Stories

On TikTok, she debunks lies about martial law with numbers

January 13, 2022

By: Nikka G. Valenzuela

Just like any other social media platform, TikTok, the hot social network for making and sharing short videos, is teeming with false narratives of martial law. A quick search of the term reveals many faceless videos that claim that the more than two decades of Marcos rule was the golden age of the Philippines—a pretty common lie perpetuated on the internet.

But among the sea of false claims and outright lies about the Marcos dictatorship, one TikTok video stands out: “the macroeconomic effects of the Marcos era to the lives of Filipino people” by Mona Magnu Veluz (@mightymagulang).

Veluz compares wages of Filipinos from 1962 (before Marcos entered office) to 1986 (when the late dictator was ousted in a bloodless revolution). She likewise tackles the massive debt that the Philippines incurred; the rise of the unemployment rate and the increase of the number of people who lived on the poverty level compounded by the fact that the prices of basic commodities shot up.

The history geek and genealogist who has a masters degree in Applied Business Economics hosts a TikTok series called “Today in History,” and for Sept. 21, 2021, she decided to talk about facts that could not be contested: numbers.

“I also was triggered by the fact that I saw several videos coming into that time that were saying that martial law was our golden years. And I looked at why they felt it was the golden years. They were talking about infrastructure, they were talking about questionable metrics, infrastructure. Yeah, I get the volume of buildings that were built, but there was really very little understanding from a macroeconomic perspective,” she told Lifestyle in an online interview.

1.6 million views

To make the video more approachable to viewers, Veluz said she selected numbers that were easily understandable.

“I really selected the simplest macroeconomic numbers that I could think of, and that would also reflect the things that people can feel, because everything else like infrastructure spending ratio, to GDP (gross domestic product), sometimes people don’t feel that, but wages, poverty level, that they can understand. And the reason I also brought up the loans is because for us Filipinos, we understand the concept of loan and credit card,” she added.

The video is the top result on TikTok (1.6 million views) upon searching “martial law” and has gained traction on social media sites. The video has become so popular that on top of citing sources, Veluz made a Google Doc explaining economic terms such as nominal and real wages, inflation and the like.

A lot of TikTokers like Veluz use the platform to counter false narratives on the social media platform. Veluz said there are professionals, entrepreneurs, doctors who make breakdown videos to debunk clips that spread false claims. They also jump into each other’s livestreams to talk about martial law.

A lot of TikTokers like Mona Magnu Veluz use the platform to counter false narratives about one of the darkest periods of Philippine history.

Need for truth commission

According to former Philippine Commission on Good Government chair Ruben Carranza, countering outright lies about the Marcos dictatorship does not simply mean teaching history correctly.

“The medium of teaching history and correcting false narratives by themselves can’t really counter social media as quickly as social media creates fabricated history and spreads it,” he said in an online interview.

Carranza, who is now with the International Center for Transitional Justice, explained that “The effort to establish a full narrative of what happened during the Marcos dictatorship and the initiative of taking that should have happened as soon as the dictatorship ended.”

He pointed out that the structures that created the dictatorship were left untouched after Marcos was ousted, and that the efforts in preserving the memories of the human rights violations and massive corruption during the martial law years took decades to materialize. One of these is the memorialization commission, which was created by law in 2013, about 27 years after the People Power Revolution.

The martial law museum, which will rise at University of the Philippines, Diliman, “will have to bear a lot of weight,” he added.

“It will have to carry such a burden that I think having a structure and having programs will help—people can see it, people can visit it. But then it would be insufficient because, like I said, you will have to deal with the baggage of decades because, in the meantime, the family and the network of families that you’re trying to account, they didn’t just sit idly and hide,” Carranza added.

But it’s not too late to counter the lies, he said. With or without the coming elections, there should be a truth commission to establish a full narrative on the martial law years, as well as reparations for victims and prosecution of human rights violations perpetrators.

Use social media to mobilize

He also noted that while social media has sometimes been portrayed as “a weapon against truth,” the internet has been utilized to actually overthrow entrenched authoritarian regimes like with the Arab Spring, which started in Tunisia in 2010.

“There was still a dictator in power, but it spread on the internet and social media was used by young people during the Arab Spring to resist dictatorship, to overthrow a dictator. It is possible to use social media to organize and mobilize,” he said.

The problem, however, is that social media has prioritized profits over communication.

“We should not see social media as inherently enablers of dictatorship and false histories, but at the same time, we must be very conscious of being used ourselves because we are consumers of social media for profit,” Carranza said.

He added: “So the solution in many ways is to also go on social media, but to go on social media with both an official narrative behind you, and a strategic, more realistic sense that your opponent has had a 20-30 year lead on you. You’re playing catch up. So again, the election is a good way to test how far you can catch up. But to be realistic, I think it’s important to remember to do this even beyond the election.”

It’s also important, he said, to go beyond the online space and look for local venues to reach out, especially with the history of local resistance to the Marcos dictatorship.

Veluz said that while TikTok is not meant to be a scholarly platform and bashers keep throwing mean comments, she and other users cite their sources.

“If you’re trying to win somebody, you don’t fight them even if they are very aggressive. You be as civil as you can. But you also stand your ground not when you’re, ‘I will call you out when you’re lying. Here’s the truth. These are my sources. This is the context.’

“I’ve seen a lot of good people step up to help fix what’s happening. I don’t know if it’s enough. There’s still a lot of people who are also throwing out opposite messages.” INQ

Source: https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/394819/on-tiktok-she-debunks-lies-about-martial-law-with-numbers/

Artist Profile: Pollyanna Dee

January 8, 2022

By Matthew Burgos

White and blue flowers bloom in the cracks of the woman’s face in ‘Daydream’. Split in half, her left face rests upon two hands that console her while her right face detaches itself from the commotion. Her eyes glisten with melancholy that her parted lips mirror. Her emotions overflow, consuming the way she commands her life and placing her into a state of reflection, a realm Pollyanna Dee knows by heart. “Art has always been my way of expressing what and how I feel, the depth of my state of mind. I often convey emotions that I cannot put into words through art. I think that there is true beauty in embracing your vulnerable self because that is what makes you human and brave; that is what may complete you,” the artist tells Our Culture.

A graduate of Visual Communication from the University of the Philippines, the Manila-based visual artist leans on abstraction and surrealism dotted with lines and shapes, distorted figures, and varying hues. “Most of my works are drawn with charcoal, ink, and through mixed media. I recently started playing with digital art because I think that there is a wide array of possibilities that digital can do. It also allows me to elevate and experiment with the textures, compositions, and colors of my artworks to tell a story,” she says.

Emotions epitomize Dee’s art language. At times, she dabs the eyes with tears; other times, she muddles her characters’ faces to signal disruption or disharmony. Whatever sentiment clouds her creativity, she defines her works as a visual diary, a volley of images rather than texts, layered with elements of self, life, and ruminations. “Most of my works are inspired by the strength I find and exude at my most vulnerable times, a journey towards self-acceptance,” she shares.

Shonna Waters, BetterUp’s Vice President of Alliance Solutions, notes in her article about the path to self-acceptance how the lack of it hinders a person’s ability to achieve their full potential. “People with high self-acceptance are more resilient to criticism. They understand that it is okay to accept themselves while also working for continuous self-improvement,” she writes. “Self-acceptance is the act of accepting yourself and all your personality traits exactly as they are. You accept them no matter whether they are positive or negative. This includes your physical and mental attributes.”

Dee’s quest for self-acceptance through art touches on women empowerment and mental health. She carves a path for those who find themselves in the same boat as hers, a battle against anxiety and depression to see through one’s value and worth. “My artworks convey the importance of recognizing our feelings with bravery and without shame, thus also focusing on mental health. They reflect the intimate and entrenched struggles within me, showing the essence of our ability to process and let go of what harms us to fiercely show on the outside who we are, that we are strong despite our flaws. Our vulnerability is not a sign of weakness but of strength and self-love. There is nothing wrong with that,” she says.

The woman’s face in ‘Headspace’, perhaps an indication of the artist’s portrait, floats in the air along with smokes. Inquisitive eyes peek through the slit of her split head. Her hands appear in the back and foreground, reaching out for help, for connection, for a renewed life amidst the chaos. Above the canvas, a yellow moon glimmers and shadows a tiny ballet dancer tiptoeing on the woman’s nose. It gestures a climb towards rebirth that Dee affirms. “The feeling of isolation, loneliness; of slowly drowning but still fighting our individual battles; of still hanging in there while hoping for a brighter tomorrow,” she explains.

Tears spring from the fought battles in ‘Breathe’. The woman lifts her chin up as she faces to the right, her skin and hair enveloped with tears. A black smudge censors her mouth, trapping the oxygen in her lungs. “I thought of capturing that the release of emotions that, in the end, feels brave and freeing. Through the good and the bad, we are brave in our own, honest, and beautiful way,” the artist shares.

The narration peaks as ‘Rise’ enters the trilogy. The battle has eased off and a fleeting moment of rest has leapt. The woman soars on the horizon, marked with scars through the foliage, marble-like swirls, red desert, and white sun tattooed on her skin and body. Creeping out of her mouth, pink flowers blossom. As Dee tells Our Culture, she drew the piece from the quote quiet strength is still strength. “During these hard times, when everything seems uncertain, may this be a reminder for us to be kind to ourselves, to pace into each moment and know that it is okay to be vulnerable. In the quiet, slower moments, we are strong.”

Pollyanna Dee employs art as a medium of self-acceptance and embraces sentiments as they come, extending her practice to those who seek a haven of enlightenment. As smokes cloak her characters’ faces and flowers grow as an emblem of valor, the artist embodies courage against adversity, freedom from fear of emotions, and congruence with self, hoping her audience will follow suit.

Source: https://ourculturemag.com/2022/01/05/artist-profile-pollyanna-dee/

How this fruit vendor’s daughter rose to become IS Manila and Harvard scholar

January 7, 2022

Rose Sagun says she owes her success to the bravery of two women who raised her, and to an international education that started at age 11

“It is not an overstatement to say that education can change a girl’s life; it changed mine,” says Rose Sagun.

Former International School Manila (ISM) and Harvard University scholar Rose Sagun turns sentimental looking back at her and her family’s journey over the past decades. Some would have thought it unlikely for someone like her to enjoy the best education in the most prestigious schools. She’s the daughter of a humble fruit vendor, a single mother who used to live in the slums of Tondo. How can they afford the best schools?

But Rose, who just finished her Masters in International Education Policy at Harvard, says the trajectory of her life changed because of two things. “The unblinking bravery of the women who raised me and my merit scholarship to an international education at 11 years of age.”

Rose says the most important inheritance she got from her grandmother and mother is not an Ivy League diploma. “It’s more than that,” she says. “It is the sheer, undeniable power of faith.”

A tale of three women

The two women Rose is talking about are her mother, Luz Sagun, and her lola Bebiana Sajonia. Her grandmother, a native of Panay, only reached fifth grade. She was also a fruit vendor. “At the crack of dawn, she would walk for miles across stretches of farmlands, looking for new harvest,” Rose says, recalling what she was told. “[Lola] would negotiate with farmers for their produce and bring the harvest to the nearest town.”

Rose’s mother, the fifth among nine children, grew up in this kind of life. She would recount to Rose the joy she’d feel hauling her harvest over the roof of a jeepney, going to the bayan at daybreak, selling fruits the entire day, then heading home with just enough to put food on the table.

“What struck me with this memory is how my mother remembers it: it was not about what she didn’t have; it was about what she gained,” Rose tells ANCX. Through this experience, her mother learned the value of hard work and also nurtured her entrepreneurial skills.

Her mother eventually earned a scholarship to study at the nearby college and worked at the library to earn extra money. As soon as she graduated, she got on a one-way boat to Manila to start a new life. She arrived in Manila in the ‘60s.

Rose came into her mother’s life in 1986. “My mom persevered, working up to three jobs at times, to make sure I didn’t grow up in the same slums where she lived,” says Rose. Her mother also made sure to save her hard-earned P500 at the end of every month so Rose could go to the bookstore and buy books to read. “I didn’t have much growing up, but I had a treasure trove of books, my most prized possessions, and I felt I had wealth because of them.”

Rose says what convinced her to apply for ISM scholarship “was my mother’s call to challenge,” she recalls. “She convinced me that the process was more important than the destination.”

Best years

Easter Sunday of 1998 will forever be etched in Rose’s memory. It was the day her mother chanced upon an ad from ISM. It was an announcement for its Philippine scholarship program. At 11 years old, Rose did not know what a full scholarship to one of the most selective international schools in the region meant. She was initially hesitant to apply for an IS scholarship, as that would mean leaving her friends in the elementary school in Quezon City she was enrolled in.

“What convinced me to apply was my mother’s call to challenge,” she recalls. “She convinced me that the process was more important than the destination: I applied to the program because I wanted to experience what it would be like to take an international standardized exam. I was curious to see what I knew, but more importantly, what I did not know yet.”

What Rose didn’t know then was that exam would actually change her life. “After going through the application process, whatever hesitation in me has dissipated,” she says.

She still recalls her amazement seeing her new school for the first time. “I could not believe that a school like this could even exist! How could a school have three gyms, a tennis court, and two swimming pools? How could classrooms be air-conditioned? Even the school buses looked like they came straight out of a Hollywood movie! I knew then and there I wanted the scholarship, and I am thankful to have received it.”

Rose says her ISM days—all seven years of them—were the best years of her childhood. “ISM enabled me to see how vast the world was and how far-reaching my potential was,” she shares. Rose is grateful for the world-class teachers and the school’s vast collection of books and resources. She also gained lifelong friends from different parts of the world. “My ISM years felt like moving to the fast lane of life, and world after world appeared before my eyes,” she says.

Rose obtained her Master’s degree in International Education Policy at Harvard University.

Paying it forward

A bigger world has beckoned since. After spending seven years at ISM, Rose went to UP Diliman to earn her business degree; she graduated with honors. After gaining some work experience, she studied at Harvard via a scholarship and obtained her Master’s degree in International Education Policy. During her stint there, she co-authored the book “Empowering Teachers to Build a Better World” with Harvard Professor Fernando Reimers and some of her fellow classmates.

This multi-faceted lady also worked on a project commissioned by the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning (Harvard VPAL). The said initiative promotes more women in leadership roles and creates a more inclusive, equitable environment in the business world.

Rose was also able to present a large-scale project on design thinking for 400 schools at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference, the largest and oldest society on global education in the world in San Francisco.

Rose showing a book she co-authored with Harvard Professor Fernando Reimers

Now in her 30s, Rose works at The Education Commission, which has a global initiative of ensuring inclusive and quality education for all. The members of the Commission include current and former heads of state and government, government ministers, five Nobel laureates, and leaders in the fields of education, business, economics, development, health, and security. “My work on High Touch High Tech specifically focuses on the ways in which artificial intelligence and transformations in teaching and learning can unlock personalized learning for all, especially for learners who are furthest behind,” she says.

Looking back at the past three decades of her life, Rose realized she got the most important inheritance from her grandmother and mother. “It’s not an Ivy League diploma. It’s more than that,” she says. “It is the sheer, undeniable power of faith. And that same unyielding faith, that spanned exactly 100 years since my grandmother’s birth, travelled from the rice paddies of Panay to the slums of Tondo to finally at Harvard.”

[The International School Manila’s Philippine Scholarship application search for ISM’s Class of 2027 Filipino Scholars is now open for the school year 2022-2023. Deadline for submissions is on January 10, 2022 (Monday).For more information on qualifications and requirements, visit: www.ismanila.org/our-community/scholarships-at-ism]

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/01/05/22/how-fruit-vendors-daughter-became-is-harvard-scholar

Doctoral music graduate’s generosity of spirit benefits future musicians

December 16, 2021

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2021 graduates.

International student Ramon “Chino” Alfonso Soberano, who graduates this fall with a Doctor of Musical Arts in violin performance, wants all musicians to be able to achieve their goals.

Last summer in his home country of the Philippines, Soberano taught free virtual masterclasses and lectures to future generations of violinists. The virtual classes were co-taught at three institutions that were instrumental to his development as a musician — the Philippine Research for Developing Individual Soloists (PREDIS), School of Music at St. Scholastica’s College and the University of the Philippines College of Music.

At ASU, Soberano served as co-president for the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) Student Committee in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre from fall 2018 through spring 2021.

“As a founding member of IDEA, the thoughtful conversations with student members and faculty, cross-disciplinary collaborations and advocacy work have taught me to serve as a compassionate and effective leader,” Soberano said.

Soberano said his involvement with IDEA made him realize that the field of music, as other fields, has issues of equity, inclusion and diversity that disproportionately affect some people more than others.

“We should continue to strive in addressing these issues through continuous conversations with open ears, minds and hearts so that everyone has the equal opportunity to achieve their goals as a musician,” Soberano said.

Soberano was a member of the Herberger String Quartet and the ASU Symphony Orchestra. He has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician in Arizona and Illinois, and with the University of the Philippines College Orchestra, the Manila Symphony Orchestra and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

He has taught for ASU’s String Project and community outreach music programs at the Manchester Music Festival and Taconic Music, Inc. in Vermont.

In his most recent lecture recital associated with his doctoral research, “The Contemporary Filipino Violin: An In-Depth Study and Performance Guide of Ramon Santos’ ‘Tanaw II’ (1984) and Conrado del Rosario’s ‘Darangun’ for Solo Violin (1985),” Soberano received high praises from both composers.

Santos said, “Thank you for playing my piece so superbly and so intelligently. I would say that this is the best interpretation of the piece.” And del Rosario said Soberano gave an “excellent performance of my composition ‘Darangun’ for solo violin.”

“Chino was a wonderful teaching assistant for my studio from 2017–19,” said Danwen Jiang, professor of violin in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre. “He is a wonderful colleague, an excellent role model to his peers and a valuable asset to our school and community at large.”

Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?

Answer: It was during a visit to my relatives in Jacksonville, Florida, when I was around 7 years old. My grandaunts knew how to play piano and taught simple tunes to me on the piano. I had so much fun that I asked my parents if I could learn piano when we got back home in the Philippines. Our house did not have much space for even an upright piano, so my mom suggested the violin since it is smaller.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: The most important aspect was the teacher. I chose ASU because of how excellent Professor Danwen Jiang, my violin professor, was as a mentor and pedagogue. Her expertise and guidance have helped me further discover my potential as a professional musician. In addition, ASU values creativity and interdisciplinary collaborations, and I value these concepts as well. I firmly believe that to be a 21st century musician one has to be versatile and open to new discoveries.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: Professor Danwen Jiang, my violin teacher, taught me an important music and non-music related lesson. The most memorable piece of advice she gave me was that being great at performing your instrument is not the only ingredient in becoming a professional musician. One has to be well-rounded and also learn other non-music performance skills such as effective teaching, networking and marketing. Being a kind, fair and respectful musician are desirable qualities that open more doors of opportunity.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Do not lose sight of what is happening inside and outside of yourself. Inside, be mindful of your health and wellness. Health is more important than squeezing one more hour of practice time at the expense of eating a healthy meal and/or getting a good night’s sleep. Abusing your body can have consequences later on in life. Outside, do not be out of touch with issues happening in our world today such as climate change, racial/gender discrimination, poverty, etc. that are affecting us all. In these difficult times, we should be more compassionate to each other and advocate for people who are directly affected by these issues.

Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

A: The “secret garden” in the courtyard at the Herberger Institute office. When school gets busy and crowded, this is a little oasis of quiet and serenity. I would sometimes eat my lunch in that courtyard just to unwind from the busyness of school.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: Aside from searching for jobs, I am excited about taking on personal projects, including discovering and performing new and/or underperformed repertoire, finishing my website and continuing to give masterclasses and lectures at various music institutions, including the Philippines.

Q: Did you receive any scholarships while at ASU, and if so, which ones? What did it mean to you to be able to receive this funding?

A: I received the Special Talent Award Scholarship, the Katherine K. Herberger Scholarship and (was) a teaching assistant. It was such an honor to receive these awards, and I am forever grateful to the donors, faculty and administration for helping me financially during my doctoral studies. Receiving these awards from such a distinguished institution helped me realize that I have potential in growing to be a better musician.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would like to address global food insecurity and hunger. So much of our waking lives is dependent on what and how much food we eat, even impacting our mental health and decision-making. I believe if the general population has easier access to healthy and natural food resources, the world can be a little bit better.

Source: https://news.asu.edu/20211210-doctoral-music-graduates-generosity-spirit-benefits-future-musicians

In this new Filipino restaurant in London, an exuberant mural is getting a lot of attention

Meet the man from Tayabas, Quezon, who brings a slice of ‘Pinas with him wherever he goes

Filipino visual artist Kulay Labitigan (left); interior of Kasa & Kin in Soho, London

London’s gastronomic epicenter, Soho, recently welcomed a new Filipino restaurant in its fold: Kasa & Kin. It was conceptualized by the owners behind Romulo Cafe, and serves contemporary Filipino cuisine developed by a team that includes a Michelin-starred chef. But those are not the only reasons why Kasa & Kin is being talked about. There’s also the stunning mural that wraps the restaurant interior in kaleidoscopic patterns, harlequin imagery, and the exuberant plumage of an Ibong Adarna, brightening everyone’s meals.

The artist behind the mural is 31-year-old Kulay Labitigan, a rising Filipino visual artist and “experiential” illustrator in London with a knack for storytelling.

Born in Tayabas, Quezon, Kulay finished Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines Diliman and arrived in the UK on a scholarship grant to study MA in Narrative Environments at Central Saint Martins-University of the Arts London, one of the world’s top art and design schools.

The mural design for Kasa & Kin is particularly special for Kulay as an immigrant living in the UK. “Adarna symbolizes a multitude of meanings for different people,” he says. “In Francisco Balagtas’ tale, the mythical bird was a healer of the ailing king, a reference to the many Filipino medical professionals who are in the UK’s health service. The bird is also closely associated with nesting, which comes back to the meaning of Kasa & Kin being a home. But what resonates to me more is the bird as an animal of flight and migration. These are powerful reflections for every Filipino and non-Filipino dining in the restaurant,” Kulay muses.

The making of Kulay

Kulay has been making art for the past 15 years, exploring various media and creative areas such as theatrical production, 3D installation arts, and illustrations. Some of his illustrations are featured in select Jollibee stores across the UK including the one in London.

Kulay grew up in Tayabas to a family of handicraft makers, farmers, and entrepreneurs. In a quaint town with deep local traditions, he often spent his childhood replicating the religious imageries drawn on the ceiling of the 16th century San Miguel de Arcangel Basilica and watching plays and shows in the local theater. He says this was when he discovered art.

After studying for two years in UP Los Baños, he transferred to UP Diliman and specialized in industrial design. It was a period when he began designing theatrical sets for independent and professional stage productions.

He would eventually be taken under the wing of top scenographer and production designer Gino Gonzales. In London, he was mentored by the late Filipino visual artist, David Medalla, known for his “auto-creative” artworks and participatory ideas, founder of the London Biennale, and highly respected within Europe’s artistic community.

Kulay likes to use the word “creative talesmith” to describe himself. “As a ‘creative talesmith,’ I find immense joy and fulfillment in connecting dots, developing narratives, and applying them to real-world scenarios,” he says. “I do believe that above anything, story is the universal language. It is the currency of our time. Sometimes, stories do not even need words to be told. From actions to events, carefully sequenced segments trigger our emotion and consciousness, shaping our understanding of our world and ultimately our being. This is how stories become transformative.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrDUkYtbyj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Memories of home

Including the mural in Kasa & Kin, many of the works Kulay is proudest of offer references to the Philippines, his childhood town in Quezon, and musings of home manifested through various media.

Like the set of toys for adults he made to instill a greater appreciation of cultural monuments in Tayabas. This won the UP School of Fine Arts award for Best Thesis in Industrial Design in 2012.

In 2017, he designed the set and identity for a Filipino community festival in Blacktown, Australia called Mahal Kita Future Bayan.

In Tayabas, he mounted his own shadow-in-the-street project during Maundy Thursdays for three consecutive years, creating shadow folkloric images on empty abandoned walls along highways when locals were making the annual hours-long panata walk to the Kamay Ni Hesus Shrine in Lucban, Quezon.

“In 2015 I ventured into a creative soul searching. I packed my whole life in a 30-kilogram suitcase and hopped on a plane headed to the other side of the globe, a place I have never been to but I now call home,” says Kulay, which leads to the current chapter in his story. “Studying design in London afforded me the opportunity to understand my creative voice, fine-tune my artistic style and methods, and discover that everything I have been looking for in this journey are things I already have and already am.”

To hear Kulay say it, moving to London has been a life-changing move. “This extraordinary experience made me realize that home transcends the physical and that my own roots and life story of growing up in rural Philippines – including my anecdotes as a Southeast Asian gay man and all fragments of my personal concept of home – informs my creative practice,” the young Filipino talent explains. “I am proud to see that this has made my work relevant, distinct, and most importantly, a medium that connects and gives people who experience my art a sense of belonging.”

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/art/12/04/21/in-london-kulay-labitigan-tells-the-story-of-home

For pharmacy board topnotcher, engineering was her first choice

December 6, 2021

Kennedy Caacbay, ABS-CBN News

Nicola Christine Rivera of the University of the Philippines-Manila, Pharmacist Licensure Examination topnotcher

MANILA—After topping the November 2021 pharmacist licensure examination, Nicola Christine Rivera of University of the Philippines in Manila shared some advice to aspirants in her field as they prepare for the board exams.

“As early as now, build a healthy mindset. Kasi ang kalaban mo sa board exam mostly is fear and anxiety. ’Yun ay ’yung takot ka mag-take kasi nakakatakot bumagsak,” Rivera said.

(As early as now, build a healthy mindset. Because the enemy is your fear and anxiety, the fear of taking the exam because you’re afraid to fail.)

“Hindi mo pa nalalaman na kaya mo naman pala, pero kaya mo naman talaga. You just have to enter the room and take the exam.

(You may not know that you can do it, but you really can do it.)

“For future pharmacists, everything you do is for your future patients and for the practice of pharmacy profession here in the Philippines and abroad.”

Rivera said she was first eyeing a career in engineering, but her mother convinced her and her sisters to pursue professions in the medical field.

“(Being a pharmacist) isn’t my first dream. Nu’ng first year gusto ko nang mag-shift kasi hindi ko alam kung gusto ko,” she said.

(Being a pharmacist is not my first dream. When I was in my first year, I wanted to shift to another course because I didn’t know if I wanted it.)

But the experiences from her third and fourth years in college helped her settle in her career path.

“Pharmacy as a profession, it is a very diverse and versatile career. Masyado siyang maraming opportunities for direct and indirect interactions . . . Kasi mahaba ’yung process ng drug discovery and development, up to provisions ng medications to patients.”

(Pharmacy as a profession is a very diverse and versatile career. It has so many opportunities for direct and indirect interactions . . . Because the process of drug discovery and development, up to provisions of medications to patients, is lengthy.)

Rivera — who got a rating of 93.90 percent, best among the 1,207 who passed — said it was her friends who found out about the good news first.

“It was overwhelming, pero hindi ko siya mapaniwalaan kasi hindi ko siya nakikita,” she said, adding she wasn’t expecting to top the exams as she wasn’t confident in her scores after she took the test.

(It was overwhelming, but I couldn’t believe it because I couldn’t see the results yet.)

She also shared that taking board exams was different in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ngayon kasi, during the pandemic, there’s additional fear and anxiety for your personal safety na mag-positive ka few days before exam, or may mangyari sa loved ones mo,” Rivera said.

(During the pandemic, there’s additional fear and anxiety for your personal safety, that you might test positive a few days before exam, or something might happen to your loved ones.)

Encouraging all exam takers, she said: “They should not beat themselves up, and don’t let failures define their hard work.”

Rivera finished BS Industrial Pharmacy at UP Manila in 2019.

The results were released on Friday night by the Professional Regulation Commission, with 1,207 out of 2,371 passing. UP Manila was the top performing school with a 98.18 percent passing rating.

UP Manila graduates also led the 2021 physician board examination in October.

The November 2021 pharmacist licensure examination results can be accessed here.

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/05/21/for-board-topnotcher-pharmacy-wasnt-even-first-choice

Greg Zuniega, PHSA’s first alumnus-turned-director

November 29, 2021

By Irene de Jesus Obligacion

Our featured artist today is pianist Greg Zuniega. He graduated valedictorian of his batch at the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) and was consistently on the Chancellor’s List, earning the highest point average for two semesters he spent at the University of the Philippines (UP), as a Maria-CCP (Makiling Academy) scholar.

Pianist Greg Zuniega performs and lectures in classical and Filipino music.

He pursued further studies at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory and finished his undergraduate and post graduate degrees at the Royal College of Music in London. He is also a holder of the following degrees — BS Economics (London School of Economics) and Master’s in Public Management (UP).

He has performed in North America, Europe and Asia. He has been a featured soloist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO); Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra.

We interviewed Greg in our radio program, “Culture Carousel” aired every Saturday from 12noon to 1 p.m. at 98.7DZFE-FM, the Master’s Touch. Here is that interview.

You received the Tagere Gold Medal for Excellence by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. What was the experience like?

The Royal College of Music’s patron was the Queen and she attended our awarding ceremony, which was very exciting. I feel blessed that this special event was part of my young life as a musician, which was very challenging as I had to juggle studies with my work as a freelance musician (playing in hotels, weddings, or as a resident church pianist, and in chamber music concerts, etc.) As I was a scholar, but had to work towards my other expenses, the award was an added bonus to what I learned in London.

You graduated valedictorian from PHSA and is now its director. How does it feel to be the first graduate from PHSA and be in that position?

The PHSA has been in existence for 44 years and my appointment as its director — first alumnus to occupy such a position — means that somehow, the PHSA is in the right direction since it was mandated to develop young artists who are being equipped to become the country’s cultural leaders and to preserve and promote Filipino art and Filipino artists.

What is an excellent artist for you?

When I was young, my definition of excellence was focused on honing one’s craft, practicing toward perfection, to the point of having narrow single vision. Now that I am more mature, excellence has something to do with being able to contribute something to society — in particular, Philippine society — where there are big issues such as poverty, over population alongside little support for the arts. An excellent artist in an underdeveloped country such as the Philippines needs to educate his/her audience, especially the young generation, which does not have the proper exposure to classical performances either in music or dance.

Now that you are a teacher, what are the most important things you can advise your students to enable them to become outstanding artists like yourself someday?

We have to encourage young artists as distractions abound nowadays. Now that the pandemic is still not in full control, many of our artists have faced unemployment.

However, I believe in the resilience and creativity of Pinoys, who had to temporarily think of earning a living the unusual way such as doing online business. Discipline is a basic requirement for all artists and the determination to be heard by an audience is equally important. While artists constantly face pressure and uncertainty, it is important to have faith in God, the ultimate source of all wisdom and creativity.

Source:https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/11/28/the-sunday-times/arts-awake/greg-zuniega-phsas-first-alumnus-turned-director/1823855

GOSSIP GIRL: Indonesian superstar is a Filipino who started out as ‘basurero’

November 12, 2021

by Giselle Sanchez

“My first hamburger came from the trash I collected in the buses that I cleaned for ten pesos a day when I was a kid. My stepfather was a basurero and he trained us to be the same, so we can have money to go to school. My mother left me with my stepfather when I was a kid. But he loved me just like his own children. Because of this, my stepbrothers were kinda jealous of me when we were kids, so one of them stabbed me with a ballpen under my eye. I still have the battle scar,” Leo Consul chats with your resident Manila Bulletin Gossip Girl in the Instagram app.

“But growing up, I forgave him, and now we really treat each other like real brothers. During high school, I was a scholar in Cape Bolinao High School and I worked my way through high school by being a dishwasher on weekdays and a salesboy during weekends. In my sophomore year in high school, I finally met my mom and my stepsister, who is based in the United States. My stepsister Nellie helped me in my schooling during my college years in U.P. Baguio where I graduated. I was also a working student during my college years as a local TV host at ABS-CBN regional network group. After college, I tried to audition for several acting and singing gigs here in Manila, but I was not as successful and life was getting more difficult with the bills I needed to pay, so I decided to apply as an English teacher in an Indonesian school. It was here in Indonesia where I got my break first as a host in Eat Bulaga Indonesia, then It’s showtime Indonesia and several TV shows then I started doing teleseryes. I am currently in one teleserye and filming two movies.”

He was in between breaks from taping the number 1 teleserye in Indonesia “Terpasa Menikahi Tuan Muda” shown in the number 1 television network in Indonesia ANTV where their television program has an 18.9 share in the ratings game versus its competing teleserye which only has a 3.8 share in the pie. Indonesia has more than 250 million people and 90 percent love watching teleseryes.

What is interesting is despite his successful acting career in Indonesia, the handsome matinée idol in Indonesia still wants to try out show business here in the Philippines.

“My stepfather dreams of watching a teleserye in the Philippines with me in it. He doesn’t want to transfer to Indonesia because of his age, so I decided to sign up with Cornerstone Entertainment in the Philippines. Hopefully, they can make that happen next year after I finish my teleserye here and two movies line up for me here. I owe a lot to my stepdad for giving me a life when my mom abandoned me. But I have forgiven my mom already. Harboring ill feelings will be futile,” the half Ilonggo-half Pangasinense tells Gossip Girl.

His fondest memory of his stepfather was when his stepfather saved up to give him his first Rubber shoes. It was a fake pair of Nike rubber shoes called Mike. For the longest time, he just wore broken slippers. This inspired him to write his book “A Thousand Miles in Broken Slippers” in English and translated in Bahasa. You can purchase the book on Amazon.

Source: https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/09/indonesian-superstar-is-a-filipino-who-started-out-as-basurero/

P&G’s Evelyn Chua-Ng: Finding the right work-life balance

October 23, 2021

by Marianne Go – The Philippine Star

Executive profile:

MANILA, Philippines — At the prime of her life, Evelyn Chua-Ng, 43, is an outstanding example of a successful career woman who has achieved a perfect work-life balance, grounded by a strong Christian faith.

Evelyn is currently the vice president and regional comptroller for Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa of American consumer manufacturer Procter & Gamble or simply P&G, a post she has held since 2016.

A 20-year veteran of P&G, Evelyn was scouted by the consumer firm while she was still finishing her business administration and accountancy degree at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

She joined the group in 2001 and initially worked in the Philippines as part of the Asia Internal Controls. After only two years, she got her first international posting in Singapore where she stayed for two and a half years before moving on to China in 2005 and eventually staying for a much longer period of six and a half years.

In China, Evelyn was initially the finance director for Greater China skin and cosmetics sales from 2005 to 2007, and overlapping her role with the additional responsibility as Greater China SK-II global business unit plus globalization F& A director from 2006 to 2007.

From 2007 to 2008, she was assigned as finance director for Greater China baby care and Oral C product supply, and concurrently the Huangpu plant site controller.

From 2008 to 2011, she was promoted to finance senior director of the Greater China baby care global business unit.

After her back-to-back international postings, Evelyn returned to the Philippines in 2012 to assume the chief financial post for P&G Philippines, a role she kept up to 2014.

By 2015, aside from being the Philippines chief finance officer, she was elevated to tax senior director of P&G.

Continuing to soar even higher, Evelyn in 2016 became Asia comptroller and Asia Pacific tax operations vice president, with that role further expanded in 2019 to cover AMA or AsiaPacific, Middle East and Africa, as well as Greater China comptroller.

She is now the highest-ranking Filipino woman in P&G Philippines.

What is even more remarkable, is that she was able to climb the corporate ladder, get married and raise a family of four beautiful girls ranging from 12 to four years old.

How did she achieve such a feat?

According to Evelyn, she actually had no career goals at the start. But what has defined her since her high school years, and what was ingrained in her by her parents, is “doing everything excellently.”

Likewise, she believes that her strong Christian faith is what has kept her grounded. Referring to a Bible verse she reveals that “doing things for Christ keeps my standards high…it is not just about pleasing my human bosses…”

Evelyn’s success could also be attributed to her choice and the opportunity given to her by P&G back in her college years in UP Diliman, specifically in her third year in 1998 when she was chosen to do a summer internship with the company that eventually led to a job offer after she graduated.

She points out that when P&G recruits and hires, the company does so “not necessarily just for a role.” The company she said, every two to three years moves employees around, changes their roles, allowing them to choose if they want to be a “generalist or a specialist.” In her case, Evelyn opted to specialize in finance and general accounting.

But even as she was pursuing her professional career, Evelyn also chose to forge ahead and balance her life by marrying a co-P&G colleague and initially having and raising two daughters while posted in China, and another two when she returned to the Philippines.

Her success in balancing her work and family commitment, she admits, was having “a strong support system and network,” primarily with a very supportive husband, Garry, and competent nannies to help raise her daughters, allowing her to focus on her work, knowing that her daughters are well taken cared of.

Allowing her to work and raise a family, she acknowledges that P&G offers flexible work hours that allows employees to work from home…way before the pandemic.

“Flex work hours was already practiced in P&G as early as 15 years ago. Hybrid work is, thus, nothing new for the company,” a trend that Evelyn feels will continue in the future, post-pandemic.

The post pandemic work situation, as Evelyn sees it, will continue to involve flexible work arrangements and digital technologies.

However, the caveat will be, according to Evelyn, the underlying trust between the employers and workers, noting that workers have to be self-driven to get results and must be accountable for their output, which will lead to a win-win solution for both employees and companies.

Additionally, Evelyn also points out that P&G has embraced equality and inclusion in its workplace, resulting in a 50-50 balance in all management levels.

Evelyn, in fact, now leads P&G Philippines’s Equality and Inclusion Council.

“I’m privileged to work in a company where senior leaders truly live and breathe an inclusive culture. This is a big enabler as it levels the playing field for everyone. Working with the P&G local office and other regional headquarters throughout my career, I never felt like I was not listened to or my ideas were dismissed because of my gender,” she said.

Even so, Evelyn believes that there is still a need to continue to break the so-called “glass ceiling,” noting that while the total workforce now has a 50-50 balance, “Why does that number go down?” Especially as it get to the top posts.

She cites research that has shown that diverse and inclusive organizations deliver stronger business results. Thus, she continues to ask the question, “Why does the glass ceiling still exist?”

Evelyn believes there is still a need to change predisposition and biases of the male population at the c-suite level, who oftentimes ignore personal choices of females by not offering them top level positions.

For her, male managers “need to provide more support and offer the right sponsorship” to their female employees.

“Don’t make the career decision for your female managers,” noting that the male managers oftentimes have made “the sub-consconscious decision that women coming back after they are mothers may not want to take opportunities.”

On the contrary, Evelyn stresses that the question should be asked and that the males should not make that career decision, especially since they may be surprised that females, when posed the question do believe that “I can do both,”

In her own experience, Evelyn relates that “big opportunities could be scary because of risk of failure is very high.” Her advice, though, is “go for it,’’ repeating the adage that the biggest risk also yields the biggest success or reward.

She recalls that her own work-life balance mentor in P&G, when she reached a similar crossroad as a junior manager, had asked her that if she did not take the opportunity presented to her, would she work less? If she was not likely to work less, then her mentor told her “might as well get the right pay for the work your are doing!”

To aspiring young females about to embark on their own career path, Evelyn’s advice is “Don’t overthink it!”

She suggests that when an opportunity presents itself, the decision-making process should be focused on the moment rather than looking too far ahead into the future and at other variables that might come into play at a much later time.

“When at that point needed to make a decision… don’t think about five to 10 years, focus only on what is there right now, and go for it!

Evelyn is clearly happy with the decisions she has made up to this point, appreciating her choice to have a big family, who during the pandemic has kept her happy and busy.

For her own daughters, Evelyn is trying to impart to them the need to have clear priorities…something that was also taught to her by her mentors in P&G.

“You have to be clear on what your priorities are and realize your time.”

For Evelyn her priorities, thus, include being a mother and wife, for whom she reserves her weekends for the family and maintaining their spiritual development.

Another key element she wants to be able to give to her daughters is life skills…”making sure what is the right thing to do; making ethical choices; having the right work ethic.”

As such Evelyn and her husband teach their children not so much with the goal of just getting good grades, but rather “Did you do your best? Did you prepare for it?”

And lastly, Evelyn refers to the Japanese concept of “Ikigai” or finding that intersection where your passion lies, what your strengths are, and what your purpose is. “Ideally, if you can find the intersection where all three meet, there you get more success.”

Source: https://bit.ly/3GglTEw

Essential worker

IT executive finds new meaning in her work during the pandemic

By Leah C. Salterio

“The constraints are both obstacles and opportunities. So in essence, the challenge is doubled: overcome the obstacles and meet the moment of opportunity.”

Stratpoint Technologies chief executive officer Mary Rose De la Cruz is one of those rare individuals, who has put into good use what she pursued in school. She has a computer science degree from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, a master degree in computing from Macquarie University in Australia and a master in business administration from the UP Diliman College of Business Administration.

De la Cruz joined Stratpoint Technologies in 2010, initially as chief operating officer (COO). Within five years, she assumed the position of chief executive officer (CEO) in September 2014. Previous to Stratpoint, she was head of delivery at Headstrong Philippines, now GenPact, a global information technology outsourcing firm.

Up a notch

Stratpoint Technologies, whose roots can be traced to Sillicon Valley in California, has been delivering enterprise-grade solutions for more than 20 years. In 2015, executive chairman Paco Sandejas acquired Sequel Solutions and rebranded it Stratpoint Technologies.

“The opportunity to work with Silicon Valley technology and startups is what attracted me to join the company,” De la Cruz admits. “I always knew that working in software was meaningful work, but this pandemic has taken things up a notch. Now, I know that I’m doing essential work for businesses to continue operating safely during the crisis.

“Our DNA has always been at the forefront of emerging technologies, such that it was actually inevitable that we would be one of the first digital natives. We were always going to be the first to adopt digital when the wave arrived due to our curiosity and passion to apply new technology to solve problems.” Through the years, Stratpoint Technologies satisfied clients who used its library. For instance, “Iris” is a natural language library that enables chatbots to respond to customer inquiries in a conversational manner, providing a 24/7 assistant.

De la Cruz (right) with colleagues Sonny Carlos and Kevin Ventura at the AWS re:Invent 2019 in Las Vegas

Chilling at the Santa Monica Pier in California during a much needed break. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

“With Iris, our chatbots are able to look for a more complete context, rather than just looking for a specific keyword from user messages, enabling them to better identify how to respond to a person’s inquiry,” De la Cruz explains. “Instead of you trying to figure out what keywords will trigger the right response from a bot [short for robot in software program], the bot will figure out what you’re looking for and give you the proper response. Iris helps businesses to grow, saving them time while increasing their customer engagement.”

Stratpoint Technologies has helped a number of prestigious clients embrace the digital transformation and eventually, innovate and level up. The roster includes Globe, ABS-CBN and Unionbank among other enterprises, which have praised the company as a valued partner, particularly for its several software engineering and innovation initiatives.

De la Cruz says: “Our clients are those who want to innovate, so naturally, it was never easy — timelines were always short. The apps have to look good and feel amazing. But we like to challenge ourselves and were rewarded by the thanks and appreciation of our clients and seeing the benefits of our work with our client’s customers.”

Tough job

Operating and functioning in the new normal, Stratpoint Technologies, fortunately, did not experience any major adjustment unlike most ventures. “The shift to virtual wasn’t a stretch, because we are born-in-the cloud (software company), and we are used to working in a distributed manner due to our overseas clients,” De la Cruz says.

De la Cruz herself made sacrifices. “Like everyone else, it’s the in-person interactions that we miss the most,” she says. “Culture and collaborations are just so much easier and more fun when the team is together in one place.

“I think we vastly underrated how much support from in-person interactions with co-workers contributed to our success. We only realized its value when we lost it due to WFH (work from home) in this pandemic.”

As CEO of Stratpoint Technologies now facing heightened challenges, De la Cruz shares how tough and difficult her job has become lately. “Taking care of the people I work with — both Stratpoint Technologies employees and our clients — is the hardest part, because we are all going through stressors to our physical and mental health,” she says. “The constraints are both obstacles and opportunities, so in essence, the challenge is doubled: Overcome the obstacles and meet the moment of opportunity.”

De la Cruz didn’t nurture a specific career ambition when she was growing up. “I just was intensely curious about the world and liked science and math,” she says. “I guess I wasn’t sidetracked, since what I saw ahead of me was not a path, but an open field.”

To unwind, she goes for a tennis match or a round of golf. She also enjoys cooking and travelling. Juggling her time between work and home, De la Cruz admirably manages to keep a balance between the two. “Prioritization is key and being present in the moment,” she insists. “So, that it’s quality time that’s spent with people that matters the most.”

And despite a hectic schedule, she feels that one should never forget to prioritize health. “I start my day with a workout, prayer and meditation and end my day with a walk, if time permits. Weekends are for play and connecting with others, doing the same thing most people do: shopping, eating and just hanging out.”

When the Covid-19 situation clears up, De la Cruz expresses her desire to travel out of the country, one thing that she misses most, along with attending events and connecting with nature. “I hope to go to Wimbledon,” the tennis buff says.

That trip to the UK to catch high-stakes tennis matches is certainly one that the IT executive is looking forward to. In the meantime, she keeps the faith that Stratpoint Technologies will consistently stay afloat despite the formidable challenges it faces in the months ahead.

Source: https://bit.ly/3GojojM