.

I never change my core just because it’s a low season. It still remains the same. I just try to become better and stronger.

Confronting change: The Leap into Indies

Then at one point in your career, and after several years in the mainstream, you made a leap into indie films. Why? Did you feel like you needed a change at that point?

Making indies is very fulfilling for an actor. I think it’s very cool too.

It’s also my way of bringing my work abroad and you get to work with the industry’s bravest and most creative minds in their element.

What kind of adjustments did you have to make going from mainstream to indie and back again?

There’s a huge difference between

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the two: different markets, different vibe, different budget! (I wish it was the other way around, though). I will do at least one indie a year.

The actor’s craft: his learnings

As an actor, how do you prepare for your roles? Is there a process or method you follow? Has this approach grown and evolved as you became more familiar with the business of acting?

I’m always excited and full of energy when I prepare for my roles. I ask for a lot of time (which is not really a lot if we are thinking international standards) so I can work on the physical, emotional and mental requirements of the role. I do pray a lot. An actor’s job is never finished, so I am continually evolving and learning as I mature.

The new phase: more triumphs

You ended 2015 with another Best Actor win for the film Walang Forever opposite Jennylyn Mercado.

Your thoughts?

(I was) totally surprised. I did not expect to win any awards since our film is under the romance genre.

I don’t really think about awards during and after working on a project.

But all my friends were really happy

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about it and good comments haven’t stopped coming in so that makes me really happy. Credits to Dan (Villegas), Jennylyn (Mercado) and the rest of the cast. They all gave me heaps of support.

Doing the movie was all about having fun on the set and bringing truth to the relationship of the characters Ethan and Mia. But the real challenge for me as an actor was to lighten up because I came from a series of soap operas and a couple of films with heavy content. All went well and the experience was great!

The Taiwan scenes truly captured the hearts of many, including my own.

Looking back on your body of work for the last two decades, what are your thoughts?

For the first time I would admit it. I’m proud of myself. Listening, following, learning and challenging myself brought me here. I still have heaps to do. I’m a WIP—a “work in progress”. There’s a lot. It makes me cringe. But no regrets.

Someone taught me to accept what the moment produced and learn from it.

That’s an actor’s life!

Moving on: The next chapter

Right now, have you given any thought to where you want to take your acting career for the next 20 years?

Yes I wanna do more movies. More movies means more characters to play.

Anything from hero to weirdo. I want to get more film roles and find great scripts/stories.

Aside from movies, I wanna be able to get a small role on stage. That’ll force me to take up some lessons. I also wanna get more involved behind the scenes.

That means being able to do things I love.

THe NeWBie Direk Rory Quintos

Rory Quintos, who directed Jericho in two of his landmark projects, talks about what he was like years ago when he was still getting his feet wet in the acting business Jericho Rosales was only a teenager when he started in Esperanza.

Back then, his potential as an actor was

already evident. “Magaling na siyang umarte,” says Rory Quintos, who was one of three directors of the drama series. “Of course he was very raw (at the time); unang salpak niya sa set, medyo kailangan i-control ang mga levels (of intensity), and add more nuances, but through the years, he learned, and he worked really, really hard.”

It helped, says Direk Rory, that Echo was very honest with her about his life. During Esperanza, “Echo was very open about his life. The bonding (we had) was like a patient to a doctor—there’s a secret contract that you can’t reveal these things (to others)—so actors, usually, kinukwento nila ‘yung mga

personal na buhay nila sa mga direktor so it was easy for me to press his buttons.”

In Pangako sa ‘Yo, it was a different case.

The experience he gained working on Esperanza and the honesty and bond he established with his director came to bear on his role as Angelo Buenavista.

“Medyo mas mahusay na siya kasi nu’ng Esperanza siyempre, naturuan na ‘yan. So when we launched Pangako sa ‘Yo, he was ready for it. He really wanted it that time. So sobra niyang pinagbutihan. Parang nasagap niya lahat (ng dapat matutunan). He was one pure and intelligent actor; alam na kaagad niya (ang gagawin). Matalino siyang artista.”

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I guess God wanted to use me to give inspiration to others.

It’s a nice story. A poor boy breaking into show business and sharing a message of love, hope, success and triumph. I guess ‘yun ‘yung gusto niya ipakita, that God can turn things around.”

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Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe 2015 in glitzy ceremonies in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Her impeccable performance caught the imagination of the tens of millions of people who tuned in via television and live streaming. She displayed poise, grace and elan; and drew the audience in with her wit, charm and genuine compassion.

It’s true: she is ‘confidently beautiful with a heart’

By Jing Rosete EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS BY STHANLEE MIRADOR

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ith her incredible performance leading up to that memorable— and controversial—crowning moment as the most beautiful woman in the universe, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach redefined everything that comes with winning the most coveted international beauty title. Beauty connoisseurs and pundits had a field day analyzing her performance.

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intense heat, fired up by grit, and shaped by personal experiences.

Fire in the belly

The moment she stepped onto the Miss Universe stage on December 20, Pia owned it. Everyone could sense the determined attempt to make the most of her pasarela (beauty-pageant jargon that means “walk on stage”).

From the get-go, that moment defined her as a winner.

While her gait exuded the confidence

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and allure of a Filipina, and the beautiful gowns, makeup and jewelry helped, one could also see her authenticity, humility and charm.

They were distinctly her own and, perhaps, what really clinched the crown for her.

But truth to tell, her journey to becoming the most beautiful woman in the universe didn’t start in 2013 when she first joined the Binibining Pilipinas (the prestigious local beauty pageant that selects representatives for various international beauty pageants; it also holds the franchise of Miss Universe Philippines).

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It goes far back to where the future beauty queen had to go through the pain of having a broken family, the sacrifices she had to make as the breadwinner of her family, the frustration of waiting in the wings as a showbiz wannabe, and the discrimination she had to face growing up, as she narrated in an exclusive StarStudio interview right after winning the Miss Universe Philippines title in March 2015.

Born to Klaus Uwe Wurtzbach (who passed away in 2014) and Cheryl Alonzo (now Tyndall, following her remarriage to Nigel Peter Tyndall, an Englishman), Pia was raised in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany for three years, until her parents decided to settle in her mom’s hometown

Showbiz career

Show business provided her with a way to do that. When Pia turned 12, she signed up with Star Magic (the talent management arm of ABS-CBN).

She was launched as part of Star Magic Batch 11, adopting Romero as a screen surname. It was something picked out at random by her handlers for easier recall.

“Star Magic chose ‘Romero’ as a screen name for easier recall (it was easier to pronounce and remember than the German ‘Wurtzbach’),” says Star Magic PR Head Thess Gubi.

But as an artist, Pia never hit what people call ‘the big time’. It was not even what one might call a slow burn. In fact, it was more of a frustrating wait.

Pia admits: “I was really not a big star in ABS. Although I was launched with some familiar names (and now big stars) like Bea Alonzo and Shaina Magdayao, sa group namin, I never really, you know, had a love team. I never really boomed as an actress.

And I admit that (was probably) because I was very tall, they couldn’t find the right guy to pair me up with, plus I was also studying at that time and didn’t want to let that go. But

things happen for a reason,” she shared with StarStudio.

One of her Star Magic batchmates was actress-host Pauleen Luna—bride-to-be of actor–comedian-producer Vic Sotto.

Pauleen recalled their humble beginnings in an Instagram post she made shortly after Pia won the Miss Universe title.

Pauleen wrote of how they couldn’t even afford American-style burgers at the time: “You were 12 and I was 13. We had nothing but BIG dreams. I remember we would choose to buy food in Mini Stop instead of Brother’s Burger in ABS because we only had a little money. We would patiently go to workshop every single day because we wanna be big stars! We would wait for hours at taping because our scenes were only very few. We even shared one role in a movie. I will never forget those days. Simple and days made up of dreams.”

But frustrating as those days were, the network’s talent management arm, Star Magic, already saw Pia’s potential to be a beauty queen someday.

In fact, the kit for the press that launched their batch pegged Pia in the mold of a beauty queen.

“When I was with ABS-CBN, they always said to me, ‘Alam mo, bakit hindi ka mag-(try maging) beauty queen? But I knew also that you have to train for it, I didn’t know who to approach to do that, and I also didn’t know anything about the (beauty) camps, about the training. So, I really didn’t act on it. And also that time, I was busy with acting, and I couldn’t risk having no work, because there was no one else taking care of my family.

So I couldn’t let go of that (acting) (at that time),” Pia said.

“But after my mom remarried, I was able to do that. Everything went smoothly in God’s perfect time,” she quipped, smiling.

Dealing with discrimination

And yes, she was pretty. To say that she would become a beauty queen wasn’t a farfetched idea, even at the time. But even with her stunning Eurasian features, expressive eyes, and height worthy of a beauty title, Pia was, believe it or not, also subjected to various forms of discrimination growing up.

One of Pia’s classmates revealed in an abs-cbn.com interview that in her younger days, the future Miss Universe was bullied and called names like “Pia-zilla” (an iteration of the monster film “Godzilla” which featured a gigantic beast) because she towered over everyone in school.

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Photo from @piawurtzbach on Instagram

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Even from her earliest years, Pia loved to pose for the camera. So it was perhaps inevitable that she go on to build a career in show business before she even hit her teens. She joined ABS-CBN’s Star Magic and used her beauty and natural charm to great advantage. Pia became an actress and later turned to modeling, a profession for which she was well suited.

of Cagayan de Oro City (the place literally means ‘river of gold’) in the Philippines. Not long after that, when Pia was just nine years old, Klaus and Cheryl decided to separate.

Rather than wallow in depression and allow herself to be eaten up by personal turmoil, the young Pia took it as an opportunity to turn things around for her family such that at the age of 11, she started working in front of the camera.

“I stepped in as the breadwinner of the family from (the time I was) 11 years old until I was 17. I was the one taking care of my family through modeling and acting and my studies,” said Pia. In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Pia also shared that her competitive streak was largely borne of her parents’ separation.

“I felt like I needed to prove myself in a way. My dad was very strict, lagi niya ako pinapagalitan sa grades ko. He wasn’t happy with ‘line of eight’. He wanted ‘line of nine’ but I never got ‘line of nine’. ‘Nung naghiwalay sila and I was left with my mom, siguro d’un nanggaling ‘yung, ‘I’ll show you line of nine’,” said Pia. This pushed her to—as she would say— make a better version of herself every time.

And she did.

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“

’Pag ako ang nanalo, I won’t stop working. I’m always going to be visible in interviews and other appearances.

I will not rest.

I will enjoy my one year reign because I want it” - Pia Wurtzbach, StarStudio April 2014

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So when she won the title of Miss Universe Philippines on her third try in March 2015, it was a validation of her persistence and perseverance. These were the same traits she developed as she plowed through early adversities and frustrations in her life.

Pia’s journey was like a roller-coaster ride as she set out to become the country’s official representative to the Miss Universe 2015 pageant.

She had been following the pageant with her mom since she was five years old (that event was held in Manila in 1994 at the Philippine International Convention Center with actress-host Charlene GonzalezMuhlach wearing the Philippine sash, finishing among the six finalists).

She could see herself on that stage and would tell herself that one day, she would be among them.

Her chance finally came in 2013. Pia cast her ticket, joined the pageant and finished first runner-up.

It would have been the end of her story, but some people believed that she should try again.

Charlene was one of them. The 1994 Miss Universe fourth runner-up urged Pia to go for it a second time.

She also received encouragement from her younger sister Sarah—who she would later describe as her “go-to person” for reminding her not to quit.

She entered it as one of the pre-pageant favorites but it shocked everyone when she didn’t even finish with a runner-up title.

Thus, the decision to give it a third try in 2015 was not an easy one. She dilly-dallied at first, owing to the fact that she had lost twice already. Why put herself through that a third time?

But Pia bravely took on the challenge and tried to turn a deaf ear to the criticism that went with her decision.

“I don’t really mind if people say na, ‘ay siya na naman, ‘di ba siya napapagod? But you know what, this is what I really want, and if people say na, napaka-trying hard naman n‘yan’, well, I guess they’re right, I try hard. I try very hard to reach for my dreams.”

Finally, on her third attempt, and after pushing herself to work harder and train some more—she made it. Pia took home the Miss Universe Philippines 2015 title.

She was now on her way to fulfilling the destiny she had envisioned for herself: a final step to becoming recognized, at last, as the universe’s most beautiful woman.

Pia tried to bag the Miss PhilippinesUniverse crown three times, and finally did so on her third attempt. For that contest’s Q & A, she was asked (by Rep. Leni Robredo): “Social media is now a very powerful tool of communication. Can you tell us your thoughts about Internet censorship?” Pia answered: “I think that we should be careful of what we post online, especially with our thoughts and our opinions that we don’t hurt anybody, especially selfies, we have to be careful with what we post, especially with our bodies and our faces, so always think before you click. Thank you.” It was good enough for the title.

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Rollercoaster ride

Photos by Rxandy Capinpin

But even then, Pia took things in stride.

Apart from this, her parents’ estrangement toughened her up; it pushed her to be more socially conscious of the need to fight for causes like women’s rights and empowerment.

“It’s my advocacy, really. When my parents separated, I used to see how my parents would fight in front of me and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like how he treated my mom. I’ve also been in a relationship where I was held back from what I really wanted to do, where I was being held back from my potential,” Pia shared in the Inquirer interview.

“I’ve also been a victim of discrimination and racism, because I was a Filipino in England. I had a hard time getting a job in the kitchen because I (was) a girl.

I’ve experienced relationships na parang minamaliit ‘yung babae. I don’t like that. That kind of pushed me to try what guys do. Why do I have to listen to you guys? I can do whatever I want. And I hope that’s the kind of message that I send to other girls, too.

That you can do whatever you want. You don’t have to hold back,” she continued.

“And besides, my personality deserves an audience. I feel like I have a lot to offer, and say to people; and I cannot imagine myself being boxed in a kitchen,” said Pia in an unpublished quote from the StarStudio interview in March 2015.

And rightly so—the future queen had the entire universe waiting for her to speak up, and be heard.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (middle) was among the 40 chosen candidates for Binibining Pilipinas 2014.

StarStudio had a tie-up with Binibining Pilipinas and came out with an extensive feature on the most prestigious pageant in the country, including an exclusive pictorial with all the candidates in their sexy swimwear. Here’s one of the published photos of Pia alongside candidates (from left) Anabel Christine Tia, Aiza Faeldonia, Joy Antonette Diaz and Shaun Indra Salina Curran.

In the end, it was Mary Jean Lastimosa who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2014.

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Photo from @missuniverse on Instagram

The

B I G NIGHT

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It will go down in Miss Universe’s more than 60-year history as the most talked-about and controversial pageant. But Filipinos everywhere will remember it for years to come, for different reasons entirely. It was the day that one of their own was named the most beautiful woman in the universe

By Jing Rosete

A

t 8AM on the morning of December 20 in the US— December 21 in Manila—Filipinos gathered expectantly around TV sets and laptop screens, with one hope in mind: for Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach to be named the country’s third Miss Universe, the first in more than 40 years.

If winning the Binibining PilipinasUniverse title was hard, this one was going to be even tougher. Pia was coming into it the sixth in a growing line of impressive Miss Universe finishers: Venus Raj (2010, fourth runner-up), Shamcey Supsup (2011, third-runner-up), Janine Tugonon (2012, first runner-up), Ariella Arida (2013, third runner-up) and MJ Lastimosa (2014, Top 10 Finalist).

She had tall odds to meet. The pressure was there. But Pia pushed it to the back of her mind. As far as she was concerned, she was on her way to fulfilling the destiny she had envisioned for herself, taking that final step to becoming the universe’s most beautiful woman.

People were expecting Pia to make another spectacular finish, maybe even win the crown. But she was nothing if not determined.

Pia had to put up with a backbreaking schedule for physical fitness, pasarela and Q & A training and a strict diet regimen, before she was deemed ready for the big chance.

So Pia flew to Las Vegas, and that’s where her story went through some unexpected twists and turns again, ones that no one expected, least of all her.

The big moment

In Las Vegas, Pia’s hard work seemed to pay off. She sailed through the competition and made it to the Top 15, then to the Top 10,

the Top Five and Top Three, until finally, only she and Miss Colombia were left standing onstage, their hands clasped together, waiting for the official announcement from the host.

Then, the unbelievable happened. The pinnacle of excitement and the crescendo of the winning moment were scuttled by a major miscue when the host of the Miss Universe 2015 beauty pageant, Steve Harvey (of the American game show Family Feud fame) inadvertently announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez—who should have been called out as first runner up—as Miss Universe 2015.

So for a couple of fleeting minutes, the Miss Universe crown and sash were worn by Miss Colombia.

After Harvey rectified the error, what followed was that awkward moment of turning them over to the rightful winner, Miss Philippines.

Harvey’s mistake came under so much fire and intense discussion. The fact that it happened in the age of social media sent instantaneous shockwaves spreading across the globe.

Based on the candidates’ performances in the preliminaries (where the 80 girls competed in swimsuit and evening gowns in front of a different set of judges), Miss Philippines and Miss Colombia were always included in the final hot picks and leaderboards of various pageant-related websites.

In fact, Missossology.com—the leading pageant website which had correctly predicted the wins of Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega (Colombia), Miss World 2014 Rolenn Strauss (South Africa) and Miss World 2013 Megan Young (Philippines)— chose Pia as its No. 2 pick (behind Miss

Dominican Republic who only managed to secure a spot in the top 10 during the finals) and placed Ariadna in No. 4.

It is safe to say that pageant experts agreed that Misses Philippines and Colombia had the inside track to the crown, further highlighting the enormity of the announcement fiasco.

Without a doubt, in the world of international beauty pageants, especially in Miss Universe, the Philippines and Colombia are considered powerhouse countries. Their sashes carry a lot of weight because of the collective performances of their candidates in the past editions of Miss Universe.

In fact, before the botched announcement, Colombia was gunning for a third win as well as a back-to-back victory (Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega hails from Colombia) while the Philippines was hoping to end a 42-year drought (Gloria Diaz won the title in 1969 and Margie Moran in 1973).

“

It was unanimous.

Every single judge from that panel, all four of us, voted for Philippines to be number 1.”

– Miss Universe 2015 judge and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton

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“

The judges speak

Now I finally got the best Christmas gift ever—and not just for me, for my country.”

– Pia on her victory

Colombia itself experienced a 56-year gap between its first Miss Universe title (Luz Marina Zuluaga in 1958) and the title won by Vega in 2014.

Their respective fans had high expectations for Pia and Ariadna. With emotions running high, Steve Harvey’s lapse came at the most inopportune moment.

To Harvey’s credit, he immediately owned up to the mistake before the global television audience. “The first runner up is Colombia, and Miss Universe 2015—is Philippines”.

At this point, the spotlight was fixed on a stunned Miss Philippines (who showed the world how gracious she was even in ‘defeat’), being assured by Miss USA Olivia Jordan (who was declared 2nd runner up) and egged on by Miss Bulgaria Radostina Todorova to take center stage.

“I want to apologize emphatically to Miss Philippines and Miss Colombia. This was a terribly honest human mistake and I am so regretful,” continued Harvey as last year’s outgoing Miss Universe Paulina Vega tried to make sense of what to do with the situation.

So now, the nation, with or without the fiasco—the first time it ever happened in any Miss Universe pageant—was now speechless and pleasantly shocked.

It was a beautiful reality setting in, that we now finally have another Miss Universe in our midst, a true-blue kababayan.

However it came, Pia’s win, made the Philippines the first Asian nation to win three Miss Universe titles ahead of Japan (Akiko Kojima in 1959 and Riyo Mori in 2007) and Thailand (Apasra Hongsakula in 1965 and Porntip Nakhirunkanok in 1988).

Further, the Philippines has tied Sweden as the 4th ‘winningest’ country in Miss Universe history behind the USA (eight titles), Venezuela (seven titles including the only back-to-back win in 2008 and 2009) and Puerto Rico (five).

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After Miss Colombia had been mistakenly ‘crowned’, it was apparent from the coverage feed that something was amiss because the candidates were eerily and conspicuously silent. There was palpable confusion among the candidates (since perhaps like Miss Australia, they all read the teleprompter).

Also, a reverse shot revealed a stunned audience save for some few Colombian flag-waving audience members. The feed also saw one of the judges, American TV comedian-actress-model-producer, Niecy Nash, frantically gesturing something important to Miss Colombia after Harvey had admitted to the faux pas.

Later, in her Twitter post@niecynash1, posted the following: #MissUniverse2015 #MsPhilippines #TheJudges “Across the board she had our votes”.

Another judge, Hollywood celebrity blogger, columnist and TV personality Perez Hilton, posted the following in his social media account (Twitter): “It was unanimous.

Every single judge from that panel, all four of us voted for Philippines to be number 1.”

Later in his podcast, Hilton offered some details from his perspective as a judge.

Salient excerpts from the podcast revealed the following: “I’ll go on record and state: Miss Colombia was the most beautiful contestant, but I don’t think she deserved to win the title. Here’s the difference between Miss Philippines and Miss Colombia: Miss Philippines came to win, Miss Colombia came to lose. Colombia came as if she had already won, and that’s sexy also, to have that confidence, but I think she truly believed that she was going to win. Whereas Miss Philippines came with something to prove.”

He went on to say: “During the interview portion, I thought that Colombia gave a great answer and the Philippines gave a great answer, and then I became a little uncertain, but I was still favoring Colombia at that point, and then, when it was time for advocating, ‘Why I should be Miss Universe,’ that’s when it became certain for me because at that point, I don’t know if the people at home could see this, Miss Colombia was being straight-up ‘diva bitch’ rude to her translator. Did you see this? She was giving the most awful side-eye, throwing major shade because Colombia was not happy with the pace or the way that the translator was translating. It was a major turn-off.”

He felt Pia did a better job. “Miss

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Philippines gave a better answer. It was the second time she gave a great answer and actually a better answer and by that point, I thought, ‘Wow, she really brought her A game’ and was super competitive but also deserved it. She deserves it. There was a real beauty, grace, and elegance and she is Miss Universe. She really earned it and won fair and square.”

He admitted he was shocked. “So then, when Steve Harvey announced that Miss Colombia had won, I was in shock. I couldn’t even speak. We didn’t look at each other because we were all in shock, we knew something was off. When Steve Harvey announced Miss Colombia had won, I thought ‘This is rigged.’ But then it became clear when Steve comes out and announces that a mistake was made.”

The four-member judging panel included Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo of the United States and former National Football League (NFL) professional football player Emmith Smith.

Pia drew such thunderous applause during the preliminaries and the competition proper, prompting one of the anchors to comment, “It seems the whole Philippines is here!”

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Pia was a crowd favorite going into the competition.

When the Top Five was named, she was the only Asian contestant left standing. When she was finally crowned Miss Universe 2015, Pia’s social media accounts were kept busy responding to congratulatory Tweets and messages from Filipinos all over the world. At one point, she posted on Instagram a short but sweet message: “Hello, Universe.”

When things had finally settled down, she posted a longer message, which read in part: “Thank you, Lord! The countless times I begged you in tears to please grant me my one big wish!

I prayed in every church I went into, in whichever part of the world I was. Wished on every wishing well I passed by and on every falling star I caught in the sky.

When everything seemed unreachable or impossible, You found a way.”

Even assuming that the Global Vote and the Candidates’ Vote (another innovation introduced this year which gives the 6th man judging position to the collective choice of the participating candidates to win Miss Universe—only applicable during the Top 3 and Final Look segments) went in the way of Miss Colombia, the vote would have been 4-2, in favor of Miss Philippines.

Publicity stunt?

The conspiracy theorists also had a field day painting different scenarios. One of the more popular versions is that the whole thing was contrived to generate media mileage considering that Miss Universe is under a new management: WME|IMG. William Morris Endeavor (also known as WME) is an American talent agency whose core business is the representation of

artists across all media platforms, specifically movies, television, music, theatre, digital and publishing, while IMG (International Management Group, a global sports, other events and talent management company headquartered in New York City, USA) is a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, operating in more than 25 countries.

The company represents and manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages thousands of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is the world’s largest independent producer and distributor of sports media.

Miss Universe joined WME| IMG’s portfolio of global events and media properties in September 2015.

It will be recalled that coming on the heels of the racist comments of the-then previous owner Donald Trump, he sold his shares in the Miss Universe Organization and media outfit NBC to WME|IMG. WME|IMG did not release any statement on the matter except for the post-pageant press conference of the new Miss Universe, reiterating that Steve Harvey has owned up to the mistake.

All’s well

Shortly after Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega transferred the crowns and sash to Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, the live feed was cut off amidst the flurry of confusion and crying.

In the wake of Pia’s victory, social media became abuzz with videos showing some candidates consoling and pacifying Miss Colombia. The video also saw how the new Miss Universe, in a gesture of magnanimity, tried to be one with the hurting Ariadna, but wisely backed out when she couldn’t get through the crowd of ladies that had surrounded the Colombian representative.

Within an hour, however, a short video showing Ariadna walking towards her hotel room surfaced. She said tersely, “It’s okay, everything has a reason,” which would have been a fitting gesture of graciousness.

However, she later on posted on her Instagram account photos of her wearing the crown and sash. She later took the post down.

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THE POWER GOWNS

Nothing but the best of Pinoy creations would do for Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach Last year, the Philippine fashion industry was enraged by a controversial statement made by Bb. Pilipinas chairperson Stella Araneta regarding the choice of gowns for Miss UniversePhilippines 2014 Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa. Araneta said she hadn’t been turning to creations

by Filipino fashion designers for the competition, because “If I didn’t do it for several years, it’s because the designs that were given to us were not good enough for our candidates.” Many people were, of course, not happy

with this statement, especially since Filipinos have been known globally to be talented in fashion designing. Many Filipino fashion designers (the likes of Michael Cinco, Ezra, Monique Lhuillier, Josie Natori, Lesley Mobo, Oliver Tolentino, among others) have, in fact, succeeded in establishing their brands in different parts of the world.

The gowns MJ wore to the Miss Universe beauty pageant didn’t please many; her national costume, a multi-tiered floral terno

by Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza, was particularly bashed online and has even sparked several Internet memes which likened the gown to an elaborate cake. MJ didn’t make it to the Top 5, and some people were quick to say her gowns were possibly part of the reason why she didn’t reach that far in the competition.

A lot of people aired their opinions about this whole controversy, among them Miss World 1993 2nd runner-up Ruffa Gutierrez, who was quoted, saying, “Hopefully they will start

using Filipino-made gowns and national costumes. Kasi all our designers are talented, more talented than the other designers from all over the world.”

With this controversy somehow still fresh in Filipinos’ minds, there was that pressure to please the audience and not spark another intrigue regarding the gowns of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

Thankfully, all was well on the fashion aspect this time—but not without a bit of drama!

The gowns Pia wore were stunningly glamorous and, more important, proudly Pinoy-made. However, less than a day before the evening gown competition for the Miss Universe 2015 preliminary show, Pia and her team (among them her mentor, Aces and Queens’ Jonas Gaffud) experienced a wardrobe mishap as the off-therack clothes prepared by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) didn’t suit Pia well.

To save Pia from what

could’ve been another memeworthy gown booboo, her team desperately called up Los Angeles-based Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino for help. Despite being on a skiing vacation in Aspen, Colorado, Oliver took the emergency call and came to the rescue. Immediately, he had nine gowns sent to Las Vegas from his Beverly Hills boutique.

Pia and her team chose a red sleeveless crepe de chine gown with Swarovski-encrusted bodice and thigh-high slit.

Pia also impressed in her intricate white/off-white terno with pearl and capiz shell details for the National Costume show and her royal blue serpentina silk gazar gown (which is plain in front but had elaborate details at the back made of beads, sequins and crystals) for the finals night.

Both gowns were designed and created by Filipino fashion designer Albert Andrada.

When Pia was crowned as Miss Universe 2015, the blue gems on her crown matched her blue gown perfectly.

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Pia wore this fiery red form-fitting gown with flared skirt and thigh-high slit by Los Angelesbased Filipino fashion designer Oliver Tolentino for the evening gown competition.

(Inset) Oliver Tolentino posted this photo in his Instagram account.

It was the moment when he had to pause from his skiing vacation in Aspen, Colorado to take an emergency call for help from Pia’s team regarding her outfit for the evening gown competition.

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Pia’s National Costume outfit, which was designed

by Albert Andrada, was inspired by “The Pearl of the Orient,” a term descriptive of the Philippines and its rich natural resources.

For the finals night, Pia wore this royal blue creation by Albert Andrada (who’s with Pia in the inset photo) whose color, the designer says, is symbolic of the deep blue Philippine seas.

There’s even more thought that went into the details of the gown, which all blend perfectly: the mermaid cut was executed with a hem made of multiple folds that look like fins; the back details featured what was meant to look like sun rays amid a blue sea; and the scattered beadwork represented sand on the beach.

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Turning it Around

True, one mistake doesn’t define an individual. But unfortunately for Steve Harvey, his blunder on the Miss Universe 2015 announcement seems to have cast a huge shadow over his accomplishments. But he wasn’t without his supporters either No doubt, Steve Harvey is a seasoned comedian, television host, radio personality, actor, and author. Currently, he hosts The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Steve Harvey (a talk show), and the iconic American game show Family Feud. He is the author of two books: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, (published in March 2009), and Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find and Keep a Man (published in January 2010).

Then the Miss Universe 2015 gaffe happened on live television, seen by people all over the world—and it seems everything changed for him after that.

But as they say, it happens even to the best of people. So what gives?

One didn’t need to be a beauty-pageant expert to have an opinion.

In the article of financial expert and columnist Brian Stelter on the money.cnn.com website, he said some industry people are of the opinion that “Harvey has much more experience with taped shows than with live television”.

Some even suggested that he

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should have resorted to the technique of American Idol host Ryan Seacrest who ditches cue cards and relies entirely on the teleprompter. By doing so, he could have minimized the chance of committing the error because the teleprompter would have contained all the correct information necessary for a seamless job on stage.

Mistakes are inevitable. And for some well-meaning people, the way he handled the situation says a lot about the man’s humility.

Maybe that’s because he’s no stranger to struggle either. Just as Pia had to fight her way to the Miss Universe Philippines title by joining the local pageant three times, Harvey also had his share of struggles.

Before making it big on television, he paid his dues as a boxer, an auto worker, an insurance salesman, a carpet cleaner and a mailman.

In an interview with Charlotte Triggs in October 2013 for People Magazine, Steve recounted how he lived off on a paltry budget right after splitting from his first wife because he sent almost all his paychecks home for his children. “One or two gigs fell through, and suddenly I was homeless,” Steve said.

“I had nowhere to go,” he shared. Those moments led him to live out of his trusty 1976 Ford Tempo, using a cooler in the backseat as a temporary refrigerator. He made ends meet by washing up in hotel bathrooms, gas stations or swimming pool showers.

The bleak journey lasted for three years. “It was rock bottom.

But even in my darkest days I

had faith it would turn around,” singer-actress Lea Salonga— Harvey said. who was a judge in the Miss It comes as no surprise then Universe 2011 pageant (where that he was quick to own up to Shamcey Supsup was the his mistake in Miss Universe even Philippine representative; Leila under pain of criticism.

Lopes of Angola was adjudged Apart from the live apology the winner)—said: “I have to say and the one he posted on social that I feel for the host Steve media, Harvey took it upon Harvey for the case of human himself to personally offer his error. But it just happened to be heartfelt sentiments to Miss human error in front of millions Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo of television viewers. I’d have to Wurtzbach. say that he was a very big man For some, with that gesture, for correcting the mistake in the TV host and author front of millions of people.” redeemed himself immediately, The Philippines’ Queen of displaying professionalism and All Media Kris Aquino also felt maturity. compelled to comment.

A few took it upon themselves “We were watching. You to come to his defense, not the know, that really happens. least of which were the pageant Ide-defend ko si Steve Harvey… organizers themselves. tapos siguro siya (Harvey) hindi “Unfortunately, a live telecast na-brief nang maayos,” she said. means that human error can But Harvey later found come into play,” the Miss his redemption. Three days Universe Organization said in a after the mistaken crowning, statement posted on its website a report came out saying that missuniverse.com. “We witnessed the 58-year-old TV personality that tonight when the wrong would be coming back to host winner was initially announced.” the pageant and had been Retired National Basketball offered a multi-year deal with Association (NBA) star Earvin a paycheck that, according to ‘Magic’ Johnson, who played for Entertainment Tonight, was the the Los Angeles Lakers, tweeted, most ever paid to a host in Miss – Jing “we’ve all made mistakes in our Universe history.

Rosete careers & lives.” He encouraged Harvey to “keep the faith and keep going strong!”

Harvey with Pia (top) during the Also, Charles M. Blow, an Q & A portion; in a ‘groufie’ with the op-ed columnist at the New York other Miss Universe 2015 candidates.

Times, cautioned people to cut the man some slack.

“Ok, @ IAmSteveHarvey made a huge mistake.

BUT, how many have we all made?!

Seriously, don’t laugh too loud. Karma might hear you…,” tweeted Blow.

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Afterwards, Ariadna offered a more gracious and conciliatory message through social media.

“Every one of you has become an incredible human being in my book and I am the most fortunate and thankful for having the support not only from one country, but from the whole entire world. Your destiny is written for you. And my destiny was this. I also want to congratulate the Philippines for their new Miss Universe. The happiness that you must be feeling must be incredible.

Life continues and in the future we will find out why things happen the way they happen. Thank you all for your LOVE SUPPORT and KINDNESS.” On the other hand, the new Miss Universe took over the Miss Universe social media account to air her sentiments.

One of Pia’s first few posts had an inspiring, touching and uniting message.

“Words can’t describe how grateful I am for this. It was quite a journey getting here with 3 attempts at winning Miss Philippines. Now, I finally got the best Christmas gift ever—and not just for me, for my country. I’d like to say thank you to everyone who believed in my potential and those who supported me from the beginning. To everyone who voted for me, especially to my fellow countrymen, thank you. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.”

She even had a message for Miss Colombia: “To Ariadna, you are an amazing woman and we are now bonded together forever by a unique experience.

In the last 3 weeks we were together, I saw how strong and beautiful you are inside and out. You represented your country with honor and I know how proud everyone must be of you. Fate has a

plan for you, and I’m excited to see what’s ahead. And to all the fans who are still fighting about this…Please let’s all stop now. The Miss Universe Organization is about uniting empowered women from all over the world. Arguing and sending hateful messages to each other defeats the whole purpose. You believe in the message of Miss Universe and so do I. Again, thank you for the love. I’m excited to begin my duties as Miss Universe and I wish everyone, all the contestants and all the supporters a great holiday with their loved ones.”

Pia’s journey on the way to the Miss Universe title is a lesson in persistence, faith, and positivity despite all the pitfalls in one’s life.

By her grace and actions, Pia embodied the queen that she is.

Now, it’s the Philippines’ turn to relish national pride that one of its own is the most beautiful woman in the universe.

Almost But Not Quite

Miss Colombia Universe 2015 will doubtless be remembered as the most memorable and controversial first runner-up

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For 22-year-old Colombian model-turned-beauty queen Ariadna Gutierrez (the Miss Universe website lists her full name as Ariadna GutierrezArevalo), wearing the Miss Universe 2015 crown and sash for only a couple of minutes could well have been the longest and most excruciating moment of her life—what with the embarrassment that came with the incorrect announcement of the pageant’s top two placers.

The Christmas Day baby— Ariadna was born on December 25, 1993 and is the youngest of five children—may not be the ‘winner’ in the real sense of the word, but host Steve Harvey’s announcing her as the victor made her a newsworthy name globally in a matter of seconds, in the same breath, perhaps, of the winner from the Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

But Ariadna wasn’t without her supporters. As soon as the gaffe unfolded in real-time, netizens were quick to empathize with the embattled contestant.

Not a few commented, though, that it would have been more prudent had Gutierrez offered the crown and sash herself to the real winner. Internet memes like ‘Colombiazoned’ (an iteration of the terms seen-zoned and friend-zoned in social media) were inevitable and began flooding cyberspace hours after the results were in.

There was also talk that she was being eyed to replace Sofia Vergara (a Colombian-American actress, comedian, producer, TV host, model and businesswoman widely known for co-hosting two TV shows for Spanish-language television network Univision in the late 1990s) in her breakout role in Modern Family, an American

sitcom about a modern Los Angeles family that premiered in September 2009.

Well, she may not be this year’s queen—and that mistake is still fresh in the minds of people and will be for months, maybe even years to come, but one day, Ariadna will hopefully discover that there is life after the Miss Universe pageant.

Netizens referred to Ariadna as the Miss Universe with the “shortest reign” which lasted less than five minutes. The jewelstudded crown eventually ended up on Pia’s head.

Later, Ariadna would say in an interview that she found the moment “humiliating”.

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LOVE, UNLIMITED

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ove knows no boundaries, and this rings true, especially with two people who are from different cultural backgrounds. With social media and technology making communication easy and how

Culture clashes? Language barriers? Not in these relationships. A new season gives us new chances at love, so it’s time to scout for options, who may be Pinoyor not, like what these stars ended up choosing!

By Maan D’Asis Pamaran

quickly one can travel great distances these days, it has become possible for lovers to meet and fall in love even from halfway around the world. Every relationship has its ups and downs, but obviously, building a future with

a non-Filipino comes with its own unique set of challenges.

Here are some true–to–life love stories of showbiz celebrities who have found their ideal partner in someone from across the sea.

E rich G onzales and Daniel M atsunaga P i n a y + B ra z i l i a n -Ja p a n e s e

Photo from the official Instagram account of Erich Gonzales

As showbiz stars, Erich Gonzales and actor/model Daniel Matsunaga have each had very public relationships, so when they first started going out, they were determined to keep their own under wraps.

They were several weeks into the relationship when they made the big reveal on Kris TV. They first started working together on the teleserye Two Wives, but they kept things strictly professional because Erich was in a relationship at the time.

In their Kris TV interview, the pair said it was when Daniel joined Two Wives that they started to get to know each other better.

Daniel confessed: “[Gusto ko na siya] pero alam ko ‘yung walls, what I can do and what I could not. Pero that time was really more on being professional. She was there all the time for me. Our friendship really became much stronger there. We got to know each other better. We were there for each other and we started developing a better friendship.”

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“I always said in every interview na God really has His own timing. It’s not something that you have to rush. I never rushed any relationship. I always waited. I just trust, have faith. It really happens in the right time,” he said.

Erich describes Daniel as expressive and is flattered by how well he treats her. He’s always looking out for her welfare.

“Kapag magkasama kami, lagi niyang tinatanong, ‘Are you okay? Is there anything you need?’ Laging ako muna. He makes sure na comfortable ako, na safe ako, na okay lagi. It’s a nice feeling na tini-treat kang ganu’n.

Sobra siyang maalaga. Napakagaan kasama kahit hindi sa akin, kahit sa mga kasamahan namin sa paligid,” she said.

The two are currently taking things slow when it comes to long-term plans.

“Let’s just leave everything in God’s hands. Hindi naman natin alam what will happen in the future. Kumbaga, si God lang ang nakakaalam,” Erich says.

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Story courtesy of Metro Home and Entertaining

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art / design / places / inspiration

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‘J’adore’ Artist Jia santosEstrella’s latest exhibit, J’adore, is a collection that builds on her use of vintage furniture and objects as a blank canvas where she renders motifs like flowers, birds, sea creatures and patterns.

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‘I love’ turnIng vIntage and dIscarded furnIture Into functIonal art By rAph KiEfEr PhotograPhs by pAul DEl rosArio Artist JiA sAntos-EstrEllA launches

another bespoke furniture art exhibit at the art informal gallery aptly titled “J’adore.”

Blurring the lines between art, interior design and fashion, Jia shows us her love of turning vintage and discarded furniture into functional art.

The collection is part of her continuous evolution from her former corporate life into the art world, to which she committed only in 2011. Inspired by the things she adores, such as family, nature, travel and architecture, “J’adore” is diverse, colorful, elegant and functional. Fully invested in the method itself, each item is handpicked from thrift shops or old homes and, in collaboration with skilled carpenters and upholsterers, she gets her hands dirty to give it second life. The collection includes restored chairs, window panels, railings and a sofa set, all of which are used as the canvas of her art.

Painted on an old Capiz window are details of a tropical jungle, such as familiar colorful birds, exotic fruits and flowers, to

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recreate the exotic image the western world has of the archipelago. A contrasting window looks out into the opposite side of the world in what is a clear reflection of our view of the western world, in this case the idyllic flooded streets of Venice with well-integrated iconic sites found in other parts of Italy.

It is, however, the collection of restored chairs which are the highlight of the “J’adore” collection. Be it flowers, butterflies, Philippine seashells, coral gardens, tigers and familiar animal prints, each item is unique and can stand by itself as a piece of art. The exhibit even features a chair painted by the artists’ daughter who, Lia says, is “becoming quite the artist.”

With a storied history in the fashion industry of many years working with the biggest fashion brands at Rustan’s, she admits being inspired by the world of fashion and how well they present themselves. “Having worked with big brands, I find a lot of inspiration in the patterns that these big fashion houses use. I love working with fabrics and I incorporate them into what I do,” she says.

For this exhibit, choice fabrics were used on pillows and an installation involving a teepee which, coincidentally, offers a glimpse of her priorities in life and her family.

As functional art is fast becoming a trend, we can expect more of her work going in this direction in the future.

Jia Santos-Estrella owns and manages her own art gallery and events space called “J Studio” in Taguig. This is her way of giving back to the creative community and assisting young artists in getting their works noticed.

She also sells Moroccan items at Rustan’s under the label Majorelle.

Jia Santos-Estrella’s pieces are inspired by the things that she loves: family, nature and travel.

She works with carpenters and skilled upholsterers to complete her collections.

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PhotograPher dookie ducay Styling sarah madarang of stylelist inc. hair and makeuP eddiemar cabiltes model chanel of mercator Jumpsuit, Reiss; jacket, Tommy Hilfiger; bag, Kate Spade; shoes,CLN

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Graphic Grace

As minimalism slowly becomes a thing of the past, now is the time to go all out. Bold and beautiful, geometric prints can upgrade your work wear ensemble from plain professional to trendy chic MONDAY Start your week sharp and interesting by donning a pencil dress with solid geometric patterns. Wear it with a pair of black tights and a belt to add a bit of the ‘60s vibe. The key to pulling this off is choosing the right color—black with a hint of white, or vice versa.

Finish your look with your choice of strappy heels and a handbag in a neutral color.

TUESDAY After the Monday madness, reset and go for a light graphic loose top.

Add structure to your look with a pair of form-fitting trousers in a rich and solid hue. Elevate this street chic look to boardroomapproved wardrobe with a blazer and accessorize with killer stilettos and your choice of leather bag.

Coat and trousers, both Banana Republic; top, Kenneth Cole; bag, Kate Spade; shoes, CLN

Dress, Marc by Marc Jacobs; belt; Jessica; bag, Furla; shoes, Forever 21

PhotograPhs Dookie Ducay / text anzenne Roble / styling SaRah MaDaRang of stylelist, inc. / hair and MakeuP eDDieMaR cabilteS / Model chanel for Mercator

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WEDNESDAY Do away with stress and look like bohemian royalty while doing your midweek activities. The A-line skirt that is cut right below the knee should do the trick. Pick the print based on your mood (go wild, whimsy, or playful!) and pair it with a plain top. Inject a right balance of romantic and lady boss by donning a light-colored jacket, and complete the look with a dainty sling bag and pointed toe pumps.

Jacket, Banana Republic; top, Tommy Hilfiger; skirt, Jessica; bag, Kate Spade; shoes, Zara

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THURSDAY Luxe and loud should be your Thursday game. We suggest floral printed palazzo pants to up your fashion fierceness.

Balance the look by keeping the rest of your pieces minimal, except for your neckpiece, which you can play around with.

FRIDAY Take casual Fridays to a whole new level by donning a button down top paired with a knee-length checkered skirt. Let your accessories express your fun side by experimenting with bright and bold colors, and keep it minimal to direct all attention to your statement print. Polish your look with a pair of your favorite comfy pumps.

Top, Banana Republic; trousers, Sinequanone; bag, Furla; shoes, Forever 21

Top, Tommy Hilfiger; skirt and clutch, Kate Spade; shoes, Zara

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recipes

At the beAch

Story courtesy of Food Magazine

live well /

Prepare foods that won’t spoil in the heat or are best kept chilled in a cooler MENU Vegetable sticks Cheez Whiz Milky Delight sandwich Baked honey-mustard chicken Corn relish Assorted fruits (watermelon, mango, melon, turnips) Juices (Tang honey lemon and dalandan)

Picnic perfect Whether it’s a munch on the beach, a meal on the road, or a feast at the playground— we’ve got your menu covered!

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Recipes by CECILLE ESPERANZA Styling by NINI FALCON Photography by PAULO VALENZUELA

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At the plAyground

BaKed hONey-MustaRd ChICKeN Serves 4 to 6

the pasta and barbecue combo appeals to the young and young at heart

1 1/2 k whole chicken, cut into 10 pieces

MENU Barbecue Corn on the cob Pasta with mushroom and blue cheese sauce Brownies Assorted drinks

Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 cup melted butter Juice of 1 orange

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease baking sheet and line with aluminum foil.

2. Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.

3. Combine the honey, mustard, melted butter and orange juice in a large bowl. Toss the chicken through the mixture and place skin-side up on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper.

4. Bake until the chicken is fully cooked (about 40 minutes).

CORN RelIsh Serves 6 (Recipe courtesy of Fly Ace) 3 cups cider vinegar 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 tbsp salt 1 tsp paprika 3 cans Jolly whole corn kernels, drained 2 cups sweet onions, chopped 2 cups red and green bell peppers, chopped 1 tbsp siling labuyo, chopped

1. In a pot, combine vinegar, sugar, salt and paprika. Place over medium heat and let it simmer until sugar is dissolved.

Do not stir. Allow to cool to room temperature; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine Jolly whole corn kernels, onions, bell peppers, and siling labuyo.

3. Add the vinegar mix, about 2 cups. Store the rest in an airtight container.

4. Toss and spoon the relish into sterilized jars and seal tightly.

5. To serve, use as relish for breaded fish fillet or have as snack.

Pasta WIth MushROOM aNd Blue Cheese sauCe Serves 4 2 tbsp butter 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms 500 g capellini or spaghetti, cook according to package directions 1/2 cup reserved pasta water 300 g blue cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley 1/4 tsp cayenne Salt, to taste

1. In a pot, melt butter and sauté garlic and mushrooms. Add cooked noodles to the pot and stir to coat. Slowly add the blue cheese, stirring the noodles so the cheese melts.

2. Drizzle a little of the reserved pasta water over the noodles, using as much or as little as needed. It will keep the noodles from clumping together and thin out the blue cheese as it melts so the sauce has a lighter, less sticky texture.

3. Once the blue cheese has mostly melted, stir in the parsley and cayenne. Add salt to taste. Serve immediately.

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On the rOad

Stock up on finger foods that are easy to eat on the go MENU Oreo cookies (Coconut Delight and Strawberry Milkshake flavors) Beef and Cheese Rolls Chips Stick O Assorted drinks

Beef aNd Cheese ROlls Serves 4 to 6 1. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, kesong puti, milk, bacon, chives and pepper.

2. Spread half of cream cheese mixture evenly over tortilla bread. Layer half of roast beef, salad greens and tomatoes, leaving 4 inches at one side covered only with cream cheese mixture.

3. Beginning at side covered with fillings, roll up tightly. Repeat with remaining

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1 cup kesong puti 1/4 cup milk 6 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper 3 (10-inch) flour tortillas 500 g sliced cooked deli roast beef Lettuce leaves

tortilla, cream cheese mixture and fillings.

4. Cut ends without fillings from each roll (about 1 inch from each end). Cut remaining portion of each roll into 5 slices.

Serve immediately, or wrap securely with plastic wrap.

Food containers and tumblers available at Tupperware Brands Philippines.

2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced

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Story courtesy of Metro Magazine

lifestyle travel Left: Gigantes Island in Carles, Iloilo; Right: Kayaking around Siete Pecados Islands.

Secret Paradise Hidden lagoons, fantastic waves, white sand, rapturous mountains—just some of the sights in secret destinations that you need to know about

T above: aquatica manila Water Park in Lingayen; Below: Paragliding in Sarangani

he PhiliPPines is an enchanting archipelago of 7,107 islands, so to crowd ourselves onto a mile-long strip of a tourist trap beachfront is nothing short of a pity. Off the beaten path are less crowded and more pristine retreats that you can almost call your private getaway. here are the country’s top five emerging destinations identified based on their natural allure, accessibility, diverse activities they offer, and availability of accommodation, among others. explore them before everyone else does.

Catanduanes. This comely island province east of Bicol was once branded as the “land of the howling Wind” due to the frequent typhoons that pass its way. Thanks to climate change, the perfect storms are a thing of the past, and it is now a tourism frontier beckoning the wanderer. “Majestic Waves” in Puraran Beach in Baras, the province’s main draw, is called such because of its long barrel, which lives up to its name—majestic.

Catanduanes is endowed with sleepy shores on almost all fronts, the most notable of which is igang, home to Twin Rocks Beach Resort which has a zipline, outdoor wall, and hanging bridge. Palumbanes island in Caramoran is a potential dive site because of its diverse underwater life.

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whose refreshing waters cast a spell on nature lovers—Maribina Falls in Bato for its shallow multi-layered basins, and nahulugan Falls in Gigmoto for its three-tiered tall drop and cool natural pool. The postcard-pretty spanish-era st. John the Baptist Church is a bastion of faith situated at the banks of Bato River. Deep into Batalay village is the Diocesan shrine of the holy Cross where Augustinian Fr. Diego de herrera, the first Catholic missionary to the province, is entombed. sarangani. Just like its adopted son Manny Pacquiao, this province packs a knockout punch with its combination of upland and seaside hideaways. its barrage of natural wonders begins with its array of white sand shores topped by Gumasa Beach in Glan, a long stretch of fine sand that is blissful, minus the maddening crowd and unbridled commercialism. it bursts into life during the May-time sarangani Festival, arguably the country’s biggest beach party.

The province takes pride in its lush marine life at the Tinoto Wall just a few meters away from lemlunay Resort in Maasim which hosts the south Point dive shop. Divers can frolic in a wide variety of corals, nudibranches, huge gorgonians, sponges, groupers, pelagics, turtles, rays, rainbow runners, and an endless array of reef life. Further to the west is Tuka Marine Park in Kiamba, a protected fish sanctuary

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PhotograPhS Bernard Supetran

By Bernard L. Supetran

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t ideal for snorkeling and free diving. Take to the skies in the mountains of Maasim where you can defy gravity and fly. This quiet town is the country’s paragliding capital having hosted the World Cup and international accuracy tournaments.

CAMARINEs NORTE. An unheralded tourism getaway until recently, CamNorte shot to unprecedented national prominence because of its well-kept secrets, like the gold hidden in its underground mines. Its not-so-secret iconic getaway are the Calaguas Islands, a mainstay on the bucket list of beach bums after being named the country’s top Tourism Gem in an online poll conducted by Isla Lipana & Co. Its main come-on is its back-to-basics allure, reminiscent of Boracay 30 years ago.

Another idyllic island chain is Siete Pecados, 30 minutes away from the capital town of Daet. The more agile can paddle around the seven islands aboard a kayak, hopping from one powdery beach to the next. Bagasbas Beach in Daet is a top destination for surfing greenhorns because of its consistent waves and sandy bottom. This fine gray sand beach is also a favorite for kiteboarding because of the Pacific wind that blows the whole year round.

Lazing in natural rock pools with icy water rushing down the mountains is an all-time favorite recreation for locals and tourists at Mampurog River Resort in San Lorenzo Ruiz and Sinagtala Resort in Labo which simulate the effect of a hydromassage or jacuzzi to rejuvenate tired muscles.

LINGAyEN. Situated at the mouth of the historic Lingayen Gulf, this rustic town is part of the fulfillment of Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s famed “I Shall Return” statement when he landed here 70 years ago.

Aquatica Marina Waterpark of El Puerto Marina Resort in Lingayen, the only one of its kind in Pangasinan, boasts of five swimming pools—a long slide pool, a wave pool with a giant bucket, the “raging river,” a small slide pool and a kids’ playpool. The beachside

resort hotel also has tropical-themed rooms, a fancy Inca-inspired swimming pool, and cozy nipa huts on stilts in a fish pond. Guests can surf, skimboard, kayak, or ride an ATV on the beach, build bonfires, cruise along the Agno River, gaze at the poetic sunset, or mend fishnets with the fisherfolk.

El Puerto Marina offers a gastronomic journey with the mouthwatering Pangasinense cuisine—Bonuan bangus, Alaminos longganisa, Sual pinca swordfish, and Bayambang freshwater catch dipped in the signature Lingayen bagoong (fish paste). For worry-free travel, there are sightseeing tours around Pangasinan and island-hopping excursions at the Hundred Islands National Park.

NORTh ILOILO. It may be synonymous with the famous Dinagyang Festival, but Iloilo has more than meets the eye. Iloilo province’s once-obscure islands have begun appearing in the tourists’ radar—thanks to online media which has brought vivid images to our devices.

The Gigantes island group in Carles town is slowly becoming a byword because of its talcum sand and turquoise waters. Cabugao Gamay, the most popular of the islands, boasts of a short but pristine beach and a verdant hill which can be photographed from the peak of an adjacent hill.

Other must-sees are Tangke, a hidden saltwater lagoon formed by a surrounding wall of granite monolithic cliffs; Antonia Island, Bantigue Sandbar, and Sitio Pulupandan.

In between are marine sanctuaries teeming with marine life; validated scuba diving spots.

Concepcion town takes pride in its own island cluster composed of Agho, Sanggutan Rocks, Bago Sipol, and Pan de Azucar which is called so because of its sugary fine sand. Its piece de resistance is Bulubadiangan, which was named by online travel site Skyscanner as among the Philippines’ top nine most amazing sandbars whose claim to fame is its 200-meter sandbar which extends for as far as your eyes can see, as if it grazes the next island.

What tO Wear tO the beach

Caftan, P1,450, Soak Swimwear

Beach blanket, Lagu

Bag, Herschel Swimwear, P1,500, Eighth Mermaid

Slippers, Tkees

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Our editOrs and seasOned travelers share their favOrite destinatiOns: RAUL MANZANO Editor-in-Chief, Metro Society “It would be Boracay and Cebu.

Discovery Shores for impeccable service— it’s my second home outside Manila. ShangriLa Mactan for its amazing food at their eating outlets especially Tea of Spring.”

REX ATIENZA Creative Director, Metro “My first ever long trip was in Boracay during Holy Week in 2001. It was paradise—white sand, world class beach—it was incomparable. I’ve been to many beaches around the world and the feeling there is just different. Coron is also a favorite, and I went there during the time it was still being developed. If you want somewhere more quiet with a beautiful beach, you should go there.”

RIA GAMBOA Fashion Associate, Metro “I always keep coming back to Calaguas, because of the super virgin beach, much like Boracay’s white sand. It has clear water and you can go cliff diving and snorkeling. Also Siargao because of the vibe—it’s so laidback and the islands are beautiful. The waves are great even if you’re a beginner. Check out Calaguas’ Waling Waling Eco Village and Ocean 101 Beach Resort in Siargao.”

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travel Story courtesy of Metro Magazine

The water bungalow room is a good idea for a romantic getaway. And of course, how can we forget the tours?

The resort can map out activities throughout your stay, which are facilitated by their expert guides.

return to paradise

As an El Nido institution, Miniloc Island remains one of the best places to find sanctuary By rex atienza

anything i say is considered a redundancy. The calming ocean views and the divine sea breeze seem to beckon you into a state of relaxation and rejuvenation. set against the grandeur of nature, the opulent collections by the country’s premiere fashion designers seemed to be the perfect outfit to wear in any corner, crevice, cove, cliff or canoe. built on a stretch of sand with monolithic karst cliffs on one side and a deep green luscious jungle on the other, Miniloc island is part of the el nido Resorts Group. initially, it was established as a diving site back in 1983. since then, it has prided itself in becoming the METRO

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first full service luxury resort in the region. a perfect marriage of rustic charm and luxury, the island and the resort have proven to be a top destination for honeymooners, couples, and nature lovers. Just a few feet from the resort’s main entrance is their own reef that guests are encouraged to snorkel in. a myriad of fish varieties, like jacks, clownfish, damselfish, and fusiliers take refuge and call the reef their home. in fact, staying in Miniloc seemed to have turned me into a clone of sir david attenborough.

Though there are a number of activities for the guests to enjoy, staying in your beautifully

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A

lot has been said about Palawan and its diverse come-ons—the beaches, the thrills, the wildlife, and of course, the beautiful natural scenery. all of these splendors seem to converge in the majestically opulent island of Miniloc, an el nido institution that still keeps its place as one of the best resorts in the area. begrudgingly, i feel that i came to this paradise a little too late. i say so because i feel like all of the adjectives that can be used to describe the island have been exclaimed by everyone that has visited before me, and

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travel explore! Rent a kayak and paddle around the lagoons, swim with the fishes, and soak up the sun. What’s the point of being in paradise if you’re too busy posting about it on Instagram?

TASTE: Definitely give the pako salad a try. Remember that the resort uses their own homegrown vegetables so you are actually doing your body a favor by eating healthy and eating organic.

SEE: Explore the different islands in the area. Go see the Snake Island, an S-shaped sand bar that is absolutely breathtaking.

Meditate on your kayak as you pass the huge karst limestone cliffs, meet the scaly locals (the fish, of course), and be amazed with what this paradise can offer.

STAY: There are the large family villas and cottages, but if you are looking for something intimate yet comfortable, try the Garden Cottages. The sea view rooms are also quite comfy.

Visit www.elnidoresorts.com for more information, or follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook: @elnidoresorts. Call them at +632-9025985 or +632-8130000 on weekdays and at +63917-5841576 during weekends and holidays. You can also email them at holiday@elnidoresorts.com

what to wear Dress, Cortefiel

designed room may also have a certain appeal. The rooms are designed with the guests’ privacy and sense of exclusivity in mind. Accommodations were designed to showcase and preserve the local ecosystem—from the native thatched nipa roof, use of locally sourced wood and materials, as well as a strong regard for the environment in their housekeeping and kitchen processes. Each room has eco-friendly water bottles and bags that are provided by the resort for the guests to use; encouraging everyone to do their share in preserving the environment and reducing the carbon footprint of the area.

Dining is another treat! Romantic dinners are the norm at the beach but for families, you also have special private spots for dinner 52

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Enchanting lagoons and island tours, Miniloc offers a full board package and, considering it is in a secluded paradise, they do have a lot of outdoor activities.

or lunch. Its cuisine offered is also part of the environmental advocacy of the resort—with greens and vegetables coming from their own gardens and refraining from serving endangered species such as sea bass or groupers.

That reminds me of that cartoon shark retort, “Fish are friends, not food!”

Time stops here in Miniloc. It’s Mother Nature’s way of saying “you have to slow down and look at what I have made for you.”

One can’t help but live in the moment and take a breather when you’re in this sublime piece of paradise.

TRY: Unplug and just be in the moment.

Enjoy the natural beauty and don’t be afraid to

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Dress, Natori at Rustan’s

Bag, Dorothy Perkins

Shoe, TOMS

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