For the Love of Frivolity

Remember ‘Blonde and Blue Eyes’?

A local fashion chain for teen girls is set to launch a new campaign featuring the recognisable face of Russian model Natalia Vodianova, the latest in a list of international celebrities that the is brand is known for having as endorsers- Alicia Silverstone, Natalie Portman, Petra Nemcova and Kate Hudson to name some. (Cue another slew of indignant ‘patriots’ questioning and demanding reasons why the brand doesn’t use a Filipina endorser.)

Pretty.. I like how light, airy and fresh it all looks.

Well, I certainly see no reason why they shouldn’t use foreign endorsers. Which endorser they want is completely their choice and it doesn’t mean they are being ‘unpatriotic.’ Business decisions are just that – business. The brand does not sell baro’t sayas and ternos for anyone to insist that they use Filipina endorsers, it would only be common sense in that case (although predictable). I don’t know if anyone has noticed but SM, one of the leading department stores/mall chains in the Philippines have foreign models on their posters inside and outside their department stores and malls. And it’s no biggie. Simply put, just because a brand or product is Filipino doesn’t mean a Filipino endorser is a must.

That a Filipino brand did not use a Filipino endorser is not the issue. The only problem I see with this particular fashion chain’s endorser choices is that their target market might have a hard time connecting with the image they portray – at best. Worse, this might distort young Filipino girls’ sense of self-image, identity and even concept of beauty. None of the girls milling about in their stores during a typical weekend look anything like Natalia or Kate Hudson, although I’m pretty sure the brand does not intend to mean their clothes are made for caucasians – majority of their stores are in the Philippines, afterall.

Clothes that look great on a blonde, fair skinned model who’s almost twice as tall as an average Filipina may or may not suit, say, high school girl named Carla in Davao. Girls go through an awkward phase when they are most impressionable and a significant portion of their target market is in the middle of that phase. Heaven forbid that little girls in the Philippines, by this ad, are affirmed in believing they can only be considered beautiful if they are tall, blonde and thin (like models Petra & Natalia and actress Kate Hudson). I hope Carla understands that when she wears that yellow cardigan, it will not look on her the exact same way it looks on Natalia and more importantly, it shouldn’t be something negative in itself. We shouldn’t buy those clothes so we can look like the girl in the poster. More often than not, it would just be an excercise in futility.

This brings to mind the Barbie syndrome (little Asian girls, please don’t get depressed if you do not grow up to have large blue eyes, blonde hair and an 18-inch waist). Constant exposure to and subliminal suggestions coming from such ads may lead to mistaken interpretations of ideas and concepts by young people. Remember that while Ally McBeal can be funny, it was no laughing matter when cases of anorexia and bulimia skyrocketed in places as far away as Fiji when the show gained popularity.

So mothers take care of your little girls. Daddies teach your little boys. Ads are ads I know, you know, and maybe the person beside you knows but make sure your children understand that, too. This is not just about this particular brand’s ad. Plenty other ads, movies, glossies and etc. show ideas and images that young people might interpret as a promise- upon purchase. But buying a pack of cigarettes doesn’t mean you’ll end up on a yatch surrounded by scantily clad women having a good time. So instead of hoping a product can change you, instead of you needing to fit into clothes, try to live a life in which you are so comfortable in your own skin that clothes end up fitting you, becoming you. Fashion is meant to be worn, not the way around.

To read ‘Blond and Blue Eyes’ speech by Patricia Evangelista: Link

How to Send Donations to Ondoy Victims if You’re Outside the Philippines

During a Skype conversation today with my aunt who lives outside the Philippines, she told me how she was reduced to tears when she happened on the UERM video with a woman escaping from inside a car onto its roof while more than a dozen other floating vehicles all around are being carried every which way by the flood. I showed her this video of a family of around eight+ surfing on a roof made of galvanised iron as it rushes towards a bridge, with only one man resurfacing on the other side. She saw that only today, and my aunt said “grabe, grabe, grabe … i did not realize … the devastation was massive.”

Then I realised that many don’t know the extent of Ondoy (Ketsana)’s damage to Manila. My aunt offered to send some donations and she said it might take some time if she were to send it via door-to-door service. I remembered a FB friend posting details about Filipinos collecting donations in a certain country to send to the Philippines and I sent her the details for her area.

The following list is a compilation of some locations outside Philippines where you can drop off donations in kind, cash or both. Please take care when partaking in monetary transactions, use the contact details listed for your place (if applicable) before you send anything. Verify – email them, call, or visit their websites. Some of the meet-up schedules listed may have already expired, please take note and contact the person/s concerned whether they are still receiving donations.

Although this is for a good cause, don’t let unscrupulous people take advantage of good intentions just for their own personal benefit. Please exercise caution.

Arranged alphabetically by country:

UNICEF: Now accepting donations for Philippine flood victims. Link.
UN World Food Programme: Link. For US citizens who want a tax deduction for this donation: Link.
Philippine National Red Cross: Link
Habitat For Humanity Philippines: Link

Australia (Melbourne): Drop-off donations near the Melbourne CBD through Coco Quizon’s residence @ 8 Vale St., North Melbourne. You can contact Coco through 0458603723
Australia (Sydney): Deliver donations to 303/5 Stromboli Strait, Homebush Bay 2127. message twitter.com/allorange for questions. If possible, please give donations in unsealed boxes. Thank you! Contact: allorangefilms@yahoo.com to check if you can deliver at another time or date.
Australia (Sydney): PAL shipping donations from Australia FOC! Sydney Delivery point for donations in kind: Revesby Press 3/50 George Street Granville. Ph:9760 0933. Urgently seeking donations of clothes, blankets, canned goods, medical supplies. …Please …segregate clothing according to: infants, girls, boys, women, men, shoes! Please call 0414-736-231.
Australia: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1100222/Philippines-floods:-How-you-can-help
Australia: Filipino students in Australia are also helping out by collecting 5-dollar pledges. Contact Coco Quizon 0458603723 (Melbourne), Aiya Buendia 0437 967 259 (Sydney) and Michelle Leonardo michelle.leonardo@gmail.com (Canberra)
Austria: Cash: message Charmaine Taus (sacki@taus.us). she’s having a benefit concert on October 22! concert details to follow.
Belgium: For those based in Belgium they can contact Shiera Catalan at +32485328811 if they want to donate goods for typhoon relief
Canada: http://byncan.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/bayan-canada-appeals-for-help-for-typhoon-ondoy-victims/
Canada (Montreal):http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Local+Filipinos+mobilizing+help+flood+victims/2041585/story.html
Canada (Toronto): Filipinos and Friends in Toronto, here’s how to help the victims of Typhoon Ondoy (intl name Ketsana):http://pidctoronto.com/projects/typhoon also see: http://bit.ly/28PDXfThank You!
Canada (Vancouver): Just wanted to give you information about drop off points here in Vancouver, BC Canada: Multicultural Helping House, E32nd Ave. And Fraser. Or Goldilocks Bakeshop, E11th st. And Main.
Dubai: EROS Group will be holding a fund raising activity on Oct. 4-6 for thevictims of bagyong Ondoy. To all my kababayans here in Dubai who wishto donate (cash/kind), you may send your donations directly to EROSCorporate Office(HITACHIBLDG) located at Juction of 108/1 Al Khabeesi Rd, Near Al Bhakit Centre or you may contact them at this number +971-4-2650026
Germany: Contact Denise Matias at denise.matias@gmail.com or +63… (text only, no calls).
Hong Kong: Ateneo Almuni Association HK is calling for donations to support relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) in the Philippines. Contact: Mike Reyes at +852.67131869
Hong Kong: People in Hong Kong,you may help by going to Cathay Pacific City, 8 Scenic Rd. Lantau Island. A collection box on the second floor is being organized by the Staff of Cathay Pacific. Please continue to send as much as you can. Cash donations are also accepted.
Israel: The Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI) will have fund raising campaign/donation drive to help Filipinos affected by the Typhoon Ondoy. Those who wish to give financial donations may come on Friday, 02 October 2009 to Dr. Gonen’s Clinic (near Takana Merkazit). Or you can give give your donation to Phil. Embassy. You may also contact your community officers.
Japan: Japan Red Cross: http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/index.html. They’re acception donations from September 30 until October 30. More info:http://www.jrc.or.jp/kokusai/news/l4/Vcms4_00001289.html
Malaysia: For those in Malaysia, LBC is accepting donations in cash and kind. Their numbers are: 2026-8536 / 2070-0557. The office I know is at Kota Raya in KL.
Malaysia (KL): Pauline Warneck is gathering donations for Ondoy to be sent by Fri c/o CebPac. Email pcfeliciano@yahoo.com for details.
Netherlands: Donate (bank transfer) to: NFS – Nederlands-Filippijnse Solidariteitsbeweging (’Dutch-Filipino Solidarity Movement). Location: Leiden. Postgiro: 8118425. Subject: Support for flood victims / “Steun aan slachtoffers van grote overstroming”
New Zealand: For people donating from New Zealand go to:http://www.tearfund.org.nz or phone 0800 800 777
Qatar: Meet noli perez dq ramada parking 6:30 today 9/29 for ondoy donations, call him 5642942.
Saudi Arabia (Eastern Province): Please collate your donations and bring to Al-Ettifaq Club gymnasium, Sports City Dammam this coming Friday, 2 October 2009.
Singapore: Drop-off point for donations is Afreight Cargo, #03-09 Lucky Plaza, Orchard Rd. Contact Maureen Schepers 6235-1011. Get more information here:http://www.pinoysg.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=664644#664644
South Korea: For the Filipinos and concerned citizens in South Korea: Pease support PIKO (Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea) fund-raising campaign for the Ondoy flood victims in the Philippines. Let us all help by donating to KOOKMIN BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER (498101-01-232756). Your help counts!
Thailand (Bangkok): The Philippine Embassy will be receiving only donations in kind (ie., used clothing, shoes, blankets, and the like, and canned goods) …anytime between 9am-5pm until Fri. For queries, please contact the Philippine Embassy at (02) 259-0139 up to 40 or (08) 992-65954, or at bangkokpe@gmail.com.
UAE (Dubai): Lingap Kapwa – Ondoy Victims: We need to unite once again to help our Kabayans back in the Philippines that were badly affected by typhoon Ondoy. Current requirement: Clothings, Food, Money. Please get in touch with Pres. Jo (050-7456452josepha@perceptgulffz.com). 3 Drop Off Points for the donations: West Zone Supermarket (Karama, Satwa and Deira)
United Kingdom: Visit the OXFAM website
UK (London): Lourdes Faberes can pick up donations in kind. Txt 07788 921 432. Alternatively, you can drop them off at the Philippine Embassy (6-8 Suffolk Street, London, SW1Y 4HG ).
USA (California – Burlingame): MANILA BOX USA is now accepting donations in kind & will provide FREE shipping to Manila. Items will be sent by Sea Cargo and will delivered to the Whitespace Relief Center/Mar Roxas Headquarters in Cubao. Please drop them off at their warehouse: 361 Beach Road Burlingame , CA 94010 or call (650)342-2858. Please pack them in boxes for easier handling. Business hours Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
USA (California – Carson/Hermosa Beach): We are collecting donations to send to flood victims in Manila. Our goal is to fill up a 40ft container in one week with new or used clothing,shoes, blankets,medicines,canned food items, etc. Dropoff Location : 205 West Torrance Blvd, Carson, CA 90745. We will be setting up a booth on Oct 3, 2009 at the Substance event in Hermosa Beach CA. THANK YOU and God Bless Manila. TWITTER (Socal4Ondoy)
USA (California – Cerritos): Our house is temp drop off point while we find a bigger venue. We’ll facilitate immediate shipment to Manila. Thank you in advance for your help. Pls pass. Dino & Jan Home:16622 Amberwood Way Cerritos, CA 90703; (562)404-0625
USA (California – Hayward): Fil-Am Invitational BasketballLeague(FIBL) will send out relief goods in the philippines for the victims of the floods cause by typhoon ondoy…. if you want to make a donation clothing,canned goods or money please bring it on sunday 10/04/09 @ el rancho gym 541 blanche st. hayward ca. from 2:00 – 6:00pm please visit our website for direction
USA (California – Daly City): Please contact Ryan Leano (626)534-4971. Liwanag Cultural Center, Hillside Park Clubhouse, 222 Lausanne Ave., Daly City?, CA? 94014.
USA (California – LosAngeles): Relief goods accepted in LA! ANSWER ofc, 137 Virgil St, Rm 203, Los Angeles, CA
USA (California – Los Angeles): Send your donations to Dexter De Vera 818 357 3242. There will be Balikbayan Boxes on site if you want to donate clothes, towels, thin blankets, and canned goods. MANILA FORWARDERS will ship directly to Marikina Red Cross for FREE. PLEASE HELP
USA (California – LosAngeles): TULONG SA PILIPINAS (STP): Accepting donations cash or check. Send to People’s CORE, 1610 Beverly Blvd. Suite No 2, Los Angeles, Ca 90026. Donations more than $50 is tax deductible. Material donations drop off ( donations; shoes, clothes, canned goods. medicines etc. ) at ANSWER LA office at 137 Virgil St. Room 203 , Los Angeles, CA 900042.
USA (California – Oakland): Please contact Ryan Leano (626)534-4971. Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership. Attn: Armael Malinis, AnakBayan-East Bay. 310 8th Street, Suite 215. Oakland, CA 94710
USA (California – San Francisco): Stanford’s Pilipino American Student Union (PASU) is also collecting donations to be sent to the Philippines to help victims of Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana). If you would like to make a donation, please contact AV David atavhdavid@stanford.edu or (650) 491-4561.
USA (California – San Francisco): http://naffaar8.com/typhoon-ondoy-ketsana-disaster-relief-efforts-in-san-francisco-ca/
USA (Illinois): This Sat Oct 3 and on Oct 10, 11am-3pm @ Little Quiapo in Lincolnwood, IL – donate clothes/blankets/canned goods/money for Ondoy victims.
USA (New Jersey): Sinugba Cafe – 561 Westside Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07304; or Casa Victoria – 691 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306-2803 You can send CASH through Metro Bank acct. 3 189 14540 1 For BAYAN’s “BALSA” (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan). For donations in New Jersey please contact: (201)621-3156-Yves Nibungco or (917)476-7855- Nick Cordero
USA (New Jersey) (Central): We are organizing a donation group for ondoy…we got drop offs to be put up by tomorrow afternoon or morning (9/30) ……contact me at 908-644-9889 or email me atray_bugarin26@yahoo.com, or ym ray_snoop_doggy02
USA (New York): Ondoy New York Disaster Relief drop off center @ Pandayan Center, 406 W 40th St. Between 9th and 10th Aves. New York, NY 10018 or call 212.564.6057.
USA (New York): NAFCON (Nat’l Alliance for Filipino Concerns)/SANDIWA Nat’l Alliance of Fil-Am Youth are now receiving relief donations (clothes, blankets, medical supplies, monetary). NY drop-off @ BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center, 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY 11377. Call (516)901-1832 or email sandiwa.national@gmail.com if you would like to help.
USA (Oregon): Cash: message Welo Chuidian Rivera (welo_rivera@yahoo.com), or check out her note:http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=143295770052

We love our pets, and a lot of animals were also affected by Ondoy (Ketsana). Visit PAWS website to donate.

Rude Awakening

Was still wiping the sleepy cobwebs from my eyes when I woke up at 6.30 am to check on a certain package I had sent last Wednesday.

I took this package to the post place Wednesday at 6pm. I forgot the fedex hub in Subic had been closed.. which is why the package only started moving the next day at around 3pm. What it is, is a fashion design drawing, a flat pattern drawing and fabric swatches for a contest I am joining to be held in Japan. I just really really hope it gets there before this day ends.

Clicked absentmindedly on the Stumble button as I waited and landed on this nothing website with a post about Michael Jackson passing away. It seemed a mean-spirited joke. And just to make sure I checked on ever reliable TMZ. And I couldn’t believe it. He really is gone.

I believe the first bit of news out was that he suffered a cardiac arrest. And the things people said!

“Cardiac arrest? He shouldn’t have looked at the man in the mirror!”

“His nose fell off!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“I think he’s been anorexic for many years, this probably had something to do with it..”

“I just read somewhere else that he has been pronounced dead. Overdose of sleeping pills. Apparent suicide.”

“Let him rot.”

And as a commenter said, “This could be very serious. I cannot believe people would be that cruel. Fan or not, have compassion for a fellow human being.”

Michael Jackson concert tickets for an arm on ebay. Maybe they could turn them into a tribute concert instead.

He went to the Philippines way back in the 90’s I think, but I was too young to be allowed. All I remember was seeing that concert on TV and that there was a lady with glasses who got up on the stage with him but was quickly escorted off. I always thought I’d see him in concert, not anymore. Rest in peace Michael Jackson, there are no users, no papparazzi in heaven.

“Dame Elizabeth Taylor is too devastated by the passing of her dear friend Michael Jackson to issue a statement at this time.”

Elizabeth Taylor first dubbed Michael the King of Pop

on michaeljackson.com

Dreamy as Puberty

yummy hats and fascinators on women at the recent Royal Ascot 09.

this black crochet lace hat won at the inaugural ‘Who Wants To Be A Millin-aire.’ Roman is a professional milliner from London.

there’s just nothing you cannot put on a hat

I’d love to do something like this, Karl Lagerfeld designed ballet costumes for the English National Ballet’s tribute season to the legendary French ballet company the Ballets Russes. (L-R: Dying Swan costume, ballet dancer Elena in Chanel haute couture seen in Harper’s Bazaar June issue.)

bigger

pretty although the feathers around the neck is a bit awkward and i don’t LOVE how the bodice makes her look thick and ungraceful.

The Guardian’s Judith Mackrell called the tutu “the one fake note” of the opening night. It was, she said, “conceived with cavalier disregard for the ballerina’s working body – the line of the neck broken by an egregious, fluffy ruff, the waistline broken by a too-high skirt.

I agree….

local divers dressed as mermaids in a tank at the Manila Ocean Park

The first perfume by Van Cleef & Arpels, Feerie. How dreamy is this bottle, with the fairy on a twig. It smells wonderful, too. If I were to be a perfume, this scent would come nearest. I heard the first whif was a bit too sweet for some, but I love it like it is, it gives way to a more woody smell after a while and the trail is just pure fantasy.. The real bottle doesn’t look as good as I expected it to be though, the metal-looking twig is just plastic. But I got to take home a tester and a discount card for it at the Fabric anniversay, and speaking of which, the entry and photos for that will come soon.. Just collecting the good pictures! =)

Never stop dreaming…

Crazy Cupcake Fairy

Photos of the cupcake-inspired dress I made for my Pattern III class a few terms ago. I did this photoshoot for my portfolio. You can look at my new online portfolio here. I always update it with the better things I’ve done related to fashion.

My model is my sister and two of our dogs Natassja and Santi! I was going for a fun, nostalgic, childhood dream-like mood with a bit of noir twist. Whatever that is! haha but these are the photos that came out of all the nonsense. I basically told my sister to go nuts around the house. Some of the photos we had to do while mom wasn’t watching *cough, when she was climbing tables and chairs, cough*

cupcake fairy meets garden fairy

wanna see a cupcake do a cartwheel?

cupcake + water don’t really mix.. maybe a strawberry shake instead.

climbing not just walls

Santi licks the cupcake fairy

Kinatay (Butchered), Indeed

It was unexpected that the director of the film Kinatay was awarded best director, but not so unexpected are the red carpet wins and fails that go hand in hand with every awards ceremony.

Zhuo Tan and Michelle Yeoh both in Cavalli.

Models Claudia Schiffer in D&G and Lily Cole in Alberta Ferretti

Dita in couture Christian Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier

Rachel Weisz looks stunning in this green Versace. And while Paris Hilton could have worn just this already overwhelming gown even without shoes, it looks like the poor girl piled on all the rock and metal available to her that day.

Two of the best, Natasha Poly in Cavalli and Eva Herzigova wearing a rocking black and pink tulle frock. I love frou frou.

And two of the worst. Alison Lohman attending the “Drag Me to Hell” screening, I guess a bit too literally. Maria Isabel Lopez also inspired by the movie being screened “Kinatay” (Butchered), in a bloody dress without lining but with an inexplicable scrap of hacked fabric hanging across one shoulder,

And the best dressed, to me, Devon Aoki in ALberta Ferretti.

DENR Eco Night

This was made for the Department of Environment and Natural Resource’s Night – Eco Fashion Show for the Environment. The fashion show is part of the 5th Eco-Products International Fair

We were tasked to create wearable fashion out of sustainable resources, recyclable materials and indigenous products.

I used plastic, melted and sculpted and some left over fabric.

Photos of other creations: stylebible.ph article
Full story: article on DENR.gov website

Chinese New Year Fashion Show

at the Heritage hotel as part of their Chinese New Year celebration. Some students and teachers from school were asked to design and sew modern Chinese inspired outfits for a fashion show during the event. We only had one week to make the clothes. Our models were the hotel’s sales/marketing representatives. The real bodies (as opposed to the standard model sizes) were a good challenge for us. My garment originally was supposed to be peach with charcoal trims but peach was hard to find apparently and so I was given old rose and silver satin. I got inspiration from an ancient Chinese dress called shenyi, more specifically the quju form of it. It was worn by women and I tried to do a more modern version, incorporating other typical Chinese clothing elements like frogging (those lovely swirly buttons) etc.

Photos from the show: (you may hover over photos to see the captions or adjust slide speed)

Mad about photography

Happy New Year all!

One of the items on my 101 list is the 26 Things photo scavenger project. There is a list of 26 words and you take a photo for each word, and that’s it. Pretty simple. =) The newest one is going on this January ‘09. And I’ve already started. Another one I’m doing at the same time is one of the lists from before, the 26 alphabets (you take a photo for each alphabet) because it seems fun. All the photos are here and I’m constantly updating it as I take more photos.

New photos: