Parol Workshop

A paról is an ornamental, star-shaped Christmas lantern from the Philippines. It is traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and comes in various sizes and shapes, but generally the basic star pattern remains dominant.

The Philippine Generation teamed up with the Museum of London Docklands this weekend to host their annual parol-making event. I found out about the event through Facebook and since I had never seen (or heard of) a parol before, I really wanted to attend and see what they were all about. There were two types of parols on offer that you could make, one with a bamboo frame or a paper one and of course, we had to try both ways!

When we arrived, we were given the bamboo frames and lots of different coloured tissue paper to choose from for the decorations. Even though the bamboo ones looked so pretty once they were done, they are actually super fiddly to make (especially when you have to cut the paper to the right size and stick them on!) So we decided to try the simpler version: the paper parol! We were also allowed to take these homes with us – mine is now beautifully set on my door. They were much easier to make but they still look really fancy and festive.

On display, they also had more professional looking ones that looked spectacular (only if I was that good!) I cannot wait to do it again next year!

Philippine Generations
Museum of London Docklands

LIKHA Magazine Photoshoot

Read More: LIKHA Magazine Blog Post

LIKHA Website

A Peso X A Dream

When Typhoon Haiyan hit in late 2013, I saw a brand named ‘Flipcore’ were selling t-shirts to help the cause – I had to get one to support the relief efforts and because they were designed very nicely! It was not until competing for Miss Philippines UK that I was able to meet Jonny who runs Flipcore. Now, through crowdsourcing on Kickstarter, he is following his dreams of making Flipcore bigger and better than ever.

Could you introduce yourself, where are you from and what are you doing at the moment?

I go by the name of Jxhnny Esta, but my friends know me as Cras. I am based in London and I am an Entrepreneur, currently working on a project for my brand, Flipcore.

What is Flipcore all about? When did you start it and what makes it important to you or different from other brands?

The name Flipcore originated from the term “Filipino to the core”, which spoke for every person proud of their heritage. I started this brand in 2007, when I got inspired to create something that portrayed the culture. As an artist I knew that seeing my artwork being worn by people was a special feeling. It was not until later in 2009 I came up with the name and established the name. Flipcore has now developed into a Lifestyle brand, which represents a movement to inspire people in achieving their goals and staying true to the heart. Unlike other companies, Flipcore is not just a clothing line with a logo, but it is a part of our daily lives.

What has been your favourite/most memorable project that you have worked on at Flipcore?

Hmm, I have quite a few favourites. Back in November 2013, we launched a fundraiser for the Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines, which really meant a lot to me. It was the only way I could think of to get funding from a crowd and donate back home. Like most people, I wasn’t in the position to donate but I did everything I could to make sure I made a difference. With the help of many supporters, we were able to raise some money by selling fundraiser shirts.

This project “A PESO X A DREAM” is the currently the biggest project I’ve done as it is real personal to me. It is the first time I am sacrificing everything I have into the brand and releasing a full complete collection (I have never put out more than one clothing design at a time). I recently visited the motherland, and during my stay, it made me learn a lot about myself and my life. Just like some people, I feel lost at times. I just can’t stick to one thing, like I am still trying to figure out what to do with my life. I’ve been through so much struggle in the past, and one day, God spoke to me. I realized I needed to make a change, because life is too short, and nobody wants to live with regret. If I didn’t have this project, this brand, I wouldn’t know what I’d be doing right now. This is my passion, this is what I love to do. I’m going for my dreams and trying to be the man God wants me to be.

What gave you the inspiration for the “A Peso X A Dream” project? And what is the meaning behind the name?

“A Peso X A Dream” basically represents anybody who ever started from the bottom. It speaks for every person who understands what it’s like to go through pain & struggle. Whether you come from a broken home, living without a job, living with addiction, money problems or even poverty. Throughout it all, you just want to change all that. I know this doesn’t relate to everybody, but it does for me. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but just know that I am not proud of my past as it left me facing lot of problems, spiritually and financially. I don’t really have much right now, but this dream. A dream that I believe will turn my life around and inspire people in the process if I really work hard for it. We all want to be happy, and we know that success brings happiness. I believe anyone can be successful, you just gotta be passionate about what you love to do.

And what makes you proud to be a Filipino?

I’m proud to be Filipino because lumpia… Hahaha! Seriously… besides the corruption and poverty, you can’t take away the fact that The Philippines is one of the happiest countries in the world. Oh, and the hospitality! I’ve learned that even with no money, Filipinos know how to be happy. We often laugh during difficult situations, bringing light into the darkness. Like even if we are struck by typhoons, we don’t stop trying and we can still put the smiles on our faces which makes us stronger through the trials and tribulations. That’s the true Filipino spirit. Dreams don’t easily come true for everyone in The Philippines, but the Filipino is one of the happiest, creative, passionate and hard working people you can ever meet. That’s what makes me proud.

His Kickstarter is live and there are some amazing rewards up for grabs. Jonny has also made a documentary that is on the Kickstarter page (we did a photoshoot together in Manila so try and spot me in the film!) I would personally recommend any of the t-shirts because they are amazing quality (the t-shirt I bought in 2013 is still in good condition after a million washes!) and their grey sweatshirt is going on my Christmas list. Any pledge would mean so much and I can not wait to see what is next for Flipcore!

Flipcore Kickstarter

Christa’s MPUK Experience | Part 2

The Night

This was it. All the hard work counts down to one night. The pressure was kicking in. I remember not getting enough sleep with all the anxiety I was feeling the night before. My mum and my sister kept insisting that all I needed to do was to ‘enjoy’ the moment but it was impossible! I knew I had all these expectations to live up to and I didn’t want to disappoint. I kept reminding myself: ‘Eyes on the prize, you always wanted to be a great role model? This is your chance’. Luckily my very close friend, Tosca Cabatana, was there to support me backstage. She gave me pep talks, helped me out with my hair and coordinated my outfits. She even brought a box of Lola’s cupcakes, which cheered me up instantly.

I was a complete nervous wreck at the dressing room. I was anxious that I might trip, say the wrong words or embarrass myself. But surprisingly, as soon as I got on stage, another persona takes over – a cool, calm and collected Christa. Of course my confidence also came from the loud cheering of my friends and family. Pictures of myself and banners were being waved around. Loud screams of: ‘We love you Christa!’ or ‘Namber Pibe!’ whilst I strut along the stage made me feel so reassured and blessed. Knowing that I had that much support, it was impossible not to smile naturally.

More Than a Beauty Pageant

The experience has taught me more than just holding a smile on stage, walking on heels, fixing my hair & make-up. Through the pageant, I also had the pleasure of meeting a lot of talented individuals. From the singers & dancers; the event organisers; alumni beauty queens and of course the gorgeous/handsome candidates. Furthermore, having spent countless hours of learning the dance routine; I re-discovered my passion for dancing again.

This journey has also been an eye-opening experience. For me, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a positive difference. It helped me discover so many things about myself that I didn’t even knew existed. I learned to be more disciplined and ambitious towards my goals. I realised my self-value and purpose. I learned the importance of taking risks and being able to demonstrate confidence despite of what others may say. I learned that reaching your dreams are always possible especially when you’ve got great support from your family and friends.

Christa’s MPUK Experience | Part 1

Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Christa Borja, and I have been given the privilege to be crowned as Miss Philippines UK 2015. For the last couple of months, it has been one of the most unforgettable and truly humbling experience that I will forever cherish. Who knew what I initially thought was a ‘silly’ idea turned out to be one of the greatest journey of my life.

Unexpected Entry

It was my older sister, Chriszelle who pushed me to join the competition. In fact, I actually missed the audition and few scheduled rehearsals that made me believe I’ve dodged the pressure bullet. But thanks to sister’s persistence, she was able to get in touch with Yulee Foster, last year’s Miss Philippines UK Winner, and persuade the event organisers to take me in last minute – then boom. Out of nowhere, I received a random text message from sissy confirming: ‘Yahoo! Pasok ka na! Rehearsals starts this Saturday’.

First Day

My first day is a summary of sweaty palms and pits (yes I said it), Not only I made bad impression to Yulee for being 1 hour and 30 minutes late (which btw, I had a valid reason for), but I also sucked at following all choreos for Latin, Hip-Hop and Ethnic. It was interesting to say the least. I’ve always loved dancing since I was a kid, however, the problem lies to the fact that I haven’t danced in a very long time. I haven’t moved a single (dancing) muscle since my cheering days at university. And 2 years worth of unmoved body, I felt stiff, rusty and awkward throughout the practice.

After my torturous first day, I went straight home and asked myself whether I was wasting my time. Contemplations re-occurred and I started to have second thoughts. My schedule was already swamped with 9-5 working hours on weekdays and if I was to join the competition it would mean that my weekends would be filled with rehearsals too, therefore, leaving me no time to rest. I felt stuck so I began to seek advice from other people. While many of my friends/family supported the harmless idea of joining, one opinion struck me the most: ‘Pano kung di ka naman manalo? Edi nasayang lang yung oras mo?’ The doubtful remark fuelled more fire in me. From that moment, I decided to use the negative judgment to pursue the crown and show everyone that I was worthy to be called Miss Philippines UK.

The Journey

One word: Exhausting! I believe most of the candidates (even the previous ones) can agree with me on this. Rehearsals can be draining whether it might be the length of travel that some candidates have to go through; balancing either part-time/full-time work with weekend practices or the endless hours of catwalks and dance routines. Indeed it was exhausting however, the experience was also fun. Never in my life I imagined that pageants could be this tough! And it didn’t take too long until I started to rely on energy drinks and skinny latte’s as if I was back at uni on my last year preparing for exams.

Knowing that I had quite a lot to catch up on, I started my weekend routine strictly at 6:00 am. No excuses. Tired or not, I knew I had to push myself. I practiced the choreos early before the actual rehearsal at 12:30 pm. I even practised the Hip Hop on my head whilst on the way to work and on the way back home.

For a first timer like me, I had no clue on what to wear, how to prepare for Q&As or how to walk on pageant shows. I realised that if I wanted to win this competition, it requires more than just memorising the dance steps. It also involves embodying a mind-set of what a true beauty queen should be. So I researched some of the most iconic Filipino Beauty Queens from the past. From Melanie Marquez, Gloria Diaz, Shamcey Supsup to Megan Young. Believe it or not, I sat in front of my computer for hours! I studied different commentaries about how each stood out from the competition, how they presented themselves and how they delivered their answers effectively. I also took inspiration from MPUK’s beautiful winners: Jacqueline Llaneza (2012), Kallula Dixon (2013) and of course, Yulee Foster (2014). I took notes of what they wore, how they walked, smile and pose. It was all about preparations! As soon as I finished work, I’d go straight home and practice my walk on heels, smiling and posing in front of the mirror while my cat watched me with embarrassment.

The most fun part of this journey (apart from winning the title) was shopping for my outfits and deciding my hair & make-up, after all, it is called a ‘beauty’ pageant for a reason. Luckily, I had great tips from my best friend, Crescent Samaco, who btw has the fiercest catwalk ever. She gave me advice that if you want to stand out, you’ve got to sparkle like a diamond on stage. Not only she taught me how to walk with attitude but she also gave me insights of the ‘pageant must-haves’. For instance, nails must only be red or french tips; dresses has to be sparkly –gold, silver or nude; and accessories have to be bold – the bigger it is, the better. It was like entering a new world and oddly enough, I enjoyed learning these things.

Makeup Photoshoot

Makeup and Photos by Cindy Purezka Maya
Her makeup skills are just simply amazing

Miss & Mr Philippines UK 2015

Prior to the big night, I was able to meet all of the candidates during rehearsals. I helped out with their pageant walks and tried to calm their nerves down. Since I knew how they must be feeling during this time, I really wanted them to relax and have a great night, just like I had!

The Miss and Mr Philippines UK 2015 competition was held at the same location as last year, Camden Centre on Saturday the 12th of September. I was lucky enough to have a spot on the VIP table with my mum and dad, which meant amazing Filipino food and a front row seat. Before the competition started, I went backstage to check up on the candidates and give them my last pieces of advice. Everyone seemed quite relaxed (unlike last year!) so I had a lot of faith in them for an amazing show.

The first time you are on stage is always the most difficult. You are trying to remember all of your steps to the dance and trying to look out for your supporters at the same time, but all of the contestants kept their focus and started the night off with a bang. They also had a casual, swim and formal wear and everyone’s style and confidence was shining throughout.

Since I was the Miss Philippines UK 2014, I was able to do my last walk with the title and also give a little speech towards the end of the night (Charlene, I am sorry I missed your shoutout!) I hope that my words were felt amongst the audience and that some of them are here reading my blog.

At the end of the night, John Paulo Bendana was crowned Mr Philippines UK 2015 and I had the honour of crowning Christa Borja as Miss Philippines UK 2015. I am sure that all of the contestants had a great time on the night and it is an event that will stay with them forever. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the amazing team behind Miss and Mr Philippines UK every year. It continues to get better and better every time, I cannot wait until next year!

OOTN

12th of September
Miss Philippines UK 2015

Dress – ASOS – Not available anymore
Shoulders – Kultura – Bought in the Philippines
Makeup by Chloe

Sept. 28 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Monday, Sept. 28: A day in the life. Take us through it with you.

Since I did not do the challenge on the 18th (Friday, Sept. 18: Record a VLOG! It can be about anything you’d like!), I decided to do two in one. Hope you enjoy my little vlog.

#blogtemberchallenge

Happy Birthday Rachel!

Today, I decided to not go with the prompt because it is my little sisters birthday so I wanted to share her special day.

So my little baby sister, who is hardly a baby anymore, turned 11 today! Our family decided to have a meal with some relatives and friends to celebrate her birthday. My mum cooked a lot of amazing food for us and made a delicious chocolate cake for Rachel’s candles to sit on top of.

It is hard to believe that 11 years ago, I was in Year 6 waiting for the new baby of my family to come home. Even though we give her a hard time, she knows we will always love her unconditionally. Rachel, do not grow up too quickly and always follow your heart and dreams ♥

Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. It’s all about the memories.
Buddy Valastro

Sept. 8 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Tell us about your favorite season. Why is it your favorite and what does it say about you?

Being a winter baby, it is probably more likely for me to enjoy the snow, the warm hot chocolate by the Christmas tree and the piles of layers you have to wear but… I do not like the winter at all! I always say it was because I was born in the Philippines where it is hot all year round that I prefer the summer. In the UK our spring and autumn seasons are not well defined, for example, now it is early September which would be considered as early autumn but it feels more like the middle of November! So my bias towards summer is slightly skewed but, that is the weather we have in London.

One reason I love summer sooo much is the early sunrises and late sunsets. The days are so much longer to enjoy and it makes me feel a million times better seeing the sun out and clear bright blue skies all the time. Ice-creams are also a must in the summer time whilst sitting outside having a BBQ with the family catching all that gorgeous sunlight, you can not do that in the winter! The summer time just boosts my mood ten times over and hopefully one day I will be able to live somewhere where it is summer all year round.

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 7 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Monday, Sept. 7: Tell us about your blog name. Where did it come from?

My blog URL is just my name (not much to say about that) but my blog name is Mabuhay.

Mabuhay is a Tagalog greeting. It literally is the imperative form of “live”, from the root word buhay (life). The phrase carries various meanings including “may you live”, “cheers”, “welcome”, and “hurrah”.
– Wikipedia

When I chose it, I only identified the word to mean welcome. I wanted to welcome people to my blog and welcome them into the Filipino community that I am still learning about. It is only now I understand that it has a lot of different meanings and I think that it even more so reflects what my blog is about; it is sort of a little diary about my life as I continue to learn and grow about myself and my Filipino heritage. Recently, I wanted to discard the ‘Mabuhay’ title for my name due to various reasons but now I see that it is important to stay close to my Filipino journey and to welcome others on the journey as well.

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 3 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Thursday, Sept. 3: Create a collage or inspiration/mood board that describes your blog.

#blogtemberchallenge

University&Graduation

Yes, finally I am a graduate! I graduated with a degree in Mathematics last month and it still feels so strange knowing that my school days are over. I know that I definitely will not miss the stress of endless exams or the mad rush of getting to a 9AM lecture on time but I love getting ready to go back to school and the long summer holidays.

“There is a good reason they call these ceremonies ‘commencement exercises’. Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.”
Orrin Hatch

Deciding to do a degree in Maths was quite a simple choice for me. It had always been a strong subject for me and there are lots of different career options from taking such a vast subject, which (for me) was definitely a bonus since I had no idea what I wanted to do in life. I found the course very challenging and there were a lot of times where I thought ‘how on earth am I going to do the exam for this!’ but somehow I always managed to pull through. My graduation was held at the Barbican Centre in London. Wearing the robe and the hat, getting my graduation pictures taken and walking up on that stage to collect the scroll, all solidified that this was the end of a much loved era in my life.

Congratulations To The Class of 2015

Sept. 1 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Tuesday, Sept. 1: Introduce yourself however you like! Pics, vlog, collage, your choice 🙂

I have been looking to do one of these blogger challenges for a while now and I finally found one! There is so much on my blog written about me so today I shall introduce myself with a collage.

#blogtemberchallenge

Get Excited!

It is only two weeks until Miss and Mr Philippines UK 2015! I still can not believe how fast this year has gone by and I will soon have to be giving my crown away. The event is being held at the Camden Centre, which is right next to Kings Cross Station on the 12th of September at 6PM. I still have so much to get ready for the night including, most importantly, my speech. If you are interested in attending you can find more details here:

Miss and Mr Philippines UK Website
Tickets

Hope to see some of you there for this great night!

Barrio Fiesta

The Barrio Fiesta is a massive Filipino event that takes place in London every mid-July. For the past couple of years they have held it at Apps Court Farm near Hampton Court and every time I have gone it has been so much fun. It is always a great day filled with fun – there are fairground rides, entertainment at the main stage with Filipino celebrities and food… looots and lots of food! It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the Filipino community (since practically every Filipino attends) and to learn more about the culture. My favourite thing to do is get a temporary Filipino tattoo, it has become our little tradition every time we go.

The first time I went, it was quite daunting. There are so many people and there are so many things to see, where do you start! So here are my top tips if you are thinking of visiting the Barrio Fiesta next year:

1. Prepare For All Weathers – British weather, unlike the Philippines, changes drastically hour by hour. So it may have been sunny when you left but pouring down when you arrive. Make sure that what ever you are wearing, it can adapt if there is a sudden change of weather. I recommend layers, an umbrella for sunshine and the rain and some comfy shoes that can handle walking and the chance of bit of mud.

2. Picnic Blanket – A massive mistake we made the first time we came was, showing up without a blanket or anything to sit on. Everyone else had tents (which I am not sure are allowed..), umbrellas and plenty of food. We had nothing! Even if you do not bring food, which is not really necessary since there are tons of food stalls, a blanket to sit on and relax is a must!

3. Make Sure Your Phone Is Charged – For selfies. Lots of selfies! And if you know any Filipinos, there is a big chance they will be there too so meet up and split a halo halo.

4. Check Out ALL The Stalls – A lot of the stalls are advertisements which can be off-putting but they are all usually giving some pens, balloons or, if you are lucky, umbrellas out! Who would say no to free stuff?! For the past two years, we also have found a free photo booth hiding at the back of stalls which are always fun.

5. Have fun! – There are so many different things you can do at barrio. Be prepared to go on some fair ground rides, eat food and enjoy the entertainment. It’s a great day out for the Filipino community and anyone who is interested, embrace it!

London Barrio Fiesta – More information and dates etc. here

Bohol Doodle

Both photos taken in Bohol, Philippines
Just having some fun in Photoshop
Inspired By Tayst

LIKHA Magazine

Marielle Bacarro contacted me in April asking if I wanted to be part of her final major project. She was making a magazine called Likha, celebrating the Philippines, from everything from its fashion to its heritage. I was so honoured to have been asked to be a part of her project but also nervous to take nice pictures. We had decided to meet up in Greenwich to take pictures and for a small interview. Greenwich has some amazing buildings and surroundings so I thought it would be the perfect backdrop for her photos. After going around and taking some shots we had a little interview over lunch at the Pavilion Tea House at the top of the park.

A month or so after our meeting, Marielle invited me to see her work and others from the same school being showcased at the OXO Tower, London. The magazine turned out amazing and it looked so professional, I could imagine it on the shelves! I was also really pleased with the photos that she took of me (luckily, I do not look as cold as I did on the day!) Unfortunately, her magazine was a one off for her project but maybe, you never know, we might see it being sold, which would not only be incredible for her but a fantastic way to promote the Philippines!

http://www.likhamagazine.com

The Versatile Blogger Award

YAY! another nomination for an award and this time it is the Versatile Blogger Award. I was lucky enough to be nomiatied by two wonderful bloggers youcancallmefrance and Gail, thank you so much! I know this is probably two months too late but here goes:

The Rules:
1. Show the award on your blog
2. Thank the person who nominated you
3. Share 7 facts about yourself
4. Nominate blogs
5. Link your nominees’ blogs and let them know

My 7 Facts:

1. I love to sleep. When my mum was pregnant with me all she wanted to (and did) do was sleep. My family believe that whatever the mother does when she is pregnant, the child will turn out to be the same. I can not count the amount of times I have dozed off on public transport and once I am in bed I will fall asleep in a matter of seconds. I love my sleep!

2. Not many people know or notice this but I have a little scar at the end of the left eyebrow. Sadly, it is not a very interesting story of how I got it. When I was 3, I fell off a chair in the Philippines and instead of getting my wound stitched up, we just left it and now I have a scar there.

3. I have never owned a bike. Both of my sisters have one but after years and years of begging my parents for a bike, I have yet to own one. Hopefully, this will change soon!

4. I recently graduated!
I was studying Mathematics at Kings College London and my graduation was last week. It has been a long 3 years and I am so glad to have made it! I am going to write a separate blog post about University and education but for now I just wanted to add a picture of me in my gown!

5. Last year I won a SuperDry competition. I won my height in hoodies (so 22 hoodies in total) and all I had to do was post a picture on Instagram. This was just before Christmas so guess what I gave everyone.

6. I am terrible at mental maths. Seriously, terrible. Just because I have a maths degree does not mean that I am the best at adding up things in my head. Mental maths is only useful up to the non-calculator GCSE paper, after that you are either allowed to use a calculator or what you are doing does not involve numbers. So please, do not ask me what 7 times 6 is because I do not know!!!

7. At the start of the year one of my new years resolutions was to start to learn tagalog. Even though I can not really say full sentences yet, I am in the (slow) progress of learning. I am currently using a website called memrise, which I would highly recommend, but I really want to start using other resources. If anyone could recommend where I could watch filipino tv with subtitles or could read some easy tagalog books, that would be really helpful.

My Nominees:
1. Erica
2. khayceelyncordovilla
3. Emy
4. Rea
5. Couple’s Chronicle