Viva 2013

Happy New Year, bitchez!

Do you like my V Magazine cover? I know.

Have fun!

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Pictionary: Anvaya My Lord

It was my first time to go to Bataan. On the same trip, I played my first game of Monopoly. The first time I saw the beach, I was already captivated. It was serene, quiet and just secluded. The place is soothingly beautiful.

Instead of having a typical Christmas party, my bosses decided we go out of town instead. Too bad one of them couldn't go. It was a really fun trip, nonetheless. We stopped by Subic to get some essentials (read: booze) and some lunch on the way to Bataan. I've been to Subic, Pampanga and Bulacan before but I never realized the way is so scenic until now. I love the greenery, the meadows, the mountains, and even the dry river in Porac which was once the disaster site during a volcanic eruption.

I honestly didn't expect a lot from Anvaya Cove. The website doesn't do the place justice. The property is massive, well-maintained, and although very laid back, packs a lot of activities and attractions so it's never boring. The food is good too and the service is nice and quick. And can I just say, a lot of the staff are easy on the eyes. I wish I took a picture of Gerry, the trainee at the restaurant.

It was such a relaxing yet eventful trip. When we headed back to Manila, we saw some monkeys on the highway in Subic. Our boss also brought us to this Mexican place in Pampanga called Iguana's (formerly Zapata's) where I had the most memorable Mexican meal. It deserves a totally different post.

What an indulgent, cool, fun trip that was. It made going back to the city very difficult.

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Yuletide Blues

Christmas is just never the same without family. I'm home but it doesn't feel like it. I've been really waiting for the nice, fuzzy feeling this season brings to settle in but it just hasn't happened yet. It sucks. I miss my family so much.

It's cool though. I got this.

Noche Buena

There's really still a lot to be thankful for though. Also, I've been bitching about how stressful shopping has been but I really like handing out gifts to loved ones--kids, especially.

Oh well. I may not achieve that same nice feeling I remember enjoying as as a kid but I'm certainly having a moment, thanks to The Carpenters.

Happy Holidays!

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Holiday Break

Vacation has finally started and there's no better way to kick it off than by frolicking at the beach.

Just two days of debauchery.

No, it's not Boracay (again), thank goodness.

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Rushing and Restless

Hello, I'm still alive.

It's been totally crazy in school with finals and all and it's been hectic in the office as well with the closing of our next issue. This week, we had to go on overtime for four days, going home as late as 3 am. It was actually pretty fun though. I have cool colleagues. We laugh a lot.

Speaking of cool, yesterday was the last official working day for me. I celebrated the early start of my vacation by sleeping for over nine hours. This doesn't mean that I get to laze around doing nothing though. I am so not yet done with my Christmas shopping and there are also errands that need to be accomplished before I leave town for the holidays. But for now, I think I'll enjoy my bed a little longer, sans bath and breakfast.

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Pierre Hermé vs. Binatog

So our boss just got back from Europe--look what he brought us from Paris!

Thanks to my other boss for this pic!

I've come across a lot of raves about these famous macarons so I was really excited. I tried four including the two-toned one and another, which must have been coffee, plus these other two below.

I love how smooth and light it is. The shell is just right, not so hard but brittle enough on the surface to add a likable texture, while the generous filling is flavorful but never too sweet. My favorites are the ones individually pictured above.

From work, I went straight to school and was greeted by my friend, Jen, with this.

It's called binatog, a native delicacy made of corn topped with grated coconut. She brought it for me and our other friend Nikki because the two of us once mentioned we have never tried it. We don't have this back in Visayas, you know. Anyway, it's not bad. I just wish it was served with sugar instead of iodized salt which was very LA Lopez, I thought.

Don't you just love free food?

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Partee?

Very quick. Why the fuck are there so many guys online looking to 'partee'? If I'm not mistaken, that means they want sex with drugs involved, correct? It's alarming. Even those who seem to know better are apparently into it. I believe the substance of choice is usually 'ice' AKA meth which is horrible because that shit makes you ugly.

I once hooked up with someone who was into that sort of "recreation". He used poppers though so I don't know if that qualifies. He was actually cute but he looked weird with bloodshot eyes after a few sniffs. I didn't really understand what a fluid that smells like an extra-strength liniment does but it's supposed to put you in the mood.

Anyway, I don't mean to preach but it's bad enough that there's HIV. Do we really need to add drugs in the mix?

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Grey Gardens

The first time I heard of 'Grey Gardens' was when Drew Barrymore talked about while promoting the HBO movie a couple of years ago. I didn't know it was a remake then. More recently, after an episode of 'The New Normal', I looked it up and found the original documentary on YouTube. It's been bookmarked many weeks ago but I only got to see it last night.

I was expecting a lot after seen the comments. Not even halfway through and I was already itching to stop it. But I'm glad I did. It's deceivingly boring in the beginning but it grows on you.

Now here's what that house looks like after it was bought from the Beales and renovated.

Grey Gardens is really like the early onset of reality entertainment. I almost want to compare it to 'Hoarders', 'Real Housewives' and the Kardashians but I figured that would be sacrilegious. I love Little Edie too much to do that.

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The Brothers Brant

Beautiful Boys

They're young, dashing, filthy rich and have become regular front row fixtures in several exclusive fashion shows. And yes, these boys are gay. Peter Brant II and Harry Brant may look like the updated, much more fashionable versions of the characters in that homoerotic B movie 'The Brotherhood' but they're really Park Avenue socialites living the privileged NYC lifestyle straight out of Gossip Girl. Forget about Blair and Serena though, these kids are the real deal being the sons of Interview magazine's publisher Peter Brant Sr. and former model and actress Stephanie Seymour.

Sup, bitches?

"Don't panic but your hair smells like last season."

I caught wind of these genetically gifted boys just now when Refinery 29 reported about the older brother's controversial Instagram photo. Now, I'm a little obsessed. I know he's just 18 but Peter Brant II is doing things to me, seriously.

These one percenters have been hanging out with Naomi Campbell, Tinsley Mortimer, Derek Blasberg and Michelle Harper among many fashion luminaries and are expected to propel further to the industry's glittering stratosphere. Read their outrages features on The New York Times, Gawker, Vanity Fair and Fashionista and conclude that life is unfair. It's all so outrages I'm still a little overwhelmed.

Uhm, watch out, Branboy?

Photos: nytimes, gawker

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Let's Have A Kiki

Obsessed! I am so fucking bored I badly need a kiki!

Do you want to have a kiki? With me? A kiki, anyone?

Kiki! Soso! Oui Oui! Non Non!

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Cold Stuff

Having just had a deviant tooth extracted, I took my dentist's recommendation to eat ice cream very seriously. This pursuit to indulge, I mean, heal, has brought a few matters to my attention.

First, is Sara Lee ice cream the new Häagen-Dazs? Price-wise, probably. I just can't confirm this until I find an extra P500 lying around and spend it on this cold treat.

Last night, I was with Erin at UCC Cafe. Although I knew I wanted something for dessert, I didn't really know what to order so I followed suit and also had ice cream. What a good decision that was. I don't think I've ever had it in avocado ice cream before and I have a feeling that wasn't my last. It's so smooth and creamy. I'm not a big fan of fruit flavored ice cream and I know it looks like a baby's frozen diarrhea but this is a welcome exception and is worth the P89+ price tag.

Today, my colleagues and I had lunch at this restaurant near the office called Nathaniel's. A good friend was raving about their buko pandan so that's exactly what we had for dessert. True enough, it was a nice treat to conclude a satisfying meal. Too bad a small pint costs P150/ which is a teeny bit much in my opinion.

This is my way of putting the lemons that life throws at me into good use. Thank goodness my throat is not reacting adversely to all the sweet, cold food. Speaking of lemons, all this eating is making me grow horizontally so I'm trying out a morning ritual involving the citrus fruit but that's a different story for another post.

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A Secret Affair and Some Cute Puppies

This long weekend is great but it's done some damage on my wallet--with or without the dentist fees I begrudgingly paid yesterday.

I was too bored so I went ahead and met up with friends just as planned. There I was, fresh from a tooth extraction, with a bleeding mouth and a jarring clay-like substance covering the upper half of my upper teeth, hopping into a cab, just in time before a drizzle. It took some time to explain what I was going through but that didn't stop me from blabbing away.

After a nice fun meal at Cookbook Kitchen, we decided to watch a movie and agreed on 'A Secret Affair'--or 'A Secret Apir' as I would call it. It's surprisingly different from 'No Other Woman' but that doesn't mean it's any better. I like that it had some tongue-in-cheek moments but there were scenes that seemed forced. It is refreshing to see a confrontation scene though where the offender bothers to explain in detail how one thing led to another and the victim actually listens and doesn't cut off the former or simply leaves. Seriously, if more people took the time to talk it out rather than cry, shout and walk out and cry some more, we'd all save more time and money.

This movie, I think, is banking on the public's penchant for cat fights. The script comes with a bombardment of lines which some may consider catchy, witty and in some instances, bitchy. It's entertaining if you're into that sort of dialogue. Besides, what's a movie about scandalous exploits without vitriol spewing?

It was already close to midnight when the movie ended. But the main reason why we actually got together is because one of my friends, Michelle, was going to give a puppy to another buddy, Nikki, so off we went to the her house. There, I reconnected with my childhood, standing beside a cage of three puppies and another cage that housed a poodle.

We used to have a lot of dogs; we had five at one point. I loved each of them. I still remember some of their birthdays. Then, I grew older and switched my interest to other dogs, the ones that talk and pee standing up. I can still remember how they look though.

The puppy that was given a new home last night is a female cross-breed of a beagle and something else. All of them, including the poodle, were so eager for attention they were scratching on their cages. I held up each of the puppies and it reminded me of that part of my childhood when Chiqui, our first dog ever, would give birth in our kitchen.

I don't know why but I've been considering getting a pet dog lately. Last night, playing with those endearingly eager pups and having one of them lay on my lap while inside Nikki's car just heightened this longing. It's just not feasible right now which is why I'm thinking of getting one for our home in the province. Having a pet there should be another thing to look forward to whenever I visit.

It was a long day. I'm so glad I went out despite my not so ideal condition. It was worth it.

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Helliday

While the rest of the city's citizens are frolicking out of town or simply relaxing at home, I was at the dentist's having the time of my life. I just had two procedures done and my, my, what a wonderful way it is to spend this breezy holiday.

I'm supposed to meet up with friends but thanks to my deviant teeth (and gums), I don't know anymore. My cheek is swollen and I'm not supposed to have seafood, chicken and anything hot within the next week. But my dentist did recommend this.

Maybe this ordeal is not so bad after all.

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QC State of Mind

Look at these cuties wobbling adorably along Timog today! They look like penguins but they're apparently dolphins. It was so cool seeing these while having lunch--literally put a smile on my face.

Death by Cuteness. Snapped this while crossing the street.

It's been interesting working in Quezon City (for several weeks now). It's definitely not convenient considering the distance from my place and how stressful the daily commute is but I actually prefer it over Ortigas where non-drivers usually have to walk many a block due to the lack of public transport circling the area. I also like how our area is surrounded by so many dining options, from the carinderic to the more upscale restaurants. So far, I've tried Chicken Charlie and Jay-J's Inasal, not to mention the humble eateries my colleagues and I frequent. I can't wait to try more places in QC.

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Chastity Homo

I believe I have been re-virginized--yes, in a lot of ways. Save for that one otherwise boring night in May, it's been over a year since I've met a guy.

Don't get me wrong. I haven't really been looking a lot lately so there's really no one else to blame. Then again, I don't really like the concept of looking for it so I'm hoping to keep it this way and, as cliche as it sounds, let it find me instead. It does get boring and I still get tempted to go out there and be a little crazy but just thinking about how daunting it is already throws me off. Maybe this is me being 26. Is it just a phase? I know for a fact that there are guys out there much older than me who are certainly still very active in the circuit. I should know. I've met some of them.

The truth is, the good outweighs the bad. I just hope I don't fall off the wagon anytime soon. Should that happen, I hope it's on that perfect time when someone's there to catch me--or at least help me up.

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Perks

I'm on a high right now. I'm listening to the soundtrack as I work on this entry.

After hearing and reading great reviews about 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' movie, I finally got to see it earlier. It's one of those very few films where I walk inside the theater with high expectations and leave very satisfied.

For some reason, the movie reminds me of '500 Days with Summer'. Perhaps it's the cinematography. This one, though, is darker and I love that about it. The characters are beautiful--damaged but beautiful and also adorable. Their group of friends is so likable. I want to be friends with them is what I'm trying to say.

More than youth, Perks is about self-discovery and relationships. It manages to have depth and still be extremely cute. And thanks to Ezra Miller's Patrick, it even got me laughing out loud a few times while the final scene almost left me in tears. It's difficult to categorize Perks because it really triggers a lot of emotions, strong ones at that. There's this line that Charlie said before he uttered the now infamous 'infinite' line. It hit me really good but me being me, I can't even remember the words, neither can I find it online. The whole movie is actually peppered with a lot of quotable quotes.

As for the soundtrack, it's really just a bonus but what a pleasant one indeed. I'm not one of the cool kids who are obsessed with The Smiths but this movie may just  have changed that.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower delivers; the cast is excellent; it's one of those movies that lingers on your mind for days.

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Hello, Uniqlo!

Finally, I had the chance to visit Uniqlo several weeks after the pandemonium has died down. MOA is not really my scene because it's so far and crowded but I do like that it has the shops that I want to check out and this Japanese brand has been added to that list.

Before it came to the Philippines, the first and last time I got to visit a Uniqlo store was in Hong Kong. I was excited because the brand was ubiquitous in street style blogs but walking around the aisles, I remember being disappointed. Piles and piles of ruffled clothing filled the shelves and even spilled to the floor but walked away empty-handed.

I don't know if it's my newfound appreciation for basics but yesterday, I saw Uniqlo in a different light. The simple items suddenly seemed so appealing and oozing with potential. You have to hand it to the Japanese, they really have mastered pambahay chic.

I especially love the denim pants selection.

And I like that they even offer alteration services.

But some items come with a warning.

 These shorts are not so bad either at around P590.

I actually got try on the pants and they fit really well--and since it's Uniqlo, the price point is not bad either.

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A Bright Future

The future is bright and not in a Ke$ha-goes-wild-in-Forever-21 kind of way. Vibrant hues are having a moment outside of street style territory. I'm particularly drawn towards chartreuse and lemon, or even neon, yellow. Based on these pictures from Milan fashion week and the 2012 Primetime Emmys, I'm not alone.

From the Gucci Spring/Summer 2012 show.

Julianne Moore stuns in an unexpected Christian Dior number.

Julie Bowen in Monique Lhuillier.

Hugh Dancy! So hot! I mean, Claire Danes, so haute! Lanvin! And she's pregnant! 

I sure hope the rather risque shade continues to pop out more in the future. It's one good way to brighten up a dreary day or even a boring red carpet.

Photos: The Cut

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Cotton On in Manila

The last time I was in Hong Kong, I saw these striped, drawstring shorts that I imagined to fall mid-thigh--perfect for the beach! But alas, I was on a tight budget so I got something else instead. Big mistake. I regret not getting at least one pair up to this day.

DJ Callum David at the Megamall Cotton On store today.

When I heard Cotton On has arrived in Manila, I was excited. The same shorts may no longer be available but judging from my visit at the newly opened Megamall store earlier, I have to come back (preferably when there's less people). I'm not so crazy about the other items but the pants and the shorts look good and inexpensive. I hope they would steam the clothes though. The space already looks messy as it is. The store isn't that big either which explains why there was a long line for the fitting room. But I think Filipinos are getting used to these brands setting up shop here. I wonder if H&M will ever follow suit.

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What It's Been Like To Be Me

I know I've bitched and moaned several times already about how busy I am but this circus is about to get more insane as school starts. Tomorrow is the first day of the new term but I'm not even officially enrolled yet. Last term was deceivingly hectic, the last part being excruciatingly taxing. This time, I don't know. I'm hoping it's going to be a kinder time. Before things get even crazier though, let me share some moments from the last three weeks or so. Blame my old Blackberry for the poor resolution.

This is from the last week of August when Pops arrived from the US.

My sister also came home last month. I tagged along with her and her boyfriend the afternoon my father and I flew in. Can you believe this is just 20-30 minutes from our house? It was my first time there and I want to go back the next time I come home.

The school project I painstakingly finished in a little over 3 days to make time for work.

How I spent my birthday.

That night when we sat on a reclining coconut tree by the beach.

Last weekend in Borough when Erin and I finally got to catch up.

Yesterday I finally got to try Melona (Love!)  when my colleagues and I got locked out of the office. My treat because I was supposed to bring the key.

That's it for now. Wish me luck. Good night!

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