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.

RANDOM PLAYLIST: PUMPED UP KICKS

I am totally ready for October! Just dove into a pile of used Christmas lights and glow sticks.

Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks from Foster The People on Vimeo.

TWO DAYS TO SUNSHINE

In an effort to seclude myself from all the stress in the big city (not that I am complaining), I am flying down laidback south in the afternoon of Wednesday and I could not stop myself from listening to this Jam – it has been 4 days.

Dirty Gold - California Sunrise from Panaframe on Vimeo.

I have quiet adjusted my body to accommodate less alcohol since the last four day long weekend, monitoring the general intake of ten million little things--- booze, caffeine, medications and more booze.

My body seems to be making the transition so much more quickly than my mind. I definitely need my fourth glass of Moët & Chandon.

QUARTER LIFE, MI GORENG AND BLOWING CANDLES ON THE 4TH

When I was in grade school I would get so excited about my birthday and I would have these great ideas of what I would do for my birthday like a grand party at home with balloons, a piñata and games or what mum and dad would do for me but when they did not happen I would be disappointed and not eat for days. I was not spoiled with my parents and I believe I do not set my expectations as high as I did 18 years ago - I just try to enjoy the day and do a few things that make me happy.

I have enjoyed receiving wishes from my friends, colleagues (YES, the simple things) but I am seriously not excited about my birthday. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy with how things are going with myself and my life.

I still have not thought of anything to get myself on my birthday.I don’t need a new phone nor a new pocket camera. I have more than enough bags and I am starting to run out of storage for all. Probably all I need is to update my wardrobe with more basics and a new pair of brown brogues.




(All photos from Jak & Jil)
I will be turning 28 in two weeks and I know anything can change at any moment. What is wrong?

Thank god for Mi Goreng spicy chicken noodles.

PATTERNS, DOODLES AND A BUCKET LIST

I only take advantage of real luxury once a year when I fly home down south for the holidays like waking up late with breakfast still on the table, afternoon siestas, having five shirts tailored in three days and lazy weekends spent at the farm.

I'm finally back at work after two weeks of not doing anything and have decided to do a bucket list to welcome the new year ( Hey Hey to 2010!). Here they are:

•Have more weekend brunches with good friends ( SALA and M Café has always been a favorite ever since Lumiere closed shop a few years back)


(Photo from hybebeast)

•Have more clothes tailored

•Learn pattern making from mom ( which I should have when I was home for the
holidays)

•Draw, doodle and do whatever on my Moleskine

•Reward myself with a new bag – probably a customized Goyard St. Louis in black and tan

•RECYCLE



•Travel abroad more often ( Barcelona, Paris, New York, Melbourne, Tokyo, Hong-Kong,Taipei and Georgetown)

•Fly to Zamboanga twice a year

•Go to small group and attend Sunday Service more often

•Paint more and hopefully an exhibit



•Visit sisters in Florida

•LOSE WEIGHT (Yes, I no longer look like a ball – more like the world now)

•Improve spiritual life and honeymoon with God more often

•SAVE (like really save!)

•Get a promotion, a raise and probably be assigned overseas

•Walk more

(other photos from slightly north)

NEW YEAR AND BOO HOO TO DEBBIE DOWNER

A big HEY to 2010, moving in to my new space in Makati ( which I believe is way better than my current space at the Fort) and I’m finally getting rid of Debbie Downer and those that no longer make any sense.

Anyway, summer is near and soon malls in the metro will again be invaded by people trying to beat the burning heat of the tropics.



Frolicking in the park, nah! My idea of a day at the park includes laying down on the grass and eating grapes, cheese and drinking wine, tailored shorts, a nice comfortable cotton shirt and espadrilles.

Why wait for summer when you can do it now and please, no making of flower crowns.

Happy New Year ya'll!

BOAT RIDES AND ESPADRILLES IN LITTLE SPAIN

Sometimes you don’t really need a passport or a visa to get to one of the most secluded places on earth.

I grew up down south, and to me , el pueblo de Zamboanga was more like Seville in Espana than crazy Tokyo – as far away, secluded, and steeped in nature as any place could possibly be.

There is beauty and calmness in the pueblo that the metropolis has long forgotten, and I adore that.

Why Zamboanga? The hours are definitely longer down south – a dreamy golden hour quality. In that light, you end up having coffee with an older relative and in my case, it’s definitely my mom or my favorite aunt Nela and telling them all my secrets.

It may be a little farther away from everywhere else but the smell down south is what I always think of – a combination of freshly grown grass, the mountains, the sea and of course an 80 percent chance of running into someone you know when you step out of your car.

My favorite food? No surprise : crabs, prawns and curacha, a very popular deep-sea crustacean found only in the waters of Zamboanga, where spectacular seafood abound. I wont eat it anywhere else but in Zamboanga. We buy them right off the boats and have crab bake with mussels, oysters, sausages and tuna belly thrown into a fire pit against the rock. Oh how I miss the luxury down south.

(Don’t forget to bring out your floppy sun hats and espadrilles. See you all next month! Photo from The Sartorialist)

ZERO HANDCARRY AND A BROKEN LUGGAGE

Selamat petang! As a frequent traveler, I know how difficult it is to pack. Mum would obsessively do all the packing for us when we were younger, neatly rolling and folding our shirts, trousers, etc just to make it all fit in one luggage.

(Downtown Kuala Lumpur's Petaling St. is a bustling night market serving as a bargain hunter's paradise and one of the premier shopping areas in the city)

My experience during my last trip to Indonesia from Singapore was horrible, carrying 2 huge luggages from terminal 1 to 3 at Changi was a nightmare and learning that most of the airlines right now are charging as much as $25.00 or Php 1,175.00 per check-in is another big thing and it makes packing light more sense than ever.

Thank god my 6 year old Samsonite luggage finally gave up on me during my big move last week. Anyway, I won't be able to pack as much into a bag that is heavy to begin with.

One should always get a lighter luggage – I actually got mine in leather that I really like last Christmas at +AC 632 (Thank you Ricky and Chito!). It’s always important to travel in style haha.

(Style Guide : Perfect downtown wear in the tropics. Amir Toos of NYC in White pique shirt and seersucker shorts. Photo from The Sartorialist)

WHAT TO BRING:
1.5 to 6 pairs of shorts
2.A pair of dark blue jeans
3.My favorite loafers and tussled moccasins I got from Dad
4.Crisp white oxford shirt
5.Lightweight pullover
6.My trusted iXus
7.Moleskine
8.Ray-ban aviators I got from Dad
9.And my Fred Perry Canvas tote

Always choose the right Clothes depending on the weather and since I’m traveling to another tropical country near the equator, gather all the lightweight clothes you can possibly wear.

COTTON SHEETS AND SEPARATATION ANXIETY

I just moved in my new pad yesterday. Done un-boxing 3 out of the 6 boxes, exhausted, lying in my bed on a new clean 500-thread count khaki Egyptian cotton sheet and white duvet.

Listening to Toro Y Moi, windows open, the sound of the elevator, a bottle of cold beer on my makeshift nightstand along with a framed watercolor painting I did 6 years ago.

(Photos from chillhiro and Toro y Moi)

I haven’t shopped in months, I haven’t blogged in weeks, I have a lot running through my head, I need a breather.

Counting the days till my first official 5 day leave from work.

10,9,8…..

FABRIC SHOPPING

(photos from Burkman Bros)

Yesterday was a good fabric buying day for me and my mom! We never leave Fanbi or any fabric shop empty handed. Yesterday was no exception, two and a half yards of purple,red, yellow and green plaid, red tartan fabric all in pure Japanese cotton and mom ended up buying little snippets of polka dots and paisley.




Obviously mom paid for everything – I’ll definitely be buying more next weekend.



Above is a preview of what I was designing last night.

MOVING ACROSS HIGHWAY 54

How many more boxes?

The past four weeks after tropical storm Ketsana has been very transitional for me. I am finally moving in to my new space on the 1st of next month and yes, I still have four huge boxes full of crap to complete the job.



Some design inspirations from Apartment Therapy

My new space is absolutely amazing though bare and not as posh as my old location but trust me, I feel like I will be moving into a beachfront hotel in Siam after living in a space I did not at all love for five years.

I still have not found the right furniture for my space (beddings, curtains, a side table, a closet and a floor lamp) – Buddha needs help!

WEEKEND NIRVANA

While many of us journey to the freezing malls of the metro to look for retail enlightenment on weekends, I spend mine doodling on my moleskine, lazily sourcing for fabrics, and thrift shopping around Evangelista equivalent to Nirvana.

There’s more to shopping than those high-street retail giants. When I find something with interesting details that I like, I’m inspired by it and use it as an inspiration on my next retail excursion and my paintings.

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.

MUCH NEEDED WEEKEND BREAK AT THE BUTT CRACK OF DAWN

Ironically, being invisible for the past two months also meant that I've been insanely busy working on new business pitches, editing and writing multiple press releases, organizing press conferences and making progress on other stuff that's been languishing.

I haven’t even had the chance to squeeze in a little bit of shopping during workday lunch or happy hour and finding a better balance only means I have to do what I have to do, and what I have to do is get work done and find a way to take advantage of my weekends instead of bringing work home all the time.



Then, I woke up one weekend morning up at the butt crack of dawn realizing I haven’t done anything interesting for the past year and a half. I haven’t gone sailing, I haven’t visited the driving range nor kissed the putting green in ages, paint and hold an exhibit, shopped impulsively without mom and dad stopping me, traveled abroad nor find the time to visit mi mamá y papá down south. I really need to figure out how to not exhaust and burn myself from this curse.

I must shut up and work on the pitch fast - buddha needs to shop this weekend!

Here’s what’s on my list this weekend:

shawl collar sweater

new black oxford lace-ups

crisp white dress shirt

new black leather watch straps

probably sourcing for fabrics too and yes,


bonus item – deck shoes! Haha


And oh, drop by Plant and check out the Rockwell Urban Bazaar ( Dean & Trent’s there!)

DIAL SICK AND SPRINKLES

I hate that I have not posted anything worth reading lately due to my hectic work schedule, constant vertigo attacks and unscheduled fever. I don't have much of an internal life at all anymore, really. I have been sick for the past three days and I tell you, it isn’t fun at all. Last nigh, my temperature rose to 40 and I had to rush myself to the hospital.


(craving for cupcakes from sprinkles lately thanks to friends coming over to visit from the west coast bringing me a box of rainbow colored goodies - need sugar rush to keep me active)

I have been mostly spending my days in twitterville, the cluttered land of one-liner status updates that is supposed to summarize my entire life - ok, that made me more sick.

Guys, please pray for my speedy recovery.

ALL YOU NEED IS A PEN

Going old school has always been my thing and my Moleskine became my weapon on choice ever since I got hold of one a couple of years ago. One thing I love about it is its ruggedness and portability. A bit pricey for a notebook but totally worth the money.

(Today’s purchase - a new notebook and yes, it aint Moleskine. I discovered Monologue just now, a bit cheaper and oh, it has more pages than my old moleskine haha and a copy of Canteen/Issue four.)

It’s also a great venue to jot down ideas, an instant sketch pad or record something interesting that I’ve read or heard and yes, you can carry it around whether at a café on a lazy weekend, on a train or in an airplane.


(Photography by Stephen Elliott)

I also got myself a copy of Canteen, a literary magazine loaded with poetry, art and photography designed to look more like a fine art book than a dusty journal – such a steal for $10. I’m totally loving it!

BEABI BLACK NYLON BAG

Earlier, I dropped by Greenbelt and bought this simple nylon black bag out of impulse.

It comes with an easy storage bag which I converted into a pencil case

and you can fold it too.

Its form is simple and focuses on functionality over embellishment – definitely utilitarian! I have always been a fan of 'brandless’ quality goods and this will be my companion to go through lazy weekends at the village market and fabric sourcing at the mall.

SHADES OF GREEN

I always find myself drawn to the simplest of palettes.


A couple of potted plants in your room is the easiest way to give your space a natural feel and it always gives me the feeling like I am in cultural camouflage, blending in perfectly with a landscape full of genuine privation. Will shop for plants tomorrow!

UNHEALTHY HABIT

I've realized I desperately need to make some sort of a lifestyle change. I have been buying a lot of magazines to keep me sane on lazy weekends at home. It's such an amazing feeling to splurge completely on things you like but I know how unhealthy that is for my pocket.

I know myself and I know I won't be able to cut it out completely. I was never good at depriving myself.

I’m seriously considering framing old photos, buying back issues and guess what, more pots and plants – yippee!


(I'll definitely be doodling more,potting herbs and carry my 6 year old L.L Bean tote around more often rather than buying an indulgent item - hmmm. Plant photos from Tokyo Polaroid)

Be dropping by Manila Contemporary this Saturday to check out prints from Julian Schnabel and probably shopping for pots and plants and oh, listening to Zee Avi now.

J'AIME MACARONS!

Taken at Bizu earlier. I had to control myself and not go gaga buying everything up! I did buy a couple of macarons – like 6 flavors!

And Ox tail stew for lunch - The price I pay after working on a French brand for three weeks. J'aime macarons!!!

Need to go to Paris - I want Ladurees!