Skirt week: Checked out

Last weekend, there was a sale at SM North EDSA. And, while visiting one of my favorite haunts there - SM Department Store, they had an irresistible promo that caught my eye.

In one section, there were items that were on 50% off, and there was an extra 50% off on top of it. Then, since I was an SM Prestige Card holder, there was an extra 10% off!

Why don't they just give it away?

Anyhoo, one item from that rack that really caught my eye was this checkered skirt with a faux sleeve detail.

The fabric and construction are both super chic. It's a hybrid of something classic (fabric) and something fashion (design.)

Then, I saw this shirt at Penshoppe, and it's reddish hue echoed one of the squares on the skirt.

Together, this checkered ensemble is the epitome of Lazy Sunday Chic.

Cool ensemble from a sale - check!

Skirt week: Mixed-up tribe

Whenever you find an article of clothing that's really nice and chic, you buy it in all available colors!

That's a philosophy I often follow, especially when it comes to t-shirts.

So, that beautiful tribal skirt in green that I wrote about yesterday? They have it in mustard! So I had to buy it!

Now, this color also had a matching shirt, but I decided against buying it. Instead, I decided to mix it up and pair this printed skirt with a plain shirt!

This shirt is from Penshoppe, and it's amazing how the color perfectly blends in with the dominant colors of the skirt. Then, the blue sash is what breaks the monotony, giving it a much needed breather.

See, a plain and printed combination with a tribal theme can be just as chic!

Skirt week: Green Tribes

This week's posts will be about skirts. And it all started with this quote that Mark and I suddenly remembered:



But no, it won't be about hideous skirts. On the contrary, this week's posts will be about some nice skirts that I've found over the course of the weekend, at some of my favorite haunts.

The first one is this green, tribal print skirt from Calliope. I'm really digging the African vibe, the vibrant color, the contrasting belt, and the ease of the design.

Lo and behold, the skirt had a matching shirt! And since I'm super in love with the print, I had to get both.

Together, it looks like a pretty, tribal printed dress. But, as separates, you can wear the skirt with a plain top, or the shirt with jeans.

No skirting the issue. This ensemble is definitely fabulous.

Every letter counts

Oh what a difference an “r” makes!

Proofreader, please!

Missing InStyle

Unlike a few years before when it was super easy to get my InStyle fix here in Manila, it seems that my favorite magazine is getting harder and harder to find.

Before, i’d Buy it at Bufini. Until all their stores closed. Then, i’d Buy it at the magazine shop near SM Supermarket. That closed, too. Then, i’d Buy it at National Book Store, but now, their stocks aren’t updated. They still have the March issue on display.

Because of that, i’ve missed out on 3 amazing months already. So, I missed these 3 amazing cover girls!

InStyle, please come back!

FMM: With bated breath

Everyone's talking about the trailer of the upcoming "Top Gun" movie.

Kids of the 80s, myself included, can't help but hark back to the original film and how groundbreaking and cool it was. That's why this new version is very relevant and interesting for us.

But before we delve into that, and since it's a Friday, let me go back to one of the songs that helped define "Top Gun" as a film.

Presenting, an 80s classic from Berlin.



It's been more than 30 years since this song was launched, and it still takes my breath away.

Cheers!

Here's to another 3 or 4, or 9 commercials to shoot, edit and air!

It's enough to make us spread cheers all around.

We heart this!

It's very rare that you see epic commercials on TV today. When I was starting as a junior copywriter, that was commonplace. But I guess, because of changing tastes and budgets, a mega-commercial is becoming less and less relevant.

So, I feel very fortunate to have been able to work on one. It was a lot of work, negotiations and backbreaking schedules. But after seeing the final material, it's all worth it.



And that's the heart of the matter.

Lion in wait

The live action "Lion King" film is finally opening tomorrow!

There's always a danger in remaking or redoing a film that's so iconic and has been part of your childhood. It can either leave you in awe, or disappointed.

So, to watch or not to watch, that is the question.

Something Nue

Since I've been watching and re-watching Today's "Ambush Makeover," there's one name that keeps on popping up which made me curious.

"Nue by Shani."

Most of the dresses used in the makeover are from this brand. I haven't seen this brand nor heard of it whenever I'm in the U.S., so I decided to do a bit of research on it.

It turns out, it's quite big in the U.S. And it's carried by stores such as Lord and Taylor, Nordstrom and Belk.

And their dresses are nice, too. Very tailored and very classic-looking pieces.

I'll check this out the next time I'm in the U.S.

Intrigued

I've seen the trailer for "Maleficent 2," and I am intrigued.



Michelle Pfeifer looks deviously kind. Which plays well with Angelina Jolie's cold hearted character.

Again, I am intrigued.

Feeding Famous

Having been a former resident of HKG, I have a soft spot for roasts.

This was a staple in every HKG meal, and there's a roast meat restaurant in almost every corner. From big chains like MX and CDC, to small Mom and Pop stores in neighborhoods like Mong Kok and Tin Hau.

In Manila, there are couple of places that sell HKG style roast meats. There's HK Taikoo Roasts, Kam's Roasts, and the more recent entry, Hawker Chan.

But one of my favorite places is this nondescript restaurant in Katipunan and Morato called Famous Kitchen. To me, it's one of the more legit places to get great roasts.

Aside from the food, I also like the simple interiors. It also brings me back to HKG whenever I'm there.

Off hand, this place should be more famous that it is. But I'm glad that it's under the radar, so it won't be too crowded or frenzied the next time I go there.

FMM: The morning comes

In a few minutes, it'll be morning. And we're still at the shoot.

So, what better Friday Magic Madness song to play than an homage to the morning. This one is from Diana Ross, from the 70s.



See you in a few, Morning!

LFLTAT: The ABCs of fashion

Fast fashion conglomerates have always fascinated me. It’s always interesting to see how they were founded, how they evolved, and how they remain relevant in the super cut throat industry that is fashion and retailing.

My first exposure to the was Gap. It was common knowledge that, aside from the all-American Gap Store, they owned Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta. InSpain, there’s Inditex which owns Zara, Massimo Dutto, Pull and Bear, Stradivarius and Bershka.  Tokyo’s Uniqlo Group owns Uniqlo, GU, Comptoir des Cottonniers, Helmut Lang and Princesse Tam-Tam.

In the Philippines, my favorite fast fashion conglomerate has to be Golden ABC. Not many people know this, but the company owns some of the go-to brands in local fast fashion. They started out with Penshoppe, and now they have Oxygen, Memo, For Me and Regatta. They also used to own Tyler, which they eventually closed.

What’s nice about the company is that even though their brands are very distinct from each other, you can mix and match them, and they still look seamless. The entire group is on sale now, and I was able to get an LFLTAT from 2 of their brands.

The skirt is from For Me. It’s a soft, flowy skirt with a refreshing print.

Then I found this buttery soft tee from Penshoppe, whose color echoes the hue of the skirt.

Because they were both on sale, this entire look cost just around P600ish!

And that’s howmbeing fashionable for less is as easy as ABC.

Bad for Business

You'd think that "business" is a simple word to spell.

Apparently not.

Proofreader, please!

Going Loco

Watching "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" had a lot of revelations. There were so, so, SO many songs that we didn't know she wrote!

One such revelation: "The Locomotion."

Of course, our generation knows the Kylie Minogue version. But we found out that the original song was written by Carole King! And what's even more shocking was the fact that the original singer - Little Eva - was Carole King's babysitter! We went loco in our seats when we found out!



Mind. Blown!

Mu-la-lah-n!

The first teaser trailer of the live action version of "Mulan" is out:



I'm SO psyched!

Beautiful people

I don't see this group of friends as often as I should (except for Kin, who I often run into in the middle of the street - go figure), but when we do, it's always a riot.

Although this "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" get together was almost instant, what's important is that it happened, and we got together again to enjoy the music and the company.

And of course, when we're together, there's always great food to go with the great conversation. Plus a lot of planning for the next outing.

Let's do this people!

Boys of summer

This is such an adorable summer photo of my 2 favorite boys, my nephew Javi and grandnephew Noah.

Can't wait to see you again, kids!

FMM: I am moved!

In preparation for the musical we'll be watching this Sunday, let me hark back to the 70s for today's Friday Magic Madness.

Carole King was one of the most famous and prolific song writers of her generation. Not only did she write hit songs for various artists, she eventually wrote a series of number 1s for herself.

One of my all-time favorites, "I feel the earth move."



A test of a good song is if someone eventually remakes it. Which is the case in this song since Martika also performed it in the 90s.

Still, there's nothing like the original.

Hotdog!

I’m loving the 4th of July skin of Google for 2019.

It has the very vintage Americana vibe to it, which I love.

Good job, Google.

My, my, it’s July!

And just like that, half of the year is gone.

That was fast.

Wu-Hoo! part 2

Jason Wu is back for another collaboration, this time with Kohl's!

I was able to get a few pieces from his Target collaboration a few years back. And I'll be watching out for pieces from this collaboration, too.

Angels' new angle

You know you're old when you've lived through 3 incarnations of "Charlie's Angels."

As it turns out, there's a 2019 version:



It's interesting to see Bosley as a woman. And to see that Elizabeth Banks is really going "Full Throttle" (Charlie's Angels reference) with her directing career. After seeing her directorial turn in "Pitch Perfect," I'm totally on-board.

Of course, this Charlie's Angels is a far cry from the original one with Kate Jackson, Jacklyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett. Things weren't as modern and new-fangled. Even if you compare it to the 2000s version with Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu.

Good thing they kept some things constant. Like Charlie being "invisible" and his speaker looking the same as it did from way back in the 70s.

All that said, I might just watch this to see a different angle of this trio of angels.

More to Com-pleat

It must be the season of the pleated skirt.

Everywhere you go, there’s an incarnation of the garment - from plain to printed, from silk to chiffon, from Casual to dressy.

Found this skirt at For Me, and knew that I had to get it.

It’s a metallic pleated skirt that has that disco-gladiator vibe to it. When I saw it (and it was on sale), I just knew that I had to get it.

For the top, I chose a black, ribbed sleeveless top. It has to be neutral enough because the skirt is already teeming with character.

And that completes another pleated look for June.

I wonder what sartorial surprises July will bring,

Cool!

It's rare that I watch TV.

But I discovered a show that looks like it's going to make me watch TV more often.

"The Cool Kids" is a comedy series about 4 friends who live in a retirement home. And all the hilarity that comes with it.

Aside from the great script, I'm drawn to it because of David Alan Grier (of "In Living Color") and Leslie Jordan.

Growing old has never been this cool.

FMM: Another Dimension

There are certain songs that just take you to another world whenever you hear it.

This song from the 60s does exactly that. The happy beat, the harmony of voices, and the uplifting instrumentation takes me to a very optimistic and awesome dimension.

And it's providential that it's a song from the 5th Dimension.



Yes. Listening to this song makes my spirits go up, up and away.

Sneaky!

I went to Cebu last week, and this is what I ended up buying:

Sneakers!

I know it's Random, but the designs were so cute and they were so affordable.

Plus, I don’t see this in Manila, so it’s all good.

All heart!

Our team put our hearts into this project. And it shows!

I'm so excited for the final output!

Blessed!

Yup, it was hectic. And yes, it rained a lot. But I'm so glad I was able to take the parents, aunts and uncles around Cebu.

Especially to the Sto. Nino Basilica which is such a special place.

Family time is awesome!

Heart to Heart

Whenever I visit Cebu, I usually hear mass at the Cebu Capitol Church, or Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

That was my plan last Saturday, so I hopped on a cab and told the driver "Sacred Heart."

As the trip went along, I noticed he was taking some unfamiliar roads, and was actually going farther than he should. So, I began to wonder what was happening.

After a few minutes, I found myself in the Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, also in Cebu!

It's such a beautiful, modern church with some Art Deco elements. It was both massive and cozy, and the presider had such an awesome homily.

So now, I have another church to frequent when I'm in Cebu.

Love is in the air. And on the bed.

This surprise greeted Mom and Dad when they went back to the hotel room today.

It was such a nice gesture. And the housekeeping boy even had a handwritten note to accompany the swans and heart made of towels.

Well played, Seda. Well played.

Boom!

And suddenly, my parents, aunts and uncle are all in Cebu for the weekend!

This is going to be fun.

FMM: Lasting impression

As it often happens, I'd be doing something really random, and suddenly, a song refrain pops in my head. It usually comes in a phrase or a sentence, and it's so distinct that I can hear it clearly.

Then, I'll spend the next hour trying to figure out what the song was. This sends me to google for the lyrics, or youtube for the melody.

Yesterday, that happened again. I knew it was a song from the 80s, and the lyrics were: "Open up your eyes, then you'll realize, be a lasting part of everlasting love."

It didn't take long to find out that it's a 1987 hit from an artist called Sandra. And, true to form, the title is: "Everlasting Love."



And that's how I came up with this week's Friday Magic Madness song.

One shoe, two ways

Here's an interesting twist to something I've been doing for a while.

Instead of a dress, skirt or blouse, I'm showing 2 ways how to wear a pair of sneakers. In particular, this pair of gray sneakers with pearls that I got from Zara.

Since it's sporty, I chose equally sporty pieces to pair it with.

First, this gray knit dress from SM Department Store.

The color echoes the hue of the sneakers, which makes it a monochromatic gem.

Second, this white dress with slits from Plains and Prints.

In this case, the color of the dress matches that of the pearls, which ties in the look together.

Now that's two sporty!

Beyond Be-leaf

You know you’re shooting in the province if the leaves are bigger than you.

Ah yes, the provincial life.

Scramble!

It took me 4 decades before I got my first taste of Ice Scramble. Or what they called back in grade school, “Iskrambol!”

We weren’t allowed to eat it as kids. That’s why we never had the urge to try it.

But during yesterday’s shoot, there was a vendor selling it outside our venue, so the production folks got us some.

And all I can say is: “I waited 4 decades for this? Meh!” Hahaha

Looking for CD-R King

Time was when CD-R King was everyone’s go-to place when they were looking for computer and electronic stuff.

They started more than a decade ago, selling - as the name clearly states - recordable CDs. They had it in all colors, designs and sizes, and it made buying CD a joy. CDs suddenly became collectibles, and I would find myself buying CDs even if I didn’t need them.

Soon after, they expanded to other gadgets. And they expanded some more.

Whenever I needed earphones - CD-R King. When Mark needed an external keypad - CD-R King. When I forgot my charger at home - CD-R King.  Whenever I needed a phone case - CD - R King.

This weekend, I needed to buy new headphones, so I went to CD - R King.

Lo and behold, all the branches I frequent were all closed! Gateway. Robinson’s Galleria. Glorietta. SM Megamall - all gone!

What happened to CD - R King? And where did they go?

This issue needs answers!

Two peas in a pod

To the man where I got my looks , temperament and a bit of humor...

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

Athleisurely

The past few months, i’ve been seeing a lot of sporty outfits being worn for everyday, non-sport occasions.

Before, “Athleisure” was more for leisure items worn for athletic purposes. Now, it’s turned on it’s head and is more about sporty outfits worn for parties, work or just a casual day out.

Most noticeable would be the proliferation of sporty pants. Aside from the usual joggers, you also see  pants with an athletic stripe as part of its design. Almost all foreign and local fast fashion brands have it, and one of them caught my eye.

The pair is from the local brand “For Me,” and it’s a classic black pant with gray stripes on the side.

You can pair this with a classic black tee, and you’ve got the athleisure look down pat.

And that’s how you play with style.

FMM: Zoom

So, last Monday, we met on this commercial that we were supposed to shoot on the 3rd week of June.

On that same meeting, we found out that everything has to be fast tracked!

We had our feasibility on Thursday, our pre-prod today, and we're all set to shoot on Monday!

This calls for a Friday Magic Madness song that's apt for the situation. Like this awesome song from 1982 by Fat Larry's Band.



Since this production is going to go zoom, might as well enjoy it.

Two Cool

Admittedly, I'm one of the hundreds of millions of people who watched "Frozen."

Yes, I sat in a theater with a plethora of kids, screaming and shrieking and clapping. We were all in awe when Elsa transformed to the Ice Queen as she sang "Let it go." We all laughed with Olaf as he sang "In Summer." And yes, we were all teary eyed when we found out that it's the love of her sister that saved her.

And admittedly, I've watched Frozen more than once. Aside from the theater, I've also watched it on video, in planes, on TV, everywhere.

So, admittedly, I'm a fan of Frozen.

That's also the reason why I was so excited when they came out with the trailer for "Frozen 2."



I'm intrigued by this trailer. There seems to be more of an adventure on the horizon on this second offing.

Okay Elsa and Anna, do your magic!

Celebrating freedom!

Without fail, Google reminds us of today's Philippine Independence Day and how we should cherish the freedoms we are given.

Hope other people remember that, too.

Bath time!

It's that time of the year!

So now, I'm in front of the computer at 11pm, browsing pages upon pages of scents.

These are the times that I wish I was in the U.S.

Veggie Victorious

After many long and sleepless nights - and mornings - our commercial is finally out!

While i’ve probably heard this song thousands of times already, I must say, it’s still catchy and a joy to hear.