Comic Copywriting

One of the lessons I always teach in copywriting, whether it’s in school,or at work, is that you should get your point across in the fastest, clearest and most creative way possible.

People who write one-frame comic strips are people who can do that excellently. That’s why i’m A huge fan of Gary Larson.

I’m also a huge fan of whoever wrote this One:

Gosh! This is comic writing and copywriting atbits best.

I wish I wrote this.

Dated confusion

Looks like the social media manager or the social media artist was in a hurry in doing these social media art cards.

If you look at the dates, July came ahead of June.

But in the next slides, they got the dates right already.

In a hurry or sleepy? We never know.

Proofreader, please.

Dino-mite!

As a huge fan of dinosaurs, comics, and all things clever, this resonates with me in so many levels!

Gosh! This is one of those things that I wish I wrote myself.

Cyrus, Serious

Since she was Hannah Montana, I've always been a fan of Miley Cyrus and her voice. Even as a young girl, her voice already showed so much depth and range. And even as a teen, she was already a serious singer.

It was a depth and range that was way beyond her years. That's why when she went from Teen Idol to Pop Star, her voice and songs matured with her. Even if she sang a very uppity-boppity Pop ditty like "Party in the U.S.A.", it sounded rich and soulful.

And as she matured even more, think "Wrecking Ball" and "We can't stop," so did her music and the way she sang.

Throughout all those years, I'm constantly amazed at how versatile her voice is. Whenever I watch youtube videos of her in concert, the most common comment would be: "Is there a genre that she can't sing?"

Apparently, there's none. She can sing anything. She can sing country. She can sing pop. She can sing something soulful.

Heck, she can even sing Madonna!

So yes, Miley Cyrus can sing anything and everything.

Seriously.

My name is (Cafe de) Lucca

If this was a Friday Magic Madness post, we all know where this would be going. (Hint: Suzanne Vega.)

But it’s Saturday, so it must be about something else.

That something is a new discovery from my Snackers Haunt in Cubao.

This Cafe de Lucca Strawberry Wafer Roll is super delish! It’s like my favorite Giziku, but in my Go-to fruit flavor.

I’ll remember this name from now on.

FMM: Stranger Things

Nope, this isn't a post about THAT hit show. After all, it's Friday Magic Madness day.

Coming from last week's sitcom theme, I thought of continuing it this week with yet another theme song from one of my favourite shows.

This is another sitcom from Channel 9. It's about two strangers from different parts of the world, thrust together by circumstances. And their combination works perfectly.

And that's why it's called "Perfect Strangers."

Just like "Jennifer Slept Here," there are parts of the song that I remember since my elementary days until now. Particularly: "Rain and thunder. Wind and haze. I'm bound for better days. It's my life, my dreams. Nothing's gonna stop me now."

Just like nothing's gonna stop me now from watching this again and again.

Planted evidence

While i’m not that much of a green thumb, looking at these make m “grow” with pride.

The plants that both Mona and Ia gave me last Christmas both have grown!

It helps that they’re low-maintenance plants, of course. But these 2 are good evidence that I can take care of plants.

A Simple COS

Since I'm working from home 98% of the time, there's really no need to "dress-up" for work. For the past year, my work wear has been limited to t-shirts of all colours, sizes and shapes.

That's why even when I order items online, whether it's from Zalora, Lazada, H&M or some other fast-fashion brand, most of my purchases are limited to t-shirts as well.

Needless to say, this is what I'm checking out at the COS website, especially now that their first store in Manila is opening. And - COS being known for fashionable basics - they have a lot of t-shirts in interesting cuts and materials.

Just like this:

Gosh! Even if it may look like most of the black t-shirts I currently have in my closet now, I need to have this. Stat!

For a good Cos

You can just imagine my thrill when I saw this article online.

COS is finally here in Manila!

Looks like the H&M group is making its presence felt in the Philippines. First, it was H&M. Then, it was Monki. And now, COS!

It's a COS for a celebration!

Hi Hayek!

It's been a while since I last saw Salma Hayek on the cover on InStyle.

I've always enjoyed seeing her on the cover of this magazine. One of my personal faves was her appearance in 2009 when she fronted the magazine's Color Issue.

This is a memorable issue for me. Back then, I was staying in Shanghai and it took me some time to find a bookstore that sold English books and magazines. And when I did, this was one of the first things I bought. My Chinese colleagues who'd drop by my cubicle would always pick up the magazine to check it out.

From a "Color Issue", she's back this month to front the "Women on Top Issue." And knowing her personality, she definitely deserves to be on the cover of this issue.

But the question still remains: "I wonder how I'll get my copy."

New stocks of Old faves

When we were still in Tokyo, Mark and I had our go-to Japanese snacks. We’d usually buy these at the nearby Konbini, or at the Aeon Supa, at Donki, or at Hanamasa in Ginza.

These snacks are Toppo, Pocky and Pretz.

It’s been a while since we had these snacks, so when I saw that they were available on the Glico on;one store, I had to get a stash for both Mark and me.

This is a great way to go back to our old Tokyo faves here in Manila.

Cool School

And just like that, we're wrapping up the 2nd semester.

Teaching online really took a lot of getting used to. After all, I'm accustomed to standing in front of the class, talking to and engaging them while trying to teach them. There's a dynamic energy whenever we have an active exchange of thoughts and ideas, and it's always fun to be in a classroom with a group of gregarious students.

But as they say, "change is constant." And the changing times require that we have a change in teaching methods and strategies. Yes, there was a learning curve, but luckily, this semester turned out to be very fruitful and productive.

Today, this surprise came from school. Each professor was given a care package by the CODD.

It's such a cool, wonderful and thoughtful gesture from SSC. But then again, ever since, the school, the Sisters and the Administration has always been cool, wonderful and thoughtful. But it's so nice to experience this even when we're physically apart.

The coffee mug, coffee and cookies reminds me of our faculty meetings and sessions when they'd serve the same things. So, having this at home makes me feel like all the professors and administrators are together, in the SSC conference room, sharing coffee, cookies, insights and lessons.

Fingers crossed, we'll be able to do that physically again soon.

FMM: Sleep over

Today, I'm changing up Friday Magic Madness a bit.

Instead of a regular song, today will be about a sitcom theme song!

Back in the 80s, there was a show on RPN-9 about a young starlet who passed away, but her soul still lived in her original home. Then, when the new occupants arrived, she would be visible to the the teen boy who lives there. And this friendship between the 2 characters was the foundation of the series.

Those 2 characters are Joey and Jennifer, and that sitcom was "Jennifer Slept Here."

Even if I was just a wee little boy when this was shown, I found it very interesting and would watch each episode. 

And of course, I memorized the theme song until now, especially the part: "She lived here, She laughed here, She loved here, laughed here, wept here. She slept here. And she never really left here, Jennifer Slept Here."

Since reboots are popular these days, they should make a reboot of this series as well.

I'll definitely watch that, too.

Attention A-Ten-Ya

Just like what I told Mark a few days ago, if we were in regular times, it would be most likely that we’d be having our usual lunch and dinners at Asakusa Tendon Tenya in Megamall.

Here’s why!

Not only is it nostalgic, having shared lots of meals at Tendon Tenya in Japan, it’s also a great deal!

Soon. We’ll do this again soon.

Printed Matter: Stylish Manila

Manila has always been known as a very architecturally stylish city. 

If you walk through the old districts of Escolta, you can see a lot of beautiful buildings with Art Deco architecture lining the streets. When you walk through Sampaloc, there are a lot of ancestral homes that are still standing and well-preserved.

Then, there are the old government buildings like museums, offices, and city halls. Plus, the churches! Let's not forget about that. And yes, Intramuros is always a visual spectacle!

And that visual spectacle is captured on this print.

If you look closely, you can see iconic Manila structures on the print. There's Manila Cathedral, The Post Office, and the Intramuros gate. They're rendered in this beautiful sketch that lends a blueprint feel to the print.

That print, of course, is found on the "Intramuros" dress from the Plains & Prints Pamana collection.

A stylish print plus a classic silhouette. It's a 1-2 style punch that's definitely going to be a joy to wear.

An even split

Summer is all about bright colours.

And it's brightness x 2 with this shirtdress from the Target x Christopher John Rogers collaboration!

This is such a wowza dress! Mainly because of the two-tone hue that's split evenly in the middle. And to keep it from becoming too costume-y, it's in a very classic and tailored silhouette. 

Hmmm... I wonder if they have this at the Target near Ate Lissa or Biboy's homes.

WATN: For Peet's sake

There's this TV channel that shows old films, and there were 2 notable films that caught my attention.

These films were "Something's Gotta Give" and "2012."

The common reason why I enjoyed re-watching these films again?

Amanda Peet!

I love watching Amanda Peet. She has this energy and effervescence about her. Whether it's a comedy, a drama or a disaster film, she has a way of lighting it up.

Makes me wonder where Amanda Peet is now. We need to see her on the big screen again!

Too late to apologize

No, this isn't about a Timbaland song.

What this is about is more funny errors coming out on online news outlets.

Observe:

So, where's that "o"?

Proofreader, please!

Claire-ity

Last week, my Friday Magic Madness song from "Annie Get Your Gun" was - as mentioned - inspired by Claire Danes.

Now, how does an actress from the 90s intersect with a musical from the 50s?

It's because of this commercial for Gap Trousers from the 2000s.

As an adman, this commercial resonated with me a lot. The concept, the characters, the joie-de-vivre, they all added up to such a wonderful and memorable commercial that I can't stop watching. 

Until now.

FMM: Life is good

The current hype brought about by America's Got Talent, particularly Nightbird, inspired today's Friday Magic Madness song.

But spoiler alert, this isn't about Nightbird. I'll write about her later.

Aside from her, one of the acts that the judges responded well to was from a group called "Korean Soul," and they sang this 1997 hit from K-Ci and Jojo.

"All My Life" was a monster hit when it was released. It was a favourite song to sing in contests, videoke joints and music bars with showbands.

It's good that this song is given airplay and a "2nd Life" more than 2 decades after.

Not so silent "H"

Oh the things you see when you spend time on Lazada.

Yes, it's a dress printed with a "Coconut Three."

Why not two? Or four?

The mysteries of Lazada.

Proofreader, please!

On Sale. Online.

Gosh, I miss the Plains & Prints Purple Sales of yore.

Before the start of the sale, I'd usually go to my regular branches like Shangrila Mall, SM Megamall, Glorietta and Ali Mall, then I'd ask the store managers what collections would be on sale. Then, I'd start checking out lookbooks and show them the dresses I'd be interested in. 

In case they had those dresses available, they'd be kind enough to save it for me. Then, when the day of the Preview Sale would arrive, you'll find me at the store by lunch time. More often, they'd have a BDO Sale and I'd get extra perks aside from the 50% discount.

Then, I'd walk out with several bags in my hand and a huge smile on my face.

Nowadays, my "visits" to the Purple Sale are just online.

Aside from this, Joan of Ali Mall would alert me about the new sale dresses in medium. Which is great because I get first dibs on sale items.

The feeling might be different, but still, the fabulous finds are still the same.

Good buy, Goodbye

Yup, I'm still browsing the GU Hong Kong website. It's my way of "visiting" a GU store since my last actual visit was already 2 years ago.

What caught my eye this time around? This interesting pair of mules!

Aside from it being on sale, which is always a plus, it had an interesting name. "Baboosh" reminds me so much of Carla-loo because that's how she would say goodbye to us whenever she'd leave the office after work. She'd cross over from Futura to Optima to wave at everyone while shouting "Baboosh!"

Ah yes. This goodbye is making me wonder when I can say hello to GU again.

Chillin’ Cutie

There’s something extremely calming about watching my apo - Adriana - just chillin’ on her baby contraption.

Looks like she’s equally chilled, too.

Lively Age

Full disclosure: I'm a fan of Blake Lively.

The first time I laid eyes on her on "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," it was apparent that she had talent. Next time I saw her was on "Gossip Girl" as the iconic Serena van der Woodsen. From there, it was clear that she'd make it big in Hollywood.

And indeed she did. After her small screen success, she went on to bigger things - and bigger screens. She headlined film after film, each role bigger than the previous one. From "Green Lantern" to "Hick" to "Savages," I'd wait and watch for her films.

One of the films I've seen several times and never tire watching is her romance/fantasy film "Age of Adaline." It was such a feel-good film that I ended up seeing it on the big screen several times, with different groups of friends.  And even if I saw it several times, I'd still smile at the same scenes. That's how wonderful of an actress she is.

This weekend, I found myself watching and re-watching scenes from that film on youtube. The scenes still get me each time, especially this scene:

Makes me wonder if "Age of Adaline" is on Netflix. Because if it is, I'll probably end up watching it a few more times again this weekend.

True or False (copy)

Looks like someone pressed "publish" before updating the content.

Yup. Whoever is managing this Lazada page didn't notice that they're using false copy and that it hasn't been updated with the actual one.

Proofreader, please!

FMM: Gun for it!

Today's Friday Magic Madness was inspired by the fact that I saw Claire Danes on a movie that was being showed on television.

But I'll save that post for later. 

For now, let me share this very fun and well-written ditty from the 1950s film, "Annie Get Your Gun."

"Anything you can do, I can do better" is one of the iconic songs from the film, which was based on a musical. The melody, lyrics and the performance of Betty Hutton and Howard Keel were just a joy to watch.

I better watch this again. And again. And again.

It's a new Day

Factoid # 1: I can't find InStyle Magazine anywhere. 

Factoid # 2: I can't go out to my usual magazine haunts.

Because of these 2 factoids, I just check out the InStyle website to find out who their cover girl is, and what articles are featured. Something that I've been doing since I last bought an actual InStyle Magazine last year.

And whenever I see a fresh, new cover girl gracing their cover, I can't help but wish I can get my hands on that particular issue.

Just like this June. 

Andra Day is a famous American Singer and Songwriter. She's also a very fashionable young woman. Which makes it no surprise that she's fronting InStyle this month.

While I can't get this issue now, I'm hoping that I'll find it at Book Sale in a few months.

LFLTAT: Victorian era

Yes, it's true!

The cuffed jeans from Bench really looks like the one from Victoria Beckham!

When I bought this pair, Lazada was on sale, so it was less than P500 for the pair. 

A fashionable pair of jeans deserves an equally fashionable top. Enter this shirt from the Anna Sui x Uniqlo collaboration. This was bought a few months ago, also on sale. It was just P290 for this beautiful tee!

It's a designer and a designer-esque combination for less than a thousand!

If that ain't a good deal, I don't know what is.

Growing girl

Our baby girl is growing up fast!

It was just a year ago when baby Olivia Rose was welcomed into the Morales clan. She’s the 2nd child of Jul and Jen, and my 2nd “apo.”

And here she is now!

Don’t grow up too fast Baby girl!