The Filipino Expat Magazine

25/12/2024

From The Filipino Expat Magazine team, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

On Christmas day, TFEM is sharing three Pinoy Christmas stories in unusual places in the world.

https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/celebrating-pinoy-christmas-in-unusual-places/

Celebrating Christmas in unusual places and circumstances is a unique experience. No matter where we are, through shared meals, games, or videoke sessions, we Filipinos always try to make the spirit of Christmas alive and merry. The Filipino Expat Magazine asked three kababayans what it is like to c...

27/11/2024

Fritluftsliv, winters, thrifting and a minimalist lifestyle. Photographer Grace Orbon-Emmelot share her expat life in Norway.

Link to read: https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/filipino-expat-living-in-norway/

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25/11/2024

Filipina photographer Grace Orbon-Emmelot moved to Norway together with her four children.

She shares her friluftsliv, and tips on embracing nature, dressing warm, thrifting, and a minimalist expat living in Norway.

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Filipina photographer Grace Orbon-Emmelot on expat living in Norway - friluftsliv, embracing nature, dressing warm, thrifting, and Nordic winter life.

19/11/2024

Balik: An art Exhibit

Trixia J Chipongian returns to her roots.

Last Sunday, family and friends came in full force to witness the unveiling of Patty's "Balik" Art Exhibit in Barcelona.

This poignant exhibit, the third installment in a series that began with "Biyahe" and "Bahay," delves into the nostalgic journey of Jane, a Filipina woman residing in Spain. As Jane reflects on her life abroad, she yearns for the beautiful memories, rich culture, and cherished traditions of the Philippines.

To further enrich the experience, Patty screened her short film, "Bahay," which portrays Jane receiving a heartfelt call from her mother in her Barcelona home.

The event reached an emotional climax as Patty expressed her deep gratitude for her Filipino heritage and its profound influence on her personal development.

We would like to thank our kababayans and friends who came and showed their support and love for Patty. Muchas gracias a todos! Maraming maraming salamat po.

"Balik" is a collaborative effort between The Filipino Expat Magazine and the Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepcion y San Lorenzo Ruiz Lino DE Castro. It runs until November 23, 2024.

📸 Discovery Shot Sarmiento

17/11/2024

Balik Art Exhibit

As a third generation Filipino in Spain, Patricia Chipongian wishes to inspire her fellow youth to express themselves through art.

Arts is not an easy career to be in, but with the support of family, friends and the community, she wants to encourage them to let their voice be heard and expose their talents to the world.

TFEM talks with Patricia as she shares her journey to her first solo exhibit “Balik” which opening today in Barcelona, Spain organized by The Filipino Expat Magazine in collaboration with Parroquia de Inmaculada Concepcion y San Lorenzo Ruiz.

https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/21721-2/

As a third generation Filipino in Spain, Patricia Chipongian wishes to inspire her fellow youth to express themselves through art. Arts is not an easy career to be in, but with the support of family, friends and the community, she wants to encourage them to let their voice be heard and expose their....

14/11/2024

Our EIC Nats Sisma Villaluna explores his WHY's in his Autumn 2024 Editor's Note. And Loida Nicolas Lewis shares why she is successful, in marriage and career.

Read our newest issue online or reserve your printed copy.

I was on the train en route to Madrid last weekend when I spotted the book the man in front of me was reading. What caught my attention was the big red word “Why” at the bottom of the cover. Why what?  I wondered to myself. I tried to make out the rest of the…

11/11/2024

NEW ISSUE! Filipino CEO, philanthropist and author Loida Nicolas-Lewis graces the cover TFEM's Autumn 2024 issue.

Read it now: www.thefilipinoexpat.com/magazine/

TFEM engages in a captivating conversation with Ms. Loida Nicolas Lewis during her book tour in Barcelona. She shares the secrets of her success and the lessons learned from overcoming discrimination and prejudice as a woman and a woman of colour. Ultimately, she emerged victorious from each battle.

In our profiles, we delve into the reasons why Filipino nurses Lyn Oamil and Sharohl Alcedo find nursing an uncommon career choice in Spain. We also explore food writer and heart-health advocate Jacqueline Chio-Lauri's rejection of the notion that Filipino cuisine is unhealthy. Businesswoman and designer Myka Fluri discusses her fashion business and her commitment to empowering women in the Philippines. Ambassador to Germany Irene Susan B. Natividad shares her strategies for self-care amidst a demanding schedule.

As the Christmas season approaches, three fellow Filipinos share their unique Christmas experiences in unusual locations: Dr. Evangeline Cua in several war-torn regions, Bigboy de la Fuente on a cargo ship on the high seas, and Gary John Belarmino in the scorching Arabian desert. Plus many more!

30/10/2024

"A person’s age or concept of being old has become subject to interpretation. We identify with the sense of belonging to who we are and how we feel about ourselves which we discover at different stages in our lives."

TFEM Columnist Mz Akil shares her thoughts on dealing with one of the most complex subjects we get to face as we grow older - our age.

Read more:

https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/columns/at-her-corner/transage-how-old-are-you-really/

Do you feel that your biological age is really your age? Believers of transage disagree. In a standard biodata form, we’re asked to fill out the blank spaces with our name, contact details, address, birthdate and gender. They are the data held by society and institutions about us. Mainly for ident...

23/10/2024

We are inviting all Asian film lovers in Spain to the 12th Asian Film Festival Barcelona which will be held from October 24 to November 3, 2024.

The festival, organized by Casa Asia will screen more than a hundred films from 20 countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Six beautiful Pinoy films are participating in this year's festival:

This Time (2023)
By: Sevastien Tobler
Showing on October 25, 2024
6pm at ECIB

When this is all over (2023)
By: Kevin Mayuga
Showing on October 31, 2024
9:45pm at Betevé

A Lab Story (2024)
By: Carlo Obispo
Showing on October 30, 2024
4pm at ECIB

Pieta (2023)
By: Adolfo Alix, Jr.
Showing on Nov. 1, 2024
12noon Cinemes Girona

Lola Magdalena (2024)
By: Joel Lamangan
Showing on Nov. 1, 2024
8pm Cinemes Girona

Guardian de Honor
By: Joselito Altarejos
Showing on Nov. 3, 2024
10:00am Cinemes Girona

Come and watch these incredible films. Let us support Asian Film Festival Barcelona.

Casa Asia Barcelona

21/10/2024

To go where there is no...: Q & A with Filipino theatre director Berjer Capati.

Five days before staging his latest obra “Voy Donde No Hay” in Madrid, Berjer B. Capati, an audiovisual director, editor, screenwriter, illustrator and playwright based in Barcelona shares with The Filipino Expat Magazine his thoughts on his new play and the direction the Filipino diaspora is heading to.

https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/artsandculture/theater/to-go-where-there-is-no-q-a-with-berjer-capati/

Five days before staging his latest obra “Voy Donde No Hay” in Madrid, Berjer B. Capati,  an audiovisual director, editor, screenwriter, illustrator and playwright based in Barcelona  shares with The Filipino Expat Magazine his thoughts on his new play and the direction the Filipino diaspora i...

15/10/2024

To our Kababayans and friends in Germany,
Are you ready for an unforgettable night of music and culture?

We invite YOU to a one-of-a-kind concert featuring the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers and the captivating indigenous sounds of Waway and the Talaandig Republic.

📅 Date: Saturday, October 26
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
📍 Location: Evangelische Kapellengemeinde, Heidelberg, Germany

This isn’t just any concert. It’s a celebration of Filipino musical brilliance, and an exciting kickoff for “In the Air: Launching Program – The Philippines as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025

So grab your friends, enjoy an evening of enchanting music, and immerse yourself in Filipino culture! And did we mention? IT’S FREE!

Want to be a part of this?
Email us at: [email protected] to secure your spot!

Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt Philippine Embassy in Germany The Philippine Madrigal Singers Music Studio

10/10/2024

To our kababayans and friends in Madrid, we are inviting you to watch VOY DONDE NO HAY, a theatre play directed by Filipino theatre actor, writer and director Berjer B. Capati.

VOY DONDE NO HAY
Octover 26, 2024
La Parceria
13 Martin de Vargas
Metro: Embajadores
9PM.
Ticket: 11euros
Company: Poka yoke Teatre

Berjer Capati also wrote, acted and directed the 2020 hit play TAGO telling stories of OFWs in Barcelona.

Let us support our Pinoy artists in Europe share our stories with the world.

Voy Donde No Hay

La Señora Maca es una mujer filipina que se arregla para ir a un evento mientras rememora su vida como empleada de hogar para la burguesía catalana en los años 80-90. Mientras tanto, la Poma, el mejor amigo (también filipino) de La Señora Maca, le ayuda a prepararse para un evento mientras paralelamente cuenta su vida de marinero que abandonó la flota y acabó deambulando por las calles de Barcelona en los años 80 y 90 junto a otros marineros filipinos que hicieron Jumpship.

Voy Donde No Hay literarily means I'm Going Where There's Nothing.

It tells about Mrs. Maca who is a Filipina woman getting ready for an event while reminiscing about her life as a domestic worker for the Catalan bourgeoisie in the 80s and 90s. Meanwhile, La Poma, Mrs. Maca's best friend (also Filipino), helps her prepare for the event while simultaneously recounting his life as a sailor who abandoned the fleet and ended up wandering the streets of Barcelona in the 80s and 90s alongside other Filipino sailors who jumped ship.

Buy your tickets now:

Ohttps://entradium.com/events/voy-donde-no-hay

08/10/2024

"In kickboxing, I can show what kind of person I am. I can be tough but I can also be gentle."

-Rei Cuaycong Setoguchi

Filipino-Japanese kickboxer Rei Cuaycong Setoguchi shares how kickboxing not only gives him awards and fame, but also a balanced and happy life.

Anne Cuaycong Setoguchi Ruthie Cuaycong

Read more:

https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/feature/rei-cuaycong-setoguchi-discovers-the-art-of-kickboxing/

Filipino-Japanese kickboxer Rei Cuaycong Setoguchi shares how kickboxing not only gives him awards and fame, but also a balanced and happy life. In the beginning, taking on kickboxing was not Rei Cuaycong Setoguchi´s idea of fun. He would rather play football with his friends than kicking and punch...

30/09/2024

To our Kababayans and friends in South Carolina, USA, we are inviting you to three exciting cultural events to celebrate Filipino American History Month this October.

October 5, 2024

Screening of Chiara Cox 's short Documentary "Mangyan Wisdom: A glimpse into the Filipino Soul, which explores the unique heritage of the Mangyan people of Mindoro.

October 24, 2024

Screening of "K'na The Dreamweaver", a documentary set in South Cotabato, Mindanao, about a young T'boli princess.

October 27, 2024

A Kundiman Concert with world renowned composer, ocnductor and classical guitarist Michael Dadap.

Entrance to these events is free.

https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/feature/three-exciting-cultural-events-to-celebrate-filipino-american-history-month-in-south-carolina-this-october/

Short Documentary Screening of Chiara Cox´s “Mangyan Wisdom: A Glimpse into the Filipino Soul” October 5, 2024. 3:00 PM. Richland Library Main Theater. Free Entrance. https://www.richlandlibrary.com/event/2024-10-05/soul-filipino-through-mangyan The Filipino American Association of Greater Colu...

27/09/2024

Tomorrow is the big day! Join our Editor-in-chief Nats Sisma Villauna and other ambassadors at the Barcelona International Community Day on Saturday, September 28 at the Maritime Museum Barcelona. Register for free at the link below:

https://www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome/en/barcelona-international-community-day-2024

18/09/2024

From being a ship steward to first officer, Filipino seaman Rodel Dioresma shares the challenges of working on a yacht, how he bravely confronts these difficulties and rises above them.

For his complete story:
https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/feature/rodel-dioresma-life-in-the-high-seas/

Filipino seaman Rodel Dioresma shares the challenges of working on a yacht, how he bravely confronts these difficulties and rises above them. When Rodel Dioresma flew to Rotterdam to work on a 50-meter sailing yacht 21 years ago, he didn’t sign up to clean the captain´s house, neither do the laun...

04/09/2024

Congratulations to our EIC Nats Sisma Villaluna for being chosen as one of the ambassadors of Barcelona International Community. Watch his interview below.

Nats and other ambassadors will be present at the Barcelona International Community Day on September 28, 2024 at Museu Marítim de Barcelona. For more info visit: https://www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome/en/barcelona-international-community-day-2024



Nats Sisma Villaluna

Nats Sisma va néixer a la ciutat de Bacolod, en una de les set mil illes de l’arxipèlag filipí. El 2009 es va mudar a Barcelona i va començar a col·laborar c...

30/08/2024

As a writer, Filipina poet Karessa Malaya sometimes finds herself pondering whether translation is really a good idea. Or is she just overthinking or just feeling guilty when she misses out on some words in the process?

Read more: https://www.thefilipinoexpat.com/columns/re-thinking-translations/

KM Ramos

Writer Karessa Ramos ponders whether translation is really a good idea. Or is it just a matter of overthinking or just the feeling of guilty when missing out on some words along the way? There’s no worse month for an overthinker like me than August, Buwan ng Wika. Not even Mercury Retrograde could...