Filipino in Australia: My Pinoy Life in Sydney

Filipino in Australia: My Pinoy Life in Sydney from Illustrado

My Pinoy Life in Sydney, Australia

Boyet Damot

(Photos also courtesy of Boyet Damot)

Dubai-based Boyet Damot, whose family, will be among the thousands of Pinoys who chose Australia as their migration destination of choice, shares travel notes from his recent trip to the ‘Land Down Under.’

What is the city known for?

While Canberra is the seat of government and Melbourne is the country’s commercial or business center, Sydney is considered Australia’s capital of culture and the arts, where the Sydney Opera House is its definitive “visual signature.”





Sydney is a melting pot of people of a diverse cultural and demographic background, as the city remains as one of the top choices where immigrants choose to live and work. Hence, it was not surprising to see Pinoys and other Asians around the city.

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Happy Relationships Throw More Parties by Bo Sanchez

Happy Relationships Throw More Parties by Bo Sanchez from Illustrado

By Bo Sanchez

 

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Guy 1: Cecilia is so beautiful.

Guy 2: Oh yes. She looks like Demi Moore in Ghost. (Note: This conversation happened centuries ago.)

Guy 1: If given a chance, would you want to marry her?

Guy 2: Uh… no, not really.

Guy 1: Why not?

Guy 2: How should I put it? Cecilia’s uh…not a happy person.

Guy 1: You noticed that too?

Guy 2: She’s gloomy. She’s a negative person. She may be beautiful, but I don’t want to live with a negative person for the rest of my life.

Guy 1: So unlike Stella.

Guy 2: Now there’s a cheerful girl. I really like her. So kind. So friendly. Always has a lovely smile.

Guy 1: She’s not as beautiful as Demi Moore.

Guy 2: But she’s the kind of woman I’ll marry.

Guy 1: What? You have a crush on her too?

Guy 2: Hey, fall in line bro.


This conversation actually happened some twenty years ago between two of my single friends. We were all single then.  And believe me, Stella was like a guy magnet. Five of my friends had a crush on her. Except for me, of course. I was immune to crushes. Because I looked at all females the way I looked at common furniture. Because my heart was focused on God alone. (And my nose is getting longer right this minute…)


Here’s a lesson for single people: I’ve learned that guys may lust after physical beauty, but when it comes to marriage, they’ll look deeper. One of the most important things they’ll look for is a happy woman. Why? Because a guy knows that one of his roles is to make his wife happy. If he marries a happy woman, his job will be so much easier. Because at the end of the day, we all want happiness.


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Filipino in Australia: My Pinoy Life in Adelaide City

Filipino in Australia: My Pinoy Life in Adelaide City from Illustrado

My Pinoy Life in Adelaide City

Farah Hubahib

City: Adelaide, Australia

 

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

I have been living in Adelaide on and off since 1999. I came here first in July 1999 to study Hotel Management and French and Australian Culinary Arts at the International College of Hotel Management, Le Cordon Bleu and Regency TAFE respectively. At the end of my studies, I went around the US for travel and work experience before I decided to settle down. Finally, I migrated permanently here in 2005 and became a citizen of Australia in 2007.





 

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Filipino Designers: Festive Filipiniana

Filipino Designers: Festive Filipiniana from Illustrado

 

Photography: Filbert Kung (Blackfox Photography)
Styling: Mike de Guzman & George Palmiano (MGP)
Makeup: Lilian Yeung
Hair: Mycke Arcano
Models: Peter Nordel and Grendel Alvarado (PMAP)


Not to be outshone by the brilliant season’s lights are these dazzlingly definitive Filipino pieces from the country’s designers with a penchant for our rich and unique sartorial heritage. 




On Grendel: Banana fiber dress with Tinalak weave, and black banana fiber sunvisor used as headdress, all by Dita Sandico-Ong; black and pink abaca headdress, tubular triple-strand gold necklace, and gold snakeskin bangle with stones by FIRMA; vintage gold chain necklace with flower accents and jade drop pendant by Estrellas Manila by Marge Abas; multi-linked ornamental gold neckpiece, antique gold ornamental bangle and gold Cleopatra arm cuffs, all by Dave Estien Quijano; gold fully-beaded arm cuff by Nicole Whisenhunt.

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Financial Planning: Investing in the New Year

Financial Planning: Investing in the New Year from Illustrado

By Francisco J. Colayco

Christmas is a time to celebrate and be with family and friends. It also falls on the last few days of the year when everyone is preparing for the New Year also. As Christians, we use this season to improve our spiritual life as we remember the birth of Jesus Christ. But we could also use this time of the year to plan for the improvement of our financial life. My message for your New Year financial planning is: INVEST NOW!

Image: http://www.dreamstime.com/-image22887962

Investment Literacy Is Key

For the past years, we have been harping on the central message that to build wealth is an obligation. With the bright economic conditions with us today and even brighter economic prospects in the next three to five years, it is imperative that we focus today on investment literacy. The medium-to-long term future cannot be brighter as we have it today. If you, as income earner, miss the opportunity to participate in our capital markets in the next five years, you will be regretting it for the rest of your life.


If you had decided earlier to secure your financial future, you probably would have put away some savings by now. But as we always say, earning and saving money is a prerequisite, not a guarantee, to achieve financial comfort. It is prudent and correct investing that will ensure your financial independence.

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Antulang Beach Resort: Holidays are Forever!

Antulang Beach Resort: Holidays are Forever! From Illustrado

By Krip Yuson

Now, wouldn’t that be nice? For most of us, however, it would take a Grand Lotto win to fulfill that dream — of dropping everything that has nothing to do with rest and recreation, and embark on a holiday for the remainder of our lives.


Oh, it need not only be during the Yuletide season when we’d feel generous, with everyone and then ourselves. Hand me millions, preferably in six figures, and not in lira either — and I’ll show you how much of a Santa I can be the whole year round.


And while sharing the bounty, well, so will I just as generously indulge my own yen for non-stress pleasure, by traveling to places I have yet to experience, and returning to those that already hold good memories.

Tambobo Cove hosts a hundred international pleasure craft at any time of year

A world cruise I would take in doses, if only to preempt satiety. Two-three weeks here, two-three weeks there, from St. Petersburg to the Hebrides, the Galapagos to Macchu Piccu and Iguassu Falls, Bhutan and Easter Island, etc., book-ended by cruises in the Mediterranean, Aegean, Caribbean seas. And each time a sked is completed, why, back home to Metro Manila I will fly, if only to reaffirm how I may now smile over the vagaries of road traffic or shenanigans in governance, what with fresh memories of an Alaskan iceberg or samba dancers at Rio de J.’s Mardi Gras.


And when the political grandstanding or air pollution once again threaten the sense of equanimity, one recently energized by yet another first-class fix that has stamped global vagabonding with yet another sampler of an endless summer, why, right here in our islands may be found — so easily reached — pockets of paradise, enclaves of nirvana, outright oases.

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Destination Turkey: Travel to Turkey

from Illustrado

Mary Rose Dalocanog

Destination: TURKEY

What is the destination known for?

Turkey is known for being transcontinental, a country spanning more than one continent. Due to its huge size, Turkey has many cities and regions and most of them are famous by themselves. Istanbul, historically known as Constantinople, has been declared as a European Capital of Culture in 2010. This city is full of history and glimpses of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires are found everywhere. The region of Cappadocia is famous for its amazing geographical formations such as rock cut churches and fairy chimneys as well as its underground cities that could sustain thousands of people. Pamukkale town is known for its white travertines and the healing powers of its cascading waters. Ephesus is the best preserved classical city in the Mediterranean, even better than Rome itself and it is also where you can see the house in which Mother Mary spent the last years of her life in Nightingale Mountain.

How to get there?

There are daily direct flights from Dubai to Istanbul on Emirates and Turkish Airlines. For budget travelers, FlyDubai has very affordable fares. Travelling within Turkey is also very convenient with their efficient train system as well as comfortable buses. Since Turkey is big, approximately 1700 kilometers from East to West, the best way to travel internally is through their domestic airlines. Pegasus, Anadolu Jet, Onur Air and Sun Express are some of the few airlines travelling domestically.

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