Ring my Belle!

This is it! I'm totally freaking and geeking out!

The final official trailer for "Beauty and the Beast" is finally here. And I join the legion of fans of the original animated movie in rolling on the floor in excitement.

Can it be March 17 now? Please?! Please?!

Je ne sais quoi!

While we were having our presentation, we could hear sporadic bursts of cheer outside the conference room. As it turns out, Miss Universe was on-going and being followed by the people outside.

Yup, I've been living under a rock and wasn't really following this whole Miss Universe thing. While I've seen an article here and there, everything else was alien to me. Including today's finals night.

Just as meeting wrapped up, so did the contest. And this year's Miss Universe is from France!

My colleagues were watching a replay of the crowning moment, and I must say, Iris Mittenaere deserves the crown. She has beauty, intelligence and poise.

But more importantly, she has those very French qualities of joie-de-vivre and je ne sais quoi. She looks very natural, spontaneous and unrehearsed, which makes her a breath of fresh air.

Vive le France!

Tripping on Acid

There are some trends that you wish wouldn't come back.

Among them are: harem pants, gold net sandals, stirrups, and acid washed jeans.

But to my chagrin, I saw this in Uniqlo today.

Acid washed jeans are back! (Ugh!)

Fine, it could've been worse. At least they didn't bring back the stirrups.

Imagine all the people... and lemons!

Today was definitely well-spent.

Had lunch with Mark and Patrick's family, including the uber adorable Baby Jesse. He's such an effervescent kid, and his smile is so infectious. Just like when he and Mark rode the carousel - he was smiling from ear to ear, and I couldn't help but smile as well.

And he's a friendly kid, too. He was giving me high-fives, flying kisses while we were together, and a hug as we went our separate ways.

As I was making my way out of ATC, I saw a stall that made me stop and buy their product. I'm a huge fan of pun names, and this one was hard to resist.

After seeing this, all I can think of was:

Imagine all the lemons,
living for today, yoohoo
You might say I'm a drinker
But I'm not the only one
All those lemons, you can squeeze them,
And lemonades for everyone.

FMM: Always en vogue!

Suddenly, it's Friday again.

Since the start of the week, the team has been feeling a 90s kind of vibe, which explains the wafting of 90s music in our department the past few days.

Now, the 90s wouldn't be complete without the soulful voices of the all-female groups that dominated the airwaves. Groups like TLC, Salt N Pepa, and one of my all-time favorites -  En Vogue!

I mean, come one, at one point in the 90s, everyone was singing and dancing along to their hit song "My Lovin' - You're never gonna get it."



Admit it, you're singing and dancing as you watch this video. Right?

Right.

Kids at work

What makes advertising work so fun is the type of people surrounding you on a daily basis.

In my case, I'm fortunate that my team is a good mix of creative minds of all ages. And the young 'uns definitely make the office wackier, more fun, and more exciting. Plus, it makes the more "senior" creatives feel young as well.

Kids. You gotta love 'em!

Family of professionals

Whenever we do a commercial, we make sure we work with the best people.

So, we get professionals who are among the best in their field. From producers to directors to cinematographers to production designers to post-production personnel.

And there are instance when these professionals are such a joy to work with that they cease to become "professionals" or "suppliers," and become close friends. Heck, some of them feel like family.

Just like this team who I have the pleasure to work with on a regular basis.

Great job, guys! On to the next project!

The first. The last.

Star Wars fans - just like me - are all agog and excited today.

They've launched the first teaser poster for Episode 8, as well as the title of the latest installment in the franchise.

The Last Jedi.

It's such a simple but powerful title. And I'm sure people are in a tizzy thinking who the last Jedi is. Could it be Luke Skywalker? Or Rey? Or could it be Leia?

This is the first of many questions that will keep us excited and fired up until December.

Theory of Evolution

This is the interestingly funny sight greeted me at Shangrila Mall tonight.

I wonder if I should stand right outside the door and see what people evolve into once they step out.

Matcha-rap

The Matcha craze isn't letting up anytime soon.

And the latest brand to jump into the green tea bandwagon is my favorite Taiwanese beverage chain - Quickly!

I tried their Matcha and it was legit! One sip, and I felt transported back to Tokyo in a snap!

Now here's another reason to love Quickly. And Matcha, too.

Ranger zone

Fine.

Call me a nerd. Call me a geek. Call me a child who's stuck in puberty.

Call me anything you want. As long as I can indulge and watch the upcoming Power Rangers film.

Especially after seeing the full trailer:



I'm thrilled to the hilt to see all 5 Rangers, Rita Repulsa, and of course, the giant robots!

Can you show this now? Please!

FMM: Merciful Marvin

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is inspired by my flight to Davao last Wednesday.

I was fortunate enough to be seated beside an amazing woman, and her stories, insights and kindness really made the 90-minute flight feel shorter.

The song that she inspired is actually a classic from one of my favorite artists, Marvin Gaye!



Thank goodness for Mercy.

Friends of long standing

One of the campaigns I'm currently working on is about long-standing friendships. My clients want to celebrate the joy and beauty of friendships, particularly those that have been around for decades.

I'm totally on-board when it comes to campaigns like this. After all, it's something that I'm a big believer of.

My longest standing friend is Eric, who I've known since we we're in kinder. (Yes! Kindergarten! At Learn and Play school in Sct. Gandia.)

Last Christmas, I got together with two of my close high school friends - Gary and Aldo. (And yes, Gary and I still talk about Star Wars as if we were still in high school.)

Then, there was the wedding in Boracay and Batangas, also celebrated with longtime and lifelong friends.

And the list goes on.

During last night's wedding reception, I met a lot of Mark's grade school friends. Which means they've been friends for more than 20 years! Amazing!

Some of them I've actually known for a while. Like Eric, Mike and Gelo - who is definitely one of the most genuinely nice people I've met.

But the others, I only met last night. And they're such nice and fun people. It was so refreshing to be surrounded by bright, happy people who exude so much humor, warmth and positive energy. It's just too bad that we didn't get to spend more time with them as we had an early flight the next day.

The good thing is, I'm sure that last night was just the first of many times I'll be spending with them. And that's something that I look forward to.

Firsts of 2017: First wedding

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of weddings. Whether I'm organizing it or attending it, there's an overwhelming feeling of love and magic that I experience.

Tonight, we attended 2017's first wedding - Gelo and Angel's celebration of love.

As expected, it was such a warm, heartwarming and emotion-packed event filled with happy moments spent with friends both new and not-so-new. And even if it was raining throughout the mass and reception, it didn't dampen the joy that everyone felt. Not one bit. In fact, it brought people even closer - figuratively and literally. (We were bunched together while dodging the rain. Harhar.)

This is a great way to start off the year of weddings. And I'm looking forward to more this year.

What's old is new again!

That's just how fashion works.

Trends rotate in about 7 to 10 years, so you have the tendency to have a sartorial deja vu. The items you once wore a decade ago is suddenly current and en vogue.

Case in point: embellished jeans. Which is slowly going back in the spotlight, as seen in this Topshop window display.

My first impression of this pair of jeans was: "Gosh! That's so 2006!"

Because it really is!

The embellished jeans trend exploded when I was still living in HKG. Back then, almost all stores - from big fast fashion brands in the mall to the smallest stall in Fa Yuen Street - had embellished jeans on their racks. The embellishment ranged from yarn embroidery to patch work to swarovski crystals.

It was such a big thing that it was impossible NOT to see anyone wearing this type of jeans. And admittedly, I joined the trend, buying a couple of pairs myself. (I think I still have one of them.)

I should tell the Ates that the trend is back. This is the best time to unearth their embellished jeans and show them off again.

Dog-gone Cuteness part 2

Last week, we were shooting as this nice house in QC, and the owners had an adorable dog named Bruno.

The adorable thing about Bruno is that he constantly sleeps, and he sleeps anywhere he wants.

For example, we were in the middle of the set, preparing to shoot a scene. Despite the busy surroundings, Bruno planted himself in front of me and did this:

Yes, he chose to sleep in front of me, while I was busy on set.

How cute is that?

One skirt, two ways: Fuchsia fever!

Apparently, the full skirt trend has no signs of slowing down. In almost all fast fashion chains, you can still find different incarnations of the trend.

One of my favorites is this full fuchsia skirt from Forever 21. (Gosh! So many "F" words in one sentence.) It caught my eye because of the striking color and the material that allows the fluffiness to retain its shape.

A skirt like this is so versatile, there are so many ways to wear it. It'll look great with a crisp, button down shirt. a bustier, a graphic tee - the options are limitless.

But let me narrow it down to two.

First, pair it with a streamlined top with the same shade.

This cropped top has a nice shape - round neck, sleeveless, and with cutouts on the side. Pairing it with the skirt makes it look like one whole dress.

Second, team it up with a lady-like blouse.

This silk number has an interesting, mock-turtleneck shape, but executed in a soft, silky fabric. This provides a perfect foil to the structure of the skirt. The combination gives it a lady-like look to it.

These 2 looks will definitely fit my 2 sisters!

Back-to-school smiles!

Today, we had our first faculty meeting for the 2nd semester. And it was so nice to see everyone again after not seeing them for one whole semester.

The energy in the room was so effervescent, and it was clear to see that everyone is ready and raring to teach. I know I definitely am!

Go Mass Comm!

FMM: Break open the Champagne!

More specifically, the Evelyn "Champagne" King!



Today feels like a 70s kind of Friday, so I thought it best to play this classic disco ditty to make me feel bubbly.

And Champagne never fails to do that.

Two in one!

The start of the year is busy good at work.

Today, we had our 2nd shoot in just 1 week! And it's just the start of many, many shoots to come!

Bring it on, 2017!

Bursting with goodness

It's amazing what you can discover in convenience stores! Today, I discovered this new juice brand called "Suburst Select.". And it's really, really, REALLY good!

The flavors are different, even premium. And although I know it's only part-juice, (a very small part, I reckon,) it's still super yummers.

I'm bursting with joy after this discovery.

Label laughs

You know that the person in the factory is sleepy when you check out a dress in Kamiseta and see this:

Either the sewer was holding the label the wrong way, or the dress was upside down when they sewed it on.


Either way, someone needs stricter quality control.

Bring out the smiles

One of our clients celebrated her birthday, and they asked me to design a cake for her.

They own the brand Smileys, the sandwich cookie that we launched last year. And inspired by that, this was the sketch I made.

The concept is 2 Smiley cookies on top of each other, and the top layer features the face that's on their vanilla flavor.

I gave the design to Ate and they came up with this!

Heck, I couldn't help but smile.

Anniversary, Unedited.

Today is my Mom and Dad's 51st wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been a year since we celebrated their Golden year!

During their anniversary reception, the 5 of us had to give a short speech for our parents. As the youngest, I was the last to speak.

My speech was already set in my head. I knew what to say and ran it in my mind a few times. And when I got up the stage, things were going pretty well.

Until...

About 1/3 into my speech, I started to feel the tears welling in my eyes. Yup, I was about to cry. And the problem was, none of my 4 siblings cried. Not even Ate Lissa and Ate Bullet - who I actually expected to.

So, in my mind, I was saying: "Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry."

I was so busy thinking of that mantra that I messed up the rest of my speech. While I was able to say most of it, there were some bits that I forgot.

So, on the occasion of my parents' 51st wedding anniversary, here's what I really wanted to say, unedited:

=================================================

It’s always difficult being the last to speak because by the time they get to you, everyone else has said everything. You’ve probably heard the words: “Happy Anniversary” a hundred times. So, for the 101^st time, Happy Anniversary.

More than that, I also want to say “Thank you,” to both of you. Thank you because who I am is because of who you raised me to be.

I am the best of both my parents.

I have my Dad’s good looks, but I have my Mom’s height and skin color. (Sorry Dad.) I have my Mom’s patience, but I have my Dad’s temper. (Sorry Mom.) I like to shop, like my Dad, but I’m stingy, like my Mom.

Not to say that my parents are complete opposites. Both my Mom and Dad are very caring and loving. They’re both very family oriented. And they’re both very generous.

My parents are 2 of the most generous people I know. I saw this while I was growing up. They gave so much of themselves, even to a point when they didn’t have any left for themselves. They’re generous materially. But more than that, they’re generous with their time, generous with advice, and generous with themselves. And that’s one of the things I’m grateful for.

Thank you for teaching me to be generous. And that’s just one of the things I’d like to thank you for.

Thank you for letting us live the lives we want.

Thank you for allowing us to be ourselves.

Thank you for allowing us to choose the path we want to take.

Thank you for allowing us to choose who we’ll love.

Thank you for allowing us to find our own happiness.

Thank you for the good genes, of course.

Thank you for teaching us to believe in forever.

And thank you for teaching us that a relationship doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be worthwhile.

Mom and Dad, I don’t say this often, not aloud at least, but let me say it in front of everyone today:

I love you, Mom.

I love you, Dad.

I love you both, so, so, so, much.

(And this is the point where I would've bawled like a baby. Harhar.)

From Mexico to Spain

Yesterday, it was all about Mexico. So today, it'll be about our other hispanic partner - Spain!

Our relatives from Barcelona flew in to spend Christmas in the Philippines. And while they were here for 2 weeks, they've been hopping around from Tagaytay to Boracay to Batangas. Ergo, we had a difficult time catching up with them.

Tonight was their last night before flying back to BCN, so we rounded them up for a nice, Filipino-Spanish dinner at Corazon.

It's always great to reconnect with our Spanish cousins. And we're so glad that they're visiting us much more often than they used to. So, while they may be flying out tomorrow night, I'm sure we'll see them again very soon.

Nos vemos!

FMM: Mex-xed up!

For today's lunch, Mark and I decided to meander a bit and see whether there were new places that's worth trying.

This led us to The Atrium of SM Megamall, and a newly-opened fast casual restaurant called "Gringo."

As the name implies, they serve Mexican food. (Or Tex-Mex, in some aspects.) Having lived in Mexico for a while, we decided to give it a shot.

And as a former Mexico habitue, their chicken is legit! The spices and blend of flavors remind me of sidewalk chicken in Monterrey!

This little chicken dish inspired today's Friday Magic Madness song, a 70s classic from James Taylor.



I want to go back to Mexico soon!

Dog-gone cuteness!

This is little Puma.

Little Puma is an adorable little dog.

Puma is so little, brown and fuzzy, I once mistook him for a rug.

Feisty Puma barks at everything.

The past few weeks, little Puma has been humping everything in sight. (Ugh!)

Despite all that, little Puma is still adorable.

That's why we can't get enough of him.

This is little Puma.

Sale sign (of the times)

It has begun!

H&M just amped up their sale. Zara's annual year-starter sale has commenced. And every other store has put up their sale sign!

Dangerous times. Dangerous times.

Reality bites. Nay, it slaps!

It's the first day of work!

And I think this meme pretty much captures the sentiments of the whole office:

Back to work guys!

You wood, wouldn't you?

There are times when you drop by a store and something you see surprises you. That was the feeling I got after seeing this interesting little minaudiere at SM Department Store.

It's made of wood! And it's surprisingly light! And it was on sale! And I have 3 exclamation points in a row!!!

A bag this chic was just begging to be bought. And it was also begging for a companion shoe - a pair of easy-to-wear shoes that had the same neutral color that complements wood.

Enter Rustans, and this nice pair of shoes:

It had the right color, it had the right style, and it had just the right height. It was one of those classic strappy shoes that would go well with anything. But it goes best with the wood bag.

And what best to do with this duo? Use it with the solihiya dress for Ate Bullet.

The final look: a modern, Filipiniana and wood-inspired outfit that's sure to stand out.

Ate wood definitely rock this look to an event. I mean, would.

Years may change, but some things never will...

Just like family.

And just like how our family makes it a point to spend New Year's together, being our happy, crazy, hungry and gregarious selves.

Happy New Year and all the best for 2017, from our family to yours!