Premier Magazine PH Vol. 2 - Issue 6 June 2022 Independence Day Special Issue

Pr emier SAPERE AUDE ISSN2799-0702 Vol. 2.6 JUNE, 2022 ISSUE

?Walangmaitutugonangwika satanongngpag-ibigbuhat sa isangsulyapnakumikislapo palihim. Sahalip, sumasagot angngiti, anghalik, oang bugtonghininga.?

- JoséRizal, Noli MeTangere

?W hat said those two souls communicating through the language of the eyes, more perfect than that of the lips, the language given to the soul in order that sound may not mar the ecstasy of feeling? In such moments, when the thoughts of two happy beings penetrate into each other?s souls through the eyes, the spoken word is halting, rude, and weak? it is as the harsh, slow roar of the thunder compared with the rapidity of the dazzling lightning flash, expressing feelings already recognized, ideas already understood, and if words are made use of it is only because the heart?s desire, dominating all the being and flooding it with happiness, wills that the whole human organism with all its physical and psychical powers give expression to the song of joy that rolls through the soul. To the questioning glance of love, as it flashes out and then conceals itself, speech has no reply; the smile, the kiss, the sigh answer.?

- José Rizal, Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not) José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, (born June 19, 1861, Calamba, Philippines? died December 30, 1896, Manila), was a patriot, physician, and man of letters who was an inspiration to the Philippine nationalist movement.

The title of Noli Me Tangere is not Spanish, nor Tagalog, but Latin. Rizal, in his letter to his friend and Czech scientist Ferdinand Blumentritt, admitted that he obtained the title from the Bible. Rizal took the passage in John 20:17 where Jesus said to Mary Magdalene "don't touch Me!" when she recognizes him after his resurrection. The passage, when translated into Latin, is equivalent to Noli me tangere.

At the time when the novel is ready for printing, he ran out of funds. He contacted his friend, Maximo Viola, who agreed to lend him money for publishing. According to accounts, Rizal is about to throw Noli manuscripts into the fireplace when he received Viola's telegram agreeing for lending him.

Viola gave him an amount equal to three hundred pesos as preliminary payment for the first 2,000 copies of Noli Me Tangere. In 1887, the first edition of Noli was published in Berlin, Germany. To express his gratitude, he gave the original manuscript plus the plume he used to Viola. Rizal also signed the first print and gave it to Viola with dedication.

Source: Wikibooks.org

ABOUT THE COVER Same race, different colors.

To visually express what Independence and freedom mean to us as Filipinos, we chose a photo taken in pre-pandemic times with the concept of nationalism depicting the Philippine flag. The exuberant colors create an immense feeling of pride, honor, and passion. Former Ms. Tourism Philippines, Roanne Refrea embodied the Filipina look and made our cover shine with simple elegance. This classic work of art would not have been possible without the combined talents of photographer and creative director Tyke King Generale and premier designer, Jared Servano.

Richard Daroy Traje likewise brought his A-game to the hilt to complete the blushing glass look. This proves that if we embark on anything we set our hearts and minds on, it can propel us toward progress and create beautiful things. And even if our ideologies may vary and friendships may falter, our Filipino values remain.

IN THIS ISSUE Some consider w hite to be color because w hite light comprises all hues on t he visible light spect rum. And many do consider black to be color because you combine ot her pigment s to create it on paper. But in a technical sense, black and w hite are not colors, t hey're shades. Unfort unately, t hey don't have specific w avelengt hs. Interest ing, right ? I w anted to know w hy I have a part icular preference for t hese shades and Adobe explained it rat her clearly. Perhaps, I grew t ired of t he never-ending discussions of colors w hich used to have a posit ive impact on my life. Now adays, every shade and color has it s meaning. And if you're not careful enough, you'll invite argument s right in front of your doorstep.

After a few days of contemplat ing and consuming a dozen coffee mugs or so, I finally decided to face realit y - t hat t he w hole world does not revolve around my ow n ideologies in life and t herefore I must learn to adapt to t he t hings I can't cont rol. So here's t he t hing, I came to a realizat ion t hat life is best to be lived in color, t he same w ay we have various emot ions and facial expressions.

Bad days are created to know t he difference from t he good ones so expect radiance in t his issue.

The Publisher

Photo by Cris Cleofas

PREMIER OBC

Photo: © Viktor Peñas, 2022

Every page is a represent at ion of a Filipino life different from yours and mine. This issue is our w ay of acknow ledging our herit age and embracing our cult ure t he w ay we know how, an act of grat it ude tow ards old and new friends w ho never t ire of sharing t heir God-given gift s so t hat ot hers may prosper from t hem.

There are a few t hat we need to ment ion part icularly The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Aldio Liqueurs, Médecins Sans Front ières (MSF), VMV Skin Research Cent re + Clinics and t heir w hole st aff, The Nat ional Historical Commission of t he Philippines, W hen In Manila, Victoria Buenavent ura, Dennis Sebollena, Angelo St a Maria, Karin Melón and family and all t he Universit y of Santo Tomas alumni w ho cont ributed in t his issue. This is our first all-Filipino t heme and hopefully, we reach more people across t he globe and spread inspirat ion even w hen t imes are not colorful enough. Remember t his - "Ang bit uin at araw niyan kailan pa ma'y di magdidilim--"

Freedom o

of Choice w w w.aldioliqueurs.com

Crea t ing a Cult ure o f Rich & Va r ied Ta p est r y

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Chicago Campus location) in downtown Chicago.

A Filipina in Chicagoland builds bridges of trust

Patricia H. A. Perez is an Associate Professor in the International Psychology (IP) Department (Online Campus) at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP). She is originally from Quezon City, Philippines.

Meet Dr. Patricia Hayres Arroyo Perez, PhD., or Trish to her friends. On a chance meeting during one of her visits to the Philippines, she gave us an opportunity to get to know more about her family and her journey as a teacher and educator, Highly accomplished in her chosen field, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Northwestern University, Master of Education degree in Child Development and Infant Studies from the Erikson Institute and her Doctorate degree (minor in Multicultural Counseling) in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Perez has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in child development and psychology on-ground and online across five higher education institutions for over 20 years.

Dr. Patricia Hayres Arroyo Perez tells her story of living in Chicagoland and how she ended up trading her tutu and being a classical concert pianist to teaching International Psychology.

A CULTURE OF UNDERSTA NDING P: It has been a w hile since you visited t he Philippines. We met in December 2019. How are t hings on your end bet ween t hen and now ?

Yes! December 2019 seems like so long ago! Well?I miss being in t he Philippines and seeing my family, colleagues, and professional part ners. Back t hen, I had been t raveling to t he Philippines and bringing graduate st udent s to learn about psychology in t he Filipino context since 2013.

Things have definitely changed. In terms of communicat ion, we have sust ained our relat ionships t hrough Viber, Zoom meet ings and reunions, W hat sApp, and text ing. ?Seeing and connect ing? w it h loved ones and building new relat ionships in t he Philippines and globally for me has now all occurred virt ually and online for almost t hree years. As t he world opens up in terms of count ries welcoming back tourist s and non-cit izens, I hope to ret urn to t he Philippines to reconnect by 2023 or sooner. I very much look forw ard to t hat day!

P: Can you share w it h us some life-changing experiences you had during t he pandemic?

The pandemic (and st ill now !) left me reflect ing on my purpose in life, w ho are part of my support system, and my family?s overall healt h. Living in t he Chicagoland area, we were on lockdow n in March 2020 for several mont hs. Our daughter, Riley, w as in college in New York Cit y, and she had to evacuate her dorm and moved in w it h relat ives nearby. We were separated for t hree mont hs during t he pandemic lockdow n w hen many of her peers were able to ret urn home. Our sons, Jake and Luke, didn?t go to school and had to adjust to remote learning for almost a year and a half. My husband, Jon, and I, worked from home on Zoom. We were unable to visit our friends and family and cont inue w it h our daily act ivit ies out side of t he home. Our life as we knew it w as uncert ain. Alt hough I am current ly an Associate Professor in t he Internat ional Psychology Depart ment (Online Campus) at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) and have t aught online since 2006, our st udent s and facult y also st ruggled w it h t he ?new normal? of lockdow ns, not seeing loved ones, being at home, and navigat ing t hrough major changes in t heir lives. In addit ion to teaching online courses, I spent much of my t ime listening to st udent s about w hat w as going on w it h t hem personally and professionally.

Given t hese experiences, I had a lot of t ime at home to t hink and feel about w hat we were all going t hrough during t he pandemic. The pandemic lockdow n also allowed my family and I to spend more t ime toget her, gat hering for meals, sharing interest s, w atching movies, cooking, and just being w it h one anot her.

The Pranian Family: Husband (Jon), daughter (Riley), son (Jake), son (Luke) in their home in Chicagoland area.

P: You have been t raveling and meet ing new people from different cult ures over t he years, how have t hings evolved in terms of learning and educat ion?

Traveling, adjust ing to new environment s and cult ures, and meet ing new people st arted w hen I w as young. I w as born in Quezon Cit y and moved w hen I w as t hree years old to New York Cit y due to my fat her?s job. We were only supposed to st ay t here for one year but because my fat her did so well in his posit ion, we t hen got re-located to ot her part s of t he United St ates (Texas and Oklahoma) and to London. By t he age of 18, I moved every 1-5 years to t hese new communit ies. I consider myself to be a t hird cult ure kid and now a t hird cult ure adult , a person w ho w as raised predominant ly aw ay from her/ his/ t heir parent s?root cult ure during t he childhood years.

My childhood experiences really prepared me to support teaching and learning w it h st udent s from all over t he world. Individuals w ho work in higher educat ion inst it ut ions have had to change programming, curricula, and leadership to meet t he challenges of today?s st udent s. The usage of technology has really provided many possibilit ies in learning and educat ion. Gone are t he days w hen being in person for classes w as t he only opt ion for formalized learning. We now have online learning, short programs, cert ificates, and access t hrough a computer or phone. On t he flip side, I have seen inequit ies in access to learning and educat ion globally, w het her formal or informal and has been heightened since t he onset of t he pandemic. Facult y and educators like myself have also had to recognize t he priorit ies of our st udent s rat her t han draw ing on only w hat we learned from our ow n academic experiences and t raining. Generat ional t rends of w hat is import ant in learning, educat ion, and career pat hs all can be a driving factor for us to include relevant materials in any course.

"For example, I am t he facult y lead for our required field experience courses for our Master?s and Ph.D. st udent s in Internat ional Psychology. St udent s focus on a count ry to bet ter underst and psychology w it hin t hat context in order to build t heir cult ural competency as Internat ional Psychology professionals-in-t raining.

Since March 2020 and due to t he pandemic, I had to create virt ual t ravel experiences in five dest inat ions (Ghana, Philippines, Kuw ait , Sout h Africa, and Germany) because we could not t ravel due to worldw ide lockdow ns to t hese count ries for t hat 10-day immersion. This w as t he biggest undert aking for me as facult y, to create and develop a virt ual t ravel program w it hin our depart ment for t he sust ainabilit y of t his learning. As we are scheduled to ret urn to in-person t ravel for t hese courses st art ing July 2022, we can look back and acknow ledge t he new skills we have acquired t hat w ill carry us forw ard in t he field of educat ion."

TCSPP Graduation: With my Master?s and PhD students in Chicago (July 2019) Commencement Ceremony.

Received their degrees in International Psychology.

APA Conference: Presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention August 2019 in Chicago.

With colleagues (all former PhD students in International Psychology). To my left, Dr. Viviane de Castro Pecanha, Department Chair, International Psychology, Online Campus, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

P: Ment al healt h has been a very import ant issue globally, are we as people in bad shape, or are we all just going t hrough t he process because of t he changes in many aspect s of our life?

Ment al healt h cont inues to be a global issue and has got ten more at tent ion in all indust ries due to t he pandemic. All over t he world, t here have been report s of individuals w it h symptomatology or diagnoses of depression, anxiet y, subst ance use, sleep, and adjust ment , for example. Many companies, schools, and organizat ions have made it a priorit y to have ment al healt h front and center in terms of resources and support . However, besides ext reme changes in our lives and our need to survive and cope, we also see an increase in individuals w ho feel isolated and don?t have a support system.

Somet imes seeing a t herapist or a ment al healt h professional is not an opt ion. We only hope t hat people t reat ot hers w it h kindness, don?t judge, and have empat hy at t he very least .

Adamson University presentation: as Keynote speaker for Department of Psychology at Adamson University, Quezon City, Philippines. Pictured with Fr./ Dr. John Era, former International Psychology PhD student (trauma services track), alumnus of Adamson University, and priest at Ina Ng Lupang Pangako Parish in Payatas, Quezon City, Philippines.

Are we as a people in bad shape? I t hink it all depends on many factors t hat include access to ment al healt h services, a support ive communit y, t he abilit y to discuss t hought s and feelings openly, and st igma. The good new s is t hat t here is much more aw areness about ment al healt h t han ever before.

Indust ry leaders, influencers, celebrit ies, and scholars are now t alking about it in podcast s, social media, art icles, books, blogs, and creat ing spaces. I t hink conversat ions around ment al healt h w ill cont inue and over t ime, might not be so much of a t aboo topic.

P: How did your ow n family adjust to t he new normal?

Like many families, we have had some high point s and low point s in a ?new normal? life. Jon and I are bot h child development specialist s so t hat has helped us work toget her in providing a secure base for all t hree of our children, especially during t imes of crisis. We also recognize t hat we all are unique in our ow n w ay and have different needs even w it hin t he same family. Parent ing is hard work, and we do t he best we can each and every day!

At t he beginning of t he lockdow n period, our family believed t hat t he pandemic would be short-lived.

That w as our mindset . As mont hs and years went by, t hat adjust ment to changes in t hings like family rout ines, processing sadness and loss over our lives pre-pandemic, unmet expect at ions of each ot her, and being socially isolated from ot hers took a toll on us individually and as a w hole. Over t ime we learned to t ake stock of t hings t hat we ordinarily would not have t hought of pre-pandemic and consequent ly, put t hem into act ion.

Some of our family st rategies or parent al guidance included: 1) t aking each day or even one hour at a t ime, 2) being grateful and t hankful for everyone and everyt hing, 3)t reat ing each ot her w it h kindness, especially during t imes of frust rat ion, and 4) recognizing t hat ot hers are going t hrough t heir ow n feelings and issues and to support as best we can, 5) reach out and communicate w it h each ot her, and 6) being kind to ourselves and being okay w it h t he unknow n.

P: As part of TCSPP, how have t hings been given t hat you're a Filipina? Has it alw ays been your dream t hat you'll be doing w hat you're doing now ?

I never t hought to pursue a career in educat ion. I really didn?t like school grow ing up because I didn?t find t he course materials creat ive enough as presented. I w as t rained as a classical concert pianist and a ballerina so t hose t wo fields w it hin performing art s, music and dance, were my career aspirat ions as a child. I find it completely ironic t hat I am doing w hat I am doing now as a global consult ant in diversit y/ equit y/ inclusion/ belong and as an internat ional psychologist . However, it makes sense given my life experiences, academic background, professional t raining, and interest s.

People ask me how music and dance have anyt hing to do w it h psychology. The field of psychology is an art and a science. No t wo people are t he same. Therefore, underst anding a client ?s t hinking, feeling, and behavior is like creat ing a piece of art , priceless and unique. The ?science? in t he field of psychology is likened to t he discipline and best pract ices t hat performers have to adhere to for success. Being able to t ransfer t he skills from performance to being a professor has been crucial in my development as an educator w ho embraces lifelong learning regardless of one?s background.

At TCSPP and in t he ot her five higher educat ion inst it ut ions w here I have t aught child development and psychology in t he span of over 20 years, I have been t he only Filipina or one of several Filipino/ professionals. I find t hat my colleagues are curious about my cult ural background and more t imes t han not , welcome conversat ions about w hat it means to be Filipina. Alt hough t he United St ates has often been referred to as a ?melt ing pot ? populat ion, t he last t wo years have been plagued w it h unfat homable discriminat ion against people of color and t argeted groups. The Stop Asian Hate movement is one response here t hat builds aw areness of Asian and Asian Americans? lived experiences of discriminat ion due to t he COVID-19 pandemic. Effort s like t his are also a means to build know ledge of cult ural norms and values and to prevent violence due to racism, negat ive bias, and stereot yping.

FE Virtual Travel Philippines: Virtual Travel portion to our required Master?s and PhD programs in International Psychology at TCSPP. One of our first meetings with former International Psychology students and our cultural guide, Mr. Dennis Sebollena. Focus of the online course and virtual travel portion (11 day virtual exposure with cultural activities and Zoom meetings with our Filipino partners) was on psychology within the Filipino context (organizations and systems and trauma services).

P: How has your family been? Share with us a bit about them.

Our family is doing well considering the world in which we live now. Jon identifies as Armenian American and has worked in the youth sports industry for the past 30 years. We have been married, come September, for 25 years! We will be celebrating this milestone!

Our eldest, Riley, just graduated from college in New York City with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics. She started her full-time job in social media for a public relations consulting firm in New York City. Our second child, Jake, graduated from high school with honors and will also be going to college in New York City, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Television/ Film/ Voiceovers/ Commercials. Our youngest child, Luke, will be completing his middle school studies next academic year and heading to high school. He is on the autism spectrum and has done extremely well adapting to online learning and then back to in-person classes.

P: What would you advise fellow Filipinos or any person of color who would like to get where you are now?

Never give up. Surround yourselves with individuals who can listen, support, and advocate for you. Find mentors in life and in professions that you find interesting. Network as much as you can and not just within your profession or industry but across industries in order to get a sense of trends in career opportunities and employment. Strive to learn something new each day. Be kind, be open, be curious, and be flexible! Tell your truth and be a voice for yourself and others.

P: Any message to our kababayan's?

As someone w ho is proud of my Filipino herit age, I have created a sense of kapwa w herever I go. My parent s and relat ives have inst illed in me a love for t he Philippines, our core values, and t he feeling of communit y. Cont inue to st and t all as Filipinos. We are so lucky to be able to share w ho we are w it h t he world and anyone w ho we impact as change-makers!

P: Lastly, what inspires you?

"People inspire me. I am draw n to people w ho give back to vulnerable and marginalized populat ions, fight for human right s and social just ice, and voice for individuals and groups w ho ot herw ise cannot do t his for t hemselves. I am inspired by t he human experience, stories, and advocacy. W hat inspires me drives my passion to do more for good. A challenge becomes an opport unit y."

- Premier Magazine, PH

Dr. Perez has over 25 years of experience working with young children and families in community-based settings, early intervention, hospitals, family support programs, and private practice. Her areas of research and practice expertise include children and families, children with special needs, diversity/ equity/ inclusion/ justice/ belonging, parenting, cultural competence, lifespan development, child abuse and neglect, global trauma, and acculturation psychology. She is a diversity psychotherapist, mixed methods researcher, developmental specialist, cultural expert, and international psychology consultant. Dr. Perez provides consultation nationally and internationally (United States, United Kingdom, Ghana, Kuwait, Philippines, Indonesia, Armenia).

For in qu ir ies : Em ail : pper ez@t h ech icagosch ool.edu or dr .ph aper ez@gm ail.com

As a member of Division 52 (International Psychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA), she has been appointed as the division representative for APA?s Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education. Since 2016, Dr. Perez serves as the chair of the scientific committee for the Middle East Psychological Association?s Annual Conference and is a member of the School of Education Advisory Board at Pacific Oaks College. She is a recipient of a 2018 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award for inspiring students to establish a concept, procedure, movement and,/ or organization that makes a difference in their communities.

Mult i-disciplinary art ist

Bjorn Calleja is lone Filipino feat ured in Art Basel Hong Kong

https://fb.watch/dyQw141QOZ/

Mult i-disciplinary art ist and Far Eastern Universit y alumnus Bjorn Calleja, w hose work has been exhibited in galleries bot h locally and internat ionally, such as headlining t he recent ly held Art Fair Philippines 2022, t akes anot her step forw ard into t he non-fungible token (NFT) space as t he lone Filipino art ist w hose work w ill be exhibited during t he pioneering interact ive art exhibit ent it led ?NFTs + The Ever-Evolving World of Art ? at Art Basel Hong Kong.

The exhibit , organized by blockchain firm TZ APAC and Art Basel, w ill commence from May 27 to May 29 in Hong Kong?s Convent ion & Exhibit ion Center. Including Calleja, t he event w ill showcase t he works of over 20 contemporary ?generat ive? digit al art ist s from around t he world. The interact ive exhibit ion space w ill also feat ure a showcase designed in collaborat ion w it h FXhash, t he leading generat ive art plat form on t he Tezos blockchain, allow ing visitors to receive a unique generat ive art work NFT from part icipat ing art ist s in a first-of-it s-kind interact ive NFT gallery experience.

Bjorn Calleja?s art st yle is described as a reflect ion of t he interplay bet ween t he micro and macrocosms of humans w it hin and against t heir environment s. He described one of his NFT project s, Stoopid Avat ar, as his ?sat irical comment ary on my out sider?s perspect ive on t he PFP cult ure.? ?I t hink as a contemporary art ist mint ing NFTs, t he value should exceed ut ilit y and market ing gimmicks, not hing against t hem but I underst and t hat it ?s a long game and t here is more to Art t han t hese t angibles,? Calleja?s remarks on NFTs, w hich are unique digit al asset s on t he blockchain.

In line w it h t his year?s t heme of ?NFTs + t he Ever-Evolving World of Art ?, Kat herine Ng ment ioned t hat TZ APAC is ?excited to showcase especially innovat ive works t hat point to NFTs and t heir limit lessness as a medium, empowering art ist s as it redefines t he scope and scale of today?s art world in t he digit al age.? ?It ?s t ime t hat we recognize t his new generat ion of digit al t alent in a t radit ional forum as t he worlds of modern art , technology, and t he creator economy cont inue to converge,? she added. ?As t he leading contemporary art fair in t he world, it ?s excit ing to once again see t he art communit y able to gat her and celebrate t he spirit of innovat ion in today?s art scene. To have t he opport unit y to showcase some of t he world?s leading digit al art t alent is at t he heart of w hat t he Tezos ecosystem is celebrated for. NFTs have given t hese creators an unprecedented opport unit y to reach new audiences, hone t heir craft , and make a name for t hemselves in an online forum, effect ively rew rit ing t he rulebook w hen it comes to t he accessibilit y of t he art world,? said Kat herine Ng, Head of Market ing and Operat ions at TZ APAC. The ot her internat ional art ist feat ured in t he exhibit are; Nicolas Sassoon (France) Qingnan Tan (Random Combo) (China), Chaeseok (CS) Lim (Sout h Korea), Lionel Radisson (makio135) (France), Yazid Azahari (Brunei), Munira Hamzah (Mumu t he st an) (Malaysia), Iskra Velitchkova (Bulgaria), Michaël Zancan (France), Sarah Ridgley (United St ates), Aleksandra Jovani? (Serbia), Park Se Jin (08 AM) (Sout h Korea), Fan Yi Wen (Reva) (China), Mat t DesLauriers (Canada), and W ieslaw Borkow ski (baiwei) (Poland).

Art Basel, Hong Kong 2022 w ill highlight art works from 130 local and internat ional exhibitors. For t hose unable to at tend t he event in person, galleries w ill also be present ing t heir work online as part of 'Art Basel Live: Hong Kong,?in dedicated Online View ing Rooms.

ART BASEL Founded in 1970 by gallerist s from Basel, Art Basel today st ages t he world's premier art show s for Modern and contemporary art , sited in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Defined by it s host cit y and region, each show is unique, w hich is reflected in it s part icipat ing galleries, art works presented, and t he content of parallel programming produced in collaborat ion w it h local inst it ut ions for each edit ion.

Art Basel's engagement has expanded beyond art fairs t hrough new digit al plat forms and a number of new init iat ives such as t he Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report , Intersect ions: The Art Basel Podcast , and t he BMW Art Journey. Art Basel's Global Media Part ner is The Financial Times. For furt her informat ion, please visit art basel.com. - Premier Magazine, PH Bjorn?s Violencia in Art Basel Hong Kong

?Ni lefa Keji?

Life i s sweet. " Wit h bet ter nut r it ion and bet ter faci l it ies, we can do bet ter to m ake l ife a l it t le sweet for t he people of Maidugur i."

Rodel Lam bat i n shares hi s stor y as a Fi l ipi no nur se w ork i ng for D octor s Wit hout Border s / -

M é deci n s San s Front iè res (M SF)si nce 2017 . I n 2020 , w hen t he COVI D - 19 pandem ic st ar ted, he w as on a m i ssion i n Maidugur i, Niger ia. He lef t t he project i n Augu st 2021 .

Photo by Hanniel Yakubu @hisart_gm

As a nurse, I have worked in many different places. From an emergency room in Marikina Cit y, I have worked in Libya, Qat ar, and Papua New Guinea. It w as in 2017 w hen I st arted working for Doctors W it hout Borders / Médecins Sans Front ières (MSF), and my missions took me to Sout h Sudan, India, and Ukraine.

I st arted working in Maiduguri, Nigeria, in February 2020, and I w as t here w hen t he COVID-19 pandemic st arted. I have to say, t his w as one of my hardest missions so far because it w as quite a complicated project .

In Nigeria, COVID-19 is not t he only epidemic

Photographer: Miroslav Pavicevic

Photographer: Miroslav Pavicevic

D octors Wi thout Borders has been respondi ng to di sease outbreaks and emergency health needs i n N i geri a for many years, focusi ng on maternal and pedi atri c healthcare throughout the country. I n Borno state, where I worked, the conti nued vi olence and armed confli ct have di splaced more than twomi lli on people. J ust li ke i n many other places around the world, the COVI D - 19 pandemi c has made thi ngs di ffi cult for everyone.

Photographer: Miroslav Pavicevic

But COVID-19 is just one of many problems plaguing Maiduguri.

Malnut rit ion In Nigeria, our teams are responding to high numbers of malnut rit ion cases. In September, our team in Maiduguri admit ted more pat ient s for malnut rit ion t han any ot her mont h so far t his year. In t he internally displaced people (IDP) camps, we see a lot of cases of malnut rit ion. Many people, especially children, are suffering. Many families do not even realize t hat malnut rit ion is an emergency because it seems normal for t hem to have a baby w it h very low body measurement s.

They t hink t his baby is normal because I can see, among my neighbors, it ?s like t his as well. We are act ually running a t herapeut ic feeding center and a mobile clinic out reach program t hat provides nut rit ional support and comprehensive medical services to IDPs and people in t he informal camps in Maiduguri.

Measles patient admitted at Fori PHC. Photographer: Miroslav Pavicevic

Current ly, Borno st ate provides a comprehensive package for malnourished children. We have a laboratory, our ow n pharmacy, and a cent ral sterilizat ion unit . We have our ow n ICU plus a t wo-bed kw ashiorkor room. (Note: Kw ashiorkor is a severe form of malnut rit ion, w here babies and children do not get enough protein or ot her essent ial nut rient s in t heir diet .)

COVID-19 and ot her epidemics Though malnut rit ion is our main project in Maiduguri, we cannot ignore t he ot her emergencies. Before I ended my mission in August , we responded to cholera and measles out breaks in t he st ate. In t he mobile clinics, we also saw cases of malaria, acute w atery diarrhea, and respiratory t ract infect ions. In 2020, we had t hree deat hs from Lassa fever or viral hemorrhagic fever. And every year t here are meningit is cases as well.

In Maiduguri, we have our ow n Cholera Treat ment Center, w it h a 100-bed capacit y. For ot her communicable diseases, w het her it ?s measles or COVID-19, we have a 15-bed isolat ion facilit y.

Violence and armed conflict in Nigeria W hile t he many healt h emergencies in Nigeria are complicated by COVID-19, violence and insecurit y bring t heir ow n complicat ions and problems. It has been 11 years since t he insurgency began in nort heast Nigeria. Thousands have been killed in t he fight ing. There are an est imated t wo million IDPs in t he count ry and approximately 1.4 million in Borno st ate. In Maiduguri alone, t here are 15 official IDP camps and over a hundred unofficial camps.

The health registrar at the mobile clinic, works on triaging and registration of patients before medical consultations. Photographer: Miroslav Pavicevic Many of t he pat ient s we admit to our facilit y are IDPs. In our out reach programs in t he camps, we respond to t he basic needs, especially t he dist ribut ion of non-food items, and w ater and sanit at ion facilit ies. We cater to emergency cases and provide ment al healt h and sexual and reproduct ive healt h (SRH) consult at ions. But t here are no private spaces w here we can provide services.

As of mid-2021, we have provided 7,844 medical consult at ions to IDPs. Invisible psychological wounds W it h all t hese emergencies, psycho-social support is necessary. There is a huge need for ment al healt h in Maiduguri. The people w ho are affected were in insecure areas, t hey experienced t rauma from t he fight ing. They are suffering economically as well, as many people live on less t han $1, or 500 nairas, a day.

Our ment al healt h manager assessed t he needs of t he IDPs, and we supported t heir basic needs: w ater, and non-food items (NFIs). We also provided individual counseling, psycho-social educat ion, group discussions, children's act ivit ies, and even family counseling. One of t he most import ant t hings we did w as TB-HIV counseling. We also conducted sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) sensit izat ion and t raining, in collaborat ion w it h t he ment al healt h manager.

Cont inuing and expanding our work W it h everyt hing t hat is happening in Maiduguri, t he healt h needs are immense. Our facilit ies can support many pat ient s, but we need to do more. This is w hy we st arted const ruct ion of a new facilit y, t he Nilefa Keji Hospit al, earlier t his year.

?Nilefa Keji?is a Kanuri word, meaning ?life is sweet .?Perhaps, w it h bet ter nut rit ion and bet ter facilit ies, we can do bet ter to make life a lit t le sweet for t he people of Maiduguri. Doctors W it hout Borders provides medical assist ance to people in need all over t he world, from Nigeria and Sierra Leone to Pakist an and Bangladesh. In t he Philippines, our project s support t uberculosis screening in Tondo, Manila, and healt h centers in Maraw i. Learn more about our work: doctorsw it hout borders-apac.org. - Premier Magazine, PH

IDP children play at Malamari camp while Doctors Without Borders is conducting an assessment.

Photographer: Rodel Lambatin

Photo Courtesy of Adore Photography

Change is something that everyone has to encounter at least once in their life.

It can be difficult, exciting, abrupt, or even liberating. As a young artist, I am about to make the biggest change in my life thus far, moving to New York City to chase my dreams of pursuing acting professionally. I have been performing on stage since I w as eight years old. There w as something so exciting about getting to play a variety of characters on stage that differs from your actual self. It w as an escape from reality for me, being able to sing, dance, and act over hot stage lights.

While I?m on the cusp of starting my education at Pace University, to get my BFA in acting for Film/TV, I have been reflecting on how the performing arts have impacted me as I?ve grow n up.

I?ve lived in the Chicagoland area my w hole life. Performing in community theatre at a young age, and as a Filipino/Armenian- American in the LGBTQ+ community, I w asn?t around many kids w ith the same background as me. I w ould be a part of show s that focus on Asian cultures and w ould be one of four Asian-American actors in the entire company. I didn?t realize it at the time, but looking back on it now , w ith a more mature lens, I see how problematic it w as. I didn?t really have a community of specifically Filipino artists that w ere my age until I entered high school. I remember feeling more w elcomed and less isolated. I had friends that I could relate to culturally, they made me feel comfortable. I didn?t really know many Armenian students in high school, but I had an entire Filipino group of peers I could mingle w ith.

Visiting Pace University for the first time in Manhattan.

cal l me Jak e

One major space for me to do this w as w ithin my high school?s acapella program. I w as a member of Echo Effect, the premier and most aw arded ?all-male? competitive high school acapella group in the United States.

This past school year, seven out of our fifteen members w ere Filipino-American. To me, It?s very inspiring to see a group of AAPI young men create beautiful music, and collaborate as young entertainers, especially since the acapella community in the M idw est isn?t the most diverse in terms of race/ethnicity, and there is a lack of ?all-male? groups in our area. I discovered Echo Effect w hen I w as ten years old, and that w as the first time I saw someone w ho looked like me on stage. That made it very difficult for me to make my departure from the group in late M ay, as a recent graduate. Now that I am going to the Big Apple to learn more about acting in front of a camera, I hope that I can be a positive representation of AAPI communities on screen. I know something like that w ould?ve been extremely significant for me if I saw that as a kid.

Echo Effect 2021-2022, the premier all-male competitive high school acapella group from Niles, IL, Adore Photography

Studio photo, Oliver Biel

Something I?ve discovered over the years is how vital art is for one?s mental health.

Whether it?s consuming, creating, or performing, art is necessary and needed in our society. I?ve been struggling w ith my mental health for the past year, the second semester of my senior year being my absolute low . How ever, w hen I step foot in a practice room, the dance studio, or the theater, I can be at peace for a couple of hours. That?s w hy I strongly encourage students to get involved in some kind of art, it is a creative outlet to destress and recenter your mind. Art makes us feel, and makes us connect w ith ourselves, and others.

Being able to use acting as a w ay to dissociate the issues in my personal life, I finally feel ready to let go of the things that prevented me from thriving. As I said earlier, change is hard, even more, difficult w hen you have to take the first step to instigate it. But, I am choosing to move on for me and my w ell-being. I am ready to start healing and I?m very excited and yearning to start this new chapter of my career and my life.

- Jake Pranian Premier M agazine, PH Performing as Marc in Yasmina Reza?s ART.

On st age as Pippin in Pippin, my Photo Courtesy of Oliver Bielhigh school product ion. final

Photo: Daniele Levis Pelusi @yogidan2012

Jake Pranian is one of our featured global youth advocates for this issue. We hope to inspire other youths to share their stories and let their voices be heard to establish a culture of understanding.

- Premier Magazine PH

The month of June is marked every year to oppose the shame and social stigma and promote self-affirmation, dignity, and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a social group. June was chosen as the month to celebrate Gay Pride because it is when the Stonewall Riots took place, way back in 1969.The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the gay community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City.

People organize workshops, seminars, parades, and memorials are held to pay homage to community members who have been lost to hate crimes.

N a EN GKA N TO k a n a b a ?

If you're a Filipino or have lived in t he Philippines for quite some t ime, you'd be familiar w it h "engkanto" or encanto in Spanish. It 's a term used to call myt hical environment al spirit s t hat tow nfolks believe to st ill lurk and live w it hin t he provinces or most ly rural areas of t he count ry. We have our ow n story of how we came across Engkanto , and it w as a sign we saw in a bar on t he rooftop of t he Seda Hotel in Quezon Cit y during w hich t ime we were shoot ing a show in December of 2020. The bar w as bare and w hat caught our at tent ion w as a dist inct logo w it h t he word Engkanto. For a w hile, we t hought it w as t he name of t he bar but t he market ing execut ive said it 's a beer brand. Fast forw ard to 2022, after t he elect ion, t he out side world is again teeming w it h excit ing possibilit ies and everyone's out on a mission to get back to normalcy and perhaps celebrate big w ins or drow n someone's sorrow s. But w hy would a beer be named so mysteriously? We t hought , perhaps it 's to counter t he big name brand like San Miguel (t he angel) w hich is synonymous w it h beer for Filipinos. ?I lived near Siquijor, I w as fascinated by myst icism and folklore, hence t he name Engkanto,? Ivan Paradies, t he ow ner of t he brewery shared in one of his earlier interview s in Adobo magazine back in 2017 during it s launch. He w as also t he founder and president of Napa Gapa Beverages Corporat ion, alongside his part ner, t he brew master, Josh Karten.

THE CRAFT REVOLUTION Five years after it s Philippine launch, t he myst ical brand has built a communit y of craft beer lovers w hich t hey say, all st art s w it h a sense of advent ure. "Our name comes from t he enchanted spirit of our ancestors. We believe t hat w hen beer drinkers are presented w it h bet ter qualit y, t hey adopt bet ter qualit y."

BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN And just in t ime for Independence Day, Engkanto made a bright step by changing it s logo. "Our sun icon w as created to be an enduring beacon of a more courageous, more passionate, more creat ive life.

It is a bold, iconic display of our undaunted opt imism and posit ivit y? and reminds us of our local root s in relat ion to our count ry?s flag." - Premier Magazine, PH

Th e n ew En gk an t o logo w as design ed by Dan St iles , an illu st r at or , an d design er based in Por t lan d, Or egon .

w w w.engkanto.com.ph

Over t h e past t w en t y year s, Dan h as collabor at ed w it h ever yon e f r om in die ban ds t o m ajor cor por at ion s in cr eat in g post er s, iden t it ies, adver t isin g, cu st om pack agin g, an d lim it ed edit ion collect ible ar t an d m er ch an dise. His clien t s r an ge f r om Ar ct ic M on k eys, Son ic You t h , an d Wilco t o t h e X Gam es, IBM , an d Nick elodeon . He dr aw s f r om a br oad sw at h of in f lu en ces in clu din g sk at eboar d gr aph ics, albu m cover s, m oder n ar t , ch ildr en?s book s, com ics, psych edelia, an d vin t age adver t isin g. Dan h as pu blish ed sever al ch ildr en?s book s as w ell as a m on ogr aph of h is w or k en t it led On e Th in g Leads t o An ot h er .

At t he heart of great craft breweries is collaborat ion.

From t he creat ive mind of Engkanto's renow ned Brew master Michael 'MJ' Jordan, t hey collaborated w it h internat ionally acclaimed art ist Dan St iles and ot her amazing designers to reimagine w hat ?s possible. The visual art works on t heir new labels honor Engkanto?s insanely posit ive out look on life and t he fun and simple yet int riguing appeal of t he new variant s.

Art created by Kristine Lim, Filipino Christian Artist

Thomasian Game-Changers in Philippine Entert ainment

By Enrico Basbas Quality students have always been the pride of the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Such individuals do not live momentary successes but endure the test of time. But quality isn?t forced, it?s nurtured. Beyond a place of learning, the 400-year-old university has transformed into a home that embraced the diversity of students.

Many fields across the Philippines have benefitted them, but none as much as the entertainment industry. These three game-changers are but a few of the alumni who have transcended being personalities, but legends in Philippine cinema and television history.

Angel Locsin Angelica Locsin Colmenares attended UST Junior High School, instead of tertiary level. There she joined the varsity swimming team before finally focusing on show business. And it is not news to any Filipino that she is no ordinary star.

Compassion, commitment, and competence are UST?s core values, and Angel Locsin embodies all three, no doubt. With her athletic background, Locsin cemented her acting career from her portrayal of notably strong, unsexualized female roles. Beyond being an actress, she is an ambassador of the Philippine Red Cross and an active volunteer in times of calamity. With fellow actress Anne Curtis, she raised ?1 million to help in the aftermath of typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma) and curated an auction that raised ?6 million to assist in administering the COVID-19 vaccines across the Philippines. She also donated ?2 million to the Office of the Vice President to support the victims of Typhoon Odette (Rai) and auctioned her 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle to raise funds for the relief efforts for Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Angel also initiated relief operations and provided ?1 million to the victims of the 2019 Cotabato earthquakes, and she initiated her own community pantry to aid supplies during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Angel Locsin was also a prominent advocate for education, gender equality, and the rights of indigenous people. She funded scholarships and donated about ?16,000 for children?s education. She is vocal about learning about the LGBT+ Community and advocating for women?s rights. She partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Lunas Collective, a hotline for domestic abuse victims and survivors, to promote awareness and international cooperation. She also rallied against the violence and extrajudicial killings of the Lumads and visited the residents of Marawi, who were forced to leave their homes due to the siege, in their settlement camps and provided food supplies and financial aid. Because of her efforts, Tatler Magazine recognized her as one of Asia?s Leaders of Tomorrow, Gawad Tanglaw bestowed her the Honorary Award for Women?s Rights Advocacy, and Forbes credited her as one of Asia?s Heroes of Philanthropy.

Over 400 years of existence . The Universit y of Santo Tomas has become t he alma mater of four Filipino heroes w ho shaped t he nat ion?s dest iny like Jose Rizal, Emilio Jacinto, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Apolinario Mabini; Philippine President s such as Manuel Luis Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Jose P. Laurel and Diosdado Macapagal; various Chief Just ices of t he Supreme Court , senators, congressmen, scient ist s, architect s, engineers and w riters, all out st anding in t heir chosen professions. It w as visited by t wo popes, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, and various heads of st ate and foreign dignit aries. - Source: UST Media Universit y of Santo Tomas Main Building, t he first eart hquake-resist ant st ruct ure in t he Philippines.

Photo by: Kent Ogares @sandytomasfight

John Lapus The Thomasian journey of Jonathan Anthony Solis Lapus began when he took up Hotel and Restaurant Management. He did plan to shift to Nursing or Physical Therapy, but due to financial constraints, he was unable to. As he pursued his degree, he joined Teatro Tomasino in his freshman year to make his university life exciting, at least.

His life in Teatro Tomasino was fundamental to his career. His artistic prowess developed through the rigorous training of the guild?s members in every aspect of theater production, from playwriting to stage design, to marketing and promotion.

The guild also provided equal footing between the straight and gay members, putting theater work above everything else. Beyond the theater experience and inclusivity, what he truly considered was vital were the bonds he forged, especially the two gay mentors who offered him a job at ABS-CBN. After a year as a researcher of Showbiz Lingo, John was promoted to segment producer. He also became a staple in sitcoms as the gay comic relief but was most memorable as Sweet, the campy gay neighbor in Arriba, Arriba!, that he embraced as his moniker. To play these gay characters was his way of advocating for his ?sisters? in the LGBT+ Community, especially those who couldn?t be out and free.

Sweet was not only a gifted actor but also an exceptional director. He directed two mini-series in Wansapanataym, seasons 2 and 3 of the afternoon drama Kadenang Ginto, three episodes of Ipaglaban Mo, and Maalala Mo Kaya. As for The Mall, The Merrier, he was hired as the creative producer.

Despite his busyness in film and TV productions, he never lost sight of his roots in UST. Every year, since his graduation, he was still involved in at least one theater production in Teatro Tomasino, primarily as a professional adviser for 23 years. As for the 40th Teatro Tomasino production, he directed the stand-up comedy Darna, Dyesebel, at Iba Pa. ?I see myself in them, the optimism and the dreams they have are inspiring and refreshing," says John.

John Lapus Photo Credit: amazon.com

Father and son Piolo and Iñigo Pascual at the #9thStarMagicBall.

Photo Credit: Sheila Reyes for ANC 24/ 7

Piolo Pascual W ho would have thunk that THE Papa P was once a lost soul? Piolo José Nonato Pascual has already dabbled in show business even before stepping into UST. His preoccupation kept him from focusing on his classes in high school, so he decided to quit and committed to his studies when he entered college.

He first took General Education but eventually shifted to Physical Therapy. However, destiny had a way of fulfilling itself. He was mesmerized by Teatro Tomasino that he set aside his timidity and auditioned. To his surprise, he passed. He did not catch the eyes of his co-stars back in their practices for his first stage play but when the day of their actual performance finally came, he shook the entire theater and left them revering his flair for the craft.

Aside from being an actor, he became an executive producer. He produced Manila before teaming up with other directors and writers to establish their own film studio called Spring Films. He was the executive producer for Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme, Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme, Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel, Kita Kita, Meet Me in St. Gallen, I?m Ellenya L., and Hayop Ka! Piolo Pascual was also among the country?s ambassadors for W W F. ?[He] is known for his healthy lifestyle and participation in various environmental initiatives,? the W W F website described him, ?promotes all project sites for forest protection and watershed management as a Forest and Water Conservation Steward.? He is also a wellness enthusiast. As a Sun Life Financial brand ambassador, he initiated the SunPIOLOgy. This is an annual fun-run charity event aiming to promote exercise for healthier lives. Even today, Piolo is vocal with his gratitude to UST for the person he has become. He owed it to his friends in Teatro Tomasino for paving the way to show business. And UST reciprocated this sentiment. For the Quattromondial Monument, the actor sat as the model for the ten-meter-high statue that represents ?excellence. ?This is not to say that UST is the sole creditor for the legends these alumni have become. Nevertheless, it is certain that the university played an essential role in this transformation. W hether this journey began on the campus or after they?ve left, UST will always be proud to have been part of what they are today and will grow further.

PremierMagazinePh

About the Writer Enrico Basbas came to the University of Santo Tomas a playwright and came out magna cum laude in Communication as a film and TV screenwriter. He also presented his thesis on the correlation of the early exposure of Gen-Z to foreign cartoons with their level of English proficiency at an international conference. But above all else, he is an advocate for gender equality across media platforms.

UST Main Building tower and Tria Haec, lit at night University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines Photo by: Kent Ogares @sandytomasfight

T ime in a Bottle History inaDrink AL DI O is a family- owned artisan liqueur manufacturer from the small town of San Jose in Batangas, Philippines. T heir passionate craft to create all- natural and plant- based liqueurs were passed on from their great grandfather, Victorio Perez L ara, known as Maestro Torio, a skillful artisan and pioneering man.

W hen Maestro Torio lost his wife in the 1910s, he dedicated the remainder of his years to the service of the local Church by starting, I talian missionary priests from whom he got a passion for European- inspired liqueurs. He learned their craft of liqueur making using traditional Filipino distilled spirit made from coconut sap known as lambanog, and infused it with aromatic fruits commonly available in the Philippines? typical home backyards, which was a pioneering move towards food fusion between European and Filipino. He started his cold morning with a warm spiked coffee brew and retired at night with an after- dinner drink made of lambanog infused with chico or kalamansi (instead of apple, pear, or lemon).

I n continuing Maestro Torio?s artisan legacy, the family?s 4th generation established AL DI O Food and Beverage in late 2017. But what made AL DI O liqueur truly special is the provenance of its all- natural and plant- based ingredients, all inspiring pieces of the Philippine?s best, celebrated in every toast of each AL DI O L iqueur variant.

Now, AL DI O?s MI SSI ON is, ?to create excellence in its liqueur craft and to take serious pride in Philippine heirloom harvests? in line with the VI SI ON to ?become a socially responsible company that advocates sustainability and rural entrepreneurship?.

Aldio L iqueurs are crafted in small batches and infused with natural aromatics delicately extracted from heirloom indigenous plants of the Philippines. T his helps in the promotion and preservation of some of these vanishing plant varieties.

w w w.aldioliqueurs.com

Photo by Casa De Lorenzo

A Cont inuing Legacy Dr. Vermen Verallo-Rowell Shares Her Views on Life & Her Passion for Excellence

VSRC Microscopes Photo Courtesy of VSRC

If t here are people w hom we admire and respect t he most , it would be t hose from t he medical profession.

Not only do t hey make our lives bet ter but t hey have viewed humanit y from a different perspect ive. We would often hear t hem say, "Life is fleet ing. Enjoy it w hile you can." We often t rust t he recommendat ions of our physicians more t han any ot her person we know because simply put , t hey know bet ter and for a reason - t hey have t he fact s and one perfect example is our very ow n Filipino doctor, Dr. Vermen M. Verallo Rowell, M.D. She is a dermatologist , dermatopat hologist , and dermatology/ laser surgeon w ho has aut hored over 150 art icles t hat have appeared in dermatology journals and meet ing publicat ions, and t wo books on skin and healt h. Her research has made her a frequent lect urer in t he fields of dermatology, dermatopat hology, psoriasis, hyperpigment at ion, laser t herapies, and applied cosmet ic dermatology (such as skin care product s, hypoallergenicit y, sunscreens, and cosmeceut icals) at professional meet ings around t he world. In 1979, she founded VMV HypoallergenicsTM, a unique brand of hypoallergenic cosmeceut icals, skincare, personal care, and cosmet ics w hose hypoallergenicit y is validated w it h a propriet ary rat ing system (like an SPF, but for allergen omission). She also founded t he VMV Skin Research Cent re + Clinics (VSRC) to respond to t he research and clinical t rial requirement s of pat ient s, dermatologist s, and t he cosmet ics and pharmaceut ical indust ries.

We can proceed w it h pages upon pages of her many accomplishment s but we w ill need an ent ire issue for t hose. She is often preoccupied but we are t hankful for her kind gest ure and generosit y in answering some quest ions w hich are for us, generally more personal t han medical.

P: The st art of t he new decade w ill never be forgot ten. How has it been for you since t he onset of t he pandemic?

VMVR: The continuing time of the Pandemic is now the new normal. A lot of changes happened.

Some are quite good while others, only time will tell.

The Good: I learned to be good at Tele Consulting, found that by teaching our Patient Coordinator how to talk with patients for appointments, and other problems, and answer basic questions. Best of all they were able to teach patients how to take photos of their skin problems ( minimal clothing, angles, lighting, far, close, side, back, height views). These photos turned out to be at times better than on-site because of the magnifycation that can be done. My Rotating Dermatology Residents from Skin and Cancer Foundation, Inc at the Clinics with me off-site also helped in doing dermoscopic - even deeper photos of these skin lesions. Teaching our SCFI Residents - we quickly shifted to blended learning of textbooks, Grand Rounds, Reviews of literature, and my Chairman?s hour monthly. ( I am the Chair and CEO of SCFI so this was quite a challenge).

On the personal side, I returned to my young adulthood spirituality - with daily 1 hour prayers including the Rosary, Memorare, Father Pio, Sacred Hearth Novena? and just talking with the Holy Spirit about what I am expected to do with the gifts that God has given me. A Gratitude Journal daily to thank God for the blessings and for helping my patients to get well, faster. Lastly, our family ( my 2 children, the husband and 2 children, and my younger daughter ) all live with me. The last one despite the difficulties of COVID in medical school is about to graduate, take the Boards, and to become an MD! AND we have a convivial family that because of the closeness of the Pandemic - learned to know and support and love each other more. NO gadgets are allowed at meals M to Friday noon - so we enjoy stories from each one of how their day was, their own difficulties, etc, and often we howl with laughter at episodes that happen to us.

The Bad: Children are growing up toooo fast, and missed the camaraderie of bonding with others their own age. They had/ have us adults more and while we can play games of pusoy or charades or scrabble with them, and they LOVE beating Lola, the growing up with kids their own age is missing. Too much use of computers, Ipads, and mobile phones - effects on the eyes, on the skin, we see a lot of.

My main role is as a Researcher - for my Dermatology Practice, for my teaching and mentoring of Dermatology Residents. And this year, we have new Clinical Research Fellows - They are Pre-Residents preparing to be accepted into our residency program next year. They complement the Research Team we have which amazingly grew in leaps and bounds during the pandemic.

These include our Physician-initiated research, also local, and especially International Pharmaceutical Companies. The latter have discovered us and so we have become a CRO (Clinical Research Organization) on Dermatology for them in the Philippines.

Business-wise - I am poor, or my mind refuses to organize itself into the numbers, etc. Years ago I recognized this, and so we have the right people for the right job needed to also deal with the problems companies are dealing with now. These you will have to get answers from Laura, Please note- I do not advertise for, speak for, or talk about the company. Reason: I do a lot of researches that I submit to top dermatology Journals for publication. I continue to be respected as a Dermatologist and Researcher, continue to be published, to give talks locally, regionally, and internationally. My researches continue to also include innovations for skin care, especially during these evolving times.

Dr. Vermen M. Verallo-Rowell, M.D. at the VSRC Office Photo Courtesy of VSRC

Dr. Vermen M. Verallo-Rowell with Dr. Carlos-Tanchiong at the VSRC laboratory.

Photo Courtesy of VSRC

P: There is a grow ing demand for medical professionals across t he globe. How do you see t he role of Filipinos in t his?

VMVR: Filipinos are well-respected physicians and other medical care personnel. I believe this is much from our having a society that is respectful of parents, fights over who will take care of the older ones as we grow older, and so there are hardly any Homes for the Aged here. Children are generally well cared for too. Then there is our spirituality - religious or otherwise. Put all those together and you have a medical professional that's very smart (because we are very good students too!), yet have the compassion and care uniquely ours. So Filipinos who go abroad are well respected, liked, and have many patients.

I worry about the young ones now, because some were very disappointed with the results of the last elections. I pray that more will stay because there now is a Universal Health Care Act that we are being asked to follow and help in expanding medical care well into the provinces and into the barrios.

P: W it h all kinds of fake new s, research is a valuable part of any indust ry. Do you t hink ot hers should adopt and t ake a look at t hings in a manner t hat 's similar to medicine, fact s-based?

VMVR: Absolutely!!! The unfortunate thing is we Filipinos do not have Research as a priority item -In Medicine, it is required. During the residency of physicians (lasting from 3 to 5 years plus subspecialty training) - they are expected to do a research paper each year of their residency, towards the publication of one of those outputs.

False News, like it is all over the world now, is also very much here. In my own household, I had to fight through what our household help saw, heard on social media on vaccines being bad, or of the history of our country being altered, etc, etc etc. I pray that our legislators will come up with a law that punishes fake news just like they do in some of the Scandinavian countries, and I believe also Germany. And that research, questioning, asking for veracity, becomes a way of thinking and acting.

P: W hat are your current undert akings (research project s)?

VMVR: Continuing Photobio-dermatology studies on the best SUN AND LIGHT SCREEN to use during this pandemic, where a lot of disinfectants and antiseptics are being used to make people photosensitive.

Continuing studies on VCO, and now a local tuber with excellent anti=oxidant properties to use for Inflammatory diseases; Continuing Contact Dermatitis studies on the chemicals that the skin reacts with ( from pollution, common environmental allergens, drugs, etc).

My project is to make our Clinical and Research Center into a higher Institute of learning in Dermatology that we can open to students from other countries because we have so much to teach them.

Lastly, I have been giving talks on Dis-/ Honesty leading to Conflicts of Interests. How common it is, and for us to change to become more Honest so that anyone we elect to govern us will have to follow to make us a truly incorruptible society.

P: We have know n you to have a very dow n-to-eart h personalit y and you can light up a place w it h your presence. W hat is your secret ?

VMVR: I Love people, am interested in them, and am happy to share what I have/ am, which can in turn make them happy.

P: W hat would you advise t he young generat ion as far as living well is concerned?

"Respect each other. Share with the less fortunate. Be responsible for contributing to society. Laura is very good at this. I hope she writes extensively on this, because like I said, this is where Laura is so good at. The culture of the company stems from Laura. She is truly amazing."

- VMVR

A family blessed with great DNA. Dr. Vermen M. Verallo-Rowell with daughters Ms. Laura Verallo de Bertotto (VMV Hypoallergenics CEO, and Creative Director) and Ms. Cristina Rowell.

Photo Courtesy of VSRC

"Filipinos are well-respected physicians and ot her medical care personnel. I believe t his is much from our having a societ y t hat is respect ful of parent s, fight s over w ho w ill t ake care of t he older ones as we grow older, and so t here are hardly any Homes for t he Aged here. Children are generally well cared for too. Then t here is our spirit ualit y religious or ot herw ise. Put all t hose toget her and you have a medical professional t hat 's very smart (because we are very good st udent s too!), yet have t he compassion and care uniquely ours."

- Dr. Vermen M. Verallo-Rowell

Background Photo by Johannes Plenio @jplenio

She set out on a Mission in Search of t he w as Not hing to Unlock but Her Heart for There are not too many people you would know who will make it a mission to find the key to being happy but she did. A little over a decade ago, Ms. Laura Verallo de Bertotto (LVB) set out to study happiness.

"The research has since grown (thankfully) and it's been consistent: gratitude is key.

I've met people who survived the most horrific circumstances (such as being a political prisoner in the deadliest prison on the planet) who were joyful. I've met people who have everything and are miserable." she shared. "I want what I have and am grateful for it, no matter what "it" looks like at any given moment.

Or at least that's what I'm striving for every day."

Not somet hing we would normally hear coming from a CEO but she had been managing based primarily on research w hich keeps t he VMV brand consistent and t rue to it s claims. "We follow t he pat ient s and t he research :) My mom never set out to st art a "company-company." W hen she came back from t he US, already a published researcher and already interested in cont act dermat it is, she not iced t hat t here were very few opt ions to recommend to her pat ient s w it h cont act dermat it is. Cont act allergies, cont act acne, andphoto cont act dermat it is (skin darkening) tend to underly or coexist w it h so many skin concerns. This is really w hat led to t he research into and formulat ion of any VMV product . Providing t he safest , most proven effect ive care for t he most complex, demanding skin condit ions is in our DNA and remains t he basis for any product development as well as our branding and messaging. Our w hy is to save t he world's skin ... so we do t hat :)."

Key to Happiness only to Find out t here Grat it ude.

With health as the primary concern globally, VMV is once again at the forefront of the "natural products" category in terms of perceived overall demand. "There's been an acceleration but the natural and healthy brand appetite really began ramping up about 20 years ago (along with the craze of "doctor" brands). Our product lines are pretty extensive because if people with allergies, sensitivities, acne or melasma can only use our cleanser or shampoo, it's a pretty good bet they can only use our moisturizer, antiperspirant, and makeup. We make pretty much everything one would need to live an allergy-free, acne-free life, with as heavy an emphasis on prevention as treatment (because really, there is no treatment without prevention). If anything, the pandemic and the global supply chain crisis have led us to lessen our total number of SKUs." However, when asked about product development plans LVB replied on a positive note. " We'll still develop products for sure. My mom's at the forefront of medical research so we always have formulations in the pipeline. But for now, while the world is still so volatile, we're laser-focused on our most essential products."

W hen asked about t he challenges t hey had to face due to t he onset of t he pandemic LVB replied, "All t he obst acles would t ake hours to list :) Lockdow ns hurt us t remendously in ret ail and in manufact uring. We're lucky in t he sense t hat we do make essent ials so we had some limited operat ions. We're also lucky in t hat demand for our product s is t he highest it 's ever been. But bet ween t he challenges we experienced and t he global supply chain crisis, it 's been ext remely difficult fulfilling t hat demand.

W it h some dist ance now, I would say t hat t he biggest obst acle w as t he panic and fear, and ment al st rain on everyone. No one w as immune. This level of t he st ress response isn't supposed to be so prolonged and it 's been years. W hat really helped us w as our cult ure.

We'd long had a focus on balance and happiness and kindness. We'd had a 4-day work week, Flexible Workplace Opt ion, and Psychological First Aid for years before t he pandemic so W FH w asn't such a big adjust ment and neit her w as empat hy. We had LOTS of difficult challenges but , in my opinion, it 's our cult ure t hat helped us t hrough. As well, I keep saying t hat t he biggest lesson for me has been t hat cert aint y is a myt h. Not hing in nat ure or life or business is cert ain or even st able yet we're t aught to aim for t hat . The biggest upskilling we had to do (and I t hink it 's been t he most import ant and rew arding from a business and personal perspect ive) is to (re)learn how to flow or even flourish in uncert aint y. Especially in a VUCA world, t hus focusing only on w hat we can cont rol, priorit izing empat hy and compassion, and pract icing how to flow w it h changes have been our lifesavers."

Learning about t he t rivialit ies of business operat ions, a follow-up quest ion on sust ainabilit y measures came to mind. (By t he w ay, VUCA is t he t rendy acronym for volat ilit y, uncert aint y, complexit y, and ambiguit y, and a catchall for ?Hey, it 's crazy out t here!? ).

"The most int riguing organizat ional and cult ural reading I've dived into lately quest ions how much ahead we can plan. Again, in such a VUCA world, t hings are changing almost weekly.

W ho could have predicted Taal, t hen COVID, Omicron, t he w ar in Ukraine, t he supply chain crisis, etc.? Our focus is really primarily on our people and cult ure. All our effort s and resources are going into inventory: many of our customers really cannot use any ot her product so we absolutely need to get our product s to t hem."

W hat is t he best part of being you?

"W ho I am lucky enough to share t his life w it h. I won t he lot tery in friendships. I const ant ly learn from my friends and my teachers and coworkers and more. My family is pret t y awesome. I t hink of myself less and less as a separate ent it y from all t he goodness around me. Maybe t hat sounds hokey but t here you go."

VMV Hypoallergenics products (top) ; VMV Hypoallergenics CEO, and Creative Director , Ms. Laura Verallo de Bertotto (right).

Photos Courtesy of VSRC

LVB on Sustainability "Sustainability has been a priority for VMV for a while now. We introduced glue-free boxes years ago and had a recycling program in place (we need a replacement because more than a few of our partners and suppliers have gone out of business...it's been brutal for so many).

We were early adopters of LED lights for energy efficiency for our stores. Our farm for our clinically-published, certified organic virgin coconut oil practices traditional, organic farming so everything is reused (natural mountain water sources feed the land and the land feeds the earth as well as local birds and other wildlife, for which it's become a sanctuary). We have an ongoing project to reduce or eliminate plastic use (difficult for some of our products but we're committed). I think that sustainability isn't really something to take a stand over. We have one planet. Either we correct ourselves or we continue to harm our one home. It's not easy but we're committed :)" What are the best traits of Filipinos that are similar to Italians? (This is embarrassing...)

My husband has an Italian last name but he's Argentinean. I'm more biased towards Filipinos hahahaha ;) I think that you'd be hard-pressed to find a culture as welcoming, warm, and instantly inviting as ours!

Argentina is South American so there are similarities in our emphasis on family and love of food but they're also very, very European so I actually find more commonalities between Filipinos and Mexicans, for example, than Argentineans. What I love that my husband's family is all about is their obsession with physical activity. They're just constantly on the move and I try to make sure my kids experience and value that.

Note: No editing mistakes. :) We learn from them. Lesson: Do not assume.

P: Do you see yourself grooming your children for the business?

I groom my kids for a few clear things: to actively practice kindness, to live by the golden rule, to learn what taking care of their bodies looks like (they both exercise and eat salads daily; no sugar during the week but we cheat on weekends! :), to love to read, to not be afraid of failure, to stand up against injustice, and to ask questions in school. If I help them become compassionate, self-sufficient humans who will not tolerate the dehumanization of another being and are incessantly curious about the world, the rest is up to them.

So short answer: no :) P: June is Father's Day, what are your best moments with your father/ husband?

This is an unpopular opinion but I'm actually not a huge fan of mother's day, father's day, etc! I love celebrating motherING or fatherING day, though. I think anyone who takes on these roles for anyone (including animal companions) is pretty awesome :) To be honest, I tend to forget these days hahahaha but I guess they're a great excuse for a treat...?

P: Looking at the world in an optimistic way, are we going to adapt to the great reset?

I don't think we have a choice. I certainly hope so. There are LOTS of wonderful learning from all that we're going through and a real opportunity to finally make strides in solving huge problems, from staggering inequality to racism, homophobia, and more. What a shame to not lean into these seismic changes!

P: What's the most important value you look for when engaging in business?

Consistency with our why and our core values.

VMV CORE VA LUES

VSRC CLINIC FULL PPE

P: Research is the core of your business, but it is also very critical to consistently deliver quality products for the brand. This demands a consistent and accurate performance/ result from your employees.

How do you motivate and keep employees dependable? How do you establish rapport between employees to customers?

You?re probably sick of hearing about culture and our why right about now but this is really what it is! :) We could only ever offer a shorter work week and flexible workplace options if the culture allowed it. We focus so heavily on building a safe space, nurturing vulnerability, and lots of mentorships so that we don?t have to control so tightly: we can trust because we?re so clear about who we are, that we all make this unique environment and if one of us endangers it, it?s imperiled for all of us. And this same empathy, compassion, vulnerability, and beginner?s mindset is fundamental to our customer care, too. And this doesn?t happen. It takes lots of focused, purposeful tending. Mentorship circles from the most junior levels on up. One-on-ones. Psychological first aid. Leaning into tech that helps like our intranet Yammer (it?s become more than just communication and a digital bulletin board ? it?s a community builder and a neighborhood). Teaching Hegelian dialogue and ?pull? learning (one can?t be an innovation company if one waits to be trained, after all :). Shared reading and podcasts. Culture is the main focus of the company. Everything (trust, dependability, standards, empathy, care) starts from our why, our values, and our culture. If that?s not strong and safe and rewarding and joyful, no amount of training can create pride or trust, or empathy.

Verallo -Rowell-Bertotto Family Photo Courtesy of VSRC

I groom my kids for a few clear t hings: to act ively pract ice kindness, to live by t he golden rule, to learn w hat t aking care of t heir bodies looks like (t hey bot h exercise and eat salads daily; no sugar during t he week but we cheat on weekends! :), to love to read, to not be afraid of failure, to st and up against injust ice, and to ask quest ions in school. If I help t hem become compassionate, self-sufficient humans w ho w ill not tolerate t he dehumanizat ion of anot her being and are incessant ly curious about t he world, t he rest is up to t hem.

- LVB

T ravel I n G

Photo by Casa De Lorenzo

Good Spirits

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Pr emier

1924 Packard Single Six Touring Model 233 used by President Emilio Aguinaldo. © Viktor Peñas, 2022

The Ca r s, The Pa sseng er s, a nd The Dr iven History told t hrough photos by Vik Peñas

1941 Packard 180 used by President José P. Laurel and President Sergio Osmeña. © Viktor Peñas, 2022

History is an important part of our culture and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines Presidential Car Museum never fails to put us in awe every time we see automotive brands that enabled humanity to go the distance with distinct honors as the passengers they carried.

About the Museum Presidential cars aren?t just automobiles; these are symbols of the dignity and responsibilities of the President of the Philippines. Thus, these cars are not just elegant and comfortable, but also secure and private. Their changing styles also reflect the personalities and even the socio-economic priorities of former presidents. The Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan (Presidential Car Museum) features the largest collection of historic state cars in the Philippines. Previously displayed in various parts of the country, they were painstakingly restored and conserved for the appreciation of the Filipino people.

© Viktor Peñas, 2022

Special historic cars, w hich include a t urn-of-t he-cent ury carriage and a World War II-era jeepney, are also displayed in t he Museum. The Museum also boast s of an audio-visual room, an interact ive Wall Alive feat ure, a resource cent re on Philippine history, a mult i-purpose area, and a souvenir shop. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

© Viktor Peñas, 2022

1937 Chrysler Airflow Custom Imperial CW used by President Manuel L. Quezon. © Viktor Peñas, 2022

1935 Cadillac V-16 used by President Manuel Quezon as his president ial car and soon t urned over to General Douglas MacArt hur in 1937. © Viktor Peñas, 2022

1943 W illy's Jeep donated by General Douglas MacArt hur and used by Ramón Magsaysay during his tenure as Secret ary of Nat ional Defense. © Viktor Peñas, 2022

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos?1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V. Only famous heads of st ate and personalit ies ow ned Phantom V such as Queen Elizabet h II; Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito; Mohammed Reza Pahliv, t he last Shah of Iran; King Olav V of Norw ay; and musician John Lennon. There are only a tot al of 516 Phantom Vs made in history. © Viktor Peñas, 2022

...The Dr iven Wh en w e visit a m u seu m , all eyes ar e on t h e am azin g exh ibit s. Bu t t h e on e w it h t h e m ost cr u cial t ask s is t h e cu r at or . Get t o k n ow ISM AEL M AGALLANES JR., Of f icer -in -Ch ar ge at t h e NHCP Pr esiden t ial Car M u seu m / Hist or ic Sit es an d Edu cat ion Division . Her e's a pr eview of w h at a cu r at or does t o k eep ou r h ist or y alive.

P: THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO LOVE W HAT YOU DO TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE YOUR JOB EVERY DAY. W HAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE CAR MUSEUM COLLECTION?

The 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. It ?s very rare for us to see a Roll-Royce roaming around t he st reet s here in our count ry. Aside from t hat , t he Phantom V is one of t he rarest collect ions we have in t he Museum; it is t he only Rolls-Royce Phantom V in t he count ry out of t he 516 unit s produced worldw ide.

"I've always loved visiting different Museums. When I go to a particular locality, I visit its museum to know its history and culture and gather some ideas. I also love listening to music, particularly the OPM. I love listening to the music of Ben&Ben." P: HOW DO YOU SELECT PIECES FOR THE MUSEUM? Prior to t he const ruct ion of t his museum in 2016, many of t he president ial cars were kept by t heir families before t hey were donated to t he Commission and exhibited in various locat ions. Some of t hese cars have been exhibited in Fort Sant iago, Quezon Memorial Circle, Baler, and t he NHCP Cent ral Office grounds, respect ively. Each President is represented by t he car t hey used during t heir term of office. Each car has it s ow n history? reflect ing t he era from w hich it w as manufact ured and t he personalit y of t he president w ho used it in his/ her official capacit y.

"The presidential cars we have in our collection have been carefully repaired and restored by the Commission since 2008. And to keep the vehicles in good condition, we preserve and maintain them through regular checking and cleaning the cars.

We also conducted quarterly general cleaning of the cars?exterior, interior, and engine."

P: HOW ARE YOU GOING DIGITAL IN A POST-COVID WORLD AND STILL ENGAGING AUDIENCES?

Since t he pandemic st arted, we have shifted our programs and act ivit ies online. We organized different act ivit ies like virt ual tours, webinars, and online exhibit s. As we are now shift ing into a new normal, t hese act ivit ies w ill cont inue as we also do a physical set-up of t hese act ivit ies.

"The positive feedback we received from our guests keeps us inspired and motivated in our work. For us, it really means a lot because it means that they appreciate what we are doing in promoting our history and preserving our cultural heritage."

We do all t h ese t h in gs becau se w e ar e f ocu sed on ou r m ission w h ich is t h e pr om ot ion of Ph ilippin e h ist or y an d cu lt u r al h er it age t h r ou gh Resear ch , Dissem in at ion , Con ser vat ion , Sit es M an agem en t , an d Her aldr y Wor k s. It aim s t o in cu lcat e aw ar en ess an d appr eciat ion of t h e n oble deeds an d ideals of ou r h er oes an d ot h er illu st r iou s Filipin os, in st ill pr ide in t h e Filipin o r ace, an d r ek in dle t h e Filipin o spir it t h r ou gh t h e lesson s of Hist or y.

P: WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE NEAR FUTURE? We pr epar e m an y pr ogr am s in t h e com in g m on t h s especially in Au gu st as w e celebr at e Hist or y m on t h . We w ill be con du ct in g lect u r es abou t t h e st or y of t h e r est or at ion of pr esiden t ial car s an d h ow t o pr eser ve vin t age veh icles. We w ill be also h avin g dif f er en t on lin e exh ibit s.

"Working in a commission where promoting history is the primary objective, I dreamed that someday that our citizens especially the younger generations are informed of their history, who love their country and are proud of their cultural heritage." - Premier Magazine PH

M USEUM CONTACT DETAILS: Pr esiden t ial Car M u seu m Qu ezon M em or ial Cir cle Ellipt ical Road, Dilim an , Qu ezon Cit y

Con t act n u m ber : 09054353396 Em ail addr ess: pcm @n h cp.gov.ph

?It was an immersive cool experience! The museum is so unique and having seen it with my daughter and photographing it for the first time, gave me a sense of pride in my country. It?s also great to see them all in one place.? - Vik Peñas, Photographer VIK PEÑAS is a Commercial Photographer based in Manila, Philippines. He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas, with a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design in 1992. He is the owner of Team Spirit Photography which specializes in Advertising, Commercial, and Assignment Photography, which started in 2011 and also works at the same time as a part-time faculty at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde for AB Photography students.

EMAIL: vikpenas@gmail.com

Felino Dolloso, a Filipino Pride from t he Land Dow n Under Filipin o-Au st r alian Act or Felin o Dolloso w ill be st ar r in g in t h e Sydn ey Film Fest ival Film " Su sh i Noh" . Su sh i Noh is a com edy/ t h r iller / h or r or abou t a you n g n iece an d h er u n cle. Tr apped in t h e car e of h er lon ely u n cle, a you n g gir l?s n igh t m ar es abou t a bizar r e k it ch en applian ce m an if est in t o r ealit y.

Dat es an d det ails f or t h e scr een in g of t h e f ilm at t h e Sydn ey Film Fest ival Au st r alia ar e t h e Fr i 10 Ju n e, 8:45 pm , Even t Cin em as Geor ge St r eet - Cin em a 5, M on 13 Ju n e, 6:30 pm , Rit z Ran dw ick Cin em a 5 an d Fr i 17 Ju n e, 8:45 pm , Den dy New t ow n - Cin em a 1.

Sin ce it s in cept ion in 1954, Sydn ey Film Fest ival (SFF) h as becom e a k ey cu lt u r al even t f or Sydn ey an d is w ell-est ablish ed in t h e in t er n at ion al f ilm f est ival calen dar . For 12 days, t h e Fest ival t ak es over eigh t ven u es in clu din g t h e icon ic St at e Th eat r e, Even t Cin em as Geor ge St r eet , Den dy Oper a Qu ays, Hayden Or ph eu m Pict u r e Palace Cr em or n e, Palace Cin em as, an d t h e Casu la Pow er Hou se, sh ow casin g t h e best in f ilm f r om acr oss Au st r alia an d ar ou n d t h e w or ld.

SUSHI NOH w it h Felin o Dolloso an d Gen eva Ph an in t h e Lead r oles an d Dir ect ed by Jayden Rat h sam Hu a h ave st ar t ed t h e 2022 cir cu it at t h e Seat t le In t er n at ion al Film Fest ival. Un t il n ow , t h e f ilm h as scr een ed in Lon don , Spain , Sw eden , Br ook lyn , New Yor k , an d Seat t le, w it h At lan t a, New Yor k , Tel Aviv, an d a cou ple m or e excit in g u n an n ou n ced f est ivals in t h e f u t u r e m ix.

Th e f ilm h as r eceived a n u m ber of f ilm n om in at ion s an d f ilm aw ar ds on t h e In t er n at ion al f ilm f est ival cir cu it . Act or Felin o Dolloso an d Dir ect or Jayden Rat h sam Hu a ar e lik ely t o t eam u p again f or an ot h er Hor r or / Psych ological gen r e f ilm , n o det ails r eleased at t h is st age bu t t h e t w o h ave set t h in gs in m ot ion .

Dolloso w ill also be w or k in g w it h f ellow Filipin o-Au st r alian f ilm m ak er s an d Dir ect or Edeva M iasis on a Dr am a f eat u r e f ilm . Bot h M iasis an d Dolloso ar e passion at e an d k een t o explor e an d t ell st or ies abou t t h eir h er it age an d look t o sh ar e a st or y abou t t h is w it h Dolloso in a lead r ole.

- Pr em ier M agazin ePH

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PICTURE PERFECT Celebrating Parenthood "The phot o was t aken when our son Mikael was 2 weeks old. We realized we didn't have a pict ure of all of us t oget her :) Luckily we found a st udio where our dog Maiki was welcome t oo."

- Karin Melón, Norway-based Rapper, Producer, and Multi-instrumentalist. h t t ps:/ / w w w.jojost u dio.n o

Liv ing Fully in t he Present Mo m ent Vince Go la ng co 's W hen in Ma nila is o n it s 12t h yea r a nd here he sha res his ro ller co a st er r id e o f b eing in t he o nline p ub lishing b usiness a nd keep ing his f eet o n t he g ro und .

By Victoria Buenavent ura In t he midst of t he vengeful, arbit rary, and pernicious cancel cult ure, happy and posit ive feelings art icles are like an oasis in t he desert . The world we live in has, in just t he last decade or so, become more challenging to t hrive in, even t hough t he movement t hat had sought to make t he world a bet ter place had t ried to correct societ y?s perceived shortcomings. But perhaps too much of a good t hing has led to such ext remes unchecked.

W hen In Manila?s CEO Vince Golangco sees t he world as a beaut iful place and shares t hese t hought s and wonderment t hrough t he online publicat ion t hat he founded 12 years ago. He and a st aff 15-st rong publish, on a daily basis, pieces on various subject s of interest , and a cursory look at t heir website show s t he different categories w hich cater to readers?different t astes.

Born in Texas, Vince spent a few years of his childhood in Manila but ret urned to t he US and finished high school and universit y t here, w it h a degree in Communicat ions minoring in Business. Sounds like a perfect fit for how he reached his present st at us. However, he did serve in t he US Navy, w hich account s for his good physique.

Cursed w it h a t ravel bug, Vince w andered t hrough Sout heast and ot her part s of Asia, Aust ralia, and his birt hplace t he US, w rit ing about his advent ures on Yelp! and get t ing a pret t y good follow ing and feedback. ?Act ually I had 10 blogs t hen,? he reveals. Such w as t he seed of an idea born, t hat w hen he st arted W hen In Manila, t here were no ifs and but s, and he soldiered on, unt il his effort s helped W IM reach, present ly, an incredible 10 million impressions per day.

Despite it s laudable effort s, Vince shares t hat t here are t hose w ho st ill find somet hing to find fault w it h W IM. ?I recall t hat we once feat ured a charit y event for animals. Some readers knocked us for t hat : bakit t inut ulungan ang mga hayup e hayup lang yan, bakit di t ao ang t ulungan nyo? Anot her t ime one of our w riters w rote about a beach, and said, ?we discovered t his new spot beach in t he Philippines and you should check t his out ,? and someone said t hat ?s false info, you did not ?discover it ,?w hen w hat we really meant clearly w as t hat we discovered it for ourselves.? Somet imes t hey t ry to reply, but it has become quite exhaust ing. ?It is affect ing t he ment al healt h of my st aff. Alt hough we t ry not to let it get to us, but if you?re bombarded by t his every day?? Though online w rit ing is largely rew arding, Vince and his st aff have clearly t asted t he ot her side of t his profession ? t he scalding vit riol of t roll armies. Because ment al healt h is a big issue now adays, W IM has part nered w it h ment al healt h and wellness companies w ho come in and do counseling. Furt her, anyone w ho w ant s to t ake a ment al healt h day can pret t y much t ake it . It helps as well t hat work is out put-oriented and t here is no need for t ime cards, and t here is no boss to dict ate w hat is to be published. ?Everyone just w rites w hat t hey like.?

How has W IM st ayed on top of it s league? ?We do not t hink of ot hers as compet itors. We?ve alw ays t ried to be posit ive. We t ried to collaborate w it h people, brands, and influencers. Even friends w ho are doing really well in t heir ow n spaces are finding w ays to lift each ot her up.? He rues, ?The greatest challenge for us is t he negat ivit y online, t he cancel cult ure. It ?s got ten so bad t hat you can never do anyt hing w it hout someone alw ays mad about somet hing, even if everyone else says it is t he right t hing.? And t hen reflect s, ?Media is alw ays changing. Gatekeepers w ill not adapt . You can find old art icles t hat said t he internet is st upid,? he laughs.

Photo by Charles Deluvio

?The greatest challenge for us is t he negat ivit y online, t he cancel cult ure. It ?s got ten bad t hat you can never do anyt hing w it hout someone alw ays mad about somet hing, even if everyone else says it is t he right t hing.?

- Vince Golangco, CEO W hen In Manila

It w asn?t all a bed of roses, and like many, W IM st ruggled during t he pandemic w hen companies pulled t he plug on t heir sponsorships. He and his w riters never t hought of closing shop or dow nsizing. ?We were doing W FH long before t he lockdow ns. It just became even more convenient because online meet ings had become accept able.

Compare t hat to before, t raveling t wo hours t hrough t raffic for a 10-minute meet ing.? Even from t he beginning, he believed in hard work and consistency. ?Keep post ing every day, even if you t hink no one?s reading. It ?s draining; you could lose mot ivat ion. But event ually, you w ill see your follow ing grow. Just keep in mind it ?s a slow burn, not a get-rich-quick scheme.? He adds philosophically t hat w hat makes success is being in t he right place at t he right t ime, plus a lit t le bit of luck.

W hen In Manila has about 20 niche pages, some more popular t han ot hers, in part icular W IM Yummy w hich he says is bigger t han t heir TikTok. ?We are exploring t he innovat ions in technology and are now focusing on short-form videos,? he shares. St ill, it w as a surprise t hat W IM Yummy is able to draw 1 million hit s a day compared to W IM Tiktok w hich fares just a bit less impressively. It is probably t he Filipino social cult ure, w here socializat ion at various levels t akes place at t he dining t able, t he ubiquitous venue for st art ing and nurt uring relat ionships, t hat has helped to make it a go-to page.

W IM?s online feat ures have helped to boost businesses and t hanks have been accordingly t hrow n t heir w ay. ?Some even say t hat 5 years since we w rote about t hem, customers look for t hem st ill after reading about t hem.? This is t he dist inct advant age of t he medium. Radio, television, and print ? t he t radit ional media - are more fleet ing.

Unless t aken dow n, w hat is published online can st ay online and be seen many years hence. On t hat note, he has rarely been asked to t ake dow n anyt hing and it ?s for t rivial reasons (t hey don?t like t he w ay t hey look, or t heir clot hes, etc.).

The power of t he internet can be harnessed not only for commercial purposes but also for more charit able ones. W IM has published ? at no charge ? request s for charit able donat ions, and somet imes init iates it s ow n drives to help vict ims of calamit ies.

?We were doing W FH long before t he lockdow ns. It just became even more convenient because online meet ings had become accept able.

Compare t hat to before, t raveling t wo hours t hrough t raffic for a 10-minute meet ing.?

- Vince Golangco,CEO W hen In Manila

This interview, done t hrough t he wonders of technology, helped show a peek into his world. His background is a bedroom w it h calming neut ral tones, and a few of his nine (yes, nine!

All rescued to boot ) cat s lazily lounging on a neat mat t ress.

Vince once enjoyed st int s as a radio DJ (94.7 and 89.9 FM), and t v show host on a cable new s channel, w hich lines of work evidence his eagerness to make people happy, and t he world a slight ly bet ter place. This interview, done t hrough t he wonders of technology, helped show a peek into his world. His background is a bedroom w it h calming neut ral tones, and a few of his nine (yes, nine! All rescued to boot ) cat s lazily lounging on a neat mat t ress. Indeed, a pict ure of inner peace, w hat he admit s as somet hing he values paramount . And t hat is w hy, inspite of t he popularit y he enjoys, he won?t ever step into t he polit ical arena. W IM is careful to remain neut ral, and doesn?t allow it self to be used as a tool for polit ical propaganda.

Vince reveals t hat he enjoys learning from ot hers, and t hat he has a ?mentorship budget ,? w hich is used for such a purpose. ?I consider anyone I meet a mentor. I love invit ing people out for lunch or dinner, friends or st rangers; from t he digit al or non-digit al world, e.g., Carlo Ople, Josiah Go, Donald Lim, Diana Meneses, among ot hers.? One can say he can also be considered a mentor to ot hers. He quotes, ?W hen building online, even working on a business or yourself, do not judge each day by t he harvest t hat you reap, but instead by t he seed t hat you plant .?

The fut ure w ill be kind to Vince Golangco, judging by t he seed t hat he has planted. - Premier Magazine Ph

About the Writer Victoria Buenaventura currently works in Congress. She writes as a hobby and began writing for fun while a college student at the University of the Philippines for Best Shots Magazine which was edited by Gianna Maniego.

Photo by: Chris Barbalis

Pr emier SAPERE AUDE ISSN2799-0702 Vol. 2.6 JUNE, 2022 ISSUE