Anniversary Issue: Arts&Culture

FILIPINOEXPAT MAY/JUN 2014

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ARTS&CULTURE Brillante Mendoza Yen Baet Joel Vega Ferdie Bambico Aileen Gallinera

Hanging out with Miss Saigon actors How to nurture a child’s creative side Social entrepeneur taps Philippine coffee Bloggers share fave art destinations

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The Filipino Expat Magazine

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FILIPINOEXPAT The Filipino Expat Magazine is redefining Filipino publications in Europe.

Combining quality journalism with visually engaging design, The Filipino Expat is the first lifestyle and living magazine that highlights the stories of Filipinos in Europe. Our original feature stories are focused on uplifting the image of Filipinos abroad and presenting world-class expatriates who are making a difference in their adopted countries. Veering away from politics, show business and sensational stories, The Filipino Expat provides discerning readers with a renewed sense of pride as a Filipino, issue after issue.

Never miss an issue again. Subscribe to The Filipino Expat Magazine by emailing your name and address to publisher@thefilipinoexpat.com and have the magazine delivered straight to your doorsteps. Our magazine is free and you only have to pay a minimal postage fee.

Get it for free at the following outlets: Netherlands Sunro BV Damrak 17 II Amsterdam / Pinoy Village Mathenesserweg 70-A Rotterdam Spain Centro Filipino Tuluyan San Benito Calle Riera Baixa 4-6, 1 Barcelona/ Pinoy Central Calle General Margallo 9 Entre Planta Madrid United Kingdom Kalesa Restaurant, 59 Lavender Hill, Battersea London / Pinoy Supermarket Earl’s Court 10 Hogarth Rd, London / Lakwatsa 7 Blenheim Crescent, London / BPI Europe 26 & 27A Earl’s Court Gardens London SW5 0SZ Italy RCBC Telemoney Rome via Alvin Umahon via- Principe Amadeo, 7/b-c . Rome Belgium Asia Trade Oostende Jules Peurquaetstraat 76 Oostende Denmark Asian Store Kirkendrupmarken 42 Odense N Germany Berlin via Grace Sheelah Pickert Norway Asean World Travel, Brugata 1 Sentrumskontorene, Oslo Ask your LVM Box and Pinoy Balikbayan Box agents for a free copy of The Filipino Expat Magazine.

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CONTENTS HEALTH 12 The curse of spring How to avoid pollen allergy FASHION AND SHOPPING 13 Gifts for mom and dad Gift ideas for your mom and dad on their special days BUSINESS 14 Artisanal coffee made in the Philippines John Sasuya turns to coffee beans home grown in Batangas, Benguet and Sagada to realize a dream COLUMNS 16 The power of one Financial expert Francisco Colayco writes his first column for Filipino Expat, engourages readers to be wiser about their money

ORGANIZATIONS 30 When creativity meets volunteerism Philippine Theatre UK provides a venue for creativity while pushing for migrants’ advocacy FEATURES 32 The ‘art’ of breaking into Europe How Filipino artists are slowly breaking into Europe’s art scene 34 Festival favourites Filipino filmmakers who are among the favourites in European film festivals COVER STORY 36 Mendoza’s brilliance Award-winning film director Brillante Mendoza on narrating the realities of life through his films TRAVEL

17 The lowdown on double taxation Lawyer Chona Abiertas defines double taxation

44 Art destinations Europe-based Pinoy bloggers let us in on their favorite art destinations

42 Bagoong in my paella Columnist Nats Sisma Villaluna tells us why bottles of bagoong should be taped and sealed before putting them inside our luggage

46 This way to the Philippines’ art capital Discover our country’s art capital and why it should be on your next vacation list

SPECIAL FEATURE 18 Bold, Bomba and Burlesque Part 2 On Filipinos and nudity

DIPLOMATS 48 A life of prayer and public service Get to know Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad

PARENTING 20 Art is cool!

How to nurture the artist in your child EXPAT INTERVIEWS 22 At home in Spain Madrid-based artist Kristoffer Ardeña tells us how you can feel at home in Spain PERSONALITIES 24 Teaching ballet in flamenco country Ballet dancer Aileen Gallinera on finding fulfillment as a dance teacher in Barcelona

DINING 50 A cultural eating experience in London’s suburb Restaurant introduces all-time Filipino food favourites RECIPES 52 A sumptuous dinner menu How to cook chicken relleno and pudding GIVING BACK 53 Gawad Kalinga: Changing a nation one village at a time An inspiring speech about how kindness and sharing can change the lives of many people

25 In Mozartland, he plays Pianist Ferdie Bambico on excelling in music where Mozart is born 26 An eye for beauty Award-winning photographer Yen Baet on how to take great photos CELEBRITIES 28 Two great talents, one incredible show Meet Miss Saigon’s ‘Kim’ and ‘The Engineer’

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ON THE COVER

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REGULAR FEATURES Readers’ corner Publisher’s note Editor’s letter Contributors Events

Award-winning film director Brillante Mendoza Photography by Pranz Kaeno Billones

READERS’ CORNER

FILIPINO

EXPAT Publisher and Managing Editor Dheza Marie Aguilar

Editor-in-chief Diana Uy Creative Director Robin Kuijs Contributing Writers: Faye Guerrero, Grace Sheelah Pickert, Irene Esquibil-Looze, Maan D’Asis Pamaran, Ma. Glaiza Lee, Nats Sisma Villaluna, Ryan Manicad, Perpie Poblador, Rommel Reyes Contributing Photographers: Mico Abrigo, Pranz Kaeno Billones The Filipino Expat Magazine Published 6 times a year

By The Filipino Expat The opinions expressed in The Filipino Expat magazine do not represent the views of The Filipino Expat company. While we have exhausted every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, neither The Filipino Expat nor its editors, contributors and staff will accept any responsibility for any omission, typographical or printing errors, inaccuracies or changes however caused. Our editorial and creative teams reserve the right to edit any material submitted at our discretion. All texts, photos and graphics have been used with the permission of the author or artists. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be duplicated or reproduced in a whole in any form or by any means without the publisher’s prior written permission.

Comments and complaints should be addressed to: The Publisher The Filipino Expat Magazine Lorentzlaan 74 3112KP Schiedam The Netherlands Telephone +31 (0) 624407692 Email publisher@thefilipinoexpat.com advertising@thefilipinoexpat.com Website www.thefilipinoexpat.com

The Filipino Expat likes to hear from our readers. Keep on sending your thoughts and comments to editor@thefilipinoexpat.com.

I have been reading your magazine since September 2013 when I discovered it in a Filipino salon in Barcelona. I would like to thank you for your efforts in making Filipinos around the world be known and providing them the opportunity to build networks and learn more about the potential for success through your various stories throughout different countries in Europe. For this reason, I wanted to ask you whether you have or will have in the near future any distribution points in Athens, Greece. I was born and raised there. There is a big community of Filipinos living in Athens and as of this moment, I have not seen any blog posts about that country. Taking into account the economic crisis, I believe their stories would add a different perspective into your magazine.

-Sarah Kate B. Tampol Thank you for coming up with the Filipino Expat magazine and for making it available to read online. I was able to read the first edition when a copy was included in my LSE packet. I liked it, but I liked (the online version of) the latest edition better. I’ve only read the first issue and the latest but I can say that the magazine has improved tremendously.

-Mary Lynn van Dijk Just read the article online. It gives so much inspiration [to readers].

Dedication, hard work and love for what you’re doing will bring you to the top.

Kudos to Rose Eclarinal - Rocelyn Despi via Facebook

Congratulations! A worthy 6th issue with a very nice mix of serious (ILO among others) and light stuff. Very well done.

– Bart Wijnberg Filipinos are the best promoters of our country and no other than the achievers in their own fields can better exemplify that. Gone are the days when Filipinos are known only as good house service providers or highest paid caregivers in Europe. Definitely the expat magazine can give the readers inspiring stories of many struggling Filipinos as well as firsthand advice on living and adapting to the European way of life without losing our Filipino values.

- Geraldine “Jedd” Tan

Follow us on Twitter : @filipinoexpat TheFilipinoExpatMagazine

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Go for your dreams Ours is a life of continuous challenges – from the moment that we bid goodbyes to our loved ones in the Philippines to surviving the daily grind of expat life in Europe. We deal with homesickness all the time. Apart from that, we are always seeking our place and identity in our adopted countries. Some have easier adjustment period than others. But many of us have had to depend on that Filipino resilience and strong adaptive skills to get us through our struggles as expatriates.

The last 12 months have not been an easy journey for The Filipino Expat Magazine. Our publishing team is originally composed of three young people, all of whom have full time jobs turning nights into days and working on weekends to produce a quality magazine that Filipinos in Europe can be proud of. We get help from writers, photographers, individuals and organizations in different parts of Europe and the Philippines who believe in and share our vision. Thanks to all of them, we have survived our first year. We go to bed at night thinking we are doing the right thing because of the positive feedback we get from you, dear readers.

In between the usual tasks of looking for stories, commissioning articles, beating deadlines, convincing advertisers and sourcing funds, I would ask myself why are we doing this anyway? When it would be easier, more enjoyable, and a lot more profitable for me to just concentrate on my day job.

However, each time I go home after interviewing a Filipino expat, after listening to their stories, I would get inspired all over again. The articles that we publish are of ordinary Filipinos in Europe who are making extraordinary efforts not only to survive but make a difference in their lives, in the lives of their loved ones and in others. Through this magazine, I want to tell their stories as effectively and truthfully as I can, hoping they can inspire fellow Filipinos who are now calling Europe their home.

In the past year, The Filipino Expat has been featuring kababayans who did not let their cultural background and expat struggles stop them from pursuing big dreams in Europe. Think former nannies who are now company owners, nurses who became restaurateurs, former executives who are now running their own businesses and many more. They prove that Filipinos, with the right attitude and when given the opportunity, will excel in whatever they do and surpass the social stigma that is attached to Filipinos abroad.

We want our fellow Pinoys to be prouder of who they are and where they came from. We want to empower them to find and pursue their passions and not settle for less.

The Filipino Expat Magazine is now being read by Filipino communities in major European cities particularly in London, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome, and Berlin. We also have tie-ups with cargo and delivery companies as well as select organizations in the BENELUX area and Scandinavian countries.

We are excited for the future!

We are striving to have more circulation partners in key cities in Europe so that you, our readers, would have easier access to The Filipino Expat. In every issue, we try to come up with a wider variety of entertaining, inspiring and informative articles combined with a visually engaging layout.

Together with our growing team and partners, we will continue to work hard to fulfill our dream of providing Filipino expatriates with a truly world-class magazine.

I hope that you will continue to support us.

Sincerly,

Dheza Marie Aguilar Publisher

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EDITOR’S LETTER

One year and counting Happy first anniversary!

I can’t believe that it’s already been a year since we came out with our debut issue. And can I just say, it has been one heck of a roller coaster ride.

Putting out the best magazine for you is always foremost in our minds (nevermind the blood, sweat and tears) each time we sit in front of our computers, hoping we are fulfilling our purpose to inspire as well as give you tips on living in and surviving Europe with each published article. Most important, we hope that we are providing our kababayans and their European friends and families a well thought-out media platform where they can share or read about the true Filipino heart, talent, and spirit.

We are always happy and grateful for each feedback that we get –positive or negative –as it encourages us to continue what we’ve been doing from the start if not improve on areas that we can.

For our first anniversary issue, we focus on the theme arts and culture. On the cover is Brillante Mendoza, the critically acclaimed director who was recently knighted by France for his role in promoting Philippine cinema to the French people. This is the first time that Mendoza graces the cover of any magazine local or international. Contributor Glaiza Lee sits down with the director at his home in the Philippines to pick the brains of this genius.

Similarly, we celebrate the triumph of directors Auraeus Solito, Lav Diaz, Adolfo Alix, Jr., Raya Martin, and Khavn dela Cruz in penetrating European film festivals.

Europe-based Filipino artists are equally making a name for themselves or impacting change. We travelled all the way to Austria to get to know more pianist Ferdinand Bambico, to Barcelona to get in touch with ballerina Aileen Gallinera, to London to hang out with Miss Saigon actors Eva Noblezada and Jon Jon Briones, among others.

Publisher Dheza Marie Aguilar goes in depth about the European art scene for Filipino artists who want to break in. She interviews contemporary artist Joel Vega, painter Bong Delfin, and photographer Sheryl dela Cuesta.

Regular contributor and super mom Maan D’Asis Pamaran finds out how to raise a child inclined to the creative world.

Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad chats with Grace Sheelah Pickert about her work, her faith, and her family.

Need ideas to start your own business? Social entrepreneur John Sasuya proves that Philippine coffee beans can be a source of inspiration to build your own business and at the same time, help Filipino farmers. Grace Poblador writes his story.

Those looking to experience art on their next vacation, get tips from Glaiza Lee who explores Angono, considered the emerging art capital of the Philippines. Our favourite bloggers Perpie Poblador, M Zaraspe Akil, and Deepa Paul list down the must-visit cities in Europe.

That’s all for now.

All the best,

Diana A. Uy Editor-in-chief

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CONTRIBUTORS

Grace Sheelah Pickert is ABS-CBN Europe’s correspondent in Berlin. Aside from delivering great stories from Germany, nothing gives more joy to this fun-loving and dedicated working mom than raising her four children to become good multi-cultural kids.

Life is like a box of chocolates and Maan D’Asis Pamaran is angling to try out every flavor. Aside from chasing interviewees and deadliest deadlines, from her current roles include referee to her four kids and wing (wo)man to her best buds.

Glaiza Lee became a writer because she loves being able to escape into imaginary worlds she created through words. But her travels are not limited to make-believe places. In reality, she can rough it out. She loves backpacking to interesting destinations, eating exotic food and experiencing life to the fullest.

When she was little, Perpie Poblador has tried to prove that her name was not too long by not finishing last during exams. But when she found out that the full names of Brit royals were much longer, she learned to embrace the beauty of having one that is “longer than usual.” Now, she’s called with a number of different names –from her first name to her second and/or the shortened version of both. To keep it simple, call her Perpie.

Irene Esquibil-Looze only loves two things more than her family - cooking and travelling. She loves preparing typical Filipino dishes with a European flair. More than a decade of working for the Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) has taught her how to prepare diverse meals for different kinds of taste buds.

Pranz Kaeno Billones is regularly chasing basketball players to get the best action shots in PBA games or shooting models and celebrities in social events or magazine shoots. He spends his free time photographing random scenes and walking Cookie the dog together with the love of his life Paula.

Ryan Manicad is beginning to fall in love with the art of cooking. He has “mastered” a few Filipino dishes but he hopes to take his cooking to the next level by learning to prepare Japanese and other international cuisines.

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Rommel Reyes came to Europe when he was hired as a chef for Casa Largo in Helsinki. While working, he studied at Ecole Gastronomique Bellouet Conseil in Paris and at the online school of Cornell University. In 2012, he became a pastry chef in Frambois also in Helsinki.

Many of his friends don’t know that he refuses to use the word, “perfect,” because perfection does not exist.

The Filipino Expat is continuously looking for writers, photographers and bloggers for both the magazine and our website, www.thefilipinoexpat.com.

Email your portfolio or writing samples to editor@thefilipinoexpat.com.

EVENTS

MAY/JUN2014

Did you know...

As Filipino communities all over Europe gear up to celebrate Independence Day, we walk down memory lane to share with you a bit of Philippine history.

The Filipino Independence Day or Araw ng Kalayaan is celebrated every June 12 of each year. It is a national holiday in remembrance to the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. The Philippines was a colony of Spain for more than 300 years.

The Philippine Revolution started in August 1896. The revolutionaries and the Spanish colonial government inked a truce known as the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in December 1897. The conditions included rebel leaders like Emilio Aguinaldo to go into exile in Hong Kong. In May 1898, during the Spanish-American War, he returned to the Philippines courtesy of the US Navy, right after Commodore George Dewey and his men defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay. On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo led the declaration of Philippine independence from Spanish colonial rule.

Freddie Aguilar in Belgium May 16 Fochlaan 1, B-8900, Leper, Belgium

Terracotta Far East Film Festival May 23-June 1 Prince Charles Cinema 7 Leicester St London WC2H 7BX, UK

Celebrate Independence Day 2014 Kalayaan Independence Day Picnic June 7 Spaarnwoude-Houtrak Halfweg, the Netherlands Fiesta Filipino Independence Day Celebration June 14 Youngstorget Oslo, Norway Araw ng Kalayaan June 14 Skottegardsskolen, Saltsvaerksvej 65 Kastrup Denmark Fiesta ng Kalayaan Independence Day Celebration June 15 West Wing Art Centre, Art Centre Stoke Road, Slough SL2 5AX, United Kingdom Independence Day Celebration June 24 Plaça del Àngels Barcelona, Spain

London Biennale 18 June – 2 July Philippine Embassy, 10 Suffolk Street London, United Kingdom London-based Filipino artist Noel de Leon mounts a solo exhibition recalling memories of his childhood and youth in the Philippines. Curator is Eva Betncheva of the School of Oriental and Africa Studies of the University of London.

The 6th Terracotta Far East Film Festival showcases seven Filipino films at the ICA in Central London. Critically acclaimed director Erik Matti and actor Felix Roco will be presenting their films. Singer Yeng Constantino’s debut film, “Shift,” will also have its European premiere at the festival.

Vienna: One Kapamilya Concert June 1 Austria Center Vienna Bruno Kreisky Platz 1 Vienna, Austria

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HEALTH

THE CURSE OF SPRING

W

hile many of us are looking forward to warmer spring weather and longer daylight, others dread the blooming of the flowers and the greening of trees. For people who are allergic to pollens, the start of spring usually means swollen nose, itchy eyes, cough, runny nose and other coldlike symptoms. In England alone, almost seven million people suffer from pollen allergies every year. And it gets worse.

A study conducted in 2012 at the Technical University of Munich, Germany shows that pollen counts are rising in Europe particularly in the United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary, France, Poland, Iceland, Switzerland and Italy. However, in countries like Germany and Spain, their pollen counts have decreased.

What exactly is pollen allergy?

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal airways due to inhalation of allergens like pollen, dust, or animal dander. It’s also called hay fever when the allergy is caused by grass pollen.

Aside from those mentioned above, other symptoms include clogged ears, loss of taste, sore throat, fatigue, irritability, and recurring headache. It is best to consult your doctor right away and avoid selfmedication so you can

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properly identify which particular allergens are causing your pollen allergy and as such, get the right medicines or treatment.

With advice from the physician, you may take antihistamine tablets, nasal corticosteroid sprays and decongestants for immediate relief. Some people are prescribed anti-allergy shots to prevent pollen allergy attacks.

Prevention Pollen allergies cannot be entirely avoided but there are some ways to minimize your exposure and prevent them from wreaking havoc on your system: 1.Make it a habit to monitor the pollen count in the areas you plan to go to. If you have a smartphone, you can download pollen-counter apps to easily monitor the pollens in your area.

2. Install screens or air filters into your windows during spring and summer seasons.

3. Avoid going out very early in the morning. The pollen count is highest between 5am to 10am or during windy days.

4. Cover your nose or wear a nose mask when mowing your lawn.

5. Don’t hang your clothes to dry outside because pollens can stick to them.

6. Apply a small amount of Vaseline cream on your nose. This will help filter the allergens.

FASHION&SHOPPING

Classic and Sporty this Fall/Winter

Gifts for Mom and Dad Mother’s Day comes in May and Father’s Day in June. Still can’t figure out how to celebrate your parents’ special days? The Filipino Expat scoured your favorite boutiques to help you spoil mom and dad. Take your pick from our list of fashionable gifts: Subtle elegance Adorn mom’s sexy arm with this beautiful, classic timepiece by Anne Klein. It features polished white tone bezel in a rose gold metal case, paired to a white ceramic and rose gold bracelet.

Summer scent Eau De Cartier Zeste de Soleil will be her perfect accessory to the season’s scorching heat. Light, fun and bright, this sunny new fragrance is a fresh interpretation of the original with exotic and tropical notes. It consists of freshly squeezed tropical passion fruit fused with a hint of mint in the heart, topped with accords of yuzu.

Walk in style The Bally Penny loafer is constructed with a newly designed last in brushed spazzolato box calf leather with Bally’s premier Goodyear sole. It comes lined with cotton silk twill in a wide range of distinctive color combinations including bitter brown and white and navy and white.

Guilty seduction The Gucci Guilty Pour Homme is an aromatic fougére that provokes as it seduces, asserting its presence with an opening spike of pink pepper and close with a suggestive pulse of patchouli.

Swiss precision Manufactured by the skilled hands in the Montblanc Manufactures in Villeret and Le Locle, Switzerland, the classic timepiece evokes the best of traditional Swiss watchmaking with their discriminating and refined complications.

Pretty wild Let her travel in style with the Tribu Longchamp tote bag featuring the lorikeet parrot’s rainbow plumage print.

This arm candy in natural linen canvas is finished with leather hand-woven handles and a Longchamp label in ebony leather.

Filipino-Dutch designer Jonathan Chistopher Hofwegen presented his Fall/Winter collection titled “Caelum et Infernum” at the 2014 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Amsterdam. The collection features a combination of classic and sporty pieces that speak of the designer’s ethos of functional haute couture. Standup comedian Jandino Asporaat as well as actors Tygo Gernandt, Dave Mantel and Teun Kuilboer graced the catwalk wearing oversized sportswear with biker elements as well as classic coats and tailored jackets. Hofwegen is known for using different materials and incorporating technology into his pieces.

Visit www.jonathanchristopher.nl

Animal appeal This Saint Laurent lion choker in old gold-toned brass, black enamel and clear crystal will surely make her stand out in any crowd - whether she’s on her way to a party or a dinner date with the hubby.

‘Belt’ to last Dads can’t have too many belts. Tod’s latest collection features the popular double stripe which uses the same stripe color combinations on blue, brown and grey base leathers. The tradition of Made in Italy, which Tod’s has as its DNA, requires the selection and processing of leather from the best tanneries.

* In the Philippines, these products are distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI). Available at boutiques located in Greenbelt 4 and 5, Ayala Center in Makati; Rustan’s Tower, Shangri-la Plaza in Mandaluyong; and Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila in Pasay.

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BUSINESS

Artisanal coffee made in the Philippines

by Perpie Poblador

T

wo years ago, John Sasuya began contemplating about getting involved in projects where he can truly help the less privileged. He wanted to be less academic, put social responsibility theories into practice.

Sasuya suddenly remembered his passion for coffee, how he grew up watching his grandparents make tableas from cacaos and grow coffee trees in their backyard. After working in the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development for a couple of years, Sasuya decided it was time to put his plans into action. Viverra Specialty Coffee was born.

“Our thrust is to provide high-quality

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Philippine coffee with social impact to consumers,” says Sasuya.

STARTING OUT

According to Sasuya, starting Viverra Specialty Coffee proved very challenging –from writing the business plan to promoting the products and winning customers in the European market who are more familiar with coffee beans from Latin America and Africa.

He needed to convince them that the Philippines is home to artisanal coffee roasters, too.

Sasuya studied the Philippine coffee industry, identifying the best sources of coffee beans in his home country. He

also researched about doing business in Geneva, Switzerland. He finds the process of registering his business there very straightforward: Sasuya simply went to the commercial registry office and submitted all the requirements. In 2012, Sasuya set up his artisanal coffee roaster in Geneva.

Sasuya started penetrating the European market by participating in public exhibitions and trade fairs in Switzerland including the Mustermesse Basel or MUBA in Basel and Les Automnales in Geneva. He went so far as tapping retail shops, holding coffee tasting events with local chocolatiers, and making use of the Internet to promote his company’s premium

grown in high altitudes,” shares Sasuya.

Viverra Specialty Coffee adheres to the principles of equitable, ethical trading. “We buy our green coffee beans directly from the farmers at market price, or even higher at times! So our coffee is more traceable as we avoid middlemen in the supply chain,” assures Sasuya. “Plus, we build a more personal relationship with the farmers and their families.”

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT The social entrepreneur hopes to do more for the coffee farmers in the Philippines like helping some of them to build their own cooperatives.

Social entrepreneur John Sasuya finds inspiration in Philippine coffee to create positive change.

Philippine-made coffee beans.

Needless to say, his efforts paid off: He is not only getting customers in Switzerland but also from France and Germany.

The barako coffee from Batangas, considered a rarity this side of the world, is the bestseller.

Despite his early success, Sasuya says his company still has a long way to go.

“If you have a good business idea, you just have to start doing it and keep that perseverance. Success doesn’t happen overnight.”

He dreams of opening a coffee shop that is exclusively selling Philippine coffee in Europe someday soon. For now, he is launching Viverra’s “3-step coffee” disposable coffee filter system.

“It is an innovative way for coffee drinkers to easily enjoy freshly brewed coffee without the use of a machine.

They simply have to pour water into it,” says Sasuya.

distinct variety constituting only one percent of the total world production, due to its exceptionally rich, full-bodied and intense flavors. Meanwhile, the Arabica coffee beans from the Cordillera highlands are organically grown and harvested by the ethnic groups of Benguet and Sagada namely, the Ibaloi, Igorot, and Kankanaey. “Lately, more people are buying coffee from Benguet.

It’s milder than Batangas’ but stronger than Sagada’s. But the Sagada coffee has more complex taste because it is

“Right now, farmers do not seem to have that much market power. The tendency is that buyers from Manila would negotiate for lower prices which won’t make a good profit for the farmers. Oftentimes, farmers would just agree on such a lower rate so that they can already have the money right away to support the needs of their families,” explains Sasuya.

He wants to start a scholarship fund for the kids of the coffee farmers, as well.

Viverra Specialty Coffee is located at Rue de Frémis 17, Puplinge 1241 Switzerland.

For inquiries, visit www.viverracoffee.com.

Need to clean up your mess Fil-Belge Titres-Services provides you with the most reliable, qualiiied and well-experienced household helpers (M/F) who will do the cleaning, ironing and cooking.

QUALITY CONTROL For Sasuya, keeping his customers happy and satisfied is always a top priority. He makes sure Viverra maintains the highest quality of coffee beans. “Unlike most commercial coffee companies, we never roast to stock. We only roast what is needed within the week. This way, the flavour of coffee is preserved,” Sasuya explains, adding the pleasant aroma and taste of a freshly roasted coffee normally diminishes over time.

Sign up and we’ll do the rest for you!

but don’t have time to do it?

Viverra takes pride in their single-origin coffee products. “Quality is much better and distinct flavors are more evident that way.”

Currently, Viverra offers 100 percent premium coffee from Batangas, Sagada and Benguet.

The kapeng barako of Batangas is considered a Liberica coffee, a rare and

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Thelma Nullar +32 486 70 66 15 thelmanullar@yahoo.com thelmanullar@ thelmanullar@@ilbelge.eu #07 2014

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ONE WEALTHY NATION

I

by Francisco J. Colayco

t is an honor to be invited to write this column for The Filipino Expat because it gives me the opportunity to again touch the lives of Filipinos in Europe. In 2005, I went to key cities in Spain and Italy to give talks to groups of Filipinos.

So much has happened to our advocacy since then and I am eager to share them with you.

I am also very happy to learn that The Filipino Expat is also published in The Netherlands as my youngest daughter is married to a Dutchman. In fact, my letter-advice to her before she got married is part of my first book, “Wealth Within Your Reach” first published in 2004.

I believe that the name of this column, “One Wealthy Nation”, is perfect for all Filipinos while focusing on our Filipino expats in Europe. It is patterned after the One Wealthy Nation community that we just started. OWN is a community of Filipinos from various walks of life that come together to form organizations that are taking control of their wealth in life. It is focused on the personal financial education of all Filipinos through publications/seminars, Internet programs that are available only to members for a small fee per year.

I have always been focused on this idea: “The Power of One can lead to changes for the benefit of the many. These changes come from the many but only if the many can come together to form that which is invincible, the Power of One.” The quote is part of Chapter 20 of “Wealth Within Your Reach.” It is the driving thought on my goal when I started writing my book. It is the focus of the OWN Community to bring Filipinos together in their savings journey. Saving together provides better benefits.

This One Wealthy Nation column is the staging point for all Filipinos, especially those who live abroad and who want to learn what the Philippines can offer in terms of personal money savings and investments.

Through this column, we offer to publish answers to questions brought up by readers under confidential cover so we have a good pulse and know exactly what they want to learn. Below is an actual example of an interesting exchange: READER WRITES: “I’m proud to inform you that I have started my own journey

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THE POWER OF ONE to financial freedom. All because of you.

I have just finished reading your books Pera 1 and 2 and the workbook. I did it in just two days! After reading your books, I honestly feel that I have been enlightened and empowered. It was such a well written and simplified book that allows common people like me to understand the often perceived complicated world of money and personal finance.

My only regret is that I have found your book a little bit late in my active incomeearning life. But as you have emphasized, it is never too late to start this journey.

I’m an OFW and in my early forties. While I had been fortunate to earn a better than average salary even when I was just starting, I have never thought of really making my money work for me. I saved early and was able to buy my own condo.

That’s the only investment I had the courage to enter into. All my other savings are kept in a savings deposit.

I know of these investment opportunities even before, but like many I feel I don’t have what it takes to do it. I have no formal training on finance or accounting.

Whatever I know now I learned from the companies I worked for in the past and at present and through self study. In other words, I was intimidated and did not have the courage to conquer my fears.

Fear of the uncertain, fear of not being able to support my parents if I lose in my investments, etc.

But now I am emboldened and I think I owe it myself to prepare for my future as well. On the other hand, I have not become an expert just by reading your book. So, if it is not too much to ask, I’ll follow your advice and seek the help of an expert. You see, I’m leaving for abroad soon and I won’t have the time to actively manage my investment, so I will be a passive investor and invest my life time savings in MF, UITF and VUL. Here are my questions: 1. Is it wise to invest now in these funds given that the NAVPS/U are at an all time high and the stock market is at its peak?

I read somewhere that one should treat funds like stocks, buy low and sell high. But I’m not really looking at the short term, I’m looking at the long term.

2. Is the following asset allocation acceptable (these will all be either in MF, UITF or VUL except for the cash)?

Equities 30 percent Balanced 40 Bond 25 Cash 5 I have no time monitor the funds daily and would prefer to invest before I leave. Cost averaging may be difficult because I will

be out of the country. I would appreciate receiving a reply from you.”

REPLY: “CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have definite reason to be proud of yourself!!!

Definitely, early 40s yo is not too late to start and your having your own condo was certainly a good investment if it is earning for you or if you are using it as a home.

If it is just on “standby,” you may want to revisit/re-analyze your investment because of the cost of maintenance that might just “take money out of your pocket” instead of making it a real asset.

You are certainly on the right track about wanting to invest in MF on a long-term basis. There is no real need to monitor regularly. If prices go down, just sit tight as it will return up or you can even buy more to improve your cost average.

No one can say when the prices have peaked and yes, cost-averaging is always the way to go. Our KsKCoop, gives you an option to cost average even while you are away.

Pera Palaguin Commandment #9 advises you to “Spread your risks” which is why we bring up the KsKCoop for part of your investment option.

A Balanced Fund is really a combination of Equities and Fixed Income including Bonds. Therefore, your allocation is really more 50 percent equities and 45 percent bond. Perhaps, at your age, you can put in a little more in equities and less in Bonds.

We assume you have made your SAL. This is very important to keep you always in the right direction.”

This is why I am happy to write this column for The Filipino Expat.I look forward to receiving your messages and questions so that we can share these and our advice to these concerns with the rest of the Filipino community in Europe.

Congratulations to the Filipino Expat team on its first anniversary issue!

More power moving forward!

Francisco J. Colayco is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, venture developer, and financial adviser. He is the chairman and founder of Colayco Foundation for Education (CFE), chairman of AurumDev Ventures Corporation (AurumDev) and founder and vice-chairman of Kapatirsa sa Kasaganaan Service and Multi-Purpose (KSK-SMP) Cooperative. Visit www.onewealthynation.com or www.colaycofoundation.com

LAW CORNER WITH ATTY. CAT

THE LOWDOWN ON DOUBLE TAXATION

D

ouble taxation is defined as the event in which two or more tax rules are being imposed on the same declared income, obliging one to pay taxes twice.

In other words, double taxation arises when a person is subjected to tax on the same income by both the country where he resides and the country where he derives the income from. For example, there is double taxation when a resident citizen of the Philippines who earns his income in Spain is subjected to income tax from both countries. This happens because a resident citizen is taxed based on his worldwide income, that is, Philippine-sourced income and foreign-sourced income. Different states have signed agreements to avoid double taxation as well as prevent fiscal evasion by individuals - citizens or otherwise.

Presently, the Philippines has tax treaties with 37 countries. Among them are Spain, Germany, Hungary, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, and US. The National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines (Tax Reform Act of 1997) RA 8424 have adopted several methods to avoid double taxation.

First, it sets out the respective rights to tax of the state of source and of the state of residence with regards to certain classes of income or capital. In some cases, an exclusive right to tax is conferred on one of the contracting states. For example, in the PhilippinesNetherlands tax treaty, the sale of shares of stocks is taxable only in the country of residence of the shareholder.

Such exclusivity in the taxing jurisdiction guarantees that a Filipino will only be taxed once if he has investment in this treaty country.

For other items of income or capital, both states are given the right to tax, although the amount of tax that may be imposed by the state of source is limited. For example, in the case of dividends in the Philippines-US tax

treaty, the Philippines may tax the dividends paid by a Philippine company to a United States resident company at a rate not exceeding 20 percent or 25 percent. Under the most-favorednation clause, the rate can go as low as the lowest rate imposed by the Philippines on dividends paid to other nationalities under other tax treaties.

The percentage may vary depending on the circumstances present to the taxpayer.

Second, the method of eliminating double taxation applies whenever the state of source and the state of residence are given full or limited right to tax together an individual or a company. In this case, the treaties make it incumbent upon the state of residence to allow tax relief in order to avoid double taxation. There are two methods of tax relief: The exemption method and the credit method.

In the exemption method, the income or capital which is taxable in the state of source is exempted in the state of residence, although in some instances it may be taken into account in determining the rate of tax applicable to the taxpayer’s remaining income or capital. For example, in the case of individuals, income earned on shortterm assignment in other countries is generally taxable only in the country of residence subject to certain conditions.

Generally, his stay in the country where he worked should be limited to a number of days –90 or 180. Likewise, his income should be paid by his employer in his home country or should not be borne by a permanent establishment of the company in the country where the service is rendered. This is generally the case of Filipinos sent by their Philippine employers on short-term assignments on foreign projects. In such cases, it is advisable and beneficial for Filipinos to avail of the income tax exemption in the country where they worked, if they meet the qualifications.

Tax treaty relief, however, is not automatically given. The individual or company must comply with all the requirements needed.

The credit method, on the other hand, means that the tax paid in the state of source is credited against the tax levied in the state of residence.

by Chona Abiertas Even without resorting to tax treaties, the Philippine Tax Code already has provisions to avoid double taxation in the case of resident citizens. Under the tax code, the amount of income taxes paid during the taxable year to any foreign country may be used as credits against Philippine income taxes.

Tax credits that may be claimed in the Philippines serve as compensation income tax withheld by the employer and income taxes paid by citizens to any foreign country. In preparing your Individual Tax Return (ITR), it is important to attach original documents pertaining to taxes already paid in the foreign country.

Furthermore, Philippine Republic Act 8424, provides that Filipino overseas contract workers, seamen and permanent residents abroad are exempt from paying taxes on income derived outside of the Philippines starting tax year 1998. Likewise, Revenue Regulations No. 1-2011, states that the wage or income of an OFW that is earned outside the country is exempted from income tax. However, the earnings of an OFW from a business venture or any other property in the Philippines is subject to tax obligations.

The income of a business that is owned by an OFW can be exempted from the 12-percent value-added tax provided that the OFW opts not to be registered as a VAT taxpayer and if the annual gross business income does not exceed P1.5 million. The business of an OFW that is not VAT-registered is subject to the quarterly three percent gross revenue tax.

Remittances from OFWs are also exempted from the documentary stamp tax (DST). However, according to the BIR rule, in the case of OFW remittances sent through banks, the recipient is required to show proof of entitlement to DST exemption such as OEC or Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OEC) certificate.

OFWs likewise enjoy the exemption from paying travel tax and airport fees upon proof that they are legal migrant workers.

For legal questions and inquiries, you may contact Habeas Corporation or send an email to chona.abiertas@icab.net or visit www.habeascorporation.com

#07 2014

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SPECIAL FEATURE

BOLD, BOMBA AND BURLESQUE

FILIPINOS AND NUDITY: A SKETCHBOOK (PART 2)

by Menno IJzerdraat

nephew, this one in #12 Another his mid-thirties accompanied

me to an uninhabited island. The beach to ourselves, and nudity was not a problem, also not for him. He had been trying it before when his girlfriend was there. She had not ventured, but he apparently had liked it.

I am curious to know to whom he will show the pictures, but the day after he broadcast his newly found freedom to anyone within hearing range in his family. I think I was his guardian angel; he could talk about it with me around.

is a special point: Can one #13 This say or do what one thinks, or should one rather say or do what one thinks is socially acceptable. That is different from one country to the next.

The Dutch would probably be better represented in the first category, while the Filipinos would fit better in the second. My nephew therefore kind of “trespassed” the rule.

There once was this young Filipina in the Netherlands - let’s call her Neneng who was about to share the rest of her life with a seasoned naturist, but things went awry. The Filipino community took care of her. “Did you know she was going in the nude and would frequent a nude beach?” one of my wife’s acquaintances was overheard saying.

But she said it loud enough for it to be

“THIS IS A SPECIAL POINT: CAN ONE SAY OR DO WHAT ONE THINKS, OR SHOULD ONE RATHER SAY OR DO WHAT ONE THINKS IS SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE. THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM ONE COUNTRY TO THE NEXT.”

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“THE IRONY OF IT, OF COURSE, IS THAT ONE HAS TO BE FIRST COLONIALLY GUILTRIDDEN ABOUT SEX TO BE ABLE TO GAIN THE NEW COLONIAL SENSE OF LIBERATION FROM INHIBITIONS OVER SEX AND NUDITY.”

heard by the other Filipinas around.

The hidden message was clear: This was reprehensible, wasn’t it? “Oh, it is such a marvelous feeling, skinny-dipping on a beach. My husband and I always go there”, my wife remarked. Then something special happened. Because of my wife’s age - she had passed 60 at the time this happened - and because of her position in the Philippine community, my wife’s remark had a special impact.

The gossipmonger (that’s what she was) and the bystanders had to reconsider their point of view as soon they noticed that they could not count on the reaction they had deemed socially desirable. If my wife does it, it must be something else than what we think, or what we think we should think. My wife still chuckles about it.

book draws a lot of money #14 The nowadays in my favourite second-hand bookstore in Manila: “The Filipino Nude, the Human Figure in Philippine Art and A Portfolio of Nudes.” I ran into this book back in the 70s. The most fascinating are the pictures of the totally relaxed models in the studio, and even nicer on a boat in Manila Bay. Alfredo Roces, the author, notes that Filipinos in the past did not have hangups about being nude. The hang-ups resulted from the advent of the Spanish friars and were intensified by the American Protestant missionaries.

The book from the mid-70s is of the opinion that that attitude started to loosen up again over the past years.

“The irony of it, of course, is that one has to be first colonially guilt-ridden about sex to be able to gain the new colonial sense of liberation from inhibitions over sex and nudity,” according to Roces who also gives a quote from one of the mountain dwellers from the Igorot group in the early twentieth century: “With clothes we are good Christians, without clothes good Igorots.” It could not possibly have been stated more precisely. I wonder where we ourselves are positioned on this continuum... We were in a brand-new hotel in the capital of an island south of Luzon and notice with amazement a painting showing nudes in a landscape, my topic... Too bad, it was too difficult to photograph.

The canvas would have occupied a place of honour in the book.

curious objects in #15 Ithenotice little shop of my niece, a

not be given permission to sell these “X-rated products” in the brand-new shopping mall. Never mind that the name of the mall is SM. Nobody in the Philippines would think of anything else but Shoemart, that’s the full name of this large chain store.

of a sudden along the #16 Allcoastal road we notice a

it. In a restaurant, we later find a painted mermaid and a small statue of a nude toddler seated on a dolphin. The little chap has a little “willie” (penis) in bright red.

Again, we are flabbergasted by so many paradoxes.

daughter of my wife’s sister. Like this pepper and salt shaker in the form of a reclining woman. The breasts are the pepper and the salt shakers. That is one side. The other one is that she would

sculpture of a mermaid perched on a rock in the sea. It would not have been out of place in Copenhagen harbour. I haven’t found out what the meaning of it was, but we decide to take a picture of

relation to nudity #17 People’s has strong cultural overtones.

“IT REMINDED ME OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE WHICH SHOWED BROWN AND BLACK BUT NEVER WHITE NUDITY.”

go back for a while to #18 Let’s the Igorot, inhabitants of the

are quite exceptional, #19 They this Filipino family visiting us

a little bit, and he would have at least some privacy. Mother stayed home and thereby respected her younger son’s feeling.

“THAT IS A UNIQUE OCCASION TO GET TO KNOW THE REAL HOLLAND. SAUNAS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD ARE ENJOYED WITHOUT YOU HAVING TO WEAR CLOTHES. AND MEN AND WOMEN ARE IN THE SAME SPACE.”

That is at least what I thought to have gathered from a short feature program on television when I was in the Philippines. There had been an outbreak of a variant of elephantiasis among some ethnic group: People got swollen legs, and most spectacular of all, a very swollen scrotum. The program showed various men and their affliction.

Even the full genitals were shown as if it were common to show male nudity. I have a nasty theory about that program.

This uncensored nudity was possible, not because the topic was medical, although that might have contributed to it. This uncensored nudity on Philippine television was possible because it was about men from a minority group, “ethnic Filipinos,” not your “lowland Filipino.” It reminded me of National Geographic Magazine which showed brown and black but never white nudity.

straight from the Philippines. Mother and three children around 20 years of age, two sons and a daughter. It is true that one of the sons had heard about the nude beach, but, alas the day had been too short and cold for him to have enjoyed the “spectacle” – that is what it would have been for him, after all. I suggested visiting the sauna. That is a unique occasion to get to know the real Holland. Saunas in this part of the world are enjoyed without you having to wear clothes. And men and women are in the same space. He rather liked the idea. But then something unexpected happened. His sister showed a keen interest. And his mother actually would like to come along as well. And his brother of course. The latter was not the problem, but he got embarrassed over the fact that his sister and his mother would join. Actually, he did not want to come any more. But in the end we did go, albeit with the understanding that he would turn left after having passed the entrance, and we would turn right.

Like this we would avoid one another

I said before, Filipinos have #20 Asnever heard about naturism.

At least not before they reach Holland.

For my wife and myself it always is a kind of character test to see who will come along with us to our swim session and who will not. It turns out that politically

This incident set me thinking. Have we suppressed our incest taboos and the feelings around it, and was it this that surfaced here? If not, what was it? I spoke to them again two years later, and the image of the sauna was still indelibly printed in their memory. The other brother said it had indeed been the first time for him to see his sister in the nude. They turned out to be very “close” to one another in the sauna, just like a good brother and sister team can be. So, clothes or no clothes had not been anything of a hindrance. The girl especially had really enjoyed herself and was roaring to go if given the opportunity. The brother’s girlfriend for that matter who had not joined them to the Netherlands did not have any hang-ups.

Northern mountain range on Luzon.

Both male and female Igorot work (worked?) in their terraced rice paddies in the nude, removing their G-strings before working so as not to get them muddy. Very, very practical, it would seem to me. But we were not even allowed to photograph men in G-strings.

Would that be caused by the fact that they had already partly internalized Christian norms? Or is it more basic than that and does it have nothing to do with nudity at all? They just did not want to be objects, they did not want to feel looked at, they did not want us to violate their privacy. Nude or not was not the point. After all, when they were wearing their G-strings and were showing their “bare” buttocks - I put quotation marks now because it is my own Western bareness - they were not in the nude.

Marvelous when people can be themselves to such an extent, and are not afraid to show it.

progressive men recoil from it. So what is “progressive” after all?

It is clear that an open or a closed character does not correspond in that order with left and right on the political scale. Intellectuals tend to join, but there is no guarantee.

initial thought had been #21 My that the title of this piece

should be Bold, Bomba and Burlesque, in other words risqué, nude and vaudeville. Bomba, meaning just naked, a gem of a word as a matter of fact.

Explosive naturism. Maybe I should have added to it: And Being Yourself, because that is what a human life is about too.

#07 2014

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PARENTING

Art is cool!

by Maan D’Asis Pamaran

A

t the Prism Plaza branch of Alba Restaurante Español in Manila, a mural depicting Spanish scenery decorates one of the walls. By itself, the work of art is already impressive to look at. What is even more impressive, though, is that it was painted by a child.

Maya de Alba was only seven years old at the time that she undertook the project. She had been taking painting lessons, and her earlier works already showcased her talent.

Her mom, Cachelle, says that she noticed Maya’s inclination at a very early age. “When she was three, her dad Miguel and I noticed that she would always sit down somewhere and just draw. It was nothing fancy yet, they were stick drawings - they even looked like potatoes. She would do that every day. One of our friend’s daughters was taking art lessons at Art Smart, and we decided to enroll Maya there too.” What turned out to be something to do for summer turned out to be a passion for the young girl. She took classes yearround, turning out work that impressed Cachelle’s mom, who was also an artist.

When time came to open the third branch of the restaurant, the couple hit upon the idea of asking their daughter if she would do the mural. “One of the trademarks of the restaurant is the

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depiction of Spanish scenery on the walls. We usually commissioned artists to do that for us, then we thought, why not Maya?” Cachelle says that they broached the idea to both Maya and her art teacher, and they both affirmed that the girl was ready to take on the task.

It took one and a half months, with Maya working twice a week for two to three hours to complete the painting.

“There were times when my heart went out to her, because she complained about how tired she was. But that only happened twice.”

Aside from Maya’s skills, one thing that impressed her mom was the patience and dedication that her daughter displayed. “I think that her love for art also influenced her schoolwork.

Because of her training, she is not like other kids who would leave a task unfinished. When we are doing her homework I would ask if she wants to take a break, but more often than not, she would like to finish studying. If she does stop to rest, she really comes back to the work.”

CREATIVE MINDS Teacher Aubrey Bea-Decelodt, who runs Art Smart from her home in Marikina, says that this is one of the benefits that

“KIDS WHO ARE INTO ART LEARN TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SKILL EVEN IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND.”

BABY STEPS With all the benefits that art offers, it would be tempting to “force” a child to learn it. Aubrey explains that exposure is more important. “If you see a child absorbed in drawing, try offering more materials to manipulate. Instead of pencils or crayons that a three-year-old may find hard to handle, I would suggest buying finger paint.”

A painting of two birds (above); Young painter Maya de Alba poses in front of her artwork depicting windmills (below).

She recommends formal art lessons outside of the school curriculum, too, if the child is so inclined. “From experience, teachers who are in charge of art subjects are not artists or art graduates. They have no formal training. Kids will learn better if they get the basics from formal lessons,” she explains. For example, teachers at her school guide the students through lessons such as grid drawing, free-hand drawing, shading. To keep things fun, they have other activities like tile mosaic and paper crafts. “While we teach formal lessons, we are not that strict when it comes to activities that a child wants to do.”

To truly nurture the talent, one must start from home. Cachelle says that support is very important. “Whenever Maya comes to me to show one of her drawings, I stop everything and really look. Kids are sensitive, and smart enough to know if you are really paying attention. Many parents are guilty of simply saying, ‘that’s nice’, just so they can go back to what they were doing – and they feel that. If you would really look at what your child has created, you might be pleasantly surprised. He or she may just be the next young artist to be recognized!”

“CHILDREN OF EXPATS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS. THEY ARE MORE AWARE THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT WORLD, AND THAT BROADENS THEIR IDEAS.”

a formal art education can offer for kids.

“Aside from learning self-discipline and concentration, children can also learn to express themselves better. This rings true, especially for special kids who have no other outlet for self-expression.”

Developing creativity is a given when learning art, but Aubrey says it goes beyond the easel. “Kids who are into art learn to think outside of the box. This is an important skill even in the classroom and beyond.”

Child psychologist Ali Gui adds, “Art expands a child’s ability to interact with the world around them, it provides sets of skills for self-expression and communication. Not only does art help to develop the right side of the brain, it also cultivates important skills that benefit a child’s development.”

One must not expect perfection, though. Ali cautions, “It is important to separate the notion of ‘talent’ from ‘creativity’ –a child does not have to create a masterpiece to have a meaningful artistic experience. Art is a process, not a byproduct. It’s very tempting to want our children’s art to turn out perfect and exquisite, to prove that they are successful and on the right track. Parents can relax! Where art is concerned, it is the process of creating –exploring, discovering, and experimenting –that has the greatest value.”

Travel is also a good idea, says Aubrey.

“Children of expats have the advantage of being exposed to different kinds of things. They are more aware that there is a different world, and that broadens their ideas. If they see something new, they can incorporate that into their art. Artists are influenced by what they experience.”

To learn more about Art Smart, visit their Facebook page or their website www.artsmartstudio.weebly.com #07 2014

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EXPAT INTERVIEWS

At home in Spain

Kristoffer Ardeña, 38 Artist Madrid, Spain What made you decide to move to Spain?

For adventure. I was finishing my studies in San Francisco, California. I had lived in Germany and Luxembourg before going to the USA and traveled extensively in Europe, but I never came down to Spain. During the summer vacation of my final year, after my Spanish friends talked me into it, I came to Spain for a month. It was a lot of fun. I went back to the USA, then I turned down my job offers and came with only a duffle bag.

The rest, well, as they say...is history.

What do you like about living in Spain? What do you dislike?

What is there not to like about living in Spain?! I’ve lived in other countries in Europe and for me, Spain has a good quality of life. I am always caught in between living here. There are different ways to look at this country –as a tourist, as an immigrant or as an expat. I have experienced all three.

Dislikes? No place is perfect and obviously, Spain is no exception. There are a few things that still bug me. One, in my field, Spain can be insular. There is ample infrastructure, but there is a need for a more solid network system on an international level. Two, unlike countries like the USA, Canada, even specific cities like Paris or London, Spain in general isn’t used to seeing different types of people (tourists not counted). This creates a different dynamic in terms of how one is assimilated in society. But in general, Spaniards are open minded.

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Pieces from Ardeña’s Configuring and Reconfiguring series: (above) A bracelet using santan flowers and (below) a cube using a kilo of kalamansi.

What were your biggest challenges?

Immigration bureaucracy! There are so many flaws in how the system is set up. The “funcionarios” in this country, madre mia... que horror! We always talk about the sugarcoated experience of living in a place. But the backbone of this experience is undermined by the paperwork one goes through in being able to stay in a place.

How has living in Madrid helped to develop your craft?

I call Spain home and it’s where I practice my craft. Madrid offers a wide array of artistic opportunities. Living in Madrid has enabled me to develop different aspects of what I do.

What are your tips for Filipinos who want to move to Madrid or Spain in general?

First of all, what does it mean to move to a place? Sometimes we forget two

important underlying factors in terms of being Filipinos and international mobility: First, the Filipino passport is very limiting; second, the economic factors of moving to a place. This is made more evident when you hold a Filipino passport and you go through the immigration lane in NAIA because just a month or so ago, DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] just passed a law saying that all Filipino passport holders who travel outside the Philippines as tourists have to prove economic solvency. Can you imagine that?! So, this is a tricky question. If you would ask this to an American or someone from some other European country, we’d never think of these two factors. But as a Filipino, why do you want to move to Spain and how?

The truth is Spain is no better than the Philippines. A country, a place, an experience is what you make out of it.

Although, once you figure things out and find yourself in Spain for the long haul... then feel at home.

#07 2014

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PERSONALITIES

TEACHING BALLET IN FLAMENCO COUNTRY

by Dheza Marie Aguilar Photo by Robin Kuijs

L

ike a true ballerina, Aileen Gallinera remains graceful while showing 20 over enthusiastic kids the proper way to execute a grand plie. After years of performing in different parts of the world, alongside the Philippines’ prima ballerina Lisa Macuja, Gallinera has found her new home in Barcelona, nurturing the talents of Catalan’s future ballet dancers at the Escuela Ballet David Campos.

Burned out in 2003, Gallinera made a life-changing decision of moving to Spain. She was previously travelling the world with the Philippine Ballet Theater and Ballet Manila, enjoying the perks of following her passion. One day, she woke up feeling exhausted, unsure of her future as a ballet dancer.

“I was too tired, waking up every day doing the same thing. I didn’t know where I was going,” she recalls.

MOVING TO SPAIN She stopped dancing and for two years drifted between teaching, trying to fit in the corporate world and working part-time at PBT. Then, she received a call from an old acquaintance, David Campos, who previously choreographed for Ballet Manila. Would she like to move to Spain and continue dancing there?

She said, “Yes,” in a heartbeat, expecting nothing. In January 2005, on her birthday month, she officially became

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a Filipino expat in Spain. The language proved to be a tough challenge that even her Spanish courses in college did not do much help. But the warmth of the Catalan sun, the many similarities of Spanish and Philippine cultures plus her friends who were already living in Spain made integration a little bit easier for her.

For eight years, Gallinera was performing different characters in different productions of David Campos Ballet Company including Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and The Nutcracker, not only in Spain but in other parts of Europe as well. She made lots of friends and found her sort of extended family within the company. She even found the love of her life while dancing in Spain.

PASSING THE TORCH However in 2013, the company succumbed to the global financial crisis that greatly affected Spain among other countries. Funding for classical dance has been reduced and without much support from the Spanish government, the company could not sustain itself. It stopped staging shows but retained the school.

For 25 years, the David Campos Ballet Company mounted productions that attracted large crowds that included the young in a country where flamenco is more popular. It was the only known professional Catalan ballet company in Spain. Gallinera feels strongly about the lack of government support.

“They were saying that there’s no audience for ballet but there’s an audience and people are asking for it but the government does not support us,” says Gallinera.

The ballerina however understands that between the arts and food for its people, the latter will have more the attention of the Spanish government.

Gallerina finds hope in teaching kids the classical art to keep it alive in the hearts and minds of the young. “That’s why we are pushing for the school because they [students] are the next generation of classical dancers.”

SUCCESS AS A FILIPINO ARTIST When Gallinera moved to Spain, her mentor Irene Sabas, wife of David and co-director and ballet mistress of the school, told her to be an inspiration to her fellow Filipinos.

“I need to show them especially the Spanish audience that we, Filipinos, have earned our place on the stage and our talents are worth bringing abroad.”

According to her, striving for excellence in whatever you do and working hard for it can lead to success. She advises Filipino expats to stay true to themselves.

“If you are not true to yourself, others will see it. If you value yourself, the people around you will see that,” she finishes.

PERSONALITIES

In Mozartland, he plays

by Nathaniel Sisma Villaluna

piano duo concert tour set in 2014 in Switzerland and in the US East Coast in 2015.

UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCES Despite his hectic schedule, Bambico still finds time to give piano lessons at two music schools. Playing at various events and different places in and out of Austria, Bambico shares some of his unforgettable moments.

“When I was playing the organ live on Austrian national radio on Christmas Day. I made a little mistake because the sound technician was talking to me the whole time I was playing. It was a very famous Austrian Christmas tune and probably everyone who was listening to the radio knew that I made a mistake,“ recalls Bambico.

There was also another time, when he played for a TV program and they had to repeat the song for several times. “It was not a live telecast and the singer was not satisfied with her singing. We played for about 20 minutes but the actual telecast was just three minutes,“ says Bambico.

I

met the Austria-based pianist Ferdinand Bambico during a concert for the Filipino community in Barcelona in 2011, wherein the soft-spoken musician from Quezon City, Philippines was the main pianist.

Bambico regaled us with his heartfelt renditions of music by classical masters, keeping us enchanted each time his fingers touched the piano keys. Last year, our group invited him to play in Barcelona once again. Bambico is a world class talent who makes one proud to be a Filipino.

A former instructor at the University of the Philippines‘ College of Music, he came to Austria during the winter of 2005, right after finishing a master‘s course at Camera di Musica in Florence, Italy.

“I came here because Austria is known for producing excellent musicians and composers. Many universities are dedicated just for music and the government is investing a lot in culture and the arts. Even Beethoven chose to be in Vienna rather than in Germany,“ shares Bambico.

WORLD-CLASS MUSICIAN Living in Austria for nine years now, Bambico never felt out of place.

“Austrians are nice folks. In the region where I live, the people are a bit reserved as compared to the people living in big cities such as Vienna. But

once you know them they can be really friendly and trustworthy.“ Bambico started playing the piano at the age of nine, which is considerably late for this industry. But when it comes to learning and perfecting the art, he says it all boils down to motivation and commitment. “I know a lot of people who started quite early but later on their interest waned.“ As a seasoned perfomer, Bambico has learned how to be tough and competitive being surrounded by equally talented peers. After all, compared to the Philippines for instance, musicians here are considered professionals who enjoy the same work benefits like doctors and teachers.

“Imagine yourself in a small country with a very high concentration of good musicians. [There’s] too much competition! But the good thing is, you level up with them. No such thing as mediocre!“ says Bambico.

Presently, Bambico is a pianist at the city theater in Klagenfurt. He also plays at the Evangelical Church in Villach and Klagenfurt. Most of the time, he performs with his chamber music groups for concerts both in Austria and abroad. He also has regular gigs, that include being part of a clarinetcello-piano trio, who held a concert tour in Slovenia last year; a duo with a Korean violinist, and another marimba-

Like other musicians, Bambico admits to being easily annoyed or distracted when he hears a phone ringing or people talking during a performance.

Unlike his fellow artists though, he doesn’t have any of those so-called rituals before a show. Instead, he tries to memorize the music again and again especially if there is still more time to prepare. If not, he further analyzes the music, thinking of ways on making it as “authentic” as he possibly can –like what the composer intended it to be. “Performance is a form of communication wherein we are the storyteller.”

ON MASTERING CLASSICAL MUSIC He believes that being a good pianist doesn’t necessarily mean practicing for hours on end. “It is necessary to be right and efficient in everything. Practice makes perfect but it doesn’t need to be six hours a day if you are practicing it right.”

Bambico admires Martha Argerich whom he considers a “goddess on the piano.”

He adds, “I have lots of people who inspire me to do my best and I just follow my heart.”

While last year had been very hectic for the Filipino pianist, Bambico intends to do more this 2014. “Play a lot of concerts, build more stable ensemble.

Climb more mountains and travel a bit more than last year.” #07 2014

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PERSONALITIES

An eye for beauty

by Ryan Manicad

F

or most people, traveling with a camera on hand is all about taking “selfies” in front of the most iconic and scenic spots, doing bizarre/wacky poses, or capturing the most mouth-watering shots of every sumptuous meal served on their plate. However, there are a few who see travel and photography in a more meaningful and creative perspective.

Such is the case of multi-awarded and internationally acclaimed London-based Filipino-American photographer Yen Baet.

“Travel and photography go well together. I can’t imagine traveling and not taking photos, or vice versa,” says Baet.

Baet’s name is almost synonymous to “astounding images” that have graced the covers and pages of books, airline and photography magazines, calendars, international catalogues and websites.

Her exceptional works have been recognized and published in some of the world-renowned and largest media outfits including National Geographic, CNN Travel, Yahoo!, UK Telegraph, The Guardian, Digital Cameras and many more.

Young as she is, Baet has already received numerous accolades from no less than National Geographic itself. These award-winning photos

include “Rainy Night in Hallstatt” (2011), “Breakfast by the Bay” (2012), her Thailand gallery (2012), and “Tuk-Tuk Night Ride” (2013). Pollux Awards named her photographer of the year for architecture in 2012. The same year, the Worldwide Photography Gala Awards gave her an honorable mention for portraits award.

Baet says that joining photo contests is always tough. That’s why she devotes so much time and effort (no matter what time of the day or what the weather conditions are) in capturing the best image she could possibly deliver. “It’s not only in National Geographic but in most photo contests that I’d think the competition would be stiff. There are thousands of great photographers out there.”

According to Baet, “Rainy Night in Hallstatt” was her very first entry to any photo competition, making it very special to her. Being able to bag the top award encouraged her to continue with her passion. Plus, she won $13,000 worth of trip to Peru, allowing her to experience the historic Machu Picchu.

Baet’s proudest moment though was her first solo exhibit in 2013 in New York. It was her prize from National Geographic for the series of photos she took while traveling with veteran photographer Alison Wright in Thailand.

“IT’S THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE AND DISCOVER AND HAVE ALL OF THAT DOCUMENTED. NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL, SO I CONSIDER MYSELF EXTREMELY PRIVILEGED AND I TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE [OF IT].”

Monks pray solemnly in a temple in Bangkok, Thailand.

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“TRAVEL AND PHOTOGRAPHY GO WELL TOGETHER. I CAN’T IMAGINE TRAVELING AND NOT TAKING PHOTOS, OR VICE VERSA.”

Baet says winning photo competitions and mounting solo exhibitions are not always the most important things when it comes to being a professional photographer. It’s also about the sacrifices you make and even the risks that you take – from nailing a challenging shot, to fighting the temptation to sleep in when she needs to be out before dawn and to traveling to a foreign land alone as a woman.

“I find that I always need to give myself a pat in the back for these little things because they all lead to the big picture and my ultimate goal, which is delivering successful photographs,” she explains.

The young photographer believes that the hard work that she puts in every time she is behind her camera is what makes her successful in what she does. It pays to have perseverance and dedication, she says. “[Imagine] Getting up early in the morning, going to bed late at night after a long day of walking, scouting locations and taking photos –all these without full guarantee of ideal weather conditions. And the most important part is to have to do this over and over and over again (and not complain). The great Aristotle has once said, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.’ I then make photography a habit.”

One of the best things about photography, Baet says, is that it allows her to travel as well as gain experiences that she considers priceless and sacred – the intangible things that one doesn’t always see in her images. “It’s the opportunity to explore and discover and have all of that documented. Not many people have the ability to travel, so I consider myself extremely privileged and I take full advantage [of it].”

When not taking photos, Baet makes time for her other talents like drawing, writing poems and stories, and painting.

Winter in Hallstatt, Austria.

#07 2014

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CELEBRITIES

TWO GREAT TALENTS, ONE INCREDIBLE SHOW

by Ryan Manicad Photos by Mico Abrigo

Photo courtesy of Miss Saigon‘s official Facebook page.

W

ith over 4000 performances, across 28 countries, in 300 cities, and translated in 15 languages, there is no doubt that Miss Saigon is truly one of the most successful and highly-anticipated musicals of all time.

Its enormous success can be attributed to the timeless love story of Kim, a 17-year-old Vietnamese bar girl who falls in love with Chris, an American G.I. during the Vietnam War in the 1970s.

This unparalleled musical which is partly based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera, Madame Butterfly, was originally staged in 1989 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Miss Saigon’s 10-year run is considered to be the longest-running musical in Drury Lane.

A number of world-class Filipino artists have already played a significant role in the success of the previous productions of Miss Saigon. These include Lea Salonga (Tony and Olivier Awards winner), Monique Wilson, Ima Castro, Jenine Desiderio, Jamie Rivera, among others.

As Miss Saigon marks its 25th anniversary this May 2014, famed British theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh relives the glory days of the iconic play as it returns to the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. What makes the West End revival even more exciting is that apart from singer/actress Rachelle Ann Go (previously featured in the Filipino Expat), two exceptionally talented Filipino performers will once again make their mark in the history of Miss Saigon.

Meet the new Kim

At first glance, Eva Noblezada, an 18-year old US born Filipino-Mexican artist, may seem to be your typical youngster who simply loves London’s bustling,

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cosmopolitan lifestyle. But once she starts singing – her pristine voice filling the air combined with her charming presence and exuding confidence – Noblezada transforms into this one-of-a-kind talent, an undeniable topnotch theatre performer.

Noblezada started performing in amateur dramatics when she was 11 years old at the Northwest School for the Arts, a performing arts high school in Charlotte North Carolina. Growing up, she says, she did not have any musical influences except for Walt Disney animated films like the Lion King and Little Mermaid.

Her remarkable talent caught the attention of Tara Rubin, a renowned Broadway casting director, when she was competing at the 2013 Jimmy Awards (otherwise known as National High School Musical Theater Awards and named in honor of legendary Broadway theatre owner/producer James Nederlander) in New York where she won $2500 worth of scholarship. “After singing a song, she pulled me aside and said I have a perfect audition for you. And that audition was Miss Saigon.”

Noblezada admits that auditioning for the role of Kim, and for Mackintosh, was an incredible but nervewracking experience.

“He was there one time. My last audition was in front of him. [When] I walked into the room and saw him, I just wanted to pee in my pants. I couldn’t stop sweating. [But] he’s such a kind soul. When you start singing in front of him, you realize you’re doing what you love. It’s so easy,” beams Noblezada.

Noblezada knows she’s got big shoes to fill. However, she admits to not feeling intimidated at all when compared to Lea Salonga. “Lea’s performance was

“I tell my kids that no matter what you do, whatever it is, make sure you’re having fun. When you’re having fun you will do it forever and you do it without complaining.”

anything good from me because I was working for them. They didn’t think I was an actor which was good.

There were no expectations.”

Briones says that even though he was already working for Mackintosh, auditioning for Miss Saigon still proved to be heart-pounding. “I was nervous. He’s the producer of Les Miserables and other successful musicals. These people create careers. I knew who he was. But I also knew I didn’t have anything to lose. If I didn’t do it, I would always regret it.”

For the past 18 years, Briones has been performing the role of the Engineer (originally portrayed by Jonathan Pryce) in the musical’s various tours in the United Kingdom, United States and Asia including the Philippines. Despite all that, he never gets tired of doing research as part of his preparation for the role. He believes that it is easier when a performer understands the role and when he has a sense of its history.

Leaving his family in the US was a tough decision for Briones. “[At first] It was very difficult because we’re never away from each other. We were so blessed that we were always together. But now, both my kids go to school and at the same time performing in LA [Los Angeles]. And my wife has her business in LA. So I can’t take that away from them because I’m going back after a year anyway. This is our life!”

Asked what’s the most important thing he learned from Miss Saigon that he shares with his kids? “I tell my kids that no matter what you do, whatever it is, make sure you’re having fun. When you’re having fun you will do it forever and you do it without complaining,” says Briones.

Eva Noblezada hopes to make her own mark as the new Kim.

Jon Jon Briones worked for Miss Saigon as part of the production staff before starring in the play. classic. It’s gorgeous and it will be gorgeous until the end of time. However, with this production, it’s different. Time has changed. There’s so much more in society that has changed. It will never be a competition with Lea. It will always be something different.”

The young talent says she feels fortunate for bagging the coveted role of Kim. “When you realize that you’re in a special place you can’t take that for granted.”

Meet the Engineer

From being an audition facilitator to becoming the play’s Engineer, California-based theatre artist Jon Jon Briones has come a long way since joining the crew of Miss Saigon more than two decades ago.

“After they found Kim [Lea Salonga], they came back to the Philippines to cast the Asian ensemble and I was working for them [Miss Saigon],” recalls the 49 year-old Briones, who was responsible for scheduling people and handing their resumes to Mackintosh at that time.

Briones has been passionate about singing and acting ever since he can remember. One day, he narrates, he just found the courage to get up there and show what he could do for the show to Macintosh. He simply spilled out his guts, he says.

“So that day, I got my headshot and resume and handed them to Cameron. He looked at me and he said, ‘Oh you’re going to audition?’ And I said, ‘Yeah!’” shares Briones.

He adds, “I think maybe they were not expecting

“When you realize that you’re in a special place you can’t take that for granted.”

#07 2014

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ORGANIZATIONS

WHEN CREATIVITY MEETS VOLUNTEERISM

by Ryan Manicad

A

fter 12 years and 13 plays already, despite all the trials and adversities, the Philippine Theatre UK (PTUK) stays true to its existence: To bring theatre arts closer to the hearts of ordinary people.

Established in September 2002, PTUK is a community theatre group based in London that produces various English productions each year.

According to Ramon Castillanes-Teńoso, playwright and PTUK’s artistic director, the group was organized as a platform for people who have never done theatre arts. “It’s an opportunity for people to experience the magic of theatre.”

This year, PTUK targets to stage two major productions namely, “Ibong Adarna” (Enchanted Bird) and “Migrants the Movie.”

Ibong Adarna is a rerun of PTUK’s play that was written 10 years ago. It is based on the 18th century Filipino epic about a magical bird but with a modern twist.

Meanwhile, Migrants the Movie was adapted from the highly successful play (of similar title) that was staged in 2012. It is about the story of true-friendship in the midst of sociopolitical conflict, struggle and survival. It reflects the lives of people who have become migrants not only abroad but also in their own countries.

He adds they want to help people who want to discover their talent in stage acting, share their stories, enhance their creativity and develop the true sense of camaraderie performing in front of a live audience.

PTUK’s theatre volunteers are trained for three to five months in the following areas: Self confidence, creativity, leadership and theatre management. Each gets a certificate of achievement after their training as well as does some sort of final performance. The group does not discriminate on the basis of age, occupation or race. To date, PTUK has about 35 active members.

“It’s almost like enrolling in a theatre company,” says Castillanes-Teńoso.

PTUK is considered as the only active Filipino theatre organization in Europe. Over the past decade, it has continuously developed quality and highly entertaining theatrical productions based on the experiences of ordinary people. The plays are not only intended for the Filipino audience in the UK but also for Europeans.

Majority of the plays created for PTUK are sociopolitical. “I’m not afraid to tell a [political] issue. My plays are always contemporary. People who have seen my plays often say that they evoke a roller coaster of emotions,” says Castillanes-Teńoso.

Instilling Filipino values is one of the most essential elements of its theatre productions –humor plays an important part in each one. “In spite of our difficulties, we Filipinos can still laugh. [Even though we are experiencing] poverty, we still say that things will be alright. The way I write plays is like that. It has humor amid life’s difficulties.”

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The Philippine Candle of Remembrance Pin, designed by Philippine Theatre UK artistic director Ramon Tenoso, is being sold by the theatre group to help raise funds for the victims of typhoon Haiyan.

The film Migrants is intended for entry in different international film festivals next year. Castillanes-Teńoso believes that participating in such film fests allows Filipino artists to be recognized in the international film community. To finish the film, the group needs to raise at least £25,000 to cover the cost of film production such as travel, food, equipment hire, and location rents among others. As of this writing, the group has so far collected £236 through crowdfunding since the project’s announcement.

For more information on how to support and be part of PTUK’s film project, visit http://www.indiegogo.com/ projects/migrants or follow them on www.facebook.com/ migrantsthemovie.

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#07 2014

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FEATURE

THE 'ART' OF BREAKING INTO EUROPE

by Dheza Marie Aguilar

Joel Vega inspects his latest work at his home in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

A

s an artist, it is so much more special for Joel Vega when say, a 10-year-old child appreciates and connects with his work.

“It is something magical, worth more than a thousand compliments or people buying it,” he tells this writer as we sip coffee in his living room decorated with works

by Filipino artists.

Vega has been creating contemporary artworks since moving to the Netherlands in 1999 to join his partner. It took a decade for this Filipino expat based in Nijmegen to build his collection using different techniques such as assemblage, collage, phototransfer and embroidery. He used to be a journalist and was involved in literary arts in the Philippines before migrating to Europe.

He started mounting exhibitions in 2010, getting noticed almost immediately. In fact, Vega has been winning awards at the De Gelderlander Art Prize, an art competition in the Netherlands for non-professional artists, for three years already. Twice he won the top plum and once as a runner up.

Like Vega, a lot of Filipino artists living in Europe are now being recognized albeit slowly. In March this year, the Philippine Embassy in Rome presented a few of Vega’s peers with an award recognizing their contribution in elevating the Filipino identity and artistry in their adopted countries through their artworks. Among the awardees was painter Leon Pacunayen, the first Filipino in recent decades who made a significant presence in the Italian art circle.

STARTING OUT Many will agree that Europe’s charm and beauty can indeed be the perfect incubator, if not catalyst, for an artist’s passion. Being here simply inspires one to be a poet, a sculptor, or a painter. Some rekindles their love to create.

Former industrial engineer Bong Delfin, for instance, did not imagine that he would be painting again when

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This clay assemblage is among Vega’s earlier works. he moved to Denmark to work as an au pair. After attending an art festival in Kertminde, a picturesque town in Denmark where his host family lives, he was inspired to paint and draw again. Those were his old hobbies that started when he was still very much into comics. Delfin’s employer recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue his art.

Last year, Delfin joined the Kertminde Art Festival, the same event that rekindled in him the love for painting.

He won the Artist of the Year award, a recognition that changed his life.

“The award led me to a life changing decision of pursuing an art career here in Europe. It was really a big break for me. But I consider it only as the first step to finally pursue my passion,” says Delfin.

Similarly, for young photographer Sheryl dela Cuesta, being an artist used to be just a mere dream especially for a nursing student who had only enough money to support her schooling. In 2002, she was petitioned by her parents to come to Italy. Once there, she devoted most of her time working until the day came when she was finally able to buy a DSLR camera.

“I met friends who were into photography, too. So we started to do photo walks, read about photography related articles online, and joined groups on social networks like Flickr and Facebook. It wasn’t easy.

Sometimes it was really frustrating not to achieve the photos I wanted. But if you love what you’re doing, you would find ways to overcome it,” says dela Cuesta, who is also known as Bushe in the Filipino community in Italy.

This year, Dela Cuesta became the only Filipina whose

Sheryl dela Cuesta with her trusty camera (above); the award-winning photo of a pregnant woman holding her belly lovingly (right). work was included in “La Mente Artistica – Giovani Donne Artiste a Confronto” or “The Artistic Mind – Young Women Artists in Comparison.” Her featured piece was a heart-warming silhouette of a woman in her late trimester, tenderly holding her belly.

NO GUARANTEES

“IN ART, AUTHENTICITY IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU ARE A PRODUCT OF YOUR OWN CULTURE, OF YOUR OWN HISTORY. YOU CAN’T FAKE YOUR HISTORY. MAYBE YOU CAN BUT HOW LONG WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN IT?”

According to Vega, mounting an exhibition is just fifty percent of being an artist. Hard work plus the challenges of creating your masterpieces make up the other half of the equation, but it still won’t guarantee success. And living in a continent where some of the world’s great masterpieces were created can be difficult for artists with no formal training and with a completely different cultural background to break into the scene. Here, the bar is set high.

Talent only plays a small part in your success as an artist. Discipline combined with hard work and passion may get you there but it offers no guarantees, says Vega.

The artist’s ethnicity can put them in a box, too. Art lovers in a particular country will most likely find a connection with artworks that can relate to their cultural and historical backgrounds. Some curators judge the artist by the school they went to. This can be a tough wall to break for Filipino artists.

“It’s a natural instinct for everyone to put people in boxes because it is easier that way and curators know this as well. They follow a certain theme, a sort of narrative line that connects artists in a particular

exhibition otherwise it would be a big circus and that’s not the point. If you don’t fall into these boxes, you may fall into the cracks,” says Vega.

He adds,” “The art world is like a jungle. People are not nice, they can be very nasty. So you have to be prepared for that.”

In the case of Delfin, holding on to his cultural influences from the Philippines while being inspired

by European artists like Gustav Klimnt has become difficult for him to find his identity and style. His early works, Delfin says, were heavily influenced by Klimt. He eventually got inspired by different artists he read and studied along the way.

“Being self-taught plus my exposure to both the cultures of the Philippines and Denmark makes me confused about my art style sometimes. But I think eventually, I can find my own direction and evolve more,” he confesses.

To find his own identity and further improve his techniques, Delfin enrolled himself in an art course at the Odense Fagskole.

All things considered, Vega says, Filipino artists will soon discover that enthusiasts as well as collectors are more attracted to pieces that show an artist’s authenticity. “In art, authenticity is very important. You are a product of your own culture, of your own history.

You can’t fake your history. Maybe you can but how long would you be able to sustain it? One way or the other, people will see it.”

Good art, he says, all boils down to exploring the depths of human existence.

Bong Delfin at his atelier in Odense, Denmark.

“Good art always addresses the core themes of humanity. I agree that the best art should be universal.

The surface appearance may carry some local meaning or implication but the core of any artwork always speaks to humanity and that is the same across cultures. If you are an artist and you address that subject matter, your art will succeed [especially] if it is well presented,” finishes Vega.

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FEATURE

FESTIVAL FAVOURITES

by Faye Guerrero

Over the past few years, Philippine movies have been earning critical acclaim in various European film festivals with awardwinning director Brillante Mendoza leading the pack. These filmmakers’ courage, creativity and genius in storytelling are reminding people the world over that Filipinos have so much talent in them and have more to show for an audience who appreciates what they have to offer.

The Filipino Expat highlights some of these directors whose films are turning heads not only in the Philippines but also abroad.

Directors at large (from left): Auraeus Solito, Lav Diaz, Adolfo Alix, Jr., Raya Martin and Khavn de la Cruz

AURAEUS SOLITO It is amazing how a simple coming-ofage film shot in Sampaloc could take the world by storm.

When Auraeus Solito shot “The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros,” he did not realize that he actually had a lot in common with the main protagonist, Maxi: An effeminate gay boy.

Maximo has been screened at A-list festivals all over the world. It won 15 international awards including four awards at the Berlinale in 2005 (The Teddy, The Grand Jury Prize at the Kinderfest, a Special Mention from the Jury Prize at the Kinderfest, a Special Mention from the Children’s Jury at the Kinderfest).

The filmmaker, who hails from an indigenous tribe in Palawan, finds cinematic inspiration in his roots.

This prompted him to create a trilogy of films showcasing the myths and folklore of Palawan.

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The first installment, “Busong” (Palawan Fate), was included in the Director’s Fortnight section of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. The movie, which weaves Palawan myths with environmental messages, received a five-minute applause in Cannes. It was screened commercially in France by Promenade.

The second installment, “Baybayin,” is about two sisters (Assunta and Alessandra de Rossi) who are separated upon their mother’s death. One sister (Alessandra) grows up in Canada, while the other grows up immersed in Palawan tribal traditions. When they’re reunited, they both fall in love with a deaf-mute (Adrian Sebastian), who communicates through Baybayin, an ancient Palawanon calligraphy.

The third installment of his Palawan trilogy, titled “Sumbang/Delubyo,“ (Deluge) is slated to be released by 2015. He is also working on a documentary titled “Bittersweet,” which will depict the life of Sugar Pie Desanto. The legendary rhythm and blues singer is the daughter of a Pinoy immigrant and an African American

woman. Through this documentary, the filmmaker hopes that more Filipinos will become aware of the singer who was part of a major music movement in the United States. “We should be proud of what Sugar Pie has done. She paved the way for ethnic acceptance in America through her talent,” says Solito.

LAV DIAZ If there is one word to describe the works of Lav Diaz, it would have to be: Uncompromising.

The 55-year-old filmmaker has been hailed by the Venice Film Festival as “the ideological father of the New Philippine Cinema.”

His films have been featured in major European film fests including the Venice Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival.

He is known for creating epic social dramas with extreme running times.

The characters, who are quintessentially Filipino, strike a chord among global audiences because of their universal appeal.

“My works are very particular about the Filipino struggle, they very much embrace all of humanity’s conditions. It’s just that I can only work in all honesty to respond to my culture. I represent my culture, and my culture is part of the world’s culture.”

His latest opus, “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan,” was named one of the top 30 films of 2013 by Sight & Sound, a monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute.

Running for four hours, the film landed on the No. 9 spot, making it the only Asian film in the list chosen by more than 100 international critics, curators and academics. Norte tied with Alain Guiraudie’s “Stranger by the Lake” in the No. 9 slot. Starring Sid Lucero and Archie Alemania, Norte is the first Lav Diaz film picked up for distribution.

After making its world premiere at the 2013 Cannes Film Fest (under the Un Certain Regard section), Norte landed distribution deals with The Cinema Guild (United States), New Wave Films (UK) and Shellac (France).

ADOLFO ALIX, JR. After directing 24 films in a span of eight years, Adolfo Alix, Jr. is one of the most prolific filmmakers today in the Philippines. His background as a scriptwriter for films and television served him well when he shifted career to become a director.

His first film, “Donsol,” was chosen as the Philippines’ official submission to the Academy Awards (Oscars) Best Foreign Language Film category. The film depicts the blossoming romance between a breast cancer patient (played by Angel Aquino) and a Butanding Interaction Officer (played by Sid Lucero) who guides tourists who want to swim with whalesharks. Since then, he and his films have been thrust into the global limelight. Alix was even included in The Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Generation Asia 2010,” a list of the top 20 young personalities in the region deemed “the best and brightest among their peers.”

Two of his works have been shown in the holy grail of film festivals, the Cannes Film Fest.

Alix collaborated with Raya Martin to helm “Manila,” a twin-bill film starring Piolo Pascual. It was selected in the Out-of-Competition (Special Screenings) of the 62nd Cannes Film Fest. The twopart film pays homage to two legendary Filipino films: Ishmael Bernal’s “Manila

By Night” and Lino Brocka’s “Jaguar.”

In 2013, Alix returned to Cannes when his film “Death March” was screened in the Un Certain Regard section, which celebrates young talent, innovative and audacious works. Featuring actors Sam Milby and Sid Lucero, Death March is a black-and-white film shot inside a studio filled with hand-painted backdrops. Two Paris-based outfits acquired Death March: Versatile Films is the international sales representative while Equation Films is in charge of distribution in France.

RAYA MARTIN Even before he reached the age of 30, a retrospective of Raya Martin’s work has been featured in Paris, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, the Las Palmas de Gran Canarias in Spain and in the Museum of the Moving Image in New York, USA. His achievements mark several milestones for the Filipino filmmaking industry. Raya is the youngest artist included in Cinema Scope magazine’s 2012 list of the 50 best filmmakers under 50 years old. He is the only Filipino in the list that also features Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh. He is also the first Filipino to be accepted at the prestigious Cinefondation Residence of the Cannes Film Festival.

He is likewise the first Pinoy chosen for the first Berlinale Residency, an international fellowship program supported by the Berlinale Festival in Germany. Raya has the distinction of having two entries at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival (“Independencia” and “Manila”).

Independencia allowed Raya to become the first filmmaker to represent the Philippines in the Un Certain Regard competition of Cannes. Set during the American occupation of the Philippines in the early 20th century, this blackand-white movie depicts how mother (Tetchie Agbayani) and son (Sid Lucero) hid in the mountains to get away from the colonizers. Independencia, which was shot in a studio with painted backdrops, has Memento Films as its sales agent while Shellac is the French distributor.

Manila is a two-part movie divided into a “day” episode (which is loosely based on Ishmael Bernal’s 1980 film Manila By Night) and a “night” episode (inspired

by Lino Brocka’s 1979 film Jaguar). Adolf helmed the night episode while Raya was in charge of the day episode. Raya returned to Cannes when his film titled “Now Showing” was chosen to compete

in the Directors’ Fortnight. This parallel section of Cannes featured late Lino Brocka’s opus “Bona” in 1981. Now Showing, an almost five-hour-long film, is about a young girl who guards her aunt’s pirated DVD stall.

Described by the Museum of the Moving Image as a “daring, restless filmmaker with a sensibility all his own,” Raya’s artistry showcases a maturity that belies his age.

KHAVN DE LA CRUZ All of Khavn De La Cruz’s films begin with this stamp: “This is not a film by Khavn.”

Known for his experimental films, the musician and poet has been branded as the “Che Guevarra of the Digital Revolution” by Jose Victor Marin, festival director of the La Palma International Digital Film Festival. Ever since his film “Squatter Punk” made its world premiere in the 2007 edition of the Rotterdam International Film Festival, De La Cruz has caught the attention of film critics for his avant garde style.

The black-and-white film Squatter Punk has no dialogue or narrative to speak of since it features scenes of indigent children playing in the slums of Isla Puting Bato, Tondo. It is accompanied by the punk rock soundtrack of De La Cruz’s own band, The Brockas.

There have been retrospectives of De La Cruz’s full-length features and short films in Italy, Spain and the Czech Republic. His movies have also been shown in Berlin, Egypt, Tehran, New York, Vienna, Hamburg, Montreal and cities in South America.

One of his most popular works is “Mondomanila” (2010), a movie that took him nine years to complete.

This is a crime-comedy-drama film based on a Palanca-winning novel by Norman Wilwayco. Coproduced and distributed by the German company, Rapid Eye Movies, Mondomanila premiered at the 41st edition of Rotterdam held in 2012. It was chosen by organisers as one of the “10 [Films] to Watch.”

That same year, Rotterdam released the film on DVD and VOD (video on demand). In an interview published in the UK-based Electric Sheep Magazine, De La Cruz considers Mondomanila as having the “same joyful poverty in Squatter Punk.”

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COVER STORY

MENDOZA'S BRILLIANCE

by Ma. Glaiza Lee Photos by Pranz Kaeno Billones

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“THAT TIME, I WAS ALREADY 45 YEARS OLD. I THOUGHT I WAS TOO OLD TO BECOME A DIRECTOR. BESIDES, I HAD ALREADY MOVED ON FROM THAT DREAM AND I WASN’T TOO KEEN ON GOING BACK TO THAT MINDSET.”

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film director’s mind is always restless –always in pursuit of the next film project, from tackling controversial sociopolitical issues that are gripping a nation to answering his own queries about life and its confounded realities.

This is exactly how it is with critically acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza, who conquered the international film industry with his neo-realist films and thus, became a household name in both European and Philippine cinemas.

Equipped only with his ever reliable camera, observant eyes and inquisitive mind, the internationally-renowned Filipino director would often journey through the unknown, encounter new experiences and somehow find an enlightened understanding on humanity along the way.

Creating films is something that the director from San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines has always wanted to do ever since he was young. According to Mendoza, his whole family was a regular at movie houses when he was growing up. And each time, he was amazed by how a film could affect cinemagoers, igniting his love for filmmaking.

“I remember how my neighbors would prattle about ‘Relasyon,’ a movie by director Ismael Bernal starring Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon [two of Philippines’ most prolific actors]. The couple near our house would fight and

it seemed they were like the characters in the movie. It was just a film, but it felt real. That was when I realized how powerful a film could be, and I began to dream of becoming a film director,” recalls Mendoza.

But realizing that dream proved to be a challenge for Mendoza. In the 1980s, the battle to penetrate the industry was tough and fiercely competitive. “If you were a neophyte, it would be really difficult to be in the film industry. The people working in the business were already there for the longest time. They have proper education and went to film schools. One really had to pass through the eye of a needle to break through.”

Mendoza had to put his dream on a shelf for the meantime. He finished his advertising arts degree at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and then, worked in an advertising firm.

For two decades, he toiled as a production designer for a company, allowing him to learn the tricks of the trade. His dream of becoming a film director had completely taken a backseat. Come 2005, Mendoza would bump into a friend who reminded him that he was meant to be doing something else in his life.

The friend told Brillante about a film scholarship at the Ateneo de Manila University and Mowelfund, which the award-winning Filipino director immediately applied for just for the heck of it. Soon after, an offer to do a film project would come his way. “I didn’t

accept it right away. I had my doubts.

That time, I was already 45 years old.

I thought I was too old to become a director. Besides, I had already moved on from that dream and I wasn’t too keen on going back to that mindset.”

THE DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

But there was really no escaping what fate had laid out for this genius.

Mendoza soon found himself directing “Masahista,” his debut film about masseurs who give their customers socalled extra services or sexual favours.

The film made the local terms “spakol,” (a kind of male spa frequented by gays) and “happy ending” (not the fairy tale definition, mind you) popular in moviegoers’ consciousness.

“That time, I didn’t really care about the film story. I didn’t even know if [my friend] was serious about the offer to direct the movie. Later, I realized how indeed serious he was. So I got involved, changed the script, did some research and developed my own process,” says Mendoza.

Right after finishing the film, Mendoza thought that was it for him. He was finally ready to say goodbye to his dream, thinking about going back to the advertising world and forgetting about filmmaking. He never thought making Masahista would affect him, deeply.

“It became a life-changing experience for me. The film itself made me realize so many things like the process of filmmaking: Creating something from scratch, viewing it on the big screen,

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“I BELIEVE THAT FILMMAKERS ARE STORYTELLERS. BUT A DIRECTOR SHOULD KNOW WHAT HE IS TELLING AND [SHOULD BE] REALLY HONEST WITH THE STORY.”

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and seeing its influence and impression on the viewers. I discovered the joy of filmmaking.”

THE FILMMAKER AS STORYTELLER

He hasn’t looked back since, dominating the independent moviemaking scene in the Philippines. Among his most successful indie films included “Serbis” (2008), a story about a family who runs an adult theater, and “Kinatay” (2009), which is about a police academy student who joins a group of gangsters to help his family and ends up witnessing the brutal murder of a woman. Both films made it to the Cannes Film Festival, with the latter winning for Mendoza the best director award. He was pitted against acclaimed directors Quentin Tarantino and Sean Penn.

Mendoza would make another 10 films and a few documentary specials in less than 10 years since his directorial debut. “I believe that filmmakers are storytellers. But a director should know what he is telling and [should be] really honest with the story. He has to be able to stand up for his story, no matter what.”

Mendoza’s filmmaking process means questioning everything about the script, turning it upside down, so that he can deliver a story that is truthful, raw, and full of grit. “Life is not always

beautiful. There will be something – a question about myself, a criticism on the government or issues on the society – I want to express. And I explore it creatively. I can’t work with a ready script. I want to cook the story myself, choose the ingredients and put them together before serving the finished dish to the audience. So, I can tell the story truthfully and wholly,” explains Mendoza, adding that when he is not shooting scenes, one can find him researching for his next film.

The brilliant director reveals that he usually shoots without additional lighting and gives his actors just an outline of the scenes they are filming.

Having the freedom to tell the story is important for Mendoza, letting the actors do a few improvisations on their characters so that they can also add their version of “truth” to the role they’re playing.

CRITICISMS AND RECOGNITIONS Mendoza describes his films as “mirrors of life.” According to him, he makes films that reflect the current state of the country, with topics that no one really likes to discuss.

In fact, his films have faced heavy censorships and harsh criticisms because they hit a little too close to home.

“These are the realities. With ‘Captive,’ a film about the kidnapping in Dos Palmas, Palawan, [I wanted to show that] there are kidnappings happening anywhere and until now some cases have not been solved. ‘Thy Womb’ centers on a midwife from Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao, who has a hard time coping with her own infertility. There are some couples, or women, who are really facing this,” says Mendoza.

He continues: “The Filipino audience has to look beyond what the pictures show. While I tackle the darker and ugly realities [of life in my films], there is also the good side. In ‘Lola,’ it shows the gritty side of living in slums. At the same time, it talks about the resilience of the characters, which says a lot about the Filipino people. At the end of the day, it is not about being controversial, but simply being truthful about the issues that surround us. We, as Filipinos, have to acknowledge that there are problems going on and face reality.”

Admittedly, Mendoza’s films are not for the mainstream audience. They appeal to a certain type of movie fans.

“Some audience may not be ready for my films, while others are open to it. Europe has a more established audience for art films. In the Philippines, we don’t have a solid audience for these kinds of films. We still don’t have a #07 2014

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venue for them aside from Cinemalaya [a film festival in the Philippines showcasing independent films),” says Mendoza.

THE FILIPINO KNIGHT

To his credit, Mendoza has won a number of accolades for his “neorealist” films, as one critic described his works. These include “The Golden Leopard,” the grand prize at the 58th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland in 2005 for “Masahista;” best director for “Thy Womb” at the Asia-Pacific Screen Awards; the La Navicella/Venezia Cinema prize for “Thy Womb” at the 69th Venice International Film Festival, among others.

Mendoza is the first and only Filipino director to compete in all major film festivals in the world like the Cannes, Venice and Berlin film festivals.

Retrospectives of his films were also done in major European cities, central Europe, Scandinavian countries, Latin America, North America and Asia.

Early this year, Mendoza’s talent and body of works have been acknowledged by the French government. Mendoza is now a knight in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (French Order of Arts and

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Letters), one of the highest distinctions conferred on individuals by the French government, for his “personification of the rebirth of Philippine cinema.”

Despite his achievements in and outside his home country, Mendoza remains humble, making no mention about his awards unless he is asked. “I feel elated with the awards because they validate all my hard work. But through the years, it is not about the awards anymore or the return on investments. It becomes something else – a purpose and a goal as a filmmaker.

You start to question yourself: Why do you want to make films? Why do you want to tell these kinds of stories? It’s no longer about you as a director, but about your advocacy.”

All things considered, Mendoza says he doesn’t consider himself a director.

“For me, I’m just a storyteller. I think the moment I tell myself that I’m a director that would be the end of it. I’m still learning. I learn as I make my films. As long as I have questions to ask, ideas to share, I will still make films.”

No doubt about it. Mendoza is indeed a knight of the Philippine cinema.

“I’M JUST A STORYTELLER. I THINK THE MOMENT I TELL MYSELF THAT I’M A DIRECTOR THAT WOULD BE THE END OF IT. I’M STILL LEARNING. I LEARN AS I MAKE MY FILMS. AS LONG AS I HAVE QUESTIONS TO ASK, IDEAS TO SHARE, I WILL STILL MAKE FILMS.”

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BAGOONG IN MY PAELLA

by Nats Sisma Villaluna

I vividly remember that “smelly” incident that happened in Madrid eight years ago.

I accompanied my friend Mae to Barajas Airport to collect Jesica who was arriving from Manila via Doha. When we got to the airport, the plane was already en tierra. At first, we thought that it would not take long for Jesica to come out. The first passengers to come out were Europeans, Latinos, Arabs and Indians. Spanish families who went on safaris, Brazilian surfers, German businessmen…. but no Pinoys!

Twenty minutes passed and two hundred thousand passengers later, there was still no sign of Jesica. Then my phone rang. Jesica! She couldn’t locate her suitcases. She sounded worried.

“Nats, I haven’t got my suitcases yet!”

“Suitcases?” I repeated with a hint of surprise and alarm.

Yes, suitcases. Two, actually. But no, they were manageable, meaning not heavy, Jesica assured us. So we waited again. Another hundred thousand passengers came out. Still no Pinoys.

Weird, right? A flight from Manila with a layover in Doha without Pinoys? Are you kidding?

After 40 minutes, the first Pinoy emerged. He popped his head out of the sliding door. Seeing a lot of people waiting in front of him, his face looked embarrassed. When he finally decided to come out, he was pushing two balikbayan boxes. I mean two BIG balikbayan boxes, plus, two suitcases, a rucksack and another small box. Mae and I glanced at each other. Here they come! Then one by one, more Pinoys emerged, more big balikbayan boxes came into sight.

“What big boxes they have!” I heard somebody commenting.

I suddenly recalled explaining to my Spanish friend once about these “big boxes.” That this is a Filipino thing, really. That if one happens to be at any airport in the world, and happens to see an Asian-looking man or woman pushing a cart with big boxes filled with souvenirs and gifts, then he has

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A Not So (Un)pleasant Bagoong Incident just witnessed a Pinoy going home.

Or coming back from the Philippines.

Because this time, the boxes are filled with a year’s supply of Philippine goods.

Still, no sign of Jesica. Suddenly, two enormous balikbayan boxes stopped in front of us. The owner was a petite Pinay who was busy craning her neck looking for her relatives in the crowd.

“What is that smell?” I heard the person beside me asked her companion.

The smell was so strong that we found ourselves covering our noses. Strong as it was though, it smelled familiar, something close to home. Something I used to eat with green mangoes.

Something that my mother put in her pinakbet to make it delightfully irresistible. Mae and I giggled at the thought of bagoong! Yes, I was very sure that there was bagoong inside the box.

“THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG THAT WE FOUND OURSELVES COVERING OUR NOSES. STRONG AS IT WAS THOUGH, IT SMELLED FAMILIAR, SOMETHING CLOSE TO HOME. SOMETHING I USED TO EAT WITH GREEN MANGOES.” The Pinay did not mind the reaction of the crowd who were starting to cover their noses. She found her relative and carried on. My phone rang again.

“Nats! Somebody’s bagoong spilled all over my things! My suitcases smell horrible!” Jesica was hysterical.

I smelled trouble.... rather, I smelled bagoong, a Philippine condiment made by salting and fermenting the bonnet mouth fish. It is used as a flavor enhancing agent in place of salt or soy sauce. There is only one problem though, it smells awful. However, once tasted it’s truly divine. I tell you, bagoong is best served with green mangoes.

Finally, Jesica appeared, with her sorry face and bagoong-soaked maletas.

And that smell! ¡Que fuerte tío! So after

exchanging besos and gasping at how Jesica gained weight after a onemonth eating spree in the Philippines, our attention turned to her stained suitcases.

We looked for a toilet. Maybe we could do something to lessen the foul smell.

Coming out of the loo, Jesica was already holding a bottle of perfume and had already sprayed it all over the maletas. For a brief second, they smelled of perfume. Soon after though, the offensive smell persisted.

Inside the metro, we carefully chose the coach with the least number of passengers. After two train changes, the reaction to the smell was milder than we expected, maybe because there were fewer passengers. But on our last train, most of the seats near us were not taken. Passengers deliberately avoided us. We could hear “¡Ay, heule mal!” “What’s that funny smell?” One even rushed to another seat far away from us. But still, Jesica carried on raving about her Philippine summer adventure.

Por fin, we reached our stop. Relieved and still reeking of bagoong, we walked from the train station to Jesica’s place.

As soon as we reached her house, she immediately opened her suitcases and examined the damage. A lot of her clothes stank! For a moment we decided to forget about the stinky incident.

We were excited to see what she had inside her maletas. One by one, Jesica took her stuff out. And to our surprise and delight, she brought daing (salted dried fish), gabi leaves (taro leaves) and pancit loglog (thin noodles). Ladies and gentlemen, a true-blooded Pinay returning from home risking her life to bring in the “hot stuff” for her homesick friends!

As a sign of gratitude for picking her up at the airport, she insisted on cooking lunch for us. The smell of bagoong and daing permeated the whole house as we ate with our hands devouring the humble dried fish, tomatoes as side dish and of course, hot rice. It was one of the most sumptuous meals I have ever had in my entire stay in Spain.

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TRAVEL

An elephant and octopus wall painting by an unidentified artist who worked on it for eight days.

Photo by M. Akil

Art Destinations Satisfying our cravings for art destinations all over Europe, our favourite bloggers list down their must-visits like London, Rome, Florence and Berlin.

LONDON by M ZARASPE AKIL Chinwags and Tittle-Tattles www.msmadge.blogspot.com My top European art destination is right at my doorstep. From high art to popular culture, London’s multicultural landscape is a perfect canvas for eclectic visual expressions. Venture eastward from the tourist belt and you’ll be treated to amazing street art in one of the most “pro-graffiti” cities in the world. When in the East End, book the Alternative London Walking Tour, the city’s longest-running street art tour. The two-hour pay-what-you-like tour runs daily where you’ll see works by ROA, Jonesy, Shepard Fairey, Invader, Stik, Vhils, El Mac, and some of Banksy’s if they haven’t been erased yet. London’s east side are dotted with commissioned and non-commissioned graffiti on the walls and sides of buildings. Some of these artworks blend so well with the surroundings and architecture,

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you will not readily notice them until a guide points them out. Its colourful French Huguenots and Jewish past combined with the present Bangladeshi settlements add to its appeal.

ROME by GRACE POBLADOR Coffechat with Perpie www.coffeechatwithperpie.com Rome is one of the great art cities in the world. With its immensely rich history and cultural heritage, Rome does not run out of sights and things to do. I’ve visited this city twice already, and both times the city never failed to amaze me. Without even trying, you’ll walk into masterpieces of great artists like Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini, Caravaggio – you name it! Art is truly all around you. For first-time visitors, it’s a must to see the remnants of the once grandiose Roman Empire: The Pantheon, the Roman Forum and the

Gold-accentuated staircases inside the Hermitage museum.

The entrance to the Pantheon in Rome.

Colosseum; the famous Baroque fountain featured in the La Dolce Vita film, the Trevi Fountain; and Europe’s city-state, the Vatican City or the seat of papal power.

I personally like the Vatican museum as it is filled with collections of classical sculptures and most important Renaissance masterpieces – all spread out in 54 salas or galleries. One of the galleries houses the worldfamous Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.

BERLIN by DEEPA PAUL Currystrumpet www.currystrumpet.com Bombed to rubble by Allied bombs in World War II, Berlin became a blank canvas from which anyone could create anything. It may not be a Renaissance masterpiece like Florence, but Berlin is a work of contemporary art that is constantly evolving.

Covered in bullet holes, Communist propaganda murals, and more street art than any other city in the world (even the birthplace of modern graffiti, New York), Berlin’s cityscape tells the story of its survival. So much has been destroyed that whatever has survived stands out, each with its own voice to add to the bigger story.

There is always something to discover: My favourites are the Pergamon Museum’s awe-inspiring recreations of the 2nd century Pergamon Altar and the ancient Babylonian Ishtar Gate; the haunting Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, made up of 2,711 eerie, towering concrete slabs that feels like a city of tombstones; the graffiti-covered fragments of the historic Berlin Wall that lie all around the city. In Berlin, art is profound, unexpected, powerful… and it is everywhere.

Residents pass by a huge graffiti in Berlin.

SAINT PETERSBURG by DM KUIJS The Weekend Traveller www.theweekendtraveller.com If you are looking to spend a full day in a museum to view some of the most exclusive collections of classic art, Saint Petersburg is the best place to be. Saint Petersburg is in fact called “Gorod Muzei” (Museum City) because of the extensive number of museums that can be found here.

At the Hermitage Museum alone, you will need at least three days to see all three million art pieces and artifacts that the Russian tsars and tsarinas have collected through their years of power.

Peter, the Great started the city’s vast collection of art through his acquisition of unique and sometimes weird pieces. These are housed in what is now known as the KunstKammer Museum.

As grand as the museums in Saint Petersburg, the architectural gems in the city heavily influenced by the Russians’ Orthodox beliefs will also appeal to lovers of art and beauty.

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TRAVEL

THIS WAY TO THE PHILIPPINES’ ART CAPITAL

by Ma. Glaiza Lee

“It is true! The giants are back! I saw them. They are huge!”

The five-year-old boy talks animatedly to his playmates, recounting his experience when he visited his grandparents in their hometown called Angono located in the province of Rizal in the Philippines. With all his friends looking at him, their eyes filled with awe and wonder, the young boy continues with his tale about giants, garbed in traditional Filipino clothes, dancing and parading around the town.

Though not exactly real, the higantes (giants) of Angono have been thrilling local kids and tourists alike in this almost sleepy town one to two hours away from the capital city Manila. These higantes measure four to five feet in width and about 10 to 12 feet in height.

Their bodies are made from bamboo and colorful cloth, their faces from paper mache.

Influenced by the Mexican art form, it was believed that the tradition of making higantes began during the Spanish colonial period when Angono was only a hacienda and ruled by Spanish landowners.

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Legend has it that some of the Spanish landowners became such tyrants that the local farmers would make largerthan-life effigies of their landlords. The massive images with their arms akimbo symbolised the oppressing power of the feudal lords.

Eventually, the effigies evolved into characters being presented in fiesta celebrations. The townsfolk would then create a family of giants consisting of a father, a mother and a child, honoring the strong familial ties and values of Filipinos.

In the late 1980s, a local artist named Perdigon Vocalan suggested to expand the festival. Instead of just a family of giants, he recommended creating more, asking each barangay in Angono to make a giant that would represent their community.

Today, the higantes are no longer associated with the injustices of Angono’s once cruel landlords. They now serve as a gigantic (pun intended) reminder of the Angono people’s resiliency especially when the nearby Laguna de Bay would spill over and submerge the town in waist-deep

floodwaters. These giants usually make an appearance during the Higantes Festival, held annually in the month of November, coinciding with the celebration of the town’s patron saint: Saint Clement, The Pope.

But if one wants to see the giants all year round, one can drop by Balaw Balaw, a gallery-restaurant owned

by Vocalan. “Mag-anak,” the family of higantes, will welcome diners. The gallery-restaurant was once featured in the popular Bizarre Food program wherein host and former chef Andrew Zimmern sampled uok, white worms from the larvae of crickets or beetles found in fallen coconut trees, Soup Number Five, bull’s rectum and testicles soup, and balaw-balaw sauce with fermented shrimp paste.

A few meters away from Balaw Balaw is the Nemiranda Arthouse and Gallery.

The gallery houses the works of Filipino visual artist Nemesio “Nemiranda” Miranda, Jr. His paintings masterfully employ figurative realism, portraying rural life and folkloric art. Another mustvisit is the Blanco Family Museum, the private museum of a famous family of painters led by the late renowned artist

A local child starts her art lessons (above); a human-size sculpture decorates one of the establishments in Angono (right).

Jose “Pitok” D. Blanco.

Then, there is the Tiamson Art Gallery, home of the various artworks of paintermusician Orville D. R. Tiamzon. The Ang Nuno Artists Foundation Gallery offers a good place for independent and budding artists from Angono to showcase their artworks. The Village Artist Gallery highlights Pepito Villaluz’s graphic and detailed realistic works.

The Juban Studio is named after one of Angono’s noted artists, Salvador Juban.

The Vicente Reyes Art Studio is owned by the prolific painter Vicente Reyes.

While the Angono Ateliers Gallery is the creative venue of the group that advocates “developing the human figure as the ultimate subject.”

Considered the “Art Capital of the Philippines,” Angono has given birth to two National Artists: National Artist for Music Lucio San Pedro and National Artist for Visual Arts Carlos “Botong” Francisco. San Pedro composed the beloved folk ditty “Ugoy ng Duyan.” He became known for his works evoking the folk elements of the Filipino heritage.

Francisco, meanwhile, vividly captured the rustic charm and colors of the Filipino countryside particularly that of Angono in his masterpieces.

The master painter was often linked with the beginnings of Philippine modern art, having single-handedly revived the forgotten art of mural painting in the country. Francisco was a well-known patriot, preferring to live and paint only in his hometown by the Laguna de Bay. Unbeknown to many, Francisco was the one who discovered the Angono Petroglyphs, the oldest known work of art in the Philippines. Dating back to 3000 B.C., the rock engravings show 127 drawings of stylised human figures and animals. The Angono Petroglyphs site has been included in the World Inventory of Rock Art and was declared a National Cultural Treasure.

His mural entitled “Musikong Bumbong” can be seen in the historical Manila Hotel; “History of Manila” in the Bulwagang Katipunan of the Manila City Hall; “The Evolution of Philippine Culture” in the Fleur-de-lis Theater of the St. Paul University in Manila; and “The Stations of the Cross” in the Far Eastern University, also in Manila.

But one need not go far of Angono to catch a glimpse of Francisco’s artworks. Along Dona Aurora street in Brgy. Poblacion Itaas, there is an array of murals inspired by Francisco’s

LEGEND HAS IT THAT SOME OF THE SPANISH LANDOWNERS BECAME SUCH TYRANTS THAT THE LOCAL FARMERS WOULD MAKE LARGER-THANLIFE EFFIGIES OF THEIR LANDLORDS.

paintings of rural life as well as the lyrics of San Pedro’s “Ugoy ng Duyan.” At the entrance, one can see the busts of these two National Artists.

Just 13 kilometers away from Manila, Angono is truly an artist’s paradise.

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DIPLOMATS

A LIFE OF PRAYER AND PUBLIC SERVICE

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mbassador Maria Cleofe Natividad is known in the Filipino community in Germany as refined, religious, welldressed, approachable, and very accommodating that she even opens her private home to her kababayans. But more than those previously mentioned qualities, Natividad is admired for her hard work, diligence and intelligence. In 2012, she was awarded the Gawad Mabini Award with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross). The good ambassador lets us into her world through an interview as told to Grace Sheelah Pickert.

How did you get into public service?

I come from a family of politicians. I was also a student activist during the Philippines’ Martial Law years, witnessing the injustices of those hard times. Naturally, I gravitated towards politics, studied political science and international relations, taught for a while, and finally decided to enter public service.

Maria Cleofe Natividad Philippine Ambassador to Germany Previous postings Canberra, Tokyo, Vienna, Geneva

How would you describe your post in Berlin so far?

When I assumed my ambassadorial post, one challenge that I faced was an investment dispute that had hounded the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Germany for a while. There were not too many high-level exchanges and economic cooperation was not as robust because of this dispute. So I worked hard to address this issue, and also to move forward the relations in spite of this issue.

I had three main goals in my new post: Addressing obstacles to achieve a more robust engagement with Germany, reinvigorating bilateral relations through high-level exchanges between our countries, and forging sustainable frameworks of cooperation across sectors. I mentioned these goals to then

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President Christian Wulff of the Federal Republic of Germany when I presented my credentials.

Embassy work is indeed diverse and challenging, but we should never lose sight of our goals to advance our national interests.

In just three months since I assumed office, we managed to break a 10-year stalemate with the visit of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to Germany in 2011. During that visit, he signed an agreement for greater cultural cooperation. This visit spurred relations to great heights, including a return visit of then German Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle to Manila to reciprocate the gesture in February last year.

Also last year, then German Federal Labor Minister Dr. Ursula von der Leyen visited Manila to witness the signing of our labor agreement which facilitated the deployment of Filipino nurses to German hospitals. So now, our Filipino nurses can work here in Germany and have rights like that of German nurses!

Right now, we are about to sign on social security which could provide further protection to our nurses and Filipinos here in Germany, allowing them to export pensions and other social security benefits.

What do you think are the traits of a good ambassador?

It’s not easy to be considered a good ambassador. But I think it’s very important to have a feel and a heart

Ambassador Natividad spends some quality time with her daughters.

“OUR WORK CAN CHANGE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN A VERY REAL WAY. MY WISH IS THAT, AS I CONTINUE MY WORK IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE, THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GOOD IN THIS MANNER.”

for the sentiments of the kababayans in one’s host country and also back home. The people’s pulse should be one’s guiding inspiration. You have to know the “classic tasks” of a diplomatic mission. I think an ambassador can be measured according to this metric: How effectively has she/he delivered? I think that’s one objective way of looking at it.

I think I am at that point in my career where I am more interested in seeing the actual ‘fruits’ of our labor rather than my designation. When I had dinner last month with the fresh off-the-boat

Filipino nurses in Frankfurt, I was very inspired by their stories of success.

They were young, excited, grateful, and happy to be deployed to Germany under the new labor agreement. It was heart-warming to be with them knowing that we made sure that the provisions of the agreement would be very beneficial for them. Our work can change the lives of people in a very real way. My wish is that, as I continue my work in the foreign service, there will be more opportunities to do good in this manner. We are doing our best to work on creating enduring mechanisms, not one-shot deal projects.

My assignment ends in October. I would like to be remembered as an mbassador who walked the talk and I would like to leave a legacy of concrete accomplishments that benefit the national interest and advance the welfare of the Filipino people.

How do you combine being a career woman and a mother?

I want to believe that my job, in turn, has offered many unique learning opportunities for my children. They are exposed to people from all walks of life and have faced many challenging situations as daughters of a diplomat.

There is a book by Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg called “Lean In” and

I would like to lift a quotation from it.

She said: “We need more portrayals of women as competent professionals and happy mothers – or even happy professionals and competent mothers.”

It is a constant balancing act – mother/ professional. My job as ambassador demands a lot of time from me, but I make sure that I spend quality time with my daughters.

You could say that I am somewhat a “Tiger Mom” (after the stereotype of Asian mothers in Amy Chua’s book, “The Battle Hymn for the Tiger Mother”). I am strict but for a reason. I think it’s the Filipino way of rearing children. I dream that I can provide my daughters with the conditions for them to fulfill their full potentials and further, to be good citizens of the world.

What inspires you?

I try to live a life of prayer, and this is where and how I constantly draw inspiration from: A life of prayer and being constantly in the presence of God. I am also constantly inspired!

My heart is open for romantic, spiritual, filial love. An open heart, like what the Dalai Lama instructs us, if I may quote him, also means practicing compassion and love in our daily life. I think romance is nice (perhaps overrated!), but love is everywhere around us, in all its forms.

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DINING

A cultural eating experience in London’s suburb Words and photos by Dheza Marie Aguilar Additional photos by Merielle Mendiola-Flores

Pinoy-style shrimp soup.

O

n a windy, day the Philippine flag waves proudly in front of Kalesa Restaurant in Battersea, the only place to enjoy Filipino cuisine in this part of London. A little less than an hour away from Earl’s Court, Kalesa stands out among the rows of Indian, Chinese and Thai restaurants in the area. Despite being a novice in the food business, Kalesa is already gaining a steady stream of regular customers.

Like other Filipino expats, owners Joyce and Greg Digma would share Pinoy food to colleagues by inviting them over for dinner at home or bringing food to the hospital. One day, an officemate commented about Filipino restaurants being very few in London. This gave Joyce the idea to open one. She was even more convinced when an Englishman joked about Filipino culture being so westernized, if not diluted by other foreign influences.

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Sisig is always a Filipino favourite.

The couple has been living in the United Kingdom for two decades now, both working as nurses at the National Health Services (NHS). Joyce felt that after so many years of living in England, it’s time that they introduce their Filipino roots to the English through food.

“My mother was a history teacher and I am patriotic even though I don’t have a Filipino nationality anymore.

We need to let people [here] know what Filipino culture and consequently, what Filipino food is all about. It’s time we put Filipino food on the map,” she enthuses.

In April 2013, Kalesa opened its doors to the public.

It has since received positive response from its customers largely made up of Englishmen and Filipinos. Bong Zapatero, a chef with 25 years of experience under his belt, heads the kitchen.

His credentials include having worked at the Intercontinental Hotel as well as cooked for no less than the former First Lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, for many years.

Joyce credits Zapatero for maintaining the Filipino authenticity of the food served in Kalesa. He makes sure that they use the same ingredients that we use back home. That’s why they sometimes have to source out ingredients from specialty stores.

The restaurant displays unique Filipino furniture and curios items.

Kalesa’s bestseller, especially to its English diners, is adobo. Other must-tries are sinigang, lechon kawali, and lomi.

A Filipino meal is not complete without rice - a Pinoy staple that Kalesa’s English guests can do without. As such, Kalesa has come up with new ways to serve their dishes without the piping hot bowl of white rice.

Recently, they started offering freshly baked pandesal together with adobo and baguette with beef tapa.

“This way, we can still serve our European customers true Filipino food while adjusting to their dining culture,” says Joyce.

Owners Joyce and Greg Digma.

Kalesa restaurant is located at 59 Lavender Hill, Battersea SW11 5QN London. Contact +44 20 34715693 or visit www.kalesa.co.uk.

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RECIPES

Chicken relleno (stuffed chicken)

Spice and fruit bread pudding

Impress your European guests with this delicious Filipino dish which is always a hit during big family gatherings. Caterer Irene Esquibil-Looze shows us how:

Leftover bread is given a delicious new life when turned into pudding. The best part is it’s not that difficult to prepare. Helsinki-based pastry chef Rommel Reyes shares his recipe:

Ingredients: For marinade: 1 whole medium chicken ¼ cup soy sauce 1 lemon 1 table spoon of sugar Black pepper For the filling: ½ kilo ground pork or beef 2 sausages 2 boiled eggs 1 medium onion (minced) 1 medium size of carrot (minced) ½ cup of sweet pickles (minced) ¼ cup raisin ½ grated cheese ½ cup ham (minced) ½ cup of breadcrumbs ½ cup pineapple chunks (minced) ½ butter Salt and pepper Needle and thread (to sew the opening of the chicken.)

Procedure: 1 Debone the chicken. Leave the wings and legs.

Marinate the chicken overnight or at least three hours.

2. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees 3. Mix all the ingredients together. Stuff the chicken with the filling and sew the opening to secure the mixture inside.

4. Wrap in aluminum foil and bake for at least one hour or until the chicken is done.

5. To make the sauce, collect the chicken drippings and transfer it to a small pan. Dissolve cornstarch in water and mix it with the chicken drippings.

6. Put the chicken back into the oven and bake until it becomes golden brown and cooked inside.

7. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

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Ingredients: 500g bread (white, wheat or brown) 200g dried raisins 300g dried apricots (cut into small cubes) 120g melted butter For soaking: 200g eggs (beaten) 300g full cream milk 300g whipped cream 5g cinnamon powder 5g nutmeg powder 3g cardamom powder 200g sugar Procedure: 1. Mix all the soaking ingredients.

2. Soak the bread with the soaking mixture for at least one hour.

3. Pre-heat the oven to 170 C. 4. Mix in the raisins, apricot and melted butter to the bread mixture.

5. Transfer to a baking pan and bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.

For glazing (optional): Warm a mixture of 100g of apricot jam and 20g of water and brush over the pudding to prevent it from drying.

Tip: Some bread absorb more liquid, in this case you can add more whipped cream.

GIVING BACK

Gawad Kalinga: Changing a nation one village at a time Late last year, philanthropist Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalingan, stood before young students at the Hogeschool Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

His presence was to encourage young Dutch students to do volunteer work in the Philippines and share their skills and knowledge to alleviate poverty in the Philippines. We are publishing a part of his inspiring speech that shows how compassion and social partnership combined with entrepreneurship can transform the lives of poor Filipinos.

(To reconnect with his values as a Catholic Christian, Tony Meloto, at age 45, went to Bagong Silang, a very dangerous slum area in the Philippines.

This is where his vision started.)

I

followed the rules, went to the top school in the Philippines, took up economics in university, entered the marketing world for six years, became an entrepreneur, and married a rich wife. I did all the right things, went to Church every Sunday, and attended charitable events. Those were precisely the artificial bubble of safe and comfort, success and entitlement that allowed me to just ignore the deepening poverty around us.

I started this NGO, which is the learning I got by getting out of my comfort zone, out of my exclusive environment, to go to the biggest slum area in the country, a university for criminals, for me to learn the depth of our poverty, for me to just affirm certain ideas and philosophies that I had in my mind - that no human being was born a criminal, a rebel or a corrupt public official. It is his environment, it is the values of his society that makes him one.

The first seven years was all about building on philanthropy, working with big corporations on their corporate social responsibilities. We built intentional communities for typhoon victims, victims of fire, etc, homes that are not vulnerable to typhoons and flooding.

The big boys would not listen to small ideas. I used my education, my corporate background, and my entrepreneurial experience. I also built a vision. I had to have this big dream for the poor who have lost their capacity to dream. When you talk to people, you talk about market, not just charity so we have to bring CSR from corporate philanthropy to corporate social investment. So even Shell started to

Tony Meloto (center) with residents and volunteers from one of Gawad Kalinga‘s villages. Photo from the GK website. build roads for us.

It is about creating shared value, with the poor who provide sweat, equity, who are willing to honor the commitment they make to become good citizens, not to be drug pushers, not bring guns etc. and for them to value education, hard work and honesty.

From small beginnings, Gawad Kalinga has now grown to about 2300 communities built by us and by other organizations. Directly we are able to impact the lives of about one million people out of almost 100 million Filipinos.

[Gawad Kalinga] is also about promoting our vision that we want everyone to own. Even for the social enterprises that we are setting up. It’s not just about being responsible to shareholders it’s also about being responsible to stake holders.

What I would like to see in the next ten years is not another 100 billionaires but a hundred thousand millionaires.

I would like to get the brightest and the best from our country to partner with the Dutch, to partner with the French social entrepreneurs to develop a chocolate industry because Europe is addicted to chocolate but they don’t grow a single chocolate tree and we have the best chocolate beans. What we like is more entrepreneurs growing our coconuts, producing our essential oils, to take advantage of our fertile lands and rich natural resources, to create new products, and for young people coming from Europe not to feel entitled in terms of being heads of [companies] but to create a new pathway for them

to become wealth creators and not just job seekers for my country. We want to be able to raise a new generation of Filipinos who will be producers and not just consumers.

My people have experienced so much suffering and any good thing they experience is a reason for them to be grateful. It is amazing that the Philippines, with the most disasters in the Asian region, also registered 92 percent in the global measure of hope.

We have one of the lowest suicide in Asia.

It is about tenacity, perseverance, strength. I think our own trials of over 400 years are starting to help us to really find ourselves as an emerging economy.

That we need to be more intrusive in our outlook, we need to think more of the collective and that the young should learn all the good things from my generation and avoid the mistakes that we have made.

About Gawad Kalinga Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. (GK) was formally established in 2003, but the work began as early as 1994 in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, the biggest squatters’ area in Metro Manila. Since then it has expanded its work to over 2,000 organized communities and has been adopted in other developing nations like Cambodia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It is also in the forefront of peace-building work in conflict areas in Mindanao and reconstruction work in post-disaster communities. To know more about Gawad Kalinga and their projects visit www.gk1world.com. Gawad Kalinga also has offices in Europe where you can sign up to be a volunteer and change the lives of Filipinos back home. #07 2014

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IN THE NEXT ISSUE: For our next issue, The Filipino Expat Magazine will take you to a trip to various holiday destinations both in the Philippines and Europe.

Explore some of the most pristine yet affordable island destinations in the Philippines and discover the hottest party and shopping places in Metro Manila. We also prepared a two-week European itinerary for you, complete with the countries you can visit, budget and travel time.

Regular contributor Nats Sisma Villaluna shares a story of his road trip to France and how they ended up being lost. Our new columnist Bart Wijnberg will share with us his recent trip to the Cordilleras. Our creative director Robin Kuijs tells us how he fell in love with landscape photography in the Philippines as well as his best memories in living there.

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