halfwhiteboy

I know I'm old and I don't deny it. And why should I? It's inevitable. From fine wrinkles to sagging skin and thinning hair, the signs of aging are aplenty. But one such sign I never expected to face is being asked to be a ninong ( or principal sponsor) at a wedding. I was, like, are you for real? But my former colleague had already anticipated that reaction, so she prepared an impassioned and lengthy message why. I was touched.

Against the facade of Basilika Birnau in Germany The sky was overcast and the day was occasionally marked by either mist or a drizzle; not an ideal time for a day tour zipping in and out of four countries. But since we would be spending most of the day in a car anyway, it didn't matter that much.

Surreal view from right next to the Wengen train station. Okay, so I asked ChatGPT what to wear on a daytrip from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen in November and what you see in these photos was practically what he told me to wear. Of course thermal inner clothing and layers were a given but since Novembers there are normally cold with a high chance of rain, a waterproof or water-repellant jacket was necessary; the same goes for pants. Footwear should likewise be waterproof to keep your feet dry from puddles and sloshy trails, preferably mid-height for better ankle support, with good enough traction, and as also suggested by a friend, insulated, because it can get really cold there. 

Had a taste of cold autumn weather from a recent short vacay. Already, I'm badly missing the way the chilly November breeze brushes my face and of course, the layered outfits that I can never wear here at home.

It’s that time of year again when mercury levels start dropping and when people tend to wear clothing in layers—just not here in the Philippines. Nevertheless, some folks are fortunate enough to experience autumn elsewhere. This is me recalling that feeling from two years ago in Tokyo.

Got this top because it looks fun. Just unzip it and the sad shark now looks happy. And that’s it; simply injecting some fun amid this gloomy day. Paired it with blue pants and brown leather double monk straps.

Teal is such a nice color, don’t you think? It goes well with a lot of colors: orange, yellow, gray, black, and more. Here I’m going with blue, which works just fine. Both sweatshirt and jeans have a relaxed fit, which my chunky pair of Nike Offline 3.0 complements well.

My thing for coords doesn’t seem to end. Here I am again, this time in a dark olive, zipped pullover and pants set from MN+LA (Manila Meets LA)  that I’ve had for a while now. The fabric’s really soft and comfy, you just feel instantly relaxed. Finished the look with white sneakers to break the monochrome.

The typhoons in succession may have since all left but it seems that cloudy and rainy days are here to stay. Why not complement the dreary weather with the same dreary shades of black and gray ? But let's not keep it stiff. Here I go loosening it with a loose black pullover, loose gray pinstripe pants, and a pair of chunky leather footwear.

Back-to-back typhoons mean persistent rainy days. Living in the tropics, this is probably the closest we can get to cold weather days. However, the office air conditioning knows no bounds, hence this comfy outfit of baggy pants, a pullover, and a fleece hoodie. And it doesn't hurt that the colors are coordinated, right?

Every time I wear this shirt, people at the office mistake it for a Barong —save for the very first time I wore it, tucked in black pants. I guess it’s because the buttons don’t go all the way down, stopping just below the chest. But here, since it’s tucked in, no one would question if it’s a shirt.

Was going through my photo gallery and saw these pictures from last year. When I wore this outfit, I took a chance on this boxy, cropped, short-sleeved shirt , not sure if I would look good in it. It’s from a local brand called ab clo. & lifestyle  that I discovered through persistent Instagram ads. I do like their general aesthetic of vintage-inspired pieces of cropped shirts with boxy fits, really baggy jeans and trousers, and whatnot. This piece here alludes to uniforms of diner waitstaff, and I’m really digging the vibe. At the time, the blue striped ones were really popular, so I went against the flow and picked this red one instead.

With its playfully designed appliqués, this shirt is a joy to wear. Styling it is no problem, as it can go with practically anything, from jeans for a casual urban look, to shorts or perhaps linen pants for something more resort-like. In my case, since I wore it to the office on a normal workday, I paired it with charcoal gray office pants and leather monkstraps.

Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) celebrations are one of my favorite occasions to dress up. While most celebrations are confined to schools, I’m glad that our department has made it an annual tradition at the office. Two years ago, I wore a batik blazer for a Mindanao-inspired look but for the most part since 2017, I’ve been wearing a Barong Tagalog —the same Barong actually—just styled in a different way each time. This year, it’s a Barong once again, albeit a new one.

I know, I just couldn't resist their cute little tails and butts. I mean, I see these animatronic polar bear Christmas displays at the mall every single year but my fondness for them has never waned.

Currently enjoying the holidays and this lovely "cold" weather. This university style sweatshirt with all its insignia patches seems appropriate then. Paired it with some faded, baggy jeans and a pair of chunky, square-toed shoes. 

It's been a while since I wore my MSCHF Big Red Boots . Honestly, they aren't the easiest or most comfortable to use given their size and weight (yes, they're heavy). Still, despite the inconvenience, they're fun to wear. Besides, I see how they bring joy to people around me. Today, everyone from people at the office, a saleslady at the mall, friendly salon staff, the owner of the restaurant we dined at, and even random foreigner bros passing by, either smiled, gave a thumbs up, or outright commented on my quirky choice of footwear. 

Here I am again in another matching shirt and pants ensemble because coords  for me are just so much fun. This one's in a relaxed fit—party-ready perhaps—but which I insisted is okay for the office (but it is, right?). Finished the look with chunky, square-toed leather shoes .

Can you call this a dance? Our theme for Halloween this year at the office is Plants vs Zombies , so of course I have to be one of the zombies. Although I am aware of the game, I'm not familiar with the characters since I don't play it. Anyway, I was assigned the Dancing Zombie .

Saw this printed corduroy jacket from Adidas and instantly fell in love. Then I saw that there were matching track pants to go with it. Since they both sparked joy, I decided to bring home joy. Besides, happiness is a choice, so they say.