Gee, Your Kabayan Smells Terrific!

Why Filipinos Smell Good

By Nicholo Jallores

It is an accepted dictum in modern medicine that the strongest mnemonic device out of all the 5 senses is the sense of smell. A whiff of the known and familiar could bring back a greater flood of memories than any sight, sound, taste, or tactile experience ever could. Warm pineapple and sugar reminds us of holidays back home. Grilled fish takes us back to barbecues by the sea with the family. The nose knows, it is said. Human beings in general are tenderly susceptible to the visceral and often jarring impacts of nose-stalgia.

Filipinos in particular are an olfactory sort. We spend a lot of time and money on ensuring that we smell good, or at the very least, that we don’t smell bad. According to Eden Strategy Institute’s Emerging Middle Class 2014 Survey, 4 out of 10 Filipinos cannot live without soap and shampoo. Personal hygiene figures highly in the Filipinos’ list of priorities, along with mobile phones and internet access. According to the report, most of us would rather forego health insurance and job security than lose our toiletries – in other words, it’s perfectly fine to be in the dirt, as long as our dirt doesn’t stink.

Our innate obsession with smelling good is hugely evident in Filipinos living in Middle Eastern countries. The sweltering heat of the Arabian peninsula offers the perfect environment for cultivating all sorts of maleficent odors, but amidst the stink clouds of hot acid and sulfur that urbanites have to contend with on a daily basis, the Filipinos manage to smell as fresh and dainty as young roses.

But what exactly is behind our propensity and dedication towards smelling good? What are the factors that define our relentlessly systemic approach to personal hygiene?

We have a few working theories.

1.) Filipinos generally don’t eat a lot of red meat.
Back home, beef is considered a premium item. Most of us grew up subsisting mostly on vegetables and white meats, with calderata and bulaloappearing only on the weekends or special occasions. Red meat is notoriously difficult to digest. Too much of it is likely to cause excessive perspiration and overproduction of surplus proteins and lipids, which can ultimately lead to body odor.

2.) Our food is not really all that spicy.
Compared to other cuisines, Filipino food is relatively rudimentary in terms of flavor compositions. We are comfort eaters, more than anything – we appreciate simplicity, heartiness, and sheer abundance in our food, with very little to almost no regard for flavor sets and textural diversity. Overloading on spices leads to excess sulfur in the body, which will eventually be eliminated through sweat and the breath.

3.) We’re all just water babies, really
The Filipinos come from a land that offers plenty of access to bodies of water. We have 7,107 islands – it would be safe to surmise that we also have around the same number of beaches, in addition to a stunning multitude lakes, rivers, brooks, and waterfalls. A typical Filipino family weekend getaway would be an afternoon outing at the beach. Filipinos just love water – a natural extension of which is that we love bathing. Other nationalities are even known to scoff at our insistence on taking daily baths. Imagine their consternation when they find out that some of us bathe twice a day – with plenty of “hilamos” and touch-ups in between.

4.) We tend to be overly conscious of other people’s opinions
Filipinos are very considerate and thoughtful – flip side of which is that we sometimes take self-consciousness to a ridiculous extreme. As a rule, we do not air our dirty laundry in public. We keep them locked up inside, and smother it with fragrances so the neighbors don’t notice. Our self-esteem tends to be heavily reliant on the opinion of others, so we go the extra length to make sure that we are pleasing in all respects, including the way we smell.

5.) We are sensitive of other people’s needs and comfort levels
It is often mentioned that we Filipinos are the preferred employees because of the level of loyalty and compassion that we are able to display through our diligence and hard work. The same can be said about our commitment towards maintaining a high degree of personal hygiene. It would be a matter of great tragedy for us to ruin another person’s day by walking into the room reeking of warm garbage. We take care of the way we smell mostly because it pleases us to please others.

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The post Gee, Your Kabayan Smells Terrific! Why Filipinos Smell Good appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

My Enterprise
Event Plus is a Dubai-based full-service destination management company. It offers a full spectrum of destination services such as groups and incentives programs, conferences, corporate events, teambuilding events, AV production, weddings, destination PR, sales representation, and corporate outbound group travel.

My Beginnings
I have been in Dubai since 2003. Just like most of our fellow Filipinos, I came here with a hope that I will only stay for couple of years. Then 2 years became 5 years, and next thing I knew I was already on my 10th year mark. Eventually, I decided that I didn’t want to be an employee anymore. In early 2014, I launched Events Plus. I did everything on my own, from the business plan, down to the website. I had very minimal capital. I even worked from home during the first 6 months to save cost. My hospitality experience, determination and dream were all I had to start with.

My Struggles
Being an Asian entrepreneur with a start-up company is definitely not easy. We like to think that ethnicity doesn’t matter, but the reality is that some – if not most – people will assess you and your business at face value. And as a start-up company, the real struggle is to build a solid level of trust with your prospective clients. These are very challenging circumstances indeed, but you just have to plow through them, continue knocking down doors and give your 100%. One day, it will all pay off. This has been my experience as an entrepreneur.

We are now 4 people in the team with a representation office in UK and Germany. I’m also looking at setting up a satellite office in the Philippines, hopefully by next year. Despite the obstacles, I am proud to say that the future is looking bright for our company.

My Life As An Entrepreneur
The most obvious advantage of being an entrepreneur is being your own boss having the freedom to work whenever and wherever you want. You’re working for yourself and nobody else. You may find yourself working 18 hours at any given day, but in the end its all for you. Every day is full of opportunities.

But in as much as it is exciting and joyful, it can also be lonely and scary. The stress levels of making all the decisions can sometimes be overwhelming, and can put a strain on your personal life. Your work schedules can also be wildly erratic. However, the pro’s still outweigh the con’s. It’s all a matter of striving for work-life balance, and setting your priorities straight.

My Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
An entrepreneur’s life is not for everyone. It requires a lot of perseverance, determination, and most of all, patience. Always strive to give the best service to your customers and try to always say “yes,” even if their requirement seems impossible. It’s a fierce market out there. Your only edge is how well you serve the needs of your clients. If you think you have what it takes, go for it. Go for it now.

The post Pinoy Entrepreneur: Jennifer Ebrada appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Angelita Castro-Kelly took the road less traveled. And as poet Robert Frost put it perfectly, that has made all the difference. 

In fact, it led her to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) more than 30 years ago, where she now holds two key positions, as Earth Observing System (EOS) Science Interface Manager and International Earth Science Constellation Mission Operations Manager (MOM). Angelita is the first woman and the first Filipino to have ever achieved such a feat at NASA.

She quickly points out, however: “One’s success is usually attained due to a larger team of people that work cooperatively with each other in order to reach their common goal. So, any success that I’ve been fortunate to experience is the result of not only my hard work, but of the people that I work with.”

In this multi-billion dollar program, they have three major EOS missions —Terra, Aqua and Aura — each satellite carrying several instruments that measure a specific phenomenon, she explains. Aura is dedicated to the atmosphere, Aqua to water, and Terra to land data. All three satellites fly in constellation with other earth observing satellites from France, Japan, and Argentina. Other countries, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Brazil, and Finland have instruments on the constellation satellites. These constellation satellites fly very closely with each other, within seconds to minutes at 705km to enable scientists to obtain concurrent data from the various instruments. Scientists then correlate the gathered data to study the Earth as an integrated system.

Angelita led the development of agreements and procedures with all the member satellite teams and countries to ensure that they all fly together safely in accordance with established guidelines. She chairs a working group meeting composed of engineers and scientists, which meets face-to-face twice a year. The teams coordinate their daily and special activities via telecons and electronically linked systems.

Prior to the launch of the satellites, Angelita, the first EOS MOM, developed the overall EOS Mission Operations Concept that became a basis for implementing all EOS missions. She worked with various flight engineers, ground system developers, scientists in the US and with international partners in Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, and Finland to understand their requirements and develop specifications for a control center that would be able to send commands to the satellite and a ground system that would be able to capture and process data from the instruments.

After the launch, her role evolved to that of Science Interface Manager, as she continues to act as a bridge between the scientists and the ground system and operations team.

Reaching for the Stars

Growing up in Sampaloc, Manila, Angelita had shown early on that she was far from typical.  With her keen interest in Math, she eventually found herself among the very few enrolling in BS Mathematics and Physics at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), where she also spent her elementary and secondary education.

“(It) seemed like a good thing to do,” she rationalizes. “The two subjects provide a good foundation for many career possibilities, including Medicine.” Back then, her paternal grandmother wanted her to be a doctor like her departed father, who also served as captain in the US Armed Forces in the Far East.

Angelita is the youngest among six children in a family of achievers. Her oldest brother is a doctor, one was a former ambassador and Minister of Foreign Affairs, another is a lawyer, and her two sisters were UST professors. Both their grandfathers became mayors of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. But she never felt any real pressure to follow someone else’s footsteps.

It was her mother, a pharmacist, who “stressed the importance of having a good education,” she says, while her “siblings’ accomplishments served as an inspiration.” She even attributes her diplomatic skills to her late brother Ambassador Pacifico Castro.

Space — stars, planets and astronauts — was another youthful fascination for Angelita. She discloses, though, that her idea of NASA during that time was very limited to rocket ships, following the visit to Manila of Friendship 7, the rocket ship of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth.

Conquering Space and Time

After she earned her degree, Summa cum Laude, Angelita moved to the US to pursue graduate studies in Physics at the University of Maryland. The transition proved to be quite challenging. “It’s easy to get lost in a country such as the US,” she recalls. “I had a bit of a cultural shock, finding myself among people of diverse faiths and cultures.” It was her strong faith that sustained her all throughout. Luckily, too, her, mother and two siblings were living nearby.

“In graduate school, the number of women was very small,” continues Angelita. “The 4-story Physics building had only one restroom for women.” She had the same experience when she first began working at NASA.

“I was usually the only woman in a roomful of men at technical working group meetings. Most of the men treated me politely and some were even helpful; one or two had an attitude but eventually came around, Angelita recounts. “The initial challenge was to show them that I was just as capable as they were to do the job. The trust and respect came once they saw that I could contribute to the success of the mission.”

At Goddard Space Flight Center, she also made more awesome discoveries: “the depth and breadth of the space endeavor, the diversity of scientific and engineering disciplines, and the many career opportunities to contribute to the space program.”

One of them was being the Project Manager of the Shuttle/Spacelab Data Processing Facility, where she learned about negotiating with space personnel at other NASA centers and in other countries – a preparation towards becoming the EOS MOM.  Then, she started making history.

One Step for Angelita

Her contributions to the several missions she spearheaded at NASA were soon recognized by both her kababayans and colleagues.

In 1993, she received then President Fidel Ramos’ Presidential Award, Pamana ng Bayan for Science and Technology. She was also named one of UST’s Ten Outstanding Thomasian Alumni for Science and Technology.

Over the years, NASA has conferred her the following honors: Goddard Space Flight Center Exceptional Service Medal, Manned Flight Program Launch Honoree, Astronauts’ Manned Flight “Snoopy” Award, GSFC Exceptional Performance Award, Flight Project’s “Mission Impossible” award, and recently, the NASA Honor Award Exceptional Achievement Medal (2007, 2009, 2010), and numerous group achievement awards including the NASA Honor Group Achievement Award for the Constellation Mission Operations Working Group. She was also acknowledged as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the US by the Filipina Women’s Network.

Angelita emphasizes, though, that she’s also been very fortunate to work for managers who’ve given her the chance to blossom in her career because they trusted her with the responsibility of representing NASA at meetings with other organizations in the US and abroad.

Her mother had been very helpful too. “My Mom came to live with us after the birth of our third child. (She) made it possible for me to go to work every day and be able to concentrate on my work without worrying about the children,” she shares.

She and her husband Dr. Francis Kelly, also a physicist, consider their three children both an achievement and a blessing. “I made a decision after getting married to take time off to learn to be a wife and eventually a mother.  I have no regrets losing four years when I could’ve been working,” reveals Angelita who spends most of her free time with her grandkids. “I think women shouldn’t put off marriage and having children just to have a career.”

One Leap for the Filipino

Maybe she was born under a lucky star. Maybe it was written in the stars. But she’s still most thankful to God for His many blessings. “Whatever success I have today is from God, who gave me the grace of a education, and who gave me a wonderful family and a loving husband,” Angelita says humbly.

Any advice she can give to kababayans who still hesitate to walk the road less travelled?

For anybody to succeed in their career, she believes one needs to “develop strong skills in written and oral communication, a good attitude, a willingness to get the job done no matter what, and flexibility. Don’t do only what’s required—go above and beyond if needed.”

But more importantly, she believes in staying true to Filipino values: being God- and family-centered, honest, hardworking, and determined.

“Never forget to pray! Take God with you whatever you do and wherever you go,” Angelita underscores. “Trust in Him — He’ll guide you to places you haven’t even dreamt about today.”

Even in space.

The post Angelita Castro-Kelly: NASA’s Fearless Filipina Diplomat appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Illustrado threw a community event for Filipinas in the UAE on the 6^th April 2012, at the Almas Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai.

Dubbed the “Day of Sisterhood” the whole day affair dedicated to celebrating “Pinay Power” saw a gathering of 400 Filipinas from all walks of life, who came together for a whole day of learning and bonding.

An offshoot of Illustrado’s Women of Substance campaign, an advocacy devoted to the empowerment of Filipinas in the region, the Day of Sisterhood’s became a venue where attendees were provided useful information on topics that could help them enrich their lives.  The event also became a platform where the women were able to fearlessly discuss personal concerns and issues, especially those related to reproductive health and sexual empowerment.

 The affair was graced by Ambassador Grace Relucio-Princesa who opened the event with a non-denominational prayer.

Most awaited during the affair was the open forum session with renowned psychologist, author and TV personality, Illustrado columnist Dr. Margarita Holmes who flew to Dubai especially for the Women of Substance and Day of Sisterhood events.

Digerati’s Lilian Lee Bautista (L) looks on with a smile

During the discussion, Dr. Holmes, together with host Lalaine Chu-Benitez, Illustrado’s Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, highlighted the message that women should make the right decisions for themselves and see to it that they protect their well-being – especially when it comes to their own sexuality as well as reproductive health.

WOS Honoree Engr Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi shares some insights

Lending their expertise on other useful topics for Filipinas were Engr. Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi (career advancement), Financial Consultant Bey Celso (financial literacy and planning), Style Consultant Agnes Aquino-Briggs (style, image and grooming), Sherwin Lim (investing and Philippine real estate) and Jhasmin Cipriano (Pinays Take Charge Guideline).  Also adding to the educational and fun aspect of the event were the demo on Self-Defense for Women conducted by Ibrahim Rubel Beltran, a mini make-up workshop led by locally renowned make-up artist Ginno Alducente, as well as the live painting session by artist Flordeliza Pesigan.

Other elements such as the hourly Titan Watches give-away, displays from local Filipina entrepreneurs and Pinay Make-Over, as well as the free bone scan from Anlene, give-aways from Dove, Ayala Land, Xpress Money, Dunia, Giordano, as well as refreshments from Al Ain Dairy, Arab Beverages and Galang LLC made for an enjoyable day of bonding the attendees will not forget.

The post Illustrado Day of Sisterhood appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Photography: Eros Goze

Hair and Make-Up: Frankie Melendez

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Story by: Toni Loyola

Photography: Eros Goze

Hair and Make-Up: Frankie Melendez

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Story by: Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Photography by: Eros Goze

Hair and Make-Up: Ginno Alducente

Engr. Emelyn Martinez cuts the picture of a respectable, well put together, progressive female professional, thriving in the male dominated field of construction. At just 34 years old, Emelyn has managed to excel in a highly competitive business area which, at times is “color and gender sensitive.”

Emelyn works as a Managing Consultant at Hill International’s Dubai, a claims group handling contractual disputes and arbitration proceedings in the sector. She’s worked her way up in the UAE, from being the Head of Planning at the Makati Development Corporation, to serving as planning consultant and then manager at several other companies, including one of the region’s biggest construction firms.

Equally significant, Emelyn was also the former President of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers International (AACEI)-UAE – which she has grown into the largest chapter in the world outside their headquarters in the USA during her tenure – and where, she is the lone woman, and the youngest member of the board of directors.

Early in her career in the emirates, Emelyn experienced being told in job interviews that a Filipina would not be a good candidate for the job.  That didn’t faze her, however. Instead she just kept moving ahead.  One continuing source of frustration though was often being told often that she was “too young” for her work.

Speaking about her constant push to excel, the charming Bicolana recounted, “I’ve always dreamt of making it big someday. It was hard growing up without a father; we lost him when I was 10 years old.  And it was difficult for my mom to provide for all our needs. So I’ve always had this ambition to succeed.”

Going into construction was somewhat of a tribute to her father’s own work as a civil engineer.

“When I was young I was often told that engineering is only for men, but I decided to make it in the field, no matter what.”

Emelyn’s work ethic is her simple secret to success.  “I am very brave and I work hard. While most people my age would spend their free time clubbing or going to parties, I’m working and studying. Though of course, sometimes I go out with friends too.”

Indeed, Emelyn’s hard work is evident in her exceptional credentials. She has degrees in BS Civil Engineering from Bicol University and a Masters in Engineering Management Major in Construction Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Add to that her qualifications from the Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACEI), the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines, and it’s easy to see where Emelyn has invested most of her efforts.

Currently, she is studying for a Masters in Law degree at the Robert Gordon University in Scotland.

Emelyn reinforces the adage that first impressions always count, saying that she makes it a point to establish her professionalism to make sure that she is taken seriously.  “Apart from dressing the part, at work, I also have a totally different persona.  I am very focused and disciplined.  But of course, outside of work, I am more relaxed.”

But even her idea of relaxation demands focus and competitiveness. Emelyn has been a marathon runner since 2008 but she candidly admitted that before that, she could not run even a 1km race straight. To Emelyn, this was again proving that anything is possible. “I ran a 42km marathon before, but I had to cut down this year since I suffered from shin splints. Hopefully, I can run my next race in April in Madrid. I am also trying to get into cycling.”

This year, Emelyn also used her participation at the Dubai Marathon for a much greater cause than merely sports; she ran to raise money for the victims of typhoon Sendong in the Philippines and received some AED10,000 in donations within two weeks of her campaign through her charity website. “It might not be a big amount but I think it should help quite a few people back home,” Emelyn shared.

Her little free time is spent volunteering in the community as a trainer and speaker, sharing her knowledge and experience with her peers, always making it a point to encourage, inspire and motivate other professionals to work harder for success through continuous education.

Emelyn’s stellar achievements are proof that nobody is too young to make a mark, or too feminine to lead.

The post WOS 2012: Ambition – Engr. Emelyn Martinez – Brilliant, Young & Unstoppable appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Photographer: Johnbert N. Dacanay; Assistant Photographer: Dave A. Pongasi

Make Up Artist :Tonirose B. Roquim

There are events in life that mark one’s character. For some it is a time of crisis, for others it is a time of great opportunity. For nurse Mary Jane Tupas, it was the prospect of a baby being born in an airplane and the ironic life and death situation that came with it that marked her innate nature to help others. 

She has a handful of accomplishments to her name, yet Mary Jane Tupas, refuses to take all the credit.

“It’s not just me,” she said. “It’s every person out there, big or small, in high or low places, who take time out to help other people.”

Indeed, helping others seems to be second nature to Mary Jane, a quality instilled in her by her parents, especially her very religious father. “Even when I was still young, my father made sure that I prayed before I went out of the house,” Mary Jane related. In this way, Mary Jane stated, her father taught her to stay close to God at all times, whether struggling with difficulties or in the midst of blessings. “My father also taught me to always do only what is good. People may not recognize the good things that one does, but God certainly sees.”

These must have been the words that rang in Mary Jane’s ears during a flight to the Philippines, when a pregnant passenger suddenly went into labor. When the pilot announced the need for a medical professional, Mary Jane promptly volunteered herself. She adeptly examined the woman, recognizing right away that she needed IV fluids, as the woman was bleeding profusely. Unfortunately, save from some medicines, the plane had no other medical paraphernalia onboard.

“I told the pilot that we needed to make an emergency landing. We were over India at that time,” Mary Jane said. The pilot wanted to try to land, not in India, but in Thailand, which was approximately three hours away. “I told the pilot that the woman needed medical help right away and that waiting a few more hours would put her and her baby in jeopardy,” Mary Jane explained.

The plane landed in India, where the woman was met by an ambulance and a medical team. Meanwhile, the rest of the passengers, including Mary Jane, had to stay overnight in India. While most commended Mary Jane’s deed, some were irritated by the inconvenience of an unplanned stay in India. “It, after all, took time away from their holidays, so I understand them,” she said. “But I told them that I couldn’t just let the woman and her baby suffer, knowing that I could do something about it.”

How could someone be so selfless and always ready to help? “It’s my passion. I do it in my daily life and in my work.” Mary Grace is currently the head of the Nursing Department of Mohammad Dossary Hospital in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, a reputable medical center that employs highly-qualified staff. It is a job that is fitting for someone of Mary Jane’s character, because it entails responsibilities that extend beyond work hours. “Sometimes, I would be ready to sleep when I would get a call from the hospital or someone else. They need my help so I go,” Mary Jane explained.

Mary Jane is also the President of the OFW 5^th Congress as well as the Ro Aklanon Saudi Arabia (an organization of Filipino from Aklan), both of which, under her leadership have spearheaded several public service initiatives including a seminar on “Tamang Pakikitungo sa Kapwa Manggagawa.”

Her consistent acts of service earned Mary Jane the Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani in 2007, which recognizes OFs who foster goodwill among different peoples in the world, promote the image of the Philippines and contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities and the country.

Despite this accolade, Mary Jane is hard put to amass all the praises. In fact, the award has inspired her to do even more. “All that I am now, I owe to the community. In turn, I owe it to the community to help those who need me,” Mary Jane said.

For those who are starting to feel a passion to help others and make life better for them, Mary Jane has these words of advice: “Do your best to love your neighbor, whether they are good to you or not. Don’t expect anything in return.”

Mary Jane also has a lot of faith in the Filipino women, and she has this message for them: “We are all talented and smart in our own ways. So, do your best in everything that you do, whether as a mother, as a housewife, as an employee. Never let your gender get in the way. Just do what is good always, fear God and persevere. Everything else will be easy.”

The post WOS 2012: Service – Mary Jane Tupas – A Deep Passion for Helping appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by: Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Photography, Hair and Make-Up by: Les Fiestan

Hilde Capanang has a couple of very simple rules she lives by: respect yourself, respect others, know your limits, and know what is right and what is wrong. As a nanny who has nurtured her ward for 27 years, from the day she was born, she has imparted values to help groom the child into the considerate, cheerful and talented young woman that she is today. Like so many of our unsung heroes, Hilde is a shining example that even in the most modest of professions, a Filipina’s love and care are simply priceless.

Twenty eight years ago, Ilo-ilo native Hilde was a social worker serving at the Vietnamese Refugee Center in Palawan.  Hilde originally wanted to be a nurse but couldn’t, due to her family’s financial limitations.  Social work was an ideal substitute. She recounted, “Dahil mahirap kami, naiintindihan ko yung pangangailangan ng mahirap; gusto kong magserbisyo at tumulong…kung ano man ang magagawa ko.” [“Because we were poor and I understand the needs of the poor, I wanted to serve and help in whatever way I could.]

Fast forward to today, Hilde has been living in Riyadh for almost three decades now, working for the Al Ammary family, taking care of their daughter Nourah.

Nourah, now all grown up, works as an Art Director, but still affectionately calls Hilde “Nannay”, a symbol of the special relationship they share since the day she was born.  Nourah explained, “She is like a mother to me.  I cannot deny the bond we share. I was lucky because she didn’t just take care of me. She raised me the way she would her own child and never held back emotionally. She always reminded me how loved I was.”

Hilde shared the same sentiment, “Parang anak ko na rin si Nourah.  At natutuwa rin ako na ngayong malaki na siya, kahit saan siya magtrabaho, o magpunta, pinagmamalaki niya ako bilang nagpalaki sa kanya.  Mahal din niya ako at sinusuklian niya yung pagmamahal na inukol ko sa kanya.”

[“Nourah is like a daughter to me.  And I’m very happy that now she’s all grown up, wherever she goes, she’s proud to tell people that I was the one who raised her. She loves me and she returns the love that I’ve given her.”]

Her 28 years of service just flew by, said Hilde. The Al Ammarys are kind, generous and treated her like family. Hilde also mentioned that they have given her the right to provide guidance to Nourah.  “Katulad rin ng mga tinuturo nating mga Pilipino sa mga anak natin – yung maayos na pamamaraan sa buhay; yung maging respectful kahit kanino, maging bata man o matanda, pangit o maganda, yun and tinuro ko sa kanya,” Hilde recalls. [“Just like we Filipinos teach our kids – to live life properly; to have respect for anybody whether they are young or old, ugly or beautiful, that’s what I taught her.”]

On the other hand, Nourah said that from her “Nannay” she learned “appreciation, patience, trust, honesty, ambition and devotion, as well as keeping things tidy.”   She adds, “Nannay always had the best work ethic. She worked from the heart and is very trustworthy. I learned my work ethic from her.”

Serving one family for over three decades is a feat for any one, and to Hilde the secret of maintaining good ties with her employer is by returning their kindness with kindness and wholehearted commitment to her work.   “Respeto ang pinaka-importante. Respetuhin natin ang kultura nila. Hindi sa natatakot ka sa kanila, iba yung meron kang respeto. At pag maganda ang ugali na ipinakita natin sa kanila, magugustuhan at mamahalin din nila tayo.” [“Respect is of utmost importance. We should respect their culture. It’s not because you fear them, having respect is different.  If you show them goodness, they will also appreciate you and love you.”]

Hilde, who has remained single, admitted that she also had moments when she would miss her own family in the Philippines and instances when she would be tested with men trying to pursue her. She shares, “Tao lang din ako; meron ding damdamin.  Pero importante sa akin yung respeto sa sarili ko, alam ko kung hanggang saan limitasyon ko.  At yun ang sinusunod ko.” [“I am also human; with emotions. But what was important for me is my self-respect.  I know my limitationsAnd that is what I live by.”]

But now, at 59, Hilde is content with her life.  Together with her sister who also worked in the same household, they’ve been able to provide for their family back home. She takes pride in saying that in their family now, they have a medical technician, a Computer Science graduate, and a nurse, because of their hard work.

“Para sa sarili ko, wala na akong iniisp na iba pa. Pangarap ko lang bigyan lang ako ng good health and long life at maging maayos yung pamilya ko sa Pilipinas.” [“For myself, I can’t ask for more.  I only wish for good health and a long life and that my family in the Philippines will do well.”]

Though Hilde does have one more dream, and that is for the child who has grown up to credit her Nannay for the person that she is today.

“Pangarap ko kay Nourah, na kung ano man ang ambisyon niya, sana maabot niya yun. Gusto ko siyang maging successful. Natutuwa ako na may naibigay ako sa buhay niya.” [“My dream for Nourah is to be able to achieve her ambitions. I want her to be successful. I am happy that I was able to contribute to her life.”]

The post WOS 2012: Devotion – Hilde Capanang: Of service and motherly love appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by: Barbara Marchadesch; Photography: Rxandy Capinpin

Styling: Red Mil; Makeup: Hanna Pechon

You can say that Nina Quintos has built a career for herself as one of the top architects working in the Middle East and Southeast Asia brick by brick. With a career that spans more than two decades, Nina has carved out her own trail in a man’s world and has come out on top.

“This is what I’ve always wanted to be,” said Nina Quintos about her being an architect. As project manager for Cadiz International, Nina, 46, has managed several significant projects in the Middle East, such as the Al Hamra Mall in Ras al-Khaimah, which won the prestigious Design Merit Award from the ICSC MENA (International Council for Shopping Centers, Middle East and North Africa Region) in 2011, for the Design of a New Shopping Center.

A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Nina’s 22-year career in international concept architecture evolved as a result of her drive to become the best she can be.

Currently, Nina is the project manager for several Master Plan projects — which she emphasizes are team efforts — such as the Lausanne Golf Village, a 250-hectare integrated residential development in Kyrgyzstan with a championship golf course, a commercial area and a hotel; and the 20-hectare Uptown Tbilisi Mixed-Use Development in Tbilisi, Georgia, which will have a retail mall as well as office, hotel and residential tower developments.

Nina has built a career as impressive as the structures she plans. But being a woman professional in the Middle East and a Filipino also has its share of difficulties.

She credits her firm, which employs a number of women, for supporting her and her colleagues.  It also helps that she has made her mark as an expert in her field. Now, “it’s not highlighted that you’re a woman doing architecture, but that you’re [simply] an architect.”

As a solo mom, Nina feels the pressure of balancing her family with her career, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her daughter Crista is 12 and quite used to her mom traveling on a regular basis.  Though it’s hard when she has to leave her daughter for a business trip, she wants to serve as an example to her as well. “I don’t think that your passion for your work should change, and I want my daughter to see how much I love what I do. I show her the finished product of my work whenever possible. She’s totally supportive, and I want her to be true to herself too.”

Nina is extremely grateful for her support system — her family. “When I’m traveling, Crista is with my mom,” she said, adding that her sisters and their families are also there to help. “I wouldn’t be able to do this without them.”

When she’s not at work, Nina unwinds by taking aikido with Crista or rowing with the Manila Dragons Dragonboat Rowing Team. “I need to be active!” she declared. The team regularly rows in Manila Bay and takes part in international and local races and regattas.  “Our team is very diverse, with a very wide age range. We have professionals, we have students, and there are some breast cancer survivors. They’re all very dynamic, very strong women — and I’m not just talking about physical strength, but the strength of character of the people in the team.”

It’s not just for fun and exercise, either. The Manila Dragons are competitive, and in fact took the Diamond Cup at the Hong Kong “King of the World” International Dragonboat Race in October.

Nina not only feels a responsibility to be a good representative for women, but for Filipinos as well. “It’s something that’s been tugging at the back of my mind — how we as a people can be strong and make our real mark. I think my longing is to see an awareness and pride about who we are.”

To Nina, there is something missing in our collective perception of ourselves. “Sometimes it’s shaky; sometimes we give in to the thinking that they’re better than we are. I want us to see how far we’ve come. We have to find ourselves — and it has to come from us, from the inside, not from others — to become comfortable in who we are as Filipinos, so that we can move forward and be better.”

Outside the Philippines, said Nina, there is an extra responsibility for us to be our best and to show what we can do. “And we can—we’re well-trained, we have the experience, we have the skills.”

“Career should be beyond work — it should be something you enjoy and give you purpose, so that you want to do it well. And be true to yourself. Don’t let anyone set the limits for you. If you know what you want, go for it and enjoy where you are.”

Said like a true global creator and trailblazer.

The post WOS 2012: Leadership – Nina Quintos, Architect of Her Dreams appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.