Filipino-Japanese Journal June 2016

JUNE 2016 • FREE

EXCLUSIVE

Jodi Sta.Maria

Inspires

Pinoys in Japan Choose Duterte as Next President

All Hail Jaclyn Jose, the Queen of Cannes

Romancing the Maiden of Albay

Discovering Kichijoji

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Editor’s Note

This June, we’re sharing stories that will inspire and empower our readers. And what better way

to do it than featuring an exclusive tell-all interview with everyone’s favorite actress, the ethereally beautiful Jodi Sta. Maria who talked about her career journey and how she has found contentment in her relationship with God.

We follow that with a feature on Jaclyn Jose who made us all proud when she bagged this year’s Cannes best actress award.

We also have an exclusive message from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte for all his supporters in Japan.

Aside from these features, we will also take you to exciting and breathtaking places in Tokyo and the Philippines.

If you want a copy of our previous and latest issues, we’ll be giving out at the Philippine Festival in Hibiya Park on June 18 and 19. Let us know and we'll see you there!

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Herlyn alegre, KiKo Cagayat, arlene Donaire, Din eugenio, ari simangan,

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CONTRIBUTORS

Herlyn Alegre is a graduate student at Waseda University in Tokyo. She is in love with the Tokyo Tower and crazy about Japanese history. The works of Haruki Murakami stir her thoughts and inspire her writing. The Beatles relaxes her and puts her in a mood to dream. She is a fangirl, a baseball fan and a sucker for jazz. She is a lover of arts, a seeker of adventures and a chaser of stars.

KikoCagayatis a stylish Japan-based Filipino blogger whose motto is “fashion without limits.”

Din Eugenio is a Tokyo-based Filipino press photographer whose work has appeared in publications like TIME (digital edition), ABC News, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Pinoy Gazette, Philippine Digest and FILJAP Magazine. He completed his professional photography course at the prestigious New York Institute of Photography in 2004. Before coming to Japan, he worked as a still photographer for Regal Films, a film outfit in the Philippines, from 1997-1999. He was the only Filipino press photographer officially accredited to cover the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) since 2013 and the Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) since 2014. He regularly covers Hollywood movie premieres in Tokyo.

Ari Simangan

is a Manila-based fashion photogra-pher with Japanese roots. He finished Associate Hotel and Restaurant Management in Baguio, trans-ferred to Manila and got a degree as private pilot from the Philip-pine State College of Aeronautics. His love for photography became his way of expressing himself and unleashing the artist in him that is waiting to be tapped. He got his biggest break when he landed a job as a contribut-ing photographer at One Mega Group, a publish-ing company of glossy magazines in the Philippines. His favorite work includes a special feature for Louis Vuitton and Maserati in the August 2013 issue of Mega Man.

Arlene Donaire

is a development economist and project management specialist by profession. She has worked in various government and consulting assignments for the past 27 years. She also served as Information and Public Relations Officer of the Tokyo-based Asian Productivity Organization back in 2010-11. Combining her love for travel and writing with photography, her goal as a photographer-writer is to create visual stories that will inspire and bring joy to readers. She has been featured as Photographer of the Week by Manila Bulletin's Picture Perfect and won the nationwide Masskara Festival Photo Contest in 2014. Last year she traveled to Sri Lanka for a photography safari, together with members of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, where she is an alumna. Arlene's favorite genres are street and travel photography. She shoots with her Fujifilm X and Benro system.

While enjoys writing about the U.S. banking industry to pay the bills, he spends part of his free time pursuing two of his passions - photography and travel.

Tim Ramos

contents

HEADLINEPinoys in Japan Choose Duterte

as Next President

ENTERTAINMENTScorsese’s Short Starring DiCaprio,

De Niro, Pitt to be Screened at Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia

ON THE COVERJodi Sta. Maria Inspires

PROUDLY PINOY All Hail Jaclyn Jose,the Queen of Cannes

CULTURE & ARTSEstablished and Emerging:

A Fine Mix at the Tokyo International Art Fair 2016

TRAVEL JAPANDiscovering Kichijoji

VISIT PHILIPPINESPuerto Princesa, Palawan: A Crown Jewel of a Destination

PHILIPPINE ADVENTURESRomancing the Maiden of Albay

COMMUNITYBDO Remit Japan Opens Office in Shinjuku

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HEADLINE

TOKYO – Filipinos in Japan who participated in the overseas absentee voting (OAV) chose Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the next president of the Philippines.

Based on the consolidated final results from the Philippine Embassy, Tokyo and Philippine Consulate Office, Osaka, Duterte got the most

number of votes with 11,216 (76.41%).Liberal Party bet, Mar Roxas, came

in second with 1,274 (8.68%) votes.In an exclusive statement issued by

Duterte spokesperson Peter Tiu Lavina to Duterte supporter Rey Ian Corpuz, presumptive Philippine President-elect Duterte expressed his gratitude for the support of Filipinos in Japan.

“To all our kababayans in Japan, thank you very much for your support during the last election. Our cause for genuine change won over dirty traditional politics. Our new government will pursue

a platform to suppress crime, drugs and corruption and work for the lifting of most Filipinos from poverty. We shall develop our economy to afford each and everyone opportunities and share in the fruits of our progress,” the statement said.

The statement added that the Duterte administration will create a Department of OFWs to promote the interests of Filipinos working abroad.

“Japan is the land of the rising sun, our new hope in the Philippines is rising and shining as the bright sun,” Duterte said.

According to the data released by the Embassy, 37.81 percent or 14,886 out of 39,369 registered Filipino voters in Japan cast their votes for the 2016 National Elections.

United Filipinos for Peace and

Advancement founding member Dante Sagbanan Negre was the first among the overseas registered voters in Tokyo to cast his vote on April 9, while 18-year-old senior high school student Neil Ceasar Ryan Molina was the youngest overseas voter in Tokyo who has cast his vote on April 23. The last two voters to cast their votes on May 9 were jazz singer Maria Eva Livelo Yokohama and iPhone application developer Michael Henry Pasco Pantaleon.

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo implemented the Automated Election System (AES) allowing the registered Filipino overseas voters to cast their votes either by postal or personal voting.

Roughly 220,000 Filipinos work and reside in Japan, making them the third-largest foreign community in the country.

Pinoys in Japan ChooseDuterte as Next President

PhOtOgrAPh COUrtESy OF wiKimeDia


ENTERTAINMENT

Scorsese’s Short Starring DiCaprio, De Niro, Pittto be Screened at Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia

The 18th Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2016 (SSFF & ASIA 2016), which will be held from June 2-26 in Tokyo

and Yokohama, will screen Martin Scorsese's 15-minute short film “The Audition” starring Leonardo

DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Brad Pitt.

In the film, DiCaprio and De Niro are called out to Macau for an audition for Scorsese’s new film. Little do they know, they are reading for the same part. Pitt also joins the incredible cast.

The Brie Larson starrer “Weighting” will also be screened at

the festival.200 short films from countries

all over the world will be screened in 7 categories and other special programs.

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia is the largest Academy Award qualifying international short film festival in Asia.

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ON THE COVER

INtErvIEW FlorenDa CorPuzWOrdS nel salvaDor

PhOtOgrAPhS COUrtESy OF abs-Cbn/star magiC/star Cinema

A few years ago, Jodi Sta. Maria was a favorite tabloid fodder, oftentimes landing on showbiz blind items that magnified her drinking, smoking and partying ways. Having entered the entertainment industry at the age of 16, she slowly became familiar to the pitfalls of fame especially when projects started coming in – “Gimik,” “Flames” and the hit teen drama series “Tabing Ilog” in the early part of 2000s.

Jodi Sta. MariaInspires

The soft-spoken actress, just like most celebrities, started from doing small roles to waiting for long taping or

shooting hours under the scorching heat of the sun to hearing comments like “hindi naman artista iyan. Artista-artistahan lang” as she puts it. She was relatively unknown so when she began working her way up, she admits to feeling that sense of entitlement.

“To be very honest, a few years back, I would say, ‘Yes, I deserve every single bit of what I have, as in lahat, because I knew in my heart na magaling ako sa ginagawa ko. I had that pride and sense of entitlement,” she tells Filipino-Japanese Journal in an exclusive interview that happened at a quaint restaurant in Quezon City.

Everything seems to be going well for Jodi but life always has its ways of throwing some curve balls: getting pregnant at the age of 23, going through a marriage break-up in 2010 and being involved in showbiz

controversies that almost cost her flourishing career. But it’s impossible to deny someone of a well-deserved spot in showbiz when you’re all about real talent and burning passion. And Jodi undeniably possesses both.

She got her biggest break in 2012 when she landed the role of Maya in the daytime television drama “Be Careful With My Heart” that became a hit in its two-year run reaping sold out concerts at the Araneta Coliseum and abroad, two platinum albums, and local and international recognitions. It brought Jodi to the A-list zone, clinching a spot entirely her own, and earning the respect that befits an actress of good caliber.

In the middle of newfound success and screams of thousands and thousands of fans, Jodi is struggling silently. She feels empty.

Taking the Roles

Taking on the roles as Maya dela Rosa, a maid who fell in love with her employer played by Richard Yap in

“Be Careful With My Heart” and as Amor Powers, a feisty and vengeful woman, in “Pangako Sa’Yo” would probably be the highlights of Jodi’s colorful showbiz curriculum vitae.

It was her role as Maya that opened a lot of doors for Jodi, gaining numerous projects left and right and endorsements that made her visible in the public eye.

“I did Maya for two years so I literally lived her, breathe her character na minsan kapag umuuwi ako ng bahay hindi na ako si Jodi, feeling ko ako na iyong character na iyon kasi every single day kong ginagawa ‘yon.”

She was so drawn to the character that she rejected the role to play Amor Powers thrice. In Jodi’s mind, playing the iconic role is a lucrative offer but she felt that it’d be fair to give the character of Maya the undivided focus that it deserves.

“Very demanding iyong hinihingi to play Amor Powers, maraming layers iyong character na dapat siya lang iyong gagawin mo. Hindi siya madaling role to begin with,” she adds.


EXCLUSIVE

But the ABS-CBN management believed at that time that this generation deserved to watch the re-telling of the popular teleserye with Amor Powers being played by this generation’s premier actress, Jodi.

“Hinintay nilang matapos iyong Be Careful With My Heart and then I asked for a few months off para matanggal ko sa sistema ko si Maya dela Rosa,” she divulges.

And it worked. Her performance as Amor Powers caught the fancy of the viewing public and generated a massive interest in her pairing with Ian Veneracion who played the role of Eduardo Buenavista. Now, Jodi and Ian are set to do a movie with Richard Yap under Star Cinema and the direction of Tonet Jadaone.

When asked what role she wants to do in the future, Jodi shrugs off and says she doesn’t know.

“Ang lagi kong ginagawa is that every single role na ino-offer sa akin, I treat it as my dream role so that I put my heart into it.”

Filling the Void

“Masasabi ko na lahat ng bagay na inaasam ko materially and iyong gusto ko mangyari sa career ko, at iyong success na hinahanap ko eh nakuha ko. But then one thing I’ve realized at the top of the ladder, it was empty,” she reveals pausing as if being consumed by nostalgia.

She recalls that in 2013, she and her “Be Careful With My Heart” co-stars performed at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California in front of thousands of excited fans. After her performance, she found herself backstage crying.

“I cried backstage and I said to myself, ‘Why do I still feel this way? Why do I feel empty? How come I’m still not happy?’ Because I thought that iyong mga bagay na inaakala ko na magpapasaya sa akin, akala ko iyon na sila. But then mas nakakalungkot pala malaman na pagkatapos mo makuha ang lahat ng gusto mo hindi ka pa rin pala masaya,” she avers.

It is the emptiness that brought the 34-year-old actress to seek for answers on how to fill the void in her heart; ever sure that there is more to applause and accolade, a bigger force that will make everything more significant, more meaningful in her life. With the advice of Connie Reyes, whom she calls nanay, Jodi started going to church [Victory Christian Fellowship] and that decision led her to creating a beautiful relationship with the Lord, carrying a strong faith that makes her heart whole, full of love and gratefulness.

“I believe that the reason why we feel empty is because we truly cannot find in this world the things that will satisfy our hearts. Because only the love of God can truly fill that emptiness, only Him can satisfy our longing, our thirst,” she fervently declares with much conviction and sincerity.

It is through this discovery that allows Jodi to find what her real purpose is in life and why she was destined to find a spot in the glitzy world of showbiz.

“If God chose to make me influential or popular at this point in my life, it is for the sole purpose of pointing people back at Him and it is for the sole purpose of glorifying His name. Ito iyong importante sa akin ngayon and ito iyong nakikita kong purpose kung bakit dito ako inilagay ng Panginoon, kung bakit niya ako binigyan ng napakalaking plataporma.”

Now, Jodi only speaks of gratitude, hope and love.

“I’m content. I have learned to be content with what I have now. Ang punto de vista ko rito is that I am really undeserving of everything I have but then the Lord out of His graciousness and the goodness of His heart chose to bless me. So I am content with what I have, with my career, with everything. I am fine,” she answers with a glint of smile on her face.

In the world where Jodi’s in, the meter of success is in the number of fans screaming for you, the amount of money earned in the movie made, the strings of endorsements under your name, and how your TV show fares in the rating games. It is comforting to know that Jodi didn’t get lost or was swept by these kinds of things. She took a leap of faith and found her inner voice.

And because of that she inspires.



Jaclyn Jose, Prix d’interpretation Feminine © C. Duchene / FDC

PROUDLY PINOY

All Hail Jaclyn Jose,the Queen of Cannes

PhOtOgrAPh Festival De Cannes - Page oFFiCielle

It was an unexpected sweet surprise.

All Jaclyn ever wanted was to walk at the red carpet of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival with daughter-actress Andi Eigenmann. This was on her bucket list since she first graced the festival as part of another Brillante Mendoza film “Serbis” in 2008. So when she and Andi finally walked together at the prestigious event, the veteran actress was already contented and was just looking forward to packing things early so they can buy trinkets as souvenirs they will take home with them to Manila.

She was so contented with a simple, fulfilled dream that winning a solo award was out of the equation -- no prepared speech, no after party plans, no feeling under pressure

with the thought of being nominated for the best actress award. She was just contented and honored to be in the same list of acting heavyweights vying for the award: Hollywood stars Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart and French actresses Isabelle Hupert and Marion Cotillard.

When it was announced that she has won for Mendoza’s gritty drama “Ma’Rosa,” Jaclyn, who’s been known as one of the best but underrated actresses in the local biz, was overwhelmed with the surprise.

“I am so surprised. I just went to have the red carpet walk with my daughter [actress Andi Eigenmann], my real-life daughter and my daughter in the movie also,” she said in her acceptance speech. “To Cannes, thank you so much, thank you to the jury, thank you that you liked our film.”

In the film, the veteran actress plays the role of a small community

convenience store owner who uses it as a cover-up for selling illegal drugs in Manila slum to make both ends meet. She and her husband were then caught by corrupt policemen forcing their four kids to find ways to get them out of prison.

Jaclyn’s win catapulted her as the only Filipino actress to have won a Cannes award, receiving the coveted Palme d’Or — a golden, 19-leaf stalk set on a bed of crystal. Jaclyn didn’t forget to pay tribute to Mendoza’s brilliant direction and divulged how he asked her to forget everything she learned about acting for almost three decades that she’s been in showbiz. The idea was to stay close to reality as possible since the story of “Ma’Rosa” is based from a true-to-life story that Mendoza indirectly experienced.

“The idea of this film came up four years ago when I became indirectly involved with the said incident. It captures my interest to tell this story because it shows a unique but also disturbing characteristic of a common Filipino family. In a society where survival of the fittest is a fact that we have to live with, family becomes amoral,” said Mendoza, who also made history when he became the first Filipino to win the Best

Director award in Cannes for “Kinatay” in 2009.

Although some critics weren’t too happy with the jury’s choice saying that Jaclyn’s character in the film is a supporting role, the actress knew that you can’t please everybody.

“I’m proud, so proud of our film. We just don’t know how the people would react or will like our film but us, we know that we did our best and we know that we have a good film,” she said in an interview.

In defense, jury members praised Jaclyn for her beautiful portrayal in “Ma’Rosa.”

“Come on, she’s the film. Have you seen the performance she gave? She broke my heart,” said one of the jury members, Hungarian director Laszlo Nemes.

“We found her to be a wonderful, wonderful leading actress, a master of her skills. It was an absolute beautiful, beautiful performance by a lead actress, that’s why she got it,” added another jury member TV series Hannibal actor Mads Mikkelsen.

When the smoke has cleared, standing tall as the Queen of Cannes is a Filipino. And her name is Jaclyn Jose.

l’equipe de ma’rosa © l. venance / aFP

FILIPINO JAPANESE JOURNAL • APrIL 2016 11



CULtUrE & ARTS

The Tokyo International Art Fair (TIAF), organized by the Global Art Agency, welcomed more than 8,000 art collectors and enthusiasts during its two-day event at Omotesando Hills last May 13-14. The event allowed its visitors to enter the event for free and marvel on an exquisite collection of pantings, sculptures, photography art, illustrations and multimedia artworks by both established and emerging artists. The venue, Space-O Hall, was carefully designed to host 150 exhibitors from 30 countries.

WOrdS HERLYN ALEgREPhOtOgrAPh TIAF

EstablishEd and EmErging:a Fine mix at the tokyo international art Fair 2016

A Fine Mix of Art and Artists TIAF, now on its second year,

was bigger and better not only because of the overwhelming turnout of visitors but also because of the amazing mix of big names and emerging artists who participated this year. Some of the familiar names were Thierry Guetta, more popularly known as Mr. Brainwash, who once collaborated with pop star Madonna; Shane Bowden, lovingly referred to as “Andy Warhol on Steroids” and is famous for his silkscreen pop art; and multi-awarded artist Michael Lam, who is known for his single stroke paintings and his work with UNICEF. Some artists from the Philippines, Sio Montero of Qube Gallery and Roberto Nolasco of Kulay Diwa Gallery, also participated in the event.

Natale Vallve, one of the organizers, described this fine mix of artists in an article posted on the TIAF official website, as a glimpse of what is happening in the contemporary art world. Vallve explained that artists from different countries embody different styles and concepts reflecting the places they came from. These represent different unique “personalities of the world.”

Filipino Art at the TIAF

Sio Montero referred to his art as “process-oriented abstraction.” His experiments with industrial construction techniques and processes beautifully translate sights, sounds, interaction and experiences to canvas using acrylic and non-traditional media. Montera has spent more than a decade as a full-time Associate Professor for the Fine Arts Program of the University of the Philippines. He also pioneered community art develppment activities and projects with the help of some local organizations.

Another exhibitor was Roberto Nolasco, owner and manager of Kulay-Diwa Gallery. Kulay is a Tagalog word meaning “color” and Diwa meaning “spirit” or “thought.” The gallery showcased contemporary art from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. Its aim is to foster a cultural interaction and exchanges among the countries in the region as well as with those on the other parts of the world.

Global Art Agency Awards

TIAF capped its first day with a special

paid event that allowed collectors a first peek of the art works while sipping a glass of champagne. The second day closed with the awarding ceremony of the Global Art Agency Awards. August Vilella from Barcelona won first prize for the Global Art Award; second prize went to Sezon Art Gallery from Tokyo; and third prize to Shingo420, also from Tokyo. The Facebook Competition winner was Babtiste Tavernier, who was chosen by the public on social media. The first prize for the Global Art Best Exhibitor Awards went to New York Art Gallery (Shane Bowden / Mr. Brainwash); second prize to Krystal Glam Gallery; and third prize to Chi Hang Wong. The Facebook Comptetition winner for this category went to Michael Volpicelli.

Tokyo International Art Fair 2016 did not only provide a platform for both established and emerging artists to exhibit their works side by side but it also allowed the showcase of well-known art techniques as well as experimental styles in creating art at its finest. Interested art collectors and enthusiasts can check the details for TIAF 2017 on their website at tokyoartfair.com.



TRAVEL JAPAN

Discovering KichijojiWOrdS & PhOtOgrAPhS AKINA TIMbOL

It is great to note that Tokyo, one of the world’s mega cities, is made up of many interesting cities and suburbs, each having its own distinct characteristics. According to many tourists, getting lost in Tokyo is actually one of the best travel experiences ever. Hopping out of a bus or a train station could mean discovering something new and fascinating.

The districts of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Odaiba and Asakusa are probably the most popular among tourists in Tokyo. Aside from the great shopping

experience that these places offer, some of Tokyo’s famous hotels, parks, temples and landmarks are all here. There are also a lot of tourist-friendly restaurants in these places so you don’t have to worry about asking in English.

But if you have been to Tokyo more than once, it is actually better to get out of your comfort zone and stay off the beaten path. You have probably walked along the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing in Shibuya and you probably posed for an Instagram-worthy photo in the middle of Ginza so why not discover something new? Something that is equally awesome, but less crowded. One of the best places to watch out for is Kichijoji.

Kichijoji is part of Musashino City. You may probably hear about it from your friends or relatives staying in Tokyo. It’s quite famous among Japanese people and it’s the go-to destination of teenagers because of its energetic and vibrant appeal. The bustling district has been voted as the number one place where Japanese locals mostly want to live.

Kichijoji is slowly becoming a tourist hub too. Apartments for rent and hotel accommodations are less expensive here compared to other more famous Tokyo districts and according to most tourists, the place offers a much more warm and relaxing atmosphere.

From the moment you step out of the train in the station, you will be greeted with a lot of shops selling various items — from shoes, clothes, cosmetics, Japanese treats and other local Japanese products that you won’t find elsewhere.

Popular designer brand shops all have huge stores here. And aside from traditional Japanese and ramen restaurants, there are also steak houses, Italian restaurants and famous Western fast food chains around the area.

One of the best things to do in Kichijoji aside from shopping, however, is discovering quaint yokocho alleys. In these alleys, you’d be surprised to find kawaii shops, old-fashioned Japanese restaurants, fashionable furniture shops, concept cafes and even game centers for kids.

There are absolutely a lot of things to see and do in Kichijoji. Don’t be afraid to get lost, you’ll always find your way back to the station.

Getting there: Kichijoji is easily accessible from Shinjuku via the Keio Inokashira Line and Shibuya via the JR Chuo Line. Travel usually takes less than 20 minutes.

Delish treat from a quaint italian res-taurant in one of the alleys in Kichijoji.

Kicks everywhere! you’ll be surprised to see a lot of shoe outlet stores in Kichijoji.

most alleys have vending machines and plenty of benches where you can take some rest after hours of walking and shopping.



It's hard to put a finger on what makes Palawan special — is it the great seafood, the friendly and honest locals, or the

breathtaking destinations?

Or maybe one is not meant to relegate Palawan to a single great thing. Not that you'll have time to spend needlessly

philosophizing about the place (unless maybe you're watching the sunset from a pristine beach with a bottle or two of cold cervesa) as you'll be too

busy soaking in the sights and sampling the flavors of this particular region.

A Crown Jewel

of a DestinationWOrdS & PhOtOgrAPhS TIM RAMOS

VISIT PHILIPPINES

Puerto Princesa, Palawan


And at the center of it all is Puerto Princesa, the province's capital. And lest you think it some sprawling mass of messy urbanity, nothing could

be further from the truth. While there are small malls scattered around the city, the place still exudes a relaxed and laid-back rural charm.

Of course, the city is just a starting point. For one, you need to pass by Puerto Princesa if you're looking to get to El Nido — which is another Palawan destination for another time — unless you're loaded and can afford a chartered flight.

Let's break it down: You check into your chosen accommodations (of which there a lot of, most cheap, clean and secure). You can opt to either rest a bit after what would most likely be a delayed flight and hours of waiting at the airport, or head out for some grub. Foodies will be pleased to know that

there are a lot of options when it comes to sampling authentic local cuisine. There's Ka Lui, one of the most famous restaurants in town, where most often you'll be better off getting a reservation if you want to get past the front door. It might sound a bit too fancy and a bit more trouble than you'd like, but it's worth it. Generous helpings of delectable seafood and fresh local produce for a fraction of the price in Manila. Then the ambience is one of a kind — a traditional wooden structure filled with native designs and art, and all guests and patrons are required to leave their shoes at the door.

If your appetite calls for more exotic fare, you can head over to Kinabutch, which might look like an ordinary watering hole at first glance, but wait until you get to the menu: crocodile meat cooked in coconut milk, mangrove wood worms cooked either in a vinegar ceviche or breaded and deep-fried, grilled tuna jaws. And don't let the initial strangeness and ickiness get to you —

they hardly taste as bad as you think, and are in fact, quite delicious, especially if you wash them down with a cold gulp of San Miguel.

Other notable restaurants include Balinsasayaw, named after the local name for the swifts whose nests make up bird's nest soup, and Bona's Chaolong, where you'll get to sample flavorful Vietnamese chaolong noodles at karinderya prices.

Moving on, Palawan is not hailed as part of the Philippines' "last frontier" for nothing. If anything else, don't miss an opportunity to go island hopping. Pristine beaches and crystal clear waters await. If you want less crowds, try visiting before the summer season, around February and March, or just before the rainy season, around June or early July. I can honestly say that Palawan's beaches are world class and are among the best we've ever seen. They're the stuff of beachbums' dreams. White, fine sand; calm, clean, and clear waters teeming with life. So don’t be afraid to don a life vest and a snorkel and see what lies beneath your bangka — while you're at it, bring a few pieces of bread with you, break it up and scatter into the water and see dozens of species of fish flock to you.

Finally, there's the Underground River, a place you should visit at least once in your lifetime. It's an experience, to say the least, with your boat's lone light and your boatman's unique spiel cutting through the eerie silence and darkness of the cave. And littered with different stone formations wherever you look, it's really not your everyday kind of tour.

But don't just take my word for it, because no travel article really does Puerto Princesa any justice; trite as it may be to say, to see is to believe. Pack up your bags and book that flight — we're pretty sure you deserve a vacation.


WOrdS & PhOtOgrAPhS ARLENE DONAIRE

PHILIPPINE ADVENTURES

Romancing the Maiden of

Albay

“Our world is full of amazing phenomena: a stunningly rapturous sunrise, a night sky spangled with stardust, the fiery beauty of a volcanic lava flow. They all merit a ‘Oh my!’” ~ George Takei

I've always wanted to see her up close. She, with the perfect slopes and curves, mysteriously cloaked by low lying clouds, revealing only ever so briefly, her peak at certain times of the day, as if to

entice, to beckon her viewers to linger and be mesmerized. Before I even became a hobbyist photographer, I had planned on visiting Albay but have never had the chance to make it happen. It wasn’t enough for me to only read about the place and its famous perfectly shaped volcano; it wouldn’t certainly be fair after I had already seen Mt. Fuji, its “twin” peak. Until it did, last April 22 to 25, when the confluence of forces - the right time and the presence of great new friends, led to an all-around awesome experience!

For a first-time visitor to Albay Province, there is a dual sense of mystery and a tinge of apprehension (because Mayon is an active volcano) that is immediately felt the moment you land in Legaspi City’s airport. Because the airport faces, slightly on its left side, the imposing natural wonder, one is given a welcome

view of the Daragang Magayon. Like the shy conservative Filipina, she manifests her presence, with a bit of hesitation, showing only a portion of its shapely grandeur, enticing the visitor to linger and wait to for the perfect moment when she would reveal her fullness. That day I arrived with my shooting friends on a warm summer day, Mt. Mayon was ever so gently covered at the top portion with cottony clouds.

The majestic Mayon Volcano of Albay, known alternatively as the Bulkang Mayon or Mount Mayon, is the most popular active volcano in the Philippines because of its almost symmetric cone shape. The so-called "strato-volcano," which rises over 2,600 meters in the Luzon Island, with its surrounding areas, was the first ever to be declared as national park of the country in 1938. Sixty-two years later, it was reclassified as a "natural park" and officially called the Mayon Volcano Natural Park.

With the limited time that we had (3 days and nights), my photo-group, which we fondly called the "Sili Bunch," (after that red hot chili pepper ice cream we had for dessert after our first lunch in the

city), went around various locales that had excellent vantage points of Daragang Magayon. Because Mayon is strategically located in the center of the province, it is the anchor attraction for the other tourism points like Quitinday Hills (also sometimes called as the “Chocolate Hills of Albay,” Sumlang Lake, Cagsawa Park and Legazpi's Harbor (Embarcadero).

With the limited time that we had (3 days and nights), my photo-group, which we fondly called the "Sili Bunch," (after that red hot chili pepper ice cream we had for dessert after our first lunch in the city), went around various locales that had excellent vantage points of Daragang Magayon. Because Mayon is strategically located in the center of the province, it is the anchor attraction for the other tourism points like Quitinday Hills (also sometimes called as the “Chocolate Hills of Albay,” Sumlang Lake, Cagsawa Park and Legazpi's Harbor (Embarcadero). From our hotel-base in Legazpi City, every place, it seemed, was only a hop and skip away because we didn't have to deal with traffic congestion.


In between all the shoots, which happened from sunrise till the wee hours of evening, there were plenty of delicious local cuisine, animated conversations, and the sheer fun of togetherness of friends that had a similar passion for photography. I could not have asked for better shooting buddies, who shared, not only my fascination and passion for shooting, but also my fondness for local cuisine and just relishing the travel experience. I am grateful for the company of my Sili Bunch friends - James Carlo Enriquez, Tony Rivera, Oliver Verzosa Domingo and Angela Enrile Panlilio, for that once-in-a-lifetime cherished experience! It was a huge advantage as well, to have a network of photographer-friends, who knew the places well and gave us directions on where to shoot. Thank you, Jon Aguirre and Dr. Dax Cabredo. Thank you also to Lowepro and Benro Philippines for supporting my gear requirements.

The Legend of Magayon

Local folklore says that the graceful and perfectly shaped volcano is named after a maiden, Daragang Magayon (Beautiful), the only daughter of tribal chief Makusog (Strong) of Rawis, who fell in love with the brave and kind Panginoron (Ulap/cloud), the

Chief of the Karilaga Tribe in the Tagalog region. Their love story took a tragic turn when the spurned suitor, handsome but haughty Pagtuga (eruption), a hunter and the chief of the Iriga tribe, threatened to kill Magayon’s father, Rawis and wage a war. Upon knowing the evil intentions of Pagtuga, the noble Panginoron came to the rescue, killing Pagtuga in a duel. The joyous Magayon, who rushed to embrace Panginoron, was hit by a stray arrow. While Panginorin held the dying Magayon in his arms, Linog (earthquake), Pagtuga's henchman, hurled his spear at Panginorin's back, killing him instantly. Makusog, who saw what had happened, swung his mighty arms and struck down Linog, killing him. Makusog then dug a grave for Magayon and Panginoron and tenderly laid them together. The two tribes of Rawis and Karilaga, instead of rejoicing over a wedding, mourned the death of the lovers. In the following days, the locals saw that the lovers’ grave rose higher and higher, with a perfect conical shape. On some days, there would be muffled rumblings, earthquakes and red-hot boulders bursting from the center. When this occurs, old folks believe that Pagtuga, aided by Linog, agitates the volcano to get back his gifts, which following ancient custom, was buried with Magayon. On certain days, when the tip of the volcano is covered by clouds, old folks say that Panginoron is kissing Magayon, and, when rain trickles caressingly down the gentle slopes of the volcano, these are the tears of Panginoron over his lost love. (Source: Wikipedia)



BDO Remit Japan Opens Office in Shinjuku

To cater the remittance needs of OFWs in Japan, BDO Remit, the remittance service brand of BDO Unibank, has opened an office in

Shinjuku.Three ways of sending remittance to

the Philippines:

1. Customers may visit and register at BDO Remit Japan office and remit money

to their loved ones through the assistance of a customer service associate.

2. Customers may transfer the money plus the remittance fee to BDO Remit Japan’s account from any branch of Japan Post Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU).

3. Customers may send money and the remittance fee through online banking and ATM.

For safe, easy and convenient way

of receiving remittance, OFWs and beneficiaries may open a BDO Kabayan Savings Account at any BDO Unibank branch. For only PHP100 minimum initial deposit and one valid ID, the account comes with a passbook and ATM debit card. It has a zero maintaining balance feature as long as the account receives remittance from abroad at least once a year. It also comes with a free life and accident insurance coverage for qualified remitters.

Another way of receiving remittance is through Cash Pick-up Anywhere, where beneficiaries may claim remittance at any branch of BDO Unibank, BDO Remit counters of The SM Store, SM Business Service Centers and Global Pinoy Centers.

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