ILLUSTRADO Magazine May 2007

The Magazine for the International Filipino

MAY 2007

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Fiesta

& Folklore

Celebrating the Filipino Fiesta Fashion: Alamat Zeus vs Bathala iFX Files Cassie Ventura - The New R&B Princess The Annie B. Chronicles Bahay - Bahayan Bayanihan Design Feature : Kenneth Cobonpue

EDITOR’S NOTE

O f celebrations and taking life with …an easy stride

The merry month of May, once again, gives us an excuse to draw from the wellspring of Filipino cultural delights and curiosities to focus on the annual highlight of small community social life in the Philippines – the fiesta. A testament to our optimistic attitude in life and proof that, come hell or high water, the Pinoy .spirit of resilience and looking forward to the better, will always prevail As a Pinay who grew up in the countryside, vivid memories of colorful fiestas easily come to mind.

Remember all those banderitas hanging in the streets, the Santa Cruzans featuring the town’s prettiest and handsomest young citizens, the ‘amateur singing contest’, balagtasans and nightly programs in the town plaza, as well as the liga ng basketball? Of course, on the day of the feast itself, the streets are alive with the town’s drum and bugle band and the charcoal-skinned ati-atihan dancers shaking in their colorful costumes. And in all the homes, there would be tables upon tables of rich food cooked by the neighborhood ladies, feeding the endless feasting and partying - when each house would welcome you the same way whether you’re a stranger, an old friend, or part of the extended family. Just the very thought of fiesta can fill up your mind’s eye and your stomach – you can almost smell the faint scent of banana leaves …and suman wafting in the air Whatever inconvenience the month of May’s rising temperature and sticky humidity brings back home, is well made up for with the fun, merriment and indulgence that this ritual of joy in our very own provinces bring every year. And quite rightly so, this issue celebrates just that with features on countrywide celebrations in the Philippines – the Fiesta Islands. In addition, we also delve into the ancient curiosities of Filipino folklore bringing to life our own unique mythology in our Arts and Culture feature Zeus v/s Bathala and the Mariang Makiling-inspired fashion feature Alamat. All this is layered on Illustrado’s staple of interesting columns on Filipinisms, people and places, livelihood, as well as our growing community .pages – all for you reading pleasure But this issue is not only about fun and games. As we Filipinos gravitate unavoidably close to Philippine politics with this month’s elections, and come face-to-face with the harsh realities of today, we put a timely addition within our pages. This issue sees the launch of our new column the International Filipino iFX Files. A segment, which puts on the table views, issues and discussions on practically anything - big or small, momentous or mundane, serious or seriously funny, that affects our community. Presented in a light manner meant for broadminded interpretation, made to make you consider. Because Illustrado believes that there’s always a progressive way of tackling even unsavory issues; that there’s always a brighter side to any situation; and certainly, a lesson to be learned from all our downfalls and misjudgments. Being .‘enlightened’ is all about looking for that good angle – So dear Illustrados ,Celebrate, exercise your right, do your duties .and whatever your issues are – take life with an easy stride

Views and issues of the International Filipinos

!Taas Noo, Filipino

Lalaine Chu-Benitez Publisher and Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send your letters to: editor@illustrado.net

PROUD TO BE PINOY

I would like to commend you and the staff of Illustrado Magazine for making us Filipinos proud again. I always buy Illustrado every month and I can see that you guys are getting even better. This month’s issue is my favorite. I bought several copies and distributed it to my foreign colleagues. I’m the only Filipino working in our company and I’m very proud to show them that our country is one of the best tourist destinations.

K. Miranda Dubai, UAE

MESMERIZED NEXT DESTINATION: PHILIPPINE ISLANDS!

Your special feature on Bakasyon Grande was a ‘feel good’ piece for all Pinoys, but at the same time it made us feel guilty (well I know, I did!) for not being able to explore the beauty of our own backyard.

There is so much beauty and destinations our motherland has to offer to its own people and to the world. A lot of times, we take these for granted, although certainly there’s nothing wrong if we want to explore places outside our own - be it the old-world charm of Europe or the ultra-modern skyscrapers of America.

Still, I have promised myself that the next time I am home, I would definitely find time to travel around the country - and I might start somewhere very near. Mmmm, when was the last time I was in Intramuros?? Well, if I can remember correctly, I was still an architectural student in UST - and that was a long time ago!

Cheers!

Dong Dimal Dubai

RETURN TRIP

I actually picked up a copy of Illustrado magazine at the Dubai Airport on my way to Singapore. It was great! I love the artik about our beautiful Philippines.

It made me want to change my return ticket from Muscat to Manila!

I was buying groceries in one of the Filipino supermarkets when I got mesmerized by Illustrado’s April Issue: ‘Beautiful Philippines’. I immediately bought it and read it as soon as I got home. I realized that our country is gifted with natural resources and beautiful tourist spots. Thanks to the lllustrados for you made me appreciate our country more than ever.

Jenny Barredo Dubai, UAE

Ako po ay isa sa mga masusugid na tagasubaybay ng Illustrado Magazine. Natutuwa po ako dahil sa pamamagitan ng inyong lathalain ay nalalaman ng ibang lahi ang angking kagalingan ng mga Pinoy at kagandahan ng ating bansang Pilipinas. Matagal na po akong naninilbihan sa Middle East gusto ko sanang mag-negosyo sa atin ngunit nagdadalawang isip pa rin ako. Nagkaroon ako ng lakas ng loob nung mabasa ko ang Kabuhayan section sa Illustrado. Nakita ko ang magandang nangyari sa ating kabayan na si Roderico.

Kailangan lamang ng lakas ng loob, sipag at tiwala sa Maykapal upang maabot natin ang mga mithiin sa buhay. Mabuhay mga kabayang Illustrado. Taas Noo Filipino!

Al Torralba Abu Dhabi, UAE

MABUHAY!

Congratulations my dear Illustrados on your lucky 7th issue!

I know there are more great stuff to come. Come on let’s bring it on and let’s show them what we’ve got!

Mabuhay ang mga Pilipino!

Antonette Milano Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

KAIBIGAN NI KABAYAN

I’ve been to the Philippines before and I saw how beautiful your country is. I also like your culture and traits - being hospitable and always being happy.

When I saw the Illustrado Magazine, I got amazed with the beaches, resorts, and other vacation spots you have. I didn’t realize that there’s even more places to visit there. It’s good to have this kind of magazine as it helps a lot of people to know another nationality, especially when you are with them everyday.

Shafi Shumiyaktar, Dubai, UAE

MMMMM…SUMMER!

I was fascinated by your April’s Issue Cover. The colors used were very fresh and really depicted summer time. I super like your Fashion Feature the clothes are cool and it looks very comfy. It’s very subtle and you can feel the breeze of summer.

!!!HALLER

Como Esta amigas and amigos! I’m one of Annie B’s fans. Like ko siya promise and I can feel that we have something in common. Haha! Is she real or kathang isip lang? (haha! Joke lang..obvious naman my picture sha noh) I’m so excited to see her na! Well, super nice issue ito - Bongga! Talaga nga namang ‘Beautiful Philippines’.

Natasha Gomez Dubai, UAE

Cathy Muscat, Oman

Sugar & Spice Satwa, Dubai, UAE

TARA NA!

!MORE KUDOS

Last week, a friend of mine who works for Emirates Airline was dishing out copies of your magazine and it really caught my attention, probably because I’m already fed up with most magazines these days; and because it is FILIPINO more than anything else. It was the first time I have seen a decent, intellectual Filipino magazine in this part of the world. Before Illustrado entered, the only Filipino magazines I’ve seen are the chismis-laden ones.

It goes without saying that I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY love this new magazine that you guys have put into circulation. The two issues I have read totally impressed me and I look forward to all the succeeding ones!

LAKAS LOOB FILIPINO!

Great Filipino Magazine! I’m here for a vacation visiting my brother who works with a lot of Filipinos.

I haven’t seen the Philippines yet but when they showed me the magazine it’s like I wanted to go there and explore it. I think it is a great place to visit and has a lot of great people. God Bless Filipinos!

Brenda Smith Dubai, UAE

ISLANDS BEAUTIFUL

HERE’S ANOTHER ONE!

Congratulations to you and your team!

Woohooo! Illustrado’s Bakasyon Grande Espesyal another reason to be proud of being a Filipino. Keep it up!

Kris Lee Abu Dhabi

Sam Pasco Dubai, UAE

I really like Illustrado Magazine. It’s very informative and helpful. It always gives you positive views about us Filipinos and our country, like what we have in the ‘Beautiful Philippines’ issue. Famous Filipinos is also one of my favorite sections as it showcases Filipino talents from all over the world.

Lenny Barrameda Abu Dhabi, UAE

May Publisher & Editor Lalaine Chu-Benitez Associate Editor Elle Crisostomo Art Directors Paula Lorenzo Ron Perez Contributing Writers Philippines Carlito Viriña David Llorito Bernadette Reyes Lisa Cruz Mike Martin Jan La’O David Poarch United Arab Emirates Maripaz Febrero Giselle Estrada Dawn Almario Sonny de Guzman Antonella Andrada Jonie Jose Michael Vincent Serrano United Kingdom, Singapore, Oman Cecile Samson-Aquino Law Diche Cathy Cheng Doña Contributing Photographers Philippines Ben Chan United Arab Emirates Pot Ph Joel Guerrero Contributing Stylist Zekundo Chu Advertising Sales Michael Maguigad Retail Sales Mars Sagario Subscriptions & Admin Frances Therese Macaya Publisher Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2nd Floor, Building 2 P.O. Box 72280 Office 20C Dubai Media City, U.A.E. Tel: + 9714 365 4547 Fax: + 9714 360 4771 email: admin@illustrado.net Website: illustrado.net Printers Delta Printing Press L.L.C. P.O. Box 37140 Dubai, U.A.E. Copyright Illustrado Communications 2007.

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine

CONTENTS Features

Celebrating the Filipino Fiesta 6 The Best of the Philippines: The Fiesta Islands 10 KPO Leads Growth in Philippine Cyber Services Industry 12

Columns

Famous Filipinos 14 Famous Filipinos: Cassandra Ventura 16 iFX Files 32 Kabayanihan: Bahay-Bahayan, Bayanihan 34 Kabuhayan 36 Wish You Were Here 38 Coconuter: Remembering Pinatubo 40 Filipinisms: Pinoy Pamahiin Gone Bad 60 The Annie B.(Batobalani) Chronicles: ‘Pitness Preak’ 61 Community Spotlight 62 Events 64 Usapang Kanto: Naniniwala ka ba sa pamahiin? 67 Hot Releases 68

Fashion

Alamat 18 Anna Bayle: The First Asian Supermodel 28 Fashion Spy: ‘Bling it’ on! 30

Arts & Culture

Zeus v/s Bathala 42 Kenneth Cobonpue - Modern Pinoy Design for Hollywood and the World 46

People & Places

Pinoy Planet: Oh, Canada! 52 Bakasyon Grande: Marinduque 54 Manila Trippin’: Krocodile Grill 56 Face of the Month: Bernhard Bechtold 57 Pinoy About Town: Reinventing ‘Tambay’ in Dubai 59

Bb. Pilipinas 2004 First Runner-up, Tracy Javelona returns to Illustrado as a modern day ‘Mariang Makiling’ in this issues’ Fashion Feature.

CONTRIBUTORS

MARIPAZ FEBRERO

ELLE CRISOSTOMO Illustrado’s Associate Editor is a UP Literature graduate and a UAE advertising veteran. A passionate but non-militant advocate of migrant workers’ rights and the ‘Pay it forward’ principle, Elle is also madly crazy about films, poetry, boxing (?) and yes – dogs!; and dreams of one day finding the space and time to breed a few in Dubai. Seriously?

Maripaz grew up with two passions – art and journalism. She decided to combine both by majoring in Advertising at U.P.’s College of Fine Arts, while enjoying sketching, painting, sculpting and yes, copywriting. Her career spanned years of writing copy for Manila’s most prestigious ad agencies. During the past decade, Maripaz has been associated with leading agencies in Bahrain and Dubai, still writing for world renowned brands. For well-deserved breaks, she turns to one of

LISA CRUZ After fainting at the sight of her blood being drawn, Lisa Cruz decided to shift from pre-med to painting and later discovered photography as a more immediate medium. Lisa thinks her writing is still evolving. But her love of places and people has always been there. She adds: “Henry James once wrote, ‘In the arts, feeling is always meaning.’ And to be able to capture the Philippines in images and words – she hopes to

SHAR MATINGKA In her own words, Shar Matingka says she’s “a contrast between neo-hippie and a goth, minus substance abuse.” She enjoys her first writing gig with Illustrado in this issue, while discovering more about the UAE on a merry bus tour. An interesting fact about her is that she’s dyscalculic – having a learning disability with numbers. Ironically, she first took up BS Nutrition in UP and later shifted to Accountancy. No wonder, she ended up as an events executive for a UK conferencing company, which has little to do with numbers.

IVAN HENARES \Ivan is a young man who is well on his way to exploring the country’s 7,107 islands and more.

His candid and well-written travel journals in his award-winning blog Ivan About Town give his readers a glimpse of Philippine culture. Far from exemplifying the jet-setting lifestyle of the rich and famous, Ivan is a passionate promoter of backpacking as a cheap and reasonable way to travel. Ivan is also a frustrated historian and heritage activist, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Conservation Society - a feisty advocate for the preservation Illustrado 58 of Philippine architectural heritage.

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POT PH “I am a scavenger for beauty and art in mundane everyday things.” That’s how shy photographer extraordinaire Pot Ph modestly describes himself. Freelancer Pot’s impressive works have been featured in prestigious Philippine and international titles. He has to his credit a wide-ranging portfolio, which span commercial, fashion, industrial and food photography. “It’s how you see the beauty in the ordinary which makes the greatest difference.”

ALLEN HIPOLITO MAYOR Allen Hipolito Mayor is a travel freak, poet, writer, artist and photographer. He is the founder of Klub Natur, a pioneering group of environmental and travel photographers in the Philippines. He breeds and exports butterflies, and takes us to colorful Marinduque in this issue’s Bakasyon Grande.

AD

FEATURE

By Lisa Cruz Photography by Geoge Tapan Courtesy of the Philippine Department of Tourism

Through good times and bad times, fiestas will always be part of the Filipino experience.

Pick any day of the week and for sure there is a fiesta being celebrated somewhere in the Philippines. It is considered to be the Filipinos’ ultimate expression of community. It is a time .to rejoice, to welcome, to worship, to give thanks, be merry, no worries and be happy. Now

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FEATURE

Photography by Al Benavente

?Now where did that come from As with most of what we had during the colonial period, the beginnings were Spanish – the word fiesta – means a feast or a festival, or an event celebrated in a community. And yet the concept of fiesta has its roots in our pre-colonial period. Our ancestors believed that the god Bathala , who provides for our daily needs must be appeased with similar offerings of a feast.

Likewise, the Spaniards demanded that their Christian god .deserved to be celebrated and worshipped as well When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, majority of the population were scattered near the rice fields, around and inside the forests. The fiestas turned out to be the perfect bait to lure the population into the settlements, inside the cabecera

villages. The music, the dance, the games, the processions, the plays, all fascinated even the most elusive of the islanders who rarely left their dwellings in the wilderness. Nope, they would not come out for religious classes or community projects. But .for the fiestas, they came in droves Why did they come? Historians surmise that perhaps because it allowed a natural outlet for the Filipinos’ extrovert as well as religious nature – a mix of the pious and the irreverent in his persona. Whatever it was, it didn’t take long for the Filipino to .make the fiesta all his own From January to December Filipino towns and cities celebrate their own fiestas, each coinciding with the best seasons in their areas. There are the seasons of harvest for the cool months and

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FEATURE

of contemplation, fasting and penitence for the hot months.

The coming of the monsoon becomes homage to the rain god who is expected to shower its blessings on the crops. It is significant to note also that there was a time in recent history when a special kind of fiesta changed the political climate and .eventually the leadership of the Philippine government As for those who criticize the Filipino’s fanatic fondness for fiestas as an irrational waste of resources, it is important not to miss out on the reasons for its existence: it is a celebration, it is a reward for something well done, it is a prayer, a hope for something good in bad times and for something bad not to happen in good times. It can lift our spirits far more than it can .bring our resources down

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And that is precisely why the Pinoy will never tire of fiestas.

It is that moment, however fleeting, when what we’ve worked and hoped for is there for us to touch, savor and experience. And so we plan, and save for it, we spare no expense and expect our loved ones to be there to celebrate with us. Like the Overseas Filipino Workers who start planning the contents of their balikbayan boxes as early as January in the hope that by the time they go home for the grandest Filipino fiesta of them all – Christmas - they would have enough pasalubongs for their families. Never mind if they’ve scraped the last of their annual savings for that pair of ‘rubber shoes’ for a son, or a new cellphone for a daughter. There would be another year to save, another .fiesta to look forward to

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FEATURE

:The Best of the Philippines

Fiesta The

Islands

By Ivan Henares Photography by Geoge Tapan Courtesy of the Philippine Department of Tourism

The Philippines is indeed an island of fiestas and merrymaking. Just looking at the calendar of activities all over the country in the Department of Tourism website drives that point clearly. But with so many festivals to choose from, what are the must visit fiestas for first ?timers in the country What follows are some unique Philippine festivals which have withstood the test of time and those that have carved their own niche in Philippine culture. There’s definitely something to see and do every month. And most of them fall in the month of May, the undisputed month of fiestas in the Philippines The Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan is held in honor of the Sto. Niño every third week of January. The festival got its name from the fact that Aklanons and tourists alike imitate the Ati, the local aborigines or Negritos, by wiping soot on their faces. They don colorful ethnic costumes and dance around the streets of Kalibo to the beat of ethnic troubadours. Similar celebrations are held in honor of the Sto. Niño around the Visayas, most notable of which are the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City and the Sinulog Festival .in Cebu the Feast of the Black Nazarene is held in Quiapo, ,9 On January Manila. This intense mammoth procession winds through the streets of Quiapo like a strong wave of faith, with devotees risking .life and limb just to get close to the miraculous image and touch it All eyes are on Baguio City in February for the Panagbenga or Baguio Flower Festival which is held during the last week. The highlight of this festival is the floral float parade. Dozens of themed floats decorated with thousands fresh flowers make their way .around downtown Baguio City in one colorful display of creativity The month of March signals the start of the Turumba in Pakil, Laguna where seven dancing processions called fiestang lupi are held to commemorate the seven sorrows of Our Lady of Turumba. .This starts before the Holy Week and ends in the month of June Depending on what month Good Friday falls in, the Moriones Festival in Marinduqe is also held in the month of March or in April.

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The province becomes the big stage for the story of Longinus, the Roman centurion who was converted due to the death of Christ.

Residents of Boac, Mogpog and Gasan are colorfully garbed and masked as soldiers and centurions. The unique aspect of this festival is the wooden mask called morion. The festival culminates .in the reenactment of the beheading of Longinus There is so much to see in the month of May. Check out the Carabao w This is the time when.15 to 14 Festival in Pulilan, Bulacan on May hundreds of water buffaloes (carabao) are paraded around the .street of Pulilan, followed by colorful floats and farming machines is also a busy day in the province of Quezon. Don’t miss 15 May out the colorful Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, an annual celebration in honor of San Isidro Labrador. The town explodes in immense color as residents decorate their homes with fruits, vegetables and other produce as well as kiping, which are colored rice wafers a.m. to catch the 7 shaped like leaves. It’s best to come before .procession as it winds around the streets of Lucban p.m. 3 In neighboring Tayabas, an all-male procession is held at And there is a reason for that since during the procession, literally thousands of suman or native rice cakes are thrown down from the houses causing a merry mad rush to grab them among procession participants. This is called the hagisan ng suman. This also happens in Sariaya as fruits, vegetables and other décor in front of every house are free for all, once the signal to begin the agawan or grabbing is given. These are also held in honor of San Isdro Labrador, patron saint of farmers, in thanksgiving for the .good harvest the streets in Obando, Bulacan become alive ,19 to 17 From May with the Obando Fertility Rites. Childless couples, in the hope that they would bear children, do a ‘fertility dance’ on the streets of Obando. This fiesta is held in honor of Sta. Clara, San Pascual

FEATURE Baylon and the Nuestra Señora de Salambao, the three patron .saints of Obando June is the month of many water festivals, especially in towns celebrating the feast of San Juan Bautista. Don’t expect to stay dry if you happen to pass by the town of San Juan in Metro Manila on In the village of Bibiclat in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, the Taong .24 June Putik Festival is held on the same day. While in Balayan, Batangas, a grand parade of succulent roasted pigs makes its way around .town in what is called the Parada ng Lechon in the 30 to 28 The Apung Iru Fluvial Procession is held from June town of Apalit, Pampanga in honor of San Pedro. A large centuriesold ivory image of St. Peter is transported along the river on a colorful pagoda accompanied by dozens of boats and thousands of devotees and merrymakers splashing water along the banks of .the Pampanga River A grand fluvial procession is also held in Naga City, Camarines Sur in September. The Peñafrancia Festival is a religious celebration honoring the feast day of Our Lady of Penafrancia the patroness .of the Bicol Region Bacolod City comes alive in October as they hold their biggest annual event, the Masskara Festival which coincides with the celebrations of the city’s Charter Day. Carnivals, fairs and a mardigras style parade of costumed and masked street dancers are .highlights of this celebration Don’t miss the La Naval de Manila held in Quezon City every October. This centuries-old religious celebration held in honor

of the Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario to commemorate The .1646 the naval victory of the Spanish against the Dutch in .celebration is capped by a grand procession In Angono, Rizal every November, colorful larger-than-life papier mache caricatures are the highlight of the Higantes Festival held the image of San ,23 in honor of San Clemente. On November Clemente is accompanied by rowdy revelers and parehadoras, groups of young girls from every barangay, in colorful costumes, wearing wooden slippers (bakya), and each holding a wooden boat paddle (sagwan), marching together and stomping the ground in a uniform beat as they walk around town followed by a marching band, to the banks of the Laguna de Bay for a fluvial procession. And prepare to get doused since Angono gets wet .and wild as the procession makes its way around town In December, there’s no other place to be than in the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, as it becomes the stage for the spectacular Giant Lantern Festival. foot Christmas lanterns with-18 Various villages in the city build light bulbs each. The dynamic interplay of lights 5,000 at least and color that precisely moves with the rhythm of a brass band, the magnitude of size and their intricate designs, and so much more is what spectators get to appreciate as the giant lanterns of San Fernando are pitted against each other on festival night. It’s .usually held on a Saturday a few days before Christmas Eve Indeed, the Philippines is a treasure trove of fiestas and celebrations.

And the possibilities are endless in these fiesta islands. So there’s !no reason why you shouldn’t come back for more

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FEATURE

KPO Leads Growth

In Philippine Cyber Services Industry

By Dave L. Llorito

Analysts say the future of the fast-growing cyber services industry lies on KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing). Well, the future is already here in our midst. And with the planned opening of Integreon Managed Solutions, owned by the Ayala family, in Makati this year, the rush towards KPO is .bound to accelerate in the Philippines

KPO is a complex transaction that“ require judgment,” Alfredo Ayala, chairman of the board of Integreon acquired by the Ayalas in October last year through its BPO investment arm LiveIt Solutions. “In other words, it’s not automatic-just-follow-the-scriptjust-follow-the-formula-just-processthe-transactions. Its functions require more complex thinking and a lot more variability in the outcome. Therefore you really have to train your workers ”.to a higher level of analysis The good example of KPO, Ayala explained, are market research and other forms of research and analytics for good corporations and as well as investment banks. “So you could imagine assisting investment banks with their equity research. Every company here is looking at it differently, so you have to train .people in the thinking (process),” said Ayala Ayala also explains that they are also writing business plans for entrepreneurs in the US. “These are entrepreneurs who will have concepts and basic ideas of a plan, who need help to convert it into a document and present to potentials investors,” he told .Business Mirror We have a team of MBAs who basically do market research“ so that we could communicate what the size of the market, the different segmentation, the growth rate, etc. We also have another person who specializes in the financial projections, and one who writes the executive summary to communicate the .important points,” he explained

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Integreon’s operations are currently concentrated in New York, London, and New Delhi in India. Its operations are largely focused on research and analytics for international investment banks, law firms, and management consulting companies; document process outsourcing which includes content management, digital typesetting, presentation graphics, and word processing for publishers, law firms and investments; and legal process outsourcing, mostly electronic document discovery, contract management, and business administration services for law firms -250 and corporations. It will open a seat office in Makati, with operations .slated to begin this month We’ve hired Erik Tabuena (a former“ president of IBM Solutions), to join us as our country manager .and the global CEO for Integreon,” explains Ayala In an interview with Business Mirror, Raoul Teh, country manager of Thomson (Philippines) Corporation, the KPO arm of Thomson Financials, a global financial services firm, explained that the emergence of knowledge process outsourcing is a natural outgrowth of BPO industry, especially those that are doing back .office operations Thomson Financials started operating in the Philippines in doing back office work for various Thomson companies 1997 based in the US and UK. Over the years, he said, their operations people who were able to 25 and later 10 composed largely of prove their capabilities. So eventually, the firm graduated into .doing high value-added KPO work

FEATURE Back office operations, according to the BPAP (Business Processing Association Philippines) involves various activities including accounting and book keeping, account maintenance, payroll processing, expense and revenue reporting, credit card administration, asset management, tax reporting, warehouse and inventory management, logistics, disaster recovery, among .many others Currently, Thomson here has about a thousand people doing“ work ranging from help-desk support to software development as well as research that requires them to deal directly with corporate customers such as investment banks and managers,” .said Teh We deal with different capital market teams that include bond“ and equity research, loans and project finance. We also have mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures in private equities. We also have private equity research for private companies. The team is actually one of the primers here in Thomson; it was used to be Thomson Asia,” adds Sol Flores, group manager for deals .and private equity of Thomson Philippines

to our employees, so our attrition level is a bit lower than our .competitors,” Ayala explains Good value proposition’ for Ayala means, ‘treating people‘“ well’ like having day-care centers, having a lot of coaching, training, fun activities, nurturing, and continuous performance .feedback,” he said As for Thomson Philippines’ Raoul Teh, the continuing diaspora of skilled professionals poses a real problem and they are putting in measures to address the issue by raising compensations at .market rates and foreign postings for their employees We are putting people in positions around the region,” he“ said. “There are postings that we do outside Manila for suitable

In the last five years, business process outsourcing has been on average, thus boosting demand %50 growing by more than for office spaces and telecommunications services. These trends are among the main factors that lured the Ayala family into BPO .and eventually KPO From the [Ayala] group’s point of view, they got an early look at“ the promise of BPO because Ayala Land and Globe Telecom have been providing the infrastructures, so they saw the growth,” said Freddie Ayala. “This is a very long-term, enlarged trend with telecom costs coming down and ability to communicate with anyone and anywhere in the world with very little cost. Basically, it means that anything that can be done by computers and phones can be done here. So it’s a tremendous amount of work, and they saw it has a long-term potential.” Necessarily, it was easier for the Ayala Group to go into was easy for them to go .into KPO because of his rich experience in the BPO sector Having been involved in helping to build a couple of very“ successful BPO companies like e-Telecare and SPi Technologies, I’ve seen first-hand the opportunities to build companies where we could be very competitive,” he said. “I’ve seen how the call center business can win the biggest customers. I know and I ”.have confidence in the Philippines’ ability to compete globally KPO work requires the hiring of highly skilled people with MBAs in management, engineering, accounting, mathematics, and economics. Competing globally in the KPO markets therefore would mean scrambling for the best and talented, a tricky proposition for local KPO firms who are finding it increasingly hard up to keep local talents, many of whom are being lured by big accounting companies and investment houses for jobs in Singapore, London, New York, the Bahamas, and other global .cities Alfredo Ayala admits that indeed finding the right kind of people with the right kind of skills is the main issue in KPO. But he seems to be undaunted. He explains that the prospects of KPO here are better as the situation in other countries is worse. “You have to look at it in a company by company basis. In Etelecare, we’ve spent tremendously in delivering a good value of propositions

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Famous Filipinos

By Maripaz Febrero

PINAY POWER! Beautiful and talented Filipinas are making waves all over the world – on fashion runways, on stage or in front of cameras. In the competitive world of fashion, music and film, this new breed of Filipinas have what it takes to be celebrities and they’re all making us proud.

Young Supermodel Charo Ronquillo Charo Ronquillo, second runner-up in the Ford Models’ Supermodel of the World Search 2006 is not Fil-Am. The first ever Asian to land in the top 3 of the most prestigious modeling event in the world, Charo is pure Filipino.

Standing at 5’9, the dusky 18-year old from Cabuyao, Laguna is everything her stunning photographs portray.

Charo was discovered shooting hoops at an arcade in her local mall, a good one foot above everyone else. She auditioned and landed in the top 60 of Starstruck Batch 2 before she was eliminated. But the stars remained in her eyes.

In 2005, Charo trained herself to join the Philippine Ford Supermodel Search, where she won practically every award—including the grand prize: to represent the Philippines in the Ford Models’ Supermodel of the World competition in New York.

Charo and the finalists from Singapore and India were the only Asians in the whole competition. But it was the graceful stunner from the Philippines who sashayed home with a hundred thousand dollar modeling contract from the world’s most prestigious fashion agency.

In New York, Charo is already dubbed the ‘Asian Kate Moss’ and hopefully, success will come with humility for this beautiful, 100 percent Pinay!

Illustrado 14

FAMOUS FILIPINOS

Valerie Celis,

Anna Bayle’s successor on Paris, New York and Milan catwalks!

From unknown girl next door in the Philippines to Asian supermodel status in just a few years, Valerie is the current face of Calvin Klein’s CK One perfume. Valerie has appeared in countless covers and shows in both sides of the Atlantic. Very Filipina in looks, the 5’8” model has the stunning ethnic mystique that makes her stand out in an industry partial to fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes.

Rachel Grant,

Pinay “Bond Girl” Born Rachel Grant De Longueuil in the Philippines to Isabel Padua and Dr. Michael Grant De Longueuil - the current Baron De Longueuil. He is of English-Scottish, French-Canadian descent. Her paternal grandfather is the late Baron de Longueuil, a professional artist from the South of France. His mother was Lady Ernestine Maud Bowes-Lyon, the first cousin to the Queen Mother. Rachel, then, is the fourth cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Rachel played opposite gorgeous Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond film ‘Die Another Day’ as the Bond girl ‘Peaceful Fountains of Desire’ – Bond’s deadly would-be assassin posing as a masseuse in his Hong Kong hotel suite.

In the film ‘Tomb Raider’, Rachel had the distinction of being a body double (wow!) for sexy Angelina Jolie. What a great job and how flattering considering Jolie’s famous proportions!

She was ‘Li’ head of a gang in the martial arts film ‘The Purifiers’, opposite Kevin Mckidd (‘Trainspotting’) and Dominic Monaghan (‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘Lost’). She also stunned audiences in the French film ‘Double Zero’.

On British TV, she was in ‘Emmerdale’, ‘Masters of Combat’, ITV1’s ‘Blue Murder’ (Brit version of ‘Desperate Housewives’), BBC1’s “Casualty” (as student doctor “Marie Webster”), Channel 4’s superhero comic series “Zero to Hero” (she played the masked villainess ‘Nemesis’), ‘Murder in Suburbia’, ‘Brainiac’ and was a warrior princess in sci-fi comedy ‘Starhyke’, among others.

An accomplished stunner, Rachel has been a crowned beauty several times over – ‘Miss Philippines’, ‘Miss Hawaiian Tropic’, and ‘Miss United Kingdom’ (2nd runner-up) - having represented both the UK and the Philippines in various pageants.

Rachel now lives in Los Angeles but has kept her place in North London and Nottingham in the UK. She visits Manila once in a while, when time permits, and touches base with her family in Moonwalk, Paranaque.

Iba talaga ang Pinay! We can’t say enough about our morena sisters who put themselves out there to live their dreams. It’s amazing how high they have soared! They truly deserve to be recognized in this issue for having the remarkable ideals of Pinay beauty, grace, charm, intelligence and Illustrado 15

FAMOUS FILIPINOS

Cassandra Ventura: The New R&B Princess

Multi-talented Fil-American makes it big in the US music scene with her hit single ‘Me & U’

a performing arts program so Cassie took some modern ballet while naturally veering towards more urban styles like jazz and hip-hop.

A music career is born Determined to make her dreams come true, Cassie announced that she was going to seriously pursue a career in modeling and music after completing high school in 2004. Of course, it meant she would not go to college. A difficult decision for her parents to accept, but being artists themselves, they appreciated her determination to pursue her dreams.

Cassandra Ventura was born to a Filipino father and an African American/West Indian/Mexican mother in New London, Connecticut where she attended The Williams School, a preppy school on the Connecticut College campus.

Cassie and her brother grew up with music. Her father plays the trumpet, her mom is a pianist, and it was with their encouragement that Cassie started singing. But her parents never forced her into it. “My parents’ philosophy is to do what makes you happy, pursue what you love. They never pushed me, but my mom would always ask if this is really what I wanted to do; and if I was happy and satisfied with my work. And my answer would always be ‘yes’,” she says.

Starting early Cassie began modeling at a young age of 14, appearing in ads for Delia’s and Adidas. Cassie was chosen by Missy Elliot to be the face of her Adidas Respect M.E. clothing line, Abercrombie & Fitch and Seventeen Magazine. At the same time, she started taking singing and dancing classes. Fortunately, her school had

Illustrado 16

While modeling for Abercrombie & Fitch in New York, Cassie took classes at the Broadway Dance Center. It was at this time in her young life that she started making the connections that would launch her music career.

In late 2004, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs’ make-up artist, who had worked with Cassie on one of her modeling stints, paved the way for Cassie to meet some very important names in the music scene. She was introduced to record producer Ryan Leslie who spotted Cassie at clubs and parties and was charmed by her sparkling personality.

Birthday gift for Mom It was shortly after that fateful introduction that Cassie recorded her first ‘demo’.

She approached Ryan Leslie for help on an idea for her Mom’s birthday. Leslie wrote a duet for her called Kiss Me and the song became Cassie’s gift to her Mom and her entry into the world of professional music.

Leslie played the track for Tommy Mottola, who was so impressed that he offered Cassie a management deal. Tommy Mottola is the former chairman of Sony, and

FAMOUS FILIPINOS

the record mogul behind the careers of Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and most notably, Mariah Carey. Cassie then signed up with Leslie’s Next Selection label, which led to her first single Me & U in 2005.

Me & U – a massive hit!

When Me & U was released, it was an instant massive hit in the US. Cassie’s first single took the charts by storm, zooming up to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 on the Billboard Pop 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.

In the months that followed, Cassie was invited to go on a promo tour in Germany to promote Me & U. When you’re a smash hit, the best form of flattery is getting ‘leaked’ onto the internet and pretty soon, the whole world knows about you. In May 2006, shortly after the single’s release on the iTunes music service, Me & U rose and peaked at the #3 position on the Top 100 Downloaded Singles Chart.

Nationwide attention came from radio stations across the US, ranking it #26 on the Rhythmic Top 40 Chart and debuted at #49 on the Pop 100 Airplay Chart.

“Everything has been beyond my wildest expectations. I feel very lucky. I’m really happy that my music is affecting so many people,” chirped our R&B Princess.

These were the first steps on her pathway to becoming an international celebrity, performing for thousands of fans, signing her first autographs, and taking pictures with DJs that fell in love with her sweet attitude and girl-next-door personality.

In March 2006, Cassie signed up with P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records to produce her debut album. Diddy was one of the first to believe in her talent. One of the remarkable things about Cassie’s breakthrough is that nearly all of her promotion has been done online. Over three million people have tuned into her page to hear her music and see her first video clip of Me & U. Now Cassie is one of the most successful newcomers in the music world.

FASHION Text: Lalaine Chu-Benitez Photography: Pot Ph Model: Tracy Javelona Styling: Zekundo Hair and Make-Up: Basil Accessories proudly ‘Made in the Philippines’ from Le Chateau, Al Ghurair Centre, Dubai and PJ Arañador of Boracay, Panay Clothes from Lucky Brand Jeans, Mall of the Emirates

Alamat

Deep in the rocky mountains, where the craggy cliffs cast a looming shadow on the mossy water-filled recesses below; and the deafening sound of solitude echoes in the still air, lies the legend of a maiden who has drawn strangers into her engulfing mystery – never to come back again….

Is it her haunting eyes, her alluring smile? Or is it her magic beads that cast a hypnotic spell that is impossible to resist?

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FASHION

FASHION Ivory wooden beads with capiz shells from Le Chateau white tank top and Classic Rider jeans from Lucky Brand Jeans

FASHION

FASHION

Cocoa colored round beads teamed with maroon wooden bangles and brown hoops from Le Chateau; cool gray tube top (model’s own) with Lola straight leg gray jeans from Lucky Brand Jeans

FASHION

Mauve ‘seaweed’ necklace and earrings made of hand-twisted copper wire and glass beads by PJ Arañador of Boracay; chocolate brown tube top (model’s own).

FASHION

FASHION

Multi-colored tubular wooden beads with matching bangles from Le Chateau; white tank top with new army Safeguard Bermuda shorts from Lucky Brand Jeans

FASHION Brown pipe wooden beads with matching bangles and earrings; tie-dye tank with Lil’ Maggie jeans from Lucky Brand Jeans

SUBSCRIPTION

FEATURE

ANNA BAYLE

The First Asian Supermodel

By Maripaz Febrero

The models of Asian descent who have risen to stardom in the international fashion scene can hardly be counted on one hand. Until Anna Bayle, the 1980s with fashion legendary Filipina who shared supermodel status in the .icons like Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista Anna is often called the ‘first Asian supermodel’, and may well have .been the first consistent Asian face in fashion magazine editorials 80s’, Anna Bayle became one of Europe’s Touted as the ‘Model of the top ten models in only two years. She became muse to important designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Chanel, Gianni .Versace and Givenchy, among other big names in fashion They were all blonde when I first came,” was how Anna described her“ when Caucasian models were 1979 debut on the European catwalk in so in demand. Eventually, Paris became more and more enamoured by ‘exotic’ Asians and Africans and the name ‘Anna Bayle’ was firmly .established in European haute couture Anna then flew back to New York. “I went to an agency, but was told to come back, until the manager saw me leaving. He shouted at the assistant: “Are you out of your mind? You’re sending away the ”!biggest model in Europe The New York fashion industry decided that Anna was no ordinary model. Out of the ‘Big Five’ shows in New York, she would get four in a season, nine shows a day, while most pros would have one at .the most

Who would have known that this Philippine Science High School ?scholar and UP Diliman Pre-med student would literally go so far I was part of a basketball team. My teammates convinced me to join“ the Miss Republic of the Philippines, when we saw the pageant ad I wasn’t even prepared,” Anna says. Although she didn’t get .1975 in the title, she did get the attention of prominent fashion designers like Auggie Cordero. “He was most supportive and trained me from when ”.Auggie taught me all about fashion .16 I was only After the pageant, Anna moved to Hong Kong where she got an all-important break when a model had an accident. Anna was asked to replace Billie Blair, a ‘star’ import model at the Hong Kong Trade Fashion Show. Fortunately for Anna, she knew how to walk. The next day, the Hong Kong Standard’s headline celebrated Anna as: “The Filipina Who Saved the Show.” It was the one thing Anna Bayle needed to break .into the international fashion scene From Manila to Hong Kong, New York and eventually, Paris and Milan, the ‘first Asian supermodel’ was able to break into a world dominated by fair skinned Americans and Europeans. With a signature ‘walk’ that has been described now as legendary, she became a classic in a league of her .own

Producers paid for a whole day’s work just to get her in a show. “So I was always running. I’d be in and out of cars. If the traffic’s too heavy, I’d go with the girls and ”.ride the train What’s more, she graced the catwalks when 1994 for a long time. It was only in Pictures from Anabaylewalk.com

Illustrado 28

the Filipino supermodel decided to retire from her seemingly endless runway career. “Asians don’t age like the Caucasians do. I was even ”!34 called a ‘miracle,’ still doing shows at

Now retired, Anna still makes heads turn, frame, long silky black hair 10’5 given her that’s now wavy, and her sultry complexion.

FEATURE

Picture from Anabaylewalk.com

that’s now wavy, and her sultry complexion. The former runway star is raising her son, Callum, in New York. “I love this city. When you walk languages. You’ll realize how 15 along the streets, you could hear much knowledge you gained, through people you’ve bumped into.

It is a melting pot of so many cultures, so many things to see—film, music, opera, and the arts. Everything I need for Callum is in New ”.York Anna also launched her own ‘Anna Bayle Lipstick’ line in New York, going from Barney’s to online selling and caters to Asian women. She believes that it is the time of Asians. That is why she plans to put up an agency and school for Asian models. “I would like to help them ”.succeed

There are a lot of beautiful Filipinas. It’s a matter of training, and a“ lot of fortitude. I was shaped by wise people, like Ruben Nazareth and Petusa Lopez, Filipino makeup artists in Europe who changed Philippine fashion. I listened to them, because I was willing to learn.

Now it’s my turn to teach new girls how to shine in the real global ”.fashion scene If I was able to ‘baby sit’ younger models like Tyra Banks and Naomi“ Campbell, then I can surely help any girl from the Philippines. It would ”.be like having a new child

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FASHION SPY

‘Bling’ it on!

by Michael Vincent Serrano

It was just one of those ‘fashion disasters’ waiting to happen. I stepped into the office that morning actually pleased with how I was dressed; after all, it took me a mere half an hour to compose my outfit for the day.

It turns out that my colleague ‘Mr. R.’ just happens to share my taste in snug dark purple cashmere pullovers and skinny dark jeans. And why we decided to wear it .on the same day will remain a mystery forever I blame Zara, Mango, Massimo Dutti and the like, sprouting up stores at every major city. These Spanish labels are set to conquer years of Spanish rule enough that they had 300 the world. Wasn’t to invade our poor closets too? A lot of us take a great deal of time dressing up in the morning, planning our looks carefully like preparing ourselves for battle. Then without warning, when some ilustrada in her goody Choo shoes walks past you wearing the exact same dress you’re wearing, don’t you feel like you’ve just been ‘punk’d’? Now that’s enough to drive the fashionable you to neurosis, but thankfully fashion-anti-depressants have been .invented in the form of accessories Last thing on, first thing noticed,” quotes Carson Kressley of Queer“ .Guy for the Straight Guy fame Your choice of accessories, may it be big or small, says a whole lot about your personality. It crowns our glorious ensemble even though they go on last every time we dress up. Careful selection and adequate amount of accessories are all we need to differentiate or ‘mask’ our basic everyday clothes. It adds exponentially to the chic factor we all coolly strive for. I suggest that each of us should have our own unique trademark accessory, something people would notice that is unmistakably you. As a form of self-declaration, it doesn’t have to be branded nor expensive but something you truly like and carry in confidence. A scarf somehow blended in to your outfit, a platinum monogram necklace, your signature colorful ties, or even a collection of tortoiseshell accessories such as headbands, bangles, and eyewear. Remember, it takes a lot more confidence for someone to strut their stuff without any form of ‘blingage’, while it’s effortless to pull off that coolness factor when .you sport accessories that you are known for .Think Erap = wristband. Think Ate Vi = handkerchief I take my It bag everywhere I go. It’s a full month’s rent but worth“ .every square inch,” claims Miss C, an advertising executive You may have heard this all too familiar phrase much too many times, and realizing for yourself that yes, our accessories account of our wardrobe’s worth. Accessories shopping can be %70 for quite addictive, but without them the world we live in could very well be Ethan Hawke’s Gattaca. Foremost accessories were bags, shoes, belts and jewelry. Now, as if to keep us spending, the category has grown to include ‘blingifying’ all manner of cellular and wireless devices, or anything electronic for that matter, i.e. iPods, mobile phones and laptops. What’s that hanging from your Mototola KRZR? Has your iPod morphed into an exotic-skinned

Illustrado 30

From classic, to grungy and ethnic ‘bling’...express yourself!’ animal? Notice that even those male yuppies or metrosexuals have some ‘bling’ attached to their man bags or ‘murses’, from .propaganda button pins to robot-shaped key chains There are a lot of things to talk about when it comes to accessories—the do’s and don’ts, what’s in and what’s not—and all that we will continue to discuss as we go along our fashion education. This is aimed to stimulate your curiosity and make you identify with accessories, recognizing that your personality is .uniquely expressed through your choice of embelishments As Filipinos, we DO know how to accessorize—just picture our venerable jeepney. We have been ‘blingifying’ long before ?MTV’s Pimp My Ride haven’t we As for my unfashionable office encounter with my colleague Mr. R, :it went somewhat like this .M you look so chic, who are you wearing?” asked Mr. R“ .Um, same as who did yours,” I said coyly“ Hmmm…ah yes, sorry I didn’t realize…it looks different on…“ ”…you ”.You really didn’t notice? I blame it on the accessories“ A deep red cowboy-knot scarf, green faux alligator belt, and coffee .calf leather lace-ups. Enough said

Views and issues of the International Filipinos

By Elle Crisostomo

Blood, sweat and taxes, at saka Famas atbp.

The international OFW community is awash with rage on a recent article published in the about )2007 ,11 Philippine Daily Inquirer (April a proposed study by a group of graduate students on taxing OFW income remittances.

The issue is sooo furiously hot that Pinoy blog .sites across the net are bursting at the seams Now, this is just a proposal by a non-political group, and a very small one at that. But one can almost feel the lightning fury and frustration traveling across oceans just to smack the daylights out of these poor students back home. Imagine if this ‘bright’ idea was proposed by a politician, or by GMA herself. Mmmm. Now this leads us to some encouraging thoughts. You see, the authors of this study came up with it because…I don’t know really…let’s see…for want of pain, ?perhaps Seriously, while the newspaper released it in the name of press freedom, there was a concern that our political environment is allowing such volatile debate to flourish to gauge public opinion, especially during election season. But even if the temptation to tax migrant workers turns into a freaking nightmare and strips some public officials of their sleep, health, fortune, ‘pork barrels’ (ooops!), and all that they hold dear during their terms – it is unlikely that there’d be a majority support to a taxation measure of such proportion, let alone the recklessness to be remotely linked with it. Even respected nationalist senators like Pimentel and Recto, wasted no time in making the public know of .their strong opposition to it But before we move on with our normal lives and call off our anger management classes, .let’s explore WHY

Illustrado 60

It is a very, very unpopular idea. It cuts deep in • the heart of Juan dela Cruz, of decency and fair play…and appeals to the passionately rightsconscious Filipinos. If there’s anything history has taught us consistently is that popularity is the lifeblood of an idea. One in every three Filipinos/institutions now depends largely on .OFW income. Imagine the scale Does our country need another revolution, • one as authentic as a ‘peasant style’ revolution?

You see, we’ve had several EDSA revs, each claiming to be real…but a revolution rising from an empowered and embittered, sweat.drenched labor class would be a real clincher Taxing of income earned outside country of • domain is not an internationally- practiced norm. Ask your fellow expats in your workplace, especially British and Indian colleagues about their (overseas) income tax obligations.

Because the basic principle is simple: you pay where you work and live; largely due to the fact that its government system provides for your work and living conditions, benefits and opportunities. Not the one you left for lack of .it. Period There’s more actually, but I shall leave the rest .to your vigilant parallel reading and analysis Finally, even if the idea of taxing OFWs gains momentum, through the perceived benefits of such a measure (which I encourage you to google by the way for balanced reading), our beleaguered country will be scarred forever by the hurtful divide that would come out from betraying the interests of its long-suffering .migrant workers’ communities

.…And the winner is We’re just days away from another expensive election. I hope many of you have already voted. Although by the time Illustrado hits the stands, the counting would have started.

Or chances are our already celebrity-studded congress would be at the verge of welcoming yet another set of new showbiz figures, or .even a boxing icon The reality that our election is slowly being reduced to a Famas/Oscar Awards ‘kind-ofvoting’ is a disturbing political phenomenon in itself. Not that it has never happened in other countries in Europe or the US. But it seems that the Philippines has become more vulnerable to it, with the recurring pattern moving in a much quicker pace. This is not about the perceived higher credibility or lack of expertise on the part of a showbiz/pop culture candidate.

Because the beguiled advantage celebrities have through popular media can also cut like .a two-edged sword So next time you decide on a candidate, never trust your media instincts. Go back to your own, to what you truly believe in, and make an informed decision; knowing fully well that no matter what, you would have exercised your .sacred right to vote

!Say no to plastic

.provide for our families back home

document kind-of-application that took weeks 12-10 It used to be a years ago. Now credit 10 to process. But that was like more than card salesmen in the UAE don’t care how many you’ve got, they just shove them to you like those pasalubongs sold in bus stations !sa probinsya. With a credit limit na mainit-init pa

Lourdes Igmidio Bakit kaya hindi na lang nila pag-isipan kung paano sila makakatulong na sugpuin ang graft and corruption sa ating bansa? Ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit naghihirap ang ating bansa .ay ang MATINDING graft and corruption

With ease of access, comes abuse. So we see a number of our kababayans on a relentless path to bankruptcy - acquiring new cards to top-up dried ones. And when credit addiction turns into a bottomless pit, they find themselves haunted in their sleep by debt collectors; fending off bounced cheques; or worse, contemplating on running away from it all…sometimes even from a family torn apart .by debt burdens

Kung ang BIR ay magiging straight forward sa pangongolekta ng buwis mula sa pinakamaliit na taxpayer hanggang sa top grosser sa ating bansa at ang malilikom na buwis ay PAPASOK LAHAT sa kaban ng bayan, sa palagay ko ay MULING AANGAT sa katanyagan ang ating .inang bayan

Although credit abuse crosses all nationalities, as Pinoys, it is generally in our eager nature to over-accommodate utangs, pakisuyo, pasalubongs, pabili, regalo, etc from our kamag-anaks, in the process endangering our financial standing, and eventually our well.being. Is that worth all the trouble? Naaaaah !So just say NO .words 929 – Ends

COMMUNITY VOICE

Kababayans react to the controversial OFW income taxation study.

The persons who wrote this study have forgotten that it is ONLY the OFW remittances that have lifted the economy of the country.

To tax the remittances of people who have worked very hard just to be able to feed their .family back home is a criminal act Why don’t they improve the efficiency of taxation in the Philippines and arrest the tax evaders? This is more than enough to uplift .the country The solution to the problem of migration is not to tax remittances but to improve the economy of the country so there is job opportunity for everybody. One way to do this is to erase corruption. Additional taxation is, .again, a potential source of corruption Saul Pleta A big reason why Filipinos are disappointed when hearing anything about increase in taxes is that we do not see where our taxes go. A lot of Filipinos migrate to Canada even if their taxes are high because they can feel how the government utilizes their taxes especially in education. In our country all we hear is how our lawmakers spend billions in ‘pork barrel’ on projects, which are misused or are sub.standard

When they say they want to tax the income of OFWs they should also address the benefit that OFWs will get with this additional tax levied on us. Unfortunately, they would not be able to convince the OFW community that taxing them will give them some benefit. They .definitely will not convince me .Rolando M. Gutierrez Jr It’s like slowly killing the national heroes who contribute largely to the economy of Philippines. What they should think about is how to cut back on the lavish things that they do or better yet, think of what they can contribute to society to minimise, if not .diminish poverty in the nation Melanie Ortiz They should have dwelt on tax collection“ efficiency and totally separate OFWs as a factor ”.affecting Philippine government taxes

I myself am not in favor of taxing OFWs now, BUT I am willing to pay tax if and only the government will eliminate red tape, graft and corruption in our country AND improve basic services like medical care, education and .infrastructure As the saying goes “NO TAXATION WITHOUT !”REPRESENTATION Reg P. Cucal It makes me feel sad that the so-called “intellectuals” would go this far (or bend this low). It makes me feel extra sad for those lesser fortunate OFWs who earn barely enough to make ends meet for their families back home. I am really hoping and praying that this will not become a reality as it will definitely become a nightmare for all the bagong bayanis around the world. Filipino expats have contributed so much not only to the Philippine economy but have made the country proud, as Pinoys, anywhere in the world, are considered one of the best in any field. We are known to give our .all in any circumstances, be it good or bad Dong Dimal

Angela R. Bautista In my humble opinion, that was only a study by college students and NOT by the SENATE or CONGRESS. It is not a big issue to discuss at this moment to waste our time. What is important .now is to exercise our RIGHT to vote

These idealistic students, for sure, would come to realize one day how much they would also want to work abroad and earn money for their .loved ones Alexis Bautista

Milo Torres years, 17 I’ve been working in Dubai for the past paying my yearly taxes until it was waived for all OFWs (thanks to the support of the present government). Although I believe that it is an individual’s duty to share a small percentage of what is earned for the progress of the country, it is unpleasant to hear that the poor economic situation is being blamed on the one’s leaving .the country to look for greener pastures Most of the Filipinos back home think that working abroad is easy. They don’t realize the tremendous sacrifice; the challenges and hardships we have to go through just to

Nagtitiis nga kami sa maliit na room dito, just to have something to send to our families. Tapos ito mababawasan pa. Siguro nabuhay sila with a golden spoon since childhood. Pero paano naman kaming OFW na nagpapakahirap just to have even a small portion of what they have? How disgusting! Sana maranasan .nilang maging OFW Cristy Rey

Tributes to the Filipino Spirit KABAYANIHAN

Bahay-bahayan

bayanihan

by Aby Yap

As children, we were taught how the early Filipinos practiced bayanihan when families move their houses from one place to another. Inside the pages of our school books, we would always find a picture of a bahay kubo being carried on the shoulders of our male kababayans. The ladies, on the other hand, prepared food and refreshments for those who took part in this activity. These folks were not necessarily relatives or friends. They were just neighbors who helped one another in the Pinoy spirit of community camaraderie.

In the UAE, minus the bahay kubo, and inspite of the modern and busy lifestyle, bayanihan is still very much alive; and you will find it in the most unexpected of places and in the most inopportune of times.

People back home, who often envision the posh life that Dubai represents, might not understand, but a lot of struggling Filipinos are living without creature comforts in cramped flats all over the emirates. Because of the skyrocketing cost of living, a considerable number of our kababayans these days make do in air-conditioned flats just about the size of a living room in an above-average home in Manila. This little living space is usually divided into as many partitions as the landlady would want to accommodate, and with as many double-deck beds that can be squeezed in such a small area. Partitions could mean plywood, curtains or blankets to separate each section. And if you were ‘lucky’ you would simply have to draw an imaginary square to mark your territory. To top it all, each bed-spacer pays monthly fees ranging from AED500-600, the price of a spacious two-bedroom apartment in Manila.

So how many people does this room usually hold? They say there is a limit of up to eight people but as some Pinoys believe, “kung makakalusot, lulusot.” In our case, we are 12 individuals sharing a room in a villa. We used to have four mini-rooms with wallpapered plywood partition, but had to tear everything down as the landlord asked us to do that or move out. Villa rooms are supposed to house immediate family members only. Those lucky flat residents have more freedom in this aspect. So instead of moving to another house, which should be affordable and would house a dozen, a rarity in the midst of Dubai’s numerous luxurious residential towers, we opted to stick together and just bear it despite aesthetic, comfort and privacy issues.

And in true Pinoy spirit, we doused these discomforts with unrivalled sense of humor, an uncanny ability in finding the funny side of the most depressing of situations.

When we first heard the villa owner’s ultimatum, everyone was in a confused state of shock, denial, anger, hysteria – the way telenovela people would

react. Our work froze the next day and we searched frantically for available space. We would call each other to compare the prices. At the end of the day as we reached home, we would plan, discuss and just burst out laughing at our insanity for thinking of building a tent on the sandy lot nearby. When we removed the partitions, each one had to play his/her assigned role: one as the ‘civil engineer’ since she works in a construction company; the lone male housemate was the foreman; his sister the consultant; the others served as refreshments manager and cleaner; while the rest of us stood as a laughing audience who gave the much needed moral support.

Everything was in complete disorder. The partitions were quite heavy and doing the entire activity was such a rest day ‘spoiler’ but our high-spirited teamwork, endless laughter and continuous exchange of witty lines made it more like play than work. By the end of a tiring day, we have accomplished what we had set ourselves to do. But if you imagine our place as a dormitory, I’d rather describe it as a public hospital. We have a reception area, an ER, an x-ray room and the usual ward…superficial sections that exist only in our minds…to buffer the impact of harsher realities. Our housemates from Visayas and Mindanao had a blunter but fitting description: a ship’s economy class section.

How we cope in such a state is beyond me; but as they say, there’s order even in chaos. Even though we have long forgotten the concept of personal space, we have come to appreciate the essence and value of community camaraderie, despite our different social backgrounds and individual personalities. We recognize each other’s snore, share the food on the table, do household chores together, support housemates who are still on visit visa, cure each other’s homesickness even for just awhile. We strengthen one another’s belief that the Filipino’s spirit of bayanihan is intrinsic in who we are and would never die wherever we may be.

Al Naddaf

Tourism & Cargo

Garantisadong mabilis na serbisyo sa presyong abot-kaya Special Kabayan Services: • Visit visa and visa change processing to Kish, Qeshm and Oman • Regional and international flight bookings and ticket issuance • Reservations to hotels and resorts worldwide • Travel and tour packages to any destination • Dubai desert safari, sightseeing, city tours and dinner cruises

Kabayan, dito na tayo sa sigurado!

Al Naddaf is under Filipino management and has an accommodating all-Filipino staff to serve you.

Dubai Shopping Centre, Shop # 15, Deira, 1st Flr., Tel: 04-2950323 • Al Attar Karama Centre Shop # 89-90, Tel: 04-3347851

KABUHAYAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Money, Assets and Investing

Entrepreneurs Cash-In on

Internet c@fes

by Bernadette Reyes

And while business of this kind is likely to thrive near schools, Internet cafés or computer shops which allow gaming are required to observe meter distance from schools and other-100 a places of learning, except if the location is enclosed or in a shopping center, to prevent .students from skipping classes Business Guide While computer shops are sprouting like mushrooms whether in the city or countryside, it is useful to learn from computer shop owners .who either made it big or lost in the business To ensure a decent income, one should have a place with low monthly rental, low utility costs, and lots of computers. It also pays to be friendly with the customers, so group competitions .really boost the cash flow

Personal computers have found their way to the homes of many Filipinos. But with a unit most people ,costing an average of PHP20,000 in the Philippines still prefer to frequent computer shops to avail of the technology - and many business owners have taken .advantage of this demand According to Computer Industry Almanac, of the Philippine %9 million or about 8 nearly population are Internet users as of March A separate report released by the IDC .2005 (International Data Corporation), said that Internet usage in the country is likely to million 21.5 annually and reach %23 increase Online gamers also contribute to the .2008 by increasing numbers of computer usage with 6.3 this segment alone, projected to reach .IDC said ,2008 million by Successful entrepreneurs With the projected increase in demand, more and more people are joining the bandwagon of setting up computer or Internet shops, hoping to have a share of the pie. Cristina Palma, an ex- OFW, together with her husband, is one of them. Cristina left her work in Japan to put up Wish.Com, an Internet café in Baranggay Bunlo, Bocaue in Bulacan. She found it easy to put up the business because not only did she have the capital, she also has the required knowledge and experience having owned a similar business in 10 Back then, she had a shop with only .2003 47 computer units. Today, she owns a total of units all working in top condition. Experience taught her that the more computers she has the .greater income she will get To further boost income, she converted the free space inside the shop into a snack bar and added a billiards table to match. The snack bar required her to shell out only a small capital but she was surprised it generated high return on her investment. Combining income from PC rentals and supplementary businesses Wish.Com nets a month. “Don’t just depend on PHP50,000 computer rentals for income generation. Try adding other products and services. When you

Illustrado 36

put it all together, you’ll be surprised at how much additional income you will get,” Cristina .advised For the Philippines’ largest Internet café chain branches nationwide as 190 Netopia with over size is testament to its success. ,2006 of August Netopia Vice President for Franchisee and Business Development Patrick Ricafort said the company has a proven formula tested over time, which allows the company to eliminate all possible factors that could hinder progress. A privilege it extends to its franchisees. “Anybody can put up their own Internet shop. But we can minimize all possible risks and errors that could lead to a good performing branch. Beginning from site selection, Netopia is already there,” Ricafort explained. He added the company is able to extend ‘economies of scale’ to its franchisees by obtaining hardware and softwares at cheaper prices. Depending on several of factors such as the number of computer units, franchise million packages cost somewhere around P1.8 .million to P2.6 But even an established company such as Netopia does not depend on PC rentals alone for income. While the standard ‘mom and pop’ usually rely on gaming to drive income, bulk of Netopia’s business comes from Internet usage and while collateral revenue comes from document printing, scanning, photo printing, as well as CD burning, and sales of computer supplies.

Netopia eyes further growth and 2008 branches nationwide by 500 hopes to have .along with regional expansion in Southeast Asia Rules of engagement While putting up an Internet café seems as easy as owning several computer units, certain requisites should be met. Internet café owners are required to have their operating system and other software licensed at the price of around per unit in compliance to PHP8,000 PHP7,000 with the intellectual property laws. Use of unlicensed software is sanctioned under the anti-piracy law and failure to comply could result .in penalty or closing of shops

With the introduction of MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) such as Ragnarok, Tantra and Warcraft to name a few, it also pays to have fast Internet connectivity through DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) to ensure .retention of customers Business perks Under the BMBEs (Barangay Micro Business businesses or micro- 2002 Enterprises) Act of million enterprises with capitalization of PHP3 and below are entitled to income tax exemptions and other incentives such as exemption from the Minimum Wage Law, priority to a special credit window for the financing requirement of BMBEs, technology transfer, production and management training, marketing assistance .programs for BMBE beneficiaries As a further incentive to smaller businesses with and below, assets amounting to PHP300,000 business owners are only required to submit two requirements from a total of nine requirements BMBE applicants that fall under .2003 way back this category only need to register a business .name with DTI and secure a mayor’s permit Simple Mathematics 10 So, say you run a computer shop with at least per units and computer rental rates are PHP20 hour. If you can fill up all the computers at least six hours every day, then that would be PHP1,200 daily. If the shop is open every day, that’s almost a month. If you have electricity costs PHP36,000 ,labor expense of PHP4000 ,of around PHP8,000 and rental Internet subscription of PHP5,000 a you can get at least PHP14,000 ,of PHP5,000 month net income. If computers were around computers would 10 per unit, then PHP20,000 Realistically though, .be around PHP200,000 your initial investment would probably reach at to include other miscellaneous least PHP300,000 expenses. At that monthly rate and capital

For queries and free consultation on KABUHAYAN issues, send us an e-mail at: kabuhayan@illustrado.net

KABUHAYAN INSURANCE

Money, Assets and Investing

Insuring Your

Are you worth 8 Million US Dollars?

by Ben Parco

Since 1994 I have been using a thought-provoking illustration in sales presentations about the economic value of a working person. This is assuming that he or she started to work at age 20 and is planning to retire by 65. If this person continues to work for 45 years without major interruptions and with a starting salary of US$10,000 per year, increasing by 10% each year, then the total cumulative income during the period is over US$8,000,000. Yes, US$8,000,000! Or at the current rate of exchange about PHP384 million!

Of course, life is priceless and its value cannot be measured but in the life insurance industry, economic value has to be quantified. We have to remember that a life insurance policy is giving a guarantee to pay a specific amount of money to the family of the insured when the latter dies, or to the insured himself as a living benefit when he reaches a certain age, normally at retirement in exchange for a small amount paid called premiums.

You are now probably asking yourself, “what about me, what is my economic value? How much am I worth?”

Read the first paragraph again and you will undoubtedly realize that you are, in fact, worth millions of dollars.

Calculating Your Money Needs If you are a serious and responsible person who may go to great lengths trying to figure out your family’s future money needs, you can use the approach that many insurance professionals usually employ - the Needs Analysis Approach.

Basically, the Needs Analysis Approach calculates the difference between what you and your family need in peso or dollar terms to cover all eventualities such as premature death, serious illness, or disability and the total value of all insurance policies and retirement plans you have bought so far.

The difference can be single-handedly covered by a life insurance policy but few people still insist to use other investment alternatives such as real estate property, gold, mutual funds, stocks, or bank deposits which are also helpful but can never be compared to the unique advantage and superiority of a life insurance policy.

Let us take, for example, a need to make provisions for your children’s education. Supposing you have two children and you want each of them to have an educational fund of US$50,000 in 10 years. If you take

the route of regularly saving money in the bank with virtually zero interest earnings at the moment, you have to set aside US$5,000 a year or US$417 per month.

You may achieve your objectives as long as you remain healthy and working for the next 10 years. But what if you suffer from an unexpected illness along the way?

Your dreams for your children will be shattered in a flash. Alternatively, you can save your US$417 in a life insurance policy for 10 years and whether you remain healthy or suffer an illness or even pass away during this period, the US$50,000 educational fund you intended for each of your two children is guaranteed to be available to assure them quality education and almost certainly a bright future.

The Most Economical Way Insurance professionals will always recommend a life insurance policy as the only sensible solution to cover your family’s needs and this is the most economical way so far. Unless you have the guarantee to live a long, healthy, and productive life. Sadly, nobody has that kind of guarantee anywhere in the world.

In practical terms, we have to ask this question…how do we calculate a person’s economic worth? A simple way to determine this for insurance purposes is to find out the annual income and multiply that by the number of years he plans to work before he retires.

reduced to US$572,818.37 yet it is still more than half a million US Dollars.

Your Retirement Years Let us suppose that our kabayan who lived a moderately healthy lifestyle is now happily retired at age 55. He was able to save consistently 30% of his total earnings for the last 20 years in a life insurance policy earning an average interest rate of 7% compounded yearly, giving him a cash fund of US$171,845.50 plus his gratuity benefits for a total sum of approximately US$250,000.

This money can give him and his spouse a guaranteed retirement income of US$12,500 per year for at least 20 years. Many years of wonderful opportunity to travel, to engage in charitable work, or to spend time in their favorite hobbies without having to worry where to get the money for their next meal.

Another good illustration that I have, time and again, used in my sales presentation is the importance of saving money regularly for the long term. I can share that with you in the next issue.

Till next time.

A Classic Case Study For example, if I meet a 35-year old kabayan who is earning US$12,000 per year and he is interested to protect his family for at least 10 years if something happens to him at any time. Without using the Needs Analysis Approach, I can tell him quickly that he should buy himself at least US$120,000 worth of life insurance.

Of course, US$120,000 is not the actual economic value of this kabayan. If he is working in an established multinational company in Dubai, he would probably be given a salary increase of at least 7% every year. Let us say he decides to retire at 60, he would have worked for 25 years. During those 25 years, he would have earned an average yearly income of US$35,090.60 or a total of US$877,264.84, much more than the US$120,000 that I earlier recommended.

But if our kabayan decides to retire not at age 60 but at age 55, he shall have worked 20 years only and therefore his total earnings or economic value is

Ben Parco is a Dubai-based insurance specialist who has been working in the insurance and financial services industry since 1990. He is a 4-year Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, U.S.A. and is a Holder of the Financial Advisers International Qualification (FAIQ) Certificate from the Chartered Insurance Institute, UK. For inquiries or free consultation, you may send an email to benparco@eim.ae or call 050 6348511

Illustrado 37

Letters from the edge of the teeming metropolis

Hey there, bud! It’s May, my friend! Our fiesta month! Flores de Mayo, the Santa Cruzans, and other ‘new’ festivals actively being promoted by the Department of Tourism to bring in the balikbayans and tourists into the country this hot and humid month of May. So don’t be surprised to witness two to three year old festivals when you go trekking in the provinces this month. As if you’re flying in this summer.

By Carlito Viriña

The most famous fiesta event every May is the Pahiyas in Lucban, Quezon, but many other events celebrating many of the country’s animals, nuts, fruits and ‘what-have-you’s’ are also .lined up this month 3rd of May There’s the famous Carabao-Carroza festival every gaily decorated bamboo sleds pulled 18 in Pavia Iloilo, where meter race. In Angono, Rizal-400 by carabaos participate in a a procession of carts pulled by carabaos carrying a myriad of local products can be witnessed during the feast day of the town’s patron saint San Isidro Labrador celebrated from 15th May. Also on those dates you can catch the 14th to the Carabao Festival in Pulilan, Bulacan. Hundreds of carabaos are paraded along the streets followed by farm tractors and other .machinery Roosters are honored in Capalonga in Camarines Norte from May during the Palong Festival. Bet you didn’t know 13 to 11 25th we now have a Scarecrow festival. In Western Samar every May there’s the Pahoy-Pahoy Festival where people dance in a .grand parade dressed as scarecrows Anyway, for drinkers like us there’s the Basi (the famous wine 7th of May in Naguilian, made from sugarcane) Festival on the 22nd May, in Barugo, Leyte, there’s the La Union. And on the Sanggutan dance festival that celebrates traditional wine .making process in that locale 3rd of May because Vampires shy away from Sinait, Ilocos every it’s the Bawang Festival. Drop by if you can endure the strong whiffs of garlic breath all around you. For nuts, we have Lubiin the city of Gingoog, Misamis 22 Lubi, a dance festival on May Oriental in honor of the coconut, while mangoes are celebrated in Guimaras on its anniversary as a province on the same day.

15th May, pineapples are celebrated in 9th to the And from the .the Makalawan Festival in Calauan, Laguna Speaking of fruits, the barkada is planning to catch the annual gay Santa Cruzan in Malabon to see if the rumour is true that our old buddy Rodel (remember him? Tall, big guy, son of a policeman? The one who cracked open the head of one of the Tiongson brothers of Navotas with a bat?) We heard he has finally stepped over the pink line and has been actively participating in this annual procession. We heard he goes by the name Delia now. That would be a sight to see. We’ll take .pictures and email them to you This May will also be fiesta time for many political candidates who will get themselves elected into office with or without the .help of the Garci-types of the Comelec The list of candidates just doesn’t do it for me this year - both from the administration and the opposition. If some of the respectable names had run as independents, maybe, just

maybe I’d be excited about getting my cuticles stained with indelible ink, but whenever I see Joker Arroyo’s mug with the rest of the Team Unity candidates, like Sotto, Aquino-Oreta, Pichay, Montano, Singson, Angara, Recto, Kiram, Defensor, Zubiri, … C’mon, I’d rather stay home and watch the final season of Soprano. Like who is this Magsaysay guy in the Victor ?Wood hat, anyway Yeah I could vote for some of the opposition candidates like Escudero Cayetano, and Roco (I supported and voted for her husband, remember?) but if they’re on the same motorcade that has Trillanes, Lacson, Coseteng, Aquino, Legarda, Osmena, .Pimentel The only senatorial bet I could vote for would probably be Villar even if he is a guest candidate of the opposition. I admire his decision to run as an independent. Pangilinan? Maybe without .Sharon There’s a text message going around about the new election !theme song called Boom! Corrupt! Corrupt By the way, don’t forget to light a candle for Freddie Mercury 21st and all our heroes who died too young too soon on the .May. It’s AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day And speaking of lighting, don’t forget not to light one up on 31st May if you haven’t quit already. It’s World No Tobacco the Day! Surely you can abstain just for one day. Since I stopped !smoking, I’ll observe the day by lighting one up. Hah !Later, bro

Illustrado 39

COCONUTER A young Pinoy rediscovers his roots

Remembering Pinatubo

By David Poarch

It is fascinating how living things can heal. You can tear a plant down to its roots and it will still grow back under the right circumstances. A human can be dying of a fatal disease but still recover if the right measures are taken. Even scars, no matter how severe, can heal in due time with healthy habits. The Earth is no different as it is able to heal itself after the occurrences of natural disasters - just as it has done and is still in the midst of doing, after the catastrophic 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption, which produced the largest and most violent terrestrial eruption of the 20th century.

It is apparent that the scars from Mt. Pinatubo are gradually healing and have already healed in some parts. It’s a shame that the Philippine nation cannot do the same as it appears the government is taking a much longer time to mend itself than it has taken the local provinces to recover from the largest and most violent volcanic eruption of the 20th century. But there is still hope, as there always is for anything alive. No matter how old one is or how long a problem, injury, disease, etc. has lasted, there is always hope as long as one still has the will and determination, an open mind, and an effective course of action. The region surrounding Mt. Pinatubo proved just this as human and plant life burst through the rubble and ash to start anew and thrive once again. I know personally, because I was there. I was at the mercy of the monstrous Mt. Pinatubo...

It was a typical summer day; the outpouring sun seemed to fill the surroundings with life and energy as I continued my travel through the Philippine countryside. The tropical heat dissipated as the breeze flowed through the open-sided jeepney, only to be felt during occasional lulls when a passenger pick-up was called for. The chatter inside and the bustle outside, along with the smells of animals and exotic foods strengthened as we approached the town market. The stirring buzz of the market seemed to abate as quickly as it began as the jeepney creaked and rattled along the

Illustrado 40

semi-dirt road towards the rural areas of the region.

The atmosphere had changed. A calm and freshness had taken over; my eyes became entranced by tranquil rice fields and the lush tropical trees and plants as they swayed under the glorious sun. I was awakened by the jeepney’s halt, and my tita motioned that this was our stop. We strolled down the path to my lola’s home, occasionally greeting familiar smiling faces. Soon we had reached a small bamboo hut. All was relatively quiet except for the sound of clothing beating in the breeze. The pleasant smell of laundered clothes and the aroma of traditional Filipino food filled the air. A pet dog welcomed us with licks and wags and a few white ducks scattered away as we made our way up the wooden steps and into the hut. We greeted everyone inside and as my aunt began to converse with her sisters and my grandmother, I joined my cousins in their daily fun, which consisted of frolicking with farm animals, venturing through foliage, playing in the rain, capturing odd insects, climbing mango trees, or simply just relaxing in the shade until our spirits were rekindled.

Unfortunately, the evening always had to interrupt our fun. It seemed as if the sun always left our company too early, I thought to myself on the way back home as I watched the reddish sky adjust while the sun mingled with the horizon. By the time I reached our small rental home, my mother was already back from the naval base where she worked as a teacher’s aide for special education children. I usually came up behind her while

mother about my day, I rushed outside. I climbed a cement fence post and sat awaiting my father, an American, who also worked at the naval base as an electrician. It seemed lonesome outside.

There were only the low chirps of a few frogs, the trees whispering in the wind, the occasional bark of a dog, and only the company of the moon and the stars. But my father eventually made it home, and our family enjoyed dinner together while speaking of daily events or whatnot. That concluded my day, leaving me with a satisfied feeling as I went to bed and promising pleasant dreams and a beautiful beginning for the day to come.

The next morning came with a gloomy sky unlike those of typical Philippine days. My dog acted strangely as he sensed something wrong. Something unexpected was indeed going to happen.

My dad came home early in the day, around noon, and he alerted us about the volcano warnings. He shortly left to check on some of our relatives who may not know of the danger. Soon the ground began to tremble and the sky grew dark and eerie as Mt. Pinatubo infested the atmosphere. I could see the plumes rising from the mountains as the day was plagued by darkness. The main eruption started just past noon and at the same time a typhoon (Typhoon Yunya) raged overhead. From under an awning outside my house I caught sight of my dad’s vehicle. I noticed the car was covered with gray cement-like muddy material. The wipers were broken so my dad was hanging his head out the window for visibility. He placed the car under the carport, ran inside, and frantically gathered us into one room.

The eruption accelerated and the sky was smothered with blackness so opaque that you could not see the person next to you with the exception of the flashes of lightning. The storm was ionizing the volcanic material and the sky occasionally filled with a web of lightning that proliferated in all directions. Thunder constantly pounded my eardrums and the ground trembled beneath my feet. Our living room ceiling was creaking from the weight of the cement-like lahar, which was 10 to 12 inches deep everywhere by this time. Instinctively, my dad ran to move the car from underneath the carport. Due to the weight of the lahar, the carport collapsed on the rear of our car but my dad was luckily not injured. He immediately ran back inside and hurried us into a closet space where we waited for the eruption to subside.

Going outside the next day was like stepping onto another planet. Gray ash and lahar covered everything in sight. Half the

houses had partially or totally collapsed under the weight. It was as if the life and energy that had once filled the Philippines had been buried. Mt. Pinatubo had killed almost a thousand people, damaged an estimated billion dollars worth of property, and spewed out 10 times more the amount of ash than Mt. St. Helens did.

It is hard to imagine, but after only a few months, the gray vastness was beginning to transform into the vibrant colors characteristic of Philippine life, and the sun cured the sky of its depressing murkiness. I longed to heal and grow with the Philippines, but unfortunately, this could not be done. The air force base there was demolished and was never to be rebuilt. The naval base spent millions of dollars trying to rebuild, but after a senate vote, the American presence in the Philippines ended. My dad secured a job in the United States, and my family was prompted to move to Florida in 1994.

These experiences will forever be embedded in my memory and to them I partially owe my perspective on life. I have learned that regardless of a setback, if a persistent and progressive mindset is kept and everyone works together, even the worst of calamities can be overcome. I often reminisce of my youth, remembering the unique and joyful times I spent as a child in the Philippines. And I would like to think that, although I can never return to my early days in the Philippines, the same sun, that brought so much life, energy, and triumph during my childhood there, and continued to shine on me as I journeyed through life in the United States, still grows on me today as a young man rediscovering my roots in

Illustrado 41

ARTS & CULTURE

Philippine Mythology Revisited Once upon a time… these are the proverbial opening lines of a fairytale. There’s a certain ‘ting’ to those four little words. It’s a signal, a melodic warning sign. Inviting us to curl up in bed or lay in the couch to hear the beginning of .another great story Our love for storytelling is universal. To quote Edwin Sidney Hartland in his classic work The Science of Fairytales, he says “The art of storytelling has been cultivated in all ages and among all nations of which we have any record; it is the outcome of an instinct implanted ”.universally in the mind Yes, it’s an instinct. A gut feel. Our ears automatically tune in to Lola Basyang’s tales. So much so that this Filipino icon born in the mind has been synonymous 1925 of Severino Reyes in to storytelling. Her gripping stories that used to entertain us before we go to sleep are full of gods, goddesses, spirits, fairies and other mythical figures. And this body of stories - of .divine and heroic beings is called mythology Getting into the meat of mythology is like sinking your teeth into a two-inch steak. The golden rule is to simply bite what you can chew and taste the juicy bits and pieces. These morsels of myths are handed down from generation to generation. But beware; the diversity of mythology alone can fill up your appetite. And the .most popular of them all was cooked up by the Greeks

Zeus and Mt. Olympus Twelve is the number of gods and goddesses who ruled the universe atop the great mountain of Olympus with Zeus as the allpowerful leader of the throng. These gods and goddesses have played hero and foe to mortals on earth. Some of their stories BC, in the works of 700 have been chronicled centuries before

Illustrado 42

By Cathy Cheng- Doña Digital Art by Mac Antonio

.Homer in the Iliad But who are these mighty beings? Like actors in the silver screen, these Greek gods and goddesses have roles to play. Landing the lead is Zeus, god of the sky and king of Olympus. His mere temper affects the weather. And like a naughty child who’s throwing a fit, Zeus threw thunderbolts when he is down and out. His leading lady is Hera, goddess of marriage and queen of Olympus.

Reminiscent of the divorcées in the First Wives Club, she plotted .revenge when Zeus betrayed her with his countless lovers Cast in supporting roles are Poseidon, god of the sea - the most powerful god next to his brother Zeus. The ocean is his dominion and a three-pronged pitchfork called a trident rests in his hand.

Hestia, on the other hand, is the sister of Zeus and goddess of the hearth. She is the most gentle of the gods and the oldest of the .Olympians Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty. She is the daughter of Zeus and the Titan Dione. She immaculately rose from the sea on a shell, as portrayed by Boticelli’s painting of Venus’ Birth. The twins, Apollo and Artemis, are the children of Zeus and the Titan Leto. Both hunted with silver bow and arrows.

One is the god of music and healing and the other is the goddess of the hunt. Among his children, Zeus’ favorite is Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Said to have sprung from the head of Zeus full-grown, she was skilled in the art of war and helped heroes .such as Hercules If these gods and goddesses are the so-called bidas in Greek mythology, the kontrabidas are equally endowed with strength and beauty. Let’s start with the king of the underworld, Hades. He .was the god of death and forcibly took Persephone as his bride Ares was the god of war. He is the son of Zeus and Hera who possessed a cruel nature. Hephaestus was the god of fire. He forged metal to make armor and weapons for the gods. The last of the twelve Olympians is Hermes. With wings on his helmet and sandals, he is the messenger god who moves with lightning .speed These are just some of the main characters in Greek mythology.

And their myths are like blockbuster Hollywood films that are a hit with us Pinoys. Question is, if these tales inched their way into ?our hearts, did our own do the same

ARTS & CULTURE

Bathala and Mt. Makiling The gods and goddesses of Juan Dela Cruz are as varied as the islands that make up the archipelago. The indigenous tribes 7,107 of our country have different versions of these mythical beings and each has a story to tell. These myths or alamat, while as diverse as the sanga of a tree, comes from only one root- animism .or nature worship Animism is one of the oldest forms of religion. It was derived from the Latin word anima meaning breath or soul. It is the belief that a spirit existed in every object, even if it was inanimate. Thus, .everything in nature, plants and animals alike, contain a soul Our forefathers lived in a world inhabited by these spirits and supernatural entities in a time where utmost respect is accorded to them. And because it was an era where mankind was devoid of the logic of Science, myths are told to explain natural phenomena, to teach tribal members the origin of the universe, of man, of nature, of fellow animals. They also call on these gods and goddesses for good harvest and to cure the sick. Back then, .myths were not a bunch of fictitious stories. It was reality

The Realm of the Sun God Though children nowadays choose playstation over patentero, lola’s kuwentos about diwatas and engkantos still leave eyes wide ?open and mouths agape in amazement. Who wouldn’t be Even as grown-ups, the gods and goddesses of the Philippine pantheon never fail to capture the imagination. Picture Bathala,

the chief god of the Tagalogs, sitting on top of the heavens overlooking his creation. Legend has it that he made humanity .)from the celestial fire (the sun Bathala, the Sun God, took on different names. In Southern Visayas he is Kan-Laon. He is Abba to the Visayans and babaylan priestesses sing to him in praise. He is Kabunian to the Ifugao tribe. He also goes by the moniker Tadaklan, the god of thunder revered by the Tinugian people of central Luzon. And to the Bicolanos, he is Gugurang. Just like Zeus who had an evil brother .Hades, Bathala had Aswang the god of evil Aminakable is similar to Poseidon, god of the sea among the Manobo tribe. Aman Sinaya was the goddess of the sea, while Haliya is the Bicolano goddess of the moon and protector of women like Artemis. Dian Masalanta, the Pinoy version of Aphrodite, is the goddess of love, pregnancy and childbirth among the Tagalogs. Apolake like Ares is her brother and the god of war. When the Spanish arrived, Dian Masalanta was renamed Maria Makiling after her picturesque mountain. The Filipino counterpart of Hercules is Malyari, the god of strength and bravery. He is the son of Bathala from a mortal woman who was trapped between two clashing mountains by the gods as punishment for his pride and selfishness. And who could forget Malakas and Maganda? The Pinoy Adam and Eve. They came out of the bamboo reed that Bathala planted underneath the ocean .floor as a sign of friendship with Aman Sinaya Finally, on the darker side of Pinoy mythology, we find Sitan. The Tagalog god of the afterlife and the guardian of an evil realm called manggalo with follower gods Hukluban (death), Manggagaway (sickness), Mangkukulam (fire) and Manisalat (destroyer of love).

In hindsight, Sitan strikes a chord as Satan and his four minions .can be compared to the four dark horsemen of the Apocalypse

ARTS & CULTURE animal hid. Instead of making the kill, he saw Maria who rebuked him for this foul act. But because her heart was soft, she forgave and welcomed him into her home. Before he left, the diwata gave him pieces of ginger for his wife’s cooking. The hunter carried them inside his straw hat and went his way. On his journey home, his hat became so heavy that he threw out many of the pieces.

The next day, to his surprise and regret, he discovered that what .he had taken to be ginger was solid gold

A Happy Ever After For Philippine Mythology

These are the figures that pervaded lola’s anecdotes- coloring our childhood with a spectrum of emotions. They can turn us white with fear, red with anger, sad and blue, green with envy or bright with joy. And if they seem to put us under a spell of wonder, their .myths are even more fascinating

!In the Beginning, There Was Chaos Who would have thought that two warring gods are the creators of our island? One myth foretells about the feud of Bathala and Aman Sinaya. They were fierce rivals who tried to outdo each other since time immemorial. One day, Aman Sinaya sent thunderstorms into the sky. To stop her, Bathala threw giant boulders that came from the top of the mountains. This commotion created thousands of islands onto the surface of the sea. Amihan, the Northeast Wind decided to stop the battle once and for all by taking the form of a bird. She flew back and forth between Bathala and Aman Sinaya, pulling the sky and the sea closer together. And when the two realms met, both divine beings agreed to end the fight. These .islands are the country we now call home

The Maiden of Makiling She is a kayumangging kaligatan as the Tagalogs would say and no words can aptly describe the brown-skinned beauty that is Maria Makiling. Half nymph, half sylph, she was a young woman who lived in Makiling, the mountain that separated the province of Laguna and Tayabas. With eyes as black as the night, with hair as long as a weaver’s thread, many tales are told about Maria.

About her beauty, her loves, and yes, even her cruelty to those who dare harm the inhabitants of her mountain. But this folktale .speaks of her forgiving and generous nature They say, a hunter was chasing a wild boar through the thick forest of Makiling and suddenly came upon a hut in which the

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Once upon a time, a mythologist named Fr. Francisco Demetrio S.J. said that myths were our ancestors ’gut-experience’ of life.

When I was writing this story, my gut told me not to simply brush off the dust gathering on my mythology books. Gut told me not to just read but understand. And as I revisit our myths, the past came to life… page after page. I knew then that as long as we remember our ninunos and their stories, not only in our minds .but also in our hearts, it would be a happy ending for Bathala

DESIGN FEATURE

Kenneth Cobonpue

Modern Pinoy Design for Hollywood and the World

By Jan La’O Integrating locally sourced organic materials such as abaca, bamboo, buri, rattan and wood - bent, twisted and woven into exquisite and innovative functional pieces with amorphous shapes, Kenneth Cobonpue transforms native furniture into modern sculptures like poetry. Merging art and science, he exemplifies the aesthetics of true modern Filipino design that’s world-class yet feels very close to home.

A ‘product designer’ is how he would like to be known, and as one, he believes in using natural materials in modern organic forms made by hand in his works. “My designs bring nature indoors. In today’s age of industrial mass-produced kitsch, people long for things made by hand. My designs celebrate Filipino craft and design creativity. I design things that would go well in an upscale apartment in New York or a beach house in Laguna.”

Born and raised on the vibrant and progressive isle of Cebu, Kenneth is the third of five children of the late John Cobonpue, automotive/airline/real estate businessman and founder of the Business Graduate School Program of the University of the Philippines in Cebu. Kenneth’s mother,

Product Designer Kenneth Cobonpue

DESIGN FEATURE

Pigalle

Kenneth began his own journey into design and business after high school. He left Cebu for Manila in 1983, and attended UP Diliman taking up Business Administration Major in Marketing. He then jetted off to Pratt Institute, New York (his mom Betty also attended Pratt) in 1987, where he received Summa cum Laude honors in Industrial Design. Kenneth also worked at a leather and wood crafts factory in Florence, Italy, as part of his apprenticeship program at Pratt. He also took further studies on Furniture Marketing and Production at the Export Akademie Baden Württemberg in Reutlingen Germany in 1994; and worked in Biefeld and Munich under a private and government scholarship program.

Illustrado 47

DESIGN FEATURE

Y i n & Ya n g c o l l e c t i o n

In 1996, he took over his mother’s furniture design and manufacturing company, Interior Crafts of the Islands Inc., a company his family established in 1972. His first design, released in 1998, was called the Yin & Yang collection. An airy and boxy range of pieces composed of steel and wicker frames intricately wrapped in natural and dyed rattan splits supported by stainless steel legs. His debut was a hit and established him as heir apparent to his mother’s artistic legacy. He now also owns, KENNETH COBONPUE International, with distributors in 32 countries and over five continents, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Kenneth’s Los Angeles showroom boasts of prestigious

Illustrado 48

clients that include A-list celebrities like Brad Pitt, who owns four of his designs (the Croissant, Pigalle, Dragnet and Voyage), the DJ Group Thievery Corporation and MTV head honcho Judy McGrath, just to name a few.

He also helped furnish the entire casino lounge for the upcoming Warner Brothers blockbuster movie, Oceans 13.

Whether it is through Hollywood superstars or the private elite, Kenneth has achieved well-deserved local and global patronage evident in his undoubtedly worldclass creations. His numerous citations reflect the range and quality of his creativity: TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) of the Philippines in the field of Arts and

DESIGN FEATURE at the Annual Philippine International Furniture Exhibition; the prestigious DFAA (Design for Asia Award); the Singapore International Furniture Design Competition Craftsmanship Grand Prize award; and the Japan Good Design award.

He has appeared in popular and glamorous publications like, TIME; NEWSWEEK; International Herald Tribune; LA Times; ELLE Décor; Maison Francaise, Brigitte; Surface; Wallpaper; Interior Design; Architectural Digest; Maison Cote Sud; INTERNI; Eigenhuis; Metropolis; The World of Interiors; Washington Post; Miami Herald; Chicago Tribune; International Design Yearbook; Tropical Living; Tropical Interiors; Transparent; and New Bedroom

Design.

His first major solo exhibition held in New York was entitled KENNETH COBONPUE: Idea + Form + Craft.

Other notable shows include the LIFE SYMPHONY Exhibition | New York and the DESIGN 21 Exhibition (UNESCO / Felissimo) Barcelona | Kobe | Tokyo | New York | Paris.

As a dynamic global entrepreneur, he regularly participates in constructive and philanthropic activities like the Designer’s Guild Furniture Design Workshop.

He was also the Official Philippine Representative to the 1st ASEAN Youth Leader’s Forum in Singapore; and panelist to the International Design Center in Nagoya.

Voyage

Illustrado 49

DESIGN FEATURE

Suz y Wong Set

Yo d a

Lolah

As a celebrated product designer, manufacturer and owner of a booming furniture company, Kenneth has remained humble and is an avid admirer of the works of his friends, like Marcel Wanders and Ross Lovegrove.

He also likes the designs of Issey Miyake, Ingo Maurer, and the architectural works of Santiago Calatrava; and enjoys the company of fellow designers from Movement 8 such as Budji Layug.

Lolah Capsule

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Kenneth is inspired by everything around him, from things Asian and from nature, but believes that inspiration is not everything. “Design is a habit. I don’t wait for inspiration. I force it to happen. And sometimes it doesn’t come. But I work on it every day so it becomes natural. Einstein said that genius is 99% perspiration

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PINOY PLANET

Oh CANADA! TheNew immigrant experience Every year, thousands of people migrate to Canada – one of the world’s most ethnically diverse countries, home to 34 ethnic groups. They say that everybody and anybody is an immigrant in this country, and in the hopes of a better life as a legal citizen, a lot of people, including a good number of ex-UAE Filipino residents, take the big step of moving to this affluent nation. Marie Perez recollects her experiences as a newly landed immigrant and talks about the highs and lows of Canada’s notorious winters. o’clock in the morning. My daily routine starts with a 6:00 It was fresh cup of coffee to wake me up. Then I go down to my office to check my mails and tasks for the day. I work from home - one of the things I enjoy being here in this country. I smiled while the very same date I landed ,16 looking at my calendar – it’s March !11th year in Canada. And ghee, this is my

I arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport early morning. It was bright and sunny but it was so cold. I followed a huge sea of multi-racial people with families with young children, couples, singles and older adults. It’s amazing how many people from all over the world come to Canada hoping .to have a better life

15 I looked back at the good old days in Dubai where I lived for years and enjoyed countless of blessings – a good job, good friends, and the opportunity of traveling, not to mention the I realized I was looking for a 1995 company of my sister. But in change, a new challenge, a better opportunity. I took a leap and applied for immigration to Canada, and it did not take long to obtain an immigrant visa. I was happy and excited; everything .was coming together nicely

Waiting for my taxi to arrive, I looked around and felt good about Toronto. On the highway, everything looked big and spacious.

There were not many flashy buildings around and most of the structures were industrial and residential. It looked so peaceful and somewhat rural. Waking up to a sunny day the next morning, with a view of the snow-covered surroundings outside my window, was quite an experience. It was so beautiful and inviting outside. I stuck my head out to feel the breeze and I thought it .wasn’t really cold. Later that day, I found out I was so wrong

I became a landed immigrant. I had a chance to ,1996 ,16 March see a bit of Vancouver before continuing on my flight to Toronto.

At the airport, I was so astonished to have found more Indians working in the immigration area than Caucasians. I thought to myself, “Wait a minute, did I really go on the Vancouver flight or to Mumbai?” I stayed there for a night to have a feel of the place, but I didn’t get a positive impression because it was all gloomy .and drizzling that day

Illustrado 52

I did my landing requirements that day. Paperwork all done – I was impressed with the way the government offices worked - very systematic. It is also very noticeable that people are so disciplined. They don’t jump lines; they patiently wait for their .turn and are very courteous

Places and faces, through the eyes of a Pinoy viajero. It’s a small planet, a PINOY PLANET On the way home, I passed a nearby mall to pick up some clothing and groceries, then decided to walk home having been told that it is very close by. I walked on the thick snow for a long time, but there was no sign of the house. There was no one on the streets, the houses looked all the same, and my boots were soaked. My hands and toes were frozen cold and the shopping bags were getting heavier. There was no phone booth around. I thought I .was lost and in deep-freeze

active through indoor activities at the local recreation center and parks. Home parties are also very popular, but outdoor activities are abundant with ski resorts and parks with gorgeous slopes and trails for snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing, snow tubing, and tobogganing. Or it can be as simple as building a snowman, or shoveling snow in your driveway while exchanging jovial chatter with your .neighbors

Just as I was on the verge of panic - the street name showed up.

It was such a relief. Finally, I found warmth in my little room, recalling the lesson I just learned from Canada’s notoriously harsh .cold weather

Every season has its own beauty; my family and I enjoy the outdoors and love to go on long drives in the countryside. It all really depends on what you prefer to do in each particular season, .because the options are endless

Most of us who come from a tropical climate would not have an idea of how winter can affect the way we feel and think. A normal degrees Celsius, which can reach to 15– daily temperature of degrees Celsius with wind chill, can be distressing for some 35– .people; and there are those who suffer from winter depression

In my early years here, I have also learned to do things the ‘Canadian way’. Now that the snow has cleared, homeowners are busy gardening and spring-cleaning. Garage or yard sales are held in neighborhoods, and you can get great deals on good stuff .even for just for a dime

But one should not be discouraged with the weather though.

Winter can be really nice and fun here if you know how to dress up appropriately. I can say that now after having experienced many winters. Come prepared. You can play in the snow and stay

At this time of year, Canadians also go shopping for garden décor and plants, to refurbish their decks or patios. Attractive gardens with vibrant sweet scented spring flowers bring about a peaceful atmosphere all around. Flower festivals are a community affair.

Around April-May, Ontario’s provincial flower Trillium blooms, it grows freely in the forests and woodlands and should not be picked. It is delicate and white just like our own national flower, .’the ‘Sampaguita degrees 35-25 In the summer, it can also get hot here (around Celsius). Some children go to summer camps and some families take a summer vacation. The long weekends are great for getaways, BBQ parties, potluck dinners, while fundraising events, festivals from different ethnic communities all happen at this .time of the year Fall offers spectacular colors and views along the highways. One of the interesting fall color routes close to Toronto is a tour around ,11 Highway ,400 Lake Simcoe using a combination of Highway and a number of side roads that take you through Barrie, Orillia, Lagoon City, Beaverton, Sutton, Keswick, and Holland Landing.

This tour route can be started on the East Side of Lake Simcoe, or .the West Side going north Whatever the season, whatever the reason, it is still a great place to live in. I love the big spaces and beautiful countryside, the people’s discipline and courteous attitude and the dedication of volunteers in hospitals, churches, in special events and many other places. It is also great that government services are very accessible to all – and it doesn’t matter if you’re a visitor, a Canadian, or a newly landed immigrant who’s taking a shot at .a better life

Marie Perez is the one call when contemplating on moving to Canada.

She’s not your travel agent or labor specialist, but she’s a better resource.

Marie is an ex-UAE resident who knows her adopted country very well, having lived there for over a decade. An entrepreneur and a doting mother of two, Marie is happy to assist and answer your queries in case you’re thinking about migrating. E-mail her at immigrantcorner@gmail.com.

BAKASYON GRANDE

MARINDUQUE Photography has brought me to many unspoiled places and island sanctuaries in the Philippines, from the remotest north down to the distant south. Traveling to where the four winds blow provided me opportunities to preserve images of people, places and events in their distinct richness of local flavor, color, and culture. To experience them is to open up the senses, letting the metaphysical and the tangible thrills manifest themselves.

Text and photography by Allen Hipolito Mayor islands in the Philippines, heart-shaped 7,100 Among the Marinduque is a place I travel to frequently. Apart from its accessibility, three hours by land (Manila to Talaotalao Port in Lucena) and three hours by sea (Talaotalao to Balanacan in Marinduque), the island is rich in history and exudes a seeming .essence of mystery beneath its rustic and lush countryside This summer, I had the delightful chance of inviting and hosting a group of shutterbugs from Klub Natur. With the same passion for travel photography, I thought the best time to experience the island is the celebration of Moriones festival itself. After all, .this is what the island is known for This time of the year, the locale is transformed into a grand arena where the Roman centurion, Longinus, is recalled in a theatrical pageantry. Under the scorching sun, Morions (masked men dressed like Roman soldiers) roam around the streets as a form of atonement. The feast in itself has its most distinctive feature: centurion mask of wrinkled face and sardonic eyes; a beard as black as a domino and a mustache that extends down to the jaw like a handlebar; and a mouth gaping like that of a hungry .beast We arrived in Balanacan Port, the gateway to the island, around a.m. The van we hired to exclusively bring eight of us crawled 4

Illustrado 54

out of the ferry then snaked its way through the sharp curves and turns of the road. Much as the environs were mantled with blackness, my fellow photographers felt that the beauty of the island lies extant. In art, curve lines are considered lines of .beauty … and the roads had just revealed that Our first day opened up in one of the commercial axis of the island, Gasan. It was market day. Local produce and other merchandise from the outlying towns are transported here every Tuesday. The other five major towns of the island (Boac, Buenavista, Torrijos, Sta. Cruz, and Mogpog) hold its separate market day once a week. During this time fruits, vegetables, fish and other food items are literally fresh. Since it was Holy Week, .we opted for fish- and vegetable-based recipe for the day Gasan is very much a town of delicate, ancient beauty, scarred only by the harsh modernity of motor-powered vehicles; prettily .small houses sprawled the shoreline and sea side walks In Cawit, Boac, we stayed in a modest cogon-thatched hut that sits above a massive roof structure. We called it palace in the sky. .Each side has expansive openings to circulate cool breeze freely We were fortunate that we stayed in the heart of the village where butterfly farming is an economic activity. We raked every

BAKASYON GRANDE images among us. Cameras fired incessantly at every species we encountered … Papilio demoleus, Idea leuconoe, Troides rhadamantus, Pachliopta kotzebuea, and many others. Even armies of caterpillar, of various sizes, colors, textures, and appearance modeled their striking stance before us. The locals flashed quizzical expressions on their faces as we moved around. .Our patience paid off despite our worn-down efforts for shots

30 We were ready for Kabugsakan falls the next day. It was minutes hike from Tugos, hence we left early morning. We traversed streams and walked on narrow pathways, climbed winding stone steps and forged past age-old canopies. Shortly, we met the waterfalls in a clearing, offering cool pools of water.

Five cottages were built of traditional palm thatches. A mini .cave was waiting to be explored

Northeast of the island is the seaweed farm in Botilao, Sta. Cruz. Our jeepney tires jarred on rugged roads as they made fishtailing swerves through the border. Combustion vapors and .dusts swirled from our jeep, turning our hair and eyebrows, gray

After, we were treated to savory recipes like the attic suggestion of sinigang na isda, ensaladang talong, charbroiled tudluan and parrot fish at lunchtime. Then we hit the road for Poctoy in Torrijos. We favored the route from the southwest town, Buenavista, because it was the shortest. Poctoy is known for its semi-white sand beaches. The sun dawns on this side of the island and it was unfortunate that we were at the wrong place .at the wrong time that day

In the afternoon, hypnotic calls emanated from the hut on stilts ashore. It was irresistible that the enticement lulled us to rest. At low tide, farmers cropping seaweeds roused us from siesta. One shutterbug tried to fit himself into the small banca to document the harvest. We left just before sunset. Bracing ourselves securely inside the jeep, we traveled at an increasing .speed westward while praying for dear life

Visible from Poctoy is Mt. Malindig, the highest mountain in the southern part of Marinduque. Legendary stories narrate that the original name of the island was Malindik, describing the gentle sloping terrain. When the Spaniards came, they could hardly pronounce the word so they called the island Marinduc, .which later became Marinduque Boac, the provincial capital, is the center of Moriones activities.

18th century in honor Here lies the cathedral built in the late of the province patroness Blessed Virgin of Biglang-Awa. It displays simplicity, beauty and perfection of proportions that gives dignity despite its smallness and scale. The sculptured doors exhibit carved bas-reliefs of saints in the quaint and crude craftsmanship. In the evening, we watched the last segment of .the passions of Christ as depicted in the Cenaculo Overall, vacation life in Marinduque can be one of the rustic idleness and luxuriant pastimes for natural and cultural expeditions. Just like the butterflies … and just like morions … .our lives began and ended here

MANILA TRIPPIN’

KROCODILE BAR & GRILL

By Mike Martin Photography by Ben Chan

Since I was with a group of seven uninitiated youngsters, fresh from college in their respective provinces and darn penniless to boot, a romp in Greenbelt III would have been close to impossible. Close, but not quite. But there is a bar F next to Di Mark’s that is the answer/3 tucked neatly at the to my fervent prayers. This happening restaurant has a lot of what most of us not-yet-rich gimikero Pinoys are looking for: A hip bar/resto that does not take labor pains to visit.

Damned thankful for it; and for the celebrity watching that comes with the fact that we were going to be dining in one of the metro’s trendiest districts (I like to puff up like Mother Frog did). Can I say which local celebrities we saw without having to pay talent fees? Tell you what, why don’t you drop by the next time you are in the Makati area and see if it ?wakes up the paparazzi in you It was a humid evening, most unusual for this time of the year.

I personally prefer a windy and rain-drenched evening so with everyone’s concurrence (I was most adamant mind you) and since they did not have a choice anyway because I was springing, we chose to forego smoking altogether and the view offered by the open-air veranda, and settled for the cooler and comfortable non-smoking section instead. This certainly caught my attention, they had around two pairs of baby crocodiles in a large aquarium to validate their name, and I had this crazy urge to put my hand in to check if the reptiles were real (after all, there was no “please do not irritate the crocodiles” sign). Good thing they blinked before I went through with it. Surprising that the place had a rather toned down interior, elegant and reserved, which at first glance kind of belied their name.

Probably a testament to the cool and patient yet explosive nature of .their namesake. Nice. I am a firm advocate of under the radar policies The place was humming with the sounds of revelry and merrymaking (conservative and controlled merry-making dear readers), though I will tell you off the bat, the bar is a bit small for my taste (I’m guessing the owner/s aren’t really expecting a lot of the singles herd to frequent the place). The place has ample seats for you and your entourage; you can quote me on that. The clientele during that evening was varied, and I may not be an FBI certified expert on surveillance but the observant eye saw a group of twenty something’s

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still in their bank uniforms unwinding and a scattering of several cent, eminem-wannabees-20 more patches of people ranging from to I would say bee-gees groupies (ah, aren’t people touchy when it comes to mentioning age?). The place was rocking to mainstream hip-hop beats during the evening, but as it is mainly a restaurant, the music was not loud enough to be distracting. You can sway too; an interesting fact in a lot of resto/grills in the metro right now, and which would need dissection in a future installment, but you can still ?talk. Pretty nifty eh Oh, yes the booze is cheap and the food too. That’s without compromising quality and customer service (hahaha I got that one straight from the manual). Shots of your favorite aperitif, bourbon, local beers at ,scotch, vodka and cocktails start at around PHP150 for sizzling dishes (which are the a pop and PHP150 under PHP40 current staple of gimikeros) and they do offer a fairly wide selection to choose from. Incidentally, they have set meals too and party packs, so the bigger the group, the larger you save. The food was well prepared and promptly served, definitely not the kind of place that would squeeze all the excitement out of your day before an order is brought to your table. The food is excellent let me tell you; the cook would have cried tears of pride if he had seen us squeal with delight as we ate our portions. The Krocodile sizzling fried chicken is an interesting exercise in the culinary arts. It did taste wonderful though, with its ‘very-crispy-outside and succulent-on-the-inside, kind of taste, and I !loved the creamy smooth gravy that came with it We got four pitchers of San Miguel draft beer, two orders of sizzling sisig (the crunchy type as opposed to the original variety that is served in the provinces) and one order of their sizzling chicken, and it barely dented my wallet. We had actually wanted to sample more of their dishes and stay a bit longer but too bad they close shop at .midnight If you want to go somewhere cool without needing to exert yourself to have a fun time or just thinking of unwinding after your day, I .would definitely recommend you try Krocodile out My Krocodile dining experience surprisingly did not take a crocsize bite off my wallet. I had enough left for eight Starbucks grande ?mocha fraps later. Three days before my salary. Not bad eh

ILLUSTRADO FACE OF THE MONTH

CELEBRATING PINOY CHARM

“After coming home one day from school, my sweet Pinay mother confronted me with the ‘Illustrado’s Model Search’ page. I thought she would love it if she’d one day have the chance to present the magazine to her friends and say: ‘Anak ko yan!’’’ This is how Bernhard Bechtold recalls his introduction to Illustrado magazine.

Bernhard Benito Bechtold or ‘BBB’, is a half-Filipino, half Austrian currently based in Abu Dhabi. Being the son of a globetrotting architect gave this young man the chance to see and experience quite a bit of the world – having lived in the Philippines where he was born, then China, Czechoslovakia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Austria and now the UAE. He finds traveling and being exposed to different cultures interesting; and admits his longing to go back to the Philippines. “I love the Philippines and its people, the culture and everything else. It is my life’s inspiration. The laid back Filipino attitude is something that has really influenced me. I love how our people always manage to find a solution, survive and stay strong even at difficult times. To see the joy of the Filipinos when they are back in the Philippines, at home with their family and friends, tells me everything is possible if one goes through life with a smile!”

Bernhard who plays the piano, guitar and bass, and is a great fan of Filipino cuisine including street favorites ‘adidas’, ‘isaw’, as well as dinuguan, talangka and lechon, dreams of helping create a globalized world someday, by working in an export oriented management.

BERNHARD BECHTOLD BLITHELY BOLD AND BOUND TO HIS ROOTS Illustrado 57

SAUCE IT SPREAD IT LOVE IT

Ang Rich na Lasang Pinoy Available in all suking tindahan all over the U.A.E.

PINOY ABOUT TOWN Stepping out of the proverbial ‘kabayan box’ beyond Pinoy cafeterias and videoke

Anything But the CRACKS Re-inventing the word ‘tambay’ in Dubai

By Shar Matingka

There’s something about SUVs, tour buses, khakis, string pants, shades, sunburn parade and affluent people’s spending power on weekends in Dubai, that made me re-think how I could spend my weekend the cheapest and smartest way possible. Because when you find yourself counting cracks on walls while the rest of Dubai’s moneyed society are enjoying themselves to the hilt – it could only mean two things: you’re bored and almost broke. But have you ever thought of re-inventing the word ‘tambay’?

Wearing an old university shirt, a pair of string pants and sports sandals, I stepped out of the house and seized a quiet Friday with only twenty dirhams and a bar of Snickers. The tambay’s plan: enjoy the entire morning in bus rides. Dubai metropolis is a futuristic outdoor museum, showcasing millennial architecture .without forfeiting traditional Middle Eastern charm in Bank Street, Bur Dubai without hesitation. I’m one 29 I got on Bus of those people in Dubai who spend a lot on taxi fare contrary to my being a regular commuter in Metro Manila. Buses in Dubai are well maintained - no eating, no drinking, no smoking and no littering.

Women occupy a small section of the bus right behind the driver’s seat, while the men’s section takes up the second and third portion of the bus. Stop buttons are easy to reach whenever a passenger .wants to get off the bus at a certain designated point was almost empty but my mind was filled up with thoughts 29 Bus playing tug-of-war between familiar and strange. We passed by Dubai World Trade Center complex where Novotel and Ibis are slightly tucked away from traffic commotions in Sheikh Zayed Road.

At the corner of the Dubai International Finance Center district, Al Murooj Rotana Hotel is a castle-like golden fantasy below towering is Emirates Towers via 29 skyscrapers. The last stop for bus route Trade Center Interchange. I got off the bus and waited for the next trip. Emirates Towers boasts a neo-modern architecture that looks .like a pair of Toblerones from afar takes you to Karama, Oud Metha and Deira. Cruising 27 Bus route down Baniyas Road reminded me of Buendia Avenue in Makati. We reached Deira Creek Side, which was less crowded before Friday congregation started at the mosques. Located near the mouth of The morning blaze .27 the vast sea, Gold Souk Terminal ends Route am. I waited for twenty minutes for any 10:30 was piercing hot at .bus that was ready for service would be my last bus-hopping trip for the day. I 10 I decided Bus

said to the bus driver before placing my coins on the coin tray, “I’ll take the last stop.” He looked puzzled. “You mean you want to go to Emirates Mall?” I shrugged. “Not really. But if that’s the last stop, yes.”

Probably thinking I was lost, he asked out of curiosity, “Do you know where you’re going?” I smiled and replied with confidence, “I have ”.no idea where I’m going but I know I’m not lost was the longest bus trip going back to Sheikh Zayed Road, 10 Route heading towards Al Quoz Industrial Area. The highlight of this route was the lonely trip down the nostalgic dusty maze of the industrial area. Here is where you’ll find warehouses, old residential buildings, trucks and school buses presumably parked near the drivers’ accommodation. Al Quoz Industrial Area is a different world, an evident contrast to corporate avenues and tourist-filled streets.

This time, the bus was nearly full and I was the only woman on board. There were Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Indians and Filipinos. I turned around and surveyed the other passengers behind me. The atmosphere is a mixture of triumph and loss. Some were ecstatic; others seemed to have the world on their shoulders. Some were .loud, others contemplative

Bus-hopping. That’s tambay with a different .meaning and a twist of city gazing I meandered through the veins of this metropolis from the inside of a public transport. It was a time to reflect and to search for a sense of belongingness and economized fun. People might say I should’ve taken the Wonder Bus Tour, instead. I’m sure the package is interesting. Somewhere in my mind, I was looking for sidewalk vendors, smoke belchers, street foods, angry jeepney drivers, South Superhighway and the MRT. I wanted the metropolitan feel as a commuter simply enjoying the ride. Words cannot describe the cinematic connection between a commuter and the metro especially when you end the short journey with Brain Salad’s Mula .Sa Langit in your I-Pod or CD Walkman

Illustrado 59

FILIPINISMS

Pinoy Pamahiin

G ne Bad Naniniwala ka ba sa pamahiin?

Sa kasabihan ng mga matatanda na minana pa nila sa kanilang mga ninuno?

Sabi nila, wala naman daw mawawala kung susunod sa mga pamahiin – ano naman kung mag-tabi-tabi ka pa-minsanminsan, o magsuot ng bawang para di ka kainin ng aswang?

Okay lang ito, basta ‘wag ka lang mawawala sa sarili mong bait, dahil likas na nakababaliw ang ating mga pamahiing Pinoy!

Read on, my prend!

Huwag magwawalis sa gabi dahil lalabas ang swerte – lalo na kapag naiwan mong bukas ang pinto at napasok ka ng ‘akyat bahay gang’.

Huwag magpapaiwan sa mesa kapag nagkakainan.

Sabi nila baka hindi ka na makakapag-asawa.

Kung di man ganoon, pihadong ikaw ang maguurong ng mga pinggan.

Wag magpapa-picture ng tatluhan dahil may mamamatay. Hangga’t maari, kahit isama mo pa yung matsing kapag nagpapicture ka sa zoo.

Huwag kumanta habang nagluluto kasi daw makakapag-asawa ka ng matanda. Pero kung old maid ka, kumanta ka na ng husto – kahit matanda okay na rin!

Mag pasintabi kapag iihi ka kung saan, baka daw may magalit na punso – lalo na kung balak mong umihi sa bakod ng kapitbahay mo!

Illustrado 60

Sabi nila, kapag may nahulog na kubyertos sa sahig may bisitang darating: kapag tinidor, lalaki, kapag kutsara naman, babae. Kapag plato ang nahulog – patay kang bata ka!

Kasabihan din ng matatanda na kapag maitim ang gilagid, maitim ang budhi. Kapag may bulok na ngipin – may bad breath. Totoo yan, promise!

Huwag maninilip dahil magkakaguliti ka - kapag minamalas kang lalo, black eye galing sa boyfriend ng sinisilipan mo ang aabutin mo.

Kapag maytumi-tiktik sa pintuan na butiki, may darating na bisita o di kaya’y may uuwi – o kung malas ka talaga, naniningil na ang land lady mo – tik..tik..tik.

Ang mga buntis daw, pagkatapos manganak, bawal maligo ng siyam na araw para hindi mabinat. Bawal ding tabihan ni mister dahil di niya kakayanin and amoy nito.

Para iwas usog lagyan ng lipstick sa noo ang iyong baby. Kung sigurista ka, pahiran mo na lang ito ng laway – talagang wala nang lalapit sa anak mo.

Pagnawala ka, baliktarin mo ang damit mo – siguraduhin mo lang na walang makakakita sa ‘yo dahil baka ikulong ka for ‘indecent exposure’.

Kapag may aalis sa kasambahay mo habang kumakain kayo, iikot ang mga plato para walang mangyaring masama sa kanya - lalo na kung e-exit siya sa Kish.

Tabi-tabi po ……. ang Pinoy nga naman!

FILIPINISMS

The Annie B.(Batobalani) Chronicles

The adventures and misadventures of a ‘not so average’ Pinay trying to make it in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai.

PITNESS PREAK

Today’s weather porcats: a very bright and sunny Dubai at 44 degrees celcius sentigrade farenheight. Yes, I get it – summer has officially started. Time to put my purr coat and velvet kneehigh boots to rest and increase my lotion’s SPF - 15 may not be enough for my bukid-bred skin – so the higher, the fairier!

But since I got here in Dubai, I noticed that I’ve added a lot of pounds already. Must have been due to all those regular visits to Marble Slab, impulse Krispy Kreme hoarding and the nightly Doritos munching. Now how do I fit again into my summer skinny clothes without looking like a suman? This dilemma is the reason I decided to sign up and join the latest Dubai craze - Pitness Pirst.

During the night, after office hours beginning at 5:30pm, the cute and physically fit guys start to arrive and display their hardworked bodies while flirting with girls of their same types. It is a big mistake to work out during this time if you don’t posses a Carmen Elektra figure because all the guys around you already have their six-pack abs winking at all the sexy girls inside the gym. You wouldn’t want to be seen sweating like a pig with your tongue out while gasping for your last breath among gorgeous guys habang nakikipagpatintero ka sa treadmill, di vah?

Therefore my Pitness Pirst schedule will be like this: super work out in the morning before coming to the office. This way I can take my shower at the gym – tipid na sa tubig from my flat, wala pang I have always been a lover of exercising. As a young girl, I would pretend to be like Jane Fonda while copying her aerobics routines pila-pila for my turn, di vah? And after office hours, go back to the in front of the mirror. That way I would be like Freida Fonda while gym para dumispley at mag-pa-cute sa mga boys – ahihihihihihihi! gyrating to the tune of Body Language during our school dance number. Then in my teens, I would religiously watch out for every I also have two different gym outfits: in the morning, oversized old t-shirt and baggy jogging pants from Carrefour for my serious episode of Vilma! and Loveliness and copy Maribeth Bichara’s pang-Japan moves and bribe my brothers to lift and throw me in workouts and for the evening, my Nike lycra cross-training gear the air ala-Ate Vi and Alma Moreno. Then just a few years back, I with matching iShuffle MP3 Player – o di vah? Anong sinabi ni Vina idolized Jackie Lou Blanco, also known as J. Lou, as she gave me Morales sa projection ko?!!! Kebs kung ang playlist ko from my inspiration to become fit and sexy every time I’d finish a gallon of iShuffle are Boom-Tarat-Tarat, Pamela-wan, Otso-otso and the ever classic Mag-exercise Tayo Tuwing Umaga – mas feel ko lalo magice cream in one sitting. It would always be my sweet excuse to workout while shaking my booty for the cute boys around me. hit the gym and meet cute guys at the same time displaying my terpsikorean skills while doing aerobics.

So dizzizit! To my spaghetti strapped tops, tube and mini skirt – see you in a few weeks as Annie B. goes back to the fashion Thanks to our company’s powers and privileges, I was able to scene with her summer outfits. May my fairy gadmadir help me in enroll at Dubai’s hottest and newest gym. Based on experience, this battle of divulge – I hope that my workouts be fun-filled and I learned that to be able to stand out, you must be surrounded pain-free. Not to worry though, as my other friends, Salonpas and by oldies and the fatties. That way, litaw ka sa iilan lang na bata Alaxan, are always on standby. And sana may bonus na one cute and obesed. Most of the people who visit the gym during the guy within this battle of divulge. Pang-consuelo de bobo man mornings are the wranglers (gu-wrang) and the fatness firsts – lang - pero sana naman smart, funny and witty sya. Please fairy those who are serious about fitness, since they really dedicate time and effort into being healthy. While around 10am upto 3pm, gadmadir help me and I will do the rest. As they say, “No fain, No the ‘Jumeirah Janes’ and the ‘Desperate Housewives’ lord it over glory.” the treadmills and aero classes because of their free time and So watch out Dubai, I’m bringing sexy (not siksik) baaaack!!! boredom.

Illustrado 61

COMMUNITY SPOTIGHT

UPAA UAE University of the Philippines

Alumni Association (UAE Chapter)

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association in the United Arab Emirates is the first ever UPAA founded in the Middle East. Established in 2005, the organization aspires to assist its Alma Mater in the fulfillment of its academic mission as a world-class institution for tertiary education, while strengthening its vital role in the development of Filipinos. The club also helps its members in finding gainful employment in the UAE. The UPAA UAE is active in spearheading its own academic, social, cultural and civic events in the UAE in line with the university’s vision and mission. The group engages in fund raising projects to support beneficial endeavors such as training programs, seminars and research to enhance the skills of its members. Most significantly, the group also has a scholarship project, which will be implemented in June 2007. On a lighter note, the club also provides its members social activities such as outings and sports fests, and is well on its way in preparing for the UP Centennial celebrations in 2008.

The organization, which currently has 390 members, continues to grow with a dynamic outreach program directed to all the seven emirates, and plans to initiate the establishment of an association across the Middle East region in the future.

Forthcoming Events:

General Assembly and Induction of Officers – May 25, 2007 Sportsfest – June 2007 For further information, contact: Oliver Ramos on 04-364 285, 050-3817673.

Email: sir_obet88@yahoo.com/oliver@nurture3.com

Officers:

President – Albert Alba

Vice-President – Raquel Dulay (Logistics Committee Head) Secretary – Galo Calizo (Membership Committee Head) Treasurer – Raymond Flores Publicity Officer – Oliver Ramos

Committee Heads: Education – Ria Mendoza

Ways and Means – Yvette Aldeguer Special Projects – Albert Reyes Cultural – Zeena Zalamea Events – Xernes Martinez

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Boatdive

Filipino Scuba Divers Club

By Jonie Jose

Take a plunge!

Would you like to see a wide variety of sea creatures and coral reefs? Would you like to catch sight of a flying Manta Ray in action? Play with stingrays, turtles, moray eel, puff fish, clown fish and parrot fish? Then dive in with the FSDC (Filipino Scuba Divers Club) and explore the beauty and the pleasures of the underwater world in the UAE. Joseph Timbol and Joe Acosta organized FSDC in November 1994 with the aim of promoting diving tourism in the Philippines. They also endeavored to gather all Filipino scuba divers into doing an organized series of dives, while sharing diving skills, experiences as well as safety tips. The club also maintains a network of dive shops for club discounts and other benefits.

In December 1995, Ambassador Roy V. Seneres formally confirmed the FSDC as a non-stock, non-profit organization. Funds raised through membership fees are allocated for the maintenance and improvement of the club’s equipments or services.

The FSDC is open to all divers in the UAE. To become a member, one needs to pay the initial membership fee of AED250 and subsequent annual renewal fee of AED50. Upon joining, each member gets two scuba air tanks and an FSDC T-shirt. Members are entitled to up to 25% discount on purchases at various dive shops in Dubai and Fujairah, and can join dive trips and camping activities. The club currently has 83 members, and is growing rapidly.

Clean-up participation

Beginners (swimming skills not required) can take a one-time Discover Scuba Diving lesson for AED100 (all gears included; food and transport excluded). FSDC also offers PADI Open Water courses and consecutive levels at lower costs.

Regular diving activities are scheduled on weekends at the East Coast Black Rock or Snoopy Island in Fujairah, Oman and Ras Al Khaimah.

For further details, please contact Joel Acosta (Diving Officer) at 050 728 9274 or email: fsdcdubai@yahoogroups.com

OFFICERS: Adviser - Mario Elmenzo; Chairman -Jeffrey Amparado Diving Officer - Joel Acosta; Secretary - Cristina Vitug Asst. Secretary Cyril Lorilla; Treasurer - Josie Acosta Asst. Treasurer - Ceasar Pinkihan; PRO - Amor Dagdag Auditor - Eva Amparado; Asst. Auditor - Joycelyn Acosta

Illustrado 63

EVENTS

Anu, Renuka, Micky and Mohammed

Team Splash

A 70’s Splash True to its disco theme, the Annual Splash party at Al Bustan Rotana was a real swinger. The Splash staff, 650 in number revealed a complete passion for fashion as they celebrated the successful year as well as winning the Retail ME Marketing Campaign of the Year Award.

Micky Jagtiani, the CEO of the Landmark Group, walked from table to table with his winning smile and friendly charm, personally congratulating all the staff for their contributions toward making Splash a successful fashion brand. His wife Renuka, who is personally involved in the running of Splash, presented awards to longstanding employees while Raza Beig, managing director of Splash, warmly mingled with his staff.

Rodel, Joso, Maricel and Rey

Entertained by 70’s style pole dancers the dance floor rocked and teemed with party people, the celebratory mood was captured by the music which combined R&B, hip hop as well as Bollywood fusion. The fashion brand also awarded the best dressed couple with the titles of Disco King and Queen!

Paul, Raza, Mohammed and Sudhakar

Lalet and Daniel- Disco King

Joan, Rose, Maansic and Paul

COMMUNITY

Philippine government officials (left to right) Assistant Labor Attache Ching Ardivilla, Consul-General Antonio Curameng, and Labor Attache Virgina Calvez join the aerobics (not seen is OWWA Welfare Officer Jun Mendoza).

Walk for your health

Almost 500 Filipinos joined the first Filipino Community Walkathon in Dubai, organized by the Filipino Healthcare Providers and supported by Gawad Kalinga, on March 30, at Safa Park.

The event called ‘Walk For Your Health’ started with a blood pressure and pulse rate check at Gate 1. Those who were found fit, walked in four batches around the 3.4 kilometer park jogging track. A second blood pressure check after the 30 to 40 minute walk showed a drop in the blood pressure of the majority, demonstrating the benefit of moderate exercise to the body.

Participants cleared fit to walk around the park

Guest speaker Consul-General Antonio Curameng commended everyone for taking part in the event and encouraged them to continue being healthy in mind, spirit and body. Dr. Rosario Tigno spoke on the symptoms and dangers of hypertension and advised the participants to change their lifestyle to a healthy one.

Art Los Banos of Gawad Kalinga said: “We believe that if all of us take care of our health we will become more productive. By being more productive we can earn more. By earning more we can share more. By sharing more we can be blessed a hundredfold.”

Walking around the park

Stretching exercises after the walkathon

Gawad Kalinga aims to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities within seven years in the Philippines. Currently more than 1,000 communities have GK sites.

The seven-year timetable ends in 2010. To donate please log on to: www.gawadkalinga.org

To have your Filipino Club profile and events published in Illustrado, please mail us at admin@illustrado.net or call 04-365 4547.

www.makaticargo.com

Philippine Jeepney

DUBAI 04-350162 / 3350569 • ABU DHABI 02-26714170 / 6714766 MALUGOD PO NAMIN KAYONG PAGSISILBIHAN, MAAASAHAN ITO KABAYAN!

The view from your regular Juan dela Cruz on the street

Naniniwala ka pa ba sa pamahiin?

Usapang Kanto Compiled by Jonie Jose

Have faith I don’t believe in such ‘pamahiin’ or superstitious beliefs. If you really know and believe in God, it is doubtless that all things are happening because of God’s great purpose in our lives.

Things don’t happen because of such superstitious beliefs but rather by faith in God. There is a saying, “Bawal magwalis sa gabi dahil lalayo ang grasya”, I strongly disagree to this because oftentimes nagwawalis ako sa gabi but God’s blessings still continue to pour upon me.

In God We Trust

Nothing to lose

Honestly I used to believe in pamahiin, but not anymore as I came to know about God’s purpose in our lives. Everything is about believing in truth and that is God’s Word.

Believing in pamahiin is basically a practice resulting from ignorance and fear

Para sa akin, naniniwala pa rin ako sa pamahiin at tsaka tradisyon na ito ng mga Pilipino. As far as I know, there are many things that happen in people’s lives that are based on superstitious beliefs. And there’s nothing to lose if we believe in such things.

BERNADETTE LOPEZ

JEFFREY ORGAS

ELMA CUNANAN

One’s lot I do not believe in superstitions as some things happen either by fate or through our own efforts. We plan things, hope, work hard and do the best to achieve our goals. If there will be no action or initiative, dreams will always just be dreams.

DIVINE SAN DIEGO

True-life experience

Yes! I still believe in superstitious beliefs or pamahiin. Tulad halimbawa ng paniniwalang ito ng mga matatanda: “Bawal mag-asawa ng sukob sa taon,” dahil minsan ko nang napatunayan ang epekto nito sa pinsan ko. Hindi naging madali ang buhay para sa kanila. Wala naman sigurong mawawala kung irerespeto pa rin natin ang mga pamahiin.

WILLIAM DAYRIT

Nonsense When I was a child I used to believe in superstitions (and oh my gosh, there are too many!!!) because my grandparents used to believe the same things...so to pay respect, we have no choice but to listen to all these nonsense! But when we grow - physically, emotionally and spiritually - we come to understand and explore things. We can now differentiate facts from fiction. And as part of the ‘NEW GENERATION’ I can proudly say that it’s a big NO-NO... to believe in superstitions.

Just do what makes you happy but make sure to be responsible enough for the consequences whatever it might be...(don’t forget to pray and ask God’s permission always.)

NOELENE RECENA

Live with it Baseless Behind every human action is God’s reason. Scientifically and biblically, it’s baseless.

ROWELL P. PANGILINAN

Kinalakihan na natin ito at nasa kultura na ng mga Pinoy. I don’t see any reason why we should ignore this so-called pamahiin.

Our ancestors have lived with it for so many years and many people, especially in the provinces still live with this. In my point of view, this is one way of showing respect to our culture and tradition.

BENJIE ESPIRITU

The Philippines – Islands of Enchantment

Afraid To Be Chinese

By Alfred A. Yuson and George Tapan

By Xin-Mei

A scintillating tropical archipelago, with colorful fiestas, and over one hundred ethnic groups, the Islands of Enchantment wear their sobriquet with pride. In this beautifully-illustrated volume, award-winning photographer George Tapan and author Alfred A. Yuson lend their home-grown expertise to a fascinating exploration of the Philippines and her people.

All the stories in this book are true, though the names and circumstances have been fictionalized. They are about the strange situation of the Tsinay – the constant dilemmas and contradictions that she faces daily, from inheriting slave-girls to having a specific birthday to arranged marriages. They are skillfully told with much insight, humor and compassion.

Laugh Trip – Dalawang Komedya

Biyaheng FX – Round Trips To Pinoy Life

By Chris Martinez

By Loree Cruz-Mante

Welcome to IntelStar (Palanca Winner, 2005), is the first of two comedies in this book - a hilarious and deeply insightful monologue on call centers in the Philippines. Sa Sabado Sa Sam’s (Palanca Winner, 2001), on the other hand is a prequel to the author’s Last Order Sa Penguin.

This book is a collection of life glimpses, too short and too real to be short stories, too fictional to be essays, too literary to be reportage and too personal to be, well, personal. (It) is itself an FX, with the texts riding inside it and taking us to destinations we ourselves chose to begin with, but in a manner that is always surprising, fresh, and delightful.

Man Overboard – Essays by, for, and of the smart Filipino male

By Butch Dalisay In his latest collection of urbane, witty, and exquisitely crafted essays, Butch Dalisay focuses his formidable intellect on such diverse subjects as cars, Kenkoy kits, khakis, spectacles, technological gadgets, Internet spam, travel, barkadas, ageing, the literate libido, books, diets and much more. He is always interesting, insightful, surprising and downright hilarious.

Books available at Powerbooks, Phils. www.powerbooks.com.pH CDs available at Tower Records Phils. www.Tower-records.ph

Silver Shiny Jeepney / Doobie Nights Coffeebreak Island Underground favorite Coffee Break Island pens very positive lyrics and plays sounds releasing only safe, chirpy songs that could lull the masses into submission. Not a stranger to the scene, they are purists and still have no sign of breaking out. They don’t seem to have an album yet, but are included in numerous notable compilations. Check out track, Let You Go, Party Song and Sweet Lovin’.

Indio I Indio I Formed in 1993, they’re one of the first roots, rock-oriented bands in the country. Started out with the usual band routine, playing at school events until they were good enough to land a club gig, at the then-Mecca for the local music scene, Club Dredd. They may have undergone numerous line-up changes but still managed to stay on top. Check out tracks, Di Mo Lang Alam, Earth To Man and Diwata.

Illustrado 68

Ayos Din Brownman Revival This 9-piece group pumps up the reggae mood once more with their equally impressive sophomore album Ayos Din. A creative mix of traditional Bob Marley and sensible OPM sounds, festive, sensuous, vibrant and energetic, they never fail to leave crowds winding and grinding to a euphoric reggae party. Check out tracks, Paikot-Ikot, Diskarte and Sorry Na, Pwede Ba (Feat. Rico J. Puno).

The Sistahs Are Doin’ It Reggae Mistress Roots, Rockin’ Reggae! A fusion of talented musicians, the young and the old, inspired by the I Threes (Bob Marley’s back up) the mistresses sings their heart out playfully with the tunes of the Caribbean and Jamaican sounds. Conceptualized and pioneered by the legendary drummer of Reggae Eurasia - Philippines, Rene ‘Chong’ Tengasantos.

Check out tracks, Kaibigan, Pinay and Questions.

Welcome To The Hemp Republic Hemp Republic Cultivated in the lush region of UP Los Baños, this band has been around since February of 2000 when only four reggae bands existed in the Philippines. Their lyrics are dance hall branches -- poking on shut eyelids, bearing messages that propagate ‘One Love,’ and reaching out into the Filipino mindset of dancing in times of despair, and singing away the sorrow. Check out tracks, Sabihin Mo and Fireflies.

Island Riddims Tropical Depression Papadom and his legendary band are still top of the heap. A unique reggae synthesis - not exactly east, not west either living up to the universal message of reggae music: ‘One World, One Love, One People.’ Island Riddims is a compilation he produced with other artists. Band albums include Alert Level, Kapayapaan and Aabot Din Tayo. Check out tracks, Ang Himig Natin and Mahal Kita

04 398 7882

Let your chilld experience the joy of learning The joy of learning is often a nightmare for a lot of normal, bright, intelligent children – just because no one has recognized the difference in the way they learn.

Understand their frustration – and acknowledge their special learning needs.

We at De La Salle Montessori recognize the difference.

The DLSM SPED (Special Education) Program Call us at 04-398 6218