Yes, please

Last year, we were able to avoid the MMFF by watching "The Hobbit" on IMAX. This year, we watched the last installment of "The Hobbit" a few days after it was shown, so there was no excuse.

After looking at our options, we chose the film "English only, please." It had good reviews and a slew of awards, so it was worth a look-see.

The reviews and awards turned out to be well-deserved. "English only, please" is a well-acted, nicely written, and wittily humorous film. The dialogues were sharp, the pop culture references were well placed, and the flow was paced just right.

It was a very pleasing film indeed.

Cheers to the new year!

From the (almost complete) Morales family to yours, Happy New Year!

Looking forward to a more prosperous, blessed and awesome 2015!

(Notice that it's Ate Lissa's turn to wear "the dress.")

An Executive review

There were a lot of notable events this 2014. Among them were traveling to Hakone for the first time, bringing my students to Bicol and Singapore, wearing my party planner hat to organize office parties, and of course, planning Alfie's wedding.

But there were 2 notable work-related events that were quite noteworthy. This year, I was given "executive" positions, both in school and work.

In June, I was appointed Department Chairman of the Mass Comm department in St. Scholastica's College. A few months after, I was named Associate Executive Creative Director at work.

Since these appointments happened the same year, the last 6 months were super crazy-busy. Sometimes, I even ask myself why I'm subjecting myself to all these challenges.

Then I remember, I'm not one to shy away from challenges.

After all, those challenges made the year 2014 more memorable and fulfilling.

D&G: Dressy and Gorgeous

In one of my routine visits at The Haunt, my eyes were drawn to this bright, yellow dress with a very vibrant print. The dress had joie de vivre written all over it, and it was hard not to purchase it.

The top of the dress had a tile print that was part-Morocco and part-Italy. It was rendered in mediterranean colors, and was very intricately done.

The same pattern was duplicated in the full skirt.

Upon closer inspection of the dress, I remembered seeing it somewhere before. Then, I remembered seeing it at net-a-porter a few seasons back, and I was right!

It was a Dolce & Gabbana dress from a few seasons ago. And somehow, it found its way to The Haunt. And of course, it found its way to my sisters' closets!

Ate Bullet loved the dress the moment she saw it. No wonder she wore it a day after I gave it to her!

Gorgeous, isn't it?

Let's get digital!

The technology of digital printing on fabrics has become so advanced, it's so easy to translate artwork and photography into textiles, and eventually into clothing.

Mary Katrantzou has been leading the pack with her exquisite dresses made with gorgeous photos. Her work has been inspiring many designers and fast fashion companies that it's now commonplace to see photographs and digital artwork on dresses.

Take these beauties for example. I found them all at The SM Store. After all, "we've got it all for you."

The first time I saw this first dress, my thought was: "That's SO Mary Katrantzou!" 

The print feels like a landscape painting, but made a bit more abstract. This adds a lot of character to the dress, and makes it look like moving art.

Second, a dress with a painterly vibe.

The skirt looks like a Van Gosh painting, but rendered in digital artwork. It's both sweet and chic!

Third, a shift dress with a modern tie-dye inspired pattern.

There's a mirror-technique to the print which makes it look like malachite. Way cool!

Finally, a draped dress made of neoprene. Again, it has a digital print that makes it look fantastic!

The print looks like diamonds in the rough.

Since there are no stores that carry Mary's work in the Philippines just yet, we'll have to make do with these frocks inspired by her artistry. But when the time comes and her store will land on our shores, I'm lining up.

The Ming and I

I've always wanted to do a Ming-dynasty inspired gift wrapping theme. The problem was that it was so, SO difficult to find the right wrapping paper. It came to a point when I was even willing to have my wrappers custom printed, but I couldn't meet their minimum number of wrappers.

Last year, I was able to find a wrapper that was close to what I had in mind. Unfortunately, they didn't have enough in stock, so that theme had to be postponed yet again.

Just as I was about to give up, I found this wrapper at one of my favorite wrapper haunts - The Wrap Shop.

It was perfect! The pattern and the color were what I had in mind when I was planning this theme. It was very oriental, yet had this European vibe to it. The wrapper was a mash-up of a Ming vase, damask and trompe l'oleil. How perfectly artsy!

To complete the Oriental theme, I opted to use red as the accent color. You can't get any more Chinese than red. After that, I designed my gift tag, also adorned with very Chinese motifs.

As a final Chinese touch, I threw in a red tassel into the mix.

After gathering all the materials, it was time to get to it.

Since the wrapper was patterned, I had to make sure that the print was aligned just right. It took a lot of trial and error, but I eventually found the right way to do it.

Unlike previous years when I'd always use 2 ribbons, I opted to use just one ribbon, but with a thicker width. The interplay of the red ribbon on the Ming-print was just as I envisioned it.

Then, the finishing touches.

And voila! This year's Christmas wrapping theme - A Merry, Ming-y Christmas!

Another dream wrapping theme done!

Now it's time to dream up next year's theme.

Housewarming Holidays

It was a triple celebration for D' Frendz yesterday.

First, we had our annual post-Christmas leftover party. Although we didn't really bring leftovers this year since our party was scheduled just a day after Christmas. Ergo, I doubt if people had time to gather and cook their leftovers.

Second, it was Maricar's post-birthday celebration. We noticed that there was a "birthday boycott" this year. No one among D' Frendz celebrated their birthday! But with Maricar's birthday spread, we've hopefully broken the curse and the celebrations will commence again.

Third, it was a housewarming party at Lezyl's brand new digs! She's been excitedly telling us about her new house since July, and she just moved in last week. Trust D' Frendz to break-in their home with a lot of laughter, stories and noise. Good thing the neighbors didn't complain.

The last time we all got together in this scale was during Alfie's wedding last June 4. That means it's been more than 6 months since the group got together.

So, this triple celebration was well worth the wait.

FMM: Pure Joy

Dad has the coolest driving music.

While we were en route to Loyola to visit Lolo, Lola and Tita Lon, he was playing all these awesome tunes from the 70s and 80s.

One of the songs that played is an old, old favorite of mine that I haven't heard in decades! So it was awesome to get to hear it again, in the car with my parents, on Christmas day.

It's an old song by Lou Rawls, and it's "Pure Imagination."



And may I just say that Gene Wilder had his own version of the ditty in his film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," and it was equally brilliant.



Two different versions, one kind of awesome!

Note to Self-ie

From the fun, rowdy and slightly overexposed selfie-taking Morales family, Merry Christmas to everyone!

Relaxed Holiday

Here's something unusual.

It's the evening of the 24th, and I'm not frantically wrapping gifts at the last minute. I'm actually relaxed, having dinner and catching up with the siblings.

Plus, I was able to go to Muntinlupa for our traditional pre-Christmas North Park late lunch with Mark.

Looks like Christmas this year will really be relaxed.

This CAO is over the moon

It's been almost 2 decades since we all worked with each other at the Corporate Affairs Office of San Miguel.

From colleagues, we all became fast friends, and then turned into a group that was practically inseparable.

We've witnessed each other's major milestones. We've travelled together to places as near as Tagaytay to as far as Hong Kong and Macau, we've moved apart and come back, and we've grown as people, but stayed young at heart.

It looks like the CAOboys and CAOgirls are still going to be as rowdy and fun as we were in the 90s. And I'm over the moon at the thought of that.

No Nun-sense

For the first time ever, I attended SSC's institutional Christmas party this weekend. And for someone who's been teaching for a decade, this is a huge deal. 

It was overwhelming to see how large the Scholastican community is. I'm usually confined to my Saturday faculty room universe, so I was in awe when I saw everyone - from Grade School, High School, College, Office Personnel and General Services Personnel - all in one roof. It was festive and frantic at the same time.

Mark asked me how the party was, and I told him:

"Any party with singing and dancing nuns is bound to be fun."

After watching the performances of our sisters, I can confirm that indeed it was.

I'm SO doing this again next year!

This Sis it!

To the most hardworking and loving Mom, and a Sister who's selfless and always gives so much of herself to others, Happy Birthday Ate Lissa!

May all your birthday wishes and prayers come true.

Gee-Gi!

Gigi is one of my "friends of old standing."

We were friends when we were both in the Corporate Affairs Office in San Miguel. A few years later, I moved to HKG, and I found out that Gigi also moved to HKG. Because of that, we became occasional lunch mates, and would sometimes find ourselves talking about mundane things while in Tai Koo Shing.

A few years ago, she moved to Hilversum in The Netherlands, but we never lost touch.

Yesterday, after a few years, we were able to get together again. And, as expected, it's as if she never left.

Great to see you again, Gigi! See you again soon.

FMM: Far from it

Finally, the thesis season is over!

But what happens next will be the grading and assessing if the defenses were valid. Add to that, there's the problem with the groups who received a "grade withheld" rating.

So, I think it's time to put this old Frank Stallone song on.



Indeed it is.

Ming-gling

Presenting the inspiration for this year's Christmas wrapper theme!

A year ago, I was inspired by this objet d' art in fashion. Now, it's time for it to be translated into wrapping.

So, pardon me while I get a-wrapping!

Winners Circle

Tonight, they announced the winners for best costume during our recently concluded Christmas/Anniversary Party. And three of the winners are actually in this photo that Isa sent us.

Three winners in just one photo. What are the chances?

Mass of memories

As the Simbang Gabi season officially starts, I'm reminded of my childhood when this tradition was something we'd excitedly look forward to and be part of.

Back then, we still lived in Scout Gandia, and we'd go to St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Timog. As early as 3:30am, we'd be awake and getting ready for mass. I'd usually go with my cousins, and I remember that it was Harold who would be the most diligent in hearing mass.

One of the highlights of the mass in St. Paul's was the free breakfast. After mass, there would be people waiting outside to hand out hot chocolate, coffee and bread to the parishioners. At one time, they were even giving out Dunkin Donuts.

But no, that wasn't the reason why we'd go to mass every 4:00am.

Now, with the advent of Anticipated Simbang Gabi, I think the 4:00am crowd has lessened. Personally, I've found myself hearing the anticipated version more now. Mainly because we'd often be working overtime and getting up at 4:00am is a challenge.

Whether it's at 8:00pm or 4:00pm, the important thing is that we still get to honor this tradition of Simbang Gabi this Christmas season.

Back in the Hobbit

Last year, Mark and I avoided the MMFF by watching the IMAX version of "The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug."

Our verdict for that film was that the ending was such a cliffhanger that you want to fast forward to one year after so we can watch the last movie.

Yesterday, we did. And it was worth the wait!

The story was well-told, the visuals were spectacular, and the action was awesome!

Maybe we can catch this again when the MMFF comes around this year.

Reaching out

More than a decade ago, my friends from Adformatix and I decided that in lieu of gifts, we'd just put our gift money in a pot and do an outreach project for the less fortunate. One thing that came to mind was to throw a Christmas party for street kids. After all, Christmas is for kids and they deserve to have fun and joy this season.

Today, the tradition continued. We hosted 50 kids from the shanty area in NIA road, and as it was in previous years, it was a very heartwarming and gratifying experience.

It always was, and it always will be.