Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Helen and Marcos: A love story

MARCOS R. FOJAS, M.D., F.P.O.S.: The first and only Filipino physician and ophthalmologist in Greece.
By: Yoko Ramos-Vingno
I met Dr. Marcos Fojas through my Greek cardiologist, Dr Helen Marcoyannopoulou, his wife of 48 years. He struck me as a very intelligent, kindhearted and affectionate man whose eyes would sparkle upon mention of his wife’s name who by herself is an accomplished practitioner of medicine being a world renowned cardiologist and is a 2008 Department of Science and Technology (DOST) balik scientist awardee. Also, she is one of the world’s renowned sixty seven experts in the Metabolic Syndrome.
In my first encounter with the couple, I immediately felt the love and respect they have for each other. They have always been together since the day they got married.
Marcos, a charming and active septuagenarian, is the first and only Filipino doctor here in Greece and still very active in the practice of ophthalmology. Dr. Marcos R. Fojas hails from a big family in Manila. He is the second of eight children of Engineer Angel P. Fojas, Sr and Felisa del Rosario. Engr. Angel P. Fojas, Sr. was voted U.P. FATHER OF THE YEAR in December 1962, as all his eight children were graduates of the University of the Philippines. Marcos graduated valedictorian at the Torres High School and finished with highest honors in college at the University of the Philippines. Dr Fojas took his medical studies in UP College of Medicine and was on the top ten of his graduating class. He passed the Medical Board Examinations and became a resident in the Department of Eye Ear Nose and Throat at the UP Philippine General Hospital. He also became an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the UP College of Medicine.

Marcos and Helen crossed paths in London and fell in love while on scholarships and pursuing post graduate studies in their respective fields. Marcos was granted a Colombo Plan Scholarship while Helen, a Consultant at the Royal Brompton Hospital, was a recipient of the Alice Hamilton Fellowship of the International Federation of University Women (based in the United States). Marcos was smitten by the young and beautiful Helen. As fate and destiny would have it, the love that Marcos and Helen felt for each other ended in marriage that is as strong as ever on the day they first met 50 years ago.
Helen joined Marcos when he returned to the Philippines. The young groom had a successful and rewarding private practice in Manila. Soon after, they were blessed with two sons, Angel Constantino and George. Helen was able to practice in Manila where she also became a well known cardiologist in UP PGH Manila. Her patients in Manila were the crème de la crème of the Philippine society. She was also appointed as faculty member of the UP College of Medicine.
Helen, an only child, had to stop her lucrative profession in Manila and leave her well-heeled patients to return to Greece to take care of her elderly parents. In full understanding of the situation and unequivocal love for his young family, Marcos followed Helen and children to Greece even if he was not sure what kind of life awaited him in Greece. His only desire was to be with his family.
In Athens, Marcos at first had difficulty adjusting to the Greek way of life. An intelligent and practical man that Marcos is, he did a “do as the Romans do” and immediately he immersed himself in the Greek way of life and emerged victorious overcoming his initial difficulties. He learned the language and the Greek culture easily and he was able to get his licensures to practice his medical profession with the help and support of Helen. She was also responsible for his appointment as a Consultant to the biggest general Hospital which is the Evangelismos University Hospital.
“Dr Fojas did not only break the barrier but was able to integrate and establish a very successful practice as an ophthalmologist whose patients were mainly Greeks. He attributes this big success above all, to the full and solid support of his wife, to his rigid training in the University of the Philippines and to his practical experience in Manila and more importantly having in him the well known Asian virtue of providing tender loving care to patients. Consequently, his being Asian and the professional and qualitative care he provided to his patients became his assets and brought more patients. His first two surgeries, considered “hopeless” by other colleagues, were successful and word got around Athens about this Asian ophthalmologist who was performing “miracle cures” thus attracting more patients” according to the Filipino Magazine in DC, USA.
Dr Marcos Fojas was loved and adored by his patients and respected by his colleagues. He projected a very positive image of his country. Through his numerous satisfied patients the Philippines and Philippine Medicine became known to the Greeks and Greek physicians who knew very little, or none at all, about our country at that time.

In 1971, the Fojases got an invitation from the World Health Organization to restructure the Congo General Hospital’s Ophthalmology and Cardiology Deparments. They moved the whole family again in Kinshasa in the Republic of Zaire. Marcos was the Chief and Director of the Department of Ophthalmology and Helen was the Chief of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Before their term expired in 1973, they were conferred the “Grand Ordre des Medicins du Zaire” by the President for their outstanding services to the people of Zaire.
Dr Fojas had no problem going back to Greece and resuming his medical profession. He had done it before. With loyal patients and having earned the respect of his peers in the medical field plus the acceptance of the Greek populace, he was able to practice again in Athens
Having now become an esteemed Filipino Ophthalmologist in Greece, Marcos became an inspiration to other Filipinos working in Athens and at the same time becoming like a father figure to the Filipino in Greece. Marcos and Helen extended free medical services and other assistance to distressed Filipinos, since there was no Philippine Embassy in Greece at that time.
In later years, Marcos became more active in the affairs of the Filipino community. He is a founding member and President of the Board of Trustees of the Katipunan Philippines Cultural Academy (KAPHILCA) from 1997 to 2005, the first Filipino Community School in Athens which gives formal Philippine education to the children of Filipinos working in Greece. KAPHILCA teaches Philippine culture and traditions and language of Pilipino. It also aims to encourage their young minds to keep their Filipino identity. In June 2006, the Philippine ambassador appointed him as Special Adviser on KAPHILCA affairs.
For his tireless effort in helping his countrymen, in promoting Philippine culture and for being an outstanding Filipino, both in the Greek and Filipino communities, Dr Marcos Fojas was conferred the “Presidential Banaag” award by Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in December 2002. It is the highest honor given to a Filipino living and working abroad.
In September 2007, he was elected as one of the Twenty Outstanding Filipinos Abroad by the Filamimage Magazine based in Washington DC. This prestigious international Award has been given annually for the past twenty two years now to Filipino achievers living abroad who have made a name for themselves and the Philippines. He is the first and the only one Filipino from Europe to have been given this honor in 2007 as all previous awardees have been from the USA and Canada.

Marcos and Helen Fojas have indeed accomplished a lot by any standards. They live a good life. They are both in good health and continue to pursue successful medical practice with two wonderful sons who are now professionals and equally successful. The two sons are following the footsteps of their parents. Dr Angel Constantino, who will inherit his father’s practice, is a graduate of the University of Bologna-Faculty of Medicine while George, a graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology is pursuing a career in business. The two sons love the Philippines as much as they love Greece. In 1996, Dr. Angel Constantino served as a volunteer in the Free Rural Eye Clinic in Mangatarem, Pangasinan for two years. During his stay there he gave his services voluntarily to indigent rural residents and restored sight to hundreds of cataract patients whom he operated on free of charge.

Marcos now travels a lot with Helen. He accompanies her in different regional and international Cardiovascular Congresses where she presents papers on a device she invented that detects very early hardening of the arterial wall (arteriosclerosis) thus being very useful in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The couple wants to give more and share these blessings to the less fortunate. Also, they made it their mission in life to promote Helen’s advocacy to have a healthy society through exercise and diet which are the key factors for living a good and healthy life.

Posted by Yoko C. Ramos in 12:40:35 | Permalink | No Comments »

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Single in Athens

Happily Single in Athens
By: Yoko Ramos-Vingno

Arriving in Greece when she was only in her early twenties, life for this perky Filipina took a different route as she put aside her personal plans to enjoy the pleasures that greeted her as she landed on Greek soil. Known for its grandeur and antiquity, Greece, indeed, has a lot to offer in terms of its history and people – not to mention its healthy Mediterranean cuisine and islands surrounded by pristine waters. Indeed, these first pleasant impressions stuck with this young Filipina! With plenty of friends around and some money to spend in this bucolic place, she has been living a happy and independent life. For some, living in a foreign land alone poses problems, but not for Chona Narvaez Pamintuan who left the Philippines for Greece when she was only in her 20s.

Chona has spent her prime years in Athens, all 23 years, working and living — with two other Filipinas — in a decent apartment located at Ambelokipi, an area near central Athens where a lot of Filipinos live. She lives alone and actually liking it — which is quite uncommon for a lot of Filipino families living in Athens who have relatives either living with them or also working in Greece. Chona fondly describes Athens as a nice and relatively peaceful place. She vividly remembers how she and her new found friends visited as many places in the 80s up to early 90s to discover the country which they have adopted as home.

Chona arrived in Athens in April 1986 — her first time to be away from the Philippines. She, along with a friend found jobs immediately to work with families by doing house chores. She lived with her first employer for a while and after only one year left and went on her own; found an apartment and a new job which at that time was aplenty since there were not many Filipinos and foreigners in Greece then.

Chona is the second child of Avelino Pamintuan and Encarnacion Narvaez. Her father, who hails from Pampanga, and her mother, a native of Marinduque, met in Manila. They were blessed with four children. The Pamintuan family settled in Muntinlupa in 1963 at Katihan Street where Chona and her siblings grew up. Her father, as Chona recalls, in their childhood peddled dirty ice cream and was well liked by their neighbors and friends. The father did odd jobs to supplement the family income which was always never enough to support an expanding and growing family. He also put up his buy and sell business. Her mother sold ‘merienda’ food to help daddy and, young Chona in her own little way helped her mom from time to time. This proved to be Chona’s training ground that prepared her later on for life and survival in the adult world.

Fast forward to her teenage years, Chona finished her secondary education at the Muntinlupa National High School in 1979 then went to study at Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and took up Accountancy. She was politically active during her student days, which was not a surprise at all, as Chona is an outgoing person who could articulate her opinions quite well. Thereafter, she became a member of the Kabataang Baranggay, a youth aggrupation of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos and led by the former president’s daughter, Imee. She ran in the election as vice-chairperson of the Kabataang Baranggay in their place and won. Her built-in charisma and desire to serve her constituents helped her win the election.

After finishing college, her interests changed and found herself mulling about experiencing a life outside the Philippines. Her dream then was to travel to the United States of America and live the American dream. Just like other Filipinos who left the country for greener pastures, Chona started looking for job opportunities abroad. Not long after, a job offer in Hong Kong came her way and she applied for it. Hongkong, however, was not meant to be — for after completing all her papers and her passport ready, she withdrew her application when another opportunity opened up: Greece. Not wasting time, Chona left and flew to Greece with a tourist visa.

By 1996, Chona had gained enough experience in terms of work and assimilated herself to Greek way of life in Greece. She also moved a lot and became active in the Filipino community. Being involved in so many activities of the Filipino community, Chona said, she was able to develop her character and skills especially in organizing different activities or events for her kababayans. She has mastered hosting children’s activity/parlor games, which she has done every year for Philippine Independence Day celebrations.

When the Greek government offered to give an amnesty to the illegal immigrants in 1998, Chona did not waste time. She immediately filed her application. The Greek government approved her paper and this made her stay in Greece legalized. Chona now travels whenever she wishes. She went home in 2002 to be with her ailing mother. Her mother was suffering from diabetes and not long enough, she died in 2003. Despite the expenses, Chona went home again to be with her grieving father and to bid farewell to her mother for one last time.

Meanwhile, Chona’s life in Greece is going well. She was able to save and has invested in a four door apartment at Muntinlupa. The monthly rent goes to her father for his expenses, though it’s not much, she said, this is to augment the remittances she sends home regularly which are also for the support of her two nieces. She has been providing for them since they were born.
And more than generous she is. Last May, she went home to the Philippines and brought the entire family to Subic and even went to Hong Kong Disneyland with her sister. She said from time to time she spoils herself into various kinds of treats and believes that working should not only be for family but also for one’s self.

Certainly, preparing for the future has not escaped Chona’s plans. She’s paying for the monthly amortization of the house she recently purchased, and life insurance she got for herself in preparation for her retirement. She’s happy about the Philippine and Greek governments ongoing negotiations on a Social Security Agreement that covers old age or pension benefits, survivorship/death benefits and disability benefits for the Filipinos who are members of Greece’s social security system (Social Security Foundation). If signed, Filipino pensioners can receive their money even in the Philippines when they decide to go home for good.

Work and the FilCom activities occupy Chona’s time. And when she is at home, she tinkers with her laptop, where she maintains a Facebook account to search for old friends and classmates. She has also subscribed to TFC that keeps her updated about the latest news in the Philippines. Chona has no regrets, she says. Life is good in Greece.

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Sunday, December 13, 2009

Yuletide in Athens

Yuletide in Athens

By: Yoko Ramos-Vingno

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. It is a time where people are extra nice and warm, cheerful and friendly! Christmas never ceased to fascinate me ever since I was a child – me feeling as if there was something in the air that makes the season magical, with chestnuts roasting and the smell wafting in the air, shimmering lights making Christmas trees so alive and Christmas carols played, heard and sung almost everywhere in every household and department stores where most likely you will be greeted by the ubiquitous, avuncular and most generous Santa Claus with his familiar ho ho ho ho laugh.

I remember vividly our annual trips to the Araneta Center at Quezon City to watch Christmas shows that became a family tradition.  I recall my brother and me together with my cousins as small children watching solemnly and in awe the re-enactment of the three Magi following the big star that led them to the manger where the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ which was the highlight of the show. Then into our teens our parents stopped bringing us there and the family tradition changed into a gathering at my grandmother’s house to celebrate Christmas with her.

I miss Christmas celebration in the Philippines. It is so very much alive that I actually miss the sight of children going from house to house singing carols. I miss the Christmas lanterns that decorate almost every house in the place where I grew up. I miss the nice Christmas trees that parents and children decorate together as early as November. Unlike in other countries, Christmas celebration in the Philippines is a long one that starts as early as October and gradually increasing in intensity until the actual day itself on December 25 where the first thing we do upon waking up is to go to the family Christmas tree to see what Santa Claus brought us the night before. Excitedly we open the Christmas presents that Santa dropped while we were asleep and even curious what Santa gave to my brother and cousins.

Here in Athens, the Philippine Embassy together with the Filipino community recently concluded their celebration of Christmas on 13 December 2009 adopting the theme “Paskong Pinoy ’09: Pasko’y kay saya, Kung tayo’y sama-sama,” in observance of the Philippine tradition. The whole day event took place at the Philippine Embassy grounds where the heart of the celebration centered on the children who gave startling performances of songs and dances.  Both kids and adults participated in the parlor games.

The students of the Philippine School in Greece performed a re-enactment of the nativity.  The Candonian City Ladies Association, as well as the Philippine Overseas Society sang and serenaded the guests with several numbers of Christmas songs.  The Couples for Christ and its Family Ministries also took part and even rendered songs for the guests.

The visitors then partook of the Filipino food which the embassy and the Filipino community prepared and cooked.

Joining in the merriment were members of the embassy led by His Excellency Ambassador Rigoberto D. Tiglao who delivered his Christmas message and Consul General Constancio R Vingno, Jr. who welcomed the participants

The celebration ended with everybody singing “Ang pasko ay Sumapit” to cap a wonderful Christmas celebration in the land of Athina.

Posted by Yoko C. Ramos in 17:39:03 | Permalink | No Comments »

Monday, June 15, 2009

111th Philippine Independence at the Philippine Embassy in Athens

The June 12 Philippine Independence Day in Athens started with an early morning Flag Raising Ceremony at the Philippine Embassy, the Officers and Staff wore their traditional Filipino wear to commemorate the event.  111 years ago, 12th June 1898, between four and five in the afternoon, General Emilio Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines from the Spaniards at the balcony of his residence in Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit).  Also for the first time, the Philippine flag was hoisted and the National Anthem was played in public. 

The grand celebration was held at the Ambassador’s Residence with the members of the diplomatic core, the honorary consuls:  stunning half Filipina Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides in Cyprus, Nikolaos Margaropoulos in Thessaloniki and Anastasia Manolopoulou in Patras were in attendance. The representatives of the Filipino communities were also present, as well as the teachers in the Filipino School, Kaphilca.  Other guests include:  the famous TV personality Psinakis, businessmen from the shipping industry, ladies from the Women’s International Club, and friends of the Philippine Embassy.  A guesstimate of about 300 attended this event.

The Ambassador’s Residence was transformed into a gallery to showcase the Philippine paintings; a video presentation about the Philippines was shown on the other side of the room.  The guests were received in the foyer then were led to the garden.

The big garden was lit with torches, good thing it was a breezy summer solstice that day; the guests were enjoying themselves with good food and friends; in the background the air was filled with different Filipino music.

Filipino cuisine was presented to the guests.  There was Pancit Canton, fried Chicken Adobo, Pork Barbeque, Longanisa Sticks, Siopao, Shanghai rolls, and a lot more. The famous San Miguel beer was a definite hit to the foreigners.  The buko juice was mistaken for milk but it was gone, too.  Even a halo-halo corner was set up for the pleasure of those who are curious about it.  Mediterranean food was also offered on the opposite side.  Overall, it was a feast, a typical Pinoy fiesta night in the city of Athens.  Congratulations to the PE Athens for a very successful celebration.  Mabuhay!

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Friday, May 8, 2009

ASEAN Night

Diplomatic relations between ASEAN countries intensify over dinner — Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia cordially met at the Thai Ambassador’s Residence last March 20, 2009, here in Athens. 

Her Excellency Asha Dvitiyananda, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Thailand, hosted a sumptuous fete in honor of the new Indonesian Ambassador, and the visiting Malaysian Ambassador, His Excellency Datuk Zakariah Sulong.

Thai’s First Secretary Phubadi and Mrs La-Or-Ngern received the guests at the Ambassador’s Residence while the delectable and luscious food was skillfully arranged by Second Secretary Wassana Pramulmuang.

The guests include:  (Philippines) HE Rigoberto and Mrs Tiglao, Deputy Chief of Mission Maria Fe Pangilinan, Minister and Consul General Constancio and Mrs Yoko Vingno  (Malaysia) HE Datuk Zakariah and Mrs Sulong, Honorary Consul Datuk Prof Thomas Antonius and Mrs Haziroglou, Mr Omad, and Mr   (Indonesia)  HE The Ambassador, Minister and Outgoing Consul General Hadi Sasmito and the Incoming Minister and Consul General. 

Amb Dvitiyananda and Mr Dvitiyananda welcomed everyone to their residence.  Her Excellency Dvitiyananda gave a short opening speech about the “ASEAN get together”  and about the important role of the ASEAN in furthering the relations and addressing current issues.  The Malaysian Ambassador articulately responded to the warm reception and the Indonesian Ambassador also eloquently thanked the host to the impressive dinner gathering (he just arrived the previous day with his wife.)

Shortly after, the dinner was served and started with hot and spicy Tom Yum soup followed by a generous serving of the famous “Pad Thai” with Som Tam (grated green papaya salad).  Boiled Octopus, Stir Fried Vegetables, and Tamarind Fish Fillet with Hot Rice was the main course.

The lovely night ended with Thai’s yummy Kao nia ma muang (sticky rice with mango) — dessert served with hot tea.

Posted by Yoko C. Ramos in 14:25:09 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Saturday, March 28, 2009

TwentyNine

Twenty-Nine

By: Yoko Ramos-Vingno

Life has always been full of surprises if not unpredictable. At some point in your life you could be jolted by an event that could turn your life upside down. One day you are happy and serene, feeling and enjoying what life has to offer – a blessed family life, wonderful children, a loving husband a house you could call your own until in this string of welcome bliss something just snaps and suddenly your life takes a different course towards uncertainty. 

Take the story of this gutsy and spirited widow, whom I met here in Athens, Greece during a party at the Philippine Embassy in 2007. For Charita Ballalo Bataan, life seemed smooth and easy, for she felt she had it all having been blessed with 7 nice children from a loving husband who took very good care of her and the children. Sadly, this all would change when a sudden and severe attack of stroke would snap the life out of her husband at the age of 53.

Charita’s husband Leonardo was an officer of the Philippine Constabulary.  They met at a town fiesta in her native hometown Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur.  Smitten by Charita’s comeliness, this young officer befriended and pursued her until she succumbed to the military bearings of her determined suitor.  Despite earlier usual problems of in-laws not favoring the relationship, the couple eventually married and established their own family – away from their relatives. The marriage produced 7 children – two boys and five girls. Raising 7 children was not much of a problem as Leonardo was a good provider who had hired a helper for Charita to assist in her daily household routine. 

So it was then until Leonardo’s fateful demise that Charita ceased to live in her comfort zone.  Reality and the feeling of helplessness stared her in the face: no husband, left without a work and seven growing kids who needed to go to school were too much for Charita to bear.  She composed herself and took matters into her own hands. Having the future of her children in mind, Charita set aside her pride and accepted the invitation of a cousin working abroad who found her a job as a domestic help in Greece, a work she had not even imagined when her husband was alive.

Chari arrived in Athens in 1980 and found employ with a Greek diplomat couple.  She learned her way around from this kind and generous couple who taught her the basics of household routines in a diplomatic household.

Chari took her day off on Sundays – where she went to church and was able to meet other Filipinos. Kind and approachable by nature, Chari went out of her way to extend assistance to fellow Filipinos who had asked her for help concerning various kinds of problems.  She recalls bringing food and other necessities to Filipinos who were imprisoned due to overstaying in Greece.  Her group of Filipino acquaintances grew – and her newfound friends started to call her Chari.

For nine years Chari stood by her diplomat employer and when the latter was deployed in France Chari opted to stay in Greece. She fell in love with the country that had welcomed her and had given her the means to provide for her children. Also, Chari found it difficult to leave behind the friendships she had developed over the years with the other Filipinos.   

Again on her own Chari, was fortunate to find work and a decent place to stay that she would call home – the same place where she currently lives.  Work was aplenty – and she took advantage of this.  She put in long hours – accepting a lot of part time work that netted her easily Two Thousand Three Hundred Dollars a month.  This is a tall order for a single mother who had to immerse herself in work to overcome her homesickness and lingering thoughts of her children.

Chari’s solace was the Filipino community. She joined Filipino organizations and became very active in community undertakings.  Many Filipino friends joined her when she formed the “Integrated Barangay of the Philippines” and was voted its president.  Shortly after she left the group and in 1998 during the Philippine Centennial Year, with the encouragement of former Ambassador Norberto Basilio, Chari founded and was voted president of the “Philippine Overseas Society.”  This organization of 11 years has received several citations and recognition for its efforts in promoting Philippine culture in Greece and, helping less fortunate students in the Philippines through the organization’s “Tuloy Aral Program”.   For her tireless and selfless efforts, Chari was twice nominated for “Ang Bagong Bayani Award”.

“Tita Chari”, as she is now fondly addressed in the Filipino community, has been staying in Greece for the last twenty nine years. Not to deny the good blessings that came her way to other Filipinos, Chari was able to help about seventy Filipinos to find work in Greece.  She helped her two sisters-in-law, her four children and a grandchild plus friends and other relatives to stay and work legally in the country that had been so kind to her and welcomed her with open arms.

Chari already has two houses in Antipolo and proudly – at 64 – she plans to travel a lot and, enjoy life with family, grandchildren and friends – and still live here in Athens!

Posted by Yoko C. Ramos in 16:41:03 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Monday, March 16, 2009

Filipino Chef at Ledra Marriott Hotel

A Filipino Chef at Ledra Marriott Hotel-Athens

By:  Yoko Ramos-Vingno

Famous and celebrated chefs have started from scratch – from just a mere name to become a renowned cuisine guru; rising from nothing to something big – like Mario Batali and Bobby Flay.   Chef Mario Batali started as a dishwasher at “Stuff Yer Face Restaurant” in New Jersey, and Chef Bobby Flay started as a cook in an eatery.  The Naked Chef Jamie Oliver at age 8 was a vegetable peeler at his dad’s restaurant, the Cricketers.  At 16, he decided to study at Westminster Catering College and went to France to get more experience before going back to London and becoming the famous chef he is now.  Others started as sous chef for chefs with names in high end hotel establishments.   

This Filipino Chef, only 20 years old, is a young man which exudes the appearance of a person who seemed to have lived a pampered and blissful life. He lives alone in his flat in Glyfada, located 45 minutes away by car in the southern part of Athens.   This young fellow carries a healthy physique, about 5’5 in height, with a bright and cheery attitude, always ready to flash that instant smile; a guy that struck me as a young Mario Batali:  jolly, charming, sensible and confident.

Chef John Levi Reano, a fortunate and lucky man indeed, John was given the opportunity to study and finished at the prestigious Alpine Center: the Swiss Business School for Hotel and Tourism Education in Greece with a Swiss Diploma in Culinary Arts.  He graduated with distinction and was given the Academic and Professional Excellence in Culinary Arts in 2007.  A consistent top student of his batch, John is the first and only Filipino to graduate in this exclusive Culinary Arts School in Athens.  John’s first industry training was at Porto Elounda De Luxe Resort, a luxury golf-and-spa-resort in Crete Island, under the tutelage of chefs Jean Charles Metayer and Michalis Kontes.  His second training was at 5-star Ledra Marriott Hotel where he gained the admiration of the Executive Chef that soon after finishing his training, he was offered a full time employment. 

Now, John is the only Filipino Chef employed by the Ledra Marriott Hotel. He is the sushi chef at the Kona Kai Restaurant that serves Polynesian and Japanese cuisine and caters to well-heeled Greeks and expatriates.   The hotel pays him a good starting salary with satisfactory perks.   He is admired and well liked by his fellow chefs and gets along well with the others – from the restaurant Manager to sous chefs because of his talent and pleasant and sunny disposition.

John tells me about his childhood in Batangas and how he grew up to realize how fortunate he was to have lived a life that had very strong supportive structures centered in the family.  The Reano household is a typical Filipino family where the father works abroad to provide for the family and the children’s education.   John is the youngest child of Domingo and Natividad Reano.  Domingo is a former overseas contract worker in Saudi Arabia while Natividad stayed at home to take care of the children.   Domingo, then in his mid 50’s and having saved a little, decided to retire in their house in Tanauan, Batangas.  Soon thereafter, Chef John was conceived when his mother was in her late 40s.   Thus, little John Reano was born on October 8, 1988. 

Early on, John attended elementary and finished at the Bernardo Lirio Elementary School.  He spent his high school at the La Consolacion College in Tanauan, Batangas. Thanks to the kindness and support of John’s elder sister, then a nurse in Switzerland, who paid for his high school education.  John also attributes the blessings that came his way to the generosity of his Greek born brother-in-law who had encouraged and inspired him to pursue his passion and ambition and supported him all the way as if he were his own son.  His brother-in-law who is in shipping business met and married his sister when she was working in Switzerland as a nurse.

Chef John is delighted to have his friends (of different nationalities) around, pleased with his independence and thankful for his family and work at Ledra Marriott.  When asked for his plans for the future:  “I want to pursue another Diploma for my career in the business.  I want to travel around the world to have a better understanding of the world and to experience and explore the different cultures and cuisines.” And for all the good blessings that came his way, John says, “I would like to be able to own and operate my own restaurant to open up opportunities and give jobs to my fellow Filipinos. I think this is the best gesture and way that I could think of to give back what I had received and to thank those people dear to me who molded me into the person I turned out to be.”

That’s Chef John – our Pinoy Chef.

Posted by Yoko C. Ramos in 11:46:54 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Monday, January 19, 2009

Vienna

Pinoy Bistro in
Vienna

By:  Yoko Ramos-Vingno

 

This writer has always thought of February as synonymous to love - a month when the hopelessly romantics are sucked into their perennial attacks of reminiscing from day one of courtship to marriage with resolute conviction. They think about flowers, hearts and cupid that all symbolize love. For this writer, though, thoughts of Vienna would insist themselves into her mind during February, not that she does not like it or does it get to the point that these thoughts could become quite annoying; on the contrary, these reminiscing had refreshed and invigorated her particularly when she remembers that she and her significant half spent their honeymoon in this lovely place many years ago.

Austria’s capital Vienna adopts the city slogan “Vienna is different”. For truly, as the avant garde in me takes over, Vienna is a recommended place where you would want yourself to be if you want to satisfy your yearning for culture, the arts, music, architecture, food and romance. This is where grand antiquity and sophisticated modernity co-exist at the same time.  Churches, palaces, government buildings, apartments have different types of architecture – some are Gothic, Baroque, others are more Art Nouveau and the new ones are of modern 20th century type. With the United Nation’s headquarters situated here and the OPEC, this city with a low crime rate proved to be politically important in the world.  Vienna is haven for the artistic and the lovers of art – the Opera (is grand), theaters (impressive), museums (over 50 kinds are fantastic) and the architecture (historical and magnificently striking).

Vienna, being located in the heart of Europe, is a really a lover’s paradise.  Parks are full of lovely and wonderful flowers especially in summer.  What a splendid and picturesque sight for a romantic like me to see and feel.

Vienna, known to us by its famous Vienna coffee, the classical music of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Johann Strauss, the waltz, Sigmund Freud and the Vienna Boys Choir, is actually second home to about 30,000 Filipino expatriates, according to the Deputy Chief of Mission Charlie Manangan of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna. Most of them are in the medical field like nurses and caregivers, professionals in the United Nations in Vienna and some others are working in fast food restaurants and a few are working in the house. Majority of them have lived in Vienna for the past 30 years or so.

Hubby and I spent our New Year in Vienna and while re-tracing the steps we took during our sojourn there years ago, we revisited the building owned by the post office where the Philippine Embassy is housed as well as the other shops located there including the Asian Bakery/Bistro owned by Malou Santos, a Filipino old-timer entrepreneur that has survived the economic ups and downs in the last 11 years including the most recent global economic crisis. Malou’s store offers interesting varieties of Filipino food. Her store sells hopia, siopao, growers, itlog na maalat as well as various viands of pancit, adobo, kare-kare, menudo, dinuguan and the like. She serves her mostly pinoy clientele lunch and dinner. She also has her steady flow of foreign citizens who have started to acquire and like the taste of Filipino food.

Mary Lou Lagon Santos, performs an all around work in her Bistro.  Apart from being the owner, she’s the cashier, cleaner, servidora – all rolled into one.  The only thing she cannot do she said is to cook.   Avelino ‘Bhong’Santos, Malou’s husband, does the cooking.

When I met her she was busy preparing food for the New Year’s celebration which according to her was for the Filipinos living alone in Vienna who had requested her to organize a gathering, since living alone, they were looking for company to spend time with to welcome and greet the New Year.  Her regular customers requested her to open the Bistro so they can have a place to celebrate the coming of the New Year with Pinoy friends and with pinoy food.  It made sense as it was a freezing minus six in Vienna on New Year’s Eve!

Malou is looking forward to celebrating the Bistro’s 11th year in the business.  “It was hard work all the way. We survived through prayers and perseverance”. This, she explained was the reason why she and her husband are surviving the world economic crunch where credit is hard to come by.  She proudly tells me that the Bistro is the only one in Vienna.  Other Filipino restaurants some of which used to be in the same building all closed down.

Malou is a Commerce graduate, who majored in Business Management at the University of the East. Her educational background allowed her to discern and address business’ problems.  Like in any other business ventures, Malou experienced several hardships and setbacks before getting to where she is today.  After college, she enrolled herself again at Cora Doloroso and took up Computer Secretarial.  Malou found work at Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Company. At about the same time, her sister who was working as a nurse in one of the hospital’s in Vienna invited her to visit and stay with her having in mind the thought of Malou possibly and eventually finding a job in Vienna.   

She arrived in Vienna with a three month visa. Lucky as she could get, Malou found a babysitting job and when her visa was about to expire, she found someone at the United Nation who sponsored her stay so she could stay longer.  Consequently she cleaned house for her benefactor for three hours on Saturdays and continued with her babysitting job on weekdays.  For some time life was a routine but Malou is the person who is not wont to complain as she loved and continues to love Vienna.  After doing other odd jobs, Malou got her initial big break after she was hired to work at the American embassy residence, a job she was well paid for, and she did not mind having to do extra hours of work in the residence as they meant an additional pay. The good working conditions gave her the opportunity to save.

Shortly thereafter, Malou was offered a business opportunity that required her to invest her money and be part owner the Asian Bakery. Sounding like a good deal, she invested her savings of 304 thousand schillings (almost a million pesos that time) and became part owner of the Asian Bakery.

Meanwhile, Malou continued to work at the American embassy residence and would occasionally visit the bakery in her free time until one of her partners confided that something was amiss in the accounting side of the business. Malou asked for the books and discovered irregularities. Malou filed a case against the partner handling the finances. After spending time, effort and money, Malou won her case gained sole ownership of the establishment. She was supposed to have filed another case against the same person but she decided to let it go as she felt a new case would bring her again lots of stress, endless tears and sleepless nights which she had endured in the previous case.

Malou met her husband, Bhong, in Vienna during her turbulent years in the business.  Bhong offered to help her in the Bistro and suddenly they found themselves in love and got married. Now, they own apartments in Nueva Ecija and Caloocan which they are renting out.  They bought an 850 square meter land in Antique, which they plan to develop into a resort house. Malou has also invested a large amount of money in the research project of her scientist brother on developing waste management.

After all the adversity, hard work and perseverance plus with a loving support from her husband and partner, says Malou, the Bistro will continue to sell the same Pinoy food that we love and grew up with as long as they can.

Posted by Yoko C. Ramos in 08:15:23 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sunday, December 21, 2008

A Pinoy in the Heart of Omonia

A Pinoy in the heart of Omonia

By:  Yoko Ramos-Vingno

Omonia Square is said to be the pride and joy of Athens – and also its oldest square.  Omonia played a part of the grandeur that was Greece.  Philosophers and famous people used to frequent this place to hang out, talk about their stuff, drink coffee or just simply gaze to while their time away.

Omonia means concord and literally – the environment and atmosphere is in harmony with a combination of the shabby and the chic style; the Greco-Roman/Neo-Classical and the modern architecture; the elite of the society and the normal people can be seen around –cosmopolitan.  All major roads are leading to this place so a lot of people converge in this tiny location, often crowded, to do their business.  Tourists abound here mainly to avail themselves of bargain prices the place has to offer with different hotel establishments offering budget prices and special shops – high end and discount stores existing side by side enjoying brisk business.  Whether shopping for a nice stuff or simply buying fresh food from the market — Omonia is the busiest district of Athens.  

Situated at its center, is the Agora —the Omonia Market.

At the market, you will find Danilo ‘Dan’ Robles, an overseas Filipino worker at work at the meat section busy cutting meat into slices preferred by his clients and while doing so occasionally chats and exchanges pleasantries with his customers, Greeks and Pinoys alike. Gifted with a disarming smile and a pleasant disposition, Dan is a person who is easy to get along with, talks freely about his feelings, no wonder he has become a trusted employee by his Greek employer – Dmitri who took Dan under his employ in 1995.

Dan started as a part-time worker with Dmitri receiving 50 Euros, for a one day and a half work on Fridays and Saturdays. Since then his status as butcher progressed as now he earns more than 1,000 Euros per month — 250 Euros as basic pay per week — excluding tips that he shares with his co-workers. In addition, Dan receives the usual social security benefits just like any other Greek worker get. 

Dan, whom my husband (Philippine consul general in Athens) and I first met during an awarding ceremony hosted by Filipino Bowlers Association in Greece (Filbag) of which he is the president,  is a native of Davao, the 6th child from a brood of 9, born and educated in the South of the Philippines.  He was 16 years old when he left their house to study in another town.  He took up BS Agriculture majoring in animal husbandry at the state owned University of South Mindanao.  Unfortunately, things did not turn out the way what his parents had planned for him as money was hard to come by. He failed to finish his course, left school when was 3rd year and got married – taking with him his teacher bride who was then working as a teacher assistant in the university. 

An undergraduate and a young husband, Dan survived by doing odd jobs in the province working in factories like Coca-cola and Franklin & Baker and at piggeries in the late 70s and early 80s to support a growing family.  Life was hard for the struggling young Dan.

Dan had a brother who was working in Greece. When he came home for vacation he told his brother of the great job opportunities obtaining in Greece.  However, then, rich Greek families preferred women over men in the employ of their households taking care of children and old people since for men job opportunities were limited only to seamen. 

As things unfolded, Dan’s wife, petitioned by his brother, went ahead to Greece to look for a job with the goal of also finding a job for Dan.  Dan was left home to take care of their three young children. With the money sent by his wife, Dan bought a house for the family in Davao – close to where his relatives live. 

Years of living separately from his wife finally took their toll. The marriage was starting to fall apart. Somehow husband and wife survived the first trial. An opportunity opened up. Wife’s employer needed another help. She petitioned him.  Dan arrived in Greece in 1989 and husband and wife were reunited.  The couple worked for the family of Cristina Onassis but when the old man died things changed and the couple decided to leave the family to be on their own.

The couple found shelter with a good Pinoy. Dealing with the bureaucratic maze of strict Greek immigration laws, the couple successfully established themselves as economic refugees did part time jobs then moved out from their friends place to a flat of their own.

Meanwhile, Dan and wife had yet to settle the issue of their deteriorating marriage which was affecting both of them emotionally. In the midst of all these, Dan found an outlet to release his disappointments by helping other people.  He hanged out with veteran Filipinos in Athens helping fellow Pinoys find jobs and seek shelter. 

Eventually, Dan found work as a janitor in a language school in the 90’s, while his wife took a job taking care of an old man. Determined to earn more money to save for his children, Dan did part time work at the Omonia market as a butcher. Dan eventually left his janitorial job to become a permanent employee of his kind and amiable boss Dimitri.

About this time, Dan also became actively engaged in Filipino community activities and joined the VIZMIN organization, a group of Filipinos from the Vizayas and Mindanao.  He also became a member of a support group, The Reevaluation Counseling Group – composed of a group of professional psychologist with American, Greek and Irish nationalities.  Dan said that this Reevaluation Counseling Group helped him release all his personal problems and frustrations and the struggle he went through.

Years went by, the old man his wife was taking care of died.  The wife went home to set up business in the Philippines from their saving. Dan’s wife went home to their conjugal house in Davao.  put up a sari-sari store and bought a tricycle for additional income. 

Finally, the marriage unraveled with husband and wife going their separate ways.

Dan continued to work until he met Emma and the two fell in love.  Emma provided the stability Dan was looking for in his life, the emotional support he needed to confront the problems he left in the Philippines especially when his eldest son got hooked on drugs – twice.

Dan remains active in the community. He reorganized and reestablished the United Visayan Mindanao (UVM) where he is the current president.

Dan and Emma are blessed with a daughter – Paula, now 10 years old.  Dan focuses his remaining strength to save for Emma and Paula’s future.  Emma has several properties in Davao which includes a 1,000 sq/m open lot, a 360 sq/m duplex and another 300 sq/m land in Masambal, Davao del Norte. 

He remains active in the Reevaluation Counselling Group, president of UVM and member of the Active Community Partners (ACP) composed of the different Filipino organizations in Greece. He finds time for bowling as a form of recreation. He is also the current president of Filipino Bowlers Association in Greece (FILBAG). Danilo Robles is considered one of the best Filipino bowlers in Athens.

Posted by Yoko C. Ramos in 11:07:11 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Featuring Filipino Cuisine

By:  Maj. Yoko Ramos-Vingno

The Women’s International Club of Athens (WIC) selected the Philippines to make a presentation of the different varieties of Philippine dishes — the Filipino cuisine which was held at the embassy residence last November 27, 2008. This is the second time this year that the WIC has requested the Philippines to make a cultural presentation the first one of which, “Meet my Country” was held last April at the Philippine embassy.  

The Women’s International Club of Athens (WIC) is a prestigious international club which has chapters all over the world and its members are from the elite Greek society, wives of ambassadors and lady members of the diplomatic corps.

The Ethnic cooking session, as the event was called is one of the many activities of the WIC which idea is to learn the different cuisines, style of cooking and the type of food of each foreign member. 

Like the “Meet my Country”, playing host to the event is the indefatigable, chic and lovely wife of Ambassador Rigoberto D. Tiglao, Mme Getsy S. Tiglao. She has been a member of the WIC and of the Ethnic cooking circle since two years ago. 

Mme Getsy Tiglao presented the event with highlights of Filipino hospitality and atmosphere of Philippine fiesta for the ladies to feel the typical ambiance of Philippine setting that exemplifies and portrays our country’s tradition.  Philippine paintings depicting harvest and other local scenes by Filipino painters mounted on the walls of the residence accentuated the Filipino flavor of the occasion.

In the cooking demonstration, Mme Tiglao made a short introduction about Philippine cuisine: “Many people have asked me what Philippine food is.  I say that Philippine food is the original fusion cuisine as it blends the best of the East and West.  The overriding elements are the indigenous or Malay base, the Chinese and Spanish.  The influences of all these foreign cultures, combined with our own indigenous cooking style and traditions have resulted in a uniquely our own, and one of the world’s best cuisines.” The roster of Pinoy fiesta dishes that was presented for cooking demonstration were Sinigang na Salmon, Chicken Adobo, Lumpia and Pancit Canton.

At lunch proper, the ladies started off with the hot comforting soup Sinigang na Salmon followed by the main entrée Chicken Adobo, Pancit Bihon, Lumpiang Shanghai, Crab Relleno, Tsipoura Escabache and culminating in the dessert: Maja Blanca and Leche Flan. Mango and Pineapple juices were served for drinks.

The WIC ladies had a wonderful time and enjoyed themselves. In her toast remarks, Ms Bridget Coscoros, current president of the WIC, said, “Thank you very much for your charming hospitality today, clearly enjoyed by everyone.  Congratulations to you.”

In response, Mme Tiglao thanked everyone who attended saying, “This is truly a memorable and meaningful gathering which you and the Club allowed us to give you a glimpse of what Filipino Cuisine is – and in the process give you an experience of what Filipino hospitality is all about.” 

For this event, the Philippines once again through the untiring efforts of Mme Getsy Tiglao, was able to host and launch a successful cultural event that would no doubt contribute to the further enhancement of our image in Greece. 

Posted by Yoko C. Ramos in 17:01:38 | Permalink | Comments (2)