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Showing posts from January, 2013

[Throwback Thursdays 01.31.2013] Leader of the band

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This new year I'm starting a weekly project that will take me to a nostalgic trip down memory lane --  Throwback Thursdays . So I'm unearthing old photos (maybe even a few embarrassing ones), random old stuff and whatnot, and share them once a week every Thursday. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Leader of the band I'm not, much less part of a band singing "Chuwari-wari-wap" backup vocals. This was taken in December 2004 in Tagaytay at Gourmet Cafe where my then-boss treated us Rewards and Recognition committee members. There was an acoustic band playing and my colleagues called them out and asked them to let me sing. To cut the story short, I relented and became part of the band, at least for one song. And here we were, me and my band mates, posing for a couple of photographs with some fans:

Van Gogh is Bipolar: Uplift your mood with food

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So far, so good with our resolution of trying out more places (especially outside Makati) this 2013. About two weeks ago, My Bibe and I finally got to check out the rather quirky Van Gogh is Bipolar  restaurant in Quezon City. It's been around for quite some time now and if the difficulty of getting a reservation is any indication, then the place must be really good, right? A section of the restaurant's interiors: several paintings (by Jetro) and a clock projected on the wall. Van Gogh is Bipolar is tucked away at the back of a small apartment complex, and as with most units, was only converted into a commercial establishment. The owner, Jetro Rafael, is bipolar, a condition he has since embraced and is continuously managing. He has looked up about the mood-enhancing properties of certain foods and has incorporated them into his diet, helping him manage his condition. And with the encouragement of some friends, soon enough, VGIB was born. The place With several frame

[Lookbook 01.25.2013] Friday flair for flare

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Oh yeah, I was so retro yesterday! At least as far as the pants are concerned. It's like a throwback to the 70's with these cord bell bottoms but unfortunately my Saturday Night Fever impression fell short. I don't know but I just felt like wearing this oft forgotten piece in my closet. It just feels nice to break out of my usual mold every once in a while.

'Imeldific' is out, 'Shoephoric' is in

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Imelda Marcos may be synonymous with shoes but today, anyone can be her (or his) own little Imelda. Exactly a fortnight ago I found myself at the LifeScience Center for Wellness and Preventive Medicine at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig for a year-starter event by Shoephoric.com . It was an evening of cocktails and nothing but good vibes. Founded by Ann Jacobe,  Shoephoric.com is the first online and mobile social network for shoe lovers, a place where shoe aficionados can converge, interact, or simply profess their love for shoes and express their shoephoria  over their latest finds and dream must-haves. It now has over 100,000 members worldwide. Shoe sculptures on display at the event. It was a fancy yet friendly vibe here. Shoephoric also has a place for shoe designers and merchants, and contests for everyone's delight. There's also more coming up, like if you're bold (and maybe desperate) enough, you can post your dream shoe and get everyone from yo

[Throwback Thursdays 01.24.2013] Tambay days

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This new year I'm starting a weekly project that will take me to a nostalgic trip down memory lane --  Throwback Thursdays . So I'm unearthing old photos (maybe even a few embarrassing ones), random old stuff and whatnot, and share them once a week every Thursday. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Spot me in the photo, quick! Haha! This was from my tambay (bystander) days in the province. We lived near the sea, which would explain my really dark complexion here. If I'm not mistaken, I think this was taken when I was on break from college, which was probably in the late 90's. Me and my neighbors, friends, relatives -- whoever -- we used to just sit on anything along the sides of the highway, laughing, drinking, or doing just about nothing. On a whim we'd either decide to go jump off the pier, hop on a service bus, or simply go to someone else's house. Yes, I was so jologs !

Boy Abunda shows how an interview with Anne Hathaway is done

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With all the hullabaloo over The Philippine Star entertainment columnist and editor Ricky Lo's painfully awkward interview with Golden Globe winner Anne Hathaway, another veteran in the person of TV host Boy Abunda* tries his hand at interviewing the rather catty actress (She's Catwoman after all!). In my mind at least. Boy Abunda: Hello, Anne! My name is Boy Abunda. Anne Hathaway: Boy? Your name's Boy? Boy: Yes, my name is Boy ( fighting the urge to roll his eyes ). Anne: Really? Oh, hi there! ( smiles ) B: Hi! You're so beautiful. A: Why thank you! You look good yourself. B: Thank you. A: Wait, are you sure you're a boy? B: No, I'm not. ( boisterous laughter ) Ahahaha! (Joint laughter) B: Okay, first of all, Anne, congratulations on your wonderful performance in Les Misèrables. You were brilliant. A: Thank you. Thank you. B: At the Golden Globes, how come no one thanked Victor Hugo, who wrote the novel on which the play, and now

[Throwback Thursdays 01.17.2013] Half-white kids

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This new year I'm starting a weekly project that will take me to a nostalgic trip down memory lane --  Throwback Thursdays . So I'm unearthing old photos (maybe even a few embarrassing ones), random old stuff and whatnot, and share them once a week every Thursday. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It's a throwback to the 80's today with this Polaroid (no, not Instagram). That's me, second from the right, with my arm over that little girl's shoulder. Her name's Rachel (pronounced ra-KEL). The other girl's Marie and the big kid's Sten. These three are siblings, with whom we were close neighbors back in Moonwalk Village in Parañaque here in the Philippines. And oh yeah, we're all half-Scandinavian, half-Filipino.

[Lookbook 01.11.2013] Summer snuck out of the asylum

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Oh yeah, I was feeling a little summery last Friday although ironically, while the day started out fine, it rained later in the day that lasted on and off till over the weekend. Crazy weather! Maybe I should've checked the forecast first but it was useless crying over spilled milk since I've already let some nautical-inspired pieces out of the closet the night before.

Premium craftsmanship in the spirit of the good old Australian outback

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I recently learned that a friend will soon be migrating to Australia and I was, like, wow! Then suddenly images of red-sand deserts, beaches, kangaroos, and koalas came to mind. Sure the Sydney Opera House popped up somehow but my meandering mind always went back to the great outback. And then I found myself thinking of horses, checkered shirts, jeans, and boots. Speaking of boots, and speaking of Australia, this country has some of the best boots in R.M. Williams -- classic, heavy-duty, and all-good leather. The signature boot.  Premium veal calf leather, traditional V-stitching under back boot tug, refined toe shape, extra-fine stitching around elastic, lightweight leather insole, rich sole stain, Signature Craftsman brass plaque on sole, handcrafted and signed by one of our top three boot makers. The company boasts of a rich heritage, having been founded way back in 1932 by its namesake, Reginald Murray Williams. Staying true to the outback spirit, the man started designin

[Throwback Thursdays 01.10.2013] The moment the restroom became a photobooth

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This new year I'm starting a weekly project that will take me to a nostalgic trip down memory lane --  Throwback Thursdays . So I'm unearthing old photos (maybe even a few embarrassing ones), random old stuff and whatnot, and share them once a week every Thursday. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * With the ubiquity of camera-enabled smartphones and the dominance of social media, we're already so used to having people taking photos of themselves and instantly sharing them on Instagram, Facebook and whatnot. There's the duck-face, the smizing , and the posing in front of a mirror. Well, well, well... turns out that even back when camera phones were still not as good as the ones we have today (not even half as good), I already was taking photos of the man in the mirror. Ha! This was around June 2004 when I was still sporting long hair, when a 1.3-megapixel camera phone was already cool and when Nokia was still connecting people. But apparently, the restroom was alr

Beyonce shows lots of skin on the February 2012 cover of GQ

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So after a photo of GQ's February 2012 cover was leaked on the internet, the magazine has, well, made it official. Beyonce is indeed the cover girl, and boy is she showing a lot of skin! Shot by Terry Richardson, the singer headlines the mag's 100 sexiest women of the century, something I'm really excited checking out. Meanwhile, expect to see more of Beyonce soon as she sings the national anthem on Obama's inauguration on Jan. 21 and when she takes over the Super Bowl's half-time spectacle on Feb. 3 ( as reported on justjared.com ). Update: more photos of hot momma Beyonce released by GQ!

[Lookbook 01.09.2013] Refocusing attention with stripes

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Oh yay, my first outfit post of the year! It's actually been a while since I last posted one. Well, the holidays are definitely over and sadly, they're not easy to forget, what with all the excess poundage that hound me every time I try on clothes! Oh yes, I'm fat, so I'm trying to divert attention from my midsection with some vertical stripes.

Casa San Pablo: Charming, but...

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This is another of my "Why haven't I posted this sooner?" posts. Well, way back in November last year, we got the chance to stay at Casa San Pablo in Laguna for our department's cascade and teambuilding. I remember planning to go there with some friends more than a year ago but unfortunately, that didn't push through and it soon escaped my mind. Anyway, I've finally been there. Approximately two hours away from Metro Manila, Casa San Pablo is a bed and breakfast set in a sprawling property with lots of grass and trees, which seems ideal for a relaxing escape from city life. The country-themed house, which is of Casa San Pablo's owner, sits right in the middle of the property. Welcome I couldn't say much about checking in since we booked as a group of forty but they were gracious enough to provide us two additional rooms (which meant less queuing at the bathroom). Like a scene from a classic Pinoy horror movie, as my colleagues commented,

[Throwback Thursdays 01.03.2013] Hand in my pocket

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This new year I'm starting a weekly project that will take me to a nostalgic trip down memory lane -- Throwback Thursdays . So I'm unearthing old photos (maybe even a few embarrassing ones), random old stuff and whatnot, and share them once a week every Thursday. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * And for my first post, a very old photo taken a couple of decades (yes, decades!) ago... I don't know when this picture was taken, early 80's perhaps. Apparently we were in some store here in Metro Manila and yes, I'm wearing a matching light brown ensemble that I remember my dad also having, only it was a much bigger one of course. So I guess I was his Mini-Me. But more importantly, who knew I was already doing lookbook photos back then?

An awesome and relaxing Misibis Bay sunset cruise

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I've always had a thing for sunsets, be it in Manila Bay , Bolinao , Boracay , or Sugar Beach . Watching the sun retreat into the horizon is almost always a glorious sight to behold. Now throw in Mt. Mayon into the picture, and how awesome can it get? The glorious Mayon Volcano in the distance.