Entrepreneur

Former entertainment industry professional, Kristine Abante spent over a decade facilitating music releases across the region, as well as promoting the Filipino musicians in the local scene.  These days, she spearheads content creation at Sandbox Creative, collaborating with fresh creative talents to delivering high-quality marketing content for some of the UAE’s top-rated luxury hotels and high-end lifestyle brands.

Just recently, Kristine has also collaborated with TFC for a web series – the first Filipino produced mini-series in Dubai and the Middle East, as well as numerous entrepreneurs and their networks, even collaborating with social enterprise Skills 3.

Kristine says that it is a privilege to work alongside some of the best artists, content creators, and photographers in town.  “It would be nice to be thought of as a good friend and a true fan of creative work,” she says. “I would say my value would come from having helped amplify great artists and their awesome work and having helped my friends connect and collaborate, all while enjoying the process.”

Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf is Supported by: Kaya Skin Clinic,  Emirates Airline, and Unilever.

Special Thanks to Michael Cinco, Ezra Couture , Giordano, Darcey Flowers, IKON Solutions, Victors Freight, MPQ Tourism, Asia Gulf Companies –La Carne & Filfood, WOL Water

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Kristine Abante

Writer, Social Advocate

Backed with over 10 years of entertainment industry know-how, Kristine Abante heads the Sales and Marketing Department of Rhythm Records, a major distributor of music in the Middle East. And when she’s not busy marketing records, she works as a Freelance PR and contributing writer to various publications, including Illustrado and Illustrado Go. Kristine elaborates: “Steve Jobs once said that you can only connect the dots looking backwards. Although I’ve loved music all my life I’ve never really set out to pursue a career in Music or PR, it all just sort of fell into place because I followed my interests, one thing led to another and here I am.”

Kristine is regarded as major force in promoting Filipino talents in the local music scene. This is despite the industry being predominantly male-driven.  Of this challenge, she says: “I think coming to work every day being the only lady in a den of men or going into meetings where the decision makers would most often be men and still manage to get my voice heard and put forward solutions is always a proud moment.”

As someone who is a believer of social justice and helps with causes that genuinely matter to her, Kristine wants to be recognized as someone who dared to use her voice in making a difference, no matter the cause – but she still encourages levity. In her own words: “learn to listen more and try to understand where others are coming from instead of just insisting on your own point of view. Know your worth and never compromise yourself.  Take it easy and have fun. Life is so short!”

Photo by Alex Callueng; Photography Assistant – Bethoven Filomeno Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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By Kristine Abante

For someone who grew up in the 90’s grunge era, my fashion sense will probably never go beyond ripped jeans and a clean white shirt. Okay, maybe you can include wedge shoes, sneakers, a boho blouse, a black dress, Ray-Ban’s and the staple plaid, but that’s pretty much my standard range. Think Winona Ryder in Reality Bites and I won’t even have to show you my closet.

In fact, I have not really paid much attention to what’s in season had it not been for Carrie Bradshaw and a younger gay cousin who was only too happy to introduce me to Vogue magazine and people like Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen and Oscar dela Renta as his way of coming out.

Now that we’ve got the disclaimers out of the way, I want to be able to say that I as I grew older, despite my fashion range remaining stagnant, I have developed a certain appreciation for designers and people who work behind the curtains of the fashion industry.

Sure Gigi Hadid and perfect 10 models may have poked at my insecurities on more than one occasion, but pouring over fashion magazine spreads and looking at confident women (and men) donning crazy outfits, I have come to accept the fact that the fashion world in essence is this one giant fantasy world as colorful, as bizarre, and perhaps a thousand times more cutthroat and obscene than the one Alice found down the rabbit hole.

After getting dragged into a couple of fashion events by insider friends here in Dubai  it further dawned on me that this thing they call Fashion didn’t have to make sense in the way that we, the uninitiated muggles of the MRT or the Dubai Metro, expect it to make sense.

A Non-Fashionista ’s Take on Fashion

Much like art, the beauty of fashion and fashion statements lay in the expression, and in the subjectivity, measured in the amount of guts you have in you to show off a chunk of your personality to the outside world.

Unfortunately, I think growing up in the Philippines, where “pamimintas” is a national sport, and where one could easily draw raised eyebrows by wearing clothes that would not be deemed “appropriate” for the streets, the weather or your body type, did not exactly help cultivate our individual “fashion sense” but I would say things are slowly looking up.

Thanks to the new breed of outrageously talented Pinoy designers like Michael Cinco, Furne One, Rocky Gathercole, Monique Lhuiller who have in recent years put us on the international map as far as the industry is concerned.

Thanks to social media and millennial kids who  have brought a whole new game of style to the table with their  fashion blogs, their curated Instagram feeds and their avalanche of hashtags  #flatlays, #ootd, and #dapper.

Nowadays, it seems anyone can just have go at fashion. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a size 2 and don’t have flawless skin – that’s what filters are for. There is no need for runways, just own that bolero jacket and push na yan, rampa everywhere ate gurl! 

Looking around it does seem like more Pinoy’s are finally becoming more fashion conscious, though certainly still a far cry from people you would see on the streets of Paris, Milan or Shibuya Crossing, one could a see little bit of awareness on trends, with more ordinary people wearing dresses and scarves, and lesser judgment thrown at those who wear boots and have pink hair.

With the world spiraling out of control and with so many important issues of the day, sometimes putting too much thought on a skirt would seem like a crime. Sure it’s not going to reverse the effects of climate change or end world hunger, but it might help make your day go by a little better, perhaps if you’re lucky, help land that dream job or get asked out by your crush on a date, then maybe in that sense fashion has its merits.

At the end of the day, I would still say fashion is just a game where we all get to play dress up and feel good about ourselves. The moment we take it too seriously is the moment we fall into that trap of a fashion victim.

So while not all of us have the same amount of courage as Bjork wearing a Swan dress on the red carpet, we should at least appreciate a well-coordinated outfit and work towards our own personal styles whatever that maybe, whether that involves a boring cardigan sweater or a five-inch Louboutin heels, that’s all on you.  Now go ahead and take that elevator selfie.

…………………

KRISTINE ABANTE

An entertainment industry expert who spends her downtime looking for the next great adventure wherever she could find it, Kristine uses her writing to relive her experiences twice and to encourage others to join the ride.

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The post A Non-Fashionista ’s Take on Fashion appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

There are many reasons why solo travel for women, especially for pint-sized Pinays like me, can be less popular or a bit more of a challenge for those wanting to spread her wings and explore the great beyond.

Raised in a country that values community over independence, with most parents usually overprotective of their girls (And for a good reason, particularly if you lived in Manila where there is always that 50-50 percent chance of falling prey to the next scammer) being an independent traveler is not exactly encouraged in the Philippines. But as with any kind of exploration, the rewards almost always outweigh the risks.

There is something extraordinarily exhilarating and powerfully liberating about heading out into the unknown on your own.

I realize that long before the release of Eat, Pray, Love and the popularity of “travel-while-your-single” blogs, I have often ventured out by myself.

It started with short trips, like going to the bookstore or the mall at age 11, progressing from short walks, to taking jeepneys, trains, and then one day, discovering the so-called Partas bus line in Cubao that would let me travel as far North as I wanted to be.

There is still nothing quite like the feeling of waking up to a bus load of strangers after an 8-hour bus ride, on a crispy morning and having a century-old rustic city like Vigan in Ilocos Sur laid out before you like a gift waiting to be opened. 

My very first trip abroad was a company sponsored press tour of Macau. I asked my boss if I could extend my trip to explore Hong Kong on my own.  Again, I’ll never forget the excitement of having to find my way to the budget hostel that I booked, tucked in the inner city streets with a tattoo parlor downstairs. I hauled my luggage onto the old-school elevator the size of a fridge and checked in on a room that seemed custom-built for my size.

At 20 years old, alone in a foreign land, I felt like I was being born again, the world was fresh and ripe with every kind of possibility. For a moment I was free from the judgment and the requirements of others.

Years later, after a couple more solo trips, I would find myself hauling my luggage once again, this time on the steps of the Metro in Paris and eventually finding my way to mini café sipping French wine and celebrating my decade-long declaration of independence.

Sure there are benefits in traveling with a group of friends, and seeing the Eiffel tower with the love-of-your-life must be the stuff of our Hollywood romcom daydreams come true, but I would still suggest women in their prime to go out of their comfort zones every once in a while and dare to experience the world like nothing else.

And before you launch into Les Miserables-level of self-pity and start pretending that “he is beside you”, consider for a moment the perks of traveling on your own.

Top 5 things you get from traveling on your own:

1. Your schedule (and your life) is your own. When you travel alone, you don’t need to adjust to the expectations of others. You don’t have to be somewhere at 8am if you don’ t want to.  You can sit in a park bench for as long as you like or go have a drink with a complete stranger without anyone telling you (except your inner intuition) not to.

2. You learn to rely on yourself. Self-sufficiency is key when traveling solo. Planning your itinerary, being responsible for your own safety, getting lost and finding your way – these are things that you are forced to master, and these skills will come in handy at any situation later on in life.

3. You learn to enjoy your own company. Lots of people are uncomfortable sitting by themselves, or eating alone by themselves. I am not one of those.  By traveling solo, I learned to enjoy a good cup of coffee on my own, or take a walk down quietly in a beautiful city alone with my thoughts. Often we are too crowded with our connections with other people that sometimes it is good to be reacquainted with yourself, and find solace in knowing that YOU are enough.

4. You get to meet other people. Traveling on your own doesn’t mean being lonely. In fact, most times it runs the opposite. Without the constraints of a group or a significant other, armed with anonymity, you can easily open up to strangers or even fellow travelers and have the most amazing time with them. A great way to explore a new place is meeting locals and sharing the experience.

5. You become more interesting.  I believe that when you travel solo, you get to have more “take-aways”.  Aside from the knick-knacks and fridge magnets you bring home, traveling adds to you, your soul, your personality, your history. You get to have more interesting anecdotes at dinner conversations, more stories to tell your spouse or your boyfriend, your future kids and grandchildren.  You actually get to own memories that belong only to you and that are yours to keep forever.

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Find more travel articles on Illustrado Life.

The post Solo Travel: On my Own appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

By Kristine Abante

“Single. There’s a certain dignity to it”, goes a line from an old 90’s cult movie favorite, but this quote is especially challenged during the holidays, when the temperature starts to drop, love is in the air again and you start to notice that snuggling in bed with your comforter watching silly rom-com movies just doesn’t seem to be enough to compensate for the general lack of body warmth around you.

And if you’re Filipino, it’s the time of year when there’s no escaping the myriad of Christmas parties and family reunions that will bring you face-to-face to that 98% chance of being asked the dreaded holiday question – where is your significant other? Or when are you getting married?

It can come out loud from your old pesky uncle who has had way too many San Miguels, or your very concerned Tita, your recently married friend, or it can be a discreet look of pity from those who are already too embarrassed to ask you for the nth time (like your Mom) but make no mistake about it, the question will come up.

The truth is whether it bothers you or not, whether you care enough to admit it, being on your own during coupledom’s peak season is not an easy task, but there is definitely a silver lining to it all and that is – “Hindi ka nag-iisa, gurl (or boy)!”

There are plenty of certified SMP (Samahan ng mga Malalamig ang Pasko) members out there.

We talked to some of our fabulous Filipino singles on how they cope with being on their own during the holidays.

Affected much?

Danabelle Gutierez, a writer based in Dubai who recently published her collection of love poems “I Long to Be the River” says that sometimes she feels she’s like the last single person on earth, but other times it doesn’t matter.

“I have been single for 11 Christmases. This Christmas would be the twelfth. Honestly there have been more Decembers where I don’t even think about it. I mean, sure, it would be nice to drink hot chocolate, cuddle up next to someone by the fireplace in a log cabin, while it snows outside, but I live in Dubai so there’s a slim chance to that fantasy. “

“My best survival tip is to live your life, surround yourself with the best people, eat all the best food, and make good art. If you’re a writer, write. If you’re a painter, paint. Whatever medium it is that you use, just make good stuff, and keep doing it”, adds Danabelle.

Admittedly a hopeful romantic, Dubai-based marketing Exec Kate Narvaez opens up on her holiday blues. “It bothers me sometimes spending weekends alone or going out to a club or a restaurant with friends and not have someone hold your hand, dance with you, or just generally be cheesy with. I’m used to being single, holidays or not, but I have to admit it would really be good to meet someone special, someone for keeps.”

The good and the bad

Betsy Vergara, a Finance consultant based in New York shares that there are two sides to the coin, the best and worst part.

“One of the perks of being single during the holidays is the element of openness to spontaneity. If you are a willing subject, you never know what’s in store for you during random invites to parties with other single friends. There’s also that freedom of doing the things that YOU would feel like doing, no need to please others. You can have one year that crazy/busy/crawl back to your apartment tired and hung over, and the next year, you can be a total hermit. You can do what your heart pleases.”

“The worst part is the constant reminder that you are not in a relationship. The Christmas events that are solely targeted for couples. Seeing coupledom PEAK everywhere esp. during the holidays, in the parks, restaurants, movies, in media. I mean EVERYWHERE!”

“Honestly we all have the tendency to crave affection from a beloved, but there’s no need to feel alone. As for me, I live in New York, where as they say ‘anything can happen’, so you never know, I’d rather enjoy and be optimistic,” Betsy adds.

Yvette Camba, a self-confessed scrooge who works for Emirates Airline also shares the sentiment. “I like the freedom and it doesn’t really bother me, but being surrounded by couples doing all sorts of PDA (public display of affection) sometimes gets to you. I suppose they’re entitled to that. For the most part it’s just irritating when you get asked all the time about ‘why are you single?’ like it’s not allowed, or it’s such a crime to be on your own. Otherwise I love December, the nice weather, the jolly vibe, minus the traffic and freakish consumerism, I enjoy the joie the vivre feeling it brings. ”

Fight for your right to party

Jake Javellana 31, video editor, who has been single since he moved to the UAE says that he’s immune to all the holiday coupledom stress.

“I enjoy it (being single) to a certain degree, since you can do what you want and you don’t have to consider anyone in making decisions. The best part would be the feeling of being free. I am not that bothered since I am not big on holidays to begin with. I try to be more outgoing, meet people or I take up a new hobby so I will be busy.”

Mackie Andres, 27, a sound engineer based in Manila also tries to take it easy and gets by his single status through tongue-in-cheek jokes.

“How long have I been single? As the Air Supply song goes: ‘All My Life.’ I don’t really enjoy it, but hey the best part is no drama, of course, there’s also no love! Haha! Anyway, look at all the food this Christmas!”

“If I could ask Santa for one thing this year it would be for this girl I like who is now online on Facebook to stop ignoring me. As much as I want to start a chat with her, I’m stopping myself because I know I will just be ‘seen-zoned’,” he says with a laugh.

Support groups and shopping priorities

Chai Boiles, 38, who broke up last Christmas with a long-term partner opens up about celebrating this Christmas alone.

“Do I enjoy it? Yes and no. Yes, kase may mga friends and sisters naman ako dito sa Dubai, so I have a good support group. The best part is that I don’t have to worry about buying a Christmas present for the boyfriend, tipid diba? Of course, you also miss the tight hugs, nothing is better than having someone to hug during the cold months and if I can ask Santa for anything, I want a husband!”

Ella Sison, 31, a chef based in New Zealand shares the same sentiment on the relief of not having to think about presents.

“Sometimes kasi you feel that your “obligado” to give them nice expensive gifts during Christmas, at least now that I’m single I don’t need to think about it. The best part is being free from commitments, but I have to admit there are nights when you just allow yourself to wallow in the loneliness.”

“The best survival tip is to keep yourself busy, be happy and love yourself even more. If you’re up to it, there’s plenty of dating apps you can check out. Of course it’s nice to have someone special, but at the moment I’d rather focus on my career more than anything else.”

Escaping the blues

If being single means not being committed to anyone, happy traveler and now Boracay-based, Christine Consas shares her fair share of being alone.

“I have been single for 6 years and 10 Christmases, not counting my non-committal 2-year relationship. I travelled with him first see how it goes and then I finally decided to go on my own, go home and pick up the pieces.”

“It’s great to be home for the holidays, I’ve been away for so long that it feels good to be surrounded by happy people and people who love you, you realize there’s really no reason to despair, everything will fall into place at the right time.

Make-up artist and Emirates Airline staff Erl Daguplo who has been single for 5 years says that it takes a brave woman to suck it all in.

“I’m enjoying the independence, but inggit strikes when you see all these sweet couples. For me, I normally cope with the holiday blues by using my travel perks to backpack to a faraway land and just get away from it all.”

While travelling may allow you to escape the hassle of dealing with the holiday blues, cabin crew Joanna Ardiente, who gets to fly all over the world for her job thinks it’s also what’s keeping her from not finding a stable relationship.

“For the most part I’m not that bothered to be single during holidays. This job has saved me from heartaches and
going crazy but I must admit I do get a bit jealous, like when you gather up with friends, and you’re the only single person in the group there’s that moment when you start comparing yourself to them and thinking about how lucky they are while you sit there and wonder why you can’t have the same thing? Of course, you also start to realize that it’s better to stay single and wait for the right guy rather than just find someone less ideal to cozy up with, just because it’s the holidays.”

Wishing, waiting and choosing to be happy

Mykhel Reyes, IT professional based in Dubai is the single guy who doesn’t mind the wait. “I believe that in everything you do, you have to be intentional. During this holiday season, you can choose to be happily single, and you can also chose to love. For me, I already found the perfect girl it’s been three years since I’ve known her. I’m holding out for her because I love her and when you love someone you don’t just stop.”

For the girls who are also in the waiting line, Mykhel has this to say – “Remember you are WOW – Woman of Worth – worth pursuing, worth caring for, worth the wait.”

In the end, being single during the holidays is not so much about being alone as to opposed to feeling alone. Being alone may or may not be your choice but the truth is you really have no reason to feel alone.

So chin up, put on that warm smile, face the Christmas music and get ready to give and receive a dozen holiday hugs from the people who thinks you are a wonderful adorable person, albeit still single.

Read also: Holiday Survival Tips for Singles

The post Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Being Single During the Holidays appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

What is the city known for?  

Aside from the obvious ones like the beautiful network of canals we often see in postcards, the impressive and well-oiled bike culture, and the deliciously addictive stroopwaffels, I would say Amsterdam is unique because here, you can enjoy a kind of freedom and open-mindedness that you will not easily find anywhere else. 

It is also normal here to find sex museums alongside traditional business establishments, which is a rare sight especially for someone who currently lives in the Middle East.

I love the impressive architecture and the art scene. The city is home to the Van Gogh Museum and the museum that houses the works of Rembrandt, the Rijks museum. And of course, there is the old house that kept Anne Frank and her family safe during the Nazi occupation of the city.

You come to Amsterdam to open your mind.

How to get there? Where to stay?

I don’t prefer planning my trips through travel agencies and signing up for group tours and the likes because I like the freedom of owning my itinerary. I am also a “surprise me” kind of person, so there’s really very little planning in terms of my daily activities. There are lots of apps and websites that can help you find your way around the city and give you advice on accommodations and other travel-related stuff.

Flights to Europe via Emirates usually cost between AED2,500 to AED3,000. To find the cheapest plane ticket prices, you can check a website called Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.net), which also has an app version.

I actually came to Amsterdam by train after arriving at Dusseldorf from the UAE. I passed by Germany because my Schengen visa was issued by the German embassy. It is easy to apply through VSF Global at Wafi Mall. You can find all the requirements on their website.

The train to Amsterdam from Dusseldorf costs about EUR30 or AED120. There is a very helpful site where you can easily plan your itinerary via any mode of transportation anywhere you want to go in the world: https://www.rome2rio.com. The website will also give you cost, timings and links.

For accommodations, I found this wonderful apartment at Airbnb. It was my first time to try the service, and I have to say it was such a great experience that I might never book a hotel room again. I paid less than the rate of a hotel room for an apartment that I shared with 3 of my friends; it was only EUR170 per night. We had the apartment all to ourselves, and it was conveniently located 5 minutes away from Central. We were allowed to cook our meals, wash our clothes, and have mini parties, so long as we keep the house in order. The host was also thoughtful enough to leave us with guidebooks and plenty of tips on how to make the most out of our trip. For five days, we felt what it was like to truly live like a local in Amsterdam.

Any must-do’s or must-see’s? What’s the city’s best-kept secret?

For must-see’s, I would suggest taking the canal cruise. It will take you around the city’s famous canal network and you will see everything from the boat, and a tour guide will accompany you on this pleasant one-hour ride.

Being a huge Van Gogh fan, my personal favorite must-see is the Van Gogh Museum. Seeing his artworks up-close was some kind of a spiritual experience. We also found a hole-in-the-wall dive bar in Amsterdam Central named ‘The Doors,’ after the great Jim Morrison. The Doors Café is like a mini-shrine for rock ‘n’ roll fans; it plays great music, and you’re free to do other things, like smoke. If you know what I mean.

How to Dress?

Dress comfortably. Amsterdam is the land of freedom, and people don’t really care what you wear. Just check the weather report before choosing your OOTD.

What to bring? What to avoid?

Bring enough euros and see how far your baon can take you. J An umbrella would be handy, especially if you don’t like getting wet by the rain. It drizzled often during our stay.

Avoid bringing back illegal substances. Even if they look harmless and are sold freely in Amsterdam, they can get you in trouble elsewhere, most especially in the UAE.

Also, if you can avoid bringing a big luggage, please do so. This is especially important if you want to go cross-country via trains. Travel as light as you can. Believe me, I learned this the hard way.

Overall, going to Amsterdam was such an enlightening, incredible experience. Personally, this trip changed me in a lot of ways. It challenged my views and expanded my way of thinking—it’s great for the soul. But if you’re not up for the deep end and you’re just after taking selfies, you can’t go wrong with Amsterdam because this place is very Instagram-perfect.

The post Filipino Traveler: Kristine Abante in AMSTERDAM appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

By Kristine Abante

Photo credits: Mark Ganzon

Antwerp, a city known for its diamond trade, revealed to me during an unplanned visit that it was also hiding other gems like Christian Van Maele.

It was an unusually cold summer day when we arrived at the private viewing of Filipino-Belgian painter Christian Van Maele’s solo exhibition.

Christian met us at a beautifully ornate 18^th century train station after he finished his shift at a nearby restaurant. From there, we navigated the eerily empty streets lit by the setting sun and headed towards an art gallery called “Life is Art.” His paintings were currently on exhibit there, and he himself invited me and my friends to a private viewing. It is not everyday that one gets invited by the artist himself to see his show, so we four Pinoy tourists from Dubai counted ourselves lucky.

Turning the key of the gallery’s door, he ushered us into a doorway that led to a fascinating private world made of waking dreams and quiet, fragile reflections.

THE ARTIST

Christian Van Maele was born and raised in Belgium, in a city called Tielt in West Flanders. He has a younger sister named Catherine, and they got their Filipino roots from their mother.

He took up Fine Arts in college, and in 2010, earned his Masters degree in painting from Saint Lucas College in Antwerp.

He currently works at a restaurant near the art gallery where he was exhibiting, a day job that he was keeping so he can pay the bills. At the same time, the job’s flexibility affords him more time to spend on pursuing his craft.

Low-key and reserved, he coyly shared with me his inclination towards the arts, and explained why he would rather be referred to as a ‘painter’ instead of an ‘artist.’

“I cannot say why I am an artist. Partly because I feel like an outsider, and perceiving the world as an artist helps me to better function in it. But I actually prefer telling people that I’m a painter rather than I’m an artist. The response I receive, in general, is more down-to-earth, and I like it that way.”

Inspired by the works of Abstract Expressionists such as Clyfford Still, Christian is fascinated by the vibrancy, aura, and storytelling abilities of Abstract Expressionism.

“It’s like when you’re looking at the clouds and they affect your imagination. It’s about finding something, or someone, valuable and bringing that experience into your own private world. Or, maybe it’s the exact opposite, like when you experience life as a hollow walkthrough.”

“I exclusively do oil paintings because I like the idea of playing with its inherent cultural background and harnessing its power in creating a dialogue. I actually sit on the canvas—this allows me to merge myself with the medium. When I paint, it’s like I don’t have skin. I am both methodical and trusting of my feelings.”

THE PROCESS

The exhibit, called ‘Better Than Heaven,’ is Christian’s fourth solo exhibition.

It all started in 2011 when he replied to an ad about an art program opening in Brussels. That same year, he had his first solo exhibition in CC Strombeek in Grimbergen entitled, ‘Extramuros (Are you a dreamer or part of the dream?)’.

The following year, he had another solo show called ’Extramuros (Field recordings)’ which was held in Wijkbureau Mannenstraat, Leuven.

His third one, called ‘Cavities,’ was held in Life is Art, the same gallery where he took us to see ‘Better Than Heaven.’

“When I learned that I was invited to do the new show, I had about eight months to prepare. I was interested in letting the first selection of art pieces come to me as organically as possible, and I employed the same kind of strategy that I use when I paint: I conceptualize the art space as a soon-to-be painted surface.”

“The first paintings that were chosen to be included in the show (‘Bonnie Pink,’ ‘All of the Lights’ and ‘Blackpool’) eventually defined the flow of the artworks. I ended the show with a mural painting; I made it three weeks prior to the opening night.”

Christian said that in retrospect, he realized that the works he selected to include in the exhibit tell more about the pivotal points in his artistic process and the choices he made in order to move forward.

THE EXHIBIT

Moving through the gallery, one could sense that his paintings evoked a guarded vulnerability. Some of them seem too personal, but at the same time, they were also universal. Relatable ideas were portrayed, like love.

“My paintings have to do with falling in and out of love. Many of my new paintings from this year, I have yet to put up on my blog because they are just too personal. Therefore, I am obligated to seek out a different approach in order for me to be okay with making these works available to the public.”

Unlike other artists who, either consciously or unconsciously, evoke some kind of affinity to their national identity, Christian does not consider his artworks to be exclusively Belgian or Filipino, nor European or Asian.

“To be honest, I don’t think about the audience. It’s all about working from feeling. In my case, identifying as a citizen of a particular country is irrelevant.”

There was a small painting in the exhibit that has grown on me; it was called ‘I Used to Be the One.’ It depicts an underworld of large walls lit up by candles, and in the middle, stands a solitary lonely soul. It was very heavy, the brushstrokes especially, and the colors have a poisonous quality to them. And the way the piece faced the entire exhibit brought a certain wholeness to it. It completely caught me off guard. In the end, I realized that the smallest painting in the exhibit was also the most powerful.

SUPERHERO DREAMS

You can say that his self-awareness and grounded sensitivity that were honed by daily struggles with the mundane made Christian’s artworks unique and intensely appealing.

Christian narrated how he once liberated mandatory uniforms made from paper hats by turning them into art pieces that, if pieced together, could make for a graphic novel.

“The restaurant where I work regularly gets inspected on hygiene, which is normal. But a year ago, it was proposed that all employees had to wear disposable paper hats, which arguably isn’t necessary for the work that I do, which is doing the dishes and taking care of the tables and coffee machines. Regardless, I went with it for four months. And almost immediately after being issued the paper hats, I started drawing on them using a ballpoint pen. I thought it was a creative way of showing some of my interests. Having to deal with a company uniform, you would consciously want to make your individuality noticeable. I eventually dedicated a blog to those drawings.”

Christian told me about the importance of hard work and self-belief in pursuing a craft.

“As a painter, I act on dreams. But above all, it takes a lot of believing to truly paint. I imagine the painter as a superhero, a person who stands for love, and at the same time, does not belong to anyone.”

Indeed, his daily alter ego reminds me of superheroes: the double life they live, and how they are often characterized by a sense of both wonder and isolation, a theme that is prevalent in a lot of Christian’s paintings.

I left the gallery with a sense of wonder, because, surprisingly, in the middle of many valuable pieces, I discovered a hidden, priceless gem.

Follow Christian Van Maele on his blog to see more of his works : https://casmo28.wordpress.com or check out the exhibit at http://www.lifeisart.be/christian-van-maele/

Check out other Filipino artists here –

The post Life is Art: Filipino-Belgian Painter Christian Van Maele appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

By Kristine Abante

“Not all who wander are lost”, goes a line from Kach Medina’s travel blog quoting the great J.R.R. Tolkien, a fitting phrase that closely depicts this brave and bold Filipina adventurer’s unusual journey to the top.

Making it in the Middle East

A graduate of the University of the Philippines, Katrina (Kach) Medina moved to Kuwait in 2009 to join her OFW father soon after finishing her Economics degree. Articulate and dedicated, she easily got hired to join the Quality Assurance Department of a major Dental Company. From there she worked her way up, and in 2012 she left Kuwait for a high-paying job as Communications Manager in an oil and gas company in Kurdistan, Iraq.

After four years in the corporate ladder, she had a car, her own flat, and real estate investments in her name all at a ripe young age of 24. Most people, especially fellow kabayans would say that she is a success story, but somehow she did not feel accomplished. Something was missing, a sense of fulfillment, a void that cannot be filled by a 5-digit salary and daily luxuries.

She dreamed to be free, and so she went on doing just that. In what her parents and close friends would consider an unprecedented move, she left her very stable corporate life for a life on the road. Where will it lead and how far will she have to go, she didn’t have a clue at the time, all she knows was that she was ready for change.

“I began to realize that what I really wanted to do was to travel, to be completely free of work and schedules. To know that I could go anywhere in the world and not just survive, but thrive.

My peers and colleagues told me I was crazy to waste the opportunities I had. After all, how many 24 year-old women, Filipinas, had the chances and the life I had?”

Quitting the 9-5 in Iraq

Her journey started back in 2012 soon after she joined a group of “couchsurfers” on a visit to Armenia. Inspired by their long-term backpacking lifestyle, she started doing her own research and preparations.

“I read a lot travel blogs and picked up tips from long-term travelers and experienced bloggers as I tried to map out my itinerary. I also started saving money. I was never a fan of unnecessary things like designer clothes, handbags or expensive coffee. There was no big nightlife scene in Iraq, so I never really had to to spend much money to go out partying. It didn’t take long for meto finally decide to hand in my resignation.”

In May 2013, I left Iraq, and headed home to the Philippines where I planned to start my backpacking tour of South East Asia.”

Surviving, Thriving in South East Asia

The initial plan was to tour around South East Asia for 6 months. So after her 10-day trip to the Philippines, her colorful journey began.

She traveled to Vietnam with her siblings at first and then later moved around Cambodia and Thailand on her own.

“Traveling was everything I had wanted it to be and more.  I went to places and saw things I had never seen before; the good, the bad and the completely weird!  I tasted new food (a lot of it!), had amazing new experiences and met loads of awesome people.”

One of these people was a 28-year old British guy, Jonathan Howe, who had also quit his steady job in the UK, given away his possessions and begun a new life on the road.

“We met in Luang Prabang, Laos. He was easy to talk to and we seem to have very similar thoughts and ideas. You could say we were kindred spirits but we were on different itineraries and so inevitably we went our separate ways,” Kach recalls of her first meeting with Jon.

She continued traveling on her own for next 2 months through Cambodia and Thailand, until she came to a pit stop.

Three months in her new nomad lifestyle she decided to sign up for a month-long yoga retreat in Ko Phangan Island to re-assess her lifestyle choices.

“I tried to understand what it was I really wanted to do in life and contemplate if my father was indeed right in saying that I was just having a quarter-life crisis.”

The retreat came to an end as she was approaching her 25^th birthday, and then she got a message from Jon.

“I had actually kept in touch with the British guy from Luang Prabang, who was now living and working in Hanoi.  He asked me to come back to Hanoi for a motorbike trip around North Vietnam. “

With no specific plan on hand, she decided to just book a ticket to Vietnam anyway, thinking that a big motorbike trip had been on her bucket list for a long time, so this was her chance. The supposed two-week visit got extended as she and Jon got to know each other better and she ended up living and working in Hanoi for the next 7 months.

“Having been living in Vietnam for a few months, we started planning our next big trip – a three year long around-the-world work and holiday adventure.“

To be able to travel far and long, they realized they needed to prioritize sustainability.

“We both needed to save as much as possible in order to travel for at least a few months without working. Jonathan was already teaching English in a private school and took on extra work.  I decided to get my TEFL certificate so that I could teach as well.  I started teaching 1 on 1 English classes to adults as well as children in local schools. I took on a part time marketing job in a Western company and even joined a Vietnamese reality TV show!”, shares Kach.

Check out other global destinations through the account of fellow Filipinos!

India, Maldives and the UK

From South East Asia, Kach and Jon then spent three months travelling all over India. While in India, both them decided to invest some time and money to become certified yoga teachers and Ayurveda Massage Therapists.

“We have both been practicing yoga for some time, so we thought, why not make a living out of it?  Yoga is constantly growing in popularity across the globe and almost everyone loves a really good massage!”

Aside from picking up new skills, they also took on odd jobs to support themselves.

“We have volunteered to help out in bars and restaurants in exchange for free food. We wrote reviews and did some marketing for Hotels in exchange cheaper accommodation.”

It all helped to stretch their budget further. It was this kind of thinking and experience that led them to discover Help Exchange, a website where you can find volunteer work in exchange for free food and accommodation. In their free time they explored, arranged yoga classes and massages for extra income.

As a reward for all their hard work and ingenuity, they went on a week holiday in the Maldives and then spent three weeks in the UK to meet Jon’s family before flying out to South America.

South America and beyond

After meeting Jon’s lovely parents in the UK, the couple was back on the road, this time headed to the Peruvian Andes and the grand Macchu Pichu. Kach pushed the boundaries of her Pinay passport and discovered that it is not that difficult to get a visa in most of South America.

“We took on a job in a hostel surrounded by mountains and Incan Ruins, in exchange for food and lodging.  After some time we decided to settle for another 6 months in Arequipa, Southern Peru where we again took on freelance teaching jobs and set up our own Yoga and Massage business. 

You could say life is perfect. We ate well, ran yoga classes for the soul seekers and healed people’s aching bodies with Ayurveda massage therapy.”

Two Monkeys finding Love

Kach shares that she didn’t really expect to find love or at least she wasn’t really thinking of meeting a life partner while travelling.

“I actually left Middle East broken-hearted so I told myself that I was going to enjoy this trip and learn to love myself fully. When I met Jon in Laos, I didn’t think we would end up travelling the world together.

I dont know how to explain it might sound like a cliché but love will come to you when you’re not looking for it and it will be just at the right time. The best thing with Jon is that we have the same vision, and like me he was free of commitments when we met, so we started planning our life together.”

Kach and Jon started blogging and documenting their experience, sharing travel tips and basically inspiring other travelers to get on with their travel dreams. They called themselves the Two Monkeys.

It’s been more than a year of travelling and the Two Monkeys are going strong with a successful blog visit www.twomonkeystravelgroup.com that has gone viral in so many places. Today the blog has taken a life of its own, with contributors from all over the world, and sponsors and advertisers that help them raise some money for their next travel plans.

The two have such lofty goals. First they want to be able to complete their journey around the world by traveling into all of the seven continents, including an ambitious trek to the southern edge – Antarctica.

First Pinay Backpacker in Antarctica

If ever, Kach will be the first Filipina backpacker to reach the South Pole.

“I’ve been doing my research about Filipina Travelers going to Antarctica and I have not come across anybody yet. I know there are already a lot of Filipinos who have been there but most of them are working in cruise ships.

We are targeting to go this year in November, so I’m not sure if there will be other Filipinas who will reach there before I do, but maybe I can be the first one who does it during my long-term backpacking adventure. It’s kind of a challenge for me, and of course I’m excited about seeing penguins!” adds Kach.

Travel fans from around the world are at awe of her achievements, especially Filipinos who thought a travelling around the world was something that is reserved for the rich or for foreign passport holders lucky enough to have less visa restrictions.

For Kach, the sky is the limit, and as long as they both have the enthusiasm she is determined to reach for their dreams.

“Now, after almost 2 years of being on the road, I’m just living my life to the fullest. We might not own a car, a house, or a ‘respectable career’ but our story has so far taken us beyond our expectations. All we have now are our 15-kilo backpacks and ourselves, brimming with optimism and vision that don’t seem possible in our old lives.”

After conquering Antartica, Kach and Jon are aiming to set up a Yoga retreat resort in the Philippines in 2018 that will welcome and hire travelers as well as people hoping to learn from their experience.

Want to settle abroad? Check out our Filipino expat guide!

Top 10 Tips for Backpackers

1. Learn to Prioritize. Figure out where travel rests in your list of priorities in life and identify which kind of traveler you are. You can either be a weekend warrior, who travels to get away from the pressures of work, a luxury traveler who likes to be comfortable, or an adventurous backpacker who can take it as comes. Knowing yourself and being honest about your priorities makes it easier to decide on the next steps.

2. Map out an Itinerary. Contrary to what most people think, most successful backpackers are adept in planning the logistics of their journey. There is a lot of room for spontaneity and fun in between, but to be able to sustain a life on the road you need to have plan that will help you maximize your resources.

3. Start a travel fund. Save, save, save. This tip goes hand in hand with determining your priorities, but whether international travel or some other dream beckons, one needs to be financially secure and independent. Money is fuel, the more you save the farther you can go.

4. Learn as much as you can about the places you want to visit so you can make most out of your time there. There are so many available resources online that you can consult. Learn from other travelers. Kach and Jon’s travel blog www.travelmonkeysgroup.com for one is a great resource.

5. Pack light. Baggage wears you down. To be free you need to let go of your attachment to a full wardrobe. Sometimes a jacket, a pair of jeans, a dress, 2 pairs of shoes and a bikini is all you need.

6. Be open to experiences. Talk to people. As Filipinos we are not very fond of small talk. Even in public transport like the jeepney, people rarely ever get friendly, but this shouldn’t be the case on the road. Take advantage of your friendly easy-going Filipino personality. Smile and the world will smile with you, not to mention offer you a ride or if you’re lucky a place to crash.

7. Keep learning. While you’re on the road, never stop aiming for self improvement. If there are opportunities to learn something new, speak a new language, learn yoga, henna painting, beer brewing, surfing, etc. – whatever floats your boat. You are never too old to learn, and who knows these skills can be useful too!

8. Find a ‘raket’ to earn. Don’t be afraid of menial tasks. Bartending, massage therapy, dog-sitting, housekeeping, if it’s flexible enough to let you earn while exploring, then go for it, more ‘rakets,’ more fun!

9. Celebrate milestones and treat yourself. Life on the road is not always easy, it can also mean hard work, but if you’re dedicated there is no reason not to achieve your goals. You climbed Mount Everest? Great! You learned to ride a motor bike? Good for you. Big or small, celebrate your milestones and find time to treat yourself.

10. Pay it forward and share your experiences. Sharing is caring as they say, and the more you share the more you will be rewarded. Traveling will reward with you a treasure trove of stories, anecdotes and tips that people can relate too and learn from. Share your stories and inspire the next backpacker.

Read more inspiring travel stories on Illustrado Life.

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