How to get 40% off on Gas

Deal Dozen pulls off another fab deal by giving a whopping 40% discount on Caltex gas:

Here's a short feature I did on the brand that was published in Manila Bulletin recently:


The Dealers

There’s another deal site in town, but it’s not your usual coupon website. The brainchild of a group of very talented professionals, each one of them screens their offerings based on their lifestyle and personal tastes.  This means, only the best and most-wanted “bids” are “for sale” at DealDozen.com, such as food, travel and wellness escapades.

Barely two months old, DealDozen.com has already “sold” great deals–Alta Vista de Boracay and Eskaya packages to gadgets from Samsung, and even a P350k off deal for a brand new 2010 Mitsubishi Eclipse.  What also sets them apart from other plain deal sites is that it’s the only deal site that integrates one’s Facebook accounts on their deals, enabling updates on one’s Facebook wall on every deal made.  Visits to DealDozen.com are also more engaging as they offer reviews and blog posts by well-known personalities and bloggers.  This way, one is given a more personal guide, with tips on how to enjoy the most out of their purchased deals.

So, what are you waiting for? Click on this link to start purchasing this fab deal :)

Calling Out Aspiring Fashion Designers

I was recently invited to an intimate lunch hosted by ex-colleagues and good friends at Lusso in Greenbelt 5.  The purpose of this get-together was to announce LOOK magazine's second year of searching for the next talented young designer.

As always, the food at Lusso is always delish!  With me, ordering the same old entree: spinach pasta with truffle and ham ... with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice :D

LOOK Magazine, Inquirer Lifestyle, Samsung and the British Council of the Philippines formally announced their nationwide search for the next talented young designer in 2011’s LOOK Of Style Awards.  Last year's winner was Pablo Cabahug, who was named Most Promising Designer for 2010 for his robotic-inspired body-con creations made of gray duchesse satin and metallic trimmings with jusi.  I have always been supportive of local designers, all the more those who utilize our local organic fabrics such as jusi—one of my favorites!

This was shot as one of the fashion editorials for LOOK:

Organized to support the next generation of Filipino fashion designers, and help them pursue their design and business plans, the second staging of the LOOK Of Style Awards will present the winning designer with an all-expenses paid trip to the United Kingdom where he/she will have the opportunity to enrol in a short course of his/her choice in London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins. The winner will also receive business mentoring from fashion industry professionals in areas such as business planning, marketing, etc., as well as a spot in Inquirer Lifestyle’s next Face Off Fashion Show.


“The LOOK Of Style Awards is actually a way for us to collaborate with artists from the Philippines and the UK using an arts area we are both strong at—fashion,” says Ana Tan (left, with Liza Ilarde of thefashpack and Style Weekend), program and public relations manager of the British Council of the Philippines.  

“For us, this project is one way of helping young designers hone their craft and further their career in fashion,” adds Melanie J. Cuevas, editor-in-chief of LOOK Magazine. “With the support of Samsung, and the British Council of the Philippines, we plan to make this a continuous effort.”

To qualify for the LOOK Of Style Awards, an applicant must have an established, primary design business in the Philippines. He or she must also have a minimum of two consecutive years of design experience (i.e., have garnered substantial and recent editorial coverage, have professional staff that can devote the time and effort required to accomplish the stated aims of an applicant’s design career plans).


A go-see, where all applicants will be required to present actual samples of their clothes and a portfolio of their work to a screening committee consisting of LOOK magazine editors and fashion industry experts, will narrow the field down to 10 finalists. Each of the 10 finalists will then be asked to provide specific information about their short- and long-term business goals and objectives, as well as how the award and business mentoring will enable them to pursue their design career plans and existing business.


Additionally, finalists will be required to submit a portfolio presentation containing work from their previous collections, which may include sketches, photos, and editorial features. The finalists will also submit 3-5 references (editors, retailers or other fashion industry professional with whom they have a close, working relationship) that the fashion council can contact for their comments and opinions.


Finally, the 10 candidates will undergo an interview and presentation of 5 looks from past, present, and upcoming collections to the panel based on a given theme. With science and technology becoming part of everyone’s lifestyle, this year’s given theme, Stylish Tech, will challenge finalists to make use of innovative techniques and fabrication, and make them into wearable pieces of art. The interview on the other hand, will also include an assessment of the business mentoring needs of each of the candidates.


A panel of judges will rate the finalists’ works, and select an overall winner based on construction technique (35%), design skill and interpretation of theme (35%), overall presentation and visual impact (15%), and design marketability/wearability (15%).
The winner will be announced in a cocktail event and fashion show in October 2011. The fashion show will include segments from the finalists, as well as from LOOK’s guest British designer.


*For interested applicants, check www.facebook.com/lookmagazineph or follow www.twitter.com/lookmagazineph for go-see schedules and updates on the competition.  Good luck!

The Fashionably Dressed

As promised, here are some candid shots I took of the guests at the Metrowear show.

Ms. Malu Francisco of SSI

Edgy fashion from Alcs Porras and his friends

I was star struck to have met designer Cary Santiago—I'm such a fan!

Jae Pickrell from stylebible.ph

My seatmates, Cristalle Henares and DJ Chopper a.k.a Angelika Schmeing-Cruz

Mich Dulce and Dra. Vicky Belo

Accessory designers joined the runway at the end of the show:

Mich Dulce (again) with Amina Aranaz-Alunan

Rocio Olbes and Nicole Whisenhunt

I hung out with a few friends after the show:

Model Girlie Benitez

Facial Care/Marie France PR girl NJ Torres, Heidi Ng and yours truly

... and with one of my best buds, Bebeth Timbol, who's wearing an Eric delos Santos creation

What I'm wearing: Vintage barong made of barong patchwork and shorts from New Yorker PVR, BCBG wedges, Marc Jacobs clutch, pearl danglers and Forever 21 rings.

One Hundred Designs, Proudly Pinoy Made

Here's another Filipino-themed event.  My, oh my, Philippine fashion is truly alive, don't you agree? :)


The country’s best designers showcased their creativity at reimagining the national dress for the Metrowear Filipiniana show held recently at the Sofitel hotel. Nationalistic in theme, the show was an enjoyable feast for the eyes as the models sashayed in the many different interpretations of the terno, baro’t saya, and the barong Tagalog.


Participants include the Young Designers’ Guild (YDG), Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP), international designers such as Albert Andrada, Cary Santiago, and Ezra, along with Cebu designers and menswear designers. Of course, the masters of traditional ternos were also included, such as Mike dela Rosa, Loreto, Patis Tesoro, Danilo Franco, Efren Ocampo, Greg Centeno, and Nolie Hans. Live music was provided by the String Minstrels, who played on stage classic Filipino songs mixed with modern OPMs.

Here are some of my favorite pieces:

Daphne Osena-Paez wears a romantic lace dress by Hindi Weber-Tantoco. The sheer fabric adds a touch of femininity.

Frederick Peralta keeps it simple and conservative with this long sleeve lace gown. He adds sparkle through sequenced beadwork, and a bejeweled brooch.

 

JC Buendia sexifies the Barong Tagalog by giving it an androgynous take.  A structured black maxi skirt, cinched at the waist, completes the polished look.

 

Cary Santiago soars high with this fully embroidered ensemble. The bird-designed shoulder details are inspired from Ibong Adarna, perhaps?

 

Ezra makes a grand entrance in this voluminous trail of tulle and heel-less boots. Could he his muse be a Filipina dominatrix from the 18^th century?

 

Louis Claparols’ highly detailed leggings prove that Filipina’s shouldn’t be messed with. Soft and sweet, but armored and ready for life’s battles.

 

Rajo Laurel goes for a criss-cross peek-a-boo gown that’s subtle and soft in the eyes. Embroideries can be seen from different angles for a surprising touch.

 

Randy Ortiz’s version of the baro’t saya is fused with European elements such as the feathered sleeves, billowy top, and a train of soft chiffon.

 

Salvador Malto’s lace skirt has colored floral lace appliqués that makes it a standout. The unfinished wrap-around top toughens up the soft lace skirt.

 

Philip Rodriguez’s off-shouldered v-neck gown is glamorously old-world with its lace and ribbon detail.

Tonichi Nocom’s overlap barong tagalog makes this 3-piece suit an extra handsome set.

An exhibit of the country’s best accessory designers awaited the guests. Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Rocio Olbes for the bags; Ana Rocha, Nicole Whisenhunt, Michelline Syjuco and Joyce Makitalo presented their jewelry designs; Cesar Gaupo, his shoes; and Mich Dulce, her hats. Patis Tesoro’s Ninay dolls were also part of the exhibit.  


* Visit us again tomorrow to find out who attended the event :)

The Terno—A Modern Romance

June was truly a celebration of our Pinoy pride at its finest, with the commemoration of our National Hero Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday as the highlight. Our fashion industry celebrated this momentous month in its own stylish way, as Mega magazine hosted the Mega Pinoy Pride Terno Ball at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-la hotel.


Celebrities and media personalities, as well as key names from the business and political sectors, were greeted with an exhibit of terno creations by fashion designers such as:

Eric de los Santos

Sen. Pia Cayetano by Paul Cabral

Veejay Floresca

Russell Villafuerte

another one by Russell Villafuerte

Kaye Tinga by Pepito Albert 

Kristel Yulo

Audrey Tan Zubiri by Rajo Laurel

Audrey Tan Zubiri (again) by Inno Sotto

Further down the walkway, Pinay supermodels wearing Frederick Peralta’s ternos and accessories by Jewelmer welcomed the invited guests as they made their way to their tables set with centerpieces done by Robert Blancaflor.  They were presented again during the program proper:

The five-course meal was especially made by chef Gene del Prado, inspired by the rich Filipino heritage—a mélange of flavors from kesong puti, kangkong, lapulapu and various vegetables and fruits. Mango pudding, ube macaroon and cashew sans rival made great desserts for a fabulous sit-down dinner. Complementing the night were Musikito String Orchestra, which played OPM songs, and JM Rodriguez, who sang for the attendees.

It was definitely a night packed with Pinoy pride, thanks to the host. “We started Mega Pinoy Pride last year, and from then on, we decided to make it an annual event,” says Sari Yap, Mega Publishing Group’s president and CEO and editor-in-chief of Mega magazine.  “More than anything, Mega Publishing Group prides itself with the talent of Filipinos, which explains why all our 10 titles are homegrown and not franchises,” she continues. 

Mega Pinoy Pride Terno Ball 2011 was mounted by Mega Publishing Group’s events arm, Events 100.