Friday, August 31, 2012

Phones plus more: Welcome to the Philippines, O+

The first time that I’ve heard of O+, the newest brand of smart phones invading the tech-savvy minds of Filipinos, it was through a friend who linked its brief commercial on YouTube. I noticed two guys goofing around, changing playlists through guess what, a swoosh of the wrist. Surprise of all surprises, this new phone has this revolutionary “AirShuffle” wizard seen in their 6.3 WiFi phone (and yes, with this technology, it must be the work of the wizards), which allows you to swiftly change and browse stored music and photos. They also have this new pad, which is so accessible it can easily be slid into your purses. You know us girls, we can’t travel with bags too cluttered. With the pad allowing us to both connect via social media and our work emails, it’ll definitely be like making your whole life always on the go. Can’t wait to give these newest additions to the tech-arena a try. Welcome to the Philippines, O+!

Hello, Philippines!
Call me maybe?


A big spread in the Philippine Star last August 29.

And in Mania Bulletin Style Weekend today, August 31. Great concept!







Thursday, August 30, 2012

Bench Universe: The 2012 Denim & Underwear Show

25 Years In The Making: Bench Universe - The 2012 Denim & Underwear Show.

My favorite line of clothing is celebrating its 25th year. And to all Bench lovers like me, come check out their upcoming event! On September 13 & 14, 2012 at the Mall Of Asia Arena, the Bench Universe is all set to increase the notch higher with The 2012 Denim & Underwear show. On a more nostalgic news, they will be featuring some of my favorite Benchsetters.

The ensemble of faces and personalities will remarkably be composed of Lucy Torres-Gomez, Georgina Wilson, Borgy Manotoc, Isabelle Daza, Pancho Magno, John Spainhour, Carla Abellana, Jake Cuenca, Rocco Nacino, Kathryn Bernardo, Lovi Poe, Steven Silva, Sam Concepcion, Shaina Magdayao, Jessy Mendiola, Bela Padilla, Enzo Pineda, Benjamin Alves, Dingdong Dantes, Joseph Marco, Enchong Dee, Julia Montes, Kim Chiu, Melai Cantiveros, Paulo Avelino, Sarah Lahbati, Aljur Abrenica, Karylle, Diether Ocampo and Richard Gomez.

Excitement aside, I know that as Bench continues to dominate with its never-ending servings of apparel, so will its legacy that I know will linger for more years to come.





Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The 2nd Philippine Fashion Ball

And the awards came pouring in!

August 24, 2012 may very well be another historic night for the world of fashion as the ever-fabulous Philippine Fashion Ball returns this year and boy, did it make a HUGE statement. All the bigwigs in fashion—celebrities, models, designers, and editors—garbed in their best black and white gowns and suits, have converged to dance the night away and just plain celebrate. When the clock struck 10:30 p.m., the official program came. With the country’s hottest names in hosting at the steering wheel, Phoem Barranda, Raymond Gutierrez, and Tim Yap, awarded the donation from O+ to the Philippine National Red Cross. After, the Belvedere Best Dressed of the Night were given to hot models Oliver Abrenica and Pauline Prieto. The O+ Stars of the Night were then awarded to Miko Raval and Angel Jacob.

And of course, to highlight the occasion, special plaques of recognition to fashion icons were given to Jose “Pitoy” Moreno, Ben Farrales, Aureo Alonzo, and Christian Espiritu (Award of Recognition to the Philippine Couture Association), Ogee Atos and Wanda Louwallien (for Fashion Direction), Loreto Popioco (for Fashion Illustration), Cesar Gaupo and Auggie Cordero (for Fashion Design), Randy Ortiz (for Menswear Design), Mich Dulce (for Accessory Design), Jonas Gaffud (Mercator) and Jack De Mesa (Ideal People) (for Model Management), Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales (for Modeling), Ronnie Salvacion, Raymund Isaac, Xander Angeles, and Mark Nicdao (for Photography), Juan Sarte III (for Make-up), Jing Monis, Celeste Tuviera and Alex Carbonell (for Hair Styling and Design), and Jenni Epperson, Liz Uy, Pam Quinones, Millet Arzaga, and Luis Espiritu (for Styling).

Special awards were also given to Michael Carandang, for his extraordinary efforts to promote Filipino talent overseas (America’s Next Top Model producer), and this year’s Industry Award was given to leading fashion magazines, Preview (PEFTA), Mega (MYDC) and Metro (MetroWear) for their efforts to build new force in fashion. The Lifetime Achievement Award capped the event, given to an institution of fashion, SLIM’s, awarded to Mark and Sandy Higgins. The 2nd Philippine Fashion Ball was a definite success, no question and by the looks of it, we can’t help but be excited for what’s going to happen in the years to come.

The dance floor at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Hotel Manila awaits the biggest of names in fashion and entertainment for the historic return of the Philippine Fashion Ball.
The hosts of the glamorous night!
Phoemela Baranda in Rhett Eala
Raymond Gutierrez in Phillip Lim
Tim Yap in Rhett Eala
Pauline Prieto and Oliver Abrenica for Belvedere Best Dressed awarded by Chief Representative for Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific Olga Azarcon
Tessa Prieto-Valdes accepts the O+ check for Philippine National Red Cross.
Presenters for Philippine Couture Association Award of Merit - JC Buendia, Inno Sotto, Lulu Tan Gan, Izza Gonzales-Agana, Marina Benipayo and Rajo Laurel
Christian Espiritu
Aureo Alonzo and Marina Benipayo
Ogee Atos accepts for Ben Farrales and Rajo Laurel for Jose "Pitoy" Moreno
Special Recognition for Excellence in Fashion Direction awardee Ogee Atos poses with presenter Robbie Carmona
Special Recognition for Excellence in Fashion Direction awardee Wanda Louwallien with presenters Mara Spirig-Nasrabadi, Celine Magat-Lopez Cheng Bernardez Lucas
Special Recognition for Excellence in Fashion Design awardee Cesar Gaupo with presenters Tonichi Nocom and Ariel Lozada
Special Recognition for Excellence in Menswear Design awardee Randy Ortiz with PMAP models Bianca Valerio, Angel Agustin-Co, Nikita McElroy and Ana Sideco.
Special Recognition for Excellence in Accessory Design Awardee Mich Dulce with Gian Romano and actor Benjamin Alves
Kai Lim Accepts the Special Recognition for Excellence in Hair Design Award for Alex Carbonell.
Celeste Tuviera-Querido accepts the Special Recognition for Excellence in Hair Design award presented by Marlon Rivera
Special Recognition for Excellence in Hair Design awardee Jing Monis and presenter Jojo Urquico
Special Recognition for Excellence in Photography awardee Raymund Isaac with friend Eric Quizon
Special Recognition for Excellence in Photography awardee Ronnie Salvacion and presenter Angel Jacob
Special Recognition for Excellence in Photography awardee Xander Angeles with presenter Pauline Prieto
Special Recognition for Excellence in Photography awardee Mark Nicdao with presenter Jake Versoza
I accepted the Special Recognition for Excellence in Fashion Styling award for Millet Arzaga
Special Recognition for Excellence in Fashion Styling awardee Pam Quinones with Robbie Pinera and Martin Bautista
Special Recognition for Excellence in Fashion Styling awardee Liz Uy with presenter Georgina Wilson
Special Recognition for Excellence in Fashion Styling awardee Jenni Epperson in Zara & Stella McCartney with presenter Celine Lopez in Rhett Eala
Special Recognition for Excellence in Model Management awardee Jack de Mesa with Ideal People models
Special Recognition for Excellence in Model Management awardee Jonas Gaffud (Mercator) with Beauty Queens: Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010 4th Runner Up Venus Raj, Miss World Philippines 2012 Queenierich Rehman and Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2011 3rd Runner Up Shamcey Supsup
Special Recognition for Excellence in Fashion Modeling awardee Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez with presenters Rhett Eala and Cosmo Magazine EIC Myrza Sison
Special Recognition awardee Michael Carandang in Francis Libiran with presenter Ben Chan in Lanvin
Actor Enchong Dee
Preview Magazine's Editor Liz Uy, Fashion Editor Ana Canlas and Daryl Chang, EIC Pauline Suaco-Juan accept the Industry Award (Preview Emerging Fashion Talent Awards) from presenter Enchong Dee.
Metro Magazine's Audrey Binay, Katrina Angco, Geolette Esguerra, Michealle Torres, Patrick Ty and Charmagne Garcia-Laconico accept the Industry Award (Metrowear) from presenters Raya Mananquil, Apples Aberin and Valerie delos Santos of PMAP
Mega Magazine's EIC Sari Yap, Deputy Editor Meryll Yan and Creative Director Suki Salvador accept the Industry Award (Mega Young Designers Competition) from presenter Sam Milby
Mark and Sandy Higgins of SLIM's accept the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Joey Samson, Tessa Prieto-Valdes and James Reyes
Hosts Phoemela Baranda, Tim Yap and Raymond Gutierrez share a toast with the three prime movers who made the event possible: Keren Pascual, Robbie Carmona and Noel Manapat

It’s not a ball without Belvedere!

You know how party-loving girls like me just want to go all-out in a long-planned night-out with friends. At the 2nd Philippine Fashion Ball, that’s exactly what happened. Grand is, of course, putting it lightly how the biggest night in fashion collected the showbiz greats and fashion stalwarts dressed in their best to celebrate the industry. But that’s just talking about the rare occasion of gathering the pillars of the industry in the same room. The vision of uniting the industry, and putting a heart to the occasion for a wonderful cause just made everything all the more effective. And where else do you plan to stage grandness but in the fantastic Rigodon Ballroom of The Manila Peninsula. And Belvedere, that oh-so-perfect blend of flavors just never fails to make me go gaga over just about any party I go to. Dressed in my best black dress and that Belvedere overflow? Now that’s a Ball!

The hosts: Tim Yap, Phoemela Baranda & Raymond Gutierrez
Belvedere Best Dressed Pauline Prieto (in Chery Samuya Veric) and Oliver Abrenica (in Vintage Matsuda) with Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific chief representative Olga Azarcon
Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific chief representative Olga Azarcon
Ben Chan in Lanvin, and Miguel Pastor in Paul Joe & Prada
Tessa Prieto-Valdes & Tim Yap
Nix Alanon & Rajo Laurel both in Rajo's creation
Jenni Epperson & Fanny Serrano
Raymond Villanueva & Dennis Lustico
Joey Mead
Marlon Rivera, Celeste Tuviera-Querido & M Barreto
Sandy & Mark Higgins
Jessica Tan Gan, Vic Barba & Lulu Tan Gan
JM Rodriguez
Francis Boyce & Tola Orendain
Van Leano & Maan Marquez
Riana Matera in John Herrera
Bryan Lim in Prada, Kai Lim in Xernan Orticio vest & Joey Samson skirt, and Nicole Whisenhunt in Randy Ortiz
Enchong Dee
Bubbles Paraiso
Natasha Bautista in Cheetah Rivera & Kara Gozali in Randy Ortiz
Irish Ong in Martin Bautista & Nikita McElroy in Michael Leyva
Xeng Zulueta
Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2011 3rd Runner-up Shamcey Supsup
Pam Quinones in Martin Bautista