Filipino New York: My Pinoy Life in The Big Apple 

By Mikko Lazaro

 I’ve always been an avid traveler, and one of the cities that I have visited which became my favorite is New York.  In fact I used to visit New York about three times a year since 2010.  In December 2014, I decided to stay permanently in the Big Apple to re-focus my career in healthcare.

I lived in Dubai working in the insurance industry, prior to moving to New York.  Working in insurance was something I stumbled into when I took my chance overseas.  After seven years in that industry though, I felt I needed to go back to practicing my profession in healthcare, and the USA provided me with a great opportunity for growth and development.  I am an independent contractor working in physical therapy.  As my patients say, I “make people walk.”

My City

There is a lot to say about New York, but I’ll try my best to describe the easiest way I can. The Big Apple, as many know it, is the most populous city in the United States.  Like Dubai, it is a fast-paced, globally influential center of art, culture, fashion and finance. Some 800 languages are spoken in New York, spread out across five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

I will talk specifically about Bronx because it is now what I call “home.”  The multicultural flavors of New York are heightened in Bronx where various cultures and people live harmoniously. Communities of Latinos, Africans, Asians, and Europeans are within tasting, hearing, and seeing distance from my second floor apartment.

I love the fact that within the two-block radius from my apartment there is a public library, a hospital, eateries, mini-marts, and street vendors selling various sundry. I’m far enough from the hustle and bustle of the main road, but close enough to hear gospel songs sung in Spanish as a ‘culto’ (religious congregation) sing worship right across from my apartment.

Filipino New York: My Pinoy Life in The Big Apple 

Within a bus ride away, I can visit one of the large open spaces of parkland in New York — Pelham Bay Park, Van Cortlandt Park, Wave Hill (my favorite because it overlooks the New Jersey Palisades), Bronx Park (the home of the New York Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo, the largest urban zoo in the US), Edgar Allan Poe Park, and the Yankee Stadium.

In a way, where I’ve settled isn’t too different from Dubai.  However it offers me more diversity in open spaces, nature and cultural exploration.

My Life

My life here is pretty laid-back because I choose it to be that way.  At my age, after work, I prefer to just go home; take a nap; check my Facebook; read books; chat with my housemate, Ms. Elaine, over dinner; then talk to family in Dubai, Maryland, and Isabela; then to bed.

I choose to work 7 days a week so I wouldn’t easily get bored whenever I am home.  Although, I don’t believe in what a lot of people say that – “Dito sa America, dapat trabaho ka ng trabaho; wala ka na time mag relax.”

I’m working hard by choice, but I also play hard and generally enjoy life.  After work, if I don’t feel tired or lazy, I usually go to dinner with friends or co-workers and taste what new flavors New York has to offer.  When I take vacations, I explore American cities and states with my spouse. This past year alone, I’ve visited New Orleans, Boston, Cape Cod, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Tampa.

Missing my family is the hardest part about being here in New York. But thanks to technology, I’m able to keep in touch with family members who are spread all over the globe.  If I miss them and when I feel lonely, I just go to the museums and spend time there.  Nothing beats loneliness than a good trip to the museum and learning something new — and New York gives you plenty of those opportunities.

It also helps that I’ve made friends with the Mexican laundromat attendant, Vietnamese neighborhood grocery owner, Korean vegetable and fish vendor, Egyptian deli store keeper, barber from the Dominican Republic, Greek diner owner and attendants.

Right next door is a community library led by a charming Latina lady who keeps me grounded with stories of her colorful life.  She also updates me whenever there are new movies available that I can borrow — for free, mind you.

I consider myself a global nomad, having traveled all over the world and explored cultures.  New York is a place for global nomads like me, and I would imagine it would be a great environment for a lot of Illustrado readers.  You eat your own food, you speak your own language, you say whatever you want to say, and you can choose to explore other cultures as you wish.

What I particularly love about New York though is the seemingly endless opportunities it can provide if you choose to pursue them.  I’ve done more walking here than I did when I was Dubai, making me lose weight as I only use the bus and subway train wherever I go.  I am more independent here as I do my laundry at the laundromat just two blocks away; I also do my own groceries, cook my own food and clean my own room.

New York City is extra special for me for its endless activities, unique styles and personalities, awesome hidden gems, the mix of city life and much quieter neighborhood and being generally eclectic.  I feel that most New Yorkers are very open-minded and accepting of others. I guess that is what happens when you have over 800 tongues spoken in your city.

Hello, kababayans!

Mabuhay!  Ako ay Pilipino; taas noo kahit kanino. But with our Pinoy pride, let’s also not forget that quiet confidence also goes a long way.

Related articles:

My Pinoy Life in Paris

See how Filipinos are living in other countries across the globe.

The post Filipinos New York: My Pinoy Life in The Big Apple appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

By Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Hot on the heels of Catriona Gray’s win at the Miss Universe 2018 beauty pageant, come the indignant comments from some members of the Filipino community questioning her ethnicity. “She is not pure Filipino.  How can she represent the country?”  The sentiment is not a new one.  Recently, we’ve also seen the same vitriol directed to Kelsey Merritt when she became the “first Filipino model” for Victoria’s Secret.

In this increasingly globalized world, where 11 million of us live outside the homeland, and where as Filipinos in diaspora, we are often made acutely aware of our ethnicity in contrast to the ‘others’ that surround us, we get a lot of questions pertaining to our identity –

“What is Filipino?” “What does it mean to be Filipino? “Filipino nga ba talaga?  “Are we being true to ourselves”?

Even the first settlers in our archipelago, the Negritos, came from somewhere else.  They arrived in rafts from ancient Australia, Melanesia or even Africa – no one is certain, 67,000 years ago. From as far back as our history accounts would allow us to remember, our people, our practices and our traditions have always been an amalgamation of various ethnicities and cultures.

Filipino-American biologist Dr. Michael Purugganan, who served as the Dean for Science at New York University, Dorothy Schiff Professor of Genomics, and co-director of the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology at NYU Abu Dhabi, explained in his article “What is a Filipino?  Looking at our DNA for answer”, written for GMA News –

“We are products of what we evolutionary genomicists call genetic admixture, the result of several thousand years of mixing in our island archipelago at the edge of the Pacific.  We were always getting genes from everyone who came to our shores.  We are, in a genetic sense, a truly global people.”

And that globalized profile continues to advance, at an even faster pace, with how small the world has become.  A tenth of our people live composite lifestyles – partly Filipino, partly something else, across the world, as we have emerged as a palpable global phenomenon in the last two decades.  We have assimilated but have also conquered not only through our mere presence and numbers in various countries, but also through our workforce, our food, our legendary beauties, our fashion, even our ubiquity and level of noise level in social media, not to mention our friendliness.  We have a growing number of TCKs (third culture kids) who live global, while on the flipside, we also have droves of foreigners who made the Philippines as their home.

So what if we are not “pure”? So what if some of us are a tad fairer, and some haven’t mastered the vernacular? So what if our clothes are worn by foreigners?  So what if some of us feel more at home in other lands than the old country?  Does that make us any less than what we really are?

Why do we even want to isolate ourselves from the changing evolving world by being so fixated on having a “true culture” (whatever that means) when we have always been a global one?

Adaptability and evolution is not a bad thing.  It is also exchange – our way of injecting and propagating our heritage, and our ideas to others.  Allowing ourselves to be immersed in the ‘global village’ makes it possible for us to implant our distinct character, our practices, our aesthetics, even our views upon the rest of the world.

Perhaps, we were always meant to be mixed – a hybrid of sorts.

And being that hybrid has allowed us to imbibe, and also ascend, just like how our warmth and our smile helps us to quietly ‘take over’ wherever in the world we go.

Is there anything else more Filipino than that?

Taas Noo, Filipino!

________________________________________________________________________________

Lalaine Chu Benitez

Editor-in-Chief and aspiring urban farmer “almost superwoman” Lalaine has been driving Illustrado’s mission to uplift Filipinos in the region for over a decade now.  A former corporate dynamo living in Dubai for more than two decades, she has seen enough to appreciate that the best things in life can’t be bought and that in this day and age, authenticity could be one’s best asset.

Related articles:

Third Culture Kids – How Pinoy are they?

Foreigners who Love the Philippines

Desert Rose – A Letter to the Filipina in the Middle East

The post Pure Filipino: Is there really such a thing? appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

“Marhaba from Egypt! The moment I saw The Great Pyramids of Giza, I can’t believe I’m seeing the real thing that I could only get read about in the encyclopedia when I was a kid.  This place was unbelievable and utterly surreal. I don’t know how to begin to tell you how beautiful this country is, despite how media paints it to be unsafe! Most of my friends and family warned me that it was dangerous, risky and not safe for women to travel to Egypt.  I’m so glad I followed my instincts and left my doubts and fears before the plane took off.

Three days is not enough to explore the wonders of this magical ancient city! I couldn’t even fathom how they preserve the relics and the hieroglyphics on walls. My itinerary included sightseeing in Cairo and Alexandria.  I was really in awe seeing the amazing spots, especially the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, the tombs in Memphis and the pristine beach in Alexandria.

Aside from crazy drivers along the highway, in general, expenses are reasonably cheap compared to Dubai. Uber is just a call away. Food is delicious, and people are friendly.   Sometimes, It’s hard to judge a place from afar. You need to be there to feel the vibes of the city.  I’m forever grateful that I ticked off this great city from my bucket list!”

Because of the Pyramids of Giza, it’s no wonder that Cairo will always be an appealing African metropolis constantly drawing the crowds. And for those wishing to explore the city off the beaten path, the vivacious Egyptian capital is home to a thriving hidden artsy scene with cozy book shops, colorful markets, authentic Arabic restaurants and compelling art galleries abound. Here are other things you can do after seeing the world’s remaining classic wonder:

Fashet Sumaya

Open from only 5-7pm every evening, this quaint, three-tabled restaurant is just the right amount of exclusive, and is one of the most authentic Egyptian culinary destinations in Cairo. Hidden down a quiet lane in downtown Bab El Louk, diners here can enjoy traditional home cooked meals served by Sumaya herself, the friendly owner of the establishment. It is so intimate that it is impossible not to chat with fellow diners, Fashet Sumaya is a true taste of Arab hospitality and society, and is an enjoyable, original culinary experience in the city.

Khan el Khalili Bazaar

A stroll through Cairo’s most eclectic souk is a walk which engages all of the senses, with the smell of exotic spices wafting through the stalls and the intricate stained glass lamps casting a kaleidoscope of light onto the streets. Here local vendors sell a variety of wonders, from clothing to hookah pipes and regional foodstuff, making it the best place to pick up authentic souvenirs. Visitors should be sure to haggle, with bartering being a local tradition of which a failure to take part is considered almost disrespectful.

The City of the Dead

Also known as Cairo Necropolis, this Islamic cemetery stretches over an impressive area of four miles, with entire streets dedicated to the tombs of civilizations of the past. A largely inhabited area where people live amongst the remains of their ancestors, this historic region exudes a unique atmosphere which combines life and death in a truly fascinating way. With intricate shrines inscribed with phrases from the Qur’an, exploring the City of the Dead promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Kuwait – Fahad Alobaidly

“Kuwait is one of the two countries in the Middle East that still preserves its culture and traditions up to this day. It is not your regular tourist destination, but there are a lot of beautiful places to visit, ranging from preserved old buildings turned to souks or tourists spots, to new modern architectural ones like malls and museums. There’s food ranging from traditionally cooked to local cuisines with a modern twist, and mocktails and fruit juices are served instead of alcoholic beverages, since it is not allowed throughout the country.”

Kuwait, as with many oil rich countries in the Middle East, has undergone an explosion in contemporary culture in recent decades and is packed with art exhibitions, festivals, music performances and more. Although the heat makes Kuwait an ideal poolside destination, the country also has plenty to offer culture and art enthusiasts. Here are some unmissable Kuwaiti destinations!

House of Mirrors

In the Qadisiya residential quartier of Kuwait City stands a unique house that epitomizes art right down to its last brick. Owner and designer Lidid al-Qattan, who has Italian origins, has long been Kuwait’s prominent artist; she used an accidently broken mirror as inspiration to create a house that is now referred to as the House of Mirrors. It is an exclusive art-in-action visit while in Kuwait.

Kuwait Grand Mosque

Being the world’s 7th largest mosque, the Al-Masjid Al-Kabir, or Grand Mosque, is definitely worth visiting. Though prior appointment is needed, once there, visitors can expect an hour and half, free, informative guided tour that introduces this historically and spiritually rich landmark building. The Mosque can host up to 10,000 men and 950 women for prayers, and includes an Islamic Library under its exceptionally designed halls. It is a must-see cultural venue for all architecture-lovers.

Sadu House

A passageway between past and present, Sadu House is one of the most visited venues in Kuwait. An old Kuwaiti house from the 1930s, today it is a cultural centre with a wide range of activities, from workshops, lectures, children’s programmes and textile designer exhibitions, all aiming to preserve Kuwaiti weaving traditions. This unique textile-art venue is adjacent to the National Museum and also offers a traditional cafeteria with handmade authentically patterned interior design.

Adelaide – Carlz Libo-on

“Among all the cities in Australia I visited, nothing compares to the quaint city of Adelaide.  From the scenic beaches of Glenelg or Henley and Maslins (though not in Adelaide but in South Australia) to the carefully-manicured vineyards of Barossa Valley or Adelaide Hills, Adelaide is a must-visit in the Land Down Under.  It’s hard to really crunch in great detail what makes the city so beautiful, because you have to be there to experience it.  It’s a place where creativity is unassuming as seen in their annual Fringe Festival, and where food is diverse (Central Market is the place to go to; name the cuisine and they have it).  It reminds me so much of the city-meets-province vibe where there are lots of spaces to breathe, but you’re still in tune with city life.”

Adelaide is one of Australia’s hottest destinations, offering a cocktail of sophisticated culture, heritage, architecture, abundant natural delights and a vibrant food and drink scene. With so much places to choose from, we’ve narrowed it down to a few.

Adelaide Central Market

Continue the celebration of local food and drink at the Adelaide Central Market, the most-visited attraction in the state. More than eight million visitors a year flock to the market, which has been the buzzing hub of Adelaide’s culinary culture since it opened way back in 1869. The 80 stalls make it one of the largest undercover markets in the Southern Hemisphere.

Victoria Square

The name sounds very British, but Victoria Square’s history dates back a lot further than European settlement. The local indigenous people used ‘Tarndanyangga’ as a meeting place for centuries before colonization. The British then converted the space into a focal point of the newly created city in the 1850s, and the square was upgraded in 2014, adding new lighting and revamping the historic fountain.

Glenelg Beach

Adelaide’s most popular city beach is just a 25-minute tram ride from the city center, which drops you off meters from the sand at Moseley Square. It’s not just the miles of golden sand, the picturesque jetty and the stunning sunsets that pull huge crowds to Glenelg — it’s the trendy boutiques, heritage hotels and dozens of cafes and eateries along Jetty Road, too.

Art Gallery of South Australia

Right next door on North Terrace’s leafy boulevard of classical sandstone buildings sits the Art Gallery of South Australia, one of the country’s finest collections of artworks from every corner of the globe. Every year it welcomes more than 700,000 visitors to admire the collection of 38,000 pieces. The grounds of the University of Adelaide, the State Library of South Australia, the National War Memorial and the Parliament of South Australia are also all worth visiting on North Terrace.

Fly to these destinations through Emirates Airline.

For ticket booking visit: Emirates Features Fares

ALWEE VILLAROSA

Savage PR savant. Social Media guy. Bangkok advocate. Hoarder of 3AM songs that are too cool for anyone. Strongest proponent of the #WastedYouth campaign on Instagram. Alwee Villarosa could be your typical, garden variety switched-on millennial internaut, except that he’s infinitely more. He is also a cunning marketing strategist, a burgeoning writer, and an account manager and leader with an unshakeable sense of integrity and work ethic that belies his young age. See more of his POV at his IG: @alweevillarosa

For more travel articles like these, visit Illustrado.

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“India happens to be one of those special places that embody different things, to different people. After having visited Udaipur (City of Lakes) and Goa (Ibiza of the East), I’ve come to realize that India is a place where contemporary modernity is fused with ancient wisdom. It is a place where magic exists, as well as a healthy dose of realism. Some get lost in the bowels of its chaos, only to find their inner voice. Others stray on the path of mysticism, but end up finding spirituality. To a certain extent, and without romanticizing the thought – travel to India, is a calling; and the only way to truly experience the land, is to immerse yourself body, mind and soul.”

India is a pretty big country and it is a real challenge to choose which city should be your top destination. But do not fret, we’ve listed down 4 cities that are truly worth your time and money!

Jaipur

Jaipur is commonly known as the ‘Pink City’ due to its stunning buildings which were painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria. Jaipur is also the biggest city in the state of Rajasthan, and its capital. Together with Agra and Delhi, it is part of the famous Golden “Triangle” which attracts thousands of Indian and international tourists every year. The most-visited sites include the mesmerizing City Palace, a couple of impressive Rajput forts and the many temples.

Varanasi

Varanasi is one of the most beautiful, historical and spiritual cities in northern India. The first settlements date back to the 11th century BC, making it one of the oldest inhabited places in the world. A sacred place for both Hindus and Jains, it is also home to a varied range of vendors, sadhus, entrepreneurs, priests, pilgrims and families. The scenes of devotion in the river, set against the backdrop of stunning temples, are certainly some of the most impressive in the world.

Udaipur

Most famous for its stunning lakes, forts, temples and palaces, Udaipur is another city located in the state of Rajasthan, and is certainly not to be missed. Lovers will be delighted to hear that this is a city filled with romantic spots, as well as beautiful gardens. Over the years, it has been a favorite setting for many movies, including James Bond-title Octopussy (1983). The city is filled with color, as locals opt to wear vibrant clothes, and fairs and festivals happen year-round.

Bangalore

In one of the latest surveys, Bangalore was established as India’s most livable city. In the past, it used to be referred to as the “Pensioner’s Paradise” and the “Garden City of India” because of its large, green spaces. While in recent years, development has meant that the city’s green areas have been affected and reduced, it still has enough to make it one of the most beautiful cities in India, and lush green forests can still be found in the outskirts. Bangalore is also the main center of the IT industry, commonly known as the “Silicon Valley of India”.

Colombo – Daryll Borja

“If you’re a tropical person at heart, well Sri Lanka is just the perfect place for you! From sandy beaches with palms leaning over the sea to high mountains perfect for adventure hikes, this country never ceases to amaze. One of its unique advantages over other tropical paradise is that it’s a compact island where every place is just accessible by land. With my six day trip, I was able to travel from North to South via tuktuk, bus, and train, and along the way, I’ve met the most hospitable locals and the friendliest travelers that made my trip very memorable, enough to have a special place in my heart.”

Colombo, the coastal capital of Sri Lanka is an often avoided stop when visiting the spice island. But as more entrepreneurs of the newer generation open more businesses and create interesting things to do, Colombo is fast becoming an unmissable stop. Here’s a day by day guide on what to see and what to do to spice up your visit:

Day 1

Check in at a nice city hotel like the Jetwing Colombo Seven with a rooftop pool so you can see the city from above. The first area to check out is the Colombo Fort, and there are two really cool ways to do that, either with Mark Forbes and his Colombo City Walk or with a Tuk-Tuk Safari. If you can’t pick then do one on one day and the other on another day! There are different times of day for each option so it’s easy to find the right one for you.

After a day of exploring, have dinner at Kaema Sutra in the new Shangri La Hotel for some authentic Sri Lankan food.

Day 2

For your second day, why not have a yummy breakfast at the Black Cat Cafe before taking a stroll around the Cinnamon Gardens neighborhood and visiting some of the temples in the city like the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple at Beira Lake and the Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil.

You should also visit the National Colombo Museum to see lots of ancient artifacts and learn more about Sri Lankan culture and history. For a night cap or maybe a night out, go check Park Street Mews for some drinks and Colombo nightlife.

Day 3

Have breakfast at Barefoot Garden Cafe and do some unbeatable shopping for handmade crafts and woven sarongs for yourself or friends and family back home. After some gorgeous gift collecting, move hotels to the Galle Face Hotel for a historic Colombo experience.

After checking in, take a tour of the hotel and then spend the afternoon poolside until the sunset bagpipe show and have cocktails seaside. If you are into some sightseeing, take a stroll along the Galle Face Green.

Day 4

For the last day why not go for a spa treatment in your hotel or at the White Spa by Spa Ceylon. Treat yourself to Ayurvedic massages and a facial. Load up on marvelous Ayurvedic products manufactured here on the island and take it easy exploring the parts of the city you still haven’t seen. Have lunch at the yummy Cafe Kumbuk or go for some incredible crab curry at the Ministry of Crab.

Pack your bags to go back home or keep on exploring Sri Lanka!

Bali – Casey Esguerra 

“Beyond the beautiful beaches of Bali, their culture astonished me. Bali’s people are very hospitable and undoubtedly respectful to tourists. But the real purpose of my trip is to taste their food and nasi goreng sure did capture my heart more than anything else.  And it was cheap too! What’s not like about Bali?”

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been to Bali, or you’re a regular visitor looking for something else to do. There’s just tons of things to do and one trip is never enough, so read on my friend, below are other things that will keep you relaxingly occupied in Bali aside from hitting the beach:

Drink from the fountain of youth at Goa Gajah

Once you enter Goa Gajah, you’ll see 6 statues of women with water streaming out of a pot held at their bellies. There were originally 7 of them, but an earthquake caused the middle one to collapse. Even so, its meaning remains unchanged, and the water is safe to drink, so why not take a shot at eternal youth?

If drinking from a fountain of youth doesn’t appeal to you, then you could always just visit because it’s a gorgeous place. It’s got a little waterfall, beautiful green terrain, fascinating temple ruins and is an overall peaceful, spiritual place.

Watch the sunrise from the top of Mount Batur

You’ll have to wake up extra early for this, possibly as early as 3AM if you want to be at the top of the mountain before sunrise. But the view is definitely worth it.  

Imagine watching a velvet sky dotted with sparkling lights slowly fade into a sleepy lavender color before a warm orange glow pushes through. And as the sunlight lazily peeks out of the horizon, you’re suddenly aware of the ocean of clouds surrounding you. That’s when it hits you – you’re standing in the sky, waiting to greet the sun as it climbs out of its apparent slumber. That feeling is simply indescribable.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

This place, like many others on this list, is #instaperfect. The pictures speak for themselves. They’re like giant paddy field stairs, making this place look like some sort of paradise. This gorgeous terraced landscape definitely needs to be on everyone’s “pretty places to visit” list! If you make your way up to the top, you’ll get a magnificent view of the rice terraces sloping across the valley, peppered with coconut trees, with the water in the irrigation fields glistening in the sunlight. It’s also a generally cool and breezy area – all the more reason to love it!

Manila – Alwee Villarosa

For residents of Metro Manila, it’s easy to grow jaded about the place we call home. After all, there’s the ever-growing traffic, unreliable transport system, and pollution to contend with. But for me, there is still a lot to love about the “Pearl of the Orient.”

Of course, the soul of a city is in its people but the metropolis has a very colorful character. Manila can be chaotic and spiritual, dirty and divine, gritty and gorgeous all at once. If you don’t find beauty and poetry here, you will never find it anywhere.

On the surface, our plot of the world is everything it’s cracked up to be: a boiling stew of dust, noise, sweat, and congestion that’s as mean as it is messy. It shouldn’t be difficult to acknowledge the truth that our little urban jungle tends to come off as abrasive, even to its own inhabitants. But that’s only on the surface.  

Falling in love with Metro Manila is an affair that demands your effort — if you really want to get to know this place, you have to draw the curtains and open it up yourself. You have to take the time to explore its arteries and dig into its endearing nooks and crannies.  Start here –

Boutique shops in Kamagong Street

It’s a bit of a stretch to call these tiangges “secret” or even relatively obscure, but as far as upscale menswear stores go, these Kamagong Street boutiques may just be the best one that’s still on the down-low. Some stores even stock imported garments, and a lot of brands that the fashion set really seeks out.

Vinyl and old records stores

Vinyl record collectors and enthusiasts will point to Quezon City’s Cubao Expo, Kamias Road, and Maginhawa Street as the best places to go digging. The vinyl shops in those areas are a hotspot for the growing vinly community in the country. From rare records to more contemporary ones, these shops may have the right LPs for you.  

Fred’s Revolution

You may already know Fred’s Revolution as the watering hole of yesteryear’s best-kept secret: Cubao X. But now that Cubao X is fair game for all, you might want to try moving to the new Fred’s Revolution in Escolta, the new of-the-moment district for artsy youths.

Fly to these destinations through Emirates Airline.  For ticket booking visit

https://fly4.emirates.com/CAB/IBE/SearchAvailability.aspx

ALWEE VILLAROSA

Savage PR savant. Social Media guy. Bangkok advocate. Hoarder of 3AM songs that are too cool for anyone. Strongest proponent of the #WastedYouth campaign on Instagram. Alwee Villarosa could be your typical, garden variety switched-on millennial internaut, except that he’s infinitely more. He is also a cunning marketing strategist, a burgeoning writer, and an account manager and leader with an unshakeable sense of integrity and work ethic that belies his young age. See more of his POV at his IG: @alweevillarosa

For more travel articles like these, visit Illustrado.

The post Top 10 Under-The-Radar Destinations Filipinos Should Visit – India, Sri Lanka, Bali, Manila appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

VIENNA – DANABELLE GUTIERREZ

“Art is alive in this city. From the graffiti on the walls to the street performers to the museums to the opera, there’s something about Vienna that makes you want to create and/or appreciate creation and the process of creating. Getting around is a piece of cake, too. Public transportation is affordable and convenient, but personally, I love walking in the city when the weather permits, it allows for more discovery of that Viennese magic.”

Make your way to the capital of Vienna for loads of desserts and a whole lot of history!

The Austrian capital is surely at its peak and most lively during December, but the beauty of this city is there to be breathed in all year round. With the large amount of cafes and coffee roasteries, restaurants, wineries and open-air swimming, your trip to this city will give you loads of IG-worthy photos that will make your friends jealous!  But don’t just take photos. Enjoy the ambiance!

Here are some of the best Vienna destinations worth checking out:

Wiener Riesenrad

We’ve all heard of the London Eye, but Vienna has a version of that and it’s equally beautiful. Authentically vintage, this attraction was built in 1897 and also starred in the thriller movie The Third Man. The structure is more than 200ft tall and riding it really feels like stepping back in time! What’s a better way to see Vienna than having a magical view from the top.

The Palmenhaus

If you are all about nature and everything fresh, checking out The Palmenhaus might be one of your instant favorites while you’re in Vienna. It is situated in Burggaten Park and is probably the world’s grandest greenhouse! But it’s not just that because apart from the lush trees and plants from all over the world, this attraction also houses a restaurant and bar that serve Austrian delights!

Fürth Kaffee

After a full-day of admiring what seems to be an endless horizon of beauty, you might want to pause for a cup of coffee and desserts because, well — that is just part of Viennese life. Fürth Kaffee on Kirchengasse is a cafe part roastery and part co-working space so catching up on a few emails will be easy for you, plus you get to experience a stunning slice of modern Vienna while you are seated by the window with an espresso and some local pastry. Ah, what a life!

BERLIN – HANNAH MAGSAYO

“Berlin, Germany is one of the trendiest European destinations. The city has a special vibe and it is known for its independent personality and creative culture. Berliners seem to be relaxed and you can’t find any people rushing around the city. They love to go to the parks to chill, drink beer (metro, streets, basically anywhere) or do their own thing. Berlin was once named the ‘Hipster capital of the world’. In neighborhoods like Kreuzberg and Neukölln, you’ll find tons of vibrant and artsy places where you can see graffiti, galleries, homegrown brands and musicians.  With 24-hours nightlife, partying is like a religion and it has become the world capital of techno. You can find a lot of underground bars, alternative pubs, and clubs. On the other hand, If you are a world history lover, Berlin is also your city.”

Booming with life from sun up to sun down, a city where history and modernity coexist, we were intrigued by how this balance is possible in Berlin. So out of curiosity, we turned to Airbnb and asked some superhosts for advice on the best things to do when in Berlin. Here’s what they have to say:

Adreas – Sundays at Mauerpark

The flea market at Mauerpark is quite popular. It is frequently used as the Sunday afternoon activity hub by hip Berliners and tourists. Sunday Afternoon Cult: Karaoke at Mauerpark. The popularity of the flea market at Mauerpark partly stems from the karaoke sessions that take place at the amphitheater. From spring until autumn the place is packed with a crowd of curious people.

Daniel – Tempelhofer Feld

This is a former airport which has now been turned into a park. You can ride a bike or inline skates on the former runways. This place was the largest airport in the world when it opened and the former airport that was at the same location was actually the first civil airport in the world and until today the building is the 4th largest building worldwide.

Tally – Markthalle Neun

Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays there are excellent local farmers selling fruits, vegetables, meat, tofu, wine, cheese, olive oil, etc. It is the best local market in Berlin. Most days, there is a bakery open with excellent bread, pizza and some other treats. There are also a few places for lunch and a play area for children, as well as a small brewery. On Thursdays, there is a Street Food Market from 5pm to 10pm. The lines are generally long but there is food for everyone.

Imre – Museum Island

A small island in the middle of the river Spree, with a complex of five internationally significant museums: – Old Museum (Altes Museum) – New Museum (Neues Museum) – Old National Gallery (Alte National Gallery) – Bode Museum – Pergamon Museum. This place is perfect for those who want to see the arts and culture of Berlin!

NEW YORK – JULIE PEARL ORCULLO

“You cannot define New York in one word. Its beauty is in being a multicultural melting pot. You see everyone blending in no matter their race or status. It has flavors so familiar yet you can savor the fusion. If you crave for anything, there will always be something you can find available there. I say this, in New York, you can be anyone that you want to be. There is that sense of freedom in the air and the liberty to express yourself and experience it in all of its glory.”

The city that never sleeps! There’s plenty of things to do in the bustling Big Apple so be sure you’ve got enough energy to conquer this concrete jungle (where dreams are made of) — hello Alicia Keys!

Central Park

Located in Manhattan, Central Park is the nation’s first major urban public space, attracting 25 million visitors every year. It does not only impress NYC tourists, but it amazes and continues to attract loyal New Yorkers who make frequent visits. First opening in the mid-1800s, Central Park has appeared in multiple movies, television shows, and features as an important factor in many Hollywood storylines. Offering photo tours, music festivals, incredible views and fun dining experiences, Central Park is a perfect stop for all NYC tourists and truly encompasses the title, “The Heart of the City.”

Roberta’s

Covered in hip-hop-influenced graffiti is Roberta’s, a popular Italian-inspired pizza and local dining establishment in Bushwick. Don’t let the exterior deter you – urban decay becomes haughty elegance as you enter this surprisingly chic restaurant. Business casual attire seems status quo, and patrons are seated by bohemian yet professional hosts. The pizza is served in pies rather than by the slice, with additional meal options like coffee-roasted beets or cabbage and sea lettuce salad. Roberta’s is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, with weekend brunch and takeout available until midnight.

Brooklyn Museum

Among other great permanent works and roving exhibitions, the little-known Brooklyn Museum is the permanent home to an important collection of Feminist Art. Don’t miss the iconic Dinner Party installation by Judy Chicago (Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, 4th Floor). Check their website for live music, lectures and performances. Admission price is a suggested donation.

Fly to these destinations through Emirates Airline.

For ticket booking visit: Emirates Features Fares

ALWEE VILLAROSA

Savage PR savant. Social Media guy. Bangkok advocate. Hoarder of 3AM songs that are too cool for anyone. Strongest proponent of the #WastedYouth campaign on Instagram. Alwee Villarosa could be your typical, garden variety switched-on millennial internaut, except that he’s infinitely more. He is also a cunning marketing strategist, a burgeoning writer, and an account manager and leader with an unshakeable sense of integrity and work ethic that belies his young age. See more of his POV at his IG: @alweevillarosa

For more travel articles like these, visit Illustrado.

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Freelance News Presenter/ Reporter –

Arabian Radio Network,

UAE Correspondent – ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel

Dubai, UAE

My job

I work as a freelance news presenter/ reporter at Arabian Radio Network where I regularly write news copies and conduct interviews in both English and Tagalog.  I also present hourly newscasts for the first and leading Filipino radio station in the UAE, Tag 91.1. I also have the opportunity of conversing with the radio jocks, when we give advice to listeners, voice our opinions on various topics, be light and funny and even sing on air!

I also report on TV as a UAE Correspondent of ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel, where I cover people and events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  The job entails shooting videos, interviewing people, writing scripts and doing voice overs.

My typical working day

My job starts when most people are still in slumber. I usually come to work around 3:30 am and start writing local and international English news copies, then discuss with fellow news presenters (of other stations under ARN such as Dubai Eye, Dubai 92, Virgin, City, etc.) which stories should be used and which ones should be highlighted as leads. I then proceed in writing my Tagalog bulletins; newscasts on the early shift run from 5am until 10am, and in between. I go down to Tag studio for my live teases and chats with the radio jocks. I also upload news stories and photos on the ARN News Centre app, which can also be accessed on the ARN News Centre Facebook page and Twitter account.

Being in my workplace every day uplifts me as writing and reporting are already in my veins. I feel more energetic and grateful for every commendation, appreciative and corrective comments from bosses, colleagues, listeners and viewers.

My message to Filipinos

Aim high but never let your ambitions ruin your character. Use your profession, whenever possible, to serve and help people in need.

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  Visual artist Buhay Mendoza considers his art pop surrealist – a genre he loves for its playfulness and how it “signifies freedom and tickles creativity.”  According to him, his chosen specialty also allows his to maximize his strength as an artist.  Over and above that, Buhay says she considers art as his religion which gives him the sanity to appreciate all his blessings and makes him feel closer to God. For him, art is life, the purpose of his existence.  And hence, he advises aspiring artists, “Being an artist is a calling. Do it for the love of it.”     How did you get into art? Actually, I am a late bloomer for a practicing visual artist. I started around 2008 at the age of 35. Everything happened like a walk in the park when I met a group of artists from Antipolo, Rizal during that year. They were the ones who opened the door for me to showcase my first artworks in public, and the rest is history.       What’s your process of creation? I always base concepts on my personal experiences, as well as my childhood days. Currently my style is shyly shifting to a more mature subject that tackles social issues that our country is facing today. I usually have a morning ritual before I do my paintings, but it always starts with a research or eye candy.    After the research I would create a lot of initial sketches. Usually they are doodles. I always keep a sketchpad in my bag wherever I go. If any ideas come about, I jot them down right away and sketch them very quickly.     When done with final studies for my painting, I lay them out on my stretched canvas. I usually worked with oil before but lately, I have just been using whatever medium could be handy for my artwork. I try to experiment and expand my creativity by using raw materials from junk.   Life has always been my inspiration. To spread the greatness of our Creator is one of my inspirations. With this, I become one of His channels to show how blessed mankind is.     How does your work represent you? I just put my heart into each of the pieces I work on. I draw inspiration from other artists as well, but somehow I do still try to work with my own stuff. One is artist Yoko d’Holbachie – I am always amazed by her works.        The true magic of art is seen and felt when you do it passionately. People can feel it from your pieces. What matters most is to deliver the message of your painting effectively to your audience, with them just looking at it.   What have been the highlights in your journey as an artist so far?  I had my first solo show in the HSBC Tower in Ayala Makati, and my third solo show in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam sponsored by An Binh Gallery. I had a successful showcase in these two events and I was even featured in one of the magazines in Vietnam.  One of my paintings was also featured in Art plus Magazine – the November 2014 issue.     What were your most notable recent projects? This year in February, I worked on my fifth solo show for Kanto Gallery. I held a group show for Gallery Big and the Ayala Museum last December. I also have a work in progress in one of the galleries in Glendale California.   What’s your hope and plan for the future? Philippine Art is truly a diamond in the rough. We have so many talented artists who need our government’s support in terms of enhancing their skills and promoting the art that they produce. That’s one of my advocacies as well – that is why I place such importance on what I do as a visual artist. ________________________________________________________________________________ Find more Filipino artists and writers on Illustrado Life. 

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Can you briefly recount briefly why you moved there?

I arrived here in October 2011. The primary reason why I moved to Sydney is to study Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu (LCB). I chose Australia because this is the only branch of LCB that offers industry placement, which is similar to what they call in the Philippines as OJT or on-the-job-training. Once we are finished, we will be LCB graduates, who are renowned globally. We will also be recognized as Australian Qualified chefs.

Tell us something about Sydney.

Sydney is just like any other metropolitan city. Big, crowded, busy and fast-paced. So if you are used to that kind of place, then you will definitely love Sydney. There are a lot of places to visit here such as the Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life, Taronga Zoo, Blue Mountains and Three Sisters, the Opera House, Bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanical Garden, Hunter Valley, Darling Harbour and many more. Furthermore, if you want to party, Sydney, from what I’ve heard, is the best place to party here in Australia.  On the other hand, if you want a more quiet life, Sydney has its suburbs that you may also want to explore.

Sydney is also very multicultural so you’ll see different races. Actually, I find Sydney dominated by Oriental people. When I arrived here, I thought I was in Singapore, China or Taiwan because there are so many Asians.
Just like every big city in first world countries, Sydney’s infrastructure is so impressive. I can’t complain about the railways, roads, freeways, toll, etc. Everything seems perfect.

There’s only one thing, though, that I didn’t like about Sydney. Since it is a very big city, moving around is quite challenging especially for commuters like me. A car is certainly a necessity. The buses here have schedules so if I miss my bus then I have to wait for 30 minutes to an hour for the next one. Although trains here are amazing, I still have to catch a bus to get to the nearest station near my place. Not to mention, bus tickets are not cheap at all.  Sydney is also considered as one of the most expensive cities in the world.

What do you do for a living?

I am a full time Pastry student in Le Cordon Bleu, and I’m currently working as a Commis Chef in two different hotels owned by one company. As a student, I am only allowed to work 40 hours every two weeks while still in school. But I can work for unlimited hours during school holidays and during my industry placement.
Is there a Filipino community there?

Yes, there is. When I stayed with my relatives, they brought me to some Filipino gatherings or parties. I also met groups they have joined like their church choir and dance group. I met a group of Filipinos once when I played badminton in Sydney Olympic Park. They invite me every time they play but due to my busy schedule I have not been able to play with them again. I heard there was also a Filipino festival held last year wherein Filipino celebrities performed but I was still new here that time.

Tell us about your life there

When I first arrived, I was like a “probinsyano” coming to a big city. I was checking the big buildings and appreciating the infrastructure. Without even noticing it, I was already at my homestay and my Australian host mother greeted me. She was lovely and so was her house. I lived in that house with my host mom and her family for one month. She let me work in her café as a kitchen assistant, which then eventually helped me get experience and job offers afterwards.

I started with Basic Cuisine and they taught us the fundamentals about meats, vegetables, stocks, sauces, and fish. Now, I am studying Intermediate Patissiere and love being a Pastry Chef. I have shifted from being a Cuisine Chef because I believe that I work well as a Pastry Chef. My passion for cooking was intensified by this part of the culinary world. It never fails to put a smile on my face when I share the pastries I make in school with my friends and housemates and they all greet it with, “Woooohs” and then “MMMmmmmms” when they start eating it.

What cultural practices/behaviors have you acquired from your host country?

In terms of cultural practices, there are a few small things like eating pies with tomato sauce, walking a lot because they don’t have tricycles here, leaving the house early and being on the bus stop 5-10 minutes before the bus arrives.  I’ve also learned to speak the Australian way, pronouncing tomato as “to-mah-to”, asking “how you doing?” or “how you goin’?” instead of the usual “how are you?”.

Australian culture, I think, is all about having fun. I’ve always wanted to go surfing in Bondi Beach or Manly Beach but there were numerous shark alarms. My friends have invited me to go skydiving but I am too much of a wuss. Whenever we hang out, I always try different Aussie beers as they have such a wide variety of beers. Australia is also considered as one of the top 10 wine producing countries in the world so I have also started to appreciate wine here. I was never really a wine drinker back home, because I was more of a rum, brandy, or whisky kind of guy.

Your message to Filipino across the globe

As wonderful as it seems, living in another country can be really hard at the beginning. You will miss everything about home. It doesn’t mean that you’ll be miserable or unhappy but you will be aware of what it is like being on your own. You will miss the good life you left behind and start to do things you have never done before. You have to be more open-minded about other societies and cultures and their different points of view. Sometimes it will change or break your principles, but the best thing to do about it is to keep your most important values and traditions and change those that you think can be improved on.

Give it time and you will eventually get used to your life and start enjoying being independent. You will then develop a sense of responsibility because you have no one to depend on. All you really have is yourself. It is not at all easy, but these changes are necessary to make us stronger and better individuals.

But, at the end of it all, there’s really no place like home.

Saludo ako sa mga Pilipinong nakikipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa. Mabuhay po kayong lahat!  

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Most of us Filipinos, were brought up with kindness as one of the virtues we hold dear.  “Magpakabait ka” (be kind) is a common phrase we would have been told time and time again by our elders growing up.  Whether owing to our religious orientation, or the way we, as a people, value family and community, the idea of having concern and helping our ‘neighbors’ or ‘kapatid’ has always  been deeply ingrained in us.

However, actually practicing kindness – the act of being friendly and generous, even moreso, showing selfless concern for the well-being of others, does not come automatically for all of us.  In a way, it has become associated only with the seasons of benevolence like Christmas, Lent or Ramadan; or the domain of the handful uber blessed who can afford grand gestures to help out communities of the underprivileged; or a random-act-gone-viral-sensation, which we all praise, but somehow appear remote from our own daily lives.

The idea of kindness which our parents taught us is in desperate need of a comeback. It is not top-of-mind, but is just as important as discipline, the end of corruption, education, financial literacy, among other things our community aspires for.

Kindness can be about both small and big actions.  It is not exclusive only to the sector of “haves” in society.  Take it from these locally-based modest Filipinos, whom we’ve had to “coerce” to speak – so that we can learn just little bit more about altruism that can make this world better.

Nathaniel Alapide

Just recently, artist and Illustrado 100 honoree Nathaniel Alapide answered a call for help for a stranger fighting for his life.  He shares, “I saw a post of a friend on Facebook asking people for blood donation. When I saw that, I immediately sent her a message of when and where I can go to donate my blood.”

Asked how he came to the immediate decision to act and donate blood to a complete stranger, the artist comments, “Last January I lost two very special people in my life almost at the same week, so I know how it feels to have someone in a hospital fighting for their life.  That’s why I acted quickly to help. Being able to give something to someone even to a complete stranger makes you feel good inside, especially if you know that somehow, it can save them. I believe that it is in our nature as human beings to help whenever we see someone in need.”

Nathaniel, who says he was lucky to have been surrounded by a lot of kind people like his grandmother and my grandfather, who’ve set a good example for him at a very young age, says, “Kindness to me means treating everyone the same no matter who they are or where they come from, regardless of how they act or how they look, to treat them in a way that you would want to be treated.”  He adds, “I always try to show kindness in any way I can, every day. It can be as simple as saying “thank you” or “good morning” or just giving a simple smile. The more you practice, it the more it comes out naturally.  One more thing to remember is that one act of kindness will always ignite another one.  Somehow the world gets better little by little.”

Olga Barcelona

For the last four years, Olga Barcelona and business partner, Dawn Almario have celebrated their birthdays by asking friends to bring gifts for underprivileged kids, which are distributed to different areas in the Philippines. They have also sent school kits to schools in Binondo, Manila and Tondo.   At the height of the conflict in Syria, together with friends, they have pooled resources to make and send 500 relief bags for refugees, as well as financial support to the refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece.

At the moment, Olga is also supporting a college student in the Philippines and come September, she is planning to travel to Malawi, Africa to help with DNATA4Good’s Build a School Program. She shares, “I will be doing a fundraiser through Dubai Cares and I plan to cycle and trek for this cause so I could get enough funds to help build schools in Africa. I will travel there and stay in the village for a week to help them build a school. This is the first time I am doing this alone, with people I don’t know, but knowing that these people share the same passion with me makes me really excited to go on this trip.”

Olga reveals, “It is the fulfillment of being able to help another human being that makes me want to do these things. I really believe this is my calling, to be of service to other people in my own little way. I think being kind to others, helps people realize that being kind is really easy.  If I do this, this will affect another person, and this person, maybe someday, will pay it forward too.”

Olga, who learned about philanthropy from her parents, has been doing fundraisers to help the needy since her university days.  She says that volunteering in outreach programs has opened her eyes to the reality that there are so many people out there actually need help.   Her experience during the Ondoy disaster also taught her a humbling lesson.  “When typhoon Ondoy hit Manila in 2009, our house got flooded up to the roof. My family lost everything and I found myself just praying that they’re all safe. Then, out of nowhere, people started donating to us – clothes, food, basic necessities and even financial help. I didn’t even ask, but friends just came to help. It was then that I found myself extending my hand to others. I got involved in sending donations to other cities, even cooking food daily for those who were affected by the typhoon. After this episode in my life, I just found myself being more involved and kinder.”

Olga says she believes that – “All of us can be kind in our own little way. That, if we all do this – even just by simply giving way in the elevator, or saying thank you to the cleaners, gardeners, guards, helping your colleagues even you’re in a very tight deadline, we are creating a ripple effect. And if everyone just does this each and every time, then we are creating waves of kindness. A dream! If we can all just be kind and give time and be of service in one way or another, I think this world will be so much better.”

Leonila Bandigan

Very modest entrepreneurs, Leonila Bandigan and her husband Bobbie, are known for their volunteer service to the Filipino and church community in Abu Dhabi.  However, unknown to many, their family also supports over 100 students in Don Bosco Cebu, Ilo Ilo and Davao, providing for the education, as well as food and clothing.  They even went as far as including their beneficiaries in the payroll of their businesses  – Panaderia Manila Bakeries and Manila Star Restaurant, every single month.

Nila, who is quite the understated person who doesn’t like to call attention to herself and her family’s deeds, explains, “I am doing this to satisfy my yearning to share, especially now that my children are already finished with their studies and I am now only supporting my parents and some nieces and nephews.”

Looking back, Nila says that kindness has always occupied a huge part of her life since she was young.   “It was always a natural thing within our family to give assistance to anyone in need, may it be through service or small amounts of money. My inang and tatang have been my role models and that trait has been passed on to us – their children.”

The Good Samaritan considers a certain moment in her past as a turning point for becoming even more altruistic.  She explains, “I dreamt of becoming a doctor but due to financial constraints, I just took up a lesser degree.  Back then, I realized just how poor we were.  One time while watching TV, I also saw a family with three small children and the only food on their table is a plate of boiled rice and coco milk. According to the parents, only one child will eat first because he has to go to school, and the leftover will be shared by the whole family. I really cried that day, and told myself that while I am still capable, a share of our income will go to those children.”

Nila believes that all of us should understand how we are all connected.  She emphasizes, “I believe that helping your family is an obligation, so if you are capable, extend help as well to others in need, regardless of religion or color. It is also our responsibility to assist other people because we are lucky God has given us all these blessings.”

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The adventures and misadventures of a ‘not so average’ Pinay trying to make it in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai.

In my thirtysomething years of existence in this kaleidoscope world of ours, masasabi kong masaya na rin ako sa buhay ko. Ow, hindi man ako lumaking mayaman, eh at least marunong akong magsaing ng bigas, tumawid sa kalsada, sumakay ng jeep at mag-book ng sarili kong flight. Baket, yung mga mayayaman ba kaya nilang gawin yung mga yun na walang tulong ng ibang tao, aber? Miski hindi ako artistahin at habulin ng mga kalalakihan eh marami naman akong mga kaibigan at kakilala sa iba’t ibang lugar. May confidence at self-insurance naman akong naipon para miski sino ang makahalubilo ko eh at least presenstable ako, mayaman man o mahirap, kabayan man o ibang lahi – may tapang ng apog at fighting spirit ika nga – at hindi nabibili sa kung saan mang mall o boutique yun ha?

Bakita ba ako nagmamalaki? Because sizes matter? Abso-packshething-lutely! Kasi Pinay ako. Kasi OF ako. Kasi independent woman ako. Kasi ako ako. Si Annie B. from Baranggay Bagumbayan, Town of Orion, Province of Bataan, Island of the Philippines!!! Malamang dala na rin ng tatlong benti cups ng Starbucks na espresso na tinungga ko – pero damang-dama ko talaga ngayon ang pagiging woman of the world ko. Parang feel kong rumampa sa kalsada, mag-catwheel at tumambling at batiin lahat ng taong makakasalubong ko ng “Ang ganda ko!!!” ng walang kakurap-kurap. At kebs ko sa reaction nila!

Sabi nga nila, behind of every man is a woman. In my case, I would like to look back and paid tribute to the people who have molded me into becoming what I am what I am right now, no more, no less. Kung hindi dahil sa kanilang contribution at influence sa buhay ko eh paniguradong hindi ako ganito ngayon.

Five years old pa lang ako, imbes na mag-siesta kasama ang aking mga kapatid at mga kalaro sa probinsya ay mag-isa akong nagbabad sa harap ng black en white TV namin noon. Doon ko madalas napapanood ni Nora Aunor, ang nag-iisang superstar ng pelikulang Pilipino. Kakaiba si Ate Guy kumpara sa ibang artista noon –  siya lang ang sumikat na hindi mestiza, anak-mayaman o mala-manyika ang kagandahan – kakaiba sya. Kapag pinanood mo sya ng maige, kikilabutan ka sa galing nyang umarte at sa tindi ng powers ng mga mata nya – parang ang laki-laki, parang ang daming sinasabi, matutunaw ka kapag tinitigan mo. Noong napanood ko sya sa pelikulang “Lollipos, Roses at Burong Talangka.” Talagang bumilib ako sa kanya. Imagine pinag-agawan sya ni Cocoy Laurel at Don Johnson??? Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko, aba, hindi lang pala magaganda at seksi ang may pag-asang maka-score ng gwaping… kung kaya ni Ate Guy, then so can I??? Naks, rhyming pa ha?

Patuloy kong sibubaybayan ang career ni Ate Guy. Iba’t ibang pelikula, iba’t ibang role pero ang po-pogi lagi ng mga kapareha nya. Si Gabby Concepcion sa “Totoo Ba ang Tsismis”, si Philip Salvador sa “Tinik sa Dibdib”, si Dennis Roldan sa “Bakit Bughan Ang Langit”. Winner!!! At take note, miski sa totoong buhay eh panalo sa mga kajowaan ang lola mo – pinakasalan sya ni Christopher de Leon sa dagat, naging boyfriend niya si Juan Rodrigo at naka-live in ang DJ na si John Rendez! Talbog ka! Basta natutunan ko from Ate Guy, it’s no matter if you’re not beautiful for as long as you have character and a pleasing personality, men will come in your life. Baket?!!

Tapos nung nagdadalaga na ako, tiningala ko naman si Sharon Cuneta, the Megastar herself. Sino ba Pinay ang hindi gustong maging si Sharon noon? Mala-prinsesa ang buhay na kinagisnan nya – mula sa prominenteng pamilya at may sariling trono sa showbiz mula pagkabata pa lang. Pati sa mga pelikula nya, pinatunayan nya na the good will always be the winner versus the evil, at kaya ng lahat maging singing star, miski saan mang lupalop ka pa ng mundo nanggaling. At tinuruan din dya akong lumaban sa mga nang-aapi – kapag sinabuyan ka ng tubig, aba eh buhusan mo rin sa mukha ang kalaban mo.  Mas sosyal yon kesa makipagsampalan ka o makipagsabunutan. Bukas luluhod din ang mga tala!!! Hmp.

Continue reading the Annie B. Chronicles at www.illustradolife.com

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Syempre habang nagka-edad na si Mega, mas lalo akon naka-relat at na-inspire sa kanya. Pinatunayan nyang hindi mo kailangang maging buto’t balat sa pangagatawan, dahil tamo naman ang mga lalake sa buhya nya: Gabby Concepcion, Richard Gomez, Robin Padilla – eh tatlo na sa kasali sa Top Ten ng Pinakapoging Pinoy sa Showbiz yung mga yun noh? Aminin: miski lampas 34 ang waistline mo, pwede ka pa ring maging Bituing Walang Kupas ang Ningning! Dizizit!!!

Pagdating naman sa pagandahan, wala ng tatalo pa sa paghanga ko kay Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979 at First Runner-Up ng 1986 Supermodel of the World. Sa dinami dami ng mga beauty queens at fashion models natin, sya ang natatangi kong inidolize dahil miski hindi rin sya perpekto, napatunayan pa rin nya na she’s got what it takes it all. Biruin mo, kahit na nagsasampalan pa kaliwa’t kanan ang English grammar nya eh nakuha nyang maiuwi and korona as Miss International – kase, maganda siya period. Walang finishing school at academic authority ang nagtrain sa kanya pero pinatumba pa rin nya ang mga kandidato from other countries – ibig sabihin mas magaling pa sya kay Miss USA miski palpak pa ang English nya – kasi nga hindi naman Extemporaneous Speech ang contest na sinalihan nya kaya kahit anong paninira ang ibato kay Melanie eh Winnie Santos all the way ang beauty nya. Madaming nang-lalait kay Melanie dahil sa pag-e-english nya, bakit may korona at title ba silang naipanalo para sa bansa natin aber? At huwag isnabin ang mga men in her life ha? Mula kay Lito Lapid, Derek Dee hangang sa kasalukuyang asawa nya ngayon, talagang pinatibok ni Melanie ang mga puso ng Pinoy, Instik, Arabo at Kano…Patunay na isa syang tarsier par excellence – Idol ka naming lahat!!! Kaya naman mala-United Colors of Benetton ang mga anak nya. Yan ang tunay na walang kaparis na kagandahan. Yun Na!

Isa rin si Lea Salonga sa mga nag-iinspire sa akin upang maging world class. Elementary pa lang ako ginagawa ko na sya – kinakanta ko noon ang “I Am But A Small Voice” sa nga school program at talent contest na sinasalihan ko. At feel na feel ko with mathing braided pitails din. Kaya naman ang makamit nya ang Lawrence Oliver at Tony Award for Best Actress for her unbeatable performance as “Kim” sa Miss Saigon, talaga namang tumitindi ang pagtingala ko sa kanya. Siya pa lang ang natatanging Pilipino na nakapagbida sa West End ng London at Broadway ng New York in a title role at umani pa ng papuri mula sa ibang lahi. Salamat ng marami kay Lea, nailagay niya sa mapa ng world entertainment ang bandila ng Pilipinas bilang factor ng magagaling kumanta, sumayaw at umarteng lahi, diba? Bravo, Leah – Bon Apetit!!!

At sino ba naman ang hindi namamangha sa kadakilaan ng CNN Hero of the Year na si Efren Penaflorida? Truly selfless and honorable ang ipinamalas nyang mission sa buhay sa pagtulong nya at pagkalinga sa mga batang lansangan thru his teaching program. Ang sarap isipin na dahil kay Efren, nababawasan araw-araw ang mga future snatcher, holdaper at adik sa mga kalye ng bansa natin. Imbes na maging mga mangmang sila at tambay sa kanto eh natututo silang magbasa, magbilang at mangarap na baling araw ay magkakaroon din sila ng buhay na pwede rin nilang ipagmalaki. Tingnan mo nga, panay ang reklamo natin na ang hirap mag-commute, ang trapik araw-araw, ang baba ng sweldo natin, ang dami nating trabaho, samantalang may mga taong katulad ni Efren na nagsasakripisyo, nagtitiis at nagpapakaumbabang magtulak ng kariton nya under the scorching heat of the sun – at walang aircon ha? Maibahagi lang sa mga street children ang knowlodge of learning.  Nakakahiya sa kanya ano? Kaya naman super deserving sya nang makamit nya ang world class fame at award from CNN. Ang message – miski mahirap ang Pilipinas, puno naman ito ng mga taong mayaman sa ganda ng kalooban at kadakilaan para sa iba. Ikaw, kaya mo bay un?

At syempre, sino bang Pinoy ang hindi proud sa dinalang tagumpay at pagpupunyagi ng Pound for Pound World Boxing Champion na si Manny Pacquiao? Ibang klase talaga si Pacman – hindi lang sa mga panalo nya sa boxing kundi sa kakayahan nya to unite and bring harmony to the lives of the madlang Pinoy people. Sa tuwing may laban si Manny, buong Pilipinas ang nakatutok sa TV kaya bukod sa tahimil at masaya ang bung paligid ay walang krimen na nagaganap. Hanep dib a? Miski sinong Presidente o politico hindi kayang gawin yon ah? Isa din sya sa nagpatunay na hindi hadlang ang kahirapan in order for you to achive your drems. Basta, tulad ni Manny, mag-focus, mag-sipag at mag tyaga at laging mananalig kay Lord, siguradong makakamit di lang ang tagumpay – marami ding kakapit sa ‘yong mga lintang politico at mga artistang walang career- bukod sa instant fame and success mo, pati nanay mo pwede ring sumikat! Now you know!

Hindi lang puro sikat ang mga naging inspirasyon ko sa buhay. May mga tao ding nagbigay ng daan upang ma-achieve ko ang mga pangarap ko sa buhay miski pa madaming challenges akong pinagdaanan. Hindi ko makakalimutan si Mrs. Adoracion Gascon, ang aking Grade 6 teacher noon. Sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, wala siyang tigil sa mga panglalait at pamimintas nya sa akin. Anu mang effort with a capital A ang gawin ko, gaanong man kahapdi ang mga sugat sa kalooban ko at balde-baldeng pawis ang tumatagaktak sa katawan ko eh never nya akong binigyan ng approval sa lahat ng mga gawain ko.  Pakiramdam ko noon, ipinanganak si Mrs. Gascon para gawing miserable ang buhay ko. Para walang problema eh di nagtiis ako, sumunod sa autos at bilang bonus eh nilagpasan ko pa ang expectations niya. Nang lumaon, nagulat na lang ako nang biglang tumaas ang mga grades ko. Doon ko nakita ang bunga ng mga itinuro sa akin ni Mrs. Gascon. Ayun pala, alam daw nya na kung magpapakatino lang ako eh malayo ang mararating ko sa buhay. Well, malayu-layo din ang Dubai mula sa Pilipinas ha? Well…

Hindi ko rin makakalimutan si Bulak, ang gaming pet dog noon na nagpadama sa akin ng unconditional love. Sabi nila, a dog is a man’s best friend. Eh since hindi naman ako magka-boyfriend noon eh sa aso ko na langi ibinaling ang pagmamahal ko, next level naman ika nga. Naku super sweet si Bulak, pagbaba ko pa lang ng tricycle tumatakbo na yan para salubungin ako sa gate ng bahay namin. Tsaka miski askal lang sya at hindi mamahalin ang breeding eh may manners naman siya. Alam nya kung sino at hindi ang dapat tahulan, habulin o kagatin. Ilang beses na din kaming sinagip at tinulungan ni Bulak laban sa mga magnanakaw at masasamang tao. Hindi rin siya tulad ng ibang boys, wala syang arte sa katawan o sa pag-uugali. Bukod sa secure ang feeling ko kapag kasama nya ako. Hay, mahirap makahanap ang katulad ni Bulak sa mga lalaki ngayon. Siya na siguro ang perfect boyfriend that I never had. I miss you, Bulak.

At syempre walang Annie B sa mundong ito kung wala si Nanay, ang number one fan ko. Mula sanggol pa lang, pinatunayan na ni Nanay ang walang katulad na pagmamahal nya sa akin. Lahat ng bagay na gawin ko, ikinatutuwa ni Nanay – madalas OA pa. Panay nya akong isinasali sa mga beauty contest noon, feeling nya talaga hindi lang ako ang pinakamaganda sa mga kandidato, confident pa na ako rind aw ang siguradong mananalo. Syempre lagi naman akong Luz Valdez. Pero itong si Nanay, sige pa rin. Kapag kailangan ko ng bagong damit o sapatos, halos mangutang pa yan sa mga kumare nya maibili lang ako. Basta da best talaga si Nanay, hindi ko ipagpapalit miski kaninong nanay pa. Hindi mapapantayan ng yaman ni Oprah Winfrey, ng ganda ni Gloria Romero o ng pagkadakila ni Mother Teresa ang lahat ng naibahagi sa akin ni Nanay. Kaya naman laking pasasalamat k okay Lord na ibinigay nya sa akin si Nanay at wala ng iba pa.

Kung wala ang mga binganggit ko malamang hindi magiging ganito ako ngayon. Lahat ng talino, tapang, galling at kapal ng mukha ay dulot ng mga taong ito na nagsilbing gabay at inspirasyon ko habang lumalaki ako. Ang sarap isipin na sa buhay nating ito ay may mga tao na nagkakaroon ng impluwensya at epekto sa paghubog ng ating katauhan making us unique and different people at the same time.

Hanep din ng pakiramdam na bilang Pinoy, ano? Ang daming nating pwedeng tingalain bilang role models who contributed pride and honor to our country and race a Filipino. Ang galling ng Pinoy ano? Miski saan laging binabandila ang lahi natin. Kay asana, ipagpatuloy pa rin natin ang sinimulan ng karamihan and show the world that we can be the best in everything we do. And to my role models, thank you for molding me into what I am now, the one and only Annie B. Dizzizit!!!

The post The Annie B Chronicles: Da Idols of My Life appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.