Sing Style: At your own Athleisure

Since my SG trip was just for 3 days, shopping wasn't really part of the itinerary.

Yeah, right.

Surprisingly was able to squeeze in a couple of mall runs during my short stay. And just like that, my empty luggage suddenly became full.

Among the stuff that I bought were SG brands that are no longer in the PH. Like Iora.

There used to be a couple of Iora stores in MNL, but they shuttered one-by-one. They even had an outlet store in Libis, which is now also gone.

They were having their annual sale, which was enough for me to go in the store and shop away. Here's one of the outfits from that run.

It's a white boat neck top and a pleated skirt. What makes this outfit interesting is that it's made from a sporty, cotton-jersey blend. It gives new meaning to the term "Athleisure."

Another nice thing about the skirt is the side detail.

The 2 stripes, which people mistake for Adidas - adds elevates the athletic vibe. 

Not bad for a "not shopping" find.

High School Musical

No, this isn't a post about that movie.

It's about an impromptu high school reunion.

The venue they chose was Cafe 80s near ABS-CBN. It was a cozy cafe and bar that played 80s music non-stop. And since we were all kids of the 80s, the music was perfect for our vibe.

True enough, we were singing and hand-dancing for hours. It felt like we were in LSQC again.

That's what the right music - and company - can do.

End of an Era

That's how it feels after reading this news article.

For more than 3 decades, Anna Wintour was Vogue and Vogue was Anna Wintour. Thinking of the magazine without her is such a vague (get it, get it) prospect.

It's exciting to see who the new head of Vogue will be. And in the words of Emily in "The Devil Wears Prada,"

"You have very large shoes to fill."

FMM: Corley, maybe

This was totally random.

While walking along Ortigas Center, my mind suddenly remembered a beat. It was consecutive beats of an electric drum. This was followed by the words: "Thinking in square rooms..."

And all of a sudden, "Square Rooms" started playing in my head.

That's how this 1984 hit from Al Corley became today's Friday Magic Madness song. Gosh! That's a name and song that I haven't heard or thought of in ages!

Maybe it's my cravings for 80s music.

Crown Jewel

The good thing about flying to SG through PAL is that they're in Changi Airport Terminal 1.

And Terminal 1 is directly connected to The Jewel.

So, finally, I've been able to catch the much talked about waterfall show.

It was funny how people reacted to it. There were so much "oooohs" and "aaaahs" that made me think, "haven't you guys seen a waterfall before?"

SG turns sweet

Wanted to bring a pasalubong that's both unique and yummy for my friends in SG.

Didn't have to look any further. 

Of course, I had to let them try the chocolates and crack cakes made by my niece, Toni.

Sweet!

Look me in the ice!

No visit to SG is complete without iced desserts.

We usually go to the stall at Redhill Hawker Centre, but apparently that store already closed.

So, we hopped around from one centre to another, until we found one. But since we went to a lot of places, the name of this centre escapes me now.

Then again, the name isn't important. This is:

We had the classic ice kachang, a power chendol and the ruby reds. 

This was a cool way to wrap up my short trip.

Bee before C

Had to see this for myself.

The fast food joint that dislodged Carl's Jr. from Vivo City is this:

Yes! Our very own Jollibee beat out my fave fast food joint in SG.

While I'm sad that Carl's Jr. isn't there, there's a strong sense of pride because a Pinoy brand had to bee the one to replace it.

Mee time

Here's another place that's a staple and must-visit during my SG trips.

Chung Cheng Prawn Mee!

This is a spot I've been visiting for ages. My landmark to this hawker centre was the Golden Mile building, which in itself is a must-visit place. Alas, they've closed down Golden Mile to give way to a new condominium building.

Thankfully, the hawker centre and Chung Chen are both very much open!

Their dry prawn mee is still the best one I've tasted in SG. That's why it's a non-negotiable part of my itinerary.

Time to enjoy this!

Smells like (Oval)tine spirit!

Upon seeing this from outside a convenience store in SG, it was target locked!

Whilst I'm a huge Milo fan, it's been ages since I've last seen Ovaltine, much more an RTD one!

Honestly, I've forgotten how Ovaltine tastes like, so I'm not sure if this RTD captures the flavour. But without that taste-memory-factor, this one is good!

So good, a few bottles came home with me to MNL.

FMM: Teddy's time

One of my favourite childhood shows was "Video Hit Parade." It was a 30-minute show that showed MTVs, and this was before MTV had a channel in the Philippines.

A video that they would often show back then was for a song by Teddy Pendergrass, and it was entitled "In my time."

As a kid, this MTV elicited so much feels. Aside from the song having this melancholic tune and heartfelt lyrics, Teddy's demeanour and presence in the video was also very sentimental.

After that, I'd always watch the show to try and catch this video again. There was something calming about it.

And now, more than 40 years after the song was launched, it still has the same feels.

Orange you glad

As an orange juice stan, this fills me heart with citrus-flavoured joy.

You can see thses iJooz kiosks scattered all over SG. For just SG$2, you can get freshly squeezed orange juice, straight from the source, conveniently packed in a sealed cup.

Finished around 6 cups in my short SG trip, which is testament to how good this is.

I'd be glad if they would put up something like this in MNL. 

Traditional start

Since there's a Hawker Centre in the place I"m staying in, it's just right that I'd get breakfast there.

It's almost tradition for SG folks to have breakfast at Hawker Centres where they live. That's why during my visit, the place had a lot of office folks about to start their daily grind. There were also a lot of seniors who were leisurely chatting and having breakfast.

Talking about traditional, that would best describe my breakfast.

Iced Milo and a curry puff. Hey, it' doesn't get any more SG than that!

Get into my Carl's

My last trip to SG was in 2019. That's 6 years ago!

Of course, Carl's Jr. is always part of an SG trip itinerary.

My go-to branches were the ones in Marina Square and Vivo City. Alas, they're both closed already.

There are only 3 remaining branches, and they're usually in far off places. But being the fan, it didn't stop me from traveling far to get my fix.

So, my Carl's Jr. cravings brought me to Buona Vista, at Star Vista Mall.

Yes, ti was a bit off the beaten track, but who wouldn't travel or a taste of Carl's Jr.

I'm never going to get tired of this.

It never gets old

That - for me - is Old Chang Kee.

Ever since I was a young 'un going to SG, Old Chang Kee would always be part of the itinerary. Their curry puffs are top tier, and I'm amazed that the taste and quality hasn't changed in decades.

Almost 7 decades, actually. The brand is celebrating their 70th year next year. Talk about longevity!

For that reason, Old Chang Kee was the first order of business.

Of course, we had Curry-Os and their Honey Lime juice.

I'll never get tired of this.

LFLTAT: Rock the Oats

There's something very aesthetic about the colour oatmeal.

It's not as stark as white, nor is it as utilitarian as beige. It's somewhere in between simple and classy.

While at the mall, chanced upon 2 stores that had clothes in that nice, oatmeal colour. And it's an ensemble that's less than a thousand pesos!

The skirt is from Surplus Shop. It's a high-low skirt made of twill that's light enough, but has volume. Than, there's the top from For Me which has a boxy fit and a detail in front.

It's an oatmeal ensemble that's easy to rock.

Hi Heidi!

So, the rumours are true!

Heidi Klum is back on "Project Runway!"

This is going to make this show much more fun to watch. And yes, as Heidi herself said, we're so excited to hear her say "Auf Wiedersehen" yet again.

(Please bring back Tim Gun, too!)

FMM: Lost and found

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Sybil, particularly her song - "The Love I lost." This song is memorable for many reasons, one of which is the fact that it's part of my core memory, thanks to Emin's debut.

What some people may not know is that this hit by Sybil was just a remake. The original was done in 1973, and was sung by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.

This group was a major player int he disco, R&B and doo-wop music scene of the 70s. One of the group's most famous alumni was Teddy Pendergrass, who sang many unforgettable songs. But we'll save that for later.

Don't want this moment to be lost.

Independent thought

Okay, fine. Let's do this.

Today is Independence Day. Let's play some Destiny's Child!

Happy Independence Day!

Wednesday on a Wednesday

As a fan of "The Addams Family," I'm intrigued by the trailer for the soon-to-be streamed "Wednesday, Season 2."

Having grown up on the comic and madcap iteration of the series, seeing this dark, ominous and sinister trailer is both intriguing and unsettling. Where's the wholesome cuteness? Where's the slapstick comedy? Where are the laughs?

Then again, this is just the trailer. Maybe I'll catch an episode or 2 and see if I'll give this series the time of day.

Get your freak(ier) on!

Further proof that Lindsay Lohan is back:

She's reprising the role that made her a teen queen! 

After decades, "Freaky Friday" finally gets a much deserved sequel!

Thinking about it is freaking me out!

Very safely guarded

That would best describe this Safeguard soap.

What's happening here? Was it trying to escape? Are people filching hand soaps?

Whatever the reason was, it's safe to say that this made me chuckle today.

Amusing Museums

Jeju is rife with museums.

Mark and I were joking that in Jeju, there's a museum for everything.

And that joke was not just half-meant, it was meant-meant.

Here's proof:

See, they even have a museum for sex and health.

Interesing.

Convenient breakfast

Because there were a lot of convenience stores around the hotel, we eschewed the buffet breakfast and decided to just grab brekkie at one of the stores.

This was my breakfast on our 2nd day.

Of course, the onigiri had to be there. And my drink was this Honey Ginger juice that was full-on ginger!

Wish our convenience stores here in MNL have this level of variety.

FMM: Smokey gets in your eyes

Here's another song about seeing someone. And it's from 1987, so it' qualifies as a Friday Magic Madness song.

"Just to see her," is one of the most popular songs from Smokey Robinson. It's such an easy song to listen to and to sing along with, that's why it's a joy to listen to it again and again.

Where the's Smokey, there's a fire song!

Where've you been?

Those lyrics from Taylor Swift were the first words that came to mind after seeing this:

CU is a big convenience store chain in South Korea, and it's all over the place. You can walk a few blocks without seeing one.

So, it's easy to see you in CU.

Separates Lives: Hi-Low, is it me your looking for

Part of the Mark Nicdao x Plains & Prints collaboration was a high-low t-shirt which had a shirred front and a pretty print of Paco Park. (How's that for an alliteration?)

It's such an elevated tee that it can take a simple pair of slim jeans and Birks-inspired slides to a higher level.

And thanks to the Purple Sale, you can do that for a low price.

Separates Lives: Lovely in Lavender

If I'm not mistaken, it was during S/S 2024 that the Plains & Prints pleated skirt with the lavender print came out. It had a matching sleeveless top that was also pretty and feminine, and the ensemble looked like a dress when paired.

Never got around to buy that outfit back then. But as the Purple Sale rolled in, it was the perfect time to check if it was still on the rack.

Both the skirt and blouse were still available, but in an effort to not be too matchy-matchy, we eschewed the blouse and just bought the skirt.

The print of the skirt is so eye-catching that a plain top would be a better pair. This lavender boxy shirt from The SM Store was just what the fashion doctors ordered.

While the matching pair was nice, this combination is much lovelier.

Separates Lives: Nifty Neutrals

Neutral outfits don't have to be boring. 

With the right materials and silhouettes, neutrals can also be elevated.

And continuing with our series on separates, here's a good example of that:

The pants are also from Plains & Prints, and is the same cut as the "Coral" pants. The difference is in the material, and this uses white denim.  The top is a knit top with a floral embroidery, also from the same brand.

Together, it's a very classic, very French ensemble that can go to a casual errand or a weekend party.

That's how versatile - and fashionable - neutrals can be.

Separates Lives: Knit wit

I've always been a fan of knits. 

Although our weather doesn't really go well with knitted clothes, a number of fast fashion brands still incorporate knits in their collections. The trick is using lighter knits, and incorporating them in other pieces of clothing - not just sweaters or tops.

Just like this knit skirt from Plains & Prints.

It's made of a knit material, albeit not too heavy. The material makes it flattering, and it also falls nicely. The print is also visually interesting, which adds to the appeal. And because of the black waistband, a black top would be the perfect accompaniment to this skirt. Enter this jersey, boat neck top from For Me.

See, knits can be weather appropriate. And cool!