This month’s Metro magazine comes in three different covers featuring Pond’s girls (L-R) Toni Gonzaga, Julia Barretto and Jasmine Curtis Smith.
It features my office space (where I’m blogging this), thanks to Geolette Esguerra (who called), Gian Cruz (who wrote the story), and Paul del Rosario (who photographed it).
I’m quite happy how it came out. Buy the issue at National Bookstore! xo
Smart Infinity—Smart Communications’ premiere postpaid brand—brings to Manila the Broadway hit musical Chicago this December 2 to 21, 2014 at Solaire Resort and Casino.
As a special treat, tickets to the six-time Tony Award-winning musical will be made available first and exclusive to Smart Infinity subscribers, before ticket selling is opened to the general public.
What’s more: from now until September 8, 2014, every new Smart Infinity plan will come with VIP tickets to Chicago, on top of the gadgets and services that come with every subscription.
Infinity Music Plan 3500 comes with two complimentary orchestra VIP tickets to Chicago, along with two Misfit Shine fitness tracking gadgets, one Chicago album, and 30 songs monthly—to go with the call, text and data subscription already bundled with the plan.
Plan 5000 comes with either a Samsung S5 or iPhone 5s, two orchestra VIP tickets, a Chicago album, and 30 songs monthly along with call, text and data.
Plan 8000 provides a free Macbook Air, two orchestra VIP tickets, a Chicago album, and 30 songs.
Based on a 1926 play by Maurine Watkins, Chicago is the Tony Award-winning musical that gave us Broadway hits like ‘All That Jazz,’ ‘Razzle Dazzle,’ ‘Cell Block Tango,’ ‘Mr. Cellophane’ and ‘Nowadays’.
The musical follows the characters of aspiring vaudevillian Roxie Hart and seasoned vaudevillian Velma Kelly and the murders they committed in the 1920s.
In 2002, its Hollywood version won six major Oscar awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress (for Catherine Zeta-Jones).
Chicago, featuring its Broadway cast, will run from December 2 to 21, 2014 at The Theatre of Solaire Resort and Casino.
To know more about Chicago and the premium Smart Infinity experience, call 848-8806, email infinitysupport@smart.com.ph, or go to http://www.smart.com.ph/infinity.
Finally got to see NAIA Terminal 3 when my friend Karen arrived with her family this weekend from the United States via Delta Airlines. Yes, Delta is one of the airlines that has moved its operations to NAIA 3.
Since both Karen and I didn’t know what to expect, I had to personally pick her up at the airport (long story).
Luckily our friend Lia volunteered to come with me at 10 PM. This is where we got dropped off (at Bay 1)
We took the nearest entrance and put our bags pass through the X-ray machine. A lady guard barked at me not to take pictures. Obviously that didn’t stop me.
The first thing I saw were the sad concessionaires with not much customers. This was past 10 PM anyway.
You just can’t avoid carinderia settings at NAIA, can you?
Or the sad convenience store
So much water
I wonder who chooses the concessionaires and what does it take to get a space here?
Why don’t they have a Jollibee or McDonald’s which everyone can appreciate? Or a Family Mart instead of the sad convenience store?
At least there is one brand I recognised but it’s the saddest Burger King I’ve seen
It was just so dark and cheap-looking (sorry!)
Actually I’m not sorry. The entire arrival floor was dark and somber-looking. I looked up and saw the light.
I saw white lights everywhere, which makes everyone and everything look grey
You can actually mix white light with yellow lights. Because lighting is so important. It can change the way you feel about a place and how everyone looks.
NAIA Terminal 3 has so much space, which is a good thing, with a high ceiling and space everywhere.
I’m happy that all Filipinos who want to pick up their loved ones can be accommodated inside, unlike NAIA 1 where the waiting area looks like a zoo.
Good thing there are signs
and a convenient Arrivals board, which you didn’t see at NAIA 1
I decided to check out the toilet next to still-unoccupied spaces (ooh…slippers off!)
The cardboard sign looks ngarag (read: worn out)
The restroom looks so creepy—creepier than Narita’s. Nothing makes my skin crawl as much as small bathroom tiles.
It reminded me of a Peque Gallaga movie set
Eek.
This looks so temporary (read: cheap)
Here’s the really scary part
But thank God no bad smell (unlike Schipol’s) and there was toilet paper!! I wonder who designed the restroom. My guess: contractor?
No thought was put into it. I find it sayang for all the money they spent on the airport and the restrooms already look old and creepy.
Still they are much better than NAIA 1 toilets.
Finally, with all that space, nobody bothered to think about seats. These were the only seats in the house.
Seriously, there must be 24 seats here
So what do people do while waiting for arrivals? They put their drinks down and have a picnic
They lie down and charge their phone
They sit down and charge their iPad
They doze off
They look kawawa
You can sit anywhere. No one will stop you!
Seriously it makes you wonder if they are there to pick up people or just use the aircon? It looks uncivilised.
I proceeded to the viewing gallery to wait for Karen. (NAIA needs an art director)
I waited with the people behind the glass
At 11 PM (one hour later) Karen arrived with her sisters and brother-in-law
L-R: Karen Salgado, Marty Wilcher, Susan and Carlos Patino
They were hungry but we left quickly because I didn’t want them to see the food choices. Luckily our car arrived shortly and Karen and her sisters were impressed by the new airport.
Next time I’ll review the Departure area—but not so soon because I’m still scared to fly.
Through a unique blend of photos, videos, illustrations and writings, Garance Doré became known through her blog, garancedore.fr.
She began as an illustrator, following in the footsteps of René Gruau and Antonio Lopez.
Her talent has allowed her to collaborate with important brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Céline, Kate Spade, Chloé, Tiffany & Co., Chopard, Reed Krakoff, and more.
Her illustrations also appear monthly in her Paris Vogue column.
Now you can have a piece of Garance Doré’s work through a limited collection available at National Book Store.
Her Friends Social Stationery Set consists of 12 flat cards with assorted designs boxed with natural white envelopes.
The Leopard Notebook Set has two unlined notebooks with gold foil accents and 64 pages each.
The Oui Pocket Notebook Set has two unlined mini notebooks with metallic gold foil accent.
The Garance Doré Graphic Assorted Card Collection is available in two boxed sets of eight greeting cards.
One has vertical images that include Le Glamour, Femme, Cape and Friends cards, with soft-white envelopes.
A horizontal set features cards with XO, Merci Hearts, Checkered Birthday, and Bonjour! designs in metallic gold foil paired with gold envelopes.
The Garance Doré collection also includes iPhone cases made of hard plastic and a rubber insert for additional protection.
Garance Doré goods are now available at selected National Book Store branches. Or buy them online and earn reward points.
Follow National Book Store on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @nbsalert for updates on events, promos, and contests.
Two years after it brought Long-Term Evolution (LTE) or 4G technology to the country, wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) announced that 5G wireless technology LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), is now running in the Philippines’ largest and strongest network.
Smart recently switched on LTE-A at the Smart Jump Center in Mandaluyong City, setting the next phase of mobile communication technology beyond 4G LTE standards.
Co-founder and Chief Wireless Advisor of Smart Orlando B. Vea (first from left) during the tests of 5G LTE-A at Smart, where speeds reaching 209.66 mbps were recorded.
LTE-A—also referred to as ‘5G’—delivers data from between 100 mbps to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), or ten times faster than 3G services and more than twice as fast as 4G services.
By firing up LTE-A technology on its network, Smart joins only a handful of carriers around the world with an LTE-A network, along with leading mobile operators in South Korea, United States, Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong.
With LTE-A, a 10MB file takes less than a second to download, YouTube videos no longer have to buffer, and video calls are almost lag-free. But beyond speed, LTE-A’s main feature is also its capability to allocate more network resources to users when the need arises.
Smart started testing LTE-A across the country in August last year, delivering results of more than 100Mbps in Makati City, in Boracay, and in Davao City during the Kadayawan festival.
As thanks to Cibo fans for their support through 17 years, Cibo says “grazie mille” once again by offering its best sellers at 1997 prices:
18 August (Monday): Tagliata di Manzo, Aglio Rosmarino at Php 195
19 August (Tuesday): Spinaci Zola at Php 85
20 August (Wednesday): Uva Nera at Php 50
21 August (Thursday): Crema di Zucca at Php 95
22 August (Friday): Penne al Telefono at Php 175
Mechanics:
1. Promo runs from August 18-22, 2014 for dine-in transactions only.
2. A chosen item from the original Cibo menu will be selling at its 1997 price for a specific day. A maximum of three orders per transaction will be allowed.
3. The 1997 price is inclusive of 12% VAT, valid only on the specified date.
4. Cibo’s other dishes will be sold at regular prices.
5. Promo not valid in conjunction with any other promotion or government-mandated discounts.
CIBO’s 1997 price promo will be available at all Cibo branches:
• Alabang Town Center (842-7285)
• Gateway Mall, Araneta Center (913-2426)
• Glorietta 4 (729-2426)
• Greenbelt 5 (758-2426)
• Eastwood Mall (470-2426)
• Power Plant Mall (898-2426) and Cibo Bimbi (895-6426)
• Promenade Greenhills (727-2426)
• Robinsons Magnolia (642-2426)
• Shangri-La Plaza (633-2426)
Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 1654, Series of 2014.
We all have our dark days. There were times I just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide there, but those days are behind me now, thank God!
When Reg Locsin and Brian Hagedorn of Locsin International asked me to design furniture for them, I grabbed the opportunity to create a hiding place where one could get away, read, work, sleep, be alone, and cocoon.
I decided to call it KOKON.
It started with a scribble on a small piece of paper. Then Locsin did a miniature mockup like this
A trip to Locsin’s workshop in Bulacan where I saw the full-size frame for the first time
To get a feel of the space, we placed a temporary mattress inside
I sat inside as Reg Locsin (at right) discussed with craftsmen where to put the shelves
During the development of the project, a huge fire destroyed this workshop
We started again and lots of things happened. Reg and Brian got married and revamped the Locsin website.
We hired Everywhere We Shoot to photograph the KOKON with model Sam Lewis
Garovs Vergara, 1/2 of Everywhere We Shoot
We shot it in daytime and nighttime. Sam called it one of her best shoots ever.
Pillows by Tinay Villamiel of Bleach and Yu Hokazono of Kikastyle, Aoyama
It is amazingly spacious. Five people can sit inside and two adults can sleep with a child
The KOKON daybed is priced at Php 164,000 for the indoor version and Php 232,000 for outdoor, inclusive of mattress and plain throw pillows. KOKON is now available to order at Locsin.com or through their showrooms at LRI Design Plaza, Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel-Air, Makati, or at 4th level, SM Megamall-B.
To know more about Locsin International, click HERE.
Watsons is my happy place. 
As a mom and (semi) working girl, there’s always something new to try and discover. It could be a pimple cream for my son or a skin conditioner for me.
I grew up without a bathtub, so when I had my own house, I made sure we had three at home.
I don’t use it very often, but it’s good to have one on standby for when I’m extremely tired or simply having a bad day.
This is where I get to try all kinds of bath salts, body scrubs, body washes and exfoliating creams—and Watsons has a lot of these.
Now you can have your own pampering ritual at home. If bath products are your thing, join this simple giveaway:
I’m giving away five train cases filled with Watsons products.
Each train case will contain ten random products from Watsons’ Bath To Basics collection.
Mechanics:
1) To join, you must have a Philippine address.
2) You must have a Facebook and/or Twitter account.
3) Share this post by clicking on the Facebook or Twitter links below this entry.
4) Like Watsons Philippines on Facebook and/or follow @WatsonsPh on Twitter.
5) Register HERE.
6) Promo runs from August 19-23, 2014.
7) Five winners will be chosen via random.org and posted here on chuvaness.com.
8) Winners will also be informed via email or text on how to receive their prizes.
If I were a blogging professor, Petite Passport would get an A.
For me it’s one of the best blogs out there. Visually, her photos make me cry.
Pauline has an eye for the coolest places and would rather choose a restaurant for its interiors before the food.
Mr. Frank, Madrid
The Barn Roastery, Berlin
“I just love, love, love hotspots,” Pauline writes. “Not the ones you will find in every guidebook, but the more special ones. Shame on me, but I don’t go to a restaurant because the food is superb (well that’s a nice extra) but because of the interior. I like to sit on a Jake chair by Koskela or eat under a Tom Dixon lightbulb.”
Meet Pauline Egge, 32, author of petitepassport.com.
Pauline Egge photographed by Anne Timmer
While studying Journalism, Pauline dreamed of becoming Editor-in-Chief of ELLE magazine.
“When I interned there I found out I liked writing about restaurants, shops and hotels more than fashion,” she said. “After that I wrote for several Dutch magazines—and still do—about this subject. The more people I can make happy with my [recommendations], the better!”
Story Signalfabriken, Stockholm
“Looking back at my youth, I was into traveling and searching for cool addresses for a long time. When I was 11, my father and I went to London to visit interesting places I had found in the magazines back in the day. When I was 20, I went to Australia, New-Zealand, and Indonesia for six months, which was a trip of a lifetime and planted an irresistible lust for travelling and discovering beautiful places in me.”
Hotel Dwars, Amsterdam
The Plantshop, Antwerp
“I started my blog because people knew I was the one with the great new addresses and I always had to write long e-mails with all the recommendations on Paris, London, New York etc. So I thought: let’s build a free WordPress site and put all my recommendations on it. So, if people search for Paris, then all the recommendations are there. I thought I would run out of addresses in six months, but here we are, more than four years ahead, and I’m still not running out of cool places to go.”
Hotel Droog, Amsterdam
Niño Viejo, the brand new restaurant of Albert Adria and Paco Mendez (former El Bulli) in Barcelona
Pauline Egge’s Top 5 hotspots right now:
1. Merci, Paris
I was one of three people who were able to sleep one night in this beautiful concept store in Paris. It was a collaboration with Dutch design brand Droog Design.
2. Hotel ICON, Hong Kong
One of my favorite hotels around the world. I stayed in the Vivienne Tam suite, which has an incredible view over the city.
3. The Jane, Antwerp
The new restaurant of Dutch chef Sergio Herman in a stunning environment: an old chapel. Definitely worth visiting —but make sure to make a reservation.
4. Gallito, Barcelona
I always go to Gallito when I’m in Barcelona. It’s the perfect beach club.
5. Stout & Co in Amsterdam
Sleeping in your own apartment in an old brewery—beautiful design, even better atmosphere.
—With Gian Cruz
Prior to this ice bucket challenge going around the Internet, I have to admit I wasn’t really aware of ALS or Amyothropic Lateral Sclerosis.
Also known as Lou Gehrig‘s disease—named after the legendary baseball player who was diagnosed back in 1939—ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, leading to death.
Other known ALS sufferers were Morrie Schwartz, who was the subject of the book Tuesdays With Morrie, and physicist Stephen Hawking, who is living at 72.
L-R: Lou Gehrig, Stephen Hawking, Tuesdays with Morrie book cover, Morrie Schwartz
“Local versions of the #ALSicebucketchallenge have been popping up on my feed,” lamented my friend Grace. “Is there a Philippine-based Lou Gehrig’s disease foundation? Because I think it becomes a useless exercise if one just douses themselves with ice water and does not actually donate to a local ALS foundation.”
One Filipino who heeded the worldwide call to raise funds in the fight against ALS is Megaworld chair Dr. Andrew L. Tan, who took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge as well as making a substantial donation in US dollars. Dr. Tan’s participation was proactive and voluntary on his part.
Following the tradition of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Dr. Tan nominated three personalities from the business sector to do the same: Dr. Steven DeKrey, president of Asian Insititute of Management; Manolito Tayag, country head of Accenture Philippines; and Kenneth Yang, president of Golden Arches Development Corporation (McDonald’s Philippines).
Dr. Tan is the chairman and CEO of Megaworld, one of the Philippines’ largest real estate developers and the country’s leader in business process outsourcing (BPO) office developments.
To know more about ALS, go to http://www.alsa.org.
After more than 1,200 entries to this giveaway, I’m pleased to announce five winners chosen via random.org.
They are:
Cheryl Castillo of Quezon City
Jacqueline Macalalad of Taguig
Arlene Blanco of Sta. Cruz, Manila
Mariz Gabriel of Rodriguez, Rizal
Luzviminda Reyes of Caloocan City
Each winner will reductive a train case filled with random items from Watsons’ Bath to Basic range.
Winners, please check your email from me.
Thank you for joining and watch for my next giveaway very soon!!
This is how my boys and I travel: four Rimowa trunks at Narita.
After buying my first Rimowa trunk, I never wanted another kind of luggage.
This is how my husband travels: Rimowa trunk, carryon, and briefcase.
This is how the new Rimowa trunk packs inside. On the lid is a zippered mesh divider, and at the bottom is an adjustable divider that secures all your stuff—even if it’s not full.
My husband likes to match.
So one of our favourite couples is getting married this August. Since they already have a house full of stuff and they travel back and forth between Manila and Sydney, they didn’t make a gift registry or wish list.
I decided to give them one of my favourite things: a Rimowa trunk!
Yesterday I stopped by the Rimowa store at Power Plant mall, Rockwell
This branch seems to have more items than all the other Rimowa shops I’ve been to—at Greenbelt 5, Adora, Shangri-La Plaza, and Resorts World.
It has the Salsa collection in so many shapes and shades—they have matte black
Silver
and white!! The Salsa collection is most popular because of its light weight.
Knowing this couple has minimalist, good taste, I chose the matte grey trunk.
Also on display at each Rimowa store are original pieces of luggage showing wear and tear through years of use and abuse.
This aluminum trunk from 1975—with all its dents and stickers—reflect the journeys of its owner.
Aluminum Rimowas are pricier and heavier than the Salsa, but you can see how sturdy they are.
Personally I like my Rimowas clean, with no stickers. When I find mine looking dirty, I use Goo Gone and a soft rag to remove the sticker residue. Goo Gone is available at True Value.
I’ve had a couple of minor mishaps—such as a zipper coming off, but I got it fixed quickly at Rimowa Shangri-La.
I’ve had a small crack due to my overpacking—but I can still use it.
Good thing I can purchase a Rimowa at 0% interest over a few months using my Citibank card.
They may cost a lot, but what I’m paying for is good design plus the convenience of four spinner wheels, which makes all the difference.
Plus the fact that it makes me not look for any other luggage makes the price I paid for it, worth it.
Let’s be honest here: I don’t eat ramen. I don’t get the whole ramen bandwagon in Manila, but as a friend of Chiyo Tagami and Penny Ong, I am excited that Ippudo—which they claim is the best ramen ever—is opening at SM Fashion Hall this September.
Founded in 1985 by Japan’s “ramen king”, Shigemi Kawahara, Ippudo has a number of restaurants in Japan, as well as in New York, Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur.
The original Ippudo in Fukuoka (Photo: joone!/Flickr)
Its menu includes Kawahara’s reinvention of the Hakata-style tonkotsu (not a typo) broth, which is a pork-based ramen with a delicate and creamy flavor. Called Shiromaru Motoaji, it has ultra-thin noodles, pork loin, bean sprouts, kikurage and spring onions.
Another off-take to this classic is the Akamaru Shinaji which has a specially blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil mixed into the dish.
For those who love spicy, the Karaka-men—a spin on the crowd-favorite Tantanmen—is a combination of flaming miso, cashew nut and ground pork toppings.
All ramen bowls are served with the basic elements, plus the option of adding tamago (soft-boiled egg), chashu (pork belly), and/or nori (seaweed).
Other offerings include Hakata-style gyoza, karaage, and Ippudo New York’s bestselling pork and chicken buns.
To complement the Filipino palate, Ippudo will also serve rice dishes such as the garlic teppan chashu rice and the Hakata meshi.
Ippudo is brought to Manila by the Standard Hospitality Group under the leadership of Mr. John Concepcion, CEO of Unilever RFM ice cream company. Concepcion is responsible for starting the katsu craze in Manila, when he first opened Yabu in 2011.
If you love ramen, don’t miss the opening of Ippudo at the 3rd level, SM Fashion Hall this September.
To know more, like them on Facebook.
Meet my three Samsungs. They may look like the same to you but they’re not.
L-R: they are the Samsung Galaxy K/S5 Zoom camera phone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and the Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100.
On the left is my latest Samung. Yesterday I ditched my beloved Blackberry for this K-Zoom camera phone.
Believe me it is hard to say goodbye. Even though the Blackberry Bold 9900 is best for texting because of its raised QWERTY keyboard, I got tired of it hanging every other day. I got tired of making a battery pull when it happened. I hate that it doesn’t communicate well with my MacBook Pro.
So I’m trying to get used to texting with the Samsung phones. I’m quite used to the features of the Note 3 and I super love it, most especially the Kindle app where I read books. Kindle is something I wish I had while growing up. I used to read with a flashlight under the blanket when everyone was asleep and I couldn’t. (I still have insomnia by the way.)
Samsung Note 3 is just life-changing. Period.
And just when you thought a camera phone couldn’t take better pictures, here comes the Samsung S5 K-Zoom.
Compared to the older Samsung Galaxy Camera, this looks more like a phone, so those who are embarrassed to hold a camera to the ear while taking a call, need no longer worry.
It boasts of a 20.7-megapixel camera—the highest resolution for any camera phone available today.
Here are sample photos from today’s lunch at Donosti:
So you see, Alexei Villaraza, I haven’t been eating meat
Compare with yesterday’s fish photo at Myron’s Place taken with a Canon S-200
Not too shabby.
If you’re a blogger like me, it’s very convenient to download the Dropbox app on your phone and computer.
All your photos automatically get uploaded to Dropbox, so when you’re ready to blog, no need to connect your memory card or phone. All photos are available from your computer’s Dropbox.
Oh, and I dropped my phone twice—first at Donosti, and second, when I fell while running up the stairs in the office. Phone is still working!
So far so good, and I haven’t put my SIM back into the Blackberry yet. Let’s give this a week.
I’m hoping the Blackberry breakup will be permanent—unless BB comes up with a new QWERTY touchscreen phone—or Samsung does!! (fingers crossed)
Last March 2014, when Watsons announced they would give away a BMW 1 Series to one lucky shopper,
they really did.
So when they say they’re giving away Php 1,000,000 in cash to one lucky shopper, you can bet on it.
Not only that, they’ll be giving away more cash and gift certificates to other lucky shoppers!
Joining is easy. All you have to do is shop for at least Php 500 worth at Watsons—including at least one promo item—in order to receive an electronic raffle stub. Php 500 = 1 entry.
Since my friend and I were already at SM Megamall, we decided to stop at Watsons and check it out.
First, look for the promo items with the special stickers.
Rem and I both got the Nivea skin conditioner, which I tried and reviewed. Rem, her daughter, and I agree that this is a wonderful product.
Rem loves Olay, so that also went into the basket
We got Dove products
But wait, there’s more!
Just look around the store and find what you need
Here’s what we ended up getting
Since the total bill was Php 3,000+, we got six raffle tickets
and asked Store Supervisor Kaycee Patag to tell us what to do
Kaycee showed us how to register our entries by text using simple instructions
Of course we brought an eco-bag! My favourite eco bag is currently SM Fashion Hall-meets-Sartorialist, featuring Mich Dulce, among some lucky others
Joining was easy! Rem says she never wins a thing, but hey, it’s worth a try.
Watsons’ Win a Million promo is part of their “Always More” promise to their customers.
With Watsons recommended products, you can always look forward to looking good and feeling great each time you visit Watsons and The SM Store Beauty Section.
Promo runs from September 1-October 22, 2014.
To know more about the Win A Million promo, click HERE.
Adidas Originals is excited to unveil its Fall/Winter 2014 collection by British singer, songwriter, and actress Rita Ora. Notable for her fearless take on fashion as well as her head-turning musical collaborations, Rita Ora is also known in the music industry for her energy and spirit of originality.
This collection includes the Pastel Pack, with dreamy sunset shades of powder pinks, blues and yellows, plus a feather motif inspired by Rita’s own dove tattoo.
There’s a sweatshirt with batwing sleeves and cut-out shoulders, as well as a track top with sheer lace detailing of feathers along the sleeves.
The Roses Pack features repeat rose prints blooming around an insect invasion in a burst of rich colour and vivid detail. A deep shade of midnight blue forms a fitting backdrop to the vibrant scene of nature that unfolds across
heritage track wear.
Loose boyfriend cuts in iconic sports fabrics contrast against the lush femininity of vividly luxurious red flock prints. The Roses Pack truly reimagines classic performance-wear.
Here’s what you can expect from Rita Ora x adidas Originals
The Rita Ora Pastel Pack is available from 1 September 2014 at adidas Greenbelt 3, while the Rita Ora Roses Pack will be available from 1 November 2014 at adidas Greenbelt 3.
To know more, go to http://www.facebook.com/adidasPH
I hate to brag but I have the best friends in the world.
Friends are the family you choose, they say. My friends are mostly creative, a little bit gay, a little bit crazy or silly, mostly fashionable, and best of all, kind, loyal, smart, spiritual, talented.
I remember the first time I met Sayoko Hokazono in 2009 at Imperial Hotel in Ginza. After Tita Vicky Sales introduced us, my Tokyo was never the same again. This was Sayoko in her Aoyama store, Kikastyle.
This is her best friend, Hiko, who orders the best food in Tokyo
We love Hiko
This is Sayoko’s Margielic couch at home. The throw pillows are from Kikastyle and feature photographs by her son Yu Hokazono. She taught me about decorating: “You have to mix old and new. Not all new.”
This is Yu (left) with Youji at Galali, one of my favourite restaurants in Aoyama
Sayoko takes me to the coolest places, like Kyoichi Tzuzuki’s office
and everything Comme des Garçons
I can’t tell you how much Sayoko has changed my life, whether she’s buying me a pink gnome or some silly thing I need to have
Last week my friend Jay sent me a picture he took at Comme des Garçons Aoyama.
I was like, OMG I know that girl. She is the craziest girl in Comme des Garçons. Like cool crazy.
Jeroen took this picture of her last March
and I actually bought the dress
So now I became obsessed with that dress and asked Sayoko to please check it out—and she did!
Now tell me, how many of your friends would do this for you??
Sayoko is the best!
“I think it weighs 10 kg!” Sayoko texted me. It also costs 305,600 yen—way beyond my budget. Hehe.
So kids, do not worry. I am not getting the dress.
And thank you Sayoko-san! I shall see you next month!!
Is Manila ready for another restaurant franchise? Another steakhouse?
“Well, yes,” said Sheryl Laudico, Marketing Director of Sumosam Restaurants Concepts, which is bringing Wolfgang’s Steakhouse to Manila early next year.
If you like Peter Luger in Brooklyn, you would be interested to know that Wolfgang’s Steakhouse was opened in Manhattan ten years ago by its former headwaiter, Wolfgang Zwiener.
After 40 years experience at Peter Luger Steak House, Mr. Zwiener was thinking of retring when his son, Peter, along with two other waiters at Peter Luger, convinced him to open his own place.
“If there is a vacuum, you fill it,” said Peter Zwiener, a former investment banker who saw the potential in opening a Peter Luger-style steakhouse in Manhattan.
Apart from serving its signature 100% dry-aged prime steaks, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse offered New Yorkers the convenience of location, a better wine selection, table cloth (!), and the use of credit cards (which Peter Luger doesn’t have).
Since Wolfgang opened its first restaurant in 2004, it has grown to seven locations within the US, and the most recent opening in Roppongi, Tokyo last February 2014.
There will be five new locations within the next six months—in New Jersey, Osaka, Seoul, a second location in Tokyo, and in Manila.
Managing partner and president, Peter Zwiener is currently in town to meet up with Philippine franchise owners Ricky Laudico, Marvin Agustin and Raymund Magdaluyo.
Peter Zwiener (center) with husband and wife Sheryl and Ricky Laudico of Sumosam Restaurants Concepts
It was Raymund Magdaluyo who discovered Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in New York and loved it so much to bring it to Manila.
Wolfgang’s Steakhouse is set to open at Resorts World Manila in January 2015. The space will be a little over 600 square meters, located next to a downsized Republiq.
Sheryl says they are constructing special dry-ageing room, where beef will be placed on racks for about 28 days to achieve optimum flavour and tenderness. It’s a costly process that makes steak more pricey but worth it.
Apart from rib eyes, fillet mignons, and steaks for two t0 four people, Manila can look forward to a New York menu of seafood cocktails, soups, salads, and a selection of desserts—including New York cheesecake specially flown in.
Now I really like steak, but you had me at New York cheesecake.
We can’t wait.
Youth is great. You’re thin and have lots of energy. But being older is better because you’re no longer broke (hopefully).
This is exactly what I was thinking yesterday when Grace brought me to the newly opened Typo store at Trinoma.
I can’t tell you how many young people were freaking out and lamenting that they had no money and had to come back with their parents to shop there.
Typo is a wasteland—a store of all things cute and functional—which I chanced upon in Singapore last January.
Even though I’m in my 40s, I still go nuts when faced with colourful objects and stationery.
I found out that Typo is a Cotton On store, which is a brand based in Australia.
Cotton On on in the Philippines is owned by the Bench group or Suyen Corporation, and last September 2, the first Typo store in the country opened at Trinoma.
And it’s about time because we need more cute stuff in the Philippines.
On a Sunday early evening, the store was packed with excited shoppers and shelves of affordable home decor, office and gift items
Tons of pens and stationery
Paper products
Cute little crates and jars
Snoopy and Peanuts cuteness
So chica!
Crafts and party decorations
Pouches and pen cases
and seriously, the funniest greeting cards in town
My first haul was Php 6,000 worth and I love the giant shopping bag.
It was truly worth the trip, but I can’t wait for more stores to open. Hopefully closer to me!
Typo is now open at the first level, Trinoma mall, QC. Opening end of September at Greenbelt 5.
To see more Typo, click HERE.
Time flies. I can’t believe I am old enough to remember when The Simpsons premiered 25 years ago.
I was a staff writer at the Daily Globe newspaper and The Simpsons was the coolest new thing on TV. It was so novel I even wrote an article about it.
Twenty five seasons later, The Simpsons is now the longest-running American sitcom and animated program in television history.
To celebrate, M.A.C. Cosmetics has released a special collection that includes four lip glasses in Nacho Cheese Explosion, Grand Pumpkin, Red Blazer, and Itchy & Scratchy (PHP 1,100)
Marge’s Extra Ingredients Quad eyehadow sets (PHP 2,530)
Powder Blush (Php 1,540)
and how cute! A set of seven lashes (Php 880)
Available at M.A.C counters this September 2014.