Eros Goze Photographer   If Barney Almazar is “The People’s Lawyer,” Eros is “The People’s Photographer.” A consistent figure in the UAE’s most important Filipino events, Eros has thoroughly endeared himself in the heart of the Filipino community through his world-class talent, positive attitude, and generosity. His track record as a portraitist is unmatched by any other Filipino photographer in the region, having photographed the Gulf’s most celebrated personalities, from models to dignitaries, community leaders to entrepreneurs. In 2016, Eros also took on the role of educator, in partnership with one the world’s leading imaging companies. He says, “I believe in leadership by collaboration. Creativity and beauty thrive where there is freedom. My job is to guide people into finding their own greatness – whether it’s in front of my camera, or the classroom.” Where people are given guidance and at the same time given freedom to share and impart their creativity. Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

The post Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: Eros Goze – Thoughtleader appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

For the want of a hat, a bag was lost

For the want of a dress, crystals and pins were lost, 

For the want of something to wear, a teapot was lost

Lose yourself in the insane indulgence of excessive details in eye popping accessories used to embellish like never before

Photography by: Eros Goze; Post-Processing: Tom Bolivar; Hair, Make-up & Styling: Ginno Alducente

Model: Gwendoline Ruais

 Coffee, Tea or Kitty?

White Japanese-inspired headpiece ensemble and neckbrace by Amato Haute Couture; Swarovski crystallized brassier and necklace by Garimon Roferos

 Hardcore Fusion

Clutch bags by Lea Forteza; metal spikes headband, bejeweled fishnet stockings and gloves, Swarovski crystallized brassiere, laser cut fiberglass necklace, bobby pin belt, all by Garimon Roferos; feathers and aviator sunglasses, stylist’s own.

Oriental Pandemonium

Southeast Asian fusion headpiece by Amato Haute Couture, matched with Indian-inspired jewelry by Izhcka Zeta

Aeronautic Delirium

Black aviator cap, black ring and blue scarf – stylist’s own; “Million Dollar Brassiere,” safety pins bustier and bracelets, black Swarovski crystallized pin cuffs, all by Garimon Roferos

Vintage Vanity

Red dress with Peruvian prints scarf, stylists own; golden statement neckpiece, Swarovski crystallized wire headgear with fiber glass molding by Izhcka Zeta; bejeweled fishnet stockings and gloves by Garimon Roferos; clutch by Leah Forteza

The post Filipino Fashion: Minutiae Madness appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

PHL Consulate General in Dubai Holds Photo “Chiaroscuro Art & Style” Photo Exhibit of Filipino Fashion Photographer, Eros Goze

The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, in collaboration with the Filipino Ladies of Dubai, successfully held a Photography Exhibit titled “Chiaroscuro Art & Style” featuring Eros Goze at the Rizal Hall, Philippine Consulate on September 01. Over 150 members of the Filipino Community, media, academe, and Dubai’s art enthusiasts attended the Opening Event and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, led by Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund P. Cortes and Dr. Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes, Chairperson of the Filipino Ladies of Dubai.

Chiaroscuro, an Italian word which means light and dark, is the theme of the photography of Mr. Eros Goze. The 17 black and white photographs, filled with dramatic beauty and life, featured prominent personalities, such as Consul General and Mme. Cortes. For the exhibit, the Consulate chose a talent from Baguio City in view as well of the 107^thFoundation Day of the City of Baguio.

Save

Save

The post Eros Goze Chiaroscuro Photo Exhibit at the Philippine Consulate General Dubai appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Photography: Eros Goze; Post Processing: Tom Bolivar; Hair and Make-Up: Jojo Padua and Frankie Melendez; Models: Kylene Ganigan and Darya Kovalenko shot at the Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

Distinctive architectural details find new perspectives in these three-dimensional avant garde ensembles inspired by some of the world’s most intriguing contemporary structures.

Operatic Contours

By Ruben Santos 

The iconic Sydney Opera House is reincarnated in this dress featuring contours constructed with architectural accuracy.  The dress is made with molded rubber sheets and metallic components set on an ivory jacquard brocade fabric.

Sydyney Opera House 

Sydney, Australia

Designed by Jorn Utzon and completed under the direction of Peter Hall, the Sydney Opera House is one of the world’s most iconic buildings.  Modern expressionist in design, the building’s most significant feature is it roofs – large pre-cast concrete “shells” composed of a section of a sphere with a 75.2 meter radius.  The “shells” set on a monumental podium, are covered in a subtle chevron pattern with 1,056,006 glossy white and matte-cream colored Swedish-made tiles, but appear uniform white from a distance.

Sculptural Freeform

By Ralph Ramirez

From the hem to the bodice, this piece inspired by the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain is a continuous swirling and rising journey from darkness to light. Interpreted in monochromatic tones of black, grey and white, the dress features an asymmetric neckline topped on one shoulder with pure and organic structural form that crown the museum.

Guggenheim Museum 

Bilbao, Spain

Known as the most important structure of its time, this masterpiece of renowned architect Frank Gehry was probably the most mentioned new building of the late 90’s in architecture circles around the world.  The structure done in free form sculptural style features random curves designed to catch the light.  It’s brilliantly reflective titanium panels resemble fish scales, echoing the organic forms that are common in Gehry’s designs.

Curvilinear Fabrications

By Angelo Estera

Combining different fabrications with both soft and tough textures is this dress based on the Yas Hotel.  Calling to mind the building’s distinctive domes.

Yas Hotel 

Abu Dhabi, UAE

A landmark in the UAE, the Yas Hotel and the accompanying Formula 1 circuit is one of the main attractions of the ambitious developments at Yas Island.  The building, designed by Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture, principals of New York based Asymptote Architecture, meant to embody speed and movement juxtaposed with the artistry of and geometries of Islamic arts and details, has as its focal point a 217 meter expanse of curvilinear forms made up of steel and 5,800 pivoting diamond shaped glass panels known as the “Grid Shell.”  The “Grid Shell” which has the effect of an atmospheric-like veil features an amazing lighting system which incorporates video feeds, visible from miles away.

Crystal Aggregate

By Dan Delima

A clean sculptural art piece inspired by the crystal formation design of the Futuroscope of Poitiers, France. The dress features molded metallic organza in gunmetal gray.

Kinemax Futurescope

Poitiers, France

Futuroscope is a French theme park featuring multimedia, cinematographic and audiovisual packages.  The theme park made up of many pavilions built of glass and metal – modern materials which give the buildings form and texture, as works of art that make the observer stand and stare, is designed by architect Dennis Laming.  Its flagship building Kinemax, is fashioned after rock crystals thrusting out from the ground.  The structure’s 45,750 ft surface area is covered is with 3,000 reflective glass plates.

 Urban Organic

By Aldwin Ornopia Guardiana

Cut rubber and glass in irregular undulating layers mimic organic forms in this piece inspired by a unique skyscraper slated to punctuate Chongqing, China’s skyline – Urban Forest.  The dress is matched with a voluminous full bias cut cape in metallic fabric embellished with cut mirrors.

Urban Forest

Chongqing, China

Set to change the skyline of Chongqing, China, Urban Forest is an ambitious project from MAD Architects inspired by Chinese landscapes and traditional hillside villages. The commercial high rise with a distinctively organic form is meant to depict a stacked vertical forest in the heart of the city embodying the designers’ affinity to green and sustainable architecture.  Urban forest features curved, abstract shaped floors which have been layered slightly off-center from one another. Connected by a core cylindrical structure, each level’s interior is protected by full length glass windows with a see-through, wrap around balcony, providing transparency throughout the building, making the floors appear to float on top of one another.

Mesh Construct

By Tim Tejares

The sinewy lines and intricate mesh like façade of Kuala Lumpur’s Sunrise Tower are echoed in this dress which uses both soft and industrial materials. The piece features a plunging neckline bodice made of Montana gray silk taffeta embellished with silver mesh strips and exaggerated hips using boning and industrial hose for the web-like structure.

Sunrise Tower

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Designed by Zaha Hadid, the Sunrise Tower set for development in Kuala Lumpur is a design concept that blurs the difference between building and landscape, characterized by fluidity between the interior and exterior. The tower body is developed through a performative outer skin that merges programmatic, structural and building envelope requirements. The design integrates natural light, shading, program, access and views, making the component the key operator of the transition between interior and exterior spaces. The building has 66 floors and an absolute height of 280m. The ground lobby is the primary hub of the tower, defining four different dedicated lobbies for residential, hotel, offices and general public.

Distinctive architectural details find new perspectives in these three-dimensional avant garde ensembles inspired by some of the world’s most intriguing contemporary structures.

Body Canopy

By Ushi Sato

Depicting sensuous curves using metal screens coated with lightweight paper creating asymmetrical waves on the body, this piece is all about movement inspired by The Hotel Marques de Riscal.

Hotel Marques de Riscal

Elciego, Spain

Another Frank Gehry architectural masterpiece the Hotel Marques de Riscal showcases a series of rectilinear elements, clad in sandstone, combined with sweeping panels of gold and pink titanium, and mirror finish stainless steel.  The structure is a former winery transformed into a City of Wine complex, complete with a five-star hotel, spa, museum of viticulture and wine shop.  The building was inspired by the character of the region and its famous vintage.  Hence, the usage of a titanium façade shaped into a ribbon reflecting the colors of the wine Rioja, the silver foil shielding the cork, and the distinctive gold mesh which adorns all Marqués de Riscal bottles.

Engineered Protrusions

By Romel Ma. Tumulak

A bustier and pants ensemble fashioned after the Seed Cathedral – UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World 2010 expo, this piece features plastic straws to echo the fibre optic rods used in the original structure. Plastic sheet cut in different shapes and crystal elements embellish the bodice.  High heeled boots complete the ensemble.

Seed Cathedral

UK Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010

One of the most significant structures built for the Shanghai Expo 2010 is this extraordinary bristling form of 60,000 fibre-optic rods, each with a seed implanted in its tip, created by Thomas Heatherwick and his studio.  Formed from 60,000 slender transparent rods, each 7.5 meters long and each encasing one or more seeds at its tip, the Seed Cathedral is 20 meters high.  As wind moves past this building, its optic “hairs” move gently creating a dynamic effect.  At night, light sources inside each rod makes the Seed Cathedral glow.

Sail Simulation

By Manny Cajoles 

Sculpted metal sheet in pleats formation attached to a wire, form a shape that mimics the sail of a ship channeling the Burj Al Arab, this time in V formation.  The dress is accentuated with diagonal cut mirrors and matched with leggings.

Burj Al Arab

Dubai, UAE

Known as the only seven stars hotel in the world, the Burj Arab Hotel is not only known for its legendary luxury, but also the uniqueness of its architecture.  Designed by Tom Wright, the iconic building stands at 321 meters and mimics the image of the billowing sail of a boat.  The structure features an exoskeleton wrapped around a reinforced concrete tower, with a Tefloan-coated fiberglass “sail” curving across the front, creating an atrium inside.   The sail is made of a material called Dyneon, spanning over 161,000 square feet.  At daytime, the white fabric allows soft natural light into the building, while at night it reflects color-changing lights.

________________________________________________________________________________

More Fashion and style on Illustrado Life. 

Related Articles:

Filipino Designers: Black Magic 

Filipino Designers: The Dream Weavers 

Save

Save

Save

The post Filipino Designers: Architectural Avant Garde appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

When Middle Eastern mystique, contemporary lines and rich details collide – prepare to be spellbound.

Photography – Eros Goze

Post Processing – Tom Bolivar

Styling – Ginno Alducente and Daze Tan

Hair and Make-Up:  Ginno Alducente

Model:  Nina Naval-Niemczyk

Couture by: Bandoix Flores

Shot on location at the Mövenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel – Dubai

Filipino Fashion: Black Magic

The post Filipino Fashion: Black Magic appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

  Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: Outstanding Filipino Photographers

Over the last 6 years, the rise of the Filipino photographer has been an unstoppable phenomenon in the UAE and the larger Gulf. What with the unprecedented popularity of photography as a hobby and the growth of photography groups, the community has spawned a new breed of lensmen that have promoted Filipino creativity in a new niche. Previously the hallowed ground of a few, these Filipinos have also stamped their claim in this once elusive arena of visual arts.   Mario Cardenas has a distinction that’s pretty hard to beat. As one of the most awarded photographers in the Middle East, this Pinoy has amassed no less than 200 wins – a lot of them from prestigious international bodies, in his very short photography career which started in 2010. Mario, who is an architect by profession shares, “I used to just admire and marvel at the amazing works of these international and world class artists. I even thought of their images as ‘unachievable’. Now I am competing with them in the same arena, and winning.”   Mario sums up his formula for success, “I always strive to innovate and take risks. For me, it does not matter if the image I’m trying to create is beyond the norm. I try to do something different always. I want to be expressive and artistic. Sometimes, some of my peers find my work unusual, even weird. But somehow, the images capture the imagination of certain people, who share the same desire to witness something out of the ordinary.”   Citing his very modest upbringing back home, Mario hope to inspire Filipinos and show them that “no matter where we come from, with utmost passion, dedication and faith, we can be at par with the rest of the world. “I would always like to be known as Mario Cardenas from the Philippines as I offer my achievements to my country and countrymen.”  

“Dreaming plus positive actions result to success.” That is the motto of fellow multi-awarded photographer Donell Gumiran who specializes in portrait and documentary photography. A brand ambassador for Fujifilm Middle East, Donell has won quite a few of awards for his works – 17 in fact. The most notable of which include the Grand Prize at X’MO Photography Competition – MENA (2014-2015), 1st place – Al Dafra Photography Competition (2013), 1st place – Emirates Heritage – Abu Dhabi , 1st place – Sheikh Zayed Heritage and the 1st place at the Adihex (2013) photography competition. This Filipino photographer who works as a Senior Art Director in advertising has also facilitated workshops and participated in prestigious photography exhibitions. He says that he loves taking images of people, places, culture, love, pain, poverty and human drama. The fact that normal objects can be transformed into a masterpiece through his eyes is what keeps him driven in his chosen art.  

Photography competitions aside, one Filipino photographer who is very prominent in the commercial category is Chris Calumberan. One of the earliest adopters to brave doing it on his own, Chris was originally involved in web designing. His early exposure to the fashion and the advertising industry, however, has given him a good foundation for his career today. Chris works with top fashion brands, industrial companies and advertising agencies, as well as major publishing companies as a contributing photographer and writer. He has also played the role of brand ambassador for several leading photography brands, facilitating workshops and giving speeches in prestigious photography events in the country.   Though primarily an artist, Chris takes pride in being a seasoned entrepreneurial professional and shares, “Adaptability is key when you want to pursue success both in life and in business. Win a person in less than 90 seconds, first impressions are important. You never know who might be your next big client. When the going gets tough, never sweat the small stuff.”   From commercial photography to the glamorous niche of fashion, where three other Filipinos have made headway. Their works can be seen, not only on the covers of glossies in the region and beyond, but also in the campaigns of prestigious fashion houses.  

The Filipino Paolo Roversi who calls Illustrado Magazine his ‘home,’ photographer Eros Goze is known for his distinctively dramatic/edgy style and visual flair which plays up on the beauty of ‘chiaroscuro’. His works have graced countless Illustrado covers, Middle Eastern magazines, and have been used for the campaigns of regional homegrown brand Splash, as well as reputed regional and local haute couture and pret-a-porter houses. Moreover, Eros who has an uncanny gift for revealing in photos beauty that is typically unseen, has been the much-wanted photographer who has captured some of the country’s most prominent and interesting faces – from models, to fashion savants, socialites and personalities.  

Drawing from his training as a theater actor, his love for poetry and art, rising fashion photographer Jef Anog says that all that has given him “a deep appreciation for dramatic editorial images.” Amazingly accomplished at such an early stage in his career, Jef has done covers for Eluxe Magazine – Paris, MUSE Arabia, Zara’t Al Khaleej, Arabian Woman, Chance for Traveler-Autumn 2014, TvojeSvatba, Czech Rep; shoots for Forbes Woman, Velvet, Lamasat, Illustrado Magazine and Illustrado Couture. He has also photographed campaigns for Michael Cinco, Ezra Santos, Amato Couture, and Mona Al Mansouri among others.  

From the runway to being behind the lens, Alex Callueng has moved seamlessly from dabbling in ramp modelling, leaving the corporate world, to making a full time career out of photography in recent years. However recent that may be, his photography skills and winning attitude have allowed him to land choice commissions such as campaigns for luxury retailer By Symphony where he shot Alexander McQueen, YSL, Gucci, Emporio Armani and Balenciaga. His fashion editorials have also been featured in prestigious magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Grazia Middle East, Xander Magazine USA, as well as in WKND and Physique, among others. The artist shares, “I firmly believe that the greatest works come from one’s burning desire to create.”

The post Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: Outstanding Filipino Photographers appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

The Men of Michael Cinco

By Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Photo by: Eros Goze

Models: Paul Kiefer and Mauro Olguin

Shot on location at the XVA Art Hotel, Dubai

Much has been said about Michael Cinco’s women who live in a decadently elegant world all to their own, but not much about his men.  We take a look at the designers’ growing line of men’s fashion – his latest foray, inspired by the romantic Castilian style icon – the matador.

His affair with men’s fashion started a few years ago when the designer began tinkering with men’s couture styling during his collaboration with Bench Body in Manila.  Season after season, we would see a smattering of a few key pieces made for daring males when Michael Cinco would hit the runway.  He might be known for dressing up Hollywood sirens Sofia Vergara, Britnes Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Dita Von Teese, among others, but he has also garnered attention for some of his amazing pieces worn by Chris Brown and Will.I.Am.

This fashion season around, however, the designer unveils a more substantial, albeit mini-collection, that’s set to whet the appetite of his growing clientele of male fashionistas from Dubai-to-Singapore-Manila and beyond.

Inspired by the romanticism of the handsome matador, Michael Cinco Homme features an interesting assortment of tailored jackets, capes, hooded tops, and shirts matched with sleek trousers.  A focal point of the mini-collection is the richly embellished jacket which combines immaculate tailoring, classic detailing – florid forms and arabesque motifs, done in contemporary execution in the form of laser cut acrylics and rich embroidery.  Another good example of the old and the new intersecting is his industrial feel neoprene hooded cape punctuated by intricate arabesque embroidery – its veritable piece de resistance.

“Young, fresh, adventurous and is still in touch with his feminine side,” is how the designer describes the Michael Cinco man.  Certainly, his designs are not for the one-dimensional rugged male, but the multi-faceted man who is beyond raw masculinity – those who are brave enough to embrace the dramatically beautiful.

M5 Makes a Mark for the Philippines in Asian Fashion

Michael Cinco has just made a mark for the Philippines by being the first Filipino inaugurated as a member of the Asian Couture Federation, together with highly acclaimed Asian designers including Japan’s legendary Kenzo, Yumi Katsura, Junko Koshino, China’s Guo Pei, Singapore’s Frederick Lee, Indonesia’s Sebastian Kuniyawan, Korea’s Lie Sang Bong and etc.

The Asian Couture Federation or ACF is a newly formed organization based on the long-established Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. The ACF aims to provide a “platform for recognizing, promoting and nurturing the most exceptional design talent in the region”.

Missing this season’s fashion event in Dubai, where he is a regular, the designer is also set to debut at the Singapore Fashion Week on the 16^th of October, where he is set to showcase his own brand of couture alongside international greats like Alexis Mabille, Julien Fournié, Stephane Rolland, Pierre Balmain, among others.

The post Filipino Designer: The Men of Michael Cinco appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

The post From the Red Carpet and Beyond – Shots from Illustrado’s WOS 2012 Event appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Photography: Eros Goze

Hair and Make-Up: Frankie Melendez

Rowena Gungon Niduaza brought pride to the Filipino community when she won the Toastmaster Competition in the UAE in 2005. That win took her to Jordan where she competed with winners from all over the Middle East.  There, she ultimately took the top prize, and became the first Middle East representative to the 2005 Toastmasters International Convention for World Championship in Public Speaking in Toronto, Canada.

That feat seems significant enough.  In reality, however, what’s even more significant was Rowena’s triumph on another level – how her win allowed her to keep a sacred promise and mend old wounds with her family.

Rowena had a flourishing career as a design and retail professional in the emirates. Just like most career women, she was consumed by a demanding job, while juggling motherhood, her work taking much of her time from her family, especially in lieu of frequent travels.  She was stopped in her tracks when she was suddenly diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1995.  Rowena and her husband were devastated. She shares, “I prayed as I’ve never prayed before. I asked for another chance in life – to live a life more meaningful and to live with a purpose. That moment made me realize how lucky I was for having such a loving husband, wonderful kids and a beautiful life. I cried but then I thanked God for all that He had given me. Everything, including my cancer.”

Ironically, going through that difficult period, turned into a breakthrough for her. Suddenly, she was forced to look at life differently and her priorities appeared clearer.  “I realized then that the substance of life is not about [work] success, but about the little things you see every day.”

Around the same time Rowena’s father, who was estranged from the family, died all alone in the Philippines. The loss was a deep source of regret for Rowena, and it created resentment from her dad’s family.

Come her day of surgery, little did Rowena know that she was fated to experience her very own miracle. After several tests at various hospitals confirming her illness, for some reason the doctors were not able to find any cancer cells and she was declared well.

Furthermore, having been told by doctors that her ovaries have been totally damaged, she was amazed that she became pregnant with her third child after five years. Rowena declares, “A thankful heart had not only healed my cancer but had also given me another gift, another life.”  

Ecstatic that she was given a new lease on life, Rowena recounted, “I made a promise to God to share my story and His message of love. My only request from Him was to bring me where He wanted me to share that story.”

As though it were a part of a grand plan, Rowena’s opportunity to fulfill that promise came when she got into the Toastmaster championships.  Her speeches in Jordan, entitled, “Why” and “Two Words” chronicled her journey through cancer and the unfolding of blessings and gratefulness she experienced in the process.  Her words resonated so much with the audience that many wept.

The fact that a Filipina claimed the top award, in a place where Filipinas were greatly looked down upon, made the moment even more meaningful.  “I stood there as a Filipina in a place where our women were referred to as ‘kamsa-kamsa’ [meaning five-five, it is a derogatory term to mean ‘cheap’ – Ed]. It gave me tremendous satisfaction to hold my head up high and see that everybody was applauding a Filipina.”

As she accepted her award, Rowena touched her locket which contained her father’s ashes and silently promised him that her speech at the World Championship in Public Speaking would be for him.

She didn’t win the competition, but her speech “My Father” gave her the chance to say things that were not said while her father was still alive and be heard by relatives who attended the event. Rowena emerged winning so much more – reconciliation with her family.

She said, “All this time in these competitions, I never really hoped to win.  I went there to fulfill my promise – to share God’s work and mend ties with my family. And thank God that He gave me a way.”

These days, Rowena makes it a point to celebrate life each day, focusing on her family and making sure that they constantly feel her love.

The specter of cancer has revisited her once again, but Rowena who participates in a cancer support group, will not let it bring her down.  She says thoughtfully, “For me, having the cancer was an advantage.  I was given a warning. I was able to prepare myself and my loved ones and be conscious enough to live right. All of us are going to die eventually and that can happen anytime without us knowing.”

More than anything else, she’s gained, is the gift of a deeper spiritual understanding which she shares with anybody who would care to listen. “Believe that there’s always a reason, a meaning for everything… it’s just like when the wind blows…we can’t see but we can feel it.”

The post WOS 2012: Joy – Rowena Gungon Niduaza, A Voice for Gratitude appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by: Toni Loyola

Photography: Eros Goze

Hair and Make-Up: Frankie Melendez

Her gift of wisdom helped her rise beyond the status she was born with. Not one to be hampered by circumstances, Marietta Morada used her knowledge to serve and give back to the Philippine government and Filipino community here in the UAE, proving very well that other than being gifted with superior intellect, she is also blessed with a good heart.

Marietta “Ayet” Morada’s story is perhaps a common one. Born a farmer’s daughter, Ayet had to weave ‘buntal’ hats so they could put food on the table. Some of her siblings (a total of six) even had to work as helpers and seamstresses. But this poor family was gifted with a child with remarkable intelligence, something Marietta said, she got from her father.

Excelling in academics opened many doors and opportunities for Marietta. In 1964, she was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Philippine Science High School in Quezon City.  Known for its rigorous curriculum, studying at PSci meant that academic excellence was not only expected, it was demanded of it students.

For Ayet, it provided to be a conducive environment where excelled even more.

Graduating from PSci, Ayet became a full scholar at the University of the Philippines where she studied Mathematics. With her passion for knowledge and impressive credentials, many more doors opened for Ayet; this time to lucrative positions in the corporate world.

Instead of joining the private sector, Ayet decided to take a job at the Philippine National Statistics Office (NSO) in order for her to pay back the government that gave her the opportunity to finish her studies.

A big fan of numbers and having the knack for digging up and managing data, Marietta joined the said government agency as a statistician. There at the NSO, Marietta’s career flourished fuelled by her unquenchable thirst for information and knowledge. There, she also met Hector, who shared the same interest, and later became her husband.

Throughout her career, Ayet would be invited by multinational corporations and major conglomerates to join their ranks, but Ayet politely declined each time.   It was not a high profile corporate career she aspired for, but to give back in the Filipino tradition of “pagtanaw ng utang na loob”. To Ayet, being an Iskolar ng Bayan (a name given to all UP students because their tuition fees are subsidized by the government) had a deeper meaning and significance.

“I would not have been able to study if not for the help of our government. It was my time to give back.”

Marietta came to a crossroad when her husband, Hector received and decided to take a job offer in Dubai. After almost thirty years of serving the government, Ayet finally bid goodbye to the NSO. It was a fulfilling career, but she knew that in order for them to pursue their personal interests, it was time to leave Manila for Dubai.

Here in the land of gold, Marietta joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Back in 2003, when she started with the organization as researcher, she was the sole Filipino working there.  Combining talents and dedication to her job, she has risen over the years and now holds the manager position at the Data Management Center.  She has become to her colleagues an example of a true talented, respectable and hard working Filipina. Now, the 61-year old diminutive and young-looking Marietta is still an active contributor to the attainment of the objectives of the organization.

Career achievements and accolades never made Ayet forget to look back to the chances she was given and the doors that were opened for her through her education. She was always mindful of looking for ways to continue being of service to the Philippines.

In 2004 Ayet and Hector joined the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) UAE chapter and became instrumental in helping put together the organization’s constitution and by-laws, as well as supporting the club’s objective of providing scholarships to deserving underprivileged youth, and facilitating workshops and training for Filipino youth in the emirates.

The couple also serves as informal advisers to the FILCOM, the umbrella organization of the Filipino associations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Currently, the couple is also exploring projects with the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) to bring licensing exams to Filipinos in the UAE and hopefully around the world.  In the future, she dreams of establishing a Filipino club for women where Filipinas can help each other and discuss issues.

Ayet’s life and career is testament to the fact that intelligence doesn’t diminish when shared. Rather, it is multiplied a thousand fold as it opens opportunities for others who, like Ayet, chose to give back by paying it forward.

The post WOS 2012: Love for Country – Marietta Morada, The True “Iskolar ng Bayan” appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.