one frozen margarita

Aisa in Cebu

2012-02-02T22:00:00.000+08:00

Aisa of Drowning Equilibriums and mich were here in Cebu last December for the holidays. The first time we met was in 2010, still for the holidays. she's easily one of my favorite girls and i love having here. Chyrel, Rabsin and Marco joined us, too. It was a short night but it was full of laughter and new friendships, short jeepney ride, mochi ice cream and warm brownie cups. See you soon Aisa and Mich! <3

Missing Miss JC

2012-02-02T00:25:00.000+08:00

i missss you, michelle phan de sal.

thank you for being such a good friend.

it's just not the same without you.

i love you.

blue.

2012-01-30T00:00:00.004+08:00

happy birthday! -__-

HIS GIRL FRIDAY

2012-01-21T05:14:00.005+08:00

friday means a lot of running around and going up and down the stairs. dont ask me why. thank you, boss for SHORTS (or lingerie) DAY! and i have been wearing a looot of flats these days after falling off the stairs for the third time. in heels. so now im rekindling my love for white sneakers and i dont care if they do look like kung-fu shoes (yes, cohni, i have not forgotten). ^^

and look what i got in the mail! Gold Dot's Ria Cuff! They're sooo purrty! and coincidentally, the anchor brooch is from Gold Dot, as well. One of the small, pretty pretty things I got from them Gold Dot girls during Blogger's United 2 last December. and thank you, Rachel for the clutches. lurve them soooo much! <3

Have a great weekend, everyone!

and Gong Xi Fa Cai!

ill be working, beaching and flying!

bisous.

With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there!

2012-01-19T02:46:00.001+08:00

because there's just no other way to dress for Sinulog. ~~i kid, i kid..~~ ^_^V

SINULOG 2012!

2012-01-17T13:35:00.002+08:00

peeeeaccceeee

EPIC NIGHT.

some found love.

some had a little too much to drink.

someone took home a bottle of jack daniels (that he did not pay for).

someone fell on her butt.

and someone unleashed the jaguar in her.

it is indeed 2012. *winks*

fortunately, no stilettos were harmed in this revelry.

VIVA!

2012-01-15T04:59:00.002+08:00

beautiful city. even more beautiful people.

see you in the streets, everyone!

VIVA PIT SENYOR!

sinulog 2012!

Airplanes take you away again Are you flying above where we live?

2012-01-14T03:28:00.002+08:00

smile naman dyan, mga koyah...

TGIS - tawng gagmay isuds sako.

'RAP SA KALIWAAAA, RAP!

only two hours of sleep. oh, to be a worker ant!

ladies who lunch

2012-01-12T03:13:00.000+08:00

So here's to the girls on the go--

Everybody tries.

Look into their eyes,
And you'll see what they know:

Everybody dies.

A toast to that invincible bunch,
The dinosaurs surviving the crunch.
Let's hear it for the ladies who lunch--
Everybody rise!

Photography/ Art Direction: Allan Benolerao

Styling: Vanessa East (me)

Makeup: Issa Summers

Clothes: TOPSHOP

Accesories: Gold Dot / F21 / Topshop

if you haven't yet, grab your wallets and head to a TOPSHOP near you for their end-of-season SALE and you might just get some of the items above at half the price! ^^

Alabang Ayala
Topshop, 2nd Level, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Alabang,
Muntinlupa City, 1770 Manila, Philippines

Bonifacio
Topshop, Unit 1g06, Quadrant 7, Bonifacio High Street,
Bonifacio City Center, Taguig City, 1634 Bonifacio, Philippines

Cebu
Topshop, Level 1, Ayala Center Cebu,
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu, Philippines
Ermita
Topshop, Robinsons Place Ermita (midtown),
Pedro Gil Corner Adriatico St., Ermita, 1000 Manila, Philippines

Robinson's Galleria
Topshop, Level 2, Robinsons Galleria Mall,
Edsa Cor. Ortigas Ave, Quezon City, 1110 Manila, Philippines
006326352853

Greenbelt
Topshop, Level 1, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center,
Makati City, 1228 Manila, Philippines
(632) 756-1542

Mall of Asia
Topshop, 2nd Floor Of Main Mall, Sm Mall Of Asia,
Sm Central Business Park, Bay City, Manila, Philippines

SM Podium
Topshop, Level 3, The Podium, 18 Adb Avenue,
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, 1550 Manila, Philippines
tbc

Power Plant
Topshop, Level 2, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center,
Makati City, Manila, Philippines

Shangri-la Mall
Topshop, 2nd Level, Rustan's Shangri-la Plaza Mall,
Edsa Cor. Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City, 1550 Manila, Philippines
0063254366327424

Trinoma Robinson's
Topshop, Level M3, Trinoma Mall , Triangle North Of Makati,
Edsa Corner North Ave, Quezon City, 1105 Manila, Philippines
(632) 901-3661

the lovers, the dreamers and me...

2012-01-11T01:54:00.002+08:00

at ease, mga koyah.. at ease..

since it's 2012, i will try to:

1. button my shirt all the way up

2. wear pants more often

3. comb my hair or tie it in a bun

4. wear more colors and forget my "crying lady" days when all i wore was black, black and more black.

5. wear sneakers. white sneakers.

6. do numbers 1 - 5 in one go. Godblessmysoul.

let's see how far into the year i can go without pulling my hair in frustration.

and i have "instructed" my not-so-litol litol cousin to start blogging on blogger because tumblr confuses me. so give her some lovin' here. ^^

four more days and it's SINULOG 2012! can you hear the beat of the drums yet, Cebu? ^^

#itsMoreFunInThePhilippines!

sheer top - from my sister, pants - terranova, sneakers - keds, blazer - mastina, clutch - from rachelle ^^

photos by the great little lulu

HELLO, GOODBYE.

2012-01-09T00:44:00.005+08:00

Hosts Eden V in Yves Identity and Marc

sooo adorable this boy oi

i loooove this girl

gillian and chyrel. you dont really wanna piss these girls off, do you?

i lurve yer bag and shoes, tonitons!

we bloggers don't talk. we just take photos of EVERYTHING.

hello, miss uang!

chyrel - half of THE gomez sisters. we missed you, liezyl!

shoeporn.

wow, dred, wow!

THE jerrick macasocol!

my not-so-litol litol cousin

because i was a hermit last Christmas and i do not have a single photo by the Xmas tree ^^

murderer!

nagda-diet pohwzzz ako.. RICE DIET.

you want one, rabsin?

2011 was bittersweet, 2012 is starting with huge changes in my life and it's scaring the hell out of me. first changes? you'd be seeing more of me in pants and this blog would slowly metamorphosed into a food blog. ^^

Saturday. lunch with the cousins and the uncles and aunts and I met up with ms. uang (sorry i kept you waiting. love, ms v) to join the other girls to support Eden and some of our friends for MAZE'S TEEN MODEL SEARCH. It was fun seeing the other girls and jerrick. so we ate a little and took pictures a lot. Thank you Maze for having us and Congratulations to the winners!

blazer - FCUK, pants - H&M, top - promod, clutch - oxygen, earrings - forever 21, shoes - aldo

DOLLFACE COSMETICS PERSONAL MAKEUP WORKSHOP

2012-01-06T03:48:00.001+08:00

alexa

issa

janah and i

noe and lex

janah and pearl

One of the resolutions i made this year is for me to learn how to put on make-up without any help from friends who dutifully groom my eyebrows and put false eyelashes if need be. it's not that i hate make-up, i do have a shameless amount of loot lurking somewhere, i just do not have the patience to spend time in front of the mirror. i wish i were the type of girl who could not get out of the house not made up - i do go to work without a hint of make-up and unkempt hair much to the chagrin of my father. but i digress..

A couple of months back, I got a chance to work with Janah, Noe and Pearl. Alexa, Issa and I styled ourselves for Dollface's Back to School Collaboration. These girls are amazing! We were just talking all the time and voila! Janah did a pretty good considering I only had a few hours of sleep. She will always be my favorite make-up artist and i will sorely miss her as she is leaving for the States in a couple of days. Janz, if you're reading this - ILL SEE YOU ON THE FLIP SIDE! <3

So, to start the year right! join me and some of the bloggers this Sunday at DOLLED UP MAKE-UP studio and supply and learn the basics of skin care, make-up101, which brush to use for what AND no-youre-not-much-of-a-faghag if you don't know how to put false eyelashes on. while driving. See all of you, Cebuanas and do check out these girls sites! bisous xx

janah:

website: www.maricarljanah.com

facebook: www.facebook.com/makeupbyjanz

YouTube: www.youtube.com/makeupbyjanz

noe:

website: www.colorismyweapon.blogspot.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/COLORismyweapon

Dollface Cosmetics:

website: www.dollfacecosmetics.com.ph

facebook: www.facebook.com/dollfacecosmeticsphils

photos: grabbed from Noe's site and Alexa-Clare Tan

mother superior jump the gun...

2012-01-05T01:56:00.002+08:00

why is it sooo much easier to write when you're all down and soppy but sooo hard to do the same thing when everything is just, well, right. as a child, i was almost always with people way way older than me i never learned how to play any games. i was always thinking. maybe figuring out what they were really trying to say and also learning three Philippine languages on the side. i was encouraged to speak my mind which eventually almost always get me in trouble up to this day. i was a queer child. and an even queerer adult as my friend pointed out to me today. hanging out alone at dirty fire exits is her definition of being queer. in my defense, i have the best view of the casino and i make up stories in my mind how many millions are wasted away each day by gamblers. Sometimes, i count the cars that pass by in a minute. :()

and on a lighter note, i have been looking for other ways to inject this leather vest into my daily wardrobe. ~~Company Dress Code be damned~~. Any suggestions, dear readers? And in case youre wondering, YES, this thing weighs a loooooot! i swear i lose 5 pounds everytime i wear this. which is everyday since i got it last week when aisa was here. more on that later though.

So queer or not, which is really the least of my problems, here's wishing you all get whatever your hearts desire for 2012!

love,

v

SIARGAO ISLAND PHOTO DIARY

2012-01-02T12:41:00.002+08:00

sea , sand surf, sunsets, and a week with the sweetest summer sister.

JAKARTA, INDONESIA PHOTO DIARY part 1

2011-12-31T14:31:00.004+08:00

vespas, traffic jam, dutch architecture, grand indonesia, cheeky taxi drivers, christian bautista on the same flight, Pilots turned personal drivers, red roof tiles, bacchanalia, beautiful expats and even more beautiful locals, SALES SALES and more SALES, bintang, gudang garam, nasi goreng and brothers from other mothers.

indonesia was a feast to the eyes, a shock to the senses. a puppy kind of love. the one that would alternately make you smile and blush. Indonesia IS love.

I've got whozits and whatzits galore...

2011-12-27T03:42:00.001+08:00

i remember ava tagging me a loooong time ago in a post where she round up 10 things she love. sorry, Ava, it toooook me forever but here goes ^^:

1. a. Marc Jacobs DAISY parfum . an all-time fave simply because it was named after me, my mom, and my little sister. i kid, i kid. b. ACCESORIZE sunglasses - perfect shape for my small face. part of the loot from Bloggers United 2. yay! :() 3. knit sweater i can just throw anytime. because.the.weather.is.bipolar.

2. what's inside my bag ANY GIVEN DAY. a. pink skull candy earphones ~~because im cool like that~~ to drown out the noise when i don't feel like mmm talking. :() b. REVOLUTIONARY ROAD from eden. thanks, love. a must-read btw.

3. wire keychain from Anagon of the Fashionista Commuter who makes the cutest things! and stuff elephant from Accesorize. Alexa has one, too! Accesorize gave away cute thingamajigs to those who were wearing/ using anything from Accesorize that day. good thing lex and i had Accesorize bracelets on. Thanks, Accesorize! and thank you, Ana! ^^

4. a. my eco-bag of the moment from Treston Int'l. College where Bloggers United 2 was held. I love how it's not too big but i can still stuff a loooot of things inside. b. Accesorize sunglasses.

5-6. a. Boots i got from Laureen Uy of Break My Style during Bloggers United 2. They're 2 sizes too big but theyre the comfiest thing so, yay! b. friendship bracelet i was supposed to give to a friend but i didn't get a chance to. the HOPE charm came from a bracelet i got from Rustans years ago.

7. a. LEVIS' Go Forth armband from the adorable Jeff Songco of Thinline Advertising. Thank you, jeff! b. the butterflies on my MNG blue blazer which i also got from one of the bloggers in BU2. everything was a blur that day that i totally forgot who i got it from but thank you, babe. ahlavet!

8. glittery nail polish from the faceshop. 'nuff said.

9. neck chervaler from parfois. i seriously dont know what you call this thingy. it can be used as a tiara, too!

10. boots from Hush Puppies for rainy days and for kicking ass.

11. my love. Alexander Wang Kori off the chain boot. haba lang ng name.

12. annnnd Mojitos from Maya for nights with the girls and friends.

so, now im tagging Eden, Janah, Alexa, Marco and Rabsin, Sweet, chyrel, liezyl, gizelle, dred, toni, gillian, alyssallure and Mac. ang walang ganito, mamalasin sa 2012. hala!

Angels of the Morning

2011-12-26T06:00:00.006+08:00

i see no reason to take me home

i'm old enough to face the dawn...

Photography/ Art Direction: Allan Benolerao

Styling: Vanessa East

Makeup: Issa Summers

clothes and accesories - TOPSHOP, shoes - stylist's own

HOUSE HUSBAND: Ikaw Na! Cebu Presscon

2011-12-25T03:02:00.001+08:00

I woke up Sunday morning to Melai of Style and Soul's tweet to us Cebu Bloggers asking us if we could make it to some event on the 21st. and not being a morning person, i drifted back to sleep and only realized a few hours after that it's for a presscon for My Househusband. OCTOArts Film's official entry to this year's Metro Manila Film Festival.

Fast forward to the 21st and i found myself sitting a few meters from my mother's ultimate crush, Ryan Agoncillo. And it took a lot of self-restraint for me not to shriek like a schoolgirl the whole time. Now i understand why my mother wanted him for a son-in-law. oh, the dreams mothers dream for their daughters. ^^ And it was just fitting that I asked Ryan to write my mom's name instead of mine. now, i don't need to get her a present ha ha!

I was not really in a festive mood so i decided to wear colors and it's a good thing my girls, eden and mac, were thinking the same way. It was so much fun having all the other Cebu bloggers that I dont get to see as much. So, it looks like I will be lining up for the first time for an MMFF movie. And I know that this movie won't disappoint.

"Among all the entries in this year's MMFF, the subject matter of "My Househusband: Ikaw Na!" is most timely about a married couple who has a non-traditional set up in which the husband takes care of the kids and in manning the house while the wife looks after putting food on the table . Along the way, situations arise that test the arrangement and their circumstance and in this film, we show the hilarious side of it." - Direk Jose Javier Reyes

"MY HOUSEHUSBAND: Ikaw Na!" is OctoArts Films' entry to the 2011 MMFF. It opens on Christmas Day.

photos: philip lapinid and hazel pax

top - topshop, blazer - thrifted, skirt and shoes - forever21

who said nights were for sleep?

2011-12-23T04:03:00.002+08:00

chost. ^^

bonngang bonggang production number!

Eden and I were invited by WIPRO to choose the Best Dressed of the Night for their annual Christmas Party.

and i just had to wear this sheer number which turned out to be a bad baaad idea since Eden and I had to go on stage to present the award. it felt like all eyes were on my butt. seriously.

the bodysuit i had underneath is by one of the most promising young designers in Cebu, Jerrick Macasocol, do check out his work here and be mesmerized. <3

and the earrings are by my friend Rana's bestfriend, Farah Abu. She's one of those girls who can practically do EVERYTHING. One of those creatures gifted with coordination and good spirits. I tend to play favorites when it comes to accessories and my wardrobe these days revolve around these beauties. check Farah's masterpieces here.

and thank you, WIPRO for having us. you threw the best Christmas Party by far. <3

HELP CDO/ ILIGAN UPDATE: For those who are in IT PARK, TGU TOWER needs more volunteers to sort and repack the relief goods. You can just go there anytime from 9AM to 12 MN. And thank you to everyone who went out of their way to help. <3

dress - thrifted, body suit - KUTUR by jerrick macasocol, earrings - Farah Abu Accessories, shoes - linea italia, jacket - AMISU

TAGAYTAY + CAVITE PHOTO DIARY

2011-12-21T18:00:00.003+08:00

sorry, boys! haha

chicken patatim at balinsasayao restaurant

thank you, lance cua for the feast :()

BALINSASAYAW RESTAURANT, Silang, Cavite

wirekeychain from anagon and accesorize stuffed elephant keychain from bloggers united :() thanks ana!

thank you, mafiosos for showing us around.

<3, v

photos: kev bandivas and eden v.

blazer - MNG, top - topman, shorts - terranova, clutch - oxygen, necklace - ally of golddot

HELP ILIGAN and CDO

2011-12-21T02:53:00.000+08:00

because i still find it very hard to articulate the pain of losing a very good friend and her babies, her husband and her sister to Sendong, i leave you one of my favorite photos of my cousins and my hometown, Iligan City - the City of Majestic Waterfalls.

a little help would really go a long way. there are still thousands who are displaced with nothing to wear and to eat. you may drop your donations at any LBC outlets near you.

7-Eleven is accepting cash donations for the victims of Typhoon Sendong. No service fees

will be deducted and donors will be provided an official receipt. And 7-11 is donating P10 for every new like, up to 1 Million Pesos. You can help by liking their page here, and hitting the 'share' button.

and you may also send your cash donations to:

Account Name: ASSOCIATION of IIT ALUMNI FOUNDATION INC.

Bank: BDO Quezon Avenue Branch, Iligan City

PESO ACCOUNT NO.: 003120169026

DOLLAR ACCOUNT NO.: 103120166574

Scan copy of your deposit slip and send to Sir Darwin Manubag for Accounting and they can acknowledge the donors - jcdarwinm@yahoo.com

and thank you to all my blogger friends and to everyone who have gone out of their way to help. <3

christmas came early :()

2011-12-14T17:37:00.001+08:00

meet adorable mr.wang. how i scored them for 96 pesos (about 2 dollars) is still beyond me.

and i cut 7 inches off my hair. ;()

so what early christmas presents are you getting, lovelies?

♥, v

shoes - alexander wang, bag, top - thrifted, necklace - golddot, ring - MNG, bracelet / earrings - accesorize, belt - promod

Oh, can't anybody see, We've got a war to fight...

2011-12-07T03:02:00.001+08:00

dominic sy working his magic on cass yu

doing what i do best :()

fyeahitshazelpax!

the stylist, marlon wafer of wafer models, ang plantsadora, the muk-ap artist ♥

happiness

the food i didnt get to enjoy cause i had to bounce early :(

my father once asked me what exactly do i get from blogging and
putting myself out there for the whole
world to see and sometimes, to pick on.
and i could only think of three things.
meeting kindred souls who share the same passion as i do.
doing what i do best and actually enjoy it.
and being true to myself.

i come from a family of engineers and teachers and nurses and accountants and not
doing the usual route was never easy.

so, papa, if you're reading this, i am happy with what im doing now and no, i won't
quit my day job. not just yet. :()

(assisting eden style for Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa's villas ad campaign)

top - topshop, pants - terranova, bag - thrifted, necklace - SM accesories loaned from eden

photos: hazel pax

Don't know why you're so blue?

2011-12-05T21:18:00.002+08:00

i'm back in gloomy cebu from a weekend of fun and pure decadence.

my room is in chaos. i will be spending the rest of the week sorting my clothes and my emotions.

the Bloggers United 2 was everything and more that me and the rest of the cebu girls had expected.

thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to say HI and to shop. :()

and thank you to all the kindred spirits i finally got the chance to meet.

top - armani exchange, shorts - morgan de toi, belt - topshop

neon + leopard | FOREVER 21 Cebu

2011-12-02T02:25:00.008+08:00

the only time that you could drag me out of bed at ungodly hours in the morning would be during a Pacquiao fight. i have monetized from all of them Pacquiao fights that nobody wanted to bet against me in the last bout. but i digress.

i am probably the grumpiest person in the morning that i refuse to work or even go to meetings early in the morning and apparently only very good friends have the power to make me leave my bed. So, Eden, Carl and I were among the first to hit the newly-opened Forever 21 at SM Northwing Cebu. We got goodie bags from Procter and Gamble. yay!

It was sooo sweet seeing girls with their friends looking at every item with such passion and curiosity. But the crowd was just too much for me. after an hour, i only got a necklace not that there was a dearth for nice stuff but because i am just not wired to be around too many people when shopping. i may have to wait for a couple more weeks when the hype dies down and i can finally shop in peace thankyouverymuch.

but nevertheless, CONGRATULATIONS Forever 21 Cebu and to my girl, gayle!

and here's a photo of me and the adorable issa mendezona. thank you for reading my blog, guapa. *blush blush* ♥, margarita

top - thrifted, blazer - moda alba collezione, shorts - topshop, shoes - F21

photos: eden villarba

python print | Pearls and Diamonds Collection | Bloggers United 2

2011-12-01T02:20:00.000+08:00

alexa invited me to join her at the unveiling of Metro Gaisano's Pearls and Diamonds Collection with Liz Uy last week. I have always liked pearls but had been told to stop wearing pearls until i get married. :() and diamonds? well, im a girl and you know what they say about girls and diamonds. it was a fun night and i'd have gone home with Liz's shoes had they been in my size.

AAAAAAAANNNNNNNNDDD I know i am soooo behind with this but i will see all of you at the BLOGGERS UNITED 2 this weekend. Alexa, Eden, Dred, Gillian and Gizelle will be there, too and you won't believe the number of email | tweets and SMS exchanges that had been flying around. We are all looking forward to meet all of you. Thank you with all of my heart, aisa, anna and melai. ♥

Bloggers United is in partnership with:

Multiply Philippines (http://multiply.com/)

GMA Kapuso Foundation (http://www.kapusofoundation.com/)

Treston International College (http://www.treston.edu.ph/)

Event is co-presented by:

Nikon (http://www.nikon.com/)

Primadonna

Accessorize (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessorize-Philippines/83267796457)

Audioline (http://www.audiolineph.com/)

For Me (http://www.forme.com.ph/)

Regatta (http://www.regatta.com.ph/)

Columbia Digital (http://www.columbiadigital.net/)

ETC (http://www.etc.com.ph/)

Meg Magazine (http://www.meggurl.com/)

When in Manila (http://www.wheninmanila.com/)

Gadgets Magazine (http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/)

In cooperation with:

Bankard (http://www.bankard.com/)

Lorys (http://www.facebook.com/loryshaircream)

Nina Ricci (http://www.nina-parfum.com)

Kotex (http://www.kotex.com.ph/)

Tomato (http://www.tomato.ph/)

Nail It! (http://www.nail-it-salon.com/)

Manels (http://www.manels.com/)

Ferretti (http://ferrettishoes.com/)

Giordano (http://www.giordano.com.ph/)

Lapdance (www.lapdancebags.com)

Unionbank (http://www.unionbankph.com/)

Xend Business Solutions (http://www.xend.com.ph/)

Special thanks to:

Posh Nails (http://poshnails.com.ph/)

Rio Mints (http://www.facebook.com/riomints)

Nivea (https://www.facebook.com/NIVEAPhilippines)

SM Dept Store (http://www.smdeptstore.com/)

Online Shop Donors:

Belle York (http://www.facebook.com/SoleSisterLifestyle)

Shop Dainty (www.shopdainty.com)

Asian Vogue (http://asianvogue.multiply.com/)

F-STOP (Fashion Stop) (http://fashionstopshop.multiply.com/)

Anagon Collection (http://anagoncollection.multiply.com/)

Archive Clothing (http://archiveclothing.multiply.com/)

Extreme Finds (http://www.facebook.com/mustloveExtremeFinds)

Sparkle Shop (http://www.mysparkleshop.com/)

Flattering Tops (http://www.facebook.com/flatteringtops)

Posh Pocket Shoes (http://www.poshpocketshoesonline.com/)

Scrunch (http://www.facebook.com/SSSCRUNCH)

Sole Sister (http://www.facebook.com/SoleSisterLifestyle)

Maris (http://marisonline.multiply.com/)

Bubbles (http://tatibubbles.multiply.com/)

Sweetetite (http://www.facebook.com/pages/SweeTetite/255652547788474)

Location Details:

Treston International College

University Parkway District, 32nd Street corner C-5 Road
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila Phillipines

dress - thrifted, belt - moschino, necklace - F21

my eyes, whenever i laugh, always seem to cry.

2011-11-20T04:41:00.000+08:00

i had been very sad and sick the last few weeks that no amount of photoshop could hide my swollen eyes. it's funny how life plays tricks on you sometimes that just when you think absolutely nothing could rain on your parade and that you have pretty much seen everything there is to see and drank all the happiness and sadness to the last drop - you find yourself floating in limbo and just when you are about to land, a part of you wants to land with both feet but a greater part just wants to dive head first because no amount of dusting yourself after could make you whole again. and you wonder WHY.

so you find yourself lost again in the labyrinth without a map or even a clue. and sometimes, without a promise that you'll get by.

a slice of heaven

2011-11-15T21:51:00.002+08:00

mangodlong paradise beach resort

camotes island, cebu city, philippines

october 2011

top- jessica, hat - zara, bikini - topshop

BEWARE! COUGAR!

2011-11-11T19:16:00.001+08:00

my mother used to wear a loooot of leopard and velvet when i was younger. she still does. im teaching her the benefits of donning pink lipstick. i miss you, mommy. and yes, these shoes hurt like a teenage love gone haywire. eden and i were a tad disappointed when we checked out SM cebu fashion forum's jeffrey campbells. i wish they stock up on the newer and crazier styles real soon.

and i just love how i can take this top from the boondocks to the beach. not that im a boondocks kinda girl but yeah...

top and skirt - thrifted, shoes - aldo, clutch - oxygen, ring - aldo

photos: chicinthetropics.blogspot.com <3

but you don't lock when you're fleeing I'd like not to hear keys..

2011-11-08T18:47:00.001+08:00

my girls. bomba starrs!

blessed are the lazy who lie on boats, for they shall inherit a suntan.

pandanon island, bohol.

aye, aye, Captain Rui!

PAK!

no liempo, no island-hopping. hmmp.

because i am at my best and happiest when im out in the ocean. not knowing how to swim properly be damned. thank God for life vests and floral vests to keep me afloat and for friends - old and new, who share the same affinity. so we hopped to yet another banca ride along the coast of mactan and laughed our hearts out. some found love, some found themselves, some fell off the boat, some got lost in reveries and i found the little girl in me who never learned how to swim but loved the ocean nevertheless with all of her heart.

these friends had shown me how to toughen up everytime life throws a curveball and to just walk away. sometimes, it is really best not to fight back head on and to just count your blessings and dodge as many punches as possible. it made me less angry and more grateful. but, really, who am i to preach? ^^

bikini bottom - HandM, shorts - terranova, vest - thrifted

photos: hazel pax and the dependable BB

metallic + sheer

2011-11-07T13:10:00.000+08:00

saturdate with friends.

i have been eyeing this pair of metallic pants from topshop but i just wouldn't shell out 3000 for a pair that i'd probably only going to wear a couple of times. luckily, the ukay gods were good to me and i got a similar one for 150 pesos. and the top? 50 pesos. yes, sometimes i am lucky.

top, pants - thrifted, shoes - ALDO, clutch - oxygen

a prayer for a blueberry girl

2011-10-30T18:29:00.000+08:00

Dull days at forty, false friends at fifteen;
Let her have brave days and truth.
Let her go places that we've never been;
Trust and delight in her youth.

Ladies of Grace, and Ladies of Favour,
And Ladies of Merciful Night,
This is a prayer for a Blueberry Girl,
Grant her your Clearness of Sight.

Words can be worrisome, people complex;
Motives and manners unclear.
Grant her the wisdom to choose her path right,
Free from unkindness and fear.

Let her tell stories, and dance in the rain,
Somersaults, tumble and run;
Her joys must be high as her sorrows are deep,
Let her grow like a weed in the sun.

- blueberry girl, neil gaiman

welcome to the Christian World, Rania.

<3, tita v

dress, purse - thrifted, peacock ring from MAC and aldo, belt -terranova

THINK PINK

2011-10-27T21:35:00.000+08:00

what i wore to a lunch date with my favorite davao galpals and my new fave shade of pink - MAC's Satin Pink Nouveau A90. and i am still not sure if i like my hair this bright but then again, it's only hair. and shout out to the beautiful toni and jomalia eden for convincing me to turn blonde. i wish i had more time to write a more coherent post but life had just been a big rollercoaster ride lately that i do not even have the time to whine anymore. but life is good. it has always been. and i am even more grateful every single day for every single thing thrown my way - pink lipstick, ash blonde hair and fabulous new friends included. and thank you for always dropping by. ^^

♥

jeans - terranova, clutch - MEMO

life, lately...

2011-10-16T21:36:00.002+08:00

also known as - ME, MY PHONE and a loooot of mirrors. :()

BEAUTIFUL GRIM

2011-10-06T01:27:00.001+08:00

Photography/ Art Direction: Hannah Bacalla

Styling: Eden Villarba

Headpiece: Yves Camingue

Makeup: Maricarl-Janah

so this is one of the things i did while i was gone from the blogosphere for more than a month. and this is probably my favorite photo of myself simply because i worked with the best girls in town. i once blogged about the marvelous Janah here and Eden, well let's just say, she's one of the best surprises this year has brought me. and Hannah, who has not heard of the great Hannah Bacals as we fondly call her. contrary to popular belief, i actually do not like being photographed. such a hypocritical thing to say by someone who has more than one social networking site but yeah. :) but one just say YES when someone with Hannah's caliber asks you to work with him/her. you just say YES and hope you deliver. i seriously had a hard time looking all forlorn and hungry. :) but i love how it turned out. a 360 degree turn from my normal photographed self.

i had been meaning to post this for the longest time and was actually waiting for Halloween but lemme be the first to scare the living daylight out of you, lovelies!

thank you so much, hannah. such an honor to be in front of your camera.

oh and this photo was featured on The Photograph Daily. Yay! ^^

The Morning After

2011-09-29T07:41:00.000+08:00

stripper extraordinaire A!

best swimming teacher in the world - E!

~~AKA the-freakin-day-i-finally-learned-how-to-swim-in-fear-of-being-thrown-into-the-middle-of-the-pool-by two-bears-triple-your-weight-and-die-of-embarassment.~~

twas probably the third happiest day of my life. everything was just purrfect! new loves - eden, marco and rabsin finally met my brothers from other mothers, A and E. rum, good friends, good music, a lot of pole dancing and sore bodies after, we went home all set and ready again for the rat race. not. ^^

escosas bar and resort, amlan, negros oriental

DUMAGUETE CITY PHOTO DIARY DAY 1

2011-09-27T07:18:00.001+08:00

rabsin, eden, marco - lovely people.

life is good. it has to be.

dumaguete city, august 2011.

oh, and check out beach babe now sydney-based guapa alyssa here. you gotta love love her.

fallin for fall!

2011-09-22T09:23:00.000+08:00

i've always believed that my favorite color was Green. But I do not own a single item in that hue!

a closer look into my chaotic closet would reveal red, orange, tangerine and rust in all possible nuances.

oh, well, the things we believe in but are not really so.

I wore this a couple of weeks ago for a lunch date with a dear friend who taught me how to put false eyelashes.

"with steady hands and faith plus Elmer's glue, my love" HE said.

this leather skirt i have had for a couple of years now. my cousin found this in one of the thriftshops back home and she got this for 10 pesos. i know, i know.

and the shoes are from my dear sister and i have been in love with them since i got them. but i also say the same thing about my other pairs.

this neon satchel bag i got from a very dear friend, gayle who is going to be F21 cebu's assistant manager. yes, im a lucky girl. ^^

so what little things do you tell yourselves, lovelies?

and thank you to you all dear readers. ^^

love and false eyelashes,

top - topshop, skirt - thrifted, shoes - gifted, bag - gayle's shop

la vie boheme.

2011-09-22T08:34:00.000+08:00

patti smith. love. love.

happy birthday, self.

2011-09-20T19:34:00.001+08:00

so i turned a year older a little over a month ago and rabsin and marco surprised me with this cake or whatever you call this thing. thank you, loves. i don't celebrate my birthday and i hate surprises but it was indeed a pleasant surprise. i got 5 other mini cakes from friends because it weirded them out that i haven't had a real birthday celebration. oh well. thank you, friends.

this year has been a year of learning, unlearning and relearning.

there were a lot of times that i just wanted to give up and not put a fight.

but life is good, it has to be.

and i have been blessed to have a family who loves me and pushes me to my limits and still think i am all sorts of wonderful even when the whole world thinks otherwise.

so, here's to another year of finding and losing myself in this labyrinth called LIFE.

cheers!

top - topshop, earrings - accesorize, pants- bench, shoes - aldo, bag - gifted