Sketchy Stories: Fine Feline

Now that I have time to study the Pret-a-template a bit more, i’m discovering aspects about it that are super cool!

One of those features is being able to upload a print to use as base fabric, and sketch based on that.

There’s a feline-skin fabric that I have in my stash and has been there for quite some time now, so I decided to use it as inspiration for this sketch.

Since the fabric has a lot of personality, I decided to make the design a bit more classic and subdued. So, it’s a form-fitting shift dress, but I made the neckline circular in shape, with the same circle pattern echoed on the hem.

This sketch doesn’t feature the back, but my plan for that is a reverse of the circle, and a slightly longer hem. And because I’ve always been drawn to velvet ribbons, I decided to add one here as a belt.

On paper, this whole thing looks very fine. And I think if I give this project to Joy, she’ll make it even prettier!

Virtual Productivity

Now that working from home is the new normal, we constantly find ways to be productive despite the Community Quarantine.

Thanks to apps like Zoom, we still get to see each other and discuss the work at hand. This ensures that we get work done and projects are running despite the world being on a state of stand still.

It's different from the usual ManCom meetings we're used to, but it's great to see the folks from work - albeit virtually.

Altared States

It's been almost 3 weeks since I've last seen this altar at OLPH in 13th Avenue, Cubao.

Since churches are closed during this Community Quarantine period, I'll have to contend with looking at it in photos first.

Here's praying that I'll get to see you again soon.

Masked woman

While they're on lockdown in UT, my sister decided to spend her time doing productive. That is, making masks for her family and the front liners.

Even if she doesn't have any background in sewing, she searched on-line for patterns, self-taught herself to sew, bought a portable sewing machine, and started making these masks.

She's planning to start giving them out this weekend, and hopefully, she can make more to help out more people.

Way to go, Ate!

FMM: Time to Heal

Hot off the heels of Maestro's "We Heal as One," I thought that for the next few weeks, I'd play Friday Magic Madness songs that are dedicated to healing. It's what we wish for, especially for the sick, and it's also what we wish for the whole world.

First up, this 80s song from Deniece Williams.



Apart from being a hit on the radio, it was also a favourite song to sing during singing contests. Many a "Bagong Kampeon" contestants sang this - from my recollection. Aside from it being a vocal showcase, the lyrics are also very uplifting, which was a hit among judges.

So, as I listen to this song again, I always remember the refrain during this trying times:

"Lord, I know that Your love is Healing."

A song for Healing

Ryan Cayabyab has always been a musical hero.

One of the cassette tapes that I'd often borrow from my Dad's library was Ryan Cayabyab's "One." It was an acapella album where all the songs were just sung by one person - Ryan - of course. This was way, way, way ahead of other acapella groups, and way, way, way ahead of its time.

"Limang dipang tao" and "Tsismis" were my 2 favorite songs from that album. These songs were simply genius. Just like Ryan.

And now, the genius is at work again. Amidst the environment of uncertainty and despair, he repurposed the 2019 SEA Games song to be more relevant to today. From, "We Win as One," the world is now in unison in hoping and praying that "We Heal as One."



Bravo, Maestro! No wonder you're our National Artist.

Creatives for a Cause

It's very heartening to know that in the middle of the pandemic, our creative colleagues are doing their share to make our frontliners safer at work. In their own ways, they're harnessing their creativity in creating something that's useful and relevant, and much needed by our doctor's and nurses.

Protective face shields.

Even though they don't have the proper equipment, they've used their creativity in assembling these PPEs. And by the looks of it, many hospitals have already benefitted from their work. Reading about it, I can't help but brim with pride at our Art Directors.

I hope we can find more OHP transparencies and get it to them. That way, we can also do our share in helping in this creative endeavor.

Connecting with Him

While I was doing some work, a notification from YouVersion popped up. Instinctively, I pressed on it, and i’m extremely glad that I did.

This is what followed the notification:

True, wise words. You can never go wrong when you get wisdom from up above.

LFLTAT: Button Up, Button down

Malls might be closed and Zalora might not be delivering (they’re taking orders, though, so that’s good news for shoppers), but there’s still a chance to put together some LFLTATs.

How? I just rummage my stash and find some good buys from months back.

Like this buttoned up ensemble from Surplus Shop.

The skirt is a khaki twill belted skirt with tortoise-ish buttons.

The top is a tomato red wrap blouse with the same type buttons on the skirt, running diagonally.

Together, they create the illusion that the buttons run from top of the outfit all the way to the hem. Cool!

And what’s much cooler? This outfit is just P900 in total!

Thank you where thanks is due!

Saw this illustration on Facebook, and it pretty much sums up how I feel about everyone who's out and risking their lives everyday amidst this situation we're in now.

To all the brave men and women out there, you have our extreme gratitude!

A favorite, through the years

Yesterday, my Friday Magic Madness post was about the classic 80s song: "We are the World" by USA for Africa.

Today, I read that one of my favourite singers - one who was also part of USA for Africa - just passed away. That singer was the King of Country Music, Kenny Rogers.

He's one of the American singers that I listened to as a kid, thanks to Dad's cassette tape collection. My weekends and study times were usually accompanied by his classic songs: "Lady," "We got tonight," "She believes in me," and his iconic duet with Dolly Parton, "Island in the Stream."

Of course, we cannot forget "Through the Years." It's one of my all-time favourite songs in the whole wide universe.

So, in honor of Kenny Rogers, let me quote this iconic song of his:

"Through the years, 
you've never let me down, 
you turned my life around, 
the sweetest days I found right here with you. 

Through the years, 
I've never been afraid,
I loved the life we've made.
And I'm so glad I've stayed,
right here with you,
Through the years.

Through the years,
when everything went wrong,
together we were strong.
I know that I belong right here with you.

Through the years, 
I never had a doubt,
We'd always work things out,
I've learned what life's about,
by Loving you,
Through the years."

You will be missed, Kenny Rogers.

FMM: Stand together as one

It was 35 years ago when a group of music's A-listers banded together to help Africa which was, at that time, suffering from heavy famine. These artists broke down barriers of record labels, rivalries, and creative differences. There were no big stars, no big parts, no divas - just artists working together for a common goal.

That song, of course, was "We Are The World," and it became an anthem of solidarity and hope.



Now, we find ourselves in a similar juncture. But now, it's not just Africa that's affected by the problem, but the whole world. And it's about time that we, once again, remember the essence of the song and band together as one for a common goal.

"We are the world. We are the children. We are the one's who'll make a brighter day, so let's start giving."

Home and Harmony

It's safe to say that this is the theme song of almost everyone in Metro Manila these days.



Who would've thought that this ditty from Fifth Harmony would be a way of life a few years after.

LFLTAT: Green thumb

Now that we’re all on Community Quarantine, one of the things i’ve been doing is fixing my cabinets and arranging stuff that I bought from different haunts before all this happened. This allowed me to rediscover some things that I bought before, but forgot about.

One such outfit is a Look For Less Than A Thousand that I got from Surplus Shop sometime last month.

First, a belted skirt in a nice, green color. The cut is roomy and the fabric is comfy, which makes for a relaxed skirt to wear on a weekend.

Then, I found this botanical print shirt. It has a draped neckline, and different floral motifs which go well with the green of the skirt.

Together, this ensemble screams “Nature fashion,” and all for about P600!

Naturally chic!

Boxed out

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Greek Mythology. As a kid, it's what I would read while my classmates would read Archie Comics or Questor Magazines.

They have a plethora of wonderful stories, and one of my favorite tales is the one of "Pandora's Box."

I was reminded of this story again when a Chinese doctor used the tale as a parallel regarding the current Covid-19 crisis that's affecting the world today. He said that when the box was opened, so many scary and destructive things came out of the box. But at the end of all that, something emerged from the bottom of the box.

And that is hope.

Just like prayers, hope is one of the things we need most of right now.

Faith beyond four walls

Like many - maybe millions - of Catholics, I was saddened by the news that churches in Metro Manila will be closing for the next few weeks, and that we won’t be able to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and receive the Holy Eucharist.

Personally, the Holy Mass has long been a source of solace and strength. Whenever I'm in church, there's a feeling of peace and calm that erases all the worries and uncertainties around us. It's also a source of strength and courage, especially when we receive the Holy Eucharist.

This was a sentiment that a lot of D' Frendz echoed, particularly Rona and Maricar. Like me, they were hoping that the churches won't close and the masses would continue. But like this community quarantine, I know that this is for the good of many - millions even. It's a small sacrifice to ensure that the virus is contained and that we can all go back to our normal lives in the soonest possible time.

Another source of strength during this church closure is the fact that they're still opening their doors - albeit on-line - by having live masses streamed to the faithful. Many churches from different Diocese posted their schedules for daily masses, as well as their Sunday services.

Even though we can't be in church physically, we should continue to be there - praying and reflecting - wherever we are. Because our faith isn't defined just by the four walls of the Church. It's what's in our hearts, minds and spirit.

Eye, eye, Captain!

Aside from Surprise-themed shows, another genre I enjoy watching a lot are makeover shows. Whether they’re making over people, homes, cars or what-not, there’s a satisfaction in seeing how that transformation ultimately changes a person’s life.

Despite that, I never really watched - not even an episode - of the OG “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” in 2003. (The show was later renamed to just “Queer Eye” eventually.) At the time when everyone was SO into this show, and the cast even went to Manila, I was watching something else.

Fast forward to 2019, and the show now has a reincarnation on Netflix. Same concept, same format, but updated content.

When I was just at home last September and October, it was one of the things I stumbled on to on Netflix. It was entertaining, but I didn’t find it as gratifying as the other “makeover” show I was watching, which was “Tidying up with Marie Kondo.”

Last week, I saw on Netflix that the “Queer Eye” series had a new spin-off, “Queer Eye, We’re in Japan!” As a Nihonphile, I decided to watch an episode to see how it was.

By golly, it was such a great show! The subjects they chose and the stories behind them were so compelling and real. Having been a long-time and frequent visitor of Japan, and also getting insights about their personalities from Mark, I knew that this type of show would be so beneficial for Japanese.

You see, as a people, the Japanese don’t like to stand out. They are more comfortable blending into the background and staying within the parameters of the norm. So much so that they’d rather lose their identity than express themselves individually.

Also, they’re the type of people who would never talk about their feelings. Not to their family, not to their friends, and definitely not too strangers. But after seeing the first episode, and how the subjects slowly opened up to the Fab 5, it was refreshing to see that change of attitude and mindset. And this change ultimately transformed the way they felt, also the way they looked and lived.

Actually, the emotional transformation of the subjects were more gratifying to watch than their physical ones. Which is actually a first for a makeover show.

Plus, their Japanese counterpart - Kiko Mizuhara, and guest Naomi Watanabe - was also such a joy to watch. They gave that very important Japanese perspective that guided the makeover guys.

This series was so good. I ended up binge-watching all 4 episodes! Each one was a joy to watch, but the 4th one was the best for me.

Hoping that they have a 2nd season of this show. It’s something the Japanese need in their lives.

Summer, interrupted

Last week, I noticed that the complete Johanna Ortiz x H&M collection was already in stores.

There were a lot of beautiful dresses and gorgeous prints! There were 2 pieces that caught my attention: a pink, one-shoulder maxi dress, and a red dress in a perforated fabric, printed with red leaves.

These pieces screamed SUMMER! And it would have been awesome to get those pieces for the coming months.

But, since the quarantine has begun, I'm sure summer dresses would be the last on the list of people right now. Ergo, I'm sure these pieces will be on the shelves longer than usual.

Who knows? Maybe by the time things go back to normal, they'll be on sale, too.

FMM: There's always Tomorrow

Times like these, we need optimism and hope more than ever.

One of my favorite songs from a musical is this 1977 hit from the musical - then 1982 movie -"Annie."



While things might be confusing, distressing, and for some - dire, there's always a new day to look forward to. A new day to hope for the best. A new day when things will be better for everyone, and a new day where we learn to love our lives more, and appreciate what we have.

Tomorrow. That's always something to look forward to.

Spreading Hope part 2

These are uncertain times and worrying is an easy thing to do.

But in the words of St. Pio de Petrelcina:

If we pray more and worry less, we can do the impossible.

Spreading Hope

During times of uncertainty, He is the one who provides calmness and hope.

Like millions of Filipinos, I pray that this virus doesn’t spread any further and that those affected by it are comforted and healed.

LFLTAT: King of Pane

Last Saturday, there was a break from the shoot so I walked to the nearby mall to buy chocolates to munch on.

What was supposed to be a chocolate-run quickly became a fashion-run as Surplus Shop was just a floor above the snack section.

Jutting out of a huge pile of clothes, I saw a window pane pattern on a gray background. It immediately caught my eye, and after pulling it out, it turned out to be a pretty gray skirt with a window pane print.

Did I mention it was on sale?

Then, a few racks after, I saw this sleeveless top in oatmeal, and it had an interesting texture that was like cashmere.

Did I mention it was on sale?

So, aside from chocolates, I walked away with this stylish confection for less than a thousand! Even less than P500, actually

Sweet!

Sketchy Stories: Fashion (Tem)plate

It was a few years back when an add for the app “Pret-a-Template” popped up on my iPad.

Out of curiosity, I checked it out and eventually ended up downloading the app.

While I still prefer freehand drawing on paper with pencils, the Pret-a-Template app is also a cool place to design. Especially if you’re just in a long shoot with the iPad to keep you company.

This was one of the first sketches I made on the app:

It’s a sketch that was able to transform into an actual garment that Joy made and Ate Bullet wore to a wedding yesterday.

Not bad for a digital chicken scratch of a sketch.

Wonder Women

Today is International Women’s Day! And of course, Google is celebrating this big day.

I’m fortunate enough to be raised by and around strong, accomplished and compassionate women.

From our Grandmothers, Lola Dita who handled the hectic life of being a General’s wife with such grace, to Lola Pining who was both a Mayor and Vice-Mayor and handled her posts with a combination of authority and maternal instincts.

To my Mom who raised 5 children with her strength of character and abundance of love. She showered us with motherly care and imbibed in us strong core values. A combination that raised 5 level-headed and value-laden adults. To my 2 sisters who are both pillars of strength of their families. And of our family. Giving themselves whole-heartedly and unselfishly, and raising their boys with a great respect for women. To my sisters-in-law who are able to handle being executives and mothers with equal excellence.

To my college friends: women who are wonderful mothers, accomplished Lawyers, Corporate Executives, Educators, Business Women, among many others. To the women of St. Scholastica’s College where I am fortunate enough to teach - administrators, Sisters, fellow faculty members who have a strong sense of leadership, mentorship, and continue to blaze the trail for our students. The same students who are now women leaders in various fields.

To the women in advertising who I work and worked with, as colleagues, former bosses and creative collaborators. They helped me better understand women with their insights, stories and friendship, This enabled me to be a creative guy who’s able to handle women’s brands for more than 2 decades and counting.

To all these women, you have my utmost respect, my unfathomable admiration and my profound gratitude.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Missing you 110 times...

If Lolo Iking was alive, he would have celebrated his 110th birthday today.

Happy Birthday Lolo! It’s been 3 decades, but we still miss your presence. Wishing you a wonderful celebration with Lola up in heaven.

FMM: Call of the Wild part 3

It was inevitable.

All that "wild" talk reminded me of this classic 80s ditty from one of the bands which was a childhood favorite, Duran Duran!



Yes, 4 decades after, we're still wild over "Wild Boys."

Call of the wild part 2

Yes, wildlife is having a moment!

Hot off the heels of yesterday’s animal print dress, comes another dress with animals as motif!

This gorgeous creation is from Plains and Prints’ summer collection. The moment I saw it in the lookbook, I knew it was a must buy.

Simply put, i’m Wild for it!

Call of the wild

Here’s an interesting take on animal prints:

Animals are really printed on the fabric!

And this fabric is on this fabulously printed dress from Zalora.

Zalora, you just keep on impressing me!

Meals with Mark: Missed the Mos

Oh look, it's another "Mos" post.

And look, it's an alliteration!

Mark was excited when I told him that Mos Burger was opening in Galleria. Mos Burger is one of those places which we frequented when he was still living in Tokyo. We're both big fans of their burgers, and my personal favorite was their rice burgers.

When they had their grand opening last Thursday, Mark actually wanted to have lunch there. But the lines were crazy long, so we decided to skip it first. But for tonight's dinner, we decided to eat there.

The ambience is similar to their store in Tokyo. Although I don't remember being able to watch the cooks making burgers through the glass wall. To make the feeling more legit, they actually had Japanese staff in store. There was a guy named "Mizuno," who Mark talked to in Nihonggo.

While there were a lot of people tonight, the ordering was very efficient. It took a few minutes to take our order and pay, and there we were waiting for our food.

A few minutes later, our Mos grub arrived!

The verdict, it tastes like the OG Mos Burger in Japan! Mark remarked how the curry sauce on the burger is very reminiscent of Tokyo, but he missed the Qoo drink that he'd often have with his order.

Overall, it was a great experience that we'll do again. Because Mos Burger is one of the things we missed the most.

With the Most!

When Mona asked me if there was anything I wanted from the supermarket in the U.S., I instantly knew what I wanted.

And this weekend, Mona gave me this!

Yes! Not content with the usual Double Stuff Oreo that I get, this one has the "Most Stuf"! Like, it has about 4x the cream content of the usual Oreo.

Hello, sugar rush! You are Most welcome.

Lolo x 2

As March begins, I realized that I haven’t written about the fact that I became a Lolo again this February!

Jul and Jen welcomed their second child - a beautiful baby girl! And now, another baby will be calling me “Lolo.’

Presenting Olivia Rose!

Looking at this cutie makes me both happy and proud to be a Lolo again.