Lime Time

Back in the 2010s, there was one US brand that was a go-to when it comes to shoes and accessories. Those who are familiar with fashion were also familiar with this brand. 

Piperlime was part of the GAP group of brands. They focused more on bags and accessories, and they carried hundreds of shoe brands - from designer labels to more pocket-friendly options.

They never had a store in Asia, but their website was there for us to peruse. Often, I'd check out products there, order them and have them delivered to a US address, and the products would find their way to MNL. Tedious, but worth it.

I'd also check out their stores when my travels would take me to the US. Their lime facade was hard to miss.

One time, they were even the sponsor for Project Runway's accessory wall. It was a sign of how serious they were in building their brand.

Alas, by 2015, the brand shuttered down both their on-line and off-line presence. 

And with that, Piperlime's story ended on a sour note.

This is... Korean

Since the song came out in "The Greatest Showman," everybody fell in love with "This is Me."

That includes me.

The song and the MTV are on repeat, and it's something I'd listen to regularly.

Today, I discovered a new reason to enjoy the song even more:

There's a Korean version! And what makes this even cooler is that the singers are actually K-drama stars!

I've spotted the grandma in "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha," the queen's Dad in "Queen for Seven Days," and the Queen's handmaiden and the deposed Queen in "Under the Queen's Umbrella." It's so refreshing to see them at their most natural, and singing to boot!

This is... so cool!

Seeing Double

When it comes to chocolate wafer sticks, Giziku is my gold standard.

This was an Indonesian brand that they used to sell in the Philippines. I’d buy 2 of the big tubs and finish them in days. It was that good.

Unfortunately, they suddenly disappeared from supermarket shelves. And i’ve Been looking for a wafer stick that was as good.

For years, that search was for naught.

But last week, I found a product that was close to the Giziku taste I’m looking for.

Suoerstix Double Choco!

Too bad they don’t sell it in tubs as big as Giziku.

Oh well, will just buy double the number.

FMM: Nothing compares 2 her

Seems like they're organising a major concert in heaven. 

After Tony Bennet who passed away a few days ago, now, Sinead O' Connor has also left this world.

For our generation, Sinead was a music rebel. Her music was distinct from other music artists who were her contemporaries. From the melody, to the lyrics, to the ethereal way of singing, no one compares to her. 

That's why today's Friday Magic Madness is her biggest global hit: "Nothing Compares 2 U."

Truly, nothing - and no one - compares to Sinead O' Connor.

For that reason, she'll be missed.

That Muumuu that you do

Today’s generation probably don’t know the term, but back in the 70s, everyone knew what a “Muumuu” was.

It was a dress style that was a huge hit around that decade. Known for it’s oversized silhouette and vibrant prints, it was the perfect lounge dress.

Growing up, Mom had a lot of muumuus in her closet, and it was her go-to house dress (as well as her mahjong dress.)

Spotted a dress from the SheIn x Frida Kahlo collab, and it was giving full-on muumuu vibes. That’s the reason it snatched my attention and eventually purchased it.

While the shape is muumuu, the print is modern, and the asymmetric ruffled hem is also a contemporary touch. Those details make it cross over from the 70s to today.

That’s how you do muumuu,

Oh, Chute! Part 2

Whilst ‘i’m thrilled at my Zara web find, the sale items From the other Inditex brands here in MNL were equally thrilling.

Especially these parachute skirt from Bershka!

Ate Bullet is into utilitarian fashion, and this fits the bill. With its parachute material, balloon silhouette and gathered waist and hem, it’s so unique!

After Bershka, it was off to Pull and bear where these Velcro and rubber sandals were also on sale!

The style, material and color were equally utilitarian, which made it a perfect pair for the skirt.

To tie the look together, it’s good to keep it simple with a black, ribbed knit top from Penshoppe.

This is a chute ensemble that’s shoot worthy.

LFLTAT: Resort to this

This is an outfit that first caught my eye a few weeks ago.  

It's from the SM house brand that specializes in resort wear - Coco Cabana. This consists of a roomy top and loose trousers that's made with a silk fabric with a very pretty and eye-catching botanical motif. It also has tassel details on the hem of both the top and pants.

After checking it out, I told myself that I'd come back and buy it another time.

Passing through SM yesterday, I found out that the outfit was now on-sale! Aside from it being 50% off, my SM Prestige card also gave me an extra 10% off!

With that double discount, this entire resort ensemble rang up to less than P800!

That's why I resorted to buying it.

Caught in Zara's web

A few weeks ago, there was an item at the Zara store in SM Megamall that caught my eye.

It was an asymmetric blouse in this vibrant fuchsia hue. It was made of jersey, and it draped and fell beautifully. 

Knowing that Ate would rock that blouse, I told myself that I'd come back for it in a few days since their sale was about to start.

The sale did start, but upon visiting the Zara store, the blouse was nowhere to be found. It wasn't in the racks, and upon inquiring from the staff, they didn't know where it was.

It came to a point that I had to check out 3 Zara branches to look for it. To no avail.

Then, an idea popped in my head.

The Zara website!

After logging in and patiently poring through so many items - along with keyword searching - it turns out that the blouse was on-line!

Woot!

And that's how I made my first web purchase for Zara. And this is just a few months after my 1st web purchase for Mango.

Let me just say, the packaging of on-line orders are top notch. Aside from the box, it came in wrapped in Japanese paper.

Looks like I'll be doing this again soon.

Sunday Snoozing

Sundays are best spent just lazing around or taking naps whenever and wherever you feel like it.

And no, I'm not talking about myself.

This is one comfy cat who spends Sundays snoozing. (An alliteration!) 

Cats are so lucky.

You know the espadrille

Having family in Spain made us aware of espadrilles at a very young age.

Whenever my Tita and cousins would visit Manila, we'd often see them wearing these fabric shoes with jute soles. Each one wore different styles of these shoes - some were mules, some were sandals, some were flat, some were heeled.

Aside from wearing them, they'd bring us some pairs as pasalubong. But we always had a hard time wearing them. It felt too casual to wear for going out, but it was too nice to treat it like slippers at home. So, we'd often wear them at the beach.

Whenever we'd go to BCN, one store we'd always visit it a local espadrille chain called Toni Pons.

It's been making espadrilles for more than a century, and is one of the more popular Spanish espadrille maker, along with Castaner.

Because the Philippines is heavily influenced by Spain, it's no surprise that Toni Pons will find itself here in Manila. Last month, they opened their first store in SM Megamall.

Maybe it's time for me to look for those pairs of espadrilles that I've hidden for the past years.

Looks like espadrilles will be back in style soon.

FMM: Listen, People!

Yup, I called it!

As mentioned last Tuesday, today's Friday Magic Madness song is M People's iconic dance ditty. "Movin on up."

It felt like yesterday when we were listening to this at Adformatix. But in reality, this song is 30 years old.

30.

Years.

Old!

But as many classic songs, this never grows old. I'm into this song so much, this is the 3rd time it's made it to FMM.

That said, I move to listen to this song some more.

The short and short if it

During a trip to one of my haunts, there was a pair of shorts that caught my eye from afar. It was because of a combination of the colour, the fabric and the cut which was very classic.

Upon closer scrutiny, it turns out that the shorts were from the Kendall & Kylie collection which is usually sold at Walmart in the US. So, this is probably made in the Philippines and imported abroad. The shorts are called "Icon," and for a good reason.

Because a classic deserves a classic, this iconic pair of fatigue shorts deserves an iconic white, boyfriend shirt from SheIn. The result is this very comfy, chic and fashionable outfit.

Now, the same pair of shorts was available in a dusty rose colour. Of course, had to get that, too, and pair it with this feminine graphic tee from ForMe.

These shorts are so chic!

Pining for Peppermint

Speaking of cupcakes, whatever happened to Peppermint Patty by Cupcakes by Sonja’s?

This is my all-time fave from this shop. Unfortunately, their Megamall kiosk doesn’t carry it anymore.

Gotta find it and get my Peppermint fix soon.

M People

No, this post isn’t about the band.

Admittedly. Though, i’m A fan of that group and still play “Moving on up” on repeat.

So, what’s this “M”?

It’s the fact that Magnolia Bakery has finally opened near the office! They now have a stall in Megamall.

Of course, I had to drop by and get some banana pudding for dessert.

M so happy!

Western Influence

Whenever we’d watch old Western films, we’d often see the protagonists wearing 3 things: flannel, corduroy and denim. That’s why whenever I see these items of clothing, thoughts of Western movies and series come to mind.

Not to say that these items are costume-y and only belong on television or movies. When done right, these can look very contemporary and chic.

Just like this combination of corduroy and denim.

The shirt is a navy blue corduroy shirt from the Patty Ang x Bench collection from 2019. The flared skirt is from Stradivarius. Both have that western feel, but done in a very modern way.

You can say that this is “the best from the West.”

Orange you surprised?

While they're known for their named scents like "You or Someone Like You," "Fat Electrician" and "Exit the King," the OG scent of this niche brand is "Cologne."

Yes, compared to its other iterations, "Cologne" sounds very plain and basic. 

But when it comes to the scent, that's farthest from the truth.

"Cologne" is an orange bomb. From the moment you spray it until it dries down, it's the orange note that pervades. From the orange fruit to the orange blossom, to dried orange peels - these all come together and create this refreshing scent.

And if you're looking for a fresh scent, you'll be surprised how "Cologne" delivers.

SSDD

About a decade ago, I'd see Bea and Kekx regularly on Saturdays.

They were my students in SSC, both with a minor in Advertising. Even back then, their penchant for creativity and making commercials were evident. Thus, I was hoping that they'd pursue their advertising careers.

Luckily, they did.

Now, I'm working with Bea and Kekx! On a Saturday, to boot! It's like a reunion of our Saturday classes, albeit more fun and professional.

Looking at them work, it's easy to see that they've got a bright future ahead of them in this industry. It's something that I saw many, many, maaaaannnny Saturdays ago, and something that I'm seeing again this Saturday.

Same Saturday. Different Decade.

FMM: Super!

"Taste of Honey" is a 70s duo which had a bunch of awesome hits.

I'd see them on those old episodes of music shows like American Top 40. And I'd find myself bopping my head to the beat.

One of their songs that I'd listen to on repeat is "Superstar/Superman" which is a quintessential 70s song with its beat, instrumentation and the way they sung it. Listening to it transports me back to the disco era.

Listening to it makes me think: "this group - and song - are super!"

Free Willy

The Willy Wonka film has another iteration coming out soon!

Timothee Chalemet and Hugh Grant? They’re not playing!

Gotta watch out for this Willy.

Still the one

Nope, this isn't about that Shania Twain song.

This is about the news that came out today that Greenbelt 1 is finally closing its doors. 

Yes, the OG Greenbelt, the place where a lot of my memories were made, is finally being redeveloped. If you think about it, this was a long time coming. Compared to the Greenbelt Malls around it, particularly Greenbelt 5, it looks very dark, dreary and outdated. 

In fact, when my cousins from BCN are here, and we walk through Greenbelt, they notice the difference when we cross from Greenbelt 5 to Greenbelt 1. 

Despite that, Greenbelt 1 is still the most memorable Greenbelt for me.

As a kid, we'd go to the Coney Island branch here to get our ice cream fix. During my 1st job at Adfomratix, we'd often have lunch at Greenbelt 1. This is where the big Triple V Express used to be. Wendy's was also a go-to, and that store is still around until today.

They also had a big Cinderella store in Greenbelt 1 before. This is where I bought a Reno jacket with my 1st paycheck as a copywriter. That jacket is still with me, by the way. 

This is just some of the many, many memories that are still fresh in my mind. There's also National Sports Grill, OnStage, Greenbelt 1 Cinemas (the cheapest place to watch movies in Makati,) David's Tea House, Chili's - gosh, there are so many!

So, while it's going to be closed soon, Greenbelt will always be open in my mind and memories.

Plural arrangement

Funny how an extra "s" can make a good poster turn bad.

Observe.

No, "member" shouldn't be plural. 

No, "member" shouldn't have had that "s."

It's either "Quick steps to be an Elite Member" or "Quick steps to be Elite Members."

Proofreader, please!

Barkin up the right tree

One of the Netflix films that I've placed on my watch list is the new caper-comedy "The Outlaws."

What drew me to it? 

Ellen Barkin!

I've been a fan of hers for the longest time. She always played strong, enigmatic characters. From "Sea of Love" to "Ocean's Thirteen," she's always a joy to watch.

And I'm sure I'll enjoy her in "The Outlaws," too.

Belgian Bliss

Lawson has always been consistent in coming up with yummy new offerings. Presenting my newest discovery.

Belgian Chocolate Milk! As a chocolate milk fan, this checks all the boxes. Creamy. Check! Full chocolate flavor. Check. Not too sweet. Check. Looks like I have a new milk drink on rotation.

Crosswalk Confusion

That's probably what happened to people when they encountered this crosswalk sign along P. Tuazon.

So, are we supposed to stop? Or are we supposed to go?

Guess we'll just have to cross the walk when we get there.

FMM: Channeling Coco

The Asian music scene was shocked this week upon hearing of Coco Lee’s passing.

She was the singer who broke the glass ceiling for Chinese-American singers. From her career beginnings in HKG, to her stellar turns in Hollywood, to her Oscar performance and nomination - she blazed trails and opened so many opportunities for Asian singers.

I’ve always been a fan of Coco Lee and wrote about her in the past. That’s why it’s sad to think that we won’t be hearing her voice again.

That’s why today’s Friday Magic Madness song is dedicated to her. It’s one of her big hits from the 90s, which was also a song from the hit film “Runaway Bride.”

“Before I fall in love” is such a beautiful song, made even more beautiful with her voice.

And her voice will surely be missed.

White hot!

There are so many cute and hit white dresses in Mango these days. So many, it was difficult to choose one.

Solution:choose two!

The 1st one is an eyelet mini-dress with long sleeves.

If you think the front is nice, you should see the back!

The 2nd dress is a midi-dress with a ruched front and puff sleeves.

This white is so right!

Street Fashion

Here’s another interesting thing I learned about CDO on this trip.

Around Divisoria Park, ukay-ukay stalls pop-up starting 8pm. The usually quiet streets and closed stalls suddenly come to life with various merchandise - from jackets to jeans to graphic tees.

Considering how people started to come in droves a few minutes after the stalls opened, it’s safe to say that these ukays are a popular fashion destination for the locals.

This gives “Street Fashion” a totally new meaning.

Massage en masse

If you're into getting massages, (unlike me), then CDO is going to be up your alley.

As the sun sets in a big park in the Divisoria area, weary bodies congregate en masse. That's because the park is filled with masseuses and masseurs who cater to anyone who needs a quick massage. 

Chairs are set-up all over the park, and you can see people in bright coloured shirts and vests who offer all types of massages. 

Considering the big number of people who were there last night it turns out that this is a popular attraction. Imagine, it was a Monday, but there were so many people. Judging by what they wore, some came straight from their work place, and some looked like they lived nearby and just walked over for a quick massage.

They put the "mass" in "massage."

Middle ground

It was during my first visit to CDO that I first learned about the interesting story of Laguindingan Airport.

After referring to Laguindingan as the "airport of Cagayan De Oro," it turns out that it wasn't. 

Unlike the usual airports that belong to one city or province, this airport belongs to several places. That's because it's in the middle of Misamis Oriental and Iligan. Thus, these 2 provinces share the airport.

In fact, after exiting the airport, you'll find a fork in the road. The right turn goes to Iligan, while the left one goes to Misamis Oriental, and eventually, CDO.

Ah yes. The things you learn from traveling.

Jiggle it. Just a little bit.

No, this isn't a misspelling of the classic 2-in-a-Room ditty.

Ugh! The song is now playing in my mind. Must make this an FMM sometime soon.

So, what's jiggling? It's this!

Jiggels Jelly Juice drink is a recent supermarket run discovery. And as a fan of jelly drinks, this was a must try.

It's so goo! 

I like this a lot! And not just a little bit.

Handover Hangover

It's hard to imagine that it's been 27 years since HKG was officially handed over from the UK to China. Back in 1997, we were glued to the TV, watching this momentous event.

We've been going to HKG when it was still under British rule. It was actually interesting because it was an Asian country, a lot of the buildings have Chinese signages, but the people you see around were British. From the police men, to the shop keepers, to restaurant owners - they were all white folks.

It felt like it was the UK transplanted to Asia.

Watching the handover felt like watching an end of an era. 

And after visiting HKG post-UK, it really was.