Beauty with a cause

Meet the new breed of beauty queens who went on stage to make their advocacies known

August 24, 2014

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Frances Cham
Miss Chinese Cosmos Southeast Asia

WORDS OF A CHAMPION

By: Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman

Cham is four letters short of “champion,” and this lucky girl is living up to this name. Frances Elaine Cham bagged the title Miss Chinese Cosmos Southeast Asia recently held in Malaysia, besting other chinita princesses in other countries. And of course, her smile, along with her chummy personality, has snagged hearts, winning her the competition’s Miss Beautiful Smile.

“I was nursing a bad ankle during the competition,” the 26-year-old interior designer says. But like a true champion, Frances has found confidence in adversity, strutting her stuff on the runway as if everything was fine. More than her smile and statuesque built (she’s 5’8”), what’s in between her ears is her major ace. She’s got the brains.

Instead of the typical Q&A, the contestants were asked to defend a random statement from the emcees. Asked to choose between beauty and brains, Frances’ winning answer was, “Life is a continuous learning process, therefore education is life itself and very important.”

And Frances knows how to practice what she preaches. This Interior Design major from the University of Santo Tomas graduated with honors (cum laude) and secured the top 10 spot in her licensure exam (85.60 percent).

“I am just a regular person. I would like to think that I am a girl next door,” she says. “After school I’d stay with friends for a while then go home to review and study.”

Joining beauty contests was on her list, and she’s ticked it off, not once, but twice. “I’ll do interior designs for a lifetime, it’s my career path, but I consider joining pageants as a new opportunity,” she says. Her first beauty contest was not as sweet: She walked home empty handed when she joined Miss Chinatown last year. “It taught me how to be patient and to never give up. Sabi ko ‘sige, go lang.’”

Winning the tilt was validation. In September, she’ll fly to Hong Kong and China to represent Southeast Asia in the Miss Chinese Cosmos International. “I will not only represent the Philippines, which I consider my homeland, but the whole Southeast Asian region,” she says.

At first glance, many would think that Frances is Filipino-Chinese (she looks like Toni Gonzaga) but she is pure Chinese, although she’s quick to say that she has a purely Pinay heart. Born and raised in Manila, Frances considers herself Filipina. “The trait I admire in us the most is that we have that innate ability to smile,” she says, smiling. “I noticed that in Malaysia, where the Miss Chinese Cosmos was held, they were serious and hardly smiled, while we find happiness in almost anything,” she says.

While there may be a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China and incessant discrimination cases against Filipina domestic helpers, Frances says she loves the Philippines. “I think it’s not about siding, or which side I must be on,” she starts. “But since everyone will be affected, these matters must be resolved in a peaceful manner.”

Frances confesses, in hush-hush, that she’s not a fan of everything “made in China.”

“Now that I have a title, I have a voice. My duty is to compete internationally and represent my country. My personal advocacy, on the other hand, is education. Kaya kulang sa disiplina ang mga tao kasi kulang sila sa education (People lack discipline because they lack education).”

‘Before I came to the Philippines, I didn’t really know what Kpop was. I also learned a Korean song because of a Filipino singer in Jeju island.’

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
August 24, 2014

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Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Hyuk Lee likes the Filipino word nayon (village). It’s smooth to say. It brings back memories of distant past, of his hometown, where he spent his carefree days as a young boy. But more than these, he says he likes nayon because it means neighborhood.

In Hyuk’s abode, there’s a sense of nayon in the air. Upon entering his sprawling home, which he has lived in for more than two years, we were welcomed with a peck on the cheek, not with the Koreans’ customary bow. We were a sight: A Filipino bowing to greet a Korean who was more comfortable with a handshake, a smile, and a hug. He immediately served us a glass of water and sweet treats. “I have the impression that Filipinos like sweets,” he says, “but sometimes, your desserts are too sweet. It’s bad for my health!”

HYUK LEE
AMBASSADOR, SOUTH KOREA
(Portrait by Pinggot Zulueta)

YOU’VE BEEN IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. DID YOU HAVE A HARD TIME ADJUSTING?

The adjustment was very easy. Everybody is hospitable and so sociable and polite. Immediately after I set foot here, I felt the love. The weather is good, there’s no winter, which is good for someone my age. (Laughs) I am 56 years old. Korean winter provokes such emotion or sentiment. I also easily made friends with those surrounding me—three gardeners, two helpers, four guards, and seven cats and two dogs and one puppy I adopted.

YOU ARE AN ANIMAL LOVER!

Yes, I am. I adopted two stray baby cats, which included a stray kitten my Korean chef picked up while she was taking a walk. (He now has about 10 cats in his garden.)

WHAT DO YOU MISS?

I miss Korean restaurants. Fortunately you have Korean restaurants and groceries here. I also miss my hometown, which is in a rural area. Most of all, I miss my friends. I don’t particularly miss the winter. Spring is my favorite season because all the things that have been dormant like trees and flowers start to bloom.

CAN YOU SAY IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES?

I think I will live here for the rest of my life. (Laughs) I think this is my favorite country. I am not saying this because we are in the Philippines, no, no, I think everything is natural. It’s natural for Koreans to like it here because of the people—and you have everything: Good food, Korean groceries and restaurants, and beautiful islands.

WHAT BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS HAVE YOU VISITED?

I’ve been to Boracay. I spent two nights there. I think it has the best beach in Southeast Asia. I’ve been to Bali, Indonesia but I think when it comes to beaches I think Boracay is the best. I’ve also been to Cebu, Bohol, and in Mindanao—Davao, Cagayan de Oro—and in Iloilo where I saw the Dinagyang Festival. It’s very colorful.

YOU HAVE A KOREAN CHEF WITH YOU, BUT HAVE YOU TRIED PINOY FOOD?

Yes, yes, I’ve tried bulalo and sinigang, and Filipino-style deep fried chicken. I sometimes go to Romulo Café. When a guest from Korea comes here, to give them a taste of Filipino food, I bring them to Romulo Café. I’ve also been to Abe and Max’s Fried Chicken.

DO YOU KNOW ANY FILIPINO WORDS?

I am not good in Filipino, but I think the most beautiful word in Filipino is nayon (village). It sounds very beautiful. I like the word because all the human beings live in a global village. There’s a small village called Nayong Pilipino in Angeles, Pampanga. It’s a traditional village, which attracts tourists. There’s an old church, there are traditional dance troupes, as well as some shops selling snacks and artifacts. I also know kaibigan (friend). I think nayon and kaibigan are enough. (Laughs) We are all kaibigan, right?

YES, WE’RE ALL KAIBIGAN.

The relationship of Korea and Philippines has been growing in a steady manner. Of course, there’s a Korean wave here, which is very popular and well established in the life of  Filipinos. We have many Korean goods loved by Filipinos. I think this trend will continue. Geographically, we are very close. The flight time is only three hours and a half. The Philippines is geographically the third closest next to Japan and China. In that sense, we can be more optimistic about our relationship. If we try harder to nurture our relationship, we will be successful.

WERE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW IMMENSELY POPULAR KPOP IS HERE?

I see so many shows, so many telenovelas. Actually, before I came here in the Philippines, I didn’t know much about KPop. I have little knowledge because of the generation gap. I was quite biased against the Korean performers though. I thought they just have pretty faces. But since I came here, I went to several KPop concerts at Mall of Asia Arena and at the Araneta Coliseum and I was impressed by the performers. Do you know 2PM and Big Bang? (Laughs) I’ve been to a Big Bang concert. That was my first concert. I also attended Psy’s concert. Before seeing them, I had prejudice against them because I felt they were just dancing not singing.

HOW ABOUT PINOY PERSONALITIES, DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THEM?

I saw Richard Gomez—he went to my office with his wife Rep. Lucy Torres. There are many beautiful actors here and singers, of course. I like Lea Salonga, whom I saw perform at the Palace. Freddie Aguilar is popular in Korea because of his song “Anak.” It was translated in Korean. You know, Korea has so many Filipino lounge singers. You probably have heard about Jeju Island? When I was at the Hyatt Hotel, there was this man who sang the Korean song “I Believe.” It was the first time I heard the song, and I remember being overwhelmed because he was so good. I tried to learn the song myself. (Laughs) It’s a theme song for a Korean movie. That’s how I learned the song, because of the Filipino singer.

MANY FILIPINOS WOULD LOVE TO GO TO JEJU ISLAND AND SEOUL. BUT HOW WILL YOU CONVINCE KOREANS, ON THE OTHER HAND, TO VISIT THE PHILIPPINES?

Many Koreans already know what the Philippines is all about. Koreans take up the bulk of foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines. I think more than one million Koreans have visited the Philippines. They go to Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, or Manila. There are also many Korean students studying English here, taking advantage of the summer or winter vacation. My niece is studying English at Enderun. I think more than 10,000 students are studying here in Metro Manila and Davao and Baguio.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN KOREAN AND FILIPINO CULTURE?

I think we share the same values. In the Philippines, families take care of each other. Koreans used to do that, we used to take of each other. Nowadays, we have a small family because our birth rate is very low. On average, Korean parents don’t have more than two children. Because of the industrialization and economic growth, they just want to enjoy by themselves. That’s what we have lost, I think, over the last decade. But we still have a tradition of taking care of each other. I was overwhelmed that Filipino families are big! My driver has as many as 12 brothers and sisters. I haven’t heard of any family who has fewer than four brothers and sisters. I think a big family is both good and bad. It’s bad in the sense that they have fewer opportunities. If you have so many siblings your parents can’t take care of all them. But it’s good that you have good families for reunions, you help each other, sometimes you love each other, sometimes you hate each other (laughs), but it’s normal.

WHAT ABOUT OUR DIFFERENCES?

Koreans are very hot tempered. We are very impatient and we want things done very quickly. Here in the Philippines, time moves very, very slowly. That’s the difference. There is misunderstanding that can arise. Koreans always say to the Filipinos “dali, dali” (quick quick). (Laughs)But I think Filipinos aren’t used to “dali, dali.” I think it’s not desirable to be late all the time.

POW! How to train your inner Pacquiao

Because champions are made not born. Yes, train like a beast, end up a beauty.

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
August 17, 2014

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Here’s a torture test: With only a 30-second break in between a four-category-workout (strength, mobility, endurance, and agility), you have to finish the whole routine without a single strand of hair out of place, as if nothing happened, as if it’s just another walk in the park. Deal? By the end of the 21-minute circuit routine, it should leave you standing strong, begging, asking for more.

Images by Advan Ramirez

It starts simple. Leg lunges, shifting weights to the side, stretching. Yawn. But then again, it’s just the start. When you got some of the country’s biggest names in fitness—Erwin Tagle of Ultimate Fitness, Coach Rio or RunRio, Paolo Cabalfin of Focus Athletics, Dexter Pulido of 360 Fitness, and Edward Pagonzaga of Elorde—nothing is easy.

Then, badass routine follows: A few kicks here and there and a jab-straight-hook combo to the left, to the right, surely got you sweating like a pig. A few mixed martial arts (MMA) basic foot works, say the participants, were the most fun and engaging. There’s a ladder-like mat, too, where you have to jump in and out of the boxes. It’s for your leg stretches.

Before you know it, 21 minutes will already have elapsed. It will leave you panting, on the verge of passing out.

Congrats! You just did a portion of Manny Pacquio’s hours and hours of routine. That heart-pounding, fat-shaking, open workout at Whitespace Makati emulates Pacman’s moves. Rexona’s latest brand ambassador Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao says, “In preparing for a fight, the opponent may vary, but my training routine remains the same. I live by the philosophy of training more to be the best you can. I spend hours in the gym, running, sparring, and improving.”

Whenever he has a match coming up, Manny would wake up at 6 a.m., do a five-mile run and a series of shadow boxing, jumping rope, and sparring.

Lanky Manny started out awkward. Weighing just 106 pounds, he was 16 years old when he first stepped into the boxing ring with hope in his hands and a burning desire to win. There was fierceness in his eyes, then and now.

DARE YOU TO MOVE Bend it, stretch it, shake it like Manny Pacquiao.
Images by Advan Ramirez

His secret? Constant training. “Success is earned and worked hard for. To be the best, you have to train more,” says the first and only eight-division boxing world champ.

Now at 35, weighing 65 kg (143 lbs), the boxing superstar is among this year’s Sport Illustrated’s top 50 fittest athletes worldwide. Size matters when you’re on the ring. Heavy weight fighters usually have 7.69” wrist, but Manny has 8”. Again, charge it to constant training.

When not on the ring though, he juggles many other roles: A father, congressman, businessman, basketball player, and PBA coach. “It’s about pursuing passions, really,” he says.

An active lifestyle seems to run in his family, too. His wife Jinky likes to sweat it out in fun Zumba classes and badminton rallies. Mommy Dionisa meanwhile keeps her youthful and chipper disposition, thanks to her ballroom sesh (could it be the secret to having a younger boyfriend?). His kids, well, are just being kids: Playful and active. Manny is just too glad nobody has showed intention to follow his footsteps yet.

While exercise and a balanced diet work hand in hand, Manny seemingly has been blessed with an active metabolism. He says he eats whatever he wants. “I really don’t have a diet. When I know that I’ve eaten a lot, I’d exercise more. I’ve always been active, anyway,” he says in Filipino.

Images by Advan Ramirez

Dying to be like Pacman, but not really into boxing? No worries, it’s okay, as long as you keep an active lifestyle, says Manny. And with him as its newest ambassador, Rexona encourages gym buffs and champion wannabes to experience a workout a la Pacman. The trick’s simple. Just sign up at the Training Camp via Rexona’s Facebook page, select your fave sport (MMA, boxing, Jiu Jitsu, or Muay Thai), pick a location, and book your session to more than 50 gym partners nationwide.  Voila, a free workout session for you.

“It’s all about pushing your physical limits, taking ‘do more’ to the next level. That’s why Rexona is doing the training camp,” says brand manager Mar Corazo.

There’s only one requirement though: Backing out is not allowed, just as Manny Pacquiao is not yet ready to retire: “(If I retire) then who are you going to watch up there?”

Rebels with a cause

Forget about the singing servers or dancing crews, here’s one café where you can feel the tender lovin’ care.

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
August 21, 2014

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Foodies eat with attention to a. ambiance b. food presentation c. both. But what about the crew behind your IG worthy chicken with garlic sauce? In one of Makati’s foodie places, besides the good food, there is a better story to share—the men behind the cafeteria are migrant boys rescued from a life of child labor, vagrancy, petty crime, abuse, or poverty, who are in dire need of “second helpings.”

HAPPY TO SERVE YOU Leu Benj Anton Buenaventura, Edward Salonga, Enrique Borromeo Jr., and Fr. Dave Buenaventura

Leu Benj Anton Buenaventura, 16, mans the counter of Coffee & Saints cafeteria, the livelihood project of Pugad Foundation and Caltex. He seems happy. “Nakaka homesick pero masaya naman po,” says the boy from Pangasinan. He’s one of the many boys rescued by Don Bosco Pugad Center. Soon, he’ll go to college and take up culinary arts. The boys at C&S are endorsed by non-government organizations and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, says Father Dave Buenaventura, the man at the helm of Pugad Center, which empowers and heals poor and needy migrant youths to become dignified agents of society. In Pugad Center, the boys are taught English classes, praying the rosary, tailoring, and singing, among others. The center, Father Dave says, aims to give the boys Alternative Educational Programs that would equip them with skills and knowledge before referring them to other agencies with formal, non-formal, or technical training.

What are the boys’ plans after school? “To find a job that will sustain me and my future,” says Enrique Borromeo Jr., 17 who’s taking up automotive classes at Don Bosco Technical Institute Technical Vocational Educational and Training Center. He works as a waiter at C&S during his free time.

The boys are headed for a bright future. Celebrating its three years of service since its renovation in 2011, C&S is cooking more flavorful, healthier meals named  after saints and martyrs (St. Lucy’s green salad, St. Peter’s steamed fish, lumpiang shanghai ni San Lorenzo Ruiz, and beef pares nina JP at John XIII among others).

Its bestseller is King David’s Chicken, bathed in sweet garlic sauce and garnished with the café’s ashitaba leaves, an herb used for treating high-blood pressure, gout, and constipation. For devout vegetarians, the Vegetable Kare Kare ni Pedro Calungsod offers a new take on the nut-based dished. Spice lovers dig in a spoonful of Kilawing Puso ng Saging ni Maria. Besides the cute names, each meal is served with rice and priced between P50 and P100 only.

Still doubtful if C&S is worth your visit? Here is something that will convince you more: the crew was trained by local and international food chains like Via Mare, Kenny Rogers, Jollibee, and Goldilocks. Celebrity chef and “Adobo Queen” Nancy Reyes-Lumen shared one of her family’s secret adobo recipes. In 2003, she trained the Pugad boys in bakery operations. Now, equipped with skills and able to inject their own ingenuity, C&S offers ashitaba cookies, bibingka, ensaymada, and onion hopia, among others.

          GOOD FOOD, GOOD CAUSE: Daing na bangus, bibingka, and carbonara (Images by Rudy Liwanag)

Meanwhile, the Pugad alumni—who now enjoy their own success stories—offer helping hands to the brotherhood in improving their culinary craft. A former crew invented and shared King David’s winning recipe. He now works in Abu Dhabi, says Father Dave. Some members are stable and satisfied workers in world-class hotels here and abroad like InterContinental, Alta Vista, and Cyma Mediterranean, among others.

C&S provides a steady flow of income to sustain the foundation’s operations and its 80 Pugad boys, aged 16-24.

C&S is also a firm supporter of locally sourced coffee variants from Cavite and Batangas like barako and Arabica. “Here you go, ma’am, sir,” says Edward Salonga, 17, with a smile. In between studying automotive classes, he works as a waiter in C&S.

The boys continue their work behind the counter. Tomorrow is yet another day. “What’s important is we are happy with what we are doing,” says Leu. Talk about good food and good cause. Better yet, talk about full and satisfied stomach and a fuller, more satisfied heart.

That’s so fly

Move over aerial silk and aerial yoga, flying trapeze is surely a fun, badass exercise and entertainment.

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
August 12, 2014

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Cirque du Soleil performers and acrobats seem to do it with poise and ease: Swinging from point A to B, somersaulting, and twisting on air in a trapeze. In South Africa, trapeze parties are the kind of fun of the upper crust partygoers. They would set up a trapeze in a garden while having barbecue. Trapeze is an immense form of recreation, but it can also be one helluva exercise. Hollywood celebrities and singers like Hugh Jackman, Britney Spears, and Pink have joined in the fun, citing flying trapeze as an alternate to weight lifting. It could be remembered that Pink showcased her trapeze training in her performances: 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and 2010 Grammy Awards.

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So, are you ready? Here comes a fun filled workout not for the faint of heart and scared of heights: The Flying Trapeze Philippines (FTP) is the first and only (so far) trapeze school in the Philippines located at Bonifacio Global City. FTP summons daredevils and fitness junkies into an experience that is one for the books. While Zumba, Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing tone your lower body, the flying trapeze targets your upper body and core, explains founder and flying trapeze enthusiast Will Hsu, who started swinging in the US as early as eight years old. The glutes, thighs, and back benefit from flying at 25 feet high (this can be achieved once you’ve reached past the basics.)

“Flying trapeze teaches students how to control their bodies and improve their reflexes, especially when making a catch in mid-air. These two aspects of the trapeze combine to provide students with a challenging workout in a fun and exciting environment,” Will adds.

Besides the physical benefits of it, timing, trust, and conquering your fear of heights are also addressed.

Flying trapeze is great for daredevils aged six and above, weighing less than 200lbs. Just like any other exercises or sports, it has levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

According to the Trapeze School New York website (newyork.trapezeschool.com), Leotard, the man behind the figure-hugging clothing, invented trapeze in the 18th century. Since then, circus schools have opened worldwide mostly starting in London. There are aerial yoga and pole dance classes in Manila; it’s about high time the metro embraces a more death defying kind of exercise and entertainment Will says.

Trapeze is basically a horizontal bar suspended on air. Performers (or exercisers) start by swinging from their arms, like that of a monkey bar. Once you get the hang of it, you can start the simple knee-hang (which is thrilling and frustrating at the same time especially if you’ve lost your momentum) to more difficult forms, like catching a friend from the other trapeze or back swinging. It works like a simple pendulum. It may look easy but then again, looks can be deceiving—it’s as hard as hell, especially if you’re on the heavy side.

First, safety harness—so tight you can barely breathe!—is fastened under your ribs. This is to ensure that you won’t slip away once you’re up in the air. For starters, Will and his team are always ready to give you directions: hop when Will says jump, hang your legs, and let go. Scream at the top of your lungs if you want. Can you spell #cool?

CHECK LIST:

If you can’t stand a funny leotard, wear shorts so your bare leg skin can grip the bar, aside from the cornstarch powder the crew will put in your arms and legs.

Tie your hair

Remove your accessories

Wear sunblock

Don’t forget your baon: nerves, guts, and courage.

Pray and enjoy!

LIFE LESSONS:

Who says flying trapeze is for health buffs and daredevils only? It’s for the heartbroken and hopeless romantics. Kidding. Seriously, with pun intended though, at the end of the session you will learn:

The art of timing—timing is everything, especially when jumping to great heights and maintaining your momentum.

How to trust—trust your flying partner, the equipment, and yourself that is.

When to let go—we mean, letting go of your inhibitions and fears.

P.S. Flying trapeze is definitely not for those who are scared to fall. (Thank heavens for nets that will catch you every time you fall.)

www.trapeze.ph,

hello@trapeze.ph