Yes Philippines NewsMagazine UK Edition - Issue 1

FIRST
TheTRULY LOCA L
Y
NEWSM A GA ZINE
Filipino Community New spaper
UK & IRELAND EDITION
E S PH I LI PPI NES
F R E E C O P Y
FROM
COVER to COVER
ISSUE 1
ROWENA
ROM ULO
Making Filipino Cuisine
Cool & M ost
Loved
in London
GAGA LORD
The Dinner Lady Who
Refuses t o St ay in t he
Kit chen
...and she's
making us
Proud Pinoys
in the UK
FRANCESZQUA W ARD
A Young Filipina
Ballerina Pirouet t ing Her
Way t o Fam e

2 ISSUE 1

ISSUE 1
3

4
ISSUE 1
Let t er From The Publisher
by MARY SOL PIMENTEL
'As bear er s of
good news, we ar e
thr illed to infor m
you that all the
inspir ing stor ies
of Filipinos based
in the UK and the
Republic of
I r eland have now
found their new
hom e? and you
ar e holding it in
your hand.'
BEHIND every t rium ph,
perform ance and event is a
journey w ort h hearing;
behind every Filipino is a
st ory w ort h reading.
And these tales, no matter
their nature, deserve to see
print and be brought to life.
As bearers of good news, we are thrilled to
inform you that all the inspiring stories of
Filipinos based in the UK and the Republic of
Ireland have now found their new home? and
you are holding it in your hand. Mabuhay and
welcome to the first issue of Yes Philippines
News Magazine, the first ever truly Filipino
Community paper in the UK and the ROI from
cover to cover.
On our maiden issue, we had the pleasure to
tell the stories of noteworthy Filipinos who
have carved their names on various fields. To
start things off, we feature Rowena Romulo, a
banker turned restaurateur, who gave the
people of Kensington High Street the distinctive
taste of Filipino dishes through her
award-winning restaurant, Romulo Café.
Following that delicious story of success is a
feature about Jeannahlyn Alcano-Lord, a dinner
lady and an ultimate performer who has made
a remarkable impression as an X Factor
sensation. Originally from Misamis Occidental,
Jeannahlyn is now making a name in London as
the ever-energetic and -talented Gaga Lord.
A few pages after Jeannahlyn?s story you?ll
meet Francezqua Ward, a FilBrit ballerina, who
never fails to charm her audiences and make
both the Filipino and the UK communities
proud with her graceful and eloquent
performances. Last but not least is the feature
of presidential fashion consultant Mimi Parrel
Pimentel and her experience showing her
works in the London fashion scene.
Of course, we won?t be calling ourselves the
creators of the first ever Truly Local Filipino
paper from Cover to Cover if we can?t give you
the freshest updates on community news and
events. So, expect to stumble upon local bits
while you dip into the paper.
You will also get some practical financial tips
as our contributor Micah Lee shared some
ways on how to achieve or maintain financial
security in a world of student loans, trend
buying and obsessive-comparison tendencies,
among other things.
Features, local news, showbiz bits and more
are waiting for you. But before I end this letter
and you leaf through the paper, allow me to
thank you for being among the first persons to
support us and read our thoughtfully written
stories. As we create this paper, we are starting
a new tradition of celebrating lives and stories
of the Filipinos in the UK and ROI. And no
words can express how glad we are to have
you on our journey.
Happy reading, and we hope to see you
again on the next issue!
This Edition is distributed all over
the United Kingdom (England,
Wales, Scotland & Northern
Ireland) & Republic of Ireland.
Publisher
MARY SOL PIMENTEL
Associat e Publisher
SARAH MAE
Coordinat ing Edit or
TRIXIE BAUTISTA
Feat ures Edit or
SADEKA SARRA MESALUCHA
Art Direct or
JOHN KNUCKLES
DANNY BARRAMEDA
Writ ers/ Cont ribut ors
PEPS VILLANUEVA
TRIXIE BAUTISTA
ARAH DEMAPANES
BEA SANCHEZ
MICAH LEE
MIZPAH LEE
SHAIRA HABON
Advert ising
KARLA DUCAY
Circulat ion
FLOR MORANTE
WHAT MAKES YES PHILIPPINES NEWSMAGAZINE
DIFFERENT?
We are a TRUE PUBLISHER and not a FRANCHISE PUBLISHER.
We write our own editorial content/materials and not just reprint them
from websites and Philippine publications.
We are a true Community Newspaper as we feature the people,
stories, events and activities of Filipinos living in the UK &
Republic of Ireland on our paper from cover to cover.
We have a more extensive distribution covering the UK & ROI.

ISSUE 1
5

6
ISSUE 1
From Banker to
Restaurateur
Rowena Romulo's Journey
to Conquer London?
The Romulo Café Way
By Sadeka Sarra Fabillar Mesalucha
Conquests carry a different meaning in the food industry. For
restaurants, it is more than just paving the way for a superb
impression BUT cementing an indelible name.
IT w asn?t solely a career shift w hen a
54-year old banker t ook a det our and
braved t he m ot ley hurdles t o ent er
t he w orld of food service in 2016. For
Row ena Rom ulo, it w as now or
never.
Fuelled by her high regard for Filipino food and
det erm inat ion t o enrich her fam ily´ s herit age as
w ell as t o expand, int ernat ionally, t he successful
Rom ulo Café in Manila, she m ust ered all her
courage and em barked on an am bit ious m ission
t o not only pave t he w ay for Filipino cuisine in t he
est ablished London food scene but m ost
im port ant ly, m ake it st ay.
Surely, am bit ion requires m ore t han hard w ork; it
dem ands a great deal of st rat egy and t ons of
passion. From hiring a UK consult ant t o devising a
business plan, present ing it t o her fam ily in t he
Philippines, and t hen having t o find a suit able
spot ? Row ena had t o keep rem inding herself of
t he goal so she w ouldn?t get cold feet .
?The first locat ion w e set our eyes on and m ade a
bid for t urned us dow n because t he landlord w as
not fam iliar w it h Filipino cuisine and he w as
unsure as t o w het her t his w ould be a success or
not ,? she says.
She and her t eam w ere not oblivious t o t he fact
t hat locat ion is crit ical for rest aurant s. They had
t o execut e a conscious decision t o m ake a
significant invest m ent
in an area t hat w as
close t o m ajor Filipino
hubs such as Earls
Court and Our Lady of
Vict ories Church, and
associat ed w it h key
Brit ish landm arks and
est ablishm ent s like
Kensingt on Palace,
Holland Park, t he
Em bassy Row , Palace
Green, Royal Albert
Hall, V&A, and London
Olym pia.
?We have never
claim ed t hat our food
is t he definit ive t his or
t hat dish; rat her, it is
t he fam ily rendit ion of
Filipino favourit es or,
ever so oft en, our
innovat ive t w ist on
dishes using Filipino
ingredient s and
cooking st yles,?
Row ena and Co-Part ner Chris Joseph w it h t heir Tim e Out 2018
London Aw ards for Most Loved Rest aurant s - Runner-Up in t he
ent ire London and Best Rest aurant in Kensingt on
Aft er six m ont hs of searching and surveying, a
Kensingt on sit e w as m ade
available! Not
even t ough
propert y lease
negot iat ions
w ould hinder
t he rise of t he
first out post of
Rom ulo Café in
t he Brit ish capit al.
A Unique
Com prom ise
Rom ulo Cafe in t he heart of Kensingt on in London
Row ena didn't sail
unready. The
challenges did not
surprise nor daunt
her.
Confident of her t eam , she w as up for som e
?donkey w ork?t o convince food lovers and
rest aurant -goers in London t hat Filipino food is
t he big t hing. Moreover, alt hough t he m ission w as
t o t ake Rom ulo Café and all t he good it had t o
offer t o Kensingt on, st ill t he bell loudly rings, ?it ?s
London?, and t here w as alw ays t he risk t hat t his
Philippine set -up could m isfire.
So, m aking a unique com prom ise w as t he nam e
Row ena Rom ulo w it h her Lola Virginia's pict ure
behind her w hose recipes w ere t he inspirat ion for
Rom ulo Cafe's m ult i-aw arded Filipino cuisine
of t he gam e? m aking Rom ulo Café blend int o t he
London landscape on t he one hand and st and out
on t he ot her.
?There w ere m ajor m odificat ions w e had t o m ake.
The int eriors m ade by Filipina Karen
Soriano-Hrist ov, are a depart ure from t he black
and w hit e/ m onochrom e form ula of our
rest aurant s back hom e. There is also a bit of
quirkiness, as you w ould find in any real hom e
w hilst it s spirit belongs t o t he legacy left by m y
grandfat her, Carlos P.
Rom ulo, t hrough t he
phot ographs and
m em ent os t hat adorn t he
rest aurant . The out com e
is an appealing space t hat
bridges Filipino cult ure
w it h t he localit y,
revealing a rich sense of
personal and fam ily
hist ory.?
Aft er furnishing t he
rest aurant , Row ena?s
t eam w as confront ed
w it h a m ore arduous
challenge? set t ing up t he
London m enu! She explained t hat t he m enu
could not be as ext ensive as t he rest aurant s in
t he Philippines largely due t o ingredient s not
being available in London. It also becam e
im perat ive t o alt er t he present at ion of som e of
t he dishes t o ensure t hat t hey w ere not just
delect able but at t ract ive t o Filipinos and
non-Filipinos alike, given t he broader cust om er
base in London.
Row ena has fait h in t he uniqueness of Filipino
cuisine. For her, it is a m esm erizing com binat ion
Continued on page 7.....

ISSUE 1
7
Continued from page 6...
of four culinary t radit ions ? Spanish,
Am erican, Malay and Chinese, and a real
fusion of flavours from t he East and West .
And she?s earnest in m aking it know n and
savoured by t he w orld.
Great ness in t he Making
It has been non-st op w ork at Rom ulo Café
since day one. The challenges have been
huge and dem anding. How t o not only
int roduce but fam iliarise diners w it h
Filipino food; how t o com pet e in such a
crow ded, noisy and high-st andard
culinary locat ion, and even how t o
persuade Filipinos in London t hat Rom ulo
Café offers a viable alt ernat ive t o Pinoy
hom e-cooking or Mam a?s cooking.
Row ena st rat egised and soon
w it nessed hist ory in t he m aking.
?Filipino food has been t he ?quiet
m an (or w om an!)?of gast ronom y for
t he longest t im e. But w e t ried t o
explain our food on our m enus as
sim ply and clearly as possible, and
w e did not hesit at e t o prom ot e, via
social m edia and ot her m edia
?We have t o m ake
sure w e are
com pet it ive ? in
every w ay, versus
est ablishm ent s in
our st yle and price
bracket .?
channels as
w ell as
exhibit ions
and food fest ivals, t he
fact t hat w e exist ed as
purveyors of ?a t ast e of
t he Philippines in t he
heart of Kensingt on?.?
Today her chefs ensure
t hat t hey keep her grandm ot her, Lola Virginia?s
recipes alive by overseeing t he consist ency and
qualit y of t he food seven days a w eek, bearing in
m ind t hat m any no longer consider eat ing out as
a t reat but a lifest yle.
?We have never claim ed t hat our food is t he
definit ive t his or t hat dish; rat her, it is t he fam ily
rendit ion of Filipino favourit es or, ever so oft en,
our innovat ive t w ist on dishes using
Filipino ingredient s and cooking st yles,?
said Row ena. Rom ulo Café?s kit chen t eam
is quit e pleased t o have been able t o
convince a num ber of people t hat fine
w ine goes w ell w it h fine Filipino food, and
m any of t heir Philippine-inspired
cockt ails have t aken off.
?We have t o m ake sure w e are
com pet it ive ? in every w ay, versus
est ablishm ent s in our st yle and price
bracket ,? she added.
Row ena cert ainly had high hopes, but she
herself could not believe t he t urnout .
Rom ulo Café has becom e a head-t urner,
creat ing not just a buzz but a resounding
bang. That sam e year it opened, Rom ulo
Café w on t he 2016 Tim e Out ?Best Loved
Rest aurant in Kensingt on?. It also received a
5-st ar and ot her t op rat ings from t rend-set t ing
lifest yle/ food bibles like Tim e Out , Hardens, and
Square Meal.
And w hile t hose are already m ilest ones, t he
inclusion of Rom ulo Café in t he prest igious
The popular Rom ulo Cafe Pandesal
Row ena and Chris w it h Execut ive
Chef Jerem y villanueva
TATLER
Rest aurant Guide in 2018, t he A-list of t op
rest aurant s in London and t he UK, is one of t he
forem ost achievem ent s, carrying t he pow erful
st at em ent : Filipino food has definit ely arrived
and is here t o st ay. As if t o drive hom e t he point ,
in May 2018, Rom ulo Café ret ained it s crow n as
Tim e Out Most Loved Rest aurant in Kensingt on.
Moreover, it is now Tim e Out ?s second Most
Loved Local Rest aurant (am ong all rest aurant s)
in London!
The hard w ork has paid off. Today, t hanks t o bot h
fellow Filipino, Brit ish and int ernat ional
cust om ers, Rom ulo Café?s Crispy Pata, Adobo,
Kare-Kare, Pansit Guisado, Flying Fish, Pork Sisig,
Chicken Relleno, Halo-Halo, and Suman Latik are
Row ena accept ing her aw ard as one of t he
FWN 100 Most Influent ial Wom en of 2017
firm favourit es on Kensingt on High St reet .
The Conquist ador is a Wom an
Som e of t he firm favourit es at t he rest aurant
What could happen in less t han t w o years? For
Row ena and Rom ulo Café, w hat has happened is
not hing short of m onum ent al.
Grit over experience is Row ena?s form ula for
cham pioning t his voyage. Says t he now
est ablished rest aurat eur, ?We are never t oo
old nor is it ever t oo lat e t o st art over. At
t im es, w e need t o t ake a risk and have t he
courage t o vent ure int o som et hing
new ? even if it m eans clim bing out of our
com fort zone. All our dream s can com e t rue
if w e have t he courage t o pursue t hem .
Not hing is im possible, t he im possible only
t akes t im e.?
Wit h such a disposit ion, it w ould not t ake
long for t he w orld t o see t he st rengt h in
Row ena. In 2017, she w as nam ed one of t he
100 m ost influent ial Filipinas in t he w orld by
t he Filipina Wom en?s Net w ork. She w as
recognized in t he ?Builder Aw ard?cat egory for
her "except ional organizat ional im pact at a
large w orkplace environm ent ," her
"deep passion for a
?My t eam and
I cont inue t o
w ork
ext rem ely hard
t o ensure t hat
w e are
consist ent ly
delivering
qualit y food and
service day in
and day out . And t o
show case t he best of
Filipino hospit alit y,
and m ake Rom ulo
Café ?hom e aw ay
hom e?for Filipinos.?
cause, t hrough
collaborat ive
init iat ives or
alliances" and "high
pot ent ial and skill
w it h
m easurable
result s."
In t he m idst of all
t he accolades, she
rem ains st eadfast .
For her, receiving
recognit ion sim ply
m eans ?No Slacking?.
?My t eam and I
cont inue t o w ork
ext rem ely hard t o
ensure t hat w e are
consist ent ly
delivering qualit y food and service day in and day
out . And t o show case t he best of Filipino
hospit alit y, and m ake Rom ulo Café ?hom e aw ay
hom e?for Filipinos,? she said.
Row ena cannot help but liken t he journey of
Rom ulo Café t o t heir Pandesal. ?Our hom e-m ade
Pandesal is t he first t hing t hat guest s are
served w hen t hey dine w it h us. It looks very
sim ple and unassum ing and t hen w hen
guest s t ake t heir first bit e, t hey say ?WOW?
and are very com plim ent ary. From t he
out side, t he rest aurant looks sm all and
unpret ent ious but w hen people ent er t he
m ain dining room , t hey are im pressed w it h
t he overall am biance and décor and t he
hist ory t hat surrounds t he rest aurant . Our
journey has been t hat of a relat ively
unknow n cuisine in London t hat has m ade it
t o t he A-list of rest aurant s in less t han 2
years. And now , Pandesal is delivered t o
m any London hom es and w e have
non-Filipinos w ho com e in t o t ake it hom e.
How about t hat !?
The eponym ous Rom ulo Café is sure t o honour
t he grand legacy of t he diplom at Carlos P.
Rom ulo. because a det erm ined and driven
w om an nam ed Row ena Rom ulo t ook up t he
challenge, it is now an em blem of Filipino pride in
London, our very ow n cuisine at it s heart .

8
ISSUE 1
Gaga Lord
Out side t he
by Trixie Baut ist a
Kitchen
and Beyond
X Factor
'I ceased performing on stage for over 10 years because I
thought it?s the end of my career. Then I realised you?ll
never get too old to sing.'
TO live different lives
m ust be fun ? if not ,
t hen w hy is
Jeannahlyn
Alcano-Lord having a
grand t im e? Lovingly
know n as Gaga Lord, t he
41-year-old Filipina w orks as a
dinner lady by day and a
perform er by night .
On a regular day of grinding, she heads
to bars and lounges making audiences
groove after serving meals in a primary
school.
A comedian, a dancer, and a singer,
Gaga is an ultimate performer rolled
into one. With her infectious laughter
and perpetual energy, she captures the
hearts of everyone watching and
As a young performer in bars and hotels
in Asia. and doing her Tina Turner covers.
listening to her. Seeing Gaga
perform so exhilaratingly,
complete with high kicks and hip
shaking, it?s almost a sin not to get up
and dance with the singer.
For an artist with a serious talent, Gaga
is not afraid to make fun of herself.
Every so often, she?ll chuckle between
performances, toss the mic from one
hand to another, and dance with an
audience member on the stage. And
just like what every Pinoy will do, the
singer speaks Tagalog from time to
time when faced with Filipino
audiences. Whether it?s a love song or
danceable pop music, the seasoned
performer is sure to give the
entertainment that the audience came
for.
Gaga?s love for music goes back a long
way, looking up to the iconic
and incomparable Tina
Turner as an influence. At
the early age of 17, after
graduating high school, she
became a drummer at a
band and was able to
perform in countries
outside the Philippines,
such as China, Malaysia,
Singapore, Thailand, and
Borneo. After years of
performing, Gaga has
rightfully earned her
stripes. Naturally
entertaining and having
contagious humour, she
eventually became the front
singer of the band eight
years later.
The Life That Wasn?t as
Gaga as Her Nam e
Oozing with charm and
energy ? that?s how many
would describe Gaga.
However, those words
fall short to encompass
her personality and
story. Gaga was from
Calamba, Misamis
Occidental and led a
tough life in the
Philippines, growing
without her parents by
her side.
When she took her
chance abroad, things
weren?t easy at first. Among the many
challenges she had to bear is the
longing for the home and family she
had left in the Philippines.
Notwithstanding this, she got by and
managed to make the best of things. ?It
was very difficult when you feel homesick,
but always look on the brighter side of
life. In everything, give thanks for this is
the will of God?, Gaga recalls her first
few years abroad.
Caught up with her new life, Gaga had
to stop performing for quite some time,
a break which stretched to a
decade-long hiatus. Fortunately, a new
opportunity to jumpstart her singing
career, though unexpected, soon came.
An Accident al Bond Girl
What started as a far-fetched idea
between friends had led to a wonderful
journey, albeit a nerve-racking
experience for Gaga Lord. In her
spontaneous audition for The X Factor
UK, she had breathed a new life into
classic Shirley Bassey song, Diamonds
Are Forever, and wowed all four judges.
That audition did not only earn her the
ticket to the show?s boot camp stage at
Wembley Arena; it also gave her the
Courtesy of X Factor UK
Kader Academy in Middlesborough where
Gaga works as a dinner lady by day
chance to dance with two stunning
celebrities Nicole Scherzinger and
Alesha Dixon. And the three of them
gave us a glimpse of the world?s
latest? and must we say,
sexiest? Bond girls.
?I achieved my singing career to a
different level.?
Even though Gaga didn?t get through
the boot camp, The X Factor had
opened doors for her. She is now
juggling gigs and bookings across the
UK while working as a dinner lady. Keen
to make it big, she plans to grab every
opportunity that comes along. At
present, Gaga is living in
Middlesbrough with her husband Chris
and daughter, whom she brought to
the Philippines a couple of years ago
for vacation.
Jeannahlyn Alcano-Lord ? the Filipina
who wowed the X Factor judges and
now continues to pursue her passion
for singing at 41 ? has a message for
everyone who wants to make it as well.
?Don?t lose hope. As a personal
experience, I ceased performing on stage
for over 10 years because I thought it?s the
end of my career. Then I realised you?ll
never get too old to sing.?

ISSUE 1
9

10
ISSUE 1
Leaping and Pir ouetting... The Young FilBrit
F r a n c e s z q u a Ballerina Wins Our
Hearts With Grace
by Mae Ogdoc and Trixie Baut ist a
W a r d
At some point in our lives, we feel the eagerness to discover our true passion, the thing we?ll never get tired of doing. Some
people find it eventually by trying everything they could get their hands on, but for some, finding that one thing takes a lifetime.
WHILE m ost of us t opple on our
journey, Franceszqua Ward, a
prom ising ballet dancer, discovered
her pat h at t he early age of
t w o? and all it t ook t o spark for her
passion is an adorable Hello Kit t y
t ut u. Since t he day she received it as a gift , she w ould
oft en be seen charm ingly dancing in front of t he TV
and im it at ing professional ballet dancers, w it h her
clum sy and chubby feet .
All of these happened years ago. Now at 11, the pretty
Filipina dancer has grown into a young lady, conquering various
ballet stages and pirouetting her way to success. Dancing lightly
and delicately on the ends of her toes, she has impressed
audiences in and outside the United Kingdom, slowly making a
name for herself and immensely making both the Filipino and UK
communities proud.
Among Franceszqua?s many awards are Theatre Dance
Council International Regional Champion in Ballet, Modern and
Tap, Youth American Grand Prix European semi-finalist 2018 in Paris, and Royal
Academy of Dance East Midlands. She was also the youngest dancer to win a double
title in a year from the British Champion in Ballet and All England Dance gold
medallist in Ballet at eight years old. In addition to competitions, Franceszqua did
special performances at Mandarin Oriental Hotel?s 20th-year celebration and at the
premiere of the film ?Ballerina?, among others.
Because of her performances that leave many amazed and astounded,
Franceszqua often receives words of appreciation, and she is extremely grateful to
everyone who has been with her in her journey. However, amidst all the praises from
other people, it is her parents?encouragement and supports she value most.
The first person to believe in Franceszqua?s potential is, of course, her mother,
Juvy Ward. Since day one, Juvy has always been very supportive of her kid?s dreams,
always finding a way to ensure that her little ballerina receives the training that she
needs to fulfil her goals however difficult
circumstances may be at most times. ?Words
aren't enough to express how proud I am.
Franceszqua's hard work, dedication, and
love of dancing inspire not just the people
who know her but she inspires me to keep
believing and never give up,? Miss Juvy Ward
told Yes Philippines Newsmagazine.
Dancing Is a Sanct uary
In the eyes of the audiences,
Franceszqua is a dancer trying to tell a
story through graceful and eloquent
performances. For the young ballerina,
however, dancing is what makes life more
interesting? a way to create her own place
of happiness. ?I love dancing and I don't
think a day goes by when I don't dance.
It's the only way to keep me happy?,
Franceszqua professing her love for the craft.
A Filipino girl born and raised in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, England,
Franceszqua has had her share of dealing with uncalled comments from her peers at
school. This is particularly because of her looking ?different?from everybody else. As a
result, this makes her a favorite for bullies.
Instead of falling back, she uses all the horrible experiences thrown her way to
fuel her love for dancing as well as to prove to
herself that she deserves better. Truly,
Franceszqua has found not only her passion but
also the place where she could take refuge in
during difficult times.
Whenever she faces struggles and
personal issues, she reminds herself
constantly why she started dancing in the
first place which subsequently keeps her
going. Young as she is, Franceszqua always
finds the strength knowing that nothing
good comes to people who do bad things.
?When I dance, all of my troubles melt
away and everything
is put into dancing.
When I dance, I
feel like I can get
away from all of
the bad things,
and I feel like I'm
not drowning in regret, sorrow
or anger. I always believe that
dancing is the closest thing to flying;
when I dance, I'm free!?, she honestly
confessed.
The Ballerina?s Sophist icat ed Dream s
Franceszqua is a little kid
with big dreams.
In the future,
she aspires to
become a
principal dancer in the
Mariinsky Ballet. The
young ballerina,
while often
seen light on
her feet, knows
that getting from
where she is to where
she wants to be would take
hard work and discipline.
Aware that every performance
gives her an opportunity to get closer to
her dream, Franceszqua religiously
practices her routine to get better at her
craft. ?I usually stretch, work on my
technique, and I zone out quite a lot so that
helps me too. I like to sleep a lot as well, it's
important to get rest!?, the young ballerina
said.
On stage, in her soft tutu, Franceszqua
has touched people on a deep, abstract
level as she pirouettes and leaps on the tips
of her toes. However, beyond giving otherworldly
performances and bagging awards, she hopes to
inspire people to become the best they can be so they
are confident enough to follow their dreams.

ISSUE 1
11

12
ISSUE 1
?Don?t Go
Broke Trying
by Micah Lee
Our cont ribut or Micah Lee lives in London
and is a Law graduat e of Brunel Universit y
and current ly t rains t o be a solicit or.
to Look Rich?
?Broke? doesn?t necessarily mean no money, it can also mean spending money that leaves you with
£7 before payday. If you?re continuously living off pay-slip to pay-slip you?re not financially secure.
WHAT w ould you norm ally find m e doing on m y
daily com m ut e t o w ork? Norm ally squeezed
on t he Cent ral Line, scrolling t hrough m y
phone t o avoid aw kw ard eye cont act ; t hank
goodness for underground Wifi.
Likely t o be sift ing t hrough m y Inst agram and Facebook feed - t hat girl you
sort of know but never really spoken t o is on her fift iet h holiday t his year t o
t he Maldives, your form er secondary school friend m anaged t o bag him self a
Porsche for his 24t h birt hday, your w ork colleague m oaning about her
hangover from drinking one t oo m any cockt ails at t he Shard. Only t hen do I
realise t hat t his is w ay t oo m uch glam for a Monday m orning?
The younger generat ion, or w hat older generat ion like t o call us ?m illennials?,
is w ell know n for our addict ion t o social
m edia. We invest so m uch t im e int o
brow sing every day t hat w e get sucked
int o focusing on ot her people?s lives
rat her t han our ow n. Why not ? It ?s w hat
t he cool kids do. But w hat t he super cool
kids do is share t heir lavish lifest yles,
from casually w alking int o Harrods t o
buying a Gucci bag t o being one of t he
first t o ow n t he lat est iPhone.
Redefining your relat ionship w it h
m oney?
Of course, you?re ent it led t o spend your
m oney how ever you like. On t he ot her
hand, com ing from a 21-year-old
graduat e t hat ?s in a load of st udent debt ,
as a societ y our financial priorit ies are
pret t y m essed up. Rat her t han paying off
your overdraft , w e?d rat her get t he new Yeezy?s. But w ho cares right ? Nobody
can see your debt , but everyone can see your new fancy shoes. WRONG.
When you t ake your first st eps int o t he scary adult w orld, you?re oft en faced
w it h decisions t hat are det rim ent al t o your developm ent from a child t o a
responsible adult and m oney is a biggie. This ?t rend buying?behaviour is a
never-ending t iring cycle t hat causes you t o live life from one paycheck t o
anot her.
?Broke? doesn?t necessarily m ean no m oney, it can also m ean spending
m oney t hat leaves you w it h £7 before payday. If you?re cont inuously living off
pay-slip t o pay-slip you?re not financially secure. Yes, you?re fooling everyone
else but you?re m ugging yourself off t he m ost .
Social m edia is t he biggest bluff?
Everyt hing w e see on social m edia has t o be t aken w it h a pinch of salt , a
five-second Snapchat nor a 40-m inut e YouTube video hardly reflect s
som eone?s life. One of m y favourit e bloggers recent ly adm it t ed t hat she w as
w orried about paying her phone bill as she im pulsively t reat ed herself t o a
Louis Vuit t on bag t hat m ont h. I had t his im pression t hat she w as super
w ealt hy. When in realit y, she w as st ruggling t o pay her m ont hly bills. Social
m edia w ill alw ays be t he bet t er poker player, part icularly w it h bluffing. It ?s
full of glam , luxury and hasht ags. Ironically enough, it never show s you t he
w hole pict ure.
?DO YOU, BOO?
From a young age w e?re alw ays encouraged t o fit in order t o m ake friends.
From nursery unt il Universit y, if w e didn?t have friends w e w ere considered
as w eird. This is w hen insecurit y com es t o
play. We?ve based our self-w ort h and
confidence dow n t o w hat ot her people
t hink of us. In hindsight , it ?s sad as it ?s an
elem ent of life you cannot cont rol. Back in
m y secondary school days, I forced m yself
t o like t he band Bring Me t he Horizon
because m y friends liked t hem . CRINGE.
Even t hough w e priorit ise t his less as w e
grow older, it st ays w it h us. We?re easily
influenced t o jum p on t he bandw agon just
because everyone else says it s good or has
it . But t hat ?s w hen w e decide t o draw t he
line and say t hose t hree m agical w ords, ?I
DON?T NEED IT?.
In t he end t he only im port ant t hing is
financial securit y, w hich is w ay bet t er t han
any m at erial possession. Not only does it
put your m ind at ease, but it also benefit s you in t he long-run. Have you ever
not iced how t he people w ho have t he least are t he happiest ? People in t he
Philippines don?t need m at erialist ic possessions t o sm ile or laugh. Just som e
adobo and good com pany is enough. My cousins are st ill gladly rocking t heir
Nokia phones and m y aunt ies are pros at get t ing a bargain. Essent ially, t heir
priorit ies are different since t hey focus t heir finances on t heir daily needs
rat her t han m at erialist ic possessions. They m ake t he m ost of w hat t hey have
and find happiness w it hin t he lit t le t hings, w hich I found in Taho (soft Tofu
w it h sw eet ener/ flavouring). That ?s w hat it t ruly m eans t o be living your best
life.

ISSUE 1
13
...from page 4

14
ISSUE 1
Pr esi dent i a l Fa sh i o n Co nsul t a nt
M im i Par r el - Pim ent el
L o o k i n g b a c k a t h e r
L o n d o n F a s h i o n
W e e k E X P E R IE N C E
by Charlize Mendez Legaspi
?It is rare for a Filipino fashion talent to be invited to showcase and exhibit her
works on such a global scale, alongside the best in the world. As such, it was a
privilege for me to participate in that event.'
It is a singular honor for any person from a
developing count ry like t he Philippines t o
show his or her t alent in a fashion capit al
like London.
In recent years, Filipino fashion creativity is slowly
being recognized in the United Kingdom, after our
musical talents have been hailed so resoundingly at
West End.
Lesley Mobo, who grew up in Aklan, honed his craft
further when he was appointed head designer of
Jasmine Di Milo at Harrod?s.
In 2010, the multi-talented milliner Mich Dulce was
awarded the prestigious British Council International
Young Creative Entrepreneur (IYCE) International Young
Design Entrepreneur of the Year (IYDEY) Award for
Fashion at London Fashion Week.
Last year, design wunderkind John Herrera won Britain?s
Top Designer, a competition hosted by Fashion Finest,
with his ?Agila? collection.
At the House of iKons presentation at London Fashion
Week at the Gloucester Millennium Hotel in February
this year, three Filipinos were able to flaunt their artistry:
Aandre David, Che Aranjuez and Mimi Parrel-Pimentel.
?It is rare for a Filipino fashion talent to be invited to
showcase and exhibit her works on such a global scale,
alongside the best in the world. As such, it was a
privilege for me to participate in that event,? muses
Parrel-Pimentel.
House of iKons, under the Lady K Productions of the
dynamic Savîta Kayê, scouts for emerging designers
from around the world and gives them a platform to
show in London, one of the Big Four fashion capitals
along with New York, Milan and Paris.
Filipino fashion designers Cary Santiago, Jaki Peñalosa,
Happy Andrada and Rocky Gathercole previously joined
House of iKons shows in the past years.
In her ?Romantic Interlude? collection, Parrel-Pimentel?s
sophisticated, classy and tasteful aesthetic was on full
display. For the ladies, she used piña strips, cotton silk,
Indian sari, Cerutti fabric and Mindanao Silk.
Three of the models were Fil-Brit beauty queens such as
Kiara Giel Gregorio, Miss Philippines Air 2016; Kimberly
Escartin, Miss Philippines UK 2016 and Miss Great Britain
finalist 2017; and Christagale Borja,
Miss Philippines UK 2015 and
Binibining Pilipinas 2017 Top 15.
Parrel-Pimentel?s ladylike confections
attracted several women, receiving
inquiries in the process. One of those
drawn to her creations was the inspirational
Cynthia Alcantara-Barker, the first Filipina
councilor in the UK.
Male models, meanwhile, were transformed
into dashing, distinguished gentlemen in her
piña cocoon silk and Mindanao Silk
barong Tagalog.
Parrel-Pimentel created President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte?s barong Tagalog
during his inauguration. She is
responsible for the statesman look
of the President as his
Presidential Fashion Consultant.
In this capacity, she also dressed
up the ASEAN Ministers and
their spouses at ASEAN 2017, as
well as top executives of the
Departments of Foreign Affairs,
Trade and Industry, National
Defense and Energy.
She is currently practicing in
Makati, with an offer to open a
shop at the Clark Freeport Zone,
but originally hails from Cagayan
de Oro. As a native Mindanaoan,
she fiercely promotes Mindanao
Silk in all her shows and
collections.
This devotion to an indigenous product
earned her the support of the Department of
Tourism?s Tourism Promotions Board?s COO
Cesar Montano, who believes in advocating
for Pinoy-made products to be be showcased
on the international stage.
?I felt overwhelmed and grateful because I
was given the opportunity to show my
collections at one of the world?s fashion
capitals,? said Parrel-Pimentel. ?It is so
fulfilling because it is my ultimate dream to
have a show in London and to see my clothes
worn by international models.?
Mim i Parrel-Pim ent el at t he House of
ikons Present at in of her collect ions
Modelling Mim i's creat ions in t his year 's London
Fashion Week w ere (from L t o R) Christ agale
Borja, Kim berly Escart in and Kiara Giel Gregorio
Runw ay Phot ographed By Surjit Pardesi

ISSUE 1
15

16
ISSUE 1
H ow Pi noy
A r e Yo u?
10 Best Traits of a
Stereotypical Pinoy
Fby SHAIRA HABON
ILIPINOS have been described in m any different w ays and w hile
each Filipino is unique, t he great m ajorit y of t he Philippine
populat ion is bound t oget her by a set of com m on values and
som e st ereot ypical t rait s t hat m ake t he Pinoy race dist inct from
ot her cult ures.
Friendly? Check. Outgoing? Check. Clever? Check. Sure, Filipinos get a dose of
compliments for being a happy, hospitable stock but there are a lot of things that
makes one more Pinoy.
So what makes you a great Filipino typecast? Here, we have listed the 10 best
traits of a stereotypical Pinoy.
Note: Get ready with your pen and paper and let?s see how you fare.
The Fam ous Kinilaw na Tam ilok
Phot o from Hom e Kit chenom ics
4. You?ve tried and you love exotic dishes, for sure. From the chill ones like Isaw
and Tapang Kabayo to the extreme types like Kinilaw na Tamilok from Palawan and
Aklan (Shipworm or Woodworm dipped in Salt and Vinegar, Abuos (Ant Eggs) from
Ilocos and Adobong Kamaru (Mole Cricket), from Pampanga, we?re pretty sure
you?ve tried some of these ?out of this world? dishes and you enjoyed them, yes?
Phot o from The Filipino Tim es
1. You love Karaoke more than anything else. Whether you sing well or not
(which we think is a rare case), karaoke is a huge part of your life. Have you tried
that videoke for rent where you type in the number code of your all-time hit song?
Or that one that requires you to drop some 5 peso coin to pay your favourite ?My
Way?piece? Or maybe you have a magic sing at home? Whatever the occasion is,
karaoke will always be a part of every celebration. This is because Pinoys have an
immense love for music and the singing prowess runs in your blood. Right?
2. You offer everyone food. Filipinos live by the line ?kain tayo? or let?s eat. It can
mean you offering food to a friend or relative or even to a stranger or passersby,
even if your baon (packed lunch) is hardly enough for you. It may not be a real
invitation to eat but more of a courteous way of telling people that you?re about to
eat (or is currently munching on something) and you can share your food if they?d
like to.
3. You can cook (well) and you find joy in eating. Now, this is something
unquestionable. Wherever you come from or whatever locality you?re
representing, you surely know how to cook one specialty or two. Are you a
Kapampangan? You probably know all the existing sisig variants? Batangueño? Ala
eh! Let?s have some Bulalo! You love to cook because you also love to eat. No diet
when it comes to Pinoy food because Pangga, who doesn?t find joy in eating?
5. You treat everyone as family. Everyone is ate, kuya, tita and tito! No one?s left
out and your definition of friendship and kababayan is inclusive just like a real
family. You share your food, your home, your things and even your clothes
because that?s what kinship means to you.
Continued to Page 26...

ISSUE 1
17

18
ISSUE 1
FACE
THEMONTH OF
Kacey Colleen Lim
27 years old
Maida Vale, Westminster

ISSUE 1
19

20
ISSUE 1
Embassy News
PH Am bassador Lagdam eo Present s Credent ials
t o Irish President Higgins
DUBLIN 24 Apr il 2018 ? Philippine Am bassador t o t he Unit ed Kingdom
Ant onio M anuel R. Lagdam eo present ed his Let t er s of Credence t o
President M ichael D. Higgins at Áras an Uacht aráin, t he of f icial
residence of t he President of Ireland in Dublin on 19 Apr il.
Ambassador Lagdameo has formally commenced his duties as
non-resident Philippine Ambassador to Ireland by presenting to
President Higgins the letter from President Rodrigo Duterte signifying the
Ambassador?s appointment.
Marpol Annex VI on Prevent ion of Air Pollut ion
from Ships t o Becom e Effect ive for t he
Philippines as Perm anent Represent at ive t o Im o
Deposit s t o t he Im o Secret ary General t he
Inst rum ent s of Accession t o 3 IMO Convent ions
The presentation of credentials was followed by Ambassador Lagdameo?s
inspection of the Irish Guard of Honor at the President?s official residence. He
was accompanied at the credentials ceremony by his spouse Madam Linda
Floirendo Lagdameo and Consul Rommel Romato. Some high-ranking Irish
government representatives, including Brendan Griffin TD, Minister of State for
Tourism and Sport, were also in attendance.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Lagdameo greeted President Higgins and
conveyed President Duterte?s good wishes for the well-being and prosperity of
the leader and the people of Ireland. President Higgins welcomed the new
non-resident Philippine Ambassador to Ireland. He also expressed Ireland?s
gratitude for the contributions of Filipino migrant workers to the development of
his country. The Philippines and Ireland enjoy strong bilateral relations with
dynamic people-to-people linkages starting with the flow of Irish Catholic
missionaries to the Philippines in the late 19th century. The two island nations
belong to the fastest-growing economies in Asia and Europe. Both countries
have millions of people living overseas constituting the largest diasporas in the
world today.
PR-IMO Asuque hands over to Dir. Kenny, IMO Legal Affairs and External Relations, the Instruments
to 3 IMO Instruments on the safety of ships and prevention of air pollution. Joining him are LEG
105 Chair Schöfisch (right) and APR Sarne of London PE and Maritime Attaché. Lingad and Atty.
Calag of MARINA (left).
24 Apr il 2018 ? The Philippines is now com m it t ed t o t he global ef f or t s t o reduce air
pollut ion f rom ships as it deposit ed t he Inst r um ent of Accession t o t he Prot ocol of
1997 t o Am end t he Int er nat ional Convent ion f or t he Prevent ion of Pollut ion f rom
Ships,1973 as m odif ied by t he Prot ocol of 1978 (M ARPOL Annex VI).
MARPOL Annex VI, first adopted in 1997, limits the main air pollutants contained in ships
exhaust gas, including sulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrous oxides (NOx), and prohibits
deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODS). MARPOL Annex VI also regulates
shipboard incineration, and the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from
tankers.
In addition, the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), Gilberto Asuque, deposited on 24 April 2018 to the IMO Secretary
General the Instruments of Accession to:
1. the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the to the International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea, 1974, (on measures to further improve the safety of ships, particularly tankers); and
2. the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (Load
Line Protocol 88).
The IMO Secretary General is the designated depository of all instruments of ratification or
accession by Member States to IMO Conventions. In accordance with IMO regulations, these
3 IMO instruments will become effective for the Philippines three months from the date of
deposit or on July 2018.
Ambassador Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo presents his letters of credence to President Michael
Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin, Ireland on 19 April 2018.
PermRep Asuque handed over to Director Frederick Kenney of the IMO Legal and External
Affairs Division, representing Secretary General Kitack Lim, the Accession documents signed
by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Senate Resolutions concurring to the accession by
the Philippines to the 3 IMO Instruments.:
PermRep Asuque deposited the Instruments of Accession during the 105th Session of the
IMO Legal Committee (LEG 105) which discussed under agenda item 10 the ?Review of the
Status of Conventions and Other Treaty Instruments Emanating from the Legal Committee?.
He was joined in this simple ceremony by Mr. Volker Schöfisch, LEG 105 Chair, and Ms.
Emma Sarne, Alternate Permanent Representative to IMO, Mr. Arsenio Lingad, Maritime
Attaché ? MARINA; and Atty. Virgilio B. Calag, Chief, Prosecution Division, Legal Services,
MARINA, all delegates to LEG 105. In his statement, PermRep Asuque informed LEG 105 that
the Philippine Senate has also concurred to two other IMO Conventions, namely, the
International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships 2001 and
the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,
1974, (on the harmonized system of ship survey and certification). He said the Instruments
of Accession to these two IMO Conventions will soon be deposited with the IMO
Secretary General.
From left: Minister Brendan Griffin TD, Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, President
Michael Higgins, Madam Linda Lagdameo and Consul Rommel Romato at Áras an
Uachtaráin
PermRep Asuque thanked the Legal Committee and the Technical Cooperation Committee
for the assistance extended to the Philippines to facilitate the ratification or accession to
IMO Conventions or Treaties. During the Senate hearings for the concurrence to the
accession of these IMO instruments held on 09 March 2018, PermRep. Asuque explained the
importance of these IMO conventions for the safety of Filipino seafarers and in protecting
the marine environment from the operation of ships.

ISSUE 1
21
CFO Lauds Landmark High Court Ruling on the Recognition of Foreign Divorce
T
he Com m ission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) lauds
t he April 24, 2018 Suprem e Court en banc ruling
recognizing t he validit y of foreign divorce obt ained
by a Filipino against a foreign spouse. The
landm ark decision paves t he w ay for a Filipino
w ho obt ains a divorce from t he foreign spouse t o
have t he divorce recognized by Philippine court s.
This recognizes t he Filipino?s right t o have t he foreign divorce
recognized and t o be free t o rem arry, regardless of w ho files for
and obt ains
t he divorce.
?We commend this landmark SC ruling as a tool for women
empowerment as majority of marriage migrants are Filipino women. It
is also our way of safeguarding their rights,? stated Undersecretary
Astravel Pimentel-Naik, the Executive Director of the CFO. She further
added that the CFO has been consistently lobbying for the passage of
similar legislative bills such as House Bill No. 6446 filed by Rep. Pia
Cayetano that seeks to recognize the capacity of the Filipino spouse to
remarry when the foreign spouse has obtained a foreign decree of
divorce.
The Manalo Case
Voting 10-3-1, the SC en banc ruled "that a foreign divorce secured by a
Filipino against a foreign spouse is also considered valid in the
Philippines, even if it is the Filipino spouse who files for divorce
abroad."
The particular case was that of Marelyn Tanedo Manalo who was
married to Japanese national Minoru Yoshino. Manalo filed for and was
granted divorce in Japan in 2011.
Manalo went to court in Dagupan, Pangasinan to have her divorce
recognized in the country. The trial court in Dagupan denied her
petition. She then went to the Court of Appeals (CA), where she scored
a victory in 2014.
The CA ruled that Manalo should have the right to remarry. It applied
the amended Article 26(2) of the Family Code. Former president
Corazon Aquino issued an executive order that amended the provision
so that it included this:
Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly
celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien
spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall likewise
have capacity to remarry under Philippine law.
The Philippine government, through the Office of the Solicitor General
(OSG), went to the SC to try to reverse the CA's ruling. Manalo won at
the SC level, hence this landmark ruling.
Landm ark Ruling
With the amended Family Code, Filipinos who obtain divorce in the
country of their foreign spouse get to remarry without fear of a bigamy
suit. However, if the one who obtained the divorce was the Filipino
spouse, the state still did not recognize it because of the absence of
absolute divorce in the country.
With this ruling, the state now recognizes the divorce obtained by the
Filipino, and couples of the same circumstances of mixed-marriage will
be considered not married to each other under Philippine law. The
Supreme Court ruling is also consistent with the legislative intent of
Article 26 of Executive Order No. 209 (July 6, 1987) otherwise known as
The Family Code of the Philippines, as amended by Executive Order No.
227 (July 17, 1987), to rectify the absurd situation where the Filipino
spouse who has been divorced from the foreign spouse remains
married under Philippine laws even while the foreign spouse can
exercise his or her right to remarry as cited in the Supreme Court First
Division ruling G.R. No. 154380 (October 5, 2005).
Safeguarding Marriage Migrant s
The CFO, an agency of the Philippine government under the Office of
the President established through Batas Pambansa Bilang 79 tasked to
promote and uphold the interests, rights and welfare of overseas
Filipinos, including marriage migrants, conducts the mandatory
Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) for spouses and other
partners of foreign nationals.
Records of the CFO show that from 1989 to 2016, majority of the more
than half a million marriage migrants are female (91.38%). Out of the
522,002 marriage migrants registered with the CFO, 477,025 or 91.38%
are female while 44,977 or 8.62% are male. The United States continues
to be the top destination of spouses and partners accounting for
43.58%, followed by Japan (23.48%) and Australia (7.8%). More than half
or 53.79% of the Filipino spouses or partners have limited knowledge
about the country of their foreign spouses or partners; while 10.88% of
them have no knowledge at all. Only 35.33% professed to have
sufficient prior knowledge of their destination country. Most of spouses
and partners are from the age bracket of 25-29 years old which is
30.61% of the total number,
followed by 20-24 years old
(23.50%) and 30-34 years
old (19.86%).
In Japan, nearly a third of
marriages between
Japanese nationals end up
in divorce. For Japanese
nationals married to foreign
spouses, majority (2/3) of
marriages end up in divorce.
Majority of divorce is also by
mutual agreement, meaning
the divorce does not go
through any judicial or court
proceedings. The divorce by
agreement only has to be
registered at the municipal
office provided that the registration documents have been properly
signed and sealed beforehand by both parties.
The GCP was institutionalized to address growing concerns on the
mail-order spouse scheme and cases of human trafficking in the guise
of marriage. The GCP was strengthened with the passage of the
Republic Act No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
of 2012 and Republic Act 10906 or the Anti-Mail Order Spouse Law,
which mandated CFO to conduct pre-departure counseling services for
Filipinos in intermarriages.
While the CFO does not have official data of divorced Filipinos in
intermarriages, it has a database of foreign spouses / fiancées /
partners who have sponsored Filipinos more than once for marriage or
common-law partnership. CFO also receives reported cases of Filipinos
divorced or abandoned by their foreign spouses. In some instances,
Filipino spouses become victims of trafficking in the guise of marriage
or mail-order spouse scheme.
The landmark ruling by the Supreme Court is, thus, an affirmation of a
Filipino?s right to remarry after obtaining a divorce from the foreign
spouse. At the same time, the Supreme Court decision also provides
relief for victims and survivors of trafficking in the guise of marriage or
mail-order bride scheme as they may now obtain foreign divorce and
have the divorce recognized in the Philippines as part of the process of
rebuilding their lives.

22
ISSUE 1
Co mmu n i t y Ca l e n d a r
MAY 27
What: Santacruzan, Flores De Mayo
Where: St Agnes Catholic Church Cricklewood Lane
Time/Day: 1:30 PM - 7 PM | Sunday
JUNE 9
What: The Filipino Women?s Association UK 30th
Year
Charity Fundraising Dinner and Dance
Where: Royal Garden Hotel
When: 6 PM - 1 AM | Saturday
What: Rock on Yorkshire (Year 1)
Where: Ripon Race course, Yorkshire
Time/Day: 10 AM - 5 PM | Saturday
June 3
What: My Grace is Always
More Than
Enough
Where: Baden-Powell
House 65-67
Queen's Gate
South Kensington
London SW7 5JS
Time/Day: 12:00-5:00PM
| Sunday
JUNE 17
What: Philippine Festival of Food,
Culture and Music
Where: Hawkinge Community Centre,
Heron Forstal Road,
Hawkinge CT18 7FP
Time/Day: 10 AM - 5 PM | Sunday
June 23
What: My Grace is Always More Than Enough
Where: Blaydon Rugby Club (car Boot Area)
Hexham Road Swalwell Newcastle upon
Tyne NE16 38N
Time/Day: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Sunday
SEND US NEWS OF YOUR
COM M UNITY EVENTS &
A CTIVITIES
We w elcome details of your
stories, including success,
aw ards, appointments and
events.
Send your items by email to :
info@yesphilnew smag.com

ISSUE 1
23
Co mmu n i t y Ca l e n d a r
JUNE 30 / JULY 1
What: Birmingham-Sandwell West Midlands Filipino Festival 2018
Where: Lightwoods Park and House
Time/day: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Saturday/Sunday
July 7 & 8
What: Philippine Festival of Food, Music and
Culture
Where: Hawkinge Community Centre Heron
Forstal Avenie Hawkinge,
Folkestone, KENT
Time/Day: 6:00 PM - 11 PM | Saturday
JULY 21 / JULY 22
What: The 34th Barrio Fiesta sa
London 2018 - Day 1
Where: Apps Court Farm
What: 2-Day League Volleyball
Time/Day: 9AM - 7PM | Saturday & Sunday
Sept em ber 22
What: Aguman Kapampangan UK
Where: Baden Powell House 65-67 Queen's Gate, South Kesington London SW7 5
JS Nearest Station: Gloucester Road, Buses: 70, 74, 345
Time/Day: 6:00 PM - 11 PM | Saturday

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ISSUE 1
COMMUNITY NEWS
WHEN THE
UK
HAS FALLEN FOR
Su p e r T e k l a
by CAROL PANDAY
Phot os by Des Wit hey
SUNDAY night last April 22, at t he London Earls Court Hot el, did not discourage
people in t he UK t o gat her for Super Tekla in London. Considering t hat t here w ill
be w ork t he follow ing day, t he opport unit y t o be w it h Super Tekla w as
som et hing t hey did not w ant t o m iss.
The show of attendance almost covered the different cities in the UK, not to mention Europe, as
there were people who came all the way from Belgium. UK was the final stop of their Europe
Tour. Super Tekla and company were not disappointed, as London had the biggest crowd of all the tour dates.
Martin D Icon joined Super Tekla on stage, iconic also with his towering hair-do as to complement the image of
Super Tekla that's popular to the public. He introduced Tekla while doing his grand entrance adding
excitement to finally having Tekla on the centre stage. His quips and jokes, never missed a single person in the
crowd.
Their usual segment of getting people from the audience branded as ?audience participation? was ALWAYS
part of their repertoire. It was never a difficulty, as men willingly and selflessly volunteered themselves to be
part of the game. The line up of men included Rodel Saycon from Dabawenyos UK and Regie Buelvo of
Samahang Magdalo.
The audience were delighted that the most requested song of Tekla was performed, Celine Dione?s ?My Heart
Will Go On?. Roaring laughters reached their highest decibel, from the start until the end of the song. Almost
all mobiles were up, just wanting to have their own keepsakes of the memories of the night.
Fronting the show were the selected local talents with the title of their own musical achievements in the league
of competitions. Jahna Lucero, the Pinoy Teen Pop Superstar, opened the show, followed by Marinel, The Teen
Diva from EuroPinoy Talent Centre, Aldrin Dagui, the TFCKat UK Champion 2013 and Videoke Champion 2012
and the one who pumped-up the audience before the final act, Gaga Lord from the X-Factor UK 2017.
To most attendees, the show was worth every penny they paid for, although for some they felt a bit
short-change. But on the whole, it was an enjoyable and satisfying show.
The event was roduced by SimplyC PR & Events and Fil-Brit Services Newcastle.
Filipina beauties
from L o n d o n
to compete in Tw o
Int'l Pageants
Tby ROMULO PALMA, RN
HE Royalt ys - Maker of Kings and Queenside organised a
send off part y on 6 May 2018 at Park Cit y Grand Plaza
Kensingt on for t he lat est beaut y queens t o com pet e in
int ernat ional beaut y pageant .
Miss Kacey Coleen Lim, a law graduate and currently the
2nd-runner up Miss Swimsuit UK will be the official
representative of the Philippines to the 3rd edition of Miss
Summer World at Durress, Albania from the 15-20 May 2018. The pageant night
will be on 19 May and will be broadcasted on Albanian National TV.
Meanwhile Miss Christa Borja a fashion merchandiser and Binibining Pilipinas
Top 10 finalist and Miss Manila Bulletin will be Miss United Kingdom for the
Beauty & Talent International competition at Seoul ,Korea on 15-20 June.
The said send off was attended by both of the candidates' family and friends in
order to wish them well for their respective competitions.
Kacey Coleen Lim
Christ a Borja

ISSUE 1
25

26
ISSUE 1
Continued from Page 16...
H ow Pi noy
A r e Yo u?
10 Best Traits of a
Stereotypical Pinoy
the most famous monickers and you?re always gunning for the sharp
shooters!
7. You call on the Lord for everything, literally. ?Haru Diyos ko!?(Oh, my
Lord), ?Susmariosep?(Jesus, Mary and Joseph) are just some of the words
Filipinos use as part of the every day life ?subset?. Whether you?re
intentionally calling the Lord or not, these expressions can somehow connote
your inclination to the Catholic faith and Sus, you love these words very much!
8. Your resilience is tried and tested. Been through a disaster? Sure you?ll
mourn about it but you?ll rise up in a few. Made a bad decision? You know
you?ll get through everything like your favourite local hero. Pinoys are positive
individuals whose resiliency is definitely immeasurable and this character is
something this race is very proud of.
Phot o court esy of Danbyrd Arellano
6. You?re into basketball. You don?t have to play good ball but you just love the
idea of the game, period. You can play in the streets or in an actual court. You
know Jawo not as a senator but as the playing coach and you give your all for that
?Never Say Die? chant! Whatever team you?re supporting, you surely know some of
9. You?re humour is universal. You can make people laugh and you take
serious situations lightly. Your virtue is, let?s have some good time and let?s
throw a joke or a pickup line (without offending others).
10. You know ?pakikisama? is the key to having a good relationship with people
- and you know that bonds are built in trust and friendship.
So now, how Pinoy are you?
A BA NGA N
PRUK
NGA YONG
JUNE 2018
M A LA PIT NA !
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ISSUE 1
Fond Farew ell for
Deputy Consul
General M YLA
M A CA HILIG
by PEPS VILLANUEVA
AFTER serving t he UK Filipino
com m unit y for m ore t han 6
years, Deput y ConGen Myla's
t erm of office has finally
ended.
It was a very hectic 2 months for her before
she flew back to the Philippines for her next
journey in the world of foreign service.
She had daily invitations from the different
organisations for breakfast, lunch, merienda,
and dinner as everybody wanted to say their
goodbyes personally to a diplomat who
touched the lives of the FilCom.
To her credit, Minister Myla tried her best to
accommodate everyone. Even on the day of
her departure, there were some members of
the FilCom who joined the Embassy officers
and staff in bidding her farewell.
Minister Myla, Yes Philippines News Magazine
together with the rest of the UK Filipino
community would like to wish you all the best
in your future assignment.

ISSUE 1
29
Career Minister MYLA MACAHILIG
Deputy Consul General
Philippine Embassy London
2012- 2018

30
ISSUE 1
Kr i s Aq u i n o
Why She St ill Rem ains t he
Qu een o f A l l M ed i a
by Sarah Mae Tejares
LOVE her or hat e her, you can't deny it is difficult for you t o pret end you don't
care about her life and issues. But st ill, you find yourself com m ent ing on her
t hreads. In t he end, she w ins because it 's eit her you agree w it h her, or get pissed
w it h her answ ers t o your insult s. That 's Kris Aquino.
In t his age of t he Int ernet , w here num bers of likes and shares m at t er t o
advert isers, it is very challenging t o professional m arket ers t o gain at t ent ion
as t heir com pet it ors invest sizable budget s for Facebook ads. But if you have Kris
Aquino, you m ay not need a Facebook boost .
No doubt t hat Kris is st ill t he queen of endorsem ent s and m edia aft er she shares her
dram a on social m edia. Wit h t hat , t here are a few t akeaw ays t hat every digit al
m arket ing professional should learn:
She shares her life experiences
Once dubbed as a Queen of Talk, her life is an open book. Apparent ly, she's living
in a long-running realit y show , w here her every m ove is a big deal t o t he public.
Working in m edia for m any years, she has est ablished a gift of rapport w it h t he
public. Apart from t hat , she know s all sort s of "chikas" from show biz and
polit ics. Since m ost Filipinos are fam iliar and even updat ed of her personal life,
t hey eit her disdain her or em pat hise w it h her.
She's t act less
Kris is know n for being t act less, and she quickly says w hat 's on her m ind. Not
everyone is a fan of her at t it ude, especially her det ract ors. How ever, you
can't deny t hat her som et im es t hought less ut t erance is one her endearing
t rait s.
She responds t o t rolls for a purpose
It 's easy t o m ake m ult iple account s on social m edia. Current ly, t he m edia
and t he public are facing a challenge of delineat ing fake new s t o t he real
ones because of t he t rolls. Apart from spreading fake new s, t hey exist t o
insult you if you don't agree w it h t heir view s. Usually, people choose not
t o fight w it h t he t rolls. But Kris fight s t he t rolls for a purpose. She is ready
t o fight t hem t o prot ect her fam ily especially her sons, and w on't t olerat e
bullying.
She has t im e t o prom ot e t he brands am idst her feud
w it h her frenem ies
Just recent ly, t he queen of all m edia t hrew shade at ex-husband Jam es
Yap and form er co-host Korina Sanchez in her m uch publicised rant s. But
despit e w ashing her dirt y laundry in public in her Inst agram post s, she
w ould unabashedly assert her being an endorsem ent queen by insert ing
her brands in her post s.
She w ould not regret her act ions
She is know n for adm it t ing her m ist akes. But aft er adm it t ing som e
m ist akes, she adds t hat she never regret t ed her act ions.
She prom ot es love aft er rant ing.
Am idst cont roversies, she never forget s t o t hank God and prom ot e love.
She t hanks God for t he blessings she receives every day. So it is not easy
t o hat e Kris for so long.
Inst agram phot o of Kris Aquino

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