August 28, 2008

GET HAPPY AND LUCY IN THE SKY - eclectic at its best

Her line has paved the way to genuine happiness with inspirations from Gustav Klimt, Salvador Dali and Filipino artist, Pacita Abad.

Get Happy and Lucy in the Sky evoke a sense of happiness and pride, as well as appreciation for local ingenuity and craftsmanship. She gives her designs the flexibility and versatility that appeals to the young, fun, and whimsical customer, as well as to the more mature, urbane sophisticates.

colored accessories by my cousin, Happy Guingona David

( Rossana Recto Ricafort trying on a gold recin necklace from Get Happy , Myself and Rossana outside the tent ( Image by Happy Guingona David)

August 27, 2008

IKEA DIY

My trip to Mark Ramos' Ikea warehouse in Makati over the weekend( Thanks to Cecile for posting it on her blog) revealed a lot of great things waiting to be purchased by me. The store itself is a magic den with cost-efficient build-it-yourself surprises, I can’t wait to go back. I describe the whole experience like going on a field trip way better than the outlet in Quezon City. Great thing prices here and abroad are almost comparable, thank god! Definitely driving back when I get to move into my new pad before the end of the year.
IKEA Makati – 3/F Eastman Building, 4977 Enrique St. Palanan Makati City ( Mark Ramos - Office number - 8335590)

August 24, 2008

TRYING TO BE CREATIVE ON A RAINY SATURDAY

Mood: trying to be creative again on a rainy Sunday. To evolve is to continue to breathe creatively. What inspires me to write, paint and scribble? I am inspired by figures who encourage radical rethinking, It’s kinda whatever I am thinking about. I just do whatever, perhaps this spontaneous approach explains the occasional nonsensical line about President Arroyo donning pink lace underwear: lying to the people, and we don’t care because you’re the one in pink underwear.

(Impressive street style, deconstructed chic - Jujiin's AMAZING! Image from Chuvaness and Jujiin Samonte)

August 23, 2008

SCRIBBLING NONE

( old collage from my book - Summer 2006)
I've been doodling with paint since grade school. It started out as a mandatory thing that I loathed my instructor for making me paint something I really did'nt like. The stuff I painted was truly Horrible. Emotional and totally strange, but I did it - and realized I loved it.The more I painted , the better I got (I think) so I enjoyed it even more. Over time, it became a stress reliever (aside from retail therapy). When things were pretty down in the dumps, I write. It's not hard for me. It doesn't take much time at all. I'm not a big De Quiros thinker-type, I just write what comes spewing out my enlarged head.


( Screenshot of my flickr page above, see Sketch below. Call me crazy but reading Daphne’s comment 3 years ago still makes me smile.)


I'm in a drought now. I have had them before - when things are just beyond terribly unpleasant and the " I do not feel like doing anything" kind of phase. Or, when things are just so great and I'm here, lazy, and totally don't feel compelled to write. Thankfully, right now I'm stuck in the latter stage and haven't written anything like who knows when because I'm too dimly content to work.

I tried to work on something fun last week, just to force myself into it, but it went something like this:blank canvas - totally blank.

I mean, the thoughts were there, but I couldn't get them to form anything interesting or creative. Instead, I just forced myself up and tossed my sketchbook back on my bedside table. I've never believed in forcing yourself to write or paint. Creative outlets and some good combustion, and when I just "write to write" it comes out like uhh, and then I feel bad and think I have no talent. What good is that?

August 22, 2008

STEPPING GREEN

Worlds collide! This outfit is a combination of relaxed and comfortable put together. The white leather lace-ups, gray flat front shorts & the green grass is absolutely spiffin. My skin is tingling with hope and possibility. Again, Shopping cures depression. Image taken last January on my way to the mall from my pad.(What I am wearing: white lace-ups from Hong-Kong, Shorts from greyhound Bangkok and top (not in the picture) pique personalized with my initials from Fred Perry)

August 21, 2008

ON RETAIL AND VINTAGE BIKES

If only mom allowed me to leave for the US for my easter 3 week design and pattern making scholarship at PSD,NY Last year, everything’s sweeter now.

Anywaay – I’m still keeping the FAITH!

( What I'm wearing : Shirt from Hanes, Jacket from E-bay, Jeans from Viktors, lace-ups from Tyler)

I daydream about working as boutique owner at a place like Barcelona or probably Soho. It's the kind of job I think I could be really good at, though I'm sure the pay is crap, but I still daydream, it sure is a goal-attainable dream. (At least, not with my overpriced tiny pad.)

I don’t want to drive a car, I don’t like cars (weird huh) I am contended being a passenger, yeah – just a passenger. I have simple dreams. I just want to own a Bike, a vintage bike. I dream of going to work in shorts, espadrilles and a well tailored dress shirt.

I'm starting to think that sadness is like a bad infection that can take root and turn lots of things to rot around you. It seems to be hanging on some people’s life right now, like a spot on the floor that can't be scrubbed out. I am definitely not the type.

August 20, 2008

WEDNESDAY MOOD BOARD

I wear my clothes until they fade and age, happy plaids, shorts cuffed above the knee, dress shirts, pullovers and that huge Jack Spade or any Man Bag for that matter. The reason I dress the way I do has more to do with not being on trend. I wear Sperry Top-Siders, classic wing top oxford lace ups,loafers, driving shoes, espadrilles and track sneaks because I know I can’t screw that look up. They are called classics for a reason. rewind

My belly exploded like a beach ball and now the entire world knows, without a doubt that I'm officially obese. I continue to be shocked at the next, I just continue to blog and write more on everything thatI'm very independent. I pride myself of hefting around heavy boxes, piling up with extra loads of grocery and shopping bags, stacking packs of soda and cases of water in my arms, etc. The way I see it is that the whole world is full of busy tired people, so I've never been one to shirk my weight, or expect others to carry it for me. With the belly now bulging, my sense of balance completely screwed, and all the achy days this obesity brings, I'm somewhat weaker than I used to be. I walk slower, I lift less and chores take me longer to accomplish. However, I never assume I'm getting out of any task---I just have to do them in new ways, or slower ways. But, what I've noticed is that I'm rarely allowed to accomplish much of anything without helpful intervention from the outside world---and without a single request from me. It's quite stunning.

August 15, 2008

POLO PINK SHORT

This reminds me of myself. White oxford dress shirt, pink shorts and amazing loafers. Image from Trendycrew, Barcelona

WEEKEND MOOD BOARD

Loving his maroon-ish cord trousers
My little four walled cubicle is my command central. I amazed with how fashion inspires us to get away from mental pollution, an explosion caused when disparate cultural fragments collide. Great color palette for this weekend. A designer’s ability to surprise is one of fashion’s greatest features. Image from punky-b

Rockwell’s Urban Bazaar

B.C Manila (drool worthy dresses by Berry Tenchavez and Celline Salapantan), Great accessories from Get Happy and Lucy in the sky by my cousin Happy Guingona David, Monica Fig, Plueys rain boots in variety of colors, trend spot at Jovy Gongora’s Switch Nation and Una Rosa, NJ Sneaks by Neil Paras, Classic hand made neck pieces and rings by Donabelle Lim and a lot more.

great red sneaks from NJ Sneaks by Neil Raymund Paras.

Recin neckpiece from Get Happy

Hippie Rings and playful classic accessories from Donnabelle Lim

STREET CHIC

Similar to what I wore yesterday (Image from lovedistortion/styledumonde)

Red shorts and Gingham, an equal opportunity exploiter (Image from Trendycrew)

Pink socks, oxford lace-ups and that man bag – totally Drool worthy! (Image from Trendycrew)

Cutoff shorts, white slip-ons and nautical pullover and a bike – effortless! (Image from Trendycrew)

The devil wears Prada represents where we are now. looking at fashion is another way of looking at where the culture is headed. It is so important, I cant emphasize it enough. I cant wait to see where it goes. The future is now.
(All Images from : lovedistortion/styledumonde and trendycrew, Barcelona)

August 13, 2008

PLAY DRESS UP

Photobucket
What I wore to work today:Geoffrey Beene cuffed white dress shirt , black coat from SPF, belt from Chatuchak, Bangkok, salvage denim from Viktors ( Local denim designer), vintage Bill Blass wristwatch, mother of pearls cufflinks from my grandfather, red socks and brown oxford lace-ups ( accessory – brown man bag from Singapore) : looks a lot better than awful dress shirt, pleated trousers, square loafers and a cartoon tie.

August 12, 2008

QUIRKY PLAIDS AND COLORED SOCKS

The Sunday’s best ( Tom Wong) does quirky vintage like no one else in the world. So well, in fact , that If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he invented the “so bad it looks good” look. In any case, only sheer confidence can pull it off. I am a fan!

(Image from thesundaysbest.org)

WASTED CRAYON

I've been doodling with paint since grade school. It started out as a mandatory thing that I loathed my instructor for making me paint something I really didn’t like. The stuff I painted was truly horrible. Emotional and totally strange, but I did it - and realized I loved it.The more I painted , the better I got (I think) so I enjoyed it even more. Over time, it became a stress reliever (aside from retail therapy). When things were pretty down in the dumps, I write. It's not hard for me. It doesn't take much time at all. I'm not a big De Quiros thinker-type, I just write what comes spewing out my enlarged head. I'm in a drought now. I have had them before - when things are just beyond terribly unpleasant and the " I do not feel like doing anything" kind of phase. Or, when things are just so great and I'm here, lazy, and totally don't feel compelled to write. Thankfully, right now I'm stuck in the latter stage and haven't written anything like who knows when because I'm too dimly content to work.
(My set I did last year)
I tried to work on something fun last week, just to force myself into it, but it went something like this:blank canvas, totally blank.

I mean, the thoughts were there, but I couldn't get them to form anything interesting or creative. Instead, I just forced myself up and tossed my sketchbook back on my bedside table. I've never believed in forcing yourself to write or paint. Creative outlets and some good combustion, and when I just "write to write" it comes out like uhg, and then I feel bad and think I have no talent.What good is that?

Shopping cures depression

(repost: June 29,2007)

MOLESKINE DOODLE


I am sitting among my unfinished paintings from my most recent series. In it, I separate my character into colors and superego and let the two fight-over topics such as the future direction of my art. The cycle of my self-love / self loathing desires. As I write, I find my works to be much more compelling. Most of my paintings posted here is an effort to give an image to the character.
---
some doodles from my moleskine sept 27,2007

BLUE GRAY

( Loving his blue coat. Dad called two nights ago from the US saying that he got me a nice navy coat. Am I thrilled? Hope it doesn’t disappoint me. Thank you Dad!)
Classic oxford lace-ups, sockless in gray trousers - perfect!

I am not at all trendy. I like my clothes that would last me for decades, not a season. My style is a seamless combination of old and new, a pseudo conservative guy who wants quality.Think mid 70’s ( looking at mom and dad’s photos) ,shirts fit snugly, blazers are cut narrow, slim button-downs have concealed shoulder vents so you can actually move your arms. It is unstudied, it seems like you have spent no time at all getting yourself together, even if you have. If you see something you like, it doesn’t really matter whether it is out of fashion.
I really love his style, a mix of prep, vintage and all american chic
I have bought a lot like when they were out of style and I was very proud to wear them. Mix and match, plaids, stripes, solids, learn to play with what you have, trust me. (Images from thesundaysbest)

August 11, 2008

MY MATERNAL GREAT GRANDPARENTS FROM MY UNCLE'S PHOTO BOX

My great grandparents, Manuela Ballesteros Soliman - Valderrama and Catalino Hechanova Valderrama
My great grandfather Catalino Hechanova Valderrama
My Great grandmother Manuela Ballesteros Soliman

Interesting photos of my great grandparents from my uncle’s photo box all kept in pristine condition. Mom never showed me a picture, thank god for family genealogy sites like Geni.

August 09, 2008

SILK SHORTS AND PAISLEYS

I am a complete sucker for shorts from seersucker to linen , the photo above is a perfect example of what I am talking about ( it’s my weekend uniform, talk about being too lazy to dress up) I can see it being worn over everything from my preppy pique polo shirts to crisp white dress shirt in fitted black blazers. Ideas of beautiful custom-made clothes are swirling in my head. Time to go fabric sourcing in the Metro ( There are a lot btw in Manila) ! Kamuning? Metro? Fabric warehouse? Ilaya? Image from www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com

August 07, 2008

HAPPY ON PROJECT RUNWAY PHILIPPINES

Supporting my cousin ( Happy Guingona David) and the entire Philippine fashion industry in watching Project Runway Philippines. Location: SOFA ( School of Fashion and the Arts), Paseo de Roxas Makati. New Episodes every WED 10 pm ETC and SBN21. See photos below

NO BLEACH - I DYE

Shape shifting and deconstructing my clothes has turned into a genuine diversion of mine to fight stress...although inadvertent, but nevertheless time-consuming enough to keep me kicking ( yeah, I easily get bored). While scuttling with my stained DKNY dress shirt that I accidentally bleached due to not reading the “ no bleach” instructions, it got me into a light bulb moment – what is a better way to revive this thing? ( I totally don’t want to give it away, worse – throw ) trying to outfit myself for one thing or another, I often get drawn into a trance. Buzz – reconstruct this baby with new buttons ( preferably black), and dye it to something more magical ( time to work with my packs of venus fabric dye). I’ll have to rush to a fabric store this weekend to purchase more materials and maybe new fabrics too.

Project 1: dye my stained DKNY dress shirt
Project 2: Have a dress shirt made similar to the kaftan like cotton shirt below ( picture taken at Carlo’s new store in Greenbelt 5 and yes, it’s Paul Smith) I’m definitely on my preppy mode
Project 3: shop more and recycle

August 06, 2008

TRIO SALE AT FIVE

( Ben Sherman Pullovers in Nautical and Argyle and pumps from Opening ceremony)
( Temporary sale area, soon to be Paul Smith Greenbelt 5)
( More coats in black, gray and ash)( loving that vintage table)
( See by Chloe, Mc Queen and Paul Smith)

Trio Marketing ( Ben Sherman, Paul Smith, See by Chloe, Swear, Opening Ceremony, Mc Queen etc) has always been a coastal joint in the Metro. Every year, they have guys and girls come flock and go crazy over unique and brilliant designs.This is a great opportunity to get your hands on some really groovy designs and at a really great prices.

Pieces that I have been eying—crew neck pullover, bermuda shorts, canvass sneakers, weekend bag and more totes.
(Photo taken by me)

MY COUSINS WEDDING

ART BUCOY EUSTAQUIO + MARIBEN TAN
Regency Astoria, Zamboanga City Philippines
Photos (Prenup) Lito Sy ,(Wedding) mangoRED and Pat Dy , (Gown) by Frederick Peralta The pictures are devoid of blunt romanticism. Instead there is a touch of somberness, but for all the gloominess, moments of romantic hope darts across the series of photos. The impression it leaves goes much deeper.With every project, comes a new course. We took the step away from the meticulously planned photo shoot to the calculated snapshot. We must have wanted to rebel against the quick-flash shutterbug alacrity of the glossy portrait world, as all of these images show a slow, steady, calm of imperfection. The couple is captured during moments of exhalation, relaxation, set against Zamboanga’s brooding backgrounds with soft, matte lighting that brings to mind the luminescent brush of the Dutch painters.But look for no narrative - we gather an impression solely from what we see. The images are in the tradition of allegory.
Source :
http://mangored.com/blog
Too bad I wasn’t able to fly home to attend my cousin Art's wedding…will definitely catch up with you soon - Congratulations! About time, it made me think about my wedding. I’ll definitely go for a preppy weekend wedding country club style.

August 05, 2008

26TH ON THE 4TH ( A BIRTHDAY)

August 4, 2008 ,Felix, Greenbelt 5
Had to let you guys know again how great it was to see everyone last night. Turning a year old isn't always fun but with you guys at dinner I was elated to turn a year older. I so appreciate your making the trip despite the weather. With people like you guys to spend time with, any age is great!