Yes Philippines NewsMagazine UK - April 2023

How Pinoys in the UK do it...

by MARY SOL PIMENTEL

?If you?re wondering what?s happening in the Pinoy creative community, go to the Creatives?

Corner to find out. And make sure you don? t miss reading an enjoyable article about a Pinay vlogger that will surely put a smile on your face.?

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

APPY EASTER!

HThe Lenten Season has just ended During this annual religious observance, we Filipinos, together with Christians all over the world, would have gone through self-reflection and contemplation as we commemorated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Memories of the Holy Week of bygone days, back home, evoke a collage of religious images ?a pabasa on a street corner, Fr Peyton on TVpraying the rosary, Via Crucis in a crowded church, statues of saints wrapped in purple cloth, and self-flagellating penitents on Good Friday

These are some of the things that define our devout Catholicism as a people, although some may have waned with the passage of time Fr Peyton is long gone but his family rosary crusade has been kept alive through the years, as his famous quote remains in our hearts: ?The family that prays together, stays together ?

We, at Yes Philippines regard you, our dear reader, as part of our family For as long as

you continue to invite us into your home, we will carry on keeping you informed and entertained

In this moth?s issue, we have a special story on the pabasa, a Catholic devotion in our home country during Semana Santa, which is the chanting of the Pasyón, a 16th-century epic poem that narrates the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ Not forgetting our Muslim brothers in the south, who are currently observing their religious tradition of fasting, we feature a story about Ramadan

There?s a buzz of activities in our embassy in London, and there are also important bits of information that you may need to know, so make sure you check those out

If you?re wondering what?s happening in the Pinoy creative community, go to the Creatives? Corner to find out And make sure you don? t miss reading an enjoyable article about a Pinay vlogger that will surely put a smile on your face

For our cover story, we have asked some kababayans how they spent the Holy Week

All these and more in this issue of Yes Philippines So, read on and let YPmake your day!

PHILIPPINE HISTORY CORNER

Significant Events in APRIL

ByTHEKAHIMYANGPROJECT

FIRST of April 1955, a series of very st rong ea rt hqua kes jolt ed a ll of M inda na o a nd t he sout hern Visa ya s

On 1 April 1955, a series of very strong earthquakes beginning at 2:18 in the morning, with epicentre between Panguil Bay and Lake Lanao, rocked all of Mindanao and the southern Visayas with heavy damage done in Lanao and Occidental Misamis Many lives were lost in the towns along the shore of Lake Lanao as the water receded and then returned

The tremors reached up to intensity 8 using a Philippine adaptation of the Rossi-Forel scale with maximum intensity of 9

President Ramon Magsaysay issued a proclamation declaring the existence of a state of public calamity in Misamis Oriental and Occidental, Lanao, and Surigao and in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis, Iligan, and Dansalan, and authorizing the Constabulary to seize hoarded goods and goods sold at profiteering prices

The report of RRA on 6 April showed that the number of persons known killed were 225; injured, 898; number of houses destroyed, 2,997; number of families affected, 14,985; extent of disaster area, 382,737 hectares

1st April 1989, Col Ja mes Rowe wa s killed in a n a mbush in Quezon Cit y

On 1st April 1989, Colonel James Rowe of the US Army was killed by hit squad ambush He was the first serving USArmy officer to be killed by a rebel group in the Philippines Rowe was being driven to work at the JUSMAG (Joint United States Military Advisory Group) headquarters in Quezon City shortly after 7 in the morning when gunmen fired more than 20 bullets into his vehicle

He was pronounced dead at a nearby military hospital

Philippine officials believed the killers were members of the New People's Army's (NPA) Alex Boncayao Brigade, although no group claimed responsibility for the attack

Earlier, the NPA have threatened to attack American targets unless the United States closes its military bases in the Philippines and end its support of the Philippine military's fight against the insurgency

Colonel James Rowe was 51 He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, USA

6 April 1828, t he King of Spa in issued a dec ree est a blishing a public ba nk in t he Philippines

On 6 April 1828, King of Spain, Ferdinand VII, issued a decree establishing a public bank in the Philippines to meet the requirements of increasing commerce and trade in the islands

Presently known as Bank of the Philippine Islands, it is originally called El Banco Español Filipino de Isabel 2 named after Queen Isabela II, the daughter of King Ferdinand VII

The bank is first in the Philippines and Southeast Asia

The royal decree establishing the Banco Español Filipino also gave it the power to print Philippine currency

The first time the Philippine peso was printed in the country were originally called pesosfuertes(PF), or "strong pesos"

First printed on 1st May 1852, they were redeemable at face value for gold or silver Mexican coins

Before 1852, a multitude of currencies were used, most notably the Mexican peso

Before the establishment of El Banco Español Filipino de Isabel 2, the functions of banks were performed, though on a limited scale, by the obraspias(Spanish for "pious works")

Obraspiaswere an accumulation of bequests whose donors had specified that the funds be used for charitable, religious and educational purposes

Some of the funds were managed by confraternities that invested capital in secular activities like underwriting cargoes for the galleon trade

Epicenter of the Mindanao earthquake of April 1, 1955

Colonel James Rowe

Pesos Fuertes

WALK-IN PASSPORT APPLICATIONS, MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS,

Effective May 2023, the Embassy will accept walk-in passport applications, Mondays to Fridays, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Please visit the Embassy?s website for the requirements (https://londonpe dfa gov ph/consular-matters/passport) and the forms (https://londonpe dfa gov ph/consular-matters/forms)

The Embassy has no photocopying services so please bring sufficient photocopies of documentary requirements

The Embassy requires the use of facial masks inside the Consular Section Escorts/companions are not allowed except for minors, PWDs, and other similar cases

WALK-IN SERVICE EVERY WEDNESDAY OF APRIL

https://londonpedfa govph/advisories/1567-walk-in-service-every-wednesday-of-april-2023

The Em bassy w ill have w alk-in service every Wednesday of April 2023, as follow s:

05 April 9:30 AM ? 5:30 PM

12 April 9:30 AM ? 5:30 PM

19 April 9:30 AM ? 5:30 PM

26 April 9:30 AM ? 5:30 PM

Processing of applicant s w ill be first com e, first served

For the requirements and downloadable forms, please check the Embassy?s website, ht t ps:/ / londonpe dfa gov ph (Our Services)

The Embassy has no phot ocopying services so please bring sufficient photocopies of your documentary requirements

The Embassy reiterates that walk-in services are already available for the following applicants, Mondays t o Fridays, except holidays, within the Embassy?s business hours:

* Seniors (at least 60 years old)

* PWDs

* Pregnant women (visibly pregnant or with proof of pregnancy)

* Passport applicants who are less than 1 year old

* With special needs (e g , mobility constraints, serious medical issues, etc )

* Civil registration and related applications ? Report Birth/Marriage/Death; Consular Mortuary Certificate; Petition for Correction; Marriage License; Application for Marriage ? 9:30 AM-1 PM

* Petition for reacquisition or retention of Philippine citizenship under RA 9225 - 11 AM-4 PM

* Passport applicants immediately after taking their oath of allegiance under RA 9225

* Passport applicants who will collect their new passports, or their authorized representatives

* Emergency travel document

* NBI clearance fingerprinting

* Certification/s

The Embassy requires the use of facial masks inside the Consular Section Escorts/companions are not allowed except for minors, PWDs, and other similar cases

HOLIDAY ADVISORY - APRIL 2023

ht t ps:/ / londonpe dfa gov ph/ advisories/ 1566-holiday-april-2023

9:30 AM TO 4:30 PM

Filipino Holy Week Traditions

ByCAMILLEL.EUSEBIO

AS one of t he largest Cat holic count ries in Asia (86 percent of Filipinos are Cat holic), w e t ake pride in declaring our fait h and observing our church t radit ions

One of the Catholic traditions that Pinoys take time to commemorate is Semana Santa or Holy Week

While the Christmas season is all about merrymaking, singing Christmas carols and attending Simbang Gabi to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Lent encourages us to commemorate and share in His passion, death and resurrection

If you grew up in the Philippines, you know that Holy Week usually signals the start of the summer holidays While some non-practicing Catholics take this opportunity to cool down and go to the beach, devout families partake in the church?s Lenten activities either in the city or in their provinces

When we were kids, we participated in these customs to get in the good graces of our elders Then we grew up realising that they have been embedded in our family?s traditions and it is up to us to continue the legacy or not

The season of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday It is considered a ?holy day of obligation?(if you come from a devout Catholic family, you will know that it means you are required to go to Mass) and here in the Philippines, it is common to see people walking on the streets, going about their day with ash on their foreheads in the shape of a cross

In the ensuing forty days, most Pinoys observe fasting and abstinence practices like not eating meat every Friday or giving up some luxuries until the end of Lenten season, which is Easter Sunday

It is usually a quiet and personal affair until the last week of Lent or Semana Santa when the church gets busy with all its customs and traditions Here are some practices you may have heard of, or even participated in:

Palm Sunday

Also called Passion Sunday this signifies the start of the Holy Week

Families flock to the church on the Sunday before Easter with their palm branches to commemorate Jesus? triumphant entry to Jerusalem The palm branches are blessed during the mass and taken home only to be offered to the church later for the next season of Lent (the palm branches are burned and the

ashes are used to mark the foreheads of the faithful)

Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday

It is business as usual in the city, as these are the last two full working days in the country before the Holy Week break

But on the island of Marinduque, Holy Monday signifies the start of Moriones, a Lenten festival where men and women wear costumes, more like a very realistic imitation of the Roman soldiers who flogged Jesus Christ to death

Holy Wednesday

It is usually the last working day of the week when the roads are busy and the bus stations are filled with travellers who want to go back to their provinces to take part in the religious traditions

In some provinces churches choose thirteen men of good repute in their community to portray the biblical story of Jesus washing the feet of his twelve apostles It is then followed by a meal in the manner of The Last Supper at a prominent villager?s home

Maundy Thursday

This is the start of the Easter Triduum, or the three-day season concluding Lent Considered a public holiday, work is suspended, and malls are closed to allow the people to participate in the church?s Lenten activities

For most Pinoys, this is the day to do the Visita Iglesia, where they carry out their annual panata (vow) of visiting seven churches (no matter how near or far) in one day While in the church, they recite the Stations of the Cross The 14 stations, or devotions focus on Jesus?last day, beginning with his condemnation

Good Friday

Pinoys have a flair for the dramatic, and when it comes to sharing Christ?s passion and suffering on the cross, some of us take it quite literally

Good Friday traditions span from simple sacrifices such as not eating meat, participating in the senakulo (Passion play or Easter pageant) and joining the Lenten procession barefoot

The hardcore devotees carry life-sized crosses on their shoulders while other participants flagellate their backs, remaining shirtless for the entire duration of the procession The religious fanatics go to the extreme of getting themselves nailed on the cross (some Filipino men and women have been doing this brutal re-enactment for years), as a way of atoning for their sins

The Catholic Church, however, discourages such graphic displays insisting that re-enacting Jesus

?Pinoys ha ve a f la ir f or t he dra ma t ic , a nd w hen it c omes t o sha ring Christ ?s pa ssion a nd suf f ering on t he c ross, some of us t a ke it quit e lit era lly ?

Christ?s crucifixion is unnecessary and need not be emulated

Before the day ends, all the crucifixes in church as well Mother Mary?s statues are covered with a black veil to signify mourning

Black Sat urday

The grieving continues Merrymaking and eating meat are still frowned upon on this day Even TV and radio stations go off-air or proceed with their special programming where the only shows allowed are the ones related to Lent or spirituality

East er Sunday

The last day of Holy Week Easter Sunday marks the end of Lent and the beginning of Easter in the church calendar

The celebration has become quite commercialised for kids (with Easter Egg hunts in malls and hotels), but not before the family have attended the Easter Mass

During the first mass or dawn mass, churchgoers witness a staged production to commemorate the Resurrection - an ?angel?(usually a small girl in costume) is suspended in mid-air as she lifts the veil on Mother Mary?s face signifying that the mourning has come to an end and Jesus is alive

The black cloths are removed and replaced by white ones to signify that the Saviour has risen These traditions have been part of our history,

the Philippines being one of the first countries in Asia to be converted into Christianity Sadly, some of these traditions are fading away because of the lack of willing participants

Whether you are a devout Catholic or a backsliding one, Lent is a time to pause, rest and reflect on all the sufferings you have encountered, but more importantly, to be thankful for the blessings and grace that you have received in the past year

(Phot o Cred t s: Juancho Adriano)

We pra ise you in t his Ea st er sea son Cha nge our lives, c ha nge our hea rt s t o be messengers of Ea st er joy a nd hope

We ma ke our pra yer t hrough Jesus Christ , our risen Lord f orever Amen

9 April Genera l Edwa rd King wa s f orc ed t o surrender t o t he Ja pa nese

At dawn of 9 April 1942 Major General Edward P King commander of the Bataan forces was forced to surrender together with his men when the Filipino and American soldiers could no longer defend the Bataan peninsula from the invasion of Japanese troops

The surrendered Filipino-American forces were forced at gunpoint to march under the tropical hot sun from Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga, and then taken by rail to Camp O Donnel in Tarlac Those who could not make it because of physical weakness were shot or bayoneted to death

The event was indeed so inhuman that it was called the "Death March" and marked the beginning of total Japanese Occupation of the Philippines during the Second World War

Despite the travails of defeat, most of the captured soldiers stood strong and heroes emerged from the event The surrender was only temporary

Eventually American and Filipino liberation forces retook the Bataan peninsula on 8 February

1945

The nation marks "Araw ng Kagitingan" (Day of Valour) on 9 April of every year to highlight the valour and heroism of the Filipino and American soldiers who fought in the Philippines during World War II

Formerly called "Bataan Day" or "Fall of Bataan " the celebration was changed to "Day of Valour" and made a national public holiday

21April 1899, t he f irst Presbyt eria

n M ission c a me t o t he Philippines

On 21 April 1899, the first Presbyterian Mission led by Reverend Dr James B Rodgers, arrived in the Philippines Rodgers pioneered in evangelistic, educational, and ecumenical work, being instrumental in the founding of the Philippine Evangelical Union in 1901

One year later, other sects, including the Episcopalians, Baptists, and Methodist, followed During the first 50 years, each mission group worked independently, building churches, schools, hospitals and social service centres

In 1948, the Protestant denominations in the Philippines came together and formed the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) composed of the United Evangelical Church, the Philippine Methodist Church, the Evangelical Church of the Philippines, some congregations of the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo, the Convention of the Churches of Christ (Disciples of Christ) of Northern Luzon, the Iglesia Evangelica Nacional and some congregations of the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista En LasIslasFilipinas(IEMELIF)

Cont inued from pg 6

Major General Edw ard P King

The first Presbyt erian Church in t he Philippines, Tonoo, Manila

advert

Applying for a FIANCÉ/ FIANCÉE VISA from abroad

T is a com m on m isconcept ion t hat you m ust be m arried t o apply t o join your part ner in t he UK; t his is w rong

If you are engaged to be married, you may apply to join your partner in the UK as a fiancé / fiancée, but you must satisfy certain conditions This article will look at some of those conditions and the most common problems applicants face

The Immigration Rules under Appendix FM sets out the requirements for UK Fiancé Visa:

* Your partner is British citizen, is settled in the UK, has been granted limited leave under Appendix EU, has refugee status or humanitarian protection and or is in the UK with limited leave as a worker or business person under Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay in accordance with paragraph GEN 1 3 (e);

* You are both over the age of 18;

* You have met in person;

* Your relationship is genuine and subsisting;

* You intend to marry within six months of your arrival in the UK;

* Any previous relationships have broken down permanently;

* You intend to live together permanently in the UK;

* You will be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds;

* There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;

* You speak and understand English to the required level

St at us of your Part ner

The above means that if your partner has limited leave to remain, for example as a worker under the skilled worker route or previously Tier 2, they cannot sponsor you as

a fiancé In this case you will need to consider whether you can marry in your home country before making your application or if you can show that you have been living together for a minimum of two years to qualify as an unmarried partner

Minim um Age

Both you and Sponsor must be over the age of 18 at the date of your application It is interesting to note that the minimum age requirement for marriage in the UK changed from 16 to 18 only on the 27th of February 2023

Relat ionship Requirem ent

This condition encompasses several issues A requirement that I rarely find problematic is the ?prohibited degree of relationship? Put simply, you should not be closely related to your Sponsor, for example be their brother or sister The other requirements can be more challenging due to the evidential burden required

Requirem ent t o Have Met in Person

Even in the era of online dating, it remains a condition that you and your fiancé must have met in person Daily Zoom contact will not be enough!

Genuine and Subsist ing Relat ionship

Requirem ent

You will need to satisfy the Home Office that you and your partner are in a genuine and subsisting relationship This is by far the most problematic aspect of the ?relationship?

condition The digital world has introduced ways and means of meeting people from all over the world and for some this has resulted to serious relationships Many will say that a genuine and subsisting relationship should not be limited or defined by your physical proximity to your partner and the Home Office, at least to some extent, accepts this

The Home Office in their guidance documents often say that decisions on whether a relationship is genuine, and subsisting are made on a case-by-case basis This can sometimes lead to unpredictability in decision making The Home Office policy

guidance provides a list of factors for a caseworker to consider, such as: the length of your relationship, cohabitation, or children together Children together are likely to be persuasive evidence of the genuineness of your relationship

Typically, the cases I encounter do not involve cohabitation or children It is more likely that the parties have recently met, sometimes online, and although they have met in person distance, costs of travel and work commitments mean that they have spent little physical time together In this event, you should submit as much evidence as you can of your contact This can be holiday photos together, social media messages and even letters from friends and family attesting to the genuineness of your relationship You should explain the documents?relevance in your statement in support of your application

Int ent ion t o Marry in t he UK Wit hin 6 Mont hs

A further relationship condition is that you as a fiancé must marry your partner within 6 months of your arrival in the UK

In fact, the immigration rules provide that:

(ii) If the applicant isa fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, neither the applicant nor their

partner can be married to, or in a civil partnership with, another person at the dateof application

The above means that you and your fiancé in the UK must satisfy the Home Office that you are both free to marry This is usually evidenced by a Decree absolute (proof of termination of marriage), Final order (dissolution of a civil partnership) or by providing your spouse?s death certificate if you are a widow/widower

As with other documents you are seeking to rely on, it is crucial that you provide a formal translation of your divorce or other documents if they are not in English and failure to do so may result in refusal

Int ent ion t o Live Toget her Perm anent ly in t he UK

The Home Office often notes the condition of ?Intention to Live Together Permanentlyin the UK?separately from the other above relationship requirements, but the reality is that in providing evidence of your intention to marry within 6 months and evidence of termination of a previous relationship, you also (or at least should) deal with this requirement

Cont inued on pg 14

ByLIRASIMONCABATBAT

TIP

The best way to deal with this requirement is to prepare and submit a statement setting out the background to your relationship and include in such statement that it is your intention to permanently live together with your partner in the UK It is advisable to also submit a statement from your sponsor / partner confirming your intention to live together Your partner?s statement can also deal with other issues such as compliance with income and accommodation

Financial Requirem ent

As with spouse (marriage) applications, you as a fiancé will also be required to satisfy the Immigration rules with regard ?financial requirement? This means that the sponsor is required to show that he has a gross (before tax) annual income of at least:

* £18,600; and if you have children with your sponsor you will need to add:

* £3,800 for a first child (who is not British, holds indefinite leave to remain in the UK, has pre-settled status or settled status, or is an EEA national with a right to reside in the UK); plus

* £2,400 for each additional child (who is not British, holds indefinite leave to remain in the UK, has pre-settled status or settled status, or is an EEA national with a right to reside in the UK)

TIP

Some state benefits received by your sponsor may still satisfy the financial requirement, so if in doubt seek advice

If your fiancé?s gross income falls short of the minimum limit, you may satisfy the financial requirement by showing savings

Help from other family members will be regarded as third party support This has caused issues in the past but has been clarified by Appendix FM-SEwhich states that a ?credibleguaranteeof sustainablefinancial support to the

applicant or their partner from a third party?will be considered

Accom m odat ion Requirem ent

Do not forget that ?financial requirement?also includes accommodation and you are required to provide evidence of this The most common evidence will be in the form of tenancy agreements or Land Registry certificates showing ownership

You must also prove that there is sufficient space for you, your partner and any dependants

TIP

If your accommodation is provided by a third party such as your parents, you should provide a statement from them confirming this You should attach evidence of their identification such as a copy of their passports You should also provide evidence of your relationship such as your birth certificate

English Language Requirem ent

Unusually, as your fiancé visa will only be for 6 months, you are nevertheless required to demonstrate competence in the English language to at least CEFRlevel A1 unless you are from a majority English speaking country or your academic qualification is equivalent to or exceeds CEFR level A1

TIP

You can only undertake this in approved centres and this changes from time to time Look at the Home Office website for up to date lists of providers in your country You need this reference before you submit your application so book your test ASAP Beware that the certificate has a validity of 2 years which means you will need to take it again if you do not apply within that time

The are only a few exemptions to this requirement You are not required to satisfy the English language requirement if you are over 65 years of age or if you

have a medical condition that prevents you from satisfying the condition You will be required to provide medical evidence in support of this

Hom e Office fee

The Home Office application fee submitted outside the UK is £1,523 As your visa will be for 6 months only you are not required, at this stage, to pay the IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge)

Lengt h of visa

If your application is successful, you will be provided with a visa for 6 months initially Once married you should apply to vary and extend this to a Spouse visa

TIP

If you enter the UK as a fiancé, you are not required to leave the UK to apply for a Spouse visa You can pursue that application from within the country

A fiancé visa can only be made from abroad; hence you cannot swap a visit visa or any other type of visa from within the UK to that of a fiancé visa However, if you have been living with your sponsor for more than two years but have not married you should consider an application under the unmarried partner route

Working in t he UK

Not allowed! A fiancé visa does not permit you to work in the UK To work, you must swap and obtain a Spouse visa A pending application for a spouse visa does not permit you to work and to do so will be in breach of your immigration condition

Ext ension of your Fiancé visa

Sometimes events such as illness prevent couples from marrying within the 6 months period In this case you should apply to extend your visa as a fiancé You will need to show a good reason why the marriage has not taken place but be aware that the Home Office will likely only extend your visa once and you are still not permitted to work

How did you observe the Holy Week in the UK?

Since we live in Folkestone (in Kent), my partner Andy Cruttenden and I, with the kids, drove all the way to London Holy week is time for the whole family to catch up with our friends for a dinner get-together at the 197 Chiswick Fire Station Pub & Restaurant with Mr Gerry Panga, Tourism Attache from the Philippines Department of Tourism, Mrs Agnes Panga, Ms Christian Belaro, Designer of PamPinay, Ms Valyntina Norris, Property/ Business Coach with his son Erasmus

We are non-Catholic As Christians, we spend it mostly with friends and family Getting together, like camping or barbecuing somewhere quiet Last week, we were in the forest with my Lighthouse community (Llandudno) And being sunny and warm, the British tend to make a big deal of barbecuing Enjoyed some peace and quiet, detoxifying from distractions Had meet-ups with Filipinos this week Just had a good time, and some Filipino food

CATHERINEJOY WIGLEY

Over the Easter long weekend, my family and I had a lovely time exploring the scenic beauty of the UK On Good Friday, we visited the majestic Cheddar Gorge and the breathtaking Salisbury Cathedral On Saturday, we decided to spend our day connecting with nature at the serene Lakeside Park The fresh air and tranquil surroundings provided the perfect escape from our busy lives, allowing us to recharge and relax Easter Sunday was a special day for us, as we visited Manor Farm to spend some time with adorable animals We couldn't resist the temptation to cuddle the cute lambs and playful chicks, which brought smiles to our faces and warmed our hearts To cap off our wonderful long weekend, we attended a birthday party of my daughter Tala's friend on Monday It was a joyous occasion, and we cherished the opportunity to spend quality time together as a family creating happy memories that we will treasure for a lifetime

RJ CASIA- ROBINSON

Sout ha mpt on, Engla nd

I celebrated my Holy Week working, then we had a live streaming online via Britanya Ngayon pages Then on Saturday evening, I attended an Easter Mass Vigil in the church

RAFA RAFA

Dorset , UK

Easter is the greatest celebration in the Catholic church because it is the completion of the Holy week that ends with the resurrection of Jesus We normally start the Friday with ?Pabasa? of the Passion of Jesus Christ until we finish the book Easter Sunday always ends up with family reunions or gatherings

ERWIN DIZON

Colc hest er, Essex

Easter is one of the major holidays and Christian festivals in the UK, full of customs, folklore and of course, traditional Easter food As a Filipino living in the UK for many years, we?ve always taken time off to reflect, just as I did during the 4-day bank holiday weekend to celebrate from Good Friday to Easter Monday This year, I attended a Good Friday service at St James Roman Church at Spanish Place in London On Saturday, I allocated my time for a community outreach and on Easter Sunday, I attended a Solemn Latin Mass in the morning, followed by a traditional roast dinner I prepared for five friends Easter Monday, which is another bank holiday in the UK, was spent at home relaxing and making time for reflection, to be ready to face another busy week ahead

DULIA PRADO

London, UK

On Palm Sunday, we, the Knights and Ladies of Dr Jose Rizal, went to the National Shrine of our Lady of Welsingham in Norfolk We joined in the pilgrimage with many organisations On Easter Sunday, we had a Filipino Mass Celebration of our Lady of Penafrancia at the Carmelites Church where our ?Mahal na Ina? is enshrined This was sponsored by CamSur-Bicol A salo-salo followed after the Mass

CORA CARSOLA

London, UK

My Good Friday was still a working day, and making bilo-bilo here in my workplace It's a very popular thing to do back home in the Philippines every Good Friday One of my friends came over and I shared some bilo-bilo with my other friends here too In the afternoon, I went somewhere with friends in Battersea to see the cherry blossoms, after having dinner with them in a Thai restaurant I celebrated Easter Sunday at my mum's place

ANALOU ANTIPUESTO

London, UK

My Holy Week was spent meditating on God?s sacrifices for us And I also spent time with my family Had a great time with my son and granddaughters The smiles on their faces brought me incomparable joy this week

M IDZ DAGAM AC

London, UK

Sa UK me work ako nung Good Friday Saturday was just like any ordinary day, then Sunday was widely observed kaya closed ang mga shops so, we just stayed at home with the kids May mga friends na nag visita iglesia Marami nag-holiday dahil it?s a long weekend, which includes bank holiday Monday

EDGAR DUAY

Derbyshire, UK

We celebrated the Holy Week in Jerusalem We went to the Holy Sepulchre in Mt Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified It was very busy in the old city of Jerusalem as the Jewish people were celebrating the Passover, and the Muslims were going through Ramadan

EDGARDO ENRIQUEZ

London, UK

FACE THEMONTH OF

KRISTINEDIZON

AGE : 18

BASEDINTHEUK:Colchester,Essex

HOBBIES: WatchingGrey's Anatomy&Gym

AMBITION: TobeanOperatingDepartment

Practitioner andtoberichsomeday

MOTHER: OdinahDizon

FATHER:ErwinDizon

faithful of the Passion of Christ

THE observance of Holy Week is one of t he m ost im port ant occasions in t he Cat holic Church as it rem em bers t he t rials and sufferings of Christ

One of the Filipinos?unique traditions is the pabasa (reading), where the events leading to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are recited through songs

It has become a family gathering, with food and drinks prepared for participants

The pabasa has also become a vow for those asking for favours, like Marites Cruz who is hoping she passes the board exam for real estate brokers

The Professional Regulation Commission holds the

Real Estate Brokers examination in the National Capital Region, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, and Tacloban

?Sana makapasa ako sa board exam (I pray that I pass the board exam),?Cruz said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency

Fr Douglas Badong, the parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church, said the pabasa is chanted for the people to easily understand God?s love and sacrifices for humanity

?Ganito kahalaga ýun Inaalala natin yungmga pagpapakasakit, paghihirap, pagkamatay, pagkabuhayni Kristo (This is how important it is We remember the sufferings, sacrifices, death, and resurrection of Christ),?Badong said in an interview

?Pabasa?remindsEllen Pascual, a member of the Ministry of Collection of Quiapo Church, said she grew up in a family where Holy Week traditions are observed

She said she feels light and relieved after participating in the pabasa

Badong reminded Catholics that asking for forgiveness for sins requires a heartfelt confession

?Angturo talaga ngsimbahan, para maalisang kasalanan, aysa pamamagitan talaga ngkumpisal at 'yun anghinihilingnatin na maspahalagahan ngtao o ngmga Katoliko Angpagkukumpisal kasi dun talaga nalilinis (Church teaches us that confession is the way to ask for forgiveness People should put more emphasis on this as it is the only way to get cleansed),?he said (PNA)

Source: Phi ippine New s Agency

LIKE AND FOLLOW US ON OUR fac ebook account s!

ByMARITAMOAJE

The Muslim Tradition of Ramadhan: A Sacrifice in a Nutshell

ByREYNAND DOCE

N 23 March, our Muslim bret hren in t he

OPhilippines and all over t he w orld began t heir

Holy Mont h of Ram adhan

We must learn the value of this holy month for all of our Islamic Faithful

The holy month of Ramadhan is the ninth lunar month in the Islamic calendar which is a period of fasting and spiritual growth among Muslims Fasting is one of the ?five pillars of Islam??the others being the declaration of faith, daily prayer, alms-giving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca

Wha t is f a st ing in Isla mic t ra dit ion a nd w hy do M uslims do t his?

Fasting is the obligation to refrain between dawn and dusk from food and drink as well as sexual activity This practice of self-restraint is one form of ibadah or worship that paves the way for Muslims to purify souls and strengthen their faith in Allah

Abstinence, at the behest of Allah, strengthens man's morality and self-control as well as a means to empathize with those less fortunate

It does not aim at inflicting punishment but to teach moderation and spiritual discipline

During this holy month of fasting, Muslims go to the mosque and spend several hours praying The fast is broken at sundown with a meal called iftar, often shared among family and friends Muslims will gather at nightfall in the mosque for special communal

prayers called tarawih

In the month of Ramadhan, there?s also the brightest of all nights that they called "Laylat-al Qadr" otherwise known as the Night of Power It is considered to be the Islamic calendar?s holiest eve This commemorates the night on which Allah first revealed the Qur??n to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Jibr?l) This night falls within Ramadan?s final 10 days It is believed that when you complete good deeds on Laylat al-Qadr, your fasting is increased in reward

According to Islamic belief, the reward of fasting is with Allah Himself as a person is sacrificing all of their worldly needs for a reward in the afterlife

The end of the Ramadhan fast is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr, which is one of the two major religious holidays of Muslims

Source: Philippine Inform at ion Agency

FILIPINO- BRITISH M ETROPOLITAN POLICEOFFICERS PAY A COURTESY CALL ON AM BASSADOR LOCSIN

AM BASSADOR LOCSIN M EETS M INISTER OFSTATEANNE- M ARIE TREVELYAN

Ambassador Locsin has recently paid an introductory call on Minister of State for the Indo Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) They discussed practical ways to enhance Philippines-UK relations and strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as defence, maritime, and energy security

Ambassador Locsin also thanked Minister Trevelyan for the UK's donation of AstraZeneca vaccines to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and for honouring the hard work of Filipino healthcare workers in the UK

Phot o Credit s: PE in London

Ambassador Locsin met with Detective Superintendent Joe Derilo, Sergeant Charina Boys, and Police Constable Danielle Noble on 29 March 2023 ahead of the Domestic Abuse Awareness Seminar-Workshop they conducted for the Filipino community later in the day

The three officers shared their experiences growing up Filipino-British in the UK, and brought up ways to bridge the gap between the Metropolitan Police and the Filipino community

The Ambassador also shared his insights on policing and how the Philippines and the UK police forces can forge stronger cooperation (Phot o Credit s: PE Em bassy in London)

CREATIVES' CORNER

NEWS AND INFO

DELIKADO

This film was screened at the opening night of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in London with drinks reception and live discussion

May be an image of 7 people, people standing, outdoors and text that says "FILM SCREENING HOLLISTERThe way we natives feel for the land different Our feelings are fused with the Earth The earth is like our parent The forest is the lifeblood of the indigenous people Mimi Cabral, Delikado

HUMAN WATCH RIGHTSFILM KETTH #HRWFFLDN Delikado by Karl Malakunas 16 March 2023 6PM Barbican Centre Silk Street, London EC2Y8DS"

JULIENNEPAL

We're looking for a lead actress for our student-led short film, "Problem Child " We're going to be filming in London in May We're hoping there are Cebuano/Bisaya-speaking actresses who can pass for 18 to 24 in London

I'm a uni student myself, and the team are mostly students, so I hope you can help us with this casting

If you know someone who speaks Cebuano and can pass for this age range, even if they're not an experienced actress, please let them know of this opportunity

May be an image of 1 person, standing, sitting and text that says '"PROBLEM CHILD" Filming Dates: May 4 to May 7, 2023 Location: London VIOLETPlaying Age: 18 to 24 Must be of Filipino background

Preferably Visayan or Cebuano background Violet is a young woman repressing her trauma and mental health problems She joins a Fil-Brit beauty pageant and is determined to win, but starts seeing a mysterious, shadowy figure Ideally, has tan or brown skin Fluency in/familiarity with the Cebuano language is a bonus Miss World Unpaid, but travel expenses will be covered (as long as you're local to London)

Leonor Will Never Die

MilkTea presents Leonor Will Never Die

A MILKTEA community screening of Martika Ramirez Escobar's Sundance winning feature "Leonor Will Never Die "

MilkTea presented this film on 3rd April 2023 at the Vue Cinema in Piccadilly, Regent Street, London

About t his film

Leonor Reyes was once a ground-breaking figure in the Filipino film industry during its ragtag action cinema glory days, but now she struggles with old age, mounting bills, and the untimely death of her son

While revisiting an unfinished script about a fearless protagonist trying to avenge his brother?s murder Leonor is struck on the head by a falling television set and knocked into a coma As she lies unconscious in the hospital, fantasy and reality begin to blur when Leonor finds herself awake inside her script, becoming the hero of her own story

An innovative blend of pulpy action homages, playful comedy, and touching family drama, Leonor Will Never Dieis a wonderfully imaginative tribute to the art of filmmaking A Sundance winning feature which also screened at Toronto International Film Festival and nominated for Film Independent Spirt Award MilkTea are proud to support the release of this award-winning Filipino film

Des Hamilton Casting a BAFTA-winning casting company for film and TV Our credits include THISISENGLAND, TOPBOY, JOJORABBIT, and the KING

CHARACTER PORTRAYED AS:

Female, aged 40 - 60 Filipino, based in the UK English-speaking

NO PROFESSIONAL ACTING EXPERIENCE NEEDED

Apply via: bit ly/ filipinorole

We look forward to hearing from you!

Filipinos to experience warm, dry days ahead

ByKATESHIENEAUSTRIA

HE Philippine

TAt m ospheric, Geophysical and Ast ronom ical Services Adm inist rat ion (PAGASA) announces t hat La Niña (cold phase) condit ion has ended and t he count ry can expect norm al w eat her condit ions from March t o June

The weather state bureau explains that most of the climate models predict that ENSO neutral (neither La Niña nor El Niño) is favoured during those periods this year

However, from July onwards there is an increased likelihood of a transition to El Niño (warm phase) Rainfall projections before this transition will be near normal to above normal level across the country Whilst on the second half of 2023, the country can experience below-normal rainfall This phenomenon may persist until 2024

"Mga buwan pongJuly, inaasahan natin posiblengmag-start but bytheend of the year 'yungprojection natin doon mararanasan 'yungepekto ngEl Niño Not necessarily

pagdatingngJulyaykulangna tayo sa tubig," PAGASA Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez said in a televised public briefing

"Maykaunti panglageffect 'yan, then possiblybyAugust and September magsisimula na tayongmakaranasngbelownormal rainfall Kahit pa magsimula 'yungpanahon ngEl Niño season possiblybyJuly, maymga lugar pa rin pongpwedengmakaranas ngnear normal to abovenormal rainfall conditions,"he added Due to less rainfall, the water level in reservoirs could go down The reduction in water supply could in turn affect the agriculture and power generation sectors Aside from this, the El Niño phenomenon could bring hot temperate, dry conditions and droughts

Although the country will be experiencing a warm and dry season, we can still experience rain and localized thunderstorms PAGASA is also not ruling out the possibility of weather disturbance such as tropical cyclone

Thus, everyone is still advised to monitor weather conditions and to take precautionary measures against the lagging effects of La Niña and the impending El Niño

How t o cope w it h El Niño? [Make sure t his is in Bold]

- Drink plent y of w at er Extreme heat may result in

dehydration and heat stroke One of the best ways to protect yourself from the heat is to stay well hydrated;

- Wear loose and light -coloured clot hing These clothes will help you move freely and make you feel cooler;

- Avoid st renuous physical act ivit y Being overexposed or over-exercised in the existing thermal environment may lead to high body temperature and may cause a heat stroke;

- Avoid t oo m uch sun exposure, if possible, use sunblock to protect your skin and bring protective gear such as an umbrella or hat; and conserve water

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr admits that there is a water crisis in the country as he urges to employ modern technology and stratagems in the management of water resources to ensure sufficient water supply that meets the needs of the people

In February, President Marcos has already approved the creation of a Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) to manage the country?s water resources and respond to the current environmental challenges

Source: Phil ppine Inform at ion Agency

OM ING t o t he UK

I arrived in the UK in 2016 as an Internationally-Educated Nurse (IEN) I started as a Critical Care Nurse in St Bartholomew?s Hospital in London, a city very close to my heart It was the place that made me grow, blessed me with real friends gave me the best opportunities of my career, and changed my life

Love and Fam ily

I met my husband in London in late 2016 We instantly clicked and he asked me to marry him on our first anniversary in 2017 We then got married at St Etheldreda?s Church, Holborn on our second anniversary in 2018 Tom, my husband, got a job in Newcastle as a brewer that same year It was also where his father hailed from We were blessed with our son, Michael in 2019 shortly before COVID-19 struck

M ot herhood a nd t he Pa ndemic

I was a first-time-mum of a two-month-old baby boy when the pandemic hit I was in a city hundreds of miles away from my friends, and my family was half-way across the world in the Philippines Isolated in our little family bubble, I was starting to feel depressed as hormone imbalance crept into my mental health I then started a vlog on YouTube called Mommy Jojo to reach out and share my motherhood journey, narrate my feelings and still bring myself forward to my friends and family as well as to the rest of the world

I found motherhood Facebook groups very helpful And when Mummy Cat Wigley started the Facebook group Filipino Mothers UK(FMUK), it felt like I was called for this I volunteered to support her in running the group And the rest is history

M ot herhood a nd Ca reer

I took one year of maternity leave Ironically, the pandemic did a huge part in deciding to stay and settle down in Newcastle

We bought our first family home I started a job as a Critical Care Nurse in Freeman Hospital, luckily, on the same speciality as I did in London There were lots of challenges and fears going back to work while COVID-19 was still lingering I was one month shy of applying for my ILR/permanent residency and had to apply to extend my Health and Care Visa in order to move to a new employer My son took months to adjust to nursery, constantly getting ill and not settling down The exhaustion was unbelievable

We were hands-on parents, both on full-time jobs playing equal roles in raising our family I took night shifts on weekends to minimise childcare cost with lots of help from my husband?s family until we got to a good rhythm Family became my priority, and accepted that my career could wait It wasn? t long until I got promoted as a Sister in the same unit

Being a Filipina M um

I believe I got my resilience from my Filipino upbringing This, I want to impart to my child/ children in the future

It was not difficult to spot a Filipina in the crowd and it wasn? t long before I met fellow mums in Newcastle though work, networking, and through FMUK Being a part of this group makes me feel like I have an army behind me Anytime of the day, someone, somewhere, a Filipina mother will come and listen to you, give you virtual hugs and advice I am extremely proud of this group and the community we?ve raised amongst this race of very strong mamas in the UK

Understanding people who are in pain and sorrow

EVEN with the best intentions, we often say the wrong things to people in pain

?When Jan?s husband died all her friends overwhelmed her with advice on how to get through ?

?Jan would listen politely but think, ?What do you know?Your husbands are still alive ?

The above is a true experience related by a client of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, psychiatrist and author of the book On Grief and Grieving: FindingtheMeaningof Grief Through Five Stagesof Loss

Dr Kubler-Ross recognises the fact that a person whose loved one has died can have a reaction that appears overblown to us To them ?the world becomes meaningless and overwhelming Life makes no sense? we wonder how we can go on ?

There?s usually an outpouring of sympathy when someone loses a close relative but It?s not the same when somebody ?just?had a breakup or lost a pet, observed Dr Guy Winch, author of How To FixABroken Heart

The pain can be just as intense, he asserts Yet the sympathy from those around them can turn to irritation when the sadness appears too prolonged

Underst anding Anger

Not all of those in mourning are angry But many can get angry at many things They will be angry at the doctors they can be mad at themselves for allowing it to happen, they can be angry at the deceased for dying Dr Ross Kubler-Ross knew some faithful Christians who got angry at God and those who comfort them with talk about ?God?s plan ?

Their anger ?does not have to be logical or valid ?But getting angry when grieving is not always bad, she reassured She wrote, ?Anger is a necessary stage of the healing process Be willing to feel your anger, even though it may seem endless The more you truly feel it, the more it will begin to dissipate, the more you will heal ?Anger, Dr Kubler-Ross says, gives ?a temporary structure to the nothingness of loss ?

I think that being angry somehow gives us a

sense of control Loretta Graziano Breuning, the founder of the Inner Mammal Institute, explained that a bad feeling produces a lot of the brain chemical cortisol It feels so uncomfortable that the brain subconsciously urges us ?to do something?to feel better Being angry at people gives us a feeling that we can do something about the void

Depression

People going through something can feel sad for a long time The prolonged sadness can be a form of depression It is characterized by a loss of appetite for food, for pleasure or life itself

Dr Kubler-Ross noted that ?Our society seems to be involved in a ?stamp out depression campaign ??She wrote, ?Most people?s reaction to sad people is to try to cheer them up ??A mourner,?she advised ?should be allowed to experience his sorrow and he will be grateful for those who can sit down with him without telling him not to be sad ?

The Upw ard Spiral

Dr Kubler-Ross counsels that we must allow people to go through the natural process of grieving But the people in pain must protect themselves, too Kubler-Ross wrote, ?Treating depression is a balancing act We must accept sadness as an appropriate natural stage of loss without letting an unmanaged, ongoing depression leech our quality of life ?

The last stage of the grieving process is acceptance Kubler-Ross said, ?Acceptance is not about liking the situation It is about acknowledging all that has been lost and learning to live with that loss ?

Different people may have different ways of rising from the ashes One of the ways suggested by neuroscientist Alex Korb in the book The Upward Spiral is for people to set goals and make decisions He said that pursuing goals releases brain chemicals that can lift us out of depression

When my son was crushed by the biggest regret in his life, my advice to him was to try to become a winner again and not remain as a wreck So, I sat down with him to help decide what new dreams to run after

I was reassured when my son said he?s accepting his new reality by wishing the best for his ex-girlfriend ?Let?s just pray for her

happiness,?my son said I believe the attitude is helping him break the cycle of desolation

This is what mudita is all about Mudita is the Buddhists?practice of sympathetic joy They wish happiness for people close to them, for people who are ?neutral?and for people who ?cause difficulty ?If practiced faithfully, mudita can be an ?inner wellspring of joy,?wrote Barbara O?Brien in the ThoughtCo website Reinvent ing your life

Dr Ronald A Alexander has helped a lot of clients to transition from unhappiness to well-being In his book Wise Mind, Open Mind, he said that people don? t want to move on with their lives because they are scared of a life that has become unfamiliar They also dread how regret will haunt them every day So Dr Alexander reminds us that ?with loss comes rebirth ?

He advises a reinvention of the self through what he terms as ?creative transformation ? He wrote, ?The secret to successful reinvention is knowing that you don? t have to greet change with apprehension and resistance, focusing on the potential for suffering, because if you take that route, you experience the very suffering you?d hoped to avoid When it?s time for change, whether you?re losing a loved one, your perfect health, the job you loved? you have the opportunity to make your life even better than it is, as unfathomable as that may seem at first ?

This is a very moving story from Dr Kubler-Ross?book:

Keith?s son Allan was gunned down by a gang member and the young offender was sentenced to life Five years later, the hearing for parole began Keith was angry again at the possibility that his son?s killer would be forgiven and set free But the parole was denied and when Keith saw the tears of the shooter?s father, ?Keith realized there were victims on both ends of the gun ?He gradually developed sympathy for the other father who must be feeling terrible having a young son in jail

?Over the next few years, the two men formed an alliance to help gang members stop the violence and find their place in the world They went from school to school in the inner city with their story ?

Dr Kubler-Ross concluded, ?little by little, we

withdraw our energy from the loss and begin to invest it in life ?

?We can never replace what has been lost, but we can make new connections, new meaningful relationships, new interdependencies Instead of denying our feelings, we listen to our needs; we move, we change, we grow, we evolve ?

Read:

Habitsof a HappyBrain byLoretta Graziano Breuning

How to FixABroken Heart byGuyWinch

Mudita:TheBuddhist Practiceof Sympathetic JoybyBarbara O?Brien in ThoughtCo website

On Grief and Grieving:Findingthe Meaningof Grief Through Five Stagesof LossbyElisabeth Kubler-Ross

TheUpward Spiral byAlexKorb

WiseMind, Open Mind byRonald A Alexander

ByROBERTLABAYEN

?Thesecret to successful reinventionis knowingthat you don? t havetogreet changewith apprehensionand resistance,focusing onthepotential for suffering,becauseif youtakethat route, youexperiencethe verysufferingyou?d hopedtoavoid

'Life of party' Pangasinan vlogger turns antics into viral videos

ByHILDAAUSTRIA

WHAT st art ed as funny ant ics w it h her friends capt ured on video during birt hday part ies event ually becam e t he bread and but t er for a 24-year-old lady from Calasiao

Apol Claveria, popularly known in social media among Pangasinenses as Ponsyana, which means a woman who is always present at gatherings with food, started vlogging in 2019 at a friend?s party

Claveria at that time worked as an online sales representative earning just enough for the needs of her small family with Mark Anthony Reyes, her partner, and their daughter Akea

Jaine

But at the onset of the pandemic, she managed to produce quite a few online videos

?Wala aklabat abongdiman akla nangawaycontents Ira may ten tipspanunto manbalkot tan top ten na kargaan na take-out Pati araytsismosa indamayko la (I stayed in the house during the pandemic, hence I was able to make a lot of content Among those are the 10 tips on how to take home food from a party and the top 10 containers for take-home foods I also included in my content the gossipers)

?Ponsyana said

Soon, her funny and relatable videos became viral on social media, particularly on Facebook, and eventually launched her career as a Pangasinense vlogger She used her newfound fame to tackle gossiping, boasting, and even loud motorcycles yet in a fun and entertaining way

Ponsyana said she delivers her lines in the Pangasinan language with all its diction to give her videos a homey vibe for

Pangasinenses And it

worked

From 15 000 followers last year she now has more than 56,000 followers and she finally earns from her videos

She recalled initially earning PHP6,000 a month but now racks up a five-digit income apart from promotions and deals with businesses and mobile application developers

Ponsyana said aside from the monetary reward of vlogging, being able to make other people laugh and uplift their spirits, especially overseas Filipino workers, is what also makes her happy

?Makakapaliket no wala raymanmessage misasalamat ira ta nanaekal so problema da no manbabantayira ed videosko anggad siyakmet makakaliket akmet na maongno umman (It gives me joy when they send me messages thanking me for how they are uplifted whenever they watch my videos I also feel happy for them),?she said

She said her journey as a vlogger also allowed her to meet other vloggers, some of whom ended up being her mentors She said she considers Banong TV, also a well-known vlogger, one of them and who has always encouraged her to improve her craft

?Mantulongtulungan kami Wala raysuggestion no antoy makakabuti san araynayari na gawaen (We help each other We offer each other suggestions that would improve our content),?she said

Ponsyana said vlogging also allowed her to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress ?Pangarap ko talaga mag-artista (It was truly my dream to become an actress) ?she said

It was not an easy journey, though, as she disclosed having to stop making content in 2021

?Nanstop akkasi ed saman kasi singa anggapoyconsistent incomehindi pa kasi ako monetize nun (I stopped vlogging because I have no steady income as I could not yet monetize my content at that time) ?she said

She looked for another job and got one as an office secretary Her passion for creating online content and acting, however, was just too strong

?Last year, September anunutan ko manvlogaklalamet ta singa makapamissmanvlog Agko inaasahan na unpatoktuloytuloyla (In September last year, I did another vlog because I really missed vlogging I did not expect that it would be a hit and it would continue),?she said

?Adiscover koyvoiceover nen kyen la Panunto na kwela so voice over unaan singa akulawanggad inanap kon inanap Mairap talaga three years san aka monetize (I discovered voice-over later on I also experimented with my voice, at first, I sounded like an old woman until I finally found the voice I would use It was difficult as it took me three years before I was monetized) ?

And though people already recognise her on the street and ask for a photo with her Ponsayana said she also has her own share of bashers

?Morebashers, moreincome sincesila nagpapataasviewsand angnagdidefend na sa akin ayyongmga solid followersko (More bashers, more income because they increase my views and my solid followers are there to defend me),?she added

So, what's next for the funny vlogger of Pangasinan?

?Anggad natan panaaralan ko ni Saygoal ko maka-100,000 followersayan taon (I am learning the craft My goal this year is to have 100,000 followers),?she added

Source: Phi ppine New s Agency

LAKE COMO, ITALY (Part 2)

Loc a t ion: Colonno, La ke Como, It a ly

ByEDGARDUAY

LAKE Com o is one of t he best and m ost rom ant ic places I?ve ever been t o

This art cle is the much-awaited second part of our trip to the majestic Lake Como

We wil stop at Villa del Balbianello, the location shooting of Star Wars where Anakin Skywalker kissed Padme for the first time (Have you checked the video?) It?s also the locat on of the famous scene where James Bond was in a wheelchair after being poisoned and having won the poker game n Casino Royale He was overlooking the lake as the man with the briefcase approached him

Did I mention the 13-kilometre Greenway hike that I did for three hours? Not the Bear Grylls kind of a hike, but more of a recreational sightsee ng kind, a photographer?s dream

But first, as in every episode?

Before you go som e t ravel and hiking t ips:

1 Check your health before you go

2 Check the weather and your route before you go

3 Suitable footwear is needed as some route can be slippery and muddy, a walking stick can be useful as some route can be dangerously steep Bring spare slippers or shoes to avoid an expensive car wash

4 Don't forget your cameras, powerbanks or spare batteries to charge your dev ces Drones can be useful but check your local guidelines and safety precautions

5 Rain coat or a tri-climate jacket extra c othes or a bin bag are always handy I always carry a bin bag everywhere I hike It can be used to safeguard your belongings from the unforgiv ng weather

6 Do earn a few phrases, common language and how to ask questions about the target country Additiona lingo s a big plus and act as a nice gesture to the host country

7 Picn c is a must - light food a bit of candy power bar are handy wh le enjoying Nature, and of course your water bottle is very mportant

8 Travel light and please Take your rubb sh home

Rem em ber " Take not hing but pict ures eave not hing but foot print s, and share your m em ories "

Alright! Now, you?re ready! As promised, we will start with Lake Como Bellagio Verenna and Menaggio and how to reach these places in one go

We can assume that this trip s your Day 2 trip list Coming from Villa del Balbianel o, take the bus going to Cadenabbia-Griante-Mennaggio Before reach ng Griante you will see the Cadenabb a Ferry which wil take you to either Griante-Verenna or Griante-Bellagio; this time you want to take the ferry to Bellagio town centre The boat trip, which costs ?15 per day includes the following stops: Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo and Lenno

If you want to stay at Lake Como stay at Be lagio a smal qua nt village full of cute town houses, alley shopp ng area and nice restaurants It?s located right n the middle of Lake Como at the tip of the Y-shape lake with fantastic panoramic view of the three famous towns of Lake Como - Mennagio, Bellagio and Verenna Be lagio is a 50-minute boat ride from central Como or around 45 minutes?drive on a zigzag road So my advice is to find a hotel in these three main towns to maximise your time at Lake Como Busy months are from June to September Loads of tourists, so f you want a relaxing atmosphere try to visit around March to April or in October

One of the most photographed part of Bellagio is the alley Salita Serbelloni (see my photo on a white shirt) The top most part of the alley is the most famous, especially when you look down with the breath-taking view of the lake trying to peak between the colourful apartments and shops And if you head towards your left you will see the 11th centrury Bas llica San Giacomo next to a local shop famous for silk where I bought my wife a lovely scarf that says ?Mi amore!?

Keep going and head to the road Via Eugen o Vitali and you will reach a nice restaurant at the very tip of the town facing towards Verenna from the distance to your right and Menaggio further down to your left But before you head back to the ferry, visit Vlla Melz botanical garden for ?10 and the garden of Vil a Serbelloni grand hotel

On the same ferry terminal, take the Bellagio-Verenna route Verenna is quieter than Bellagio and if you keep on going to your right from the dock, you will see a road that is called the ?wa k of lovers? (Passeggiata degli Innamorati) It will take you to the Riva Grande where you can enjoy the scenic bay and have some rejuvenat ng gelato Plenty of shops, have a beer, or my favourite delightful pizza Quattro Formaggi (four cheese)

After Verenna, on the same ferry terminal, take the Verenna-Menaggio route Top tips: Know the ferry schedule by heart as you don? t want to be stuck there, and know the bus schedule too, or you will end up like me and walk for hours as I missed my bus from Menaggio to Colonno So easy to lose track of time with this magnif cent view

I enjoyed swimming n the lake And in Lido Menaggio you can enjoy a dip in a swimming pool at the side of the lake for ?7 (price correct at the t me of my vis t) Grand hotel Menaggio has a so got a nice pool so if you want a hotel w th a great view of the lake, and if you fancy a romantic night with a tota disregard for the ?300 per n ght price tag, this s the hote for you

I did en oy my little adventure at Lake Como and hope that my photos will help to entice you to v sit, and help you explore the area Ciao! Bella! Check the new Euro travel guidelines before going!

Useful Italian words and phrases

Thank you ? Grazie

Take me to the airport please - Mi porti all'aeroporto, per favore

I?m so sorry ? Mi dispiacetanto

Hello or Bye - Ciao

Beautiful - Bella

Where is the toilet?- Dovèla toilette?