Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Tag: Pinoy abroad

It’s What I Do: Ernesto Oliquiano, John Gilbert Flores

ARCH. ERNESTO R. OLIQUIANO IV, UAP, INT’L ASSOC. AIA

Senior Interior Design Architect, U+A Architects

Dubai, UAE

My job

I work for an international design firm which offers comprehensive design solutions in architecture, interior design, engineering, planning and landscaping. I started my Middle East career in 2004 at 23 years old with Dewan Architects in Riyadh, KSA, where I worked on projects for the Saudi Royal Family, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some hospitality brands. This allowed me to travel to countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Iraq, UAE and Oman. In 2009, I moved to the UAE and started a career with LWD Architects, Clifton Interiors, DWP – Design Worldwide Partnership – JLT, Damac Properties and finally U+A Architects. I was part of numerous award winning projects and developments. Recently, my team handed over the Al Habtoor Polo Club & Resort – St. Regis Hotel in Dubailand. Currently I am with a team tasked to deliver Deyaar Millenium Hotel in Al Barsha, Emaar South in DWC and the Swiss International Scientific School in Al Jadaf for both Architectural and Interior Design works.

My work day

My work day normally starts with a cup of coffee, a pile of shop drawings and paper works to review. After that is the routine site walk to oversee progress, anticipate and solve site issues before they escalate. During the week, I can be at two sites in a day and do the same thing. The real challenge at work is keeping an eye on the details at the execution stage. A normal person would see a wall just as it is, while I would look at a wall as blockworks and accessories, rough-ins, pre-plaster, plaster and render, final finish, skirting and cornice, which have to be inspected one by one during application.

Message to Filipinos

Filipinos are known to be hard working and for being highly talented individuals. Don’t just keep it that way. Don’t just settle for a senior position, to be the best employee or the trusted assistant. Aim for CEO position, to be the best employer and have a trusted assistant. Get rid of the idea that your career abroad is temporary, and that at the end of your contract you will come home and return. Returning as a CEO of your own business empire abroad would be better than returning as an expat. Never settle for less and always aim for the top, but don’t forget to look back. My late father Ernesto F. Oliquiano once told me, if you want to be on top, you should aim over that top. At least when you missed, you still hit the top.

JOHN GILBERT FLORES

Head of HR – Tiberius Holding Limited

DIP, Dubai, UAE

My job

I work for a group of companies engaged in pharmaceuticals, FMCG as well as the manufacture of building materials. I lead our organization’s Human Resources & Development teams, providing services and advice on HR development and HR transactional services. My roles are talent acquisition, learning & development, performance management, organizational development, leadership development and employee total rewards management.
I have more than 20 years of experience as an HR professional and have a strong expertise in employee development programs. I am responsible for managing the yearly HR budget and employee development activities to maintain and improve overall staff morale. I joined the company in 2012, and established a comprehensive employee learning and development program, awards and recognition, performance management system as well as introduced several HR policies and procedures.

My work day

My typical day starts with meeting and briefing with my staff. We do this to keep track of all the activities for the week. I usually check each single thing that we need to accomplish and what is expected of me and my team. HR is a helping profession, and thus we treat each employee in our organization with utmost care and respect. From a simple salary certificate requests, to complex coordination of health insurances, I see to it that my team and I efficiently deliver. I also act as business partner to the C Levels executive in our organization. My main role is to assist them in planning and developing our existing workforce.

Message to Filipinos

Put God first in everything that you do. Secondly, continue to learn to improve your craft.

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Read more it’s what I do articles on Illustrado Life.

July 3, 2017
The New Oppressor: Pinoy versus Pinoy

By Lalaine Chu Benitez

119 years of Independence on the 12^th of June 2017. When we think about independence, freedom and liberation, what always comes to mind is breaking free from major forces that subjugate us – from the Spanish conquistadores who took our country as their own for over 400 years, to martial law and oppressive past regimes that curtailed the freedom and growth of our nation.

Liberation seems like such a big word that we rarely ever think of it as something personal, internal and related to our day-to-day existence. When in actuality, there are also things within us that paralyze us and hold us back from growing, not only as individuals, but also as a nation.

If you are tuned in to social media for the last year and half, you might have noticed that something else has captured the Philippines. It’s neither a world power nor an opportunistic neighbor from across the shores; instead, there is this creeping destructive force that seems to have quietly laid siege to the collective Filipino psyche.

It would seem that overnight, we have been taken over by social media trolls, ranters and hooligans; purveyors of fake news – both individuals and what once were thought of as respected media outlets, as well as groups dedicated to cause unrest and instability. Every single day, our newsfeeds are dominated by Pinoys versus Pinoys – the “yellow cult” versus the “dutertards”, the “decent” versus the “vulgar,” the “intellectuals” versus the “incompetents,” and the “know-it-alls” versus the “troll-‘em-alls.” There’s an online brawl over everything and anything, from our president, to our government, to our beauty queens, to copycat advertising campaigns, even over obscure popularity contests on the internet, and yes, we even fight about “unli rice” these days!

We’ve always been nervous about China usurping our sovereign rights. What we haven’t realized is that our real and very present oppressor is in fact the “warring mentality” that has become so pervasive among us Filipinos that it runs from the top echelons of power down to the street level “masa.” Whether we are aware of it or not, the fact that we can’t seem to agree with one another (or agree to disagree) or be able to participate in productive discourse, and how we seem to love denigrating each other for all the world to see, has become a hindrance to moving things ahead in our country to serve the common good.

Perhaps, you might think that it’s a small thing. Maybe for you, it’s even something to laugh about. Surely, swearing at a fellow Pinoy or trolling a post you didn’t agree with are nothing compared to our country’s humongous problems – drugs, Marawi, Metro Manila traffic and deep-rooted corruption to name a few, that desperately need to be solved. But consider this. Wouldn’t it be good if we can all be part of positive change by building on things we can control ourselves – starting from our mindset and the way we communicate with fellow Filipinos?

We can’t fix all our country’s problems with mere niceties and the proverbial joining of hands. But we can start looking into solutions when we can talk productively with each other. Furthermore, it’s high time to stop ranting. Instead of just complaining about our country and about each other, how about actually doing something productive? You want something better? Go do something about it. Finally, if you can’t be part of the solution, at the very least, don’t be part of the destruction.

It’s time to liberate ourselves from our new oppressors. Ditch the deadweight. By doing so, we may be able to find ourselves a lot lighter and a step closer towards the change that we all want and deserve.

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Lalaine Chu Benitez

Editor-in-Chief and aspiring urban farmer “almost superwoman” Lalaine has been driving Illustrado’s mission to uplift Filipinos in the region for almost a decade now. A former corporate dynamo living in Dubai for over 20 years, she has seen enough to appreciate that the best things in life can’t be bought, and that in this day and age, authenticity could be one’s best asset.

More power to the Pinoy on Illustrado Life.

Related Articles:
Filipino Attitude: Pinoy fears we need to get rid of to get ahead.

POWER TO THE PINOY: Is there a point to Pinoy Pride?

July 2, 2017
The Annie B. (Batobalani) Chronicles: All the Single Ladies

The Annie B. (Batobalani) Chronicles

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

Haaayyy… ang buwan ng Hunyo. Panahon na naman ng mga bagyo at baha sa Pilipinas versus umaatikabong tag-init dito sa Dubai. Bukod sa dengue at alipunga, usong uso din ngayon ang kasalan. Yes!!! Ang pag-aasawa… ang paglagay sa tahimik… ang pag-iisang dibdib… Here comes the bride!!!

Bata pa lang ako ay pinaplano ko na ang aking dream wedding. Syempre, miski sinong babae ay nangangarap ng isang Masaya at mala-prinsesang wedding of the year dib a? Minsan ka lang ikakasal kaya dapat super duper bongga ang iyong wedding. Kaya’t tuwing may mapapanood akong pelikula, mabababasang magazine at makikitang pictures ay nagkakaroon ako ng mga bongang-bongang ideas for my special D Day.

Let me share with you this very special part of my life: my wedding plans. Ito ay pinag-isipan, pinag-konseptuhan, pinag-ilusyunan at pinag-sikapan kong matupad at mabuo over the years. Dizzizit!

Plan A – Showbiz Dream Wedding

Kung mapapangasawa ko ay isang tiga-showbiz – kesehodang artista, extra o miski cameraman man lang? Kailangan truth to the theme ang aking wedding. Dapat kasing kulang at kasing-ingay ng showbiz ang dating – mala-karnabal!!! Ang venue: either sa Araneta Coliseum (kung indoor) or sa Quirino Grandstand (kung outdoors at walang schedule ng samba ang El Shaddai).

Ang mga Ninong: Gaby Lopez of ABS CBN, Atty. Felipe Gozon of GMA 7, Vic del Rosario (of Viva Films), Tony Tuveira of TAPE, Inc. (producer ng Eat Bulaga), German Moreno, Boy Abunda, Tito,Vic & Joey at Willie Revillame (Wowoowee)!!! Ang mga Ninang: Susan Roses, Charo Santos, Vilma Santos, Mother Lily Monteverde, Ricky Reyes, Vicky Belo, Lolit Solis, at ang Megastar Sharon Cuneta. Kaya mo yaaaaaaannnn???!!!

Ang Bestman: Manny Pacquiao: Maid of Honor: Kris Aquino and Bridesmaids: Bebe Gandanghari, Marian Rivera, at Sarah Geronimo. Wedding Singers sina Ogie Alcasid at Regine Velasquez sa ceremony (O dib a mala-Marimar?) at sina Gary Valenciano at Pops Fernandez kasama ang Maneouvers at Hotlegs sa reception. Taraaaaayyy!!!

Si Michael Cinco ang gagawa ng aking wedding gown. Parehong may media coverage ang ABS CBN at GMA 7 para walang away.

Plan B – Coño Beach Romance

Mula sa sobrang bonggang pangarap ay medyo simple yet special naman itong next plan. Pero stylish at shumo-showbiz pa rin. Invited mostly are socialites and lifestyle celebrities. Kaya dapat isang Makati executive ang maging groom ko dito. Inspired by Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon’s wedding nuong 70s. Ang venue: sa Breakwaters ng CCP para malapit lang pero kung sakali mang umulan, sa Valkyrie sa The Fort para sosi pa rin.

Ang mga Ninong: Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Manny Pangilinan, Tony Boy Cojuanco, Louie Ysmael and Maurice Arcache. Mga Ninang naman sina Tingting Cojuanco, Mary Prieto, Tessa Prieto Valdes, Kitty Go and Cecile Zamora Van Straten. Sosyal!

Bestman si Tim Yap at Maid of Honor naman si Gretchen Barreto. Bridesmaids naman sina Celine Lopez at Sam Oh. Aba’y ang buong Gucci Gang! Si Rajo Laurel ang wedding gown designer at ang catering naman ay courtesy of Margarita Fores. Panalo di ba?

Tugtog ang Bolipata Brothers sa ceremony at reception. Special moments of the wedding will be featured on the Lifestyle pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippines Tatler and People Asia Magazine. O-M-G!!!

Plan C – Illustrado Filipiniana Wedding

Eto naman ay may pinaka-nationalistic kaya politics ang drama at theme this time. Siyempre glamourous at fabulous pa rin since the biggest names in Philippine politics ang magiging groom ko, weather senator sya, congressman or baranggay tanod.

The wedding venue will be at Luneta, with the monument of our national Hero Jose Rizal as the backdrop. Kung uulan, alternative venue ang Malacañang Palace. Itodo na natin di ba? Ang mga Ninong: ex-President Erap Estrada, ex-President Fidel Ramos, Manny Villar, Mar Roxas, Senator Panfilo Lacson at Senator Kiko Pangilinan at mga Ninang naman sina: ex-President GMA, Former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Loren Legarda, Korina Sanchez, Sharon Cuneta. Bestman is Chiz Escudero ant Bridesmaid naman sina Aiko Melendez at KC Conception.

Sina Patis Tesoro, Ben Farrales at Pitoy Moreno ay magsasanib-pwersa para mag-design ng aking purely Filipiniana wedding gown. Music will be provided by the Philippine Madrigal Singers during the ceremony at the APO Hiking Society back-to-back with Salbakuta with special performances by the Philippine Bayanihan Dance Troupe naman during reception. Ang saya saya di ba? Syempre, may special coverage din ang wedding segments ng mga News Programs like TV Patrol at Saksi.

Sa lahat ng kasal ko, Plan A to C, imbitado syempre ang aking mga relatives, former officemates at ang buong barangay ng aming probinsiya, lalong lalo na ang mga ex-boyfriends ko, mga dati kong crushes at mga current partners nila. Pati na rin sa mga nag-reject ng invitation ko sa Friendster at Facebook noon. Etong sa inyo!!!

Plan D-OFW Reality Check Wedding

Eto naman kalian ko lang nai-sama sa listahan ko. Sakali mang hindi palarin sa pangarap sa bahay, and medyo close to home, ika nga nila. Kapag isang dakilang OFW ang itatadhana sa aking kapalaran… isang mas simple ngunit astig na dream wedding pa rin, siyempre. Kung sakali mang itadhana ni Lord na bagong bayani ang aking maging better half – maging Dry Docker man or seaman sya.

The venue will be at the POEA Main office at Ortigas Avenue. Originally I was thinking of having the ceremony and the reception at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport kaya lang for sure sandamakmak na permits at red tape pa ang involved kawawa naman ang wedding planners.

Ang mga Ninong at Ninang: sina Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Cayetano, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, UAE Ambassador, His Excellency Constancio Vingno Jr. and wife Yoko Ramos. Bestman ang bestfriend ng groom ko, kung sino man sya; Maid of Honor ang landlady kong si Ate Lorns at Bridesmaids ang mga BFF kong sina Daisy, Ruby at Nerie.

Chowking at Golden Fork ang caterer sa reception, with performances by Gary Granada and Bayang Barrios. Ifi-feature sa TFC “Balitang Global” ang buong wedding from conceptualization up to the actual day mala-Juday & Ryan…o di ba? Inspired?

Ayan ha? As you can see, napaka-flexible ng dream wedding plans ko – para swak sa panlasa ng Pinoy – may matamis, maanghang, maasim, maalat…san ka pa? One thing remains for sure: ako at ako lamang ang star kapag araw ng kasal ko. Dapat lang naman di ba? Once in a full moon in a million lang ito mangyayari so I should make out the most out of each. Carpet Diem!

Since pagkabata pa, everytime someone would asks me. “What is your dream life?” I would always say, “to be a simple and plain housewife.” As in! Ngayon na modify na – to be plain and simple Jumeirah Jane”. Yun bang, gigising ako ng alas-otso ng umaga, syempre hand na ang breakfast courtesy ng mga yayas – oo, plural – kasi hindi lang isa o dalawa ang aking household help kundi mga apat excluding the family driver. Me and my porengjer husband, who is an overpaid CEO or bigshot of multinational company, will wake up together, dedma ma-late sya kasi sya naman ang bossing. Then we will have breakfast with the kids na susunduin ng kanilang school bus, they will kiss me as I hand them their lunch box and wave goodbye to them. Then my husband will go to work na. So magsisimula na ang buhay ko….

I will then go to the gym, spend an hour there, then meet up with my fellow Jumierah Jane amigas for some brunch – siguro sa Lime Tree Café, kasi laging puno ng turista sa Paul’s eh – mag-chichismisan kami for about 2 hours and then sabay sabay kaming magpupunta sa salon or spa in some 5-star hotel for some relaxation or beauty treatment. Then pag makaka-mukha na kami, we part ways, fly na ako sa mall for some shopping. A new Louis Vuitton bag, or a Chloe dress, or L’Occitane’s lates skin care products, or anything new from The One – miski kandila man o tissue paper – oh, potpourri! Kasi may hubby smokes those disgusting cigars eh….

Then I’ll drop by Spinneys in Umm Sequiem to buy some fresh flowers, veggies and fruits – organics of course, the lates issue of Ahlan! Magazine. Tapos magka-kape ako sa Starbucks while scanning the pages of the society magazine that I bought to check if they published my picture from last weekend’s social event. Then I’m done for the day na – ayos na ako sa sarili ko. Now back to family time naman. Syempre pag-uwi ko to my sprawling 5-bedroom villa with swimming pool and garden, tapos nang gumawa ng homework ang mga kids – thanks to their college graduates yayas – at malapit ng maluto ng dinner. I still have time to catch my favorite TV show until my husband arrives from the office and we all have dinner together with the kids as one big happy family. Aaawww….ang ganda di ba?

Kung Jumeirah Jane ka. Eh pano kung hinde?

Gigising ka ng alas-singko ng umaga to prepare breakfast and baon for your kids. Alas-siete dadating na ang school bus nila at dapat eh bihis na rin kayong mag-asawa by that time kasi aabutan kayo ng traffic kapag 7:30 na kayo umalis ng bahay. Syempre ihahatid ka sa office ni mister kaya dapat mas maaga ka. Pagdating ng lunch time, iinit mo na lang sa microwave ang baon mo – kakain ka sa labas eh ang laking gastos kaya non? Pag breaktime hindi ka sa Starbucks magkakape kasi halos pambayad na sa gasul ng kalahating buwan ang isang order ng Frapuccino kaya manghihinayang ka kaya magtitimpla ka na lang ng instant coffee sa office pantry – masarap din naman, libre pa. Natural since madami kang load sa trabaho, wala kang time para mag-gym…maglakad na lang kayo ni mister sa loob ng mall para ma-exercise kayo. Pag uwi nyo ni Mister sigurado na namang magulo at makalat ang flat ninyo kasi nag wrestling na naman ang mga anak nyo or naglaro ng bahay-bahayan. Linis at ayos ka muna. Pulot dito ng laruan, ligpit ng kalat doon. Teka, magluluto ka pa pala ng hapunan nyo! Then maiisip mo, hindi pa gumagawa ng homework ang mga anak mo – anak ng… so I ga-guide nyong mag-asawa. Yung school project miski hindi marunong kailangan gawin mo. Pagka-kain nyong lahat wala nang oras – dapat matulog na kundi pag-napuyat kayo sigaradong hihikag-hikag ka sa office – eh may presentation ka pa naman na kailangang tapusin. Sige trabaho pa sa bahay… tapos bukas ganito na naman ulit. Eeeekkk!!!

Hindi ko carry…huwag muna siguro. Erase-erase… On hold na muna ang mga wedding plans. I’ll wait pa muna for my Prince Charming. In the meantime, Masaya pa ko sa pagiging single!

Ehem… calling All Single Ladies. This is Beyonsey, calling to all you poxy ladies out there… all the single ladies…all the single ladies….all the single ladies…now put your hands up!! Sayaw muna tayo.

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More Annie B Articles and Filipinisms on Illustrado life.

Related Articles:
Kwentong OFW: Maalaala mo pa kaya Magpakailanman.

The Annie B. (Batobalani) Chronicles: “Krisis the Moment”.

June 29, 2017
It’s What I Do: Jessie Quintilla, Jeimar Pore

Jessie Quintilla

Head of HR Services for Multinational Financial Services

Dubai, UAE

My Job

I am the Head of HR Services for a multinational Financial Services company based in DIFC. I help our employees help our clients understand the importance of protecting their future and provide financial security for their families and businesses. My main role is committed to addressing the needs of our function and the business, ensuring that we have the right manpower capability who will provide world-class customer and claims services so we can deliver what we promised to our clients when they need it the most. With my role, I was given opportunities to travel abroad, meet new people with different culture and be able to help employees realise their full potential.

My Typical Working Day

My day usually revolves around managing the day to day operations of our HR services and deliver group-wide initiatives. I oversee the recruitment process, onboarding, off-boarding, payroll and benefits to name a few. A challenging day will be when I manage employee relations issues (performance management, disciplinary, grievance, ethics investigation, etc). I always end up my day online, catching up with beautiful people around me whom I called my 2nd family (my Fil-HR friends).
Message for my fellow expats

As what Steve Jobs said “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life, don’t be trapped by dogma”. Always strive to be the best, spend time in refining your craft and never lost the opportunity to help others in the Filipino Community. Build your personal brand as someone credible by doing what you say you’ll do, and has integrity by having strong moral values.

View her LinkedIn here.

Jeimar Pore

Engineer Project Manager –

Dubai, UAE

My Job

I am a Project Manager working on a international environment in a management position which includes constant development possibilities and a challenging working environment.

As a Project Manager I am involved in the development and execution of the operations project with multiple project managers and directors, including engineering procurement, EPCM, owner’s team, and external construction management consultant. To ensure target plans and schedule are achieved on time and to budget; ensuring remedial strategies are developed when shortfalls are identified. I am also In charge of power plant system design such as efficient fuel system, engineering thermodynamics, power generation and effectively carrying out the complex implementations and solely handling extensive contracts with stakeholders, pulling everything together with other department such as civil, electrical, financial and business department.

My Typical Working Day

My typical working day starts with a big cup of black coffee and a toast with peanut butter while watching the newscast. Most of my day is occupied by e-mails, conference brainstorming and over-the-phone dialogue. And from time to time I also go on business trips to visit our contractors and clients for technical and commercial consultations.

Although my schedule is full throughout the week, i still manage to have quality time with my parents and siblings, enjoy my ME time and most of all, travel to different parts of the globe.

My message to Filipinos around the globe

Stay strong, humble and invest in your dream. Grind now, shine later.

View Jeimar’s LinkedIn here.

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Find more Money, Business and Law articles here.

June 28, 2017
El Camino de Santiago: A Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

By Al P. Manlangit

Peregrinos walking across the field in Sarria.

Finally, after years of procrastinating, I found myself on the way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, biking the whole 750km. route from Pamplona close to the the French border. With a backpack filled with some clothes, a camera, some Granola bars and a bottle of water, I pedaled away on a bright morning along the highway headed west.

Like millions of pilgrims dating back to 800AD, I would be making my way to a place aptly called “The Field of Stars” where, legend has it, St. James (the first of Christ’s disciples to be martyred) was believed to be buried.

The beautiful cathedral of Leon.

King Alfonso II of Asturias declared him the patron saint of Spain and a church was built over his tomb. As his popularity spread far and wide in 11^th century Europe, people started going on pilgrimage along the route that became known as the Camino Frances. The whole length covers some 789 kms, and the traditional way of doing it is by walking, taking over a month. I did it by bike in twelve days. Many go on pilgrimage for various reasons and some may not even be religious in nature; mine was to fulfill a vow made 10 years ago on a visit to Spain.

I accidentally fell into this shallow ditch while reaching down for my water bottle.

The first day was hard. I had trained for six months but nothing prepared me for the challenging route over the low-lying hills of the beautiful Navarre province. I struggled doing 44 kms. until Estella, my first stop for the night. There are pilgrim hotels in every town called albergues. Check in for about 6-8 Euros per night and get a bunk in a 4 or 6-bed dormitory room with shared toilet/shower facilities which are cleanly maintained. Most have restaurants serving a pilgrim’s meal of soup, a main course of grilled fish or meat and a jug of wine. For the same amount as your room, you can eat well, albeit simply.

I biked along with this group of cyclists from South America.

Rolled hay on the fields of was a usual sight.

Most days, I woke up before daybreak, and headed out at 6:30am after a quick shower and light breakfast. I would pedal for about 8 hours with rest stops along the way, and stop at the next town at about 2 to 3pm. I usually visit the nearest church to give thanks and pray for a safe journey for the next day. Depending on the terrain, I averaged 60 kms per day. The longest I biked was 110 kms from dawn till dusk on the flat plains of the Meseta between Burgos and Astorga.

I passed through all kinds of terrain from plains with wavy grass, corn plantations, vineyards and wheat fields to high mountains with heavily-wooded forests and exposed bare scrub. The towns and cities were beautiful and interesting and it would’ve been nice to spend a couple of days more exploring each one. The exquisitely-designed towering Gothic cathedrals in Burgos and Leon built in the 12th century were a sight to behold while Astorga’s and Logrono’s Baroque facades were selfie-worthy.

Vineyards like this proliferate along the wine region of La Rioja.

I usually biked on the two-lane roads which had a meter-wide space on the side allotted for cyclists (the motorways are prohibido) but sometimes joined the walking peregrinos on the narrow gravel pathway exchanging greetings of Buen Camino! They all came in different nationalities – men, women and children carrying backpacks and pitching tents on the grassy knoll as if having a picnic on a weekend. Sometimes I joined fellow cyclists and we biked together then swapped stories during rest stops over a glass of wine or gelato bought from a roadside restaurant. Many had come biking from as far as Genoa, Prague and even Wales!

The weather was fine most of the time but there were three days when the heavens gave way to uninterrupted rain while I was out on the road. I had some bad spills, which made me wonder what I was doing out there – wet, cold and miserable. There were times when I wanted to give up especially in the hard mountain climbs from Villafranca to O Cebreiro when I thought it would be my last outing. But somehow – even surprising myself – I found the strength and determination to go on.

The straight-as-an-arrow road through grassland ahead of Navarrete.

It was quite anticlimactic on the last day when I arrived in Santiago de Compostela. The rain was pouring white sheets, so could hardly see a thing in the horizon. The muddy road plunged downward from the last hill and save for my luggage covered with the black plastic garbage bag, the bike and I were drenched to the bone. It was difficult to read the signs so I tried to find my bearings through what I remembered from the map.

I entered the Obraidoro (the main square) and there loomed Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in all its baroque glory. Ah, mission accomplished! This must’ve been how all the millions of pilgrims who came before me felt as I gazed at the twin steeples: joy, sadness, relief.

Approaching the town of Najera.

The intricate facade of the Baroque church in Astorga.

I parked the bike outside near the imposing staircase, removed my backpack and carried it with me into the magnificently-lit interiors of the church. As I knelt and started my prayers, I felt a surge of mixed emotions. Maybe it was the sheer exhaustion or perhaps just the relief that I made it safe and sound after 750kms, but I did what I had not done in a long, long time… I cried.
TRAVELER’S NOTES:

To bike the Camino, I ordered the 10-speed bike through www.tournride.com. They delivered the bike to my hotel on the day of my arrival. Take just few clothes (preferably with quick-dry fabric), to lighten your load. A good pair of shoes and socks are important for comfort and to avoid blisters. I used a lot of petroleum jelly to keep my feet lubricated. Protect your face with a hat and have a light plastic poncho in case it rains. Don’t worry about food and water which can be found in restaurants and stores along the route. Keep an open mind and take each day as it comes. Buen Camino!

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Related articles on Illustrado Life:

Traipising around Sunny Spain

Destination: Barcelona, Spain

June 23, 2017
My Life in Dubai: The ConGen’s Weekend

By Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes

My past weekend was typical of my Dubai weekends – packed, extremely hectic. Fridays, for most, even for most of my staff, are reserved for families, outings and gallivanting around the malls, or just plain lounging at home. I harbor no complaints though. I get it. Weekends are when the Filipino community schedules their organizations’ events and activities, and what better way for them to celebrate it than by inviting their Congen to either deliver an inspirational speech or do a ceremonial toss, or grace the opening of a branch, or even present awards that serve as their ‘pat on the back.’

This particular weekend was a tad more sundry. My audience ranged from Philippine government authorities, to Filipino sports enthusiasts, to graduating students and their proud parents, to an ecumenical forum and celebration, and to a quasi-socio-economic aggrupation along with Filipinos needing government assistance the most.

It started off with airport duty a little after midnight. Part of my responsibility as Consul General is to provide diplomatic port courtesies to officials visiting or transiting through the city. Dubai International Airport, with its famed service orientation and extensive aviation network, has become a preferred route for most and thus, I get to meet many of our officials when they transit DXB (Dubai’s airport code). Most often, it is a 4-5 hour layover during which, I get to be up close and personal with them, sharing views on current events, providing briefs on our Consulate’s activities and requirements (aka wish lists), and even reviewing films they watched on board the plane. These captive moments allow me, well us, to get to know each other, almost at a personal level (snippets of opportunities which are not available to us both while in Manila). Flights are often in the wee hours of the morning, so my body clock gets a jolt ever so often, with mealtimes shared with my principals at 3 or 4 am – a routine which my digestive system has grown quite accustomed to!

Just a little after lunch was my community affair with Filipino golfers – a golf tournament in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. Before making a fool of myself at the ceremonial opening that I was to lead, I made it clear to the organizers that golf was not my cup of ‘tee.’ Yes, you read that right! I was en route to becoming a golf aficionado as a junior officer in one of our Central European posts some 20 years back, but the long hours took me away from my first-born, so I opted to forego the sport. I told that golfers that, on top of their dedication, holding their tournament under Dubai’s 45-degree sun definitely earns my respect! But what could be a better way, I added, than to commemorate Philippine Independence Day under as much heat as that of the Filipinos’ felicitous display of affection to the communities they find themselves immersed in – be it in America, Hong Kong, the Middle East, or Europe. (If you insist on me telling you, I hit the ball on my second swing. Not bad I’d like to think!)

And then there was a graduation ceremony. One of the most difficult tasks asked of me is to address our youth. Phrasing one’s remarks within the confines of youthful experience is most certainly a toughie. For many grownups, youth is a fuzzy memory, a blur and hazy pigment of the past so that recalibrating our present verbal templates into the patterns geared for the young is a challenge. This becomes more pronounced for me because I had been primed to speak to young folks, those of the same age-bracket as that of my teenage boys, in a father like tone, authoritative and yes, to an extent stern but solicitous. Graduation ceremonies dictate that I shift my tenor to a bit more nurturing, tenderly, more like a gentle reminder given by a doting uncle to our children to prepare themselves for their hard lessons of life. I spoke to the students about their role as the future of the Philippines, juxtaposed with the reality of having been raised within the context of migration, my words most carefully crafted to catch their youthful vibe and swag.

I approached early evening rushing off to an ecumenical forum and celebration. This time, the audience was inter-faith and inter-cultural, with the purpose of highlighting the diversity of faith and ethnicity in Dubai and how Ramadan contributes towards a deeper understanding between cultures. Addressing the 200-strong audience, I shared how Philippine history has seen the stark and painful divide between the Filipinos of the north and south. Having spent all of my career in Christian Europe and North America, my Dubai posting is my first foray into an Islamic community and thus far, has shaped a new perspective on the similarities of Christian and Islamic faiths. Stripped off details and minutiae, I felt that all faiths preach the same virtues of kindness and compassion, the essence of what humanity should be all about and Ramadan provides that experience for both our Muslim brothers and Christian expats in this gem of a city. The tranquil and sedating mood of the event laid a more meditative Ramadan experience for me, something that seemed to soothe and calm a week that has seen incoherent ramblings and deeds borne out of religious intolerance and ignorance around the world.

My last two events were back in the fold of the Filipino community — one, leading the oath taking ceremony of an organization whose mission is to play a more constructive and active role in the economic development of Southern Philippines; and another, addressing a group meant to bring cheer to Filipinos awaiting their longed-for repatriation. The bayanihan spirit is very evident among any Filipino community elsewhere in the world. Somehow, Filipinos have no qualms about lending their hands to anyone in need of a lifeline. Be it fund-raising events for typhoon victims back home or spreading goodwill and smiles to those desperate for one, all Filipino communities seem to be masters of altruism. Our inherent social structure is like that of fire ants, locking in their arms together when threatened by an external force, ensuring their survival by rafting in the flood of despair.

The Consul General’s weekend experience was not in any way unique nor could it be the proverbial falling tree in the forest. That it was one shared by 550,000 other Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates makes it just as real as the rest of the Overseas Filipino community sharing their experiences with me. We, the Pinoys of the Middle East, are in an enviable position of having the best of worlds at our fingertips – a vibrant Islamic economy that generously shares opportunities, a multi-cultural community that has respect for others’ faiths, a crossroads for migrants and policy-makers that make it an avenue for the pollination of ideas and opinions, a breeding ground for the migrant youth ready and raring to join the global community as active players, and an oasis that germinates what is essential to humanity. I could not have asked for more that weekend.

And that’s only on one Friday. Saturday is longer tale altogether.
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CONSUL GENERAL PAUL RAYMUND CORTES

When not performing his duties as the head of the Filipino community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, or the obligations of a dutiful dad, passionate patriot Paul Raymund Cortes mulls over how to further enrich the local Filipino community by promoting a more progressive mindset.

Related articles:
Keeping up with Congen, Talking Tourism
Keeping up with Congen, the Pinoy TV

June 19, 2017
Things You Didn’t Know About Riyadh
By The Pink Tarha – Janelle Vales-Yasay and Reina Tejano-Beriña

Closed doors tend to exude an air of mystery to those standing before it. For us who live behind it, the story is not always what you expect it to be. Saudi Arabia is a unique country and not everyone gets a chance to see it for what it really is from the inside. Expat travel to Saudi Arabia is limited to those either performing pilgrimage at the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madina or those coming here to work. Therefore, we have taken it upon ourselves, with a little help from the internet, to pop open a window (since we, as mere country ‘guests,’ are not authorized to open the doors) and let you in on things that you might not have known about Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital.

Here are the Top 5 things you probably didn’t know about the city.
1. Riyadh is a growing oasis of modernity and modernization!
Contrary to popular belief that we live in the middle of the dessert in an oasis filled with tents and surrounded by palm trees, Riyadh is actually a bustling city of unique skyscrapers, busy roads, and thriving communities. We may be surrounded by sand dunes but that’s outside of the city proper. The truth is, Riyadh is ‘the’ oasis and instead of tents, we have towers like the Kingdom Center and the Capital Market Authority Headquarters. The highways of Riyadh are wide and clean and the cars that ply these roads create a car show of sorts every day! In the last two years, work has gone underway for the construction of the Riyadh Metro which will improve commuting and transportation in the coming years. Apart from that, the skyline continues to evolve. Exciting new buildings like the sail-shaped Al Rajhi Tower and the twisted tower of Al Majdoul are on the rise.

Here in Saudi Arabia, they are keen on protecting and preserving their traditions, culture, and heritage. But they are up-to-date with all the latest technologies in the industries of science, health and information. The internet has also played a huge role in transforming the society in recent years. In 2012, the country was reported to have the largest number of mobile phone users worldwide. Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat are the main portals where Saudis like to express themselves.
1. Events are happening here.
Is Riyadh boring? Well, not anymore. You must have heard that we don’t have cinemas here yet but it doesn’t mean there is no entertainment. Since the establishment of the General Entertainment Authority, numerous events and activities have been hosted in Riyadh, including concerts, bazaars and exhibits from local and international brands. Food truck festivals have also gained popularity. We even heard that Oprah will visit Saudi Arabia in the last quarter of 2017! Riyadh is turning into a tourist destination. Yes, slowly, but it’s happening! And it will get there.
1. The Sale Season here is like no other!
Shopping is next to breathing for a lot of women in Riyadh mainly because of the ridiculously low prices for bags, shoes and clothing during the sale season. It drives us bonkers to see how a 200SAR item can get as low as just 50SAR or even 30SAR when discounted. It gives us no reason to say no whenever we pass by a great bargain. To top that off, there’s no tax in Saudi Arabia (just yet) so we get prices that are as low as they’re ever going to get. Yes, it’s true that there are not a lot of things to do here but we’re thankful that we get to experience a real “shopping festival” in every sense of the word several times a year in Riyadh. And because it’s not easy to enter Riyadh for those outside the Kingdom, we have all these amazing stuff at ridiculous prices all to ourselves!
1. Wearing the Abaya here is awesome.
Women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear a cloak called the abaya. Most expats would think that it is an inconvenience but not in our experience. See an abaya is awesome because it lets you worry less about what you need to wear before going out. You can be in your pajamas or house clothes and if you need to step out, just slide in to your abaya and voila! You can be in public in your jammies and no one will ever know.

Nowadays, abayas are no longer constrained to the color black and we have seen fashionable abayas in pale and neutral shades. They can also be embellished with gems and crystals, embroidered with the finest threads, or decorated with lace and textured fabrics. The abayas and tarhas (veils) also protect women from the scorching heat of the desert sun and the swirling dust of a sandstorm. They’re both stylish and practical.
1. It’s not at all bad to live here.
We chose to work and live here because of a lot of different reasons and factors. We will be lying if we say we were not scared of the changes that living in Saudi Arabia entails. But as things happen in our lives all the time, we shouldn’t wait to do something until we’re no longer scared. If you still feel some form of anxiety towards the notion of living/working in Saudi Arabia, remember that there are two sides to every story.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the Kingdom and surely, it’s not a perfect place (just like no country is perfect) but it has thrived for years, and we wouldn’t be here today writing this if we only subscribed to the negative things you will find online about Saudi Arabia. We’re saying this in terms of living conditions, accessibility to food and water, cost of living and safety. Surely, bad things happen all over the world but that is not indicative of the state of an entire country. At the end of the day, there is always a silver lining and as we always say it in our blog, “If you can’t change things, change the way you look at them.”

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THE PINK TARHA

Janelle Vales-Yasay (R) and Reina Tejano-Beriñaare (L), the team behind The Pink Tarha, an award-winning lifestyle blog in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, spread good vibes and positivity in the Kingdom through their witty restaurant reviews, travel entries, and how-to guides. Lately, they have also started vlogging, and they do all of these on top of their real day jobs in KSA. Really, they’re not that busy! Follow them at www.thepinktarha.com, www.facebook.com/thepinktarha, www.twitter.com/thepinktarha, and www.instagram.com/thepinktarha.

More travel, lifestyle and vacation articles on Illustrado Life.
June 19, 2017
It’s What I Do: Maynard Portugal, Russelito Borela Sanchez

MAYNARD PORTUGAL

Country/Area Director of Filinvest International

Dubai, UAE

My Job

I am now on my 4th year here in Dubai as the Country/Area Director of Filinvest International, an International arm of Filinvest Land Incorporated, one of the largest real estate developers in the Philippines. I started my real estate career in Milan, Italy when we launched Filinvest International in 2007. Before working here in Dubai, I was assigned to different areas in Europe like Rome, Paris, Benelux, Austria, UK, Monaco, Denmark, Sweden, & Switzerland. My function is to promote the projects of Filinvest Land Inc in the Philippines and to teach all our kababayans about real estate property investments before going back to the Philippines for good. I also handle recruitment for real estate agents and brokers who want to earn extra in their extra time or while doing their permanent jobs. I also train people who wants to reach the top of the ladder and become one of our managers.

My Typical Working Day

I consider myself as a typical OFW here in Dubai. Like any Filipino expat, my daily routine is going to office and attending my teams’ need. Since I have a big group now here in Dubai, I have developed 5 managers already, so I always see to it that all of them are doing well in the field of sales. Sometimes, I work out of the office to meet potential brokers and investors, which consumes a lot of time.

My message to my fellow Filipinos

Be the best that you can be, stay humble and constantly have the passion and love for your work.

RUSSELITO BORELA SANCHEZ

Beverage Consultant-Fresh Express LLC

Dubai, UAE

My Work

I’m working with Fresh Express LLC, UAE`s market leader and the most prominent trusted beverage solution provider for five star hotels, cafes, dinners, fine dining and different segments. I have multiple job functions which includes tailored beverage menu engineering, molecular mixology training, beverage workshop, mixology & flair competition and master classes for international brands and clientele for both local and abroad. I also conduct bartending schematic programs at the emirate academy of hospitality management and The Filipino institute.

My Typical Working Day

I usually arrive at work before 8AM. A typical day for me begins with an hour or so
checking emails, engineering beverage me nus, and reviewing the schedule of the day before meeting with clients, then it is followed by meetings, workshops, brand activations, etc. Most often, my days are spent consulting with or presenting to clients – either developing a menu or proposing a new strategy. Every once in a while, I have to allot a bit of time in the evening to visit some of our clients on their establishments, just to see how things are running.

My message to my fellow Filipinos

A lot of people say, “Follow your dreams.” I think successful people don’t actually do that. Instead they fall in love with what they’re doing, which is much more important. You’ve got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a huge part of your life, and the only way to be truly happy is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.

June 14, 2017
Artist Spotlight: Eisen Bernardo

EISEN BERNARDO

Illustrator

My Art

I’m a graphic designer and a children’s book illustrator. But I can say that my most recognizable work is my cover art and classical painting mash-up series.

I’m fond of homage, similarities, and references in movies, music, and other art forms. I compare Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud with Marvin Gaye’s Lets Get it on. I love spotting movie scenes that were inspired by classical artworks (e.g. House By The Railroad by Edward Hopper and Hitchcock’s Psycho, Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World and Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven, Escher and Inception, etc).

Like my collage series, I just felt that magazine and album covers (like other contemporary artforms) were inspired directly (and/or indirectly) by classical paintings. The similarities and references can be observed. I just really wanted to compare and contrast modern and classical aesthetics.

In 2009, I created my first “Mag+Art” for FHM Philippines as fan art. Surprisingly, they featured my works in the “Incoming Art” section of their anniversary issue. In 2014, I was revisiting my works to get inspiration for a new online project, and I saw what I did for FHM. I tried to do the Mag+Art concept again, this time, using international magazine covers. After posting them online, the work became viral. I did follow up projects such as: Logo+Art (corporate logos), Criterion+Art (Criterion DVD covers), and Album+Art (album covers).

My Process

I’m a pop culture (celebrity, movie, music) fan, so more or less I’m exposed to a lot of magazine and album covers. So most of the time, I identify the covers first. Also, I love classical paintings, so I’m familiar with lots of artworks. So, I do a mental matching of the album covers and the paintings. However, when I do actual implementation in Photoshop, it is like I’m assembling a jigsaw puzzle. It’s trial and error. Sometimes, my instinct/mental matching is correct. But when they don’t fit, I need to do a lot of research online to look for a matching artwork. Most of the time, the pieces posted in my Instagram are just product of beautiful accidents. All of them are unplanned and I’m always surprised with the output. It is really a fun activity. It tests my knowledge of the classical arts (visual, literature) and popular culture (music, showbiz/celebrities).

I can say that I’m the first digital artist to combine cover arts (magazine, dvd, album) and classical paintings. It became viral because the idea of the collage is very simple. It is very easy (but finding the perfect match, visually and conceptually, is challenging. Anyone can do it, but no one thought of it.

My Journey Thus Far

My collage series was featured in more than 1,000 online articles in more than 30 countries. Featured in fashion and lifestyle magazine websites such as Andy Warhol’s Interview Germany, GQ Italia, Madame Germany, Cosmopolitan US and France, Paper, Grazia, Rollingstone Italia and Brazil, and Complex. Also reported in news, arts and entertainment websites like Yahoo!, DailyMail UK, The Telegraph, HuffingtonPost, Buzzfeed, MTV, Art Nouveau, Mic, ChinaDaily, Elite Daily, Distractify, DesignTaxi, BoredPanda, My Modern Met, and Visual News. The project became viral in various social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Featured in international magazines such as Beaux Arts Magazine October 2014 and June 2015, Inked Magazine Art Issue 2014, Gym Class Magazine Issue 12, Playboy US January/February 2015, Playboy South Africa March 2015, Le Magazine Cineplex March/April 2015, Soura Magazine Dubai Issue 38, Blush Magazine anniversary issue 2015, and in WIJET’s in-flight magazine Singularity Issue No. 3 and Ukraine International Airlines’ Panorama Magazine Art Voyage issue February 2017.

One of myMag+Art collages (Taylor Swift’s Time Magazine November 2014 cover and Guido Reni’s The Rape of Europa painting) is included in Phaidon’s latest edition of A Smile in the Mind – Witty Thinking in Graphic Design. The book features the work of the most prominent designers from across the globe.

Exhibited at the Sining Makiling Gallery, University of the Philippines Los Baños and at the KultKolector, an art gallery and bar in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.In 2016, some of my Mag+Art and Album+Art collages became part of the permanent display in RistoranteAranda in Madrid, Spain.

My Album+Artinstagram account is nominated in The Webby Awards (Social – Music Category). The recognition is given by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

My Advice To Fellow Artists

I don’t have formal training as an artist, I don’t have a degree in fine arts. But I think I’m part of the digital era where people can freely express themselves using different art forms. The social media make it easier for someone like me to be noticed. We all know that the art world is an elite arena. But the social media/internet democratized it and made it more accessible for everyone.So, don’t be afraid to share your work online!

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Behance: eisenbernard

Instagram: @albumplusart

More Artists and Writers on Illustrado Life here.

June 12, 2017
Pinoy Traveler: Sri Lanka
By Engr. Mary Jane Alvero

Sri Lanka is one of the largest producers of tea in the world. They were colonized by the British before and their country was called Ceylon. colonized Tea was introduced to the country by the British who called the country “Ceylon”. It’s a 4 hrs flight with Emirates Airlines. There are other flights too such as Sri Lankan Airlines, Fly dubai and others.

Bandaranaike International Airport (also known as Colombo International Airport and Katunayake International Airport) is the main international airport serving Sri Lanka.

WHAT TO SEE

Kandy

Kandy is a large city in central Sri Lanka. The city is surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and rainforest. In the heart of the city is the scenic lake called the lake called Bogambara Lake. People stoll around the lake. Kandy is a religious city and known for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) shrine. We have witnessed the grand Esala Perahera annual procession. We stayed in Earl’s Regent Hotel. It is situated in a hill surrounded with other hills and greenery. Nestled within the lush green surroundings, showcasing the heritage Kandy.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is about 40km (25 miles) west of Kandy. The orphanage cares for almost 100 elephants, many of whom were either orphaned or injured in the wild. We witnessed the elephants led over to the river to take a bath. We rode the elephant named Raja. We visited the Botanical Gardens to see gardens of herbs and spices We got to visit Ranweli Spice and Herbal Garden. I saw how spices and herbs like Turmeric, Pepper Corns, Cloves, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Aloe Vera, etc. are grown in their natural and organic environment.

Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya is a city in the tea country hills of central Sri Lanka. The tourists called it as “Little England.” We visited Pedro Tea Estate, about 3.5km east of Nuwara Eliya on the way to Kandapola and took a half-hour guided tour of the factory. Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill, often called city of lights. It’s cold out there in which 11 deg cent when we stayed in that city. It was raining during nights and fair weather during day.

I loved and enjoyed the New Zealand Farms in Nuwara Eliya. This farm is located at Ambewela which is a few Km away from Nuwara eliya. The New Zealand Farm is a part of the Ambewela Farm which are both dairy farms. New Zealand Farm is located only 3-4 Km away from Ambewela farm. New Zealand farm produces fresh milk and cheese.

Bentota

We visited the town of Bentota. It is a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. We stayed in a hotel along Bentota Beach which stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island.

Bentota River Boat Safaris start at the last section of the broad River Bentota (The Bentota lagoon), and cruises inland. The Bentota lagoon is scattered with small islands, natural landscapes, and tangled mangrove swamps. The boat men will meander through the islets and mangrove swamps located haphazardly on the river. It is mysterious and beautiful at once as you cruise through shaded waters beneath huge roots. The longer you need to explore, the further upriver you want to cruise, the more unspoilt the scenery becomes.

It’s a 2 and a half hours boat trip. Along the boat cruise, you’ll get to visit a small cinnamon factory and fish spa. The cost of this tour ranges from 3000 to 4000 Sri Lankan rupees, which is around AED75 to 100. We also paid a visit to The Turtle Hatchery Project at Bentota Beach. A visit to the turtle hatchery is a must for nature lovers and environmentalists.

TIPS
- Dress appropriately and modestly. I wore light track suits and my usual shayla for my hair. Others wear walking shorts and summer tops. Others wear jeans and t-shirt.
- Bring an insect repellant. There are lot of mosquitoes. I mean insect repellant creams, lotion or spray.
- The expenses depends on the preference of the traveler.I saw some tourists staying on travel lodges, bed and breakfast accommodation, from 1 star to 5 stars Hotel. Hotel fees are as low as 75 aed to 500 and above
- Food is very cheap. They use coconut mainly in their food. Their food is a lot similar to Indian food.
- Their mode of transportation are buses, train, boat and tuk tuk. Some of the places have 2-way zig zag highways. It’s bit scary but you’ll get used to it.
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More Pinoy Traveler articles on Illustrado Life.
June 9, 2017