Eight inspiring stories to start the eighth month of the year right Pt. 2

How is the first week of August going for you? Hopefully it’s been only all good, positive vibrations with zero antagonizers raining on any parades (we get enough rain from the monsoon season).

For those in need of a potent pick-me-upper, or for anyone simply looking to be inspired today, here is the second half of stories, recollections and testimonials of noteworthy individuals to start off the eight month of the year on the right foot.

Ben Chan: Bring it like Ben Chan

He has stripped down fashion to its skivvies and clothed an entire industry in a bold cloak of innovation. He has relished the sweet taste of success, whether through the clothes he provides to an entire generation of Filipinos, or the saccharine pleasures of his chocolate. Indeed, nobody brings it like Bench founder and retail magnate Ben Chan.

Back then, Bench was no more than a humble concessionaire at SM Department Store in Makati City, solely focused on selling men’s T-shirts.  It has gone a long way since. The man behind it has stayed more or less the same — except for his goals. “At first, I just wanted to put up a men’s casual fashion line that was a cut above the rest. But as Bench grew, so did my vision for it.”

The brand also held its own against the rise of foreign labels, all of which were once conceived to be a lot classier than Bench. Instead of being threatened by the influx of these foreign brands to the Philippines, it turned the tables by being the threat in his foreign competitors’ homelands. Bench has grown to conquer the sprawling markets of China, the US and even the Middle East, with more than 78 stores worldwide.

Bench, which now sparkles at 29 years, is undeniably Ben’s most stellar success. But it is far from being the only feather on his cap.

“My advice is to know who you are, to know what you want and to be who you are. Do what you love and it won’t feel like work. Find your place in the global village and identify your positioning early. And then, work with everything that you’ve got.”

In the beginning for instance, Bench battled colonial mentality, easily dismissed as either too Pinoy pop culture or too mass-market inclined. Today, it claims its “homegrown Filipino lifestyle” branding with much pride — simply because Bench believed it first.

He also doesn’t keep tabs of what he is yet to accomplish within his lifetime. “I don’t like the idea of bucket lists. They’re too morbid. I enjoy life for what it is, without having to think of what’s next. ‘Just wait and see,’ that’s what I always say,” he teases. And with that, he continues to bring his A-game on, the only way a Ben Chan can.

(By JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ  | Photography by PAOLO PINEDA | Grooming by PAOLO MARANAN | Hair by JAIME SY | PeopleAsia December 2012 – January 2013)

 

The Married Marias: Carla Pastor Antonio and Cecilia “Ces” Gahuman

 

As of this writing, the act of marriage favors only heterosexual couples in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. But the story of the first lesbian Filipina to be granted a fiancée visa to the US is a testament that queer love isn’t so queer anymore.

Like many lesbian couples, Ces and Carla had to stick it out and suck it in; the fact that they could not utter “I do’s,” until a landmark ruling was announced by the US Supreme Court in June 2013.

Two years after they officially became “girlfriends,” Carla was petitioned by her mother and migrated to the US on Feb. 10, 2004.

Carla eventually joined the Navy in November 2005. She went to boot camp at the Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago. It was her first time to see snow at Great Lakes. After six months, she got her orders and found out that she was going to Japan.

The winter of discontent finally ceased when the ladies caught news that Carla could petition Ces. If it would be granted, Ces would leave the care of her family and a career she spent years building. Carla proposed via Facebook on July 31, 2013.

Ces stood in line at 6 a.m. to enter the US Embassy. By 7:30 a.m., the line crawled inside the doorways, while anxiety crept up her spine. The interrogation began, first with the Filipino consul. He fired away with questions: “When did you meet? How many years have you been together? Can I see some of the photos?”

Ces was armed with a heavy ammunition of documents, from her birth certificate to her National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance. He took a look at all of it, saw she was unmarried, and continued to ask for more documents, which Ces attentively showed.

The consul then proceeded to look at her phone bill. “Even if there are money transfers, they look at it. They really want to find out if (the relationship) is really true.” She then transferred to the next window to the foreigner. Ces was so nervous, as she swore an oath of truth that she had to read aloud.

She narrates, “He noticed we were both Marias. She is Maria Carla Antonio; I am Maria Cecilia Gahuman.”

“‘So both Marias?’ he asked. ‘Yes, sir,’ I said. So he laughed a bit. He asked, ‘What is the rank of your fiancée?’ I didn’t know her rank because we had never talked about it, but I had to answer quickly before he marked it with an ‘X.’ I told him that she’s a gas turbine mechanic. I exclaimed, ‘Right now, she works in an office, but I’m not sure if she has a rank.

“‘Is your relationship known to your parents?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. He asked, ‘Did you know that in the US, gays and lesbians are very welcome?’ He seemed very happy. Then I was waiting for him to stamp ‘Approved.’

I couldn’t contain myself and uttered, ‘Sir, I just want to know if I’m approved?’

He replied, ‘Definitely, yes’!”

It turned out that Ces, out of all the United States’ female immigrants, was the first ever Filipina to be granted a fiancé visa.

(By DENISE ROCO | PeopleAsia February – March 2014)  

 

Raissa Laurel: Life Without Limits 

 

Outside Philippine General Hospital’s room 740, a mural of letters, greetings and inspiring messages from strangers and loved ones, gives support to Raissa Laurel, the San Sebastian College law student who lost both her legs to an explosion during the Sept 26, 2010 Bar Examinations. But as tragic as it was, Raissa is optimistic and shares with PeopleAsia how her new life without limbs will not be a life with limits.

In the morning of Sept. 26, Antonia Raissa Dawn Laurel bought for herself a pair of shoes to wear to a concert later that evening.

But by nightfall, she would have no feet.

Even when remembering that unfortunate day, Raissa keeps it light. Raissa admits she can’t recall much of that Saturday morning as it started out like any normal day. But she reveals, “While on the way (to DLSU), I felt something different. I don’t know and I can’t explain it but I felt something was off.” Raissa downplayed her gut feeling and continued on with her day.

At around 2 p.m., Raissa arrived with her friend at the university and joined the Salubong, a tradition wherein students, family and well-wishers support the law students taking the Bar. As a fellow law student from San Sebastian College and sorority sister, Raissa was among the well-wishers. During the celebrations, Raissa saw a box covered in Manila paper at her feet. Though Raissa believes it encased the bomb, police investigators identified that a grenade was more likely used in the explosion, based on the shrapnel found in the other injured civilians.

When the doctors finally handed Raissa’s mother Regina Laurel the waiver to operate, she fled the room crying. Her mother was inconsolable. “Di niya kaya (She couldn’t do it),” Raissa shares, “The doctors told her to come back to the room because she needed to make the choice.” Then and there, her parents had to decide. It was Raissa’s father, Roberto Laurel, who with an anguished heart signed the form. Raissa understands that it was the right decision and the only decision he could make. “It was life over limbs. He had no choice. Kasi kahit ma-save man nila. Mahihirapan ako. Baka mainfect pa. Mas lumala. (Even if they tried to save my limbs. It might be difficult for me. They might get infected and get worse.) So it was better to cut them off. ”

For her, Raissa shares, “Hindi na siya mahirap para sa akin na tanggapin na pinutulan ako (It wasn’t hard for me to accept that my legs were amputated). I think that was already a blessing when I realized even on Taft that I couldn’t walk. Yun na yung tulong ni God para tanggapin ko agad (That was God’s way of helping me accept it).” Despite the pain and being victim of a senseless act of violence, Raissa harbors no hate, no resentment, and has even offered forgiveness to the perpetrators.

“It hasn’t changed my plans. Actually I’m more driven to be a lawyer now. Kahit ganito – buo o hindi – hindi ko sisirain yung dream ko to become a laywer. (Whether I am physically whole or not, I will not let go of my dream to become a lawyer). Go pa rin.”

Raissa epitomizes the best of humanity: when life has given her all the reasons to lose hope, to be fearful and to be angry with the world, she remains steadfast in her faith and is still able to see the silver lining. “God has a purpose for this happening,” she insists and in her Facebook status Raissa shares with her well-wishers, “God saved me from the tragedy… He has greater plans for me than I have for myself.”

(By KRISTEL DACUMOS – LAGORZA | Photography by NIKKORLAI TAPAN)

 

Eddie Garcia: Manoy of the Hour

 

At the time of this writing, Eddie Garcia was considered the most-awarded and nominated person in the long history of the FAMAS, garnering a total of 34 nominations (13 for Best Supporting Actor, 10 for Best Actor and 11 for Best Director). From these, he was bestowed six trophies for Best Supporting Actor, five for Best Actor and five for Best Director.

That makes him the only person in the Philippines to be a Hall of Fame inductee of the FAMAS in three categories: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director. He has also received one Lifetime Achievement Award and the Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award.

If that isn’t worthy of any deserving plaudit or recognition; heck, I don’t know what is.

“As far as I’m concerned, I have had no memorable roles (during my almost 67-year stint) in the movies. It’s up to the people who have seen my movies to say which they find memorable,” begins Eddie Garcia.

In this exclusive interview for PeopleAsia held in Cainta, Rizal, during  one of his TV projects, the multi-awarded performer was in his usual cool and suave self. This, despite the fact, that production was destined to finish shooting until the wee hours of the night, or until dawn of the next day.

Eddie started in the movies in 1949, through his breakthrough role in Siete Ynfantes de Lara under Manuel Conde Productions. A former member of the Philippine Scouts under the US Army, his eventual re-enlistment was haltered by a friend’s invitation for him to apply for a screen test.

After a week, the late Manuel Conde finally cast Eddie among seven (including the late Mario Montenegro and Johnny Monteiro) out of the 40 hopefuls who auditioned. Our Taurean military man had no choice then but to write to his commanding officer that he had joined the glitterati. The rest, as they say, is history.

“It just makes me laugh when people say I’m a living icon,” he snickers. “For me, after all, movie-making is just a job. You finish one project; you move on to another. It’s a nice way to make a living.

“I give my thanks to the people who look up to me as a role model. But as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing high falutin’ about being an actor or a director. It’s just a job.”

For the 87-year-old thespian, who hails from Buhi, Camarines Sur and Juban, Sorsogon, there is no such thing as a dream role or a dream project.

“After all, if it doesn’t come into reality, then it’s just a waste of time. Whatever role or project is offered to me, I grab it. I also don’t have any ready script to peddle. Producers just approach me to do the job,” he states matter-of-factly.

He is also nonchalant about the issue of leaving a legacy to his hordes of followers and to showbiz chroniclers. “I don’t intend to leave a legacy. Whatever they see when I’m doing or directing a film, if they enjoy it, then that’s my legacy,” he concludes with his distinctive grin and a wink of an eye. Spoken, indeed, in true Manoy form.

Eddie Garcia’s mere enigmatic presence, after all, is a legend in itself!

(By GREGGY V. VERA CRUZ | Photography by MAU MAURICIO | PeopleAsia December 2010 – January 2011)

 

To see the first part of this list featuring beauty queen Venus Raj, loved and respected PAL boss Jaime Bautista, One Meralco Foundation president Jeffrey Ochoa Tarayao and Down Syndrome spokeswoman Brina Kei Maxino, visit this page.