australian filipina magazine #6

PUBLISHER’S NOTEThis issue is all about celebrating

success. Our very own Venus Priest broke the political mold (p.3) at the same time Australia voted its first ever female prime minister. Priest is one of four Sydney-based Filipino-Australians who ran for candidacy and the community is proud of all of them.

In fashion, we’re backing two talented designers as they make waves in the local fashion scene. Leo Salinas (p.8) tells us that he’s all revved up for next year’s fashion fest while newcomer Maria de Guzman (p.26) has Sydney abuzz with her new label.

In sports, we introduce basketball All Stars, the Hoopdreamz Jets (p.19) while in music, we asked local RnB artist and producer Daniel Ross what he thought of the hottest hip hop album to hit the decks this year (p.25).

On a more contemplative note, we want to extend our condolences to those affected by the recent hostage crisis (p.38) and give thanks to those who raised funds for typhoon victims in the Philippines (p.32).

We hope you enjoy this issue and we look forward to seeing you all at the annual Filipino fiesta. We’ll race you to the food stalls!

Michelle [email protected]

AustralianFilipinalifestyle and business magazine

aug/sePt 2010 Vol 1 no 06

IN THIS ISSUE Fiesta Kultura here we come!.....p1

Venus in politics ..........................p3The man who saw the light........p4Leonardo Salinas .....................p8Hoopdreamz got game ...............p19Savings history is history.............p19On motherhood ..........................p23David Pomeranz show .............. p24Substance over synth ................ p24The Drake music review ............p25New lady on the catwalk ............p26Help in the eye of the storm......p32Dancing duo triumphs ...............p34Sorry, Hong Kong ......................p38This edition’s contributors ........p41

The Australian Filipina www.aus t ra l i an f i l i p ina . c om 1

MUSIC

The Australian Filipina Magazine will be at this year’s Fiesta Kultura, the annual festival for Filipino-Australians in Sydney.

Come visit us at our stall. There will be food, drinks and lots of surprise goodies. Entertainment on the day includes a performance by Ann Maree Bowdler (pictured). Photo by: Johan Westen

Join us on Facebook/The Australian Filipina

Everybody loves the underdog. If the last federal election was anything to go by, you could say that Venus Priest, the Liberal Party candidate for the Chifley electorate, is the penultimate underdog in recent election history. For a start, the electoral division of Chifley is one of the safest Labor seats in the country. The Labor party won every federal election in this division since 1969. Second, Priest wasn’t the first choice to run for the post. She received the surprise phone call within weeks of the 21 August election after the party dumped their original choice, David Barker. He allegedly made inappropriate religious comments against Ed Husic, the Labor Party candidate and Muslim. With less than four weeks to campaign, Priest had to rely on word-of-mouth to garner votes. While new to politics, Priest is not an unknown among the Filipino locals. She is an active community member and has been involved with various Filipino organisations including FAME, ILISA and Banag Banag. What Priest lacked in political experience, she made up for in perseverance. It also worked in her favour that the Chifley electorate is not just a Labor heartland but a Filipino one. The 21 suburbs – Blackett, Blacktown, Dharruk, Doonside, Eastern Creek, Emerton, Glendenning, Hassall Grove, Hebersham, Lethbridge Park, Minchinbury, Mount Druitt, Plumpton, Rooty Hill, St Marys, Shalvey, Shanes Park, Tregear, Whalan, Willmot and Woodcroft – happen to be the suburbs where many Filipino-Australians live. After the votes were counted, Ed Husic emerged the winner with more than 40,000 votes. But what was surprising was that ‘underdog’ Priest pulled a spectacular 24,000-plus votes: a miraculous feat given the circumstances. That’s why Priest said the election is just a stepping stone to a permanent role in politics. “That was a very good result. I want to thank the Filipino community because they’ve given me enormous support – more than you could imagine. That really lifted my fighting spirit to continue regardless [of the last election

results],” she said.Born in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte, Priest said she’s always been eager to help other people and counts the late former president Corazon Aquino and the late Lady Diana (Princess of Wales) among her idols. Growing up, she’s always been involved in community activities and completed a nursing degree in the Philippines. In Australia, she completed accounting and business management courses before setting up her own business, a grocery store in Hassall Grove frequented by the locals. Outside work and community events, Priest is an anti-drug campaigner and mental health advocate, recently setting up the Australian Drug Outburst Control Association (ADOCA) to provide education for drug users and their families. “My background is nursing and, if elected, I will be pushing for increased funding to make Blacktown Hospital and Mt. Druitt Hospital fully functional,” she said. Mental health services is also on top of her priority list. “Millions of Australians will suffer mental illness yet only a third of sufferers receive help from the health services. Mental health needs serious attention.”It’s going to be a long wait until the next election, unless Australia has another major political upset. But that would only give Priest more time to prepare her platform and policies all in the name of better services for her local community.

POLITICS

Rizal play Highlights and Awards Successful store owner one day, aspiring politician the next, Venus Priest hopes

to help the Filipino community by entering the inner sanctum of Australian politics. MICHELLE BALTAZAR writes.

Venus in politics


Venus Priest with Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

Only a month ago John Fick was working a dream job as a senior graphic designer for a top IT firm while spending some weekends

as a sought-after wedding photographer.But having juggled both passions for at least a

decade, John told friends and family a couple of weeks ago that he quit his day job, starting a new chapter in his life as a full-time professional photographer.

His boundless energy for photography was evident in the weekend workshop he held on July 17 at his residence in Stanhope Gardens. I signed up with the aim of at least learning what “aperture” meant but left knowing a lot more, including the language of light.

“You can have the best view in the world but if the lighting is bad, the photo will look flat,” he said.

“I can shoot a hallway full of garbage and make it beautiful. How? Good light.”

Over two days John described light as if it were a woman, or like a lover spurned one day then adored the next. If light wasn’t warm, luxurious or natural, it was flat, harsh or artificial.

Take, for instance, the time John points to a ray of light falling on just the right spot for a shot.

“This is my light. Pook, pook, pook [he said, mimicking the sound of a camera clicking away]. It’s beautiful light. Very honest light.”

John moved around with a photographic sixth sense. Like a metal detector that knows exactly where a gold

nugget is, John knows where to place his subject to capture catchlights – those round specks of light on the eyes that can transform an ordinary shot into something extraordinary. Day One: See the Light

Around a dozen eager shutterbugs, aged 16 to 40-plus, trekked their way to John’s house for the weekend. He started his workshop at 9am, which didn’t feel right for a Saturday morning but I guess that’s the first test: turn up early.

But once he opened the door, I knew I made the right choice. On the dining table was a collection of

PEOPLE

The man who saw the

lightSydney-based photographer John Fick lives, eats and breathes light. If there’s one thing you’ll discover after attending one of

his basic photography weekend workshops, it’s that good lighting trumps a good location everytime.

MICHELLE BALTAZAR writes.


•

camera lenses that he invited us to check out and play around with. On the walls are picture frames and around the house are bric-a-brac, probably gifts from friends or things collected from their travels, all of which gave his place a warm and friendly vibe.

We all opened our little notebooks and wrote down what John told us about the art and science of photography. Our homework was to bring five photos and, in front of everyone, on a big screen, he looked at each of them.

To have someone critique your photos in front of strangers would have been a scary prospect but John handled it very well – giving us pointers on what’s good about the photos and what can be improved without tearing our fragile hearts into shreds. You could call it constructive criticism except it didn’t even feel like he’s

judging our photos.Next up was a showcase of

his work to bring home his key message: yes, it’s all about the light. John said he used to be a purist (“I am in love with natural light”), meaning he doesn’t like using artificial light like the flash except when he’s doing studio work. But having been a photographer for at least a decade, he said he’s learnt to compromise and use technology when needed.

“Although I don’t use reflectors. They’re for amateurs [he jokes]. I’m really comfortable with using natural light,” he said.

After sitting through a basic course on the different types of light (“that’s warm light, that’s crispy light, that’s harsh light…”), John took us on a field trip, teaching us how to find lighting that will “make our pictures pop”.

By the end of the day, he has completely changed my views about what makes a good photo. And after all those years of not knowing, do I now know

when photos are overexposed, underexposed and how to fix them? Yes!

Mission accomplished. Day Two: From auto to manual

Day Two started the same time as Day One: way too early! But fortune not only favours the brave, it also favours those who can set their alarm at 6am. One member of the group did beat me to it when she came knocking while

John was still asleep.He jokes, “You know how the

early bird catches the worm. You’re not the bird, you’re the worm!”

It was classic Fick to slide in a joke here and there while he taught us the mechanics of photography. In what I could only describe as a miracle, John explained the concepts of depth of field, ISO and shutter speed in a way that made sense. “You don’t have to learn all the complicated stuff. Everything can be simplified.”

With the technical lesson out of the way and a hearty lunch of adobo and rice (and Filipino sweet desserts) in our tummies, John took us to our second and final field trip, this time at a park on Brickworks Drive near Parramatta. For the rest of the afternoon, John taught us how to combine the principles of good lighting with the principles of good composition.

He also encouraged us to engage our subject (the models he invited to the workshop) by talking more to them. He told us to experiment with location and the different poses that the model should do for each shot.

By 5pm it was time to pack up so we finished the workshop with some training on how to take good shots of people in motion, like when they’re walking or jumping.The verdict

John’s basic photography workshop gets a 10 out of 10. He combined theory and practice in such a way that we all learnt the techniques of the trade and tested them out on the field.

The added bonus was his brief presentation on digital workflow and post-production where he explained how to save photos

and use the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom program to enhance images.

His advice is to “practice, practice, practice”. The popularity of the digital camera means many people take an endless number of shots then discover a great shot only after the event.

“If you take the photos right the first time, you experience the moment as it happens, and that’s what photography is about, it’s about being in the moment.” More information on his courses on

www.johnfick.com.

“I can shoot a hallway full of garbage and make it beautiful.

How? Good light.”

“You don’t have to learn all the complicated stuff. Everything can be

simplified.”


Top right: One of John Fick’s shots of the model. Bottom: Unphotoshopped photo I took on the day. Opposite page: My fave shot (unphotoshopped and overexposed but she’s smokin!)


Leonardo Salinas always puts his best foot forward, whether it’s for the Rosemount Sydney Fashion week, major bridal expos

or the Philippine Fashion week. Showcasing his amazing and luxuriously-detailed designs at the Main Event function center in Blacktown in July this year, his creations were definitely a stand out.

Unlike your conventional white, off-white or cream coloured floor length bridal gowns, Salinas unveiled an array of long and short jewel toned bridal designs that definitely caught the audience’s attention.

Salinas broke a number of conventional fashion rules on the night by mixing together elegance and femininity with edge. His collection was a mix of extremely short dresses with long luxurious gowns, and he mixed up the height of his models, too, from towering runway models (see photos) to Filipino-sized petite.

I was both lucky and honoured to have opened and closed his show, wearing two contrasting designs, the finale a standout short, white tiered bridal gown matched with a veil that almost matched the entire length of the catwalk.

Salinas showed his collection as part of Fame Inc’s recognition of his achievements as a Filipino-Australian designer. His vision in sense and style definitely makes him a leader in a cut-throat industry and he deserves all the accolades he’s sure to receive in the future. For more info, go to www.leonardosalinas.com.au

Actor and model Aprille Lim struts down the catwalk with the latest in bridal fashion as seen through the eyes of

fashion designer Leonardo Salinas.

Words by APRILLE LIM Hair and Make Up by MARGARETT DE GUZMAN Photography MARK LIM and JOHAN WESTEN

FOOd

Lights, camera, action


The Australian Filipina www.aus t ra l i an f i l i p ina . c om


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Multi-tier Duchess satin and French lace ball gown in emerald green.

Beaded georgette siren evening gown in nude.


Haute couture gown in Duchess Satin in saffron

Basket weave silk tulle wedding dress in Vanilla



Velvet cowl back evening gown in black

This week, Sydney Kings, three-times national basketball champion, went head to head with HOOPDREAMZ Jets, a newly-formed Sydney-based team featuring Philippine basketball stars.

They played a special pre-season exhibition game on Thursday, 23rd September at the Kevin Betts Basketball Stadium in Mount Druitt.

The game marks the return of the Sydney Kings this season after a two-year hiatus. Former Kings Coach Bob Turner bought back the license from the NBL to revive the popular club.

The team appointed Sydney legend Ian “Moose” Robilliard as the new head coach along with former NBA player Conner Henry and Tim Hudson to assist him. The playing roster includes veterans Luke Martin, Damien Ryan, Graeme Dann and Ben Knight.

Imports Rod Grizzard and Taj McCullough shored up the frontline, while young guns Julian Khazzouh, Luke Cooper, Jared Scoines, Blagoj Janev and Ben Madgen round up the lineup.

“Whatever it takes” is Coach Robilliard’s mission and vision for the club. “Each and every player will give 100% every time we hit the court, and we will be true to this style of play.”

Robilliard adds, “We have a very clear mindset to reconnect with the community. Our effort in Alexandria, Maitland and Mount Druitt is evidence that the Kings will be accessible to basketball fans across Sydney and the Greater Sydney basin.”

“West Sydney is extremely important for us because a number of our players come from the western suburbs and basketball is alive and well in the west.”

HOOPDREAMZ chief executive Marco Selorio was excited to bring the Kings back to the Blacktown area. The HOOPDREAMZ team gave the crowd a lot to shout for, giving the Kings a run for their money in the first half - though the Kings emerged the winner in a match that

ended 94-74 in their favour. “It’s great that the Kings have come here to reach out to the

community”, Selorio told www.nbl.com.au. “There are a lot of Africans and Filipinos out here and they really love their basketball. Having the opportunity to watch their heroes play has been terrific and I know they’ll be right there for the Kings’ first home game in nearly two years.”

The Dreamz Team:

Coach: Dave Reimer / Wes RosenManager: Alberto SelorioAsst: Roger MantuaTeam Owner: Hoopdreamz PG Ben Arkell ( West Syd Razorbacks)PF Scott McGregor (Syd Kings/Razorbacks)C Duane Jordan (ABA Manly)G Andrew Allen (ABA Maitland)F Goran Veg (ABA Parramatta) G Blake Borgia (Syd Kings) * injuredF Stefan Blaszynski (ABA Parramatta)PG Daryl Pepito (ABA Hornsby)F Tony LAlic (West Syd Rzrbks)F Mel Gile (Philippines – University of Sto Tomas)F Verge Alcantara (State League Minto)G Cromwell Alvarez (Premier League ACBA)

Australian Filipina Magazine is a proud media supporter of Hoopdreamz. www.hoopdreamz.com.au.

MONEy

Savings history is historyThere’s a new home loan product in the market

that caters for people locked out of the property market because they can’t prove their savings history.

The Yellow Brick Road’s First Step home loan option does not ask the borrower to demonstrate a savings history with a bank or any other financial institution.

Instead, deposits for a First Step option can come from gifts from a parent or other family

member, an inheritance, windfall gains and tax returns.

In other words, the buyer’s deposit is not a factor to get a home loan application approved.

This departs from normal rules where the lender, usually a bank, demands a borrower prove their deposit comes from a savings plan.

“I don’t believe this is an indicator of their ability to make their mortgage payments. More important factors are their income and their credit history; not the origin of their deposit,” said Yellow Brick Road’s founder Mark Bouris (and former chair of Wizard Home Loans).

SPORTS

Hoopdreamzgot game


I just learnt that a good friend is pregnant (Congratulations!), plus a few babies were recently

born, so I got all warm and fuzzy.I gotta tell you, isn’t being a part of

the mother’hood the most amazing thing in life?

You walk up and down and see other mums – frazzled hair, toddlers hanging off their hips, early lines on their faces from sleepless nights, stained clothes and strangers frowning at what some might otherwise call a ‘mess’.

Yet you walk with so much pride even when your head is low and the day is tough after the umpteenth nappy change, ponytail fix, boob swap, face wipe, hands cleaned: all the while random bits of food, milk, and at really tying times, poo, find their way into your hair, clothes and ears – and it’s only 10am.

There are so many embarrassing moments that really test your dignity as a woman.

The labour, the intrusive doctors appointments, childbirth, the first time you breastfeed at the local park, the first time a hot guy with better hair gives you a hand after dropping your shopping trolley down a flight of stairs.

The childbirth, the first time some teenage dude skating past you while breastfeeding stacks it after getting a glimpse of boob (yep, happened to me!), because as discreet as you try, odds are always against every mother covering their feeding child with a muslin cloth. The wind blows, the phone rings, or worse, the older child runs away mid-feed so you’re left running after a child with another stuck on one boob. Y’ALL KNOW IT HAPPENS!!!

Have I mentioned childbirth?Mums, so busy caring for others

and out of sheer exhaustion, usually trade breakfast for a shot of coffee, or Tequila if the day really calls for it, and the leftover toast.

Pre-baby preening usually go out the door (well, for a long

time anyway), and any social life is reduced to time on Facebook and/or befriending the household cockroach and/or befriending your clients once you finally start working.

They don’t tell you how lonely it can be at times. You usually lose friends along the way, and nobody to call during the day when everyone else is working.

You’ve just sacrificed the potential satisfaction of an unlimited career

– a grand idea when deciding to procreate – until finances become so tight that many times an imaginary trip to the hairdressers is as good as a real one.

Travel and new worldly experiences usually take a backseat (Ladies, if backpacking is on your bucket list, do not plan on doing it after kids. a) you will be too tired. b) by the time the kids are old enough,

so will you … so get it outta the way now), and God knows girlfriend nights spent gasbagging at the local pub become a rare luxury and, ironically, at the most crucial time when female company and time for decompression is needed most.

But … all of it is replaced by something so much more powerful.

Kids, along with the chaos, bring something so good, that no words are good enough to describe it.

There are many kinds of love that one goes through in life to compliment many kinds of relationships … but I believe none are as profound than the kind that children bring with them.

There are days that are hard…but for every hard day, there ar e a thousand beautiful moments that make you wonder what good you must have done in your life to deserve them.

It really is like a clumsy magician with a good magic trick. There is so much fluff and smoke around the trick, you’re at times tempted to walk out and get a refund!

But at the end of the illusion, is something so pure, magical and amazingly clear, it literally drives you to your knees, takes your breath away and makes you a believer.

So, there is something very special and satisfying about walking past other mums and being stared at by strangers. Though tired as all hell and probably struggling to get through the day awake, you will nod and smile at each other. And it’s not just some nod, right? I reckon it’s more like an invisible secret handshake, as if you both know something others don’t. As if you both knew the secret behind the magical illusion.

I dedicate this to all the strong women, friends and teachers around me, and to anyone who is, or would like to one day become, a mum.

And to my mum, for teaching me how to be a decent one.

“There are days that are hard, but for every hard day, there are a

thousand beautiful moments.”

FAMILy

MotherhoodAll about

Motherhood is the toughest ‘hood you’d ever join as a woman, but raising kids, despite the chaos, is infinitely rewarding, writes VERONICA STEWART-MONRO.


Hands up if you went to David Pomeranz’s show and had a great time. The man behind ‘King and Queen of Hearts’ wowed the audience at his September show and made it a memorable evening for all.

GOOd MUSIC

Substance over synthAs a vocal coach here in Sydney, I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with several artists. Work is work, but when the chance came to meet Grammy-award winning group All-4-One, I must admit, I was a little star-struck.

This handsome group of vocalists, comprising of Tony Borowiak, Jamie Jones, Delious Kennedy and Alfred Nevarez, have stayed together since their first hit ‘I Swear’, back in 1994. Veteran musicians in an unforgiving and disposable industry, they have collectively sold over 15 million albums since their debut release and have toured extensively.

Yet despite working in an industry where plastic is usually fantastic – from the lips, to the outfits, to the synthetic sounds – All-4-One is proof that longevity lies simply in feel good music, lyrical substance and real musicianship.

Listening to their music before casually chatting about their new release and the music industry (that I love and hate) was like food for my soul.

They were personable, humble and nurturing, and their new album ‘No Regrets’ is a breath of fresh air among the musical clutter existing today.

No hype, no over-the-top décor … just good old RnB the way I used to daydream to.

review

Got to believein magic


The most anticipated album this year ‘Thank Me Later’ has arrived from Canadian-born rapper Drake, who until 16 months ago was only known for his role as “Snow” in Degrassi High and now enters the pantheon of the rap game, delivering his own blend of hip-hop to our ears without disappointment. Drake’s unique style of sung-rapped vocals mixed in with mellow electro-synths takes his listeners to another level of hip-hop, while evoking the nuance of old school R&B.

From a songwriter’s perspective, Drake’s honesty in his music from production to lyrics is refreshing.

Coming from the wealthier ‘streets’ of Toronto, Drake strays from typical themes normally heard in rap albums and shows a more vulnerable side, talking about his insecurities with fame in ‘Cece’s Interlude’ – “I wish I wasn’t famous. I wish I was still in school” to his complex experiences with the opposite sex in ‘Karaoke’ – “I was only trying to get ahead but the spotlight makes you nervous.”

Though at times typically self

indulgent and reminiscent of a Kanye–esque style of rap, Drake brings his tracks to life with a combination of original content and poetic story telling.

Strings, synthesisers, distorted 808s, fused with mid-range tempos is the canvass for which he paint his story. ‘Thank Me Later’ pulls on the heartstrings of old school hip-hop, bringing back the laid back groove that hip-hop fans have grown to love.

Extreme use of the plug-in ‘Autotune’ seems to be an exhausting trend for many of today’s rappers/singers but Drake compliments his lyrics by staying genuine to his vocal strengths, bringing uncomplicated yet provocative melodies to the table with relative success through such tracks including his number one single ‘Best I Ever Had’ and ‘Find Your Love’.

You know you’ve made it when you have the best crew of artists and producers to work with which include Jay-Z, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Young Jeezy and Swiss Beats just to name a few. However,

where most of these big players would normally deposit their two-cents into the album, this time round Drake imposes his style on them, convincing these music gods instead to push the envelope and bring another dimension to their creativity, with great bars from Jay-Z in ‘Light Up’, and a softer side from Young Jeezy with ‘Unforgettable’.

Such a movement is only symbolic of the true artist Drake is, influencing the creativity of those around him no matter how famous they are.

Thank Me Later has definitely exceeded many expectations, through original thought and a fresh take on hip-hop. Drake shows how to make a great album while staying genuine, and if you only buy one album this year, this is the one to get.

Australian Filipina special guest music critic Daniel Ross is a singer, dancer, songwriter and actor. For upcoming performances check out his official site at www.danielrossmusic.com

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You can thank him now Coming from the wealthier ‘streets’ of Toronto, Drake strays from typical themes normally heard in rap albums and shows a more vulnerable side, writes RnB artist and producer DANIEL ROSS.


Three months ago, a new fashion designer burst onto the Sydney scene. Her name is Maria de Guzman and she’s a proud Australian-Filipina!

Inspired by her seamstress mother, Maria designed her own clothing when she was a kid and has now turned that passion into a career. She launched her label at this year’s Fashion Forward Festival, hosted by the Fashion Foundation of Australia, before showcasing her collection at a Chic Petite Events with nine other emerging designers.

She hosted her own Fashion Launch Party at the Tunnel nightclub recently featuring ‘Hot Male Bodies’ body-painted with suits, who escorted models extravagantly decked out in Maria’s Spring /Summer Collection.

Next on her diary was a fashion showcase on Friday at Soho Bar on 171 Victoria St. Potts Point for “estilo” (Spanish word for style) followed by a fundraising titled ‘Arabian Nights’ for the McGrath Foundation.

The Australian Filipina caught up with her on e-mail last month.

1) Why did you decide to pursue a fashion career?

I have always been around fashion growing up. Designing my own clothes and having my mother make them. It has always been a passion of mine.

2) How did you learn how to design clothes?

I am basically self-taught. I studied design and technology in high school, but most of the skills I have gained have been through the help of my mother, Elvira Hattam.

3) How would you describe your designs? Who is your inspiration?

My designs are very feminine. Gorgeous, but sexy. I try to

enhance the curves of a woman. The garments I create are the type of garments I want to wear. My favorite designer is Herve Leger.

4) The fashion industry is an extremely competitive and often unforgiving world, how do you plan to succeed in it?

I plan to succeed by getting my name out there as much as I can in the public.

5) Your mother, you mentioned, is a seamstress. Where in the Philippines is she from?

She’s from Abalug, Cagayan Valley.

6) You talked about having a poor childhood. Do you think coming from a poor family only inspired you to work harder?

Yes, it has inspired me to work harder to have a better future for myself.

7) You are drop-dead gorgeous yourself ! Have you modelled before and where did you get your looks from? (Are you half or pure filo?)

I’m Filipino. I grew up in the Philippines and moved to Australia

when I was 6. No, I have not modelled but have done a few shoots since being a fashion designer.

8) What’s your dream? What would you like to achieve in your career?

I would like to be a well-known fashion designer making beautiful clothes for all women.

9) Define fashion. Name three of the most fashionable women/men in the world?

Fashion defines a person. It is a unique way to express yourself. Angelina Jolie, Beyonce and Halle Berry.

10) How as your launch party? My launch party was a lot of

work and planning , but so much fun. I had lots of support from friends and family. It was a really great night.

http://www.mariadeguzman.com

FASHION catwalk new lady on the

Fashion newcomer Maria de Guzman hits the catwalk running - parading her designs in three glittery events within months of deciding to pursue a fashion career.


The Australian Filipina www.aus t ra l i an f i l i p ina . c om


MUSIC

Fashion DesignerMaria de Guzmanwww.mariadeguzman.com.au/

Hair by Christopher Hannahwww.christopherhanna.com.au/

Singer / Model Ann-Mareehttp://www.ann-maree.com/

Make up by Michael HalderLisa SkeggsMargarett de Guzmanwww.margarettdeguzman.com.au/

All photos byJohan Westen www.westen.com.au/


Pacific typhoons, hurricanes or cyclonic thunderstorms – however they are referred to, they inflict damage, destruction and utter

chaos on masses of innocent people. As idyllic as the location of the Philippines is for tropical getaways, it is also unfortunately in the prime location for the multitude of typhoons that occur each year.

The typhoon season is never-ending, one that occurs throughout the year, with the majority of typhoons occurring between May and November. The typhoon season is one that instils fear, dread and horror among the Filipino citizens.

The winds gradually increase speed and slowly it becomes apparent that something is not right. The sunlight disappears behind an abundance of dark grey clouds, and this greyness not only applies to the weather but to the overall moods of the inno-cent people as a hollow fear washes over them and the realisation that something horrendous is imminent.

With the gap between the rich and the impoverished becoming increasingly defined, it is those who do not have the means to support themselves that suffer the most. They lose everything that they own, must fend for themselves and their families and do not have possessions, financial support or forms of insurance to rely on. It is the kindness of strangers that provides the support and foundations of strength with which they can use to rebuild their lives.

Small communities embody values that are seldom seen within today’s society. We are often dominated

by traits including instant gratification, impatience and selfishness, and as a result we witness the demise of the act of generosity. Occasionally there are those individuals who take incentive, through self-motivation

that take the time to help others in need and practice selflessness. Two small communities from countries far apart, join and support one another in a time of need.

Nenith Remoto was born in Sorsogon City in the Bicol region and migrated to Perth with her husband Jose to raise her two young children and create a life for themselves as Australians. She runs a small-business, an independent oriental store that stocks products from the Philippines for fellow Filipino-Australians – so they are able to satisfy their nostalgic cravings for flavours from the homeland.

When she first heard of the devastation occurring in the Philippines due to the typhoons, she wasted no time in setting up support for them. Having family who had personally been affected by the typhoons also contributed to how quickly she set up support. “My husband’s family was affected, and my two sisters – the water there reached the roof, it ruined their appliances, their two cars and their motorbike,” she explains. “It was the first thing to do, to help them financially just

“It is those who do not have the means to support themselves that suffer the most.”

REPORTING ANd ESSAyS

Help in the eye of the stormThe Filipino-Australian community in Perth lends a helping hand to typhoon victims in the Philippines. An essay on the compassionate

nature of Filipinos by TERESA GUMINA.


•

because we could. There were really a lot more other people who were less fortunate; the neighbourhood was just in an unlucky location.”

Within her small store, she set up a small charity drive asking for donations from her customers of clothing, tinned food and basic hygiene items, as well as taking in cash donations to provide relief for the victims of the devastating Philippine Typhoons.

“At first I wanted to just set up something for my circle of friends,” she explains. “I just did this so we could get together and do something, so we had a way to send a big box over to the people of the Philippines.”

Soon enough, not only were her friends and acquaintances donating, but customers of her small store

were bringing in bags full of their own clothing; not only Filipino-Australians but people from all walks of life, contributing and donating with no intentions for profit, motive or gain.

After Nenith received a substantial amount of donations to send over to the Philippines, she sent it to one of the main TV networks of the Philippines: ABS-CBN, received via satellite in Australia – who were at the time running a charity and relief campaign, specifically asking for donations to send directly to the typhoon victims; “I chose to use an NGO so I knew that the money would go directly to those in need, especially with things like cash donations, you don’t know who to trust or where that money will end up.”

The compassion of Filipino-Australians does not stop within this one facet of the community. Global Macson, one of the leading air and seafreight cargo companies in Perth provides door-to-door freight delivery service to the Philippines. The company also stepped in and became actively involved when the typhoons in the

Philippines occurred. Run by Philippine-born

Australian owner, Arnel Mendoza began his own relief efforts within his company by providing free freight service to Filipinos in Perth who needed to help relatives affected by the typhoon in the Philippines.

It resulted in many members of the Filipino-Australian community in Perth taking this opportunity to extend help by sending large crates of relief items to those who were in need and were adversely affected by the typhoons. Arnel also received cash donations from his customers; some even requesting that this money be used to buy items such as bags of rice here in bulk to also send to the typhoon victims. He also sent these relief items and cash donations to not only the ABS-CBN Network, but to the number one network in the Philippines GMA-7, as there were people working at this network who were specifically delegated roles to take in charity items from all over the world.

When asked if both the Philippine and Australian Governments have done a satisfactory job providing assistance, Nenith says she cannot say a bad word about them, especially the Australian Government, “They have been so generous, they have donated the most out of any countries that I know of. The Philippine Government has also been very good, but they can only do so much.”

She believes that the Philippine political system needs a complete overhaul, “There is a long story involved with the history of the Philippine Government, they need to know that it’s not about their reputation or the way the media represents them, it’s from within. If they’re good you see it in their character, and that’s how you know they are a good government.”

Both these Filipino-Australians are extremely modest when their generosity is given recognition. Arnel and Nenith maintain that there is nothing special about it, they understand the circumstances

of those who live in the Philippines, and empathise with those that experience the calamity of the typhoons. “It’s already hard enough to live day to day, without

these typhoons, and I help because I have the capability to help, because I understand what they are going through.”

These are two ordinary people, who have created fulfilling lifestyles that they are both extremely thankful for. They have come from modest beginnings, and only wish to share the goodness that they have received to those who are truly in need. It is these traits that unite communities and would have far-reaching implications if these sincere acts of generosity became the norm within society. It is this small act of compassion that makes a world of difference.

Nenith Remoto helps out.

“You don’t know who to trust or where that money will end up.”

“On the Australian Government: “They have been so generous, they have donated the most out of any countries that I know of. ”


MUSIC

Dancing duo Talented performers Albert Dimarucut and Brian Lorenz came home from the VIII Gay Games victorious, winning the silver medal in the dance competition. MICHELLE BALTAZAR recounts what happened less than two weeks before the trip.

triumphsIt’s a Sunday afternoon and a couple of men

walked into Sizzling Fillo, a Filipino restaurant a stone’s throw away from Lidcombe station in

Sydney, for a very late lunch.What they didn’t know was that they were just about

to gatecrash an intimate party – a ‘send-off ’ party if you like – for two Filipino-Australians who dare to dream big.

Albert Dimarucut, a well-known Filipino dancer and choreographer, and Brian Lorenz Babon (pictured), a multi-talented artist who won a major singing competition, have set their eyes on going to the VIII Gay Games, Cologne 2010. It is the Olympic Games equivalent for elite athletes in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities globally.

Competing in the ‘dance’ sports category, Albert and Brian have to be at the eight-day event to be held from 31 July to 7 August. To be in the running, they had to be nominated by an association and were chosen by FLAGCOM and Friends (Filipino Lesbian and Gay Community).

The catch is, they have to finance the trip themselves and, with less than a fortnight to go, are yet to secure company sponsors to help fund all their expenses.

But as the saying goes, if there’s a will, there’s a way. One of their close friends, Armando ‘RC’ Reyes, hosted a despedida with the help of Sizzling Fillo’s owners (who gave the venue at no charge) and invited guests.

The idea was that even if the community can’t give Albert and Brian all the financial support they need, they will get moral support for their ambitious venture. On last count, the Games have registered more than 17,000 participants, a few thousand of whom will be competing in their chosen category.

Brian said they have wanted to be part of the Games for a long time now. “It’s held every four years and we thought, we should do it – this is the year,” he said.

Not that their end goal is to get the gold. Asked what they would do to differentiate themselves from their rivals, Brian smiled and said they’ll just show their best and have a good time. “We’re just going to have fun,” he said.

Judging by their passion and pedigree, there’s a good chance they might just make history and become the first gay Filipino-Australians to go to the games*.

Both are not new to the world of high-stakes dancing. Last year, Brian won first place in the Adult Latin American Level 3 with his dance partner Michelle Geale. Albert has won several awards, including ranking fifth overall at the World ProAm Championships in the US in 2007 with his dancing partner Arlene Howe, reported the online newspaper, the Filipino Australian.

The small gathering at Sizzling Fillo that day witnessed their dancing prowess first-hand when they performed a cha-cha number. Brian had his Marilyn Monro-esque look: platinum blonde wig matched with a short, figure-hugging silver dress that showed off his toned legs to full effect (see picture). Meanwhile Albert wore an equally figure hugging black ‘dancewear’ trousers and a black long-sleeved shirt left unbuttoned all the way to his waist (see picture).

To entertain the audience (and the two gatecrashers who were pleasantly surprised by the entertainment that came with their lunch), RC also invited three very talented singers. First onstage was chanteuse Marilyn Mendez (she sings Bossanova songs in a way that can make you want to fall in love over and over again) followed by Albert Prias (who is another close friend and has worked with Albert and Brian in previous projects) and veteran songbird, Lillian de los Reyes (a consummate entertainer, it’s not just her voice but her charisma that keeps her audience wanting for more every time she performs).

RC said the cocktail reception was just a send-off but family and friends who gathered wanted to help out so when Lillian sang ‘Big Spender’, everyone dug deep and gave $10, $20 and $50 notes to go towards their trip.

Luckily, they have secured a sponsor to fund the airfares. The ‘bayanihan’ (heroism) that happened that day will go a long way in covering some of their other expenses.

At the end of their final dance performance, everyone gathered around to give them hugs and well-wishes. Gold medal or not, they are already winners to all their supporters, said Lillian.

* POSTSCRIPT: Since this article was published online, Brian and Albert went on to win the silver medal in their category. Congratulations!!!

Clockwise: Albert Dimarucut, Marilyn Mendez, Lillian de los Reyes, sup-porters including organiser Armando Reyes (third from right), Brian and Albert, Brian.

Photo credits: Michelle Baltazar

Filipinos in Sydney may seem not directly affected by recent hostage crisis in Manila compared to Filipinos who work in Hong Kong, but the unease is global and

it is as if Filipinos are wearing daily a virtual black t-shirt with a sorrowful message. Woe, it’s me! If only I could give Jacky Chan a tight brotherly hug and not say anything at all, that would probably have sufficed. But no, that’s only in my dreams. It would be futile despite sincere efforts of HK luminaries and government leaders to call for calm and sobriety. The Philippine media had clearly shown to the world via radio and TV the many opportunities that could have avoided those unnecessary deaths. And so here we are fenced in by a strong undercurrent of rage and tendency for the people of HK to vent their frustration and ire on a ... you’ve guessed it. But what can we do to express our great shame and sorrow? Not sure, really. Time shall heal everything so they say, but while we’re on the hot seat it might be better to think of things to rectify things instead of sulking and kicking ourselves dead, assaulted by images of what rightly should have been done. Surely being caught with our pants down and exposed to international media is embarassing. Wha’ happened? Did the pants’ communication buttons snap? Zipper snagged? Or is that loose economic belt again that we’ve always known inutile to hold up our fig leaf? Call it wardrobe malfunction, the belt is useless for a nation’s narrow waistline, its gut left hollow by previous administrations; where politicians failed to address the need of a well-equipped police force. Corruption as usual is the big C that started the rot. It’s never too late. Sorry HK! Some people out of eagerness might choose to wear black t-shirts with Sorry HK printed and with a Philippine flag in halfmast underneath the letters.It might be a good idea but maybe not as it might imply “t-shirt trivialization” of a truly sensitive issue and make things worse in HK. Be Invisible? Maybe invisibility is an option. Take the case of a Filipino woman in HK who was stalked and harassed by some guys asking “Are you Filipino?” to which she answered “No, I’m Indonesian!” They let her off. But then if we’re courageous enough to wear the t-shirt, make sure it is spitproof-waterproof synthetic material. The law has tolerance for minor misgivings by a people untreated

well and offended but let us not get in too close. Let the sax scream for we blew it. The Power of Silence Silence is another option as it is an age-old way of expressing sorrow (where sorry was derived from) despite possibility of being misinterpreted as uncaring. However, the real issue here is the unnecessary loss of lives thus a long and solemn meditative silence would be appropriate show of respect to those who were killed. I believe in the power of prayer. Prayer works. No words shall bring back those murdered. Silent printed words like articles and blogs might help heal the big, gaping wound in the hearts of the HK people and the Filipino nation. Let us not worry if we are made to feel guilty of homicide. We may not get off so lightly but let us keep a friendly hand extended. Oh man, it shall take a long period of “panunuyo” or “paglalambing” to those whose feelings we have gravely hurt, both as a nation and as individuals. Pagpapakumbaba, paglalambing, panunuyo at paghihimas-himas (humility and childish and sincere cuddling up; for lack of better word) may seem to be feudal but they are tactile qualities Filipinos are known for. Hope we could weather the castigo (scolding) storm. We played the role of security guard that came ill-equipped. Be prepared, we are going to cop one big snob from the good citizens of Hong Kong. Let us just be wary of any external rage that may cross the line and transgress the law. Life is precious, and that’s the reason for all this diplomatic mess. Sorry is the order the day.When Kevin Rudd was our Prime MInister, he said sorry to the Aboriginal people of Australia for the wrongdoings of the early white settlers. I swear I felt the deep solemnity of the ocassion. Almost couldn’t bear looking at the tears flowing from the eyes of old Aboriginal people who attended the Sorry Day. The Australian people showed civility and decency to admit the errors of the past and they serve as inspiration for humility. America and Canada likewise have made efforts to mend relationship with their tribal minorities. Japan also apologised recently to the Korean people for colonising it. Humility is truly a mark of character. We could do the same as race of people albeit in our own, little individual way. Am actually trying to contact my photographer friend in Sydney who I haven’t seen for years. Anson Chen is from Hong Kong and was the owner of a photo shop studio in Sydney’s Chinatown where I had three caricature shops running at that time. I’m so eager to say hello to him and express my grief. For the time being, let’s all keep our heads low. Thank you my friend. Peace.

IdENTITy

Rizal play Filipinos around the world share their sorrow at the tragedy that befell the HK tourists killed during the September hostage crisis in Manila,

writes EDD ARAGON.

Sorry, Hong Kong


We’d like to thank this edition’s contributors including, from top clockwise: Johan Westen (gorgeous fashion show photos!), Veronica Monro (heartfelt piece ‘On Motherhood’), Aprille Lim (diary on the Leonardo Salinas show), Edd Aragon (honest sentiments on the recent hostage crisis), Daniel Ross (slick review on Drake) and Teresa Gumina (thoughtful essay on Filipino compassion during typhoon disasters).


australian filipina magazine #6

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