Let's Dance

Even though it's not an obvious choice - after all, it might not even be a colour - I'm very much drawn to this year's Pantone colour of the year.

Cloud Dancer is basically white. With a bit of softness to it. This is actually making it easy for everyone to follow the colour code this coming new year.

Hope the coming year will be filled with quietness, simplicity and freedom - just like a Cloud Dancer.

The Royal Treatment

After last year's very muted, black and white Christmas wrapping theme, my idea for this year's theme was the complete opposite.

At the get go, my mind was veering towards something more vibrant and elegant. A thought that was further solidified after seeing this wrapper:

It was the royal blue and gold combination that sold me to it. The combo felt so luxe, yet also quiet and muted.

Because of that colour scheme, the accents and accoutrements also followed suit. Found this really nice metallic gold ribbon, and a glittered gold snowflake.

That same blue and gold theme carried on to my gift cards, which echoed both the colours and patterns of those materials.

Together, these elements created this year's Christmas wrapping theme.

Now, let me put on Lorde's "Royal" in the background.

LFLTAT: Straight to No. 1

No, this isn't about the song by Touch and Go.

What it is is another post-Christmas sale ensemble.

For less than a thousand, of course.

The top is from Kashieca, which is a lace top (it's long enough to be a dress, actually) with an interesting, Chanel-esque print. The skirt if from The Landmark, and we all know who affordable fashion items are there.

Despite the P800 price tag, this look definitely has a lot of class to it.

LFLTAT x Color Story: Taupe tier

Sales about after Christmas day.

Retailers know that people have a lot of Christmas money to burn, so they give them a gentle nudge and suggestion on how to do it. 

Because of these sales, it's so easy to churn out a Look for Less than a Thousand, that can also be a Colour Story. Just like this ensemble:

It's a very classy and classic taupe look, but with something extra. The top is from Baleno at The SM Store, while the pants are from H&M. The pants are particularly interesting because it has that faux layered look, thanks to the lace overlay.

For the price - which is just around P900 - is a top choice!

Suddenly Six

Here's a case of Christmas history repeating itself.

These photos were taken on the same day - Christmas eve - but 6 years apart!

So much has happened since 2019, and the world is a lot different.

But Ate Bullet and Toni still look the same.

FMM: Christmas Calling

There was this very catchy yet very mindless piece of techno music back in 1999.

"Mindless" because for more than 2 minutes, they just repeated the same line over and over and over and over again. "Catchy" because it was so popular back then. You'd hear it on the radio, on MTV, in clubs and parties. 

You might not know the title, but once you hear it, it'll all come back.

IYKYK, as kids these days would say.

Yup, it's "Somebody answer the phone" by Mario Piu.

It's a fitting Friday Magic Madness song, inspired by Mark's very thoughtful Christmas gift.

He must have seen how old my current phone was, that he decided to give me a new one. He knows that I'm not the type who'll buy a phone for myself, so he took matters into his own hands.

Very thoughtful.

Great call, Mark.

Christmas at the Park

Park Avenue, that is.

From our family - both in Park Avenue and in Texas, Georgia and Toronto - a Merry Christmas and a blessed Holiday Season.

See you Litre

Went to Serenitea for my usual Lychee Green Tea fix, and got a big surprise.

Literally, big.

Like, a litre big!

Apparently, they have an anniversary promo. If you buy a selected drink (and my Lychee Green Tea was selected), you get a free upside to a 1-litre cup!

That's a whole lotta Lychee! (Not complaining, though.)

Bicho bottom dollar

No, this isn't an "Annie" post.

It's a post about the fact that, despite eating at Tsokolateria many, many times, I'm only discovering their Bicho Bicho today.

It's SO good!

The Bicho has the right combination of a crunchy exterior and a pillowy interior, and the choice of dips complement it.

Looks like the Churros Waffle will be dislodged as my Tsokolateria fave.

Creativi-tree

After a year of work, productions, work, pitches, rushed work, and more work, it's finally a wrap for the creative team this year.

From our creative family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Danke Schon

Thanks to Arche, I'm now familiar with this German brand of mixed fruits.

Meyve Mix was what I got from the exchange gift, and I couldn't be happier.

Hope they have this in supermarkets in MNL. 

It's sehr lecker!

Not Becky's Kitchen

But Becky's living room!

Once again, the Mass Comm faculty continues our tradition of spending our Christmas party at Becky's home.

As expected, it was an afternoon filled with food, laughter, and teacher talk.

Merry Christmas, Mass Comm!

FMM: Wither on not

Today's Friday Magic Madness post is in honour of the song that wasn't sung yesterday.

For our finale, we were supposed to group sing Bill Withers' 1972 hit, "Lean on Me."

But the team felt that we needed a more upbeat and party-ish ditty to end our tribute medley. Eventually, we sang "Happy Together" by The Turtles.

Too bad, actually, since we were really feeling the vibe of this Bill Withers song. Which I'll play today.

Too bad that this song didn't get the airplay it deserved.

Silver linings

And just like that, our agency celebrated our Silver Anniversary.

Congratulations, Catalytx!

Here's to the next 25 years.

Pro and (Comic)Con

We noticed a lot of people carrying "Back to the Future 40th Anniversary" totes, and was wondering what's up.

Then it hit us. 

It was Tokyo Comic Con!

Maybe we'll see Johnny Depp roaming around Makuhari.

SSDD

A decade ago, we were in Tokyo Midtown with Mark's friends - Derek, Trina, Diego & Rondel, and we had our photos taken at the bridge that connects the park to the mall.

During our Tokyo trip last week, we were able to take our photo on the same bridge.

So, this qualifies as a SSDD - Same shot, different decade - post.

Back to Earth

Because the Polo Earth that I bought and brought from Narita Airport was so good, just had to get another bottle.

Two, actually.

Guess this means that I'm a certified Earth-ling.

Meals with Mark: Go Cro!

When they closed the St. Marc's cafe in Megamall, we were bummed. Where do we get our yummy choco cros now?

That's why when we saw that there was a St. Marc's cafe outside our hotel in Makuhari, we already knew where we'd have breakfast.

It's so good to be able to share a choco cro with Mark again.

Luck is Standard

I'm so thrilled that we decided to stay in Makuhari on our last day in Tokyo.

Aside from the fact that there's the Mitsui Park Outlet just outside our hotel - literally, it was outside our hotel - there's also the Aeon Mall which was just 1 train stop away.

That mall is one of my faves because of these 2 shops:

Luck Rack is always a great place to hunt for off-season Japanese brands, while Standard Products can really give Muji a run for its money.

I'm super happy with my haul from these 2 stores.

FMM: The Others

Back in 1993, there was a song that enjoyed a lot of airplay, and it also enjoyed a lot of on-air play. I'd see the official music video on shows like MTV, and being danced on TV shows by popular dance gorups.

It's a song from a duo called "The Other Two." The English husband and wife team, originally from New Order, tried it out as a duo and came up with this hit song.

"Selfish," has that new wave vibe that also has a bit of a slow dance feel. It's that combination that makes this song such an ear worm.

Let me be selfish and play this song on repeat.

Always the best time

Back in the early 2000s, the tagline of Wendy's in the Philippines was: "It's the best time for Wendy's."

While they're not and have not used that tagline in decades, it still remains to be my favourite one.

With that, this is the best time to post about Wendy's in Tokyo.

Hands down, the fries in Wendy's Japan is top tier. That's why it's also one of the "must-visits" when I'm there.

It's the best!

Breakfast with a view

At The New Otani Hotel in Akasaka-Mitsuke, you have 2 venue options for the breakfast buffet. You can choose between a garden view and a city view.

Mark and I were deciding where to go, and we eventually decided to just go with the city view restaurant at the 40th floor.

Boy, was it a good choice! We were treated to this view while having breakfast:

Mount Fuji!

This view made our breakfast even more special!

Meals with Mark: Happy habits

From the early 2000s until now, one of the "must-visits" when we're in Japan has to be Saizeriya.

This "Italian-by-way-of-Japan" fast food place is like a second home for us. You might even call it a habit. The comfort food  the drink bar, the vibe - it all adds up to make every visit a satisfying one.

In our many, many times of eating here, this is the first time we're ordering their French onion soup.

Gosh! It's so, SO good! Why didn't we discover this earlier?

This is now going to be part of our regular orders from here on in.

Year end. Bookend.

Mark and I started our travel year in Japan.

Last January, we went to Makuhari in Tokyo,  and had a grand time there.

Now, we're back for our last international trip for the year.

Makuhari never disappoints. And Makuhari will always be one of our go-tos in Japan.

LFLTAT: Color of the Year

So, Pantone announced the 2026 colour of the year - Cloud Dancer.

It's basically a variation of white.

This reminded me of a LFLTAT from my previous Japan trip.

The culottes are from GU, while the top is from Uniqlo. They're both in various permutations of white, and they blend together seamlessly and perfectly.

It's a look that'll bring you to Cloud Nine!

Smells like Pinoy Spirit

Since we're on the subject of Pinoy Pride and proudly Pinoy products, here's a recent discover that can be filed under that subject.

It's a locally made perfume!

The packaging alone is a great reason to buy it. The box is elegant, aesthetic and posh. The perfume itself is equally good - long-lasting, good projection, and it really reminds me of Tom Ford's Oud Wood.

Take notes, local brands. This is how it's done.

FMM: Another one bites the Dusty

Dusty Springfield has one of the most fascinating voices in music. She had a mezzo-soprano voice that could pull off both classic and modern sounding songs.

Her career started in the 60s, but my first exposure to her music was through this 1987 collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys.

"What have I done to deserve this," was an often played song back in the 80s. Not only was it all over the airwaves, it was also all over parties and get togethers. Whenever it was played, my ears were always waiting for her to come in with those iconic lines: "Since you've been away, I've been hanging around, I've been wondering why I'm feeling down..."

These lines made the song for me.

That was the magic of Dusty Springfield.

Ballet meets Balot

This post is so, SO overdue.

Actually, the fact is that I thought I posted about this already. 

Apparently not.

Saw this really nice pair of ballet flats at a Trade Fair in Megamall, and just had to order a pair.

Yup, order. They make these shoes to order, which is a great way to really promote craftsmanship and quality.

This beautiful denim ballet flats has a whimsical "Balot" print. Very Pinoy yet very chic.

Now, that's Pinoy creativity at its finest.

That's so False!

Here's yet another example of how quality seems to have flown out the window.

They used false copy as stand-in for this video. And they didn't replace or remove it.

Gosh! Back when my advertising career began, this would've been a huge no-no. But these days, people with just shrug it off and say: "that video won't last long anyway."

Proofreader - and higher standards - please.

Dolled up denim

There are a lot of ways you can elevate denim. 

You can do it by pairing a denim item - like jeans - with a more luxe item like a silk blouse or a merino sweater. 

You can do it though accessories - like a sparkly shoe, a statement belt, or a tweed jacket.

Or you can make a dress with a lot of fashionable details that elevate it. Just like this dress:

Overall, the dress has a baby doll vibe. But it's done in a very modern way. From the cuts and seams on the bodice, to the sleeve that puffs up at the lower part, to the big neck tie that further enhances the "doll" look.

This is more than just "Denim done right," It's "Denim done wonderfully chic!"

Color Story: Children of the Cornflower

Saw a cornflower blue knit top at Memo, and it was on sale!

Of course, I had to buy it.

Next task was to find items to pair it with. That's when I remembered that there were a few light denim items in the stash that looks like cornflower.

Et voila!

The pants are from The SM store, and the vest is from the Plains & Prints x Marc Nicdao collaboration.

Feeling Rich

Pete Rich, that is.

His latest collaboration with Plains & Prints already dropped, and it's a lot of fun.

The polo shirt has a very soft fabric, an interesting zipper detail, and a cute embroidered detail of a taho vendor. This taho vendor detail is also echoed in the tote bag, which I also got.

Plains & Prints has another winner here.

Fun with fusion

With no bias whatsoever, Toni's latest creation - the Bibingka Cheesecake - has to be one of the best cheesecakes I've tried.

Ever!

Amazing how a little bit of fusion - adding a Pinoy twist to a Basque Cheesecake - can make a world of difference.

I'm going to make a bee line at Toni's next bazaar just for this.

FMM: The first Noel

Nope, this isn't a Christmas Carol post.

But considering that it's almost Christmas, that's not too far fetched.

The "Noel" I'm referring to is Noel Harrison.

While his name might not be familiar for many, the song that he sang surely is.

"The Windmills of your Mind" is a 1968 song that was used in the original "Thomas Crowne Affair" film. Even as a kid, I've been fascinated by this song. 

Aside from the melody and the heartfelt rendition of Noel Harrison, the lyrics are so beautifully written. It's poetic, it's storytelling, and it's the reason why the music of back then is sorely missed.

Bruce Clues

Look! Monday Bruce finally has an officemate!

These blind boxes are dangerously addictive.

SM is So Marvelous

When it comes to Christmas displays, SM is top tier.

They pull out all the stops and don't hold back in terms of ideas and execution.

Their display at SM North EDSA - The Block is a testament to that.

The castle is even functional. You can go inside and watch a shot video.

Marvelous. Just marvelous!

Hog Wild

Apparently, Cat Cafes are old news in Tokyo.

Walk through Takeshita Dori, and you'll see an array of animal cafes that are far from the usual.

And one of the bigger hits in the area? A pig cafe!

Judging by the lines, it's popular among locals and tourists alike.

While novel, methinks a concept like this won't work in Manila.

People might steal the pigs and turn them into cochinillo.

Pretty little Jinbei-by

Immediately thought of Baby Sabers after seeing a Jinbei at Donki.

Eventually bought it as pasalubong.

And seeing this confirmed my hunch that it was the right decision.

So much cuteness in one photo!

New View

Despite the fact that I've visited Harajuku quite a number of times already, this is my first time to visit the building at the corner with this view.

This is at the 6th floor of a building that has a vertical garden outside. The 5th and 6th floors have food courts, and t his is where we had lunch. Was intrigued by the place called "Falafel Guys" and eventually bought my food there.

The food was good. The view was even better.

Dots perfect

When Joanne - the Plains & Prints Ali Mall manager - told me about the Plains & Prints x Vania Romoff x Mark Bumgarner collab, my excitement went through the roof.

After all, Vania and Mark are accomplished designers who both embrace the "simple but elegant" aesthetic, so putting their heads together for one collab has all the makings of a home run.

When the collection dropped, my excitement dropped notches lower. Overall, a lot of the pieces looked more like party wear rather than every day wear. Even the 2 dresses - the pieces that I had very high hopes for - were just okay.

But there were 3 pieces that stood out and immediately went to my "must buy" list. And yes, I was able to buy them.

First is this skirt and sleeveless top made in a polka dot fabric that's SO Vania Romoff. 

Among the pieces, these 2 are the ones that look like they came straight out of Vania's core line. The simplicity of the cut, the full skirt, the minimalist aesthetic - they all came together beautifully. And if you think that's the end of it, check out the back of the top:

Now THAT is a chic detail.

The nice thing about the skirt is that it can also be paired with the other pieces from the collection. So, along with these 2 pieces, ended up buying their black & white polka dot top with puffed sleeves and an empire waist.

And as you can see, the top pairs perfectly with the skirt.

Now, that's simple, elegant and versatile fashion!

FMM: From Rokh to Rock

You should've seen this coming.

After 4 consecutive Rokh posts, our Friday Magic Madness song has to be about "Rock." 

What better "rock" song is there than Michael Jackson's 1979 hit, "Rock with you."

After listening to this song again after a while, the reality still rings true. 

Michael Jackson is a legend! (And yes, he rocks.)

Rokh star: Trench revolution

One of the interesting outfits from the Rokh x GU collaboration is their reimagined trench coat.

Instead of it being a one-piece coat, Rok Hwang made 2 pieces - a cropped trench jacket and a paper bag skirt. When worn together, the checkered pattern creates the illusion that you're wearing a one-piece coat. But in reality, it's 2 pieces.

Because we really don't have much use for a trench jacket here, it was the skirt that made its way home. It's a brown, checked skirt that has a gathered waist and trench coat inspired buttons running down the front of the skirt.

Since the skirt is already a statement piece, the pair can be something simple and quiet. And that's where this mocha coloured shirt from Muji came in.

It's a new and chic way to look at a trench coat.

Rokh star: Nifty Knits

There's a lot of twofer pieces in this season's Rokh x GU collaboration.

Actually, the combo that was featured last Monday wasn't the 1st twofer piece that I bought the moment I arrived in Tokyo. It was this:

This is a knit combo. It's a knit, spaghetti strapped dress, paired with a collared, long-sleeve top.

Whether you wear the pieces together, or apart and alone, it's definitely nifty.

Rokh star: Over-stated

The item from the Rokh x GU colla that Ate Bullet liked the most was the skirt over pants ensemble. It was the one she was most excited about, and it was the first one she wore.

So, when she saw that there was another skirt over pant piece in the 2025 collection, that's what she wanted the most.

They didn't have it in GU Ginza, and that made me think that it might be sold out in all the branches. Thankfully, it was still available in the Shibuya branch.

This season's version is in a navy blue fabric, and the skirt was an A-line skirt with a ribbon detail on the waist.There was a Penshoppe tank top lying around the stash, and it became the perfect pair for the pants.

I'm sure that Ate is going to be overjoyed at this.