Pinay bag designer impresses Dutch royalty

By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 03/12/2009 7:35 PM
Tagged as the "pilot of fashion" by the Dutch Queen's Mistress of the Robes, Filipina Cora Jacob received approval and admiration for her bags during the opening of her exhibition at the Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam.

Jacob flew in 300 bags from the Philippines that are on display at the world's largest museum of bags until May 3.

Most impressed, among the more than 100 guests who attended the opening, was the guest of honor, a member of the royal household of Holland's Queen Beatrix.

"I think Cora Jacob bags are extremely highly fashionable, highly original and made of absolutely incredible materials. I love them. They are very, very much haute couture, especially the evening bags," Mistress of the Robes Martine van Loon-Labouchere said.

The exhibition of Jacob's spring/summer collection is part of the celebration of the National Arts Month organized by the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands.

"Gusto nating ipakita ang bags na made in the Philippines using Philippine materials so ito ay pagkakataon na hindi lamang mga kababayan makakita nito kundi mga tao mula sa ibat ibang bansa," Ambassador Romeo Arguelles said.

The high-quality bags made of buntal, capiz, bamboo, leather, raffia and other local Philippine materials are very unique.

Jacob said that her works of art always pass the delicate and rigorous hands of the women in the provinces in the Philippines, notably from her hometown in Bulacan.

Philippine identity
Her bags' colors depict the background and rich natural resources of the Philippines such as white for the pristine sands of Boracay, orange for the sun, green for the fields and farms, blue for the seas and brown for the mountains.

For Jacob, more than creating, it is her happiness to help raise the status of the industry of bag making in the Philippines.

"Tinutulungan namin ang mga kababayan sa mga probinsya sapagkat nanduon po sa probinsya ang lahat ng materyales. Gusto po namin ay matulungan ang mga kababayan natin na ang mga produktong yaring Pilipinas ay makarating sa iba't-ibang panig ng daigdig," Jacob said.

Jacob said that there is an abundance of raw materials in the Philippines but the problem lies in the lack of innovation and improvement.

Having worked for fashion giants such as Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci and Givenchy, Jacob should know everything about quality craftsmanship.

Upgrading quality
With her family, Jacob established the Cora Cares Foundation in order to teach Filipinos how to increase the quality of their craft.

"Para mas maraming tao ang matutong gumawa ng good quality. Dahil naniniwala kami kung maganda ang quality ng ginagawa nyo, hindi na kayo kailangang maghanap ng trabaho, hahanapin kayo ng trabaho," Jacob said.

"Noong una ako ay parang naliligayahan na yung mga high end, high couture sa Paris ay kinikilala ang likhang kamay ng Pilipino, although wala akong pangalan kundi yung brand nila, pero alam ko naman who I am, and because of that, I was already happy and pleased to serve the high-end line, hanggang later on, nagkaisip na ko na lagyag ng brand ko yung mga produkto ko na binebenta namin noon sa 21 countries," Jacob added.

For the Pinay who has already tasted life in the world of haute couture, it is now time to give back all the blessings she has received by sharing her knowledge to her countrymen, particularly the women.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/03/12/09/pinay-bag-designer-impresses-dutch-royal-house-member

Global Pinay is pride of Pinoys in the Netherlands

Global Pinay is pride of Pinoys in the Netherlands

By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 02/27/2009 1:04 AM


A genuine "global Pinay," Cecilia Aquino was born in the Philippines, finished law school in the US and is now a rising star in The Netherlands.

Aquino was chosen as one of the three hosts of the newly-launched West International channel of TV West, a local Dutch television station.

The English-language Dutch program was launched for the international community in The Netherlands.

Aquino arrived in Holland in 2007 as a law intern for a big international organization located in The Hague, known as the legal capital of the world.

According to Aquino, she landed the TV job by sheer accident.

She was discovered in a pub last summer."Actually I was just in a pub one summer night and they were asking if I want to audition. I need an interview experience so I decided to go and just because I’ve never done anything like it before," Aquino told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

"I didn’t think they would ever call me. And it's been two months and then they called me and they said no, you’re fantastic and we’re just waiting," Aquino said.

However, the boss of the TV station believes that Aquino is really a star."We’re looking for the best people for the show and it happened to be someone from the Philippines and sexy. I think she’s wonderful, she does a great job, she’s very natural," Gerard Milo, CEO of Omniwest TV said.

At the night of the launch of West International, when it was broadcast live in The Netherlands from the famous Kurhaus Hotel, Aquino already gained a lot of fans from the expat community.

Rose and Melanie, who didn't give their surnames, were very impressed at Aquino's beauty as well as talent and ease at hosting.

"She was really good. Very nice. It was a very nice show and she told good information," Rose said.

"It was good. She looked good and she said a lot of nice things, very nice," Melanie said.

The Pinoys who were at the live launch could not have been prouder.

They were so happy that they now have a "kababayan" to watch on the Dutch local TV.

"Nagulat ako kasi Filipina ‘yong host at siyempre very proud kasi Flipina ‘yon. Alam mo na sa Netherlands…So the Filipinos are becoming part of show business as well," Mary Borja said.

Holland has a very big international community, especially in The Hague, which has about 40,000 expats.

Aquino's success in penetrating an industry and market dominated by Europeans is solid proof that Pinoys can really be the best in any endeavor.

as of 02/27/2009 6:26 PM

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/02/26/09/global-pinay-pride-pinoys-netherlands

(Update) Pinay cancer survivor survives Turkish plane crash

(Update) Pinay cancer survivor survives Turkish plane crash

by LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 02/26/2009 12:54 PM (watch video clip of TV Patrol World report here )

A Filipina cancer survivor was among those who survived the Turkish Airlines plane crash in Amsterdam Wednesday, according to an exclusive report of the ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

The Filipina, Susan Yango, was reportedly among the 50 passengers who were left injured when a Turkish Airlines plane carrying 134 passengers on Flight TK 1951 crashed into a field short of a runway at Schipol airport in Amsterdam. The incident left nine dead.

The Boeing 737-800 had reportedly smashed into three pieces, allowing Yango to exit from the right wing.

"Yung mga lalagyan ng ano talagang nagbabagsakan. Hindi yung ano, yung lid talaga, they were coming out of the roof. Tapos makikita mo yung mga wires are coming out of the roof. Ako talaga hindi ko alam kung pano ako makalabas dun eh. I don't know how I came out. Tapos nakita ko nalang ano, get out, get out so dun ako nagpunta sa may exit, nakita ko nakabukas yung exit, dun ako sa may wing lumabas," Yango recounted.

Injuries
Yango, however, suffered injuries from the crash including a swollen right eye, cuts and bruises on her elbow, palm and waist, as well as large bump on her head.

Yango told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau that she suffered pain from a bruise around her waist left by an airplane seatbelt, which jammed against her body upon the crash's impact. All passengers were still wearing their seatbelts because the crash occurred as the plane was making its descent, she said.

Rescue workers had immediately brought the passengers to a treatment area where they were reportedly separated into two groups, from the lightly to the seriously injured. Yango was released from the hospital at 5 p.m. Europe time, six hours after the crash.

"I was like numb, numb talaga. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako, kaya I felt na ang tagal-tagal naman ng reaction time na 'to. Then I realized na ang layo-layo naman pala namin sa street. Nakikita ko na yung mga dumadating pero wala pa sila doon. Kasi siguro nakita ko yung iba nakahiga na. They were lying down on the ground and they were just crying. They were just crying," Yango said.

Cancer survivor
In an interview with ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, Yango said she was thankful for a third chance at life after battling with cancer a few years before.

Yango also said that she lucky that she had been asleep when the plane smashed into the ground.

"If I had been awake, it would have been worse. Kasi tense ka eh, magtetense ka di ba? So mag-aano yung impact," Yango said.

Yango, who is from New York but works in Lebanon, was enroute to The Hague on a business trip Tuesday. However, she decided to reschedule her flight for the next day because of her workload.

Yango's friend Rommel Loveranes, also a Filipino was the first person to see her immediately after she was discharged from a Dutch hospital.

"I was even joking about it. Of course [it's a] relief. Big relief that she's fine, almost unscathed, and yeah, two times survivor. And yeah...as if nothing happened," Loveranes said.

as of 02/26/2009 3:19 PM

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/02/26/09/update-pinay-cancer-survivor-survives-turkish-plane-crash

Pinoy bags in world's largest museum in Amsterdam

Five bags from Filipina designer Cora Jacob were showcased at the largest bags museum in the world located in Amsterdam, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

The Museum of Bags and Purses opened more than a year and a half ago at the Herengracht or Gentlemen's Canal.

The unique house features 1,500 bags of all kinds of sizes, material and color from the 16th century up to the present time.

Everything in the museum is all about bags.

There are bag-shaped seats that greet every visitor at the entrance; bags and bag-related items sold at the shop; chocolates with bag design from the museum's café; and of course, the collection of bags from all over the world which include the Cora Jacobs brand.

At the very chic and elegant museum, the Cora Jacobs' bags are prominently displayed because of their unique character and material.

In fact, the museum's curator was so impressed by the craftsmanship and the Pinay designer's use of raw materials that are abundant in the Philippines.

"She used the material from her country and so it's very interesting. Because I like to see the traditions in a country in a new modern design and she gives a lot of work in her country to ladies because it's made in her own country," Sigrid Ivo said.

Ivo's mother, Henrijke, is the collector of the bags which now reached a total of 4,000, making the Museum of Bags and Purses the largest collection in the world.

The oldest bag in the collection dates back to the 16th century.

Most popular are the green bag from singer Madonna, the bags by Sex and the City bag designer Timmy Woods and of course, the Cora Jacobs bags.

To find Pinoy-made bags among the featured items in a stunning art and historic collection that is side by side with world-famous designers brings such great pride and joy to the Filipinas who visited the museum recently.

"Cora Jacob visited the museum last August of last year and Miss Ivo was immediately impressed of Cora's works," Commercial Attaché Alma Argayoso said.

"Maganda kasi parang pino-promote natin ‘yong mga sariling gawa sa Pilipinas. Malaking honor. It will be an honor sa bansa natin," Aida Paule said.

In fact, due to popular demand, a larger collection of Jacob's bags will be launched at the Museum of Bags and Purses on March 5.

as of 02/18/2009 3:06 AM

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/02/17/09/pinoy-bags-worlds-largest-museum-amsterdam

Joma celebrates 70th birthday, five decades of struggle

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 02/09/2009 4:55 PM

A very big celebration was held by supporters of Jose Maria Sison last Saturday in Amsterdam for his 70th birthday.

More than his birthday however, the event also marked the Communist Party of the Philippines' founding chair's 50 years of service to his comrades.

Early on Saturday, many Pinoys were already very busy making sure that the event will be an unforgettable and perfect "night for Joma".

Many contributed authentic Pinoy food like kaldereta, daing na bangus and Joma's favorite which is lechon.

The highlight of the night was an intense and touching cultural show depicting the five decades of Sison's participation in the “struggles of the Filipino people.”

More than 150 people arrived at the Nassau Church to greet Sison, showing his popularity among people from all walks of life, whether Pinoy, white, young or old.

One of them is a translator who only met Sison when he translated some of Joma's works in the Dutch language for a Belgian workers’ group.

"I was very impressed by his writings. He's just very friendly, very kind and it is a miracle that such a modest man can have so much influence," Jan Bentjes told Balitang Europe.

Although an intellectual, who always sounds very political and deep, Sison's appeal also apparently extended to the young.

One of his avid fans is a 19-year-old Pinoy who, instead of going out with friends of his age during weekends, chose to join and help in the projects of activists.

"Si Joma Sison ay isa pa rin figure para sa mga kabataang kumikilos para sa pambansang demokrasya at saka kalayaan. Sa mga kabataan lagi nating maalala ang mga ginagawa ni Joma ilang dekada na ang nakaraan kaya eto pa rin inspirasyon ito at yung mga gawain niya. Kaya sineselebrate ang kanyang karaawan, hindi lang karaawan. Mas tungkol ito sa ilang dekada nang laban ni Joma para sa kalayaan," Noel Saturay said.

Saturay said he already read some of Sison's works without knowing who the author was.

"Noong lumalaki ako marami akong nabasa na sinulat ni Joma. Hindi ko alam na siya ang nagsulat noon. Habang lumalaki ako nakilala ko si Joma sa pangalan at mga pictures niya sa mga libro tapos noong dumating ako dito nakilala ko si Joma," Saturay said.

There were also those who arrived from the Philippines to personally bring messages from Sison's allies there.

"Malaki ang guidance na binigay ni Joma sa working class movement. In terms of theoretical knowledge and practical know-how sa pagtatayo ng organization, lalung-lalo na sa usapin ng edukasyon ay malaking ambag ang ibinigay ni Prof. Jose Maria Sison sa buong kilusang paggawa," said Elmer Labog, Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson.

Most of all, Sison's wife, daughter and his very close friends such as Luis Jalandoni and wife Connie Ledesma, Fidel Agcaoili and Ruth de Leon were also all there.

"Sana'y mas magbigay siya ng panahon para pangalagaan ang kanyang kalusugan at para mabuhay siya ng matagal at para makapagsilbi siya sa ating mamamayan ng mas mahusay pa kaysa dati," Juliet de Lima said as her birthday wish for her husband.

There were no gifts this year for Sison because his group requested that donations be given instead to his legal defense fund.

For his part, Sison said he is giving a gift to those who continue to believe and support him. The first two of four volumes of his new book is set be launched in the Philippines next week.

as of 02/09/2009 5:05 PM

SOURCE:WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/02/09/09/joma-celebrates-70th-birthday-five-decades-struggle-0

Joma says to lie low on politics, impatient for successor

By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 02/10/2009 12:07 AM

At 70 years old, Jose Maria Sison has at last mellowed. The founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines gave an exclusive interview to ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau during his birthday celebration in Amsterdam on Saturday, a day before his actual birthday.

Sison told Balitang Europe that he will now keep a low profile in the raucous and high-profile political arena.

As he turned seventy, Sison who is chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in stalled peace talks with the Philippine government, said he plans to reduce his political statements in order to devote more time to writing.

“Dahan-dahan ‘yan. Diminishing my political expressions pero mananatili pa ako for a while bilang consultant ng NDF sa peace negotiations,” Sison said.

Sison’s most ardent supporters threw a big party to honor him. Sison told Balitang Europe however that it may be his last birthday celebration.

“Natural na may inclination ako na hindi na ko magbe-birthday party. After seventy, you have the tendency to conceal your age. I will not celebrate anymore birthdays not because I will pass away or fade away. I will make up. ‘Yong hindi ko nagawa, I will try to do,” Sison said.

Sison said he has decided that it is time to it take it slow on the intense political front.

After all, he said, it has already been fifty years now since he joined the “struggles of the Filipino people” and he is not getting any younger.

Four seasons
He summed up his achievements in those golden years by comparing them to the four seasons.

“Sa umpisa, in the spring of my life, ‘yong youth movement. Nag-contribute ako through Kabataang Makabayan. Pagkatapos pumasok ako sa trade union movement during that period. Tapos ‘yong tinatawag kong summer of my life ‘yong founding ng CPP,” Sison said.

Sison then explained that the sweltering part of his life happened when he moved against the Marcos dictatorship.

It was then that he was imprisoned and tortured.

He said, however, that the CPP still continued to thrive and grew stronger until the downfall of Marcos.

“Tapos ‘yong autumn of my life, dito na ako inabutan niyan. Masaya ako dahil natatanaw ko ang pag-unlad ng kilusan. Patuloy na pagkilos sa mga kasama at sambayang Filipino tungkol sa saligang problema nila,” said Sison who went into self-exile in the Netherlands in 1987 citing threats to his life in the Philippines.

“Pero palagay ko abot ko na ang winter. Pero nasisiyahan ako. Tawag ko sa isang poem. I feel the warmth of the flames of struggle,” Sison added.

Pass the torch

Sison also told Balitang Europe that after five decades, it is time to pass the torch. Sison however will not name names.

Sison said there are countless “Joma wannabees” out there who are already rightly equipped with ideas and inspiration to succeed him but nobody wants to just yet.

“Impatient na ko. Dapat completely mag-takeover na. Dalawang generations na. Two to three generations na tumatahak sa iginuhit nating linya tungkol sa kalagayan at hinaharap ng Pilipinas,” Sison said.

For Sison, whoever will be his successor is just out there, already acting and already leading.

“Ako kumilos sa kilusang rebolusyonaryo so pertinent for me to mention na may mga leader sa kilusang rebolusyonaryo. ‘Andiyan naman kumilos din ako sa legal. Maraming leader at aktibista sa legal struggle. Hindi na mabilang,” Sison said.

For the moment, Sison plans to devote more time to writing.

Nobody couldn’t be happier than his wife Juliet de Lima.

But when asked if her husband will be retiring very soon, de Lima said that it is not part of her birthday wish for Sison.

“Sa kagaya namin, walang tinatawag na retirement. Hanggang nabubuhay magusumikap pa rin na maging useful,” de Lima said.


as of 02/10/2009 3:43 PM

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/09/09/joma-says-lie-low-politics-impatient-successor

Pinoys greet Chinese New Year in The Netherlands

By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 02/05/2009 8:03 PM

The year 2009 came at a time when most people are dismayed due to the present global economic crisis that has been affecting more and more countries.

Filipinos in the Netherlands said however that they remain confident that things will get better in the Year of the Ox.A hard-working animal, the ox symbolizes prosperity or luck.

Pinoys said they find that they have nothing to lose if they look up to the Chinese zodiac for a more positive forecast.

Hence, during the largest Chinese New Year celebration in the Netherlands held in The Hague from January 24 to 31, Pinoys joined in hoping for a global recovery in the Year of the Ox.

The Chinese believe that this year will see stability and that the Year of the Ox is a magnet for luck when combined with hard work and patience.

That's why Filipina Rose Jimenez said she is not going to surrender despite the hardships she has encountered as a single parent.

"Somehow we started really in a very bad situation na nagkakaroon kami ng hope ngayon in this Year of the Ox na sana malampasan namin ‘yong mga hirap na nangyayari for these past few years," Jimenez told Balitang Europe.

Jimenez is divorced and is alone in raising and providing for the needs of her two daughters who are half-Dutch and half-Filipino.

She said she firmly believes something beautiful and good awaits everyone in the Year of the Ox.

"Kahit papaano nagsisimula pa lang naman tayo. So madami pa ring mga magagandang pangyayari na darating para sa taong 2009," Jimenez said.

For another Pinay, there always is victory in any defeat.

Even if Nadia Camolli failed to clinch the crown at the 2004 Miss Earth Philippines, having landed first-runner up, she did not allow this experience to affect or stop her from pursuing her higher ambitions.

It is in The Hague where Camolli found a huge opportunity to work in an international organization.

"A lot of people has experienced crisis in the past year and not only financially but also health wise and I think it's important to look forward to a good year," Camolli said.

She added: "It's important to always move forward not backwards and if there's always a negative aspect for the New Year then it's all about strategy and just being positive all together.”

The Filipinos believe that only with patience and hard work could prosperity be achieved and that at the end of the day, it is up to the person to make every year either lucky or bad.

Consulting Feng Shui expert

Meanwhile, the trying times have prompted some Filipino overseas workers to consult their luck with a Feng Shui expert during the Chinese New Year celebration in Dubai.

The celebration was attended by 500 Filipinos. Many of them consulted a Feng Shui expert and bought lucky charms in the hopes of keeping their jobs, getting rich or just be able to pay debts back home.

Others hope to stay healthy and keep their family together.

“Uncertain tayo sa trabaho, sa security sa trabaho. Sa mga problema sa pera, sa mga utang at saka sa pamilya para maging buo ang pamilya natin. So mayroon tayong wish-fulfilling balloons, prosperity money, fortune pineapple,” said Mecky Decena, Feng Shui consultant in the United Arab Emirates.

Decena even invited Master Yu, one of the Feng Shui experts from Hong Kong.

“Sa hirap ng sitwasyon natin ngayon, with the economic crisis...ang ano lang natin ay desperate situations call for desperate solutions. Ang sa amin lang it might be of help," Decena said.

People queued just for Master Yu’s consultation.

Even Arab nationals joined in hoping that the New Year brings them good health.

"Nag global crisis tayo. Itong Chinese New Year may mga puwedeng bilhin at may matutunan pa sa master," said an OFW named Marivic.

Some Filipinos have spent around 600 to 1,000 dirham’s or equivalent to P7,000 to P12,000) to buy lucky charms for the Year of the Ox.

“Prosperity bracelet, the other one is money magnet bracelet, protection bracelet. Alam natin na lahat tayo susuwertehin. And who doesn’t want luck? Nandito ako para doon sa luck na yun," Jose said.

With report from Rachel Salinel, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

as of 02/05/2009 8:23 PM

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/02/05/09/pinoys-greet-chinese-new-year-netherlands