FILAM May 2019

Issue 15, May 2019

Farewell to Tourism AttachĂŠ

More stories on the web @ TheFilAm.net

Susan del Mundo p16

Tidying up Boracay p6

Delle Sering Fojas: Faith in the Pinoy IT skills p8

Letter from the Publisher

Tiger Woods and the power of not quitting on your dreams

I

am not a fan of golf. Too sedate, too slow, and just too white for my taste. You kind of wait for the top players to stroke that dimpled ball onto a green and try to coax it into the hole. The only time I can even tolerate golf is when a pair of half-Asian pros are in the hunt for a title. That would be half-Thai Tiger Woods and half-Pinoy Jason Day. These days, the world is in love with Tiger.

His win in the world’s first major at that sainted course in Augusta, Georgia, made for enthralling TV. Up to the last stroke when he putted in for a bogey, you could feel the world holding its breath to see if he could really win it all.

Tiger, these days, is not the fire-breathing, cuss-dropping Terminator of old who was like a one-man German army sweeping everything in his path. He has transformed into a lovable athlete who has struggled mightily to get back from the very dark days when he could not even get out of a chair, much less walk or swing a golf club.

The man, who was infamous for not smiling at all back then, can now break out into a wry grin. Tiger has changed because his foibles and struggles have turned him into something familiar to us all: He is human after all.

Struggles are something we can all identify with.

We all go through our own personal Calvary. From children who broke our hearts, to parents fading before our eye. We’ve been there and been through all that. There have been moments we unleashed a cathartic yell when something finally turned out right after months and years of enduring failure

Founding Editor Cristina DC Pastor Business & Advertising Manager Rene Pastor

in our own lives. A lot of times, we’ve fallen flat on our faces and got our noses rubbed in it.

Is it any wonder that a primal scream erupted from Tiger after he won it all in Augusta? What I remember memorably was him hugging his children, his mom and his partner and how the personal struggles of the past seemed to have faded.

The other part that comes to mind is a paraphrase from my favorite book about how the waves may knock us down seven, eight, nine times and we get

up each time and keep going. You don’t ever quit.

Not on your dreams.

A lot of things in life are not fair. Maybe you wallow in self-pity for a day or two. You then dust yourself off and do what must be done. That is really what all the Filipinos who took a chance by leaving family and friends behind to make their way in the United States did, inch by painful inch. We endure. We persevere.

Despite the odds, we keep going.

Rene Pastor

Contributing Writers Ludy AstraquilloTricia J. Capistrano Ongkeko Joel David Mariel Padilla Wendell Gaa

Address P.O. Box 8071 New York, NY 10116 Contact Editorial: 848-219-0069 Advertising: 732-428-6318 Thefilamny@gmail.com

Maricar CP Hampton Angelito Cabigao

The FilAm is a publication of A&V Editorial THE FILAM |

2

Lindy Rosales Danielle Vania Bonus

The low-key style of young Democrat Aries Dela Cruz

By Cristina DC Pastor

The appointment in April 2018 of Aries Dela Cruz as Manhattan Regional Representative for Governor Andrew Cuomo put him in a position where he could become the first Filipino mayor of New York City. That’s what some Filipinos are speculating or hoping would happen.

“I

do not want to become mayor of New York,” declared Aries, smiling, when asked by The FilAm if being mayor is in his line of sight if not in his peripheral vision. He was amused because it’s a question often asked of him by the FilAm community.

“It (being mayor) is a really hard job,” he quickly added.

The 34-year-old Aries is this fast-rising Democrat leader not unfamiliar with NYC politics’ inner circle.

Given his Columbia University education and his vigorous work organizing Democrats in his FilAm community and his West Harlem neighborhood, he has what it takes to advance to the top.

Before his appointment to the governor’s office, he oversaw digital strategy and operations for Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. After a little more than a year, he was offered his current position.

“I always enjoyed just being behind the scenes,” he said. “I’m not very flashy. Low key…That’s really more of my style. And I think that’s why I was picked for this position. I’m more interested in solving problems without being super showy.”

Another reason being an elected official is not something he might be interested in. “When you’re elected, everyone is your boss. They really expect you to cater to them. I have seen members of the public accost and berate their local elected officials, like, ‘You work for me.’”

He is not averse to seeking out higher level positions, but draws the line against elective posts.

As Cuomo’s Manhattan representative, Aries’s responsibility is to establish relationships with all the elected officials in the borough. That includes the office of Borough President Gale Brewer, the NYC Council, and occasionally, the state legislators. Cuomo has regional representatives in all the five boroughs.

“What we do as his regional representatives is we present awards, proclamations, but we also have governmental functions, like when things happen with the environment or with the state health department if there’s an issue with nursing homes, there’s labor issues,” he said. It’s a position where, he remarked in jest, one has to be a “schmoozer but also knows how to get things done.”

Aries founded the Filipino American Democratic Club (FADC) of New York in April 2016. He would want Filipinos, as a community, to become “more engaged, more involved” and not just in a partisan way, but in matters that affect real lives. He would want to see FilAms attend school board meetings or become more informed about issues.

“Yes, there was Filipinos for Hillary, Filipinos for Bernie and all those, but I was thinking why these groups are only around every four years,” he said, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. “The Democratic Party is much more than the president of the United States, but is also your local school board, for example.”

While being united is important for a community to access resources, Aries believes the lack of a coherent voice is not exclusive to FilAms. “No ethnic group is ever united,” he said. “I know because I worked with many ethnic groups in Manhattan.”

“I always tell people politics is not just a fun thing, there are actually things (that are involved), people’s immigration status, people’s jobs. It’s much more than these fundraisers, fun rallies, we’re actually trying to get real things done,” he said.

‘Democracy is really special and precious.’

Born in the Philippines in 1985, a turbulent time leading to the EDSA revolution, Aries came to the U.S. at the age of 7. It was also a time of heightened political discussion around the country, as well as in his home where his parents talked of the future of Philippine democracy after the fall of the Marcos Dictatorship.

“That was a really scary time,” he said. “What I learned from that and what was imparted to me is that democracy is really special and precious; it’s not something you can kind of ignore if you’re going to be an adult.”

Aries was a doctoral student at Rutgers when he launched the 2016 change.org campaign urging NIKE to drop Manny Pacquiao as a spokesperson because of his homophobic remarks comparing gay people to animals. The campaign was a success, it heralded the founding of the FADC. “Hopefully, it’s got a legacy that will continue,” he said.

At the Douglaston-Little Neck Memorial Day Parade in 2018 with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

THE FILAM |

3

Riding sisters Eloise and

Faye Calloway win big in dressage event Fifteen-year-old Eloise Nuyda Calloway and her younger sister Faye, 12, represented the FTE (Filipino Team of Equestrians United States Chapter) in the Burbank Showcase, held April 25-28 at the state-ofthe-art facility Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

B

oth sisters competed in dressage, winning three First Place ribbons, a Third Place ribbon and the coveted High Point Championship Award for scoring the highest points in First Level.

Faye's lease horse named Shamrock "Mario" O'Malley was generously loaned to her by Mr. and Mrs. Tim Skold of Los Angeles, to help Faye advance into her riding goals. This show marked her first dressage competition.

"I have lots of areas to improve and work on but I'm really happy about my corners with Mario,” she said.

“I am very proud of Mario because unlike most dressage horses that are big Warmbloods, Mario stands at only 14.2 hands which is very unconventional for a dressage horse.

So he has to work even harder on his movements to be more bold and flashy. He is a tank despite his short height. If they scored for cuteness, he would win because he has the most beautiful long mane. I love him so much."

Eloise rode her own horse named Robusto aka Robbie, an 11-year-old Pura Raza Espanola. She said, "For me I am just so happy to have my boy Robbie back in the show ring after a long lay-up from an injury. This week was a huge success because Robbie was mentally and physically ready.

He scored beautifully at 71.8 percent and he felt relaxed. I was happy to win First place.”

Both sisters also competed in other divisions aboard Andalusian Stallion Centello H, who is a schoolmaster and seasoned pro in the show ring having earned himself many championships in his record as well.

The girls thanked their coach, Karen De Los Angeles, who comes from a long equestrian background, as well as Erin Rorabaugh of Fairview Farms, where the three horses were sheltered.

Most importantly, they gave credit to their barn mom Carlyn. “Mom doesn't ever give up and works so hard to support us in our goals and to our horses for always giving us their best," said Eloise.

Carlyn Calloway organized everything from coordinating the haul-in, to entry forms and paperwork, coordinating ride times, ordering horse feed, shavings, making stall reservations, maintaining the feeding schedule, ordering supplies

and administering of supplements and medication, braiding, grooming, bathing, and all of the team's needs.

Her background as a fashion designer helped in the design of their dressage show jackets as well as the team jacket where she installed embroidered logos bearing the Philippine flag on the sleeve in a last- minute effort because their team jackets didn't arrive on time.

Their humble makeshift camp at the equestrian center became a watering hole for many other competitors who would stop by for a break, a snack, a cold drink, or even some hot steamed rice, chicken adobo, and pork sisig. The food was generously sponsored by Filipino business women Marlyn Aguilar and Adel Ortega of CB Homecare Hospice and St. Anthony Hospice. They also provided woman-power for carrying heavy items like saddles and tack as well as transportation for hauling needed supplies for the show.

During her childhood, Carlyn

Faye Calloway (left) and sister Eloise aboard their horses. With Eloise is trainer Karen De Los Angeles.

THE FILAM |

4

shared her love of horses with her grandmother, Evelyn Sunday Nuyda in her young adult days in the Unites States. She began avidly riding as a jumper shortly before she married her husband, Nate Calloway. That love of horses was inherited by their daughters.

Realizing how expensive this sport can be, Eloise at one point set up her own small business offering to do horse laundry, grooming, bathing and hand-walking to make extra cash to help pay for the expenses of training.

Her determination to learn how to ride began seven years ago when she saw Charlotte Dujardin riding in a free style performance with the legendary horse Valegro. She turned to her mother with tears rolling down her cheeks. Interesting to note that her mother, Carlyn also had the same out-of-body experience some decades ago after witnessing Anky van Grunsven aboard Bonfire at the 1995 World Cup Games in Los Angeles.

Faye has also been riding for seven years like her sister atop some of the most challenging ponies.

During the competition, their true grit, discipline, hard work and the “can-do” spirit of their upbringing came to the fore. Their number one weapon before entering the arena: Meditation and prayer. They believe that "with faith, there is no losing. You are in the space you are in because it is the universal plan, therefore a loss is a victory because you are in the space of God's absolute favor.”

If you would like to offer support or learn more about the team, visit http://www.ftequestrian.com

Allie Cuerdo’s favorite Ulam is grandma’s Kare-Kare

By Cristina Dc Pastor

Kare-Kare is Alexandra Cuerdo’s favorite comfort food. The filmmaker behind the food documentary “Ulam: Main Dish” said it’s her grandmother’s KareKare she keeps coming back to.

“I

t’s what I remember growing up, my lola’s Kare- Kare,” said Allie, 29, in an interview with The FilAm. “It’s my favorite dish growing up. The flavor is unlike anything else I’ve ever had. The Bagoong is perfect with the oxtail, a great combination of things.

The ultimate.”

“Ulam” is a well-timed documentary about Filipino American chefs who own and operate successful Filipino restaurants. Filipino food is currently attracting mainstream attention and curiosity going by the perceptive writeups in mainstream publications, such as The New York Times and Bon Appetit. Featured in the documentary are Alvin Cailan (Eggslut, Unit 120), Nicole Ponseca & Miguel Trinidad (Maharlika, Jeepney), Romy Dorotan & Amy Besa (Purple Yam), Johneric Concordia & Christine AraquelConcordia (The Park’s Finest), Charles Olalia (Ricebar), Chase Valencia & Chad Valencia (LASA), and Andre Guerrero (The Oinkster, Maximiliano, The Little Bear).

“This is my first feature documentary film, one hour and 20 minutes long, a series of interviews and conversations with chefs over the last three years,” she said. “It’s a small-budget film. It’s self-financed. We have no backing from a major studio or network. We had to raise the money – piecemeal. It’s a labor of love.”

Allie’s co-producer is John Floresca from Jersey City. While Allie wrote and directed, John did the cinematography. Like Allie, John is a Hollywood filmmaker. They met while working on the set in NYC. “He was working with Matthew Libatique, another FilAm filmmaker. I

was working with George Clooney and Jodie Foster, I was assistant to the cast on ‘Money Monster,’” said Allie, a film graduate from UCLA. “John and I went out to lunch. We immediately clicked, we became friends over food, and over time I told him about my idea. We’re both huge foodies,” she said.

The third co-producer is her father Rey Cuerdo, a Sony business executive and film hobbyist. He and director Ramona Diaz were co-producers of “Motherland,” a documentary about the busiest maternity hospital in the Philippines. Allie said her father had dissuaded her from going into film because of the brutal rejections, and suggested that she study to become a lawyer instead. Allie is a graduate from UCLA where she majored in Film & Television.

“Ulam” was chosen one of the Top 5 Food Documentaries to Watch by MSN. “It’s my idea and my dream,” said Allie of her directorial debut.

“When making the movie I never wanted it to be a bible. It’s not a comprehensive history of Filipino food but an introduction to Filipino food today.”

She believes the sustainability of Filipino restaurants depends to a large extent on the support of the FilAm community.

“The community needs to come out to support it,” she said. “In the past a lot of questions were asked about why would we eat Filipino food in a restaurant if we can make it at home.

The answer is that Filipino food lives and dies because of the community. At the end of the day it’s still all business.

Support is rooted in the community.

These places are for the community.

It’s great that mainstream America THE FILAM |

Nothing beats lola Francia Liwanag Davis’s oxtail stew with Bagoong. is finally catching up but these restaurants are more than restaurants. They’re meeting places and community centers.”

She has abundant respect for the “many excellent” Filipino and FilAm chefs.

“They’re everywhere, in mainstream American and Italian restaurants.

They’re opening their own restaurants and not calling them fusion or pan Asian food. They’re calling it Filipino food (as if telling Filipino customers) this may not look like what you grew up with but it’s my version.”

One of the restaurants she thought was “impressive” was LASA in Los Angeles. It was founded by brothers Chad and Chase Valencia. “Chad is at front of the house, while Chase creates the menu. They worked really hard from being a backyard pop-up to a full-fledged restaurant over the last few years. They have the support of the community, and as brothers their bond is so strong.”

She conceded the visibility of Filipino cuisine was helped in part 5

by celebrity chefs, such as the late Anthony Bourdain.

“Anthony Bourdain was very influential to many of the chefs,” she said. “He has been a great father figure. The thing he did that I thought was great was he approached food with an open mind and he never tried to colonize it. He approached food with respect, and the chefs with respect.”

For eight years, the California-born Allie has worked at studios across Los Angeles and NYC. Her parents – the Cuerdos are from Bukidnon and her mother Ascencia So-Cuerdo is from Quezon City – met as students at the University of the Philippines. Allie has a younger sister who works in Marketing and lives in Chicago.

“My lola had come to the U.S. to start working here,” she said. “My mother followed. My father who used to be in a band and was very much in love with my mother would save up enough money so he could visit my mother. It was a transatlantic romance.”

Tidying up Boracay

By Angelito Cabigao

When I arrived in the Philippines for work three years ago, one of the places that I wanted to visit again was Boracay.

I remember family vacations here where we would eat fresh seafood by the silky white sand beaches and luminous waters..

Unfortunately, I was met with feedback on how I would be disappointed if I went back now. The most common negative feedback I heard was “madumi na diyan” or it’s dirtier there nowadays. Therefore, I decided to pass so that I could preserve the fond memories I had.

Additionally, within this time frame, there was a temporary closure of Boracay to rehabilitate the island through cleanups. Fortunately for me and others, there are other places throughout the Philippines with great beaches that could serve as an alternative.

On a recent weekend, I ended up going to Boracay on a random trip that involved me hopping on a van shuttle at 2 a.m. with 10 people whom I have never met. It was about 7 a.m. when I got to the Boracay beach and the initial experience did not fail me.

When I stepped on the sand, I immediately dropped my luggage in the sand and ran into the water.

The sand was silky white, the water in multiple shades of blue was calm and clear. One good thing that was missing — trash. No stepping on empty chips bags, no plastic bags in the water, and no one drinking with plastic straws. How is this possible?

From my observations throughout the trip, I saw measures taken by tourists and locals to help keep

The only thing you lose is the trash.

The author with trash bins in parts of the island. trash from the ocean (this included plastics that can survive for over 450 years away). The local community set up trash bins that are labeled “recyclable” or “food waste.”

Furthermore, there are patrols on the beach to help monitor any drinks and food people bring to the beach.

Alcohol and non-biodegradable food items are monitored throughout the

THE FILAM |

6

day and evening. The tourists seemed to already know to bring reusable items heeding the regulations of the local government.

There have been a series of government actions aside from regular patrols on the beach for waste. No single use plastics on the beach, police handing out fines for littering, and no umbrellas or beach items containing plastics. According to CNN, tourism numbers are being strictly limited to 6,000 from 19,000 until later this year. This will help the goal of a full rehab of the island within two years. Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat told CNN she would like to see the island as “a model of sustainable tourism.”

Boracay is not completely trash-free.

Outside of the popular stations 1-3, I did see some trash lying around.

Fortunately, there are ways we can resolve this as locals and tourists.

1. Plogging. Exercise on the beach and go on a “plogging” adventure.

Bring a disposable bag to put trash and give yourself a goal of filling it up.

Continue to jog until you do so.

2. Rule of 3: Something I picked up from the local indie film “Siargao.”

While you’re touring the island by foot, pick up at least three pieces of trash and properly dispose.

What can we get out of this in Boracay?

1. Paddle board and see nothing but clear water, white sand, some corals, and some fish when you look down.

2. Take Instagram-worthy pictures of the beautiful beach area without trash photobombing the pics.

3. Walk out in the ocean to catch the sunrise and sunset without going through trash along the journey.

4. Feel good about dining in places that promote eco- friendly options (must try a chorizo burger, hummus in Kasbah, and a mango dessert from Halo Mango).

5. Jump off cliffs without worrying you will jump on a broken beer bottle.

Let’s continue to keep Boracay beautiful!

Syndicate shipped meth to countries including PHL: ICE Three Los Angeles individuals accused of being part of an international drug trafficking ring are in custody on federal charges alleging they used the Darknet to obtain drugs and offer narcotics for sale, and then shipped pound quantities of methamphetamine to buyers in the Philippines, New Zealand, Poland and other foreign destinations

T

he case is the result of an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

An eight-count indictment returned on March 22 by a federal grand jury charges the three defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and substantive drug trafficking offenses. The defendants are: • Michael Alan Goldberg, 34, of Panorama City, who allegedly directed the conspiracy, even after being taken into federal custody in June 2018;

• Donnica Mae Rabulan, 31, of Panorama City; who is Goldberg’s wife, and • James Caleb Kueker, 41, of the Hollywood Hills.

Rabulan, who in addition to the conspiracy charge faces four counts of distributing methamphetamine, was arraigned Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court. Kueker, who also is charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute ketamine, as well as with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was also arraigned on Monday. Rabulan and Kueker each entered not guilty pleas and were ordered to stand trial June 4.

Goldberg, who also faces one count of intentionally distributing methamphetamine, was scheduled to be arraigned April 8.

THE FILAM |

The eight-count indictment followed a criminal complaint filed March 1 that outlined how the three defendants used the Darknet to purchase narcotics with cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, and then made 59 shipments of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs to international buyers.

In May 2018, one shipping company security manager in Van Nuys contacted federal law enforcement about seven parcels destined for the Philippines that were suspected of containing controlled substances, according to the affidavit in support of the complaint. The seven packages cumulatively contained nearly 21 kilograms of methamphetamine, and had contact information with telephone numbers linked to Goldberg.

7

The indictment alleges that Rabulan shipped methamphetamine to international buyers, while Kueker collected tens of thousands of dollars in illicit proceeds from the sales on Goldberg’s behalf.

Search warrants executed by HSI special agents on March 11 led to the discovery of suspected drug labs at Kueker’s homes in the Hollywood Hills and Valley Village, as well as a loaded AK-47-style rifle in the bedroom of Kueker’s Hollywood Hills residence, court papers state.

HSI agents also recovered more than $150,000 in suspected drug proceeds in a safe deposit box registered to Kueker, according to court documents.

If convicted on all counts, each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The conspiracy count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The count alleging firearm possession in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

COVER STORY

CEO Delle Sering Fojas: Faith in the Filipino IT talent

By Joanne Orias

There are very few seats reserved for Filipino women in business and technology. Delle Sering Fojas, co-founder of Seven Seven Softwares, Inc. in New Jersey, is one of the early trailblazers.

“We are 100 percent Filipino-owned,” said Delle, the company’s chief executive officer.

At Seven Seven, founded in 1996, she is known to lead without doubt of her own and her people’s capacity to achieve the best results, the ultimate goal being the success of the company, its partners, and clients.

“Bear Stearns was my first account,” she said. “I like working with Wall Street professionals. The business culture is cutthroat but very professional. I was very lucky; the people I worked with taught me a lot.”

Today, the IT services company that has grown to 2,000 employees in the U.S. and Asia from a start-up staff of seven, continues to provide services to Fortune 500 firms and is moving in the direction of recent technological trends. It has ventured into cloud computing through partnerships with cloud technology providers as well as with new technologies coming in the IT industry, such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence, (AI) and Blockchain.

“We are currently in the era of technological transformation when we keenly look at technology to solve our simplest to most complex problems,” Delle said pointing out how robotics is simply a style of automation where a computer “mimics” a human action’s repetitive tasks. As for Blockchain – popular among Bitcoin users -- Seven Seven harnesses

this technology as a new and secure way of transacting business.

Delle and her husband Mac Fojas formed Seven Seven mainly to source Filipino IT professionals for their U.S. corporate clients. Both were born and raised in the Philippines, then immigrated to the United States after college. Delle graduated from St. Paul’s College Manila with a degree in Business Management, and Mac earned his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Mac was then pursuing his MBA at Fordham University when he met Delle on a group date. As they were planning to get married, Mac’s family offered the couple cash as a gift. Delle chose to make the money grow instead of spending it on a lavish reception. They purchased two family homes – one unit for their use, the other to be rented out.

“We’re trying to save money,” Delle shared. “Mac was still in school. It’s all about saving for the future.”

At the onset of their married life, both had their own professional careers. Delle worked in the textile industry in New York and Mac was a mainframe consultant in various Wall Street brokerage and financial firms for almost two decades.

It was until the mid-1990s when Mac knew about the requirement of top firms in the United States for complex and high-skilled IT resources. Being in the IT industry, he knows for a fact that these hard-to-find resources thrive in the Philippines. Mac and Delle thought of providing opportunities for Filipino IT professionals. With their combined specialized skills, network, and experience, they decided to go into business together. Mac became president and co-founder of Seven Seven, and Delle the CEO.

‘There are so many talented people in the Philippines.’

“This provides more opportunities not only for Filipinos but also for the country,” Mac explained and added “these are the good jobs that we want for our children and our children’s children.”

“Our mission to harness the true Filipino potential, provides a showcase for hardworking IT professionals and match them with the premier Fortune

THE FILAM |

8

500 companies,” writes Delle in the book ‘DISRUPT. Filipina Women: Proud. Loud. Leading Without A Doubt,’ where she was profiled among leaders of the Filipina Women's Network. “It has already created and continuously creating thousands of jobs for IT resources in the United States and the Asia-Pacific.”

Delle believes that the Filipinos’ IT

expertise is “at par with the very best in global standards.”

“It is our advocacy to communicate the strength of Filipino professionals in the local and international markets,” she said. “Seven Seven seriously takes part in the nation-building and carries on its founders’ vision to serve as the bridge in bringing good opportunities to fellow Filipinos.”

Seven Seven founders’ only child, Miguel, 29, has joined the company in the areas of business development and operations, avidly learning all aspects of global IT services operations from recruitment to product development. He went to school in Providence College in Rhode Island where he studied Business Management (2012) and earned his MBA (2017). He also took up an advanced degree in Belgium, returning with a Master’s in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Antwerp Management School (2015). He is currently working on his Masters of

Social Work, Leadership Development Social Services and Migration Studies Program in Loyola University in Chicago.

Among the numerous pieces of his parents’ legacy, Miguel shares Mac and Delle’s vision.

“Our world-class, proficient and talented workforce, high-labour productivity and Westernized culture, are among the most compelling advantages the Philippines has over any other country in the world,” Delle stressed.

“There are so many talented people in the Philippines and it is Seven Seven’s advocacy and vision to show to the world this tremendous talent.”

Joanne Orias writes business articles for technology and trade magazines.

Her reports have appeared in APAC CIO Outlook, Supply Chain Philippines and the Department of Trade and Industry.

She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

The Fojas family with Mac, son Miguel, and Delle.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ is as good as it gets

I

t seems more than fitting that Endgame finishes the arc of Avenger movies in the Marvel Universe that began with Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in 2008.

On a dreary Friday with low, dark clouds bringing rain to the AMC Theaters in Linden, New Jersey, I drove at 8 in the morning to watch the threehour, two-minute long flick. The movie set single-day records in certain Asian markets, such as the Philippines and China, according to industry reports.

I have been watching the various Marvel movies since “Iron Man.” Almost 60 years old now, I would try to scrounge up enough pesos to buy in Cubao the early favorite characters of my childhood. Most of the time, I wound up buying Superman and Batman, the Flash and Green Lantern. But Thor, the Hulk and Captain America were never far behind and when those comic book characters were finally made into such well-crafted movies in the 21st century, I flocked to the movie house to take them in.

DC is trying to match the Marvel universe, but Disney kind of beat them to the punch and has dominated the

The original Avengers: Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow. superhero franchise since. Endgame is a fitting coda to the titanic, battle-tothe-death war with Thanos.

The highlight of Endgame is when everybody who was killed off in “Infinity War” came back. It was almost like an honor roll of the characters that populated a young geek’s dreams while growing up in the streets of Cubao and then Katipunan Avenue. Somehow, you knew the good guys would win. And the world would be right again.

THE FILAM |

But it was close and right up to the last action-filled scene; the outcome was very much in doubt. The endings though were bittersweet.

That is how it should be. The comic book characters were not one-dimensional heroes who always triumphed over their enemies.

What mattered, in their lives as in ours, are the way they lived and the way they fulfilled that very Star Trek saying by Spock: “The needs of the 9

many outweigh the needs of the few.”

Captain James Kirk then added: “Or the one.”

Just one aside in Endgame. I never thought Chris Hemsworth as Thor could be so funny as a beer-soaked God of Thunder who eventually joins the crew of a group of heroes at the end of the movie.

I especially loved the way they handled what happened to Captain America. More than 70 years later from the time he ends up fighting the Nazis and the Red Skull, he gets hitched and grows old with the only person he ever loved. It is endearing and tender. Watch out for the ring on his finger.

Like the “Harry Potter” series which spanned a decade, the Marvel movies did the same thing. For the current batch of thespians, it ends here. But there will be other Marvel movies going out in the years ahead and will take the franchise in other directions.

One woman, a fan of the Marvel movies, said: “Well, one chapter closes with Endgame. I know they will replace the current characters but to me, Downey will always be Iron Man.” -- Rene Pastor

Real estate closing costs guide for NYC co-ops

This closing costs guide is designed to give you an estimate of the general costs associated with the sale or purchase of a cooperative, condominium or house. Please note that these are only ranges and approximations and that potential sellers and purchasers must consult their real estate attorney for specifics. We do not represent that these are the entirety of potential costs, but are only to be used as a guide. Professional fees, including brokerage and legal, are negotiable. This guide was last updated July 2016.

A Bite of the Big Apple

By Edwin Josue Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

FEATURED PROPERTY 100 WEST 58TH STREET, 9A Midtown West • Sixth Ave & Seventh Ave • 10019 • Pre-War • Condo $775,000

Living room

COOPERATIVE PROPERTIES SELLER CLOSING COSTS Residential: Below $500,000 = 1% of purchase price $500,000 or above = 1.425% of purchase price Commercial: Below $500,000 = 1.425% of purchase price $500,000 or above = 2.625% of purchase price NYC Administrative Fees: Non-Deed Transfers = $100 NYS Transfer Tax: $4 per $1,000 of purchase price (.4% of purchase price) Acris Preparation (Taxes): $0-$250 E Tax Filing (Acris): $100 Payoff Attorney Fee: $400-$600 (if applicable) UCC 3 Termination Fee: $75-$100 (if applicable) Broker: 6% purchase price Seller’s Attorney: $2,500+ Cooperative Fees: $500-$1,000 move out deposit (usually refundable if no damage $250-$750 non-refundable move out fee Federal Withholding Tax (FIRPTA): 15% of purchase price for non-exempt Foreign Seller Co-op Managing Agent or Attorney Fee: $450-$850 Flip Tax: Varies based on the building. Can be the responsibility of seller and/or buyer Stock Transfer Tax: $0.05 per share NYC Transfer Tax:

THE FILAM |

10

COOPERATIVE PROPERTIES PURCHASER CLOSING COSTS Co-op Lien Judgement Search:

$350+

Mansion Tax:

1% of purchase price where price is $1,000,000 or more

Homeowner’s Policy Required by Lender:

Costs will vary depending on coverage selected by borrower/ purchaser. Check with insurance agent

Purchaser’s Attorney:

$2,500+

CO-OP LOAN ASSOCIATED FEES: Bank Attorney:

$850-$1,750

Bank Application Fee/ Underwriting:

$750-$1,250

Appraisal:

$400-$1,500

UCC 1 Filing Fee:

$75-$100 (if applicable)

Recognition Agreement Review Fee: $250+

Bathroom

Cooperative Fees:

$500-$1,000 move in deposit (usually refundable if no damage) $250-$750 non-refundable move in fee

Managing Agent Application Fee:

$500 +/-

Credit Report Fee:

$50-$150/Applicant

Maintenance Adjustment:

Prorated for month of closing

Cooperative UCC Eagle 3 Insurance: (Title Insurance is not required but available)

Available from several title companies – Price varies depending on purchase price but regulated by NYS Statute. Best to use an online rate calculator from any reputable title company website

New York State budget adopted-tax changes for real estate sales will run in next June 2019 issue.

Edwin Josue is a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker at Halstead Manhattan, LLC located at 499 Park Avenue, 14th Fl., NY, NY 10022.

He can be reached at O: 212-381-3304 C: 917-560-6874 or at ejosue@halstead.com.

Halstead.com.

Promoted Content

Kitchen

THE FILAM |

11

To be continued/ Promoted content

||May 13

Calendar

of Events

||September 8

Philippine General Elections

2019 Outstanding Foreign Workers Awards Night Astoria World Manor 25-22 Astoria Blvd. Queens

||May 17, 7 p.m.

Vice Ganda Live in New Jersey Newark Symphony Hall 1020 Broad Street, Newark NJ

||May 18

Aziz Ansari: Road to Nowhere BAM 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn

||May 24

The Crooner meets the Soul Diva!

Feinstein's/54 Below 254 W 54th St, NYC

||September 21 ||June 12,

7:30 p.m.

Selected Shorts: A Celebration of James Baldwin Symphony Space 2537 Broadway

||July 14-21

Very Important Pinoy/2019 Ambassadors Tour

9th Annual All About Downtown Jersey City Street Fair Grove PATH Plaza 319 Grove St, Jersey City

||June 1

UniPro Summit 2019: X New York Marriott Downtown 85 West Street at Albany Street, NYC

||June 2

Philippine Independence Day Parade Madison Avenue, NYC

||July 21, 12:30 p.m.

Ilocano Gala 2019 Leonard's Palazzo 555 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, New York

||June 15

||June 7, 4 p.m.

Philippine Flag Raising Jersey City City Hall 280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ

Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko.... With The Rigor Brothers & SoM! Mason Hall - Baruch 17 Lexington Ave, NYC

||July 28

||June 17

||August 30 – September 2

WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50 50th NYC Pride March 26th Street and Fifth Avenue

||July 14

7th Annual Summer Potluck Picnic for Young FilAm Families Contact info@filschool-nynj.org or call 774.257.4669 for location

THE FILAM |

Central Park Triathlon Central Park Lasker Pool NYC

20th Grand Reunion and Convention, University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America, Inc. Crowne Plaza Hotel at San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, California

12

||October 12

Create Your Own Social Media Filter Pioneer Works 159 Pioneer St, Brooklyn

||2020

July 1 Filipino American National Historical Society Metro NY Chapter National Conference Waikiki Marriott Beach Resort & Spa

Camille M. Ng: International arbitration lawyer and limerick writer

By Maricar CP Hampton

Lawyers of Filipino ethnicity are a drop in the bucket, so to speak, comprising less than 2 percent of more than a million lawyers in the U.S. While we know some of them to be immigration or personal injury attorneys, or to work in legal departments, a rare few like Camille M. Ng practice international arbitration.

T

Law but also because they were co-authored with one of her best friends.

John Grisham’s “The Client”, which she read in grade school, may have sparked a budding interest in the legal profession. Camille graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame Law School in Indiana in 2008. She also has an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from the National University of Singapore, and an LL.M. in Global Business Law from New York University. Looking back, she recalled the constant debating she did as a Management student at the Ateneo de Manila University plus frequent appearances before the Philippine Advertising Board as an account executive as experiences that may have sharpened her skills at communicating and reasoning.

“It was always something I thought I could do,” she said. “I realized that law might be a possible career path for me.”

Being Filipino, she said she brings a unique mindset to her position. “My experience helps me relate to parties who come from different backgrounds and legal traditions.”

Camille is the eldest of four siblings. Her father is a banker, and her mother worked as an officer at San Miguel Corporation. She enjoys going out with friends where always there is “great converCamille speaking as panelist at the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum: sation, lots of laughing, and good food.” The Met Caribbean Series: Barbados on the topic of ‘Entrepreneurship and Central Park are NYC places she frequents and Commercial Arbitration’ in 2016 for some quiet time.

he Manila-born Camille, 36, is Deputy Counsel at the North American Case Management Team of the International Court of Arbitration (Court) of the International Chamber of Commerce. She is the only Filipino at the ICC, the world’s largest business organization representing more than 45 million companies around the world. She assists the Court in managing disputes between rival organizations, among other roles, keeping in mind the ICC’s founding philosophy of “promoting peace through trade.”

“We are a non-profit,” she said. “To promote peace and to do good business generally, you need a dispute resolution mechanism. In the event of a dispute, say, over contracts, some parties may agree to choose arbitration over litigation, where in some cases they may be able to save on costs and time.”

International arbitration, she said further, “can be a great alternative to the court system.”

“Right now, I’m in charge of around 50 cases, and this is on the low end,” said Camille, a frequent speaker on ICC matters as well as other topics in international arbitration.

She was Assistant Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) based in The Hague when the ICC job opened up. She had a phone interview in The Hague and then hopped on a train for a three-hour trip to Paris for her second interview. She got the post. She has been with the ICC for close to four years now.

At The Hague, she co-authored two journal articles on the PCA that were published in the Hague Yearbook of International Law in 2012 and 2013. She’s especially proud of those articles not only because they marked the PCA’s first con- She enjoys going out with friends where there is ‘great tribution to the Hague Yearbook of International conversation, lots of laughing, and good food.’

THE FILAM |

13

||Fun fact Camille has this unusual knack for rhyming.

She could be a rapper if her crisp words had a beat to them. Making words rhyme, as if in a limerick, is something that comes naturally.

She recalled with amused embarrassment how her mind wandered into rhyming while she was drafting a serious agenda for a Court session.

The mood hasn’t struck You guys are out of luck Says the duck with a buck With an eagle on one side And Jefferson on the other And I’ll end this now, so I won’t be a bother Back to work we quack Duck “Just playful, silly words,” she said.

Leonard Co: A fashion style called ‘more and more’

By Cristina DC Pastor

A couple of years ago, I attended a birthday party where the celebrant — wearing a soft pink gown richly beaded and layered with lace – was giddy on the dance floor.

“That’s a Leonard Co,” a guest whispered to my ear. “$3K.” All I could say was, “Wow!” From that time on, I associated the designer Leonard Co, 60, with over-the-top embellished gowns for well-heeled clients who are usually nurses, doctors, business owners, and executives.

I shared this story with Leonard when we met in 2018. He guffawed, shaking his head. “Not true, I am very reasonable,” he stressed. “Some local designers command that price, but not me.”

Leonard is a frequent visitor New Jersey where he usually stages fundraising fashion events for the Garden State Filipino American Association, Inc. (GSFAA), led by his friend and patron Francis Sison. Last year on November 3, he had his first-ever fashion show in Manhattan with “women of distinction” as his fashion models, among them RN Evelyn Leonard and his long-time friends Francis and Sison, accountant Lea Frain, Dr. Evelyn Sison of Jersey City. Evelyn is his Muse.

Aida de Leon, and Dr. Elma Castillo.

Leonard described his style as “more Leonard has been with sketch pad and more.” More beads, more lace, more since late 1980s and began designing for ruffles, more layers, more texture… That’s a living. He graduated with a Business how, he said, his clients like their eveArts degree from Trinity College. His ning gowns or Filipiniana terno. “Fully family is in the construction business. loaded.” These are the women so enamHis mother was a seamstress – she ored with his designs they would buy not owned a dress shop in Binondo in the one gown but five or six at a time because 1970s — but that was not a factor behind they are busy community leaders who his decision to be a designer. He is the have parties to attend almost every night. youngest of three siblings, and his famThe dresses are shipped, via DHL, from ily is now based in Los Angeles. Among Leonard’s studio in Balete Drive, New his contemporaries were Sidney Perez Manila. The request is always the same: Sio and Randy Ortiz.

Frilly and flamboyant gowns, no less.

Whenever he is in the U.S. to do “I already have their measurements,” benefit shows for friends, usually for he told The FilAm in an interview.

Sison’s GSFAA, Leonard said he does not Always, he travels with his assistant demand special treatment.

Mabel Rodriguez, who gets the measure“I never demand any hotel accommoments of new clients; she is also a cutter. dations when I come here,” he said. “I THE FILAM |

The women of Leonard Co, from left: Dr. Elma Castillo, retired RN Cora Reyes, and nursing supervisor Joycelyn Aligarbes. can sleep in friends’ homes.”

From the East Coast he travels to L.A. to visit his family before heading back home.

He met the Sisons in 1985 when he was introduced to Evelyn by her sister-in-law. Since then, he has been styling the neonatal ICU nurse, who is always dressed elegantly in Leonard’s eye-catching bodycons. In 2008, he had his first ramp show in the U.S. “Many of my clients attend so many events, because they’re members of so many organizations or they’re always being crowned as beauty queens, Miss this, Miss that,” he said. That’s where the business is usually generated for designers like him.

Competition can come from Philip15

pine-based designers, such as Renee Salud, as well as from area-based couturiers. He named two who are known to charge more than him. Although he has many loyal customers, he is not considering opening a New York or Jersey shop. “Ang taas ng overhead.”

If a potential client is interested in a Leonard Co gown, the process entails a lot of back and forth emails. A deposit is required. It indicates that the individual is a serious client. He shared how one local personality asked him a lot of questions and ended up not placing an order. That, and collecting payment, can be the biggest challenges because he has encountered some deadbeat customers.

So how much is a Leonard Co? He insisted it is nowhere near $3K!

Farewell to Tourism Attaché Susan del Mundo

By Cristina DC Pastor

Susan del Mundo will travel anywhere in the Philippines, and the world, by boat, bike or on foot if it means exploring new places and learning from them.

S

he has spent almost 38 years with the Department of Tourism in the Philippines, has visited more than 80 percent of the vast archipelago that stretches north to south, and is serving her 20th Kalihim ng Turismo, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

As Tourism Attaché to New York, her mind was constantly conjuring, creating projects that will draw foreigners to the Philippines and its 7,000-plus islands. Top of mind was Puyat’s program on agritourism and how Susan could execute it for the East Coast market.

Other ideas percolating is for Manila to once again host the American Society of Travel Agents conference after it was attacked by anti-Marcos activists 38 years ago. “They’re excited to be back,” she gushed in an interview with The FilAm. “It’s going to be historic!”

Another project in the drawing board is the GFNY (owned by Gran Fondo New York) cycling marathon where international participants bike from country to country to compete.

An idea that has a slightly remote chance of being realized is the expanded Balikbayan project. It requires the passage of an executive proclamation or legislation because there may be other agencies involved. “I wish to address the challenge on how the tourism industry can revitalize its strategic position to strengthen the Balikbayan program? The balikbayans are here to stay with about 10 million spread all over the world. It will be significant to the next generation of overseas Filipinos,” she said.

||Projects

That’s what Susan, 61, does best. She has been developing projects since she became Division Chief of the Travel Trade Sales Department of the Philippine Convention & Visitors Corp. in 1987. Before that, she was a budget and numbers cruncher.

“I conceptualize high-impact projects that are feasible and would allow tourism to grow.”

||Her father, her idol

The Philippine Convention Bureau (now Tourism Promotions Board) was her first job. From the time she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce in 1978, Susan joined DOT as a contractual employee, also working in the same agency as her

father, Paulino del Mundo, whom she admired and adored. He was the auditor then at the Philippine Tourism Authority.

“He was well loved by all ranks. I always keep in my mind and heart his words of wisdom – ‘Education is the only legacy I can leave to you, and you will never go wrong in life,’ ‘Maintain your integrity and honor at all time’ and ‘Always appreciate the people who work with you.’”

It was through him that she imbibed a love of travel. She remembered a family trip to the Cordilleras when she was still in college. DOT was opening a hotel and the family came along. Up in the mountains where the rice terraces seemed to kiss the sky, she discovered “heaven.” To this day the Cordilleras is one of her favorites spots to visit, one she keeps coming back to even on personal visits.

But it saddens her to see the deteriorating condition because the “younger generation don’t plant rice anymore.”

Her mother, Rafaela Japor, a businesswoman, died much earlier at age 59. Hardly able to finish formal education, she was a rice dealer who operated 21 rice stores across Metro Manila.

“With 12 offspring to take care of, our parents hurdled their combined earnings to bring us to the best universities and colleges and earned our diplomas,” she said. “I must say, most of my siblings looked up to me as the ‘ate’ (older sister) even if I am the seventh child. I looked after their welfare, being single, but our parents taught us to consult one another on family meetings, a practice we frequently do especially on crucial matters.”

Rising through the ranks, she was able to prove her mettle, the ability to sell a country that couldn’t seem to shake off its serious image problem over poverty, drugs, crime, and terror.

In London, where she was the Tourism and Cultural Officer of the Philippine Embassy for six years, she provided assistance to the Tourism Attaché handling promotional programs for the UK, Ireland and Scandinavian markets.

||Forgot to get married

As a matter of fact, the business and pleasure aspects of traveling have been a lifelong passion that Susan, in wry self-deprecation, admitted she “forgot to get married.”

THE FILAM |

16

In her father’s footsteps, Susan has been with the Department of Tourism almost 40 years.

Photo by Boyet Loverita

“Why not?” she reasoned. “When you love your job, and you are surrounded by family and great friends.”

In 2017, she came to New York to become Tourism Attaché, and was totally smitten.

“Before, I didn’t like New York. It’s too cosmopolitan, too fast-paced for me. I liked London which is more conservative,” she said.

But she came to admire New York’s Filipino community, finding them “aggressive,” “dynamic,” and always creating activities even when there are not a lot of resources. She is particularly impressed by the second-generation FilAms who are proud of their traditions.

“It was indeed a great privilege to have served this post and somehow made a great impact, even for a brief stint,” were her parting words.

Erman Baradi’s Hollywood journey: ‘Be ready to sleep on couches’

By Maricar CP Hampton

B

“For a while there I thought I wanted to be a doctor.”

ut several months into his high school's medical academy, Erman Baradi realized his passion lay not in hospitals but in Hollywood.

The writer-producer, who was once hailed a Top Networker in Hollywood, is currently working on a project where he will co-produce “Malaga: The Journey.”

The musical, written by the “Moana” musical consultant and notable songwriter Igelese Ete, is a celebration of the culture of the people of the Pacific Islands.

The Samoa-born Ete has lived in New Zealand and Fiji for the most part of his life before coming to Hollywood to pitch some concepts. He and Erman got connected, and a creative venture was born. Malaga Hollywood is a combined effort of the University of the South Pacific, Stratas Media Group, and Ermantourage.

“I am called the Top Networker for knowing a lot of industry names,” he said in an interview with The FilAm. “I can lock in meetings, but that doesn’t mean anything comes easy. I’m not going to have a movie just like that. I still have to deliver.”

Erman creates events combining the elements of a Q&A and a social gathering where the attendees – usually people of color -- get to schmooze with the industry’s movers and shakers. “I am surrounded by a lot of creatives - musicians, actors, writers, directors, and producers.

It is like the personal and professional worlds naturally blend.”

In the beginning, he fell in love with storytelling and wrote almost constantly. Then, he discovered he had ideas he could put into motion. That’s when he popped the cork on meet-andgreets between blossoming talents and industry notables.

“I want to help talented people connect with the Hollywood’s who’s who,” he said. “We don’t always know about

the Asian Americans making big moves in Hollywood. So my mission is to give blossoming talents out there a chance to make connections. I especially want to help Asian Americans get recognized in the arts."

The “Malaga” musical is a fruit of his meticulous labor.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia to Filipino parents Rubin Baradi from La Union and Erna Manglicmot from Zambales, Erman uses his ethnicity to his advantage.

“I think people find it appealA networking event at Ermantourage. ing, like, ‘Who’s this Asian guy?

How’s he doing all of this?’ Plus, if a cause is attached, then I’m for it.” it’s a conversation starter. They Some people come up to tell him how usually start off about food and jealous they are of his seemingly cushy language, but people seem to be job. It just looks that way, he said. “It’s a more and more interested in the hustle every day trying to get by. Money culture,” he shared. comes and goes. I work for myself, which After Erman earned his B.A. has advantages and disadvantages. in 2012 from Regent University’s Everyday it’s me working for that dollar, Cinema-Television program, it especially living in Los Angeles.” was music that paved his way.

In a few years he hopes to produce and “I interned at a radio station write feature films and television series. for a music festival, threw music His goal is to represent Asian Americans showcases with local artists in in media and entertainment and use his Virginia Beach, did some work platform for the social good. with No Malice of The Clipse.

Right now, he is working to connect All it took was one person to give filmmakers and musicians to work me a chance in the beginning,” together on projects, through a series he said. of mentorship contests with some help In 2018, Erman launched his from representatives from Netflix personal brand Ermantourage, and Amazon, among top studios and an event and media company production companies. that bridges “the creative and “Success is a journey,” he said. “It’s not Now an L.A. resident, Erman has not forgotten his the conscious.” His platform glamorous at all, especially early on.”

Virginia roots. includes giving back to special His advice to those who aspire to a causes such as the American spotlighting important societal issues. slice of Hollywood life: “Be ready to Foundation for Suicide Prevention in “I want to make things that are high sleep on couches. Be ready to eat cheap.

L.A. He remembered a friend who had energy and quirky. In terms of events, I Keep your eyes on the end game because contemplated ‘ending it’ because she just want to give everyone a fun, engaging throughout the process it’s a bunch of couldn’t get a break on her acting career, experience where they leave feeling better heartache and hunger. Then, when you Hollywood being a ruthless place for or knowing a ton more people,” he said. make it big, there are even more stressself-starters.

“What really sells me on collaborating ful situations. You have to work even “It was powerful to know how my work with folks are good personalities. I’d harder. Everyone is looking at you for essentially saved someone,” he said. rather work on small projects with fun decisions. The training wheels come off Ermantourage is about giving participeople than big projects with people who and now you’re in the real world where pants a “fun, engaging experience" while don’t know how to have a good time. Also, everyone is looking at you to deliver.”

THE FILAM |

17

Ruby Ann Weigel-Canete:

A pilgrim in progress

By Danielle Vania Bonus

To most religious people, Holy Week becomes an affair that targets a hungry soul. To celebrate the occasion, the purist Christians partake in the seven days of fasting also known as Lent, while others pack their bags and set off for some R&R.

R

uby Ann Weigel-Canete, a housewife since 1992 and spouse to the wealthy vice chairman of a property conglomerate Romel Canete, has lived a full life traveling and satisfying her passion for learning history throughout the world. During these educational trips, she has witnessed powerful forces that demonstrate the presence of God or some higher power.

This has sent her tracking the globe with travel destinations that one takes not only during the Holy Week.

For history buffs and soul-searching adventurers, Peru was at the top of Canete’s list with a highlighted mark for the city of Cusco. You can visit the church of Santo Domingo and experience an in-depth look at Inca artifacts alongside beautiful Baroque churches. Also, near Cusco and worth the detour is Canete’s favorite church, The Sistine Chapel of the Andes. Originally called the church of San Pedro Apostol, you’ll find an extravagant gold altar, marvelous murals magnificently painted, vaulted ceilings and maybe even a holy presence emanating from the sanctuary.

Visiting Egypt to marvel at pyramids, decipher ancient hieroglyphics, and gain an understanding

Serra Chapel at Mission of San Juan Capistrano in California on mummy embalming sounds like a complete trip. But Canete also recommends not to forget about the Christian monasteries in the Red Desert.

“If you want to find God, you can find Him there because you will actually feel His presence,” she said.

Saint Anthony’s Monastery, the oldest of its kind in the world, is hidden between the mountains of the Red Sea and sits a little over 200 miles south of Cairo. There is also the monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite that was built underground in the caves where Saint Paul lived for 80 years. Canete suggests walking through the caves to get the THE FILAM |

At Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal. She has visited more than a hundred churches around the world.

complete spiritual experience.

As a devout Catholic, Ruby set off to Canada for her pilgrimage giving reverence to her favorite patron saint, Saint Joseph. She expressed her love for the saint’s life and the beauty of adoption that God made available to Joseph.

“If you think about it, way back when it wasn’t even trendy to be a foster parent or to accept someone else’s child, he was there unconditionally. He took God’s son as his own,” she said.

The words came out of her mouth like a true evangelical so much that I was moved to look at adoption in such a manner. Saint Joseph’s Ora18

tory of Mount Royal is in Montreal, Quebec and is said to be the largest church in Canada with one of the largest domes in the world.

The tragic event in Paris that just unraveled about a week ago has left the some-eight-hundredyear-old Cathedral of Notre Dame in rubble. According to CBS news, the fire may have been caused by a computer glitch. Inside the sanctuary, the spire collapsed and the altar to ash, but the cross stood tall and untouched. Canete remembers the cathedral as, “beautiful and gothic with stained rose windows.”

Crowds might mourn the structure’s demise, but with the original cross

still standing, God makes His presence known making Notre Dame highly worthy of a visit!

Canete, a mother of three children, has fulfilled her life’s goal to raise them to be respectable members of society.

Her eldest son brought Uber to the Philippines six years ago. Her middle child took up after her father working in commercial real estate in Houston.

And her youngest works for Criteo while attending the University of Michigan for her master’s. Though the work of a mother is never really done, Canete has more time now and she’s using it to the fullest!

Having the ability to go about life as you please is a luxury only a few have, and Canete doesn’t waste a minute of it! In just a few days, she’ll be packing her bags to head for the Philippines, her home country, and where she first found her faith. Her cheery disposition and kindness have led me to believe that her passion is a call from heaven, allowing her to be a light that displays one who has witnessed the love of God.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral at U.S. Virgin Islands

FILA M

ON

FOL LOW THE

More stories on TheFilAm.net

THE FILAM |

19

Issue 15, May 2019

The low-key style of young Democrat Aries Dela Cruz p3

Allie Cuerdo on food and film p5

Ruby Ann Weigel-Canete: A pilgrim in progress p18