maya magazine issue 6

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Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand Issue 6 | March 09

My recent trip to the Philippines was special. I visited two amazing places that I’ve never been to before – San Pablo, Laguna and Palawan. The views were breathtaking, the people I met along the way were very interesting and the entire experience made me appreciate my Filipino-ness.

These next two months, we will share with you our travel stories. On Page 2, Sam Dignadice talks about his childhood fear. Read my travel diary entries about Puerto Princesa on Page 8.

I also got to visit my school. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous bumping into my thesis adviser. It was all for a good cause – we met GM, UP Alumni NZ’s first scholar. He is a very bright and ambitious young man. His inspiring story is on 9.

Back in Auckland, Yen Uera-Tesoro shares with us how she dealt with challenges in her line of work and found new friends in the process.

Louis Tan is Barangay Pinoy’s official lens man at the Ms Mabuhay NZ beauty pageant. Enjoy the glamour as captured by Louis’ skilful eye for detail.

I hope you will enjoy reading this issue as much as we had fun making it for you!

+ The homecoming

2 Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand

Issue 6 | April 09

San Pablo City is the City of the Seven Lakes – Sampalok, Palakpakin, Yambo, Bunot, Pandin, Muhikap and Calibato. These lakes are the pride and joy of San Pabluenos. We are also proud of our lanzones, rambutan and buko pie. We brag about our spring-quality tap water (the envy of Manilenos!) and the fact that the city is situated in a plateau, high above sea level, and therefore, we don’t ever get flooded.

The City of the Seven Lakes

By Sam Dignadice


Issue 6 | April 09

Sampalok Lake is the heart of the city. San Pabluenos rise early in the morning to walk or jog around the lake. They also watch the sunset and enjoy the gentle breeze while taking in the dramatic views of the lake surrounded by mountains.

But don’t ask San Pabluenos to swim in the lake. Oh no. The lake is couched in mystery and we grew up in awe of it. According to our elders, the lake feeds on children and needs a child every year. It is also claimed that the seven lakes are interconnected and apparently, a boy drowned in Sampalok and his body was found in one of the other lakes. Of course, these are legends. But until my most recent visit, there are not a lot of people swimming in the lake.

When I was a young boy, there was a drowning incident and it made a real impression on me. Since then, I have never, ever dip, not even a fingertip on the lake. Until three weeks ago.

I invited two friends to San Pablo. I took them “boating” in the lake. Well, it wasn’t exactly my idea. The ladies, who are not from San Pablo, do not know anything about the lake and wanted to sail to the middle of the lake. I talked to a local fisherman who readily agreed to take us. I was able to contain my childhood fear and yes, I lived to tell the tale.

I consider myself a New Zealander, having lived in this wonderful country for about twenty years. But San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines will always be a part of me, my childhood home.


Issue 6 | April 09

San Pablo’s Catholic Church was built in the 16th century by Augustinian priests. The church has recently been renovated but the interiors offer a glimpse of its glorious past.


Issue 6 | April 09

San Pablo, Laguna is a mere 90-minute drive from Manila. There is something for everyone to enjoy. Here is our suggested itinerary:

9am Enjoy an early morning walk along Sampalok Lake

11am Appreciate San Pablo’s colonial past with a visit to the town’s Catholic Church

12nn Indulge in Filipino culinary pleasures and discover the joys of Kusina ni Salud

Kusina ni Salud offers authentic Filipino cuisine in a dramatic Hispanic-influence setting.


Issue 6 | April 09

Pwede ko bang gawing mas espesyal ang Mother’s Day?

at pwede ka pang manalo ng $10,000

www.westernunion.co.nz

Terms and conditions apply. ©2009 Western Union Holdings Inc. All rights reserved. WES2032/MayaFP

Magpadala na sa iyong mahal na ina ngayong Mother’s Day para makasali sa lucky draw at baka ikaw ang manalo ng $10,000!

Deadline ng entries sa Linggo, ika-10 ng Mayo, 2009.

May dalawang pagkakataong manalo ang mga gold card customers at online money transfers.

Ano pang hinihintay mo? Sali na!


Issue 6 | April 09

Magical and unbelievably stunning. Everything you have heard about Palawan is true – stretches of fine sand beaches as far as the eyes can see, imposing limestone formations carved by two powerful seas and a colourful marine life so fascinating and mysteriously serene. Its islands and untouched forests attract tourists from all corners of the world.

This two-part travel story on Palawan will feature its top destinations and its people – they are one of the Philippines’ most friendly and proud.

And why shouldn’t they be? Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital, is voted as the country’s most clean and safest city for the last three years.

Discover Palawan

By Louella Docot


Issue 6 | April 09

Deyan the Vegetarian

Dada the “artiste”

Patrick the nouveau traveler

Sam the Balikbayan

My traveling companions

2pm - NAIA 3 (the new domestic airport) We bought discounted tickets online. Check-in was an hour before the scheduled flight. The new domestic airport is quite impressive. It is well laid out, brightly lit and clean.

The service from check-in staff is disappointing. But that is another story. Absolutely nothing could possibly dampen our moods!

Traveler’s helpful tip #1 Buy cheaper tickets online! Save a few hundreds by buying your tickets at least two or three weeks before your trip. You might have to ask a relative or a friend in the Philippines to buy it for you as most Philippine websites do not allow overseas credit card transactions.

Day 1

Alluring Puerto Princesa


Issue 6 | April 09

Pastor Enteng the official tour guide

The flight was about an hour. The arrival area at the airport is as old world as the city. The luggage is carried by airport staff to an “improvised luggage belt” which is basically an open area with a stationary rectangular table.

Pastor Enteng, Sam’s brother and our official city tour guide, picked us up from the airport. He took us to Baywalk, a public park by the sea. I was surprised of how busy it was – parents were teaching their kids how to ride the bike; young lovers were holding hands and gazing into the horizon, obviously anticipating the sunset; and many families were setting picnic mats. He explained that the city does not have any malls or cinemas. The park is a hit among the locals.

Don’t worry if you get hungry. Isaw-isaw (chicken intestines) and adidas (chicken feet) offer cheap culinary thrills. Deyan, the vegetarian from Bulgaria, was thirsty. He asked one of the vendors if the mango shake is made of real fruit and not fruit powder. The vendor happily and gamely showed him a bucket full of fresh, ripe and golden mangoes. Yes, we have arrived in Palawan.

Around 5pm – Baywalk, Puerto Princesa, Palawan


Issue 6 | April 09

I have never seen so many fresh fish and seafood before! A trip to the local Palengke (market) is an experience in itself.

Traveler’s helpful tip #2 Sharpen your negotiation skills. Market vendors expect you to “tawad” (Filipino slang for haggle). We bought a five-kilo tuna for NZ$2!

Day 2 7am – Palengke


Issue 6 | April 09

Tour bookings in Hunda Bay are organized by The Honda Bay Tourist Information and Assistance Center. You can take a tricycle or a public jeepney from the city.

If you are wondering about my spelling, both Hunda and Honda Bays are correct, sort of. “Hunda” means “deep water” in Palaw (the local dialect of the the Batak tribe). But foreigners have trouble pronouncing it, and over the years, it has evolved to Honda.

The staff at the Information Center is friendly, honest and knowledgeable. If you do not have your own snorkeling gear, you can also hire it here.

10am – Hunda Bay

Traveler’s helpful tip #3 A visit to the Hunda Bay is a full-day excursion. Tourists are encouraged to bring their own lunch. Your tour guide will help you prepare your food. Our five-kilo tuna was coal-grilled (“inihaw”) and served with cucumber salad. Yummy!


Issue 6 | April 09

Pandan Island, Hunda Bay


Issue 6 | April 09

Hunda bay A family of islands with exotic beaches and coral reefs, Hunda Bay is one of Palawan’s favourite tourist destinations.

Some of the islands are privately owned and require an entry fee. We went to the three most popular islands.

Pandan Island’s white-sand beach is comparable to Boracay. The water is crystal-clear and shallow. There are also good snorkeling spots around the island. This is a great beach for families with young kids.

Snake Island, which is a public island, is the busiest and most crowded. There is a sari-sari store on the island. They sell banana cue and Halo-Halo (shaved ice with local fruit and sweets).

The Floating Reef is a man-made floating nipa hut. It is a jump off point to Hunda Bay’s best snorkeling areas. The coral reefs and the marine life are amazing.


Issue 6 | April 09

Sabang is home to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the world’s second longest navigable underground river.

We joined a group tour. The NZ$50 tour fee included return transportation, entry fee and lunch at a local resort.

Renato, our cheerful tour guide, picked us up at seven in the morning. The still sleepy and slightly grumpy group was entertained with local stories and good-hearted Pinoy humour. He informed us that our tour fee also included a free massage. Deyan, the vegetarian from Bulgaria, said he did not want one. To which Renato replied, “Sorry, Sir, I can’t help you with that.” Of course, he was referring to

Day 3 10am – Sabang


Issue 6 | April 09

the “free massage” that you get when traveling on bumpy country roads. His sense of humour made the two-hour trip more tolerable.

From the Sabang wharf, we took a 15-minute boat ride to the entrance of the Underground River Park. We walked again for about 10 minutes through the Monkey Trail to get to the main entrance of the cave. Monkeys and monitor lizards were everywhere.

There was already a queue when we got to the cave. In the early 90s, very few tourists visit the cave. Today, there are at least 1,500 visitors a day who make the journey to see Puerto Princesa’s most favourite tourist destination. (To be continued)

Traveler’s helpful tip #4 No matter how much in awe you are of the cave’s stalagmites and limestone formations, don’t gape. Tourists are warned of swallowing bats’ droppings.


Issue 6 | April 09

I am a Youth Justice Social Worker at the Child, Youth and Family (CYF). CYF is a service unit of the Ministry of Social Development. Our role in the community is to offer care and protection to children, and to offer support to young people who have offended.

Work can be very challenging at times. I have to work with families closely. It means visiting them regularly. I am assigned to work with clients who are based in the Rodney District. I spend a lot of time on the road. The real challenge, however, is developing a relationship with my clients. Many of them are under 18 years old and have offended.

When I first started my work two and a half years ago, one of my biggest worries was overcoming my fear of dealing with male clients who are bigger than I am – it is human nature to fear for one’s safety.

Ross and Jamie (not their real names) helped me overcome my fear.

An unusual friendship by Yen Uera-Tesoro

Right Yen, seated, second from right, with the Pinoy Social Workers in Auckland.

Left Yen with AJ, a Filipino colleague at the CYF Auckland office.


Issue 6 | April 09

Ross and Jamie live in the same area. They are good friends too. They were hanging out together when I visited Ross at his house. I was happy to see them both as it saved me a trip.

Ross and Jamie are two 16 year old half-Maori, half-Kiwi teenagers who have been charged with different kinds of offences like burglary, willful damage, assault, theft, and dangerous driving to name a few. They both have history of ADHD and mental illness.

They were both on my caseload for more than six months. They stayed on my list because of continued offending and re-offending. When I first met them, they hardly said a word to me, have slow or no response to my attempt to engage them in a conversation.

That day, after exchanging hellos, Ross said he was hungry and they asked me to buy

them burgers and chips. I thought, “Oh well, why not.”

Up to this day, I am glad I made that decision. The boys opened up to me. And I realized, that they were just that – boys. Every time they committed an offence, they did not mean to hurt any one. To them, they were just being silly and having a bit of fun.

After eating their burgers, they asked to be dropped off at Jamie’s house. Along the way, they asked me to stop the car. They both jumped off and came back a few minutes later with a strawberry slushie for me! I was pleasantly surprised with their gesture.

The long drive that day was tiring. But I am grateful for the experience. It was a lesson in friendship. And yes, it can be found in unexpected places.

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Issue 6 | April 09

Meeting GM It was his smile that gave it away.

Gerundio Millo, fondly called GM by his friends, looks like any other student. We could tell that he is very proud of his university. His shirt says it all – “ciento fresh-ciento, Isko ako!“ (I’m a 100% Isko Freshman).

GM is a first year BS Mathematics student of the University of the Philippines (UP). Isko is the short form of “Iskolar ng Bayan” (the people’s scholar). The Philippine government subsidizes the cost of UP education, making it possible for underprivileged students to take up and complete their tertiary education.

In 2008, the University revised its tuition fee structure to address the increasing gap between the escalating costs of education and the Philippine government’s subsidy.

This affected many incoming students who passed the entrance exams but could no longer afford to pay the increased tuition fees.

GM was one of them.


Issue 6 | April 09

GM grew up in Tarlac, in a shanty made of plywood, bamboo and cheap iron sheets. The house flooring is barren earth. His parents sell banana cue and maruya in the local market, and their annual income is P20,000 (less than NZ$800).

GM’s dream enabled him to see beyond the poverty around him. He did not give up. He graduated from Tarlac National High School and borrowed money to pay for his first year’s university tuition fees.

It is students like GM that inspired the UP Alumni in New Zealand to set up the Iskolar ng Bayan Fund. Bingo ng Bayan, the group’s first community-wide activity raised sufficient funds to support GM’s second year of university schooling.

We finally met GM at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs in UP Diliman. He is quiet, a little shy, but readily flashes a smile when asked about his family and studies.

And it is the smile that gave it away – GM is as committed to his journey as we are with ours.

As migrants, we can all emphatize and see a bit of ourselves in GM. We have all displayed courage in the face of difficulties. It is our natural talent honed by hard work, a fertile imagination and an overflow of optimism that will make us flourish in our new home.

Erratum

Consul General Emilie Shi’s family name was spelt incorrectly in Issue 5 (March 2009). We apologize for the error.


Issue 6 | April 09

+Barangay Pinoy @ the Miss Mabuhay NZ

Photos LOUIS TAN

Issue 6 | April 09

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Photos LOUIS TAN

maya magazine issue 6

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