Happy Filipino-American Friendship Day!

Happy Independence Day! Well, for our friends and family residing in the United States, at least. The Fourth of July commemorates the time in American history when the country declared itself an independent nation no longer under the British empire.

Having had close ties with the United States for decades and decades now, the Philippines celebrates the holiday in its own way with Filipinos acknowledging the day as “Filipino-American Friendship Day.”

Proud of their heritage from both sides, here are famous Fil-Am personalities (and their stories featured on PeopleAsia magazine) that will wave two flags on this special day.

Gerald Anderson

Where do you look for heroes? Nowadays they are not cloaked in capes and special powers. Look closely, the hero you are looking for might simply be the boy next door.

After pulling an all-nighter, Gerald woke up blissfully unaware of the rising flood brought about by the torrential rains of 2009’s Typhoon Ondoy; meanwhile, his mother, Evangeline, was wrought with anxiety over his younger brother Kenneth, who had ventured out in the rain to visit a friend within their subdivision several hours earlier.

Egged by his mother’s concern, Gerald went out to look for Kenneth and was immediately confronted with raging waters that stopped a few feet short of his doorstep.

With nary a thought for his own safety, he managed to bring both his brother and his friend back to their home. Anyone would have been content at having done a good deed at this point, but heroes step over the line that separate mere men from heroes. Gerald just couldn’t sit still and forget how the flood had trapped his neighbors to the second level of their homes. Thus, he swam out again in the murky waters, checked on his neighbors and later assisted those who needed to evacuate onto a banana boat and pulled them to higher ground, aided only by ropes tied to poles and trees to prevent them from being dragged away by the strong currents.

Unknown to him, Dr. Divina Gracia Rosales-Murao, a neighbor of Gerald’s in Vista Real Classica in Quezon City, took pictures of Gerald checking on their neighbors in the subdivision and uploaded the pictures via Facebook. As social networking sites go, the album was reposted, shared and seen by thousands of Facebook subscribers, eventually picked up in blogs, discussed in forums and mainstream media. Amid the ensuing public adulation, he modestly insists that he does not think of the deed as heroic, his parents had raised him to help when he can, and share what he can.

It takes a certain kind of man to step up and risk life and limb again and again for the sake of others. Yes, Gerald was singled out because he is a celebrity. But the fact that he chose to be actively involved and not just passively dole out a token check speaks volumes – what you do with your celebrity is a great responsibility. The day after the storm, Gerald dutifully reported to the weekly show ASAP, manned the telethon, and helped raise over P1 million for Ondoy victims.

(By CHERYL CHAN-NOLASCO)

Gerald Anderson was a special awardee in PeopleAsia’s 2009 “People of the Year” Awards

Megan Young 

And the winner of Miss World 2013 is…Philippines!”

The cameraman zooms his lens on our country’s official representative, who brings both hands to cover half of her captivating face, initially marked by sobs and shock.

“I am honored to have been bestowed the title of Miss World 2013. But more than the crown, the prestige and being the first Filipina to win this pageant, it’s getting the Philippines involved with the organization and the pageant that many Filipinos know.

“It’s the charities and causes that a Miss World supports. She is a spokesperson for getting people involved in these advocacies and helping others. After all, that’s the thrust and objective of Miss World,” Megan shares while being dolled up for her pictorial.

As Candidate No. 20, Megan garnered other special awards during the Philippine pageant finals including Best in Fashion Runway, Miss Sports by Fila, Miss World Laguna, Miss Bold and Glamorous by Revlon, Miss Olay and Miss Bench Body.

Born to an American father (Calvin Young) and a Filipino mother (Victoria Talde), Megan is the eldest among three siblings (alongside sister Lauren and brother Victor). She moved to Olongapo City in Zambales at the age of 10. She was also an AB Digital Filmmaking student at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Indeed, Megan-ganda pa ba sa ating reyna (Can someone be more beautiful than our Queen)?

I’m very sure the whole country, and the whole world for that matter, agrees with me.

(By GREGGY V. VERA CRUZ | Photography by SARA BLACK)

Megan Young was a PeopleAsia “People of the Year” awardee in 2013. The full story about her was originally published in the PeopleAsia December 2013 – January 2014 issue. 

Paul Soriano

Born in Los Angeles, California, in the land of Hollywood, celluloid dreams and Steven Spielberg, it’s easy to think of Paul as yet another rich Fil-American. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Raised by a single mother during the first few years of his life, he came to appreciate early on the value of being fiercely independent. Images of a little Paul at four years old, toddling about the kitchen and making his own breakfast, crop up during the conversation as he relates how he spent his childhood learning how to be responsible, both for himself and the people he loved. “I was, of course, well taken care of but I still grew up with this ‘Learn to do it yourself’ attitude and it’s a discipline that I’ve kept with me up to this day.”

When Paul was seven, his happily reconciled parents brought him home to the Philippines where he was first introduced to the exhilarating world of moving pictures.

“I was hungry for any kind of work. I willingly took on whatever job fell on my lap — music videos, short films, AVPs — just so I could hone my craft.” He laughs when he remembers the days when he would opt to spring for extra equipment at a shoot, instead of choosing to pay himself. “I’d just console myself with the thought — my TF (talent fee) will be this experience. I’d rather have that extra camera for the shoot, if it would make the video look better.”

When Paul finally decided to venture into directing films, he chose to do projects with themes that were very close to his heart. Journey Home (2009) and Thelma (2011) are moving portrayals of personal struggle and growth, and Paul’s passion for ‘movies with a message’ were evident onscreen.

“I like doing stories that deliver a punch in the gut,” Paul says. “That’s how I pick the projects I do. A film has to have something to say. If it has to potential to inspire, shake you up a bit, or change the way you think for even just two hours, then I’d say it has a message worth telling.”

(By DIANNE CARLA SIBAL | Photography by MAU AGUASIN)

Paul Soriano was a PeopleAsia “Men Who Matter” awardee in 2015. The full story about him was originally published in the PeopleAsia June – July 2015 issue. 

Alice Dixson

“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” The ageless Alice Dixson feels the same. For her, life is a never-ending journey of becoming, an adventure towards tomorrow

that’s proven more exciting, more alluring than her colorful past.

Oh, the life of an actress, a movie star. It has its perks but, as can be seen, compromises must be made sometimes.

While it was once a place of fun and wonder for Alice, showbiz no longer holds the same allure. Having grown up in front of the camera, with a career spanning almost three decades, one might say she has outgrown the need to be in the spotlight (though she is eternally grateful for the loyalty and love of her fans). Alice holds no (dis)illusions of the entire industry. In fact, she has built a life outside of the klieg lights.

“When I was younger, I always liked the acting,” she says as her eyes light up, reminiscing her first encounters with the silverscreen at 16. “I loved to work on the set. I like entertaining people. I like making people laugh, learning how to become an actress, but I never enjoyed being in the public eye. I didn’t enjoy the celebrity part,” the beautiful introvert admits.

“The truth is, I wasn’t grounded as a teenager. It was only after I got married, giving credit to my ex-husband (Ronnie Miranda),” she says. “When you’re young, you think you’re invincible.

There were times I would be a prima donna. Thankfully, it was also just a phase,” she smiles, obviously now older and wiser.

From beauty queen and icon, seasoned actress, businesswoman and realtor, advocate and role model, sultry vixen and perhaps soon enough, pilot, Alice is forever changing. And who she’ll be tomorrow is an exciting prospect that intrigues both her and the following public. With her signature bedimpled grin, Alice confidently embraces her journey ahead, “I believe in the saying: ‘It doesn’t matter what I’ve accomplished. It’s what I’m becoming that’s more important’.”

Alice Dixson was a PeopleAsia “Women of Style and Substance” awardee in 2014. The full story about her was originally published in the PeopleAsia August-September 2014 issue. 

(By KRISTEL DACUMOS – LAGORZA | Photography by SARA BLACK)

Apl.de.ap

“When you become successful, it is not just money that makes you happy. I feel like that. I want to leave this earth knowing that I did something. I made a difference in someone’s life,” shares Apl. de. Ap., offering an explanation to his current efforts in improving the state of education in the Philippines.

Before finding fame and fortune as a member of the Grammy Award-winning hip hop group, The Black Eyed Peas, Apl was just a kid from Angeles, Pampanga. Life was simple, he shares, and he knew only of it existing up until borders of the pilapil (dike) where he and his six other siblings used to play. He fondly remembers filling their hours “running around in the rain, playing patintero, jolens (marbles) and gagamba.”

“We were poor, but we were happy,” he reveals.

Born with nystagmus, an involuntary eye condition that made it difficult for him to read and write, Apl was sent to the US for treatment. Finally relieved of the bothersome symptoms, Apl was able to enjoy the world of books and proved to be a bright pupil.

Eventually, a certain Joe Ben Hudgens adopted the 14-year-old Apl and supported the young man as he adjusted to his new life at the John Marshall High School. In fact, it was there that Apl met and befriended his future band mate, William “will.i.am” Adams.

“All you got to do is dream. You can be anything. Get your education. Change your situation,” as his lyrics go.

Before, what he considered as his proudest moment was when he introduced his mother to a sold-out audience during the Black Eyed Peas’ first concert in the Philippines. However, today, he feels that this has been surpassed by the pride in knowing that he has made a difference in the land of his birth, especially in thousands of Filipino youths.

(By KRISTEL DACUMOS – LAGORZA | Photography by MAU AGUASIN)

Apl.de.ap was a PeopleAsia “People of the Year” awardee in 2012. The full story about him was originally published in the PeopleAsia December 2012 – January 2013 issue. 

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