PJ Pascual: Pinoy editor in Oprah's magazine

In the middle of New York’s glitz and glamour is a young Filipino who works for O, The Oprah Magazine owned by billionaire, philanthropist and award-winning talk show host Oprah Winfrey. If you try to search his name PJ Pascual on Google, what appears is another popular PJ Pascual, more commonly known as the local movie and television heartthrob Piolo, who was first introduced as PJ for Piolo Jose. At age 27, Peterson Jason Pascual -- simply PJ to family, friends and associates – considered himself amazingly blessed to have been given the opportunity to get hired as accessories assistant for the lifestyle and fashion magazine that has become so popular worldwide. PJ is currently on his annual two-week vacation at the Pascual’s family home in southern Metro Manila where he will be marking his 29th birthday on Sunday, April 22. Focus, dedication, and hard work brought PJ to where he is now in the fashion world. “It is not the title that is important. Mas mahalaga na mahal mo ang trabaho mo," he told GMANews.TV on the phone. Manila-born PJ was a Business Management graduate of the De La Salle University. “My mother said it was a course that would lead me to everywhere because it will equip me with adequate knowledge on management, finance, accounting and the like," he explained. Passion for fashion Being the eldest and only son in a brood of three, PJ was initially eyed to run the family’s trading business. But after getting his diploma in 2000, he went to New York to pursue his passion for fashion. PJ enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, one of the world's most important cultural centers, with hundreds of world-class museums, galleries, and performance venues. On the first day of classes, PJ said he started scouting for a company to work as an intern. He got into in public relations (PR) and design houses that catered to high-end fashion accessories like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, until he landed the coveted position at Oprah’s popular glossy magazine. He actually wanted to work for Vogue magazine, but he was probably destined to be with Oprah’s. How did he get there? “My boss that time knew somebody from Harper’s Bazaar (another popular international fashion magazine) but then I was told the position had been taken, so I was told about an opening at O," PJ recalled. That was in 2005. Instead of the normal entry position as an intern, then head of fashion closet, PJ was immediately taken in as accessories assistant in recognition of his talent. Proudly Pinoy In just two years, he had been promoted to assistant accessories editor, bypassing four positions under the normal promotional ladder. And he holds the distinction of being the only Filipino in the magazine’s staff. Part of his job is choosing the accessories, from low-end to middle range to high-end, that Oprah wears for photo shoots, he told GMA television reporter Lei Alviz who interviewed him separately at his home. “Hindi naman lahat (ng fashion accessories) kailangan mahal. Hindi kailangang magastos ang pagpapaganda," he explained. Generous Oprah “It’s not an intimidating magazine. It touches the lives of ordinary people," PJ said of O, the Oprah Magazine. The show host is the magazine’s founder and editorial director. What can he say about Oprah as a boss? “Mabait siya. On the magazine’s fifth anniversary, she gave each of the staff $5,000." But PJ said Oprah guards her kindness and generosity because she was aware it can be abused. “Galing siya sa hirap, e. Alam n’ya kung paano gumastos ng pera (dahil) alam niya kung saan nanggaling." “When I first met her, I approached her with high respects and asked her if I could have a picture taken with her, and she gamely obliged. She even hugged me," PJ cheerfully recalled, clarifying he was not a star-struck employee. PJ said he takes pride in imparting the Filipino culture at work in varied ways. “Tuwid pa rin ako mag-Tagalog kasi nagta-Tagalog ako kapag Filipino ang kausap ko. Kung Amerikano, American twang din ako." “Sa pakikisama, dala ko ang pagiging Filipino. Palakaibigan ako, kahit na sa naglilinis ng mesa kinakausap ko kaya mesa ko ang pinakamalinis sa opisina. Pati mga gwardiya at mga iba pang mas mababa ang posisyon, kinakausap ko." PJ said he is also a typical Filipino who quietly works hard, focused on his job without complaining until he completes the tasks. “Normally, Americans are upfront, e tayo sensitive. Pero hindi ko ipinapakita ‘yun, nilulunok ko na lang." Start ‘em young PJ and his sisters had been exposed to the arts and fashion at a young age. Their mother, Millett Pascual, loves art pieces. In fact, at age 6, PJ was already frequenting museums and other places for art works, especially when the family travels overseas. He was already dabbling on drawings. During summer, he was enrolled in art classes. “When we were younger, my parents would moan over my choices for the expensive items when we would go shopping abroad," he said. One of his favorites then was Gianni Versace, considered as the cutting-edge fashion designer of luxury goods, fragrances, accessories and lifestyle for men and women. He must have been growling when the famous Italian designer was gunned down in July 1997 outside his ocean-front mansion in Miami Beach, Florida, allegedly by spree killer Andrew Cunanan, said to be of Filipino descent, who committed suicide shortly after the murder. It’s all in the family When he has grown up and showed his serious inclination to the arts, he said he felt that his mother initially resented the idea because he was expected to take care of the family business. But then…. And it seemed he has become an idol to his sisters; April, who holds a fashion design degree but had to run the family's brokerage business in his stead, and Nina, who is into interior design. Being an art lover, PJ’s mom just supported her children’s passion for fashion. It appears they took their inclination towards the arts from her anyway. Now that he has been exposed to a wider variety in fashion, PJ said he has outgrown his high-end preference. “You just have to have the right combination to look beautiful," he pointed out. Even Oprah does not demand expensive accessories. “You also have to suit them to the four seasons, from shoes to belts to scarves to bags, and all," he said. “Hindi kailangang magastos ang pagpapaganda," he asserted. Glad to be home The Philippines is still what PJ calls home. “I miss Manila. Kahit mahirap ang buhay sa Manila, ang tao marunong magsaya. Sa New York, sobrang pagod kasi puro trabaho." Despite his hectic schedule in New York, PJ still manages to take on extra-curricular activities. He is in the junior committees of the American Ballet Foundation and Operation Smile, volunteer medical services organization that provides reconstructive facial surgery to indigent children and young adults in many countries, including the Philippines. “It’s just time management. Naniniwala ako na kailangang magtrabaho ka upang maipakita mo ang iyong galing. Pero dapat pausbungin mo ang iyong kaalaman at magagawa mo iyon kung mayroon kang network," he explained. PJ lives alone in New York. “Before I left, my mother taught me how to cook, iron clothes, and all (household chores)." His mother gets to visit him twice a year in The Big Apple. “I am very close to my mother because I grew up with her. And I love her ways of bringing us up, not in the traditional conservative Filipino way, because she is half-liberal." In the few days he gets to spend once a year in the Philippines, PJ said he spends quality time with his family and close friends. And he gets to taste his favorite sinigang dishes and play with Apple's eight-year-old daughter Alexa. In time, PJ said he wants to settle down in the Philippines and put up his own business here. He wants to be a good shoe designer. He may have been enjoying a good life in New York, but PJ has this to say to other Filipinos who have made good in foreign lands: “Hindi porque nanirahan ka doon nang lima o pitong taon ay kakalimutan mo na. Dapat alam mo kung saan ka talaga nanggaling." - Tita C. Valderama, GMANews.TV