Time flies so fast. I remember setting this account up April of last year primarily just to download songs I can save in my office PC. I never thought about posting pictures in here or making friends because I have always had my Friendster account for that. I didn't tinker this Multiply account of mine I have because I was never aware about how it works before and I thought Multiply was just a music and media sharing site. I didn't even bother to change the theme or add a picture here. But, there came a time that downloading music from Multiply was no longer allowed. An attempt to do so will be blocked by the office firewall. My attention then turned to beautifying my Multiply account, added friends and other contacts here. And then I tried composing a blog. I know that a blog was some sort of an online journal, but I never really bothered about blogging because even if I had the knack for writing and stuff, I never really had the time to cpmpose one blog. I did try to post blogs in my Friendster account but it was just a seasonal thing. I only had less than 10 blog journals there. Their blog page is not easy to operate. I remember posting my first blog back in November of 2007. I was able to post one blog out of complete boredom here in the office. And since then, I have always made it a point to post a blog everyday or every other day. During the time Multiply was blocked by out IT department, I had to go to an Internet cafe just to blog. I was checking my Media Locker earlier and I saw that from November 2007 'til yesterday, I have posted a total of 99 blog entries here in Multiply. Amazing! And what a way to celebrate it is to create my 100th blog. That's why this current blog is just aptly titled 100. Milestones should be celebrated, right? I know my blogs are not as influential as Perez Hilton's or Bryanboy's, but I am composing blogs just because I want to share a piece of my mind and heart to everyone here. I consider blogging like writing a journal in your old-fashioned diary. I get to express my thoughts and feelings on certain issues, I get to pour my heart out if I feel sad and blue, I get to share my happiness and joy as well in a high tech, digital way. Sometimes, I do run out of ideas to blog about. I remember posting a blog about me suffering from what I invented as a Blogger's Block, similar to a writer who's suffering from writer's block. I have never really cared if one person or 100 persons view my blogs. As long as there are people who are interested in the blogs I post, I am thankful for that. I would like to thank the people who always view my blog entries. I hope you were able to get something from it, learn something about me and I hope that I always make sense with the blogs I post. As long as there are things that inspire me to make a blog, I will always keep on posting blog entries. Blogging is like a therapy for me. As I mentioned in my early blogs, blogging keeps my sanity in check. This is just the beginning of more blog entries. Thank You my friends who always take time to view my blogs, I appreciate it. Thanks to Multiply for allowing people like me to post blogs online. On to the next 100 blogs!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
4 Years
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Preview’s Best Dressed for 2008

Preview, the country's premiere fashion & lifestyle magazine, has already come up with a list of 10 Best Dressed Women for 2008. In the previous years, the names of Lucy Torres-Gomez, Cherie Gil, Apples Aberin-Sadwhani, Karen Davila, Anne Curtis, etc. have been included in their annual list. This year, TV host-actress-model Angel Aquino (left) and former model/actress Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales (right) are two showbiz personalities who made it to Preview's Best Dressed for 2008. The list, according to Preview's chief editor, represents different kinds of style in fashion today.
Photo by: Courtesy of Preview Magazine
Article lifted from the PEP website (www.pep.ph)
Preview’s Best Dressed goes green
Nerisa Almo
Sunday, June 22, 2008
From their "contradictory" dress codes in the past years—funky formal, neo-vintage, rock chic, and retro futuristic—Preview now asks their guests to wear "green" on their annual Best Dressed Party. Preview's editor-in-chief Pauline Juan said that embracing nature's color in the fashion world is not really surprising.
She explained in an interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "It stemmed from a longer report on going green that we did in the April issue this year. The main thesis of that is it's really for hard if you're really a fashion person to go green.
"The very essence of fashion goes against being green because you always want something new. So, it's always to consume, to buy more, more, 'tapos kapag old na siya, di ba, hanap ka ng something new or bigger, brighter. If you're totally into green it deflates your sources.
"We wanted to challenge our readers and our guests to apply that advocacy to their wardrobe or to their outfits for this year's best dressed."
In adapting the worldwide advocacy as their theme in this fashion event, Pauline further explained, "We figured that this [theme] is pretty much the oxymoron in itself. So, parang how you would translate green into your outfit for the ball. Are you going to use sustainable material—will you do it to carbon footprints, meaning everything local, hindi masyadong maaksaya; it traveled to get to you? Are you going to use it in terms of recycling?"
As part of the magazine's tradition, its July 2008 issue will feature once again ten prominent personalities in the fashion industry whom they consider the Best Dressed in 2008.
Pauline said that they also challenge these Best Dressed persons to Go Green, like the guests, in the upcoming ball.
PEP asked Pauline how Preview chose the Best Dressed this year. She said, "Actually, each of the girls that we have, we choose based on really their style. What we also wanna do is have a group of girls that really represent different kinds of styles."
Here are the 10 Best Dressed in 2008. Two of them are also well-known in the showbiz industry.
Angel Aquino. She will be the cover girl for Preview's July 2008 issue. Pauline narrated that, as the staff was reviewing their "Best Dressed" list, they found that the Us Girls host was not included. "‘Wala din si Angel. Oh, no!' Parang, ‘Hindi puwede!'" After all, Angel Aquino has been in the Best Dressed list in the past. he fashion magazine editor says that Angel deserves to be on the list, "Primarily because of the easy, relaxed style of dressing." This is exactly how Angel described her personal style in clothing. The 35-year-old TV host-model said in an interview with Preview, "[My personal style] is simple, easy, and basic with some effort to be stylish and updated." Aside from US Girls, Angel hosts Studio 23's travel and food show titled Tablescapes. She will join Judy Ann Santos in the teleserye Humiling Ako sa Langit, which will start airing in September.
Tweetie De Leon-Gonzalez. In showbiz, she was popularly known as Faye in the early '90s via the defunct TV series Okay Ka Fairy Ko. But in the fashion world, she is hailed as the country's most famous supermodel. In an interview with Preview, Tweetie confessed, "Actually, I never was into fashion. It just so happened that I made a career out of it—and in the process learned to appreciate style workmanship, and the creativity that goes into each piece." The fashion model, who's also a jewel designer, became part of this year's Best Dressed because "Tweetie is more classical but is also on the sporty side, being the endorser of Nike," says Pauline. Preview also wrote, "This woman can put such a polished, sophisticated flair to the simplest, most basic pieces."
How does she choose her outfits?
"I choose my outfit depending on the weather, and my mood," answered Tweetie. "I'm dressed casually, usually in a basic tee paired with slacks, played up with my favorite Ice jewelry."
Tweetie owns the jewelry shop called Ice, which has stores in Rustan's Essences in Makati, Shangri-La Plaza, and Alabang.
Isabelle Daza. Isabelle Daza is linked to showbiz through her mother Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969. She also the current face of the clothing brand Human. Belle (her more popular name) is the youngest among the chosen Best Dressed this year. Preview included her in the list because she represents the younger generation. "Her take on putting together her clothes is very fresh, very age-appropriate—wearing short shorts na hindi naman lahat sa atin nakakasuot," said Pauline. "And she also has a lot of stuff from her mom, which are recycled from the '70s, di ba? So, that's interesting, you know, if you put something vintage with something now—it makes her a very unique kind of look." Belle admitted this when she was interviewed by Preview. She said, "I get a lot of hand-me-downs from my mom. She gave me this feathery top, which is like 25 years old—very delicate and daring. She tells me how fashionable she was during her time."
Katrina Lobregat. From celebrity figures, the next Best Dressed is a lady whose work is closely related to fashion. Katrina Lobregat is a fashion buyer for Rustan's Department Store's Resortwear, Ladies Imported Shoes and Bags, and soon, Children's High Street. When asked to describe Katrina, Preview editor Paulie Juan replied, "Her usual style, she's likes going to beach kasi and likes water sports so she's really, really, very resort, very laid back na glamour." As Katrina herself told Preview, "I think I was made to dress for the tropics. I'm much more comfortable dressing up for warm, uncontrived, relaxed environment." Katrina said that her influences on fashion came from her lolas, parents and even her sister. No wonder she is also into fashion design.
Ria Bolivar. Ria Bolivar is somehow different from the other Best Dressed personalities this year. While almost everyone likes to wear designer or branded clothes, this 24-year-old morena model candidly admits that she goes thrift-shopping. "She is very into ukay-ukay," described Pauline, "so,...she mixes and matches her clothing—yung mga designer pieces from her designer friends, yung mga branded but from ukay-ukay. Interesting 'yong mix na yun." Ria said that whenever she visits ukay-ukay, she always looks for vintage shoes and bags.
Where does she usually shop?
"I frequent ukay-ukay stores in Iloilo, bazaars, and tiny markets. I also go to Divisoria."
Solenn Heuseff. Like Katrina, this half-French, half-Filipina confessed that fashion is virtually in her blood. Both her grandmothers were sewers and pattern makers during their time. This could have inspired the 23-year-old model/make-up artist to also try designing. "She, believe it or not, is now into this thing called 'slutty chic,'" Pauline told PEP. "Mas ano siya, very provocative dresser. She's half French so there's a kind of European flair going into the way she puts her outfit." Solenn has already modeled for international brands like Christian Dior in Paris. Even it was only for a short period of time, Solenn thought that it was a good experience because, "I got to see how the buyers from different countries choose what'll be in their stores. It was really funny to see how styles can vary from one country to another."
Mai Kauffman. Last year, TV Patrol entertainment reporter Marie Lozano, who was pregnant at that time, made it to the 2007 Preview Best Dressed. Now, it's Mai Kauffmann, who is an interior designer by profession, but also designs her own line of quirky bags called Goddess. She is also a co-owner of a mid-century antiques and furniture shop called KARMA (Kauffman Auction Retro Modern Antiques). Parang every year, tsamba lang na there's always somebody pregnant in our choices. So it's always interesting to watch how you deal with the changing shape," explained Preview editor about having a pregnant woman in their list almost every year. Pauline was amazed at how these pregnant women continue to be fashionistas.
Referring to Mai, she said, "But it's nice to see that she has not lost it. She likes loud colors, she'll pile things on, she's a maximalist in every sense of the word. So, talagang she'll do colored tights and then, printed colored tights, even when she's pregnant!"
Crystal Osamis. Aside from models, Preview also picked an aspiring designer, Crystal Osamis, to be included in this year's Best Dressed. "What she does is she makes her own clothes," Pauline related to PEP. "Kasi makakamura naman talaga siya kung siya na lang ang gagawa, so she makes her clothes." In an interview with Preview, Crystal said that she really enjoys creating dresses for other people. "It's a business I would want to take seriously. My personal style definitely reflects the clothes I make—I would never make a piece I wouldn't wear." According to Pauline, Crystal is slowly making a name in the fashion industry. "She's been hitting the bazaars lately, trying to sell the stuff that she makes for herself because other people are like, ‘Ang ganda niyan, a. Sino ang gumawa?'" narrated Pauline.
Joyce Oreña. The next Best Dressed is a well-known fashionista who has gained popularity by wearing her personally designed jewelry. She sells some of her designs in her own accessories boutique, JÔ, located at the the Greenbelt 3 in Makati. When it comes to clothing, Pauline said that Joyce is, "Very into designer [clothes] and the best European designers are really the stars of her wardrobe. Like, when you look at it, ‘Oh my God!'" She added, "She's like the ‘who's who' of the best brands in the world. She wears these and then she mixes it up with her personal designs also to get the mix."
Where does she usually shop for these designer clothes?
"In Manila, I shop at Greenbelt 3. Abroad, it's Milan, Rome, and Florence."
Anna Angara. Last but definitely not least is Anna Angara, a 37-year-old interior designer. This lady follows a certain discipline when it comes to fashion. Preview said, "She'll always opt for quality pieces regardless of price point. Secondly, she won't wear anything less than becoming—just for the sake of fashion." Also, Anna told Preview, "I also stay in shape so I can wear as few items of clothing as possible!"
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The necessity of excess
Lifted from the Fashion section of The Philippine Star 6/25/2008 issue
The necessity of excess
ART DE VIVRE By Ricky Toledo & Chito Vijandre
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
There’s no other way. With clothes pared down to minimal lines and practically devoid of ornamentation, horror vacui just had to give in to embellishing accessories as a counterpoint to simplicity. The mood of austerity has also seen the virtual demise of the “It bag.” Not that there aren’t so many bags to covet but the greed associated with those infamous bags of the past is just too distasteful and indiscreet for the current mood. This is the time to go for investment: classic pieces in fine leather and exotic skins as well as impeccably beaded clutches and minaudieres that will last for many seasons to come. Any excess energy for bags is now being channeled into “It” jewelry, bold necklaces in particular, but there are also fabulous cuffs, rings and even hair ornaments that are just too irresistible to pass up for a fall wardrobe. For shoes, stilettos are back, sky-high, so time to do that balancing act again if only to get that perfect line!
Shoes: The Higher The Better
There are so many gorgeous stilettos in store, you will probably have nightmares deciding on just one. Michael Kors has a classic gray croc with a stiletto decadently beaded in black Swarovski crystals. Jil Sander has tournesol mosaic beading with a sculptural thorny sole and heel. Rodarte’s thorns top the shoe, protecting one’s toes from those who overstep their boundaries. The stiletto heel itself is also emphasized with the color and even with the structure by moving it back a few millimeters to appear as a separate entity. Probably a hangover from the chunky fetishistic shoes of the past, but at least they look sleeker. This streamlined look is most apparent at Balenciaga, where chunky has ruled for some time. Now, the shoes are pointy-sharp and stiletto-sleek to match the severe outfits. Heels have also tapered at Prada and Miu Miu from last season’s chunky art nouveau but with no less drama. Prada has the heels ruffled while Miu Miu’s sculptural heels are MoMa-worthy.
For those who are still holding on to the comfort of wedges, Louis Vuitton has the perfect compromise of wedged stilettos. This hybrid has a gap in the wedge to simulate a stiletto heel, which is usually the more dominant color, giving a trompe l’oeil illusion of wearing stilettos with the comfort of the wedge. Calvin Klein still has wedges but opulent in matte gray alligator with black shearling in Anna Karenina fashion.
This is also the season of the boot. Manolo Blahnik went thigh-high with his stiletto pirate boots, raiding the
An easier alternative is the ankle bootie that goes with many of the fall looks. YSL has the tallest and thinnest stiletto heel in croc with a hidden platform to ease the pain. Marc Jacobs is much kinder to women with low conical heels and semi-wedges. Embellishment came in patchwork and color blocking as well as gold and crystal studs. Chloe went green with leaves covering the ankle of its pointy booties.
‘I Will Not Be Ignored’ Jewelry
For fall, your jewelry has to be a statement piece. They need not be real but they have to look like the real thing that just came from the vault. They also have to be bold and interesting. Lanvin leads the pack with its Deco-dent rock crystal necklaces and cuffs. Balenciaga’s Riviere necklace of multi-cut stones and pearls definitely spells opulent. For a geometric streak, try Burberry’s modernist gold bib necklace. Dries Van Noten kept color on the agenda with jewel-colored enameled bangles strung into a necklace. Erickson Beamon got inspiration from Beardsley with graphic looks that mixed black crystals with gold-smudged amber and moonstone. Van der Straeten, meanwhile, journeyed to the
Mad Hatter’s Party
If there’s no time to rush to the vault for jewels, you can still make an entrance with some of the wildest hats to come around in seasons. Hitchcock’s fantasies come to life with a black crow spreading its wings over one of John Galliano’s hats created by Stephen Jones. Another one by Jones is an over-scaled crocheted beehive in green wool pierced by long black feathers. Jean Paul Gaultier used furry beasts with their ears adorning his hats. Faces are obliterated altogether and become part of the headpiece at Junya Watanabe, who uses charcoal fabric to sheath the head and the sculpture of objects constructed on top of it.
Bags: Exotic Skins And All-Out Embellishment
For day, go for the luxury tote in croc and other exotic skins. A soft tote in python comes in rich dark colors at Jil Sander. Donna Karan has a Scorpio croc tote in red degradé with gold hoop handle and zippers. A patchwork of leopard skin and patent leather discs merrily adorn the Miss Edge Bag of Dolce & Gabbana. They also have a fur print tote for those who want to avoid the red paint splatter from zealous activists.
The Kelly at Hermes has a new incarnation as a messenger bag for the busy gal. Yohji Yamamoto’s collaboration with Hermes is also a messenger portfolio that came out in croc on the runway but will be available in Hermes’ exclusive Barenia leather in three different sizes — a perfect laptop bag-cum-briefcase. Get on the list now as it is exclusively made to order only at St. Honore in
For embellished evenings, you won’t even know where to begin. There’s Alexander McQueen’s imperial Fabergé egg bags in burnished gold and red enamel. Christian Lacroix has Byzantine stone-encrusted minaudieres in gold and silver. Superhero dreams can be fulfilled at Pucci, where Kryptonesque shards of mineral stones become clutches. And there’s lots of beading from chunky amber at Burberry to a potpourri of semi-precious stones at Bottega Veneta and Fendi. Miuccia Prada, of course, continues her lace fixation with the bags.
“Look At Me” Legs
The legs will not be ignored either as another spot for ornamentation. Patterned tights were an integral part of outfits on the runway. They were color-blocked in brights at Sonia Rykiel, perfect with the Mod frocks. Chloe’s floral print tights in black, gray and purple went with similar colored foliage chiffon dresses for a botanical print on print ensemble or with contrasting beige print frocks and Prince de Galles check jackets. Rodarte’s cobwebs extended to legwear for an all-out Goth horror theme. At Just Cavalli, there were flamingoes and leopards going wild with python skirts when they weren’t tamed by plaid. There has never been such a mix and clash of patterns and textures. Guess that’s what happens when the recession constrains designers to go minimal. Minimal in cut and tailoring maybe, but definitely not in accessorizing where excess still rules!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Make grocery shopping fun and healthy
Lifted from the Lifestyle section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer June 22, 2008 issue
Make grocery shopping fun and healthy
By Mitch Felipe
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:14:00 06/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Grocery shopping has become a weekly event to look forward to, especially for the health-conscious people. It is also a good chance to test your lifestyle management and self-control skills when it comes to food selection.
According to Bob Greene, a well-known fitness trainer and author of “Get with the Program! Guide to Good Eating,” as you begin to change your eating habits, you also need to change your shopping habits.
The following tips will help you change your shopping attitude and behavior so you can save more calories and money.
Be mentally and physically prepared
Never shop when you are hungry. Make sure you had enough for breakfast, lunch or dinner so you won’t end up buying unplanned snacks like chocolates or chips.
Do not forget the grocery list that you prepared.
Follow your weight-management goals. Before you enter a supermarket, strengthen your self-control by repeating this to yourself: “I am a healthier person now and I am ready to choose nutritious and healthy foods today.”
Have a budget
Most of your grocery money should be allotted to fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meats, skinless poultry, whole grain breads, rice, pasta and low-calorie dairy products.
Just buy what you need and don’t be tempted by special offers or promos. If what you bought exceeded your budget, keep the nutritious items.
If you shop with your kids, give them a limit. Pia Arellano, 35, vice president for marketing and corporate communications, would give her children a budget of P150 every week to buy what they want. This prevents her family from getting exposed to high-calorie foods at home.
Strategize your supermarket tour
Enter the supermarket through the door nearest the vegetables and fruits section. Spend a lot of time at the area where healthy products are mostly located.
Your grocery list should be based on the planned sequence of your tour.
Do not fill your cart with high-caloric foods.
Learn how to read nutrition facts
Multiply the total calories per serving by the total number of servings in the nutrition facts.
Choose low-fat food products which are less than three grams of fat per serving. Don’t get deceived with snack foods like crackers with more than five grams of fat per serving.
Beware of high-sodium products like canned soups and vegetables.
Choose foods with less than 10 g of sugar per serving.
Get breads or cereals with two grams or more of fiber per serving.
If the product is “low-carb,” make sure it’s also low in fat and sodium; and if it’s “low-fat,” check if it’s low in fat and sodium.
Make it a healthy event
Use a pedometer to remind you of the number of steps to complete during your supermarket tour. This will also help you accomplish a well-planned shopping.
Discover healthy alternatives to your favorite foods like low-fat frozen yogurt if you are an ice cream lover and low-calorie cereal bar for chocoholics.
Explore other supermarkets in your area, especially those selling whole grain breads, cereals and pasta.
Share your healthy grocery shopping knowledge with your spouse or children.