Manila Kid

Soleil Bazaar 2012

2012-02-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

"Beach parties, bright bikinis, chiseled abs, fashion pomps, outdoor sports, sun tans & Henna tattoos. Get ready for the hottest summer bazaar yet!

Soleil was first held on February 2010 at the Rockwell Tent with over 2000 shoppers. With a well established reputation beyond DLSU, the Business Management Society aims to continue the legacy.

This coming February 25 to 26, 10am to 9pm, Soleil returns once again at the SM Megatrade Hall 2. Be a part of this momentuous event!

Interested to be a tenant? Please contact. Monique Villanueva at 09175195011 or Mary Anne Lu at 09228484480. One call is what it takes - we take care of the rest!

Guys, be sure to check out Soleil this coming February 25-26 at the Megatrade Hall 2 at SM Megamall. It's gonna be an awesome shopping experience for sure! Definitely lots of stuff for this coming summer. See you there!

Manila Adventures: Binondo Boy

2012-02-15T06:11:00.000-08:00

The brother asked me to get something from the office in Binondo so I went there. Since I don't have classes and I was extremely bored at home, I thought of having one of those "photowalks" that they call. Hell, I'm no photographer, that's for sure. But I like taking photos, definitely.

When I got to Binondo, I realized some things. One is ang daming Chinese! GOSH. I'm so sorry for being dumb but yeah, so much Chinese people. So that's why it's called China Town. HAHA Silly me. And anothe r thing that struck me is the amount of banks they have there. There are soooo many banks! Truly a business district, I see. And finally, there seems to be an amazing amount of power lines and cables suspended everywhere. AS IN EVERYWHERE. Kinda scares me. But it makes for good photographs. HAHA.

What I wore:

Striped shirt from Topman.

Bleached denim polo, found it in the closet. I don't even know how it got there. LOL

Acid wash jeans, thrifted! And for Php 50, san ka pa? HAHA

Dad's old Bally shoes

Accessories from Divisoria

I also got these stuff from Eng Bee Tin coz my mom told me they're good. I got the Tikoy Roll Peanut flavor, Ube and Pastillas hopia and Ube Mochi! The ube mochi is seriously to die for! As for the ube and pastillas hopia, it's really good. Pero mauumay ka agad. HAHA It's masarap in ample amounts. But don't eat too much of it though. As for the Tikoy Roll, it's good. Too much filling for my taste. But yeah, it's good.

Will definitely go back to Binondo soon! Lots more tikoys to try! HAHA

The Manila Adventures: Head Over Wheels

2012-02-05T06:39:00.000-08:00

Outfit details:

Blazer from the mother

V-neck from Zara.

Shorts from Alan Perry (yep, got it for Php 150 in Divi! Score!)

Shoes from Sperry

Bag from Wade

Sunglasses from Pretty and Perfect Closet

So today, I went to SM Centerpoint for a completely shallow reason: to buy some whitehead removers for my nose. HAHAHAHA Seriously, I did. But I really had nothing to do all day and thank God Ryan met up with me even if I had to wait for a long time. Brought the camera for no reason and I'm quite thankful that I did.

And can I just say? GOOD LORD! The traffic in Sta. Mesa right now is unbelievable! Thanks to the shooting of The Bourne Legacy, some roads are blocked and lots of people are snooting around the set. Gosh, so annoying. But it' good that our country's getting some attention, I guess. Oh well, more power to our tourism!

I'm thinking if I should get a Lookbook account. I dunno, I was just thinking. Should I? Pang-Lookbook na ba ang photos? Chos.

Uniform Diaries: India Down Under

2012-02-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

Sunglasses from Pretty & Perfect Closet.

Old blazer from mom's closet. Yes, it's my momma's.

Harems from H&M.

Bag from Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Watch from Aldo.

Accessories from Divi and Quiapo.

February 2, 2012. This is what I wore to school today. Instead of wearing the usually boots and skinnies, I opted for something flowing and Indian for a change. Definitely more comfortable. And airy! Gosh, feeling ko naka-skirt ako sa sobrang luwag! Not that I'd wear skirts though. But yeah, it's very liberating. Mala-Indian MC Hammer lang ang peg.HAHAHA.

Anyways, I had only one class so I chose the small Marc by Marc Jacobs bag aka my "stash-everything-in" bag. It's roomy and uncomplicated! Gosh, unlike some of my other bags. Parang mag gubat sa loob! Also, I wore the velvet brogues with the patent leather toe caps. Very Lanvin! But it's a bit old so it somehow lost its shine along the way.

The blazer here is made of light wool. Not the heavy ass types they use in regular blazers. It's a bit warm but hey, tiis ganda lang! It was quite sunny outside so I had to wear sunglasses. Even indoors. CHOS! Bawas pakita din ng eyebags thanks to sleepless nights.

As for the accessories, same. Divisoria and Quiapo. The watch is from Aldo and I'm totally in love with it.

In other news, I'm officially running for President for the CFAD Student Council next year. I have lots of ideas already and maybe one of them is to lighten up our college's rule on our uniforms. Maybe, just maybe, we'll welcome skinny jeans and sneakers next semester! Of course, that is, if my collegemates will vote me. :)

Uniform Diaries

2012-01-31T06:35:00.000-08:00

Since I study in UST, a uniform is required. Gosh. The uniform. It has perks and disadvantages. I, for one, feel restrained when I have uniform. It makes me feel as if I'm in a prison or something. Basta! But the good thing about uniforms is that I don't have to think of what to wear everyday. But as I got older, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I can break a few rules and get away with it. Well, I did. HAHA. I started wearing more things other than my uniform. It became a challenge! Instead of thinking "What to wear?", I started thinking "What to wear with it?". And with that, I shall be documenting my attempts to make the uniform more than just a uniform. Starting off with what I wore yesterday, January 30, 2011.

Accessories (left to right):
Studded leather wrap around bracelet from GH.
Braided blue bracelet from my friend.
Stud bracelet from Divi. (40 pesos for pieces baby!)
Gold leather belt from Quiapo.

Seriously, if you look good enough, you'll see awesome accessories at rock bottom prices in Quiapo in Divisoria. As in seriously!

This bag came to me as a surprise. I was waiting for my sister near SM when I chanced upon it in a thrift store. It was originally priced at 800 pesos. Haggled it down to 300. And what's funny was I kept looking for this kind of bag EVERYWHERE. Seriously. Ever since I saw bags like these in Tumblr, I just had to had one!

My overused Doc Martens.

Outfit details:

Uniform: Obviously, UST CFAD
Blazer: Two Percent Homme
Watch: Aldo
Jeans: Giordano Concepts

I'll be having more of these uniform diaries because I feel the need to document what I wear on a daily basis to avoid wearing it again. HAHAHA But seriously. And feeling ko, it will challenge me to create other unique looks with my uniform.

Credits to Stef Gualberto and Jodie Hernandez for taking my photos!

Velada Thomasina: A Hundred Years Back in Time

2012-01-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

We had the Velada Thomasina yesterday and the experience was surreal and mind-blowing. Everyone was decked out in clothes from the 1900's and there were "kalesas" and "karwahes" all over. Even the priests were decked out in their traditional garb. It was amazing to see and feel how it is over a hundred years ago. The guards were even greeting in Spanish and I could have sworn I heard a group of students conversing in Spanish!

We also had a procession all over the university and had a mass afterwards. It was quite stressful (especially for the ladies.) to wear layers and layers of clothing in this mad Manila weather. Nevertheless, the experience was a memorable one. Sobrang fasyon ng Manila dati!

As for me, I was dressed as an Ilustrado who just came from a trip to Russia, hence the furs. HAHAHA

Sunglasses: Pretty and Perfect Closet
Coat: Vintage Giorgio Armani. It was my dad's in the 80's ata. LEGIT!
Chinos: Topman
Fur hat: From somewhere.
Fur vest: From somewhere too.
Polo: Wharton

TSITP Theme Wear Shoot BTS. And Me, Flying.

2012-01-23T07:09:00.000-08:00

What happens when you put a pageant shoot, outrageous costumes, loud make up artists, fasyon best friends and an achrophobiac boy? Dude, it's pure entertainment!

The CFAD candidates with the theme wear I made for them. Matt, the Greek altar boy and Chelsea, the swaggeriffic Warrior of Greece. Yes, I made those. Stress forever! HAHAHA

The other candidates. Hanging near the ledge. I swear. Everytime someone sits or even stands near the ledge, it gives me a heart attack. Makes my heart skip a beat. Thank you, acrophobia, for replacing love. HAHA CHOS.

Went for a laidback look today. It was pretty hot so less layers, more comfort!

Outfit Details:

Polo: Comme des Garcon

Jeans: SM Dept. Store.

Shoes: Sebago

Sunglasses: Pretty and Perfect Closet

Accessories: Greenhills. Hanapin nyo. HAHA

So we found these cloaks from the SOCC. And it was mahangin. ALAM NA. HAHA

Take 1. Spread leg pose.

Take 2. Ryan doing the "flying squirrel" pose while I do the "walking-in-the-park" pose.

Take 3. Ryan does the "about-to-ride-my-invisible-car" pose while I do the "amputated super hero" pose.

BUUUUT. These two make up artists were not satisfied with how we were posing. So they stepped in then BAM! Kaloooka.

Take 1. The Wonder Woman and Darna pose.

Take 2. Wonder Woman takes flight and Darna trips on her cape.

Ryan, forever fierce.

And me. Forever Alone. CHOS. HAHA

Chelsea and Matt. Super proud of these two. Seriously.

The other candidates. CHECK OUT THOSE WINGS!

Chelsea and Matt. I looove this shot. Even if it called for me to lie on the ground. HAHA Dedicated!

The theme wear shoot for the TSITP went nicely even if there were some delays. Bongga yung costume ng iba. I had to make these ones on my own. Stress Drilon! But nevertheless, I think they pulled it off quite well, don't you think?

Heights may make me sick and nauseous but it well never kill my dedication. Naks.

From A New Perspective

2012-01-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

Today, I brought my camera with me because we had a shoot in UST for a pageant. What I didn't know was we'd be shooting at the very top of the Main Building. It was pretty intense, having a fear of heights, and still taking photos. The first photo was taken at 8:30 AM. It almost looks like an architectural drawing. The next two photos are two views of the Main Building's center. It was my first time being that high and hopefully, even with my fear of heights eating me alive, it won't be my last.

The last three photos were taken when I was in a jeepney. I was alone in the back and the sunlight was just perfect. I can't resisting taking some stolen shots; even if my camera was outside the jeepney with the risk of being snatched anytime.

Definitely worth it.

The Manila Adventures: Viva Divisoria!

2012-01-20T07:36:00.000-08:00

Well hello there! I'm going to have a new section in my blog which will be called "The Manila Adventures" which will chronicle the good, the bad, and the simply what-the-hell-just-happened things that happen to me and to those people unfortunate enough to be with me. As in swear, kung kilala nyo ako personally, you know the cray cray things that happen to me. I mean, 10 hour trip to Laguna from Manila? DI BA. But anyways, will definitely start in one of my secretly favorite places to go to. And that is none other than Divisoria!

This place, MRD2 (short for Mura Dito. Smart!) , has seriously awesome finds. They carry very trendy pieces at rock-bottom prices! As in grabe. Though be warned, they carry not-legit na items from Topshop, Topman, F21 and I think Zara and H&M too. And they have also bad-ass heels! Not-legit too, some of them. But dude, if you're a fashionista on a budget, this place is definitely worth checking out.

Now this is another place worth checking out! It's called Push Thru marketing and the wonderful thing about this is that it's not the only one in Divisoria. I think there are 5, yes, 5 outlets just scattered all over Divi. There's a few in 168 and a few in Tutuban. They also have nice clothes but more on the casual side. I saw some H&M v-neck but not sure if they're authentic. I doubt. But hey, try checking it out.

We we're in the new area of 168 when we passed by a stall that just smelled of buttery goodness! Turns out it was the Mister Bibingka stall and maaan. I'm telling you, they have seriously awesome bibingkas! SERIOUSLY. And they're not the huge ass bibingkas but small, cutesy ones you can cup in your hand. It's only 20 pesos each and it's more than worth it. And the cheese! Gah, the cheese! BTW, the packaging is really cool too!

Wasn't planning on buying anything but this, THIIIS, is an exception. I'm currently looking for a "boy cap" since my caps are all too homo for the streets of Manila. I mean, hello, fur hats and velvet berets? Dad will never let me out of the house. Saw this one on a shelf and I just flipped for it! Snagged it and haggled it from 300 to 250. Not bad! It's perfect. It's blue and has Captain America embroidered on the front. Comicky and bad ass at the same time. Rawr.

I have a thing for studs ever since a particular Givenchy collection came out with studs all over it. So when I saw this particular bracelets at 40 pesos for 3 pieces, I flipped again! Like a fish! HAHA CHOS. But seriously. They're plastic though. But for around 12 pesos per bracelet, well I'll be damned. Divi has everything!

Thankfully, no transportation mishap happened to me. Usually, the jeep I'm riding will crash into another jeepney or I'd almost get run over by a 10-wheeler. And I'm used to it already. I was with my friend, Jane Sy the whole time and thanks to her positive energy, I survived without any fatal accidents. My negative energy usually attracts holdappers and snatchers of all sorts.

Here's to more Manila Adventures in the future!

Divisoria at 4 in the noon

2012-01-20T06:08:00.000-08:00

I have no idea what came over me when I took out the camera in Divisoria knowing that in a matter of seconds, it could be yanked out from my hands and be sold in 168 a few moments later. But there is just something about the bustling crowds and the old Manila ambiance of Divisoria that I find pretty. I mean, swear. Gaaah.

Achromania

2011-12-23T02:56:00.000-08:00

My first photo editorial! This was taken months ago but due to school work, I didn't have the time to edit them. But since it's the holidays, I guess now would be the perfect time to actually show it. :)

Achromania is a combination of achromatic and mania. Achromatic since these are black and white photos and mania I guess because the presence of colors makes it confusing whether they can really be considered as B&W photos. Also, the choice of clothing is not necessarily for men; it's more of a combination of men's and women's clothes to achieve a sense of androgyny and equality.

Special thanks to Lois for helping me out with this one and Joma for modelling for me! And to some of the 2AD1 peeps for letting me use their studio time. :)) Thank you!

P.S. Make sure you click on the photos to see them high-res!

PFWSS2012 Day 2

2011-11-07T06:04:00.000-08:00

My second day of watching PFW SS2012 has been pretty much a breeze compared to watching the Michael Cinco show (which was stressful since I was late). Thanks to Joma, we were able to get front row seats and obviously, better photos of the clothes. The show of Arnold Galang, Gerry Katigbak and one of my personal faves, Jun-Jun Cambe, was one that I would never miss. Their shows were always exciting and interesting at the same time. I'm always curious as to what these designers would be showing next. Arnold Galang's collection took me by surprise since his last collection involved lots and lots of prints. However, for this season, he opted for solid, monochrome colors. Gerry Katigbak's collection reminded me of a toned-down Prada collection (the one with solid colors and stripes). But Jun Jun Cambe's collection was one of my faves! I would describe it as Shanghai on drugs; oriental prints in bright and flashing colours. And of course, the highlight was when Marina Benipayo went out bedecked in a sheer ensemble and a gold crown. Only she can do a finale like that! A fitting to end to a truly fabulous show.

For that day (more like the whole PFW), I opted for a more simple look, unlike the ones I used to sport back then. Gone are the leather, fur and leggings. Hello polos and chinos! Wore chinos from Topman, polo from Ralph Lauren, cardigan from Mom (haha), Marc Jacobs Canvas Tote and my fave Play Comme des Garcons. And of course! Instead of wearing the typical black bow tie, I got the limited ed. black bone tie from OS Accessories. It's seriously cool and it just goes with anything.Seriously.

Joma's wearing a vintage red blazer (that looked straight out of Jun Jun Cambe's collection haha)with a denim top and kahki pants from Zara, belt from Dorothy Perkins and accessories from both Aldo and Forever 21.

The brother's wearing a polo from H&M and work clothes. HAHA But they are fabulous work clothes, I think.

I'll be posting more PFW shiz for the next couple of days. Then maybe after that, I can resume regular programming. :)

Jun Jun Cambe SS2012

2011-10-31T08:46:00.000-07:00

Jun Jun Cambe is one show that is always sure to be opulent and grand. Titled as Xianzai which means now, it featured Oriental inspirations combined with Cambe's signature style. Opulent pieces ranging from sexy minis to full length dresses worked their ways down the runway as crowd ooh-ed and aaah-ed with each piece. Some pieces featured prints in traditional China colors while some were Pucci-esque with floral prints. It was like see Shanghai under Ecstasy or LSD. Purely euphoric and undoubtedly an experience that will get you high. And with Maria Benipayo closing the show in her ever graceful and majestic presence, Jun Jun Cambe's show will leave you addicted and wanting for more.

Gerry Katigbak SS2012

2011-10-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

Gerry Katigbak's new collection comprised of blocks and stripes: all in different sizes and colors! It was very sporty and and included some pieces that are sure to catch the attention especially when worn in the beach. His collection somehow reminded me that of Prada a few seasons back. Both played with stripes and colors. However, Gerry's version was translated in sporty pieces which would definitely fit in my closet full of stripes. And the white blazer with the seal was just summer perfect! And the bakya shoes are sure winners too. There were roomy bags perfect for those lazy days were you can just stash all the essentials into one roomy bag. This collection definitely made me feel so excited for summer!

P.S. the chicken shoes were just so cute! Very quirky!

Arnold Galang Spring Summer 2012

2011-10-31T06:53:00.000-07:00

If you watched Arnold Galang's show last season, you would know that his direction for this season was a far cry from his last collection. Turning from tribal prints and fringed accessories, he concentrated more on form and structure and chose black and white as the main colors of his collection. Though obviously minimal, he included some pieces that incorporate large fish scale-like sequins in gold yellows and blacks. Furthermore, the first pieces with the leather details reminded me of a Rad Hourani collection back then. Nevertheless, his collection is still proof that he can do something different and distinct from what he has done in the past few seasons.

Michael Cinco Spring Summer 2012

2011-10-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

With a jam-packed audience giving a standing ovation at the end of the presentation, Michael Cinco truly gave us an amazing fashion show that is sure to be a gold seller. And by gold, I mean gold, literally! Gold hued gowns bedecked in his signature crystals and beads, each piece shone as if stars were sewed onto it. Tufts of feather and probably miles of lace graced the catwalk as models clad in jaw-dropping number went out one by one in different segments. But one feature that really got out attention were the male models wearing nothing but underwear "armor" reminiscent of Karl Lagerfeld's styling in the Pirelli calendar. Truly majestic and mind-boggling; two words not often associated with one another.

The finale of the show was that of McQueenian inspiration: a female model, clad only in a sheer number with private parts covered only in crystals, slithering along with male models as a shower of water fell from the scaffolding above. Models did their final catwalk as the water continued to pour ending with a burst of golden confetti; it's as if the sky had rained stars. It was truly an amazing show and definitely worth the stress going too!

Due to traffic, I arrived late. SO yeah, wasn't able to start the show. And when we arrived, it was already halfway done. And that's not all! My memory card got fucked up so I was only able to take a few photos. Ugh. But anyways, there's still tomorrow.

See you guys tomorrow!

PFW Day 1

2011-05-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

Me and my brother's rack of outfits ready for speedy dress-ups and camera action!

And the shoes are lined up and good to go too! Brogues, plimsolls, high-cut sneakers, military boots and old oxfords. Talk about diversity!

So this is what greeted us for the first show: LONG LINES. Typical. Sucks for those wearing high-heels and (ehem) real tight combat boots. HAHA!

Team Preview! Forever Chic and Fabulous as always! From what I heard, Daryl was wearing a mullet dress straight out of Chris Diaz's collection for that season. And Andre's Celine bag was just divine!

Models. Gorgeous, skinny models. Love love.

Me and Joma posing for someone who took our photo. Mind you, the faux fur I was wearing was surprisingly light! My brother got fur balls just by sitting next to me. LOL! And I had a leather jacket underneath. CRAZY!

Joma and photographer Lois messing with the menu. Haha!

Went straight to Shakey's at Boni Circle for some post-show dinner. Pizza and spaghetti! Yum yum!

Practicing pouts for tomorrow's show. Hahaha!

More crazy fur action! I kept leaving trails of hair everywhere. HAHA!

So that was it for our day 1 in PFW. Watched the 10 Fashion Show featuring Thomasian designers. Woo! Thomasian pride. HAHA! And then watched Men's Wear too. Saw some pieces which I really loved. Headed on to the show of Gerry Katigbak, Arnold Galang and Chris Diaz. Amazing as usual. Love Chris' pieces the most and the Arnold Galang platforms were amazing! And Gerry Katigbak's was sheer genius. Love, love, love.

Since my camera was being a bitch, some photos were blurry and I didn't really feel like taking that much photos anymore. And aside from sitting through the shows (which gave me a lot of butt pain LOL), I had to endure stuffing my feet into a pair of DM's one size smaller than my feet. Oh well, fashion usually isn't comfortable anyway. LOL.

Headed on to Shakey's at Boni Circle (yeah, it's far from MOA) so that our houses are just within reach afterwards. So far, it's been an awesome, awesome day. Can't wait for the next days!

Bloggers United

2011-05-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

First stop: Karl and Mike's clothes of course. Got a pair of harem pants for a hundred bucks! Sweet! Thanks Karl! Check out his blog at Totally Inkarclerating.

Cams aka the-girl-who-wore-Oxfords won a prize for wearing, obviously, Oxford shoes! A thousand pesos worth of GC's from Schu! Lucky her. Haha

With Kookie of Death by Platforms. First photo with her I think. Nice seeing you again Kookie!

With Mama Mike. Super loved his bath robe. ECHOS MIKE! His Yukata looked like a piece straight out of Jun Jun Cambe's Holiday collection. Seriously awesome.

Working (more like pretending to work. HAHA) girls Nicole and Cams.

Two of the amazing people who organized the event! Bloggers Aisa Ipac of Drowning Equilibriums (taray!) and Melai Entuna of Style and Soul.

Met some fellow CFAD students there too! So that's me, Vince, Danica and current Student Council VP External, Nicole Santos.

Photo request! Nicole with David Guison, who everyone knows I'm pretty sure. LOL.

Mike Magallanes of Toxic Disco Boy doing his thang. LOL. Ganda mo forever!

Jeanne Khe with my brother. Check out Jeanne's blog here. She was dressed real nice that night. Bangles all the way. LOL.

Finally, a photo with Vern Enciso of A Shoe Tale! Hello Vern. Haha

My companions for the day: Jeanne, Neil, Cams, Nicole and Sassy.

More blogger's in action.

With Bestie Konisis of The Capricious Club! Funny story how we got this photo. We came from the restroom and she was on her way there when we asked her if we could take a photo so she had to stop. LOL! Sorry and thanks again Bestie!

With Paul Jatayna of OS Accessories and his new awesome haircut. Haha Check out his site here.

With the Plump Pinay twins Stacy and Dana! They really show that being plump is never an excuse to be not fabulous!

So today, the brother and I went to the Malayan in Ortigas for the Blogger's United event organized by bloggers Aisa, Ana and Melai. It was also in partnership with KIDS Foundation which was a really great idea incorporating social values with an interactive shopping experience. It was really great meeting and greeting bloggers and what's even more great is that we had the chance to buy pieces from their personal collections. It's like having a piece of that blogger (which totally sounds creepy, btw LOL) but better since you know that the proceeds of the money you gave would go to a charity. It's a totally win-win situation.

Anyhoo, had lots of fun seeing bloggers there! I really appreciate the effort of the people who organized this. The idea of a community of bloggers is so exciting! I do hope more events like this would happen in the near future. But as for now, school's gonna start soon which means I'll get my allowance already. talk about bad timing. LOL.

See you guys!

Salvacion Lim Higgins for 10 Fashion Show

2011-05-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

Noli Hans Holiday 2011

2011-05-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

Noel Crisostomo Holiday 2011

2011-05-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Johnny Abad Holiday 2011

2011-05-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

JC Buendia Holiday 2011

2011-05-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

Eric Pineda Holiday 2011

2011-05-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

FADAL After Party

2011-05-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

Tatie, Daryl and Bea. Love Daryl's orange coat!

Seventh High before the people came. We were early birds so yeah.

The models wearing the designs of the members of FADAL. And look, one of them, Lizanne Cua, is also in the photo. really nice lady.

Jodilly Pendre with Tatie; both from UST.

A blurry photo of me and Daryl. Checkout those cheekbones!

Tatie with Bea.

The models on stage had tags attached to them. Literally. As in huge tags where the designer's name are written. Cheeky and ingenious! Like real-lifr Barbie (and Ken) dolls.

Levenson Rodriquez, Creatur-in-Chief of FADAL Manila and designer of seriously dashing blazers!

President of FADAL, Jaz Cerezo, wore a blue off-shoulder dress with thigh high leather boots. DAMN FIERCE!

More FADAL Designers.

With Ann Casas!She strongly reminded me of my sister so I just had to take a photo (and a blurry one at that) with her! Love them to bits.

So I met Bjorn Bedayo that night. Really dapper, I'm telling you. Check out his blog!

More FADAL Action!

Tatie with FIP people.

And of course, our outfit shots.

I wore a gun metal blue jacket from NA. a denim polo, Topman shirt, jeans from Giordano Concepts and Doc Martens Square Toe military boots.

After spending quite the boring morning at home, Tatie grabbed me by night from a lil bit of partying at 7th High Club where FADAL Manila held their Fashion Week After Party. Seriously awesome night! The place was jam-packed with designers, models, bloggers and more people from the fashion industry. Met some new people and reconnected with some. And I drank alcohol, for the first time. Yep, MY FIRST TIME. I'm practically alcohol-free since birth and now that I've tried it, I won't say I need it but I did like it a little bit. LOL.

So anyways, tomorrow will be Blogger's United and will definitely drop by there after the pre-advising for irregular students. Yep, I'm an irregular. Haha.

And of course, check out FADAL Manila's website. Go there. Now.

See you guys!

Edgar San Diego Holiday 2011

2011-05-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

Edgar San Diego gave us his interpretation of what the modern barongs and Filipiniana's would look like. Focusing on clothes made of natural fibers such as abaca and pinya, he was able to create a wonderful collection that we can truly call Filipino. As it was a collection that commemorated UST's 400 years of existence, he made us of architectural details found all over the university such as the base of columns and even an embroidered version of the Arch of the Centuries! He also utilized the school colors black, gold and white in this collection. Combine that with black stones for jewelry, pearls, capiz shell belts and intricate beadery, Edgar San Diego transports us back to a Spanish-time Manila without having to leave the modernity behind; a modern twist to an old time classic.

Edgar Allan Holiday 2011

2011-05-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

Edgar Allan's collection is somewhat reminiscent of some of John Galliano's work for Christian Dior haute couture. The exaggerated proportions, the drama of the whole collection, etc. But nevertheless, his collection speaks volume about his point of view as a designer and the aesthetics he lives by. I personally loved the opulence of it all. And the feathers and sequin numbers are a very nice touch. Add a dash of animal prints and polka dots and voila! Another amazing collection from a fellow Thomasian.

Danilo Franco Holiday 2011

2011-05-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Gerry Katigbak Holiday 2011

2011-05-17T06:36:00.000-07:00

Gerry Katigbaks' Holdiay collection for 2011 is a wonderful melting pot of different textures and inspirations. Materials sourced from our motherland is prevalent as seen in his abaca and pinya cloth creations. Moreover, we see a dash of chiffon, silk, satin and some pieces clad in satin and sequins. The Filipiniana motif is quite obvious, as attested by his amazing use of embroidery and beading. Huge stone necklaces and brooches in vivid colors and frills in all the right places enhanced the looks. The tailoring he did was also great as seen in the men's blazers in fun patterns and the crisp, embellished blouses that some of the women wore. Male models with long, straight hair was also a breath of fresh air from the typical short-haired male models. Marina Benipayo also made an appearance; she being her usual majestic self. My friend, Aya Abesamis also worked it on the runway. So proud of my girl!

All in all, another amazing collection from Gerry Katigbak that not only showcases his creative genius but also the diversity of the Filipino culture. Bravo, Gerry. Bravo indeed.

The Woman is King: Chris Diaz Holiday 2011

2011-05-17T05:50:00.000-07:00

The woman is truly the king in Chris Diaz's new holiday collection for 2011. Inspired by the Medieval Ages, it features clothing fit for a the modern royalty. Gold embellishments, rich dark colors paired with some battle-inspired pieces and metallic maillots are the key pieces in this collection. Metal gauntlets also made an appearance, reinforcing the concept of the woman's toughness in a modern man's world.

However, what captivated me in this collection is not the clothing alone but the concept behind it and its execution on the runway. Female models armed with metal gloves emanates a sense of the woman being a warrior; a modern day Joan of Arc. And if that wasn't enough, there was the finale: The Marina Benipayo, known by many for her grace and beauty, comes out in a gold dress; shimmering and majestic. But she wore a chain-mail helmet, an iron glove and, astoundingly, a beard. The idea of androgyny in the fashion world is not new but when pulled of in a manner such as the one done by Chris Diaz, it takes on a new level. Marina then walks with the grace of a Queen but with the stance of a King; a perfect marriage of man's inner desire for power. Once again, Chris Diaz shows us his creative genius.

And can I just say. Marina B. is one mind blowing model. Old as she may be, the younger models got nothing on her. Amazing work, I tell you. Simply amazing.

Arnold Galang Holiday 2011

2011-05-16T23:28:00.000-07:00

Arnold Galang's collection for Holiday 2011 is definitely a sight to behold. Modern tribal prints in uncomplicated silhouettes mixed with rich solid colors, fringes and maybe a touch weaving drapery here and there, it is the perfect definition of boho-chic. The clothes hang loosely on the models; perfect for the hot Manila weather. It was one of my personal favorites. Too bad I wasn't able to take a photo of the shoes. THE SHOES! Just to give you an idea, they're like this real high platforms in solid colors which will definitely give those who lack in height a serious boost of height and confidence! And aside from clothes, the accessories were also spot on. Silver discs/bangles turned into necklaces, belts and bracelets complete the look.

Another amazing collection from Arnold Galang for this season.

Michael's Hidden Church

2011-05-02T22:41:00.000-07:00

The Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic basilica located in Tayabas, Quezon. It is the largest Catholic church in the Province of Quezon.It is renowned for having the shape of a key. Locals often refer to the church as Susi ng Tayabas.

Before finally going home to Manila, we went to this hidden gem of a church adjacent to the town plaza. It's facade was old and crumbling as a result of decades of erosion, degradation and probably some lack of attention. However, the interior did not disappoint. Though some parts of the walls were crumbling and some of the paint has faded, one can still see the grandeur that the Basilica possesses. Colorful motifs and intricate trompe l'oeil murals line the ceilings while ominous black chandeliers hang from above. The marble flooring has lots its shine as hundreds before me have trampled over its age-old gloss.

The Basilica of St. Michael Archangel definitely needs lots of restorative work. Especially with the paint work and the facade. Nevertheless, it still holds its sense of grandeur and a probably a colorful history to which, unfortunately, I am unaware of. It's still a really cool place to check out when you're in the area.

P.S. Please don't mind the URL. My brother (a real jerk, mind you) saved it with the title of Whoring in the Basilica. So yeah, it stayed that way. Don't mind it. Please understand. LOL

Blue Flight

2011-05-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

Inspired by motion, levitation and my personal childhood fave, the Power Rangers, Paradim shift brings us a new collection consisting of pieces in cool hues of blue and mint along with shredded shirts, infinity scarves and Power Rangers-inspired pants. It's a collection that's literally a minty breath of fresh from the usual alternative monochrome. Paradigm Shift is the brainchild of blogger and fashionista Karl Leuterio and Mike Magallanes. Be sure to check it out! Go to their website http://paradigmshiftclothing.com/ to see more pieces from Paradigm Shift!

And be sure to check out their blogs! Go to http://totallyinkarlcerating.blogspot.com/ and to http://toxicdiscoboy.blogspot.com/ now!

In a Land of Grace

2011-04-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

Kristel and I taking photos of each other coincidentally. NOT.

The old and new SC planning. CHOS. We were watching a movie. HAHA So much for planning.

WWII Jeepneys! COOL!

Where we slept. Well, where we watched all night actually. Till I fell asleep. HAHA.

They have a private lake! Comes with crocodiles. Kidding LOL

Can I just say? Graceland in Tayabas, Quezon is pretty awesome. Seriously. Lakes, rope bridges and deer bitches. DEER! And white picket fences. LOVE.

Nicole of nicolethedressupdoll.blogspot.com

So tiring.

The old and new presidents of the SC.

And a bonfire. HAHA

Last April 27, the school peeps and I headed to Graceland to have some sort of planning for the next school year. Well, honestly, the planned while I took it as a form of small vacation. Of course I helped too! (though not really haha) And it was awesome. It was my first time to be around a bonfire and roasting marshmallows! I felt like a boyscout. HAHA. The last time I was here, I was running around drenched in sweat because of our leadership camp. But now, it's a vacation. Life's good. Definitely.

On our way home, we decided to stop by a church that's seriously wicked. Will blog about it soon!

2nd Day

2011-04-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Sunshine! :D A totally scripted photo of me waking up since I usually wake up with my hair undone and my sister's hair all over my face. HAHA :))

Who knew that the light actually hurts when you open the drapes early in the morning! GEEZ. I got blinded. :|

Very vintage, don't you think? Chos. :))

We met lots of dead people that day. And I came too close with one dead person. You'll find out in a few. :)

Awesome tree amongst the dead people's houses.

Some cool mural I saw at the local elementary school. Seriously, it's awesome! Cubism meets Patriotism? Chos. :)) But really, it's cool.

And now we know that we all look like baby whales/hippos at 40 days. :)

The school had a farm. IN THEIR BACKYARD! It's like having Farmville in your school only more realistic. HAHA :))

And finally, I have learned how to use the waveboard courtesy of my professional cousins. Oh yeah.

The facade of their parish church. Really nice.

And the people who go there. SO MANY. But very friendly. :)

Fake Moriones. HAHA :)) They weren't wearing the scary Moriones masks. :D

The statues in no particular order.

Lots of people attended the procession.

Now that's a real Moriones! My fright is concealed by my over-sized not-so-pearly whites. :))

So this is my day 2 of staying in the rurality that is Lopez, Quezon. :D I'm currently subsisting on room service, good food and free WiFi. So far, I'm enjoying my stay. :> Maybe except for the fact that I saw a live skull (well, a real one, not a live one lol) up close. One with the hair still on and some flesh still intact (which is pretty horrifying). :| It scared me to hell since I was able to capture it accidentally and when I saw it, let's just say the whole province heard my scream already. :)) HAHA

Anyhoo, going back. After screaming the hell out of the cemetery, we went to the local elementary school where my mom used to study when she was a kid. Good times, good times. :) Saw this seriously far out murals which was really artistic. And I learned how to wave board there! When lunch was done, we had a quick wash up at the hotel and headed on to the church (which was really cool btw) and got stares from the locals. But I did hear something like..

Local Kid 1: (stares at me and my bro) Huy, di ba mga taga-Japan yang mga yan? (brother waves his oversized fan at them)(local kids stare in awe)

Local Kid 2: Oo! Pakinggan mo, nag-Eenglish eh! Taga-Japan nga!

That was just weird. And funny at the same time. :))

Proceeded to the procession after and took a shot of a true Moriones. All in all, it was an awesome day. 2 more days and I'm outta here. Until then, wish me luck!

P.S. I saved this as a draft and forgot to post it. I have a memory of a goldfish. HAHA Kidding. :))

3rd Day

2011-04-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

Today, we rode what the locals called the "skits". It's some sort of motorized rail cab (chos) made of wood and a motor and some benches where the passengers could sit. Definitely a proof of the Filipino's ingenuity since these railroads where meant for trains originally.

And when 2 "skits" come face to face, the skits with the lighter load gets emptied then carried off the tracks to let the other one pass. Market produce and several other products reach far flung destinations through these.

The relatives and I, soaking up the sun and the fresh, provincial air. HAHA. :))

Down the rabbit hole. Felt like Alice when we went through these overgrown hedges.

And when we arrived, we saw these floating bamboo cottages! How awesome is that? :D Live and swim at the same time!

The coastline.

The obligatory jumpshot. Chos. :))

My sister shielding her face from the sun. And the camera. :))

Cave of Wonders. Chos.

My cousin Andy and his sour face that I taught him. :))

Me in the water.Which is a surprise, really, since I swore I won't get in the water. I'm actually afraid of the open sea. :)

Me and the cousins frolicking in the sand and making sand castles. Fine Arts against HS and Elementary. HAHA

The sea.

We went to the coastline via the skits today to experience some provincial fun. It's day 3 of my stay here and I totally don't regret going to the province. It's such a breathe of fresh air from Manila (both literally and figuratively). We rode the "skits", some sort of railroad rickshaw and was greeted by some of the locals.

The first beach we went to was seriously small. AS IN SMALL. And crowded. So the parents decided to send us off with the cousins in another island, just 15 minutes away via boat ride. And boy, let me tell you, that was the best 15 minutes of my life! The sea, the waves, the air and the music (I was listening to Kingdom of Pretty. PERFECT!) just made the moment such the summer perfection.

After hours of frolicking in the sand and getting a sunburn instead of a tan, we rode the boat back home (still with background music of course haha) and went to the hotel to grab some ice cream and call it a day.

Now this is the life.

Into the Wild

2011-04-22T05:52:00.000-07:00

First stopover, Jollibee. It would've been awesome if there were few people instead of THIS many. We literally had to fight for our seats! HAHA!

Cute! Burgi and Perky WTF. HAHAHA

We chanced upon this overturned truck with beer bottles all over. Must've crashed when it was driving through the curve.

I actually freaked a little when I glanced at this at first! But it turns out to be a statue. Oh well, I'd just have to wait every 9 pm for me to turn to one. LOL. And my fin will have all them pretty sparkly stuff.

And we have arrived.

The family and I went to the province to spend the Holy Week in there. Awesome stuff. I feel like I'm in the wild! CHOS. Been a very long time since I was here. Everything is so small! Or maybe I just grew. And it's SUPER INIT. Grabe lang.

We stayed at a hotel just near our provincial house. It ain't 5 star. But free WiFi, cable tv, centralized air conditioning systems and 24/7 room service makes it good enough. I have a feeling it's gonna be a tough week for me here. Of course, I ain't in Manila. Let's see what the week has in store for me.

On a side note, the people here are very friendly! No snobs, meanies or bullies! Maybe a few people who stare, yeah. But seriosuly, everyone here's friend's with each other. And the air is cleaner. And the stars are brighter. I wish it would be the same in Manila too.

It's only day 1. And so much has already happened. I can't wait to see what other surprises will await me! Hope it's gonna be great! *fingers crossed*

Repeat Performance

2011-04-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

So basically, instead of swimming, this is what we do on vactions: mini-shoots. Yep, that's pretty much it. Mind you, it wasn't an easy feat donning a blazer, a cardigan and a pair of boots under the sweltering heat of the sun. Geez. But it was fun attracting stares from the guys and gals who wanted to use the playground while we were shooting. HAHA!

I used the same top in the 3 different looks since I was too much of a bum to bring more clothes. It was a repeat performance for my striped top all the way. Heck, I didn't even bring swimming shorts. So I had to swim in my khakis. HAHA! But the brother brought the boots and the blazer and some other crap. So yeah. Playing dress up under the summer heat, very good idea.

Oh, and while my cousins got a tan, I got a sunburn. That just sucks. And see those rocks I was lying on? THEY WERE AS HOT AS FRYING PANS. Seriously. I felt like a T-bone (literally just a bone) on a sizzling platter. Whew. But yeah, the stares were priceless. LOL. Must do more of these in school. Maybe in the middle of Ayala Avenue. HAHA!

I need more emotions in my blog. Ugh, I talk like a robot. A heartless but nevertheless fashionable robot. HAHA! Lulz.

View from the Middle

2011-04-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

My view from the middle seat. I hate sitting there. HATE. Makes me feel dizzy and queasy at the same time. Perfect for bulimia. CHOS.

The jumpshots.

The pool.

The pool from my sunglasses' point of view. LOL.

The lounging mother. What else can I say? HAHA.

The mini-pool. For mini-people.

Found this vacant resort area thingy with lots of awesome rock formations and other chenes stuff.

So we had to shoot. Silly me, wearing boots and sweaters during summer. Guess who got burned at the back of the head by lying on the sizzling rocks. Yep, I am. I am. HAHA.

The playground.

More shooting on the playground. LOL.

We packed our bags and asses early Sunday morning to go to Tagaytay for a day out under the sun. Went with some of our mother-side relatives since her sister came from the US. Knowing too well how my skin easily darkens, I resisted the urge to swim. So yeah, I'm the family kill joy and their source of entertainment especially when they try taking turns pushing me into the pool to no avail. HAHA.

We did a spontaneous shoot there too. I wonder why I even brought boots with me. AND A RED BLAZER. Jesus. WTF WAS I THINKING. Whatever it might be, thank God I did. And the brother brought this large Japanese fan! COOL. Will blog the photos tomorrow!

And seeing the world through my sunglasses are awesome. That's why I used it as some sort of improvised camera filter with cool results. Will definitely do this more often.

The family members had a tan. Guess who had the sunburn? HAHA Y'all know who that dumbie is. HAHAHA

Barbie Beats Boredom 2.0

2011-04-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

Another day, another boring day. Well, Barbie was once again the center of my attention since I'm not going out today. Or so I thought. I went out that night but that's another blog.

Grabbed momma's scarf and wrapped it around. Did some more stuff, coifed her hair and other what's its. Voila! Barbie beats my boredom once again. HAHA.

In retrospect, I just realized her hair looks as if a giant blonde marshmallow was sitting atop it. Oh well, hunger.

Geez, I need a life outside Barbie.

2011-04-14T01:16:00.000-07:00

Me and Jane, soaking up the sunlight. As if I wasn't dark enough already. HAHA.

Jane enjoying the cupcakes. VERY MUCH. LOL.

Bumped into Joma at High Street with his mom. Turns out they're accompanying his sister who's currently having a shoot at the 7th High Bar.

How I wish the whole of Manila was like the Fort. And the place is full of buildings under construction. It truly is a modern city. And a very chic one too! HAHA.

And of course, the outfit.

Denim top, black skinnies from Folded and Hung, Doc Martens square toe boots, sunglasses from Ray Ban (mom's) bag from HK and Resin cuff from Fendi (mom's too) HAHA.

Jane, the brother and I went to the Fort to meet for the launching party of Manila Kid. Ended up eating a lot at Yellow Cab and grabbing desserts from Cupcakes by Sonja. DELICIOUS! Their Fudge Brownie is to die for. Seriously.

Bumped into Joma and found out his sister's modeling for DynaMedia Productions. Serious awesome stuff. More Alexandria endorsement in a new blog. HAHA.

Real awesome day. Real awesome. Too bad we had some problems getting home since Jane and Neil got separated from me. I dunno. I think it was a practical joke turned nasty. HAHAHA. Oh well, there's a first for everything.

Barbie Beats Boredom

2011-04-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

Basically, I was stuck at home; doing nothing, of course. After seeing the mom's Fendi cuff and the Barbie, I decided to bring out the creativity and create another lame attempt at Barbie Couture. HAHA. Geez, I better find something else to do for summer. I might end up creating an entire line of Barbie Couture out of sheer boredom. Sheesh.

Maybe I should, actually. Who knows, it might be my ticket to fame. HAHA. Here's to hoping I actually make human-sized versions one day. *crosses fingers*

So that's Barbie 1 and Boredom 0

Oh yeah.

Deal Dozen Launch

2011-04-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Guess who was pretty drunk to not use auto-focus. LOL.

OVERFLOWING DRINKS YEAH. Too bad I’m too much of a nun to actually drink. LOL.

I met Cherry that night! She’s a model/blogger/flight attendant on break. This woman does everything! LOL!

From L-R: Neil, Joma, Cherry, Nicole, Jonessa, Rachelle and Cams

One still-sober bitch and a drunk brother. Oh boy, how will I take them home?

Neil being Neil: Business as usual. Those are our calling cards they’re holding. Haha.

With Joanna Ladrido! One of the organizers of the event and website, Deal Dozen.

With Joanna. She’s really really nice! And we’re both wearing pink. HAHA. And can I just say, shocks, ang ganda nya lang talaga. Matitibo ako. LOL.

After a long day shooting for Manila Kid’s ads, we headed to Member’s Only at The Fort to attend Deal Dozen’s website launch. It was an awesome night! Lots of real awesome people. And very chic ones too! Thank god for clothes. HAHA. Labo. Met new people that night. Cherry the Fruit (LOL) and some of Nicole’s friends. Cherry was awesome! She did a lil’ bit of everything. HAHA. Overall, it’s been an awesome night; even if Joma and Neil were a bit tipsy from all the free alcohol. Too bad I don’t drink. I’M SUCH A NUN. Oh well, I’ll be heading back to the convent soon. LOL.

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