Roots & Wings | October 2020

Dear Kababayans Resolute Filipino-European entrepreneurs have succeeded at breaking through the European market with enduring vision, revolutionary ideas, unique products, services, and offerings primarily for the Filipino community alongside the host countries in the region.

They are those among us who have spotted a lack, a need or struggled within the economy, or target social and environmental shift. They wrote their business plans and made efforts to initiate, build and scale to generate profit in various aspects.

In this October issue, Roots & Wings is celebrating Filipino-European entrepreneurs and their courage to take that dream into their hands, make the first leap, work hard, sacrifice a lot, and stay on course.

Lily C. Fen writes about Swiss-based Cattleya Romero-Faude and her sister Sheila Romero - prime movers of award-winning SAGANÀ known for its 100% organic coconut butter, blossom nectar and sweetener, vegan spreads, wholegrains, and premium Pili nuts.

In Austria, Ralph Chan introduces Jose Hart, construction company owner Hart & Hart Bauträger GmbH. For 17 years, Hart has been “building on trust” of clients and built houses

and apartments while providing jobs for Filipinos and locals.

Jennifer Fergesen connects with ”Budgie” Montoya, owner of Sarap BAon Resto in London who won his location through the Brixton Kitchen competition. He transcends the popular lechon belly, pulutan and silog or rice bowl dishes, and a chain of accessible Filipino cuisine.

In Prague, pioneering P-Noy Taste of Asia is a ‘go-to’ for Philippine-Asian products, also serving quick bites and fresh juices. Rebecca Garcia Urbančík is witness to Tarlac-born Myra‘s love story as well as her business beginnings.

Heard of music instrument ‘Kudyapi’? Read and listen to guest contributor Hans Brandeis’ Philippine boat lutes. Returning to her roots, Becky Torres walks us through the cobbled streets of 16th century Heritage City of Vigan in Ilocos Sur. And as the world continues to adjust to the new normal, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt and Transwing Art Gallery put together a themed online artists’ exhibit “Envisioning Healing and Inspiration from Abroad: Overseas Filipinos Supporting Filipino Artists in Times of Pandemic.”

At day’s end, our team bids farewell and eternal rest to dearest colleague Renee S. Ikdal, Roots and Wings Bureau Editor cum Philippine Honourary Consul to Stavanger, Norway.

Betsy von Atzigen

Editor in Chief, Switzerland

the team ELIZABETH “Betsy” VON ATZIGEN RACHEL HANSEN Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief & Founder MARTHY ANGUE MARTHY AssociateANGUE Editor, Philippines Associate Editor, Philippines RALPH CHAN DONNA MANIO Bureau Editor, Austria Lifestyle Editor, Philippines LOUISE BATERNA ELIZABETH “BETSY”VON ATZIGEN Bureau Editor, Belgium Bureau Editor, Switzerland REBECCA GARCIA URBANCIK AIMEE ALADO Bureau Editor, Czechia & Germany Bureau Editor, United Kingdom JENNIFER FERGESEN LORNA REAL DEL ROSARIO BureauEditor, Editor, Iceland Bureau Ireland AYASUNGA SUNGAASKERT ASKERT AYA BureauEditor, Editor, Sweden Bureau Sweden LILY DE C. FEN LIZA VERA-PREICZER Bureau Editor, Switzerland Bureau Editor, Austria GLORIA HERNANDEZ GREJALDE LUZ BERGERSEN BureauEditor, Editor, Russia Bureau Norway AIMEE BAGARES ALADO LYNDY Bureau Editor, United Kingdom Web Editor, Fornebu, Norway LYNDY BAGARES Web Editor, Norway

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ENTREPRENEURS SAGANÀ p4 Hart & Hart p10 Sarap Baon p14 P-Noy Taste of Asia p18 MUSIC FEATURED ARTIST Philippine Boat Lutes p22 Betsy Westendorp pg.4 ART COMMUNITY Online Art Exhibit p30 Filipino Artists’ Association of Sweden, pg. 10 TRAVEL Vigan p34 LITERATURE Book Launch in Bern, pg. 14 NEWS Strange Spaces, EHEF2020 p40 pg. 16 PROFILE IN MEMORIAM Carl Hansen, pg. 24 Renee Ikdal p42 PROGRESS VP Leni in London, pg.28 ON THE COVER Sagana entrepreneur Cattleya RomeroFaude (inset) and Mount Mayon Kyoto Matcha Premium Pili Nuts FRIENDS OF R&W Maia Magpantay p12 Gustoko p28

RACHEL HANSEN Business Ventures Editor, Founder

Roots & Wings is published

by Rachel Publishing Co from its head office in Stockholm, Sweden.

Email: rawmagsubmissions@gmail.com ©2009-2020 | rawmags.com Roots&Wings Filipino Magazine in Europe

Download more issues at Rawmags.com or follow us on social media: Instagram: @Rawmags Twitter: @rawmags www.facebook.com/rawmags

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ROOTS AND WINGS OCTOBER 2020 | ENTREPRENEUR

as interviewed by Lily C. Fen | Switzerland

Cattleya Romero-Faude’s SAGANÀ had won the 2014 Zurich edition of the Social Impact Award (SIA) when I first met her.

On my second interview with her, I get to find out how the first Filipino-owned premium Swiss brand has been doing since.

“My sister and I wanted to fulfill a dream to have our own ‘responsible business with a conscience’,” says entrepreneur Cattleya. “As we grow, our farmers grow,” she says, adding that she sought to establish long-term partnerships with like-minded coconut blossom farmers.

With Cattleya’s degree in international business and her sister, Sheila, majoring in export management, SAGANÀ has

sound theory as a springboard. “But it is a huge step from theory to practice,” Cattleya says.

Today, SAGANÀ has expanded to include 100% organic coconut butter and vegan spreads, 100% wholegrain rice varieties and premium Pili nuts, besides their flagship product, the award-winning 100% coconut blossom nectar. The SAGANÀ Coconut Sweetener won two stars at Great Taste 2019 in UK for its authentic flavour and fine texture.

This inspiring entrepreneur is putting Filipino gourmet goods onto Swiss shelves, and RAW wanted to find out more about SAGANÀ.

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What is SAGANÀ?

SAGANÀ® means ‘abundance’ in Filipino, and we have chosen abundant, sustainable ingredients to develop healthier alternative food products that are delicious, nutritious and ethical.

SAGANÀ’s flagship product is coconut blossom nectar—an artisanal 100% natural sweetener in powder and liquid forms.

SAGANÀ® is the first Swiss-Filipino, purpose-driven premium brand built from the ground up to enter the Swiss market.

What highs and lows has SAGANÀ faced since beginning?

SAGANÀ, for one, has given Filipino rice farmers a fighting chance amid vast volumes from competitors importing into the Philippines. Developing our vegan spreads from roasted coconuts had METRO selecting us under the NX Food Accelerator program in late 2019— we could then market-test in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. These were high moments. SAGANÀ also just won one star at the Great Taste UK 2020 for the roasted coconut spread! We’re excited about this.

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On the other hand, working with grassroots initiatives in the Philippines was challenging due to compliance needs with international requirements on food safety, hygiene and quality.

What has 2020 been like for SAGANÀ?

It was looking promising for SAGANÀ as we set to explore foreign markets and pilot partnerships. But when CoVid took over, the Gulfood Startup Programme in Dubai (to which we had been invited) and fairs in Switzerland and the EU were cancelled. Our goods arrived in Switzerland three months later than expected.

As a solution, we shifted to online sales and engaging customers through social media. We chose to distribute Mount Mayon Pili Nuts in Switzerland and teamed up with mydio.com to support mangrove rehabilitation in the Philippines.

The Great Taste Supreme Champion 2018 Mount Mayon Pili Nuts are vitamin-E rich and endemic to the Philippines.

Purchasing this product means supporting small-scale pili nut farmers.

We also worked on our Philippine business permits so Filipinos back home

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could discover SAGANÀ. Our Salted Coconut Spread is finally available online at O-superstore.com and accepts Metro Manila deliveries.

How do we purchase items for Christmas?

Our SAGANÀ coconut sweetener is available throughout Switzerland at all Manor Supermarkets. All our other products are available in the Swiss and EU region through or e-shop, sagana. org. We also offer Christmas bundles and e-gift cards, available in Switzerland and the EU. RAW readers can discover more about SAGANÀ through our webpage or social media accounts: on Facebook:

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@Saganathehealthieralternative and @sagana.philippines on Instagram: @sagana_ch.

What is next for SAGANÀ in 2021?

It feels like we’re starting all over again because of the impact of CoVid on small businesses like ours. I will press on as I enjoy what I’m doing and value the positive impact of SAGANÀ. I hope for SAGANÀ’s success in entering the Philippines, Germany, the UK, Scandinavia and Middle East markets through trusted distribution partners. May we have more purpose-driven collaborations that benefit everyone involved, despite much being on hold until the pandemic situation improves. R&W

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words by Ralph Chan | Austria

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Kids get asked by their parents what they want to become in the future when they grow up. Many would say that they would like to become a police officer, a doctor or a lawyer, but only a few would say I want to become a building contractor that wants to build houses. This is interesting as almost every child in Europe played with Playmobil or Lego in their childhood. One of the best memories of these games is constructing your own houses and buildings with the figures in the Lego or Playmobil world.

HART & HART BAUTRÄGER GMBH It is rare that a Filipino in Europe has been successfully building and selling houses and apartments for so many years and who owns a construction company with many Austrian, as well as Filipino employees. The construction company Hart & Hart Bauträger GmbH was founded and is managed personally by owner Jose Hart to this day. The story of Hart & Hart is based on a 17-year success-oriented journey. They are successful because they believe in their own projects. Not only do they create living spaces for everyone, they also offer an outstanding quality of life. Because a good house is also a solid investment for future generations. Their approach is very simple and clear: “We build on trust!”. The company has earned an impeccable reputation in Austria, the Philippines, Europe and around the world.

The construction company Hart & Hart can show a portfolio of all the successes of the 234 completed construction projects with more than 1000 satisfied customers.

A FILIPINO DREAM Every Filipino family, whether rich or poor, dreams of owning a home of their own. The inspiring biography of Jose Hart and the journey of Hart & Hart Bauträger GmbH show that it is not impossible to become a community leader even with a migration background. Jose Hart has opened many doors for Austro-Filipinos.

With his reputation in local and national politics, finance, culture and many other areas of life, Hart was and is a continuous communication hub for Austrians, Filipinos and Filipinas. Although he has a tight calendar and is always busy, he is generous in making the Hart & Hart showroom available for Austro-Filipinos to do their activities for community building in Austria. He opens his rooms for guest lectures at the University of Vienna, drawing workshops for children and other events. R&W

Website: https://www.hart-hart.at/

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Roots and Wings Magazine is proud to present some of the best work of the award-winning palette-knife artist and Angono, Rizal native Maia Magpantay. For sale inquiries, you may email her at paletterose21@yahoo.com

Facing Page “SOMEWHERE IN THE MID” 72” x 48” | Oil on canvas 2016 | Paletteknife painting Php 600, 000.00

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Above “FLOWER PICKER” 36”x 48” | Oil on Canvas 2020 | Paletteknife painting Php 170, 000.00

Above “EIGHT HORSES” 30” x 40” | Oil on canvas 2016 | Paletteknife painting Php 130, 000.00 Right “SLEEP WALKER” 48” x 36” | Oil on canvas 2016 | Paletteknife painting Php 170, 000.00

“SEE-SAW” 48” x 72” | Oil on canvas 2016 |Paletteknife painting Php 600, 000.00 13

by Jennifer Fergesen | Iceland

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ROOTS AND WINGS OCTOBER 2020 | ENTREPRENEUR

Ferdinand ”Budgie” Montoya, owner of Sarap in London, didn’t plan on opening a restaurant months before a global pandemic. The 38-year-old, who was born in Mindanao and lived in Australia between the ages of 5 and 30, spent years developing his brand through pop-ups, supper clubs and residencies before moving into a space in Brixton Village at the end of January — less than two months before London entered lockdown March 23.

Montoya is luckier than many other restaurateurs, financially speaking. He won his location through the competition and incubator programme Brixton Kitchen, which granted him a rent-free period until October, so he didn’t have to rush to reopen when restaurants were allowed to do so July 4. But that grace period is coming to an end, and at the beginning of autumn the British government hinted that they might again close restaurants ”for a few weeks.”

We spoke to Montoya soon after the government’s plans were made public.

Why did you decide to start a Filipino restaurant?

I guess I sort of started missing home and started missing my mum’s cooking, and her celebrations and things like that. Coming back to London from a visit to Sydney, I wanted to look for some Filipino food, and I found a few little places, but nothing really stood out for

me, nothing really satisfied that craving.

I wanted to create something that was somewhere I would like to take friends and colleagues to be proud of Filipino cuisine.

Before the lockdown, what kinds of dishes did you serve?

Our hero dish was … a lechon belly, with all the trimmings: atchara, with our version of the liver sauce, spiced vinegar. One of our most popular dishes is roasted celeriac kare kare, which is extremely popular, especially for people that have no idea what kare kare is.

We’re very much led by cooking with charcoal, so trying to incorporate openfire cooking in our cuisine.

What have you been doing since the shutdown began?

Initially, I was obviously trying to test out whether we could do food delivery but it just wasn’t viable for us in terms

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of the size of the kitchen and in terms of storage and things like that. So we stepped away from that, and essentially been trying to negotiate our lease agreements.

that vibe of being in somebody’s house.

You’re (sitting) in front of the kitchen, so you’re looking at us as we do our work, as we cook your food.

How would you describe the vibe that you want to create?

I’ve always kind of wanted it to be the feel of someone’s house a typical Filipino household. Lots of music, lots of the sound of people talking, and sort of that whole communal vibe. Because it was such a small space, it being so cozy was part of the vibe. But obviously now, with social distancing and things like that, it’s very much a totally different vibe. But with the whole counter seating arrangement, where people will sit around the kitchen it kind of still creates

I’m always seeing, quite regularly, new supper clubs, new street food-type or food hall-type businesses opening, new pop-ups and things like that opening all the time. I’ve noticed in London there’s a lot of Filipino chefs that work in kitchens, but (don’t) necessarily have anything to do with Filipino cuisine, and now that they have some downtime, they’re not working in their current restaurants or whoever they’re working for, they go back to sort of what they know best, which is Filipino food, and add their professional experiences to it.

We really are, at the moment, planning for a brand-new opening, because we’re going from what we were, which was a sit-down, sharing plate type concept, to a more fast-paced (concept). We’re going to start looking at doing rice bowls, pulutan, snacks and things like that, and then also lechon as well. We’re changing our name from Sarap to Sarap BAon, just to create that more casual feel to the whole business model.

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How do you see the Filipino food scene in London changing right now?

It’s definitely still very much in its infancy. I look at places like America, and they’re very much well ahead of us.

But it almost feels like a changing of the guard, if that makes sense. You’ve got a lot of younger Filipino entrepreneurs who are taking pride in the cuisine and taking pride in the knowledge that they can present the food to not just Filipinos, but to everybody else.

What are your ultimate goals for your business? Do you want a larger location?

I definitely want something bigger, but at the same time I think staying in Brixton is something we’d like to do. The minority matters in Brixton.

It’s a place where there’s a (large) Afro-Caribbean community, and it’s a community-based area. I (also) want to simplify our offerings and focus on the things that we’re really good at, like the lechon and our pulutan dishes, and simplify it with our silog or rice bowl dishes, and try to create a network or a chain of accessible Filipino cuisine throughout London. R&W

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ROOTS AND WINGS OCTOBER 2020 | ENTREPRENEUR

by Rebecca Garcia Urbancik | Czechia

I have known Myra and Martin Nizaradze since 2011, and I can tell you that they are the epitome of Filipino entrepreneurship. Their ‘love story’ is equally as interesting :) Originally from Tarlac City, Myra met Martin, a Czech national, in Doha, Qatar in 2005. The couple made their way back to Prague, Czech Republic and in July 2012, the first Filipino store — P-Noy Taste of Asia — officially opened. I remember that day very well and had the pleasure to attend the store’s launch. Located in Malá Strana, also known as Lesser Town in Prague 1, P-Noy Taste of Asia caters not only to Filipinos, but to locals and expats as well.

I had the chance to quickly chat with Myra about the store, the product offerings and future plans for P-Noy. What inspired you to open up P-Noy Taste of Asia?

When I arrived in the Czech Republic, there were no authentic mixes / sauces for my home cooking. Back then, there were only about 300-400 Filipinos living here, so I decided to open a small store to

cater to the needs of [fellow] Filipinos. As the opportunity for Filipinos to work here increased, we have decided to open a store not only for Filipinos, but also to promote Filipino Cuisine to locals and expats. We are the first Filipino store here in Czech Republic (opened July 2012).

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What kind of products can customers expect to find? What would you say are the most popular products?

moment. Plans are in place but we will see after the pandemic ☺

We mainly offer Filipino products that are not available in the local market, but we also offer other Asian goods – as we know that there are also many other Asians living here. For locals and expats, the most popular product is our Philippine mangoes.

For Filipinos, it’s hard to say because they buy almost everything.. (she smiles :-)

One thing that we can definitely expect in the near future is P-Noy’s online shop, which will first cater to the Czech market and neighbouring countries later on. So for those based in the Czech Republic, this is something that you can look forward to (I know I am :)).

Has there been any change - clientele or market wise - since P-Noy’s opening 8 years ago?

I can’t say that the changes are big, but now more people know that there is a Filipino store in the center of Prague. Most of our local and expat clients keep coming back.

[The store has also gotten attention from] Filipinos who have traveled to Prague, as they promote the shop to their friends. So sometimes we have surprise visitors from other European countries who shop at the store.

What are your prospects for P-Noy in the future? Do you have plans to expand the store?

Totally unlimited ☺ - but the situation can change abruptly, so I really can’t tell at the 20

P-Noy is not only your ‘go-to’ for Philippine or Asian ingredients, but also serves lunch.

Different dishes, not just Filipino food, are prepared throughout the week.

For our ‘kababayans’ who plan to visit Prague in the future, be sure to pass by P-Noy, your ‘home away from home’ for a quick bite, fresh juices, Philippine ingredients, and products! R&W P-Noy Taste of Asia is located on Karmelitská 380/16, 118 00 Malá Strana

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words by Hans Brandeis | Germany

Above: Elena Manioba, a resident of Kulaman, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat is playing the peglung of the Dulangan Manobo (2010) 22

ROOTS AND WINGS OCTOBER 2020 | MUSIC

Most Filipinos know the word “kudyapì”… but what does it mean? It’s a

musical instrument with two strings and a long narrow body that reminds of a boat.

These so-called boat lutes come in many different sizes and designs, depending on the ethnic group using them. They are all carved out of one solid block of wood. The body is hollowed out from the back and covered with a wooden board. The frets are usually made out of pieces of wood or bamboo and glued to the neck and body by means of beeswax. In most tribal traditions, the lutes are merely played as solo instruments, in others, they are combined with bamboo zithers. That’s the Philippine boat lute!

The symbolic meaning of the instruments, however, does not refer

to boats, but, first of all, to animals: crocodiles, monitor lizards, horses, roosters and herons. It can also refer to the human body and to specific carved designs that can be found on royal houses. But the story is a little bit more complicated. In former times, crocodiles used to be considered the ancestors of humans. Deceased people were often buried in boat-shaped coffins, because boats symbolized the transition from the material to the spiritual world.

And many of these boat-coffins were ornamented with carvings of crocodiles or lizards. In this sense, the crocodileshaped boat lutes also seem to represent ancestors on their way to heaven.

In the Philippines, boat lutes, nowadays, are exclusively played on the islands of

Mindanao and Palawan, among at least 37 different ethnic groups, for example, big instruments by the Islamic Maranao, Maguindanaon, Talaandig and Higaonon (kutiyapi), medium-sized lutes by several Manobo and Bagobo groups, like Matigsalug, Ata and Bagobo Tagabawa (kuglung), and smaller instruments by the Tboli (hegelung), Blaan (faglung), Mandaya and Mansaka (kudlung), Tëduray (fegereng), Subanen (kutapi), and others. On the island of Palawan, they are mainly played by the Pala’wan people (kusyapi, kudlungan).

There is no proof for the claim made by some scholars that, in former times, boat lutes could be found all over the Philippines. It is true, however, that they were used on the islands of Panay and Samar-Leyte, during the Spanish colonial times, as reported by Fr. Francisco

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Ignacio Alcina in 1668. Nevertheless, the term “kudyapì” is also used in the northern and central Philippines where it seems to refer to small lutes with a resonating body made from half a coconut shell and with 4-6 strings – totally different from the boat lutes.

The origins of boat lutes lie in India.

From there, certain construction features as well the instruments’ names (most of them deriving from Sanskrit “kacchapa,” “turtle”) first found their way to mainland Southeast Asia where they developed into the crocodile zithers of Burma, Kampuchea and Thailand. From there, they spread to insular Southeast Asia, to Sumatra, Sulawesi, Sumba, Borneo and the Philippines, where they developed into an impressive diversity of lute and zither instruments.

The first time I saw a picture of a Maranao kutiyapì was in 1975, when I wrote a term paper on the musical instruments of the Philippines for my course in ethnomusicology at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. This inspired me to go on my first research trip to the Philippines, in winter 197677. During my early field trips, I was 24

only able to document a handful of boat lute players of the Talaandig, Higaonon and Tigwa Manobo tribes and, therefore, focused on their musical culture, in general.

Despite my many efforts, I was never able to find a Maranao kutiyapì player.

This is especially amazing because the kutiyapì of the Maranao is clearly the most attractive of all Philippine boat lutes, with its abundance of intricate carvings and colorful painted designs.

In Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, I had two piyapì of the Higaonon made for me, but I never found anybody who was able to play them. The boat lute tradition of the Batak of Palawan is also gone forever. These musical traditions have disappeared, hardly leaving a trace. However, when I visited the Tigwa Manobo of southeastern Bukidnon, I found a rich and vital boat lute culture.

This made me decide to focus on the study of Philippine boat lutes, in the years to come.

From 1997 on, I systematically tried to visit all the places in Mindanao and Palawan where boat lute music was still practiced. All in all, I collected 57 boat

Top: The first Philippine boat lute that Hans Brandeis ever recorded and collected, a kutiyapĂŹ of the Higaonon. Somewhere in the mountains between Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Ciy (Winter 1982-83) Left: On the way to the airport, holding a kutapi lute given as a gift from Subanen princess Bae Labi Sonita Manlin Mande-Ryde. Cagayan de Oro, 2009. (Photo: Elson Elizaga) Above: A Matigsalug Manobo couple playing kuglung (Camilo Gulam) and salurey (Ahunay Empolok). Marilog District, Davao City, 1997.

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lutes from the Philippines. Just recently, I made my latest acquisition, a very big and beautifully decorated kutiyapì of the Maguindanaon that was made around the year 1900. But I also documented many instruments in private collections and museums, in the Philippines, USA, France, Austria and Germany, many of them from the early 1900s.

It is needless to say that I had many remarkable encounters with interesting people and amazing musicians. In 1997, when I visited Cotabato City, I met the famous Maguindanaon kutiyapì virtuoso Samaon Solaiman (†2011) who had been awarded the prestigious GAMABA (“Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan,” “Living National Treasure Award”). Another GAMABA awardee that was Masino Intaray (†2013), the highly praised epic singer of the Pala’wan people who played the huge boat lute kusyapì for me.

One of my most interesting research experiences was the documentation of Tasaday lute music in 2004. The Tasaday had been popularized as the alleged last survivors of a stone age people living in the mountains of South Cotabato. Many people have denounced 26

them as a fabricated fake tribe. But, beyond any doubt, they speak a distinct Cotabato Manobo language, different from all other languages spoken in their neighborhood. And Degu Bilangan, a young Tasaday man of 28 years, was one of the best boat lute players that I have ever heard and recorded.

Presently, I’m working on a book with the title “The Singing Crocodile – Boat Lutes of the Philippines.” This handbook will discuss all the important aspects of Philippine boat lutes: historical sources from the Spanish colonial times, the process of making an instrument, the terminology in the indigenous languages, a typology of the instruments based on the detailed descriptions of 253 instruments, explanations about the symbolic meaning of the lutes, performing practices, playing techniques and combinations of lutes with other instruments.

When, in 1993, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) honored Samaon Sulaiman with the GAMABA award, this had a strong impact on creating a new, nationwide interest in the traditional boat lutes. Performances

of boat lute masters are now featured in all major folk festivals, for example, during the 3rd Rondalla Festival “Cuerdas sa Pagkakaysa” (2011).

There are now also many neo-ethnic bands, mostly in the urban areas of the Philippines, using boat lutes that are usually accompanied by several Africanstyle djembe drums.

In 2015, I came to know Arjho Cariño Turner, a Blaan cultural advocate.

Together, we set up a Facebook advocacy page called “Boat Lutes of the Philippines.” This website now has an international following of more than 5,000 people, ranging from academics, musicians, artists and cultural workers to cultural enthusiasts. R&W

For more information on the Philippine boat lutes, visit the following websites: Publications for free downloading: https://fu-berlin.academia.edu/ HansBrandeis Community page for boat lute lovers: https://www.facebook.com/ boatlutesphilippines/

Top: Tboli hegelung virtuoso Mâ Fil Angkoy from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. 2004.

Above: The adorable Ganay Delikan playing her hegelung of the Tboli.

Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, 1997.

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GUSTOKO was created by Paula Figueras to showcase her love and recognition for the artisans of her home country, the Philippines.

The creative process begins in Lisbon, where Paula is based, and all the handbags and accessories are handmade by craftsmen from all over the different islands in the Phillippine archipelago.

Paula sources all that is indigenous to her country and translates it into exquisite pieces that are elegant and desirable.

The brand uses distinctive weaving and embroidery techniques in exclusive natural fibers to create a line of modern classics. Wood, exotic leathers and shells are also creatively used in a line of polished pieces that reflect both an eye towards the future and a nostalgia for old school sophistication.

All the bags are handmade by a small team of artisans in Marikina city. Family members (Tito and Tita) are in charge of overseeing the production of the bags there. All the embroiderers are housewives from the neighborhood who work from their homes. They often get materials, designs and patterns in the production sites then they will bring

them home so they can embroider while looking after their young kids.

All the materials are sourced from different provinces in the Philippines.

Buntal comes from Marinduque or Bulacan, Raffia from Bohol, Ticog from Leyte, shells and wood components from Cebu, Tinalak from the Tboli tribe in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and snake leather from Rizal. Paula is always in the lookout for new materials and products from the home country to be able to grow her list of base materials but so far buntal, raffia and tinalak are the most widely accepted here in Europe.

Paula normally buys from smaller manufacturers in the Philippines to be able to help them out and to support the livelihood of their communities. www.facebook.com/ gustokobypaulafigueras/ @gustokobypaulafigueras

Use the code “RAWMAG10� to get 10% off your GUSTOKO purchase. You can download their current catalog at: https://bit.ly/2PWccSL

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As the world continues to adjust to the ‘new normal’, many of us have turned to online or more remote work. Thanks to technology and social media, we are all still able to connect and experience different events or occasions made available online.

On September 11, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, in partnership with Transwing Art Gallery, launched an online art exhibition with an opening event that streamed live on the Consulate’s Facebook page. As part of its virtual cultural diplomacy initiatives, the event’s aim was to support Filipino artists affected by the pandemic. words by Rebecca Urbančík Garcia in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt

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The online exhibition entitled “Envisioning Healing and Inspiration from Abroad: Overseas Filipinos Supporting Filipino Artists in Times of Pandemic,” featured artwork of self-taught Filipino artists from Transwing Art Gallery. The art pieces in the collection represent each artist’s response to the pandemic, or otherwise called ‘pandemic art’. Each piece shows the different emotions of the artists, such as expressions of pain and anguish that could turn into hope and healing. The online exhibition showcased 31 art pieces from the various artists. (Transwing Art Gallery, under the direction of Mr. Klaus W. Hartung, has been a longtime institution exclusively dedicated to Filipino art and artists to both German and European markets.)

During the opening event, Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia stated, “It is vital that we recognize and protect the work of our artists both for their economic well-being and for the preservation of a part of our culture.” She also further encouraged Filipino-Germans to lend their support to Filipino artists especially in these unprecedented times, adding “Let us ensure that they emerge even more nuanced and vibrant.”

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The virtual art exhibition aimed to spark hope and for the audience to find more means to cope with the anxiety and stress brought about by the pandemic.

For me, it was certainly eye catching to see the vibrant colors and designs in each of the pieces — one could really feel the impressions / atmosphere created by each artist.

“The creativity of the featured artists is cathartic as it unleashes their pain and fears, and turns them into hopes and aspirations for a better tomorrow through their artwork,” Mr. Klaus Hartung, President of Transwing Art Gallery said during the live opening event.

Some of the notable artwork include the ‘Genesis’ oil on canvas by Kristian Karlo Gonzalez; ‘Lockdown Stories’ oil, acrylic and magazine on canvass by Joshua Villena; and ‘Colors of Valley’ acrylic on canvas by Jerelyn Donguines.

With increasing views, the Facebook live streaming event has certainly stirred online interests among viewers. Footage from the online event can be viewed on the Philippine Consulate’s Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3lEZvtv R&W

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ROOTS AND WINGS OCTOBER 2020 | TRAVEL

words by Rebecca Torres pictures by Christina Itchon

For posterity, an enriching and nostalgic experience is to return to one’s roots, to the Heritage City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. Vigan, a UNESCO heritage site, was established in the 16th century, where one is transported back in time to when Spain governed the Philippines. Vigan’s main attraction is being one of the best-preserved colonial towns in Asia with centuries-old ancestral homes and cobblestone streets.

STAYING IN A VIGAN HOUSE

To get the “feel” of this heritage city, we stayed in Villa Angela Heritage House, an authentic Spanish house built in 1873.

We were roomed in the cuarto del señor (master’s bedroom) with its four-poster bed complete with canopy. The comedor (dining room) has a long antique dining table made of narra (Philippine

mahogany) where up to 20 guests can enjoy an Ilokano homecooked breakfast of lomo soup (sliced pork tenderloin, liver, kidney and spleen), Vigan longanisa (garlicky sausage) and patupat (a coneshaped native rice cake) with sweet mangoes.

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RETRACING OUR ANCESTORS’ FOOTSTEPS You can do a walking tour and hire a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) going around Vigan. The tour starts at the Fr. Burgos Museum near the Ilocos Sur Capitolyo (Provincial Capitol), with its collection of genuine archaeological treasures and antiques and dioramas.

From the Capitolyo, you walk towards the St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral and bell tower, passing by Plaza Burgos and Plaza Salcedo, where a light and sound spectacle, featuring the colourful dancing fountains, is shown every evening.

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North of the cathedral is the only surviving 18th century Arzobispado (Archbishop’s Palace) in the Philippines.

The Arzobispado houses the Museo de Nueva Segovia showcasing ecclesiastical artifacts, a throne room and archdiocesan archives gathered from various churches in Ilocos Sur. One of the highlights of the tour of Vigan is for one to stroll along Calle Crisologo Heritage Street, admiring the architecture of antique ancestral homes, relishing Ilokano cuisine and bringing home a part of Vigan, choosing from

ROOTS AND WINGS OCTOBER 2020 | TRAVEL

handicraft, woodwork and souvenir shops. In the nearby town of Caoayan, as part of the cultural tour, one would appreciate the art of handloom weaving of abel iloko (handwoven textile) where weavers transform colourful yarns into blankets called “ules”, intricate placemats and table runners.

Another cultural tour is a visit to the pagburnayan (clay pottery) where the potter gives an orientation on how burnay (earthen jar) is formed. You can also watch while burnay is ’cooked’ in a gigantic wood-fuelled dragon-like kiln, which our Ilokano ancestors learnt the

lucrative burnay craft from the 14th century Chinese traders. Another “must see” in the tour of Vigan is a visit of the century old Syquia Mansion Museum, home of Doña Alicia Syquia Quirino, wife of Philippine President Elpidio Quirino.

You can join a guided tour of the typical layout of a 19th century bahay na bato (stone mansion) with a huge replica of Juan Luna’s Spolarium centrally displayed in the formal reception area, spacious rooms filled with paintings and antique furniture from different parts of the world and an outdoor patio or azotea.

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SAVOURING ILOKANO CUISINE

Our food tripping provided a gastronomic experience of Ilokano regional cuisine. The popular Ilokano dishes are the bagnet (crispy deep-fried pork belly), Vigan longanisa (garlicky sausage) and pinakbet, vegetable dish with eggplant, ampalaya (bitter melon) and okra (lady fingers). Other Ilokano cuisine to be savoured are the sinanglao (stewed sour beef innards), poqui poqui (broiled eggplant sauté with garlic, tomatoes and onions with scrambled eggs and bagoong, made of fermented fish) and pipian, Ilokano porridge with chicken boiled with achuete (annatto seeds) water, finely ground toasted rice, kamias (tree cucumber) as souring agent and pasotes herb originating from Mexico via the Spanish galleon trade.

The empanada made of rice flour, filled with shredded green papaya, is a “not to be missed” Vigan street food. This is best eaten at the plaza with the clipclopping sound of kalesas (horse-drawn carriage)

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passing by, adding a Vigan ambience to a unique merienda (afternoon snack) experience.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT

It is ideal to spend three to four days exploring the Heritage City of Vigan during the Vigan Fiesta and Longanisa Festival held from January 16th to the

26th, culminating on Fiesta Day itself, January 25th. Vigan is likewise a popular destination during Semana Santa (Holy Week) in March or April. Life-sized religious antique Santos (statues), with authentic jewellery and silk gowns intricately embroidered with real gold threads, are brought out for the religious processions on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is truly an enriching experience to be immersed in Vigan’s rich religious, gastronomic, and cultural heritage, retracing our ancestors’ footsteps and a nostalgic return to one’s roots. R&W

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NEWS

EHEF 2020 Goes Online with reports from Marthy Angue | Philippines

It is, perhaps, in tumultuous times that our commitments are best tested - if not in how we can remain the same then certainly in how we change with the times. The European Higher Education Fair, an annual event held by the European Union’s Delegation in the Philippines, was one such commitment that not only withstood the current challenges but embraced the opportunities that came with it.

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ROOTS AND WINGS OCTOBER 2020 | NEWS

Where previous fairs had been confined to one (or, in the case of last year, two) locations, EHEF 2020 opened up European Educational offerings to a vastly greater Filipino audience: namely anyone with an internet connection. The two day Virtual Fair, held on October 2 and 3, was conducted largely over Zoom, Facebook, and the EHEF website EHEFPhilippines. com. Prospective students had a menu of 92 higher education institutions from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Slovak Republic, Spain and Sweden to choose from with live chat rooms for inquiries. Webinars on the event’s theme “Study in Europe: The Future is EUrs” - which covered topics on digital technology, innovation and the pursuit of excellence through Higher Education - were conducted via Zoom with academics and scholars who may not have been as accessible for an offline event.

Among the presentations is a celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the vaunted

Erasmus scholarship programme (now Erasmus+.)

EHEF 2020 also goes regional for the first time, and in real-time. Regional partner institutions, Ateneo de Manila University (Manila), Wesleyan University (Luzon), Silliman University (Visayas), and Xavier University –Ateneo de Cagayan (Mindanao) hosted clustered presentations for interested students and educators alike.

Even as uncertainty clouds the path of Education both locally and across the world, events like the European Higher Education Fair stand as a reminder that something as valuable as Education is worth adapting for and adapting well.

As we say in Filipino, “kung gusto, may paraan,” “if there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Through innovation and cross-cultural partnerships, that way is made clear. R&W

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How do you pen down a tribute to someone you admire for her

genuine friendship, you respect for her courage and calm, you love for her principled honesty? What made her life enriching and beneficent? Grateful for this privilege to acknowledge the essence of Renee’s life, the memories she shared and the legacy she left us all.

Renee S. Ikdal, altruistic giver and leader infused with personal integrity, selflessness, and unsparingness.

Renee and I first met in Malta summers ago. That meeting and the ensuing years felt like a lifetime of friendship characterized by discernment, empathy,

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and mind sync. She was one of us – fellow editor and writer @Roots and Wings and the governing body cum treasurer of Europe-wide Filipino organization we both dedicated ourselves to and voluntarily worked for. She publicly served her people as Philippine Honourary Consul to Stavanger, Norway, as president of FAR - the Filipino Association in Rogaland and leader of her Catholic church choir community. She played soulful music on the piano both at home and in church.

In cold January of 2017, Renee generously hosted a long weekend conference for us, about a dozen board

ROOTS AND WINGS OCTOBER 2020 | IN MEMORIAM

words by Betsy von Atzigen | Switzerland

representatives of the organization.

I vividly recall that crisp morning when she picked me up at the airport.

Welcoming me to Stavanger with an easy smile and warm embrace, I just knew the conference was going to be in excellent hands. A snug home, ample meeting and entertainment space, warm beddings, and sumptuous meals, all planned for an extended fun-filled working weekend. She was no less than that caring host who went beyond the call of duty to make this event fruitful and unforgettable and each of us comfortable and well-nourished. We further worked together with a likeminded team, achieving goals we have set for the wider community and all

through those months, Renee gave her best until her term ran out.

You had set the bars high, dearest Renee, and stood by your principle particularly in those tumultuous times.

You remained loyal, humble, honest, and dedicated until the end. Yours was unparalleled and admirable service to family and community. Your impact on people’s lives, our lives, is what we value and live on today. You remain loved in our hearts and memories.

Thank you for your life, friendship, leadership, and example. I pray that God grant you rest and everlasting joy in His kingdom. Amen R&W 43

Filipinas: Islands Abridged is an explorable map of the Philippine Islands.

From a sprawling National Map depicting major land and sea routes, players can visit the country’s 81 provinces like animated toy chests- each one with unique secrets waiting to be discovered. The project is still a work in progress but the prototype is already functional and being used by Filipinos worldwide to explore the motherland and to share it with future generations.

To get involved with the Islands Abridged Project, email martholemy@gmail.com

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