The Dress Debacle

Remember that raging debate over what color this dress is?

Apparently, that theory about how the angle makes it change colors is true.

Here's a dress I snagged a few months ago at the haunt. It's a Nine West dress with a sheer floral overlay and gold colored lining.

Yes, the color of the lining is gold, but everytime I take a photo of it, the color turns to blue!

Strange but true.

(Ende)run away

When we were looking for a school as a venue for our shoot, my instructions to the production designer was to look for one that felt like it was a school abroad. But of course, it had to be very near for logistical ease.

In my mind, schools like Cambridge and Oxford were my peg. Schools that look old and storied, but with a lot of character.

Surprisingly, there was one within Metro Manila. That's where we shot today, and while it wasn't exactly Cambridge or Oxford, it came pretty close.

The school was called Enderun, and it's this chi-chi culinary school in Taguig.

Except for the modern buildings around it, the campus itself looked very "old school." (I couldn't resist the reference.)

The buildings were obviously patterned after old Ivy League schools, but they're way, way smaller than the real ones.

Apparently, this school is also open as a venue for parties, and it has a full functioning restaurant with very affordable offerings. They're good enough reasons to visit it again soon.

Church of my childhood

Since we're going to have a long shoot tomorrow, I decided to hear anticipated mass today.

From the final costume check, the driver passed through Tomas Morato, and that's when I got the idea of hearing mass at Sacred Heart Church. This church holds so many memories since it's where we would hear mass as kids.

The interior of the church has changed a bit since I was a kid. They now have a fancy retablo - something that wasn't there in my younger years. And like everything in the Morato area, the church also seems smaller now.

Despite the changes, though, everything feels the same the moment I sat on the pew. I was transported back to the days when the whole family would walk from Scout Gandia all the way to Sacred Heart to hear mass in the morning.

Wonderful childhood memories, indeed.

FMM: It's that kind of day!

Yes! Today is a holiday!

Celebrate!

Elle-mentary

Living up to their "We've got it all" mantra, SM Supermarket carries a yogurt brand and flavor that I only used to find abroad.

The first time I came across Elle & Vire was during a trip to Paris about a decade ago. Eventually, I found it in other parts of Europe. When I was living in HKG, Park and Shop carried this brand, which was awesome.

Now, not only do they have it in Manila, they also have it in my favorite flavor - Cherry!

This is a great reason to start eating yogurt again.

(Super)Man, oh (Bat)Man, oh (Wonder Wo)Man!

I'm geeking out at the new Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer!



Yes! Our first glimpse of Wonder Woman!

This is going to be epic!

Pluto-nic

One of my earliest dreams in life was to be an astronaut. I've always imagined what it would be like to wear a space suit, ride a space shuttle, and travel all over the galaxy.

This is also the reason why I was a science geek when I was younger. I'd know all the planets and constellations, and would often look up in the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of the planets. And a syzygy.

That was many, many decades ago. And while I never became an astronaut, the fascination for planets never left me.

And seeing the closest shot of Pluto on the web today just rekindled that dream of being an astronaut again.

Not your usual game over

This photo from the web pretty much sums up the feelings of gamers all over the world.

The president of Nintendo - Satoru Iwata - passed away, leaving a colorful legacy and generations of people who grew up playing his games.

I'm one of those people - playing Super Mario on our Nintendo Family Computer as kids, collecting Pokemon when I wasn't a kid anymore, and continuing to play both games even as an adult.

While it may be "game over" for him, his memory will be like the "up, down, up, down, left, right, left, right, A, B, A, B" trick we'd do on the family computer. It will have an infinite life.

The other clash of the Titans!

Imagine my thrill upon finding out that "Attack on Titan" is now a live-action film.

And imagine my bigger thrill upon finding out that it's going to be shown here in Manila.

I've followed this story and watched some anime episodes, and it's really engaging. I'm excited to see how they translate it to the big screen.

First day. Hi!

Given the spate of school holidays, I was worried that today's class wouldn't push through.

But look, the sun came out (albeit briefly) and let us hold class today. Not to mention allowing us to hold the first faculty meeting.

Hi St. Scholastica's College. We're back!

FMM: After the rain

It's been gloomy and rainy the entire week, and it's supposed to clear up this weekend.

"Supposed" being the operative word. It might still continue, according to weather outfits.

While waiting for good weather, let me summon the rainbow with these 2 rainbow-themed old songs. These were favorites when I was a kid, and it never failed to bring good vibes.

First is from Angela Bofill.



And another classic from Kermit the Frog. Yes, Kermit the Frog!



Wait, I think I see the rainbow already. (No, that's just my imagination. And the songs, too.)

What's not to Lake?

Whenever we're in Tokyo, Mark and I like scouring the supermarkets to buy juice. Whether it's in Ozeki, Prece, My Basket or a random combini, I usually stop by the chiller to see if there's any interesting breakfast and snack beverage that we can buy.

Usually, I gravitate towards apple and grape juice. Mark, on the other hand, usually buys the fruit and vegetable mix. At first, I found that combination odd, but warmed up to it eventually. It turns out a fruit and vegetable combination is not only refreshingly healthy, but yummy as well.

When I dropped by SM Supermarket, I found out that Oishi's juice brand - Great Lakes - had a Fruit and Vegetable juice. 

Needless to say, I bought a pack, and it was really, really good. It had the right tartness, and a taste of healthy greens. It's pretty much like the one we get in Japan, albeit a tinge bit sweeter.

I also bought the other variant, Tropical Blend Fruit Mix.

This one tastes like Four Seasons, but with a bit more sourness.

It's great that we now have more varied choices when it comes to juice.

Sketchy Stories: Corset it up

Formal affairs are a good excuse to glam it up and try something new. So, when Ate Bullet told me of her upcoming formal event at the new Grand Ballroom of the Marriot, I thought she should wear something glam and new.

Although she's been wearing the strapless silhouette for quite some time now, she's never tried a corset-style dress before. Although she has one - the Proenza Schoulder from HKG - she's never used it. That's when the thought of a corset gown came up. 

Since the top was already a detailed corset, the bottom part of the had to be simple, hence an A-line, pieced skirt. The fabric was corded lace in blush, mainly because Ate is into that color these days. Plus, it will make the details of the corset more visible. Finally, a jeweled belt was designed in to cinch the waist.

A corset is actually very tricky to do. In Paris, there are Corsetieres who do nothing but corsets, but they do it perfectly. We're not in Paris though, so I was hesitant to suggest this look. But I pushed through with it.

I went to one of the family's trusted dressmakers and explained to her the concept. She seemed to grasp the entire thing, so that was a "whew" moment. Still wasn't sure if she could pull it off, though.

When Ate went to her first fitting, I was pleasantly surprised at how she was able to make a nicely structured corset. It's not a Parisian-quality one, but it was pretty good considering the time she had to make it.

With the corset top and the simple, flowy skirt, the gown looked good and ready for a formal event. The silhouette and style, plus the jeweled belt, made it look elegant. But the color and fabric made it look fresh.

After taking it to the ball last Monday, Ate said that the dress was a hit. She got a lot of compliments, some coming from designers and stylists. And in a ballroom crawling with black and white dresses, her blush color palette was a refreshing change.

Just goes to show that you don't have to go over-the-top to go glam. Sometimes, fresh, simple and new is a good way to go.

Candid date

Raymond posted this photo of Ate Bullet and Kevin on their way to the new Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel in Resorts World. And it's such a nice, candid photo of the two.

Mother and son photos are always nice.

Punny!

Pinoys have an affinity with puns. Heck, I can rattle of dozens of establishments whose names are based on puns.

But this one I didn't see coming!

Yes, it's a water receptacle named after one of the great singers of old.

Punny indeed.

Look, it's Lemaire

Whoa! This one slipped my collaboration radar!

Even before Carine Roitfeld's collection comes out, Uniqlo is dropping a collection with Christophe Lemaire. Yup, the same guy who used to design for Hermes.

The collection is about laid-back luxe. Since it's coming out in F/W, there are a lot of knits and sweaters. And I'm liking the one in the photo from his look book.

Lemaire is definitely something to look forward to.

A banner day

Today, in the U.S., they're celebrating the 4th of July.

I still remember back in grade school, we'd celebrate the 4th of July in the Philippines. It was called "Fil-Am Friendship day," and it was even a holiday. (Methinks.)

And to celebrate their independence, I think it's fitting that we play their national anthem. Sung by an American legend, Aretha Franklin.



Happy 4th of July!

FMM: A path to Cross

Dad's cassette tape collection is the reason why I have a diverse taste in music.

Imagine, being 6 years old and exposed to all these great names in music. From the classics like Frank Sinatra and Shirley Bassey, to instrumental artists like Ferrante and Teicher and Richard Clayderman. From wind experts Herb Alpert, Chuck Mangione to jazz great Seawind.

One of the cassette tapes I'd always go back to was Christopher Cross. There was something about his songs that was so soothing. Most likely, it comes from the fact that he has this really cool voice which works well with the laid-back melodies that he sings.

And on a laid-back Friday like this, I think it's time to bring out Christopher Cross.





I'm so glad to have crossed paths with his music again.

Chic Carine

Uniqlo always comes up with the most unique and chic collaborations.

Even before Target snapped up Peter Lim and Alexander Wang, they already had collaborations with Uniqlo. (And my sisters have pieces from both collections.)

They've collaborated with fashion vanguards that other fast fashion brands haven't thought of yet. Think Costello Tagliapietra,

Suno,

and their recent collection with Helmut Lang's Alexandre Plokhov.

Uniqlo also does work with influential fashion figures like Ines dela Fressange.

Now, they're launching an autumn collection with Paris style icon Carine Roitfeld!

This I got to see!

What a difference a day makes

Last June 29, I was reading the InStyle website and this was one of their banner stories:

A day after - June 30 - I went back to the website and saw this headline:

All it took was a day for the story to take a total 360 degree turn.

That's Hollywood for you.

Among Kin

If there's one person in SMC-CAO that's most loved, it's definitely Kin. 

No surprise there. To everyone who knows her, Kin is one of the most kindhearted, humble, inspiring and understanding person there is. I think the adage "not a mean bone in her body" was done with Kin in mind.

That's why when we were told that there was a surprise birthday dinner for Kin, the CAO gang made it a point to be there. While most of the people have already left SMC and moved on to other companies, we're more than glad to come back for Kin.

This group is actually a combination of almost 3 "generations" of SMC-CAO folks. The earliest members would be Elsie and myself, followed by Lu-ann and Leah, and the last generation would be Bunny, Aggy, et. al.

We forced Kin to make a short speech after dinner, and her first sentence captured who she is as a person.

"I don't know what I did to deserve a group of friends like this."

Humble as always. That's trademark Kin.

Jumper

For the longest time, Ate Bullet has been looking for a denim jumper. She's been looking for it both in stores and on-line. I've been looking for it at my usual haunts. And we even looked for it together during our siblings-day-out a few weeks ago. But we can't seem to find the right one.

Then, last weekend, I saw a really cool denim jumper when I dropped by Megamall. It was so cool that I had to snag it. It was so cool that I had to get a matching shirt and pair of brogues for it.

And Ate Bullet loved the whole ensemble that she wore it today.

It's the type of outfit that'll just make you jump for joy.

Looks like this coot is a hoot

Some films automatically fall under the "mindless" genre. These are films that are simply so absurd, you have to suspend all disbelief and turn your mind off to actually sit through the entire film.

Usually, these mindless films are hilarious! Think "Sharknado" or "Megapython vs. Gatoroid" or "Movie 43."

Not that I'm disparaging mindless movies. They're actually very entertaining and escapist, especially when done correctly. And while going through movie trailers, I think I found a mindless horror comedy that fits this bill.



It's a horror-comedy film called "Cooties," and it actually has an impressive pedigree. The creators of Saw and Glee. There's Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson in the cast. So, it better be good.

Question is, will they show this in Manila? I hope they do.

On the defense

As more and more imported products enter our market, we're fortunate enough to get more and more choices in terms of brands.

Being a shower gel junkie, I keep my eyes open for new brands. One recent discovery is a brand called "Daily Defense."

I bought the Argan Oil body wash, and liked the texture, scent and feel of it. I checked the back label and found out that it's a Canadian product, and they have a lot of shower gel variants.

Looks like another brand will be added to my repertoire.

FMM: Everybody wave!

They say that the rainy season is among us, but if you take a walk outside, the sun is still shining and scorching as if it were still summer.

And that inspired me in choosing today's Friday Magic Madness song.



Katrina and the Waves never fails to bring sunshine into my day.

Sibling Revelry: The Throwback Thursday edition

Last Sunday, Dad showed me this really old family photo of theirs. 

The photo gave me instant flashbacks!

Suddenly, I remembered how dashing Lolo Iking was, and how elegant Lola Dita looked. I also saw how Tito Ting looks like Paul, Tita Evelyn looks like Esther, Tito Hector looks like Harold, Tito Linden looks like Troy, and Dad looks like me. (No surprise there.)

I'm also impressed at how they kept the photo intact after all these years.

Throwback Thursdays rock!

Kachangs encounter

Sharing discoveries is one thing I like doing. Whether it's food, a TV show, a shopping haunt - anything good is worth sharing.

During our SG trip 2 weeks ago, I found out that the first timers haven't heard of, or even tried, Ice Kachang. So, during our hawker breakfast, I took the liberty of treating the gang to a bowl of this wonderful concoction.

And here's my short stint as a waiter in SG. Here's one for the girls:

And another for the boys:

Not surprisingly, they loved it!

Another sharing success!

Peas in a Pod

The older I get, the more people tell me that I look like my Dad.

There was even one time when I was waiting for Mona, and she sent me an SMS that said:

"My gosh you look so much like your dad!!!!!!"

And with a photo like this, I can't help but agree.

Bro-dorable!

This photo of Miguel and Javier is just so adorable. I'm especially digging Javier's smile. It's very mischievous. Harhar.

Hey, hey, Dad gang's all here!

There's nothing like Father's Day to get everyone together in one table. Wish Biboy and Family, as well as Jul and Carl, were here, too.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

An important Lawson

The Japanese brand invasion continues in the Philippines as Lawson lands on our shores!

Lawson is one of our go-to convenience stores whenever we're in Japan. I remember ducking into one of their Ginza branches whenever I'm having a craving for onigiri.

What's nice is that one of their first branches is actually quite near our house. It's near Anonas, almost across St. Joseph's Church. So now, I can actually buy onigiri after hearing mass!

Looking forward to more Japanese goodness in the country soon!

FMM: Cos Celebre

Here's another SG-trip-inspired Friday Magic Madness ditty.

A lot of the fast fashion brands in SG are also found in Manila, which explains why I'm not shopping here as much as I used to. There's one of fast fashion brand here that hasn't made it to Manila yet.

COS - shorthand for Collection Of Style - is H&M's sleeker sibling. Everything about their clothes, from the design to the fabrication, has that sense of minimalism and quietness. In Europe, they see this brand as Zara's bigger competition, but I think COS has its own market.

Right now, there are only 2 countries in Asia that carry COS. The first one is SG, while HKG is the second country. It's that rarity that draws me to the store whenever I visit these countries.

And since we're on the subjects of COS, my Friday Magic Madness song for today is also about a "cause." More specifically, it's about a "because."

Straight from the 80s, here's Anita Baker and one of her massive hits:



Now, you might be wondering how COS and "Just Because" end up together?

Just because.

Wandering CAOs

My stint at the Corporate Affairs Office - or CAO - of SMC is one of my shortest work stints. 

It was my second job and my first supervisory position. They asked me to head the internal broadcast group, and I had to write, direct, edit and supervise a gamut of audio-visual projects. I also had to travel a lot, and meet so many people in a month. And the most peculiar of them all, the staff under me were the same staff who were also under my Dad. 

Despite being in CAO for just a year, I made some of my best friends in that office. When stress was too much to bear (and believe me, there was so much stress,) I always had a support system who'd be there to listen to me rant. Those rant sessions were always accompanied by food, which added comfort.

It was a support system that was composed of such wonderful people. Among them: Kin, Jing-jing, Elsie, Mac, Lu-Ann, Joannah, Marla, Sir Pie and Maricar. It was a group that was so tight knit, we'd gravitate towards each other even after we all went our separate ways. 

It's been almost 20 years since I left SMC, but the CAO gang is still very much together. From random lunches to instant birthday celebrations, from sandwich parties to Christmas reunions, from impromptu get-togethers at Sir Pie's house to slightly-impromptu overseas trips like our SG visit last week.

What never ceases to amaze me is the fact that whenever we're together, it feels like we're back in our corner office in SMC-HO. The conversations, stories, flashbacks, jeers, and everything in between, they feel so familiar. It's as if we never left the office, and it's as if it's the 90s all over again. (And I mean that in a good way.)

Before we left SG, we made a pact to have another overseas get together sooner than later. We haven't decided on the location yet, but with this group of friends, I'm sure it'll feel very familiar.

Catching up with Carl

Just when I thought I wasn't going to be able to get my hands on Carl's Jr., the opportunity presented itself at the last minute.

I was going to ride the MRT at Dhoby Ghaut station, and remembered that it's connected to Plaza Singapura Mall. And of course, Carl's Jr. had a branch there!

So, I ordered my usual for take-away, and ate it at the hotel while packing my bags.

And with that, my food journey in SG was complete!

Carl's Day!

Nope, this isn't a post about Carl's Jr. in Singapore. I'll write about that later.

It's about my nephew, Carl Andrei, who's celebrating his birthday today!

Happy Birthday, Carl! Continue to make us proud!

Body Buddy

Since more than half of the SMC gang are first timers in SG, I spent most of the day showing them around the must-visit sites. The (good) result, I wasn't really able to shop like I normally do when I'm there.

Surprisingly, we did go to H&M, Uniqlo, Forever 21, and the usual haunts, but I really didn't buy anything. Maybe it's because these brands are also in Manila, so there's really no incentive to bring them home. Not even the sale.

But on our last day, as I passed through Ngee Ann City on my way to the MTR, I found out that there's a Bath and Body Works store in SG!

A Bath and Body Works store!!!

Of course, I had to drop by and spend a few minutes there. It was such a thrill to see my favorite US shop right here in South East Asia!

Now, there's an incentive to go back to shop in SG.

The Long and Short of it

One of the "must-dos" while in SG is enjoying the country's iconic drink - Singapore Sling.

Since we were in the company of first timers, we decided to drop by The Long Bar at Raffles Hotel so they can sample the drink. The Long Bar is the place where this drink was mixed a century ago. Yup, the drink is that old, yet it's still on-trend until now.

Walking into The Long Bar feels like walking into a British Colonial home in the 1900s. The interiors - from the wooden furniture to the ceiling fans - have this genteel, old-world feel to it. As I was telling Kin, it feels like we're plantation owners waiting for the workers to bring in their produce.

Another peculiarity about The Long Bar is how the floor is littered with peanut shells. It's a tradition in the bar, and as the menu says, "it's the only place in Singapore where you're allowed to litter."

After our drinks, a lot of photos and even more stories, we decided to head off to dinner at another SG icon - Lau Pa Sat. And while our stay in the bar was short, the fun of the experience will linger on for a long time.

Eats a good thing

When in SG, one of the best things to do is eat! And that's what I've been doing the whole day. 

Aside from the food that's on my list - ice kachang, prawn mee, kun kaya toast - I also found a couple of good eats that I just had to add to my list.

First up, Caramel Corn!

After seeing this shelf display, I was automatically transported back to Tokyo and remembered how Mark and I would buy this at the Daiso. Needless to say, I had to buy a few packs.

Second, Chwee Kuey!

This was introduced to me last year by Jo and Ka Wei, and we went to the same spot where I first tasted it. According to my foodie insider, the hawker center in Tiong Bahru has the best one, that's why I had to indulge in it.

Tomorrow, I must tick off Carl's Jr. from my list!

FMM: Ready to take Kachangs again...

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

Ice Kachang!

It's one of my must-do things while I'm in SG. And a visit here wouldn't be complete without this heavenly dessert.

Now, on to the song!

The goodness will 'Pore

It's been a year since I last went to SG. And thanks to an instant, last minute plan by the SMC gang, I'm on my way back.

This is going to be a good trip.

It's a new world!

Jurassic World is opening in cinemas today!

I still remember how the first film "Jurassic Park" was a life-changing experience for me. I still remember how wide-eyed in awe I was at the scene where they introduced the dinosaurs for the first time. My face pretty much mirrored Laura Dern's look of awe!

Even though I'm much older now, I still expect to be awed by this new Jurassic film. I just hope it's better than the previous movies under the same title.

Boom Boom Teow!

It's been more than a year since I last went to SG. Which means it's been more than a year since I've eaten authentic, hawker-quality Char Kway Teow!

I look forward to having another serving this weekend!