Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Tag: Featured

  • Filipino Designer: Oliver Tolentino

    Filipino Designer: Oliver Tolentino

    Oliver with Emmy Rossum in his dress at Pre-Oscar Party 2012 (Photo by A Caruthers)

    Anna Paquin in an Oliver Tolentino pink wool linen cocktail dress with peplum was a winning moment not just for the Academy Award winning actress famous for her role in the TV series True Blood, but also for Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino.

    The gown, which Paquin wore for an alternative cover for ZOOEY magazine’s April-May 2012 issue, made Tolentino the third designer of Filipino descent ever to dress an Oscar winning actress. (The other two designers to have done so are Pitoy Moreno and Monique Lhuillier.)

    Other celebrities joined the pack making Tolentino’s name a regular spoken word on the red carpet.

    Golden Globe nominated actress Emmy Rossum wore an Oliver Tolentino piña cocktail dress worn to the Global Green USA’s 9th Annual Pre-Oscar Party last February in Hollywood. Tolentino was the first ever fashion designer to be featured at the pre-Oscar event with a dozen models wearing eco-Philippine fabric creations by the designer.  The New York Post chose Rossum in the piña gown as its “Look of the Week” in its Oscars weekend Sunday issue.

    Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg wore an Oliver Tolentino printed cocktail dress at a Brian Atwood event in New York.

    Anna Paquin in Oliver Tolentino for the cover of Zooey May 2012

    Tolentino has also designed clothes for musical talents like Kelly Price, Macy Gray, Patti Austin, and Cee Lo Green.

    Not forgetting his roots, Tolentino has also dressed some of the best Filipino music talents including American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez in her purple Oliver Tolentino gown for the “top 3 finalists” show.

    Jessica Sanchez performs in American Idol wearing an Oliver Tolentino dress

    Journey singer Arnel Pineda is also a regular client and Kirby Asunto when performing the Philippine national anthem at the last Manny Pacquiao fight wore a red terno designed by Tolentino.

    Recently, both the Tolentino name and face were part of America’s Next Top Model (ANTM).  Tolentino created 14 outfits exclusively for the British Invasion (Cycle 18) season premiere which aired earlier this year. Tolentino also appeared in that episode.

     

    ANTM Cycle 17 All-Star featuring Oliver Tolentino Creations

    ANTM exhibit Oliver’s US outfitsOliver with models at Global Green pre-Oscar party

     

    Photos courtesy of designer.

  • Filipino Designer: Josie Natori

    Filipino Designer: Josie Natori

    For the last 35 years since Filipino designer Josie Cruz Natori founded the lingerie company that bears her name, she’s been reaching for natori, which also the Japanese word for “highest form of art.”

    In the more than three decades that she has been in the business, “Natori” has not just been her brand name but also her work ethic, a way by which she approaches everything she does. Whether it’s designing the many collections of The Natori Company or perfecting her skills as a concert pianist, Natori approaches it as if it were a work of art. “Natori is my husband’s name, but it’s very much my philosophy,” says the CEO and founder of the company. “I’m always trying to find the perfect note.”

    The Natori Company has grown into a lifestyle brand that has come to include lingerie collections (Josie Natori, Natori, Josie and N Natori), the Josie Natori ready-to-wear collection, home, fragrance, eyewear and swim. In celebration of the brand’s 35th year anniversary this fall, Natori is presenting a fashion fairytale, entitled Josie and the Dragon.  The illustrated book recounts her journey from starting Natori in her living room to establishing it as the global brand it is today.  Josie and the Dragon is written by Jeffrey Podolsky and features one-of-a-kind artwork by Andrea Byrne.

    Natori is also celebrating the company’s 35th anniversary by dedicating the Spring 2013 collections to her native Philippines. From lingerie to ready-to-wear to home, her collections are inspired by the beautiful landscapes and rich culture and traditions of the Philippines.

    In the market, Natori has continued to define its presence in ready-to-wear with the continued success of its shop-in-shop on Saks Fifth Avenue’s newly remodeled fourth floor in New York.  The Fall 2011 launches of swim and home accents collections further establish Natori as a true lifestyle brand.

     

  • Filipino Designer: MICHAEL CINCO

    Filipino Designer: MICHAEL CINCO

    One of the hottest and most flamboyant personalities in the fashion industry – may it be in Dubai or Manila and Los Angeles – Filipino designer Michael Cinco shines brightly with his amazing collection of achievements, especially this 2012.

    “It has been an awesome year. The Michael Cinco brand has achieved international acclaim. My fledgling pret-a-couture men’s line has been very well received, and halfway through the year I have launched my own perfume, Impalpable by Bench,” says the designer who has won the heart of supermodel-turned-host Tyra Banks.

    Between his stints as Guest Designer on hit reality show America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) in 2010 and 2011, his runway shows at the Philippine Fashion week, Dubai Fashion Week (where he earned the People’s Choice Award in 2010) Miami Fashion Week and etc., and bagging the Breakthrough Designer award at the WGSN Global Fashion Awards in New York last year, Cinco, from his Dubai base, designs for royalty, supermodels, celebrities, beauty queens and socialites across the Gulf, US and the Philippines.

    Known to his friends as deeply romantic and spiritual, Michael Cinco shares in laughter, “I live by the mantra ‘work, pray, love and travel’. [Currently], I am on a romantic tryst in some undisclosed urban paradise with a special someone.”

    Despite his busy schedule juggling his love life and clear-cut future, he knows his priorities as a fashion designer, and that would be his clients. He says, “I have been continuously invited to join prestigious international fashion exhibitions, and have consistently turned them down as I have an ever growing loyal clientele to (somehow) prioritize. But then again, it is a very highly competitive industry, so I always try to keep some aces up my sleeves.”

    Being highly regarded in the fashion industry as a genius creative who produces ethereal gowns that are flatteringly feminine, Cinco who is slated to be a Guest Judge/Designer in the first Asia’s Next Top Model, the Pan Asian version of ANTM to be aired sometime in October 2012 says, “To say that it is a steady, unfettered climb to my goals is an understatement. I simply work hard, keep abreast and strive to be on top of my game. It is very challenging and yet, it certainly is a charmed life.”

     

    Papercut Magazine NYC
    Papercut Mag NYC

    Photos courtesy of Michael Cinco

  • Filipino Photographers – Randy Martinez Legaspi & Michael Ryan Borja

    Filipino Photographers – Randy Martinez Legaspi & Michael Ryan Borja

    A platform for Filipino photographers from around the world. Randy Martinez Legaspi Tarlac native Randy Martinez Legaspi is a Civil Engineer currently working for a consulting company in Dubai.  Happily married, with a two year old son, Randy originally bought his camera to document his son’s growth.  Eventually, he got smitten by the hobby and decided to take his photography further than just clicking his son’s first steps, leaning the intricacies of using his basic gear.  Luckily, he says, the results didn’t turn out to be disappointing.  Now Randy says he is a photo aficionado for life.
    Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque – Abu Dhabi
    Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque – Abu Dhabi
    Dubai Marina
    Downtown Dubai
    Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai at night
    Michael Ryan Borja Also known as “Wacky” to his friends, Michael Ryan Borja, is a 30 year old photographer and graphic artist.  Full of playful antics, Ryan is respected and recognized by his photography buddies in the Kingdom of Bahrain as a worthy critic, teacher and mentor He says of his craft, “I have a deep passion for arts. I love collecting people’s emotions through my pictures, and showing them to other people. We are all beautiful people.”      

  • Filipino Designers Par Excellence

    Beyond the divine ‘fashion trinity’ of One-Cinco-Santos which dominate the style headlines this side of the globe with their local and international style conquests, the glitzy Middle East couture industry is teeming with Filipino designers who are known and acknowledged for their definitive edge in fashion design. 

    By Sherry Tenorio

    (Photos courtesy of the designers)

    Illustrado reveals some of these brilliantly fabulous createurs de mode who, not only, have made a success out of feeding the region’s grandiose appetite for couture, but have also proven time and time again, the Filipino artists’ brilliance and cachet in an industry far from home.

    ELI OABEL

    From studying BS Foreign Service and Fashion Design, Eli found a turning point in his passion and career when he was recommended by his school to join SO-EN Garments in Manila. The stint paved the way for his learning the ropes of the fashion industry early on.

    From there he was head-hunted by Cinderella to handle three major in-house men’s lines including the labels Japs and Rusty Lopez. That did not last very long as he was offered a job in Bahrain and stayed there for almost six years. The opportunity even furthered his wings in the field of fashion design, which is a passion not only for him but his family as well.

    At The Bride Show

    Eli found himself progressing even back in the 90s when he was recruited by Balqis Fashions of Al Tayer Group from his job in Bahrain. The lucrative position allowed him to travel all over Europe, and in 1994 he was able to join his very first course at Central St. Martins London College of Fashion, where he studied every year.

    The fully blossomed fashion entrepreneur then saw a fitting post in Scalini as a Designer/Managing Partner up until 2003. He helped establish its couture department and made it to the forefront of the local fashion scene for 10 years. He also co-founded the flower shop, Fleur-de-lis Flowers and Gifts, which opened in Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel a year after a very successful couture launch.

    It has been an unbelievable journey for Eli, as he looks back in his fashion career. His loyal clients are mostly forward thinking local women who love and appreciate his designs. Currently, his fashion house Villa Sposa by Eli is expanding, moving towards retail with its own in-house prêt-a-porter collections of bridal, traditional, western and children’s wear.  A proper launch – a garden event with a fashion show – is in planned for the fall season this year, though the business has been in operation for already a year.

    While Eli sees that his career in Manila is beckoning, he also looks forward to starting his own men’s line someday. He also aims to mentor his two nephews, Tristan and Bunny, who have strong design inclinations being artists themselves. Mentoring on fashion is something he sees as means of giving back the blessings he reaps.

    ROCKY GATHERCOLE

    Rocky Gathercole is one name in the local fashion industry that’s synonymous to “causing a commotion.”  Known for his sometimes extreme avant garde creations, Rocky Gathercole has shown his brand of unapologetic creativity on the runway in the UAE and the US.

    Apart from participating in local bride shows in the emirates, as well as the Dubai Fashion Fiesta, the designer has showcased his “Showgirls” collection at the Miami International Fashion Week 2011 where he was called by the South Florida Chronicle “a powerful and dangerous presence.”  That was followed by his participation at the Brooklyn Wave Fashion Show 2011.

    Miami Fashion Week

    A recent trip to New York City saw the designer causing a scene at Times Square with models decked in his astonishing designs posing amidst the throng of pedestrians. Finally, this just in, the designer has scored a placement in Vogue’s Special Anniversary September 2012 issue via an advertising collaboration with Ne émah Perfumes.

    Indeed, for the last two decades Gathercole has created more than just a passing impression with the fashion watchers he has come across.  Even today, he remembers his mentor Vicente Arcania who was instrumental in landing his first ever fashion job in Saudi Arabia where he admits that it was more of a motivation to find a decent job that got him into this business in this first place.  Now, the designer professes that more than anything, his driver is artistic expression.

    Rocky Gathercole for Neemah Perfume in Vogue September 2012

    From his former base in Saudi Arabia, and then Dubai, since the beginning, Rocky Gathercole’s fashion ethos has always been unconventional. This has actually given him the leverage to attract local Arabic women whose way of dressing veers towards the dramatic, even eccentric. Over the years, he has been designing party dresses, engagement and wedding gowns for three generations of local women, allowing him to feel their patronage and trust throughout the years.

    RUBEN SANTOS

    Inspired by Hollywood and beauty queens, Ruben Santos recalls how he started out designing dioramas and creating miniature dresses in his youth and how that led him to studying at the Slims Fashion and Arts School in Manila.  He worked as an assistant designer to Mike dela Rosa in the 80’s and has showcased his creations in various fashion shows and competitions in the Philippines until he finally found himself in the Middle East – living his dream.

    In his early 20’s, he was given a chance to work with royalty in Saudi Arabia for half a decade. Thereafter, he moved to Abu Dhabi to launch Queen Palace Haute Couture, and has since worked with clients from the royal families, socialites, including to diplomats from the emirates and around the Gulf. A well-renowned designer, Ruben has received numerous recognitions and has also been awarded as Designer of the Year at the Anyo 2000 Mini Fashion Show celebrating Philippine Independence Day.

    At the Philippine Fashion Week
    Ruben Santos’ piece in Illustrado’s Sept 2011 issue

    Currently, Ruben designs for J’Adore Couture in the emirates’ capital, and is busy doing ready to wear and custom made dresses. He is also looking forward to participating once again at the Philippine Fashion Week after his successful stint in 2011. For the future, he aspires to be able to showcase his designs in Paris Fashion Week someday. Furthermore, he shares that his ultimate goal is to go back to his homeland and build up his own atelier someday.

    ALDWIN “JLO” ORNOPIA

    A hobby back in high school paved the way for the young Aldwin to pursue his creativity, and actually make a living off of it at the same time. With his innate talent and perseverance, Aldwin used to create prom dresses, evening wear and party frocks; a teacher of his became his very first client.

    In pursuing his calling, his family’s support and influence played a pivotal role. In fact, his father even became the instrument for him to move to the UAE capital in 2005 to chase greater opportunities.

    And like any new aspiring designer in the city, it was a challenge to find his own spot under the glamorous fashion sun. His break came at Art Fashion Tailoring Company in Abu Dhabi, where he managed to impress a high profile client base which included royals, with his very feminine and romantic dresses.  He hasn’t looked back since.

    For the past six years, Aldwin has also been very active staging four fashion shows – one of which was with the signature fashion event of Dubai Summer Surprise, at the Dubai Fashion Fiesta, the others were presented in 2011 during a wedding and beauty exhibitions in Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah where he also showcased his bridal collection. His creations have also graced the pages of fashion magazines Lamasat (Arabic magazine) and Illustrado Couture.

    At the moment, he is busy putting together a new collection for a fashion show this December, creating pieces for a well-known Philippine actress and preparing for an editorial fashion shoot in the US.

    Indeed able to create a name for himself, he hopes to expand internationally, dress Hollywood celebrities one day and open his very own fashion house in his hometown of Cebu City.

    ARIS PICO

    Dreams do really come true, especially if the dreamer is as talented and as hardworking as Aris Pico. He swears not to have even imagined being where he is in right now, but he feels blessed with tremendous success in being able to create stunning dresses and get raves about it.

    The young Aris has taken inspiration from his mother and six sisters whom he wanted to dress stylishly. Also, he would remember the sudden burst of happiness while watching ladies donned with beautiful gowns, often seen during the traditional Santacruzan in the Philippines. He then started dreaming of owning a shop and creating dresses perfect for the ladies of Santacruzan. That was the dream. And that was the reason why he took the risk of flying abroad – to get a job to save up to open his fashion house in his hometown.

    Twenty two years after he made his initial steps in the emirates, Aris has gained the kind of success that was more than he hoped for – something that he wishes every fellow Pinoy who went abroad would experience. His exceptional designs earned him a set of loyal clients that he treats like family now. He does not need to market himself because most of these local women do the talking, recommending his work to friends, family and even royals.

    Yet over the years, he still yearns to open his very own fashion house in the Philippines, and hopefully branch out to London. Though these dreams may appear to be in the pipeline as of the moment, his participation at the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012 in May this year was a big triumph for the designer.  His joining of the PFW in October is also quite imminent.

     

    Although filled with glamour, the dazzling world of fashion did not change the craving for simplicity that is innate in Aris. He wants his four year old ARISteo design to expand with an abaya line so he can offer more jobs to fellow Filipinos. Indeed, with a golden talent and a pure heart, this fashion designer is a supporter of Bantay Bata Foundation. He knows that he has been utterly blessed, but he knows that he should not be the only one to receive such wonderful things.

    RALPH CRUZ RAMIREZ

    They say that a true friend enriches your life. True enough for Ralph, his best friend back in Manila recognized his talent in fashion illustration and submitted his name to a recruiting agency. After an interview with a visiting employer, he was hired on the spot. So in 1989, at 20 years of age, Ralph left for Al-Khobar, KSA and worked there for five years armed with a gift for fashion illustration and skills learned from the SLIMS School of Arts and Fashion.

    In 1993, an employer invited him to work in Sharjah. The multicultural environment as well as the openness and tolerance of the emirates, beckoned to the young artist. After working for almost 12 in the same company, Ralph was finally able to buy Lafana Fashions from his employer in 2005.

    With ample capital, well-trained staff and a very loyal local clientele, he was able to fulfill his dream of standing on his own as a fashion designer and entrepreneur. Being independent opened doors for him to advance in his craft through research, travel and education especially through courses at Central St. Martins in London.

    Through the years, he is proud to say that he has dressed three generations of women during their wedding celebrations – from the grandmother, mother and the bride herself, and whenever schedules permit, all the female members of an entire extended family.

    Ralph Ramirez for Illustrado Sept 2011

    Currently, Ralph is working on his vamp collection for the 2012 Autumn/Winter season. It is a dream for him to show at the Dubai Fashion Week but his immediate target now is to exhibit in the upcoming bride shows to reach and establish a wider client base.

    YEN BARI

    Although Yen Bari, or Yen AB as he is known, has always been drawn to illustrations and beautiful things when he was young, it was only when he got tired of his chosen profession, Nuclear Medicine, that he realized his passion and talent in fashion design stumbling into his crossroad in 2008.

    Despite his intent to eventually jump into the fabulous world of fashion, the entrepreneur in Yen was very careful to tread into the industry unprepared.  He first had to consider his goals, brand aspirations and commercial targets, as well as the right people that would help him realize his goals.

    It seems that it was meant to be for the fledgling designer, as he was able to establish the House of Yen in no time, with the support of its sponsor Khamis Al Hameli. Now, the three year old fashion house serves mostly ladies from the GCC, as well as some from Europe, Russia and Africa. Yen’s high profile clients have become accustomed to his breathtaking designs in the form of ‘Arabic Contemporary’ pieces (modern versions of the Arabic jalabeya), wedding dresses and other haute couture creations. 

    The House of Yen has also garnered visibility with their creations being featured the music videos, as well as the movies of Arabic mega star Wiam, Gulf superstar singers Balqeez, Ranya and Aryam and Channel 5 TV host Shams Alsaabi.

    Currently, Yen divides his time among his three branches in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. He is also ecstatic about signing his line with a renowned boutique chain in the UK. His busy schedule is also filled with preparations for an upcoming gala exhibit in Doha this September as well as a couple of fashion editorial and video shoots.

     

     

  • UAE Filipino Art Showcase

    DARWIN “JAPAT” GUEVARRA

    From winning the Sheikha Manal New Signatures Young Artists Awards in 2007, bagging the silver prize at the Red Bull Art of Can Competition, to his first solo exhibition and his fruitful association with the renowned Tashkeel gallery, Darwin “Japat” Guevarra is arguably one of the first local Filipino artists to have paved the way for other aspiring creative kababayans in the emirates.

    Tell us about your specialization: How would you call your style? Preferred medium/subject?

    My theme depends on my story. My creations are like a novel; with characters, symbols, and sentences. I use art forms that show mixed and multi-media works. I use images, paint and raw or existing materials delivered as painting.

    What is your current fixation or inspiration for your recent artworks?

    My current work is based on the place where I’m living and is inspired by my old works, too. I am continuously inspired by people around me, as well.

    Tell us about your past exhibitions and projects.

    During the “Outdoor Art Project” organized by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, my mixed and multi-media work entited, “City of the Dreamers” was exhibited.

    Here’s a list of my past exhibitions and projects: Outdoor Art Project (May 2012 Bay Avenue – Dubai Culture & Arts Authority), Fakie (Jan 2012 – Art Dexhibition by Fn at Tashkeel Gallery), As the Saying Goes  (2011 – Tashkeel), Made in Tashkeel (2010), Bastakiya Art Fair 2010, MIND – Made in Dubai (2010, DUCTAC), Fakie Dexhibition 2010 (The Shelter Gallery), MEGA 2010 (DIFC), GSIS Art Competition (2010 GSIS Art Museum Philippines), Time of  Humanity (2009, Solo Show at Tashkeel), My Name is Robot 2009  (Jamjar), Art Oasis II 2009 (Wafi Mall), Sheikah Manal – New Signature Young Artist Award 2007 (Dubai Ladies Club).

    Future projects/exhibitions/collaborations

    I’m currently planning for my second solo show.   I’m creating more artworks and also as an active member, I also conduct workshops at Tashkeel Gallery.

    What is you art philosophy if anything?

    I’ve long wanted to have a philosophy behind what I do. I just know that my duty as an artist is to continue what I’ve started. Part of being an artist is to document things – yung mga nakikita ko, buhay ko at panahon habang ako’y buhay pa [those that I see, my life and times].

    Why are you an artist?

    I’m an artist because this is what I choose, and this is what I can do. This is a gift I have received, and this is my lifestyle from now and to the very end.

    If you were not an artist today, what would you be?

    If I were not an artist today, I would be the leader of a band or an actor!

     

    TINI MEYER

    Tini Meyer, has exhibited and received accolades for her works on canvas and public art not only in the UAE, but in Canada, Spain, the UK and even China.  This citizen of the world who is of German, Filipino and Spanish heritage, was originally based in Vancouver and Madrid, but now splits her time between Abu Dhabi and Manila.  In recent years, Tini has become deeply inspired to rediscover her Filipino roots and has since been involved in promoting Philippine arts and culture. 

     How did you get started in art?

    Since high school, I loved painting during nights when I couldn’t sleep.

    How would you call your style?

    I specialize in contemporary abstracts. I do paintings, sculptures and installations. My preferred medium and subject is acrylic, working with textures.

    What or who is your current inspiration for your recent artworks?

    Her Excellency Ambassador Grace has been a huge inspiration in exploring my Filipino background. Her passion for our culture is contagious! I am very grateful for her support in promoting our heritage. I’m working on a new collection experimenting with indigenous materials from the Philippines.  I’m very excited to see the outcome.

    Tell us about your exhibitions, projects, collaborations—in the past, the present and the future.

    I’ve had shows in London through Newertown Art, a platform created by Juan Carlos Farah. My favorite exhibit was my first show in Shoreditch, entitled “External”, with artist friends such as Cyrus Mahboubian and Ruba Asfahani. This project was a collaboration with Jam Azucar on projects to promote Filipino art and culture. I curated a UAE art show earlier this year at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.

    Why are you an artist?

    I simply couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I love what I do.

    FLORDELIZA PESIGAN

    Photos courtesy of Roxanne Cruz Ramos

    A well-known persona in the Dubai art scene who moves seamlessly between painting, sculpture and dance, Flordeliza Pesigan got bitten by the art bug early on having had the privilege to spend her childhood days at the National Museum in the Philippines where her parents worked.  She turned full time artists three years ago, leaving her corporate existence behind, to follow her bliss.

    How would you characterize your style?

    My works span lifelike portraits in acrylic and brush; abstract paintings using acrylic and palette knife; sculptures in clay or anything else I can use; live art and dance performances.

    I currently do them all and sometimes mix them. My subjects have always been anecdotes about my life and what I’m passionate about the time that the artworks are made. As my passions change and/or expand, my works also keep evolving.

    What the current inspiration for your recent work?

    My works currently have elements of dance and spirituality. It also touches on environmental issues.

    Tell us a bit about your past exhibitions and projects.

    Last June, I was part of Project Mega, the Middle East’s largest designer toy exhibition. I was among the 125 artists featured.  That same month, I was part of the live art and Filipino dance presentation during the Philippine Independence Day, Dignitaries Night, just to name a few.

    What is you art philosophy?

    An artist’s work is an extension of himself, the need to express and make his art is more important than the desire for it to be liked by others.

    Why are you an artist?

    It’s just how I’m designed to be. I breathe art.

    If you were not an artist today, what would you be?

    Honestly, I don’t know…

     

    EDUARDO YAP

    If there’s one thing that definitively stands out from Eduardo Yap’s often surrealist art, it is his images of distorted human faces gnawing at random and yet meaningful objects.  According to the artist, his trademark paintings depict angst, suppressed feelings, and sometimes, peoples’ addiction to material things.  One such painting won him the 3rd prize at the Red Bull Art of Can competition in the UAE 2006, the latter just one of the many exhibitions Eduardo has been involved in since he started painting in high school.  Formerly based in Dubai, the artist has moved back home recently, but not before leaving his indelible mark in the local art scene.

    Tell us about your specialization: How would you call your style? Preferred medium/subject?

    I specialize in depicting issues and people in my art. I use a dry brush style and acrylic paints.

    What about the current inspiration for your recent artworks, can you tell us a bit more about that?

    One of my paintings entitled, “Face the Reality” was inspired by watching my colleagues around my work area. Observing this real situation inspired me to do this kind of art work.

    Another painting entitled, “Voting Ballot” was inspired by the issues related to the Philippine government. I felt the urge to do this painting during the election season.

    I was inspired to paint “Stranger”, after seeing a poor old woman in the city, trying to cope with a new environment.

    Tell us about your past exhibitions.

    I’ve had a number of exhibitions here in the UAE, the last one being in 2010. That one was entitled, “Portrait of Generation” at the Tashkeel Studio. I had three exhibits in 2009: Art Oasis A Green Vision, “Eye of Horus” at the Wafi Mall, Silent Conversation in Tashkeel Studio and “My Name is Robot” at the Jamjar Gallery.

    What is your art philosophy, if anything?

    Art is a reflection of what a person is thinking. It is a small glimpse of what they hold inside. Every stroke has its own meaning.

    Why are you an artist?

    I didn’t choose to be this way. I guess art chose me.

    If you were not an artist today, what would you be?

    If I weren’t an artist today, I would be an engineer.

     

    ELLA ORENCILLO

    Illustrator, airbrush artist, muralist and decorative painter Ella Orencillo has certainly become “one of the boys” in the male dominated urban art scene in Dubai.  Often gracing the hippest art events in the city, her cheeky and mostly pop-surrealist works speak of dreams, feminism, love and chaos and everything else in between.

    Specialization: How would you best characterize your art style?

    I started as an airbrush artist in 1999 in Air Art Asia, but I have been joining school competitions since my elementary days.

    I can say my strong point is airbrushing, although I don’t do it as much as I used to. But, it’s like riding a bicycle, you never forget how to do it. I don’t really know how to “label” or what to call my style. I’d like to say it is semi-realism or pop surrealism. Acrylic is my medium of the moment, and I have been learning how to do watercolor, which I quite like since the result is faster. A portrait of a woman is my staple subject.

    What is your current fixation and how does it serve as an inspiration to your recent artworks?

    Not just current, but most probably, the fixation of my artworks is women. This is probably because women are capable of a lot of different emotions, and I like how a woman’s face can be so dead pan yet her eyes say a lot. I will forever be inspired by the people around me.

    Past Exhibitions/Projects/Collaborations

    Some of my past projects include Project:MEGA, Proyecto Baetulona (Barcelona, Spain), Worlds Together, 3 Keez of Illustration, SoleDxb’s Sneaker Summit, Ninh Nguyen Fashion Show (NY, USA), Spraygraphics: Fill in the Groove (Arizona, USA), Virgin Megastore’s 10th Anniversary, Sheikah Manal’s Young Artist Award 2011 (shortlisted), New Era Introducing 2011 (finalist), FAKIE2, Genius, and Chocol’art, Olympic Mural for the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi for The Domino.

    I just concluded Project: MEGA at The Dubai Mall last June 28, 2012.

    What is you art philosophy, if anything?

    Follow what makes your heart smile. Paint what your heart desires. Always be inspired and be an inspiration.

    Why are you an artist?

    I still have a hard time considering myself as an artist. I still have a long way to go. I just see myself as someone who tries to paint into a picture the images that my mind has weaved.

    If you were not an artist today, what would you be?

    I would love to say, I’d be an awesome guitar player, but more like, I’d probably be still teaching Koreans. I was an English teacher once, and that is one thing I would not hesitate to do again – that, or be a nomad.

     

    SUSAN VILLANUEVA

    When not teaching art to her students at the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology, or driving them to win in local and international competitions, Illustrado Woman of Substance Honoree Susan Villanueva turns to painting – her true first love.

    How did you get started in art?

    I’ve had 43 years in art. I started my career in the Philippines working on murals.

    I started at a young age.  I always sketched in the classroom.  I would sketch my teachers and any part of the room that would inspire me. I would always say that lines were my way to remember lessons taught for the day.

    I guess from the day I was born, I wanted to be an artist.  I used every opportunity to express my ideas, feeling and thoughts. I used to make art and then hide them because my parents wanted me to be a doctor.  I was born into a family of doctors so [a career in] art was difficult for them to comprehend.  They wanted me to hold a scalpel, rather that colors and brushes.

    I wanted to paint, but I didn’t have brushes so I used my fingers to paint the subjects.  It would take days to dry oil paint.  I waited patiently and used to hide them in drawers – my clothes would smell of oil paint.

    What do you consider your specialization?

     

    I started as a surrealist. I admire the work of Salvador Dali.  I am thrilled by the texture of Monet, and I am fascinated with the distortion of Picasso’s work. I am inspired by the madness of Van Gogh.

    I work with no specifics, no rules — just expressions.

    As I grew older, my work changed to become more of a more impressionism style.  I love strokes, movement of brushes and painting with no conditions. I love the large format.  I don’t like limitations.

    How would you call your style?

    Impressionism beyond expression.

    Tell us about your past exhibitions, projects and collaborations

    I mounted my first exhibition called Tag-Tuyo (dry season) in 1981. In 1985, I had a group show at the PICC. In 2009, I had selected paintings exhibited in the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, during the Arts and Media Awards.

    What about your future projects/exhibitions/collaborations?

     

    I am currently working up with an exhibition called “Movements”.

    What is you art philosophy, if anything?

    The world is my canvas. I get inspiration from what I see, feel and what I learn each day. Art is universal, it has no boundaries and limitations.

    Why are you an artist?

     

    Later, I learned that my grandfather from my mother’s side was a painter.

    Perhaps God made me this way to allow me to express who I am, what I am, and what I can be with colors, lines, textures and thoughts.

    If you were not an artist today, what would you be?

    I would still be an artist.  Maybe I will be more vocal with colors and aggressive with my work.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Onli in da Pilipins: BA Filipinology

    By Aby Yap

    WARNING: This program isn’t for the unadventurous and/or the humorless.

    Many have started out zealously – as if audience to Bro. Mike’s “siksik-liglig-umaapaw” moment – then gradually ended up disillusioned and more embittered than ampalaya that they often go on a tirade about the 7,107 reasons why the Philippines and Filipinos suck.

    Others excel at it naturally and pass with flying colors, and make the world the way it is today.  Running like normal. Good.

    Then there’s the rest of us who give it our best shot, have a few misses, bounce back again, and still come across the dreaded Singko, try hard as we might to master everything. Yet we don’t drop out of the course. And we won’t ever.

    Because it’s fun learning about being Pinoy and living as one. Plus, there’s no such thing as Maximum Residency Rule. It’s all unli.

    Are you bold enough to major in BA Filipinology? See what it takes to earn a lifetime degree.

     

    F101: Family Few NOT – Required, 10 Units

    Understanding that the family isn’t just the basic unit of society; it is the society—at least for the Filipino family. A typical household consists of yourself and your parents, siblings, grandparents, and yaya who’s probably a distant kin, too. In your neighborhood/barangay reside your uncles, aunts, cousins, and relatives-in-law up to the fifth degree.

    F102: The Godfather (and the Godmother) – Elective, 2 Units

    Discovering child-rearing assistance. Since many Filipino parents believe that the more, the many-er and the money-er, you luckily have a dozen of reluctant ninongs and ninangs. So what if the priest got angry during your baptism? You’ll always be guaranteed at least two dozen Aguinaldos every Christmas.

    F103: What’s in a Name – Elective, 2 Units

    Identifying yourself. In ‘Pinas, most babies are called Baby and most little boys are nicknamed Boy. A brown dog is Brownie while a black one is — guess what? Blackie! Others use repeated names, e.g. Noy-noy. Some insert the mahiwagang “h,” e.g. Rhoy. As to why they do that, ah, there lies the mystery.

    F104: Actions Speak Louder than Words – Required, 5 Units

    Reading into the Filipino’s non-verbal language. You can point direction with your lips, either greet or provoke someone by raising an eyebrow, smile to show you’re happy/embarrassed/shy/clueless/deadma, or not have any facial reaction at all when you’re tampo. More forms – of facial reactions, that is – to be discussed.

    F105: Happy Holidays – Required, 10 Units

    Listing down the many reasons to be happy and to party. Fiestas every month, Christmas as early as September, summer vacation, no-class days come the rainy season — we have so much to celebrate! The key is filing your VL the soonest time possible.

    F106: The Road – Required, 5 Units

    Exploring the streets of Manila. Be ready to do it at a snail’s pace during rush hour. Want it or not, the city’s roads could be downright horrifying when traffic is real messy and the jeepney you’re riding is a mobile disco. Off the road, you can take the LRT/MRT but expect heavy body bumpin’ and sweat sharing.

    F107: Our Daily Bread – Required, 5 Units

    Debunking this claim because it’s rice that we need to survive. That is, sinangag for breakfast, steamed rice for lunch, lugaw for merienda, arroz valenciana for dinner, and suman for midnight snack. It’s always all you kanin!

    F108: Yummy! – Prerequisite: F106, 5 Units

    Digesting the idea of what’s yummy to the Filipino. Jollibee Chicken Joy brings us gastronomical joys. Lechon and chicharon warm (and kill) our hearts. We love what most people would find yucky: duck embryo, chicken head/neck/butt/feet/intestines, pig ears/blood/intestines, crickets, frogs, dogs… are you hungry yet?

    F109: The Latest – Required, 5 Units

    Recognizing Filipino Time. Because we’re staunch believers of the saying that “It’s better late than never,” Filipino Time means arriving 30 minutes to 3 hours late. It depends on the traffic/weather/mood or whatever reason we could think of. To help your on-time friends cope, text them “Patience is a virtue.”

    F110: Speech Power – Elective, 5 Units

    Leveling up your communication skills. It pays to be multilingual. To enter showbiz, talk like Kris Aquino. To pursue a call center career, exaggerate the American accent. To run for public office, declaim in straight Tagalog. To bond with our happy and gay kababayans, speak in Bekimon. To turn your stalker off, text him/her in Jejemon. Jejeje.

    F111: That’s Entertainment – Required, 10 Units

    Expanding your interests. There’s no dull moment in the Philippines. Visit your neighbors as soon as you wake up for the hottest news. Come home by lunchtime for your favorite variety show. Do the telenovela marathon from afternoon ‘til night. For your pampatulog, drop some P5 coins into the community videoke machine and sing a la diva.

    F112: Do the Haggle – Elective, 5 Units

    Managing your finances. Remember this: every self-respecting Pinoy can smell the nearest tyangge/ukay-ukay and he/she calls it a done deal only if a tawad has been made — even if it’s just a PHP5 discount. We head off to the mall only when there’s a mega sale, we need AC, or Coco Martin is having a mall tour.

    F113: Reel Beauty – Required, 10 Units

    Prettifying the Filipina. Is it Miss Universe, Vicky Belo, or Snow White? Whoever’s fault it is, we can no longer stop buying papaya soaps and flat ironing our hair, aargh! And now someone else is saying that you’ve got to have foreign blood to be beautiful and world-class. Please, does anyone know where to get it?

    F114: Career Orientation – Required, 10 Units

    Climbing the ladder of success. The trick is to do it slowly, strategically, and surely. Here are the options: (1) Join PBB Teens then co-star with JLC in RomCom films. (2) Hire a voice coach and upload your videos on YouTube. (3) Train hard to be a boxer and join international competitions. Once Tito Boy has interviewed you, you can launch a political career.

    F114: Practice Makes Perfect – Required, 50 Units

    As it’s been said many times, you learn by experience. So, enjoy your practicum and good luck!

  • Filipino Canada – My Pinoy Life in Canada

    Filipino Canada – My Pinoy Life in Canada

    City of Calgary skyline at night in the winter – © Stemanshot | Dreamstime.com

    Filipino Canada – My Pinoy Life in Canada

     

    After close to a decade of living in hot, sandy but flashy Dubai, Quay Evano and his family packed their bags for cold Calgary, Canada. Here, he shares the whys and hows of eventually moving from the City of Gold, to the land of hockey, maple syrup and snow.

    The Evano’s – Former Dubai Residents

    A former Dubai Filipino expat in Canada

    “You’re from Dubai?  Wow, why are you here in Canada?”

    That is the question I hear most of the time from people I meet in Canada when they hear that my family and I lived in Dubai for close to ten years.

    Dubai, I guess, has become as famous as other great cities of the world like New York and London, so much so that when you say “Dubai”, people instantly imagine the grandiosity and beauty of the city and the lifestyle that comes with it.

    Another question I am often asked pertains to my citizenship, whenever I mention that “I’m a Filipino who used to work and live in Dubai for almost ten years, but am not a citizen.”

    These two questions alone leave me with a lot of explaining to do. Though, the ultimate query has always been – why leave a comfortable life we’ve grown accustomed to in the City of Gold to settle in Canada.

    Migrating for their future

    My wife, two kids and I moved to Canada in August 2011, after about four years from our initial on-line application to receiving our permanent resident visas.

    Before finalizing our plans to migrate, we thoroughly researched about life and the job market in North America. We considered all the pros and cons between staying in Dubai versus migrating. We even thought about going back to our beloved motherland, the Philippines.

    Eventually, the decision was to migrate and the reason for choosing to, were many.

    Just like most of my friends from Dubai who migrated to Canada, perhaps the most important reason for us to migrate is to secure a better future for our children, especially in terms of education.

    Like most parents who want only the best for their children, we want our children to have first-world education so that they will have more opportunities in the future.  Education in Canada is free from Kindergarten up to Senior High School so that’s a big help to our family’s finances.

    In Dubai, parents have to pay around AED11,000 per child  for a school year at the most affordable schools.  The rate would be double, even quadruple in the US, UK, Australia or Canada-affiliated educational institutions.

    Health was another reason.  With the stifling heat most of the year in the emirates, not to mention the shuffling between the mind-boggling temperature outdoors to the 24/7 air-conditioning indoors, as well sandstorms which are common, my kids and I experienced respiratory problems often.

    My wife and I wanted our kids to live in a place where the air is fresh – where we won’t need air-conditioning. And Canada has one of the cleanest air and best water quality in the world.

    So, it was goodbye to the heat, but hello to the super cold snow. We left a city where the temperature would rise up to 50 degrees Celsius, then settled in a place (Calgary, Alberta) where the temperature would drop to minus 40 degrees. Talk about extreme opposites!

    Calgary Downtown as seen from the Princess Island, on the Bow River. – © Nelugo | Dreamstime.com

    Also, when it comes to traveling around the world, Canadian citizens like Americans, Australians, and the British get visas upon arrival in almost all countries. There is also a dual citizenship option, so becoming Canadian citizens would be beneficial to us in many ways.

    My wife and I always say that if only the UAE could give citizenship, we would have loved to stay there forever, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Even if you live and work there for 40 years or more, you will still need to leave the country at some point in your life.

    We love and miss Dubai, because it is where we met, got married and where our children were born. However, in considering our priorities in life, we have come to the conclusion that a better future lies ahead for us and our children in our new home.

    So we’re finally here for the long haul.

    Going through the motions

    Unlike some immigrants from the Middle East, we didn’t use the services of an immigration agency. Instead, we began the immigration process by applying online through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

    (www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp.)

    By asking friends and relatives, we learned that hiring an immigration agency doesn’t make any difference to one’s application as agencies do not have any authority or power to expedite applications. Going on-line also saves one from having to pay other service fees.

    Here’s a timeline of our application and migration process:

    May 2007

    Application forms filled and sent with fees to the address given in the website (for Middle East applicants, one has to send it to London, UK).

    July 2007

    The Canadian Immigration Office acknowledges, by mail, that they have received the application and that they will start processing the papers.

    October 2007

    Another letter is received informing us of our option to withdraw our application and get a complete refund until a certain deadline or, proceed with the application, which we have done.

    2009

    The Canadian Immigration Office sends us a checklist of required documents which included – police clearances from the Philippines and the UAE, certificates of employment, birth certificates, marriage certificate, educational transcript of records, financial or bank statements, etc.

    September 2010

    We received instructions to undergo a medical check-up at a Canada-immigration affiliated clinic.

    April 2011

    The Canadian Immigration office requested for our passports in view to issue Permanent Resident visas.

    May 2011

    All passports submitted to the Canadian Immigration office in London. We then waited for a month a half for the passports to be returned, with visas stamped on them.

    All approved applicants are given a time frame to enter Canada; usually it is one year after the medical check-up, so that left us with only a few months in Dubai.  After this, it was pretty much a series of saying goodbyes to family and friends in Dubai, resigning from our jobs, selling many of our things and packing our other stuff for the big move to our new home.

    Skyscrapers towering over Calgary Alberta Canada with Bow river and Centre Street bridge in foreground. – Jeff Whyte | Dreamstime.com

     

     

     

     

  • Filipino Photographers: Bernadette Rodriguez and Ramon Francisco

    Filipino Photographers: Bernadette Rodriguez and Ramon Francisco

    A platform for Filipino photographers from around the world. BERNADETTE RODRIGUEZ Bernadette takes great pleasure in capturing the kind of images that remind us that life is beautiful. She appreciates good composition, authenticity, and finding the mundane. Her expertise in producing amazing images may have rubbed on to her tongue, that she sounds poetic describing her idea of a good shot: “An effective photograph is an image that moves the viewer, touching his soul. Even without a word to describe it, a great photograph is clear in its message ­ poetry without the words, music without lyrics. A great photograph is lyrical in its form. Bernadette connects the experience. Her great loves are ancient structure, historical places, people (small ones especially), words, photographs, food and art. She is an experienced graphic designer, a dreamer and a lover of friends. She enjoys joyful collaboration with artists, visionaries, and people who hope. RAMON FRANCISCO Graduate of Bachelor of Science in Criminology Ramon Francisco, a.k.a Ramon F to his friends, just recently took the plunge to go full time into freelance photography.  The former Abu Dhabi Airport Storekeeper, who says his appreciation of arts has deepened through his craft, does mostly corporate and events-related projects for his clients.  A proud Bicolano from Naga, and member of the Uragon Photography club, Ramon F says that he is drawn to portraiture and fashion photography and is inspired by the works of Bryan Adams.

  • Onli in da Pilipins

    The Most Sociable of Them All

    By Aby Yap

     

    So, those years of being chummy with our classmates while toiling on crazy group reports/skits/games despite the pasaways who would have been evicted if only PBB already existed then (too bad it came too late) actually paid off. We’ve come out as the world’s indisputably fun, friendly, and fabulous people of all time — offline and online. Congratulations!

    It must be the Pinoy’s bloodlines, or Mommy’s gripping influence. (Just think how she used to make tsika with everyone at school and how she ended up being elected PTA president year after year.) Who can really tell? We rule at being sociable and that’s always a good reason to party.

    Who’s the Social Networking Bida?

    Well, who else but the Philippines? That’s according to comScore, 24/7 Wall Street, and Universal McCann. It’s best not to argue with them.

    If we were able to hold on to that “SMS Capital of the World” title for like, forever numbing our thumbs in honor of unli-texting (Globe/Smart/Sun, you owe us big time!), bagging another title such as “Social Networking Capital of the World” was no a surprise. Remember, it was us who breathed life into Friendster with our – who-can-get-the-most-testimonials contest and eventually killed it with our glitzy profile pages, hah!

    So, out with Friendster and in with Facebook and Twitter lest Filipinos including our Jejemon kababayans would be homeless and lonesome online — something that’s utterly inconceivable, que horror! We just can’t Google, blog, wishful-shop, play Tetris, or Farmville every time we connect to the net; we need social connections. Naks!

    Pinoy nature (or is that just a form of extended hospitality?) dictates us to (1) send “friend requests” to the entire clan from new-born to senior, (2) look for long-lost kindergarten/elementary/high school/college/MA/work/neighborhood pals/acquaintances, (3) post what’s on our minds not less than five times a day, (4) upload and tag photos/videos pre and post-digital age, (5) poke, like, comment, and reply “Thanks for the pokes/likes/comments,” (6) share links to the latest showbiz and/or barangay tsismis, (7) invite everyone to vote <insert name> for <insert title>, (8) subscribe to a million fan/group pages, (9) ask your family and friends to help build your house/farm/castle/city, (10) stalk, er, follow celebrities, your crushes and frenemies, and so much more!

    But don’t ever mistake us for having nothing else better to do with our lives. Nah ah ah, “Filipino Time” wouldn’t have been coined if that was true.

    FYI, we’re way too busy being on the lookout for the next Pinoy YouTube sensation, someone Ellen would want to guest on her show and Oprah would be a willing ninang to. We’re even quite ready to key in those two magic words for the nth time, “Pinoy Pride,” for the Whole Wide World to see.

    Besides, we’re working twice as hard to steal the “Facebook Capital of the World” trophy from Indonesia’s 40-million users. Just 12-million more Pinoy sign-ups and we’ll be Facebook Bida soon. Super like!

    How Social Networking Bibo Are You?

    Nearly all Filipinos are sociable online, but some are more passionate (read: obsessed) than others. Let’s see how far you’ve gone.

    You campaigned for Efren Peňaflorida, the Palawan Underground River, Shamcey Supsup, Jessica Sanchez, and others by sharing where-to-vote links (and/or how-to-multiply-vote “tips”) on your blog/wall/tweet.

    During picture-taking, what you think about is whether anything would be good enough for your profile photo. You believe in weekly updating because you might have grown too fat/thin by then and your friends deserve to know.

    At the height of Ondoy, you left a post/tweet informing everyone that you were logging out for a while since you had to move stuff to the rooftop before the floods ravage everything. Of course, you took your laptop first.

    On some occasions, you added friends of your friends rationalizing that if they could be friends with your friends then they could also be friends with you. After all, that’s the essence of social networking, I thank you.

    “My Relationship Status” reflects your love life status, immediately changing from “Single” to “In a relationship” once you and your honeybunch decided that you’re meant to be. Whenever you fight, though, you change it to “It’s complicated.”

    You determine your family and friends’ moods based on their status updates. If there’s a parinigan vibe, you investigate the various comments on their posts and put into action your researching a.k.a uzi skills to understand the issue.

    To find out where you are, who you’re with, and what you’ve been doing 24/7, all we have to do is to check out your wall posts. You’re actually doing potential kidnappers, akyat-bahay gangs, and their tribes a favor so they should thank you.

    Here’s your idea of online bayanihan: wash my pet and I’ll fertilize your crops. And how about this one for online revolution: join the group page movement against Willie Revillame, electricity price hike, or whatever ticks you off.

    You think in hashtags, therefore you aim for trending topics. You stay tuned to Vice Ganda’s too-many-to-mention hashtags, but you stay away from Mo Twister’s and Tim Yap’s. Mother Monster, please guide them. #PeacefulTwitterCountry

    The supposed end of the world this year is no longer scary. You fear more for when Facebook timeline becomes mandatory. Nooooo!