Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Tag: pinoy news

  • Art and Rachel Los Baños – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Art and Rachel Los Baños – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Thoughtleaders – Art and Rachel Los Banos 

    Communication Experts & Humanitarians 

    Art and Rachel Los Baños - Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf
    Photo by: Donell Gumiran

    Talented PR Man Art Los Banos and broadcast journalist Rachel Los Banos continue to use their God-given talents doing social development work with the CFC community in the UAE and beyond. In 2019, along with other volunteers, they had conducted seminars on value formation, mental health and depression, as well creative arts, extending their support and guidance to community members from Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, even as far as Mozambique.

    Well-known in the community for their initiatives with FEME (Filipino Excellence in the Middle East), Art and Rachel published the FEME Connect Directory project in 2016; have hosted a radio programme with Dubai Eye 103.8 for 3 years, and also facilitated FEME Forum hosting talks on topic of benefit to entrepreneurs and community leaders.

    Art and Rachel Los Baños - Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf
    Photo by: Chris Calumberan

    Art, who has lent his know-how on a variety of other projects shares what drives him to strive for the community, “I hope to further raise our public image as an enterprising, professionally-oriented, highly qualified and socially aware ethnic group in the global city of Dubai in particular and in the UAE in general.”

    For Rachel, whose stories through the ABS-CBN network has moved government agencies, Filipino organizations and private individuals to take action and provide assistance to distressed kababayans in the country, on the other hand shares, “I wish to collaborate even more with other like-minded Filipinos whose goal is to promote and protect the good reputation of Filipinos while living and working overseas.”

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  • Rozen Antonio – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Rozen Antonio – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Rozen Antonio

    Fashion Photographer & Entrepreneur

    Photo by: Rozen Antonio

    Rozen Antonio’s combination of photography mastery as well as a natural flair for entrepreneurship has allowed him to gain a most fulfilling career.  As a fashion photographer trusted by Dubai’s couture industry elite including Michael Cinco among others, and the owner of Houz of Zen, a boutique Events Management Company specializing in creative, bespoke flower designs catering to luxury hotels and brands, Rozen’s days are filled with beauty and the presentation of it.

    What he likes most about his job, he shares, is seeing the joy of his clients.  Commenting on his rise from modest roots, he says, “I feel great enjoyment in seeing the progression of my career and take pride in knowing that my achievements stemmed entirely from my own efforts. For many, carving a place in the profession requires being your own boss, and with it, your own motivator.”

    In an era where a sense of entitlement is the order of the day, Rozen knows that success should always come with being grounded and grateful.  He says, “Yes, you may have worked very hard and intelligently to get to where you are, but everything is still a blessing. It could all be gone tomorrow; it could all be gone today.”

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  • Ateneo LSE – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Ateneo LSE – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Trailblazers – Ateneo LSE

    Social Entrepreneurship Program

    Over the years, the Ateneo LSE (Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship) program has transformed the lives of many overseas Filipinos across 27 countries, empowering them with the knowledge to become the next wave of entrepreneurs who have an advocacy in helping their community. The largest organization of its kind, their accredited programs have provided entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership skills to thousands of Filipinos worldwide.

    Aside from the training and lessons, Ateneo LSE in the UAE is also helping the Ateneo School for Government to expand its reach across the Middle East, with their sights set on Oman and Bahrain. The organization has also helped students in Qatar begin their entrepreneurial education journey. Through their many deeds and accomplishments, the UAE Ateneo LSE has been selected to host the upcoming 2020 Global Ateneo LSE Homecoming summit in Dubai.

    Founding President JR Papel shares his thoughts, which align with the organization’s values and aspirations, “Filipinos should find their passion or interest that they think can add value to their community. They should consistently hone, push and develop themselves to be able to push this passion that it eventually becomes their identity and life’s mission. This gives us a deeper reason to wake up every single day.”

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  • Rosemarie Tacorda – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Rosemarie Tacorda – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Thoughtleaders – Rosemarie Tacorda

    Marketing Professional

    Photo by Jef Anog

    Marketing maven Rosemarie Tacorda has led the communications initiatives of some of the most impressive world-renowned hotel brands in the emirates including the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, The Address Hotel, Intercon Hotel Group, Jumeirah Creekside, and the Palazzo Versace – undeniably raising the bar for marketing in the luxury hospitality industry in the region.   A professional who “walks the talk”, she is a proponent of the mindset that in order to elevate Filipino branding, we must think and act as world-class citizens.

    With her definitive contributions as the Director of PR and Marketing at Palazzo Versace Dubai’s since its opening, paying off – now the hotel ranks as number two, behind the illustrious Burj Al Arab, on the Best Hotels in the Middle East list published by leading luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler – Rosemarie just recently moved on, leaving the brilliant team that she has built, to her next adventure.  She joined the Park Hyatt as Director of Marketing and PR, in late 2019, and is looking forward to taking part in the hotel’s future growth.

    On how Filipinos can excel in their chosen sector, Rosemarie advises, “I believe that we should just live authentically, free of pretensions. It is also important to always be a good person, free of judgments.  Be someone who strives to give the best always, and leave mediocrity behind.”

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  • Danelle Ruth Palang – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Danelle Ruth Palang – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Thoughtleader – Danelle Ruth Palang

    Marketing Professional

    A Filipina at the forefront of marketing communications efforts at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Dubai, Danelle Ruth Palang has been championing the brand’s sustained success in the last decade.  As Director of Marketing Communications, she has been the backbone of the hotel’s launch projects as well as campaigns through the years.

    In 2019, Danelle proudly notes that she has brought three of their F&B outlets to TripAdvisor’s top 50 and 100 restaurants in Dubai out of over 10,000 competitors. She has also launched two more outlets in 2018 and 2019.

    An innovator within her field, she works in order to inspire her peers, as well as contribute to the progressive representation of Filipinos in the region.  She shares, “I sincerely believe that if we remind ourselves that we are only as good as our last performance, and aim to outclass our most recent one, then our achievements would be boundless, competition will be healthier because there is no person greater than the other – only one’s self becoming better and better each time.”

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  • Chris Calumberan – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Chris Calumberan – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Chris Calumberan

    Photographer & Entrepreneur

    Photo by: Donell Gumiran

    One of the Filipino pioneers in the photography industry, Chris Calumberan has earned respect in the field, not only for the quality of his work but also his level of professionalism and his long-standing good reputation in the market.

    Providing stills and film production for a variety of clients from various industries including automotive, industrial, beauty, retail, corporate and food and beverage, he has worked for many prestigious brands including Audi, Saks Fifth Avenue, Philips, McDonalds, Hermes, Homes R Us, Paul, Bateel, Wafi Mall, Fifa, including designers Michael Cinco, Souhad Acouri, Adam Couture and many others.

    A well-known advocate for the community for many years, Chris has always shared his art, not only to teach other aspiring photographers but also to utilize it in pursuit of advocacies he is passionate about.  He has facilitated photography workshops and courses and he has also been a featured speaker in several photography events including the Phototalks ExeLens event held at Queen Elizabeth 2 by Toshiba. He has mounted a solo exhibition – “Kumer Solo” the first photo/art exhibition held at the Philippine Consulate General – Dubai and the Northern Emirates – kicking off a series of creative events.  In recent years, he has also participated in an Alzheimer’s Awareness project and has initiated his own single plastic awareness initiative, utilizing his photography skills for even greater causes.

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  • Milo Torres – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Milo Torres – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Milo Torres

    Photographer, Entrepreneur

    Photo by: Donell Gumiran

    Industry pioneer Milo Torres has undeniably consolidated his presence in the UAE’s highly competitive market for commercial photography. Dubai Duty Free, Air France, Emaar, Yamaha ME, and Patchi are among the many prestigious brands he has worked for in the last 15 years since he established his company in TECOM/Dubai Media City. As a Filipino who has established himself firmly within the field, he affirms that his fellow Filipinos can also achieve a high level of success through forming mutually beneficial connections with one another: “We should collaborate, even beyond the media production industry so we can achieve oneness in our goals.”

    An engineer by trade, but a creative at heart who puts importance in helping other Filipinos, Milo, has been an active volunteer in the Filipino community through the years. Apart from providing his photo and video coverage services at community events – including the Palarong Pinoy in Dubai and Umm Al Quwain, the Pinoy Spring Festival, Pinoy Winter Festival 2018, Wet Olympics (Dubai and UAQ) – and serving as a Contributor and Art Director for many Philippine Independence Day celebrations,  Milo for the past decade has also conducted free training sessions in photography, website development, programming, and computer assembly/networking for kababayans.

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  • The Legacy of the Balikbayan Box and the Culture of Padala

    The Legacy of the Balikbayan Box and the Culture of Padala

    If you hear the term “OFW” 10 years ago, the things that pop into your head would probably be: remittances, thick gold chains bringing to mind ‘Katas ng Saudi’, sad stories of Filipinos being away from their families, and of course, the ever-present Balikbayan Box.

    Countless generations of Filipinos have grown up receiving a big box plastered with packaging tape from top to bottom, with the sender’s name boldly written along with the receiver’s Philippine address. Opening the Balikbayan Box was always an exciting event, a big gathering of family and friends eagerly awaiting imported chocolates, new pairs of shoes, imported corned beef, big bottles of shampoo, tubes of lotion, toothpaste and of course, the always popular “I <3 *insert country of origin here*” t-shirt.

    But times have changed and the Overseas Filipino has evolved. They have become more global, more cosmopolitan, and more empowered. Their status, lifestyle and showcase of talents and capabilities in the cut-throat global arena have all taken a step up in recent years. They have ascended the corporate ladder and are dominating the creative world, the fashion industry, and even the business arena

    One thing, however, has remained constant: Global Filipinos in every part of the world will always find a way to connect with their loved ones back home. Hence, the ubiquity of the Balikbayan Box – the ultimate symbol of the Global Filipino’s tie to home and family.

    And it goes without saying that the Balikbayan Box will always be associated with LBC. For the past 70 years, LBC has been moving millions of symbols of love and care between Filipinos separated by distance and continues to innovate its products and services to meet the Global Filipino’s evolving needs.

    With the new breed of Global Filipinos, LBC understands that sending love in the form of gifts to family back home doesn’t have to be only once a year. Every special occasion requires a celebration – whether it be school graduation, Mother’s Day, a monthsary, or even just an A+ in a final exam – and every celebration isn’t complete without a little something to mark the day.

    With its Air Cargo service, LBC gives Global Filipinos a way to send an extra gift to loved ones on their special day. Below, four Global Filipinos who have decided to give a little extra to those who are close to their hearts:

     

    Faith Rodriguez who has a baby girl on the way sends the clothes of her first born son (mostly worn once) to her cousin in the Philippines. “For the past four years I’ve been hoarding my son’s clothes and shoes in case the next one is a boy too, but now that the mystery has been unfolded, it’s time to find a new home for them.”

     

    Kier Pascual who wants to help their family nanny with her pasalubongs back home. “Meet our nanny Ate Clarita. She has been with our family for years now and she’s very excited to go home and spend time with her own family back in the Philippines. But like all of us Filipino expats, we usually can’t bring everything home and there’s not enough space in our luggage for our “pasalubongs.” So I’ve decided to #GiveALittleExtra and call our friends at  #LBCUAE!”

     

    Paul Ramos who is excited that he can send stuff to his loved ones spontaneously.“Giving a little extra to my loved ones in the Philippines! Thanks to #LBCUAE Air Cargo, my family will receive this within less than a week and what’s best is they do not have kilometer and airway bill charges! How great is that?

     

    Nina Carpio who wants to lend her sister some clothes. “Sizzy in the Philippines wants to borrow some stuff from me, so here I am, sending them over via #LBCUAE Air Cargo to make sure it’ll reach her next week! No km and airway bill charges! It’s always nice to  #GiveALittleExtra so I’ll probably throw in some makeup in there too!”?

    Times change, and so have we. Even the way we make our families or friends back home feel loved. So go, seal that box with love and just #GiveALittleExtra with LBC Express’Air Cargo.

    LBC Express’ Air Cargo service is the best way to send a gift to your loved ones on their special day. Because delivery time only takes 3 to 5 days in Metro Manila and 5 to 7 days in provincial areas, it’s the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way for you to celebrate their day. With box sizes that range from 5 kilograms, 8 kilograms, and 10 kilograms, you can choose to send the perfect gift- chocolates,a toy, a dress, a pair of shoes, or even a new gadget – safely and securely.

    Mark milestones and special celebrations with your loved ones with a little extra gift now! To know more about the air cargo services, visit www.lbcexpress.com.

  • Philippine design and craftsmanship set to captivate the Middle East at INDEX Dubai 2019

    Philippine design and craftsmanship set to captivate the Middle East at INDEX Dubai 2019

    DTI-CITEM brings original Philippine design and craftsmanship to the biggest design event in the MENA region

    LifestylePHILIPPINES at INDEX Dubai 2018

    Before launching the 70th Edition of Manila FAMEth is October, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions(CITEM),will showcase some of the most promising brands in the home accessories and furniture industry at the upcoming INDEX Dubai 2019this September 17-19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, United Arab Emirates.

    INDEX Dubai is reputed as the largest gathering for the design community in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region and is part of the Middle East Design and Hospitality Week (MEDHW) 2019. MEDHW is one of the largest celebrations of all things design and hospitality. Six other design shows are set to take place alongside INDEX Dubai, bringing with them around 1,000 exhibitors and an expected turn out of more than50,000 visitors from all over the world. These visitors include architects, developers, interior designers, procurement professionals and retailers.

    The Philippine participation in last year’s INDEX Dubai was a successful return to the show after nine years. CITEM brought a delegation of 10 companies, which generated US$2.766M in export sales, double the initial sales target. In addition, the almost 1,000 buyer inquiries received during the show were more than four times the initial target, indicating a positive turnout and reception of Philippine furniture and accessories design in the Middle East.

    According to a study by Ken Research on the UAE’s furniture market outlook through 2022, the highly-competitive furniture industry in the UAE is forecasted to expand in the near future leading up to the launch of the year-long World Expo 2020 to be held in Dubai. One of the largest events in the world, EXPO 2020 will significantly grow the demand for furniture in Dubai as the event is expected to bring a huge influx of tourists that will create a surge in the demand for tourism products and services in the city. Local and international furniture manufacturers will have their hands full as they try to supply the demand generated by the hotel inventory of140,000 rooms and apartments required to meet the number of tourists and expatriates expected to arrive.

    “This is the perfect opportunity for our furniture designers and craftsmen to capture the attention of the Middle Eastern market and show the world the level of creativity and sophistication that the Philippines has to offer,” said DTI-CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan.“This year’s Philippine participation will focus on innovative and sustainable furniture and home accessories which involve design materials and techniques that showcase the distinct talents and skills of Filipino designers,” she added.

    Birdcage Loveseat

    Six exhibitors from the country’s furniture and accessories sectors make up the delegation this year. Most of these companies are first-time exhibitors including Furniture Doctor, James Doran-Webb, Coast Pacific and Kit Silver. Joining them are returning exhibitors Arden Classic and Mele + Marie.

    These exhibitors will feature their newest and most innovative designs that highlight how they translate local materials and crafting techniques to create functional and eco-sustainable products that are proudly and truly Filipino.

     

    Giraffe Bookend

    See the latest from these exhibitors and more at the Dubai World Trade Centre, United Arab Emirates, this 17-19 September 2019 as they bring their signature designs to the Middle East and further promote uniquely Filipino craftsmanship in the global market.

    For more information, visit www.citem.com.ph/index.

    Tel: (+632) 831 2201 local 253

    Email: rabeledo@citem.com.ph

    Website: www.citem.gov.ph

    Twitter: @CITEMPh

    Facebook: @DTI.CITEM

     

     

     

  • The Annie B. Chronicles: “Pitness Preak”

    “Pitness Preak”

    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

     

    The Annie B. Chronicles Summer is here na talaga! Time to put my purr coat and velvet knee high boots to rest and increase my lotion’s SPF – 15 may not be enough for my bukid-bred skin – so the higher the fairier! But since I got here in Dubai, I noticed that I’ve added a lot of pounds already. Now how do I fit again into my summer skinny clothes without looking like a suman? This dilemma is the reason I decided to sign up and join the popular gym – Pitness Pirst.

    Based on experience, I learned that to be able to stand out, you must be surrounded by oldies and the fatties.  That way, litaw ka sa iilan lang na bata and obese. Most of the people who visit the gym during the mornings are the wranglers (gu-wrang) and the fatness firsts – those who are serious about fitness, since they really dedicate time and effort into being healthy. While around 10am upto 3pm, the treadmills and aero classes because of their free time and boredom.

    During the night, after office hours beginning at 5:30pm, the cute and physically fit guys start to arrive and display their hardworked bodies while flirting with girls of their same types. It is a big mistake to work out during this time if you don’t posses a Jennifer Lopez figure because all the guys around you already have their six-pack abs winking at all the sexy girls inside the gym.  You wouldn’t want to be seen sweating like a pig with your tongue out while gasping for your last breath among gorgeous guys habang nakikipag-patintero ka sa treadmill, div ah?

    Therefore my Pitness Pirst schedule will be like this: super work out in the morning before coming to the office. This way I can take my shower at the gym – tipid sa tubig from my flat, wala pang pila-pila for my turn, di vah? And after office hours, go back to the gym para dumispley at mag-pa-cute sa mga boys –ahihihihihihihihi!

    The Annie B ChroniclesSo dizzizit!!! To my spaghetti strapped tops, tube and mini skirt – see you in a few weeks as Annie B. goes back to the fashion scene with her summer outfits. May my fairy gadmadir help me in this battle of divulge – I hope that my workouts be fun-filled and pain-free. Not to worry though, as my other friends, Salonpas and Alaxan, are always on standby. And sana may bonus na one cute guy with this battle of divuldge. Pang-consuelo de bobo man lang – pero sana naman smart, funny and witty sya.  Please fairy gadmadir help me and I will do the rest.  As they say, “No fain, No Glory.”

    So watch out Dubai, I’m bringing sexy (not siksik) baaaacckk!!!

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