Category: Editorial

Throwback Thursday: Solenn Heussaff

11/7/2013

I Got Trolled by Solenn Heussaff from Glenn Orion on Vimeo.

The scene: Tuesday afternoon, mid-2011. One of the city's affluent neighborhoods. A colleague and I had just made a home delivery for our covergirl's commemorative frame. Cut to veranda; hilarity ensues.

But really, she was one of the more interesting interviews I'd done, and what ran was only a fraction of what we giggled about. Also, in the photos below, she isn't gazing wistfully into the distance by design. My take on a little behind-the-scenes that day will have to suffice since I can't find the tearsheets anywhere.

Femme Fatale

In French literature, the literally translated “fatal woman” is an archetypal character most known for being seductively beautiful and, especially toward her suitors, dangerous and difficult. Luckily for Solenn Heussaff, being half-French, only one part need apply. We’ll let you guess which.

Text by V. Glenn Orion
Photos by Cyrus Panganiban
Makeup by Lourd Ramos
Hair by John Valle
Styling by Patrick Galang
Shot on location at Manila Ocean Park’s Hotel H2O

Beauty and brains has been done. But beauty, brains, and comedy? Few have made the attempt and even fewer have successfully bridged all three. Some say comedy should be reserved for those with a knack for it and, let’s admit, aren’t what most, much less the fashion forward, would consider cover girl material. They say pretty girls ought to stick to the runway or only portray cliché or romantic roles.

Au contraire. Already a known face in the industry, Solenn Heussaff is as infectiously easy-going as she is drop-dead gorgeous. She has under her ivory skin and teasing eyes the unique ability to be goofy yet captivating, genuinely funny yet not overtly corny. She just as often laughs in spite of herself as she cracks a joke about her family, travels, career, and her never-ending pursuit of simply being Solenn.

La famille

By now, most are likely familiar with the final three-castaway from Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown thanks to her pleasing character that’s clearly resonated with the masses. Solenn, or Sos, the name she introduced herself by, thanks her parents’ instilling good family values in her and her two siblings early on. Her father, a Frenchman who joined the navy, met her mother, a performer of the Bayanihan dance troupe while touring in Egypt. They didn’t have much when they married, but they managed to acquire a home in one of Makati’s more affluent villages. They both came from nothing but raised their children with all that mattered—fervent support, unconditional love, and traditional Filipino values.

And it shows. Solenn’s siblings, until older sister Vanessa moved back to Europe a few years ago, along with younger brother Erwan, all lived at home with their parents. Her father’s humbler days as a geophysical engineer a distant memory, Mr. Louis Paul Heussaff ventured into his own oil industry logistics and consultancy firm, Supply Oilfield Services (coincidentally also “SOS”), in 1979. Its successes and accompanying responsibilities, however, did not detract from him being a father to his children.

“I’m the female version of my dad,” Solenn quips, “I’m like him, but with longer hair.” In fact, no one gets her better than he does. “Sometimes he’ll know what I’m thinking even before I say it, so I can’t lie to him ‘cause he knows what I’m up to every minute of every day.” What may sound overbearing to others was really more of a laissez faire approach, something Solenn admired about her parents. “They’ve never said I couldn’t do this or do that, because I obviously have to learn from my own mistakes. They always guided me of course, but I know that no matter what I do, as long as I’m happy, they’ll support me and always have my back.”

Solenn, who already talks a mile a minute and often speaks in hyperbole, quickens her speech even more now as she reminisces about her childhood. “I’ve always been a clown, even since I was a kid.” There’s a 15-minute YouTube video of her and Erwan cooking their version of Canadian Poutine, a favorite dish of theirs during visits to Montreal. Her child-like enthusiasm and energy is not only contagious, it all but abates during the entirety of the video; the two giggle and tease each other between sticking asparagus up her nose to her attempts at silly Tagalog one-liners. They aren’t plugging a restaurant—Erwan hasn’t taken any formal cooking lessons—and Solenn isn’t trying to make an impression in case any directors or media execs are watching. They are simply brother and sister, enjoying a lazy afternoon and each other’s company as they would even if the camera was off.

Theirs was never the kind to be subject to sibling rivalries. They share some of the same friends and went to elementary school together. Her most traumatic experience at home, she jests, was when she locked herself in her closet and wrote a letter that she’d run away because her mom wouldn’t get the Barbie doll she wanted. “Both my parents came from poor families, so they brought us up the way they were brought up—good values and not taking anything for granted. We even had to work for our allowance. It was never like we would ask for something and they’d say, ‘Yea sure, here.’” She laughs as she remembers how she and Erwan would make a game out of their punishments. Sometimes they would even get in trouble just to “play detectives” and “escape from their captors.”

And their gastronomic adventures together are unmatched. Their parents, Solenn claims because they wanted a second honeymoon, left them at a camp for kids in Indonesia when she was about five or six. “I was thin until then,” she says, looking me right in the eye as if searching for any hint of disbelief because now with her 5’6” slender, model-like frame, a chubby kid would be the last thing on anyone’s mind. “It’s true,” she insists of her baby fat, “I can show you pictures. You’d laugh.” She goes on to retell how they were fed cheeseburgers “enough for ten people” and by the end of their stay, got so used to eating so much, they started enjoying it.

But the pièce de résistance of her childhood story came in her early teen years. So devastatingly affected by her classmates’ taunting and name-calling, Solenn did what she says no girls should ever do. “They were calling me ‘Shamu’ and ‘Free-Willy.’ So of course I was really hurt. When my parents were abroad, all I ate for three months was literally like, an apple a day. I eventually got sick with typhoid fever and lost about 10 kilos in the hospital.” The words still hanging in the air while Lourd Ramos continued to apply the finishing touches of her makeup, she continued without missing a beat, “But then I got discovered in Glorietta! At Glicos (an arcade) of all places!”

Moments like these are a given when with Solenn. Amongst her friends, who are mostly guys by the way, she is the funny one. “My brain’s kind of like, all over the place. I’ll talk about one thing and then a minute later I’ll be talking about a whole different thing that has nothing to do with the subject. And then go right back to what I was saying.” She likes random and spontaneous. “My family is very serious, especially my dad with his work, it can get very stressful. So I like to be the crazy one at home and just make up stories at the dinner table just to get a reaction from everybody. I think life’s too short to take it so seriously sometimes.”

Joie de vivre: Lover of life

A true lover of life and admittedly obsessed with travelling, Solenn has made it one of her life goals to have been to as many countries as her age for that given year (she turns 26 this July). It was her love for travel that brought her to study in Paris for five years. “Of course when I’m in France, I miss it here, and when I’m here, I miss it there.” She confesses, though, that while they may predominantly speak French at home, she prefers it in Manila. “If I had to choose [where to settle down], it’d be here. I mean, France is great for vacationing and studying, but I just like it more here. I feel more at home.”

When she does travel, Solenn makes trying the local fare, even the street food, which she calls “more authentic” her first priority. “Then I’ll go do the cultural thing and then shopping is last.” She’s a far cry from the “socialite”, “It Girl” mold others have been trying to shape her in. For example, she has sinigang Sundays, her favorite comfort food which she cooks for her friends. “I just enjoy good company, being with crazy people like me.”

And it’s people like those that have made her travels so memorable. She celebrated her birthday while on Survivor and said it was the best, most unforgettable yet. When asked by host Richard Guitterez who she missed most from back home, she replied frankly, “Of course I miss my family, but this is just one month out of my life, so I’m okay.”

There’s a sort of candidness with Solenn that isn’t at all contrived. She really gives of herself at face value. She isn’t shy about the fact that she wasn’t completely confident about herself even during her first TVC back in 2002. “I couldn’t believe it. I was like, ‘Hey, people actually want to see me!’” The folks at GMA couldn’t have agreed more. After Survivor, she inked an exclusive three-movie deal with them and has already begun pre-production on the second project. Her big screen debut stars Richard Guitterez, Rhian Ramos, Lovie Poe, and Eugene Domingo in a romantic comedy just in time for Valentines.

But she’s as capable in front of the camera as she is behind it. She jokes that the talent in her family must have skipped a generation. “My mom is probably the only Filipina that can’t sing. And my dad can’t even draw stick figures.” Solenn is an in-house designer for fashion conglomerate TAN-GAN, and a known makeup artist who created quite a stir with her bodypainting of model Joey Mead for a magazine cover. She’s also made numerous appearances on a variety of shows belting out tunes from "Billie Jean" to "Mon Mec A Moi," and just signed her recording contract with MCA Universal.

Busy belle

Someone with so much already under his or her belt would reason that a much-needed rest was in order. Not Solenn. She continues hard at work doing what she loves. Without complaint, she arrived at our shoot on time, went through all the prep, did this interview, Tweeted about Hotel H2O’s beautiful rooms, and only on the last of six looks mentioned that she hadn’t eaten since the night before.

Solenn believes in always learning and trying new things. “If I could be a student forever, I would. I was even supposed to go to Italy this year and take a class on shoemaking, but my schedule is just jam-packed right now.” What with her second movie underway, an upcoming television series in the making, an album that’s about to wrap, and still continuing to be a major endorser of some of the country’s leading brands, it’s hard to imagine how she can have time for much else like, say, a love life.

“Oh, that,” she laughs, “that’s the least of my worries at the moment. I’ve always been dating or in and out of not-so-serious relationships, so I think now is a good time to focus on myself and my career.” And that’s about all there is to her list of things she doesn’t want to do. “I’m just going with the flow. I’m open to whatever comes my way. If it’s humanly possible and not a bad thing, I’m willing to try it.”

Her fearlessness, ready smile, and contagious laughter are what’s made her a successful painter, singer, designer, castaway, actress, VJ, model—the list goes on and on. With her dangerously ambitious mind to take whatever field she chooses next by coup d’état, the brunette bombshell certainly poses a threat to whatever stands in her way. “If you can do or be one thing, or ten things, or even twenty things, as long as you’re good at it, why not?” So what exactly can we expect from Solenn?

Your guess is as good as mine.

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Throwback Thursday: Ilocos Norte

10/3/2013

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Part of my editorial duties included a domestic trip once in a while. This time, I got to visit the northernmost province in the Philippines.

We were fortunate to arrange a stay at Sitio Remedios, the resort of Dr. Joven Cuanang, Jr. whom I had previously interviewed for a piece on the St. Luke Medical City's medical tourism campaign. While there, we'd explore the old city of Vigan and surrounding areas, as well as taste the local delicacies. We split writing assignments, but being that I was a recently converted vegetarian, I opted to take more photos while our other writer, Emil, did the eating.

Sitio Remedios: The ‘Soul’ Survivor

“Preserve” and “culture” are buzzwords often heard strung together among art circles the world over. Yet, some of these acts are so far removed from the true essence of historical and cultural preservation that the intentions are, for the lack of a better word, in vain.

Text and photos by V. Glenn Orion

True, there is a place for the museum, the art gallery, or the touring (albeit once at its destination, stationary) exhibit. After all, national treasures like the US Constitution or the original Mona Lisa should be kept under close guard, in state-of-the-art, climate-controlled, antitheft rooms, along with other one-of-a-kind works by masters long gone so they may educate and be enjoyed by more generations to come.

The point is not that these are kept at the Mecca of tourist and art goers—the Capitol Building in Washington DC and the Louvre in Paris, respectively—but that their preservation, and ultimately, though ironically, their accessibility to the public is ensured by keeping them cordoned off, just out of arm’s reach, enclosed in bulletproof glass, and kept from seeing the light of day because the sun’s harmful UV rays could spell disaster for the relics.

On a smaller scale, these are representative of their country’s heritage, a part of their history that indemnifies them from the obscurity that time brings. So what’s more when things like festivals, historical landmarks, and even architecture, on a more literal and grander sense of regional identity, are thrown to the wind and forgotten?

A necessary remedy

Many say they are lovers of art. But compared to Dr. Joven Cuanang Jr.’s true labors of love with Sitio Remedios, others’ efforts may just seem like summer flings. With a philosophy for the healing arts and the art of healing, when Dr. Cuanang saw a change in the Ilocos landscape that deviated from the home he knew and loved, he knew that there was something he had to do about it.

The good people of the north are known for their hard work, good provincial hospitality, and simplicity. This can be seen in their way of life and notably in the architecture of their homes, which were heavily influenced by the Spaniards during their colonization. The style, with its whitewashed walls, simple floor plan, basic yet elegant, and use of materials readily available in the province, has been something we have come to know Ilocos by.

They are also known for being the manpower exporting capital of the country. Ilocanos were among the first to go abroad in search for greener pastures—to Hawaii, California, and Alaska, where many continue being seamen, just on larger ships that haul-in a catch that they could only dream of if they stayed on the shores of Ilocos.

And when these countrymen return home, they bring influences from the foreign lands. Brightly painted houses patterned after Western style architecture began to dot the Ilocos landscape. Homegrown architects and designers were furthering their education abroad but at the same time, were overlooking the lessons to be had right in their own backyard. The architecture of Ilocos was dying, being forgotten and unappreciated by its inhabitants.

This made Dr. Cuanang, a native of the town of Batac, distraught for the future of his province. He wanted the things that had been such a big part of his childhood to be preserved—not in pictures, or murals, or in history books—but in their true form.

Divine providence

It was during one of his vacations back home to Ilocos when Dr. Cuanang noticed a new development across from Paoay Church called Palazio Venecia. He felt something there that he no longer felt at his rest house due to the neighboring resort that catered to a foreign tourist-centric market. His friends put him in touch with Rex Locsin Hofilena, the architect, just two days after Christmas of 2005.

“He asked to meet on his birthday, which is New Year’s Eve,” recalls Architect Rex with a fond smile. “He wanted to begin conceptualization right away.” The idea quickly grew from just one rest house to a little village. The local town had a yearly fiesta and celebration, however, which occurred on the 1st of May. Dr. Cuanang wanted to make sure the village would be finished by that time, giving only a four month window for all construction to be done.

The vacant lot purchased by Dr. Cuanang just a few properties away from his current rest house, would be the prime location. Although there were remnants of a house on the lot, there was nothing else except fully matured trees and a very uneven landscape that lead down to the beach on the South China Sea. “No two sides of this lot are actually parallel,” points out Architect Rex of the lot’s challenges, “we had to make the planning and layout decisions as we came upon them, by feel. It was too difficult and impossible to anticipate if we were to just write down the plans on paper.”

Everything somehow seemed to fall into place, as if some other force was at work. Initial sketches from their first meeting, became more or less the layout Dr. Cuanang wanted and had in mind for the village. Some of Dr. Cuanang’s collected artworks helped accentuate the buildings. The crucifix and tabernacle in the chapel, which were only installed after the completion of the actual building, seemed like they were meant to be, echoing the feel of the chapel and physical fit with the rest of the architecture. “It was those little incidents that really seemed like this place has a deeper meaning,” smiles Architect Rex.

Like all towns in Ilocos Norte, the church had to be at the highest point and the plaza had to be a focal point of the layout. There even had to be a watchtower which was used at the time to signal other villages in case any marauding pirates were spotted in the horizon. Despite the logistical challenges of the uneven terrain, they were able to accomplish this. “We really wanted to preserve and make this as aesthetically Ilocano as possible. It even meant moving the foundation of the church three times.” No commercial plants were introduced and all the trees, except one, were saved.

A home away from home

The actual houses have literally been uprooted and transplanted from various towns in Ilocos. “Each house is an expression of the architecture of the specific town or municipality they’re from,” Architect Rex explains. “Each is unique, slightly varying in style, but still sharing the same common characteristic of being organically Ilocano that lets them coalesce in that way.”

“Most of the owners are already in the States,” continues Architect Rex on how the houses were acquired. “And a lot of them don’t have serious plans of coming back. So they welcomed the idea of them being preserved rather than having them go to waste or even abandoned.” There are 9 houses total, each an original building that was taken apart for transport, and then put together back at the building site. All in all, some 23 houses were used to bring the houses up to code, using “spare” parts to ensure both the structural and historical integrity of each building.

Some adjustments and modifications have also been made to make them more livable—enlarging the rooms, installing air conditioning units, and making indoor bathrooms, are a few. But these were done with the utmost consideration of keeping as true to the original design as possible. Other incorporated designs are in the details—the “rainmaker” showerheads and terracotta tiles.

The now-called resort is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It has managed to marry everything a peaceful haven of serenity modern getaways offer with the rustic, old charm of a time long gone. It moves you, yet you quietly soak in the surroundings, discovering new things about the land and about yourself daily. Under the vast expanse of fresh, open air above you, and the waves lapping on the beach just within earshot, you don’t need to look any further for a physical and spiritual recharging. You get to be as much a part of history as you are in it.

Sitio Remedios has indeed been a revelation for many who have come through its gated archway. Governor Imee Marcos is said to have stood on the steps of the chapel and felt a similar ambiance that she had during her visits to Angkor Wat. Others have likened the Avenida de Azucao, the pathway with lotus pools on either side, to the reflecting pool of the Taj Mahal, and the open airiness to Borubudur in Indonesia. “The place has this quality that makes you feel like it’s timeless,” says Architect Rex. “It has something in architecture that I like to call ‘soul.’”

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Vigan: More than you bargained for

One of only two World UNESCO Heritage Sites in the Philippines, Vigan is more than ‘a boring city with a bunch of old buildings.’ It still has a captivating charm to it that can appeal to even the staunchest unbeliever.

Text and photos by V. Glenn Orion

We woke up a little later than we planned, what with the tiring 9-hour, overnight bus ride the day before and ensuing full itinerary of Ilocos Norte. Excuses and uncombed hair aside, we were excited to discover the urban part of the province.

After downing a hearty breakfast of eggs, dilis, and sausage at Sitio Remedios, my colleague Emil, who had actually already been to Vigan once when he was toddler, and I headed to the Currimao bus junction just outside the resort to catch a ride heading south. We asked some of the local tricycle drivers waiting by the stop which bus would be ideal for the hour-and-a-half trip. They said all were fairly comparable but that the airconditioned, Manila-based lines were faster, not to mention, more comfortable.

We let a couple pass by, anticipating the familiar name of Partas to be the bus coming around the corner next. After passing the fourth one up, we decided to take the next bus, regardless of which liner it was. Sure enough, a local bus pulled up with its final destination being Vigan. This was an open-air bus with seats for two on either side made of wood frames that couldn’t recline. “Not too bad, for just an under-two-hour ride,” I thought to myself.

An elderly lady had some vegetable baskets that needed storing in the undercarriage so we waited a while before taking off. We picked up more locals along the way quite a bit more frequently than we experienced on the way up to Ilocos Norte the day before. Soon, school children and other locals dressed for the office were among the added passengers that hopped on.

Maybe if we had been more alert, we could’ve realized that these were foreshadowings of what the day had in store. About midway through the trip, at one particularly long stop, without explanation we began hobbling onwards in first gear. Even with the obvious clanging noise coming from somewhere under the bus, the driver and conductor seemed to carry on with business as usual while our fellow passengers continued their conversations without missing a beat. Emil and I just looked at each other and shrugged, thinking it was a momentary hitch that would somehow resolve itself.

When our snail-like pace continued for another kilometer and with our friendly duo not showing any sign of stopping for repairs despite being passed by other buses at every other straightaway, we knew we had to take matters into our own hands. So at the next decently populated area we decided to get off and risk waiting for another liner and paying for another fare. Luckily for us, no sooner had we stepped off the bus than did the familiar colors of red, yellow and white on the side of a Partas bus glide over the hill. We were saved.

Next stop, Vigan

With a renewed vigor as we stepped into the cooler, cushion-seated bus, we promptly dozed-off to sleep for the rest of the way to the ancient city. Only stirred awake by the low-hum of a resting diesel engine and the firm voice of the conductor announcing our desired stop, we pulled ourselves out of our seats and into the noonday sun. We got off right in the center of Vigan, with the Ilocos Sur Capitol building on one end of Plaza Salcedo, and the Vigan Cathedral on the other.

We had worked up quite an appetite by this time and after checking with the information desk, we set off in search of some genuine Ilocano food. But our hungry stomachs prevailed and we settled for the Chow King down the street. This industrialized part of the city was not what I had pictured when I thought of a preserved, ancient city. Across from the cathedral’s bell tower was a McDonald’s. Farther down the road there were clothing outlets and banks with huge signs offering loan promos.

There were still a number of kalesas waiting for passengers along either side of the cathedral after we ate. Tapping into our inner equestrian, we felt the major criterion to having the most efficient route through the city was to find the youngest looking horse. We spotted what looked like a sprightly young stallion and eagerly stepped aboard with manong whipping away. A few gallops into our ride later, and only then did we realize that though we had chosen the youngest horse, we also could have easily been partnered with the oldest guide.I asked him for his name but he instead gave the horse’s—it was “Bella” and we were 0 for 2.

Through his toothy grin and some vague mumbling, manong announced that we were at the first of our four-stop tour. It was the St. Augustine Church and Bantay Bell tower. Built in 1590, and probably one of the oldest churches in the all of Ilocos Sur, it needed drastic reconstruction about 400 years later after being nearly demolished in World War II. We welcomed the cool shade inside the church’s towering arches, and the eerie silence made the narrow nave down to the shrine of Our Lady of Charity seem even longer.

The sun was high in the sky now as we clambered back into the kalesa. Manong had managed to make Bella reverse into a parking slot, which we thought was amazing. Our next stop would be another rich part of not only the North’s history, but of the Philippines’ early struggle with the Church, too.

Father Jose Burgos is considered the Champion of the Cause of the Filipino Clergy. He, along with Father Gomes and Zamora, were executed by Spanish authorities for their alleged part in inciting the Cavite mutiny in 1872. Now, his home has been preserved and serves as a mini museum of both his life’s story and other important events from the period along with some random items—like model Spanish galleons and an antique typeset wordpress. We had the pleasure of being toured by a college student fulfilling her compulsory credit for the NSTP. From the old desks where numerous letters outlining the atrocities of the Spanish Church must have been written, to the downstairs library with leather-bound books and worn, yellowed pages lining its shelves, it was spiritually invigorating to be where some of the patriarchs of religious freedom had gathered.

A forgotten time

Once again taking in the fresh air in the backseat of our kalesa, we headed to our next destination, which ended up being quite far away. We left the town proper and got a peek into some of the surrounding village life. We noted a few textile factories and what we guessed were entrepreneurial hallow block makers forming the building material in the front yard of their homes. The lone stretch of highway before us, we reflected on the slower pace of the province.

And maybe a bit more than we should have. After going through the Hidden Garden, which didn’t really offer much in terms of sights unique to the North (a few bird and animal cages and some other foliage), we started to ask ourselves if our hour’s worth of touring with manong had already elapsed. We scratched our heads trying to remember what time we started our ride.

Stopping off for some souvenirs at a tiangge area on the outskirts of the Vigan town proper where other tourists had gathered, we decided we ought to ask manong if he was charging for another hour. Alas, we couldn’t really make out what he was smiling and nodding about. We looked around for an interpreter. Someone with a similar uniform emerged and translated something along the lines of 450 pesos. “How could we be touring for three hours already?” was all we could ask. But the sun betrayed us. True enough, the shadows had gotten longer and the glowing orb was now just peaking over the treetops without our noticing.

Now we were rapt with attention. We had a communication breakthrough when manong agreed to skip whatever our next stop was and head back to the plaza. Our budget would barely allow us to catch a ride back to Sitio Remedios where we would pack our things, eat a light dinner, and head back to Manila on the redeye.

Then all of a sudden, we turned a corner and found ourselves, mouths gaping, staring down the cobbled street of Calle Crisologo. This was the Vigan I saw in my brief Google image search during the days prior. Completely reneging on our just-inked agreement of heading straight for the terminal, we were, to say the least, moved to bring Bella to a halt and let the downright captivating aura of the place ruminate within the deepest part of our beings.

Lining either side of the stoned alley are the most well-preserved colonial, two-story houses this side of post-Spanish occupation. The setting sun cast angular shadows against the strong, sharp corners of the pale-white façades highlighting the intricate wooden grilled sliding windows and their capiz shell details even more. The blending of European and Chinese with Ilocano architecture so unique to this era really makes its visitors feel like they’ve just stepped into another time.

Vendors line the street using the first floor space that once served as the affluent family’s granary or storage space. Although the wares are modern—keychains, abel blankets unique to the province, and other miscellaneous paraphernalia—I could just imagine the same bustling scene from centuries ago.

Our footsteps reverberating against the walls on either side and echoing up and down the roughly one kilometer avenue, time seemed to peacefully stand still. For once that day, everything seemed right with the world.

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And here's Emil's article on the province in its entirety as well as a blurb on the food accompanied by my photos.

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Throwback Thursday: Sam Pinto

8/29/2013

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Unintentionally, this interview came in two parts—the first as seen above at the studio, while the latter came about purely by sheer coincidence almost a year later during another assignment I was covering.

The original issue theme focused on dermatology/cosmetic surgery for a sister magazine where we ended up featuring Phoemela Baranda. So after the story I wrote on Sam got shelved for two ensuing issues, a vacant cover story fortunately put it back in the lineup. After failed attempts at rescheduling a follow-up interview for what would be the mother's-day issue, the situation seemed hopeless.

I happened to be on an overnight assignment covering the newly developed Ponderosa Leisure Farms by Landco Pacific Corp, when during one of the stops at a beachfront resort I noticed a big-budget shoot was going on (there were huge skrims, too many grip boys to count, and several fresnel lights). On the way to our group's cabana, I recognized the hair and makeup artists from previous shoots we'd done. I asked who the talent was, and the rest, thanks to my trusty Nokia's recorder feature, helped finished up the article below.

Side note: This was a year before Sam went on to become FHM Philippines' Sexiest for two years in a row in 2011-12.

The Princess Next Door

According to my estimates, more people have landed on the moon than have been lucky enough to actually say that their audition for a modeling agency happened in a mall food court. But the proverbial fairytale story is exactly what happened to Samuelle Lynne Pinto

Text by V. Glenn Orion
Photos by Shaira Luna
HMUA Regie Escolin Soriano
Styling by Miko Calma
Shot at Calibre Studios

Hers is truly the stuff fairytales are made of. Her whirlwind romance with the hearts of Filipinos the country over unraveled before everyone’s eyes in the “House of Kuya”. Her ready laughter soothing smile, and demure yet regal presence permeated through the television screen.

As in the footsteps of successful housemates before her, she went on to bigger and better projects despite being in the house for only a month and a half. Where others fizzle out as quickly as they erupted, she remains in the public spotlight, snagging a role on the fantasy TV series Captain Barbell. She also starred in the remake of the 80s film by the same name, Petrang Kabayo, and later played the role of Senator Bong Revilla’s love interest in Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote which was a record-breaking blockbuster during this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

But you know what they say, “Behind every PBB Housemate, actress, model, and covergirl is a lawyer mother.”

Exposition

Who would have thought an unassuming trip to the mall on an unassuming Sunday afternoon would be so pivotal in the life of an unassuming 10-year-old girl?

Sam takes a deep breath, probably having recited this story numerous times though it never gets old. “I was at a mall, buying French fries, when an agent for a modeling agency approached me and asked, ‘Do you want to be a model?’ I said I’d ask my mom and if she said okay, then I’d give it a try.” She flashes a big grin.

Yes. It was that anticlimactic. The literary technique called “rising action” in a story plot contains, as any Lit major will tell you, the development of secondary conflicts, and the introduction of various obstacles in the protagonist’s attempt to reach their goal.

And yet, her childhood up until that point and for a number of years afterward, were by no stretch of the imagination, extraordinary. “Which means, hanging out with friends, going to the movies, watching DVDs. Just being normal,” she nods knowingly.

Her mother, a busy attorney, enrolled her in a school unlike traditional schools where children would follow a strict curriculum and study subjects as planned by the teacher. Her school, which followed the Radcliffe and Harvard method of teaching, gave Sam the flexibility to delve into the topic of her choosing when she chose to study it. And as a young girl, her interests were constantly shifting, so she managed her academics at her own pace.

Soccer games or piano recitals were probably the typical weekend activities of girls her age, but Sam was sending VTRs to her agency whenever they felt her look fit the description required. Her mom’s encouragement helped her early on. “It’s actually pretty crazy, with modeling, you don’t get projects just like that, you get rejected all the time. So siguro after like the first ten VTRs, I was like ‘Ayoko na,’” she says in a mock-whiny voice. “But after a while, I started getting offers na rin thanks to my mom, who was there every step of the way.” Her first print ad was for CocaCola.

And more good fortune keeps coming her way. Pre-PBB, hardcore fans will remember the Voice Combo Sandwich TV ad that featured her one-liner, “Zipper mo bukas!” Today’s just another busy day like the many other busy days in the years that have passed since. “Lately, it’s been work, work, work. I’ve been taping, sometimes 24 hours straight. I try to nap on set when I’m not in a scene, but when it’s my turn it’s “O, game na. Game, game, game.”

Aside from being involved in the commercial modeling scene and occasional TV spot, Sam followed one of her passions by going to the De LaSalle-College of Saint Benilde. “I took Fashion and Design at CSB but had to stop because of all the projects I’m working on.” Although education is on the backburner at the moment, she continues, “As of now, I’m doing the whole showbiz thing so I’m concentrating more on the acting. I’m doing all the workshops and stuff, but if this doesn’t work out,” she laughs, “it’s my back-up plan. I’d go back to CSB or I could study elsewhere like London. But definitely for fashion pa rin.”

Her mom completely understands. “I realize that this industry is all about striking when the iron is hot,” Attorney Theresa says when I caught up with them at another shoot for a new endorsement of Sam’s. “As a mother, of course my dream is to one day see her finish [schooling]. But she came up with a very logical statement. She said, ‘Mommy, you sent me to a very good school so that one day I could earn my own living. And now I’m earning it, and I’m not even done yet. So can I just do it?’ So I said, ‘As long as you, one, promise you will finish.’ Secondly, she said, ‘Mom, my course is a craft, it’s never going to go away, it’s my passion and I love it and I will finish.’”

Sam says she’s even prepared to take on a supportive role should the time come, having been in the spotlight herself. “When I do guestings, or other appearances, I style myself. I pick out my own clothes. Kasi some artists hire a stylist for a month or something. For me, I have the freedom to choose my own outfits and do my own makeup.” She even gets to put some of the things she’s learned in her current line of work. Her mom adds, “It’s an education which could not be paid for or learned in any university.” At the MMFF Awards Night red carpet earlier this year, Sam wore a gown that she designed herself.

Mommy’s girl

Her success in the industry is a reflection of both the close professional and familial relationship she has with her mom. Having been separated from her father when Sam was about seven years old, she inculcated in Sam and sister Rea, less than two years her senior, the importance of respect, honor, and humility.

As a civil attorney, her mother pores over contracts advising Sam about the details and technicalities many other young stars are oblivious to. “If we’re talking about [the specifics of] this project or this contract, I’m a lawyer,” Atty. Theresa explains. “But if I’m advising her for or against the contract, I’m a mother. So it’s really understanding which hat I’m wearing and what perspective I’m taking when we’re talking. And she understands that.”

Sam shares that her mom gives her the reins when it comes to the majority of the decision-making. Raised on good Christian values, she gives her moral compass priority. “We work together,” Sam says, “me and my mom will give our suggestions, and the creative team will do their best to honor that. And we usually come to an agreement that works for everyone.” Having a mom with that kind of professional background is imaginably the envy of many of Sam’s peers.

I’m reminded of a story involving a celebrity and his “momager.” Pop artist Usher made headlines a few years back, when he fired his mother who had been his manager ever since the beginning of his career. “Oh, I don’t think Sam will fire me,” Atty. Theresa interjects, laughing. Some say that working with family in such an industry is taboo. “They understood, even early on, the many hats I wear. Sometimes I’m father, sometimes I’m mother, sometimes I’m a sister, sometimes even Lucifer,” she jokes. “And it helps that the communication between the tree of us is very open.”

And it’s apparent, too, in their home life. “I don’t cook, so that’s the frustration of the girls,” teases Atty. Theresa as Sam gets prepped for another spread. “We have a very orderly life. Our home is peaceful and quiet. It has fast become the clubhouse of their friends and barkada because I welcome them, I welcome everybody.” The relaxed and easygoing vibe seems like something Sam has inherited.

Sam’s projects come in waves, apparently, where she’s doing tapings and shoots one after another which are then followed with a period of relative relaxation. Perhaps a week or so off. Those are the times she, Rea, and their mom capitalize on time bonding together. “Some days, all we have time for is watching DVDs in my room,” shares Sam. “We’ll order pizza, go out for a midnight snack or Starbucks, and just hangout or I try to catch up on sleep. But when I can block off a couple weeks, we really love to travel together. Europe is definitely among our favorites, I love it there.”

As Atty. Theresa looks out over the veranda onto the beach where Sam is doing what she does best, you can just sense the pride she must have for her daughter, her princess. Who wouldn’t? Sam has handled the inevitable road bumps the industry has thrown her way with an honest, no-frills-attached poise that is becoming a rarity these days.

She’s still writing her story. Still dancing at the ball in her glass shoes, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. Whatever comes her way, she’ll be sure to have her very own Happily Ever After.

-30-

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Throwback Thursday: When in Bali

8/1/2013

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Back into the archives again for another #tbt except I seem to have misplaced the actual tearsheets. Insert cheesy emojicon here.

Bali was really the first time that I ventured out of the vegetarian comfort zone I had been raised in. It was the right place to do it. Read on:

When In Bali

Sea, Sun, Shopping—the “3 S’s” this island getaway is sure to have more than enough of. And who could ask for more? Certainly not the increasing throngs of surfers, beachgoers, and bargain hunters who, year after year, continue to flock here faster than you can say “Bali Holiday.”

But to do as the Balinese do, one must venture off the beaten path and discover a library of wonders far beyond this triumvirate alliteration. Read on with writer and photographer Glenn Orion as your guide to the remainder of Bali’s alphabet.

And Then There Was Denpasar

As quickly as we came, we went. Jakarta had been a pleasure to unravel, from the rolling hillsides of Bandung to the bustling cityscape downtown. But as much as we hated to leave, we knew and eagerly anticipated the next stop—Bali. This meant taking the brief ride back to Soekarno Hatta International Airport and flying Garuda Indonesia Airlines to Ngurah Rai Int’l Airport. Enjoying some snacks during a bit of down time before the flight, our small group along with our guides from the Ministry of Culture & Tourism who would be accompanying us on this next leg, laughed as we recounted the already memorable first half of our trip.

The short flight literally flew by and before we knew it, we were all loaded-up in a spacious van and immediately whisked on our way to the first stop. Winding through, climbing up and down the coastal roads, our local guide “Wira” warned us to put away our glasses and to secure other valuables or loose accessories. We soon found out why when, arriving at the cliffside temple at Uluwatu, we stepped into what is the home of an estimated 300 wild monkeys. Even at the entrance, signs advise visitors of these furry burglars’ clever attempts at thievery. Before being allowed to enter, female guests wearing shorts or skirts were provided with wraparound skirts and the men were given sashes worn at the waist as a sign of reverence to the holy site.

Uluwatu

We wandered through the cobbled pathways and up large stone steps to a lookout point on the easterly coastline. All the while, generations of monkeys strolled lazily among us with an air of nonchalance. Wira said that these monkeys had been allowed to inhabit and roam in this area freely even since he was a child. The Balinese believe that monkeys are gods incarnate and although they aren’t worshipped, these primates are, for the most part, allowed to do as they please. As soon as those words left our guide’s mouth, a loud shriek followed by nervous laughter came from behind us. We spun around to see a grown monkey make off with a young woman’s sunglasses. The monkey bandits strike again!

Soon, we were all herded into the outdoor amphitheater that sits right on the cliff’s edge, hundreds of feet above the crashing waves below. With the setting sun as its backdrop, the Kecak dance performance began. The group of primarily male dancers wearing only a checkered cloth around their waists, perform the ritual to the rhythmic sounds made orally using no other instruments. The latter syllable of its name, Kecak (pronounced “chak”), is chanted throughout the ceremony. For a small fee, visitors can watch the depiction of the battle from the Ramayana epic between monkey-like Vanara and the evil King Ravana.

I asked a companion to save my front row seat about midway through the performance so I could capture the vivid colors streaking across the setting sky. The three-tiered roof section of the temple seemed to teeter on the precipice creating a dramatic contrast between the blackness of the cliffside and the blue sea that, if not for the flickering lights of fishing boats on the horizon, looked like it and the sky had seamlessly meshed together. The quiet night sounds were interrupted by sporadic laughter coming from the amphitheater. I returned just in time to have the monkey god Vanara jump into the crowd and sit next to me!

Wira excitedly told us that we would be having dinner at a popular fresh seafood market paralleled by a line of seaside restaurants serving up delicious, five-star dishes at two-star prices. This was no occasion to cling to my vegetarian ways. And if there was ever a better time to experience a true meat-lover’s delight, it was now. With the gentle sound of waves lapping on the sandy beach serving as our four-piece string quartet, and with the moon and stars overhead as our chandelier, we began scarfing down all manner of meats, soups, and rice. I found myself knuckle-deep in Be Siap Pelalah, a boiled chicken meat dish that is then barbecued and served soaked in hot and flavorful chili sauce; and Bandeng Presto, pressure-cooked fish with an unmistakable aroma and sambal garnishing. What a night to do as the locals do.

Bali-vanting

Bright blue skies and a pleasant breeze greeted us the next morning. We had a number of stops ahead and were eager to be on our way after a hearty breakfast at the newly opened Aston Hotel. We would have the pleasure of visiting the Taman Ayun family temple in Mengwi first. Balinese for “beautiful garden,” this 17th Century historical landmark, complete with moat and bridge, continues to serve as a place of worship. Lily pads and their blooming flowers float with the clouds in reflections created by the still water.

By the time we left the spacious garden temple, we had worked up an appetite. Approaching noon, we began our ascent up Terate Bang Mountain where we would be having lunch at the Khayangan Restaurant. I noticed, as we passed by street-side stores and private homes, that none of the windows and doors had grilles, neither were the properties fenced-in. Our guide Wira said that this was because of the devout belief in karma. Locally, the phrase tatwa masi, roughly translates to “I am you, you are me,” and it is the adherence to this code that guides the Balinese moral compass.

Next, we headed north about 60km from Denpasar City towards Singaraja. As we climbed up the mountainside, the weather became noticeably cooler. Through the fog rolling in and under a light drizzle, we arrived at the Ulun Danu Bratan Temple. This Hindu temple is dedicated to the water goddess, Danu, whom the locals believe to be the source of fertility and prosperity. With four mountain ranges in each direction, the lakeside temple is the largest group of Hindu temples in East Java. When the tide is in, sections of the temple become isolated on man-made islands; definitely a must-see in Bali.

Around mid-afternoon, we strolled through a large open market to buy and snack on some local fruits and shop for souvenirs. The locals are friendly and inviting, accustomed as they are to tourists visiting the area. Further down the road is Alas Kedaton, the fruit bats and monkey forest in the middle of a Tabanan regency rice field. The temple’s maintenance and caretaking of its animals is provided on a completely voluntary basis.

Lastly, we visited one of the most anticipated sunset spots—Tanah Lot Temple. Also known as The Temple on the Rock, Tanah Lot looks out on the Bali Sea and is one of the seven sea temples that form a chain along the southwestern coast. A large boa constrictor roams the grounds under the careful eye of its keeper and it, along with the sea snakes at the temple’s base, are believed to keep out evil spirits and intruders. The innumerable souvenir stands that line the cemented path to the sea are a last-minute stop after the sun has set.

Innumerable, too, are the experiences to be had, sights to be seen, and foods to be tasted. Bali is just one of 17,500 reasons to visit Indonesia. And when in Bali, you, too, will speak volumes of this island paradise.