It’s a dream come true for established restaurateur and in-demand caterer Margarita Fores as she collaborates with Spanish two-star Michelin chef, Paco Roncero, in a six-course gastronomical feast in celebration of the first Madrid Fusion Manila (24-26 April 2015, SMX Convention Center).
This exclusive dining experience is scheduled this Saturday, 25 April 2015, at the Writers Bar of Raffles Makati.
For reservations, call 795-1840 or email dining.makati@raffles.com.

Margarita Fores would like to thank the following for their support: Qatar Airways, Nutriasia, San Miguel Corporation, the Department of Tourism, and Department of Agriculture.

Super late post!
I was lucky to have been invited to Art Basel Hong Kong 2015 last March 2015.
I love art, but I’d never been to Art Basel and didn’t know what to expect. The first time I ever heard of it was in 2009 when Brad Pitt famously bought a painting at Art Basel, Switzerland.
Art Basel, considered the premier art show in the world, is staged annually in Basel, Miami, and Hong Kong.
Here’s what I learned from the Art Basel HK experience:

1) Prepare your wardrobe. It is teeming with chica people, and I’m not talking about fashionistas. Art people are so much chicer than fashion people. I saw this from the moment we landed at Hong Kong International Airport. The vibe was different when we arrived. People were so well dressed.

2) How to dress: Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. This is not a time to wear heels or cocktail dresses. Wear sneakers and flats with smart clothes. There is no need to overdress. The show is about art, not you (no offence).

3) Where to stay: Jeroen and I stayed at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, though the official hotel partner of Art Basel HK was Mandarin Oriental, which provided shuttles to the venue. There are two Mandarin hotels in Hong Kong’s Central district. Both are not far from the Art Basel venue in Wanchai.
But if you really want to be near the venue, the best place to be is Grand Hyatt Wanchai, which is literally next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

4) There’s Art Basel, and there’s Art Central. Aside from Art Basel, there was a smaller event called Art Central close to the area. Art Central’s inaugural Art Central event had 30,000 art collectors, buyers, and guests. There are less art pieces and though some are really expensive, there are more affordable offerings here.

My favorite piece: giant tablets (US$21,500)

Spotted: Bencab

Interesting

The VIP Lounge

5) Do attend the talks. Jeroen and I went to the Art and the Movies talk at Art Central moderated by Alexandra Seno with guest speakers Joyce Wang, Fanny Pereire, and Fiona Marin. First time I heard and learned that almost every single thing you see in a movie scene needs to be cleared with its copyright owner.

6) Do not walk from Art Central to Art Basel! It may seem near, but it’s not. There as a construction going on in between venues, so Jeroen and I had to walk circles to get to Art Basel. The walk was pretty brutal for a girl with short legs, though Jeroen didn’t seem to have a problem with it. That said, I’m glad I wore Converse sneakers. My advice: take a cab.

Looks near, but far

Hang layo.

7) There’s a lack of food choices at both venues. Jeroen and I were lucky to grab HK$100 burgers at Art Central (I had two). After our long walk from Art Central to Art Basel, I wanted to find a place to eat and drink, but nothing decent. If McDonald’s were there I’m sure they would be packed.
At Art Central, this was packed

This was lunch, eating standing outside

8) What those VIP passes mean. When you get a VIP pass, you don’t have to pay entrance and you get to preview the shows before the masses enter. But beware, there are tons of VIPs in Hong Kong! That means every place is teeming with people. I can’t imagine how thick the crowds were when it opened to the public. But I saw the photos—the VIP days had better dressed people.

VIP Lounge, Art Basel HK

9) You will feel poor. You will see things you want but cannot afford. Not in your wildest dreams. Jeroen and I heard the price of a David Hockney painting—over US$1,000,000.

Yayoi Kusama

Yoshitomo Nara

Julian Opie

My favorite artist: Mr.

I love: Koji Tanada

10) You will feel overwhelmed. The sensory overload is too much you will feel like vomiting art after awhile. So pace yourself. Try not to take in everything in one day which we did because I got sick in Hong Kong.

Come inside

That’s not human. That is sculpture

So that’s my Art Basel experience. Thank you so much Alexandra Seno and Adeline Ooi for having us. Next time I know what to do.
To know more about Art Basel, click HERE.

Last night, SM Supermalls held a welcome party for Madrid Fusion delegates called SM Fiesta By The Bay.
But they could have also called it A Night of 20 Lechons or Pogi by the Bay.
From the SMX Convention Center, guests of the ongoing Madrid Fusion Manila were shuttled by calesas and jeepneys to SM By The Bay, where a native cocktail set-up was waiting for them.
Meanwhile, Jeroen and I left the house at 6 PM and arrived two hours later due to the monster traffic.
Luckily the weather was perfect and we were welcomed with a festive set-up using indigenous materials like rattan balls, wood trunks, flora and local fruits like lanzones and mangosteen.

We made our way through many food stations. I started with the shredded catfish salad with green mango

while Jeroen went for the deepfried catfish wrap

I’ve heard good things about Manam restaurant and tried their crispy pork in a shot glass of singing

They served smoke tanigue with herbed mayo

Orzo and spice tuyo salad with kesong puti

Jeroen said the fried chorizo balls were nice

I’m supposed to be on a diet, but imagine my excitement when I heard there were 20 different lechon stations all over the place.

We started with Pepita’s famous stuffed lechon (this one had salted egg and rice)

Jeroen and I spent some time standing in front of Elar’s Lechon and picking the skin (sorry!)

Lydia’s was there

Mila’s Lechon

Charlie’s fried partition served in soft tortilla wraps and special sauce

Cirkulo’s lechon de leche

Guests enjoyed music by Katribo Kolektib, percussionists from Pinikpikan, Maguindanao, and Katribu and a special presentation from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Kontra-GaPi, an ethnic music and dance ensemble, set the mood of the night.

Spotted: Cristalle Belo with a precious clutch

Chef Claude Tayag

Lali Hererra and Michaela Fenix

Chef Him Uy de Baron of Nomama

Jack de Mesa

and let’s not forget the beautiful AFAMs* that graced the event.

Madrid Fusion Manila is on this April 24 to 26 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, featuring Spain and Asia’s legendary chefs: Andoni Luis Aduriz, Elena Arzak, Quique Dacosta, Ramón Freixa, Francis Paniego, Paco Roncero, Mario Sandoval, Paco Torreblanca, André Chiang, and Alvin Leung.
The Philippines is represented by chefs Fernando Aracama, Margarita Forés, J Gamboa, José Luis “Chele” Gonzalez, Pepe Lopez, Rob Pengson, Bruce Ricketts, Myrna Dizon, Claude Tayag, and Juan Carlos de Terry.

In line with the festive culinary event, SM Supermalls holds a Gourmet Weekend Market from April 24 to 26 at SM Mall of Asia, where a premium selection of cheese, tapas, wine, ingredients, local finds and special bundles shall be made available in partnership with SM Markets (SM Supermarket and Hypermarket).
For a complete schedule of events at SM malls, visit SM Supermalls on Facebook or @smsupermalls on Instagram.
For more information, go to www.madridfusionmanila.com.

Special thanks to Candy Dizon for helping me take these pics

*a foreigner assigned in Manila

When I was younger, all I wanted to be was Lisa Bonet—before the dreads, the piercings, and Lenny Kravitz.
Now that I am older, I love Kerry Washington. There has to be an African American woman inside of me.
Like every time I watch Scandal, I really feel Olivia Pope, especially when Stevie Wonder is playing in the background.

Lisa Bonet/Kerry Washington

I’ve loved Stevie ever since I was a kid growing up in the ’70s, and I wouldn’t have known he was performing at Solaire in Manila, if not for Grace who told me about this.
But how to get tickets? I thought of my media contact at Solaire, before Grace reminded me we had connections: my dad is a friend of Enrique Razon.
I texted my dad for tickets, then a couple of days before the concert, I picked them up at my dad’s office.

Last Saturday night, Jeroen and I arrived at Solaire at 8:06 PM and found our seats at the balcony. At first I thought we had bad seats (not orchestra) until I saw Enrique Razon himself sitting in the same section, but at front row center. Right next to him were Korina Sanchez and Mar Roxas.
I looked around and wondered who are all these other people, aside from friends of Mr. Razon? I realized they were probably Solaire VIPs and high rollers.
I thought about how rich people are portrayed in Filipino movies and telenovelas: coñotic, Spanish-speaking in postura clothes. True enough there was a loud one in our section, name dropping. It was excruciating.
Then I heard the third richest man in the Philippines speaking to his friends—in straight Tagalog! He wasn’t wearing an Eddie Garcia suit, just a simple light blue shirt.

L-R: Eddie Garcia, Enrique Razon

The show started around 9 PM. Nobody told us to turn off our phones and nobody tapped us on the shoulder to stop recording the performance. We were treated like real guests. Plus there was no painful front act. I loved it.
Too bad there were a number of empty seats. What a waste for many of his fans who wanted to be there.
It had been 25 years since Stevie Wonder performed in Manila. Now here he was with a full band and five excellent backup singers. Blind since he was a baby, he walked to the stage alone—slowly in a straight line, then guided by white markers to the front of the stage, while playing this instrument.

For the next two hours, they played many of my favorite songs:
All In Love Is Fair
As
Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing
Isn’t She Lovely
Lately

My Cherie Amour
Overjoyed
Knocks Me Off My Feet

Ribbon In The Sky
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life

Stevie’s voice would crack at the beginning of each song and become perfect from the middle to the end.
He was wonderful and would ask the audience to sing some of the parts. I could see Martin Nievera in front of us singing to his heart’s content. He is my two brothers’ singing idol.

Then Stevie Wonder asked if there were real singers in the audience. Aiza Seguerra came onstage with two gutsy girls who should’ve stayed in their seats (sorry! ayaw ni Simon Cowell). Then Martin Nievera’s companions clamoured for him to go onstage. In fairness, Martin and Aiza did well.

Sometimes Stevie would tease the audience and stop in the middle of a song. Jeroen didn’t like it! It was sort of like this.

But it was a pretty long show, Mr. Razon got his money’s worth. Having heard hit after hit, I was satisfied and okay to leave after the last song. No need for an encore. Truthfully I was more scared of traffic going out. That said, it was so worth it. Thank you for having us.

The last song

The crowd dancing

When I was a kid growing up in the ’70s, one event changed my life forever.
My dad took us to a uncle’s house in Dasmariñas Village. It was the most beautiful house I had ever seen—big, modern, with huge garden. I even remember the music that was playing: “Do The Hustle” was the rage at that time and the adults were dancing on the verandah. That visit made me want to own a modern home which I was able to achieve with my husband in our 30s.

A few years ago, a blog reader emailed me asking for advice on what is a chuva-approved bathroom. So I met up with designer and exporter Rene Alcala and spent the day looking at bathroom fixtures and tiles.
Rene told me he was building a boutique hotel in Tagaytay in collaboration with Budji Layug and other known Filipino designers.
Last November 2014, Domicillo opened quietly but I only got to see it recently with my husband and kids. To me it felt like visiting the out-of-town James Bondish home of an eccentric uncle—modern, boxy, concrete, with many levels and much greenery. The feeling I had was similar to that experience I had in the ’70s. (Photos: JILSON SECKLER TIU)

A sitting area with Milo Naval furniture

My boys loved the place. I feel though that there are parts that are not kid-friendly and I have some reservations about the bathrooms, just because I have very particular bathroom preferences.
My boys and I left for Tokyo shortly, but because I feel it deserves a story, I asked my friend and writer Dinna Vasquez to stay for a couple of nights and tell us all about it.

Room with a view at Domicillo
By Dinna Vasquez

There are lots of places to stay in Tagaytay, but many of them do not offer an unobstructed view of Taal Volcano and the surrounding mountains from your room’s window or veranda.
That view is free, of course, but Domicillo gives you the luxury of waking up to a selfie-worthy view.

It’s not just the view that makes Domicillo special. It’s the combination of natural and man-made attractions that make you feel so relaxed you won’t even want to go out of the room to have breakfast.
Domicillo, built along the Tagaytay ridge, is an eight-room boutique hotel that is a design and architectural collaboration between its owner, designer and exporter Rene Alcala and the Budji + Royal architecture firm.

A graveled parking lot with a concrete wall leads to steps and a ramp going down to the hotel.
“This was supposed to be a two-bedroom hotel,” said Alcala. “But when we were building it, after the excavation, Budji told me, ‘This isn’t going to be a two-bedroom. There is space for more.’”

The bed and breakfast, as Alcala prefers to call it, is full of rough, unfinished surfaces—from the raw cement of the floors to the unvarnished wood of the furniture—which is Budji’s signature look.
Alcala made the most of the 1,000-square-meter lot to indulge in his love for plants. There are several varieties of bamboo, giant staghorn ferns, elephant ear taro and many others.

Domicillo used to be a lifestyle store at the Cliffhouse complex in Tagaytay so Alcala, an exporter and the man behind Manila Mirrors, is no stranger to what visitors are looking for when it comes to accommodations.
“Everybody wants a good view because that is one of the reasons why they come here.”
We stayed at Domicillo for two nights as Alcala’s guests in the Layug-designed Premier room with a lower lake view. The room is comfortable enough for two adults and a small child although honestly, the place is more for grown-ups wanting to get away from the city.

It is the perfect hotel for couples who are celebrating anniversaries or simply want to reconnect with each other without the kids and the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila.
Domicillo is also not a place for older people who have difficulty walking or going up and down the stairs.
The Premier rooms, for instance, are two floors below the lobby. But we heard some older balikbayan guests loved the bed and breakfast so much they didn’t care.

One couple reportedly didn’t leave the room for three days and ordered food to be brought inside.
We can imagine how they felt as the only times that we went out were for breakfast on our second day, a massage and dinner at the nearby Qi Wellness Living, and when we checked out on our last day. We simply ordered takeout from a fastfood outlet through the hotel’s landline and our orders were brought down to our room.

The Superior rooms with an upper lake view have beds designed by Milo Naval while the ones in the Deluxe rooms with a garden view were done by Tess Pasola.

The common areas and the guest rooms are full of mirrors designed by Alcala (they are for sale) and paintings by R.M. de Leon from his personal collection.
In this age of social media, the best way to describe the aesthetics is to say every nook and cranny of Domicillo is Instagram-worthy.

Room rates are inclusive of free minibar in all rooms, daily newspaper, breakfast for two at the hotel’s La Finca restaurant, organic amenities, and one-hour whole body massage for two for the Premier room, or 30-minute head or foot message for the Superior room.
The rooms offer free Wi-Fi and cable TV but because Domicillo is built on a steep terrain, signal problems are expected.
So most of the time, my daughter and I stayed in the room, read and talked. We didn’t watch a minute of television or spend hours on our mobile phones. We were just happy to enjoy each other’s company. Worth a visit!

Domicillo is at Km 58, General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Maharlika East, Tagaytay City.
For bookings and more information, call (046) 413 3552 or 0922 884 1532.
You can also like them on Facebook.

At my age (obviously) I’m not done buying cute stuff.
It started with Dick Bruna and Sanrio in the early ’70s, and while there have been so many others, none have made me feel as guilty than Rilakkuma or “relax bear.”

Designed by Aki Kondo and produced by San-X Japan in 2003, Rilakkuma depicts a lazy bear in relaxed mood—sort of like me.
My friend Mich is a diehard fan of Rilakkuma and can’t go to sleep with the one she calls “Porkchop.”

Recently I got invited to visit Happy Land at SM North Edsa, a store dedicated to Rilakkuma.
At first I was hesitant to go all the way to QC until the owner, Marivic Chua, assured me their company “is the only one recognized and authorized by SanX Japan to open stores in the Philippines for all licensed Rilakkuma products.”

Marivic’s company also holds the license for Hello Kitty apparel in the Philippines. She says it’s very easy to spot a real Rilakkuma from the fake ones.
“If you look at the eyes of authentic Rilakkuma, you will see that they are symmetrical and balanced. The big plush toys have beads in the hands so that owners can press on them when stressed.”

Marivic says there’s a huge difference in the materials used for the authentic plush toys and the fake ones. Authentic Rilakkuma plush toys are very soft to the touch.
“Some people ask why our items are expensive. I tell them to compare our items to the fake ones, which are cheaper. They may look the same from afar but the feel is different.”

Marivic sent me the giant cream bear on the right

Opened last August 2014, the store is not easy to find—at the 2nd floor of the main building of SM North Edsa.
The easiest way is to get dropped off at the Jollibee entrance on the first level and take an escalator to the second floor. Happy Land is not far from Booksale. Hopefully you won’t miss it with its clean interior design, following the look of San-X stores in Japan.
Here’s what we found: the canvas bags

Durable aluminum flasks that stay hot or cold for hours

Plates and bowls

Table ware

Drink holders

Calculators and phone chargers

Soap dispensers

Soft cases and pouches

Pens, pencils, erasers

Folding totes

Cute mirrors for your office desk

and so much more.

Check out my loot! (Total: Php 5,007)

Visit Happy Land at the 2nd level, main building, SM North Edsa, Quezon City.
For more information, like them on Facebook.

In 1999, Citibank approved my application for my first legit credit card, which changed my life forever.
Sixteen years later, it’s still one of my most used cards, mostly because of the credit limit and the rewards (hello, airmiles!).
Citibank was in fact the first credit card to launch a loyalty program via Citi Rewards—offering rewards points for fuel rebates, airmiles, shopping credits, and more.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary in the country, Citi Philippines rewards users through its My Unforgettable Story campaign, which gives Citi cardholders a chance to create memories in some of the world’s most unforgettable places.

The campaign was launched recently at the Fairmont Makati ballroom at an event hosted by Tessa Valdes.

Leading Citi credit cards’ 25th anniversary celebration was Citi Philippines CEO Batara Sianturi

Mr. Sianturi raised a toast to Citi credit cards on its 25th anniversary, joined by (L-R) MasterCard Senior Business Leader/Account Leader for Citibank Asia-Pacific Saleh Anam, Citi Credit Payment Products Director Dave Stoughton, Citi Consumer Business Manager Bea Tan, MasterCard Philippines Country Manager Poch Villa-Real, and Citi Head of Consumer Banking for ASEAN & India, Anand Selva.

Also there (L-R): MasterCard Philippines’s Rochelle Mayuga, Jo-Ann Camacho and Judith Dayrit with Citi Philippines’ Joanne Jacobe, Gretch Santos and Martha Aguila

How to join:
Promo is open to Citi cardholders from February 26 to August 31, 2015.
Each purchase equals one entry. NO MINIMUM SPEND!
What’s more, “To give all cardholders a chance to win, we’re awarding raffle entries for nearly every use of a Citi card: from using Citibank Online to charging with Citi PayLite, and even when you apply for a personal loan,” said David Stoughton, credit payments head at Citi Philippines.

A total of 15 winners will be chosen in three raffle draws with the following prizes:

• Gourmet food tour in Japan for two (five days, four nights, hotel accommodations, plus $500)
• Journey to self-discovery in Bali for two (four days, three nights, hotel accommodation, massage and yoga, palm reading and tour, plus $500)
• Scuba diving in Palau for two (eight days, seven nights, hotel accommodation)
• Tour of China for two (three days, two nights, hotel accommodation, plus $500)
• Tour of Egypt for two (five days, four nights)

• Honeymoon in Maldives for two (five days, four nights, hotel accommodation, romantic dinner)
• Island escapade in Thailand for two (four days, three nights, hotel accommodation, romantic dinner and massage for two)
• Hot air balloon date in Dubai for two (four days, three nights, hotel accommodation, desert safari, romantic dinner and hot air balloon)
• Wedding gown made by a top designer and feature in a bridal magazine
• Wedding proposal package worth Php 200,000

• Family ski adventure in Korea for four (five days, four night, hotel accommodation, ski lessons, and Seoul tour, and US$500)
• US theme park getaway for four in Orlando, Florida (four days, three nights with hotel accommodation)
• Mediterranean cruise (11-night Venice cruise for two)
• African safari for two (seven days, six night)
• Magical Northern Lights experience in Norway for two (eight days, seven nights, plus US$1000)

To know more about the promo, click HERE.

It’s not my thing to celebrate my birthday every year, but I’m getting old and I can afford to throw a party now. Sort of like my Dad; he celebrates every year. So maybe I get that from him.
I wasn’t supposed to celebrate this year. I was 50-50 on pushing through, but sort of last minute, I decided to go ahead and just do it.
But I didn’t want to spend as much as I did last year. That meant scaling down the party and inviting less people (sorry!!).
I didn’t have time to hire Saga Events, I just planned with three people: my friends Melvin Mojica, Yodel Pe, and Anthony Prudencio.
In planning a party, you start with a theme. I wanted to have airplane food, sort of like this.
I thought it would be fun to serve airplane food

So I ordered rush invitations online

I had a couple of meetings at Lusso with Anthony Prudencio to talk about the food.
It was supposed to be at Lusso, but I felt it would be be cramped, so we moved it to Whitespace instead (thank you for you kindness, Cris Villonco and staff).
The weather cooperated (no thunderstorm), though it was a bit warm inside the venue. They could add another aircon to the foyer.
From the outside, you could see the space was illuminated in KLM blue

And this is how it looked when guests arrived. There’s your inflight movie

What’s a party without the drama?

Melvin hired a wonderful DJ, Chie Castañeda, who was probably a kid in the ’80s, but totally gets the music mixed with Burt Bacharach and other retro tunes.

This was Melvin, me and Chie before the guests arrived. The outfit is from Dover Street Market Ginza

There’s the satellite bar

A pizza oven churned out freshly baked flat bread for arriving guests

This is the guy who paid for the party, hehe

First to arrive: Patty Betita, Jeroen van Straten, Joris Spanhoff, Gerome Vizmanos

Nikki Luna and Mikee Carrion

CJ Cruz, Rita Nazareno, Grace Velasco, Kevin Ching

Denise Peralta, Mikko Sison, Tata Montilla

Patrice Diaz, Patty Betita, Grace Velasco, Tina Tagle

CJ Cruz and JP Singson

Behind the scenes, Margarita Forés’s team was busy plating (that’s Anna Lopez and Anthony Prudencio)

And they’re good to go

With Margarita’s team, you get first class service

And dinner was served

Yodel Pe designed the logo. First course was dinner rolls, truffle pasta, and Caesar salad

Can’t help but Instagram it

Second course was surf and turf: pan-roasted sea bass in a box with Lusso’s Entrecote Bearnaise, Malagos goat cheese potato torte, and buttered rice

And for dessert there was creme brulee, caramel cupcake, lychee sorbet and customized Machiavelli chocolate in salted caramel

My siblings played pusoy dos

Penny Ong and Rita Nazareno had some catching up to do

To be honest, I was not prepared for the cake that appeared. This has to be Anthony’s idea

I wished that Manny Pacquiao would win…

Later that night, Fumio Onishi took over the DJ booth

While Ryan and Garovs Vergara milled outside

My people: CJ Cruz, Jujiin Samonte and JP Singson

The highlight of my evening had to be Jujiin’s Comme des Garçons Mexican cowboy boots

Thanks to all for a wonderful evening, including those who worked behind the scenes.

And thank you Anthony Prudencio and Luther Abcede for the photos

Remember that Cathay Pacific Noodle Bar you always look forward to at the Hong Kong International Airport?
It just opened in Manila, at NAIA Terminal 3.
What’s more, the newly opened Cathay Pacific Lounge was designed by Studioilse, the London-based design studio led by Ilse Crawford.

Studioilse-designed entrance to Cathay Pacific Lounge in Haneda

Located at Level 4 near Gate 114, the new lounge adopts the new Studioilse design template—with the cherry wood walls and limestone floor, using warm, natural materials like wood and stone to soften acoustics where possible.
The design also features details such as glazed screens, green ceramic tiles at The Noodle Bar, bronze highlights at the main entrance, and brass in the Bar.

Studioilse design template in Haneda with green ceramic tiles at The Noodle Bar

The Manila lounge measures 650 square meters—almost twice the size of the previous lounge at NAIA Terminal 1—with a seating capacity of approximately 135 seats.
The overall feeling is more like a living room than an airline lounge, with natural sunlight coming through the windows.
Designer furniture and lighting, bespoke chairs and side tables with in-built lamps and sockets offer a comfortable environment and understated luxury for First and Business Class passengers before boarding.
Three individual workstations offer the use of iMacs and printers, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the lounge.

Wish this guy came with the lounge

Finally, the dining area’s signature Noodle Bar will offer a selection of Asian noodles like dandan mien and wonton noodle soup, freshly prepared by a chef.

From the morning hours until 11 AM, an authentic Philippine breakfast will also be offered, and the Bar is where passengers can enjoy a wide selection of tapas, desserts, freshly blended cocktails and a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
PS. Is there Haagen-Dazs?
Makes me wonder what the bathrooms look like.
Now there’s another reason to fly Cathay Pacific.

The first Lego Certified Store opened yesterday at Park Triangle in Bonifacio Global City.
Its opening also marked the first time I would take all three sons to a media event. While Ben and Markus have outgrown their Legos and moved on to Minecraft, Christian is still very much interested in anything Lego.

Stormtroopers welcomed VIPs and media guests at the morning event. At 1 PM, the store opened to the public.
News about its opening traveled fast through social media.
This was how the store looked before the guests arrived.

Nice and spacious.

And this is how it looked pretty much for the rest of the day—on the outside

And inside

Insanity.
“I don’t understand, is there a special discount today?” I asked the people.
Nope. They were all lining up for personalized keychains, basically a Lego brick (Php 179) that can be engraved for an extra Php 100.

They are really cute, but I’ve had a chance to make them in Tokyo last year, so no need to line up for now.

Some folks were also lining up for the Php 50 Lego Spider-Man Glider sets—proceeds of which will benefit World Vision’s project of rebuilding classrooms in Malabon. I would’ve wanted to hoard, but only five pieces per customer.
LEGO will be selling 5,000 pieces of the Spider-Man Glider up to May 17, 2015.

We’ve had Lego sold in the Philippine stores for years but this is the first Lego Certified Store with exclusive collectors’ sets and product lines.
“A Lego Certified Store is a store that is designed by The Lego Group, and adheres to all the store fit-out and experience guidelines,” said Camilla Botke, RTM Senior Manager at Lego Group.
Camilla (L) welcomed guests at the opening with Mr. Jan Christensen, Denmark’s ambassador to the Philippines

Both carried commemorative Lego jeepney Legos in lucite boxes.

Among the store’s special features are: the Pick A Brick station that allows customers to buy LEGO elements (sold per 100 grams) that they might need to finish their own creations

Build A Mini lets you build your own mini figures by choosing headwear, head, torso, legs and tools/accessories—very limited selection though; subject to what’s available.

The Monthly Mini Build program is a hands-on event where kids ages 6-14 are invited to create simple, seasonal and exclusive LEGO Store mini builds—no purchase necessary.
And while everyone was going gaga over the personalized bricks, here’s what caught my eye: the Architecture series, featuring the Imperial Hotel (Tokyo, Japan), designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

and the Villa Savoye (Poissy, France) which looks like my future (flood-free) home

If I were a kid again, I would love to have this box

There are tons of Minecraft sets, which is amazing considering these used to be few and hard to find

Plus some really fun Simpsons sets, like the Kwik-E-Mart

and the hosue

Very pricey though. I wonder if they offer 0% interest?
The newly opened store is the most complete Lego store you will find in the Philippines—with Duplo for smaller kids; Lego Friends, Elves and Frozen for the girls; plus Star Wars, Ninjago, and Super Heroes for the boys.
Lego fans, don’t miss it.
The store is located at Park Triangle, 11th Avenue corner Rizal Drive Bonifacio Global City Taguig (beside Kidzania) open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM.

The boys are now 7, 12, and 13.
While Christian is still a kid—into Power Rangers and Lego—the older boys are growing up. They’re in that interesting stage where they still play Minecraft and NBA 2K15, but moving on from the kiddie stuff.
Markus doesn’t want to watch cartoons anymore and Ben is kind of deep; he appreciates subtitled films.
When we travel, we’ll hit amusement parks and toy stores, but I’ll also point out nice buildings, art, and furniture.

The boys discover Tadao Ando in Tokyo

Last night was movie night at home.
After watching lots of trailers on Apple TV, I found Tim Burton’s Big Eyes, which we rented on the spot.
But what’s a movie without a snack? We ordered McDonald’s chicken fillets and fries and had a picnic on the floor.

Big Eyes stars Amy Adams as Margaret Keane and Christoph Waltz as the husband, Walter Keane.

Having grown up in’70s, I have vague memories of paintings with big eyes that were kitschy and haunting at the same time.

Today, they are known to be works of Margaret Keane. But back in the day, at the height of their fame, someone else claimed to have painted them.
That person was Margaret’s husband Walter—a pretentious, delusional liar with the gift of gab and marketing.

Margaret was a single mom in the middle of a messy divorce when she met Walter Keane who was unsuccessful in selling paintings of generic Paris street scenes.

He convinced her to marry him when Margaret’s ex-husband threatened to take custody of her young daughter, whose big eyes inspired the paintings.

When Margaret and Walter started exhibiting together at a local bar, it was Margaret’s paintings that started to sell. That’s when Walter started to take credit for her paintings and sell them as his own.

It was his marketing and commercialization skills—producing mass-produced prints and postcards—that made them rich and Walter famous. All the while keeping the real painter secret to the world—even to her daughter.

The secret and lies start to eat her up.
It takes years of abuse before she finds courage to leave Walter and start a new life in Hawaii with her daughter.
She does a radio interview where she finally reveals the secret, which hits the papers and turns into a scandal.
What follows next is a court room circus that will put to rest who is the real artist among the two. Watch the trailer.

“So what did you learn from the movie?” I asked the boys while brushing our teeth.
“That it’s bad to lie,” said Ben.
“That stealing is karmic,” said Markus.
Indeed, Walter Keane died penniless and probably friendless in 2000, while Margaret remarried and still everyday.

Amy Adams with the real Margaret Keane

Plus, she has this great Tim Burton movie to tell her story.
http://bigeyesfilm.com

I’m writing this blog entry to remind me of tips when booking the next trip to Tokyo.
Last April, I booked our trip same time as the Diaz family, from April 12-18.
I should’ve checked the hotel rates first because I didn’t know it was cherry blossom season!
Hotels were bloody expensive!
Before booking your trip, check the cherry blossom calendar. All of Tokyo will have high hotel rates until it ends.

Right after cherry blossom season is Golden Week, which marks the week of the Emperor’s birthday. That means everyone’s on holiday and hotel rates are up.

Hotel rates normally drop after May 5. So next time, book your trip after May 5 because hotel rates are down by half price. That means you can stay in Japan longer!
Unfortunately I forgot to check all of that. Since I excitedly booked 6 tickets on Delta that had expensive rebooking fees, we had no choice but take the trip and pay high hotel rates.

The trip going was super smooth. We took the 9 AM flight on the upper deck of Delta. They kept the shades down the whole time, so I got to sleep.

The kids loved it. Also on the upper deck were two pilots in uniform on the passenger’s seats. At first I thought they were backup pilots in case there was a scary incident but it turns out they were returning home from training military pilots in the Philippines.

One thing the kids look forward to is having meal at the airport after arrival. This ensures nobody is hungry on the shuttle bus or upon reaching the hotel, so we can relax more.

Waiting for the shuttle bus to Tokyo. It’s Christian’s first time in Japan.

Cold.

Through my friend Char Vilchez of Agoda.com, I was able to book two connecting rooms at Park Hyatt in Shinjuku. Not bad.
The last time I stayed there was at a Gap event in 2009.
My first two choices were Peninsula Tokyo and Ritz-Carlton, but both were bloody expensive. I booked Park Hyatt because I remembered the bathroom.

This is what will greet you at the entrance

It looks like the head of Bacchus, god of wine. My kids found it creepy.

Park Hyatt is well known for being the backdrop of Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation.

This is the upper lobby, daytime

and nighttime

This restaurant was mostly deserted

This way to the reception area and the rooms

This was Jeroen’s and my room

Welcome chocolate

Mini bar

There was a nice walk-in closet, that was hard to photograph.
And here’s the bathroom, starting with the perfect bathtub on one end

Separate shower stall right next to it

TV to keep you company

The chuva-approved sink, with flat counter top and no protruding bowl

Separate high-tech Japanese toilet stall

Amenities

and most important, a makeup counter!!

The boys loved the super-fast internet.
Although the rooms were perfect, here’s why I will not go back to the Park Hyatt:
1) Location. There is nothing in Shinjuku for me. Nothing is walkable, unlike Ginza or Shibuya. There is a hotel shuttle to Shinkuju station, but nobody told us about it until the last day. Too bad because we could’ve saved some taxi fare!!
2) The nearest convenience stores are quite a walk away. That means if you’re really hungry, you have to settle for hotel food.
3) Hotel food is not good and so expensive. I would spend Php 4,000/meal for room service. No problem if the steak was even as good as Tsukiji‘s Php 4,000-peso steak, but it’s not.
There are food choices in the building’s basement but only Saboten was acceptable, which the kids got tired of on the second day.
P.S. There is a convenience store at the basement, but doesn’t have the takeaway dishes the kids like from the typical Japanese 7-11 or Family Mart.
So no more Park Hyatt for us. I think Shinjuku is best for business travelers, not families or shoppers.

(To be continued)

Thank you David Letterman for keeping me company while doing my homework late at night when I was in New York.
After 33 years in late night television, David Letterman is saying goodbye with three final broadcasts of the Late Show With David Letterman from May 20-22 at 11:45 PM.

The three-night event kicks off Wednesday, May 20 with a visit from Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, who first appeared with Letterman in Late Night on April 4, 1984.
This will be Hanks’ 60th total appearance with the host. Also, rock superstar Eddie Vedder will perform with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra.
Bill Murray, Letterman’s first guest on Late Night’s debut on Feb. 1, 1982, and his first guest on the Late Show’s August 30, 1993 premiere, makes his 44th overall and final appearance with the host on Thursday, May 21.

Bill Murray and David Letterman in 1982

These shows all lead up to Letterman’s final Late Show broadcast on Friday, May 22, 2015, which will be an hour of surprises, memorable highlights, the show’s final Top Ten List, and more.

Unlike our richer neighbors, Tokyo and Hong Kong, it isn’t very often that a huge celebrity like Robert De Niro will come to the Philippines. But since 2014, he has been to Manila twice. First to announce the opening of Nobu Hotel at City of Dreams Manila, and last Monday to officially open it.

On the ‘purple carpet’ were (L-R) Hollywood Film Producer and Nobu partner, Meir Teper, Melco Crown Entertainment Co-Chairman James Packer, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Melco Crown Entertainment Co-Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho, Mr. Robert De Niro, and Chief Executive of Nobu Hospitality Trevor Horwell.

Ribbon cutting was followed by a press conference

In the evening he was back again for a more formal event and gala dinner with VIPs and special guests from government and the private sector. Sam Oh worked the purple carpet

While Robby Carmona worked on everything else

Hip hop artist apl.de.ap was there to perform

Cousin Candy Dizon arrived

Then at 7 PM, Nobu Hotel formally opened to the beat of traditional drums and a shower of gold confetti.
The ceremonial breaking of the sake barrel lid was led by Chef Nobu and Robert DeNiro, who came with his wife Grace Hightower. Watch how it went:

The 321-room Nobu Hotel is one of three hotels in City of Dreams Manila, along with the Crown and Hyatt hotels.
Besides its luxury accommodations, the hotel also has Nobu Restaurant, which features the high-end Peruvian- Japanese-fusion cuisine of Chef Matsuhisa.
When the first Nobu Hotel opened in Ceasar’s Palace, Las Vegas in 2013, it was named one of CNN Travel’s hottest new hotels.
Aside from Manila, Nobu Hospitality is expected to open luxury hotels in Chicago, Bahrain, Miami, Riyadh, London and Los Cabos, Mexico.

http://www.nobuhotelmanila.com/

By Dinna Vasquez

Destination spas aren’t really common in the Philippines—probably because we’re spoiled. Massage at home is just a text away and it’s easy to enjoy an hour’s massage at the mall.
But Qiwellness Living, which is a 90-minute drive from Makati, might change your mind.

Located in Tagaytay, the place is a dining and wellness destination co-owned by Kenneth Tuason and Rita Sanson.
Aside from getting a massage, you can enjoy a view of Taal Volcano, or even spend the night there.

You can savor a nine-course Yin-Yang degustacion meal prepared by Chef Jeff Ramirez (who studied and trained in Australia) or order a la carte.

Kenneth says they chose Tagaytay because of its proximity to Metro Manila, the climate, the view of the mountains, lake and forest.
“There are very few restaurants that offer the dining experience that we offer, and even fewer destination spas in the Philippines. Most of them can be found in hotels and resorts. We want to take you to a different place and time over a meal or a massage,” explains Ken.

Kenneth said Qiwellness Living was inspired by Chinese teahouses.
“Traditionally, a Chinese teahouse is a place where one can meditate while sipping and enjoying their tea. Historically, these are situated overlooking mountains, lakes or forests,” he added.

Just like its next-door neighbor, Domicillo bed and breakfast, the marks of Budji Layug+Royal Pineda Design Architects are everywhere.
The façade is plain except for a red wooden door. The structure is made of concrete and stone, which blends with the surroundings.
Note that the three-story spa is not child-friendly—an active child could slip on the floor or the stairs.

The healing concept of Qiwellness Living is heavily influenced by traditional Chinese medicine.
We had Qiharmony, the spa’s signature massage which combines reflexology, acupressure and tui-na techniques on the head, neck, shoulders, hands, arms, feet, legs and back, by the yin-yang pool.
In case you are iffy about getting undressed, this treatment is done while you are fully clothed.

After that, we had tea at the al fresco area, where they also serve cocktails. It rained as we were about to start with the dinner so we moved to the dining hall for the degustacion dinner.

“In our ‘yin-yang’ cuisine, we prepare our dishes in a way where not one flavor overwhelms the other, but all coexist harmoniously. The balance in colors, textures, aromas, and flavors are all inspired by the yin and the yang,” said Kenneth.

The menu, which changes according to the season, costs Php 2,880+ (inclusive of VAT, plus 10% service charge). It must be ordered 48 hours in advance.
We started our spring menu with an eel dish, miso soup with mushroom and truffle oil, salmon gravlax with citrus pearls and cream cheese and a fermented tofu soufflé with a spring salad. We also had soba noodles with sea urchin cream, egg and crab.

The menu had three main courses: flank steak, duck confit a la Peking with pancakes and plum sauce, and lamb belly.
Dessert was something out of a fairy tale. Described as “guava + mango + lemon + edible flowers + herbs +soil,” it was actually an ice cream with crispy flowers and ground chocolate cookies representing the soil.
The cuisine is described as Franco-Asian fusion, cooked using East Asian ingredients and employing modern culinary techniques.

Ken admits their rates are higher than those of other restaurants and spas in Tagaytay.
“We’d like to think we are catering to a discerning market. But we also have guests that are young, even college students, who are intrigued and would like to experience dining and massages for special occasions.”

For rates and more information, go to http://qiwellnessliving.ph/home.

TOMS, the global lifestyle brand which provides shoes, eyeglasses, and clean water to the needy through the sales of its One for One® Shoes, eyewear, coffee and bags, has partnered with Every Mother Counts through the production of a limited edition collection featuring a backpack and tote bag.

TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie with Christy Turlington Burns

Every Mother Counts is a nonprofit organization founded by global health advocate Christy Turlington Burns. The group is dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, regardless of origin, location, financial standing or life status.
With every bag or laptop case you purchase, TOMS will help provide safe birth for a mother and baby in need, One for One®. Additionally, with each purchase, $5 will go to support Every Mother Counts’ global advocacy efforts to improve the future of maternal health.

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need: One for One®.
Realizing that One for One could serve other global needs, Blake launched TOMS Eyewear in 2011 to help restore sight to persons in need with every purchase of sunglasses and optical frames.
In 2014, TOMS Roasting Co. launched with the mission to provide clean water to developing communities with the purchase of premium coffee.
To date, TOMS has given over 35 million new pairs of shoes, restored the sight of about 275,000 people and has provided over 67,000 weeks of safe water worldwide.
In the Philippines, TOMS products are available at TOMS Megamall, TOMS Mall of Asia, TOMS SM Aura, Adora at Greenbelt 5, Rustan’s Department Stores, and Nothing But H2O stores.

Is Picosure the fountain of youth?
You know something/someone is hot when everybody talks about it, and in terms of beauty treatments, everyone is talking about Picosure, described as the world’s fastest laser treatment.

Dr. Hayden Kho, Dr. Vicki Belo, and Picosure’s Michael Byers at the Picosure media event

Michael Byers, clinical research director of Picosure maker Cynosure, explains it is a non-surgical laser skin treatment for “those seeking a more youthful appearance.”
It can get rid of or minimize wrinkles, melasma or hyperpigmentation, birthmarks, pigmented lesions and freckles on the chest, face, hands and other parts of the body in less time than any other treatment. It also addresses sagging skin. Picosure is so powerful it can even erase tattoos.
“Picosure can also turn a woman’s areola from brown to pink,” says Dr. Vicki Belo, whose Belo Medical Group is introducing the treatment to the Philippines.

The treatment is called Picosure because it operates in picoseconds unlike the conventional nanosecond laser machines. The patented Pressure Wave technology uses light pulses instead of heat so the surrounding skin of the area being treated is not damaged. Pressure Wave breaks down skin pigmentation and induces collagen production for skin rejuvenation and improvement of scars.
Focus Lense concentrates light pulses in targeted areas in the face and neck. To remove tattoos, Picosure breaks down the pigments into sand-like property so it is easier to remove from the body.

During the event at Greenbelt Residences to introduce Picosure sure to members of the media and other special guests, Belo Medical Group received the World Picosure Award 2015 for having the highest number of Picosure treatments done in a month for the single machine. In February, 200 patients availed of Picosure at Belo Medical Group clinics.
The Picosure treatment only takes minutes per area (five minutes for acne scars) without any downtime. Your face won’t be swollen although some people will experience a bit of redness.

Actress Lovi Poe at the Picosure media event

“To be 45 and to look beautiful is a challenge,” says Alice Dixon, Belo’s model for Picosure. She wanted to improve the appearance of her neck, a problem that Vicki Belo calls “turtleneck.”
Byers says a Picosure machine costs $350,000 so the treatment is way more expensive than Revlite, which is also very popular at Belo. Revlite is a fast and very effective procedure that erases skin pigmentation like sun spots, freckles, dark spots and the like. It also reduces the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores.
Watch this:

For more information about Picosure, go to www.belomed.com.

Just when I thought fashion was getting boring, I stumble upon Vetements, a fairly new label formed by a group of seven designers trained at different schools (Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Die Angewandte in Vienna, Studio Berçot in Paris) and all worked at Maison Martin Margiela at some point.
No wonder they embrace the idea of anonymity and prefer to be known for the work rather than celebrity.
Marks of Margiela are found all over tailored pieces based on the trench coat, oversized jackets, and exaggerated sleeves.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a collection as magical as this. It makes the current Margiela look so dull.
I want them all.

http://vetementswebsite.com/

When Uniqlo first opened at SM Mall of Asia last April 2012, I was both surprised and amused with all the collaborations being offered—everything from Hello Kitty to Yakult.

So it came as no surprise to me when I learned about Uniqlo’s special collaboration with Philippine fastfood giant Jollibee. In fact the idea makes me giddy with excitement, being a fan of both Jollibee and Uniqlo.
Starting June 1st, 2015, Uniqlo will sell T-shirts with the famous Jollibee logo. This was announced at a press conference at Uniqlo Megamall last Thursday.

Jollibee drops in at the press conference with Uniqlo’s Masayaki Nakamura and Katsumi Kubota, and Jollibee’s Joseph Tanbuntiong and Harvey Ong

“Jollibee and UNIQLO share the same goal of providing a valued offering to every Filipino family. Our partnership with Jollibee will bring us closer to every member of the Filipino family as UNIQLO offers clothes for everyone,” said Katsumi Kubota, CEO of Fast Retailing Philippines, Inc.

Mr. Kubota looks Japanice in Jollibee x Uniqlo tee and blazer

Uniqlo took the lead in the design and production processes. Taking the iconing Jollibee mascot, Uniqlo’s Japanese designer tweaked it to give it a classic, vintage, heritage look with the intentionally faded print.
Here’s what you can expect on June 1st:

The limited-edition T-shirts will sell for Php 390 for adults (men and women) and Php 290 for children. Aside from the Philippines, they will be sold in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

“We have a lot to learn from Jollibee,” said Mr. Kubota. “It is a brand that makes people, from children to grandparents, happy. This is a great opportunity for Uniqlo. I am very honored.”

http://www.uniqlo.com/ph/

As a lifestyle blogger, I get free makeup all the time. I can’t tell you how much beauty stuff I get, and I don’t have to buy mascara again for the next five years.
So far, the only homegrown cosmetic brand that is chuva-approved is Happy Skin. Their lip crayons are what I use everyday (sorry I can’t say “lippie”. I feel like the word doesn’t suit my age group, sort of like the word “epic”).

Aside from like the actual products, I’m amazed at how Happy Skin always comes up with exciting packaging, the latest of which is Happy Skin’s collaboration with Preview magazine.
To celebrate Preview’s 20th anniversary, Happy Skin has created two moisturizing matte lipsticks presented in a gorgeous little book/box.

“Lipstick is the most indispensible of all makeup products,” said Preview Editor in Chief, Pauline Juan.
“If there was just one thing in the Happy Skin line that I could pick, it would be the lippie. I think that one is really the most winning product.”
But Pauline says they were very particular about the matte formulation. “The worst thing you can have are matte lips with flaking,” she said.

Happy Skin’s Rissa Trillo agrees wholeheartedly.
“We were relentless in finding the perfect balance between matte finish and moisture level, without compromising color payoff and lip hydration,” she said.
The secret was found in the miracle ingredient, Cupuaçu Butter, “which offers unrivaled hydration, making it the most moisturizing matte lippie you’ll ever try,” said Happy Skin’s Jacque Gutierrez.

The limited edition Preview x Happy Skin lip crayons are available at Php 599 each, or Php 1,099 for a set of two.
Hot Stuff is a very deep, sophisticated shade of red, while my personal favorite is the nude-based Too Cool lipstick.
From June 1-7 only, the set will be sold at zalora.com.ph for a special price of Php 999.
But you can also buy Happy Skin at Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Plaza; Beauty Bar; Plains & Prints; The SM Store Makati, Mall of Asia, and North Edsa; Watsons Mall of Asia; Landmark Makati, or at http://store.happyskincosmetics.com/index.php.