Full SSCircle

On today's GA for the Mass Comm department, we had a pleasantly surprising realisation.

Five of the newer faculty members of the department are our former students.

The five young ladies in the middle - Iya, Josche, Vanie, Jaimee and Dani - are all graduates of the Mass Comm program of SSC. And they all chose to go back to pay it forward by teaching the next generation of SSC students.

It was a proud moment for Chally, Becky and me.

It was also a "gosh, I'm old!" moment.

FMM: Join the Company

As usual, yesterday was Throwback Thursday at the creative area.

We were talking about clothing brands that were popular in the 90s and 00s, but are MIA now.

There are a lot, actually.

But the one brand that stuck out was the inspiration for today's Friday Magic Madness song:

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is one of the iconic hits of The Andrews Sisters from 1941. It's a song that's more than 80 years old, but if you play it now, people from different generations will easily identify this catchy ditty.

And of course ,this was inspired by the 90s clothing brand - Company B. A brand of cool yet classic clothes that was part of my high school days.

On Fridays, you can't help but miss songs and brands like this.

Gather round...

It's been many decades since my last visit to Claret Church. Until today, that is:

During my grade school days, I'd be an acolyte during the masses here. 

The altar still looks the same. It's still as majestic and as beautiful just like it was during my childhood. The wooden seats at the altar remains the same - it's the same spot where we acolytes would sit during the mass.

Being there was like going back to my childhood. And at this moment, the song of Claret School suddenly rang in my head:

"Gather round o sons of great Claret, fill the air with joy and love."

A study in errors

"Arrivals" should be an easy word to spell, right?

Apparently not.

From "Arrivals" to "Arrals" real quick? Yup, this is a real post on the Lazada app.

Proofreader please!

Pick pockets

The reason for my affinity for cargo pants is the fact that it allows me not to bring a bag.

With so many pockets and storage areas, a cargo pant helps me move around hands free, even if I'm carrying stuff.

Imagine how much stuff you can carry if you have an outfit like this:

The jeans are from The SM Store, and it has 8 - count 'em - 8 pockets in total!

The top is from Surplus Shop and has 2 big pockets in front.

With so many pockets, you can pick from so many options where to put your stuff. A LOT of it!

Ming's mood

Saw this cat outside the office building.

Since it's the 1st day back at work after a 4-day weekend, I think a lot of people are sharing this cat's mood for today.

Blanket approval - Part trois

Mom is a huge fan of shirt dresses. That said, my next "blanket" project was a no-brainer.

Had this shirt dress made out the red version of the blanket. It's the classic silhouette, but I've added some small ruffles on the sides for added flounce. For contrast, we added a belt made from the orange fabric scraps from Ate Bullet's denim + blanket combo.

Mom wore this on her flight to Bicol. She said that there were 2 PAL flight attendants gushing over her dress the whole time.

So, aside from being Mom-approved, it's not FA-approved, too.

Getting Twiggy with it

This dress from the 2024 Pre-fall capsule collection of H&Mis giving me Twiggy vibes.

From the shift dress silhouette, to the black and white story, to the little Mod details - it's such a well-made and versatile piece. It's able to cross classic with the modern, and it's such a versatile piece.

Hopefully, they'll have this in PH stores soon.

Also Ran

Went to SM Megamall for  a quick errand for Mom,. 

Upon entering, there was a huge crowd gathered at the atrium of Fashion Hall. There was a large crowd gathered there, all excited and all screaming for something.

Checked it out, and this was the reason why:

Ran Takahashi, the famous Japanese volleyball player, was there for a meet-and-greet!

Aside from being a great player, people remember Ran because of his emotional moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It showed how athletes are human, too.

But upon seeing him all smiles at the huge crowd cheering for him here in the Philippines, it looked like there's a different - and more positive emotion - he's feeling now.

FMM: Make the call

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is inspired by there:

Yes, kids, these are cellphones. The early 2000s iteration of it.

Yup, it may look clunky and not aesthetic, but it was able to do what it was made to do. Make calls.

And with that, here's Blondie's "Call Me."

Now that's what I call a segue. Hahaha.

In a Harris

It was a random watch on Netflix, and it turned out to be a gem!

"Mrs. Harris goes to Paris" is bereft of big stars or hype, so I came into the film not knowing or expecting anything. But the moment the film started, it got me hooked.

Maybe it's because of the fact that the story is centered on fashion, particularly a housekeeper who dreams of having a Dior dress. Despite the odds, she pursued her dream and ended up going to Paris to watch a Dior show, and eventually finding herself entrenched in the life of Christian Dior.

It's a light-hearted dramedy which was a joy to watch.

And it's something I'll definitely be watching again. And again.

Way back Wednesday

Facebook just reminded me that this happened 14 years ago!

This was one of the times that the siblings were all here in MNL, so we decided to have a photo shoot. This was at a garden restaurant in Antipolo, and it was so much fun.

Gosh! Time really flies when you're having fun with the family.

Circ-at

Today's dose of cat cuteness is brought to you by this fella spotted at Circuit Makati.

Passed by him several times and noticed that he hasn't moved a bit. It was a belated realisation that he's just following the instructions above him.

He's not just cute. He's smart, too.

Gimme a hand

I've seen this sign so many times, and it always gets me.

So, you're just supposed to wash one hand? Or one hand at a time?

Proofreader please!

Fashion (up)cycle

Came across a stall at The Podium that sold upcycled clothing, and this dress caught my eye.

It's a dress that's upcycled twice. The top is made from an old vest that was repurposed as the top part of the dress. The skirt is made of different types of "katsa" from bakeries. It's collected by the designer so it doesn't go to waste.

Recycling and upcycling can really be fashionable.

Getting schooled

And just like that, summer vacay is over!

Call me a nerd, but I'm super psyched to go back to school. 

Then again, I'm the teacher and not the student. So, I'm just hoping that my students will feel the same.

FMM: Talk Bubble

When they would show re-runs of Sesame Street, this was one short feature that I'd always look out for.

"B is for Bubble" resonated with me because of my affinity with bubble gum. After seeing this for the first time, I'd always sing this song in my head each time I'm chewing Chiclet, BigBoy, Bazooka Joe, Tarzan, Hubba Bubba, Bubble Yum and Bubble Yum.

Thankfully, the Sesame Street Youtube channel archives these classics. It allows me to look back with a smile on Friday Magic Madness days.

Gospel truth

Last week, we shot a commercial at this building called the Communication Foundation for Asia.

It's a super rustic and beautiful brown shone building with that strong medieval feel. During breaks, I'd roam around and check out the building. At least the parts that were open to the public.

While reading about the history of the building, a factoid presented itself. It was a factoid that got me so giddy and excited! It turns out that this building used to house the printing press where they would print Gospel Komiks.

(Found this photo on the internet. Wish I kept my old copies, too.)

Yes! The same comic book that was a required reading material for us when we were in grade school and high school! Par to four tuition went to the subscription of this magazine, and I'd look forward to - and enjoy reading - my copy.

Oh the joys of discovery!

Trash Talk Two

The 7-11 store at Ortigas Park has a nice al fresco area on the 2nd floor. It's a nice place to take your 7-11 loot, and eat it while looking out Emerald Avenue and enjoying the fresh air.

With such a set-up, you'd think that people would appreciate it and take care of it.

Apparently not.

Yup, that's how the al fresco area looks like a 4:30pm. People just leave their trash on the tables. The trash bins are packed to the rafters. And it looks like a mess - literally!

Gosh, this is why we don't deserve nice things.

Metrowalk to remember

It's my first time to pass through Metrowalk since the announcement of its closure.

There are so many good memories here. 

This was where they had "Brazil, Brazil." This churrasco restaurant was the first of its concept, with the waiters bringing different barbecued items to your table. Our family would usually go there on weekends because the food was good and the value was great.

This was also the place where D' Frendz would hang out. Mainly because there were a couple of unique retail stores at Metrowalk, including stores that would sell hard-to-find imported goods.

They would often live bands at the open area, and we'd usually go there to listen to live music.

Then, there was the GoodAh!!! store where our office would often go to be test subjects for new menu items.

While its sad to see Metrowalk quiet and empty these days, the memories created will surely fill that void.

It's in the Mix(ue)

Presenting one of my current guilty pleasures.

Mixue has been popping up like mushrooms recently. It turns out that it's a Chinese brand of ice cream and tea that's been making inroads in the country. Their main draw is their price, with ice cream being sold at P30 and brewed iced tea at P40.

My current go-to is the Hawaiian Tea, which has a lot of goodies inside. It's similar to Yi Fang's fruit tea, but a lot cheaper. The big size is only P95, compared to P190 of other similar products.

Considering all these, it's no surprise that Mixue is part of my beverage mix these days.

Hello HLA

My first encounter with the HLA brand was in Robinsons Manila. 

From afar, their logo had this strong "GIU" vibe. From the outside, their merchandise looked like stuff that you'd find in SPAO. Upon doing some research, it turns out that the brand is a Chinese brand, and the company wants HLA to be a "Chinese Uniqlo."

Despite the curiosity, I wasn't able to check out their store. But recently, they opened a branch very near us - Gateway Mall in particular.

This brand is unique because it only sells men's clothing. Yup, it's a one gender clothing brand. That's a rarity these days as almost all of the fast fashion brands are diversified. That little factoid makes the brand more intriguing.

Now that it's jus tin the neighborhood, I'll probably pop in and say hello.

Blanket Observation

Was watching a Canadian documentary on the environmental effects of fast fashion. At one part of the program, the host was wearing something that made me stop, grab the remote, then pause the screen.

It was this shirt.

After observing it for a few minutes, the reason why it looked familiar dawned on me. The fabric looks exactly like the iconic Pinoy blanket I've been talking about. The same blanket that we also have at home.

This is another thing we can have made with those iconic blankets.

FMM: Lean on Marlene

One of the most popular Jazz clubs in the 80s was just a few blocks away from our house.

"Birdland" was located at the corner of Timog and Morato, and we'd see it when we'd pass by that area. Sometimes, we'd pass there by car, sometimes, by foot. Later on, the name was changed to "Birds of the same feather," but remained a Jazz club.

They would always have big posters of their featured singers, and that's where my familiarity with local Jazz singers began.

The club would host Jazz greats like Annie Brazil, Richard Merk, Vernie Varga and Marlene Dela Pena.

Most of the Pinoys know the first 3 Jazz singers, but the 4th wasn't a household name. In the Philippines, at least.

Marlene Dela Pena is a Filipina Jazz singer who was a big name in Japan. In fact, she was more popular in Japan than she was here. But that didn't stop her from holding concerts here, which were always well attended.

One of her songs that I'd hear a lot on the radio was this Jazzy ditty from 1983:

"Zanzibar Night" is a great showcase of her singing prowess. She's got the voice. She's got the Jazz way of singing down pat.

No wonder she was popular in Japan. And eventually, in the Philippines, too.

Rebisco redux

When we were younger, one of my fave snacks was Rebisco Cream Sandwich. 

It was such a delish cracker sandwich. The cracker itself had the right texture and crunch, and the filling had this light, citrusy taste. Somehow, it reminded me of the filling of Jolly, but this had more dimension.

The packaging was ubiquitous. It was a white pack, with blue, orange and red stripes. It was made of a plastic-like material, and I'd recognize it from afar when we'd go to the grocery. 

Imagine my thrill when that same packaging from my childhood was brought back for Rebisco's anniversary!

And suddenly, I'm back to my younger self.

Bonito es abierto

Had to see it for myself to believe it!

Woohoo! Love, Bonito is finally open. It's just below the escalators at Greenbelt 3, same row as the Power Mac Center and across Urban Revivo.

Didn't have time to go in and check it out. But I'm definitely going to go back soon.

Nan(yang)chalant

Whenever I'm craving for the taste of SG, Nanyang is one of my top go-tos.

Thankfully, they now have a branch at The Podium. It's Prawn Mee and Iced Lemon Tea FTW!

I'm going to have this lunch again - hopefully in SG - soon.

Doggone bossy!

That would best describe this dog who nonchalantly took his place at the top of the escalator in the elevated Ortigas Park.

No matter how many people passed him by, he wouldn't budge. So, everyone - including myself - had to side step in order to pass.

Meanwhile, he was unbothered.

That's boss!

Ines' last-ing impression

Apparently, the fall collection of the Uniqlo x Ines dela Fressange collaboration is the last.

Among their many collaborations, this one seems to be the longest running. Season after season, Ines came out with beautiful pieces that capture her French joie de vivre.

It was indeed an impressive run.

One shirt, three ways

Plains & Prints came out with another Barbie collaboration. It's inspired by country club chic, and it's reflected in most of the pieces of the collection. There are a lot of pieces inspired by tennis, some sportswear inspired pieces in tweed, plus some preppy items.

Despite all the colours and prints that it has to offer, my fave piece is this classic white shirt.

It's a crisp and clean white shirt with a standing collar. The overall shape is very unique, having this oversized silhouette, a longer back hem, and the sleeves are both cuffed and dropped. So much chic details!

While it's unique, it's also very versatile. Here are 3 ways to wear it, each with its own vibe.

First, it's paired with a flared denim skirt with buttons in front. The skirt is from Dockers, and it makes the look very carefree. It's something that you can do weekend errands with, but in an elevated way.

Second, with a long, denim skirt with a high side slit which is from The Landmark. This gives the shirt a casual yet sultry vibe, but still keeping the classic shirt and denim combo.

Third, it's paired with a classic, straight cut jean from Muji. This is the quintessential classic - but lifted.

Three cheers for this versatile piece!

FMM: Sooth Sayer

He definitely ha sone of the more unique voices in 70s pop.

Leo Sayer's voice is so iconic It's both soothing and upbeat. And he showcases it best in his massive 1976 hit, "You make me feel like dancing."

Of course, the younger folk remember this song because of its role in the more recent"Charlie's Angels" films.

Either way, I'd have to say that it's a worthy Friday Magic Madness song for today.

When work follows you around...

Literally!

This is one of the projects the team worked on for one of our clients.

We dressed up the Robinsons Supermarket robot and did the video that’s playing in its “face”.

And it followed me around during my grocery run.

Maybe it recognized me.