SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: ON WHAT TO PACK AND GETTING THE PERFECT TAN

Packing for the province always isn’t too easy for me especially when it’s sweltering hot down south (yes, double the humidity compared to Manila).



What I have considered packing with me:

1.Espadrilles. Who cares about them being a big trend, I’ve had my pair even before
it became a trend in this part of the world. My Abuelito (grandfather) would
always wear them walking around the terraza and lanai.
2.My pink beach shorts. I’d rather be easily spotted in the middle of the sea than be
bitten by barracudas.
3.Sun tan lotion (yes, not sun block!).
4.Slim shorts in red, khaki, navy and seersucker.
5.My go-to cotton plaid shirts
6.My trusty perfectly beaten-up tan Gucci loafers
7.A pair of white dress shirts in cotton and oxford.
8.And a pair of selvedge denim for than unexpected after party.

It is always important to head down south or whichever destination you’re going for
the holidays with a simple but sophisticated capsule wardrobe. And please, no fur!

I have also been looking forward to the following:

1.An early morning drive to the farm.
2.House-hopping from lunch to dinner ( plus a few
bottles of wine).
3.Afternoon merienda (knickerbocker) at uncle
Greg’s restaurant, Palmeras.
4.The usual Hawaiian dinner at my aunt’s place overlooking the city.
5.Lazy afternoons at our Lanai.
6.A trip to pink sand Santa Cruz Island (yes, I need
to get toasted!)
7.Gift shopping in Barter and Yakan Village.
At the same time, I am also looking forward to getting back on the first of next
year to start working on a big project.

Note to self: have those golf clubs cleaned before hitting the fairway.

9 DAYS TO CHRISTMASLAND

Living in the metro, where the weather is fairly humid most of the year and extremely chilly on December, I could wear almost anything.

I have to admit that it was easy to fall into the casualness of shorts, loafers and my basic oxfords. For many years, that was mostly what I wore, adding dark trousers, pullovers, gingham, plaids and crisp white dress shirts to work.

Being home for the holiday is always a good thing. Last year was my first time in 5 years.

(Perfect December : flannel shirts from Gitman vintage, oxford and pullovers from from apc, pea coat from Steven Alan, JS boarskin luggage tug and nano universe tote)

Back home, our family would dress more formally during Christmas dinner and my parents and aunts expect us to always dress nicely.

Mum would always tell us, way back in Negros (Bacolod) where she’ is from, people wore clothes that was not only appropriate to their activities but were also made from the fibers native and appropriate to the place.

I can’t wait to see my family again – counting the days till’ the afternoon of the 18th.

Now, what clothes to bring? I only have 18 kilos.