Happy Birthday Jamie!

The man I call genius. The man with a big heart. The man with a restless soul. James Trevor Oliver turns 34 today. I know millions of British people love Jamie so much and I think billions of people in the planet embraced his existence. And I am one of those billions of people who got smitten by the one and only Naked Chef! My affliction to this guy started eight years ago, when I started watching Discovery Travel & Living. There I saw the Oliver Twist, Naked Chef, Return of The Naked Chef and Jamie's School Dinners. Through this channel I also witnessed how he celebrated his 30th birthday in Amalfi, Italy four years ago. Italian long table with cold cuts, wine and of course pasta! A traditional Italian feast. From there I also started appreciating Gennaro Contaldi, Jamie's mentor. The man who molded the man that I truly admire. Jamie often said he is an Italian by heart, from that context--I also told myself that I am not a Filipino by heart, I am an Italian-French-Spanish-Aussie-English (5 in 1) by heart and soul. My beliefs and dreams in life doesn't match my origin. But I will always be proud to be a Filipino in so many ways.

So year after year, I get to know Jamie better. I feel connected to him everyday of my life as I continue watching his shows like Jamie at HOME and Jamie's Ministry of Food series. He never fails to amaze me of his great work and kind heart. Now my day is not complete without Jamie webby window being open the whole day. His vision for people to learn how to cook and avoid take away food is the same sentiment I have here in my heart. I am not a big person like Jamie to make it happen today in my region. But as I travel and learn, I know one day I would be able to build my own tower out of my own effort. I will stand in my own feet, build it and hopefully people will not doubt my visions and dreams in life.

Thank you so much Jamie for being my one and only inspiration about my cooking passion. You made me proud of myself and you allowed me to Dream BIG! I wish you will inspire the whole planet as well as the entire galaxy! I also wish you good health and more love for your family.

With all my LOVE, Happy happy happy Birthday Jamie!

hugs,
joanie xxx

My prize: Jme's Ministry of Food

Xin Chao Everyone!

I'm finally back to blog. So let me start my first post as I write it here in Saigon. It's a pretty amazing two weeks. I don't know how to start narrating my day-to-day adventures. This is the first idle moment that I can grab to update everything I have online. I do believe you guys are going to look forward on a lot of interesting posts as I chronicle my life here in Vietnam. But I cannot start my stories without telling all of you how happy I was when I left Manila. And there's only one reason-receiving my signed copy of Jme's Ministry of Food and a birthday dedication. The only cook book I brought here in Saigon, from the person who touched my life and who inspires me everyday I wake up. Am I too inspired? Absolutely! And I am truly happy to continue my dreams and journey because of James Trevor Oliver. The best birthday gift in my life so far and on my next birthday, will be off to London!

And the package with my name and old condo addy.

Opening it with a smile :-)

Sooo proud to have a copy from Jme!

Not just a signed copy book, but a personalized greeting for my birthday! (notice my teary-eyed smile)

Card from Jamie's Editor - Danny Mc Cubbin

Thank you Danny for your card and dedication. I was grateful for your patience and for always keeping in touch with me on email. I will definitely see you soon as I conquer London soon. ;p So basically I blog this to share to all of you that you should never stop dreaming and let me tell you this, dreams do come true to those people who doesn't know how to quit and give up.

More of my adventures soon. Tam Biet!

hugs,
joanie xxx

LONDON on 2010!

Joanie is off to London on her birthday 2010. To pick up her prizes and meet Danny and Jamie perhaps. And will dine at Jamie's Italian Resto. Twist of Fate. Who would have thought that I could possibly meet Jamie one day soon. You just to have to trust your dreams and be positive about it and things will fall into place. I am just so happy to receive an email from Danny regarding stuff he did for my birthday. No it makes me look forward to my birthday next year. I hope I can also ride The London Eye!

Happiness is a decision, and I am off to find it...

hugs.
joanie xxx

Happy Birthday Joanie!

How time flies and I am writing another blog about my birthday. It was a hard year for me being thirty even though I know it’s a milestone. It took a while before I understood that I am no longer twenty something. Up to these days I still can’t believe that I am already 31.

My being thirty is very eventful. Last year I really had a happy birthday. It was the year that I look forward on a lot of positive things in my life. A lot of positive things did happen. It amazed me and blew off my mind. How I wish I could only cite the good ones. But life is not just about sunny day, it’s also about how big storms will come along and sometimes you are not prepared.

I grieved as the two important people in my life passed away. They are the people who helped me mold who I am today. My Lolo Apo and Lola Nay. They are the people who anticipated the events that are bound to happen in my life. Now they will never witness them anymore. Up to now I still grieve. People grieve not just because a person dies but when something also dies. I’ve been thru a lot of hurting and pains. No one will understand exactly how I feel unless they are once in my shoes.

I realized the more you are being hurt the braver you get. You put courage in your heart and become your weapon. After the storm you will see the sun shines slowly and see the rainbow coming out. It signifies that life is more colorful after tragedies. You begin to hope for good things and start dreaming again.

It was on my being 30 that I became part of Saatchi & Saatchi as a Senior Art Director. Then I left my old condo and moved in to a bigger one. I also won the Jamie Oliver video competition that now opens the door of opportunity going to London. Just recently I accepted a new job in Saigon. I will soon work in a local advertising agency in Vietnam as Head of Creative Group. A lot of doors opened and I see big opportunities. Since I will be working in Vietnam, I plan to pursue a lot of things there. I want to have my Artist Chef in Saigon and at the same time continue my passion for food styling, food installation art and food photography. I’d also love to pursue my graffiti art in every walls of Ho Chi Minh and continue to paint every canvass that I’ll have. They said that a real artist once get hurt, the emotion ignites. They become more expressive and every little thing they do is magic. I hope one day I’ll have my own restaurant and finally have my solo exhibit. Probably in Vietnam when things work out. There are so many things to look forward.

As I move forward being thirty something I know that there will be pains and joys, defeats and triumphs; but as long as I live I will thank GOD for every single breath that I am alive. Now, as I start my new journey, I want to find someone who can embrace my dreams, who can appreciate my flaws, who can accept that life is not perfect and so am I, one who will hold my hand in any battles and will never leave me in any storms. Now that I learned my lesson, I have to prepare and be excited what life brings. I have to live my life now according to my purpose and not according to what I want.

I am happy being 31, and as my new shirt's caption says:
"STILL, LIFE WITH BRACES!" :-D

hugs,
joanie xxx

Cannes Lions

CANNES LIONS 2009
56TH International Advertising Festival
June 21 - 27 / Cannes, France

Tomorrow is my last day at work. I am devoting my few hours to perfect my entry for this festival. Andrew Petch, our Australian Expat from Saatchi Singapore said that my idea is brilliant! If the juries will judge it, it's only a yes or a no. The simplicity of the idea can make me bring home a gold or just be grateful that I had this idea entered in Cannes. Saatchi & Saatchi Manila will have 10 entries and will be entered on different categories. My entry is for our client North Face. One of these days I will post it here and show you how my idea started.

I can't thank Andrew enough. Sometimes he makes me crazy because he is very very particular on details. Uncountable revisions everyday. I have on my desk all the printouts I made and all the Final Artwork's proof. Damn they are mountain of papers now! Well that I have to exaggerate. But seriously, Andrew will push us to the limit and there's this one funny day that I was skateboarding around the office and he gave me that strange look. Maybe he's thinking that I was slacking and not doing my North Face ad. So last Friday, he approached me and said: "Hey Joan, no more skateboarding today. You have to focus and finish your North Face. And this one, will not give you fame and money (pointing on the monitor with the DARI Creme stb I was doing at that moment) but that one, (pointing at my North Face Ad on my table) will make you famous and will give you big money." Oh well, he is God damn right! If by fate I win, it will do give me fame and for sure the money will follow.

So as I count the days before the announcement of winners, I will pray that somehow my idea will be appreciated and will be considered brilliant by the juries at Cannes Lions Festival. I can't thank GOD enough for all the blessings he's giving me. I am amazed everyday about my life and how He works in mysterious ways. I often find myself teary eyed and smiling almost everyday as I see the sky blue during day and how stars glisten every night. I consider my life as a journey full of surprises and lessons that I never stop learning and growing. Now I just don't say I am learning and growing but I make it happen everyday. I will prove to the world that one can change and it's for the better.

Lets go for the GOLD!!!

hugs,
joanie xxx

I won the Jamie Oliver video Contest!

To my family, friends, officemates, Artist Chef fans, Thank you so much for all your support in rating my video for the Jamie Oliver Valentine's video contest. I think I made most of them now a registered youtube users just to vote for my video. I am very touched. I thought I wouldn't make it but your immediate response and support helped me made it. I do believe dreams do happen and they existed for us to make it real.

Thank you also to Angelo Suarez for helping me out with the beautiful supers. I have to tag him for that.

Again cheers to more blessings in life!

hugs,
joanie xxx

Celeste Marasigan

Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney

I am soooooo happy today. I feel very much appreciated by an award winning Aussie creative and my fellow creatives. I can say to myself, work well done Joanie! Road to Cannes is long and narrow but who knows...

Last October 2007, I went to Australia to have my month long vacation. I was shuffling from one area to another. I explored Sydney in short. While I was walking around the area of Circular Quay, I decided to cross the Harbor bridge going to Kirribili by simply walking. But before reaching the bridge I passed by the road called The Rocks. I was surprised to see the sign of Saatchi & Saatchi. Who cares if I do not know anyone from there, I barged in and sneaked into the Saatchi office. Told my self that day, I have this feeling that I'll be part of this company. Since Saatchi was my Dad's first ad agency, I always had this yearning that one day I will work their too. (By the way, my Dad was also an Art Director)

Came October 2008, exactly a year later after I said to myself that I'll be part of this company–My new office Ace Saatchi & Saatchi Manila. Breaking new grounds for me and giving possibilities to all my dreams. Starting today it's time to prove the world more that I am not just an Art Director–because I do believe Art Directors are not just executers but idea makers, can do a good script and probably a good presentor.

Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney.

Sneaking inside Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney.

So who says dreams cannot come true? I say, dreams do happen. They existed for us to make it real. I always been a dreamer not a wanderer. I often get lost but I do find the way how to get to the right direction. So I believe none of us are losers. We do have our own trail to follow. We just have to keep in mind that whatever we do and regardless of what angle in life, we should learn not to step on anyone or hurt someone. Because I believe if you do something and on the other hand you hurt people, you will never be happy and will never succeed in life.

So cheers to Lions!

hugs,
joanie xxx

Australia Day!

Happy Australia Day to all the Aussies around the globe :-)

Today the entire nation down under is having their official holiday and having a good time. So time travel of 8 hours from Sydney, here I am in Manila thinking of my own ways to celebrate this day. I also asked myself what Australia Day means for me to celebrate tonight.

It was year 2000, when I first fell in love with the beauty of Australia. It was because of my friend who studied in UTS, Sydney who made me feel that way. He sent me e-mails narrating his life stories in Australia. He told me the places he visited, the people he met, the lifestyle he had and so on. He also sent pictures for me to visualize the beauty of the country who became his home for two years. It was his stories that inspired me to see Australia. I promised myself to visit my friend when he was still there. It didn't happen. I set aside that promise. But it was always there in my heart. Seven years later, finally I was able to go Australia. I stepped on the city of Brisbane for few hours, visited Melbourne for a week and resided at Sydney for a month. I embraced their culture and appreciated every single detail of their life. To my amazement about the life I had their for a month, it made me tell myself once more: "I promise that one day this is the place I will settle down and live the life I always dream of." It was a dream that will take two people to pursue. I thought this dream was shattered. I don't see it will happen anytime soon. But who knows what life brings? I will never find the answer today. Things happen for a reason, I may not be able to embrace that thought now but the future will prove it's true. So, starting today I will never take away that dream in my heart. It will always be there. And it takes a positive thought for good things to happen and for me to reach my dreams.

"Everything you want to learn about life is best learned with sand between your toes because life is a beach"

So tonight, let me celebrate by grilling my marinated pork in black beer with honey. Things I learned during my barbecue class in Sydney. And let me use my blender to come up with my Frothe Cerveza Negra with lemon and honey. Isn't that a feast for dinner already? And who wants to join me for dinner tonight?

Good Day Mate! :)

hugs,
joanie xxx

Frozen Strawberry-Mango Cake

I heart Strawberries.

But my strawberries from Benguet failed to taste as sweet as it used to be.

But nevertheless I still made this cake and was able to share it with people who are part of life. I hope I didn't fail to give them the sweetest dessert possible. And to the Ace Saatchi people who also tasted it, you should order next time :)

To my readers, here's how to do this frozen cake.

You will need butter, cream, gelatin (diluted in warm water), condensed milk, vanilla extract, sugar, broas, mangoes (cut into cubes) and strawberries (sliced into halves)

Arrange broas inside a tray. It will serve as the base of the cake then set aside. Heat a casserole in low heat then melt butter. Add the cream, condensed milk, vanilla extract then followed by sugar and the gelatin mixture. Pour the mixture on top of the broas. Cool for 10 minutes until firm. Then top the strawberries and mangoes. Place inside the freezer for 4-6 hours. Then serve.

Hope you like it!

hugs,
joanie xxx

Mr. & Mrs. Garcia

Archie Chiang

Finally Archie's photos were posted! Archie and his girlfriend are the youngest couple who dined the Artist Chef's table. He's the cousin of my previous customer Frances Soriano and they are from the family who own SAVORY restaurants. I owe Archie and his sister my apologies for my very delayed post. I can only say to this couple, that it's truly sweet to be in love when you're young as 16! Or maybe they turned 17 already. Good luck!

Home with Jamie Oliver

The best thing I bought from my Australia trip last year was the book Jamie at Home. I read it every once in a while and I never get tired looking at Jamie's face. Aside from that, his interesting recipes and the garden are really awesome. I'm glad to have this book because up to now it's not yet available in our local bookstore. The next best thing I want to have is his old book called "Jamie's Italy".