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There are parties that go on all night, every night, all night. If that’s the way you want to live, you never need to see the sun. Or you can be asleep at 10 every night and be up at 6, and never see the night life.

And each one is cool and everyone just does their own thing here. Manila has a way of becoming a real home. It can be the most messed-up place in the world but trust me, it can also be the most amazing.

HOLD ON AS I DROOL WHILE FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES OF THE WALLPAPER* CITY GUIDE MANILA

Southeast Asia’s underrated capital and most progressive art and design hub is slowly paving its way to becoming a regional and  international design destination.

Fast forward, we’re finally on the map, thanks to The Wallpaper* City Guide Manila.

Carefully written and curated by Cheryl Tiu and Kissa Castañeda-McDermott,  it packs 65 beautifully shot photos and recommendations on our city in 103 pages, from art and design to dining.

Whether he/she has a week or 24 hours in the city, this perfect travel companion cover landmark buildings like the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), towering Discovery PRIMEA, design centers like Avellana Gallery (A11) in Pasay for a dose of Filipino contemporary art, and the best shops to buy items unique to Manila, like FIRMA in Paranaque.

And who said Manila’s all about selfies and hour long traffic? Think Sau Paolo.

TAKE ME BACK TO CHEUNG CHAU

And I’m finally back in town after an easy break in Hong Kong.

(Easy Saturday Morning - the view from my window.)

Finding peace in Manila is about as likely as seeing to the bottom of murky Manila Bay. The traffic, pollution, groggy mornings and cranky afternoons, which make for one uptight Betty.

(Home if where the heart is: South of Hollywood Road and Cat Street)

Rewind - given Hong Kong's reputation for skyscrapers and smog, a full day was spent cycling around the quiet alleys of Cheung Chau, and late afternoons at my antique dealer’s den, scavenging for vintage posters to frame, tassels for my lamps and more 19th century Qing Dynasty emperor figures for my coffee table. 

The other two days were just spent visiting my tailor in Kowloon, long brunches at Fish and Meat, NOSH, Classified, and cocktails at Café Gray and Sevva.

JUST ABOUT AS PREP AS LADY GAGA

My head was literally floating last week due to lack of sleep with millions of client launches to attend, three new business pitches to prepare and barely 5 hours to work on everything, so please do bear with me.

While browsing the web earlier, I came across Comeback Kid,a local online treasure trove of blazers, shorts and shirts in pink, lilac, white, blue and khaki - great summer basics done in an artfully disheveled manner. I'm actually pleasantly surprised and impressed.



(I have always liked my clothes tailored, effortless and unpretentious but at the same time very deliberate.)

I just hope they have my size available.

DEAN & TRENT X WRIGHT SUPPLY S/S 2010 LOOKBOOK

(Photography: Cholo dela Vega, Text: Anton Javier, Direction: Rick Manzano)

Dean & Trent and Wright Supply Co. come together to bring forth what every discerning man needs this summer - easy pieces and fresh scents from city slicking to lounging around, you'll surely stound out in style.

MUM'S SPECIAL DAY MADE EXTRA AT PAUL SMITH!

Hurry, drop Paul Smith Manila at Greenbelt 5 and Shangri-La Mall Edsa.



Special SALE on ladies' lines and selected items are at 20% off. Promo is from May 8 - 10, 2010 only.

Anyway, Happy Mother's Day mum! Thank you for teaching me, dad, Anika and Camilla how to repair our own clothes when you're too busy playing mahjong with your sisters haha.

DANDY THE PAUL SMITH WAY

Be a dandy gentleman the Paul Smith way.


(“You can find inspiration in everything." - Paul Smith)

Drop by Paul Smith Manila at Greenbelt 5 in Makati City and Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City and enjoy a 20% off this Labor day weekend on selected items.
Hurry!

JäGERMEISTER MONDAY AND WHY WE ALL LOVE PRAGUE

The whole floor kept moving until almost midnight as if it was black Friday — a rare occurrence during the first day of the week. Prague is beautiful and so is half a bottle of French wine, a shot of Jägermeister and a plate of Brusqueta. No one talked about leaving …

THEO'S BACK

The long wait is finally over. It has been almost three months since Theodore’s temporarily closed shop at the Fort to move in to their new home in Legaspi Village.




Like Homme et Femme and Dotdotdot, Theodore’s has a pretty good selection of hard to find non-mainstream brands like Evisu, Swear, Opening Ceremony, Superga, Kid Robot and Common Projects.



More photos HERE.

Theodore’s THE STORE
G/F 106 Carlos Palanca St.
Legaspi Village
Makati Philippines

MUSIC PLAY : PAUL SMITH X

(Eric and Kris of Paul Smith / TRIO)


(Photo: ipod and bag by Eric Posadas)

In Manila, aside from functional dandy clothes and approachable shop staff who wear the brand better than anyone else, one of the other pleasures of a trip to Paul Smith is the carefully chosen music worth lingering.

TRILOGY: REDEFINING RETAIL THERAPY

Shopping and great spaces are just about my favorite things. It lightens my load and lifts my heart when I can fit both into a single trip. Thank god for lazy Sundays, I decided to tag along with Philip to check out Trilogy+Canteen.



Sneaks from Adidas and Generic Surplus

This book is quiet a visual experience

Utilitarian watches from Issey Miyake in black and beige

(Issey Miyake, Generic Surplus, Jeremy Scott for Adidas, Graphic design books, etc)

Trilogy+Canteen is a happy blend of fashion, lifestyle and food, and is finding favor with the seriously stylish. A sleek nod to a neighborhood dominated by modern office buildings, the store includes a retail area and a CANTEEN – a pretty unique set-up in the city.

Also, drop by CANTEEN for some pasta chamba,the best CHOCNUT icecream, insalata uva and french onion soup, plus they serve lavazza coffee (double treat!)

Trilogy+Canteen is located at G/F 110 Alvion Center, Rada Street, Legaspi Village. Makati

SHARK BITE NOUVEAU PREP

Beyond thrift shops, Rustans, Shoemart, etc, what was my first ‘fashion awareness’? Seeing the movie ‘Jaws’ during the 80’s. I idolized the preppy New England look when I was 7 and now I’m pretty much nouveau preppy.
And yes, I want a bike for summer.

More closet update?

WHAT TO GET MOM AND DAD FOR CHRISTMAS

Saturday shopping all over the metro from Bamboo to dimensione, Café enzo to Salcedo weekend market, Kish to Cubao Expo. What’s on my list? Resin lamp, oriental paintings,old warrior brass figures etc. Was I successful? NO!
Evangelista St., Makati
White Box Studio, Cubao Expo
KARMA, Cubao Expo

KARMA, Cubao Expo

KISH, Ito Kish

BASIC MATTER – SUEDE DESERT BOOTS

(Suede Desert boots - Opening Ceremony)

After last years Oxford Wingtips and loafers, it’s about time I keep all of them in my closet for something more comfortable (I won’t be spending Christmas in the big city – hello provincial life!). I’ve been dying to get myself a pair of soft suede desert boots and yes, I’m finally getting one next weekend. It is ssomewhere between a boot and a dress shoe, soft suede in an unexpected teal color dresses up the simple style, making it the perfect thing to pair with tailored jeans, trousers, shorts and they pretty much signal a boo 70’s vibe. It’s the best way to beat the heat a month before Christmas in Manila.

What to pack for next month’s trip:
· Espadrilles
· Suede desert boots
· Tailored shorts
· A couple of pique shirts
· 3 dress shirts
· 2 pairs of dark blue jeans
· Flip flops

WEEKEND STRESS AND DOT ONE

I pulled out all the magazines underneath my bed and I’m still up. Three glasses of non-fat milk and my eyes are still owl-like.

I am still freaking out and it has been over two hours and thirty minutes. The long drive from Tagaytay over the weekend was stressful for a single serving of pineapple pie and brewed coffee. I know I didn't screw things up but the stress of it all is just driving me nuts and I hope it ends on a good note. I just have to get it out of my head – I can’t afford waking up drowsy the next day.

on Nagae : shirt & trousers.Gaspard Yurkievich/shoes.Swear

Anyway, Dotdotdot just turned One ! Last year’s launch was right on the same day as the Manila Pen siege leading the entire mall closing around three in the afternoon. Only a handful were left inside Pia Y Damaso ( meaning, Us! Haha) - (Photos from http://www.dotshop.blogspot.com/)