INSTAGRAM AND OOTD's - BECAUSE GETTING DRESSED IS A RITUAL

(Because details are meant to be subtle. They should be noticed and not gawked at - Zac Posen. Follow me on Instagram)

Sometimes, something as superficial as picking a good outfit will actually have profound repercussion on your well being.  Believe me, getting dress is a ritual.

TUESDAY DAYDREAMING AND POSSIBLE QUARTER LIFE

Things have started to hit me since I turned a year older a few days ago. Quarter life? I’ve no clue!

My mother once told me to stop being too optimistic and be more realistic – of course I never listened. Even my sister think I daydream too much. I mean, what’s wrong?

Growing up, I think I have always been a dreamer - the “eyes open” kind as my father says. I used to dream of the places I could go, the things I could be, you do that when you’re young - I guess I still do … but they also know who I am. You find that out when you put yourself in the world, when you build something, manage a team, a class of 20 7 year olds, teach them that it takes courage and hopefully give them some. 

I made a career out of my passions and life out of my dreams and now I have something in my life that I have not had in a while – time. Time to dream new dreams, time to follow them.

Every man looks out of the horizon and sees something, something worth the journey. You don’t always know how to get there, or what there even looks like but you keep moving forward, keep finding, keep discovering.

My father used to say, “you can’t get lost if you don’t know where you are going…” I think I finally know what he means. But the truth I found is, the only time you’re ever truly lost is when you move backwards. If you take your eye off the horizon, and you stop dreaming and you stop moving forward towards your goal.

ROLLIN LIKE A BOSS

Thanks to the country’s record economic growth, iconic British luxury vehicle brand Rolls-Royce has finally come to the Philippines. Fast forwards and a couple of glasses of cranberry cognac and champagne after, I just found out the Rolls-Royce Ghost on display for P25.9 million has been bought on the spot by Willie Revillame. Ok, I think my jaw and my man boobs just dropped. haha

(At last night’s launch: myself in a bespoke black suit from Yuen’s, Striped green dress shirt from Ralph Lauren and Fratelli Rossetti black calf cap-toe lace-ups. Ingrid and her Papillon leather twisted and knotted bag by Bally – beautiful! )

And oh, I think I was the only non-Chinese in the crowd aside from Victor Aliwalas hahaha. Anyway, where on earth is my cheese fondue?

THE WEEKENDER

I haven’t had the time to update my blog as often as I used to due to the fact that I have been extremely busy since the first week of January – blame it on the countless year end reports, client luncheons and weekly alignments.

Recently, I chanced upon an article in the Philippine Online Chronicles describing the way I dress *rubs eyes*, is this for real?

Though I’m really not a fan of leather sandals, 90 percent of what was written about me was on the spot – me!

I was described to have the weekender vibe and carry this carefree style well – thanks for all the kind words, Lorraine.

You can read more about me and get helpful tips from other guys like Ryan Guevarra of Everywhere We Shoot, Miguel Celestial of El Bosquejo and Kevin Yapjoco of Bespoke man here.

Honestly, there are men out there who embrace fashion, and there is no harm that you do, too.

Now, who's ready to Malasimbo - Nantucket style??!!

BOOK: LIFESTYLE ASIA HOME & AWAY

(Lifestyle Asia's Home & Away, a special limited edition coffee table book now available in bookstores and newsstands)

A big congratulations to Anna Sobrepena, Cheryl Tiu, Cristina Gomez and the whole team on a very successful launch of Lifestyle Asia’s Home & Away, a special limited edition coffee table book featuring the gorgeous homes of Manila society in the Philippines & overseas.

(Top: Amparito Lhuillier and Cheryl Tiu. Bottom: Myself with Alfonso Tagliaferri)

Of course, Cebu Doyenne Amparito Lhuillier, mother of international fashion designer Monique Lhuillier flew in from the queen city just for the event – high five to that! 

MAMBO ITALIANO

Italian actor Andrea Bosca was in town for four days and aside from stuffing ourselves with mozzarella balls the whole night, we decided to have a few glasses of red instead and a platter of cheese at the Lanai.

( Top: Alfonso Tagliaferri, Andrea Bosca and Christian Besler. Bottom: Andrea and myself.)

And oh, don’t forget the limoncello and those bottles of ice cold, lemon flavored beer.

(Andrea Bosca in this year’s Magnifica Presenza, Ferzan Ozpetek’s masterpiece that finally, after years, departs from his usual production. Not bad!)

HITTING 30 AND KIEL JAMES PATRICK

One day is not enough for someone hitting the big 3-0.

Yes, squeezing everything in within twenty-four hours seriously, is not enough time to celebrate good times.


(What to choose? Photo by Muffy Aldrich)

I am definitely not throwing a party, no flaming cakes, balloons and paper hats this year but that doesn’t mean this year won’t be as memorable as last year.

Life is short, and I pretty much deserve a few simple things aside from my regular lemon drop martini.

Here’s my list – you guys know where to send them *wink* haha

(Huntsman Vineyard Wilde and Werewold in Dublin belts, both from Kiel James Patrick)


(JFK knot bracelet also from Kiel James Patrick)

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

I have been trying to hold my shit together the past few weeks, House by Kindness on repeat almost daily, a few shots of Jägermeister before hitting the sack, at which point I started bawling my hazy head off.




I need a breather! I need to update my wardrobe and get myself a new pair of loafers! And oh, I just realized, I have not gotten a decent leave from work since 2003.

No need.

I HAVE BEEN DOODLED

Yes, all my life, I've honed a talent for being able to fill up a blank canvas with oil and acrylic but never with watercolor and pencil.


(Buddha Banana, Illustrated! Illustration by Mikhail Douglas Ong Quijano)


Mikhail’s doodles are pretty impressive – the resemblance is uncanny!

FELIZ NAVIDAD Y BON NADAL

Next to shopping and a shot or two of Jeiger, there ain't nothing that packs up and tears out faster than the Christmas spirit.



Mi abuelito used to tell me and my hermana this when we were little, "Esta noche es Noche-Buena, Y no Es noche de dormir" which means "Tonight is the good night and it is not meant for sleeping!"

Natural high, YES! I couldn’t stop myself from singing, “cascabel cascabel, suena cascabel, este dia en trineo vamos a pasear, Navidad Navidad hoy es Navidad, es un dia de Alegria Y felicidad!!!!”

ON MENSWEAR AND 30 MODEL SET CARDS LATER

It has been a week since I last posted.

Friday, The unofficial end of my week. NOT! Three tropical typhoons, 30 model set cards and a stampede of workload after, I am still at my desk trying to figure out how this online time entry works.



On the brighter side, my day was punctuated by a copy of the broadsheet my friend sent via courier with the article I wrote a few weeks back on menswear and getting it right. Hah!

I still have another article due y mi día no ha terminado todavía! Can someone get me a glass of martini!

Anyone?

WHAT ISN'T THERE REALLY TO LOVE ABOUT BIRTHDAYS?

I find it to be a true blessing to have the opportunity to have enjoyed yet another awesome year.


(I just thank God I don’t live in a trailer. -Jimmy Buffet)

I have always believed that there is a gift in everything. Recently, I took the opportunity to reflect on my short 29 years and I find myself in deep gratitude for all the surprises life has given me and continues to give me. Anywhere from blessing me with supportive parents, a successful career to being able to look at life from an optimistic view (which I tell you, irritates mom big time).


(This year was a year of mixed blessings.)

Yes, I did manage putting 29 pairs of red socks and a couple of gingham shirts in purple, red and blue up, turning a year older wasn’t difficult - It actually seems to be pretty ok.

Life is truly a blessing especially when you choose to consciously enjoy it.

This year, I’m spending it with good friends and family over paella , cojonudos, chorizo, tapas and sangria. Definitely not at El Bulli but just as good with the right company.

Grazie così tanto. Chinchin!

AU REVOIR MANILLE, BONJOUR PARIS !

Au revoir, Tessa! Bonne chance dans votre nouvelles aventures dans the City of Lights!


(T: Tessa, Myself and Alfonso, B: Finn and Alfonso)


(Arrun and his jaeger bomb)


(T: Irene and Sigrid, B: Finn trying his best to give birth HAHA!)

We will all miss you! Á votre santé!

NODDING MY HEAD LIKE YEAH

Aside from me on the verge of pulling my hair with a nipper working on my communications deck for a new business client presentation, I will be doing my impression of a pro-active public relations practitioner, blogger and a ghost writer for a magazine, a role I think I do well unless Chicho’s willing to reveal himself.



Yesterday was the first day of Philippine Fashion Week and guess what, I wasn’t too happy. Can I just have my pasta chamba and a plate of crispy chicken from canteen?

URBAN PREPPY FARMER

Pardon my self-promotion as I watch my skin darken from the blazing equatorial sun in my navy shorts, red gingham button-down shirt and loafers.


(A photo of me, Yup – you got it! Like my friend Anton, I figured we have been very elusive and hardly show our faces in our blogs compared to Ninja boy wonder – Cholo haha)

I might have gone a little crazy but I would rather walk around Salcedo park than toast myself alive inside my room and end up looking like an obese Mr. Gingerbread man.

The truth is, I only wanted to change out of my pajamas. So, what did you wear over the weekend?

Photo by Darrel Pobre of BNS.

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo to everyone from Buddha Banana and no, I'm not in Tijuana - just south of the border haha



Little Christmas Tree
Promise you will be
Nobody else's little Christmas tree
I'll make you sparkle, just you wait and see
My little Christmas tree

AM NO ABERCROMBIE & FITCH GUY BUT I WEAR WEAJUNS AND SHORT SHORTS

I remember mom would make me wear pink, khaki and plaid when I was little and pulled it off quite nicely. Shirts and shorts mostly from Lacose, Le Tigre and her all time 80’s favorite Collezione – yes, that store along J. Bocobo street in Ermita.

My parents believed in traditional clothing and viewed it not as a style but as clothes worn for generations. Suddenly, I have gone back in time when I used to borrow dads Weejuns to school and wear my Tretorns to church. I never gave up and it has been my uniform since god knows when.

Growing up down south, my summers were usually spent waking up early, hitting the fairway at eight in the morning with cousins and sometimes with my dad when I was 9 and ending the day hitting a few buckets at the driving range.





Vincent Schoepfer's Gossip Boy S/S 2010

The past few days, I have been frequently checking out Vincent Schoepfer’s Gossip Boy collection for S/S 2010. His collection simply embraces the dapper philosophy of waistcoats, henleys, prints and bow-ties creating a modern uniform of travel.

CONFUSED STATE OF BEING TRENDY

I was surprise to bump into a friend I haven’t seen in seven years two days ago while rushing to my small group meeting in Joya. She went “I love what you’re wearing, it’s really trendy”.

Trendy? Me? I was never trendy. I view myself as very traditionalist guy. I know I like my pants to fit a certain way but that doesn’t make me trendy.

(vintage Canvas bag with real leather straps, nylon sando bag from Daiso, notebook, lipbalms from Kiehls and Burtsbees, my trusty Canon digital ixus, orange card holder, post its and my old Nokia N70 [yes, I aint at all techy])

I remember mum would always tell me “If you want to know a person's true style and personality, look at their shoes and bags". Using one of those many aphorisms that mums hand down, the saying survives because it's perceptive whether it's a pair of scruffy wingtip hacked from my grandfathers closet or a shined pair of classic tussled Bass loafers.

My look is a mixture of different things: generally preppy which all boils down to classic clothes – a pair of khaki pants, dark denim, basic black pullover, gingham, a lot of tailored shorts and white and blue oxford shirts, plaids, stripes, real basic old school style and am still a pique polo shirt kid. Looking at my closet pretty much says I wear the same stuff all the time like a uniform.

(And oh, the photos above from street etiquette is truly a site to visit.)

I am as close to my tailor as I am to my mom and I have to credit my parents for being sharp dressers.

LAST PAGE SKETCH - MOLESKINE

The fine adjustment, scalpel, infraspinatus
Then,
Champaigne, river, a pencil and some scratch papers

As described by my university literary folio editor ( Ateneo’ 2001)

CONSTANT BLAHS

A week ago, I was incoherently babbly---lots of fumbling sounds that didn't have any pattern or intention. I would just shriek and then laugh and then flap my lips around and laugh some more. A few days ago, something clicked and I started saying one "word" over and over, with intention and rhythm: "blah, blah, blah, blah, etc." I say it in a constant stream that goes on forever, and sometimes will stop speaking, but will silently move my lips in the same way, in endless repetition. I am no longer a random babbler!

Photo credit: Laikanet