Slim pickings

Oh, I miss the days when there were rows upon rows upon rows of beautiful gift wrappers at National Bookstore.

As the distributor of Hallmark products, they had the best and most varied selections of gift wrappers. They had a wrapper for every vibe, every occasion, every aesthetic. But now, they have this:

It's kinda sad to see how much they've downscaled their gift wrapping area. Even sadder is the fact that the designs are becoming bland and repetitive. Even their gift tags are blah.

Is it time to find another source of wrapping papers?

Peace in a cup

The world is really starting to become a scary place.

Countries attacking each other. Governments taking up arms and striking at one another. Talks that these little wars might escalate to a big one.

Gosh! It's safe to say that the only thing that the people of the world want right now is peace.

And while it's hard to imagine that in the current state of global affairs, this store in Ali Mall was able to capture the sentiment in a cup.

If it were only this easy.

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.

All about the Bass

No, this isn't a Meghan Trainor post.

It's about this hat that I've been seeing everyone wear these days.

Yes, it's cute and retro and all, but must EVERYONE wear it at the same time?

Back at one

Today, we usher in another year.

It's day one of month one.

As we start another new year, we start more opportunities to better ourselves, be more generous, be a blessing to other people, and make 2025 the best year for us.

Happy New Year!

Keep off the grass

In another edition of "This is why we don't deserve nice things."

Grass and greenery are supposed to make you feel relaxed. But seriously, how can you relax if you see this:

Unfortunately, a lot of people still don't have that discipline of disposing trash properly. Gosh! How difficult is it to hold on to a bottle until you find a garbage bin?

It's disappointing how a lot of people still have this trash mentality.

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.

A.I. think this is...

Caught this poster in the new One Ayala Mall. It's a poster for a jewellery brand.

Upon looking at it for a while, and studying it closely, it seems like this poster was an AI generated poster. It has the same qualities as those face app programs that turn your face into a yearbook photo, matinee idol, and the likes.

Of course, I can't be 100% certain. But if this is A.I., then they're out to get the jobs of art directors, photographers and models, too.

Ad Age

Saw this art card on Facebook. It completely struck me because aside from the fact that it’s true and factual, it talks about a reality that we constantly face.

Advertising is a job with no age-ism. You can be very young or very old, and still thrive and succeed.

Examples: 

- I was only 19 when I started as a Copywriter trainee.

- My current boss started our agency when he was 56 years old.

Of course, the guy in the art card is David Ogilvy. He’s a man who needs no introduction.

Proof that creativity and tenacity is ageless. And i’m fortunate to be part of an industry that celebrates that.

Getting back to (the new) normal

As we get ready to welcome the new year, it's always nice to look at the year that was.

"New Normal" is a term that's been around since the later part of 2020, but it was this year that it felt like we were really moving in to it.

With the travel rules easing, masking becoming optional, and more people going out, it started to feel like the world was going back to what it used to be. But of course, there were still indicators of the pandemic - people still wearing masks, the reluctance to remove masks in public places, the practice of social distancing, and the feeling of overall cautiousness.

Personally, we started to go to the office more often. Our shoots were a bit more relaxed, sans the face shields but still with a lot of swab tests. Meeting up with friends became a tad (just a tad) bit more frequent. And yes, this was the year that I was able to travel again.

First, it was to Bicol with the family. That was the first domestic trip. 

Second, Mark and I were able to go to Seoul before the year ended. That was a special trip in a lot of ways.

And as 2023 comes rolling along, it feels like we'll start to do a bit more "normal" things. Hopefully, with more confidence and less reluctance.

Thanks for easing us to a new sense of normalcy, 2022. And we're hoping for a better a more "normal-normal" 2023!

Same same but different

From my last visit in 2019 to my visit last October, Myeongdong has changed a lot.

It might have been because of the pandemic, but there were so many closed shops and empty spaces even in the main shopping street. Some of the places I'd frequent, like The Alley and Jamba Juice, were both closed.

Luckily, some of my favourites are still there, in the same place where they were during my last visit.

Like Yoogane, which is a great place to eat galbi.

And the ice cream place that has been there since 2010! Thus, even if it was 10 degrees outside, that same ice cream was on the agenda. Albeit a different flavour.

These made Myeongdong feel the same, but different.

Turning over a New Leaf

Since I've been walking around the compound regularly now, I've been beginning to notice the verdant environment.

One of the things that caught my eye was this particular leaf with a pretty interesting shape.

The leaves are turned over, pretty much like a bowl. It's the first time I've seen a leaf like this. It makes me want to get guacamole or cheese dip and put it in this leaf bowl.

Oh, the things you notice these days.

Shirt Tales

If only the shirts in my closet could talk, these are the things they’d probably say:

“When are you taking us out?”

“Are we going to work yet?”

“Can we go to the Mall?”

Gosh! The last time I wore one of these shirts is a year ago. Seriously!

Maybe I should start wearing them as pajamas. Just to get to use them.

Start it with a prayer

It's the first day of December. 

Hard to imagine, but we're on the last month of a very precarious year. 

And what better way to start the first day of the last month with a very apt prayer. 

Let's do this, December!

Finding Balance

Did they discontinue the New Balance 574 Sport Series?

I've been trying to look for new models but they're no longer on their website.\

Then again, who needs new sneakers at this time?

Mama-Mondays

Just like that, we begin another week.

And to kick it off with a peppy, optimistic vibe, let me bring in the Mamas and the Papas!

Yup, it's another Monday, Monday.

Let's make the week count.

Lego-ne

 

Why am I not surprised.

Today was the launch of the Sesame Street Lego sets in the official Lego stores in the Philippines. They accepted pre-orders via phone calls, and part of me knew that this toy will be a hot seller.

Their stores open at 10am, which means they would start to accept calls for the orders that time.

I called around 10:50am, and I was told by the branch that they were all sold out. When asked whether their other stores might still have it, the nice person on the other line said that the situation was the same.

Lego was Le-gone in less than 60 minutes!

Wake up!

And just like that, it's the end of September.

And as everyone likes to ask: "Gosh, where did the year go?"

And since September has ended, the question is: should we wake up already?



Last quarter of the year, here we come!

Missing Mega

It's more than 5 months since I last stepped into the hallowed halls of SM Megamall.

And given this current situation, I'm not entirely sure when we'll be able to comfortably and confidently step into these halls again.

Soon. Hopefully soon.

Jumping to June

When this entire ECQ started in March, one of the concerns of people is that time would drag on slowly since everyone is just at home and not allowed to go anywhere or do anything. (Well, anything that requires you to go out of the house.)

But lo and behold, we're now on the 6th month of the year!

Yes, just like the years before it, this year is zipping by at a remarkable speed.

Anyway, I like the June calendar heading of this one because it's more than just fun, but it also carries a relevant message. Many people are worried and concerned about the current goings-on, but this calendar reminds us not to.

Okay, half of the year is done. Let's jump to it and do something awesome with the next half of the year!