RaW Magazine August-September 2023 14yr Edition by Roots and Wings

Filipino Magazine in Europe

Bong Delfin p8

August - September 2023 Volume 13 Issue 5

From the Guest Editor

ROOTS & WINGS, AT 14 YEARS — A CELEBRATION OF THE FILIPINO-EUROPEAN Fourteen years ago this month, Roots&Wings magazine was born in Stockholm, Sweden, conceived and given life by Rachel Hansen, founder and first editor, to document the lives of Filipino-Europeans. In the maiden issue of Roots&Wings, Autumn 2009, Rachel Hansen summarized the mission and vision of the magazine: ROOTS&WINGS aims to promote Philippine culture in Europe. We will feature the wealth, beauty and diversity of Filipino culture: the Filipino way of life, thinking, expressions, customs and traditions, heritage, habits, ways, mores, values - all resulting in great works of paintings, literature, music, intellectual achievements. - ROOTS&WINGS also aims to serve as a special networking channel for Filipino-Europeans. We do not need to be strangers; we can reach out, learn, share, give and enrich each other's lives. We will document our lives as Filipino-Europeans, our ideas, vast experiences, acquired expertise in various fields of endeavor. We will bring our lives closer to each other through articles, photographs, network of ideas and strength. We can encourage each other to reach new heights and visions. Together, we can open windows of opportunities to improve trade and investments, promote cultural and educational exchanges, invite our European relatives, friends and associates to visit our home country. Through advertisements, we will help each other find jobs and business opportunities.

Rawmags Team

The ROOTS & WINGS TEAM We'd like to inform our readers that former Editor in Chief, BETSY JANCE von ATZIGEN, has stepped down for personal reasons. Many excellent issues of the magazine have been published under Betsy’s leadership. We express gratitude and appreciation for Betsy’s exemplary work, invaluable contribution, dedication and inspiration. The RW Team will meet face to face, for the first time, in Prague, on 29-30 September. We look forward with excitement to this meeting. A new Editorial team will be in place from October. We have some new faces in the RW team, and we welcome everyone with great enthusiasm and hopes for more active writing to bring to RW readers the best stories about Euro-Pinoys. In this September issue, we present a host of amazing Euro-Pinoy talents in the arts, crafts, food, travel, business. Note especially, The Retrospective Exhibition of International artist Lolita Valderrame Savage in Florence, Italy; and the interesting works of Madrid-based painter Bong Delfin. We celebrate the great team of talented, skillful, awesome young men and women who so unselfishly, and devotedly work to put together and bring this magazine to life and out to our readers, not only in Europe, but worldwide!

Luz Bergersen

Interim Editor, September 2023 Oslo/Norway Roots&Wings

Meet the Team

Luz Bergersen

Rebecca Urbancik Garcia

INTERIM EDITOR IN CHIEF, NORWAY

ASSOCIATE EDITOR, GERMANY/CZ

BUREAU EDITOR, UNITED KINGDOM

Mary Hyacinth Reguindin-Tondo

Donna Avellana Künzler

Cipriano “Zip” De Guzmán Jr.

BUREAU EDITOR, SWITZERLAND

BUREAU EDITOR, LUXEMBOURG

Donna Patricia Manio

Anton Miguel D. De Vera

Alfonso Joaquin De Jesus De Vera

BUREAU CO-EDITOR, UNITED KINGDOM

LIFESTYLE EDITOR, PHILIPPINES

SOCMED HEAD, AUSTRIA

Myla Arceno

Siobhan Doyle

Ralph Anthony Chan

Ieth Inolino Idzerda

BUREAU CO-EDITOR, UNITED KINGDOM

BUREAU EDITOR, AUSTRIA

BUREAU EDITOR, THE NETHERLANDS

Jeffrey Cabuay

Gloria Hernandez Grejalde

Mye Mulingtapang

CULTURAL EDITOR, PHILIPPINES

BUREAU EDITOR, FRANCE

BUREAU EDITOR, ITALY

Jennifer Fergesen

Becky Torres

Marizel Arambulo

BUREAU EDITOR, ICELAND

SOC ENTREPRENEUR LEAD, PHILIPPINES

SOCMED, AUSTRIA

Daniel Ceeline Ramonal

Aimee Alado -Blake

BUREAU EDITOR, SERBIA

LEGAL COUNSEL, UK

FOUNDER/ PUBLISHER, SWEDEN

Chad Patrick Osorio

Apiong Bagares

Lyndy Bagares

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, THE NETHERLANDS

DESIGN, PHILIPPINES

WEB EDITOR, NORWAY

Rachel Hansen

Maria Guttehall BUREAU EDITOR, SWEDEN

Dennis Mana-ay BUREAU EDITOR, PARIS

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Would you like to join our Rawmags Team?

What do you think of our magazine? Email rawmags.betsy@gmail.com

Volunteer roles now open for Bureau Editor Greece, Ireland, Poland and Turkey. Email rawmags@gmail.com

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www.rawmags.com Roots&Wings

Roots&Wings Roots&Wings Filipino Magazine in Europe Published by Rachel Publishing Co. Stockholm, Sweden / St Gallen, Switzerland 2009-2023

Rawmags Team

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Contents ART Lolita Valderrama Savage to Stage Retrospective in Historic Palazzo Vecchio Museum Sala d’Armee p5 Bong Delfin, Painter and Printmaker, Passionate Madrid-based Artist p8 Tech and Canvas: An Interview with Filipina Software Developer and Visual Artist Jeanella Pascual p14 The Internal Metamorphosis Of Kermit Tesoro p17 BUSINESS Lorna Vea Munnecom, Amihan Travel Tours Journey Of Life To Success p21 Mayeth S. Codoy p23 Lani De La Peña Tranberg Founder & Creator of Vedessence Skin Care Products in sweden p25 Fave It to Make It - A story of beauty, business, and service p27 DIRECTORY Philippine Embassies in Europe p29 TRAVEL Palawan p31 MUSIC Global Filipino Music Artists Conquer World Stages p36 SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP A Yellow School Boat for Labney Integrated School of Tarlac p40 Dine for a Cause p41 BAIPHIL Medical Dental Surgical Mission p42 Getting to Know DBP Grail p44 SPECIAL Keeping The Faith Alive p47 My Graduation Week in Oxford p50 PEOPLE Meet Atty. Chad Patrick Osorio p54 FOOD New Nordic Meets Neo-Filipino p56 Luncheon with the Laudico p59

Table of Contents

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ITALY

FILAM Artist Celebrates a ‘Life in Art through Nature’ in New International Exhibition Oct. 13 to Nov. 3 - Open to the Public, and Admission is Free

olita Valderrama-Savage, international highly acclaimed artist, has been one of Roots&Wings staunchest supporters from the very start. We have featured Lolita and her art in Roots&Wings a few times. We are very honored once again to inform you about Lolita´s upcoming Exhibition. We invite all Filipinos, especially those who are already in Italy, or are in Italy during this period, to come, see, and enjoy this exciting Exhibition. When nature is your muse, the world is your palette”. For decades, international artist Lolita Valderrama Savage has used this creative well to cap-

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About Lolita

Lolita Valderrama Savage was born in the Philippines and received her bachelor of fine arts from the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, the oldest Catholic University in Asia. She then received a scholarship from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study at the Accademia de Belle Arti in Florence where she received her Licenza in Pittura. Her first international group exhibition was at the Palazzo Strozzi in 1975. She also lived and exhibited in Sweden before moving to the United States in 1980. She previously worked at the United Nations, and has continued her work in local and international organizations that offer support and education to young people and artists, as well as promote culture and the arts. She was trained to speak several languages, including English, Italian, Swedish, Spanish, French, and German. She is married to Frank Savage and is mother to Fredrik Antoine, Grace Erlinda, and Frank Alexander. She attributes her artistic learning and discipline to her professors at UST Museum in Manila, as well as Professor Silvio Loffredo, at the Accademia in Firenze Italy. She also credits her mentor, the late Swedish artist Staffan Hallstrom. Over the course of her career, Lolita has been honored with many awards and distinctions including: • •

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Outstanding Women of America, 1987 A citation from the Connecticut for her work in the arts and community, 1997, 1999, 2012 A woman of influence (among 125 significant women in Stamford), 2011 Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award in Visual Arts, 2012 Pamana ng Pilipino award by then Philippine President Benigno Aquino, Jr., 2014 Premio Europeo “Lorenzo il Magnifico” award by Accademia Internazionale Medicea at Palazzo Vecchio Sala Cinquecento, 2017

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ture and convey the feeling of place and space that she experiences with every stop along her artistic journey. More than 60 mixed media artworks, all created during Lolita’s more than 50-year artistic career, will be presented during a three-week exhibition from Oct. 13 to Nov. 3 at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. The show, “The Journey… Life in Art through Nature,” will celebrate the sights and scenes the artist has captured of the many different countries where she has lived, worked, and visited, as well as honor the diversity of the people and cultures she has met along the way. Valderrama-Savage’s art has served as a passport which has taken her from her birthplace in Manila, Philippines, to vibrant cities and serene countrysides across Europe. For many years, she also lived in New York City and, eventually, in Stamford, where she now makes her home. She and her husband, Frank Savage, also spend part of the year in the Tuscany region of Italy, where its people and landscapes often inspire the scenes found in her drawings and paintings.

While the show will highlight work created from Sweden to Stamford, Connecticut, and many other places, this exhibition is particularly focused on celebrating the “harmonious and peaceful coexistence of the different people who live, work, study, and visit the great city of Florence,” according to the artist. “In the basic expressions and manifestations of its reality, nature awakens the simple and humble place of the human being in the expanse of the universe,” she states. This exhibition, to be held at one of the most prestigious and historic museums in Florence, Italy, is being organized by the City of Florence in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General in Florence, the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Tuscany, and the Consular Corps of Florence. It is supported by diverse non-profit educational, cultural and artistic organizations both in Tuscany and USA. The opening reception will take place Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. in the grand courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio. The show will be open and free to the public from Oct. 13 to Nov. 3. Valderrama-Savage has long used her art as a way to Roots&Wings

Exhibitions •

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International exhibitor at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 1999 Solo exhibition at the Casa Di Dante Alighieri in Florence (sponsored by the Commune Di Firenze and the Philippine Embassy in Rome, Italy), 2006 “Art for Peace” auction at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, 2006 Exhibition at Ayala Museum and the University of Santo Tomas Museum of Art and Science, Manila, Philippines, 2011 Major exhibition at the Palazzo Medici Riccardi Museum in Florence, Italy, 2013 Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Stamford, CT, 2016 Palazzo Bastogi in Florence, Italy 2019

Community activities

encourage intercultural appreciation, foster appreciation for diversity, and promote culture and creativity. “Making art has taken me to a new level because it has allowed me to help children, promote education, and bring people together to build friendship and cultural cooperation,” she states.“I think there is an urgent need for all the arts to unite to lift the spirit of humanity while the world still suffers from the aftermath of the pandemic and other calamities.” Valderrama-Savage’s work Roots&Wings

has been showcased in many one-woman and group art shows all over the world. They stretch back to her earliest, in the 1970s, in venues such as the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy, and Galleri Origo in Stockholm, Sweden, to more recent exhibitions at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, the Medici-Riccardi Museum and the Palazzo Bastogi in Florence, and the AYALA Museum in Manila, Philippines.Her upcoming show in Italy will incorporate oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings.

She also served on boards and continues to be involved in nonprofit organizations including The Foundation for Filipino Artists, Inc., the Ma-Yi Theater Company (New York), the Namaskaar Foundation World on Stage, the Truglia Thumbelina Fund for Children of the Fairfield County Community Foundation (Connecticut), the American International League of Florence, ONLUS, L'Associazione Culturale Giovanni Papini di Firenze, the Societa delle Belle Arti, Circolo degli Artisti a Casa di Dante (Florence, Italy), the Tuscan American Association, Stamford Art Association, Project Music of Stamford, and Teatro Grattacielo (New York).

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VANILLA TIME, 2021, 60x80 cm, Acrylic and varnish on canvas

SPAIN

ROSSBERT (BONG) DELFIN

Painter and Printmaker, Passionate Artist, based in Madrid

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Interview by Luz Bergersen Narratives and photos by Bong Delfin

am a silent observer but a radical thinker. But when it comes to pursuing my opposing ideas I am physically and verbally passive. That is why I used art as a platform to voice out my concerns and ideas. Rules are meant to be broken, so with art. A work of art should be free and unbound as a human soul... Roots and Wings first featured Bong Delfin nine (9) years ago. A lot has happened since then. Bong has moved, lived and worked in several countries, gotten married to Jinky, and has a little son, named Xion! He has kept on working with his art. RW is proud, excited and pleased to get in touch with Bong again, and share to our readers the views and works of this very talented and passionate young Euro-Pinoy artist, Bong Delfin currently lives and works in Madrid,Spain. In 2018, Bong Delfin was named as "Young and Emerging Artist" in Spain. Bong was born in 1982 in South Cotabato, Philippines; his parents have roots from Capiz and Iloilo. He graduated as an Industrial Engineer in the Philippines, but pursued a career in art after winning the Artist of the Year award in Denmark in 2013. Bong has resided in Denmark, and studied art at the Odense Design Akademie, Denmark. Bong’s works have been exhibited in the Philippines, Singapore, New York, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Monaco, Lux-

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emborg, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Colombia, Mexico. RW: It has been nine (9) years since we first featured you in Roots&Wings. A lot must have happened. Can you tell us briefly how you have been, and what has been going on with you over the last 9 years? Bong: A lot has changed. In terms of my artistic philosophy, this has gone through many different directions. My perception about art has changed a lot now compared to when I started. Those brightly-colored, Klimt-inspired works when I started were gone. HYDRODEEPISM.Midway during the last 9 years I developed a technique and ideology which I called ¨Hydrodeepism¨. It is a bit dark compared to my early works, one critic called it morbid but I think it is my series of works which

gained much attention. During the pandemic I stopped producing the series because the process is a bit messy and the lack of accessibility to a much bigger studio refrains me from doing it. Now, I am working and exploring different techniques which are convenient for me to work with at home. Bong explains «hydrodeepism»: “Hydrodeepism” (hydro deep ism) is a personal ideology, artistic method and a term conceived by the artist from the words “hydro dipping”, a traditional technique of printmaking which are commonly known as marbling, swirling, water transfer, etc. This method was used for a thousand of years, it is called “Suminagashi” in Japan and “Ebru” in Turkey. Regardless of the terminology used, the basic idea is by dropping the special paint or pigment on the surface of the water and transferring the aque-

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HOLYWOOD 2020, 50x60cm Acrylic, spray paint & varnish on canvas

DROWNED IN A SEA OF AWFUL CLICHES, 2018, 183x133cm Acrylic, spray paint and varnish on canvas

ous surface design or carefully manipulated patterns to the paper or any material by the process of dipping. Whilst it is commonly used for its aesthetic and decorative appeal, the artist’s interest is only focused on the spontaneity and randomness of the output. Bong Delfin´s main objective is to subvert the old, accessible and almost mass produced practice into something high art and contemporary. The subversion of the technique gave the artist a unique distinction between a painting and printing. ¨Hydrodeepism¨ body of works were done by the contrasting integration of the different techniques like hydro dipping, stenciling, collaging, taping and brush works. It is the artist’s idea of portrayal of the daily constraining battles on how a 21st century artist makes and develops artistic ways or ideals that can best represent his generation.

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How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect you, has it been a major factor in affecting your life, not just personally but artistically within the last 9 years? The pandemic has affected all of us. To me it has its downside and benefits. The good thing about the pandemic for me is that I (we) got supported by the Spanish government financially while we cannot go to our day jobs. The lockdown gave me the freedom and time to produce more works. On the contrary, the lockdown also stopped me from traveling to go to the studio everyday, which meant I had to work through a much lesser and inconvenient space at home. It happens that screen printing was more convenient to work with. It was during the pandemic lockdown that I realized that I am better at printmaking than painting. Since then and over the last 5 years, I think I hardly used a brush on my works, so until now, I am exploring different print-

UNTITLED, 2018, 50x60cm Acrylic, spray paint & varnish on canvas

ing methods, linocut, stamping, stenciling and paper cutting. The idea is, as much as possible, to try and create unique and distinct Bong Delfin» marks without the use of a paintbrush. But to answer your question, in general I think during the lockdown I have been very productive like most artists have been. Yes. We can often see both printing elements and realistic details in your works. How do you balance these two styles in your work? Elements of my works were more often based on research. Eighty percent of the work was Roots&Wings

mostly research. Spending a lot of time reading and finding references are the most agonizing and the key part to my practice. Twenty percent of the composition is mostly random and spontaneous. As soon as I knew the main idea of the work it is easy to choose images to use and prepare the printing plates. I freely used the image repetitively during the process either as the main subject or just a filler to balance the composition. So researching in depth the topic before I start allows me to draw out connections between the main idea and the random elements that balances the composition, one of these for example is in between the pictographic and typographic languages. The printing elements not only give contrast and balance but speeds up my process. And again, instead of using a paintbrush I tried to use a palette knife (using stenciling or taping technique)

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to try to emulate a unique and distinct printing mark. You have worked and lived in multiple countries. Does cross-cultural experience influence your art? How? Living with different cultures and beliefs awakes new ideas. Seeing new things by traveling I think is very important for artists. You may not see the whole world but it will push you to research and analyze other beliefs. You just need to have an open mind on how different societies explain a certain subject, but it is essential for an artist. Having a multicultural life and diversity allows you to see the contrasts and develop a unique perspective in life, so much more in art. Living in Denmark, Germany, and Spain, is such a big factor to my art. We have also observed that in some of your works you used frames as part of the

ABOVE: 2021 100x130cm BELOW: Diptych 40x60cm

painting. In contrary to what other people think that the outer frame is sometimes kind of an imprisonment for the work. What is the significance of this attempt to your works? I am a silent observer but a radical thinker. But when it comes to pursuing my opposing ideas I am physically and verbally passive. That is why I used art as a platform to voice out my concerns and ideas. Rules are meant to be broken, so with art. A work of art should be free and unbound as a human soul. I think it is just

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Working from a small space at home during the lockdown.

UNTITLED, 2022 50x60 nr. 2

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natural for us artists to break the rules when it is warranted. Traditional art is two-dimensional, what I’m trying to do is allowing the frame to be part or perhaps the main element of the work so that it will create a much deeper and unique perspective. It is more on like a visual play to make the work more alive. Your latest works involve a lot of stripes and pixelized elements? What does this attempt mean to you? Yes, I am experimenting a lot lately on the stripe motifs. It is just fun to work with so I tried to incorporate it in my works. I was trying to associate the stripe motif together with displaced forms and colors cribbed from art history, graphic design images, the nature itself and etc. cobbled together using a variety of techniques and materials from painting, printmaking, stenciling, papercutting, etc. I was

trying to achieve shifting hierarchies of abstract identity, formal space and narrative expression. Somehow to openly blur the boundary between the high art and applied arts not only in principle but in practice. And the pixelized element is more on trying to render a blurred and computerized image without losing the idea that it is still a physical painting. Congratulations on being a father! How does this affect your artistic endeavors? Thank you! The joy of being a first time parent is irreplaceable, a bit challenging but fun. My wife Jinky and I have been grateful that God gave us our amazing baby Xion. It some-

how influences my works, the colorful elements and cartoon-like forms or toy images that you see in my works probably comes from what I saw from the everyday mess at home. Fatherhood has slowed down my artistic endeavours over the past two years. I have been consistently producing works but very slow. Now I am slowly getting back to my normal pace, and hopefully get as much work done for my exhibitions next year. What are your upcoming projects? There are a lot of projects, especially exhibitions are waiting and lining up. For now I am just organizing and finishing some works and trying to send it out to several exhibitions Roots&Wings

TOP: STRIFE, 2021, 183x133cm, Acrylic and Varnish on Canvas

next year. Expect for interesting and enormous works that I have been working on over the last two years. Works that were done without pressure, honest, and with pure artistic freedom.

MIDDLE: How To See RIGHT: Perpetrual Virginity

To contact Bong Delfin, send email to,

delfinrossbertgmail.com

or c/o Luz Bergersen, email, lgb1312@gmail.com

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As a Filipino artist who strives to make a legacy here in Europe, do you have any advice to our younger artists? The art world is so big but only a few are on the top of the pyramid. So success depends really on which career path you are going. But the most important advice that I can give is, whatever you do, just work. If you work on your craft everyday, it does not matter if it is a good day or a bad day, just go to the studio. In 2 years time you will have more than enough works to mount a career-defining exhibition. So, just work! RW. A REALLY GREAT ADVICE, which applies to any field of endeavour!

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THE NETHERLANDS

TECH AN

D C

A N VA S

An Interview with Filipina Software Developer and Visual Artist, Jeanella Pascual

Interview by Atty. Chad Osorio Images by Jeanella Pascual

n this age of specialization, can creativity still be merged with technical skills? In this conversation, we engage with multi-talented software developer and visual artist Jeanella Klarys Pascual to get her thoughts on the matter. Based in Lille, France, where she works as a software engineer, Jeanella grew up in South Cotabato, Mindanao, and moved to Manila when she was in high school. Before moving to Europe in 2015,

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she has worked as a software developer, UX designer, and game artist. How does she combine her work in technology with her artistic passions, and what advice can she give to others who want to do the same? Your background both as an artist and a software developer is very interesting. How did you get started in these two seemingly different fields? I have always been a huge

nerd, and since childhood, I would spend most of my free time either drawing or playing computer games. At the age of 11, I discovered the joy of programming when our school included it in our curriculum, and it was thanks to this early exposure that my career path was somehow set. In parallel, my parents encouraged me to also dabble in the arts, signing me up for drawing, painting, and pottery classes. How do you see the reRoots&Wings

lationship between your artistic pursuits and your work as a software developer? Do you find any parallels or common threads between the two? I specialize in front-end development and user experience, which is visual, like my art. Most of the artistic themes I depict combine science and technology, such as digital illustration, botanical illustration (which is a subset of scientific illustration), architecture, and science fiction. Another common thread is intricacy and lots of details. I can spend hours on a specific area of my artwork if it means achieving harmony among the several individual areas, and likewise, optimizing the performance, reusability, and readability of a piece of code in relation to the other moving parts of the machine. With the advancement of technology and the increasing role of digital art, how do you think it has impacted the art world, and where do you see it heading in the future? One thing that comes to mind is this year’s hottest topic: AI,

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more specifically, AI-generated art. From a computer science and research perspective, I am astounded by the algorithms and models that power it. We have come a long way despite the field being in its infancy. As an artist, however, I still do all of my artworks by hand. I find that AI-generated art in its current state has ethical issues needed to be solved. There are real repercussions affecting the livelihood of millions of people in the art industry, and the way the companies sourced training data from artists without permission nor remunera-

tion and released the models to the public was done irresponsibly. While I believe that technology is agnostic, it is on the wielder to bear social responsibility. One positive thing I see is that it might further increase the value of artworks created by traditional human means.

Artist Jeanella Pascual

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are also interested in technology and software development? How can they embrace both passions and excel in their respective fields? In terms of fields and specialties, we have much more

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options now than when I was starting out. Back in university, I was at a crossroads having to pick between pursuing software engineering or going the creative route. The choices were limited and the stigma of art as a less lucrative career held me back. I kept my hopes up regardless and I continued investing in my art during my free time in parallel to my career. I try to combine my down time with my art, such as travel sketching or weekend art workshops. I also follow people on social media who mix tech and creativity. Nowadays, a lot of multidisciplinary fields have emerged and I see more multi-hyphenated profiles in successful ca-

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reers. Sounds exciting! Looking ahead, what are your aspirations as an artist and a software developer? Do you have any projects or collaborations on the horizon? After over a decade of work experience, I find the idea of taking up studies again exciting. Perhaps a degree in 3D graphics, where I combine my passion for art and programming. It can be a nerve-rack-

ing experience leaving stability to pursue a new field, but my thirst for learning is harder to ignore. A career change is still in the works. In the meantime, I try to work on side projects to maintain the momentum. With Chad Osorio, we have this project called Tikbalang in the Big City, a collection of stories on Philippine mythology and magical realism. A special edition with illustrations accompanying each story will be released soon, stay tuned! INSTAGRAM

@jeekapascual

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GERMANY

THE INTERNAL METAMORPHOSIS OF

Kermit Tesoro

This Berlin-based Filipino artist-designer is evolving in his own terms Words and Photography by Ieth Inolino-Idzerda Shot on location at Messedamm Underpass Atelier photos courtesy of Kermit Tesoro

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erlin had several days of tropical weather at the beginning of summer, experiencing pockets of heatwaves with temperatures soaring up to 30C that can often feel like a scorching burn of 40C. Kermit Tesoro prefers this over the cold weather, which he escapes every winter by going back to the Philippines. He likes European summer though because of its stretched days and delayed sunset. So, it was no surprise that he and his husband, who lives in a stylish apartment in West Berlin, chose to spend the entire summer just a few minutes away at their schrebergarten or kleingarten, Germany’s little garden houses with a small plot of land, which city-dwellers can rent or own to use as their own garden, to grow flowers, vegetables, or enjoy the sun. Tesoro, who celebrated his birthday just a day before this interview, sliced the most gorgeous two-layer strawberry cake and served it with homemade kombucha. The cake, which he refers 18

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COMING HOME Tesoro considers Berlin as his home. But when he’s back in the Philippines, it feels like he’s back home.

to as a true Gemini pleaser, is not only homemade, it is also homegrown. Fresh from the garden, the decadent strawberries that gracefully covers the top tier of the cake is the sweetest thing that can melt in your mouth in the long sunny days of June. When not tending to their home garden–Tesoro claims that they can have enough tomatoes, broccoli, and other vegetables that can last them the entire summer–he works at the Potsdam Botanical Garden, the perfect workplace for an avid horticulturist like himself. This must be a blessing (or a curse) of an artist’s hands: they have to be doing something all the time. And now, Tesoro’s hands are getting busier as he prepares for his latest collection. We were just getting started with our conversation when the rain started to pour, much to Tesoro’s relief as the plants are Roots&Wings

DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS A true creative, Tesoro believes that to call yourself a designer, you have to be specific with what you are doing. Art in progress at the apartment he shares with his husband in West Berlin.

Go museum-hopping around Europe and check out the designs of Kermit Tesoro in these cities. ❶ Schoenenkwartier (formerly called Dutch Leather and Shoe Museum)

Raadhuisplein 1, 5141 KG Waalwijk, The Netherlands ❷ Museu do Calçado R. António José de Oliveira Júnior 591, 3700-204 São João da Madeira, Portugal ❹ Pecs Gallery Pécs, Széchenyi tér 14, 7621 Hungary

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in dire need of rain water, “It is about time,” he chuckles as we move inside the garden house. When you search ‘Kermit Tesoro’ on Google, the most prominent image you will find is The Polypodis. Arguably one of his most famous works, the octopus shoes with tentacle heels gain infinite international media mileage, from Vogue to WWD, when it was associated with pop superstar Lady Gaga in 2015. This and several other mind-blowing and eye-popping shoe creations have been worn by celebrities and exhibited in prominent museums from the Spielzeug Welten Museum in Switzerland to the Cube Design Museum in the Netherlands. Tesoro was gaining attention in Europe. This success made him realise that his works are more appreciated here than in the Philippines. Tesoro considers himself lucky and honored that he was able to showcase his works in Europe, “It has been really nice working with the people here. You see good fruitions after the exhibitions. You have better feedback, future opportunities. They invite new people who could also be interested in your works. They see one of your works, see potential, and call you directly. That is the machinery on how this all came about.” After an exhibition in Germany in 2017, Tesoro stayed in Berlin. “It felt like this is my turf. I felt a strong sense of belongingness in the city. I instantly connected with Berlin and it felt very much like home.” The following year, he returned to Berlin and settled down here. The avant-garde designer was optimistic when he moved to Berlin. But soon discovered that there is a lot to do. “For a foreign person in this profession, it is hard to start in another country because you are starting from scratch. To be established in what you do, you need a strong sense of familiarity. I had my sense of familiarity in the Philippines. I know

where to go to when I need some materials. I know who to talk to if I need assistance. Here, you have to crawl your way up to find these people and places to assist your creativity. It is extremely challenging. There are opportunities but you have to find them and deeply immerse yourself.” Aside from finding his footing as an artist, Tesoro also had to work on himself. “I had to resolve personal issues, thank God that is over now. I think it is important to be outside of your comfort zone, which was Manila for me. It’s important to realise that you have certain issues. We all have. But seeing different places, being in a different atmosphere, or even being lost in translation, they all contribute to make you realise what are your needs, what do you need to do to blend in, how do you cope.” What is next for Kermit Tesoro? Being heavily influenced by the many things that surround him, from interesting people to thought-provoking exhibitions in Europe, Tesoro took advantage of the situation and engaged himself–leading him to question his aesthetics and noticing the difference with his designs. “Even just walking around, I would think that I can incorporate things in my design. So, I start doing this process, what do I do with it? It is like creating a thesis statement, you have to start with a problem and think about how would you solve it. That is how different my designs are.” This is something one can expect on his latest collection, entitled “Leucistic Observations” wherein Tesoro heavily used piña or pineapple fabric because of the contrast he sees. He wanted to manipulate the local Filipino fabric by doing different techniques and patterns that are often used in Europe. Leucism is somewhat similar to albinism, where pigmentation is reduced, just like the colors and materials used in the collection. Based on the themes of each piece, he redefines matrimonial dress, re-

Art

ligious uniform, sampaguita flowers, the use of pearls and capiz, and the piña or pineapple fabric. The collection reflects his many observations wherein the color palette is in the range of the Leucistic spectrum. It is scheduled to be exhibited in the Philippine Embassy in Berlin in the coming months. The rain outside is trickling down and with its slow dripping sound Tesoro reflected on what he’s most proud of as he poured another glass of kombucha with a long and heavy yet satisfied and confident sigh. “I’m proud that I’m now capable of convincing myself that I made it. Not that I made it career-wise but Berlin-wise. That I am able to find the sanity I needed. It was FILIPINO MATERIAL, EUROPEAN TECHNIQUE hard to be a young Known for his avant-garde artist in the Phildesigns, Tesoro highlights piña or pineapple fabric in ippines because his collection “Leucistic you are confronted Observations” with shoe materials including wood, acrylic, with quintessensilicone, leather, tial crisis. Now, I and nylon. MODEL: IETH INOLINO-IDZERDA do not have those PHOTOGRAPHY BY KERMIT TESORO lingering thoughts anymore. I have matured and I am happy that I get to practice and embrace that maturity on a personal and professional level.” It is almost midnight and the rain finally stopped. The air is crisp on this Friday night and we are ready to hit the techno clubs in the East. A bit of a different scene of how our humid Friday nights were 10 years ago, easy-going A bit of a different scene compared to how our humid Friday nights were 10 years ago in the quaint and quirky alleys of Cubao Expo in Manila.

INSTAGRAM

@kermittesoro 20

Art

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FRANCE

Lorna Vea Munnecom Amihan Travel Tours Journey Of Life To Success Text by Dennis Mana-ay

orna began her career as a biology teacher, and later transitioned to working in a bank. She is from Ilocos Norte but grew up in Quezon City in the Philippines. Lorna came to Paris, 26 years old, to study Biology at Jessesu University. She met and married her husband, a Norwegian, and they have three children. Lorna has worked in PNB Paris since 1991, and she put up her very popular and successful business, the AMIHAN Travel Tours, in 2012. Her passion for travel and adventure led her to start her own travel agency. Through her agency, she sells Roots&Wings

plane tickets and organizes travel tours to various destinations around the world. This way, Lorna has been able to combine her love for biology, her banking experience, and her desire for exploration into a successful and fulfilling business venture. In addition to running her travel agency, Lorna is actively involved in organizing activities that serve the community. By doing so, she demonstrates a commitment to giving back and making a positive impact on the lives of others. Whether it’s through charitable events, volunteering, or community outreach programs, Lorna’s dedication to serving the community reflects her altruistic nature and desire to contribute to the welfare of

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others. Her efforts not only enrich the lives of those she helps but also inspire others to be more socially conscious and compassionate. Lorna’s commitment to serving the community goes beyond organizing activities. By sponsoring community events, she plays a crucial role in supporting and strengthening local initiatives and gatherings. Her sponsorship helps ensure the success and impact of these events, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness within the community. Whether it’s sponsoring festivals, fundraisers, educational programs, or other events, Lorna’s contributions demonstrate her dedication to making a positive difference and investing in the well-being of the community. Her generosity and support undoubtedly leave a lasting and positive impression on the people she helps and the community as a whole. With her diverse journey from being a biology student to working in a bank and eventually establishing her own travel agency, as well as actively engaging in

community service and sponsoring events, Lorna has achieved a great deal. Her accomplishments likely bring her a deep sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. By following her passions and interests, Lorna has not only built a successful business but also created opportunities for people to explore and experience the world through her travel agency. Knowing that she contributes to making dreams of travel come true for her clients can be incredibly rewarding. Moreover, her involvement in community service and event sponsorship allows her to give back to society and have a positive impact on the lives of others. The appreciation and gratitude she receives from the community for her contributions can add to her sense of fulfillment and purpose. Overall, Lorna’s achievements in both her professional endeavors and community involvement likely bring her a profound sense of fulfillment, knowing that she is making a difference and leaving a positive mark on the world around her.

https://www.amihan.eu/

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NORWAY

MAYETH S. CODOY Interview by Luz Bergersen

ayeth Sigue Codoy was born on 24th February 1989 in Balamban Cebu, Philippines. She studied Fashion Design and Pattern-making at BSIT. Myet’s initial job was making costumes for movies. She has been featured in TV, radio and magazines, like GMA regional 7, GMA Manila, ABS CBN, DZME, 1530 khz and Filipino magazines. Mayeth tells us about her interest in fashion design, creating fashion, how it started, and her inspiration. My mom was a seamstress and we have been helping her since we were young. She was one of my inspirations. I came to Norway under the Au Pair cultural exchange program in 2015. A Norwegian couple saw my potential and helped me to study fashion. I studied fashion design, pattern-making and sewing at the ESMOD Oslo. I finished my studies and training after three years, and since then, I have worked

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you have participated in, so far. Paris Fashion Show, 2021; Diplomatic Reception, Oslo 2022; World Fashion Expo 2023 Oslo; Phil Fashion Show 2023, Cebu Philippines.

full-time in this field. I have been in Norway for eight years now. When I create my designs, I always think of a strong independent woman, who loves and lives fearlessly in equal measure. What is your creative style, use of materials? Draping is the best technique that suits me because it allows me to create something without seeing any different inspirations from other designers. During fashion shows, I use mostly abaca and pineapple fabrics. Please tell us the Fashion Shows

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Fornebusvingen 27, 1360 FORNEBU, NORWAY

http://myet.no http://facebook.com/mayet.codoy http://instagram.com/myet.no

Your current projects, future plans? Patternmaking, proto-type, and production for different brands. I hope to continue what I have started and hope it will grow more and more. Do you have a message to fellow Euro-Pinoys? Never stop grabbing your goals until you reach it and work hard for it.

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SWEDEN

Lani De La Peña Tranberg FOUNDER & CREATOR OF VEDESSENCE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS IN SWEDEN

Interview by Rachel Hansen GROWING up in southern Philippines, Lani learned at a tender age to love, appreciate and use the healing powers of Nature. She learned the importance of many herbs Roots&Wings

and plants growing around her - that each one has a meaning and a purpose for enhancement of health and beauty. Moving to Sweden, Lani loved going to the Swedish woods to meditate and reload and oftentimes find inspiration, hope, strength and a deep sense of emotional and physical healing. With the help of Mother Earth and the various aroma essential oils, she came to the belief that she can take care of herself and her three children as a single mother. In the year 2016, after years of studies Lani became a licensed Aromatherapist and practitioner in Gothenburg, the second largest city in the west coast of Sweden. Her clinic offers various kinds of holistic treatments ranging from facials to massages and craniosacral therapy which she had learned along the way. The clinic also offers health consultations. Then it was time for Lani to take the biggest step in her life by launching a series of skin care beauty products which she named Vedessence.

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What is Vedessence? The word Vedessence is inspired by the Swedish word “ved” which means “wood” and “essence” which means the extract from the essential oils which are the main ingredients in the skin care products. Vedessence is a plant based facial skin care with organic Moringa oil which is rich in vitamin C and Argan oils rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9, which are natural anti-oxidants and anti-aging. Combined with etheric oils these products help the skin to recover from environmental stress, resulting in healthy looking skin, promoting luster, preventing wrinkles, smoothening and softening the skin in the process. Those who experienced dryness of skin like eczema and psoriasis have improved their skin condition. Needless to say, the Swedish Patent & Registration Office have given Vedessence its important stamp of approval as well as the International Nomenclature of Cosmetics Ingredients or INCI. Vedessence has now hundreds of testimonials from valued customers who are happy to continue using Vedessence Night and Day Cream + Serum.

Being in the cosmetic industry is a very tough branch with many competitors everywhere. What is the best thing about this business? As I said earlier, I needed more time to spend with my three kids especially when they were small. Being a single mother, owning my own business and working from home was the best solution I could think of. So Vedessence is a product of my life´s necessity as well as a dream come true. I have always wanted to make people feel good and beautiful. Yes, it is tough but so rewarding. How do you see yourself five years from now? I would love to see my brand being used in small private Organic Skin Care Clinics around Europe, and most especially in some exclusive shops in Dubai, Cairo, the UAE, and of course, back home in the Philippines. To our kababayans in Europe who run their own skin care clinics, I would like to invite them to try Vedessence products.

CONTACT

WhatsApp +46 705 800 756

email botanikbylani@gmail.com

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FRANCE

Fave It to Make It - A story of beauty, business, and service Text by Lily C. Fen, Images from April Bitar

pril Bitar walked into my French class with a joie de vivre evident in the way she handled teacher and classmate alike.As our intensive course flew by, I began to get to know this young woman who was walking her path with purpose. April brought her love for fashion into her YouTube channel, dubbed My French Até, which evolved into French Até Ventures — that last word defining the great endeavor it was to apply for a visa and move abroad. Its acronym would become the basis for FAVE Visa Consultancy. A deeper purpose fuelled her drive—she had a genuine love for the Filipino people. April wanted to serve them where she saw a need. She had encountered Filipinos who had found themselves trapped, for years, in cycles that prevented them from seeing loved ones back home. This woman was on a mission. What if there were someone to lead these Pinoys and inform them about their Roots&Wings

Visa options, would many find a better way into France? Individuals who want to grow on merit and hard work in the EU are beginning to notice this force of beauty and business combined. In the spirit of service Having migrated to France herself, April could relate to the regular Filipino’s plight.

She’d also worked for an Immigration firm in Singapore and France, exposed to visa processing for years. FAVE is the only Filipino-owned company in France that provides Visa and Work Permit assistance. They do so primarily for Filipinos and are branching out to serve other nationalities. FAVE’s Service

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Fee is “presyong Pinoy”— a reasonable rate for visa applicants in the Philippines. With a 100% Success Rate, FAVE service is customized for every individual. April enthuses that Filipinos fare far better when they do not come as a tourist to Europe and overstay. She suggests looking for a job while still in the Philippines. FAVE processes papers so that people can arrive in France with valid papers for work. Guiding applicants towards this reasoning, as well as continuing FAVE’s strong approval rate and growing the team are April’s main goals. Clients continue coming to FAVE for assistance, making it clear that FAVE will expand into the next decade. FAVE also looks to a future that may see them directly connecting employers to potential employees. Tips for Younger Pinoys and Expatpreneurs

To the young Filipino with dreams of traveling abroad, she says that one should take the time to figure out where they want to go. “Pray for it. Do some research on your target country,” she advises. “Learn about its culture and main language. Consider if this country is a place you’d like to relocate to for good or for just a few years.” She advises that being an employee first and doing what is needed for that job is essential for aspiring Filipino expat-preneurs like herself. “The lessons you will learn from that experience will serve you later as an entrepreneur,” she says. “Find your passion and figure out what it is you want to do. Study the market and target clients. When the timing is right, go for it!” Why FAVE? On the subject of visa assistance, April points out that not all Filipinos are privileged

and can travel abroad easily. “Some dream of traveling to Europe but think that traveling is only a luxury for the rich. That’s where FAVE Visa Consultancy comes in,” she says. “We make things easier for stressed applicants who don’t know what to do. We do the same for those who want to work in France. We help make people’s travel and migration goals come true. What makes April’s day is getting news that a client’s permit or Visa was approved by the French Ministry. “Growing up as a Filipino, applying for Visas was a part of life,” she says. “Every client’s case concluded well has felt like a personal achievement. Our clients’ success is our success too.” Secure your Schengen Visa or Work Permit in Manila, with FAVE Assist ready to share Visa tips for Filipinos. Contact FAVE and Book your FREE consultation today.

www.faveassist.com 28

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Directory of Philippine Embassies in Europe Roots & Wings e-Publications have been making an impact on the Euro-Filipino community in the last dozen years by promoting Filipino culture, art, entrepreneurship, outstanding Filipinos in various fields, community events and providing current contacts to diplomatic missions within Europe. See list here. Embassy information changes all the time. Help us update this directory by emailing rawmags.betsy@gmail.com.

AUSTRIA

Email: copenhagen.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Federal Republic of Germany

Embassy of the Philippines, Vienna

Facebook: @PHinDenmark

Tel (+49) (0) 69 8700 66900

H.E. Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas

WWW.COPENHAGENPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Hotline (+49) (0) 151 6248 7425 Assistance to Nationals (+49) (0) 151 5354 6841

20th and 21st Floor, ARES Tower Donau-City-Strasse 11, A-1220

FINLAND

Email: frankfurt.pcg@dfa.gov.ph

Vienna, Austria

Hon. Consulate General in Helsinki

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

Tel (+43-1) 533-2401

Ms. Maria Kauppinen

PHinFrankfurt/

Emergency Tel (+43-6991) 232-2034

Honorary Consul

WWW.FRANKFURTPCG.DE

Email: vienna.pe@dfa.gov.ph

Ylisrinne 6A-T2, 02210 Espoo

WWW.FRANKFURTPCG.DFA.GOV.PH/

vienna.pm@dfa.gov.ph

Finland

WWW.VIENNAPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Tel (+358) 400 913 243

GREECE

EMAIL: DCKAUPPINEN.M@GMAIL.COM

Embassy of the Philippines, Athens

BELGIUM

H.E. Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec

Embassy of the Philippines, Brussels

FRANCE

26 Antheon Street, Paleo Psychico 154-52

H.E. Ambassador Eduardo José A. De Vega

Embassy of the Philippines, Paris

Athens, Greece

297 Avenue Moliere, Brussels, 1050 BELGIUM

H.E Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West

Tel (+30210) 672-1883

Tel (+32-2) 34033-77 to 78

4 Hameau de Boulainvilliers

(+30210) 672-1883

Emergency Tel (+32-4) 8860-9177

45 Rue du Ranelagh

672-1837

Email: brussels.pe@dfa.gov.ph;

75016 Paris, France

Emergency (+30-697) 968-2921,

brusselspe@gmail.com

Tel (+331) 4414-5700

(+30-697) 968-2921

Facebook: @PHinBelgium

(+331) 4414-5700 4414-5701/2 (Consular)

Email: athens.pe@dfa.gov.ph;

WWW.BRUSSELSPE.DFA.GOV.PH

Emergency (+336) 2059-2515 (+336) 2059-2515

ATHENSPE@OTENET.GR

Email: paris.pe@dfa.gov.ph

CZECH REPUBLIC

parispe.dfa@gmail.com

HUNGARY

Embassy of the Philippines, Prague

Facebook: @PHinFrance

Embassy of the Philippines, Budapest

H.E. Ambassador Eduardo R. Meñez

WWW.PARISPE.DFA.GOV.PH

H.E. Ambassador Frank R. Cimafranca

Senovazne Namesti 8, Prague 1, 110 00

1026 Budapest, Gabor Aron utca 58

Czech Republic

GERMANY

Budapest, Hungary

Tel (+420) 224-216397

Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin

Tel (+36-1) 391-4300

(+420) 224-216397 /

H.E. Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega

Email: budapest.pe@dfa.gov.ph /

224-216385

Luisenstrasse 16, 10117 Berlin-Mitte

phbuda@philembassy.hu

Emergency Tel (+420) 607-850-764

Federal Republic of Germany

Facebook: @PHLinHungary

Email: prague.pe@dfa.gov.ph;

Tel +49 (0) 30 864 95 00

WWW.BUDAPESTPE.DFA.GOV.PH

praguepe@gmail.com

Emergency +49 (0) 173-521-5703

Facebook: @PHinCzechRepublic

Email: info@philippine-embassy.de, consular@

ISRAEL

WWW.PRAGUEPE.DFA.GOV.PH

philippine-embassy.de

Embassy of the Philippines, Tel-Aviv

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/

H.E. Ambassador-designate Macairog S. Alberto

DENMARK

PHinGermany

No. 18 Bnei Dan Street, Tel-Aviv, 62260 Israel

Embassy of the Philippines, Copenhagen

WWW.PHILIPPINE-EMBASSY.DE

Tel (+9723) 601-0500 (+9723) 601-0500

H.E. Ambassador Leo M. Herrera-Lim

Consulate General of the Philippines, Frankfurt

Emergency (+972-54) 466-1188

Arne Jacobsens Alle 13, 1st Floor, 2300

Westend Carree

(+972-54) 466-1188

Copenhagen, Denmark

Grüneburgweg 16-18, 1st Floor

Email: telaviv.pe@dfa.gov.ph;

Tel (+45) 7141-5952

60322 Frankfurt Am Main

filembis@netvision.net.il

Emergency (+45) 2273-3933

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WWW.PHILEMBTELAVIV.CO.IL

Directory

Email phiinsweden@gmail.com

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PAlAWAN PHILIPPINES

Where Fun Is Endless And Boundless Words and photos by Gloria Hernandez Grejalde

Dubbed as the country’s last frontier because of its diverse marine diversity and well-preserved natural resources, the island of Palawan is paradise to those who are looking for exotic adventures; under the sun, deep in the water, and over the mountains. The island can be reached in two ways, by plane which takes an hour and 20 minutes from Manila or by boat for 13 hours. November to May is the best period to visit the elongated island where both ends offer exciting and awesome experiences.

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Travel

El NiDº

Travel

ANYONE who looks forward to a leisure walk on the beach will have a great time going to El Nido. Step on its long stretches of fine, white sandy beaches in Nacpan and Bacuit Bay and catch the sun under the shades of palm trees that dot the shorelines. Ardent swimmers will enjoy the cool, clear, and turquoise waters dotted with the majestic formations of limestone cliffs where greeneries peeked on their crevices. Islandhopping on board a rigged boat with lunch of local dishes prepared by the boat operators, will take you to some private beaches and coves. To more adventurous travellers, enjoy a day of kayaking in the small and big lagoons and dive through secret caves and coves. Guides are on hand to assist you in your exploration and islandhopping. Night in El Nido is lounging in various bars and restaurants singing karaoke or listening to live bands. El Nido has its own airport, it can also be reached by charting a flight from Manila.

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CORON

OFF THE TIP of the Palawan archipelago is the island of Coron and some of its islets. Accessible by air from the capital city of Manila, it is paradise to those who love diving, and snorkeling. And you will know you are in Coron when you see its name spelled out on top of a mountain visible around the sloping town. Famous in the area is the Kayangan Lake. It can be reached through climbing a steep wooden ladder built amidst forest trees. Going up is tedious yet magical, you will be mesmerized once you set your eyes on the serene atmosphere and the crystal-clear water of the lake. You will also have a glimpse of the bay between Coron and its neighboring island of Busuanga. The lake is believed to be protected by the local natives TagbanRoots&Wings

wa that maintain its natural beauty and cleanliness. They are referred to as the guardians of Coron. Motorized banca with rigs will take you to neighboring island of Busuanga where you will dive back to the past. Buried under its clear emerald waters are ruins of shipwrecks fallen during the World War II. Here you will swim with the fishes and glide through portholes and keels of wrecked ships sunken during the American and the Japanese conflict in 1944. More adventures await you as the sun sets on the waters of Coron when you embark on a night cruise to the fireflies and jellyfish sanctuaries capped by a dinner in a floating restaurant. And there is nothing more relaxing that capping your day activities and stay in Coron by soaking in a hot water spring in Sitio Maquinit.

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PUeRto pRiNcesA THE CAPITAL and the economic center of Palawan, it is the major gateway to the many interesting places in the island like Coron and El Nido. It also ushers you to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Located some 80 kilometers from the city, it is reached by car that will take you to the river where the journey to the underwater terrain begins. Boat-ride to the underground

Travel

river takes around 45 minutes. Stalactites and stalagmites dominate the sceneries where clicking sounds of bats hanging on the cave walls break the silence and serenity of the place. Other interesting places to explore from the city is the Iwahig Penal Colony, the Baker’s Hill, the African Safari at Calauit Island, the Taytay Fort, the among others.

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Travel

AUSTRIA

GLOBAL FILIPINO MUSIC ARTISTS CONQUER WORLD STAGES Words by: Ralph Chan

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR HORI7ON?

Music

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P-POP BOY GROUP

few weeks ago, a new Filipino P-POP boy band made headlines in the global music and showbiz industry. The new global P-POP boy group HORI7ON[1] recently made its debut in South Korea and performed in music shows like MusicBank, Inkigayo or M COUNTDOWN. They were formed from the Filipino-South Korean survival reality show Dream Maker in which 62 contestants (dubbed as Dream Chasers) competed to be part of a seven-piece boy band to train and debut in South Korea as the global P-POP group. With their debut, HORI7ON recently managed to perform on the same stage alongside K-POP sensation BTS Jungkook, who performed his Roots&Wings

new single, "SEVEN", on the same day. So far, only P-POP groups such as SB19, BGYO, BINI and Alamat have achieved world fame on the music stage. With the emergence of global P-POP boy band HORI7ON and the popularity of SB19, BGYO, BINI and Alamat is this a sign that other P-POP bands and OPM music artists are also being heard and noticed by non-Filipinos and gaining worldwide fame? Similar to the contemporary South Korean pop culture wave (“Hallyu”), will there be a P-POP wave with Original Pilipino Music (OPM) in the near future too? 1

SCAN FOR SOURCE

https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/07/24/23/hori7on-debuts-with-album-friend-ship

EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF OPM OPM or Original Pinoy Music is a music genre created and performed by Filipino music artists. The term originated in the 1970s during the emergence of the MANILA SOUND, a music genre that combines Western and Filipino musical elements. OPM has evolved since then as it reflects the historical, cultural, and musical influences of the time. A special feature of OPM is the use of Filipino languages in the songs. In the last few decades, it has managed to produce some of the most famous songs in Filipino music history, such as classics like Rey Valera’s “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko”, Sharon Cuneta’s “Bituing Walang Ningning” or “Tatsulok” by Bamboo. These songs have become part of Filipino culture. Although the music and tone may have changed over time, the lyrics and storytelling remain the same. Moira Dela Torres' emotional ballads or Sarah Geronimo's catchy pop hits continue to conquer Filipinos hearts to this day, and meanwhile non-Filipinos become fans as well. The secret of OPM's enduring popularity is its ability to tell the stories of Filipinos, whether it be about love, heartbreak or social issues, and convey them in a way that inspires compassion. The musicians and their songs manage to capture the audience's attention.

Music

To better understand OPM, let us take a brief journey through Filipino music. OPM has its beginnings in the 1960s with Filipino pop songs, particularly ballads, sung by Pilita Corrales and Nora Aunor, and in the 1970s by Basil Valdez, Freddie Aguilar, and Rey Valera. A shift came when singer-songwriters Ryan Cayabyab and José Mari Chan rose to fame in the 1970s by composing original English love songs alongside modern Tagalog songs. Pioneer pop groups in the era of the Manila Sound included APO Hiking Society and Hotdog. 1980's THE GOLDEN AGE OF FILIPINO MUSIC For many listeners of OPM music, the 1980s was the golden age of Filipino music. Disco groups like VST & Co. and pop icon Gary V. made sure that dance-pop rose to the mainstream. The 1990s saw the birth of the Pinoy pop-rock. The appearance of ERASERHEADS, is considered a turning point in the OPM music scene. With their success, a number of influential bands such as Parokya ni Edgar or Rivermaya emerged. Each of them mixed the influence of different pop and rock subgenres with their own style. Furthermore, in the 1990s, acoustic groups like Side A, Neocolours or South Border, and also acoustic acts like Nina, Juris (from MYMP) and Ice Seguerra appeared regularly in the live band scene. In addition, solo artists, and ballad singers such as Regine Velasquez, Sharon Cuneta, Zsa Zsa Padil38

Music

A BRIEF JOURNEY THROUGH FILIPINO MUSIC. la, Jaya and Martin Nievera have been regularly featured on television and radio. In the beginning of the 2000s, there was a re-emergence of R&B and novelty songs. Kyla, Nina, and Jay R are among the pioneers of contemporary Pinoy R&B music along with Francis M, Andrew E, Gloc-9 and Abra for Pinoy hip hop. Over the next decade, in the 2010's, Pinoy pop saw a renaissance. The genre of pinoy pop changed drastically as the usual rock bands and novelty songs began to fade from the mainstream and new pop genre emerged without any rock or hip-hop influence. Pop artists of the 2010s include Moira Dela Torre, Ben&Ben, Yeng Constantino and Sarah Geronimo.

https://www. mnl48.ph/

PPOP - EMERGING OUT OF OPM Pinoy Pop or P-POP (also known as Philippine Pop or Pilipino Pop) is another evolution of Filipino pop music. P-POP is a growing genre in the 2020s. With the influence of K-POP and J-POP, a new era of Pinoy pop was born. The Philippines' first pinoy pop idol group, the 'P-Pop (idol) Pioneers', were MNL48[2], a sister group to J-POP group AKB48, who ushered in the new era of pinoy pop with their debut in 2018. Them follows the allboy idol group SB19[3], which also made their debut in 2018. SB19 was the first Filipino act to be trained by a Korean entertainment company under the same system that cataRoots&Wings

pulted K-pop artists to world stars. SB19 is considered the first Pinoy pop idol group to make it on the Billboard Next Big Sound and Billboard Social 50 charts, and to be nominated as the first Filipino and Southeast Asian act along with BTS, Blackpink, Ariana Grande and Seventeen in Billboard Music Awards for Top Social Artist. It marks the first appearance by a Filipino music artist at the Billboard Music Awards. In the midst of the pandemic, more pop idol groups such as BINI and BGYO emerged. In 2020, Viva Entertainment presented another P-POP group Alamat, a multilingual and multiethnic boy band singing in seven Filipino languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Bisaya,

Hiligaynon, Bikolano Waray-Waray.

SCAN FOR SOURCE

OPM - A PART OF FILIPINO IDENTITY As can be seen, the Filipino music scene or OPM has undergone tremendous metamorphosis in terms of the evolution and diversity of music genres over the past few decades. Due to the strong influence of K-POP and J- POP, there has been an increase in idol groups. This also ties in with the increasing popularity of contemporary South Korean pop culture wave (“Hallyu”) around the world. Especially since the 21st century, the popularity of K-Drama & Movies, K-POP, Korean food, language, computer games, fashion and

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sb19-congratulate-atin-fan-army-face-offwin-1235388571/ Roots&Wings

and

cosmetics has increased. The success was initially neither wanted nor planned. Only after the success became visible the Koreans strategically and purposefully produced television series and music for the Asian market. This increasing cultural export was also supported by the South Korean government. COMING BACK TO FILIPINO MUSIC OPM has become an integral part of the Filipino cultural landscape, and its influence can be felt across generations. Not only has it provided memorable songs in Filipino music history, it also plays a significant role in shaping Filipino identity and each individual lives. OPM is the proof of Filipino creativity and artistry. These songs have become part of Filipino culture and will be passed down from generation to generation. FILIPINO MUSIC SUCCESS With the evolution of P-POP bands such as SB19, BGYO, BINI, Alamat and the latest addition HORI7ON, we might be able to achieve a “Hallyu” like the Koreans, because our OPM songs not only tell the stories of the Filipinos but musically seen, is also timeless. And with the internet, non-Filipinos can now create YouTube covers, Instagram reels or TikTok dance covers of songs of their favorite Filipino P-POP bands. An investment in culture and for musicians, but also for other artists would be a good opportunity to experience the same success as the Koreans are currently doing with Hallyu.

Music

Thank you Roots & Wings for making sure no kids are endangered going to Labney Integrated School. Thank you for helping Labney cope with the challenges of distance education by providing safer and conducive learning spaces. — BLACK PENCIL PROJECT

PHILIPPINES

Text by Rebecca Torres Social Entrepreneurship Team Lead

A Yellow SOON after the announcement of the 2023 beneficiaries of the Social EnSchool Boat trepreneurship Program of Roots & Wings last February 2023, loyal pafor Labney trons - organizations and individual sponsors immediately came forward Integrated toSchool sponsor the purchase of the Yellow Boat with its required security School of life vests and polyester rope. The Yellow School Boat replaced the makeshift Tarlac bamboo raft used by the students and teachers of Labney Integrated School

Social Entrepreneurship

in crossing the Camiling River to reach their school, located in the farthest mountainous barangay (village) in Mayantoc, Tarlac. Roots & Wings’ Social Entrepreneurship Program is grateful to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Grail, the Bankers Institute of the Philippines (BAIPhil), the Paraiso Family from Silang, Cavite and the Arambulo family from Paranaque City, Metro Manila for immediately responding to the call, for sharing their blessings and giving financial support to purchase a yellow school boat and security life vests.

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BAIPHIL PHILIPPINES

Medical Dental Surgical Mission A "Roots and Wings" inspired story by Agnes Santos

ave you ever started a project so small that eventually have evolved into something immense, positive, helpful, and has huge impact? The Bankers Institute of the Philippines (BAIPHIL) Annual Medical Dental & Surgical Mission (Mission), BAIPHIL’s Corporate Social Responsibility action is one such success story. A small group of Bayambangueños, most of whom have already left their hometown to spread their wings to distant places, conjured up a noble way to give back to 42

Social Entrepreneurship

their roots, through a Medical Mission. Working through their individual spheres of influence, that is, the new roots they have grown in their respective work environment work, organizations, relationships, connections, etc., found BAIPHIL and the SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) as the complementary Champions for their vision. BAIPHIL through its Special Projects Committee (SPC) spearheaded its Mission in Bayambang, Pangasinan in 2008, in a makeshift Clinic under the robust mango trees at a farm in Barangay Asin, offering free medical consultations, X-ray, tooth extraction, circumcision, medicines and

vitamins to patients from depressed areas. Despite a meager budget, augmented SMFI’s free medicines, the maiden Mission was an instant success. As the Mission services expanded, BAIPHIL stepped up to hold fund raising activities like: Movie Premier, Chorale Competition, Street Dance Contest, Silent Auction of artworks, and sale of member donated pre-loved items. Sponsorships and sale of the BAIPHIL Coffee Table Book contributed to support the Mission and other outreach activities. Over the years, the Mission attracted new donors and volunteers including returnees to their roots wanting to serve and support outreach projects to improve the lives of the underprivileged and marginalized. Donations from individual and corporate BAIPHIL members, friends, relatives, and a foundation poured in. Last June 3, 2023, BAIPHIL SPC held its 13th annuRoots&Wings

al Mission, providing medical services: medical consultation, dental services, circumcision, optical, X-Ray, laboratory tests and ECG. Snack food and hygiene products distributed. Participants were BAIPHIL contingent including two Balikbayan doctors from Australia, RHU, LGU Bayambang, Kasama Kita Sa Barangay Foundation, and Niña Cares. Total medical services reached over 1,500 rendered to around 900 patients. The event was indeed very successful. Looking through the eyes of the two balikbayan physicians who came to revisit their roots and share their God- given talents to serve low- income communities, they have these to say: “The availability of screening blood work was useful, as was the onsite X-ray facility. The Mission formulary was both extensive and generous, for both adult and pediatric patients and patients were supplied with 1-month prescribed medication.” Dr. Ruby Brillante, Pulmonologist “The local community showed a lot of heart and despite the challenges of logistics and economic strife, many volunteers gave their time and skills, making the Mission possible. I saw the heart of Bayambang

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in the organizers, the medical and non-medical volunteers, ancillary staff, and most of all, in the patients who were prepared to travel to have their medical treatment optimized, and symptoms treated.” “Seeing so many people working with and for one another, relying on the generosity of a few benefactors, made me realize how much is taken for granted in Australia. The heart shown during the Mission breathed a new life into the way I practice medicine, and I know I will be looking back to it, as a trigger for renewed passion at work.” Dr. Grace Brillante Cardiologist In reference to a cancer patient, “The pragmatic approach by the people of Bayambang in the face of morbidity and mortality gave me equipoise. As I reflected on their limited options, I cannot help but admire how they have accepted their fate and moved on with life. I admire their faith that the Lord has a plan and whatever the outcome, it will be okay.” “Debilitating diabetes and its complications resulting from the excesses of life (e.g., too much food, alcohol, smoking) was difficult. Most are at the junction of their health when, if they adopt lifestyle modifications, they may yet be able to avoid the trajectory towards certain premature morbidity and mortality which is the path they are walking into if they do not change. Sadly, for most of these people, change is just too hard as life itself already poses so much difficulty and their excesses provide the escapism

I was given a glimpse of the lives of the marginalized and underprivileged and the hope and determination they have in rising up... Dr. Grace Brillante CARDIOLOGIST

and comfort they seek.” “I was given a glimpse of the lives of the marginalized and underprivileged and the hope and determination they have in rising up, step by step, hand in hand, together, towards a better future. Thank you for letting me serve you. It has been a privilege and honour.” We, in BAIPHIL, look forward to more volunteers, donors and sponsors joining the annual Mission, to sustain quality health services and find ways to address more serious health issues. We enjoin everyone to flex their wings, look back, and give back to their roots.

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PHILIPPINES

Getting to Know DBP Grail

DBP Grail has been engaged in spiritual and outreach advocacies through the years.

Social Entrepreneurship

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Report and photos by Rochelle Bien of DBP Grail

he DBP Grail is a non-profit, volunteer, Catholic lay organization committed to bringing the Christian faith to the Development Bank of the Philippines and nearby offices. The Grail, as DBP employees fondly call it, was borne from the immense love for service and the Holy Eucharist of a brilliant but humble woman named Josephine D. Constantino, also known as J.D. Constantino. In the 1960s, J.D. Constantino, an essayist, literary critic and poet, joined DBP as the Special Assistant to the Chairman and Head of the Training and Manpower Development Unit. She arranged DBP’s first anniversary mass in Makati City with no less than Cardinal Sin officiating the celebration. Afterwards, it was followed by regular first Friday masses in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and daily masses during the Holy Week. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the corporate bank, devoted executives and employees paused and came together to hear mass during their lunch hour. J.D. Constantino later on took vows as a member of the Carmelite order in 1979. As of the writing of this article, she is 103 years old and lives as a cloistered nun as Sister Teresa Joseph Patrick of Jesus and Mary. What happened in the years following The Grail’s inception was truly inspiring and could have only been possible through God’s providence. Founded on love for service and volunteerism, the Grail continued to grow with more priests coming in to celebrate Holy Mass and benefactors donating images, crucifix, altar linens, vestments, items to be used during the Roots&Wings

mass and even fresh flowers for the altar. Despite having to cease all activities during the COVID 19 pandemic, the DBP Grail quickly picked up where it left off and resumed masses as soon as prohibitions for community gatherings were lifted. Today, its activities are now lovingly carried on by twenty-two (22) employees (and counting) under the dedicated leadership of Atty. Lutgarda C. Baquiran-Peralta, herself already a Grail volunteer prior to being its Chairwoman in 2007. By God’s grace, The Grail now holds daily masses with novena prayers for each day at the DBP Auditorium all year round, as well as confessions every first Wednesday of the month. It also arranges other activities of the faithful such as Lenten and Advent recollections, bible studies, block rosaries and Marian exhibits. Through love offerings, The Grail is also able to help in little ways and support donation drives and other worthy causes such as The Yellow School Boat. The Grail hopes to convey that with great love, anyone can bring Christ anywhere, even in the middle of the corporate world. To God be the glory!

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Roots&Wings 46 Contact Social Entrepreneurship our Social Entrepreneurship Team - Becky Torres and Marizel Arambulo at rawmags.sponsor@gmail.com

AUSTRIA

KEEPING THE FAITH ALIVE LAY COMMUNITY FOR RENEWED EVANGELIZATION ‑LayCore. A Germany based group of Filipinos seek to engage themselves in renewed evangelization and the strengthening of the Catholic faith in Europe. By Amy Abitong-Huetwohl in collaboration with Liberty Tanangco

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ith the landing of the Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines in 1521, the Europeans introduced Christianity to the country. Now, almost -85- percent of the population are Christians, the Roman Catholics being the majority with 78.8 percent. (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2020). Barely 500 years later, the situation turned around. Filipinos and other Asian Christian groups are now in Europe and their presence are providing new life into the struggling faith life of the continent as a whole. Although there are no reliable sources about the number of Filipinos residing and working in Europe, it is estimated to be around 890,000. In Germany, the estimate is about 65,000, both workers and naturalized citizens. CHALLENGES These Filipinos who left their country and came to settle and start new lives here brought with them their deep Christian faith and way of life. This puts them in a position to touch the lives of Europeans, being in the service sectors, such as the medical professions and caring for the sick and elderly. Filipinos are now playing a very important role in the life of the Church here and its plans for renewed evangelization. To the point that on one occasion, Pope Francis was quoted as saying” Wherever the Filipinos are, the faith is alive.”

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With the continuous arrival of migrants in Europe to ease labor problems and the increase of asylum seekers and refugees, drastic demographic changes are expected in the coming years. Consequently, changes in culture and beliefs are expected to follow. These, plus materialism and secularism, have negatively impacted Christianity. And passive and inactive participation by Christians in their faith life are caused by the lack of understanding of their faith and their role in the Church. MISSION These are precisely what the members of the LAYCORE (Lay Community for Renewed Evangelization) had in mind when they took

part in the lay theology certificate program of the Graduate School of Theology of the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary (ICMAS) of Bulacan, Philippines. The programme is called MAFAMCO (Meaningful Appreciation of the Faith towards Ministerial Collaboration) and its aim is to deepen the students’ understanding of the Catholic faith so that they can actively collaborate and support the Filipino Chaplaincy in the Archdiocese of Cologne and in other parts of Germany. This was launched in Germany in 2011 by the then Chaplain of the Filipinos in the Archdiocese of Cologne, Fr. Tranquilino “Jun” de Ocampo, SVD and Fr. Emmanuel Cruz, now the Rector of the ICMAS Graduate School of Theology. The project is continuously supported by the present Chaplain of the Filipinos in the Archdiocese of Cologne, Fr. Rodel Liguid, SVD.

PROGRAMME

LAYCORE has included in its programme the following. MAFAMCO Cerficate Programme wherein Catholic lay leaders undergo a comprehensive academic programme in theology to prepare them for pastoral work in their communities, especially in the field of doctrinal formation and education in the faith.

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In particular, they will be equipped with intellectual competence and confidence in articulating, explaining and teaching the Catholic faith. FAITH EDUCATION PROGRAMME This provides continuing faith education to equip lay leaders with knowledge, skills and attitude to be able to serve their communities effectively. This include training for commentators and lectors and training for catechists. OUTREACH While the founding organization is based in Bonn, Germany, LAYCORE is reaching out to Filipino chaplaincies in Germany and eventually in Europe in order to establish a network of community lay leaders who can participate and collaborate in the life and ministry of the Church and empower them to become agents of the new evangelization. LAYCORE is an autonomous lay organization, registered as non-profit under German laws to allow it to raise resources to support its activities, where it hopes to realize its great vision of strengthening Christian

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communities in the region and spreading the Good News of Christ. HOPES AND DREAMS Pope Francis, in a letter to the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Nov. 2015, said that lay people “are disciples of Christ called to “enliven every environment, every activity and every human relationship according to the Gospel.” Lay people, he states, bring “the light, hope, [and] love received from Christ in those places that, otherwise, might remain unknown to the action of God and abandoned to the misery of the human condition.” On the occasion of the 500th celebration of Christianity in the Philippines, the Pope sent the following message to all Filipinos: “You are generous. You are bountiful. You know how to celebrate the feast of faith. Don’t lose that even in the midst of difficulties,” “In those highly participated meetings, you showed us that this gift of faith you have received… You say that you want to continue sharing it and proclaiming it to all. “And I am a witness that you know how to transmit the faith, and you do it well, be it in your own country or abroad,” he said. Very inspiring words indeed., for LAYCORE and all Filipinos. We are now the new missionaries and the new bearers of the Gospel to Europe where different peoples, cultures, traditions and ideologies converge.

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MY GRADUATION WEEK IN OXFORD Text by Donna Künzler Images from Donna Künzler and Tom Weller Photography

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

officially earned my Postgraduate Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from Säid Business School, University of Oxford, back in January 2022. After almost two years of waiting, I finally went to Oxford last July for my graduation week. It was great to be back in campus. It has been five years since I was there last time, and it was such a highly emotional moment - to finally meet my class50

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mates and professors in the flesh, to be in Oxford itself, and to internalize that I am now an Oxonian and understand what it really means. Read on to learn more about my wonderful experience. The Long Wait You probably have two questions in mind. First, “What took it so long?” and second, “Why Graduation week and not day?” There’s only one answer to both questions:

It’s because of the pandemic. Our graduation was delayed for a year as the university had a backlog of graduations from the time of the pandemic. We were actually given the option to hold our graduation earlier but in a different venue. Thankfully majority agreed to postpone so we were able to have our ceremony, as per tradition, at the historic Sheldonian theater. Our thirteen-month postgraduate program

includes four modules that are taught on campus. However, due to the pandemic, the modules were delivered to our class in hybrid format (in-person and online). I, like most students who are based outside of the UK, was only able to attend the modules online. It was a bit unfortunate as we really did miss the full “Oxford” experience. Too make up for it, Säid Business School organized an additional four days of Reunion Roots&Wings

Week leading up to our graduation day. The four-day program consisted of keynote speaker sessions, lectures and networking events. Keynote Speaker Sessions We had a great line-up of speakers and topics. It was interesting to listen to Hon. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda on his thoughts on responsible leadership. He emphasized the need for courage, innovation, and resilience in today’s rapidly evolving world. It was great to see Charlie Curtis (entrepreneur, corporate advisor and business school lecturer) as he was a guest lecturer in our program on the topic of Innovation Cultures. This round he gave a talk on the role of the CEO in global changing systems. There was also the insightful and interactive panel discussion on Responsible Leadership with Arunma Oteh (former treasurer of World Bank), Hedwige Nuyens (Chief Executive of the International Banking Federation), and Matthew Scott (Executive Director, UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment). The discussion was moderated by Prof. Sue Dopson. A great question that was raised by a student was on self-love. “How do you take care of yourself so you can be a responsible Roots&Wings

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT 1)Toto Wolff, Team Principal, CEO & co-owner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, 2)Hon. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, 3)Panel discussion on Responsible Leadership moderated by Prof. Sue Dopson with Arunma Oteh (former treasurer of World Bank), Hedwige Nuyens (Chief Executive of the International Banking Federation), and Matthew Scott (Executive Director, UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment).

leader?” It goes back again to loving oneself – serve yourself then you can effectively serve others. A surprise appearance was also made by Toto Wolff, Team Principal, CEO & co-owner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. His talk was focused on high-performing teams. My key takeaway is that it’s important to know your team, so you understand what motivates them to be able to perform at an optimum level.

What an honor and privilege to be in the presence of the esteemed speakers who have taken the time to be with us amidst their busy schedules. The Lectures We happily sat through sessions with 2 familiar faces: Our program directors, Professors Tim Galpin and Teppo Felin. Dr. Galpin gave an informative lecture on Shareholder Activism, while Dr. Felin covered the topic ”Strategy, Un-

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certainty and A.I.” We also had a good session on reflecting how our postgrad studies had made an impact on our lives and listened to fellow classmates share developments in their jobs and career as a direct result of our studies. It was quite a touching moment when, during our session with Dr. Teppo Felin, he presented (and recited) his graduation gift to us which is a poem he wrote titled, “Be Diploma Be.”

I very much enjoyed the simulation exercise called “Patient Zero” on Adaptive Leadership with Dr. Peter Drobac (Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship). It was interesting how we made decisions based on limited information and reap (or suffer!) the consequences. The Oxford Experience Apart from the engaging talks, discussions and

lectures on upcoming and relevant topics, we were also treated to some experiences that are quite unique to Oxford. The welcome reception drinks held at the Ashmolean Museum, the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683, was one of a kind. At the Global Leaders Drinks reception organized by Liz Perkins and the London Oxford Business Alumni, I was awed

by the magnificence of Blenheim Palace, the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill. The dinner at Keble College was elegant and magical. Keble is one of the biggest colleges at the University of Oxford and has been around since 1870. Colleges and its dining halls always remind me of the Hogwarts dining hall in the Harry Potter films. Well, it’s no surprise since Oxford is where numerous

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1) Keble College, University of Oxford, 2) Donna Künzler with her husband, Dr. Patrik Künzler on her graduation day, 3) Donna Künzler with her study group mates Lucy Wainman and Fatima Carreiro at the Global Leaders Drinks reception in Blenheim Palace, 4) Donna Künzler with some of her classmates at the dining hall of Keble College.

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1) Inside the Sheldonian Theater, University of Oxford, 2) Donna Künzler shaking hands with Dean Soumitra Dutta of Saïd Business School University of Oxford.

Harry Potter scenes were filmed across Oxford's colleges. Another one for the books was watching a traditional Oxford debate at the Oxford Union Society. Founded in 1823, the Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious debating society with a tradition of hosting internationally prominent individuals across politics, academia, and popular culture.

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The Ceremony The long wait was finally over, the day of the main event has arrived. Our graduation ceremony was held at the majestic Sheldonian theater. Built in 1669 and located in Oxford’s medieval city centre, it is where all public ceremonies of the university are performed. Spirits were definitely high as graduates and loved ones gathered in one place. What a joy to

finally wear the quirky sub fusc for the first (and most likely last) time. I had no idea on how to wear it properly but I think I winged it. At Oxford, sub fuscs are worn during examinations and formal ceremonies. Dean Soumitra Dutta gave the opening speech, while Associate Dean Kathy Harvey gave the closing speech. Their speeches made me reminisce my postgrad moments and appreci-

ate all the support that I received from everyone (specially my husband) at the time. What a journey it has been. Who would have thought that this pinay from Cavite will one day be an alumna of the best university in the world? Never give up on your dreams. Dominus Illuminatio Mea. Want to read more on Donna’s postgrad journey? Visit her blog here:

www.ovfabpinay.com

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THE NETHERLANDS

Meet Atty. Chad Patrick Osorio Chad is an international academic and lawyereconomist, advocating for human and environmental rights.

had is a PhD candidate at Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands, for Environmental Economics and Law. As a full scholar of the French government, Chad received his Master II Business, Law & Economics at the top of his class, mention très bien, at L’Université d'Aix-Marseille, France. He also holds a Juris Doctor and a BA Psychology degree, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Chad is Senior Lecturer at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, teaching Intermediate Environmental Eco-

Profile

nomics, Microeconomic Theory and Consumption, and Economics of Law and Regulation. At the same time, he teaches Criminal Psychology and Legal Terminology for Careerline Courses, with students from Asia, Australia, Europe and the US. He was also former Professorial Lecturer for Public International Law at the UNO-R School of Law. WORK, CONSULTANCIESAND INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES Prior to his admission as a member of the Philippine Bar, he has worked as a United Nations Legal Intern in Cambodia with the

Virtual Tribunal, under its international public affairs division. He spent three years as Research Associate at UP Law Center's Institute of International Legal Studies. He was Technical Consultant for Security Reforms and Governance at The Asia Foundation on special international law topics. Chad was hailed as 2022 Global AI Ambassador by SwissCognitive, comprising top 51 experts and thought leaders on artificial intelligence from around the world. He is Co-Founder and Chief Legal Officer of Sociov, a datadriven startup tech platform for coaching & mentoring, as well as Co-Founder Roots&Wings

of 1407 Graymalkin Group. Chad is strategic business operations consultant for a select number of national and international firms and institutions. From 2021 to 2023, he was also on the Roster of Consultants for Legal Services for Development, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. At present, he sits at the Board of the Wageningen School of Social Sciences. CITATIONS, AWARDS AND SPEAKERSHIPS Chad topped the Peter Drucker Challenge in 2022, invited on an all-expense paid trip at the Hofsburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria to receive the award. He was also an integral part of Team MOKA, a woman-led, multicultural, cross-disciplinary team which won 10 out of the 14 awards at the 2022 HPHR (Harvard Public Health Review) Hackathon. In 2017, he was named the first Filipino recipient of the Eisaku Sato Award for Brilliance, a global essay competition supported by the United Nations University and

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Prime Minister Sato’s Nobel Peace Prize. As a prolific writer, Chad is contributing author to a number of national and international publications, including the German Commission for UNESCO’s Fair Culture Journal, the Asia-Pacific Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, the Handbook of Homeland Security, and the Palgrave Encyclopaedia of Global Security Studies. Chad has been invited to speak at various international events, notably as plenary speaker for the International Conference on Human Rights and Peace & Conflict (Thailand), as keynote speaker for the ASEAN Youth Leaders' Association (Viet Nam), and as facilitator for Asian Development Bank’s Youth for Asia (Japan), among many others. He has given guest lectures for top higher education institutions in the Philippines and abroad. From 2020 to 2022, Chad served as (Presiding) Judge for Preliminaries for the Northern European Rounds of the Price Moot

Court Competition, sponsored by the University of Paris Descartes and the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, Oxford University. EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES As a student leader, Chad has been awarded the 2018 Huwarang Kabataang Lumbeño (Exemplary Youth Award) and the 2015 Gawad Felicisimo T. San Luis for the Most Outstanding Youth of Laguna. He is also an international award-winning photographer-artist, his works on exhibit at Harvard Law School, US, as well as the 2017 United Nations Conference of Parties in Bonn, Germany, among others. Chad is active in environmental and community initiatives, and devotes his spare time volunteering in underserved, underprivileged communities by sharing his knowledge, skills and experience to promote empowerment and inclusive development.

www.chadosor.io

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NORWAY

NEW NORDIC MEETS NEO-FILIPINO Meet the Michelin-trained brothers behind Kain Neo-Filipino Bistro, the first Filipino restaurant in Oslo Text and photos by Jennifer Fergesen

he Norwegian rockfish, raw and hours from life, appears under a mosaic of radishes cut to the translucence of sea glass. Flying fish roe, fermented mango and dill drift here and there like bright-colored creatures in a tidal pool. At the table, the arrangement is anointed in a coulis green as new leaves. Presented in an austere Oslo dining room, the dish 56

Food

could fit into any New Nordicrestaurant in the Norwegian capital — but the first bite reveals its roots. This is unmistakably Filipino kinilaw, the marine vibrance of the rockfish framed in acidity and richness. Pre-colonial Filipinos achieved this equilibrium with naturally fermented vinegar and grated fruits like tabon-tabon or coconut. At Kain Neo-Filipino Bistro, brothers Dominic and Daniel

Dominic, left, and Daniel Vergara are the co-owners of Kain NeoFilipino Bistro.—

JENNIFER FERGESEN

Vergara alchemize the same results with the ingredients available at a higher latitude. “Our main goal is to share Filipino culture through food, using Norwegian produce and Filipino flavors,” says Daniel, 31. “That’s kind of our thing.” He and Dominic, 35, opened Kain — the only Filipino restaurant in Oslo — in 2022, after just five years in the city. The restaurant is a syncretization of their memories of Roots&Wings

Rockfish kinilaw is garnished with sliced radish, flying fish roe, fermented mango and dill. — JENNIFER FERGESEN

Pampanga, their childhoods in Italy and their rigorous training around Europe and Asia. It is also, in my opinion, one of the best Filipino restaurants in Europe. Born in the Philippines, the Vergara brothers grew up in Milan, home to one of the largest Filipino populations in Europe. Their parents ran the restaurant Cabalen Ini, a nowclosed hub for the community that hosted frequent birthday parties, beauty pageants and debuts. Both brothers helped out in the restaurant, and Dominic later attended culinary school and worked in Michelin-starred restaurants including Innocenti Evasioni in Milan and Madonnina del Pescatore in Senigallia. Daniel, meanwhile, worked his way through various positions in Milan’s restaurant scene, eventually traveling to Yokohama, Japan to learn how to make ramen. Some friends in Oslo suggested that he look for a job in the NorRoots&Wings

wegian city, where frigid winters and a widespread interest in Japanese culture bolster a thriving ramen scene. After the crush and bustle of Milan and Yokohama, Oslo felt like an oasis of calm. His brother, then working in similarly hectic London, decided to join him. With his star-studded CV, Dominic had little trouble getting an internship at Maaemo, the three-Michelinstarred restaurant that proved Oslo could stand on its own in a New Nordic scene dominated by Copenhagen and Stockholm. Soon after his internship, the brothers opened their first business, Kain Rice

Bar, at Oslo Street Food, a hip food hall in a former bathhouse. There they decorated their stall in bamboo to look like a provincial tindahan and served carinderia-style fare like tapsilog, pork adobo and chicken inasal. Their highend training eked through in details like the onions pickled in-house and sous vide eggs on the arroz caldo. “But what we were doing there was limited,” Daniel says. “We wanted to expand.” Their current restaurant space, a few blocks away from the food hall, became available just as their term at the stall was ending. It’s a high-traffic location in the

What we’re doing here is mainly our childhood memories: the memories of the things my mom is cooking, of things we tried in the Philippines... That’s what we want to share.

Paintings by Filipino Norwegian artists decorate the interior of Kain Neo-Filipino Bistro. — JENNIFER FERGESEN

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center of town, the kind of spot that would normally be difficult to rent as young, first-time restaurateurs — but the brothers had an ally. “The broker was eating at Oslo Street Food all the time, and he’s like, I know these guys,” says Dominic, laughing. “So he convinced the landlord.” Kain Neo-Filipino Bistro gives the brothers enough space to put their skills on full display. The ginataan — made with Norwegian mackerel on the day of my visit — involves coconut foam, caviar-like spheres of herring, and pumpkin pureed with coconut to the texture of pastry cream. Foams and cold-oil spherification are cliches of modernist cuisine, but this may be the first restaurant to deploy them to painstakingly recreate the flavors of Filipino home cooking. The dish so closely evoked my own lola’s

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ginataang isda that I called over the server and asked her to explain every ingredient to me, searching for a secret. “We’re using modern techniques to do our stuff just to make it more presentable,” Dominic says. “Filipino food is really good. It’s delicious. But to be honest, it’s sometimes not that pretty. So that’s what we try to achieve.” Not everyone agrees with their methods. Daniel described a Filipino guest who said the ginataan wasn’t authentic because it didn’t have visible pieces of kalabasa. “But we’re like, ginataan means to cook in coconut, and isn’t this cooked in coconut?” he says. “We just want people to be open minded about what they’re having, even if it’s not what they’re used to having. Just enjoy the moment.” A moment at Kain is best enjoyed with a coda of what

LEFT The ginataan at Kain NeoFilipino Bistro in Oslo is decorated with foam and Avruga caviar.— JENNIFER FERGESEN

RIGHT Kain’s “Neo Halo-Halo” is made with buttermilk granita and shards of ube meringue.— JENNIFER FERGESEN

the menu calls “neo halo-halo.” When the dessert arrived — three slate-like shards of ube meringue on a scree of buttermilk granita — I doubted that this minimalist composition could bear any resemblance to the carnivalesque cacophony I associate with halo-halo. But a stir unearthed leche flan, bananas cooked down to caramel and buoyant cubes of nata de coco. I almost laughed when I recognized its inspiration: the halo-halo at Razon’s, the Pampangueño chain with dozens of locations around the Philippines. “What we’re doing here is mainly our childhood memories: the memories of the things my mom is cooking, of things we tried in the Philippines,” Dominic explains. “That’s what we want to share.”

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THE NETHERLANDS

Luncheon with the Laudicos Celebrity chefs Jacqueline and Rolando Laudico serve three-course meals at the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands Words and photography by Krisha Valle

n the month of June, renowned celebrity chefs, Jacqueline and Rolando Laudico, were invited to be the guest-of-honor in a number of events held throughout Europe. The Netherlands was their final stop and as the saying goes, they saved the best for last. A luncheon was held at the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands, but this was unlike

any other event that the embassy had hosted in the past. Numerous guests such as, ambassadors, chefs, and food connoisseurs, were invited not only to taste the Laudicos’ mouthwatering dishes, but to also witness their cooking expertise during a live cooking demonstration—chef Rolando demonstrated the preparation of the main course, while chef Jacqueline demonstrated the dessert course. The Laudicos demonstrated their cooking skills with

ease showing the guests what 23 years of experience looks like. However, it wasn’t just the sounds and smells wafting from their pans that captivated the audience, it was also their charismatic personalities. They spoke highly of the Filipino kitchen and made sure to simultaneously educate and entertain everyone present. Watching them cook alongside each other is witnessing them in their element. After the cooking demonstration, the guests eagerly

TOP: Chef Jacqueline and Rolando Laudico during the cooking demonstration; LEFT: Rolando Laudico plating the main course during the cooking demonstration.

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TOP: Starters Sinigang soup, Ensalada; BOTTOM LEFT: Main course - Bistek tagalog; BOTTOM RIGHT: Dessert - Suman w/ latik and panna cotta

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took their seats and waited for the dishes of the 3-course meal to be served. Each dish showcased different Filipino delicacies that had been elevated with a Laudico twist. The starter course consisted of two dishes: a classic sinigang with Sea Bass elevated using miso, and a less traditional ensaladang talong as it was literally a salad (uncommon to the Filipino kitchen) with grilled eggplant, tomatoes, tinapa flakes, and Philippine dried and fresh man-

goes, topped with a salted egg dressing. The next course was the main, a fancified version of bistek tagalog–the Filipino kitchen’s version of beef stew. This classic is a simple dish that needs only six ingredients: beef, soy sauce, calamansi, garlic, onions, and black pepper. Throw these ingredients in a pan and the dish is ready, but chef Rolando’s take on the classic dish is slightly different. He slow roasted a thick cut of beef tenderloin in a low temperature oven and as for

the sauce, he used a demiglace to thicken the mixture of soy sauce, calamansi, and crushed black pepper. All of this was paired with sinangag, rice sautéed in oil and garlic, because it wouldn’t be a Filipino main dish without rice and as chef Rolando put it, “rice is life.” Finally, the dish was topped with grilled onions, making sure to stay true to its traditional ingredients. Now for the last course, dessert. Just like the bistek tagalog, the dessert was a fancified version of the classic suman—the Filipino kitchen’s version of sweet sticky rice. Chef Jacqueline elevated the classic dish by adding a layer of coconut panna cotta, an Italian pudding dessert. The suman was served with ripe Philippine mangoes and a generous drizzle of latik. The Laudicos definitely chose to save the best dish for last as a majority of the guests chose the dessert as their favorite dish out of the four, and if it wasn’t that, then it was the ensalada. Watching the cooking

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demonstration and then getting to taste their curated dishes was truly an experience to behold. Their passion for food, but most especially Filipino food, translated into their speech and skills, and everyone there saw and tasted this. The Laudicos are a cultural treasure for a reason. They started from humble beginnings working in catering and now they are celebrating 10 years since the conception of their local restaurant in the Philippines, Guevarra’s. Roots&Wings

Their successes have lead to national recognition as immensely talented chefs, which has pushed them to strive for a larger goal, “it has always been our advocacy to spread Filipino flavors [globally] because Filipino cuisine is still not a mainstream Southeast Asian cuisine, and it definitely has nothing to do with the taste of our food.” It is having this personal and achievable desire that has propelled the Laudicos’ successes. Tasting a dish that was curated and perfected by the

Laudicos is an experience to be had, and it is an experience that can happen at their restaurant, Guevarra’s. If you ever find yourself back in the Philippines, make sure to grab a table and enjoy a meal there because every dish on the menu is a recipe curated and perfected by the Laudicos themselves. It will without a doubt be a flavorful experience and a tip from chef Jacqueline directly, “make sure to order the beef kare-kare, that’s the dish that everyone must try.”

TOP The Laudicos, Ambassador Jose Malaya, and invited chefs BOTTOM Book signing with the Laudicos

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