Turning a new Leap

Here’s a post that I only do once in 4 years.

When I was a Kid, I wished that my birthday was February 29, so I would only need to celebrate it once in 4 years. Obviously, i’m not a huge fan of birthdays.

Rona told me that her Aunt is celebrating her birthday today. Because she only celebrates once every 4 years, she’s just 23 today. But in reality, she’s 92! I mean, how cool is that?

So, on that note: Happy Leap Year!

Wait. Gain.

The first time I saw this dress at Una Rosa in Shangri-La was about a year ago. I was smitten by both the fabric and style of this sheer, lace dress with a short inner camisole.

Back then, it was selling at P3,499, and back then, I thought it was a good buy. After all, the fabric alone was “worth the price of admission.”

But since Una Rosa was very near Plains and Prints, every time I think of buying this dress, i’d pass by Plains and Prints and would find another dress to purchase. Or, whenever I plan on buying it, the store would go on sale, and i’d wait and see whether the price would drop.

In short, I never got around to buying it.

Then, yesterday, I passed by Una Rosa in Megamall on my way home. Lo and behold, the same dress was still there, now at P799! That’s about 75% off the original price!

Sometimes, waiting pays off.

Dots about it

Zalora never fails to surprise me.

Last night, around 8:30pm, they had a flash sale and some items were really cheap and chic. One such item was this dotted dress that I ordered.

And less than 24 hours later, that same dress was delivered to our doorstep. No additional fees. Just efficient, speedy delivery.

Dots - I mean that’s - one of the reasons why Zalora will always be one of my go-today.

Oh, Carolina’s!

It was disheartening and sad when Carolina’s Lace Shop started shuttering their mall outlets.

First to go was their branch in Glorietta, followed by the one in Megamall - which left me aghast! Then, their branch is SM North EDSA disappeared, followed by their Greenhills branch.

Despite those, I thought, “There’s always the main branch in Dian, Makati.”

When I went there last year, that, too, was closed. And all hope was lost. 

Or so I thought.

Apparently, they just moved their branch somewhere in Pasay, along Buendia Avenue. I’ve been hearing about that branch a lot, but never got around to going there. Until this morning.

Taking advantage of the holiday, and the traffic-free streets, I took a bus to Buendia and found myself here less than 30 minutes later.

The reason, I had to get velvet ribbons for Prichy’s dress. And Carolina’s was the only place I knew which had velvet ribbons in different colors. (Strange, but true. Not even Michelle’s in Divisoria. Not even in Divisoria for that matter.)

Their Buendia branch is the same layout and selection as their Dian branch. There were ribbons galore, all the notions you can think of, baubles and beads of every style and color, and of course, the lace. After all, you can’t be Carolina’s Lace Shop without an impressive array of lace.

Talking to the sales people there - some of whom i’ve known from Megamall, Glorietta and Dian - rising rents and being asked to transfer to a sub-par part of the mall are some of the reasons why they started disappearing from malls. But I found out that they still have the Market, Market branch open. Which is a welcome relief.

But next time i’m looking for lace, something tells me i’ll still end up going to their main branch in Buendia. It might be a bit further, but it’s worth all the lace i’ve seen.

Arby there

One of the more popular topics in the Creative Department is food. And alongside that topic, a popular sub-topic is “restaurants that aren’t in Manila anymore.”

There’s a lot, actually. From local joints like Cindy’s, Chew-Chew Junction, and Big Daddy’s. To international places like Jack-in-the-Box, A&W, and, one of my favorites, Arby’s!

We’re very familiar with Arby’s because they had a branch near the house. It was in Quezon Avenue, near St. Mary’s, and we’d eat there after getting groceries at Tops or medicine at Casman Drug or after having photos developed at Babyland.

Their signature item was their Roast Beef sandwich. RB, thus the name Arby’s. They were also popular for their horseradish sauce. Back then, and even until now, they were the only fast food place that had it.

Every time I go to the US, I promise myself that I’d go and eat at Arby’s. Strangely, though, it never happens.

So now, here I am, missing Arby’s once again. And all I can do is look at their website and imagine their yummy offerings.

I’ll see you the next time i’m in the US, Arby’s! That’s a promise!

Don’t rage against the Machine

If you’re a kid of the 80s and 90s, you’ll know that Burger Machine was a huge thing.

This burger joint was the first to come up with the kiosk set-up, and the first to be open 24/7! As grade schoolers, we’d go to their ubiquitous trailer type store and order our favorites. This ranged from their Bart burgers to their roast beef sandwich, to their luncheon meat sandwich to their classic dessert - Sans Rival.

As high schoolers, we’d go there in the evenings, after projects and choir practices. We’d spend hours sitting on their round stools, alternating between telling stories and reading the illustrations on the side of their stalls. Which led to that age old question: What is Kikapoo Juice

Now, Burger Machine is a shadow of its old self. Their stalls, despite keeping the same design, look a bit older and run down. They’ve joined the “Buy 1, Take 1” bandwagon, with most of their sandwiches “on sale.”

Despite that, I still go back to Burger Machine because it still tastes the way I remember it. And it feels the same way as it does several decades ago. And I must say, their Sans Rival is still as good.

That’s why this is one machine that i’ll never rage against.

Color Story: Femme Fatigue

Fatigue, or Army Green, is often seen in uniforms and military paraphernalia. Back when we had CAT in high school, and ROTC in college, this was what we’d wear - our full Fatigue gear.

But often in fashion, they can take something masculine and turn it into something fashionable and feminine. And one of those things is the color fatigue.

On a recent mall run, I had to pass by Lazy Fare to see if they had anything new. It turns out that they had new colors for the boat neck shirt that Ate Bullet adores. The color was Fatigue.

Incidentally, when I passed by The Landmark, they had new pleated skirts. One of which was a two-colored design. The colors? Fatigue and black.

That’s fashion serendipity right there.

So, I ended up getting both, and coming up with the feminine, Fatigue outfit.

Now, this could be a very fashionable uniform,

FMM: It's Happenin'

The music of the 90s, particularly the dance tunes, have this way of making your feet tap, head bob, and smile from ear-to-ear.

This music accompanied me through many OT nights at Adformatix and DY&R-Alcantara, and listening to that while working on storyboards and print ads made it a lot more fun.

One of my favorite songs from 1990 is from Lonnie Gordon. It's a happenin' song. Literally.



And now that I'm listening to this song all over again - in 2020 - I can't help but tap my feet, bob my head, and smile from ear-to-ear.

Yup, it's happenin' all over again.

Want not, Waste not.

Having been raised by parents and grandparents who are very conscientious and conscious of the food we buy and eat, I don’t like wasting food.

At home, in restaurant, even in buffets and Korean BBQ places, I make it a point to just get enough and make sure that I finish everything. Mark and I try to do this, too, as much as we can when we eat out. And every time there would be some food left, we’d say: “Pope Francis will not be pleased.”

That’s why it irks me when I see people who waste food. Like people who get too much, but don’t bother finishing their food. At all.

At  Wendy’s, there was this table with 2 girls who created this behemoth of a salad from the salad bar.  They piled it up, sat there for about 30 minutes, and yet, they didn’t bother even finishing their salad. In fact, they left with a big pile of salad leftover on their plate.

And this isn’t the first time i’ve seen this happen. It’s actually happened too often and i’ve witnessed it too many times.

Finish your food, people. Wasting food isn’t cool.

In with the Bold!

If there’s one thing I forgot to ask the parents to buy in the U.S., it was Chex Mix Bold.

They were able to get me the traditional and cheese flavors, but I missed that barbecue burst that the Bold variant had.

But thanks to Mona, i’ll have my fill of that really soon.

Dom’s Dominance

While waiting for the latest episodes of Project Runway 18 to be uploaded, I find myself watching and re-watching previous seasons.

There are some glaring differences from the first 16 seasons and the last 2. There’s the difference between Heidi and Karlie as hosts (Auf Weidersen is still unparalleled), Tim and Christian as mentors (I miss the Tim-isms like Sturm und Drang), even Michael and Brandon as judges (Michael has more one-liners).

One of the seasons I love to watch is Season 12. This is the season that had the stoic and talented Alexandra, the deaf-mute and fiercely talented Justin, and the cool, calm and brilliantly creative winner, Dom.

Since episode 1, I knew she was a winner. Her point of view and aesthetic were both solid. Her designs were fresh and fashionable. And her personality was lovable AF.

After watching her “Retro Futuristic” collection for her final runway, there’s no doubt that she was leading this competition.

And of course, she came back for Project Runway All Stars 5, winning that one, too.

How’s that for dominance?

Thinking of Thai

Whenever I crave for authentic Thai food, particularly Som Tam and Pad Thai, one thing comes to mind:

Som’s used to be my go-to place. But after they slowly disappeared, Chariya became my go-to.

Gosh. I need to get my Chariya fix again soon.

Strawberry Searching

One of my favorite Dunkin Donuts flavors is Strawberry Kreme. Ever since I was a kid, this was my go-to flavor. The combination of the pillowy-soft, powdered-sugar coated donut with the icing-like kreme was enough to send my heart racing and my taste buds rejoicing.

As years went by, finding these donuts became more of a challenge. More and more, it's difficult to find a branch that has this flavor.

Before, there were only 3 stores where Strawberry Kreme was available - guaranteed. That was in MCS, Greenhills and the bridgeway branch near The Enterprise.

Last week, I went to 2 branches (Greenhills and the bridgeway), and they didn't have this flavor any longer.

I'm going to MCS tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they still have it there.

The 15th came swiftly

Whoa! It's the 15th of February already? That was fast!

In honor of the date today, let me call Taylor Swift to render a song that's relevant and catchy.



Ah yes. Taylor has a song for everything.

FMM: No place like it!

Everyone has a hangover over this song. Including me.

First, because of the SEA Games.

Then, because of our Service Awards.

Because of that, today’s Friday Magic Madness song is this ditty from the 70s Manila Sound!



Yup, simply no place like it.

Color Story: Top Taupe

Here’s a color combination that’s cool and palette cleansing.

Taupe on Taupe.

The top is slightly darker, from Lazy Fare, and the chic, pleated skirt is from The Landmark.

This is such a refreshing ensemble.

Gord(ita) your Loins!

So, Taco Bell came up with their version of the "Gordita." This is one of my favorite snacks in Mexico and I've been dreaming of it and craving for it since my last trip there.

Although I haven't tried it yet - and I will soon - it looks different, and I'm sure it also tastes much different from the OG Gordita I know, Dona Tota Gorditas!

Gosh! I want to go back to Mexico, even if it's just for Dona Tota!

Dern it!

Laura Dern is one of my favorite actresses. From her earlier work in "Jurassic Park" and "I Am Sam," to her more recent turns in "Little Women" and "Marriage Story," she really knows how to light up the screen.

That's why I was thrilled that she won an Oscar this year for "Marriage Story."

And what upped her cool factor a bit more? The fact that she was in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"!

For me, that's as awesome as winning an Oscar!

Hungry or Thirsty?

The person who edited this video might have been hungry and eating a lot was the thing on his mind.

Yes, he would rather "lamon" than "lemon." Harhar.

Proofreader, please!

Wu-Hoo! part 3

Aside from the Simply Vera dress from Kohl's, another piece of clothing that the folks back from the U.S. was another gem of a dress, also from Kohl's.

Presenting, a dress from Jason Wu's capsule collection for Kohl's!

There's so much going for this dress. First, it's made of neoprene which is very flattering to many body types. Second, the color is striking and cool to the eye. Third, the cut and style is classic and chic. And fourth, it has this cool rosette detail.

This would be an awesome piece to wear for a day wedding, or a cocktail event. And given how striking it is, it wouldn't be a surprise if someone asks "Wu are you wearing?"

(Tiger) Sugar, oh, honey, honey

Just like "The Alley," it was in Seoul when I first tried the milk tea brand "Tiger Sugar."

The first time I tasted it, I found it too sweet for my liking. That's why when they opened their stores in MNL last year, I didn't bother falling in line.

Last week, I passed by their branch in SM Megamall and found it bereft of people. So, I thought of giving it a try.

Surprisingly, the taste was much better here in MNL than in Seoul. In fact, my level of dislike for it in South Korea was my level of liking it here.

Maybe they did something with the formulation. But whatever they did, it was definitely right move.

Here's another milk tea brand to add to my rotation.

FMM: Speaking of Vines

Yesterday's post inspired today's Friday Magic Madness song.

This is a classic Marvin Gaye ditty from the 60s, and I'm sure you've heard it before. From the Grapevine, probably.



Such a groovy way to spend Friday!

Heard it through the Vines

There are a few SG clothing brands that resonate with me. I've written about one here before, and that's In Good Company. I wrote about it because they opened their first shop in Manila a few years ago.

Now, another favorite SG brand just opened its doors in MNL! It's Beyond The Vines, and they've opened their first store in Shangri-la Mall a few months ago.

Just like In Good Company, their aesthetic is very clean and classic, but with a small detail here and there that makes it less basic and more fashion. And that's the reason why I'll be visiting this store regularly.

Two favorite SG brands down, one more to go!

The Alley-oop!

The first time I tried milk tea at The Alley was during our Seoul trip last year. There were 2 stores in Myeongdong that we'd often pass by, and eventually, we tried their milk teas.

They were really good!

Sometime last year, they opened shop here in MNL, and last December, they opened a branch in nearby SM Megamall.

I haven't tried their teas here, but if it's as good as the one in Seoul, then The Alley will definitely be a part of my milk tea repertoire.

I like it Vera much...

One of the shops I enjoy visiting in the U.S. is Kohl’s. There used to be one near Biboy’s house in Alpharetta, but that closed down, and that’s a bummer. When we were in the US last 2018, we were only able to go to 1 Kohl’s store in GA.

When Ate Lissa told me there was a Kohl;s near their house, I immediately checked out their website to see if there’s anything interesting that I can ask her to buy and for the parents to bring home to MNL.

Luckily, there was. And with the arrival of the parents, this beauty from the Simply Vera Vera Wang collection also landed in Manila.

It’s a checkered jumpsuit with a ribbon detail in front. Jumpsuits are very in these days, and so is plaid. So this piece of clothing combines these 2 trends in 1.

Another detail I like is the mustard stripe that goes from the top to the bottom. Details like this is what adds fashion to otherwise everyday wear.

I’m sure Ate will Ike this Vera very much.

Let's get Latin!

As expected, there was a lot of dancing and hip shaking during this year's NFL's Pepsi Half-time show.

After all, 2 of the biggest names in Latin Music headlined the celebration.



The number is quintessential J. Lo and Shakira, and they brought the house down with their tried and tested hits like "Whenever, Whenever," "Hips don't lie," "On the Floor," and "Let's get Loud." It would've been much cooler, though, if J. Lo sang "Play" which I was waiting for.

The singers also had a National Pride moment when J. Lo wore a reversible coat which had the flags of both the U.S.A. and Puerto Rico.

From their music to their dance, it was Latino power at its most festive!

P.S. In terms of Half-time show "moments," I still find the "Pop-tart-toaster-moment" of Destiny's Child in 2013 one of the most fun and cheesy ones.

Creepy...

I've been reading articles about this breakthrough Korean film entitled "Parasite" as early as December.

They say that it's a very interesting black comedy about family and social classes. An interesting combination, if you ask me.

Then, Bonique and Mona started talking about it during our post-Christmas get-together. They were marveling at the story and how many twists and turns the film had. Which made me even more intrigued.

I've been given a copy on my flash drive and I'm so curious to see it. But they said it'll be shown in theaters again, and it's creeping back up thanks to the Oscar's push.

Maybe I'll hold out until it comes out in theaters.

This I gotta C

Richard has been talking to us about this as early as December last year. He told us to take at least 2000mg of Vitamin C a day to keep our body resistance strong against disease. And a lot of us have started taking it regularly, thanks to his advice.

Now, there's another round of talks about how important Vitamin C is, in the context of the virus scare that's been going around.

Thank goodness my folks brought this big bottle of Vitamin C from the U.S. for me.

To C is to be protected. (Hey, that could be a tagline for something.)