Filipino Photographer Allan Cadaoas: Grand Mosque in UAE

Filipino Photographer Allan Cadaoas: Grand Mosque in UAE from Illustrado

 

Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE

 
Architectural photography enthusiast Allan Cadaoas is an architect who works in Abu Dhabi and lives with his family in Dubai. Residing in the emirates for almost five years now, Allan has a natural affinity for taking snaps of structures with striking architectural elements. Here he shares with us glimpses of one of the region’s grandest mosques, a veritable tourist spot in the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Mosque.

 

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Que Horror!

Que Horror! - Illustrado

By Aby Yap

Ready to be scared out of your wits?

Come on, people, this month won’t be complete without remembering our dearly departed — God bless their souls — and without remembering that which gave us endless goosebumps, made us scream to the wrath of our neighbors, and drove us to do sabayang pagsi-C.R. OMG, help us through our sleepless nights.



But then, what would be November for the average Pinoy if not for the fright—and the fun — of it all? Mwahahaha!

Of Plants, Zombies, and Whatnot

You know it’s that time of the year again when you suddenly miss MGB or “Magandang Gabi, Bayan” and its true-to-life narratives of Sto. Niño possessions, floating coffins, obsessed engkantos, and vengeful white/black/red ladies. Hah! If not for this show’s annual Halloween special, we’d go on with our pitiable lives believing that the White Lady monopolized those female-starred tales of terror. For this enlightenment alone, we’re grateful to Kabayan Noli. (We promise to be more grateful if MGB stages a comeback, even if it’s only during November.)

And since it’s the 11th month, let’s not forget Shake, Rattle & Roll’s 11 installments (and still counting, for as long as there’s Metro Manila Film Festival), some of which brought out our paranoia about the least intimidating objects. A Christmas tree, for one, because it might turn out to be a human-eating-tree. And we don’t want to be served as Noche Buena. Another is the “pridyeder.” (Please, not refrigerator. Show respect to the late great Ishmael Bernal, who directed this episode.) See, it’s not just a killer fridge, which churns out bloody fingers if you want longganisa for breakfast; it’s also rather promiscuous, seducing a younger — and slimmer — Janice de Belen. Mwahahahaha!


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In The Classroom Called Life

In The Classroom Called Life from Illustrado

Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Image via Flickr: Valley Library (Oregon State University)

When was the last time you considered yourself a student?

Most of us have gone through the usual route of getting ourselves an education. You go through primary, high school and then endeavor to complete higher studies to specialize in your favored field. Some of us pursue post graduate degrees or professional courses mainly to further reinforce skills to widen career opportunities.

But as we go through the motions of acquiring an education, do we realize that we spend the greater part of our lives mostly focused on merely cultivating technical capacity?
There is nothing wrong about striving to get ourselves a seat at the workplace, but what a pity if we don’t see the bigger point of learning, because truth be known, in the classroom called life, sometimes, we do tend to miss the larger scheme of things. Education has a deeper and more profound purpose than just to earn a living. It is that which will help you towards realizing yourself and your dreams – hopefully guiding you to your place in the world. For some of us who are more spiritual, education itself is a means to freedom – a liberation of the psyche and spirit.


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Spirit of the Trees

Spirit of the Trees from Illustrado

Spirit of the Trees

By JR Bustamante
Boo!

It is that time of year again when the young and old don their scariest costumes to the surprise and delight of friends and onlookers as they walk the streets in the spirit of Halloween.
Witches, vampires, zombies, and ghosts mingle with the cute fairies, superheroes, little bugs and pumpkins . . .  just a few of the characters and creatures that come a-knocking for their treats.

In every village, you still have your grumpies and scrooges who turn off their lights, hide behind the curtains, and put up “do not disturb” signs infront of their doors to keep these happy souls away. So these revellers just look out for spookily-decorated houses they can approach as this signals a welcoming home.

At the end of their journey, a feast of sweets await these trick or treaters who have made the effort to plan and create unique, imaginative garbs that elicit smiles and giggles from homeowners.   This once-a-year day of horror attempts to scare the pants off people, who end in a scream of laughter, is a much-awaited event. But behind this fun-filled season is a story that will make give you the shivers. Did you ever wonder about the trees that stand as silent witness and what lurks behind them while everybody else is having fun?

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Filipino Entrepreneur: Another Look at Education

Filipino Entrepreneur: Another Look at Education from Illustrado

Image via www.colaycofoundation1.com

Another Look at Education

By Francisco J. Colayco

Most parents assume that the best education is the most expensive one. Going to the higher tuition schools is almost always equated to high quality education. Graduating from such expensive institutions is taken as a guarantee for a good career and personal financial success. Indeed, education is an investment for one’s own future. 


But what if we were to look at education as strictly a financial investment decision? Though clearly, it is not all about money, determining the most appropriate type of education for our children boils down to affordability. Here is where the pitfall lies. Most of us will kill ourselves to give our children the most expensive education (at the expense of other just as pressing needs) we can afford. Why? This is because we have been conditioned to believe that the higher the investment in education, the higher the return. Worse, some of us may even believe society will judge our stature by where and what category of school our children go to. NOTHING COULD BE MORE IRRELEVANT TO OUR LIVES THAN THIS!


Purely on a return on investment perspective, we must evaluate the cost of formal schooling versus the lifetime cash return to the graduate.   Presently, even graduates of the so-called high-end schools are having a hard time finding jobs. This was happening even before the present global economic crisis.


Today, life is more complicated, much more competitive and expensive. Few can have the luxury of wasting time, effort and money in an education that was not really fit to the personality of a child/person. Thus, we should encourage “dreams” in the minds of our children much earlier in life on what they want to be when they grow up. As parents and teachers, we must observe them more and guide them towards the field/s in which they seem to have the most capability to enjoy and succeed. They have to be preparing for their “personal career” as soon as they step into high school.


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Filipino Photographer: Alexander Yee

Filipino Photographer: Alexander Yee from Illustrado

Alexander Yee found his niche beyond his university double-degree and professional expertise. His chosen medium for his works, appeals to even the most scrutinizing eye. His camera has flashed on numerous personalities and events in the Kingdom of Bahrain, but even most importantly, he has contributed significantly to the recognition of Filipino artists in the country. Alexander, who photographs events, portfolios, fashion, glamour, and landscape, is a pioneering member of Fashionaires Middle East – a UK based group that provides stimulating events focused around fashion and lifestyle. He has also had several successful photo exhibits, the most recent of which is a solo event – Art Uncorked at Vintage, Gulf Hotel.

See also: Filipino Photographers: Reginn Palacio & Leogel Lagaras

Pinoy Entrepreneur: Janice Frias Neff

Pinoy Entrepreneur: Janice Frias Neff from Illustrado

 

JANICE FRIAS NEFF, SYMMETRY PHYSICAL THERAPY
13890 Palmdale Rd., Victorville, CA 92392
website: www.sympt.net

Please describe your business.

Symmetry Physical Therapy is an out-patient rehabilitation center which focuses on industrial injuries, pediatric rehabilitation, stroke rehabilitation, sports medicine and orthopedic injuries.

Why did you establish your own business? Can you tell us when and why you started?

Symmetry was established in 2009 as a collaborative effort between my husband and myself. Up until that year, I had worked for many different out-patient facilities and had expressed a deep desire to one day open my own. A business venture in 2005 with a would-be partner turned out unproductive, which was an eye-opener for me. I was also not very pleased with my position as director at a local hospital. Being female and a minority and governing 5 male therapists, I felt that my position was subject to discrimination on both a sexual and racial nature. It was a turning point in 2009 when I finally decided that I needed to take rein of my professional future.

Check out the Pinoy Entrepreneur behind one of the most well-loved food brands! 

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Travel to Malaybalay City: Laid Back Bukidnon

Travel to Malaybalay City: Laid Back Bukidnon from Illustrado

 

Laid Back Bukidnon 

Text by Vic Albornoz Lactaoen 
Photography by Robert Altamirano

“Hindi ba delikado dun kuya?” (Isn’t it safe there sir?) my trusted and loyal housemate asked when he learned I would be traveling to Malaybalay in Mindanao. I guess the situation is similar to foreigners who have never been to the Philippines and have nothing to base their impression on but what they see on CNN. I wasn’t too worried though. Anything can happen anywhere if it is meant. I have to admit that I knew very little about the province. Save for its mountainous terrain and endless trees, the guidebooks nor didn’t the internet travel websites say much about this only landlocked province in Mindanao, 8.294 square meter province in the heartland of Mindanao. Together with my photographer, Robert we flew in to Cagayan de Oro for Bukidnon for a three – day tour of wandering, sightseeing and unguided bliss.



Cagayan De Oro City is your entry point by air to reach Malaybalay City, Bukidnon’s capital and one of two cities that the province has. There are no direct flights to Bukidnon, but the province has several private airstrips used by agricultural and corporate planes. It is about two hours’ drive from Cagayan de Oro Airport. Upon arrival to Malaybalay, we were met by our guide and host representative, Ruth and Juliet, two “motherly” women who saw to it that the visit wouldn’t have any glitches along the way.
 
Seeing Bukidnon for the fifth time still strikes me as a pleasant surprise to say the least. The place is still quiet, peaceful – a definite break from stressful Manila. People looking for activity and action may be a bit disappointed but it was the perfect place for me for a few days. Seeing green mountains (with more of Benguet pine trees, actually!) was relaxing enough. And there are quite a few monasteries there which we noticed as we drove along the many municipalities we visited. But what took my attention as we were brought all over the province was the abundance of natural springs and waterfalls.



Visiting Bukidnon, which translated literally is “people of the mountain,” is a lot like being in Baguio, but a little bit warmer or in Tagaytay, but with more trees and less dining or entertainment establishments. There were no signs of mass transport, except for the red Rural Bus Line, that runs all over the province and connects to Cagayan De Oro or Davao to the south. They also had their “easyrider” – a three wheeled, local version of the local tricycle.

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My Pinoy Life In Provence France

My Pinoy Life In Provence France from Illustrado

A peek at the lives of Filipinos around the world.

Malou Delamare

Since when have you been staying there? Can you recount briefly why you moved there?

We moved to Provence just this year, in April, after two years in Cairo. My husband got a phone call one day from the President of Toques Blanche Lyonnaise (a renowned chef’s association based in Lyon, the French gastronomic capital, whose famous members include Michelin starred Chefs Paul Bocuse, Mattheu Vianay and Nicolas Le Bec among others) for an interview for a Chef de Cuisine position in a four star luxury hotel in this region. It seemed like quite a challenge. Moreso, we wanted a different lifestyle for our children, so we came to Provence and the rest is history.

Tell us something about your place.

The region of Alpes de Haute Provence is famous for the valley of Ubaye, the Route de Grande Alpes which a lot of cyclist, rallyist and motorist pass by to go to Nice, Cannes and Monaco. We are on the border of Italy and our place is a famous route for the Tour de France. Provence has museums, shops that sell artisanale and regional products. Our village is known to be of Neo-Mexican history and a lot of the houses are quaint chateau style. Hence, the place is also famous as a tourist destination. The valley has year round activities; during the winter, there as skiing, luge, hiking and mountain climbing, and snowboarding around the ski resorts of Pra Loup and Sauze. Cycling, white water rafting, and park activities are famous during the summer season.

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Filtrepreneur Franchise: Food Cart Business in the Philippines

Filtrepreneur Franchise: Food Cart Business in the Philippines from Illustrado

By Bernadette Reyes

With only PHP21,888 you could have your own food cart business with the equipment and inventory delivered right at your doorstep. You don’t even have to go to Manila to seal the deal which makes this an ideal business for Filipinos whether at home or overseas. 



Formerly known as Red Crikett Concept Inc., Filtrepreneur Franchise started with several food carts of My Pao in 2000, then later opened the business for franchise in a bid to promote and develop entrepreneurship in the Philippines. Many signified interested but didn’t have the necessary capital to bankroll a franchise business. “During the early days of business, we had lots of inquiries. Some didn’t have money but they sought ways to finance the business because our offer was good,” said Frederick Tan General Manager of Filtrepreneur Franchise.
Today, countless businesses have opened doors to franchisees to expand their reach but Hernandez said theirs is the best bargain. With just PHP21,888 anyone can own and manage a food cart business through Filtrepreneur Franchise. A franchisee may choose from a wide selection of food cart businesses including Pinoy Pao (siopao and siomai food cart), Jack’s Eatbols (squidballs, kikiam and fishballs), Emperor’s Siomai, Red Bowl Rice Toppings, Pizza Pinoy, O’Noodle, Burgeroo and Happy Waffle. The package consists of a one-time payment which already includes use of trade name and logo, collapsible stainless cart, equipment, uniform for staff and PHP500 worth of initial inventory.



Two-in-one and 3-in-1 food cart packages are also available at PHP38,888 and PHP50,000 respectively which could be a combination of any two or three of the abovementioned businesses. “You can save anywhere between PHP4,000 to PHP15,000 if you avail of combined concepts which could also mean greater income,” Tan explained. New business concepts have likewise been added on the list including The Sisig Shop, Joshmai, PutPot and Rainbow Juicer which cost PHP38,888 for each package.

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Filipinos in UAE: Getting Married 101

Filipinos in UAE: Getting Married 101 from Illustrado

 

By Sherry Tenorio

Do you want to be a June bride? Well, before picking the dates in your calendar, we suggest that you take note of the following guide on how to get married in the UAE. Marriage in the UAE is not as easy as 1-2-3, and we’re certain that you would need to allot a longer leadtime to finally say “I Do.” So here we note down the important processes that you need to go through before scheduling tying the knot.

Notify the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General of your intentions to get married

Couples should first coordinate with the Philippine Embassy before anything else. In this manner, you would save time and effort in going back and forth. Remember, marriage outside the country entails lots of paperwork. But, as long as you adhere to these documentations, you’re assured that your marriage is legally recognized in any part of the world.


So, what do you need to present to the Embassy? Here’s what according to the Consulate’s website:


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Wedding Ideas: Dreaming of Unique Weddings

Wedding Ideas: Dreaming of Unique Weddings from Illustrado

Dreaming of Unique Weddings (Wedding Ideas)
 
By Sherry Tenorio




When Carrie Bradshaw tried to tie the knot in the first sequel of Sex and the City The Movie, she decided to turn that simple-civil-wedding dream to the grand-envy-me reality. Her swanky Vivienne Westwood dress complemented the heritage and grandeur of the New York Public Library. The dress was not a big surprise but the venue – who’d ever thought of getting married in a public library? Well, there goes without saying that the modern wedding ways have to be unique and utterly creative. Walking down the aisle wearing white beaded dress, carrying huge rose bouquet is not “in” anymore. Nowadays, the more quirky the wedding is, the better.
To inspire you on how to make most of your nuptial, Illustrado gathers some fun, hip and innovative themes. You may opt to stick in an idea or two, but if you dream of being the talk-of-the-town then feel free on indulging with the whole idea. We’re very much sure your wedding is going to get that kind of attention.

Eco-Chic & Organic

The hype on environmental awareness is global. The world is going green, no doubt about that. Since there’s not much you can do to save the earth, you may want to contribute in your little ways. So, why not produce a quality green wedding?



 

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Filipino Entrepreneur: Outlandish Bags

Filipino Entrepreneur: Outlandish Bags from Illustrado

By Bernadette Reyes

Aside from unique materials, Outlandish bags are also one-of-a-kind pieces as no bag is exactly the same. “The bags we produce for this line are not mass produced. We either make them to suit the taste and personality of clients who order from us, or the embellishments and materials we use are very unique and limited,” Jennifer explained. “That’s why we called our bags Outlandish! They say there’s an element of surprise in every piece,” Michelle said.

A business doesn’t have to start big to become successful as proven by these young entrepreneurs. “We pitched in from our own personal savings, which is a very minimal amount, and started a small collection of bags from that,” Pam said. The business started as a hobby in 2005 for cousins Pam and Michelle Jalandoni. Pam makes the designs while Michelle took charge of accessorizing the bags. Three years after, the business expanded after Jennifer and Ana joined the team.



While all four have various degree of business background that helped launch the business, Pam said they had their share of problems and challenges particularly in the production process. “Training the staff in bag making was tedious and entailed a lot of research and consultations. Working with natural materials also had its own concerns especially on preservation.

Capitalization was also key since we had to invest on learning, equipment and development of our products. Since fashion is fast paced, we had to learn and be aware of trends,” Pam explained. Their youth at times also gets in the way of business but instead of being disheartened by these challenges, these entrepreneurs have these to say, “When you are young, mistakes are forgivable and there is still so much time to make up for them,” Jennifer said.  “Most people who have made their mark in an industry are very willing to teach young people the ropes. Their wisdom is a great help for young entrepreneurs and it will aid them all throughout,” Ana added.



Their knowledge in business also taught these entrepreneurs to become innovative. Bamboo, seeds and banana stalks might just be included in their upcoming designs and not just exclusively for bags. “We will also develop our corporate giveaways line so as to come up with more eco-ethical, patriotic designs,” Pam said.


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Biking Around Boracay

Biking Around Boracay from Illustrado

Vic Albornoz Lactaoen goes off the beaten track by bicycle to see a not-quite-forgotten side of Boracay

Photographs by George Cabig



Cycling around Boracay is easy to organize yourself and one of the best ways to see the island, whether you prefer the unspoiled inland or the scenic shoreline.

There is a saying among serious cyclists that the bicycle is a ‘transport of delight’. In Boracay, whether you’re easing from one resort to another or across the island, through Puka shell beach in the north all the way to Manoc-Manoc in the south, there is no better way to travel.

In all the countries where I’ve ridden a bike, I’ve been amazed at the level of trust placed in me by local people I’ve met from cities, towns and villages, simply because I’ve been on two, pedal-powered wheels. Maybe it’s a vulnerability thing, but trust leads to hospitality and is key to kinship and understanding. In these modern times, when we can be familiar with so much of the area from the comfort of our armchairs, thanks to tv google, facebook and wi-fi technology, experiencing this kinship is one of the greatest goals of travel.

Inside the Island

Boracay’s shoreline cycle path draws hordes of two-wheeled-tourists every year, during the summer and even in between the dry spells of the rainy season. There is something powerfully therapeutic about pedaling alongside this great shoreline: the section from Punta Bunga to Tambisaan beach is a strong contender for the most beautiful stretch of Boracay, and it’s so enticingly popular that the shoreline is peppered with all sorts of establishments: sand castles sit side-by-side with installation art. For most of its length, the ride follows the sea and is kept in good road condition. It passes plenty of sights worth stopping for. In between points of interest, distances are short and allow plenty of time to explore whatever catches your interest along the shores.

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Our Endless Summer

Our Endless Summer from Illustrado

By Krip Yuson

National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, our most prolific novelist and internationally best-known writer, declared some years ago that there is no such thing as summer in the Philippines. That summer was a Western concept that had no business being assimilated in our own calendar and culture. Or words to that effect.

Now, Manong Frankie, as we call him, is known to affect such seemingly feckless pronouncements, with the obvious objective of pioneering in a provocative idea. Maybe he meant, oh so fundamentally, that we shouldn’t use the word “summer” in our country. Or that we shouldn’t equate it to the summer that visits temperate countries as one of four seasons.

Our Spanish colonizers broke down our tropical seasons into three: four months of dust, four months of rains, and four months of muddy hell, or something like that. On the other hand, we ourselves appear to bifurcate time in a characteristically pessimistic view of inescapable no-win conditions: “Sala sa init, sala sa lamig.” (Damned when it’s hot, damned when it’s cold.)

But to get back to Frankie’s dictum, we may counter: Lighten up, what’s in a word, especially if it’s in English? Our tag-init (as against tag-ulan) is our summer, and it does translate to summer in more ways than one. It’s that period of the year when torpor sets in, ushered in by dry heat by the middle of March, and stays with us till the first typhoons, commonly starting in June.

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Remembering the Beauty of Old Manila

Remembering the Beauty of Old Manila from Illustrado

By Loraine Balita

The decade was young, the Manileños were just starting to get used to the ways of their new guests – the Americans. And there I was trailing a few steps behind a man seemingly dressed to the nines in his carefully pressed white suit with a matching white natty hat sitting atop his balding head. I followed him as he traversed the length of the former Puente de Espana or what is now known as the new Jones Bridge – a neo-classical structure built on the site of the old bridge of Spain.





I could hear the hurried clacking thuds of the horse-drawn calesas passing by and the whistling sound of a small tranvia, the country’s modern means of transportation with networks that navigate Escolta.

And then I looked up to see a majestic structure by the river banks – overlooking the crystal clear water. This is the neoclassical Post Office Building, its stunning architecture marked by towering columns.

And while I was admiring the intricate details of this grandiose structure, I heard the noise grew louder and louder as the horse slowly dissolved into a small metal ornament poised atop the hood of a jeepney. Confused I turned to look for the post office as everything else slowly dissolved into a busy hurried street, right above it: a speeding LRT. And alas! I was instantly brought back to year 2010 along Taft Avenue.

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The Grandest of Them All: Bayanihan and Pagpapatulóy

The Grandest of Them All: Bayanihan and Pagpapatulóy from Illustrado

By Aby Yap

Yes, they’re BIG words. And let me tell you, one is heavy and the other is expensive. (How else would you describe carrying a burden as large as an entire bahay kubo and preparing an instant feast for a guest, respectively?)





Wait, am I hearing “overrated” and “over!” too? Cynics, say all you want. One adjective these words are NOT, though, is passé. Lipat-bahay trucks might be the sensible mode of relocation today and Pinoys might have become more kuripot as we go through tough times. But bayanihan and pagpapatulóy are ours to keep and celebrate — and yes, they make people all around the world fall in love with the Filipino over and over again.
Isn’t it grand?

Bayan + Bayani = Bayanihan

Perhaps everyone would agree that what happened during the famous Ondoy and Yolanda episode was the biggest bayanihan exhibit in the country since the 1986 People Power revolution (please, just the orig EDSA phenomenon). Right before our eyes were people from all walks of life helping one another to literally and figuratively stay afloat despite the tragedy, swimming against the tide of hopelessness, and rising above it all. Professional tambays devising a plan with barangay tanods to rescue the drowning. Luckier residents splitting the little bread they had with families stranded on roofs. Ballroom dancing amigas foregoing their sessions to clean up muddied homes. Barkadas rummaging through their wardrobes for clothes they could donate. Facebook mainstays doing an unofficial count of their missing contacts (who says all they ever do is play Candy Crush?). Kapuso and Kapamilya silently declaring a truce over their ratings’ warfare (finally!) to launch a fund-raising crusade.
 So, are you done humming “What a Wonderful World?” Now, before you even think of it — wishing for a disaster or a dictator all year round — just so Filipinos can become united every day of our lives, why don’t you shake that bootie and shake off those nega vibes? Then look around and you’ll see that bayanihan need not have a melodramatic backdrop every time.


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Gwapo Problems: Musings on the Existential Anguish of the Absurdly Handsome

Gwapo Problems: Musings on the Existential Anguish of the Absurdly Handsome from Illustrado

by Nicholo Jallores

From Illustrado Magazine Issue #78

There’s The Cute guy. There’s The Handsome Guy. There’s The Hot Guy. And then there’s the Absurdly Good-looking: men who are aesthetically pleasing beyond all discernible reason and genetic feasibility.

Girls fawn over them, while guys… well, they fawn over them too, albeit in a different and more confounded kind of way. You see them walking towards your general direction and suddenly you go into tunnel vision – the world whizzes by you while you are stuck looking at this magnificent being moving in seeming slow motion. Your mind races at a million miles per minute, wondering how it is possible for one guy to possess a world’s worth of beauty. Such is the discrepancy between your looks and theirs that they actually look like they are made of an entirely different organic material. If you were molded from clay, they were sculpted from diamonds. If you are the salt of the earth, they are sugar and spice, oak bark and cigars. They even smell differently – they can never be “stinky,” only “musky.” They glow as if their skin cells are microscopic prisms that bend and improve the light.

Some men just have it all. Looks AND talent. Check ‘em out.


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Philippines, the Fiesta Islands

Philippines, the Fiesta Islands from Illustrado

By Ivan Henares

The Philippines is, without a doubt, a country of beautiful sights, festivities and merrymaking. Throughout the year, around the 1,701 islands, festivals abound in an exciting explosion of local color, food, traditions and the boundless energy of locals and visitors who participate in these celebrations with much gusto.





Although May has always been the undisputed month of fiestas, for party enthusiasts, there’s always a festival to visit virtually every month around the islands, and some of these unique celebrations have withstood the test of time and carved their own niche in Philippine culture. Here’s our pick of fiestas around the Philippines the whole year round.

Image: benjie@belarmino-law-office.com

In January, the Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan is held in honor of the Sto. Niño every third week of January. The festival got its name from the fact that Aklanons and tourists alike imitate the Ati, the local aborigines or Negritos, by wiping soot on their faces. They don colorful ethnic costumes and dance around the streets of Kalibo to the beat of ethnic troubadours. Similar celebrations are held in honor of the Sto. Niño around the Visayas, most notable of which are the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City and the Sinulog Festival in Cebu.


Every January 9, the Feast of the Black Nazarene is held in Quiapo, Manila. This intense mammoth procession winds through the streets of Quiapo like a strong wave of faith, with devotees risking life and limb just to get close to the miraculous image and touch it.


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Filipino Martial Arts: A Return to Being Maharlika

Filipino Martial Arts: A Return to Being Maharlika from Illustrado

 

By Flordeliz Samonte

Awed by the moves of Matt Damon in Bourne Identity? Lapu Lapu, the Datu of Mactan and the First Filipino Hero and his stronghold of Kali warriors, defeated Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 with the same fighting skills which have worked their way into Hollywood movies today. The story has been heard several times but the role of the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) has been kept in the sidelines waiting for another warrior to take up the art once again.




FMA known to many in various names like Arnis, Escrima or Kali is a warrior art which is now being rediscovered by Filipinos. Known by different systems as varied as the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, FMA is a complete package. Before Spanish conquerors came to the archipelago, Filipinos already had their own fighting system used as defense during tribal wars. During the Spanish regime, it was banned, giving rise to the popular use of the rattan stick as a weapon. Driven to secrecy, FMA was secretly passed down from father to son and Kali movements were disguised as folk dances such as tinikling, maglalatik and sakuting.


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Pinoy Entrepreneur: Good Old Reliable Karinderya

Pinoy Entrepreneur: Good Old Reliable Karinderya from Illustrado

By Bernadette Reyes

 

How I started a fast food business and became successful:

 

A perfect match in the offering – Sonny Santos used to be a cigarette vendor while his life partner Rowena Mallari, was a former “yaya” until a lot of hard work and love for for both couple yielded a successful business undertaking for them, earning a remarkable Php 15,000 pesos a day.

 

“Nakabili na ako ng condominium unit dahil dyan,” Rowena said of their karinderya business. The ubiquitous karinderya or eatery in the Philippines may appear plain and small compared to other popular food establishments but it can be a significant source of income when managed well. Sonny admitted their business almost closed shop because of poor management. “Sa mother ko itong business pero matanda na sya, ‘di nya kayang patakbuhin. Sinubukan naming mag asawa na ipagpatuloy,” Sonny claims.

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The karinderya used to be a sari-sari store with only a handful of basic items on the shelves. “Nagsimula kami padala-dalawang toyo, suka at iilang de lata lang,” Rowena recalled. Their initial capital was only Php1,500 pesos. Determined to succeed, the couple vowed tol endure all the hardships just to be able to pick themselves from dirt. “Sabi ko okay Rowena, ‘hindi tayo puedeng mapagod,’” Sonny adds. They had to wake up at 1AM to go to the market and finish cooking all the dishes 12 hours after, only to realize there is more work ahead. Customers began to arrive and only Sonny and Rowena manned the eatery. Today however, they have a number of staff delegated to cook, wash the dishes and clean the place while Rowena takes charge of the accounting and Sonny looks after operations and conceptualizing new ideas for the thriving carinderya. The business has likewise grown to three branches all located within Pasig City.


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Indulgence and Obsession: Single Malt Whisky from Scotland

Indulgence and Obsession: Single Malt Whisky from Scotland from Illustrado

 

By Krip Yuson

 

If I am asked what I indulge in these days, I’ll say that it’s still single malt whisky from Scotland. Oh, you can toss in Japan as provenance, too.





The last holiday season naturally turned into a wonderful opportunity to stack up on those precious bottles of quality booze. Balikbayan buddies were warned that the only way they could avoid a hold-departure order was to pay a sort of tribute to this trusty friend upon their arrival. And so they came with those large Duty Free plastic bags with a sealed transparent display of a boxed Glenlivet, Macallan, or Bowmore — among the staples of discernment found in airport liquor shops.


It pays to advertise one’s desiderata. I’ve been doing it for years, in fact nearly a couple of decades now, since literary fellowships allowed me to visit the British Isles and introduced me to the top of the line among Scotch whisky offerings. I do not tire telling everyone about the special virtues of single malt whisky other than their enchanting names.

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Berlin Things: Ich Liebe Berlin (I Love Berlin)

Berlin Things: Ich Liebe Berlin (I Love Berlin) from Illustrado

Words and photos by Al P. Manlangit




I doubt if there’s a more colorful and controversial city in Europe than Berlin. Starting out as the capital of Prussia, it metamorphosed into a great metropolis under Kaiser Wilhelm who wanted it to be at par with Paris and London. Like a grainy, black and white film, many indelible images that shaped Europe’s destiny have come alive here: World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the rise of the Nazis, the ’38 Olympics and the infamous Hitler Bunker.





After the Second World War, the Russians moved in and the city was partitioned by the Allies. Then came the Cold War with more images reinforcing the city’s reputation as a flashpoint for another conflict: the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, JFK intoning “Ich bin ein Berliner”, the Berlin Airlift and espionage of the highest order. This status quo remained for almost three decades before the turning point came in 1989 when Communism collapsed and peaceful reunification ensued. So much engrossing history bubbled on the surface of the book I was reading, making me completely forget that the highspeed ICE (InterCity Express) train we boarded earlier in Frankfurt was gliding to a halt. We’re here, the wife said, tugging at my arm as I glanced awestruck at the spanking brand-new 1.5-billion Euro Berlin Hauptbahnhoff.


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Things to Do: Travel Destination Beijing – Gateway to China

Things to Do: Travel Destination Beijing – Gateway to China from Illustrado

Globetrotters Blog

By: Marianne Silloriquez

DESTINATION: Beijing – Gateway to China

How to get there: You can fly Emirates Airlines or China Southern direct. We took Qatar Air because it has the best rate and schedule at that time. Since it’s around 9 hours travel, it’s advisable to get into an evening flight so you don’t waste a day on the plane.





Wanna move to China? Find out what it’s like!


Where to stay: Three star hotels are not bad; they have the regular amenities you need. Ours, cost us about AED 900 for 5 nights on twin sharing. Hotel personnel are generally helpful although communication was quite a problem. Try to learn a few basic Chinese phrases like “Who can speak English” and “I don’t understand” this will come in handy. Consider to select a hotel that is near the subway station because in Beijing it is the best means of transportation.


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A Pinoy Breakthrough: Wealth Mindset

A Pinoy Breakthrough: Wealth Mindset from Illustrado

 

A Pinoy Breakthrough

By Bo Sanchez

 

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We Filipinos have weird dreams – like dreaming the American Dream – you know, a life of abundance in the land of milk and honey. But there’s a more wonderful dream and it happened to me. I call it a breakthrough.

 Have you ever been denied a visa? If not, believe me, you don’t want to experience it. I’ve been denied a visa. Twice.  From the United States Embassy no less. Look into my heart and you’ll find two ugly scars.

I remember my first attempt. I was still in my teens. When I woke up, I was already wet with nervous sweat. It didn’t help that when I arrived in the U.S. Embassy, I saw a humongous crowd of hopeful Pinoys outside the gates of American Heaven. They were standing in long lines, all of them begging for a visa. I felt their collective fear. It was nerve-wracking.

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