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DECEMBER 2019 EDITORIAL
stunning Philippine travel destinations in the last 10 years. Rebecca Garcia, a delightful 3rd culture kid and Country Editor Czech Republic & Germany reflects on national hero Dr. Jose Rizal through an exhibition of artwork at the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.
Malipayong Paskwa kag masinadyahong Bag-ong Tuig! Christmas is here, the most awaited time of year! My Roots and Wings (RAW) Team is sending families and friends the joys of Christmas and the anticipation of a bright new start in 2020! A new year, a new decade is calling for a clear vision of what is true and noble, inspiring and motivating, reflecting what has come and visualizing what is to come. There is so much to share with you in this issue, beginning with Sweden-based RAW founder, publisher and editor Rachel Hansen who is “gratitude personified.” Rachel’s vision has come full circle in discovering and sharing the genius of Filipinos in Europe, our values, culture, arts and
Jennifer Fergesen, exceptionally talented young writer, Food and Country Editor Iceland is recognized anew with an Interactive Media Award - “Global Carinderia” Best Blog, Migration category by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). It’s a must to read her “Light in the North” featuring Ehrlich Ocampo, a Filipino visual artist and dancer in Iceland, and discover Jenifer’s “9 spots to get your Pinoy food fix in Europe.“ Relish my interview with dauntless Swiss-Filipino Steven Füglister who sealed Philippine Ice Hockey top 3 win at the recent Southeast Asian Games in sweltering Manila. Anyone artistically inclined would admire “Our heART Stories” by the Super 8 FAAS artists in Stockholm presented by Aya Sunga Askert, a talented artist herself and Country Editor Sweden.
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Glad that Aimee Alado, Country Editor UK is making sure no one misses Europe’s enchanting Christmas Markets from its origins, spilling into the Filipinos’ jubilant, charming and longest yuletide season characterized by the parol and colourful lights, carolling and monito-monita (kris kringle) exchanges, the Noche Buena, all in celebration of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Oh, don’t you just love the merry taste of Christmas and grateful for the blessings of the New Year? Betsy von Atzigen Editor in Chief, Switzerland
ELIZABETH “BETSY” VON ATZIGEN Editor-in-Chief MARTHY ANGUE Associate Editor, Philippines MAE CAYIR Bureau Editor, Austria LOUISE BATERNA Bureau Editor, Belgium REBECCA GARCIA URBANCIK Bureau Editor, Czechia & Germany JENNIFER FERGESEN Bureau Editor, Iceland AYA SUNGA ASKERT Bureau Editor, Sweden LILY FEN Bureau Editor, Switzerland GLORIA HERNANDEZ GREJALDE Bureau Editor, Russia AIMEE ALADO Bureau Editor, United Kingdom LYNDY BAGARES Web Editor, Norway RACHEL HANSEN Business Ventures Editor, Founder
Roots & Wings i s p u b l i s h e d by Rachel Publishing Co from its head office in Stockholm, Sweden. Email: rawmagsubmissions@gmail.com ©2009-2019 | rawmags.com Roots&Wings Filipino Magazine in Europe
And something new, aligned with RAW mission is our recognition of Euro-Filipino advocate Netherlands-based Leila Rispens-Noel on migration, remittance, development and microfinance; Laarni Calalay Silva Italy-based Youth formation and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) rights advocate; Switzerland-based Leobella Balbuena with her passion for singing and Myla Arceno’s Theatre Arts and physical activity advocacy in the United Kingdom.
| DECEMBER 2019 EDITORIAL BOARD
RAWMAGS.COM DECEMBER 2019 PROFILE
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DECEMBER 2019 PROFILE
There exists an intrinsic good in every person, and some painstakingly cultivate that intrinsic good to cause noteworthy impact.
Some 10 years ago, a story writer cum storyteller whose childhood work got published at school, actualized the inspiration to put Roots and Wings magazine together for Filipinos in Europe. The publication 10 years later, has been highlighting Filipinos, their unique art, music and culture, values and beliefs, their unsung achievements and glory. It has exposed exquisite Philippine travel destinations, engaging traditions and events in European host countries that otherwise lay hidden. Every single story in the last decade came as a ‘heartfelt gift’ while she tirelessly sourced the cost of publication and printing. Roots and Wings magazine turned out to be Rachel Hansen’s heartiest gift to the Euro-Filipino community and as she published outstanding personalities throughout the years, today is her turn. words by Elizabeth “Betsy” Von Atzigen | Switzerland
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Elder sister Leah Grewal writes, “Rachel was born in the middle of seven siblings, in a family accustomed to reading and writing. Coming from a Christian family and educated in a Christian school, her upbringing was about love of God, caring and sharing to family and fellowman. A lover of nature and the environment since childhood, she would stop to admire the flowers, and would at times pick wild ones to take home. She inherited from our father a love for gardening and as an environmentally friendly person, she recycled kitchen wash to water plants and flowers at her summer house. Rachel is known as a generous giver and active leader in her communities in Sweden. Roots and Wings magazine came out as her project to give back to the Filipino people in Europe as well as the Philippines, believing that as we Filipinos leave home and relocate to foreign lands, we remain connected to our roots.” Another sibling Luz Bergersen muses, “When I think of Rachel, I say she is first and foremost a woman of God. She
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lives her life and expresses herself according to God’s divine word and will. “Love God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbour as yourself.” Rachel is sister, friend, soulmate, pillar of the family, loving mother to Aina, Carl and Jenny, doting grandmother to Baby Cali, devoted and dutiful daughter to our parents, loving and supportive sister, and aunt to her many nephews and nieces, many of whom she has helped with schooling and diverse needs. She is kind, fair, hardworking, tenacious (she never gives up!) and a lifelong friend to many, even generous to a fault. Rachel has the rare trait of empathy, putting herself in another’s place, seeing and feeling from their perspective. She used to say: “If every person who has the means help even just one, this world would be a better place.” Did you know that Rachel is a great cook? She used to run a small restaurant in Stockholm, doing most of the cooking herself. An elegant and classy person, she loves paintings, arts, books, nature, healthy living, and much more. I am blessed and very lucky to have Rachel as my sister. Friend Liberty ‘Bert’ Fajutrao from Stockholm recalls being
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introduced to Rachel as an Ilongga and both hit it off right away. They shared a lot in common including having lived on the same street in Jaro, Iloilo City! “When I met her, she was busy with a lot of organizations and activities, including the publication of Roots and Wings. She has an indefatigable energy to serve not only her kababayans but also any worthy social cause for the betterment of humanity. She has led numerous civic organizations geared towards the upliftment of Filipinos abroad especially here in Europe and Sweden. I had the privilege of helping her in ENFID Sweden, promoting Filipino culture and art. Nang Rachel is a unique personality in the Filipino community in Stockholm. She has a very generous heart and is truly proud to be called a Filipina and an Ilongga. Personally she is a friend, someone with whom time just flies when you meet. She engages you with her experiences, her insights and her wisdom. Now that she has become a grandmother, she spends more time in the Philippines. However, that does not prevent her from being involved in grassroots developmental efforts there like AGREA. I wish to salute and thank Nang Rachel for everything she has done, is doing and will do for Filipinos here and abroad. May her tribe increase!” Florence-based celebrated artist Lolita Valderrama Salvage
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regards Rachel as an inspiration to all. “To describe Rachel and her unique qualities is to me, like painting on canvas a subject of many vibrant colours. She possesses so many gifts that she generously shares with the world around her. Her beauty is such that transcends the superficial. This is why I feel so blessed to have known her. We first met at an Enfid meeting in Rome and since then she has become a real friend. Rachel has a way of making one feel that a friendship has a beginning but no end. She has an incredible natural warmth that disarms anyone in front of her. Her words when spoken come with smiles and wisdom. In humble ways, she displays her deep intelligence and quick wit which encourages positive interaction from others. Yes, Rachel is a very special woman, and truly a very precious friend.” In this Christmas edition, Roots and Wings online magazine honours Rachel Hansen as founder, editor and publisher in celebration of its decadelong success. Rachel is a pioneer, a tireless worker and inspiring leader, down to earth and naturally funny, very intelligent and oozing with courage and commitment at a time
when fewer Filipino-European women were able to mark their contribution to the host continent and home country. She has opened doors to artists, writers, photographers and community event organizers, creating endless possibilities for these talents and the subject of their publication. Rachel’s team of volunteer bi-monthly contributors and editors across the globe are linked to her by strong bonds of respect and affection. To this rare woman I say, your birth into this world has indeed borne good fruit. May the good Lord continue to bless you and keep you in His care, today and always.
words by Betsy von Atzigen | Switzerland pictures by Betsy von Atzigen, Charito Gmur, Joselyn Eggli
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Let me paint you a picture of snowflaky, dreamy, warm cinnamon-scented Christmas season coming alive in Europe’s Weihnachtsmarkt, the Christmas market! Walk along one of those cobbled streets now lined with festive, stylish stalls packed with delectable treats of sweet-smelling waffles and crepes, cheeses, salamis and hams, hot chocolate, Glühwein (mulled wine) or honey, apple, orange punch to glug? Wander through decorated stands with exquisite seasonal local artisan products and crafts that make perfect stocking fillers!
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Visit a Weihnachtsmarkt set in and around the old town’s medieval castle or chalets, in close view of a 100 year old colour beauty carousel that twirls and sets kids in rousing motion, or some frolic on the skating rink while adults merrily talk, munch and sip local beer. At the heart of this festive Weihnachtsmarkt rises a magnificent tree or an array of little pine needle trees lit with glimmering, twinkling, inviting lights and candles.
Or would you prefer Christmas music? Weihnachtsmarkets are often accompanied by musical performances and mini concerts in street corners, playing instruments of varying types, even cowbells of ancient times. Participate in candle dipping lessons, cheese or chocolate fondue, raclette and potato cooking classes. Spend an afternoon until sundown in a winter fairy-like wonderland, exploring some gingerbread museum and medieval buildings, savouring the best of the season and taking away the heartiest of Christmas.
words by Aimee Alado | United Kingdom
pictures by Betsy von Atzigen, Charito Gmur, Joselyn Eggli
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One of the most remarkable times to visit Europe is in December when every major town and city square turns to a full-on festive feel with all its magical winter markets that lit up Europe at this time of year. It is usually during the period of the advent season (four Sundays before) and in preparation for Christmas. The advent period for 2019 began on Sunday, 01 Dec and ends on Tuesday, 24 Dec, hence most of the Christmas markets in Europe ends on 23 Dec but some do extend until the new year or until the Epiphany. The tradition of Christmas markets is said to date back in the Middle Ages in the German-speaking part of Europe under the former Holy Roman Empire.
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Christmas market in German is “Christkindlmarkt” from Christkind or Christchild or “Weihnachtsmarkt” meaning Christmas market literally. The original idea of the word Christkind (or Christchild) came in the 16th Century when the German protestant reformist, Martin Luther suggested that Christmas aka the birth of Christ or the “first coming of Christ” was the best day to give gifts. The Christkind or boy Jesus (or depicted as an angel-like girl) is acted out by a local child usually during the opening nights of the Christmas market. But in reality this idea of a new gift bringer to children was to eliminate St Nicholas and do away with remembering a Catholic saint during the period of Protestant reformation.
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Saint Nicholas was a real person who was born in the 3rd century in what was then part of Greece but now part of Turkey. He was a Christian Bishop and later a catholic saint who helped the needy, donated and gave presents, especially food to the poor. He died on 6th December but his remembrance day is 5th of December. Santa Claus or der Weihnachtsmann was a name that originated from the Dutch word Sinterklaas. He is actually Saint Nicholas in “disguise” as the pilgrims who wanted to continue remembering him wanted to evade the ban of St Nicholas’ day during the Protestant reformation. They also changed the day to 25th December to remember St Nicholas and celebrate the birth of Christ. He is known
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by many different names around the world like Father Christmas or St Nick to name a few but he is definitely more known in the current times as the jolly, plump bearded fellow with his reindeers bringing gifts to children. The “earliest” Christmas markets were in Germany. Munich was in 1310, Bautzen, Saxony in 1384 and Frankfurt in 1393 but it is said that the “real” Christmas market was in Dresden from 1434.
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tradition was carried on becoming more festive and with more seasonal items especially anything Christmassy, edible or non-edible.
Nevertheless, the forefather of the Christmas market was Vienna’s Dezembermarkt (December Market) which was first recorded in 1296 when Emperor Albrecht I granted permission to hold market days during winter to stock up on supplies for the winter months.
The attractions also became more Christmas centred like Nativity Scene, Christmas Tree and fairy lights, Carols and Christmas specific readings and a Santa Grotto. Seasonal crafts like Christmas tree decorations, jewellery’s, handmade figurines and other ornaments can also be found. Seasonal foods that one can find in the markets are gingerbread, Bratwurst, roasted chestnuts, candied toasted almonds, hot mulled wine, hot cider and egg-based warm alcoholic drink were the traditional staples.
These markets originally featured local produce that is a staple for any households but through centuries the
Today, Christmas markets is a feature all over Europe. In the UK, the first Christmas Market was established in
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Lincoln, England in 1982. Since then, many Christmas Markets have sprouted in most major cities in the UK. In London, we have the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park but for me, the most authentic (German) Christmas Market I’ve been is Birmingham’s Christmas Market established in 1997 with support from Frankfurt. Today, it is arguably the largest outdoor Christmas market in the UK as well as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria.
The following markets are some of the top picks to visit this winter: Talinn, Estonia Good for: a huge tree
Copenhagen, Denmark Good for: a funfair Bruges, Belgium Good for: fairytale vibes Aachen, Germany Good for: snacks Colmar, France Good for: choice Krakow, Poland Good for: shops
Nuremberg, Germany Good for: tipples Seville, Spain Good for: sunshine
…and for some unique ones:
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Mount Pilatus Christmas Market in Switzeland the highest in Europe at 2,132 metres Fira de Santa Lúcia Christmas Market, Barcelona, Spain the most unusual featuring the Catalonian character Caga Tió or Tió de Nadal. The biggest: Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt with around 200 chalet-style stalls; Bath, UK with 180 and Cologne, Germany with 160. Whatever takes your fancy, Christmas Markets is definitely an excellent place to visit and buy unique gifts than you can only find from these seasonal markets. But whether you are shopping or just taking a look, a trek to one is definitely one of the best ways to immerse yourself into the festive season. After all, I don’t usually see European squares this beautifully lit up in any given winter nights when it is dim and cold for 16 hours a day. I wish you and family a very Merry Christmas now…. Ich wünsche Ihnen und Ihrer Familie ein frohes Weihnachtsfest…
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2019 EVENT
On the 9th of December, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt opened an art exhibition entitled “Rizal, the Hero of the Filipino People” to commemorate the 123rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, at the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal area. The art exhibit features a total of 24 Rizal artworks by renowned Filipino artists Rene Robles, Ronna Manansala and Robert Lavides. The event was attended by art patrons, German Rizalistas, the Filipino-German community and other Frankfurt-based expatriates. The ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the exhibition was led by Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia. She was joined by the exhibit’s curator Mr. Klaus Hartung, Consultant of Transwing Art Gallery. The Rizal exhibit is set to run until 31 January 2020.
words and pictures by Rebecca Garcia | Frankfurt
In her remarks, Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia encouraged Filipino-German attendees to take the opportunity to revisit the life and work of the national hero through the artworks of the three featured artists. She expressed hope that the exhibit will spark reflection on Rizal
and allow the people to pay tribute to the national hero. “I hope that the pieces of art on display could stimulate thoughtful conversation and understanding of our national hero and provoke us to put Rizal’s ideals into action,” she said. She thanked Mr. Hartung for raising the consciousness of the German public to the ‘genius’ that was Rizal. The evening was capped with a reception featuring Filipino delicacies and Rizal wine.
The Rizal artwork of the featured artists are part of the collection of Transwing Art Gallery in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines. The gallery has a collection of Filipino visual art, which includes old and contemporary masters as well as promising artists especially those who are self-taught. The Gallery has been present in the Philippines since 1995 through Transwing Consulting Company, managed by its president, Mr. Klaus Hartung. The artworks complement the existing rare Rizaliana furniture items currently on exhibit at
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the Consulate’s exhibition area which include a mirror and table, cabinet, cupboard, dresser and bed.
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Fun fact: it is believed that Rizal finished his novel “Noli Me Tangere“ using the table that is displayed. The Consulate also presented a video production entitled, “Rizal and His German Connections” during the event, highlighting Rizal’s life and times in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld in the spring of 1886.
from Germany, to the Czech Republic, and of course Spain to name a few. Hearing positive feedback about the Philippine national hero from foreigners makes me even more proud of my roots. Whenever I am in a different city or country, I make it a point to visit local galleries and museums. So, now that there is something on Rizal and portrayed through artwork, you will surely find me there. Therefore, I do encourage those visiting Frankfurt to stop by the Philippine Consulate and check out the Rizal exhibit.
As a “third culture kid,” it is always nice to see and learn that more and more foreigners are aware of or know about Jose Rizal. It’s truly heartening that Rizal accomplished so much in his time, leaving traces of inspiration wherever he went,
FEATURED ARTISTS Rene Robles is an internationally acclaimed artist and a recipient of various awards and distinction both in the Philippines and abroad. He is credited as the founder of
“assertionism”, an art movement asserting the power of art to transform and transcend. His works have found their way into the collections of His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, and former US President Bill Clinton, among others. Ronna Manansala is the granddaughter of the Philippines’ national artist in visual arts, Vicente Manansala. Initially, Ronna’s art paid homage by interpreting her grandfather’s style that departed from rural idylls of Fernando Amorsolo. Ronna chose female themes of mother and child, Virgin Mary, gossiping women and stayed close to her famous grandfather’s style that departed from analytical cubism or the intentional breaking down of subject into near abstract form. As she moves to new styles, she has opted to use bold colors and sure brushstrokes in the broader concept of cubism that is unmistakably her own. ‘Artivist’ Roberto Lavidez, is a narrative painter who candidly tackles socio-political issues ranging from oppressiveness of colonialism to the continuing complicity of corrupted institutions and injustices. Lavidez teaches art to reflect history and writes poetry as well.
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2019 EVENT
MARGA LACSON
Break Free (50x70) Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas Middle Left
S U P ER 8 FA A S A R T I S T S B Y A YA S U N G A A S K E R T
Eight members of the Filipino Artists Association of Sweden (FAAS), eight women from different walks of life and backgrounds show their heART stories through different art mediums exhibition in Nov 2019 @ Galleri Bellman Stockholm, Sweden
Dragonflies illuminating the way to break free from chains that holds one down. Embracing Freedom (40x40) Acrylic on Canvas Board Lower Left The strong emotion of being able to lookup and embrace the freedom of opportunities.
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2019 EVENT
MOLLY OHLSSON
These jewellery designs are rooted in my unique culture and origin. The T’NALAK fabric is an emblem of a rich culture of women who weave as inspired by their dreams. I am like these women, inspired too by a dream of creating my own designs that add to fashion and style of confident and independent women. We are builders and moulders of our own dream and by using T’NALAK fabric, we pave the way for empowered women in my hometown. By collaborating with them, we impact lives, hone skills and enhance the innate craftmanship which overall improve livelihood and economy. Shineth Trading collaborates with two talented Filipina artists - Helen Svendgaard, a wellknown painter cum photographer and Maria Ces Seidel, photographer and publisher of PILYA BLOG Magazine. The team’s passion is to create odd and long-lasting jewellery, pure marks of elegance and character.
KATRINA LARIDA
#PlasticEarth narrates the artist’s experience on how plastic has become a big part of our modern society as consumers, particularly in the fashion industry. She wants to show humans trapped and suffocated in plastic as an analogy to how humans suffocate the natural life of plants and animals with the current over usage of plastic. Katrina Larida is a fashion graduate of Parsons New York. #PlasticEarth: Polyester, Acrylic on Canvas, 90 x 90 cm 2019, Opposite, Upper Right #PlasticEarth: Plastic Bag, Acrylic on Canvas, 90 x 90 cm 2019 , Opposite, Middle Right #PlasticEarth: Cellophane, Acrylic on Canvas, 70 x 100 cm 2019 , Opposite, Lower Right #PlasticEarth: PVC, Acrylic on Canvas, 70 x 100 cm 2019, Right
MAY ANN DE JESUS
My paintings in acrylics were inspired by Sweden’s autumn colours. The landscapes are imaginary places which are some form of escape from the chaos of daily life. I have read a quote sometime ago which says we should not let anybody destroy our inner core. In my mind, I will always find places of peace and tranquillity.
CELIA FLOR TAN
Feelings and emotions dominate my paintings. As an artist, my approach could be deliberate or could be instinctive. Meditating on its own creation. An art from the heart. Breezy, Earthy, Illusion Mood
HELEN SVENGAARD
EMELIA EKLUND
My paintings in acrylic depict my childhood in my home country.
LEDA PEÑA WALLIN
GENESIS: Incidents during my upbringing and later in life may have made me extremely sensitive to the fires that paralysed parts of the world. It seems to have burned everywhere, in California recurring, in Brazil and now most recently in Australia. Last summer, hard-to-reach forest fires ravaged Sweden. There are many more examples. All of this goes deep into my mind and some of my paintings have surely been a way to come to terms with these experiences of working out the fear such a sea of fire brings within me.
Roots & Wings: Congratulations SwissFilipino Steven Füglister, Philippine men’s national ice hockey captain, on your latest win in the Southeast Asian Games! Both your home countries - the Philippines and Switzerland were rooting for you. Who inspired you as a young athlete?
as interviewed by Betsy von Atzigen | Switzerland
Steven: Thank you! Looking back, it was the environment I grew up in. We were outdoors all day playing all sorts of sports in my neighbourhood as kids, but it was ultimately my Dad who wanted me to join an organized sports club. He gave me the choice and I decided for hockey. So, he signed me up with the local hockey club EHC Kloten and I never looked back. I was blessed to have had a lot of excellent
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coaches and mentors during my career and teammates who became friends for life. RAW: What are your top 3 strengths as a person and as an athlete? Steven: Off the ice, I’m respectful, composed, open-minded and still highly value Swiss principles like punctuality and reliability. When I compete as an athlete, I can get intense as I love to win but I always put the team before individual success. RAW: As Captain, what challenges did you come across in getting to where you and your Team are today? Steven: We have come a long way as a group. I remember our first participation at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Japan where some team members experienced snow for the first time and played in their first official IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) regulated games. When I compare the team from 2017 to the one that competed at this year’s SEA Games, a lot has changed. We are now more professional in how we approach games and how we prepare for them. Looking back, I’m happy to say, that I was able to instil certain values into our players particularly
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Ice Hockey in the Philippines took a big step forward in the last week and that is something that cannot be measured in medals.
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on how we act and train as athletes which I learned from playing in Switzerland. It was difficult at first to get to the right balance between the professionalism I was used to in Switzerland and the way things work in the Philippines, but I believe that we have found it. RAW: What would you have done to seal the Philippine men’s national ice hockey gold this time? Steven: It’s hard to speak hypothetically after the game is over. We were well prepared for the SEA Games and got all the support needed from the Philippine Sports Commission and SM Skating. It was 8 days of great hockey where we grew as a team and bonded as friends. Adding a medal was our goal, that it ended up being bronze might not be what we expected of ourselves but if we look at the big picture, Ice Hockey in the Philippines took a big step forward in the last week and that is something that cannot be measured in medals. I’m proud of how my team has played and how we conducted ourselves throughout the tournament. RAW: Where do you see yourself and your sports career in future tournaments? Steven: I’m 33 years old now and 25+ years of playing
hockey is slowly taking a toll on the body. I still feel in good shape though and plan to play a bit more and share my experiences with the team. We will compete in the IIHF World Championships first week of March in Kyrgyzstan which will be a big step for us entering the world stage of hockey. We will end the season with the Challenge Cup of Asia in Singapore in April.
Steven: Never give up on your dreams and keep working hard for them. While still in Switzerland and heard of the Philippine Azkals (football team), I remember saying how I wished there was the same for hockey but the sheer thought of it seemed so farfetched, fast forward to today and here it is - the Philippine National Ice Hockey Team, and a good one at that!
RAW: What recommendations would you give to budding ice hockey players both in the Philippines and Switzerland?
RAW: We wish all the best to Steven and his Team to IIHF World Championships in Kyrgyzstan in March and Singapore Challenge Cup of Asia in April next year!
Less than a week before Filipino dancer and multimedia artist Ehrlich Ocampo’s final performance in Skagaströnd, a village in northern Iceland that hosts the Nes Artist Residency, the season’s first snowstorm blasted through town like an air raid.
words by Jennifer Fergesen | Iceland
By 28 October, the evening of the event, every surface in the village was glazed white. The audience had to kick through snow drifts up to their knees to reach the Nes
studio, a decommissioned fish factory with a black boxstyle theatre in its former freezer. Then the music started, and it was as though all the color and warmth that had seeped out of Skagaströnd came to settle in that room. The performance, a collaboration with the Icelandic video artist Almar Freyr, transformed the freezer into a walkin kaleidoscope. As Ehrlich danced, projectors replicated his image like a series of shadows, swirling into prismatic color behind him. He manipulated his signature leviwand (a dancing prop like a majorette’s baton, illuminated and suspended from a string) as if it were a kendo sword, or canoe oars, or the pipes of the god Pan. The shifting lights recalled the auroras that sweep above Skagaströnd on clear nights. But the best part, said Ehrlich, was the audience. Many were children from the local elementary school, where he had given a leviwand demonstration earlier in the day. They had dragged their parents to the studio for an encore and another chance to play with his props. He was performing for them, he told me. “The kids still have 60, 70 years ahead of them,” he said. “I’m going to affect them
somehow, and that will change the effect they have on others. It may not even be a conscious change.” He explained this as “the ripple effect.” The Manila native left plenty of ripples during his time at Nes Artist Residency, where he chose to rest after his first six-month contract sailing the Mediterranean with Cirque du Soleil at Sea (a branch of the Montreal-based circus troupe that tours with MSC Cruises). Cirque noticed his innovative use of the leviwand and gave him his own bit in the island-themed show Syma. In the show, he plays a beguiling, clownish character called “The Strange One” who wields a leviwand with a magician’s illusory grace. Like many visitors of artistic bent, Ehrlich found inspiration in Iceland. In a single month at the residency, Ehrlich took and exhibited a photo series called “Magkaugnay,” choreographed three live performances and plugged away at the innumerable other projects that rattle around his active mind. These include a semi-autobiographical fantasy novel and an interactive piece that involved weaving a dream catcher live, then inviting viewers to cut
“Then the music started, and it was as though all the color and warmth that had seeped out of Skagaströnd came to settle in that room.”
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its strings with a provided pair of scissors, à la Marina Abramović’s Rhythm 0. “I guess Iceland was calling me,” Ehrlich said. It called him even in the Philippines, where he danced with the renowned Salinggawi Troupe at the University of Santo Tomas and listened to Icelandic musicians like Sigur Rós and Björk on repeat. He saw something familiar in the sparse Icelandic landscapes that others describe as alien. “It looks like my family’s land in Nueva Ecija,” he said. “There, I have time, space and energy to ponder.” Time, space and energy were what Ehrlich needed after the herculean efforts that landed him at Cirque du Soleil, perhaps the world’s most prestigious circus troupe, after years of bouncing between gigs in Manila and Malaysia. “Cirque du Soleil has been one of my dreams, but that
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doesn’t mean I’m stopping dreaming,” he said. For now, Ehrlich is focusing on helping other young people achieve their dreams. His performances for the children of Skagaströnd are only one ripple in his pool of influence. He also makes popular leviwand video tutorials that are free to view online and teaches circus skills to girls at Cameleon Association Philippines, an organisation that aims to rehabilitate victims of sexual violence. His own immediate ambitions are simple. “I’m coming back to Iceland in the summer, when there’s no snow,” he said. “I’d love to dance outside.
IMAGES FROM EHRLICH’S PROJECT “MAGKAUGNAY,” PRODUCED IN ICELAND
IMAGES FROM EHRLICH’S PROJECT “MAGKAUGNAY,” PRODUCED IN ICELAND
IMAGES FROM EHRLICH’S PROJECT “MAGKAUGNAY,” PRODUCED IN ICELAND
IMAGES FROM EHRLICH’S PROJECT “MAGKAUGNAY,” PRODUCED IN ICELAND
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DECEMBER
2019 FOOD
Your next Filipino feast might be closer than you think. From London and Paris to the Athenian Riviera, creative Filipino entrepreneurs are serving up taste of home to kabayans and curious eaters alike. This winter, warm up with some comforting lutong bahay at one of these 9 highlyrecommended restaurants.
Romulo Cafe & Restaurant London has had a robust community of mom-and-pop Filipino joints for decades, but newcomer Romulo is of a different breed. This jewelbox of a restaurant on fashionable Kensington High Street courts gourmands with fanciful takes on Filipino staples, like halo-halo topped with edible flowers and laing presented as a quivering, molded custard. There’s even a Filipino afternoon tea set that includes bangus finger sandwiches and bite-sized ube cheesecakes.
https://www.lutongpinoyuk.com/ 343 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 6NW, United Kingdom
words by Jennifer Fergesen | Iceland
+44 20 3141 6390
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Neighborhood Filipino Restaurant
Manila
Filipino restaurants in Rome tend to cater to the ponderously large Filipino tour groups that visit the city on religious pilgrimages. Neighborhood is no exception — the modern, whitewashed dining room is often closed for private events — but it’s worth visiting even if you’re a party of one. Sunday brunch is especially popular, with a buffet that might feature anything from goat kaldereta to homemade Pampanga-style longganisa.
Romania’s only Filipino restaurant is located not in Bucharest but in Satu Mare, a provincial town near the Hungarian border that isn’t known for a diverse food scene. Still, as the name insists, the food here is capital-city quality. Locals, most of whom had never tasted Filipino food until Manila came to town, sing the praises of their adobo, mechado and pancit. Don’t miss the homemade kakanin — suman, biko and tibok-tibok — for dessert.
+39 06 323 3563
+40 771 065 135
BoBi
Papa Oro’s Filipino Ricebowls & More
Currently the only Filipino restaurant in France’s capital, BoBi aims to introduce notoriously picky Parisians to the cuisine with stylish decor and a menu that leans light: salmon kinilaw and vegetarian lumpia (fresh or fried) are popular options. To drink, there’s single-origin kapeng barako and daily cocktail specials featuring the fruits and fragrances of the Philippines — plus Red Horse and San Mig, bien sûr.
The quietly luxurious spa town of Baden is the perfect setting for this laid-back spot, which the owners describe as their take on a classic turo-turo. You point to the dishes you want at the counter: the lechon manok, redolent of lemongrass, is a popular choice, as is the Jollibee-inspired “chicken joie.” But most turo-turos don’t hire a DJ to entertain the crowd on summer evenings. There can be few pleasures more quintessentially Euro-Filipino than to sit at one of their
https://www.facebook.com/NeighborhoodRestaurantRome/ Via Germanico, 170a, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
https://www.bobiparis.com/ 17 Rue Oberkampf, 75011 Paris, France bonjour@bobiparis.com
https://www.manilafood.ro/ Strada Nicolae Golescu 1, Satu Mare, Romania
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sidewalk tables on a warm night, stirring a halo-halo and listening to tunes. https://www.papaoros.ch/ Weite G. 29, 5400 Baden, Switzerland hello@papaoros.ch
P-noy Taste of Asia Located on one of the busiest streets in Prague’s tourist core, steps away from the famous Church of Our Lady Victorious, P-noy draws in a steady stream of Filipino visitors to the Czech capital. The takeaway counter offers juices, steamtable dim sum and a daily home-cooked special, such as sisig, sinigang or “Filipino risotto.” You can also pick up all the snacks and staples you need to stock an Asian pantry here. http://www.p-noy.cz/ Karmelitská 380/16, 118 00 Malá Strana, Prague, Czechia +420 773 039 911
Boracay Philippine & Japanese Cuisine It’s common enough to see Filipino chefs behind sushi counters in Europe, but few serve their own cuisine alongside the nigiri and spicy tuna rolls. Boracay is the exception. Chef Nick Stassinopoulos, who has a Filipino mother, a Greek
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2019 FOOD
father and a love of Japanese home cooking, takes pleasure in playing with the flavors of all three cuisines. You can augment your sushi meal with embutido, adobo, caldereta and pancit, plus mango cheesecake for dessert. https://www.boracay.gr/ Leof. Vasileos Pavlou 94, Voula 166 73, Greece +30 21 0968 9500
Michael’s Island Cafe A number of Filipino restaurants have cycled through Moscow since the fall of the Soviet Union — my diplomat cousin remembers one she visited during her tenure there that was “so awful it must have been a front for something.” Michael’s, a kiosk that opened in the revamped Moskvoretsky Market early this year, is getting significantly better reviews. Some of their specialties, including kare kare, tapsilog and sinigang, are painted on a colorful wall mural that also features cameos by Manny Pacquiao and LapuLapu. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Filipino-Restaurant/ Michaels-Island-Cafe-308050336487025/ Bolotnikovskaya Street 12, Moskvoretsky Market, Moscow 117556, Russia +7 909 945-84-84
Mojo Cafe Among the four Filipino-inflected restaurants that former photojournalist Andy Hernandez owns in Lithuania, Mojo Cafe may be the most worth a special journey. It’s the atmosphere that draws people to this relaxed spot in Trakai, a lake resort near the capital: walls lined with books, comfy rattan lounges on the patio, free cello concerts every now and then. The menu takes cues from all of Asia, but Filipino flavors run throughout. https://www.facebook.com/mojocafe Vytauto g. 17, Trakai 21106, Lithuania +370 652 76600
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DECEMBER 2019 ADVOCATES
Leila Rispens-Noel, notable influencer on migration, remittances, development, and microfinance is co-founder of WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong Ltd. (2011), WIMLER Philippines in 2006 and founder of Xabukid Trading, a social enterprise in 2018. She was engaged as Senior Advisor for INAFI International, a network of over 300 microfinance institutions in Latin America, Asia, and Africa until 2012. Leila was Program Manager of Migration and Development at Oxfam Novib in the Netherlands, and member of International Advisory Committee (IAC) of the Civil Society Global Forum for Migration and Development in Manila in 2008, and in Mauritius in 2012. She joined the Steering Committee for the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development, and of the Migrants Advisory Board (MAB) of the EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative ( JMDI). Today, Leila is part of the Follow-Up Committee for the Joint Migration and Development Initiative (Philippines). After 32 years in the Netherlands and four in Hong Kong, Leila and her husband spend most of their time in hometown Bansalan, Davao del Sur Philippines where she continues her advocacy through Wimler Philippines.
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DECEMBER 2019 ADVOCATES
Born and reared in Canlubang, Laguna Philippines, Laarni received rigid leadership training from an early age under Sr. Estrella Castalone, FMA. She studied Bachelor of Science (BS) in Statistics in UP Los Banos and BS Secondary Education in Don Bosco College in Canlubang. Thereafter, she worked as professor in UPHR, taught in Don Bosco Caritas School in Laguna and Assumption College, San Lorenzo Makati before migrating to Italy in 2009. Laarni actively promotes youth formation and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) rights. She co-founded two organizations, the Council on Youth Leadership Development and served as Deputy Secretary of a national association of OFWs in Italy. She is the author of BALIK sa BASiK (Buhay na Anyo ng Sining at Kultura) - a recurring event that instills the love for Filipino culture and heritage. Laarni is mother to four wonderfully independent children and currently residing in Padova, Italy.
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DECEMBER 2019 ADVOCATES
Leobella Balbuena is Leona to family and friends and comes from Bangued, province of Abra, situated in the northern part of Luzon, Philippines. As a child, she found herself interested in music and developed a penchant for singing. One day at school, she responded to Radio DZPA’s talent search for outstanding singing voices. Young and shy but motivated, Leona qualified in the auditions. She pursued her love for singing thereafter and in 1983, met her Swiss husband on a visit to her humble town. Six months later, they flew to Switzerland, took up residence in a quiet neighbourhood and were eventually blessed with 2 beautiful children. Today, Leona is content living with her family in a small Swiss village in Canton St. Gallen where her singing continues. She is part of Wolfertswil community choir and has been publicly recognized for her voice and contribution in the last 20 years.
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DECEMBER 2019 ADVOCATES
Stage talent Myla Arceno, or Petmyla to friends is an Ilongga from Pulupandan, Negros Occidental Philippines, currently based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. She is Managing Director of the Philippine Theatre UK, a diverse theatre group in London and an active member of the Filipino-British Community. On her spare time, she takes on freelance writing for One Philippines Newsmagazine and uses this platform to promote Philippine arts, culture, and traditions through events and travels. Myla is a practising physiotherapist with clinical specialties in Cardiac Rehab, Parkinson’s Disease and general medicine conditions and advocates the importance of physical activities. She was physiotherapist in the London Olympics 2012 and a volunteer Physiotherapist of Westminster Diocese for Lourdes Pilgrimage. Myla is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Riverside College, Bacolod City with full state scholarship. Active in school leadership then as student council president, Myla continues her community leadership to this day.
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pictures by Marthy and Kay Angue
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