USAsian Journal 3Q 2010 by Asian Journal

w w w. a s i a n j o u r n a l . c o m The Collective Journal of the Filipino Success Story in America

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The Collective Journal of the Filipino Success Story in America

Publisher & CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | Roger Lagmay Oriel President & EXECUTIVE EDITOR | Cora M. Oriel EditorIAL & DESIGN CONSULTANT | Lito Ocampo Cruz THE EditorIAL TEAM USA | Momar Visaya, Nickee de LeonHuld, Joseph Peralta, Malou Liwanag-Bledsoe, Dymphna Calica La Putt, Miko Santos, Joseph Pimentel, Cynthia de Castro, Jherlyn Meneses THE EditorIAL TEAM PHILIPPINES | Louie Jon Agustin Sanchez, Rochelle C. Pangilinan, Billy dela Cruz, Julie Matienzo THE DESIGN TEAM USA | Dante Sambilay, Nickee de LeonHuld, Kristine Rae Buendia, Marianne Quan THE DESIGN TEAM PHILIPPINES| Richard Erpilo, Valory Lim, Bienvenida Salazar, Kendrick Tan, Joyce Dianne Balansag THE PHOTOGRAPHy TEAM | Andy Tecson, Joe Cobilla, Robert Macabagdal, Ted Talag, Bert Jaurigue THE SALES & MARKETING TEAM USA | Belle M. Sison, Monette Adeva Maglaya, Ivy Manalang, Sharon Ann Bathan-San Pedro, Robert Macabagdal, Kristine Rae Buendia, Rosita Pelaez THE SALES & MARKETING TEAM PHILIPPINES | Noel O. Godinez, Vince Samson, Stephanie Marie L. Kho DIRECTOR FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT | Raphael John Oriel THE ACCOUNTING TEAM | Imelda Palacpac, Michael Nitro, Gemma Fabro, Ria Fabro, Amirah Limayo, Becky Yu, Daisy Fung THE LOGISTICS TEAM | Ed Ferrer, Arthur Sibulangcao, Karla Garcia

1 DR. CONNIE MARIANO: THE WHITE HOUSE DOCTOR IS IN BY MOMAR G. VISAYA, AJPRESS

5 THE PEARL PROJECT: NYC’S FIRST FILIPINO-AMERICAN THEATER FESTIVAL

BY MOMAR G. VISAYA, AJPRESS

9 33RD ASIAN AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SHOWCASES FILIPINO FILMS BY MOMAR G. VISAYA, AJPRESS

13 LESLIE ANN HUFF: A FIL-AM STAR ON THE RISE BY ELGIN ZULUETA

16 FROM THE HAMPTONS TO MAINE: A SUMMER TO REMEMBER BY MOMAR G. VISAYA, AJPRESS

19 MOVING ON... THE REINVENTION OF HAYDEN KHO AJPRESS

22 THE FILIPINA FASHIONISTAS OF BROOKLYN BY MOMAR G. VISAYA, AJPRESS

26 WEDDING BELLS FOR KRISTA Ranillo & Niño Jefferson Lim BY CYNTHIA DE CASTRO, AJPRESS No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage of retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the Publisher.

32 ‘CAMP ROCK 2:’ END OF SUMMER’S GUILTY PLEASURE

36 ENJOYING THE US OPEN, FAMILY-STYLE

Editorial & Advertising Offices USA Los Angeles: 1150 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017-1904. Tel. (213) 250–9797

BY MOMAR G. VISAYA, AJPRESS

San Francisco: 841 San Bruno Avenue West, Ste.12-14 San Bruno, CA 94066 • Tel. (650) 583–6818 New York: 5 Penn Plaza, Ste. 1932, New York, NY 10001 Tel. (212) 655–5426 New Jersey: 2500 Plaza Five, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (201) 484–7249 Las Vegas: 3700 W. Desert Inn Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89102 Tel. (702) 792–6678 Editorial & Advertising Offices Philippines The Fort: 2/F Units D&E, Fort Palm Spring Condiminium, 30th St., 1st Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel: (632) 8564921

BY MOMAR G. VISAYA, AJPRESS

40 ALODIA GOSIENGFIAO: CREATIVE COSPLAYER AJPRESS

43 FASHION FORWARD FILIPINOS: FILIPINO FASHION DESIGNERS AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK BY MOMAR G. VISAYA, AJPRESS

47 PROUD PINOY INDIOS: THE TALENTED TRIO OF PETE AVENDAñO, GELO FRANCISCO & RIC ICKARD BY CYNTHIA DE CASTRO, AJPRESS

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DR. CONNIE MARIANO

Her patients were US presidents by Momar G. Visaya

/ AJPress

AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

The Filipina White House Doctor is In Dr. Connie Mariano, a Filipino American doctor, has achieved historic feats throughout her career as she broke barriers and shattered the glass ceiling. She is the first military woman to become the White House Physician to the President; the first woman Director of the White House Medical Unit and the first Filipino American in US history to become a Navy Rear Admiral. Born in the Philippines, Mariano and her family moved to the United States when she was barely two years old. With their father being a career Navy enlisted serviceman, their family lived from military base to military base, typical of the life of a family in the American armed forces. Along the way, she would accumulate life experiences and amass knowledge more than enough for her to dream of making her own mark in the world. Her amazing achievements began to pile up and before she knew it, she was already THE White House doctor. Dr. Mariano served nine years as White House doctor: First, for the final year of the term of George H.W. Bush; then for the entire eight years of Bill Clinton, and lastly, during the first year of George W. Bush’s first term in office. During those years, she not only cared for

the leader of the free world and the entire First Family, she also cared for dignitaries, and traveled all over the world with the Presidents in her charge. Mariano eventually realized how very few people get to experience what she experienced during these years—from meeting the Pope four

“Let me tell you, it is not glamourous at all. You go around lugging a 40-pound medical bag, jumping in and out of cars,” says Dr. Mariano.

times to a casual conversation with King Juan Carlos of Spain to spending a night on the Queen of England’s yacht. Dr. Mariano described the people she met along the way, including the White House Filipino valets, as “incredible characters.” “I thought, one day I am going to write about them and what the story is behind the scenes,” she said. That day has arrived. Dr. Connie Mariano has written a memoir on her stint at the White House and how she got there. It is called The White House Doctor: My Patients Were Presidents. “It is actually an American story about a little girl who came to America at the age of two, whose family was considered as the servant class in the military and, from there, through education, opportunity and the grace of God, wound up being the physician of the President of the United States,” Dr. Mariano tells us in an interview. Throughout The White House Doctor, Mariano harkens back to all the hard work she put in to get to this place in her life, and it wasn’t all sunshine and an easy path. She found herself having to fight stereotypes many times, both against women and minorities. This even occurred once she

Photo from Dr. Mariano official website

reached the position of Physician to the President. On more than one occasion, she found herself being treated like she was hired help, not a doctor. The book gives the readers a glimpse of what really goes on at the White House—yes, even those that happen beyond closed doors. Dr. Mariano talks about “Eagle and Evergreen,” the code for President and Mrs. Bill Clinton and shares some fascinating and insightful tales about the couple. The memoir brings us readers back to those days and gives us insider tips on what really happens at the Oval Office and how this Filipina navigated the hallowed halls of the White House. Dr. Mariano’s narrative moves Dr. Mariano at a book-signing event at Old Ebbitt Grill from the trivial to the sublime, from the funny to the downright family Christmas gifts and then realized —almost sad. The book showcases the too late —that she still hadn’t gotten presents doctor’s devotion to her work, and in it, she for her husband and her own children. The time shares the great lessons her father instilled in her away for work took its toll on her marriage, which when she was young. ended in divorce. Mariano is also frank about how her work She also recalls how she got the job in the first eventually led to a major and painful drawback: place. her long hours, and dedication to the care of the “I had a very good boss (Dr. John Mitas II) Presidents and First Families put a strain on her who nominated me for the position. I knew it attention to her own family. She talks about the was a long shot and they’re not going to pick time she raced to get President Clinton and his

Dr. Mariano with guests from NaFFAA and the Philippine Consulate during the book-signing at the Philippine Center.

me. Dr. J. Burton Lee III, then the physician at the White House chose me based on my interview because he knew that I wouldn’t stand up to intimidation,” she shared. That fateful interview happened at the White House, and it was Dr. Mariano’s second trip there. The first, she recalls, happened 30 years ago when she was in third grade. Her father’s cousin, Marciano “Rocky” Mariano, was a Navy steward stationed at the White House in the 1960s as a valet to President John F. Kennedy. Her parents asked her uncle for a tour of the White House and she remembers entering through the back door, along with the kitchen staff. Mariano describes the job as “very hard” and likened it to living in a pressure cooker. The hardest part of the job? “A lot of it is trying to convince the President’s staff that the President is mortal because a lot of times, they want him to do all these events – no sleep, constant going on the road – they forget that the human element is there, that he fatigues easily, that he can’t do non-stop travel. In the case of President Clinton, after he had his surgery, they quickly tried to do a lot of trips. He went to

AJPress Photo By Momar G. Visaya

Dr. Mariano withCecilia (from Rebong left) Consul General Cecilia Rebong, author Rafe Bartholomew Deputy Consul Generalwith Millie Sta. Maria-Thomeczec. Consul General (far left), author Rafe Bartholomew and Deputy Consul and General Millie Thomeczec Connie

Helsinki to meet Boris Yeltsin. Being President doesn’t make you Superman,” Mariano explained. Mariano’s eight years with the Clintons have brought her much closer to the family. “One of the best pieces of advice given to me when I went to the White House is that you approach this job with a servant mentality. As a daughter of a Filipino steward, it was easy for me. After eight years with the family, you become very much like a family member because you see them every day, and you are able to disagree and argue with them out of respect obviously,” she said. One of the many arguments Mariano had with with Bill Clinton had something to do with limiting his activity like walking or playing golf particularly when he was indisposed or when he injured his leg and was on a leg brace. “He wanted to go running and you really have to say no because the orthopedic surgeon said he needs six weeks of recovery. He didn’t like to be told what he can’t do, and I was there to explain to him over and over that it wasn’t arbitrary, it was a medical fact that rest was needed in order for him to heal,” Mariano said. Mariano believes that a lot of people have

a misconception that being the White House doctor is glamorous. “Let me tell you, it is not glamorous at all. You go around lugging a 40-pound medical bag, jumping in and out of cars and when he is eating, you are behind the stage waiting. You are there to just to advise him medically,” she said. Mariano also discusses in the book the controversies she became a part of simply by being White House doctor. Many of these centered around the Monica Lewinsky affair involving President Clinton. Mariano was asked to take Clinton’s blood sample to match it with the DNA of the infamous stain on Lewinsky’s blue dress. Dr. Mariano, after completing 24 years of active duty service, retired from the Navy in June 2001 with the rank of Rear Admiral. A year earlier, she made history when she became the first Filipino American to become a Navy admiral. After leaving the White House, Dr. Mariano became a consultatnt in the Executive Health Program at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, from July 2001 to October 2005. In November 2005, she founded the Center for

AJPress Photo By Momar G. Visaya

Executive Medicine, a medical concierge practice which provides presidential-quality medical care to CEOs and their families. An expert in presidential health care including the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, Dr. Mariano is a frequent speaker on the topics of care to VIPs, presidential disability, travel medicine, and optimizing quality of care. With three former presidents of America as some of her most famous patients, Dr. Mariano is in a league of her own. “Throughout my entire presidency, Connie was at my side making sure I stayed healthy. She was with me during the happy and the sad times, as well as in the historic and private moments. I trusted her with my life and the lives of my family,” former President Bill Clinton said of his former personal physician. For Dr. Mariano, it was all a part of her job, and as she mentions in the first few pages of her memoir, she was destined to become the White House doctor. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York /New Jersey July 2, 2010.

The Pearl Project NYCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Filipino-American Theater Festival by Momar G. Visaya

/ AJPress

Filipino-Americans have had a rich theater directed by Andy Goldberg. The play follows tradition based largely on stories about the an estranged father’s quest to reconnect with immigrant experience. The Pearl Project adds his daughter on her wedding day. Taleonanother dimension to this tradition—and to Sonza’s The Encounter, directed by Nelson T. the New York theater culture—by presenting Eusebio III, is the other part of the series universal themes of family, love, ambition and and dramatizes an unexpected visit by the desire to connect and live a meaningful life, incumbent President of the Philippines in his from a new generation of Filipino American political rival’s prison cell. playwrights. “The human heart beats from the same place In a historic first, original works by Filipino- in all of us regardless of race, color, gender, American playwrights take center stage at and religion. Filipino-Americans have had a rich The Pearl Project, opening this week in New theater tradition based largely on stories about York City. Full-length plays by Palanca awardthe immigrant experience. I am thrilled to add winning playwrights Eric Gamalinda and another dimension to this tradition by presenting Jorshinelle Taleon-Sonza and two one-acts, by works that examine the universal themes of DCT Playwright Fellow Kristine M. Reyes will family, love, and the desire for a meaningful be staged July 6-25 at the Clurman Theatre on life—expressed by my generation of Filipino Theatre Row. American artists,” Lirio said. This major theater event, Victor Lirio’s brainchild, gathers some of the finest Filipino-American and American artists in a theater festival. “Filipino-Americans have had a rich theater tradition based largely on stories about the immigrant experience. I am thrilled to add another dimension to this tradition by presenting works that examine the universal themes of family, love, and the desire for a meaningful life— expressed by my generation of Filipino American artists,” said Victor Lirio, DCT’s Artistic Director. The event will be broken into two programs. The Red Series will include Reyes’ Quarter Century Baby. Directed by Adam Fitzgerald, the play tells the story of a parents’ surprise visit to their Filipino daughter and her American boyfriend and features Ali Ewoldt and Christopher Kloko. Gamalinda’s Resurrection, which will be directed by Michael Sexton and which explores the effect of a young woman’s suicide on her family completes this program. The Blue Series on the Ali Ewoldt and Christopher Kloko in a scene from ‘Quarter Century Baby’ other hand will include Photo by Carlo Damocles Reyes’ Something Blue, to be

‘The Encounter’ Director Nelson T. Eusebio III remembers having talked with Victor about this project before. He forgot about it and just recently, he got a call from Victor and they discussed. “He sent me the script, and we talked some more and here I am,” Nelson shared, adding that his project, The Encounter is “a dramatization of the most famous political event in the Philippines —the overthrowing of the Marcos regime—and it presents it in a very different and theatrical way.” Nelson added that they are going to present the imagined scenario in a way where the audience is forced to re-examine what they think they know about these events. “There are embellishments here and there and we collapsed the timeline a little bit to make it play out more dramatically,” he said. Jorshinelle Taleon-Sonza, The Encounter’s playwright, holds a Ph.D. in Postcolonial Literature from Drew University and an M.F.A. degree from the Actors Studio at The New School. “I have always found the idea of creating a series of dialogues between two political rivals fascinating. After watching a film about the rivalry of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, I was inspired by a key scene that dramatized the ultimate confrontation between the two royal rivals. In that one instant, the course of England’s history seemingly changed forever. I felt then that I found the right material for my play. Translating this scenario into modern-day Filipino politics seemed opportune,” Sonza said, describing the inspiration behind the play. “I feel so proud to be a part of this. We can slowly be mainstream through the Pearl Project,” Sonza shared. The Encounter was an amalgam of her own experience during martial law back in the Philippines, incorporated with a fictional meeting

between Ferdinand Marcos and Benigno Aquino, Jr. and what the author calls “a lot of research.” Sonza’s other play, Dog Days in America, earned a spot in the University of Massachusetts’ Southeast Asian Women Playwright Archive. Other awards include the Philippine Centennial Literary Prize for her play, Domestic Helper, and the Palanca Literary award for her play, Pure. “It is a rare treat,” Eusebio said, describing The Pearl Project, “The Filipino performing arts community is so big, and this is a rare chance for us to come together for an event like this. It is a real pleasure to be able to get these stories to the audiences. This is a tremendous opportunity to be able to do this specially here in New York”. Eusebio III is the artistic director and cofounder of Creative Destruction, and he has developed and directed work for companies including Pan- Asian Rep, Ma-Yi Theatre Company, South Coast Repertory, Laguna Playhouse and the Mark Taper Forum. Recent directing credits include: 8TRACK: B-Sides & Mash-Ups; God, Sex and Blue Water; Obama Drama: A Political Theatrical Spectacular!; 365/365. He holds a B.A. in Drama from UC Irvine and an M.F.A. in Directing from the Yale School of Drama. He is the recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development Award.

‘Resurrection’ Eric Gamalinda has received numerous awards and grants for his writing and film, including the Asian American Literary Award, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Philippine Centennial Literary Prize, the National Book Award, and a number of Palanca Literary awards for fiction, poetry, essay and playwriting in the Philippines. Most recently, he was a finalist for the 2009 Man Asian Literary Prize for his new novel, The Descartes Highlands. “It is about a family trying to cope with the unexplained suicide of a daughter and, in the process, their not being able to cope breaks the family apart,” Gamalinda said in a recent interview as he described Resurrection. He admits that he always had this idea for a novel about a family who refuses to deal with a daughter’s suicide, thereby destroying their own relationships. “I had a lot of false starts but kept working on it for years, until one day it just came out as a play. It sort of found its own medium. I was able to finish it in less than a week,” he added. Renowned international actordirector Ching Valdes-Aran, who

Ching Valdes Aran delivers another exceptional performance.

Alexis Camins, Tiffany Villarin, Ching Valdes-Aran, and Victor Lirio in an intense scene in ‘Resurrection’

won an Obie Award (Off-Broadway’s Tony Award) for her performance in Flipzoids (MaYi Theater Co.) plays the role of Anita, the matriarch in Resurrection. Like other members of the cast, Valdes-Aran is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of something historic. “By the mere fact that it is a play uniquely about a Filipino family and written by a wellregarded Filipino-American playwright,” she said, “although I must add that the play is a universal story.” Fellow cast member Tiffany Villarin agrees that Resurrection’s story, although Filipino, tackles some of the more universal human experiences. “One of the beautiful things about Resurrection is that we are peeking into the very human story of a family dealing with loss and rebuilding,” she said. “This is the first of its kind anywhere so it is very exciting to be a part of this inaugural project. It’s about time that some focus was given to Filipino artists and writers,” Gamalinda added.

‘Quarter Century Baby’ and ‘Something Blue’ Kristine M. Reyes wrote the two one-act plays Quarter Century Baby and Something Blue based on her own perspective growing up as a Filipina-American. She was the recipient of

Diverse City Theater Company’s First Draft Fellowship for her full-length play, Queen for a Day, in 2005. “What I’ve found interesting about my generation of Filipino-Americans is how common it is for our parents to be so involved in our lives, and how that affects our growth as adults. I wanted to explore that aspect of our culture within the context of a romantic relationship that’s trying to blossom and grow in its own right. I want to pose questions about what it means to be the product of immigrant parents, and how that can both help and hinder the navigation of our own life’s path,” Reyes shared. Both plays have themes of abandonment: in Quarter Century Baby, it’s the fear of it; in Something Blue, it’s the consequences of it. Reyes also dwelled on other familiar themes such as family dynamics, coming-of-age into adulthood, racial and cultural clashes, particularly within a romantic relationship. “Many of the details in both plays draw from my personal experience, although I wouldn’t say that either is strictly autobiographical. Something Blue is very current for me, and is basically an imagined conversation with my father. Quarter Century Baby touches on a lot of issues that

I’ve grappled with as a Filipina-American immigrant who grew up in the United States,” she added. Broadway actor Ali Ewoldt, who appeared in the revival of Les Miserables as Cosette (opposite Adam Jacobs and with Tony award winner Lea Salonga), plays the lead role of Carissa in Quarter Century Baby. She most recently played the lead role of Maria in the international tour of West Side Story. She originated the lead role of Carissa in Quarter Century Baby for DCT’s Green Room presentation in 2008 at the Ensemble Studio Theatre. Ewoldt is excited about the project because she is performing the role of a Filipino character. “Well, being Filipino certainly makes getting the opportunity to play a Filipino character incredibly enticing! I have been very lucky to work a lot in theater, but often as a Japanese, or Puerto Rican, or Thai or French character, so having personal knowledge of the Filipino culture will be a great advantage in understanding and portraying Carissa,” Ewoldt shared. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/New Jersey July 9, 2010. over photos by Carlo Damocles

Ali Ewoldt and Christopher Kloko in a scene from Quarter Century Baby’ Photo by Carlo Damocles

Filipino artistry takes flight

3 RP films showcased in NYC film festival by Momar G. Visaya

/ AJPress

33rd Asian American International Film Festival Showcases Filipino Films ‘Himpapawid,’ ‘Mountain Thief ‘and ‘The Arrival’ take centerstage in NYC fest New York—When Asian CineVision (ACV) announced last month the 24 feature films selected to screen at the 33rd Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF10), focus shifted on the three feature films from the Philippines: Raymond Red’s Himpapawid (Manila Skies), Gerry Balasta’s Mountain Thief and Erik Matti’s The Arrival. The festival celebrates and showcases the latest works by filmmakers of Asian descent, as well as films that explore themes and issues prevalent to the Asian community. This year, the AAIFF10 feature film line-up includes selections from both a national and international pool of filmmakers. “The Filipino film industry is one of the fastest growing in Asia,” states Martha Tien, Program Manager of the AAIFF10. “We are proud to present Raymond Red’s critically acclaimed Manila Skies, as well as other excellent works that demonstrates the growing influence of the Philippines’ cinematic community.” Renowned Filipino director Raymond Red’s Manila Skies (Himpapawid) screened as the AAIFF10’s Opening Night Presentation at Chelsea Clearview Cinema last July 15. The filmmaker was in attendance after the screening for a special Q+A session. Red is the first Filipino filmmaker to have won the Palme d’Or in Cannes for his 2000 short film Anino. Other Filipino features includes Gerry Balasta’s Mountain Thief, a dramatic narrative that casts residents from the village of Little Hope, and Erik Matti’s The Arrival, the story of a jaded man who decides to search for the mysterious woman appears in his reoccurring dreams. Mountain Thief will screen on July 19 at 9pm at Chelsea Clearview Cinema while Matti’s The Arrival will screen on July 17 at 1pm at the Quad Cinemas. Short films by Filipino filmmakers include Christina Rubenstein’s Unrest and Roberto Reyes Ang’s Letters From Alaska. The three full feature films represent the Philippines’ new social realist cinema and dwell on poverty and various social inequities that continue to plague the country to this very day.

‘Himpapawid’ Manila Skies (Himpapawid) tells “the astounding story of a lone deranged hijacker pushed to the edge of insanity as he struggles with the oppression of surviving in modern Philippine society.” The story starts with a young boy and his family living in the beautiful and verdant countryside. His father works as a farmer while he and his older brother help their mother in weaving baskets and mats. Due to his insistence in wanting to further his studies, he asks his

father to put him back in school. His father agrees and sends him to Manila. The next scene introduces us to our protagonist Raul and we see him stuck in a rut as a laborer, working without a day off. He dreams of working abroad to help his sick father, but fate just doesn’t seem to allow it. Raul’s growing anger on the system and his situation pile up left and right. He has mini breakdowns—from a scene at the photocopying center to the labor agency where he was applying for an overseas job that don’t and won’t particularly endear him to the viewers. The colors of the film are very vivid and beautiful in every scene—from the panoramic farm and countryside scenes to the chaos and noise in the metropolis. Add to that a couple of rats and cockroaches and you get to see the underbelly of Manila’s urban poor. The scenes depict the stereotypical, like the traditional bonding of men over beer (or gin or whatever is available). The audience gets to eavesdrop in the conversation, filled and punctuated with angst, anger and a lot of cuss words. Red uses scenes such as these to flesh out the supporting characters’ roles in Raul’s rapid descent to depression. It may be the bureaucracy or the societal ill where the poor becomes poorer and the rich are depicted as abusive that pushed Raul further towards the edge. It may also be the dire situation he so desperately wants to escape from. In fact, it may very well be the

Scenes from Raymond Red’s ‘Himpapawid’ (‘Manila SKies’) Photos from www.raymondred.com

confluence of events that led him to do what he did. “Raul’s character represents any ordinary Filipino today who is struggling to fight for his basic right to survive in this complex, modern world, and where the government and the rest of the society should be able to support that,” Red explained, through a Q-and-A with the festival organizers. Inspired by the true story of the May 2000 Philippine Airlines Flight 812 hijacking en route from Davao to Manila, the film follows the tale of a desperate man on a wretched path to destruction that ultimately leads him to the insane hijacking of a plane. The film showcases Raul Arellano in his first lead role with veteran actors John Arcilla, Soliman Cruz and Ronnie Lazaro, who all deliver superb and nuanced performances. “It’s actually a two-year journey since we began this in 2008,” Red shared in an earlier interview, adding that through the international film festival circuit, he hopes to bring his message to the Filipino diaspora across the globe. Raymond Red deftly maneuvered the wellcrafted Himpapawid into a thrilling, biting and sometimes humorous social commentary that is now making its way around the international film festival circuit.

Asian American Festival The Asian American International Film Festival is the first and longest running festival in the country devoted to showcasing films created by media artists of Asian descent and about the Asian community. Through a proclamation, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has declared July 15 to 24, 2010 as the Asian American International Film Festival Week. “New York is one of the world’s most diverse cities, and it is also an international capital of film and television production. Therefore, I can imagine no better host for the Asian American International Film Festival, a thrilling showcase of the best work of Asian filmmakers,” Mayor Bloomberg said in the proclamation. Founded in 1978, AAIFF harbors a unique curatorial vision. More than an expression of collective identity, the festival is anchored by the distinct contributions of its members. It is a platform for filmmakers of all backgrounds to develop the constructs of Asian cinema and cultivate the next generation of talent. Thirty-three years after its inception, AAIFF continues to be a leading showcase for Asian American film and video, placing a substantial focus on local and independent works and working to enrich New York’s Asian cultural community. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/New Jersey July 16, 2010.

LESLIE ANN HUFF

A Fil-Am star on the rise by Elgin Zulueta

Leslie-Anne Huff:

A star in the making People like to reach out to celebrities. I enjoy exchanging ideas and discovering why they are stars. And most of the time, I feel that they are the same like us, passionate regular people going for that “moment”. These “moments” we have with them turns into a bond of friendship. In varying ways, you learn that you have the same experiences that are simply amazing. The same thing happened when I met actress Leslie-Anne Huff. Leslie-Anne Huff has been acting in Hollywood for some time. She’s been cast in a

couple of Disney shows such as Mackenzie Falls, Sonny with a Chance, Suite Life on Deck and Pair of Kings and has been featured in CSI NY, 10 Things I hate About You, Chuck, Greek, and Miami Medical. She has also done theatre acting having been featured recently at the Vagina Monologues. Recently, Leslie-Anne has been cast in multiple episodes of Sonny with a Chance season two as ‘Penelope’ opposite Disney stars Demi Lovato and Sterling Knight which started airing last May 2, 2010 on the Disney Channel. “I’ve always had a love affair with acting,” says

Leslie Anne Huff. The young actress currently is an active member of ‘Room to Improv’, an Asian American improv group which performs unscripted scenes that tell stories and issues that are comical and funny to various audiences. Comedy has always been her forte. “I have to work a little harder at drama than at comedy because I had a great fun childhood. I had not experienced anything traumatic that I had to go back to when I have dramatic scenes,” says Leslie. As early as five years old, she started doing solo performance, right in their family room and

her most loyal audience would be her parents. A few years later, she’d progressed to a broader audience. Despite being in the field for so long, Leslie-Anne insists she doesn’t even think about switching careers. “I’m learning and enjoying a lot,” she says with a smile. In fact, she voluntarily shares an advice when you go to auditions to just be confident and do your best. “I’m still auditioning everyday, on the grind, on the hustle, looking for the next project. The biggest thing I realized is that there will always be that one break that will take my career to the next level. You have to be in it for the long haul. I never want to retire. I always want to act.” She further points out that “you have to enjoy every part or process of auditioning because 9 of 10, you really won’t get the role you auditioned for. Enjoy each one and learn something out of it,” says Leslie. She sees every audition as an opportunity to network and build relationships with the casting director, director or even the producer. Leslie also points out that May and June are normally the ‘upfront’ where networks showcase their new shows to the advertising world while January to April is the most busy time for actors to go to auditions for new shows. When she’s not filming or going to auditions, Leslie-Anne serves as a director of ‘Kamay at Puso’ (Hand and Heart), a non-profit organization that provides social services, medical assistance and education at the local

residents of Madapdap in Pampanga, Philippines. Madapdap Therapy Center provides physical therapy to children who were toxic waste victims, suffering from congenital heart disease, leukemia and cerebral palsy. In 2006, ‘Kamay at Puso’ received a Certificate of Appreciation from Los Angeles City Council President, Eric Garcetti and the Gerald Phillippe Award given by General Electric Company. ‘Kamay at Puso’ solely depends on donations 100% in order to sustain the therapy center. They have been doing fund raising events such as a ‘Host a dinner’ and producing comedy shows such as the Comedy Night Benefit last May 1 at Mbar in Hollywood featuring different standup comedians and a collaboration benefit with ‘Room to Improv’ last May 7 at Two Roads Theatre in Studio City. This pretty, funny and intelligent FilipinoAmerican actress would like to be remembered as “someone who did something to do some good

and showed kindness. I want to be someone who will continue to grow as an actress and share my blessings to others.” Doubtless, I already see Leslie-Anne that way. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/New Jersey July 23, 2010.

Summer

Sizzler by Momar G. Visaya

/ AJPress

FROM THE HAMPTONS TO MAINE

A SUMMER to remember With the temperature rising triple digits and the humidity making its warm presence felt, New Yorkers are in for what could be the hottest summer ever. Halfway through the season, we look back at some of the events that made this summer truly memorable and remarkable. We also look forward to what else is in store as we countdown to the fall season. The summer of 2010 began auspiciously with a fund-raiser slash beach party at the Hamptons, home and playground of New York’s richest. The setting was at the RFL estate of businesswoman, philanthropist and community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis. She opened her Lily Pond Lane estate to welcome hundreds of guests and visitors to twin events: a luncheon gala and a beach glamour party to raise funds for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore. The third annual gala luncheon honored entertainment lawyer L. Londell McMillan (his client list is a veritable who’s who in Hollywood: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, among others) and it was attended by a bunch of celebrities including Gayle King and Star Jones. The award is given to African American entrepreneurs who have succeeded internationally in business before turning 50. Previous honorees have included Sean Combs and real estate mogul R. Donahue Peebles. “I wanted to be Malcolm X, until I met Reginald Lewis,” McMillan said as he received his award. “I am deeply indebted to him and I thank Loida for continuing his legacy. Every kid can become like Reginald if they study and work hard. He lost three big deals but he never lost the game, it empowered him. He may have died to soon but his legacy will forever be with us,” McMillan added. The guests dined al fresco under an orange paper lantern-filled white tent. Filipino event designer Jerry Sibal was behind the look of the luncheon gala, and guests were entertained by R&B diva Deborah Cox and dancers from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. WCBSTV News Anchor Maurice DuBois stood as the event host. Immediately after the luncheon was yet another fundraiser/party called Beach Glamour, spearheaded by Carissa Villacorta. The oceanfront benefit honored Tina Wells, who founded her $5 million business, Buzz Maketing Group, at age 16. Wells received the first-ever RFL Young Entrepreneurial Award. WCBS-TV News Reporter Hazel Sanchez hosted the event and the young crowd partied on with music provided by DJ M.O.S..

Road Trip The first few weeks of the summer also brought us to the shores of Maine, in search of the best lobster in the state. It was almost a six-hour drive from New York City, stopping by parts of New Hampshire and Massachusetts for the requisite photo opportunities.

With school out, summer is the perfect opportunity for family bonding, be it for road trips to Providence or Portland or a quick travel to the outlet stores in Woodbury. Then, there’s always the Jersey Shore for some serious beach outings. Atlantic City is perfect if you want to unwind by gambling responsibly, while

The Met offers great summer events for the entire family, including the Big Bambu installion on the roof garden.

Ocean City is aggressively courting the FilipinoAmerican market. Last month, the city successfully staged a Tribute to the Philippines at the Music Pier on the Boardwalk. Plans are underway for a similar event next year. Back in Maine, we scoured seafood shacks one after the other in search of the not-soelusive best lobster. We found it at Five Islands Lobster Co., located on the wharf at Five Islands, a fishing village on the island of Georgetown, Maine. The waters are some of the deepest and coldest on the coast, which make for the most sought after lobsters anywhere, Five Islands’ website claims. We couldn’t agree more: their lobster was sweet and succulent and the others we tasted during the trip failed in comparison. The place is technically not a restaurant but a shack located on a dock where they serve lobster dinners as well as fried clams, fried scallops, shrimps, and various other delicious fresh seafood treats. Order them from the counter, select one of the picnic tables on the dock, wait for your number to be called. Then gobble up. It was as simple and no-frills as 1-2-3. The fresh lobsters were boiled, and served with a side of coleslaw, potatoes and sweet corn. Check that off the bucket list now. We also toiled the streets of Portland and South Freeport and enjoyed a little bar-hopping and window-shopping, respectively. We also tried dining in other lobster places like the Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth and the Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster Company in South Freeport, where we enjoyed other lobster delicacies such as lobster roll, lobster stew and lobster bisque. Not so bad for a weekend trip. Summer in the City If you don’t intend to travel far, there’s always a host of activities and things to do in the city. You can go museum hopping and visit your favorite museums. We did that one weekend, stopping at both The Met and MoMA. See Big Bambu on the roof garden of The Metropolitan Museum when you get a chance, it will be there until the end of October. Big Bambu is a monumental bamboo structure, ultimately measuring 100 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 50 feet high. It is s a growing and changing sculpture a vast network of 5,000 interlocking 30- and 40-foot-long fresh-cut bamboo poles, lashed together with 50 miles of nylon rope. It will continue to be constructed throughout the duration of the exhibition. Also on exhibition until mid-August are American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity, the first Costume Institute exhibition drawn from the newly established Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Met and a landmark exhibition, the first to focus exclusively on works by Pablo Picasso. You may also want to trek to the Museum of Modern Art to catch a glimpse of Matisse. The

exhibition is called Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917, and is being considered by many art critics as a revelation of the different side of Matisse as an artist. Move a few blocks south to Bryant Park and enjoy the summer offerings the park has to offer. From book and poetry reading to the HBO Summer Film Festival to Broadway in Bryant Park, New York tourists and residents have a choice on an array of activities. If that’s not enough, you can play The summer of aqua and white began at the Hamptons with a beach glamour table tennis or petanque, do tai-chi party attended by mostly young Fil-Am professionals from New York. or yoga or just unwind with an iced coffee and Photos by Momar G. Visaya and Kirby Calvario a sandwich and do what many New Yorkers do best: people watching. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/New Jersey July 30, 2010.

Loida Nicolas Lewis and guest Deborah Cox pose in front of the bust of Reginald F. Lewis during the luncheon gala at the Easthampton estate of Ms. Lewis.

The women of Reginald F. Lewis: his mom Carolyn Fugett, daughter Christina, wife Loida and daughter Leslie.

An Asian Journal Exclusive

TURNING A NEW LEAF Hayden Kho opens up on a painful past and how he beat the odds

Moving on...

The Reinvention of Hayden Kho

Just when he thought he had it all, Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. lost it all. Or so he—and countless other people—thought. Two years ago, Hayden enjoyed fame and fortune. A handsome, charming and intelligent 6’3” guy at 28 years old, he has achieved much. He fulfilled his father’s dream of having another doctor in the family and he had a successful medical practice, working in the famous Belo Clinic with his equally famous girlfriend, Dr.Vicki Belo. He had traveled the world as an international model, been the president of the Makati Medical Center’s Interns’ Association and was starting a budding career in showbiz. So, it came as a big shock to everyone when news came out on Dec. 9, 2008 that Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. wanted to kill himself. Rumors spread faster than wild fire. There were stories that Dr. Vicki Belo had seen some videos of Hayden with other women and that some of Hayden close friends betrayed him. Both Dr. Kho and Dr. Belo decided to keep mum initially, which made the rumors even wilder and crazier. Then, on May 19, 2009, a sex video of actress Katrina Halili and Dr. Hayden Kho was released on the Internet by people still unknown. On May 20, his 29th birthday, Hayden woke up with his name in the headlines of the major dailies and tabloids. His name was maligned both on radio and television. For almost year, Hayden went through a living nightmare. He was crucified publicly over and over again. He went through a Department of Justice (DOJ) panel investigation and a senate hearing. He was voted the least trusted person in the Philippines. And the most painful blow came when he lost his medical license for life. It was that, more than anything else, which affected Hayden most, for it broke his father‘s heart. Hayden worked so hard to become a doctor—nine years of studying, sleepless nights and 36-hour duty days. And what he had achieved was all erased in one fell swoop. Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. felt helpless and hopeless. Over the months that followed, there was hardly any news on Hayden. Many assumed he no longer had any bright future ahead of him and that his love affair with Dr. Vicki Belo was permanently over. But as Confucius said, “our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” And Hayden determined to rise up from his fall, and put the pieces of his life back together again. Last May, many Filipino viewers of the TV show Dancing with the Stars were surprised to see Dr. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho together, seated among the audience. A few days later, they were again seen in the seventh row of Staples Center, watching the LA Lakers’ game vs. Phoenix Suns. And on May 20, the couple joined the Record Breaker Concert stars led by Sarah Geronimo (a Belo endorser), John Prats, Mark Bautista and Charlie Green at a luncheon in the beautiful home of Atty. Michael Gurfinkel in Beverly Hills. It was Dr. Hayden Kho Jr.’s 30th birthday, and he was ready to give his side of what happened

to him in an exclusive interview with the Asian Journal. Looking very fit and refreshed, Hayden is the picture of a man who has come to terms with himself and is at peace. He has been on a spiritual path for the last five months. He went on a fourmonth soul-searching Catholic spiritual retreat in the Philippines and then spent a week in Arizona learning how to meditate. A true example of the saying “what doesn’t break you, makes you stronger,” Hayden has been able to recover from the trauma of the past year and move on with his life. He and Dr. Vicki Belo are together again, proving that “love conquers all.” He is also working again as the brand manager of Beauty and Butter, a retail store in Manila that offers beauty services. “The primary reason for my trip to US is actually business. I was sent by Beauty and Butter to look at new anti-aging treatments,” revealed Hayden. “Since I was given permission by the court to leave, I maximized the trip by going to the meditation training in Sedona, Arizona. I spent 10 days alone in the desert to “get in touch with my soul., which is the main objective of the meditation course. I’m also planning to launch a business of my own soon, ” revealed Hayden. “Coincidentally, it’s my birthday month. Vicki was supposed to surprise me in LA but her departure from the Philippines was so publicized, I was able to make her huli. Dancing with the Stars actually was her surprise for me. The Lakers game was my birthday treat to her. I’m a Lakers fan, while she’s for Celtics,” shared Hayden. “I also went to Paris to see Dr. Simonin and Dr Stravinsky. I am hopeful that I will get my license back next year so I’m making arrangements to train with them. Dr. Simonin is the dermatologist of most European stars and models. Dr. Stravinsky, on the other hand, is the dermatologist who went to the Philippines before to introduce facial liposuction in the country through Belo,” he said. Hayden agrees that God truly works in mysterious ways. Perhaps He allowed Hayden to go through what happened so that he could learn from his mistakes. Now, he wants to live a life that will encourage others to see that there is always hope and forgiveness if one lives a God-centered life. A wiser Hayden is now ready to share some very valuable lessons he has learned from the past year, namely: 1. “Each of us is capable of doing good and evil. I used to just succumb to temptation without thinking about consequences. I now realize that in every moment, we have to be aware and choose to do the right thing. It’s not easy. But if you fall and make a mistake, do not be discouraged. Get up and set things right immediately. 2. Live a simple life. Don’t get blinded by things like fame and fortune. I used to live a simple and sheltered life. And then I entered showbiz. It was very colorful, intense and interesting. I felt like I was on a roller-coaster ride. The promise of easy fame and fortune attracted me like a moth to a candle flame. But, you have to be careful-

somewhere in the middle it betrays you. 3. Love conquers all. As a result of this traumatic experience, I have learned what love truly is. It is not just passion and desire. It is also caring for someone so much, that his or her welfare becomes more important than your own. It is believing in their innate goodness and catching them when they fall. 4. Every day in every way, get closer to God. Live a God-centered life and everything will fall into place. Learn to love and forgive yourself as God loves and forgives you. 5. Learn from your mistakes. In a weird way, I’m glad that those things happened to me while I’m still young. I can start over. Bata pa ako, natuto na ako. 6. It is really true that a friend in need is a friend indeed. Martin Luther King Jr. expressed this so well when he said that in trying times, “we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” I will always remember and be forever grateful to those who supported me in those very trying times. 7. We must learn to forgive. Engraved in my heart is a quote by Mark Twain:“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” You can’t live your life being bitter and angry. It eats you up inside. The only way to peace of mind is through forgiving the other person. Let go and let God. 8. Embrace the pain and accept responsibility for what you’ve done. I’ve been asked many times, “why don’t you just leave the country and start again somewhere?” But I decided I would stay and experience the pain that will teach me lessons. I knew I would learn something from this pain kaya hindi ako tumakas. Many people don’t want to embrace pain; they want to run away from their problems. But, it’s much better to face it. I know that God would not give you something you can’t bear. I stayed. I accepted the responsibility by accepting the pain. I know that there is nothing permanent. This too shall pass. 9. One of the hardest lessons that I’m still working on is not to care too much about other peoples’ opinions. As Dalai Lama said “there are six billion people and six billion different opinions. If you let everyone’s opinion affect you, you will be a nervous wreck.” 10. Always be in the present. If you keep thinking about the past, you will be filled with regret and attachment. If you keep worrying about the future, you will be filled with anxiety and fear. The thing to do is to bring your past and your future into the present. Your past will bring you wisdom and your future will bring you hope.” Yes, Hayden Kho Jr. is definitely older and wiser today. And believing that everybody deserves a second chance, Dr. Vicky Belo is happier with the love of her life. The past is behind them and they’re ready to move on. “I’m full of hope right now. The future is fragrant,” Hayden said excitedly. (AJPress) *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/New Jersey August 6, 2010.

Filipina Fashionist as

Guenevere Rodriguez and Dalagaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mary and Michelle Mangiliman TEXT & PHOTOS by Momar G. Visaya

/ AJPress

Filipina Fashionist as of Brooklyn The

Fier y. Fierce. Filipina.

Those are just three of the many words that can best describe our cover features this week: jewelry designer Guenevere Rodriguez and sisters Michelle and Mary Mangiliman. All three of them are Filipinas. All three of them are in fashion. Did someone say fabulous? The three ladies also have their own stores in Brooklyn: Guenevere in Williamsburg and Michelle & Mary in Greenpoint. Asian Journal met up with the three on various occasions, and we discussed, among others, the path they had to travel to be where they are right now and how their families have played a crucial part in this journey.

Guenevere Rodriguez There is a feeling of serenity and peace when you enter this jewelry gallery in Brooklyn. Then you marvel at the designer’s creations and you immediately feel soothed. Stay longer and chat with the designer and you end up feeling relaxed, calm.

Welcome to Guenevere Rodriguez, the store. Guenevere has been in the jewelry business for almost seven years now, opening shop in the south side of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, even before the neighborhood was considered hip and cool. For the past two years or so, the store has been carrying her full name, Guenevere Rodriguez. Hers is a niche market; she produces jewelry infused with positive energy and intentions. In the beginning, the store was called ‘Special’ and it included everything that Guenevere loved. She would

Guenevere Rodriguez poses with her dad, Manuel, in front of her eponymous jewelry gallery in Williamsburg.

Mary and Michelle Mangiliman in front of their Dalaga store in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn.

travel around Asia, going to Thailand, India and the Philippines, and she would buy stuff there that she’d eventually sell at her store. Back then, it was a fulfillment of her life-long dream: to open her own store. She searched high and low for a possible store and one day, found a ‘store for rent’ sign along Bedford Avenue. “I went inside and I knew it was the one. It felt right,” Guenevere said. The neighborhood felt very interesting for her, and it was pulsating with vibrant art. Guenevere has been designing jewelry since she was small, and her passion for design grew as she became older. Eventually, the store became the gallery of her jewelry design, and her imagination ran wild as to which pieces would match or complement each other and which ones would stand their own, pretty much thinking and acting like a museum curator. “It is also sanctuary for me. I do energy work as well, and having worked with stones and gems, I developed sensitivity for what they can do for you. What’s great is that now, I have stories that go with my jewelry,” Guenevere shared. Guenevere comes from a family of artists. They are best known for printmaking, particularly her grandfather, Manuel Rodriguez, who brought printmaking to the Philippines after studying it in the US through a Rockefeller grant. At a young age, her interest in the arts was cultivated early, and this she realized because the Rodriguez blood was running through her veins. Without even imposing it on their children, Guenevere’s parents let them venture into fields they wanted, but as it is, the pull of the art world was too hard to deny. “I’m so blessed to have grown in Soho (South of Houston, a neighborhood in Manhattan), where I was exposed to so many different designers and I would see the process of normal things turning into gorgeous things right before my eyes,” she said. Guenevere Rodriguez has developed a loyal clientele mainly because they consider her jewelry designs as works of art. From delicate pieces of jewelry like a dangling chandelier earring or an energy ring to lockets as memorabilia, each piece is special because Guenevere devoted time to create them. Her jewelry has appeared in international boutiques and galleries like Henri Bendel and Joyce Hong Kong. Guenevere has also been featured in top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, Women’s Wear Daily and The New York Times Style Magazine. Her list of clients include supermodels Tyra Banks and Karolina Kurkova. Best known for her simple and soulful pieces, the Philippine-born designer uses her experience with Reiki (an Eastern spiritual practice that focuses on energy) and different

forms of Energy Work to infuse intentions into each piece that she creates, and that is what sets her apart from her competition.

Dalaga Somewhere in the heart of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood is a fashionably chic store named “Dalaga,” which is the Filipino word for maiden.

We sat down with sisters Michelle and Mary Mangiliman, the brains behind Dalaga, and talked about their store and how they got to where they are now. Dalaga celebrated its fourth anniversary last month, which means that the sisters opened it back in 2006, when all people was talking about was Williamsburg this, Williamsburg that. When they opened on Franklin Street, the

only other businesses nearby were a coffee shop and a bar. They decided it was time to put some fashion into the neighborhood. “When people saw the success of the business, a lot of young entrepreneurs approached us and asked how things are going so we encouraged them and told them that it has been good, despite the recession,” said Michelle. What makes Dalaga different is their aesthetic. The sisters consider their store as a “girly-girl store with a very feminine vibe.” The trained staff also makes a difference as Michelle and Mary made it a point to tell them that clients’ visits to the store must be a fun and exciting experience. “We are very welcoming and inviting. It’s a no-pressure environment and we want to help our shoppers. Our price points are really good, too,” she added. New York Magazine’s Best Of New York 2010 issue cited Dalaga as the boutique that had the Best Dresses in all of the boroughs. Not bad for a four-year-old establishment ran by Filipinas. Dalaga, however, is more than just a dress store. Through the years, they have evolved into selling shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories,

thereby giving their clients a one-stop shop for everything they need. They have also helped promote young and up-and-coming local designers. The sisters’ parents, Marte and Connie Mangiliman migrated from Pampanga to northern Virginia in 1977, where they were born. After high school, they moved to the Bay Area to pursue studies in fashion. In 2004, Michelle and her husband moved to Greenpoint. Mary and Michelle started the Dalaga clothing line first and eventually decided that they needed a store to sell other stuff, which they were already selling anyway, through sample sales. “We always knew we wanted to be a vertically integrated store, meaning we wanted to design, manufacture and exclusively sell our own brand,” Michelle said. Armed with a letter that had the sisters’ photo with their dog, Lolo, they went store after store looking for the place, which they would eventually call home. “We were young, in our early twenties and we didn’t know if anyone would give us the opportunity,” Mary said. Luckily for them, the landlord of their present store now, called them up.

And Dalaga was born. Michelle and Mary’s parents didn’t speak to them in the native tongue but whenever they are around guests or relatives, the parents would speak either in Tagalog or Kapampangan, and that confused the sisters endlessly. Luckily enough for them, their dad would use a handful of Filipino words and one of these words was “dalaga.” “Our father would refer to his beautiful younger sisters who were teenagers at the time as “dalagas.” Everytime, he would call us his little dalagas when we are all dressed up before going to church,” Michelle said. For them, a dalaga is a beautiful lady that had everything going for her. Being a dalaga was something that they aspired. Now, they use the term to describe a quintessential woman. “We wanted something that represented both of us, and we wanted something that represented our heritage. We wanted something meaningful. Even though we didn’t grow up there, we wanted to pay homage to the Philippines,” Michelle added. (AJPress) *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/New Jersey August 13, 2010.

Dalaga’s interior evokes a feminine vibe in a no-pressure shopping environment. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

Man Woman

When a

Loves a

KRISTA RANILLO & NINO JEFFERSON LIM by Cynthia De Castro

/ AJPress

Photos from www.forevertruephotography.com

Wedding bells for

Krista & Jeff The Aug. 8, 2010 wedding of actress Krista Ranillo to Filipino-American businessman Niño Jefferson “Jeff ” Lim in Long Beach, California took most people by surprise. It was totally unexpected, especially since nobody had any inkling that Krista had a Fil-Am boyfriend. Everyone wanted to know the details -- where, when, and how did the love affair start and who is the groom? Perhaps, the best way to explain the whole affair is along the lines of the song written by Lewis, Kayes & Colla entitled “The Power of Love.” The power of love is a curious thing Makes one man weep, make another sing It’s strong and it’s sudden but it might just save your life. That’s the power of love, the power of love You’ll be glad, baby when you’ve found That the power of love makes the world go round. You’ll know what to do when it gets a hold of you And with a little help from above you feel The power of love Yes, Krista Ranillo and Jeff Lim fell under the power of love. The two have known each other since childhood, their families being close friends. But in 1986, Jeff immigrated to the US and they lost touch. Krista studied in

Poveda until high school and then took up Interdisciplinary Studies, Communication Arts and Psychology in Ateneo de Manila University in college. She has always loved acting. While she was in high school, she became a part of the cast of Palibhasa Lalake and a teleserye in GMA,

Rio del Mar. Krista put her career on hold while she was in college, but went back to showbiz right after graduation. She became a newscaster on TV Patrol, then went on to star in several teleseryes which include Hush Hush, Hole in the Wall, Lily Rose, Pieta, May Bukas Pa and Agimat. In 2008, she starred in the movies — Paupahan and Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After, followed by Wapakman in 2009. In early 2010, Krista went to the US to be with her California-based family. “I just wanted to rest and be with my family so I came here. I wanted to get away from the madness of showbiz,” explained Krista. Meanwhile, Jeff took up accounting at the University of Southern California, where he graduated summa cum laude. At a young age of 22, he founded Island Pacific Supermarket. Island Pacific currently operates 8 supermarkets located in Northern and Southern California. A few months ago, Krista and Jeff reconnected and have been inseparable ever since. “I fell in love with her because she makes me so happy. Sobrang saya ko pag kasama ko siya and I can’t imagine living my life without Krista. Siya ang taong gusto kong kasama hanggang tumanda ako. Masarap na ang kasama mo sa buhay ay napakamabuting tao,” said the proud and happy groom, Jeff, who admitted that

when Krista went on a one-day retreat in Sacramento, he felt lonely. “Sobrang lungkot ko noon. I missed her so much and that’s when I knew I didn’t want to spend a day without her.” Krista admitted the same and said that her new husband is “worth the wait. He is a very private person and yet he was willing to give up his privacy for me. Ayaw niya ng showbiz, yet he chose to marry me [even if I belong] to a [showbiz] family. That’s why I love him so – he is a very good person, responsible, loving and he respects me and my family.” In his speech after the wedding, Jeff said he looks forward to a new life with Krista. “To my wife, my bride, and my joy. You

always remind me of my favorite quote from Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross which says, ‘The most beautiful people I have known in the world are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known defeat and yet have found their way out of the depth.’ Baby, you look really gorgeous tonight, but I just want you to know that you are also the most beautiful person I have known on the inside. Krista, we both have made mistakes in our lives, but whatever road it was we took — it led us to each other. I have no regrets with the life that I have lived and you shouldn’t too, because when we looked back and connected the dots, they really all made sense. We both know that life is not perfect

and that we will face challenges, but we also shared a commitment with each other. That no matter what the obstacle may be, we will conquer it. My life was simply not complete — until now. Babe, I don’t want this day to be the happiest day of our lives. I just want it to be happier from this day forward.” Monet Lu, a close friend of Jeff for years, described Krista as a “giggling bride.” From the moment she walked down the aisle with her father, actor Mat Ranillo, she couldn’t stop smiling and giggling. No wonder, guests all agreed that they’ve never seen a bride as happy as Krista. She was smiling all throughout the ceremony. The two were married by Rabbi Barry Tuchman, who officiated the Jewishinterfaith wedding. Jeff explained to Asian Journal why they chose a Jewish ceremony. “We were in the venue a few days before the wedding and witnessed Rabbi Barry officiate a wedding. It was so beautiful and meaningful, and I knew I wanted our wedding to be as meaningful. So, we went up to the rabbi and asked him if he can officiate our wedding,” said Lim. Actually, Krista and Niño first got married in a simple ceremony at Norwalk last July 14, 2010. There were no witnesses invited. Both Krista and Niño planned a second wedding that they can share with family and close friends, which was the August 8 affair in Long Beach. “So, sa totoo lang yung wedding last August 8 was just the big celebration of our first wedding noong July 14,” admitted Krista. As destiny would have it, Krista also learned that she ‘s on the family way. The excited mom-to-be can’t help but glow with happiness at the news. “We love each other. We are building a family together and we’re excited about that,” Krista said. “I have decided to walk away from my acting career in the Philippines and reside here in California, because my place is with my husband,” she added. Jeff fully appreciates the sacrifice Krista is willing to make for their love and marriage. “Yung tinalikuran niya ang career niya, that sacrifice that she’s willing to make to be with me. In the same way, I valued my bachelor’s life but when I fell in love with Krista, I was wiling to give up everything so we can spend the rest of our lives together.” Krista admitted that it was a big challenge that they were able to put up the August 8 wedding in just three weeks, thanks to the help of several friends who organized and coordinated the affair—Lilly Handley and Carmela Leelin of Space 67 Productions. Krista’s cousin, Dave Tupaz, made the bridal gown. Entertainment was provided by a quartet from the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) and the Yohei

Jeff and Krista with Rabbi Barry with Maid of Honor Jessica Rodriguez-Bunevacz, and the Best Man, Krista’s brother Kevin Ranillo Photos from www.forevertruephotography.com

Nakamura trio, who played during dinner, to the delight of the crowd. The bridal entourage was unique because Jeff ’s best man was a woman- his close friend, Jessica Rodriguez; and Krista’s maid of honor was actually a “man of honor,” Bernadette Sy, her gay bestfriend. The private affair was attended by family and close friends of the couple which included Suzette Ranillo, Monet Lu, Cora Oriel, Anna Puno, Katrina Villa, Luchie Mendoza Allen and hubby Tony, Atty. Abraham Lim and his fiancé Tourism North America Director Annie Cuevas, Atty. Joe Sayas and wife Anna, and Becca Godinez and hubby Benito Miranda. Before the wedding ceremony at Hotel Maya, the guests were treated to cocktails and hors d’ ouvres from 4-5pm while enjoying the FASO quartet. Then, the party moved to a yacht which cruised at Long Beach from 10 pm-1:30am. The guests had so much fun, dancing to the groove of DJ Tommy T (Tom Taus) on the upper deck of the yacht while enjoying the sights of Long Beach and its magnificent skyline. Of course, no Filipino party is complete without videoke, which was at the lower deck, while dancing was ongoing at the upper deck. Drinks were also free-flowing while the guests celebrated until the early hours of the morning. For their giveaways, Krista wanted to give

Jeff and Krista pose with relatives from Krista’s side of the family: the Ranillos and the Tupazes

something unique. She explained, “There were suggestions on what to put on the wine bottles that we gave away. Something traditional like “thanks for coming” but I wanted it to be light and fun, so we put ‘Blame it on the Alcohol.’” What are their wishes for their marriage? Jeff quickly answered, “My wish is that we will always be friends throughout the marriage, that we will grow old together, that our children will grow up to be good people, and that our love will grow and never die.”

Nodding in agreement, Krista added some wishes of her own, “I wish we will grow as individuals but also grow as a couple and most importantly, that we keep God at the center of our relationship.” Congratulations, Jeff and Krista Lim! May God grant you the desires of your heart, as you show the beauty and joy of the power of love! *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/ New Jersey August 20, 2010.

Twenty Mome One Magnific

Th e h e a d l i n e s . Th e d e a d l i n e s

Cheers!

Celebrate!

TWENTY STORIES THAT DEFINED OUR JOURNEY INTO HISTORY AND THE AMERICAN DREAM TWENTY EVENTS THAT SHAPED OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTRY, OUR DESTINY TWENTY INSPIRING PEOPLE WHO TOOK THE JOURNEY WITH US TWENTY MOMENTS THAT INSPIRED OUR LOVE OF COUNTRY CHEERS TO TWENTY GLORIOUS YEARS AND BEYOND!

•

As the Asian Journal approaches its 20th anniversary, we would like to pause, look back, count our blessings and remember the moments and the people who have made this journey possible.

It’s our way of thanking you for the trust and confidence you have shown us through the years, both in good and challenging times. Here’s looking forward to the next 20 years and beyond.

Please join us as we celebrate our new journey together.

Roger Lagmay Oriel Publisher

Our Turn To Tell Our We’ve Kept A Journal. We

entous Years cent Journal

s . Th e b y l i n e s . Th e Ti m e l i n e . The commemorative Magazine

T@WEN T Y www.asianjournal.com

r Story. Our History. eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Kept A Page for You.

by Momar G. Visaya

/ AJPress

‘Camp Rock 2’:

End of Summer’s Guilty Pleasure Anna Maria Perez de Tagle joins Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato for show’s sequel

The original Camp Rock was so successful that having a sequel was a no-brainer. It was, for all intents and purposes, 2008’s #1 cable TV movie. Now, kids, tweens (and their parents) have something to look forward to: Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. In a nutshell, Camp Rock 2 is a contemporary movie musical that is brimming with musical passion, electric dance moves and songs that resonate with heartwarming messages. The film follows Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) and her friends as they return to Camp Rock for another summer of music and fun. The rock band Connect 3 (the Jonas Brothers, playing Shane, Nate and Jason Gray) is hanging at their uncle’s Camp Rock all summer, too. The fun begins when they realize that across the lake is a promising teen paradise called Camp Star, which glistens with glitz

and glamour. The other camp has succeeded in luring away many instructors and campers, putting the entire future of Camp Rock in jeopardy. The Camp Rockers step it up and challenges the egocentric Camp Star to a Final Jam—and end-of-summer performance duel. It’s passion, talent and commitment versus resources, infrastructure and money. May the better camp win. “The movie celebrates the power of music in our lives, and will hopefully inspire kids around the world to express themselves through music,” said Steven Vincent, father of three and Vice President, Music and Soundtracks, Disney Channels Worldwide.

Camp Rock in New York Disney invited us for a few days of fun as we met and interviewed the cast of Camp Rock 2, previewed the movie and watched a

live concert of the cast with Jonas Brothers at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. Among the more colorful characters in the cast is Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, more famous in the Filipino-American community as the granddaughter of screen legend Sylvia La Torre. The younger kids know her better though as the ditzy girl from the Hannah Montana franchise, and of course, her role of yet another ditzy girl in the original Camp Rock. “This is a bigger and better musical. There’s a lot more here: dancing is more intense, songs are catchier, there’s more romance, too. Fans will take away great messages like teamwork and believing in something and working hard to be where you want to be,” Anna Maria said during our interview at the Le Parker Meridien. For Camp Rock 2, de Tagle reprises the role of Ella, the nice yet ditzy girl. Viewers

The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato topbill ‘Camp Rock 2.’

particularly enjoyed Ella’s flighty comments and one-liners, which are often repeated with glee by girls participating in focus group research on the movies. “My first major job was at Hannah Montana, where I played a ditzy girl and I’m also playing one here. It’s a fun character though. I drew inspiration from Mean Girls. I’m the comic relief, which is awesome,” she shared. For this summer’s Camp Rock, the kids are back for another summer of music and fun. They also face serious competition when a new, state-of-the-art music camp opens across the lake. The rivals prepare for an all out battle of the bands to prove which camp is better. Asked about her similarities with her role Ella, de Tagle laughs a bit and explains that she’s the complete opposite of Ella. “Personality-wise, we’re totally different. She’s dumb and I’d like to think I’m more intelligent and smart,” she says with a laugh. “She is the fashionista at Camp Rock though and I also love fashion and design, that’s something I’d like to do in the future.” The young singer-actress is happy that her role progresses in Camp Rock 2. This time around, she’s no longer a meanie, but she’s still a tad ditzy. “Ella discovers here that she wants to be the camp costume designer and she goes all out for glitter. She also gets to know everyone in the camp better and she becomes friends with them,” she explained. Anna Maria got started singing and acting as a kid living in San Jose, California, where she had starring roles in children’s stage productions of Cinderella, The Wiz and The King and I. “I’m primarily a singer who expanded into acting,” she said. Eventually, Anna Maria said she wants to venture into something new. She has a passion for fashion and wants to design clothes and shoes for teens like her who are small and slim (she is 5’2”, or 157 cm.) She looks forward to making fashion a sidelight of her career. Of course, an interview with the young Fil-Am thespian wouldn’t be complete without asking about her famous lola. Anna Maria says that grandmother Sylvia La Torre was her first vocal coach. “She taught me how to sing and she helped me with other coaches as I grew up. Know where you came from, how you grew up and my Filipino values. I am following in her footsteps, here in America. She has always been my inspiration and my idol,” she shared. She knew she wanted to be in the entertainment business from the time when she was three, watching her lola during live concerts. “She is a great singer,” Anna Maria

says of her lola Sylvia, “I loved watching her and I saw how she made a crowd laugh.” Anna Maria’s big break came when she was cast as one of the mean girls, Ashley DeWitt, who made life harder for Hannah Montana. The show was a global phenomenon for the Disney Channel. Then came the first Camp Rock. Last year, she starred in Fame, an updated film version of the famous musical. Born in San Francisco (December 23, 1990), Anna Maria now lives in Los Angeles with her parents and two brothers. She loves traveling though, and New York is one of her most favorite cities. “I love to shop. My favorite place here is Top Shop. I like to stroll and go to Soho and Fifth Avenue. I like taking the subway. I’ve had people recognize me during my subway trips,” she said. While her acting career is going strong, she is also making major strides as a musician. This year, she embarked on a concert tour with cast-mates and friends Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. “Camp Rock has been my life for the past year and a half, shooting it in Canada and doing the tour. I can’t wait for it to come out. We’re anxious and nervous,” she said. As a performer she has been described as the tiny singer with the big voice. Personally, she calls her style “pop-souldful.” Camp Rock as just been a crazy phenomenon that when she’s out, kids recognize her and call her Ella when they see me. “I’m getting love letters from London now, it’s kinda crazy! I love my fans and I won’t be where I am today without them,” she added.

The Other Fil-Am We didn’t know until the TV-movies’s red carpet premiere at the Lincoln Center that there was another Fil-Am actor in the cast. His name is Roshon Fegan, and he plays Sander, the highenergy director of activities in the camp. “It is such a great feeling to have so many people supporting us and I’m just appreciative,” Fegan said as we interviewed him on the red carpet. His dad is television actor Roy Fegan while his mom is a Filipina. Roshon was born and raised in Los Angeles on October 6, 1991. He trained at the BK Acting Studio and USC 32nd Street Performing Arts and has had guest roles on several television series including Monk. His feature films include Spiderman 2 and Drillbit Taylor. This fall, Roshon will also star in the new Disney Channel Original Series Shake It Up. To prepare for the big dance scenes in Camp Rock 2, Roshon had to try something new—memorize choreographed steps. “I’m a freestyle dancer, man,” he said laughing, “But we have such a very good choreographer who knows our strengths. We all love doing this and we all wanted this to be better than the first.” Working on the film, he learned that freestyle dancing doesn’t cut it when there are close to 50 dancers performing together on a set. “You need choreography if you’re going to interact,” he said. Weeks of 10-hour rehearsal days went into the movie’s dance numbers. “You’ve got to make sure you’ve got the steps rights. If one person is off, it affects everybody,” Roshon said. This fact, Anna Maria agreed with wholeheartedly. Anna Maria had to learn the choreography

of Can’t Back Down (which also happens to be her favorite song in the film) sitting down because she injured herself a few days into the rehearsal. She had to study the hand gestures first and memorized the steps just looking at the dancers perform. When she was completely healed, she joined the rest of the cast perform the rousing and rhythmic number. This powerful song and dance number radiated passion, determination and unity. “We are doing a lot here, from hip-hop to jazz to modern. We are going full blast!,” Roshon said. Looking back, Anna Maria thinks that all the hard work is worth it. The cast faced tremendous challenges, yet they persevered. “The most challenging part were the night shoots. We had to film from 5pm to 5am every day and the weather was no joke. There was never a sunny day in October, it was almost always raining and freezing. We had to act like we were in a real summer camp,” Anna Maria revealed. Her director, Paul Hoen, couldn’t agree more. “There was a big passion for this movie among the cast, crew and extras. They realized the bar was set high, and without exception, they rose to the occasion. There was not a lot of ‘can’t’ going on, and that really impressed me,” Hoen said. So who wins the Final Jam? That’s exactly the twist that makes both perfect sense and the perfect end to what these kids call the best summer ever. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/ New Jersey August 27, 2010.

Pinoys love tennis Young Pinay Singers to Perform at the US Open TEXT & PHOTOS by Momar G. Visaya

/ AJPress

Enjoying the US Open, Family-style The much-awaited sporting event in the tennis world—the 2010 US Open—officially opened this week, welcoming fans from around the world to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing. Last Saturday, the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day kicked off the festivities, with day-long events meant for younger fans of the sport. Among the many Filipinos who trooped to Flushing this day were Ledy Almadin and her family. “It is a very nice event and my children enjoyed it very much. This is a very good way to end our summer as school’s about to open again soon,” Almadin shared. This is the fifth year that her family has joined the annual Kids’ Day. Almadin’s family is a big fan of the sport and she is happy that her children are also beginning to like it. During the Kids’ Day celebration, their family met up with their friends and families, making it all the more memorable. “It’s a day where families hang out with other families. The kids had so much fun running around and chasing players for their autographs,” Almadin added. As a tennis fan, Almadin is hoping to see her idol Rafael Nadal win the US Open this year. “It’s his time,” she said, “ the US Open championship is the only Grand Slam event he hasn’t won so far.” Another fan, Teresa Pine, begs to differ. “I hope Roger Federer wins, and create history again by becoming the first man to win six or more titles at two different Grand Slam events,” Pine said. Federer is also hoping to win his 17th Grand Slams title, and avenge his loss to Juan Martin del Potro who beat him in the championships last year. Pine is an ambassador at the US Open, one of about 18, and the only Filipino. For two weeks, Pine gives up her day job as a docent at the Princeton University Museum of Art to be at the US Open. “It’s something that I have done for about five years now, and I am enjoying it immensely. I get to meet a lot of people from all walks of life, different nationalities, but with the same passion for the sport of tennis,” Pine shared. She is happy to see more and more Filipinos embracing the sport. It wasn’t an uncommon sight during the past few days to see a group of Filipinos enjoying the matches or just watching their favorite players practice in their games. “It is a Filipino thing, I guess,” Almadin shared when asked why Filipinos love tennis.

Lianah Sta. Ana with her mom and sister

Teresa Pine, US Open hospitality ambassador, with Pinay tennis fans.

“To be honest, I can’t pinpoint it. There is something in the game. If you visit us in Jersey City , we can bring you to the tennis courts where Filipinos always play.” Pine believes that it is about the sophistication of the sport that draws the Filipinos in. “I honestly don’t know any Filipino who doesn’t love tennis, either as a player or just as a mere spectator. The sport is awesome,” she added. Last year’s US Open drew more than 720,000 fans from around the world, maintaining its position as the highest attended annual sporting event in the world. More than 80 million viewers watched the 2009 US Open on CBS Sports and ESPN, and international broadcasts reached 180 countries.

Young Filipina Singers Two Fil-Am girls—Lianah Sta. Ana and Nina Waga Mojares—bested 256 other under-12 children during an open casting

call a few months ago for the opportunity to sing before thousands of tennis fans at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, one of the premier stages in all of sports and entertainment. Only 15 children were selected to perform patriotic songs during the games. Sta. Ana will be performing on September 7 during the Women’s Quarterfinals and Men’s Round of 16 games while Mojares will be singing on September 8. The two girls will both sing America, The Beautiful. “We’re very excited because this is another opportunity for Liana to showcase her talents

Nina Waga Mojares

and prove to the world that Filipinos are talented,” said Nailah Sta. Ana, Liana’s mom. Mojares is just as ecstatic. “I’m honored and thrilled to have been selected to sing at the US Open. It’s a dream come true,” she said. The two girls were selected at the fourth annual US Open Casting Call held at the Radio City Music Hall last June. Performances were conducted in front of a panel of celebrity judges that included Justin Chon, who plays Eric Yorkie in the wildly successful Twilight Saga series; Ashley Roberts of the Pussycat Dolls, and actor/ singer Andrew Seeley who will be starring in a new television series this fall called Glory Daze. Sta. Ana and Mojares, both 11 years old and both from Freehold, New Jersey, will join the group of music industry legends who have performed at the US Open, ranging from Rob Thomas and Aretha Franklin to Diana Ross and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Earth, Wind and Fire, and this year’s opening night musical performer, Gloria Estefan.

Rafael Nadal

Kim Clijsters

Kids’ Day Celebrities such as the Jonas Brothers, David Archuleta, Nick Cannon and Demi Lovato were on hand to entertain the audience. Tennis superstars Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters and others also joined in the games. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has become a popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and families—including interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis clinics. This day, the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center are transformed into a giant playground where kids and their families can experience an exciting schedule of free tennis games, live music and attractions taking place all over the place. In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato are the first artists to reprise their performances at the event, having appeared in 2007 and 2008, respectively, with the Jonas Brothers making their debut back in 2005. This year, they were joined by upcoming artists such as Shontelle, a 23-year-old

Andy Murray

singer, songwriter and aspiring lawyer from Barbados; and the group Allstar Weekend, who was part of Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing competition, subsequently signing with Hollywood Records. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day honors tennis legend Arthur Ashe and continues his mission of using tennis as a means to instill in kids the values of humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence. The annual event also introduces children of all ages to the great sport of tennis while bringing families together for a fun, interactive experience. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/ New Jersey September 3, 2010. ove

Andy Roddick

Roger Federer

Photo from www.alodiagosiengfiao.com

Alodia Gosiengfiao

Last July 22-25, the largest comic book and popular arts convention in the world was held at the San Diego Convention Center. Commonly known as Comic-Con International or the San Diego Comic-Con, the convention showcases comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/ television, a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, anime, manga, animation, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels. Of the more than 130,000 people who attended the convention, one of those who dramatically stood out is Filipina Cosplay player Alodia Gosiengfiao, featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer as the “Geek Goddess.”Alodia, as always, was so outstanding that she was filmed by Morgan Spurlock of Supersize Me in a documentary to be aired around the world, and by the Animax Asia team (a cable network in southeast Asia) to be aired all over southeast Asia. Alodia, together with her sister Ashley, has a regular stint in Animax. The Philippine edition of FHM ranked her number 87 in its 2009 poll for 100 Sexiest Women in the World. Alodia has been named by UNO Magazine as one of the most influential women in the Philippines. Born Alodia Almira Arraiza Gosiengfiao on March 9, 1988, the 22 year-old cosplayer, artist, model, and figure collector from Quezon City,

Philippines just graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a BFA Information Design degree. Cosplay is short for “costume roleplay” and is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan. Favorite sources include manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic

novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies. How did Alodia get into cosplaying? “I started cosplaying at the age of 15 by joining competitions here in the Philippines and fortunately winning awards in those events. It all started with my deviantart page, wherein my first submissions were artworks related to anime and videogames, until I gradually added in some cosplay photos and photos I took of my figurine collection.

When I turned 18, I’ve been getting invited as a guest judge to several cosplay competitions once in a while, which means I am prohibited from joining the competitions, right? But that doesn’t really stop me from cosplaying. Occassionally, my friends and I hold cosplay photoshoots. We invite photographers, spectators, fellow cosplayers and anyone who could lend a hand. We try to share the love of cosplaying not just during the shoots or events here in our community but also online, from posting artworks to posting out-takes and reporting about the happening.” Alodia is also into collecting figures. She says, “I’ve been into it for 1 and half years now. Before collecting, I just used to browse through photos and reviews of figures online. After some time I finally received one as a gift and eventually they multiplied. After almost a year of collecting, I also delved into photography and started taking photos of my figure collection.” Alodia frequents anime and video game conventions, whether it is to attend the convention or join in cosplay competitions. Her popularity began in 2003 when she won in an event called the C3 Convention in 2003 as Gun Mage Rikku of FFX-2. This led to her and her sister Ashley being featured on the cover of Issue 14 of Culture Crash Magazine, a Manga Magazine in the Philippines. Alodia was Animax’s first ever Levi’s Kawaii girl winner in the last episode of Mad Mad Fun, which was announced on air on November 29, 2007.

Since then, she has continued to cosplay various characters from different anime and videogames. Alodia attended Assumption College (Makati) from pre-school to Grade 2; Miriam College from Grade 3 to 4th Yr High School and Ateneo de Manila University where she graduated with degree in Information Design. Besides being a model and a cosplayer, Alodia is just like any other girl. She loves singing and playing in a band, fashion, video games and photography. (AJPress) *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/New Jersey Septtember 10, 2010. ove

Photos from www.alodiagosiengfiao.com

Fashion Forward Filipinos TEXT & PHOTOS by Momar G. Visaya

/ AJPress

Ezra Santos

Monique Lhuillier

Anthony Legarda - Danzfabrique Cover photos by Momar G. Visaya and photo courtesy of www.moniquelhuillier.com

Actresses Shiri Appleby and Melissa George were few of the many celebrities who attended the Monique Lhuillier Fall 2010 Fashion Show last Feb. 15. AP photos

Photo courtesy of www.moniquelhuillier.com

Filipino Designers at New York Fashion Week New York is every fashionista’s playground. Twice every year, the city celebrates the muchawaited Fashion Week, a fiesta of all things fashionable. It is one of four major fashion weeks held around the world in design meccas such as Paris, London and Milan. From the tents of Bryant Park, this year’s Fashion Week moved cross-town, to the Lincoln Center. This is now where mainstream American (and a few international) fashion designers showcase their latest collections. Earlier this week, Los Angeles-based Filipina designer Monique Lhuillier unveiled her collection (check sidebar), and fashion critics say they were once again dazzled by her Garden of Edenthemed designs. Various adjectives were used to describe the gowns - from “ethereal” to “stunning” and from “breathtakingly beautiful” to “Oscar-worthy”. Wall Street Journal said that Lhuillier presented a “confident collection of feminine frocks, in hues ranging from heart-stopping red to buttery toffee to a sweetly demure blush.” Accolades don’t stop there: actress Emma Roberts, after seeing the designer’s latest offerings, tweeted “Monique Lhuillier show was absolutely beautiful! So many dresses I want to wear!!!” Roberts is just one of the many Hollywood celebrities who have worn Monique’s gowns, including Eva Longoria Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Katie Holmes, Kristen Stewart and Drew Barrymore. Britney Spears wore two

custom-designed Monique Lhuillier gowns in her much-publicized wedding to Kevin Federline in 2004, and this year the designer also made two gowns for Carrie Underwood’s wedding to hockey player Mike Fischer. In her show notes, the designer explained how her new collection was conceptualized: “This collection came to me in a dream.... a beautiful girl running through a lush garden. Her very own Garden of Eden. Beautiful flowering trees in watercolor

hues. Red apple dresses and the temptation of the snake. Seen in a subtle reptile pattern in flowing chiffons. Lots of shimmer from the glistening sun on dewy surfaces. Ombres in blues and greens, pale pinks dominate. I don’t want to wake up, I am in a state of euphoria!” Lhuillier is also reportedly making Regine Velasquez’s wedding gown, and that Dr. Vicki Belo is giving it as a gift to the singer. News reports say that it has been Regine’s dream to wear a Monique Lhuillier creation on her wedding day.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Ezra Santos on Couture Fashion Week Outside the Lincoln Center, the entire city is abuzz with all things fashion. Waldorf=Astoria’s Grand Ballroom plays host to the Couture Fashion Week, a multi-day event showcasing couture and luxury fashion. It also includes exhibits of luxury brands and fine art as well as world-class entertainment and receptions. This year, a Filipino designer based in Dubai made his debut at Couture Fashion Week with a fashion show on September 11 that showcased his latest collection. The Manila-born designer has come full circle as he shared with his compatriots the qualities that make him one of the major proponents in the recognition and advancement of Filipino talents in the international fashion arena. “Ezra has excellent and very impressive designs. He also projects the

global creativity of Filipinos. You can see the explosion of creativity and versatility of the Filipino designer,” said Philippine Mission to the United Nations Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, who was previously assigned to the United Arab Emirates. Amb. Cabactulan shared that while there, he and his wife Remedios sponsored a fashion show primarily meant to promote and showcase the Filipino designers who are based in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “Our Filipino designers there, like Ezra, don’t just design for ordinary people, they also design for the royals. I’m so happy to see that his designs here infused his Filipino background and some Arab elements,” Ms. Cabactulan shared. Santos, a fashion stalwart in Dubai, UAE, is considered one of the most influential figures in the Middle East/Gulf fashion industry. His creations along neo-classic lines with an edge, are often anticipated as a barometer of what’s to come in the region’s ever-exciting fashion landscape. His clientele reads like a who’s who of international celebrities, true-blue Arab royals and equally affluent women of discerning taste and repute. “The inspiration is the African Nubian goddess mixed with the Filipino butterfly sleeves,” Santos said as he explained his collection. Most of the gowns had the butterfly sleeve, similar to the traditional terno, a nod to the designer’s Filipino heritage. In fact, it has been his dream to introduce the Filipino terno sleeve to the mainstream market. “I want to make those sleeves more modern and more famous in the international scene. I hope with this collection, I achieved that,” he added. A product of Central Saint Martins in London, Ezra’s impeccable designs reflect more than two decades of hands-on experience. He is a perennial invitee at major fashion exhibitions worldwide where he never fails to mesmerize his audience with his aweinspiring collections. Overall, his designs reflect a variety of inspirations from Christian Lacroix and John Galliano, to iconic French designer Erte, to the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age of the 1940’s. A true haute couturier, each of Mr. Santos’s creations bears his trademark flawless symmetry, perfect cut and tasteful embellishments. “I would love to open my wedding store here in New York, I can’t wait,” he said.

Danzfabrique At the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on Friday, September 17, Fil-Am designer Anthony Cruz Legarda will stage a fashion show that will be performed alongside a choreographed theatre piece that reflects Philippine culture, Filipino-American

Ezra Santos with some of his creations during his fashion show last Sept. 11.

AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

Anthony Cruz Legarda’s designs stand out because of the ecofriendly materials he used. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

experiences and the influences of many Asian cultures. Ballet Opera Earthique’s Artistic Director Miguel Braganza II will choreograph theatre pieces using jazz, modern ballet, and Filipino dance traditions with live opera, popbroadway, and ethnic performers in each number. Legarda incorporates authentic hand-woven fabrics from the Philippines into distinctive American clothing and this will be evident during the show, which will display 24 of his most recent designs. “What I would like the Filipino community and the whole New York fashion community at large to know is that there are ecofriendly textiles and fashion coming from the Philippines. Given some fashion direction, I think we can create fashion that can stand up alongside the current trends coming from Paris or Japan,” Legarda said. Conceived to show the best of Filipino fabrics—inabel from the north, piña from the Visayas and habi from Mindanao— Danzfabrique hopes to attract the best audience that dictates what the world should be wearing in the upcoming seasons. Like Ezra Santos, Legarda hopes to introduce something Filipino to the international fashion scene: the pina, a high-quality cloth hand-woven from national pineapple fibers made only in the Philippines. “As a Filipino American designer, I would like to show who I am as an artist. I have known about the pina since I was young and I would like to showcase this distinct cloth to the fashion world. It is very eco-friendly and it represents the Philippines well,” Legarda said. Legarda envisions it to be specialty wear, and likens the pina cloth to silk organza. “That’s where the niche will be. The market will be high-end,” he added. Fabrics for the collection are hand-woven, hand-embellished, and dyed with natural pigments by indigenous weavers from the Philippines. This encourages development of eco-entrepreneurship and sustainable fashions by honoring traditional methodologies and fair trade with native artisans. The next fashion line will be a collection of chic caftans and coats in carrying lengths paired with bustiers, asymmetrical skirts and palazzo pants. Each piece will be opulently hand-embroidered and embroidered and beaded by Filipino master artisans. Legarda looks forward to producing the finest natural and organic fabrics made by sustainable ethnic communities in the Philippines and manufacturing them into made-to-order art-to-wear clothing for the United States and the world market. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/ New Jersey September 17, 2010. ove

Red carpet favorite Monique Lhuillier creates Eden with snake print, florals for spring by Lisa Orkin Emmanuel / AP Writer

NEW YORK—If Eve needed a red carpet gown in the Garden of Eden, she would’ve called Monique Lhuillier. Lhuiller’s spring collection had themes right out of the Bible. There was apple red, a snake print and flowers with faux petals sewn on gowns. “This is my own Garden of Eden. There’s a snake print and that’s the temptation running through,” she said before the show Monday at New York Fashion Week. “It’s about a beautiful dream I had of a girl running through this garden.” The color palette includes light pinks, nudes, mint green and blue. Dresses to look out for on red carpets: a shimmering beaded gown with three-quarter length sleeves, and a redsashed strapless embroidered drop-waist corset in nude. It has a red organza skirt that looks like

distressed flower petals. There was also a mint green strapless gown with faux petals attached to it. “Sometimes when it’s finished I say ‘Oh now that’s a perfect dress for Gwyneth Paltrow or oh my goodness this dress is going to the Oscars,” Lhuillier said. Also new this season were fitted skirts cut to below the knee. To Lhuillier, craftsmanship is a must. “To me it’s about the foundations to my gowns. The construction inside is pretty remarkable. A lot of hours and hours go into these garments,” she said. Olivia Palermo from reality TV’s The City and actresses Emma Roberts and Jessica Lowndes of 90210 were at the show. “I feel like everything that she does has such beautiful shapes and designs and there’s just some breathtaking pieces, and I love all the detail,” AP photos Lowndes said. (AP)

Proud Pinoy Indios by Cynthia De Castro

Gelo Francisco

Ric Ickard

/ AJPress

AJPress Photos by Miko Santos

Pete Avenda単o

Indio: A talented trio Vocal duet Pete Avendaño, Gelo Francisco and guitarist Ric Ickard proudly show their heritage

Pete Avendaño sings as Ric Ickard does guitars

The word “Indio” originally means Indian, as in Native American. For other people, like the Spanish and Mexicans, “Indio” is a derogatory word, being used to refer to native indigenous people. From the 16th to the 19th century in the Philippines, “Indio” was a racial term that the Spaniards used for Filipinos. The native Filipinos who generally have darker skin than the Europeans were referred to as “Indios.” The colonizers not only used the term to refer to the darker-skinned natives, but to the poor, the uneducated, the lower bottom of the economic and social ladder as well. Today, three of the most talented Filipino musical artists in California have formed themselves into a group and they have chosen to be known as Indio. “We are proud of our heritage, proud to be Filipinos,” said the three. Indio is the vocal duet comprised of accomplished music director Gelo Francisco and Pete Avendaño and guitarist/music producer Ric Ickard. Gelo Grancisco explains, “Passion formed the group. Although just barely a few months old, Indio promises to be one world-class performing group. With its fresh arrangements and the soaring wide vocal range, Indio gives life to new renditions of old classics and new music combined.” Indio is a delight to listen to and will surely make every Filipino proud of this very talented trio. They are excellent in every way – the

Gelo Francisco and Pete Avendaño onstage

excellent voices, the masterful playing, and the choice of material and superb sound quality. Their varied repertoire covers a broad musical spectrum, evoking so many moods and feeling, and moving and inspiring audiences to no end. Truly, having Indio in our midst is an honor and a privilege to experience.

Anthony Angelo “Gelo” Francisco Hailing from a family of singers, Gelo’s vocal training came in early as he sang in different school presentations and joining the music ministry at his Parish in Mandaluyong City where he was born and raised. Although it seemed music was the obvious choice as a course, he pursued a different path after graduating from high school taking up Nursing. Realizing his passion for music and the arts, Gelo did a huge leap of faith and tried out at the College of Music at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. From there, he was exposed to the very gratifying world of the music, which opened a lot of opportunities for him. “One major life-changing experience that steered me to what I am now was joining the world-renowned UP Madrigal Singers,” said Gelo. “ The rest, as they say, is history,” he added. Gelo’s vocal artistry brought him the chance to perform in different concerts and venues that include The Walt Disney Hall in LA, the Renee and Henry Segerstrom show in Orange

County, in the Dorothy Chandler pavilion in LA (2008 and 2009). Gelo was a three time featured artist at The John Anson Ford Theatre in 2007, 2009 and 2010, a performer at the Hollywood Bowl for Maestro Gustavo Dudamel’s welcome concert with the LA Philharmonic, the lead role for a Filipino Opera at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in 2007, and a guest performer at the Miami Convention Center in 2007 for the American Directors Association, to name a few. He has also performed around the globe joining the UP Madrigal Singers on concert tours of Europe, Asia, North America and Canada singing at prestigious venues and historic landmarks. Gelo was featured in the stage musical Rama at Sita which was staged at the Nicanor Abelardo Theatre in UP Diliman. He also starred in different Stage Musicals such as Grease in Asia. At present, he is the Artistic Director/ Conductor of the Philippine Chamber SingersLos Angeles, and Artistic Director of LA based Kultura Philippine Folk Arts. He also conducts choirs at St. Genevieve’s Parish and St. Genevieve Elementary School in Panorama City and The Cathedral Chapel of St. Vibiana in LA. The founder of the Harana Men’s Chorus and the defunct vocal trio “3 of a Kind,” Gelo’s vision for the Filipino American community in Los Angeles would be to be able to build a physical building that will be home to different

Art and performing groups that will keep the Philippine culture and arts alive for future generations to learn and appreciate. “I believe that it should be the ultimate goal of every Filipino and Fil-Ams alike to ensure that the rich heritage of the Philippines thru Music and Arts be kept alive at all costs,” said Gelo.

Pete Avendaño Born in Manila to Chris and Bernardita Avendaño (who both love to sing), Pete Avendaño recalls that he has been singing in front of people ever since he could remember. “Lagi akong pinapakanta ng father ko in front of our relatives. And when I was four, he brought me to Radio Veritas to sing in a show. Then, in elementary, I became a scholar in Angelicum School inside the Santo Domingo compound. I was a soprano-soloist in the Tiples de Santo Domingo (the oldest boys’ choir in the Philippines). Doon kami nakatira sa school. May bahay doon sa Santo Domingo which housed the boys being trained to sing. I only went home to my family during weekends,” shared Pete. From 1991-1993, Pete studied in St. James Academy in Malabon where he graduated from high school. Then, he decided to enter the seminary at the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Cotobato City. After 3 years, Pete wanted to further his music studies. “Ang plano ko talaga is to study music and then go back to seminary and be a priest. So, I went to the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music,’ said Pete. But God had plans for him, other than the priesthood. While getting his degree of Bachelor of Music in Music Education, major in Voice from UST, Avendaño became part of the internationally-

acclaimed University of Santo Tomas Singers. He toured extensively with the group during its 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 international concert tours in Europe, North America, and South America. In 2000, he was a finalist in the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He was also a prizewinner in the Kundiman Fiesta competition in 1994. As a student of the UST Conservatory, Avendaño auditioned and became part of the Singapore Lyric Opera productions of Il Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Il Trovatore, and Macbeth held in Singapore. Pete then went back to his alma mater, St. James Academy in Malabon, where he taught music for three years. He married Venice, who also loves to sing. Then in 2003, Pete immigrated to California with his family. He taught music at the Our Lady of Loretto Elementary School in Los Angeles where he also handles the children’s choir. He was instrumental in having the children’s choir nominated for the Music Achievement Awards in Arts 2006 by the Music Center Bravo Awards. Avendaño is also the music director of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. He and Venice have three sons—Christian Christoff and Christer.

Ric Ickard Growing up in the Philippines, Richard Alcoy, who adopted the stage name Ric Ickard, (pronounced as: ai-kard) started playing guitar at the age of eight by studying the recordings of Andres Segovia, Laurindo Almeida, Charlie Byrd and Chet Atkins. Entirely self-taught, he began performing guitar concerts at the age of 17. He graduated

from St. Paul’s College in Manila, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in music education. At graduation, his alma mater presented him a special award in musical performance. Ric won first prize in both classical and jazz guitar competitions in the 1980 Philippine Guitar Festival, and was the first guitarist to ever win both categories—all on the same day. Ric’s talents blossomed as a young artist. The Philippine government granted him a scholarship to study classical guitar. He has performed in many five-star hotels and cruise ships. Aside from performing around the world, Ric is a regularly featured artist at the annual Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, the Pasadena’s Guitar Nights, as well as the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists. After moving to the United States, based in Los Angeles, Ric continued to pursue his music career by performing solo recitals. At the same time, he expanded to other activities such as playing master classes to such notables as Scott Tennant and David Grimes. In 2006, Naxos took his talent into wider world attention by releasing a CD called Popular Guitar Music Of The Philippines. He currently has four CDs available, all of which contain wonderful guitar renditions of popular, jazz, classical, and contemporary music. Ric excels in both Chet style and classical music. He is now gaining an international reputation establishing a concert career in United States and abroad. He is a unique and passionate guitarist with ample technique and musicality. *** Published in the Asian Journal New York/New Jersey September 24, 2010. ov

AJPress photos by Miko Santos