the fash pack

happy valentine!

2012-02-14T08:52:00.002+08:00

(cute printed hearts from etsy.com)

the fash packs: taiwan

2012-02-13T12:18:00.007+08:00

a week ago, i went on a road trip through taiwan! it was five-day trip that started in kaohsiung, which is in the southern part of the country and closest to the philippines. so the weather was warmer, a bit more tropical, and at times downright hot! then we spent a couple of days in taichung, which is in the middle, surrounded by mountains, so cooler and very windy; by evening, the temps drop to cold levels. finally, we ended in taipei, which was 10°C and had a constant drizzle. so you can imagine the schizo wardrobe we had to bring! it's all in the layering. and, of course, comfy shoes made for walking and that can get wet.

from NAIA1 to plane to kaohsiung, it's all about layers. good to pack a cardi and a pash for when it gets cold: my day 1 outfit: brown/white stripe cardigan and brown men's stretch trousers by collezione C2, red T-shirt by H&M, black ankle boots by gucci, red slingbag by carlton (which i used throughout the trip—i knew it would be raining, so i didn't want to bring a bag with "sensitive" material), red tote by longchamp, red pashminette (i.e., fake pashmina ;-) from madrid rastro, black belt by paul smith.

by the afternoon, it was hot! but the bus we rode was so cold, so i tied the cardi around my shoulders when we got out. here i am in front of the fab kaohsiung arena. obviously, i left my cheapo sunglasses in the bus:
day 2, we were on the road to taichung. on the way, we took a cruise around sun moon lake. temps were mild till the boat got moving, of course. my day 2 outfit: striped long-sleeved knit top by zara, navy blue men's stretch trousers by collezione C2 (yes, i got this in all colors!), black patent ankle boots by FS/NY, silk scarf by liz claiborne, cheapo sunglasses by topshop. for the cruise, i added a black raincoat by mango and a black rainhat by gucci.
by day 3, the rains started. but it wasn't strong rain, just a constant light drizzle that you can walk through, but you're sure to get wet. my rainy-day outfit: green raincoat by AK anne klein, black jeans by CPS chaps, liz claiborne scarf, gucci boots and hat. inside, i wore a black V-neck sweater by brooks brothers over a green T-shirt by H&M. o matchy-matchy, diba?
on day 4, we left for taipei, which was cold and drizzly the whole time. time to bring out the wellies! here i am in front of the grand hotel. what a building! my day 4 outfit: black belted jacket by polo jeans co. ralph lauren, black men's stretch trousers by collezione C2, wellies by burberry. this is what i wore inside: white sweater by folded & hung, black/white striped knit top by zara (see below). i'm slicing a cake because it was my birthday and the organizers of the tour got me a cake!! sweet!!
finally on day 5, it was time to go home. we had one last tour to the chiang kai-shek memorial hall, which is open-air so it was layers galore plus wellies. before checking in, i switched to a pair of footzyrolls folded flats, which i had in my tote, and i squeezed the wellies and heavy jacket into the maleta.

RIP: whitney houston

2012-02-12T15:36:00.005+08:00

today will be all about whitney houston. before the internet, just how did we find out about celebrity deaths? if you are constantly on facebook and/or twitter, you will be updated instantaneously. and this morning, while having our morning coffee, facebook was suddenly flooded with links to the sad and shocking news. then, links to youtube videos of some of whitney's best performances. may you rest in peace, whitney houston.

i was first "introduced" to whitney houston as a seventeen magazine model back in the early 80s. back then, i was obsessed with seventeen and knew all the models that they used on a regular basis. whitney was one of them. she had sparkling eyes, a bright smile, and mile-long legs. here's a pic of her on the cover:
then years later, she made an album and became a fixture on MTV, which was in its infancy then. her music, which was manufactured, commercial pop was not really my type. and here was a black woman who couldn't dance! janet jackson she was not. but the voice was *wow*! i became really impressed when she sang live on some awards show—i got the goosies, as J.Lo would say. but the last couple decades saw her tumble from favor and the deterioration of the quality of her voice due to drug abuse. while we wait for news on the cause of death, she is now in musical heaven :'-( whitney and michael together now:

it's prom season!

2012-02-11T23:03:00.001+08:00

as a misfit in high school, i was not interested in going to our junior prom. but it was compulsory, whuuut?? so i said, i'll go under one condition: that my date will be my best friend (who was a girl, of course). no can do. and because i didn't know any boys besides my brothers, i was set up on a date. ew. my high school barkada and i laugh about that night whenever we get together these days.

anyhoo, have you shopped for your dress yet?? though i don't really know how girls dress for prom these days, here are a few gowns and dresses by religioso. check them out!

short dresses in the season's citrus shades:
this yellow dress is actually two pieces. you can layer the sheer lacey overlay on top of another strapless dress; post-prom, you can wear it like a tunic with a bandeau (very s/s 2012) and a slim bottom (skirt, jeans, leggings):
more mix-and-match pieces—this red jersey gown has a detachable silk satin strap that you can wrap, twist, and tie every which way; and use with other dresses:
another two-looks-in-one—keep the peplum detail down; or lift and pin parts of it to reveal the electric-blue lining:
speaking of blue, here's a royal-blue silk satin serpentine gown with pleated bodice:
this is my favorite. depending on the accessories, you can make it sweet (with classic pearls), or glamorous (with super bling), or goth (with dark details). very versatile. nude silk jersey ballgown with a black tulle overlay and cowl-back detail:
all gowns and dresses available at religioso, greenbelt 5, tel 729-9061, +63922-899-5173

style weekend - feb 10

2012-02-10T08:25:00.001+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (feb 10) for your free copy of style weekend! on the cover: it's our valentine special with newlyweds joey mead and ian king! photographed by raymund isaac, styling by liza ilarde, makeup by junie sierra for jing monis salon, hair by dollie verniz. on joey: dress by kate torralba. on ian: top by souk.

one month till marni x H&M!

2012-02-08T11:58:00.003+08:00

i have been searching online for sneak peeks into the marni x H&M collection! here's what i found at glamour.com:
vogue russia did a whole feature and here are the photos that accompanied the article:
and news was released a few days ago that sofia coppola did the TV advert!

here's the print ad!
mood: egg-zited!!! so where will YOU shop for marni x H&M?

pedro at the block

2012-02-06T11:27:00.005+08:00

last week, i found myself in quezon city. way way waaay into quezon city for a meeting. so while i was there, i decided, might as well drop by the malls in the 'hood. so i picked SM the block, which is in between SM city north edsa and trinoma. the mall feels a little dead and empty with little activity—which can be a good thing if you don't like crowds. but not for long because look what's opening there soon:
yup, forever 21 will soon open at SM the block. but when, i don't know. meanwhile, i checked out pedro, which was on the ground floor.
like these shoes? flats, loafers, sandals, and heels for every occasion in your life:
but what really excited me were the men's shoes! i had to call the hubby and find out if he was in the area. i thought he might like some of these:
actually, i liked them for myself! too bad none of them came in my size!

tod's s/s 2012 collection

2012-02-05T12:48:00.002+08:00

a few days ago, i attended the bi-annual press presentation of tod's latest collection. of course, this was for the spring/summer collection, which was displayed at the peninsula manila's presidential suite. it always feels a little more special when they hold the intimate event outside the store and in a private and very exclusive venue. model michelle greeted us wearing a derek lam creation: a pale chiffon halter gown trimmed in black leather, and a buttery soft leather jacket around her shoulders.
these mannequins were also wearing leather creations, supposedly washable suede. love the colors!
and speaking of color, spring/summer is always about color and this year is no exception. look at these happy bright hues and yummy sorbet shades:
the signature collection makes another appearance this season in new shapes and finishes. even in a tie-dye effect (the print reminds me of my buhaghag hair hahaha):
tod's introduces whimsical fringe on classic totes, just for that extra little something:
what do you think of these shoes? are you feeling the heel heights, or find them too low?
tod's is located at greenbelt 4

let's eat: subspace coffee house

2012-02-04T11:30:00.010+08:00

hello, february. welcome to 2012. though i'm not so sure i'm happy to see you... just yet.

january came and went too fast! the press cons and events are starting up again, the cover shoots for the first quarter are being scheduled, trips (for biz and plezh) are being planned... busybusybusy! gotta squeeze the blog in there somewhere! lots of stuff to share.

just like the other day. i had a shoot with giselle tongi somewhere in ortigas center. (yes, dear readers, she's back! watch for her in the upcoming teleserye "nandito ako" with jasmine curtis-smith and david archuleta, premiering on TV5 later this month. and watch out for her cover on style weekend!) after the shoot, i took the team out for a late lunch at a nearby café called subspace coffee shop. it's tiny and super cute!
located on emerald avenue, it's owned by the same guys who own the furniture and home-decor shop called space encounters, which is just down the road, and which has the cutest and coolest stuff! but let's have coffee first :-) this is what you see when you first enter:
check out that "chandelier"! more like a ceiling installation. a bunch of broken chairs artfully attached and hung (hmmm are those actual wishbone chairs..?):
we sat on this cozy camo couch by the window (i actually almost bought a similar loveseat from space encounters a couple years ago):
love the mix of vintage furniture and "found" stuff (i.e., junk that was probably thrown out!):
here's the counter where you order:
they've got sandwiches, pasta, empanadas, cakes, and, of course, coffee. all priced real cheap!
subspace coffee house, unit 103, g/f grand emerald tower, f. ortigas jr. road, ortigas center, pasig city, tel 655-7077, subspacecoffee.tumblr.com, facebook.com/subspace.coffee

style weekend - feb 3

2012-02-03T09:02:00.000+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (feb 3) for your free copy of style weekend! on the cover: the powerade ion4 (from left) david semerad, chinggay andrada, neil etheridge, and rio dela cruz. photographed by andrew contreras, hair, makeup and grooming by william montojo.

also in this issue: the spring/summer 2012 trends by designer, the return of dr. martens, joanna preysler-francisco's mon-sun style, profile on k-pop group ze:a, new bags, makeup, and skin care, and more!

matthew's day off

2012-01-30T23:27:00.003+08:00

for those of us who watched "ferris bueller's day off" the first time it was released, i think it's safe to say it made a huge impact on us. it's every kid's fantasy—playing hooky from school and getting away with it. and matthew broderick became the darling of the 80s. well, honda brought back ferris bueller—circa 2012! but it's ferris as matthew, all grown up and now a movie star. but with the same live-a-little attitude. you will love this, i promise!

hello, is it me you're looking for?

2012-01-28T23:40:00.004+08:00

this is too cool not to share! have a good laugh :-D

style weekend - jan 27

2012-01-27T08:29:00.000+08:00

please buy manila bulletin today (jan 27) for your free copy of style weekend for men (out every last friday of the month)—our first for the year! on the cover: champion swimmer/award-winning actor/happiness ambassador enchong dee. photographed by mark nicdao, styling by noel manapat, grooming by peps silvestre.

inside the rest of our sports issue: piolo pascual's running tips, the lowdown on the NBA lockout, the guy who finished first at the ironman challenge, fine dining at champagne room and impressions, features on fuerza bruta and the girl with the dragon tattoo, lindsay lohan centerfold, and more!

flight to bangkok (and back)

2012-01-26T19:10:00.001+08:00

my flight to bangkok last week was via philippine airlines. i was kinda dreading it because the last time i flew PAL was to seoul last november, when they were having a lot of problems with the strikes. so it affected their service as well. back then, i flew economy and our food was served in boxes:
parang packed lunch! when the FA asked what drink i'd like, i asked for wine. they said, sorry we're only serving beer. hoookay, beer it is:
this time, going to bangkok, i was booked in business class. well, can't complain! champagne before and after takeoff!
for lunch, we started with marinated prawns and scallop in lemongrass with green mango salad:
and for main course, i chose pistachio-crusted seabass in lime lemon veloute with roasted onion and potato gratin:
i was so happy with my meal! the food was good, the service was good, the flight was good. like i said, can't complain! (but, really, they must do away with the plastic knife—other airlines have!)

but alas i was brought back down to earth because my return flight was booked in economy. huwaaat?? that's what happens with sponsored flights—surprise, surprise! there was no champagne before or after takeoff, and lunch was a choice between chicken or beef. i asked how they were cooked. "the chicken is like afritada and the beef is stewed." i opted for beef:
well, i must say, the food was actually good. and so was the service. and the flight. can't complain. (for a short three-hour flight, that is...)

the fash packs: bangkok

2012-01-25T11:44:00.002+08:00

last week i left for bangkok and once again failed to post anything during my travels. i was there to attend a press conference for a health food/ingredients and natural/organic beauty trade fair happening in bangkok in march. so it was purely business with a tour and a bit of shopping thrown in. this is where i was booked:
i stayed at the four wings. not related to the four seasons. below, the room, bathroom, and view:
ugh. i hate views like this. i hate looking into other windows, and i hate other buildings blocking my view. and this is what i looked like when i checked in:
ngarag. my plane outfit: vintage black cardigan (thrifted at reno, nevada), sleeveless knit top by kate torralba for paper dolls, slim black pants by herbench, tan flats by dexter (from payless), red tote bag by longchamp.

day 2 was when everything happened: press con, lunch, tour, dinner, shopping. since this was not a fasyon event, i thought it best to dress simply but appropriately. when it comes to business-y events like this with the regional press, attire can run the gamut from dark corporate suits to jeans and flip-flops—you never know how people are going to dress! what i wore fit right in between:
my press con outfit: striped top by topshop, navy slim trousers by gap, black flats by dexter (from payless), black tote bag by longchamp, green-pendant necklace by crû, gold-bead necklace from hong kong. after lunch, we toured the grand palace. i have been to bangkok many times, but i never even knew this existed! (that's because we come here to shop and eat!) what an awesome place. i loved the colors, the patterns, the shapes in this complex of spectacular temples, halls, stupas, statues, structures—grand, indeed!

see how the giant demon cooperated and matched my outfit hehe...
finally on day 3, it was time to go home. check out the hubby's new maleta by salvador bachiller, which i borrowed. i never had a maleta that had its own lampin hahaha! so arte!
one last shot of my return-flight outfit (can't you tell i love stripes?? hehe): cardigan by kate torralba for paper dolls (yes, i bought the whole collection!), fuchsia tank top by U2, brown pants by herbench, tan flats by dexter (from payless), red tote bag by longchamp, slingbag by louis vuitton, cheap shades by H&M.
tomorrow: all about the flight!

fuerza bruta comes to manila

2012-01-24T11:44:00.003+08:00

have you heard of fuerza bruta? i don't remember when i first heard of this show, but after seeing the video years ago, i promised myself that the next time i go to new york, i'm going to watch this show! well, i went to new york april last year and i failed to watch it. boo. that's because my jet lag was sooo bad, i was always too sleepy to go anywhere at night. hell, i even fell asleep while having dinner with a friend! but now i don't feel so bad because fuerza bruta is coming to manila, woo-hoo! care to share in my excitement? then watch this video:

learn more about the show by going to their website www.fuerzabruta.net or read this!

Fuerza Bruta: They dance, they fly, they smash things

Theater and dance fans and the rest of the show-going public who think they’ve seen it all better think again. Starting this February, Fuerza Bruta, an event filled with innovative artistic thrills promises to grab their attention and never let go. A mix of theater, aerial stunts, and dance party, the tour de force spectacle that has been wowing audiences across the globe will make its Manila premiere at the Manila Hotel on February 14, 2012.

Celebrated by audiences across the world, Fuerza Bruta is a non-stop collision of dynamic music, visceral emotion, and kinetic aerial imagery. Defying both gravity and convention, Fuerza Bruta is a show to stun the senses. Audiences are urged not just to watch, but also shout, spin, touch and even help the cast smash things—an interactive live event that makes the usual night out dull in comparison.

Fuerza Bruta will captivate audience members as soon as they step into the Manila Hotel Tent, which will be transformed into an alternate universe with thumping beats, engaging dream sequences, and even a multidimensional swimming pool above the heads of the audience as they stand in the middle of the action.

Breaking free from the confines of spoken language and theatrical convention, Fuerza Bruta is an event where worlds collide and reality takes a back seat. At show time, audiences are engulfed in a 360-degree spectacle featuring mind-blowing visual effects within inches of the audience that must be seen to be believed - a man running full throttle on a giant treadmill, bursting through a series of moving walls; tumbling performers suspended in mid-air; beautiful dancers in a clear pool overhead.

"We have had amazing success touring Fuerza Bruta around the world, and after a very successful run in Taipei, we are excited to bring it back to Asia," said Michael Cohl, Chairman of S2BN Entertainment. "The powerful, high-octane visual extravaganza has great international appeal whether it is in the United States, South America, or Europe - and even in Asia, too."

With famous clients and successful world touring shows including the Rolling Stones, U2, Pink Floyd, The Bodies Exhibition, and hit Broadway sensation Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Cohl, the head of S2BN Entertainment, has an impressive track record identifying, producing and effectively marketing live shows and events.

Fuerza Bruta has a company in New York that is currently performing in their fourth blockbuster year, as well as a touring company that has played major cities worldwide, including Buenos Aires, Lisbon, London, Cordoba, Bogota, Edinburgh, Berlin, Mexico, Rosario, Miami, Chicago, Puerto Rico, Caracas, Sao Paulo, Madrid, Bilbao, Knokke Heist, Moscow, Antwerp, Taipei and Tel Aviv, to high critical acclaim.

Fuerza Bruta was founded by some of the creators of the international sensation De La Guarda, including Diqui James (Artistic Director/Creator); Gaby Kerpel (Composer/Musical Director); Alejandro Garcia (Technical Director), Agustina James (Technical Producer), and Fabio Daquila (Production Supervisor).

Celebrity followers of James' work include Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Cameron Diaz, Sting, Britney Spears, Harrison Ford, Tyra Banks, Robert DeNiro, Catherine Zeta Jones, Sandra Bullock, Lucy Liu, Demi Moore, Lil Wayne, Jessica Alba, Fergie, Beyonce, Rachel McAdams, Jude Law, John Legend, Shakira, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Serena Williams, Ashton Kutcher, Kanye West and more.

The stage is set for the most astounding event of 2012 as Hoopla Inc., the promoter of Cirque du Soleil here in the Philippines, launches another world-class first in the local entertainment scene. The cast will perform in Manila beginning February 14 for six weeks at the Manila Hotel Tent. For inquiries, call 320-1111 or visit www.hoopla.ph. Tickets are also on sale at the Manila Hotel concierge.

The Manila Hotel and Fox International Channels are the official sponsors of Fuerza Bruta in the Philippines. The Manila Hotel is also the official hotel and residence of Fuerza Bruta.

what i did on CNY eve

2012-01-23T11:46:00.007+08:00

i'm not chinese, so every year, chinese new year passes without any fanfare. it's just another day with an excuse to wear red, eat round fruit, and buy lucky charms! but yesterday, i got an invite to manila hotel's festivities, so the hubby and i decided to go. it wasn't a formal affair, so i just wore red polka dots:
my CNY outfit: shirt by D&G, black jeans by marc by marc jacobs, wedges by forever 21, bag by kate spade. before midnight, everyone was made to go outside, get a balloon, write your wish on it, then face south east.
then at exactly 12 midnight, everyone was made to release the balloons.
hmmm this can't be good for the environment, can it...?
then there was a five-minute fireworks display.
speaking of fireworks, the bay area was pretty busy last night. aside from this event, katy perry was having a concert at the mall of asia concert grounds (heard she was two hours late) and there was a variety show and countdown at the quirino grandstand. roxas boulevard was full of people! then it was back into the hotel for the post-midnight auspicious buffet. but not before the tossing of the yu sheng salad.
may the year of the water dragon bring all of us good health, success in our careers, luck in romance, and prosperity!

kong hei fat choi!

2012-01-22T09:06:00.016+08:00

Year 2012 Zodiac Sign: Water Dragon
Commencement of the year: 23rd January 00:01 am 2012
Formal duration of the year: 4th February 2012 at 6:22pm to 3rd February 2013
Element of the Year:
• Heaven stem element: Water
• Earth branch element: Earth
• Supporting element: Water
Zodiac signs offending the Tai Suey: Dragon, Dog, Ox, Goat, Rabbit
Zodiac signs that must avoid Burials: Yin Fire Ox, Yin Earth Goat, Metal Ox, Earth Dragon, Golden Dog, Fire Dog
Lucky colors: Gold, Silver, White, Sky Blue, Green, Red, Pink, Violet, Peach, Orange, Beige, Yellow, Brown
Luck for wealth: Treasure Bowl, Vivacious Prince of Wealth, Flying Golden Pei Yau
Luck for career: Jade Dragonhead Fish
Luck for safety: Jade Master Protection Pendant, Safety Medallion
Health protection: Health Medallion
Luck for romance and relationships: Romance Bucket, Brass Happy Couple, Mandarin Duck
Improving overall luck: Benefactor Jade

2012 Forecast Highlights

DRAGON
1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Zodiac’s Nature:
Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, zealous, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, ambitious, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.

2012 is the year of the Water Dragon. People born in the year of the Dragon are said to be offending the Grand Duke (Tai Suey Pang Tai) of the year, which will usher in periodic inauspicious and difficult periods throughout the year. . They will be under stress and will face many obstacles, challenges, persecutions and problems. They should be very careful in handling their work or business and do things step by step. They must remember to work more and talk less, to avoid unnecessary rumors and jealousy. “Think before you act” is a key phrase to remember, for them to be successful within the year. They have to keep a low profile, be patient, do their best to maintain good relationships, and avoid being involved in personal disputes.

Financially, it is not a fortunate year for Dragons, because of so many antagonistic stars gathered under their sign; money will be easy come-easy go. They should cut down their expenditures and do their best to save money. On love affairs: this is not a fortunate year. Single Dragons should not expect too much this year. Lovers should be patient with each other to reach mutual understanding. They must be careful with the way they handle their relationship to avoid any conflict. On health: because of the existence of the antagonistic stars, Dragons should pay special attention to road safety, keep away from sharp objects and beware of spleen, gall bladder and stomach problems. Moreover, they have to watch over their diet.

SNAKE
1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

Zodiac’s Nature:
Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, ambitious, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be a loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.

Although there are so many antagonistic stars under the sign this year, they will not be affected too much because Snakes are flexible and changeable in character. They can cope easily with sudden changes and they can utilize their talents to reap the opportunities that come along. Snakes will have a step ahead this year. They have to maintain good relationships with people to avoid isolation, or else the operation of their work or business will be affected. Financially, money luck is quite fortunate this year for Snakes. On love affairs, two romantic stars appear under the sign. They indicate that romantic sparks are easily ignited. Love life will blossom into permanent relationships. On health, the existence of the “Sickness Star” signifies that Snakes will easily get sick. They have to pay special attention to their lungs and respiratory problems.

HORSE
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

Zodiac’s Nature:
Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile both mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.

This is a stable year for Horses in the year of the Dragon. In order to succeed this year, they have to be more conservative in handling their work or business. They absolutely cannot take any shortcuts for fast success. They will also have many chances to exhibit their skills and talents and show off their working ability. So, they have to work hard, be more creative and take initiative at work. Financially, the year is good and optimistic. Money comes from all sources and never ends. On love affairs, this will be a pretty dull year for the Horses; it is because of the influence of the Lonely Star. Lovers will experience communication gaps and misunderstandings. To prevent this situation from happening, they should pay more attention and give more affection to their loved ones. On health, it may be possible for Horses to have an operation this year. They should keep away from dangerous water activities and pay special attention to road safety.

GOAT
1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991

Zodiac’s Nature:
Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.

Goats will be blessed by the Grace Star, so it is lucky for them to explore their business in overseas markets. Working employees should open their eyes to opportunities around the world. They should have the guts to challenge themselves, and grasp the good opportunities to work abroad. It is also lucky for Goats to explore studying abroad or migrating. Financially, money is easy come and easy go. Goats should try their best to save money for the rainy days. Most important of all, they should be wary of money traps since they can easily be cheated. They must be extremely careful when engaging in contract signing. On love affairs, female Goats will have better luck than the males. Goats should not indulge too much in nightlife. On health, due to the appearance of the “Kaau Sat” unlucky star within the sign, Goats must pay attention to heart, liver and lung problems. So, precautions should be taken regarding their diet. Don’t take too much oily food, and have a medical checkup in the beginning of the year.

MONKEY
1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Zodiac’s Nature:
Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious

This is not a favorable year for Monkeys in the year of the Dragon. There are so many unlucky stars gathered under the sign. So, they easily get into trouble and experience problems, especially related to business ventures, rumors and court cases. However, constant hard work and humility will bring success to Monkeys. Financially, money is fluctuating. It is crucial that they avoid being too greedy or they will lose everything. On love affairs, the Romantic Star shines bright. It is beneficial for lovers, and is especially auspicious for weddings. Single Monkeys should consider getting married within the year. On health, since there is the appearance of the unlucky stars, Monkeys should avoid going to funerals or visiting the sick people in the hospital. They also have to watch their diet and hygiene. They should not take too much oily food and beware of glung, intestine, stomach and digestive problems.

ROOSTER
1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Zodiac’s Nature:
Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated, given to empty bravado.

Luck of the Roosters is fluctuating. Roosters will face many obstacles or problems ahead, but they should not be too worried about that as these problems will eventually get solved. The lucky stars will change their bad luck into good fortune. “Change” is a must for Roosters. They have to look for a new job, new market and new direction to explore their business. They should be ready for the sudden changes and try their best to cope with them. It is important that Roosters work hard constantly and have no fear in any unfavorable situations. Moreover, they have to build good relationships with people, so that they are able to work efficiently and achieve their target easily. Financially, Roosters will have stable incomes, but they should try their best to save money for the rainy day. There will be many chances for them to join ventures. However, they should be wary of swindlers. On love affairs, this will be a very romantic year for Roosters. They are very attractive and popular in social gatherings. However, they have to avoid indulging too much in love affairs and neglecting their work. On health, Roosters should have enough rest and must pay special attention to their diet and hygiene to avoid liver problems.

DOG
1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

Zodiac’s Nature:
Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.

Dogs are directly clashing with the Dragon sign this year. They are clashing with the Tai Suey (Grand Duke). So, they should be extremely careful in handling their work or business. this is not an ideal year for Dogs to change jobs or expand their business. They will be under stress and will face many problems such as personal disputes, rumors, jealousy, and backstabbing. Their work progress will be seriously affected. , to avoid unexpected problems from happening, they must be patient and keep a low profile. They must also try their best to keep away from disputes. Money luck is not so optimistic. They have to be very careful in handling their wealth. They must try to broaden their sources of income and reduce unnecessary expenditures. Aside from this, they should not act as a guarantor for others. On love affairs, this is not a fortunate year for Dogs in romance. They should not expect too much this year. The more they expect, they more disappointed they will be. On health, they must try to have enough rest to avoid exhaustion.

PIG
1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Zodiac’s Nature:
Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

It is a prosperous year for Pigs and things go quite smoothly. It is especially lucky for those who are in the field of management as they will have good opportunities for them to expand their business and show their talents, skills and working abilities. Both career and business luck are stable, if they are able to handle their work cautiously and without any major mistake. It is important that they make a clear distinction between public and private interests when handling their work, and understand that work and friendship do not mix well. Financially, this is a pretty good year. Pigs will have many opportunities to change jobs or have better prospects. However, they should treasure their luck and should not let their chances go. On love affairs, this is a romantic year for Pigs. They will enjoy harmonious relationships with those around them this year. Single Pigs can expect romance to flourish, and they will have the chance to find a partner. Married Pigs should avoid heavy engagements and socializing. On health, Pigs have to try to keep fit this year. Most importantly, they should have enough rest to avoid exhaustion.

RAT
1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996

Zodiac’s Nature:
Forthright, tenacious, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, mendacious, venal, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.

This is a fortunate year for Rats. They will have the chance to get a promotion and change jobs. They can consider either starting their own business or expanding their current business. Both fame and reputation will be popular for Rats this year, especially for those involved in politics, media and TV business. So, for their popularity and success in career development, they should consider doing some good for the society in order to get support from the public. Financially, this is a fortunate year for Rats. They will have a steady income and profits and they will have the chance to exhibit their talents. However, they should avoid becoming greedy and losing more than they gain. On love affairs, it will be quite an unsteady year for Rats. They will face many obstacles and problems and may end up with separation. Therefore, lovers should be more understanding with each other to avoid conflict. On health, Rats will have a hectic work schedule this year, so they should have enough rest to avoid exhaustion. Most important of all, they should watch out for the health and safety of their elder family members at home.

OX
1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Zodiac’s Nature:
Dependable, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.

Due to the influence of the unlucky stars “Koon Sok” and “Kuen Sit”, Oxen have to be careful when it comes to the way they handle their relationships with their people this year. They must talk cautiously and think before they act, or else they will easily create conflicts which can result in a legal case. Luckily, this is an auspicious year for Oxen in business. The lucky stars shining brightly and everything is going smoothly. However, they have to understand that humility and patience are the positive attitudes needed when treating people in order to win full support of others in business. They have to keep in mind that they should not be moody and arrogant. Otherwise, they will suffer a big defeat by their competitors. Most important of all, they have to keep in mind the Chinese motto that says: “Don’t do to others what you don’t want others to do unto you”. Financially, Oxen will be quite fortunate because they will have a steady income from different sources. Love lacks richness, but it is still stable. Oxen should be alert of love traps and avoid indulging in too much nightlife. Health is moderate. They have to pay attention to their diet and hygiene. Exercise more, as this will be helpful in keeping away from sickness.

TIGER
1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Zodiac’s Nature:
Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive.

This is a tough and busy year for Tigers. They have to work very hard to survive in business. On the other hand, they have to be patient, keep a low profile and keep away from disputes, so that their career development will not be hindered. “Silence” is the keyword for them towards their path to success during this year. They must think before they act and avoid being too talkative or they will suffer numerous troubles. They have to be more conservative in handling their money matters. It is important that they pay special attention when signing contracts. On love affairs, the romantic star is weak. It is full of complications and love life is definitely not going smooth. So, they should not expect too much or they will be deeply disappointed. Lovers should be patient with each other and maintain their relationship with care to avoid problems. On health, they have to relax more and do more soft exercise to keep fit.

RABBIT
1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Zodiac’s Nature:
Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, astute, compassionate, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.

Rabbits will have better luck this year. Career luck is promising and they are able to change their bad luck into good fortune. However, they have to work step by step and stand on solid ground in order to succeed. It is important that they avoid dreaming and aiming too high. Their arrogance will be their biggest obstacle at work, so they must be humble and open themselves up to accept opinions of others. Financially, money luck is prosperous, but they have to prevent the problems that will be created from the wealth. So, they should not be greedy. They must avoid corruption or they will put themselves in jeopardizing situations. On love affairs, it is easy to get into romantic involvements with the opposite gender and romantic sparks are ignited easily. On health, it is not too good for Rabbits. They have to exercise more to strengthen their immune system to prevent getting sick. Try to relax more and make sure to have enough rest to avoid exhaustion or sudden collapse.

2012 year of the water dragon forecast courtesy of master joseph chau for mandarin oriental manila
dragon photographed by me at the manila hotel lobby
animal zodiac signs from allfreelogo.com

style weekend - jan 20

2012-01-20T08:35:00.004+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (jan 20) for your free copy of style weekend! on the cover: model nayla wears the season's colors and a pair of shoes from nine west's spring/summer 2012 collection. photographed on location at ion sky, singapore by me! check out the rest of the collection and my exclusive Q&A with nine west creative director, fred allard

it's also our chinese new year special! where to eat, buy tikoy, watch a dragon dance, get a feng-shui reading, and celebrate the countdown. also in this issue: guangzhou as china's new "in" destination, red accessories for good luck, rachelle que's mon-sun style, profiles on katy perry and fil-am youtube sensations, and more!

repetto opening soon

2012-01-15T23:49:00.004+08:00

spotted in greenbelt 3:
so it's true! i had been hearing this rumor for the last three months and there's the evidence. a boarded-up space in greenbelt 3—but not just any space! this had actual ballet slippers hanging from the wall! (more like toe shoes actually.) how clever! how cute! how creative! (and if you look closely, it looks like a pair had already been pried loose!)
so who's bringing repetto in? well, a pretty little birdy told us that it's suyen corp., i.e., the company that owns bench, human, dimensione, aldo, the face shop, et al. oooh they're taking over the shoe market! aside from aldo, suyen also carries call it spring and pedro, and now repetto.
exact location? it took over the space where madison used to be. right next to fruits & passion, and right across regatta. so are you egg-zited??

to know more about repetto, go here.

style weekend - jan 13

2012-01-13T08:36:00.000+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (jan 13) for your free copy of style weekend! on the cover: model aliah heitz channels sophie of mamma mia! photographed by brian bravo on location at pearl farm beach resort davao, styled by kristine serrano, makeup by daniel lois buddy congson, hair by jonelle bansali. top by free people clothing and lifestyle, shorts by soul lifestyle.

also in this issue: fashion experts tell us what's in for 2012, printed accessories, latest fragrance releases, lissa kahayon's mon-sun style, and more!

D&G HK controvery

2012-01-11T23:05:00.007+08:00

saw this interesting news report the other day on the wall street journal website. read it and tell me what your take is on this. in this age of the "documentation generation," people take pictures of anything and everything to post on their facebook, twitter, blogs, instagram, tumblr, flickr, pinterest, youtube, or whathaveyou. these days, before people eat, they don't say grace—they take pictures of the food! well, raise your hand if you're guilty *raises hand*

in my experience taking pictures around manila, i have had to do most of them on the sly. restaurants now tolerate you taking pictures of the food and interiors, but a lot of stores and malls don't like it. abroad, i have been stopped in madrid from taking pictures of the outside of an open-air shopping center. in istanbul, a lot of stall owners invited me to take pictures of their wares—except for one that was selling copies of birkins and kellys haha! but i found new york city to be the most tolerable. the city is crawling with tourists, posing with and taking pictures of everything outdoors AND indoors, and not once did i see anyone stopped. which was refreshing. hell, i was even able to organize a fashion shoot inside the museum of modern art—without permission! which was actually quite bold.

Dolce & Gabbana Photo Ban Sparks Protest
JANUARY 9, 2012, 5:44 PM HKT

People in Hong Kong went to the streets on Sunday, but unlike previous mass rallies in the city, this one wasn’t about politics or democracy. The cause: The right to take photos in front of luxury retailer Dolce & Gabbana.

More than 1,000 people showed up outside the Italian brand’s flagship store on Canton Road after the retailer reportedly prevented people taking pictures of its store front earlier in the week. The protest forced the store to shut at 3 p.m. as the crowds swelled.

The rally was organized on Facebook after local newspaper Apple Daily reported that Hong Kong citizens were banned from taking pictures of window displays, even if the photos were taken from the public street. Apple Daily also posted a video that showed security guards telling journalists to stop snapping pictures from the sidewalk.

According to the report, representatives of the retailer allegedly defended its policy, arguing that it was trying to protect its intellectual property even though the pictures were taken from the public street. However, the defense was undercut further when the company said foreign and mainland Chinese tourists were exceptions to the photo ban.

Why the company’s security drew the line between local Hong Kongers and mainland tourists is not exactly clear, but some have speculated it has less to do with copyright infringement and more to with placating high-rollers from China.

According to other reports, including this one from the Hong Kong Standard, a “well-known mainlander, possibly a government official” was shopping in the store and complained to D&G of photos taken from the street, fearing that they would be posted online and link his shopping trip to corruption. (Last year, a Chinese rail official came under fire after it was revealed he was sporting an expensive luxury watch while at a press conference following the Wenzhou rail disaster.)

Luxury companies in Hong Kong have been doing brisk business, mostly selling to Chinese tourists from the mainland who flock to Hong Kong’s lower-taxed shopping. The shop which was the focus of public anger is located on Canton Road, a luxury strip so busy that Chinese tourists are often asked by store bouncers to queue up on the sidewalks.

While some have called the incident an overreaction, academics say that the large turnout on Sunday underscores the continuing struggle among Hong Kongers to protect against infringements to freedoms and rights they are afforded as a special administrative region of China.

“Since the city’s handover to China in 1997, Hong Kong people have faced a lot of setbacks in their fight for democracy and freedom. As there is no universal suffrage and other political rights, they cling very hard on to what is left for them, such as the fundamental right to enjoy public space,” said Chung Kim-wah, director of Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Centre for Social Policies Studies.

Mr. Chung said the incident was also a platform for the locals to express their frustrations over the mainland Chinese, who are playing an increasingly significant role in the city. “Mainland mothers come to give birth, mainland buyers are buying the most luxurious properties in Hong Kong. The mainland is basically the backbone of our economy. Hong Kong people are afraid that their roles will be increasingly taken over by the mainlanders, but they have nowhere to express this fear,” he said.

In a statement issued on its Facebook page, Harbour City, the shopping mall that houses the D&G flagship store, apologized for the inconvenience caused. “We will learn from the incident and listen to the views of people from different sectors.”

Harbour City, owned by blue-chip conglomerate Wharf (Holdings) Ltd., said it has over the past few days reminded its tenants that they shouldn’t intervene the activities of people outside their shops unless the activities affect their customers or other passers-by.

Late Sunday, Dolce & Gabbana issued a press release to try to diffuse the situation. “We wish to underline that our company has not taken part in any action aiming at offending the Hong Kong public,” it said. But in the minds of Hong Kongers, it already has.

– Polly Hui contributed to this article.

let's eat: naci comfort food & dessert bar

2012-01-10T23:51:00.009+08:00

when it comes to restaurants, the greenhills area is filled with hidden gems tucked away in little corners of the shopping centers or within buildings along the annapolis or connecticut strips. one such eatery is naci, which labels itself as a comfort food & dessert bar. i say it's more like creative comfort food.
i had heard and read about the place, and in fact featured it on style weekend. but it was my first time to check out the place and i'm glad i finally did! interiors are simple and cozy, and they played standards:
when dear mother and i eat out, we like to order lots of little dishes and share. so we ordered salad, soup, and appetizers. everything was big enough to share. we started with kani mango crunch (P160). "layers of assorted greens, kani, ripe mangoes, cucumber with crispy wonton and vermicelli drizzled with wasabi mayo":
i love kani-mango salad, but this was different. the crispy wonton and vermicelli added an interesting texture and the wasabi mayo was subtle and not at all overwhelming. still very fresh and light. the manager suggested we order tita em's chowder (P150), simply for novelty's sake—the "creamy, hearty chowder with shrimps, fresh corn kernels and bacon" was served in carved-out sourdough bread:
very filling as you might expect. and the bread was good too. our "main course" was two appetizers. first, beef taco springroll (P190). "crispy springroll stuffed with beef taco, tomato salsa served with sour cream":
this was quite unexpected. the wrapper was thin and crispy, not thick and "nakaka-busog" like regular springrolls. and i'm glad that they were generous with the sour cream. then we had shrimps on toast (P190). "minced white shrimps with chopped pork and vegetables served with tomato salsa, cheese sauce and spicy tomato":
this is best eaten hot, so don't allow it to get cold before you dig in, otherwise the toast gets soggy. and if that wasn't enough, we were offered dessert—syempre naman, that's their specialty! apparently, they make the desserts fresh in their kitchen located on another floor. we decided to share one slice of their best-seller, caramel cream cake (P85 a slice).
we expected it to be really sweet and "nakaka-sawa" but it was surprisingly light! i almost regert not ordering my own slice haha... all in all it was a nice, pleasant lunch with good food in a relaxed atmosphere.

naci is located at 2/f fox square, connecticut st., greenhills, san juan, tel 726-7266, www.facebook.com/nacicomfortfood

greenhills shopping day

2012-01-09T22:28:00.011+08:00

today was black nazarene day and you know what that's like. not fun in the philippines. in fact, it's downright dangerous, but these devotees are obsessed fanatics and will go through hell and high water just to have the corner of their bimpo touch the statue. as of post time, over 300 people have already been injured. so i opted not to go to my office in intramuros, which was closed off. so i proclaimed a liza holiday and went shopping with my mother.

last year, i was gifted with some greenhills shopping center gift certificates. on the GC it states "before use, please proceed to the customer service booth for assistance and validation." an information booth was the best we could find and they said we could go ahead and use it at any tiangge stall. eh kung hindi tanggapin? "sabihin nyo lang sa guard para sabihan sila." hookay. is this what she meant?
so the tiangges in greenhills haven't changed much. the pekes are still there. lots of "tory burch" bags and shoes (with matching box!). and the new kid in town is "cath kidston." i remember a few years ago, i spotted a speedy-shaped bag made of a gucci logo material splattered with murakami cherries. tama ba yon?? this time i spotted a "longchamp le pliage" bag with a "paul smith" print. two for the price of one! hahaha...
and the winner cartoon character this year is angry birds. they were on everything! (parang i like the plushy red tote bag below...)
and the most popular christmas-gift item from greenhills were these jelly cases for cell phones, coins, glasses, and lipstick. love the colors!
and for the apple fan, how about an apple lamp? (hmmm maybe for the hubby's upcoming birthday...)
and look at these super-cute dresses for little girls! i bought that tiny black-and-blue floral dress for my managing editor who just had a baby last month, sshhh...
well, it was fun to use the GCs. although some stalls were completely clueless about the existence of such GCs and we couldn't be bothered to look for a guard and make sumbong, this is the only GC that gives back change—in cash! we were ready to walk away with P20 left on the GC and nothing else to buy, when the salesperson whipped out a bill. how refreshing!

after lunch, mother and i ended up in megamall. i was in the market for some brogues. i spotted some at primadonna. hmmm which one to get?
i ended up with a pair of black & white saddle shoes from payless! super sale!
tomorrow: where we had lunch!

it's more fun in the philippines

2012-01-08T21:44:00.016+08:00

i need to catch up on all the fun!! because while new DOT secretary mon jimenez jr launched the new tourism slogan last friday and got everyone to join in on the "fun," i had deadlines deadlines deadlines!!! yes, three major deadlines: next week's issue of style weekend (of course, that happens every friday—we put the next friday's issue to bed); then i had to write an essay for mega magazine's 20th anniversary issue (out next month!); then i had to write about my istanbul-athens trip for asian dragon magazine (in case you didn't know, i'm editor in chief of their annual weddings magazine, whut??). whatevs!

by now you've all seen the hashtag on twitter #1forfun, and all the memes circulating on facebook. i am loving it! whoever thought if it, i think it was quite clever to use the # sign as part of the abbreviated slogan to mean number one, and also "coincidentally" making it a hashtag on twitter. so any time you want to promote something on twitter as "more fun in the philippines," simply say #1forfun. very clever. it started trending even before the official launch last friday.

then when everyone saw the photos posted on the website, people started making their own versions. and they are all so witty!! this is what the website had:
and some very very creative types came up with their own versions, which look like official ads! i like the ones that really promote the unique and wonderful things about the country. below are some of the best ones i've seen on facebook (and more are being produced as we speak! when pinoys band together talaga, so much is accomplished!).

from roland benzon, pic of pahiyas festival by john albert cadag: from roland benzon, pic by mon corpuz: from roland benzon, pic off siargao island, surigao del norte, pic from siargaophilippines.com: from roland benzon, pic of birding adventures from www.birdingphilippines.com (roland has some of the best, he made his album on facebook public): from les lesaca, pic of el nido, palawan by my awesome planet:
so fresh and so current! there are so many more! eto, isa pa! medyo nasty lang hahaha...
so i had to come out with something of my own too hehe... (sunset photographed in bataan by elbert cuenca)

i did a bit of traveling around the country in the last couple of years and saw some wonderful things i didn't even know existed right in my own "backyard"! and there is still so much to see. and if foreigners can get excited to see the philippines, then we should too. and it's heartwarming to see filipinos beaming with pride about their country through their creativity. bravo, DOT, for making the right choice. i'm sure this is the reaction you were hoping for and i'm sure it surpassed all your expectations.

for the official website, click here

style weekend - jan 6

2012-01-06T07:54:00.000+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (jan 6) for your free copy of style weekend! it's our first issue of the year! on the cover: jasmine curtis-smith—watch this girl's star rise in 2012! (yes, she's anne's little sister.) photographed by BJ pascual on location at heima home & lifestyle, styled by eldzs mejia, makeup by archie tolentino for maybelline new york, hair by katchie mejias. outfit by love, bayo.

also in this issue, 12 faces to watch in 2012, cute flats, art basel miami beach, jenni epperson's hostess-with-the-mostest style, and more!

sale! sale! sale!

2012-01-05T20:42:00.015+08:00

any more sales out there i might have missed? please feel free to share in the comments. everybody loves a sale!

the battle of the january issues

2012-01-04T23:46:00.002+08:00

you never hear about the battle of the january issues—it's usually the september issues, which is traditionally the most important month for glossy fashion magazines ("september is the new january," remember?)—because in the magazine world, january is the dead-est month in terms of advertising, and therefore, in terms of number of pages. so for two local glossies to be the talk of the town, to be trending on twitter, to be on every news show on TV—well, let's just hope this translates into sales!

i am, of course, talking about the january 2012 issues of mega and preview (jan/feb actually for preview). i have not seen either magazine "in the flesh" (i believe they will both be on newsstands by tomorrow), i have only seen them on facebook. and the immediate reaction of people on facebook, on twitter, on blogs, on news websites, and whoever feels strongly about it is "photoshop!!!" either that or the public is shocked at how different the two women look on the cover and in person—or rather, what they looked like before "science" touched their faces.

i am, of course, talking about jinkee pacquiao on the cover of mega, and charice pempengco on the cover of preview. you be the judge (click to enlarge—but only if you want to!):

full disclosure: i used to work in mega from 1993 to 2005 (12 years!), and in the early days of polaroid and film (kids, do you know what those are?), we relied heavily on the skills of the photographer and the makeup artist to get the perfect picture. plus, we couldn't shoot hundreds of frames like you can do now and just delete! each shot must be the potential money shot. and it was only after the film was developed could we see the results, usually in a contact print (a sheet with thumbnails), which we had to loupe (look it up), or transparencies we viewed in a lightbox. a good photographer knew how to light the model right, so he got the most flattering planes and angles of her face. a good makeup artist knew how to shade and contour the model's face to create bigger eyes, a slimmer nose, killer cheekbones, and an angular jawline, and still make it look natural. yes, the magic was all done in the studio or location. any post-processing was usually done by the photographer—by hand!

then when photoshop came into the picture (pun unintended), we used it to remove "noise" that distracted from the overall effect we wanted from the photo, and to allow the reader to focus on the subject/story, especially on covers. for example, if it was a beauty story, we had to get the red veins in the eyes out, remove any blemishes on the skin, maybe even whiten the teeth. or if it was a swimsuit story, you removed any unsightly scars and bulges (i used to call it liposhop—"give her some liposhop!"), maybe even lengthen the legs a bit. but we never did it freakishly so that people would notice and comment.

but that is the nature of the beast—fashion magazines are about fantasy. you don't buy them to see "real people"—you see enough of that on the street every day or, hell, even in the mirror. even when magazines feature "real people," they're still styled and photographed in the best possible light (pun intended). but every so often, magazines will feature "real people" as they are—models without makeup, chubby girls with pretty faces—just to prove that they are "in touch" with reality. but do you get the irony?

in the last few years, i guess some photographers and creative directors have abused the photoshop app. both mega and preview have released statements admitting that they did some editing on the photos, but just the normal amount (whatever that means these days). from my point of view, i see two women who were highly styled, made up and coiffed to perfection, and lit flawlessly—as they should be by the top fashion magazines in the country. and you know what? i don't expect any less. because who cares to see jinkee and charice without makeup and in their everyday clothes? and about the plastic surgery—well, that is their choice now, isn't it?

how the fash packs

2012-01-02T23:56:00.004+08:00

people always ask me to post more pictures of myself and my outfits, especially when i travel. but i'm a little shy (???). this blog was never about posting photos of me. but since i've been named one of inquirer's best-dressed of 2011 (bwahahaha), i'm a little braver (o wag mag-react). so here's a post of how i plan my travel wardrobe, based on my last trip. hope you pick up a few useful tips :-)

so what's your style when it comes to planning your wardrobe for a trip? do you just randomly toss clothes into your suitcase and pray everything matches? or do you carefully plan your outfits per day? i must confess i fall under the latter. if there's one thing i hate, it's overpacking and ending up with clothes i don't wear or, worse, for the wrong weather! when it comes to packing, i'm not one of those wing-it people. i have to know everything about the trip—how many days, the daily itinerary (by the hour ha), the weather/temperature (very important! i always check wunderground.com), if there's going to be a lot of walking, and what kind of ground will we be walking on (sandy, muddy, wet, cobblestone, concrete, grassy, carpet, etc)!! anal much?? then the challenge is to style the outfits, plan footwear for every activity (and to alternate shoes—can't wear the same pair every day), and figure out what can double up for day and evening, or be "recycled." nothing cutting-edge or super trendy, just practical, comfortable, but still stylish (for me anyway) outfits.

so one thing i like to do is to make little sketches of my planned outfits per day. before i left for my istanbul-athens tour last month, i made these rough sketches as my guide, took a picture with my iphone, and posted it on facebook. what do you think?

then i got on a plane and four hours later was in a lounge in singapore. i went on facebook and boy, was i surprised to find so many likes and comments! FB friends loved my "cute" drawings. one friend said i should patent my doodles, another wants me to plan her wardrobe for her next trip! i got 75 likes and 26 comments (a big deal for me haha)! of course, my former colleagues at mega were familiar with the sketches because that's how i would plan our fashion editorials.

so here's how the outfits looked like in "real life." (of course, outfits subject to change hehe ;-)

day 1: on the plane. here i am at the lounge at changi airport. turquoise knit top by burberry, men's stretchy black pants by collezione C2, fuchsia neoprene flats by tory burch, red le pliage tote by longchamp, zebra-print trolley by tumi. inside my handcarry are the coat and boots i plan to change into before we land in istanbul, where it's 10 degrees!
day 2: walking tour in istanbul. it was a cold, wet day. i realized i brought the wrong coat, hat, and boots—should've brought the puffy nylon hoodie, the patent hat, and the wellies. oh well live and learn... and freeze a little. moss green corduroy coat by missoni x target, black jeans by CPS chaps, black boots by aerosoles (super comfy for walking for hours!), slingbag by fendi, hat by muji, plaid scarf by gap.
inside, i wore a camel-colored V-neck sweater by folded & hung over a tan/white striped turtleneck knit top by michael stars—so matchy-matchy :-)
day 3: bosphorus river cruise. weather was better. wore the same coat. un-buttoned this time. inside, i wore a black sweater by zara, black/white striped turtleneck knit top by michael stars (matchy-matchy again!), black jeans by marc by marc jacobs, black patent boots by gucci, belt by paul smith, cheap shades by topshop. not seen: the same slingbag by fendi and a red pashminette (i.e., fake pashmina).
day 4: depart for athens + walking tour. up early for a 6am flight! here i am at the airport with no makeup—why am i not wearing my shades?? black coat by mango, navy/red striped men's long-sleeved knit top by muji worn over a black/white polka-dot sleeveless dress by muji (i love this dress! i wear it all the time. i wish i also bought it in gray), black tights, black boots by aerosoles, red le pliage tote by longchamp, zebra-print trolley by tumi, red suitcase by rimowa (i love this suitcase—so light and can fit tons of stuff).
aaand we hit the ground running. tour kaagad. here's the outfit without the coat (weather was warmer in athens, plus all that walking makes you warm!), standing by the ampitheater on the way up the acropolis (it's called odeon of herodes atticus):
day 5: aegean sea cruise: we stopped by three islands. weather was cool and pleasant. this was by a temple on our last island stop: aegina. i wore the same coat. inside, i wore a tan/black striped long-sleeved knit top by topshop (another of my travel mainstays) over a striped sleeveless dress by kate torralba for paper dolls (i've worn this dress to death—love it!), black tights, black patent gucci boots, black le pliage tote by longchamp (bought just the day before! i've never been a le pliage girl, but i recently discovered its practicality, especially for travel—light, roomy, and zippered for security), cheap shades by topshop.
here's the outfit without the coat. we're approaching hydra, our first island stop. can i please say, i love the light in greece!
day 6: depart for manila via singapore, where we had a six-hour layover! and you know how that went, as i posted last month. now if you ask why we didn't leave the airport into the city, that's because we arrived at changi at 6am, which means everything was still closed!

happy new year!

2012-01-01T18:32:00.002+08:00

this was the finale of the fireworks at rockwell last night, which lasted a grand total of, er, three minutes...

top 10 trends of 2011

2011-12-31T21:54:00.007+08:00

every december 31 since this blog started in 2005, i make a list of the past year's top 10 fashion trends (of manila, that is). and one constant since 2006 has been the platform shoe that it's no longer a trend—it's now a fashion mainstay. the only difference is that every year, the heels get higher and the designs get weirder! the highest i have seen is a whopping seven inches! and this isn't on lady gaga, mind you; this is just on regular gals who love to dress up and party. while i myself am surprised to actually own a five-inch (!) pair of platforms, i have yet to master the art of running in them—some women have! so i'm deleting platforms from the list for now. another trend that's become a commonplace accessory is hats or some sort of headgear. wearing fascinators reached fever pitch the weeks after the royal wedding, then it sort of fell flat. people still wear some variation of it, as well as hats. and what about nerdy eyeglasses, which seemed to be more popular on guys (straight and gay), than on girls. even i don't wear mine anymore (but that's because i sat on them and it broke, duh). and how about those denim cutoffs with the pockets peeking out or short short shorts that practically look like panties? ho-hum...

presenting my annual list of the past year's top fashion trends (in no particular order) (and because i failed to take any photos throughout the year like i usually do, i'm grabbing photos *again* from stylebible.ph! thank you, stylebible! :-)

1. palazzo pants: these floor sweepers came in all kinds of materials, from jersey knits to full-on sequins, and could be dressed up or down with a simple change of top, shoes, and accessories. pic: divine at the jenni epperson book launch
2. nude platform pumps: a trend that crept up on us, especially after all those royal weddings, where most of the female guests wore easter-egg-colored suits and their proper nude pumps. pic: charmaine at the louis vuitton opening
3. neon lipstick: you could spot someone a mile away in a dark, smokey club, thanks to neon orange or fuchsia lips. matching the outfit optional. pic: bubbles at philippine fashion week

4. crayola-colored nail polish (and other weird shades): red? boring! black? so over! nails now come in crayola colors like yellow, blue, and green, or in strange shades like gray and phlegm green. pic: myrza matches her fingers and toes to her dress at the esquire magazine launch
5. brogues: since five-inch heels are no longer cutting edge, the only way to go is down. and with a menswear-inspired shoe. cute when worn with socks and shorts, fresh when worn with a skirt or dress, and very model-off-duty when worn with cuffed skinny jeans. pic: zoe at philippine fashion week
6. jersey dresses and gowns: who doesn't want to look like a grecian goddess? though we might suddenly experience a shortage in jersey material because it takes yards and yards of fabric to achieve those drapes. pic: ana at the esquire magazine launch
7. maxi skirts: another version of the floor sweeper. long skirts were just so damn comfortable—plus you didn't have to shave your legs! pic: anne at the shu uemura x wong kar wai launch
8. sheer skirt or palazzos with opaque mini or shorts underneath: this is the alanganin trend. not quite willing to go sheer all the way, see-through skirts or palazzos were kept modest with the addition of a mini or shorts, respectively, underneath. pic: jae at philippine fashion week
9. ultimate designer collaborations: this year, women all over the world went into a frenzy when these two collaborations were launched: missoni x target and versace x H&M. people from here traveled to hong kong or singapore for the versace collection. and if you were ordering missoni online, then you were one of the millions who caused the target website to crash. but wait till next year when H&M releases its marni collab! aaahhh!!! pic: target website's apology
10. style bloggers: these young, stylish women who post photos of themselves in cute outfits were suddenly everywhere! being flown to new york fashion week, winning international competitions, endorsing products, being fêted left and right, and demanding exorbitant fees for appearances! yoo-hoo, don't forget me, i'm here! pic: L-R tricia gosingtian (triciagosingtian.com), laureen uy (breakmystyle.com), camille co (itscamilleco.com)

runners-up: feather accessories, color blocking, oversize clutches, stacks of bangles, and those dang hand sanitzers hanging from bags

inquirer's best-dressed list

2011-12-30T18:45:00.005+08:00

this morning, as i scrolled down my facebook home page, i came across a link to an inquirer article titled "our fearless list of best dressed women of 2011." i myself have come up with lists like this, so i was curious to see who was on it. and boy was i shocked to see my name on it!! (at nabuking pa ang age!! hahaha)
that's me on the bottom left with the crazy prints. the photo they used was grabbed from my facebook album titled "oct 2011," just my monthly visual diary of things i did, places i went to, and events i attended. this was shot at the fitflop boots launch in greenbelt 5. it's kind of ironic that they chose me now because this year i had been sooo lazy to get all dressed up for work or for events! i tended to stick to boring ol' jeans, comfy stretchy pieces, and black black black. you know how it is when you sit in front of a computer all day and you start feeling fat. so in the last few months, i decided to start wearing some of my old clothes again just to see if they still fit. some of them did. like this floral-print skirt by tracy reese, which i bought at mix a looong time ago. i wore it with a polo knit top to work and wanted something dressier for the events i had that night, so i popped into zara and bought a polka-dot blouse. as i've said on this blog many times, i love prints! the more, the merrier!

here's the link to the article.

and here's the whole article!

Our fearless list of Best Dressed Women of 2011
By: Cheche V. Moral, Stef Cabal
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:44 am | Friday, December 30th, 2011

Tina Ocampo, accessories designer. Tina Ocampo is inarguably one of the chic-est women in Manila. She always looks polished and, yes, expensive—but quite tastefully so. A standout, she never dresses like anyone in the room. Case in point: the recent Philippine Tatler Ball where she arrived in a bare-back emerald-green Pepito Albert. Sexy, but age-appropriate.

Lucy Torres, politician. With her inherent beauty, Lucy could make a sack dress look like a million-bucks sack dress. But you would, however, not find her in anything outrageous: She sticks to what works best for her, and that’s feminine and well-tailored dresses by the likes of Randy Ortiz, Joey Samson or Noel Crisostomo. She always looks clean and fresh.

Pauline Juan, Preview magazine editor. Unlike most women who stick to one look, there’s no one single look (read: uniform) for Pauline so that it’s always gratifying to see what she wears at any given affair. She’s experimental and a true champion of up-and-coming designers: She gives them her stamp of approval not just by giving them editorial space in her magazine, but by wearing them as well.

Liza Ilarde, editor. The mixing of the boldest prints and colors seems instinctive to this woman. Even when she’s wearing a solid black dress, expect her to punctuate it with something bright or quirky in the form of a purse or some other accessory. Liza is one of those women over 40 who dress their age but are never dull or frumpy.

Nina Huang, housewife and socialite. She’s no social butterfly, but when she does grace a party, Nina never disappoints in the style department. She embodies chic and taste, always looking poised and graceful, whether her look is classic and tailored, or ultra-feminine.

Kaye Tinga, home-store owner. Kaye consistently lands the best-dressed lists, and with reason. This is a woman who clearly loves beautiful, well-made clothes. She looks effortlessly chic either in sleek-cut shifts, designer jeans or evening dress by her favored designers (Dennis Lustico, Pepito Albert).

Mandy de la Rama-Santos, children’s wear designer and entrepreneur. Apart from a cutting-edge style, she has a well-toned, athletic bod that makes her a dream to dress. She’s a muse of both Inno Sotto and Rajo Laurel, and a favorite in best-dressed lists.

Anne Curtis, actress. Her new grownup look is refreshing, especially in that black sheer Rajo Laurel dress for the first Philippine Fashion Ball. It’s a new look for her, since it’s far from the ultra-feminine style she used to go for before. She looked sexy but elegant.

Pauline Prieto, model. Her street-chic style looks effortless. She’s got the model-off-duty look down pat.

Iza Calzado, actress. Her style is more sophisticated than most contemporary young actresses, but still fashion-forward.

Bea Soriano, model. She has transformed into a refined woman with a classic style that’s highlighted by carefully chosen trends that enunciate her fun-loving spirit.

Amina Aranaz-Alunan, accessories designer, fashion-school directress and Inquirer Lifestyle columnist. She has the old-world glamour, but with a modern twist. She can easily balance family and work, in style. Whether for casual lunch or dressy evening affair, her dressing is effortless.

needless to say, i am extremely flattered to have been chosen, and honored to be in the company of these women, most of whom i myself have featured as some of the country's most stylish women! thank you to the editor ms. thelma san juan, and to the writers cheche v. moral and stef cabal :-)

style weekend - dec 30

2011-12-30T09:08:00.003+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (dec 30) for your free copy of style weekend for men (every last friday of the month)! on the cover: the people and events that rocked our world! welcome to our year-end special.

also in this issue: last-minute suggestions on where to spend NYE, the fashion experts tell men what to add to their closets in 2012, fragrances and grooming stuff, profiles on john lloyd cruz and anthony morse, carla abellana centerfold, lust page turns into a list page, and more!

best- and worst-selling covers of 2011

2011-12-27T22:22:00.023+08:00

here's an interesting article that just appeared in women's wear daily about celebrity covers that sold and didn't in the US. most of them are very ho-hum-wala-na-bang-iba..? (sarah jessica parker) others are like seriously, still?? (jennifer aniston) and some of them you'd think would sell out on the stands but unfortunately fell flat (sorry, justins). food for thought for those in the publishing biz...

The Cover Story: The Best (and Worst) Sellers of 2011
By JOHN KOBLIN
FROM: WWD Issue 12/27/2011

No matter what crisis there is on the newsstand, there are a few people who sell no matter what.

Take Sarah Jessica Parker. She pops up on the cover of Elle back in January, Vogue in August and Marie Claire in September and delivers each monthly its second or third best seller of the year. Or, let’s consider Heidi Klum, who can help deliver Lucky its second best seller in March (175,000 sales in a year when they need it!) or bring the August Glamour its second best performer (510,000 sales, in a year when they really need it!). Or Jennifer Aniston, who was Marie Claire’s top seller of the year in that sleepy summer month of July, and, from all indications, delivered Elle one of its best performers of the year in November.

It’s that time of year, everyone. Time to look back and see who sold (and who didn’t) at the newsstand for monthly magazines in 2011. All data is taken is from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, much of it from the Rapid Report, which is subject to minor change since it has not been audited. The majority of publishers have filed results through October or November issues.

So, if SJP, Heidi and Jen are consistently sellers — and have been for some time — isn’t there a newcomer we can add to the list?

Mila Kunis was the new runaway success of 2011. Kunis’ August GQ cover delivered 205,000 sales, by far its biggest hit of the year, through November. She took to W in March and delivered sales 15 percent above average for the fashion monthly. She was the February cover star of Cosmopolitan and brought in 1.7 million sales, which is nearly 10 percent better than the monthly’s average for the first half. And then she graced the cover of Elle in August in a portrait with Justin Timberlake, which brought in 250,000 sales, fourth best of the year for Elle.

And, apparently, Timberlake needed the Kunis boost. Timberlake’s W cover with Amanda Seyfried, for instance, bombed, selling a mere 15,000 copies, the title’s second worst performer of the year. And then Timberlake’s solo cover for Esquire in October brought in a teeny 73,000 sales, its worst performer of the year.

But Timberlake should take comfort in the fact that he isn’t the only heartthrob who can’t sell: Justin Bieber bombed, too. Bieber took Vanity Fair’s cover in February and tanked — it sold 245,800 copies, the third worst seller since Graydon Carter took over the magazine in 1992. Bieber then appeared on the cover of a Rolling Stone issue in March, and sold 5 percent worse than average for the biweekly. But we’ve known this for some time. He appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue and sat down with People last year and sold 10 percent and 25 percent worse, respectively, than average for both titles.

Other bad years: Mrs. Andy Roddick, Brooklyn Decker, posted 81,000 sales for Esquire in February, its second worst performance of the year. Apparently she doesn’t work for women’s books either, as she brought in a mere 182,000 sales for Self, which is 25 percent below the monthly’s average in the first half. Moral of this story, Brooklyn: Stick with Sports Illustrated.

Fergie struggled at the newsstand as well, with the worst seller of the year for Allure in July and the fourth worst cover for Lucky in June. Also, Michelle Williams sold poorly at Marie Claire (third worst performer with 202,000 sales) and for Vogue (second worst performer with 296,000 sales). Likewise, Reese Witherspoon struck out with Vogue (303,000 sales), Marie Claire (242,000 sales) and Glamour (440,000 sales), which represented a below-average performance for each of the monthlies.

It’s impossible to talk newsstand in 2011 without mentioning the person who landed on more covers than anyone: Kim Kardashian. She was Glamour’s bestseller of the year with her February cover and Cosmopolitans’s bestseller as well, when she helped bring in 1.8 million sales in August. But her results elsewhere were mixed. Her Harper’s Bazaar cover in March, her April Self cover and her November Lucky cover were all mild hits — they sold a few percentage points above average. Her December Marie Claire cover isn’t expected to be a barn burner, and a source said that her January 2012 Glamour cover with sisters Khloé and Kourtney is on track to fall below 400,000 sales — a really poor performance. Perhaps the Kardashian Krash is beginning?

In the battle of New York athletes: Mark Sanchez’s September GQ brought in 175,000 sales over Derek Jeter’s April issue, which had 142,000 (J-E-T-S! Jets Jets Jets!).

And then there were the performers who had an up-and-down year: Gwyneth Paltrow was Elle’s best and Self’s second best, but her Bon Appétit cover in June and her January InStyle cover both sold below average for the monthlies. Emma Stone’s July Elle cover was the monthly’s worst performer and her Vanity Fair cover was its third worst, but she scored with Teen Vogue (second best), Glamour and W. Olivia Wilde scored big with Women’s Health (its best), Allure (its second best) and Cosmo (third best), but not Marie Claire (below average) and Glamour (its third worst).

And finally: What about Lady Gaga? Last year, Gaga was the absolute star of the newsstand. This year? She finally showed some chink in her armor. And why? She wasn’t in costume. Her October Harper’s Bazaar, which featured a Gaga close-up without any makeup, sold only 119,000 copies, its third worst seller of the year. Last year, Jessica Simpson went without makeup for Marie Claire and it was one of its biggest bombs of the year. But when Gaga got all dolled up, she worked: Her March Vogue cover was its second best seller of the year and her May Harper’s Bazaar cover did far better than its autumn counterpart: It sold 159,000 copies, its third best of the year.

So, Graydon, take comfort in your January 2012 cover with Gaga. She’s dressed up just fine.

merry christmas!

2011-12-25T12:57:00.002+08:00

merry christmas from the fash pack and family!

style weekend - dec 23

2011-12-23T09:02:00.001+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (dec 23) for your free copy of style weekend! it's the friday before christmas! on the cover: alexandra escat is ready to party! photographed by toto labrador on location at the sulô riviera, styling by pierra calasanz-labrador, makeup by archie tolentino for maybelline new york, hair by miki kierulf. top by banana republic, skirt and feather stole by zara, earrings and shoes by payless.

also in this issue: last-minute gift guide, ginggay joven-dela merced's mon-sun style, chilling out in davao city, anne curtis' new shoes, and more!

SOS: seventh high operation sendong

2011-12-22T13:57:00.001+08:00

Heed the Call – SOS: Seventh HIGH’s Operation Sendong

This 28th of December, 2011, Seventh HIGH is holding a charity drive for the victims of typhoon Sendong in participation with DSWD. Seventh HIGH, a year old boutique nightclub in Manila, has been known to throw special charity events for different causes, including Breast Cancer Awareness, Pediatric Cancer Wards, and even HIV efforts. In light of the recent tragedy in Mindanao, Seventh HIGH seals 2011 with what the hope would be their biggest call to compassion.

The event is entitled SOS: SeventhHIGH Operation Sendong. Raising awareness among the urbanites of Manila, it encourages its attendees to help by bringing donations or pay door charge in order to be part of the party. Donations and door proceeds will be given to DSWD in their relief efforts for the victims of typhoon Sendong.

Supported by a large roster of celebrity and model dj’s, bartenders, and guests, the young club hopes to give its attendees an inspirational celebration of humanity that brings together music, fashion, and arts in a unified effort to revive Mindanao. SOS is expected to be a big effort that calls to action different sectors and age groups in cosmopolitan Manila.

This event is open to public. Seventh HIGH is located at 7th Avenue, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City. For inquiries and reservations, interested groups and individuals may call 09063786916.

free! free! free!

2011-12-21T23:21:00.001+08:00

if you're a zinio subscriber, you can get these magazines and more for free free free! download them now before zinio takes it back! click here for the full list of freebies!

bosphorus river cruise

2011-12-20T23:20:00.002+08:00

last post on istanbul! taking a cruise down the bosphorus is a very touristy thing to do but so much fun! first you go down the asian (or is it the european?) side of turkey and the guide points out all the major landmarks. then at some point, the boat makes a U-turn then it travels along the european (or is it the asian?) side of turkey. this was the boat we rode:
and as we got on and sailed away, there was a fire in the hills, which cast a dramatic plume of smoke above the massive mosques and fabulous palaces along the banks of the river:
our group of 12 had the boat all to ourselves! top deck and lower deck!
the sun was out, it was a lovely day, and we got good light for photos! some choice shots:

shopping in istanbul

2011-12-19T23:31:00.009+08:00

the grand bazaar is synonymous to shopping in istanbul. but there is also the spice bazaar, especially for those who love to buy food to take home or for pasalubong, or for those who love to cook. where else can you get saffron for a song??
some of the lovely items of food we spotted at the spice bazaar (and take note of the little signs that go with some of them!):

and because some people in our group took too long at the spice bazaar, we only had less than two hours at the grand bazaar!! waahhh.... that's because they close at 7pm! so it was speed shopping, haggling, paying, and packing! look at the beautiful interiors (this is how you can find your way around the many alleys—memorize the fabulous ceilings!):
and just a hint of the stuff stuff stuff for sale!

help for CDO and iligan city

2011-12-18T23:40:00.016+08:00

we interrupt our regular programming to bring out a message of compassion during this time of tragedy. please help our fellow filipinos down south, specifically in cagayan de oro and iligan city, during their time of need. the flash floods that happened last saturday due to typhoon sendong has resulted in many deaths and people losing their loved ones, homes, and belongings. facebook, as usual, has been swift in galvanizing efforts. below are some of the relief centers where you can donate cash and goods. (please click to enlarge and read.)

and click on these very helpful links:

• 15 Ways to Help Sendong’s Victims

• 10 Ways to Help #Sendong Victims

• La Salle Green Hills Accepts Donations for Typhoon Sendong Victims

• Typhoon “Sendong”: How To Help

if readers know of any more ways we can help, please feel free to post them on the comments.

the fash packs: istanbul

2011-12-17T23:03:00.006+08:00

my trip to istanbul and athens during the first week of december came suddenly, and i had less than a week to prepare for it. luckily, i already have a schengen visa (it takes at least two weeks to apply for one—if you have a filipino passport, that is), so no problem getting into greece. as for the turkey visa, through some "connections," my visa application was expedited. after all, i'm going to be promoting their country—pramis! this was my first time to turkey and i was excited!
it was a quickie tour, though, and our itinerary was amazing-race proportions. as in, visit a landmark, picture picture, then leave, and on to the next. not the way a lot of people like to tour. so here's a quickie guide to help you decide where to go if you plan a trip to istanbul. first up were the massive mosques: sultan ahmed mosque (more popularly known as the blue mosque because of the blue-colored tiles inside) and the hagia sofia.

before we entered the blue mosque, we had to remove our shoes, so make sure you have cute socks on hehe... (socks by bench)
blue mosque:

hagia sofia:

these two mosques are located across from each other on the huge sultanahmet square. if you have a leisurely sked, try to walk down the narrow cobblestone streets around the area, which have charming little shops and cafés. the streets will lead you to the edge of the bosphorus river, where you can walk or sit and admire the view:
we also visited two palaces, which used to be occupied by one sultan or another during the reign of the ottoman empire. these palaces are now considered museums and are open to the public. the size and opulence of each one was mind-boggling! turkey is so rich in history that visiting istanbul made me want to read up on it. unfortunately, photos weren't allowed inside the two palaces.

here i am at the intricately carved entrance gate of the dolmabahce palace:
before we entered we had to wear these plastic bags to protect the carpets:
i was blown away by the sheer size and extravagant decorations of the palace. and the biggest chandeliers i had ever seen!! oh how i wish i had snuck a photo! well, i did sneak a couple of iphone shots of the ceiling. kunyari nag-te-text hehe...

the biggest one was hanging in the ceremonial hall, which can hold 2,500 people. the chandelier weighs 4.5 tons (the heaviest in the world), has 750 lights, and takes several weeks to clean. google nyo na lang to see what i mean. we also visited topkapi palace. it consists of four courtyards and the entire property is twice the size of the vatican and half of monaco. again we were only allowed to take photos of the outside:

so there's no photo of the fourth largest diamond in the world, on exhibit here—86 carats, surrounded by 49 smaller diamonds! legend has it that a poor man found the rough diamond among a pile of rubbish, brought it to a jeweler who gave the man three silver spoons in exchange for it. once it was cut and polished, many claimed to be the original owner. there is a holy relic section, which has on display what they claim is moses' staff. no photo of this chamber, which was full of beautiful blue printed tiles! so i just bought a book about it and posed by the exterior wall:
tomorrow: river cruise along the bosphorus and where we shopped!

style weekend - dec 16

2011-12-16T10:29:00.000+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (dec 16) for your free copy of style weekend! on the cover: model valerie weigmann is all dressed up for the holidays! photographed by doc marlon pecjo, styled by teej nepomuceno, makeup by pia reyes, hair by duckie aguado. jumpsuit by joey samson, hat and cane by ac+632, gloves by joel escober for myth

almost back to regular programming

2011-12-12T16:13:00.002+08:00

the fash pack has been missing in action again! i had a reason--i was traveling. this time i was off to istanbul and athens via singapore airlines (more on that trip in a future post). i'm on my way back and right now i'm at changi airport. and i'm going to be here for six hours!!! waaahhh...

i think this is my longest layover ever. our group decided to check in at one of the many lounges in the airport (not the SQ lounge, unfortunately). i actually got to use the shower! nice to feel refreshed after flying for 12 hours. so what is there to do in changi besides eat and shop? i explored terminal 3 and found out.

you can sit comfortably in one of many soft armchairs:

check your mail and facebook:

watch TV (this area had around a dozen wide-screen TVs):

take a free singapore tour--there are two to choose from (but you have to sign up an hour before the scheduled two-hour tour):

watch a movie in an honest-to-goodness cinema:

and here's what's showing!

check into a mini-hotel:

take the train from terminal 3 to 2 and back:

visit the butterfly garden:

here's a close-up of one of the residents!

style weekend - dec 9

2011-12-09T11:04:00.000+08:00

let's drink: carb trim iced tea mix

2011-12-07T23:07:00.000+08:00

just like a lot of pinoys, i love iced tea. (i like mine with lots of ice and not too sweet.) and like a lot of pinays, i'm always on a diet. and the number-one enemy of that diet is carbs! specifically rice!! so when i got this flier in the mail, i thought, i gotta try this!!

coke-jollibee promo!

2011-12-06T23:02:00.001+08:00

Happy Holiday Gift: The Coca-Cola Christmas Tumblers

Once again, the whole nation is looking forward to the merriest day of the year. And who else could best lead us to it but the happiness tandem we all love: Coca-Cola & Jollibee!

To make the celebration even more special this year, our favorite beverage for the season once again joins hands with the country’s number one fastfood chain to bring us an early Christmas gift- the Coca-Cola Christmas Tumblers. Yes, we have delightful, new collectibles to be excited about! They’re the perfect accents to our dining tables as we share our Noche Buena with the family and the barkada. They could even be nice, little gifts to your most cherished monitos and monitas.

Made of high quality ceramic materials, the Coca-Cola Christmas Tumblers come in two unique designs that truly jive with the vibrant mood all around. Whether you’re an avid collector of iconic pieces from the Coca-Cola brand or you just love everything that spells fun, the limited edition tumblers are must-haves that will perk up your Christmas wish list.

How can you take home a Coca-Cola Christmas Tumbler? It’s easy! All you have to do is: Present a single receipt purchase of any three Go Large softdrink with any Jollibee Value Meal! This promo is also applicable with Go Float! Better head out to your favorite Jollibee stores now within Metro Manila and selected provincial areas, as the promo only runs from December 1-14, 2011!

Open langhap-sarap. Open Christmas happiness now with the limited edition Coca-Cola Christmas Tumblers! See posters and print ads for details.

the fash packs: singapore

2011-12-05T23:04:00.005+08:00

a week after korea, i was off to singapore. this time i was invited by nine west to view their spring/summer 2012 collection and to interview their creative director, fred allard. watch out for the full feature in a future issue of style weekend (next month!). but here's a sneak peek...

the interview was held at this fancy schmancy place called salt grill & sky bar, located at the top (56th floor!) of ion orchard. you can see the whole singapore from up here! and, er, malaysia..? the interiors:
the view: the new skyline of singapore. there's marina bay sands!
here's fred (a very american name for a frenchman), showing off nine west's first fragrance called love fury. watch for it! (check out the stopper, shaped like a stiletto heel):
later on in the afternoon, there was a little cocktail party to introduce the s/s 2012 collection to the local and regional press. let me tell you, nine west is really stepping up its game! lots of surprises coming up! color, prints, new materials, funky shapes, fun evening shoes, and a new product line: sneakers! here's a little teaser:
ok, there's tons more. i'll save them for the article, para may baon pa ako :-) a few local personalities were also invited to the event and came wearing nine west shoes. pretty sila, but sorry, don't know them! do you??
and here's me, trying one of the new bags! (hmmm i wonder if this was designed by rafé totengco? sayang, i didn't get to ask...):

shopping in seoul (picture heavy!)

2011-12-04T23:26:00.012+08:00

when we were in korea, we only hit the tip of the iceberg when it came to the shopping. we did most of our quickie shopping in the major shopping area called myeongdong. it's mostly closed off from traffic, but every so often, you have to make way for little trucks that pass through.
myeongdong has all the major international brands like H&M, zara, forever 21, uniqlo, etc. and a the face shop store in practically every corner you turn—just like your neighborhood sari-sari store! i think i spotted five! (and that's easy, with KHJ's giant face and cardboard cutout ;-)

this guy must've been trying to sell this lady some potion to make her grow taller:
random trucks probably illegally parked, selling oranges:
and here's a funny sign i spotted hee-hee:
an interesting wall in a store (hmmm magaya nga sa bahay...):
if you want to buy local handicrafts and souvenirs, head to insadong, which is a long street full of charming little shops:
love these colorful little pincushions! (i wanted to buy them all, but these are things that gather dust, unless you sew):
owls and piggies and turtles:
attractive displays for handmade soap and hair accessories:
scary masks:
parang naligaw yata sila:
at night, we headed to hongdae, where all the bagets hang out because there is a university in the area:
aside from the shopping, there are also tons of bars, karaoke places, and dance clubs. we actually went to one called Q-vo "real hiphop club." and wouldn't you know it, the night we went was free entrance for ladies, foreigners, and students! two out of three, score!
we actually went a little early, i.e., waaay before midnight, so after two drinks we were bored. so half of the group wanted to leave. half of us decided to stay because we requested for "moves like jagger" (in a hiphop club??) and we wanted to wait for the DJ to play it. so half left.. and after two minutes came back.. they were not allowed to leave before midnight!! can you imagine?? because we got in for free, the trade-off was that we had to stay till midnight! reverse curfew! well, it was a good thing they stayed because the DJ eventually played our request!

the fash packs: seoul, korea

2011-12-03T23:40:00.009+08:00

before i go off on another trip, i want to write about one of my trips last month: to seoul, korea. when i was in grade school, my best friend was korean. her father was a diplomat, so after the philippines, she went on to live in other countries in the region like pakistan and new zealand. we kept in touch through snail mail (wala pang email non, noh) till she got married and settled in singapore. now why it never occurred to me to travel to korea, i don't know!! so it was a pleasant surprise to get an invitation from the face shop to fly to seoul, korea! wheee... but this was for work ha. it was to interview their brand ambassador kim hyun joong! wheee... this was during the first week of november and we were lucky because the temperatures were really really pleasant. light-coat/jacket weather. no need for thick coats, knee-high boots, or heavy mufflers. tip! check wunderground.com before you pack for your trip. they have forecasts for up to five days, and even by the hour, so you'll know if you should keep the fabric shoes at home, or if it's ok to wear sandals, or even if you should bring an umbrella. below, my looks for the trip!

day 1: we left manila at 1am (!), arrived in seoul some four hours later, and hit the ground running. after breakfast, massage, lunch, then check-in, it was a quick freshen-up before our interview with KHJ! we didn't even have time to shower! ugh. it's ok he didn't notice/smell. here i am, having my 10-minute one-on-one (there were six of us, so each of us was timed!). kilig ba?
group photo op! (yes, that's really him standing beside me! no, that's not a cardboard cutout!)
day 2 was tour time. dontcha love how the tree cooperated and matched my outfit??
more trees...
we just really loved those trees! walang fall kasi sa pilipinas noh?? (pero mainit na, so remove the coat...)
by day 3, it was last-minute shopping before it was time to leave for the airport. ang bilis! super bitin. we didn't even get to visit the other shopping areas. we made one last stop at the face shop in insadong. here i am with KHJ again!
tomorrow: where we shopped!

style weekend - dec 2

2011-12-02T08:00:00.002+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (dec 2) for your free copy of style weekend! on the cover: our first december issue is beginning to look a lot like christmas! mrs. nena tantoco shares how she prepares her home for the holidays.

also in this issue: what to pack for your winter getaway, how toms shoes gives back, clip-and-save bazaar sked, beauty products to add sparkle and shine, gadget gift guide, patti grandidge's mon-sun style, profiles on blake and tahiti 80, ho chi minh travel guide, and more!

pedro fights AIDS

2011-12-01T13:00:00.004+08:00

PEDRO FIGHTS AIDS CAMPAIGN 2011

Ever since the first case was discovered in 1981, AIDS has taken a devastating toll worldwide. A total of 33.2 million people who are HIV-positive are living with this fatal disease with new cases discovered each year. World AIDS Day on December 1 has become one of the most meaningful days of observance since 1988. It is also a key opportunity for the various voices in the world to raise awareness of the dangers of this disease and how it affects innocent lives.

Pedro is pleased to collaborate with Youth AIDS Filipinas Alliance (YAFA), with the launch of the PEDRO FIGHTS AIDS campaign. This movement aims to support the advocacy programs of YAFA. YAFA has been educating the public about HIV & AIDS, its modes of transmission and prevention. They are actively promoting HIV testing. They are also empowering the youth, both HIV positive and negative, to be proactive on the issue of HIV and AIDS in the Philippines.

To commemorate this meaningful campaign, Pedro is launching a pair of specially designed loafers for the men and ballet flats for the ladies. The PEDRO FIGHTS AIDS notebook (available in red and white) will be added to this exclusive collection to further stress the importance of safe sex.

The loafers will be retailing for P3,595, ballet flats for P2,595, and the notebook will be sold at P450 each in-store. 25% of the sales will be donated to YAFA.

The exclusive PEDRO FIGHTS AIDS collection will be available at all Pedro stores nationwide starting December 1, 2011.

Pedro Fights Aids loafers (P3,595); Pedro Women Fights Aids ballet flats (P2,595):
Pedro Fights Aids notebook (P450):

sale! sale! sale!

2011-11-30T23:53:00.003+08:00

click back for updates!

this just in!!!

2011-11-29T16:28:00.004+08:00

Marni to Design a Spring Collection Full of Signature Print and Pattern for H&M

STOCKHOLM, Nov 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Regulatory News:

H&M (sto:HMB) is proud to announce a spring designer collaboration with the Italian brand Marni. Famed for its original prints and inventive spirit, Marni is one of fashion's most-loved labels, and its Founder and Creative Director Consuelo Castiglioni has created for H&M a spring collection for both women and men which capture the essence of Marni. Available from March 8, 2012 in around 260 stores worldwide and online, the collection features both clothing and accessories all at H&M's prices, meaning everyone will have the chance to enter Marni's world.

"I wanted to create a true Marni wardrobe by revisiting all our favorite pieces in signature fabrics and prints. As always, I love juxtaposing prints and colours, mixing modern tribal with Bauhaus graphic adding sporty utilitarian elements". Consuelo Castiglioni, Founder and Creative Director.

"We all love the collection here at H&M and we believe that our customers will do the same. Marni has such a modern touch with everything they do, mixing prints and accessories in a playful but chic way. It's fantastic to see how Consuelo Castiglioni coordinates her designs, matching new combinations of print and colour, with such incredible craftsmanship behind every piece. The collection will arrive in stores at just the perfect time, as a lovely statement for spring". Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor H&M.

Marni is a label that sticks to its own path, setting its own trends for print, cut and silhouette that are always playful and elegant. Marni has remained a family owned-business as it has grown to become an international luxury brand with stores around the world.

Marni's collection for H&M has all the freedom and experimentation for which the label is renowned, with all-over prints in strong colours all intended to be worn together in layers that both match and clash. For women, the colours are vivid and the prints are bold, be they African inspired or simpler colour blocks. The silhouettes are all Marni staples, with full pleated skirts, dresses, cropped trousers and jacquard knit, and fabrics range from silk to crisp cotton poplin. To finish the complete look the collection also includes jewellery, shoes, bags and scarves.

For men, the colours and fabrics are softened for a relaxed take on menswear staples that is truly Marni. The use of print is subtle, often as a lining or as a contrast detail for shirts, the silhouette a modern and relaxed take on masculine classics. The Marni collection is the latest designer collaboration for H&M, which has previously collaborated with brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garcons, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, and most recently Versace.

watch this video!!!

be still, my beating heart!!! as you can tell, i am very very VERY excited. marni lang naman ang hinihintay ko tuwing milan fashion week. like i always say, if i could afford it, i would wear marni every day. not prada, not vuitton, not even couture!!! marni!!!

date night at manila hotel

2011-11-28T23:18:00.007+08:00

tonight was a rare night without any events to attend. so after office hours, what's a girl to do?? go on a date with the hubby! with all our separate activities during the day—and even at night!—we rarely get to spend some QT alone. without the computers ha. iPhone lang haha... and since my office is in the intramuros area, and i happened to have a 50% off voucher for mabuhay palace at manila hotel, we decided to go chinese.
if you love chinese food and have never eaten here, then you should. it's one of the best in town. and check out the decor. bongga! hindi sila nag-tipid! and i must commend them on the service—non-obtrusive, but when you call the waitstaff, they drop what they're doing and head to your table. anyhoo, chinese food is best eaten in a big group, but since there was only two of us, we had to limit our order. first, hot & sour soup, my favorite. yum!
we're trying to avoid meat, so it was prawns in orange juice. (actually everything looks kinda orangey...) sweet-ish and sour-ish:
and how can you not eat rice with this dish?? so kahit bawal, monday was made cheat day with seafood fried rice. omgeeee...
haaay i was so busog after!! we decided to have a look-see around the hotel. they've renovated a lot of areas, like their coffee shop café ilang-ilang, which you won't even recognize from the way it was before! super-sosi buffet stations, just like the other five-star hotels. and they've upgraded the rest rooms; now they're bright and modern. but i also like the way they've maintained the grand old-world feel. i love the signature humongous chandeliers in the lobby. i hope they keep these!
and check out the tap room! they've kept the dark-wood panels and moody lighting, but upgraded the upholstery. you don't see lounges like this in manila anymore, where there's a lone singer on the small stage, na hindi concert levels ang sound system, so you can still have a conversation. and smoke! (just sayin'...) and there's a real bar too. tonight it was a dude named joniver performing, who played mostly john mayer covers:
so if this is your kinda thang—quiet, laid-back, relaxed, and not see-and-be-seen—or you're just looking for a change of scene, check it out some time :-)

silent charity auction at marriott

2011-11-27T23:28:00.007+08:00

early this month, i received a letter from marriott hotel manila inviting me to be one of the "fashion icons" to donate an item from my personal collection to be included in a silent charity auction, the proceeds of which will go to habitat for humanity. my first reaction was, meeee? a fashion icon?? hahaha... then my second reaction was, of course! i will be happy to participate! take note, other "fashion icons" who were invited to paticipate included tessa valdes, ruffa gutierrez, divine lee, phoemela baranda, daphne oseña paez, alyanna martinez, and others. and because i'm a notorious procrastinator, it wasn't until a few days before the event that i found something among my stash of stuff! parang nakakahiya to give something used, as if anyone will want to buy something pre-owned (and pre-loved ;-) by me, but i managed to find two designer leather wallets that i've had for years and never used! they were both still in excellent condition and untouched by molds, thank god. or thank those silica gels!

at the event last nov 24, the small items were hung on several christmas trees. here's my first item, a turquoise zip-up leather wallet by comme des garçons: starting bid for this was pretty low, only P3,000. and i couldn't believe the final bid: P12,500! huwaw! it was won by phoemela baranda who was there that night to host the program (which included the tree-lighting ceremony).

here's my second item, a black zip-up leather wallet by yohji yamamoto: starting bid for this was slightly higher: P4,000. final bid: P14,000! and it was won by the GM of the marriott! woo-hoo! thank you to the kind and generous souls who bidded for my wallets, kasi nakakahiya kung walang bumili hahaha... may your wallets always be full! good karma all around!

here are some of the items donated by the other "fashion icons":

bongga gown and matching headgear from tessa valdes:
gown with plunging neckline from ruffa gutierrez:
strapless mini-dress from divine lee:
limited-edition adidas jacket from phoemela baranda:
prada high-heel sandals from alyanna martinez:
mahogany chair from daphne oseña paez:
UPDATE: i just found out that the auction is ongoing till dec 25! check it out, this is your chance to give back :-)

promo! promo! promo!

2011-11-26T23:57:00.004+08:00

Tory Burch is pleased to offer a special gift for its customers at the newly opened Tory Burch, Rustan’s Makati boutique. For every P25,000 spent on regular-price items, customers will receive a limited-edition gift—a tote bag in a fun Tory Burch cheetah print. The offer is valid from November 17 to December 4, 2011.

tory burch is also located at greenbelt 5

style weekend - nov 25

2011-11-25T07:27:00.002+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (nov 25) for your free copy of style weekend for men (out every last friday of the month)! on the cover: the face shop celebrity endorser and k-pop phenomenon, kim hyun joong! don't hate me because i got to interview him one-on-one in seoul, korea!

also in this issue: driving the yet-to-be-released BMW M5 at ascari race resort in spain; fragrances, skin care, and business accessories for men; red and green clothes & stuff; ancestral homes converted in restos; LV's architect & interiors book; and red-hot anne curtis in the centerfold!

tribute to pitoy moreno

2011-11-22T23:33:00.011+08:00

i say this is a long time coming. it's wonderful to do a tribute to a designer who has done so much for philippine fashion while he's still alive! and he's been named a national artist, for chrissake! i don't know how old he is, but he must be almost 90! ok, maybe mid-80s. at the area outside the ballroom, they displayed some of his creations, categorized into filipiniana, bridal, and formal gowns. i tried to include the little sign describing each gown and who wore it:

ternos:

bridal gowns:
i wish they would organize an exhibit, so that these gowns can be viewed by design students and young fashion designers. it's a must. they can observe the line, the technique, the craftsmanship, and the history behind each piece. here he is! still a rock star at his age!
i don't have good pictures from the show because i was seated waaay back—hello, row H, we meet again... of course, it was a "baul" collection, with pieces from the past: filipiniana, the brides, the artistas, the beauty queens, of course, and the ones he took with him on shows all over the world.
when the show was over and pitoy came out to take his bow, he managed to walk all the way to the end of the catwalk—by himself! it made the audience a little nervous tee-hee...
congratulations, pitoy, and to abs-cbn publishing and metro society, who organized the event! here i am with metro society editor in chief, raul manzano!

magis at dimensione

2011-11-21T23:32:00.004+08:00

today i found myself wandering down bonifacio high street. and whenever i'm there, i pop into dimensione. and my eye instantly gravitated toward this bright orange chair! dontcha love it??
and guess what? it's made of plastic. and it comes in black too (just seen on the left). so you can put this out in the garden or by the pool for your sosi barbecue parties. but this is not cheap plastic ha—this armchair costs P65,950. it's by italian design and furniture company magis. so if you're looking for something to give the person who has everything for christmas, this might be it. the stuff i saw was fun, colorful, and unique. look at these stools that look like giant spools—they roll from side to side! price: P28,950.
here's one with cushioning. i wanted to try it out, but it was on a ledge. price: P75,950.
magis also has a line meant for kids called me too. but i want this coat rack for myself! price: P36,950.
this little blue chair is not as expensive—P15,950. you can also lay it down on its front side and it becomes a bench.
more cute stuff from me too!

philippine tatler 10th anniversary ball

2011-11-20T23:44:00.007+08:00

bihira lang naman ako ma-imbita sa tatler ball. so when i am invited, i make the effort to get all spruced and go. out of the 10 balls they've held every year, this is my third time to be invited. feeling back in the A list! hehe :-D here's the hubby and me (in a rhett eala gown and mini-cape) in front of the giant letter T made of fresh flowers:
several tatler-ball veterans have told me that the cocktails is the best time to go. aside from the free-flowing moët champagne, that's when you can schmooze and see everyone's gowns! i was able to take a few pix, but there was so much more that i missed! as the evening wore on, the mezzanine of makati shangri-la got crowded and it was hard to see who was there. spot anyone you know??

dinner time! on tonight's menu: aged iberico ham, soufflé de manchego, fricasse of artichoke and sherry vinaigrette:
white seabass suquet barcelona styled in cocotte:
blood orange serbet with marmalade de naranja:
slow-roasted lomo de cordero, sautéed wild mushroom and saffron rice:
crème catalan, churro con chocolate and brandied cherry ice cream:
and of course this event is organized every year all in the name of charity. this year's beneficiary was habitat for humanity. there were several lots up for auction:

auction lot 1: boxing gloves signed by manny pacquiao. starting bid: P50k. winning bid: P210k.

auction lot 2: a parisian experience, which included 4d/3n stay for two with breakfast at shangri-la paris, a tour of hermès museum, gift from hermès, treatment and products from annick goutal paris. starting bid: P175k. winning bid: P380k.

auction lot 3: a tuscan adventure, which included 3d/2n stay for two with breakfast at fonte de medici, tour and tasting at tignanello estate, lunch for two at one-michelin-star osteria de passignano restaurant, and two business-class tickets to rome on singapore airlines. starting bid: P380k. winning bid: P650k.

auction lot 4: jaeger-lecoultre no.10 limited-edition watch. starting bid: P500k. winning bid: P1 million!

congratulations to philippine tatler editor in chief anton san diego and publisher irene martel francisco for another successful event! cheers!

natori boutique opens in rustan's

2011-11-19T09:19:00.006+08:00

i started writing about this last wednesday, but then i got sidetracked by those pesky deadlines, and ended up with... nothing. anyhoo, next time you're in rustan's makati, check out the newly opened natori shop-in-shop (it took over half of the liz claiborne space). josie natori herself was there at a press lunch held last wednesday at east, which is just a few steps away from the boutique on the second-floor ladies' section called the gallerie. here is the always-chic and super-slim ms. natori telling us all about it:
this is one of those women i look up to. i love stories like hers—how a bunch of embroidered blouses made in the philippines catapulted her into one of the most important names in the international fashion scene! the boutique will start out selling the lingerie, loungewear, and sleepwear that she is famous for.
here's josie showing off a gray cowl-neck top that looks so comfy yet luxurious—you can dress this up with accessories and take it out at night, or wear it with leggings and lie on the couch all day. your choice!
a rack of caftans that had me fantasizing i was in my beautifully designed home entertaining 50 of my closest friends with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres—in the 60s. hehe...
the boutique will be slowly introducing the other product lines into the mix. eventually, they'll be carrying bath and bedding, eyewear, fragrance, ready-to-wear, and, yes, even the home collection! and guess what—according to her, prices will actually be 10% cheaper than in new york! congratulations, ms natori! here she is with ms. nedy tantoco, president of rustan's commercial corporation.

style weekend - nov 4

2011-11-18T08:48:00.000+08:00

pls buy manila bulletin today (nov 18) for your free copy of style weekend! on the cover: michael and kathy huang are home for the holidays! photographed by kai huang, styled by donna cuna-pita, makeup by byron velasquez, hair by eddiemar caniltes.

also in this issue: sarah meier-albano's mon-sun style, gift guide features things for the home, interview with nicholas spraks, what to do in bacolod city, a lust-worthy handmade wooden chair, and more!

the sulô riviera

2011-11-15T15:44:00.003+08:00

do you have any memories of the sulo hotel in quezon city? back in the day, before the arrival of five-star chain hotels, sulo, along with manila hotel, silahis, and philippine village, were THE hotels to see and be seen. sulo has been around since 1967 and was recently acquired by the cuevas family. it is now called the sulo riviera. conservationists will be happy to note that the new owners kept the facade and the shell, and just fixed up the interiors. this is the lobby, as seen from the inside:
looks promising noh? as we toured the hotel's outlets and rooms, you could see the consistency in look, feel, theme, and design aesthetic of the interiors all throughout. this is divino lounge just off the lobby:
the color palette is basically black and white, but punched up with silver, crystals, reflective surfaces, and lots of texture. with the number of rooms (70 rooms and four suites), sulo can be considered a boutique hotel. this is the doña anita suite, which has a beige palette, and its own outdoor veranda and garden:
the ambassador suite has a green palette and an extra bedroom for two:
even the regular rooms are tastefully done with super chic dark-wood headboards, textured wallpaper, and pendant lamps:
apparently, sulo used to be the "home" of mutya ng pilipinas (meron pa ba non??). their office was there, that's where the candidates stayed, and they held the pageant by the poolside:
too bad it was raining today, so we couldn't get a better shot of the pool area. the function rooms and conference rooms are all in the basement and are named after artists, like picasso, miro, botero, and bencab:
and check out the ladies room! para akong nasa club!
it's nice to know that quezon city has its own super-chic destination, and not everything stylish and world-class can only be found in makati. maybe it will become the reverse, and makati people will now travel all the way to QC to hang out, instead of the other way around.

the sulo riviera, matalino road (off east avenue), diliman, quezon city, tel 924-5051, www.sulorivierahotel.com

beauty blog: kérastase fusio-dose

2011-11-14T17:50:00.003+08:00

this is one of those times i enjoy being a guinea pig: before kérastase introduces a new product or treatment to its partner salons, we editors and beauty writers get to try them out first. right now, i'm at the l'oréal academie, where they train their staff and salon hairstylists and colorists, and where people can actually sign up to learn all the latest techniques when it comes to hair.

today's new product is called fusio-dose, a highly concentrated, made-to-measure treatment that is tailor made to your needs. it's a two-part treatment that involves a concentrate for your primary need, then a booster for your secondary need. "the hairdresser becomes the scientist who creates a customised formula for each client." odiba?

we had to sit in front of a laptop and answer a series of questions on our hair type, concerns, and problems.

since my hair is dry, dry, and dry, this is what the lady in the video recommended--i need nourishment + nourishment! (color-coded orange + orange)

laura charlton--yes, she's the daughter of david of david's salon--explained how it all works, using her own bleached hair as an example of "damaged" hair that benefits from this treatment (she does it every three days!). she's so cute, she was speaking in taglish--pero take note british accent ang english niya!

ok, shampoo time!

after, my hairstylist mixed the two parts, attached a spray nozzle, then sprayed it all over my hair.

then it was massaged in. after 20 minutes, rinse off, then blow-dry.

voila! i wish I could wake up with hair like this every day!

price for a 30-minute kérastase fusio-dose starts at P1,500, depending on hair length and dosage. for a complete list of salons that offer it, go to fusiodose.societedekerastase.com

bench body on america's next top model

2011-11-13T21:33:00.004+08:00

if you're on twitter, then you know this news has been trending for the past few days! and if you're on facebook, you must've seen all the videos of the shoot challenge posted all over friends' walls. you can download the episode because it has shown in the US, or wait till ETC's broadcast tomorrow at 8pm! here's a writeup, which appeared in phil star last wednesday, about how it all went down.

Another First For Bench:' America's Next Top Model' features Bench Body!
(The Philippine Star) Updated November 09, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - All the stars aligned for us. Everything came together like destiny.” This was the heartfelt explanation of Bench stylist Noel Manapat as he retold the fascinating story of how Bench, the number one fashion brand in the Philippines, came to be featured on the immensely popular Hollywood TV production America’s Next Top Model cycle 17, in a once-in-a-lifetime shoot in Greece.

It began with a single orchestrator, a man with a classic success story named Michael Carandang. Born in the Philippines in 1979, he and his family migrated from Batangas to Indiana, USA, when he was 13 years old. Through hard work and sheer determination, Michael climbed a fast ladder to success as he went from production assistant for the Jerry Springer Show to producer of The Tyra Banks Show. In 2009, he and The Tyra Banks Show team won an Emmy award for Outstanding Talk Show, a symbolic fulfillment of both the American Dream and the Filipino Dream combined. All this landed him his present position as producer for Tyra’s current hit show America’s Next Top Model (ANTM).

Fast forward to mid-2011. Bench proprietor Ben Chan receives word that Michael Carandang was eager to feature Bench Body underwear on ANTM! Says Ben, “The participation of Bench in this upcoming episode of America’s Next Top Model is definitely one of the most memorable milestones in the 25-year history of our brand. ANTM has always captured the essence of the fashion world: energy, youthfulness, vitality, creativity, beauty, global appeal, and x-factor, which are all the things the Bench brand stands for, too. We are so honored to be part of the show, and we certainly hope it won’t be the last time.”

Carandang says, “I’m so proud to be part of having Bench Body as the first Filipino retail company to be featured on ANTM. Bench Body is an easy sell because it’s a great brand. I love and use Bench products — especially underwear and hair products. I have always considered Bench to be a global brand.”

The back story here involves another Filipino design talent, Dubai-based Michael Cinco, whose work was featured in the past season cycle 16. Michael Carandang was then eager to use a Filipino couturier, and took a chance on Cinco. The risk paid off — Tyra, the rest of the judges and the crew were all deeply impressed with Cinco’s incredible designs, which became the springboard for Carandang to bring in more Filipino talent and creativity. This is where Bench came into the picture.

Explains Carandang: “I have to thank Michael Cinco, who is such a good and humble person and the easiest person to work with, for introducing me to Ben Chan and Miguel Pastor (Bench architect). It was late night at work when I thought of reaching out to Bench Body for an upcoming photo shoot. I remembered Michael being part of the “Bench Uncut” underwear show so I asked him for their contact info.”
Things fell into place quickly. The shoot would be in Greece, and every aspect of the project would have to be done in utmost secrecy. Ben excitedly and hurriedly put together a team to fly to Greece and make it all happen. Celebrity TV host, model and longtime Bench underwear endorser Georgina Wilson was tapped to be the brand’s grand ambassador, and Noel Manapat was called in as fashion director. They packed hundreds of Bench underwear samples to give the show’s crew a near-infinite variety of merchandise to choose from.

“It was like this top secret operation,” remembers Georgina. “They called me up and when I got to the airport I didn’t even know where we were going! I couldn’t even tell my family or my boyfriend. So when I found out that it was America’s Next Top Model and it was going to be in Greece, I was just so happy and excited. And very, very proud that a Filipino brand had gone that far!”

Turns out Georgina has been an avid fan of the show since its inception, as well as an admirer of Tyra Banks. She says, “Tyra is super stunning in person, and very sharp and very smart, but also down-to-earth. Everything she says or does is well thought of.”

For the episode, the five semi-finalists were to model in their selected Bench Body underwear in extremely challenging positions while on an outdoor location shoot in Crete, Greece.

Regarding the episode, Georgina says, “All I can say is that production was very, very difficult. Taping the show was tough!”

“The timing was perfect. It was just the right place, right time, right people,” recounts Noel Manapat. “The key here is that Michael Carandang, though he grew up in the US, is still very close to his Filipino roots. He still regularly comes back to the country to stay in touch with where he came from. His love for his country is innate, and he speaks Tagalog so well. And so I think it has always been his mission to try to push Filipino talent in whatever way he can.”
Georgina adds, “The episode will truly showcase the Philippines as this creative, fashionable place where you can find really amazing talent.”

Michael Carandang agrees. “Our edge is our hospitality and our enthusiasm. We’re hard workers and we’re proud to be Pinoys!”

“It was such a validation,” Noel concludes. “To see a Filipino brand worn by these beautiful women for an international fashion reality program only proves that we truly live in a borderless world.”

And not to forget — what better place than Greece, which has celebrated the human form in its arts for thousands of years, to be the setting for this wild and merry mixed Greek salad of beautiful bodies, beautiful undergarments, and beautiful intentions, all tossed together for a beautiful rendezvous with destiny.

The America’s Next Top Model’s episode will air today on the CW Network in the USA and on Monday, Nov. 14 on the ETC Channel.
ANTM airs in the Philippines on the ETC Channel on Mondays, 8-9 p.m., with replays on Thursdays at 9-10 p.m., Fridays at 3-4 p.m., and Sundays at 7-7:45 p.m.

style weekend - nov 11

2011-11-11T07:34:00.001+08:00

seoul man

2011-11-07T22:16:00.005+08:00

sorry for the lack of posts, but i was out of the country for work. i was in seoul, korea. and oooohhh a lot of girls are going to hate meee... because i went there to interview—oops! i'll keep you in suspense for now because i don't want to pre-empt my story. and although the handlers of the celeb (clue!) were very strict, i managed to take a quick snapshot of him (clue!) as he walked by! sorry, he was too fast for me! i didn't even get to focus! more to come! (but i'm sure you have a pretty good guess...)

style weekend - nov 4

2011-11-04T13:03:00.000+08:00

berenguer-topacio sale

2011-11-01T19:38:00.009+08:00

if you're in the market for new furniture, check out the sale of berenguer-topacio. in celebration of their 50th anniversary, they're holding a sale till november 20 of sample pieces of chairs and tables, as well as sculptures. up to 50% off! when we came in, it started to drizzle and i thought, oh no they have to move all the furniture in!
but nooo these are all-weather chairs, tables, and chaise lounges made of some material i can't recall the name of (basta hindi plastic). perfect for your summer home by the beach odiba?
berenguer-topacio has been making furniture for forever. i know because i'm related to them hehe... their recent projects include shangri-la boracay, maxim's at resorts world, and misibis bay. but that doesn't make them out of reach (as in, mahal at di ma-abot). if you are looking to have your place decorated, they can do a free interior-design consultation for you! they can give estimates for furniture, accessories, etc. and hopefully you order some furniture from them :-)
for more information, visit their website www.berenguer-topacio.com or email them at btcollections@berenguer-topacio.com. check out the sale at their showroom at 4305 jose abad santos st, bayview village (which is off roxas boulevard, between baclaran and MIA road), tel 852-1053 or 853-1985

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T23:56:00.000+08:00

oh my i almost let the day go by without greeting everyone a happy halloween! boo. pumpkin na mainit ang ulo.

PFW: slim's at 50

2011-10-30T23:53:00.014+08:00

uh-oh. it's almost midnight and i decided to scroll through facebook before i went to bed and saw all the photos of men on the runway. it was the closing show of philippine fashion week. uh-oh because i actually forgot all about it. sigh... can't blame me. while most working stiffs were going off on their long-weekend holiday (long weekend? what long weekend??), i was in the office closing next friday's issue. so when sunday rolls around, all i want to do is lounge around the house in my jammies doing nothing! and i didn't even get to do that today!! family obligations beckoned!!! so don't blame me if philippine fashion week was the last thing (or actually not at all) on my mind. but i'm so glad i got to catch the last show last night! (late as in it started at 10pm!) it was the slim's at 50 show—slim being the late designer salvacion lim higgins, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the design school she started called slim's. ten designers sent around 6-8 models down the catwalk in their creations inspired by slim's—or maybe they had all graduated from slim's? it wasn't that clear to me. there was cesar gaupo:
ezra santos (the back of every outfit had a surprise):
james reyes:
the late joe salazar:
joey samson:
martin bautista:
michael cinco:
two designers i had never heard of before—erika adona:
and riza bulawan:
but clearly, the standout collection that night, the one that got the most reaction from the audience, was chito vijandre. ohmygod, the collection was gasp-inducing, the impact of the styling was jaw-dropping, and each time a model would walk down, all i heard was ohmygod... and i was one of them! i can't recall the last time i was this excited about a collection:
most people know chito vijandre as one-half of firma in greenbelt 3 (the other half being ricky toledo). but what most people don't know—or at least the "younger generation" (meaning i'm from the older one??)—is that chito used to be a fashion designer. he must have stopped designing in the 80s because i can't recall seeing any show of his when i joined mega magazine back in 1993. the pieces he showed were totally unexpected: the rich brocades, the basically slim silhouette punctuated with protrusions, the combination of colors, prints, and textures, and the styling! oh, how i wish i could dress this way every day!!
i certainly hope this is not the last we see of chito's work as a designer. what he showed last night was refreshing, fun, original, and i would say even personal. it looked like he produced a collection that he liked and from the heart and soul—spring/summer trends be damned! (and yet he was very on-trend.) could this be THE comeback?? chito, please say it is so!

ablaza ablaze!

2011-10-29T23:17:00.010+08:00

there are so many talented and creative people in this country! and many of them are so underrated and so under-the-radar! take, for example, jun jun ablaza. i first met him in the early noughties when i had a shoot at his parents' lavishly decorated home—all courtesy of jun jun, of course. he's a designer of everything—interiors, events, jewelry, accessories. he showed his fabulous, over-the-top accessories at philippine fashion week last may. and this month, he had his own artwear exhibit called "ablaza ablaze" at the national museum's ablaza hall (i wonder if they're related?). when i got there, i didn't know where to look first! the room was filled with fabulosity! the furs, the feathers, the horns, the skins, the beads, the textures, the materials—wow!! minimalists need not apply!
below, some close-ups of the "artwear" (which were all for sale, by the way. but i didn't get to ask how much. iris apfel would buy the whole collection!). love the statement (as in STATEMENT) neckpieces!!
oops! here's a photo of jun jun grabbed from his facebook album:
unfortunately, the exhibit was up for only three days. if you are interested in any of the pieces, you may contact jun jun ablaza at (+63917) 270-5516