Yes Philippines NewsMagazine UK/Ireland Edition - Issue 1

by MARY SOL PIMENTEL

'As bear er s of good news, we ar e thr illed to infor m you that all the inspir ing stor ies of Filipinos based in the UK and the Republic of I r eland have now found their new home? and you ar e holding it in your hand '

As bearers of good news, we are thrilled to inform you that all the inspiring stories of Filipinos based in the UK and the Republic of Ireland have now found their new home? and you are holding it in your hand Mabuhay and welcome to the first issue of Yes Philippines News Magazine, the first ever truly Filipino Community paper in the UK and the ROI from cover to cover

On our maiden issue, we had the pleasure to tell the stories of noteworthy Filipinos who have carved their names on various fields To start things off, we feature Rowena Romulo, a banker turned restaurateur, who gave the people of Kensington High Street the distinctive taste of Filipino dishes through her award-winning restaurant, Romulo Café

Following that delicious story of success is a feature about Jeannahlyn Alcano-Lord, a dinner lady and an ultimate performer who has made a remarkable impression as an XFactor sensation Originally from Misamis Occidental, Jeannahlyn is now making a name in London as the ever-energetic and -talented Gaga Lord

A few pages after Jeannahlyn?s story you?ll meet Francezqua Ward, a FilBrit ballerina, who never fails to charm her audiences and make both the Filipino and the UK communities proud with her graceful and eloquent performances Last but not least is the feature of presidential fashion consultant Mimi Parrel Pimentel and her experience showing her works in the London fashion scene

Of course, we won? t be calling ourselves the creators of the first ever Truly Local Filipino paper from Cover to Cover if we can? t give you the freshest updates on community news and events So, expect to stumble upon local bits while you dip into the paper

You will also get some practical financial tips as our contributor Micah Lee shared some ways on how to achieve or maintain financial security in a world of student loans, trend buying and obsessive-comparison tendencies, among other things

Features, local news, showbiz bits and more are waiting for you But before I end this letter and you leaf through the paper, allow me to thank you for being among the first persons to support us and read our thoughtfully written stories As we create this paper, we are starting a new tradition of celebrating lives and stories of the Filipinos in the UK and ROI And no words can express how glad we are to have you on our journey

Happy reading, and we hope to see you again on the next issue!

From Banker to Restaurateur

Rowena Romulo's Journey to Conquer London? The Romulo Café Way

By Sadeka Sarra Fabillar Mesalucha

T w asn? t solely a career shift w hen a 54-year old banker t ook a det our and braved t he m ot ley hurdles t o ent er t he w orld of food service in 2016 For Row ena Rom ulo, it w as now or never

Fuelled by her high regard for Filipino food and det erm inat ion t o enrich her fam ily s herit age as w ell as t o expand, int ernat ionally, t he successful Rom ulo Café in Manila, she m ust ered all her courage and em barked on an am bit ious m ission t o not only pave t he w ay for Filipino cuisine in t he est ablished London food scene but m ost im port ant ly, m ake it st ay Surely, am bit ion requires m ore t han hard w ork; it dem ands a great deal of st rat egy and t ons of passion From hiring a UK consult ant t o devising a business plan, present ing it t o her fam ily in t he Philippines, and t hen having t o find a suit able spot ? Row ena had t o keep rem inding herself of t he goal so she w ouldn? t get cold feet

?The first locat ion w e set our eyes on and m ade a bid for t urned us dow n because t he landlord w as not fam iliar w it h Filipino cuisine and he w as unsure as t o w het her t his w ould be a success or not ,? she says She and her t eam w ere not oblivious t o t he fact t hat locat ion is crit ical for rest aurant s They had t o execut e a conscious decision t o m ake a significant invest m ent in an area t hat w as close t o m ajor Filipino hubs such as Earls Court and Our Lady of Vict ories Church, and associat ed w it h key Brit ish landm arks and est ablishm ent s like Kensingt on Palace, Holland Park, t he Em bassy Row , Palace Green, Royal Albert Hall, V&A, and London Olym pia

Aft er six m ont hs of searching and surveying, a Kensingt on sit e w as m ade available! Not even t ough propert y lease negot iat ions w ould hinder t he rise of t he first out post of Rom ulo Café in t he Brit ish capit al A Unique Com prom ise Row ena didn't sail unready The challenges did not surprise nor daunt her Confident of her t eam , she w as up for som e ?donkey w ork?t o convince food lovers and rest aurant -goers in London t hat Filipino food is t he big t hing Moreover, alt hough t he m ission w as t o t ake Rom ulo Café and all t he good it had t o offer t o Kensingt on, st ill t he bell loudly rings, ?it ?s London? , and t here w as alw ays t he risk t hat t his Philippine set -up could m isfire So, m aking a unique com prom ise w as t he nam e

of

?There w ere m ajor m

w e had t o m ake The int

m

ov, are a depart ure from t he black and w hit e/ m onochrom e form ula of our rest aurant s back hom e There is also a bit of quirkiness, as you w ould find in any real hom e w hilst it s spirit belongs t o t he legacy left by m y grandfat her, Carlos P Rom ulo, t hrough t he phot ographs and m em ent os t hat adorn t he rest aurant The out com e is an appealing space t hat bridges Filipino cult ure w it h t he localit y, revealing a rich sense of personal and fam ily hist ory ?

Aft er furnishing t he rest aurant , Row ena?s t eam w as confront ed w it h a m ore arduous challenge? set t ing up t he

London m enu! She explained t hat t he m enu could not be as ext ensive as t he rest aurant s in t he Philippines largely due t o ingredient s not being available in London It also becam e im perat ive t o alt er t he present at ion of som e of t he dishes t o ensure t hat t hey w ere not just delect able but at t ract ive t o Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike, given t he broader cust om er base in London

Row ena has fait h in t he uniqueness of Filipino cuisine For her, it is a m esm erizing com binat

t he gam e? m aking Rom ulo Café blend int o t he London landscape on t he one hand and st and out on t he ot her

odificat ions

eriors

ade by Filipina Karen Soriano-Hrist

Rom ulo Cafe n t he heart of Kens ngt on in London

Row ena and Co-Part ner Chris Joseph w it h t heir Tim e Out 2018 London Aw ards for Most Loved Rest aurant s - Runner-Up in t he ent ire London and Best Rest aurant in Kensingt on

of four culinary t radit ions ? Spanish, Am erican, Malay and Chinese, and a real fusion of flavours from t he East and West And she?s earnest in m aking it know n and savoured by t he w orld

Great ness in t he Making

est ablished rest aurat eur, ?We are never t oo old nor is it ever t oo lat e t o st art over At t im es, w e need t o t ake a risk and have t he courage t o vent ure int o som et hing new ? even if it m eans clim bing out of our com fort zone All our dream s can com e t rue if w e have t he courage t o pursue t hem

Not hing is im possible, t he im possible only t akes t im e ?

Wit h such a disposit ion, it w ould not t ake long for t he w orld t o see t he st rengt h in Row ena In 2017, she w as nam ed one of t he 100 m ost influent ial Filipinas in t he w orld by t he Filipina Wom en?s Net w ork She w as recognized in t he ?Builder Aw ard?cat egory for her "except ional organizat ional im pact at a large w orkplace environm ent , " her "deep passion for a cause, t hrough collaborat ive init iat ives or alliances" and "high pot ent ial and skill w it h m easurable result s "

?We have t o m ake sure w e are com pet it ive ? in every w ay, versus est ablishm ent s in our st yle and price bracket ?

It has been non-st op w ork at Rom ulo Café since day one The challenges have been huge and dem anding How t o not only int roduce but fam iliarise diners w it h Filipino food; how t o com pet e in such a crow ded, noisy and high-st andard culinary locat ion, and even how t o persuade Filipinos in London t hat Rom ulo Café offers a viable alt ernat ive t o Pinoy hom e-cooking or Mam a?s cooking Row ena st rat egised and soon w it nessed hist ory in t he m aking ?Filipino food has been t he ?quiet m an (or w om an!)?of gast ronom y for t he longest t im e But w e t ried t o explain our food on our m enus as sim ply and clearly as possible, and w e did not hesit at e t o prom ot e, via social m edia and ot her m edia channels as w ell as exhibit ions and food fest ivals, t he fact t hat w e exist ed as purveyors of ?a t ast e of t he Philippines in t he heart of Kensingt on??

Today her chefs ensure t hat t hey keep her grandm ot her, Lola Virginia?s recipes alive by overseeing t he consist ency and qualit y of t he food seven days a w eek, bearing in m ind t hat m any no longer consider eat ing out as a t reat but a lifest yle

?We have never claim ed t hat our food is t he definit ive t his or t hat dish; rat her, it is t he fam ily rendit ion of Filipino favourit es or, ever so oft en, our innovat ive t w ist on dishes using Filipino ingredient s and cooking st yles,? said Row ena Rom ulo Café?s kit chen t eam is quit e pleased t o have been able t o convince a num ber of people t hat fine w ine goes w ell w it h fine Filipino food, and m any of t heir Philippine-inspired cockt ails have t aken off ?We have t o m ake sure w e are com pet it ive ? in every w ay, versus est ablishm ent s in our st yle and price bracket ,? she added

Row ena cert ainly had high hopes, but she herself could not believe t he t urnout Rom ulo Café has becom e a head-t urner, creat ing not just a buzz but a resounding bang That sam e year it opened, Rom ulo Café w on t he 2016 Tim e Out ?Best Loved Rest aurant in Kensingt on? It also received a 5-st ar and ot her t op rat ings from t rend-set t ing lifest yle/ food bibles like Tim e Out , Hardens, and Square Meal

And w hile t hose are already m ilest ones, t he inclusion of Rom ulo Café in t he prest igious

Rest aurant Guide in 2018, t he A-list of t op rest aurant s in London and t he UK, is one of t he forem ost achievem ent s, carrying t he pow erful st at em ent : Filipino food has definit ely arrived and is here t o st ay As if t o drive hom e t he point , in May 2018, Rom ulo Café ret ained it s crow n as Tim e Out Most Loved Rest aurant in Kensingt on Moreover, it is now Tim e Out ?s second Most Loved Local Rest aurant (am ong all rest aurant s) in London!

The hard w ork has paid off Today, t hanks t o bot h fellow Filipino, Brit ish and int ernat ional cust om ers, Rom ulo Café?s Crispy Pata, Adobo, Kare-Kare, Pansit Guisado, Flying Fish, Pork Sisig, Chicken Relleno, Halo-Halo, and Suman Latik are

?My t eam and I cont inue t o w ork ext rem ely hard t o ensure t hat w e are consist ent ly delivering qualit y food and service day in and day out . And t o show case t he best of Filipino hospit alit y, and m ake Rom ulo Café ?hom e aw ay hom e?for Filipinos.?

In t he m idst of all t he accolades, she rem ains st eadfast For her, receiving recognit ion sim ply m eans ?No Slacking?

?My t eam and I cont inue t o w ork ext rem ely hard t o ensure t hat w e are consist ent ly

delivering qualit y food and service day in and day out And t o show case t he best of Filipino hospit alit y, and m ake Rom ulo Café ?hom e aw ay hom e?for Filipinos,? she said

Row ena cannot help but liken t he journey of Rom ulo Café t o t heir Pandesal ?Our hom e-m ade Pandesal is t he first t hing t hat guest s are served w hen t hey dine w it h us It looks very sim ple and unassum ing and t hen w hen guest s t ake t heir first bit e, t hey say ?WOW? and are very com plim ent ary From t he out side, t he rest aurant looks sm all and unpret ent ious but w hen people ent er t he m ain dining room , t hey are im pressed w it h t he overall am biance and décor and t he hist ory t hat surrounds t he rest aurant Our journey has been t hat of a relat ively unknow n cuisine in London t hat has m ade it t o t he A-list of rest aurant s in less t han 2 years And now , Pandesal is delivered t o m any London hom es and w e have non-Filipinos w ho com e in t o t ake it hom e How about t hat !?

firm favourit es on Kensingt on High St reet The Conquist ador is a Wom an What could happen in less t han t w o years? For Row ena and Rom ulo Café, w hat has happened is not hing short of m onum ent al Grit over experience is Row ena?s form ula for cham pioning t his voyage Says t he now

The eponym ous Rom ulo Café is sure t o honour t he grand legacy of t he diplom at Carlos P Rom ulo because a det erm ined and driven w om an nam ed Row ena Rom ulo t ook up t he challenge, it is now an em blem of Filipino pride in London, our very ow n cuisine at it s heart

TATLER

Row ena accept ing her aw ard as one of t he FWN 100 Most Inf uent ial Wom en of 2017

Som e of t he firm favourit es at t he rest aurant

The popular Rom ulo Cafe Pandesal

Row ena and Chris w t h Execut ive Chef Jerem y vi lanueva

'I

Gaga Lord

Out side t he Kitchen X Factor

and Beyond

by Trixie Baut ist a

TO live different lives m ust be fun ? if not , t hen w hy is Jeannahlyn Alcano-Lord having a grand t im e? Lovingly know n as Gaga Lord, t he 41-year-old Filipina w orks as a dinner lady by day and a perform er by night

On a regular day of grinding, she heads to bars and lounges making audiences groove after serving meals in a primary school

A comedian, a dancer, and a singer, Gaga is an ultimate performer rolled into one With her infectious laughter and perpetual energy, she captures the hearts of everyone watching and

listening to her Seeing Gaga perform so exhilaratingly, complete with high kicks and hip shaking, it?s almost a sin not to get up and dance with the singer

For an artist with a serious talent, Gaga is not afraid to make fun of herself Every so often, she?ll chuckle between performances, toss the mic from one hand to another, and dance with an audience member on the stage And just like what every Pinoy will do, the singer speaks Tagalog from time to time when faced with Filipino audiences Whether it?s a love song or danceable pop music, the seasoned performer is sure to give the entertainment that the audience came for

Gaga?s love for music goes back a long way, looking up to the iconic and incomparable Tina Turner as an influence At the early age of 17, after graduating high school, she became a drummer at a band and was able to perform in countries outside the Philippines, such as China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Borneo After years of performing, Gaga has rightfully earned her stripes Naturally entertaining and having contagious humour, she eventually became the front singer of the band eight years later

The Life That Wasn? t as Gaga as Her Nam e

Oozing with charm and energy ? that?s how many

would describe Gaga However, those words fall short to encompass her personality and story Gaga was from Calamba, Misamis Occidental and led a tough life in the Philippines, growing without her parents by her side

When she took her chance abroad, things weren? t easy at first Among the many challenges she had to bear is the longing for the home and family she had left in the Philippines Notwithstanding this, she got by and managed to make the best of things ?It wasverydifficult when you feel homesick, but alwayslookon thebrighter sideof life In everything, givethanksfor thisis thewill of God? , Gaga recalls her first few years abroad

Caught up with her new life, Gaga had to stop performing for quite some time, a break which stretched to a decade-long hiatus Fortunately, a new opportunity to jumpstart her singing career, though unexpected, soon came

An Accident al Bond Girl

What started as a far-fetched idea between friends had led to a wonderful journey, albeit a nerve-racking experience for Gaga Lord In her spontaneous audition for The XFactor UK, she had breathed a new life into classic Shirley Bassey song, Diamonds Are Forever, and wowed all four judges

That audition did not only earn her the ticket to the show?s boot camp stage at Wembley Arena; it also gave her the

chance to dance with two stunning celebrities Nicole Scherzinger and Alesha Dixon And the three of them gave us a glimpse of the world?s latest? and must we say, sexiest? Bond girls

? I achieved mysingingcareer to a different level ?

Even though Gaga didn? t get through the boot camp, The XFactor had opened doors for her She is now juggling gigs and bookings across the UK while working as a dinner lady Keen to make it big, she plans to grab every opportunity that comes along At present, Gaga is living in Middlesbrough with her husband Chris and daughter, whom she brought to the Philippines a couple of years ago for vacation

Jeannahlyn Alcano-Lord ? the Filipina who wowed the XFactor judges and now continues to pursue her passion for singing at 41 ? has a message for everyone who wants to make it as well

?Don? t lose hope Asa personal experience, I ceased performingon stage for over 10 yearsbecauseI thought it?sthe end of mycareer Then I realised you?ll never get too old to sing?

ceased performing on stage for over 10 years because I thought it?s the end of my career. Then I realised you?ll never get too old to sing '

Kader Academy in Middlesborough where Gaga works as a dinner lady by day

As a young performer in bars and hotels in Asia and doing her Tina Turner covers

Courtesy of X Factor UK

Leapingand Pirouetting... The Young FilBrit Ballerina Wins Our Hearts With Grace

F r a n c e sz q u a W a r d

by Mae Ogdoc and Trixie Baut ist a

At some point in our lives, we feel the eagerness to discover our true passion, the thing we?ll never get tired of doing Some people find it eventually by trying everything they could get their hands on, but for some, finding that one thing takes a lifetime

WHILE m ost of us t opple on our journey, Franceszqua Ward, a prom ising ballet dancer, discovered her pat h at t he early age of t w o? and all it t ook t o spark for her passion is an adorable Hello Kit t y t ut u Since t he day she received it as a gift , she w ould oft en be seen charm ingly dancing in front of t he TV and im it at ing professional ballet dancers, w it h her clum sy and chubby feet

All of these happened years ago Now at 11, the pretty Filipina dancer has grown into a young lady, conquering various ballet stages and pirouetting her way to success Dancing lightly and delicately on the ends of her toes, she has impressed audiences in and outside the United Kingdom, slowly making a name for herself and immensely making both the Filipino and UK communities proud

Among Franceszqua?s many awards are Theatre Dance Council International Regional Champion in Ballet, Modern and Tap, Youth American Grand Prix European semi-finalist 2018 in Paris, and Royal Academy of Dance East Midlands She was also the youngest dancer to win a double title in a year from the British Champion in Ballet and All England Dance gold medallist in Ballet at eight years old In addition to competitions, Franceszqua did special performances at Mandarin Oriental Hotel?s 20th-year celebration and at the premiere of the film ?Ballerina? , among others

Because of her performances that leave many amazed and astounded, Franceszqua often receives words of appreciation, and she is extremely grateful to everyone who has been with her in her journey However, amidst all the praises from other people, it is her parents?encouragement and supports she value most

The first person to believe in Franceszqua?s potential is, of course, her mother, Juvy Ward Since day one, Juvy has always been very supportive of her kid?s dreams, always finding a way to ensure that her little ballerina receives the training that she needs to fulfil her goals however difficult circumstances may be at most times ?Words aren't enough to express how proud I am Franceszqua's hard work, dedication, and love of dancing inspire not just the people who know her but she inspires me to keep believing and never give up,?Miss Juvy Ward told Yes Philippines Newsmagazine

Dancing Is a Sanct uary

In the eyes of the audiences, Franceszqua is a dancer trying to tell a story through graceful and eloquent performances For the young ballerina, however, dancing is what makes life more interesting? a way to create her own place of happiness ? I love dancing and I don't think a day goes by when I don't dance It's the only way to keep me happy? , Franceszqua professing her love for the craft

A Filipino girl born and raised in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, England, Franceszqua has had her share of dealing with uncalled comments from her peers at school This is particularly because of her looking ?different?from everybody else As a result, this makes her a favorite for bullies

Instead of falling back, she uses all the horrible experiences thrown her way to

fuel her love for dancing as well as to prove to herself that she deserves better Truly, Franceszqua has found not only her passion but also the place where she could take refuge in during difficult times

Whenever she faces struggles and personal issues, she reminds herself constantly why she started dancing in the first place which subsequently keeps her going Young as she is, Franceszqua always finds the strength knowing that nothing good comes to people who do bad things ?When I dance, all of my troubles melt away and everything is put into dancing

When I dance, I feel like I can get away from all of the bad things, and I feel like I'm not drowning in regret, sorrow or anger I always believe that dancing is the closest thing to flying; when I dance, I'm free!? , she honestly confessed

The Ballerina?s Sophist icat ed Dream s Franceszqua is a little kid with big dreams

In the future, she aspires to become a principal dancer in the Mariinsky Ballet The young ballerina, while often seen light on her feet, knows that getting from where she is to where she wants to be would take hard work and discipline

Aware that every performance gives her an opportunity to get closer to her dream, Franceszqua religiously practices her routine to get better at her craft ? I usually stretch, work on my technique, and I zone out quite a lot so that helps me too I like to sleep a lot as well, it's important to get rest!? , the young ballerina said

On stage, in her soft tutu, Franceszqua has touched people on a deep, abstract level as she pirouettes and leaps on the tips of her toes However, beyond giving otherworldly performances and bagging awards, she hopes to inspire people to become the best they can be so they are confident enough to follow their dreams

t o buying a Gucci bag t o being one of t he first t o ow n t he lat est iPhone

Redefining your relat ionship w it h m oney?

Of course, you?re ent it led t o spend your m oney how ever you like On t he ot her hand, com ing from a 21-year-old graduat e t hat ?s in a load of st udent debt , as a societ y our financial priorit ies are pret t y m essed up Rat her t han paying off your overdraft , w e?d rat her get t he new Yeezy?s But w ho cares right ? Nobody can see your debt , but everyone can see your new fancy shoes WRONG When you t ake your first st eps int o t he scary adult w orld, you?re oft en faced w it h decisions t hat are det rim ent al t o your developm ent from a child t o a responsible adult and m oney is a biggie This ? t rend buying?behaviour is a never-ending t iring cycle t hat causes you t o live life from one paycheck t o anot her

?Broke? doesn? t necessarily m ean no m oney, it can also m ean spending m oney t hat leaves you w it h £7 before payday If you?re cont inuously living off pay-slip t o pay-slip you?re not financially secure Yes, you?re fooling everyone else but you?re m ugging yourself off t he m ost

by Micah Lee

Pr esident ial Fashion Consul t ant M im i Par r el - Pim ent el

Look i ng bac k at her

L o n d o n F a sh i o n W e e k E X P E R IE N C E

by Charlize Mendez Legaspi

t is a singular honor for any person from a developing count ry like t he Philippines t o show his or her t alent in a fashion capit al like London

In recent years, Filipino fashion creativity is slowly being recognized in the United Kingdom, after our musical talents have been hailed so resoundingly at West End

Lesley Mobo, who grew up in Aklan, honed his craft further when he was appointed head designer of Jasmine Di Milo at Harrod?s

In 2010, the multi-talented milliner Mich Dulce was awarded the prestigious British Council International Young Creative Entrepreneur (IYCE) International Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year (IYDEY) Award for Fashion at London Fashion Week

Last year, design wunderkind John Herrera won Britain?s Top Designer, a competition hosted by Fashion Finest, with his ?Agila?collection

At the House of iKons presentation at London Fashion Week at the Gloucester Millennium Hotel in February this year, three Filipinos were able to flaunt their artistry: Aandre David, Che Aranjuez and Mimi Parrel-Pimentel

?It is rare for a Filipino fashion talent to be invited to showcase and exhibit her works on such a global scale, alongside the best in the world As such, it was a privilege for me to participate in that event,?muses Parrel-Pimentel

House of iKons, under the Lady K Productions of the dynamic Savîta Kayê, scouts for emerging designers from around the world and gives them a platform to show in London, one of the Big Four fashion capitals along with New York, Milan and Paris Filipino fashion designers Cary Santiago, Jaki Peñalosa, Happy Andrada and Rocky Gathercole previously joined House of iKons shows in the past years

In her ?Romantic Interlude?collection, Parrel-Pimentel?s sophisticated, classy and tasteful aesthetic was on full display For the ladies, she used piña strips, cotton silk, Indian sari, Cerutti fabric and Mindanao Silk

Three of the models were Fil-Brit beauty queens such as Kiara Giel Gregorio, Miss Philippines Air 2016; Kimberly Escartin, Miss Philippines UK 2016 and Miss Great Britain

finalist 2017; and Christagale Borja, Miss Philippines UK 2015 and Binibining Pilipinas 2017 Top 15

Parrel-Pimentel?s ladylike confections attracted several women, receiving inquiries in the process One of those drawn to her creations was the inspirational Cynthia Alcantara-Barker, the first Filipina councilor in the UK

Male models, meanwhile, were transformed into dashing, distinguished gentlemen in her piña cocoon silk and Mindanao Silk barong Tagalog

Parrel-Pimentel created President Rodrigo Roa Duterte?s barong Tagalog during his inauguration She is responsible for the statesman look of the President as his Presidential Fashion Consultant In this capacity, she also dressed up the ASEAN Ministers and their spouses at ASEAN 2017, as well as top executives of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, National Defense and Energy

She is currently practicing in Makati, with an offer to open a shop at the Clark Freeport Zone, but originally hails from Cagayan de Oro As a native Mindanaoan, she fiercely promotes Mindanao Silk in all her shows and collections

This devotion to an indigenous product earned her the support of the Department of Tourism?s Tourism Promotions Board?s COO Cesar Montano, who believes in advocating for Pinoy-made products to be be showcased on the international stage

?I felt overwhelmed and grateful because I was given the opportunity to show my collections at one of the world?s fashion capitals,?said Parrel-Pimentel ?It is so fulfilling because it is my ultimate dream to have a show in London and to see my clothes worn by international models ?

?It is rare for a Filipino fashion talent to be invited to showcase and exhibit her works on such a global scale, alongside the best in the world As such, it was a privilege for me to participate in that event '

by SHAIRA HABON

1. You love Karaoke more than anything else Whether you sing well or not (which we think is a rare case), karaoke is a huge part of your life Have you tried that videoke for rent where you type in the number code of your all-time hit song? Or that one that requires you to drop some 5 peso coin to pay your favourite ?My Way?piece?Or maybe you have a magic sing at home?Whatever the occasion is, karaoke will always be a part of every celebration This is because Pinoys have an immense love for music and the singing prowess runs in your blood Right?

2. You offer everyone food Filipinos live by the line ?kain tayo?or let?s eat It can mean you offering food to a friend or relative or even to a stranger or passersby, even if your baon (packed lunch) is hardly enough for you It may not be a real invitation to eat but more of a courteous way of telling people that you?re about to eat (or is currently munching on something) and you can share your food if they?d like to

3. You can cook (well) and you find joy in eating. Now, this is something unquestionable Wherever you come from or whatever locality you?re representing, you surely know how to cook one specialty or two Are you a Kapampangan?You probably know all the existing sisig variants?Batangueño?Ala eh! Let?s have some Bulalo! You love to cook because you also love to eat No diet when it comes to Pinoy food because Pangga, who doesn? t find joy in eating?

FACE THEMONTH OF

Kacey Colleen Lim 27 years old Maida Vale, Westminster

millions of people living overseas constituting the largest diasporas in the world today

In addition, the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Gilberto Asuque, deposited on 24 April 2018 to the IMO Secretary General the Instruments of Accession to:

1 the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, (on measures to further improve the safety of ships, particularly tankers); and 2 the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (Load Line Protocol 88)

The IMO Secretary General is the designated depository of all instruments of ratification or accession by Member States to IMO Conventions In accordance with IMO regulations, these 3 IMO instruments will become effective for the Philippines three months from the date of deposit or on July 2018

PermRep Asuque handed over to Director Frederick Kenney of the IMO Legal and External Affairs Division, representing Secretary General Kitack Lim, the Accession documents signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Senate Resolutions concurring to the accession by the Philippines to the 3 IMO Instruments :

PermRep Asuque deposited the Instruments of Accession during the 105th Session of the IMO Legal Committee (LEG 105) which discussed under agenda item 10 the ?Review of the Status of Conventions and Other Treaty Instruments Emanating from the Legal Committee? He was joined in this simple ceremony by Mr Volker Schöfisch, LEG 105 Chair, and Ms Emma Sarne, Alternate Permanent Representative to IMO, Mr Arsenio Lingad, Maritime Attaché ? MARINA; and Atty Virgilio B Calag, Chief, Prosecution Division, Legal Services, MARINA, all delegates to LEG 105 In his statement, PermRep Asuque informed LEG 105 that the Philippine Senate has also concurred to two other IMO Conventions, namely, the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships 2001 and the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, (on the harmonized system of ship survey and certification) He said the Instruments of Accession to these two IMO Conventions will soon be deposited with the IMO Secretary General

PermRep Asuque thanked the Legal Committee and the Technical Cooperation Committee for the assistance extended to the Philippines to facilitate the ratification or accession to IMO Conventions or Treaties During the Senate hearings for the concurrence to the accession of these IMO instruments held on 09 March 2018, PermRep Asuque explained the importance of these IMO conventions for the safety of Filipino seafarers

UBLIN 24 Apr il 2018 ? Philippine Am bassador t o t he Unit ed Kingdom

Ant onio M anuel R Lagdam eo present ed his Let t er s of Credence t o

President M ichael D Higgins at Áras an Uacht aráin, t he of f icial residence of t he President of Ireland in Dublin on 19 Apr il

Ambassador Lagdameo has formally commenced his duties as non-resident Philippine Ambassador to Ireland by presenting to President Higgins the letter from President Rodrigo Duterte signifying the Ambassador?s appointment

The presentation of credentials was followed by Ambassador Lagdameo?s inspection of the Irish Guard of Honor at the President?s official residence He was accompanied at the credentials ceremony by his spouse Madam Linda Floirendo Lagdameo and Consul Rommel Romato Some high-ranking Irish government representatives, including Brendan Griffin TD, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, were also in attendance

During the ceremony, Ambassador Lagdameo greeted President Higgins and conveyed President Duterte?s good wishes for the well-being and prosperity of the leader and the people of Ireland President Higgins welcomed the new non-resident Philippine Ambassador to Ireland He also expressed Ireland?s gratitude for the contributions of Filipino migrant workers to the development of his country The Philippines and Ireland enjoy strong bilateral relations with dynamic people-to-people linkages starting with the flow of Irish Catholic missionaries to the Philippines in the late 19th century The two island nations belong to the fastest-growing economies in Asia and Europe Both countries have

PH Am bassador Lagdam eo Present s Credent ials t o Irish President Higgins

and in protecting the marine environment from the operation of ships

Ambassador Antonio Manuel R Lagdameo presentshislettersof credence to President Michael Higginsat Árasan Uachtaráin in Dublin, Ireland on 19 April 2018

From left:Minister Brendan Griffin TD, Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, President Michael Higgins, Madam Linda Lagdameo and Consul Rommel Romato at Árasan Uachtaráin

PR-IMOAsuque handsover to Dir Kenny, IMOLegal Affairsand External Relations, theInstruments to 3 IMOInstrumentson the safetyof

prevention of air pollution Joininghim are LEG 105 Chair Schöfisch (right) and APRSarne of London PEand MaritimeAttaché Lingad and Atty Calagof MARINA(left)

CFO Lauds Landmark High Court Ruling on the Recognition of Foreign Divorce

havecapacityto remarryunder Philippinelaw

The Ph lipp ne government, through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) went to the SCto try to reverse the CA's ruling Manalo won at the SClevel, hence this landmark ruling

Landm ark Ruling

With the amended Fami y Code, Flipinos who obta n divorce in the country of their foreign spouse get to remarry without fear of a bigamy su t However, f the one who obtained the divorce was the Filipino spouse, the state sti l did not recognize it because of the absence of absolute divorce in the country

30 61%of the total number fo lowed by 20-24 years o d (23 50%) and 30-34 years old (19 86%)

?We commend this landmark SCru ing as a tool for women empowerment as majority of marriage migrants are Filip no women It is also our way of safeguarding their rights ?stated Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik, the Execut ve Director of the CFO She further added that the CFO has been consistently lobbying for the passage of similar legislative bills such as House B ll No 6446 filed by Rep Pia Cayetano that seeks to recognize the capacity of the Filipino spouse to remarry when the foreign spouse has obtained a foreign decree of divorce

The Manalo Case

Voting 10-3-1, the SCen banc ruled "that a foreign divorce secured by a Fi ipino against a foreign spouse is also considered valid in the Phi ippines, even if it is the Filip no spouse who fi es for divorce abroad

The part cular case was that of Marelyn Tanedo Manalo who was married to Japanese national Minoru Yoshino Manalo fi ed for and was granted d vorce n Japan n 2011

Manalo went to court n Dagupan Pangasinan to have her d vorce recognized in the country The trial court in Dagupan den ed her petition She then went to the Court of Appeals (CA) where she scored a victory in 2014

The CA ruled that Manalo should have the right to remarry It applied the amended Article 26(2) of the Fami y Code Former president Corazon Aquino issued an executive order that amended the provis on so that it included this:

Wherea marriagebetween a Filipino citizen and a foreigner isvalidly celebrated and a divorceisthereafter validlyobtained abroad bythealien spousecapacitatinghim or her to remarry, theFilipino spouse shall likewise

With this ruling, the state now recognizes the divorce obtained by the Filipino and couples of the same circumstances of mixed-marriage w ll be considered not married to each other under Philipp ne law The Supreme Court ruling is also cons stent with the legis ative intent of Article 26 of Executive Order No 209 (July 6, 1987) otherw se known as The Family Code of the Philippines as amended by Execut ve Order No 227 (July 17, 1987), to rectify the absurd situation where the Fi ipino spouse who has been divorced from the foreign spouse remains married under Philippine laws even while the foreign spouse can exercise his or her right to remarry as c ted in the Supreme Court First Division ruling G R No 154380 (October 5, 2005)

Safeguarding Marriage Migrant s

The CFO, an agency of the Phil ppine government under the Office of the President establ shed through Batas Pambansa Bi ang 79 tasked to promote and uphold the interests rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos, including marriage migrants, conducts the mandatory Guidance and Counse ing Program (GCP) for spouses and other partners of foreign nationals

Records of the CFO show that from 1989 to 2016 majority of the more than half a million marriage migrants are female (91 38%) Out of the 522 002 marriage migrants registered with the CFO 477 025 or 91 38% are female while 44,977 or 8 62% are male The Un ted States continues to be the top destination of spouses and partners accounting for 43 58%, fol owed by Japan (23 48%) and Australia (7 8%) More than half or 53 79%of the Filipino spouses or partners have limited knowledge about the country of their foreign spouses or partners; while 10 88%of them have no knowledge at all Only 35 33% professed to have suffic ent prior knowledge of their destinat on country Most of spouses and partners are from the age bracket of 25-29 years old which is

In Japan nearly a third of marriages between Japanese nat onals end up in divorce For Japanese nationals married to foreign spouses majority (2/3) of marriages end up in divorce Majority of divorce is also by mutual agreement, meaning the divorce does not go through any judicial or court proceedings The divorce by agreement only has to be registered at the mun cipal office provided that the registration documents have been properly s gned and sealed beforehand by both parties

The GCPwas inst tutionalized to address growing concerns on the mail-order spouse scheme and cases of human trafficking in the gu se of marriage The GCP was strengthened with the passage of the Republic Act No 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 and Republic Act 10906 or the Anti-Mail Order Spouse Law, which mandated CFO to conduct pre-departure counsel ng serv ces for Filip nos in intermarriages

While the CFO does not have official data of divorced Filipinos n intermarriages t has a database of foreign spouses / fiancées / partners who have sponsored Fil pinos more than once for marriage or common-law partnership CFO also receives reported cases of Fil pinos divorced or abandoned by their foreign spouses In some instances, Filip no spouses become victims of trafficking in the guise of marriage or mail-order spouse scheme

The landmark ruling by the Supreme Court is thus an affirmation of a Filip no?s right to remarry after obtaining a divorce from the foreign spouse At the same time the Supreme Court dec sion also provides re ief for victims and survivors of traff cking n the guise of marriage or mail-order bride scheme as they may now obtain foreign divorce and have the divorce recogn zed in the Phil ppines as part of the process of rebuilding their lives

The Com m ission on Fil p nos Overseas (CFO) lauds t he April 24, 2018 Suprem e Court en banc ruling recognizing t he validit y of foreign divorce obt ained by a Filipino against a foreign spouse The landm ark decision paves t he w ay for a Filipino w ho obt ains a divorce from t he foreign spouse t o have t he divorce recognized by Phi ippine court s Th s recogn zes t he Filipino?s right t o have t he foreign divorce recognized and t o be free t o rem arry, regardless of w ho files for and obt ains t he divorce

Communi t y Cal endar

JUNE 30 / JULY 1

What: Birmingham-Sandwell West Midlands Filipino Festival 2018 Where: Lightwoods Park and House Time/day: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Saturday/Sunday

July 7 & 8

What: Philippine Festival of Food, Music and Culture

Where: Hawkinge Community Centre Heron Forstal Avenie Hawkinge, Folkestone, KENT Time/Day: 6:00 PM - 11 PM | Saturday

JULY 21 / JULY 22

What: The 34th Barrio Fiesta sa London 2018 - Day 1 Where: Apps Court Farm

What: 2-Day League Volleyball Time/Day: 9AM - 7PM | Saturday & Sunday

Sept em ber 22

What: Aguman Kapampangan UK

Where: Baden Powell House 65-67 Queen's Gate, South Kesington London SW7 5

JSNearest Station: Gloucester Road, Buses: 70, 74, 345 Time/Day: 6:00 PM - 11 PM | Saturday

UK

Su p e r T e k l a

by CAROL PANDAY

UNDAY night last April 22, at t he London Earls Court Hot el, did not discourage people in t he UK t o gat her for Super Tekla in London Considering t hat t here w ill be w ork t he follow ing day, t he opport unit y t o be w it h Super Tekla w as som et hing t hey did not w ant t o m iss

The show of attendance almost covered the different cities in the UK, not to mention Europe, as there were people who came all the way from Belgium UK was the final stop of their Europe Tour Super Tekla and company were not disappointed, as London had the biggest crowd of all the tour dates

Martin D Icon joined Super Tekla on stage, iconic also with his towering hair-do as to complement the image of Super Tekla that's popular to the public He introduced Tekla while doing his grand entrance adding excitement to finally having Tekla on the centre stage His quips and jokes, never missed a single person in the crowd

Their usual segment of getting people from the audience branded as ?audience participation?was ALWAYS part of their repertoire It was never a difficulty, as men willingly and selflessly volunteered themselves to be part of the game The line up of men included Rodel Saycon from Dabawenyos UK and Regie Buelvo of Samahang Magdalo

The audience were delighted that the most requested song of Tekla was performed, Celine Dione?s ?My Heart Will Go On? Roaring laughters reached their highest decibel, from the start until the end of the song Almost all mobiles were up, just wanting to have their own keepsakes of the memories of the night

Fronting the show were the selected local talents with the title of their own musical achievements in the league of competitions Jahna Lucero, the Pinoy Teen Pop Superstar, opened the show, followed by Marinel, The Teen Diva from EuroPinoy Talent Centre, Aldrin Dagui, the TFCKat UK Champion 2013 and Videoke Champion 2012 and the one who pumped-up the audience before the final act, Gaga Lord from the X-Factor UK 2017

To most attendees, the show was worth every penny they paid for, although for some they felt a bit short-change But on the whole, it was an enjoyable and satisfying show

The event was roduced by SimplyCPR& Events and Fil-Brit Services Newcastle

by ROMULO PALMA, RN

Kensingt on for t he lat est beaut y queens t o com pet e in int ernat ional beaut y pageant

Miss Kacey Coleen Lim, a law graduate and currently the 2nd-runner up Miss Swimsuit UK will be the official representative of the Philippines to the 3rd edition of Miss Summer World at Durress, Albania from the 15-20 May 2018 The pageant night will be on 19 May and will be broadcasted on Albanian National TV

Meanwhile Miss Christa Borja a fashion merchandiser and Binibining Pilipinas Top 10 finalist and Miss Manila Bulletin will be Miss United Kingdom for the Beauty & Talent International competition at Seoul ,Korea on 15-20 June

The said send off was attended by both of the candidates' family and friends in order to wish them well for their respective competitions

HE Royalt ys - Maker of Kings and Queenside organised a send off part y on 6 May 2018 at Park Cit y Grand Plaza

Phot os by Des Wit hey

Kacey Coleen Lim

Christ a Borja

7. You call on the Lord for everything, literally ?Haru Diyosko!?(Oh, my Lord), ?Susmariosep?(Jesus, Maryand Joseph) are just some of the words Filipinos use as part of the every day life ?subset? Whether you?re intentionally calling the Lord or not, these expressions can somehow connote your inclination to the Catholic faith and Sus, you love these words very much!

8. Your resilience is tried and tested Been through a disaster?Sure you?ll mourn about it but you?ll rise up in a few Made a bad decision?You know you?ll get through everything like your favourite local hero Pinoys are positive individuals whose resiliency is definitely immeasurable and this character is something this race is very proud of

9. You?re humour is universal You can make people laugh and you take serious situations lightly Your virtue is, let?shavesome good timeand let?s throwa joke or a pickup line(without offendingothers)

10. You know ?pakikisama?is the key to having a good relationship with people - and you know that bonds are built in trust and friendship So now, how Pinoy are you?

Fond Farewell for Deputy Consul General

MYLA MACAHILIG

by PEPS VILLANUEVA

AFTER serving t he UK Filipino com m unit y for m ore t han 6 years, Deput y ConGen Myla's t erm of office has finally ended

It was a very hectic 2 months for her before she flew back to the Philippines for her next journey in the world of foreign service

She had daily invitations from the different organisations for breakfast, lunch, merienda, and dinner as everybody wanted to say their goodbyes personally to a diplomat who touched the lives of the FilCom

To her credit, Minister Myla tried her best to accommodate everyone Even on the day of her departure, there were some members of the FilCom who joined the Embassy officers and staff in bidding her farewell

Minister Myla, Yes Philippines News Magazine together with the rest of the UK Filipino community would like to wish you all the best in your future assignment

Career Minister MYLA MACAHILIG Deputy Consul General Philippine Embassy London 2012- 2018

Kr i s Aqui no Kr i s Aqui no

Why She St ill Rem ains t he

Qu een o f A l l M ed ia

by Sarah Mae Tejares

LOVE her or hat e her, you can't deny it is difficult for you t o pret end you don't care about her life and issues But st ill, you find yourself com m ent ing on her t hreads In t he end, she w ins because it 's eit her you agree w it h her, or get pissed w it h her answ ers t o your insult s That 's Kris Aquino

In t his age of t he Int ernet , w here num bers of likes and shares m at t er t o advert isers, it is very challenging t o professional m arket ers t o gain at t ent ion as t heir com pet it ors invest sizable budget s for Facebook ads But if you have Kris Aquino, you m ay not need a Facebook boost

No doubt t hat Kris is st ill t he queen of endorsem ent s and m edia aft er she shares her dram a on social m edia Wit h t hat , t here are a few t akeaw ays t hat every digit al m arket ing professional should learn:

She shares her life experiences

Once dubbed as a Queen of Talk, her life is an open book Apparent ly, she's living in a long-running realit y show , w here her every m ove is a big deal t o t he public

Working in m edia for m any years, she has est ablished a gift of rapport w it h t he public Apart from t hat , she know s all sort s of "chikas" from show biz and polit ics Since m ost Filipinos are fam iliar and even updat ed of her personal life, t hey eit her disdain her or em pat hise w it h her

She's

t act less

Kris is know n for being t act less, and she quickly says w hat 's on her m ind Not everyone is a fan of her at t it ude, especially her det ract ors How ever, you can't deny t hat her som et im es t hought less ut t erance is one her endearing t rait s

She responds t o t rolls for a purpose It 's easy t o m ake m ult iple account s on social m edia Current ly, t he m edia and t he public are facing a challenge of delineat ing fake new s t o t he real ones because of t he t rolls Apart from spreading fake new s, t hey exist t o insult you if you don't agree w it h t heir view s Usually, people choose not t o fight w it h t he t rolls But Kris fight s t he t rolls for a purpose She is ready t o fight t hem t o prot ect her fam ily especially her sons, and w on't t olerat e bullying

She has t im e t o prom ot e t he brands am idst her feud w it h her frenem ies

Just recent ly, t he queen of all m edia t hrew shade at ex-husband Jam es Yap and form er co-host Korina Sanchez in her m uch publicised rant s But despit e w ashing her dirt y laundry in public in her Inst agram post s, she w ould unabashedly assert her being an endorsem ent queen by insert ing her brands in her post s

She w ould not regret her act ions She is know n for adm it t ing her m ist akes But aft er adm it t ing som e m ist akes, she adds t hat she never regret t ed her act ions

She prom ot es love aft er rant ing

Am idst cont roversies, she never forget s t o t hank God and prom ot e love She t hanks God for t he blessings she receives every day So it is not easy t o hat e Kris for so long

Inst agram phot o of Kris Aquino