Arts & CraftsMY POPE PHILIPPINES 11This is pretty much what work-life integration looks like!Why did you decide to be a cartoonist?I have always
enjoyed telling stories and felt there were a
lot of stories I wanted to read that just didn’t exist, so I just
genres in the 20 years I’ve been went ahead and made them. I’ve dabbled in all sorts of
making and selling comics and cartoons—from slice of life to fantasy to horror—but the
ones I tend to always gravitate toward are all-ages stories, primarily for kids that adults
can also enjoythere’s the novel anthologies, which won. Of my favorites Siglo graphic
Bakemono Highabout a school for monsters; the National Book Awards; , a comic series
The Amazing Tru-ish Story of Andres Celestiallife love story with elements , a slice-of-
of science fiction and magic realism; and Married Life, my collaboration Homeycomb: A
work on your strip with wife Lorra Elena. What inspired you to
Homeycomb: A Married LifeHomeycomb was a project?
that was initiated by my wife, Lorra. We were newlyweds at the time and since
we were both illustrators, we were looking for
that we could collaborate somethingLIFE IMITATES ART
by JV Tanjuatcoon as an excuse to spend more time together. you know” is how the old “Write what
adage goes, so we decided to tell stories about thinly veiled autobiographical versions of
processed our experiences as husband and wife. We’d bounce ourselves, where we shared and
ideas off each other, pencil art and pass it on to her for inks and colors, and I’d do a I’d do the
final pass on the dialogue while lettering it. It started as and still is, really, truly a personal
or critical success whatsoever. project, something that we have no expectations of commercial
That people seem to be enjoying it, or see themselves in it is a genuine (and genuinely
humbling) bonus.We notice that you
haven’t been workingon it lately.
Well, it’s primarily because we gave birth, and Lorraand family life?I don’t juggle so much as How do you juggle work
integrate. I try to do as much of the care work and house chores as I can, so I invest in technology
that lets me be mobile. I also bring my son to client meetings and expose him to the work
so he understands and can cooperate when I have to lock the door to the home office. I’m
open to clients about my role as a father and husband, and reassure them that rather than
be a crutch or distraction, my family is instead an additional motivator to deliver stellar
workme to be efficient with my time, and to truly be discerning about. Being a parent has taught
allows me to have a better sense which opportunities to say yes to. That clarity of purpose
of criteria for choosing which projects to take on.Cartoonist Elbert Or marries the joys of illustrating with his duties as both husband and father.has to focus on being a full-time mom, which, let me tell you, is totally a job and a half.
continue working on it on my own, given its original impetus. It just didn’t seem right to
And it’s not like I haven’t been busy myself: I am still running Pushpin Visual Solutions,
our little studio that could, and I still write and illustrate comics and books, on top of
Laro Tayo!,that. Last year, I published (through Tahanan Books) a counting book Tara,
involving indigenous animals and traditional games of the Philippines. And I’m currently
finishing two books: into Stories(written by Justine Hail)., and Shy Shelly 3Words
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELBERT OR, AND INSTAGRAM (ELBERTOR).Lorra and Elbert take the kids on a family outing.lessons to be learned from There are lots of heartwarming insights and Homeycomb: A Married Life.Check out more of Elbert’s work at pushpinvisuals.comweds wedsee We notice tWe notice thavenhave
worworononoWWWeWW
bb
When life and work combine on the page!- Arts and Crafts.indd 11
went ahead anI’ve dabbled jnt exin ad m
genres in themaking and secartoons—from20 yeallingsl
to fantasy toones toward are alI tend to alw horrol-agay
primarily forcan also enjothere’s the yyyykids. Of mSiglo
Bakemono Highnovel antholothe National gies, wBook, a co
about a schooThe Amazing Tof Andres Celestiall for ru-, l
life love stoof science ficrealism; and ry with tion aHomey
MawiwiwMMMaMMwith wife LorwwiMarried Lifetharrth itharriththithhwh wrried hwwiwiwiifeife Lifee LLoL, my collara Elena
HomeworkAA HomHoA MHwork oworwwwork AMWWWWhat inspWWWWhWWhWWhat inspiredWhat inspiWWhatWWWhWhatWhaomMarohMaMahMarrhhat iMmeatk oeyeeyeoiiononnsoyycycycnsonycnsincocon coconyyyyyoomspsyoyour omsspospspsypmb: pstri yo
HomHomAMthttHomeHoAthHHA hahhhaaMameataatmtt wareeywas initwwawaeeyweycombwcomrrasrryycycoycomrrris isriieieieed Lifeieiated by was a eee?
atLwe wwe we wwataLorraaLorLoLoorraot tttthtthrra. Wrrrrrherhwwehha. Warrawee time aeeeere both tiWWWWWeWe werWtWWWWWWiend e newlyw
sweillsossiillssomsswwweweiwe wsoillwe wewe wwiomloewluewoomluuswwewwusmmmwmemetstesteeterereeetratrators,trrereraretrhhing hthhthe leelllooki^ ng f
thtSSSSSY SYSYTTTTtthEEEUUURtURRRCOOOCOccSSS SSSOOOccOOOOTOOTOOTOOccOOOOOSPHHHPHPHPHPPhololollaooloollohahhoatat watlttwlllatt wwewaababwwwweawebeebbborate bobe cocould
OFOBBLBLBFELF ELFFOEERRRRRRTTTSTSR, ANSNSNSDINDIND INANDANDANDOR OR, AR, AORO OTSTTTTTRAMARAMAGRAGRAGRAM(M(M (RAM ((EE
LBRLEEEERLBTOTOTT. )R).R)
newlyewlywsincesince
foforRelationshipsengineer, wife, and mother of by JL GaddiLiza Abia is a 34-year-old civil
two. She pays homage to her grandparents who raised her, and who inspired her to nurture her own close-knit family.
Why did you grow up with your grandparents?My parents separated when I
was young, so we lived with our grandparents who supported us through the years. My passed away when I was 19 lola
What was it like growing years old, while Lolo passed away just recently.
up with your grandfolks?Sobrang sayaalways imposing the school-and-bahay-only system. But. They were strict,
we didn’t mind. In fact, mywhen we wished our parents were still together—especially grandparents were very kind and caring. There were times
during the important school events where we would see our classmates with their own parents—but as we grew
older, we learned to accept our circumstance and the bond with our grandparents grew even stronger.
How did you balance your relationship with your parents and grandparents?
during weekends, when she visited us. Since our parents We only saw our mother
had broken up, there was no communication at all with our father. It really was just our grandparents who were there
for us all of the time.affected the way you raise your own kids?How has growing up with your grandparents
When I had my kids, I realized the importance of being hands-on with them. I also wanted to keep our bond strong. My
husband and I make time for them and make sure that our children also bond with their
grandparents. Plus, I make it a point that we always go to church and that my children always show respect to theirelders—important things that I learned from my grandparents.What are your fondest
memories of your grandparents?I will never forget how caring they were, and how they would
always cheer us up with treats. When we come home from school, there would always
be some Parating masayakakanin. on the table.What would you say to your could hear you now?lolo and lola if they
Salamat sa inyoand showing us the importance of education. For being strict and always teaching us to do. For guiding us
the right things. Thank you for reminding us to not waste any opportunities and to relish what is given to us. I wouldn’t
weren’t for you guys.be the mom I am today if itGrandparents’ GirlThanks to the example of her grandparents, Liza (left) is very hands-on with her own children.
30 MY POPE PHILIPPINES
28-36. We are Family.indd 30sye
nrcr
kasad oyoou. Folo
Fotch. Thher in
o o oan us.am nod
guysportantm my gran thingandpgs thgs that I gparents
Relationships
by JL GaddiCan you imagine having several siblings, all sharing the same
interests and deep devotion? That’s how Johnmiles Diaz Ng-Pilapil feels about his peers in the Youth For Christ (YFC)
ministry. They are his brothers and sisters he can run to in times of trouble, and share the best of times with!
How did you meet your faith family?I first joined YFC in 2011. To officially become part of YFC,
you must attend a youth camp. What’s amazing was not only did I meet my fellow YFCs in my local chapter, I was also able
to build lasting friendships with YFCs from other provinces and countries. We consider
ourselves brothers and sisters in Christ, and through the pastoral formation that we undergo, we enjoy Christ-
centered fellowship.Why do you see them as family and not just
another organization?The love, care, and support that you get from the YFCs—even those you just got to know—is
genuine and overwhelming. They do not just honor you in public, but they also correct you lovingly in private, just like
concerned biological family members would do. Also, weMy Faith Familymake sure that we journey with each other not just spiritually, but also in other important
areas in life, like family life, studies, service, career, and love life.
How do you keep your relationship strong?We are open to affectionate corrections, and we immerse
ourselves in households (which is what we call our small group prayer meeting), fellowships,
and mission trips.How do you maintain healthy boundaries?The maintaining of healthy
boundaries is really not new to us. This is because we make sure we respect each other’s personal space and still join
our brethren in praying for their personal discernment. We also clarify our intentions,
our stances, and our actions. And most importantly, we always reference our words and actions back to our foundation,
which is genuine love.What is at the heart of your relationships?At the heart is always Jesus Christ. We know that what
makes our relationship Christ-centered is not our religious activities, but Christ Himself.
By acknowledging Jesus as the heart of our relationships, we are reminded that we need to look beyond each
other’s imperfections and past mistakes, and that we need to love the same way we are loved by God.Johnmiles (foreground)can count on his YFC brothers and sisters through good and
bad times.32 MY POPE PHILIPPINESRelationshipsYou don’t need to have a “typical” setup when love and respect keep your bonds strong.WE ARE
Family
F by a bond considered thicker than blood. lies at the heart of being family.amilies come in all shapes and sizes. They can be wildly artistic, with the same creative blood running through their veins. Or they can be beloved family by choice, connected My Pope explores whatby Monica B. SavellanoMany Filipino families consider their yayas or nannies as part
of the family. Monica and her family are very lucky and grateful to have Didang, their trusted yaya, who has been with
them for 39 years! Yaya Didang has spent more than half of her life with the Barrettos.
When did Yaya Didang join your family?She has been with us since
March 1979. Yaya started when my mom was five months pregnant with me.Second MomWhy has she stayed with
your family for so long? I think the main reason why she has stayed with us is her genuine love for our whole
family (even our dogs!). It’s also because my mom is one of the kindest employers. She
treats everyone with kindness, generosity, and respect. There was a time we had financial
problems and couldn’t give Yaya her salary, and yet she chose to stay with us. I cannot put into words how grateful I
am for everything she has done for us. I am very close to all the members of my family—and
Yaya is part of that family.How do you bond? Yaya and I have simple bonding moments, like when we hang
out in the kitchen and tell each other stories about practically anything and everything.
What are your best memories of her with each generation ofyour family?
She has been with us in happy occasions and tough times, but it’s also the simple everyday things she does to take care of
each and every one of us that I am grateful for. I will always cherish the way she takes care
of me when I get sick—up to thisday she still gives me an ice bath or massages my joints when I’m not feeling well, even if she’s old
and not that strong anymore. I also remember the time I went through a break up; she hugged
me the whole night until I fell asleep. When she sees me get hurt physically or emotionally, she also cries with me. She
doesn’t like seeing me sad. She is also present during all my happy moments, like when I
got married (she was part of the offertory at my wedding) and had my first child. Now that I
have a child, she is like a him, spoiling him with lots and lots of love. lola toYaya Didang (left) celebrates with Monica on her wedding day.7/4/18 4:49 PMBehind the Scenes
The My Pope staff shares what goes on beyond the pages.
MAKING A MAGAZINE
WHAT WE LOVED MOST ABOUT WORKING ON THIS ISSUE:
JV TANJUATCO
As a comic book
creator, I’m always
curious about
how my peers
find the balance
between their
work life and
personal life.
Through this
interview (from
Arts and Crafts),
I discovered what creates a
healthy equilibrium. I liked how
straightforward Elbert’s
answers were
—and it helps
that they’re
humorous
as well.Working on “We
Are Family” was
a fun experience!
Not only was
I inspired by the
stories, but I’m
also grateful
that I gained
new friends.
I picked up a lot
of life tips along the
way, and the positivity of these subjects
and the bond they have with their
families were simply contagious!JL GADDI
“We Are Family”
made me
appreciate my
family, most
especially my
Yaya Didang,
who has been
with us for 39
years. It has also
inspired me to
photograph modern
and unconventional families
for a photo essay.MONICA B. SAVELLANOOur new
Digital Content
Editor Aizel
is
the whiz behind
the My Pope
website!Pizza Perfect Editor-in-chief
Tata Mapa with Amici’s chef
Paolo Moran and a yummy
DIY pizza! Read about how the
restaurant gives back on page 18.Junior Editor Yen
takes note of what
to wear to church.
More on dress codes
on page 12!Managing Editor Steph and Art Director Katsu
had a fine time at the 23rd French Film Festival.32
PAGE30
PAGEPAGE28 PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUBJECTS.
PAGE