Monday, February 27, 2012

PBB: Pinoy Big Bullshit (UNLIMITED)



Firstly, SORRY for the title. (I am just really pissed off right now)

I am not really a fan of local tv shows, since I am rarely infront of the tv in the first place. (read: Not because I am pa-sosyal or conyo. I AM NOT.) But every once in a while, I get to watch Pinoy Big Brother for two reasons: (1) My tita who lives with us for the meantime, is a huge fan so she's glued on it every night, and having the internet connection at home being only available at the living area at the moment, I get to watch it too while doing my nightly check on my blog and mails and other sites. (2) I am curious about Slater's stay inside the house. He is an "extended friend", as one of my closest friends Ate Caress Caballero (of Cornerstone) is one of his closest friends as well. Plus Slater I know is really such a nice nice guy, and humble and very down to earth---and so I am rooting for him.

Anyway, with all that I have been witnessing on the show for the past couple of weeks, I came to a conclusion that this season certainly is full of non-sense and bullshits.

First of all, I am not convinced at all that the set of housemates this time is amazingly interesting. Only few of them are interesting. Most of them does not have a personality. Most of them seem to be all too safe and verging on being boring. And with that, Big Brother has to do A LOT ( and I mean A WHOLE LOT) of gimmicks and all that hullabaloo just to keep things at least intriguing or engaging to the audience. 

And seriously, what's with the inconsistency and conflicting facts and grounds that big Brother is imposing and giving to the housemates and the audience? And where's the social and moral responsibility out of almost 4 months of airing. Big Brother breaking his own rules (obviously for the sake of more drama inside the house) is totally ridiculous!

For instance, this whole Kevin and Pamu thing is nothing but a well orchestrated and intelligently formulated profit-promising love team. Unluckily for the viewers, we are being told that CHEATING on your boyfriend is just but okay as long you follow your heart's desire. Remember what happened to Wendy and her boyfriend Lance, too? Kuya very well knows how to thicken a love story inside his house. He steams up a controversy, and when it is not working well for the public anymore, he immediately cuts them off. And after all the negative reaction from the public about Pamu's break-up (we really saw it coming anway) with her now ex-boyfriend (I forgot his name), I'm pretty sure Kuya will also find a way to amend things and tell everyone that there is nothing wrong about what Pamu has done.

Secondly, I do not really get the point of intentionally provoking someone to get angry and tell everyone that his/her reaction is his/her "REAL" side. Seriously? You annoy someone and PURPOSELY make him angry, and just easily judge him that it is his real personality, that he is a bad person. That is freakin' bullshit. Now I don't even wanna know how bad of a person Kuya is if you remember how madly he ranted and scolded the housemates because of that fuckin stupid mouse trap task. Bianca Gonzales in twitter said that our real self is shown out of bad circumstances and situations. Oh yeah? Now, I bet she still remembers how she begged everyone not to judge her after she made that stupid move with Zanjoe Marudo when she was a housemate.

Third point, I just don't get why the closeted evil person by the name Paco is still in the house. (Sorry Paco, I just don;t really like you.) His presence just really annoys me to death. The houseplayer thing I really do not understand at all. If Kuya wanted an evil person to annoy everyone in the house everyday, he sure picked the right person, but then I pity all the remaining housemates. They do not deserve to be in Paco's presence.

One more thing, KUYA HAS A SERIOUS TRUST ISSUE. What's with him asking the housemates what they dislike about other housemates and then letting that person hear what you said. Remember what happened to Carlo and Luz. It was unfair to Carlo as Kuya made a monster out of someone who just opened up to him and answered his question. It's unfair for him to broadcast anything to put someone in a bad light. And please, when someone tusts you and opens up to you, you do not use that to make the situation harder for the person. If it's not your sory to tell, do not.

You may all say that I am KJ or too close-minded but I definitely am not up for major liquor advertising on the show, let along showing housemates drinking and making stupid stuff while drunk for the public to see. (read: Social Responsibility) I certainly do not see anything cool about that, and I do not think it is necessary. (Again, MONEY wins over SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY)

Kuya is supposed to be the moral guide, the spiritual adviser, the character shaper and personality developer of all the housemates, and not just a mere landlord, dictator, bully (YES, he is such a bully), and preacher.

I can go on one whole day enumerating stuff I dislike and HATE about the show. Overall, the show has a lot of stepping up to do specially in terms of creativity in making tasks and challenges. Overall, this "reality show" is actually getting way too much of a soap opera...no wait, it's a sitcom... or proly a Survivor parody...

Of course, all of these are just my personal opinions and views about the show. And I know many fans of the show will just tell me to just shut up and not watch at all if I don't like it in the first place. Well, they're right. but what keeps me at least STILL interested to watch every now and then is the hope that maybe one day the show will get better and will just simply go to its main purpose, which is to show the people nature of human relationships amidst  and through different people with different personalities and from different walks of life. Letting "life" take its course, and not the network's profit driven purpose.

And honestly, the voyeuristic nature of the show sometimes make a good source of entertainment, watching people make a complete fool out of themselves, and being played at by "one person" they consider highly superior without them having the will and power to say NO. (read: BULLY)

Kung totoong tao ang hanap ng show, kailangan muna magpakatotoo ni Kuya at ng mga tao sa likod ng show na to.

As long as the team and people behind the show aren't true to themselves and to the real spirit of the show, they will NEVER EVER be able to produce a truthful show and a truthful person in each of every housemate that lives inside the house.

RED CARPET WATCH: 84th ACADEMY AWARDS

Once and for all, the Academy Awards proved that for the greatest moments in celebrity fashion, one must be tuned in to watch the red carpet and the ceremony. In Hollywood, the Oscars is the night to shine.

And while Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie proves everyone that they are no doubt the brightest and hottest twosome in Tinseltown, there were a number of stars who definitely went to step it up and shine on the red carpet.

Here are my picks for the Oscars Best Dressed:


Who else better shall we start with but Angelina Jolie wearing Atelier Versace. We may have already seen her in black on numerous awards night, but we can't help it, she always looks at her best in black. We need not fix anything that ain't broken. And seriously, when she puts her hand on her waist and shows off her legs like that, you know for sure that the battle is over.


While others are sort of not convinced that Gwyneth Paltrow in a white caped gown by Tom Ford is a major fashion winner, I did not think twice about it. She looked very regal, pristine and every inch a winner. Her hair and make-up perfectly matched her dress. It's almost minimalist but not really. 


Rooney Mara in Givenchy Haute Couture brought the house down and ended the unofficial fashion competition on the red carpet with a homerun win. She is the no. 1 best dressed in my list this year. Her delicate white dress accentuated by her bold red lippie and full bangs is just totally spot on. I am so in-love with this girl's red carpet looks, she never fails to impress me. I can see her rising to celebrity fashion icon status in no time.


It may have been compared to Nicole Kidman's Balenciaga dress in Oscars 2004, but I think Emma Stone's red with big ribbon/bow Giambattista Valli gown is very beautiful and elegant. Her hair and make-up perfectly compliments her dress too. 


Oh Hail McQueen! The very beautiful Jessica Chastain wearing Alexander McQueen is a very lovely sight on the red carpet. You can never go wrong with a McQueen creation. (FACT) I just wished though that she had a more regal and well kept updo.


GOLD. This year's Oscar Best Actress Meryl Streep truly is golden in this Lanvin creation. I love her earrings and shoes, but her best accessory of the night undeniably is her golden Oscar trophy. Viva la Streep!


Octavia Spencer looked absolutely gorgeous in her Tadashi Shoji embellished gown. I really admire full-figured women who knows how to dress well. (read: Adele)


Stacy Kiebler 's role is very simple: be a gorgeous arm-candy to Geroge Clooney. Done and done. Her Marchesa gown with the flower detail on the side could have been cheesy but she definitely pulled it off. She looked absolutely stunning!


Viola Davis may have lost to Streep for the golden statuette but she definitely won in the fashion category with this green Vera Wang dress. She was glowing on the red carpet. I also love the fact that she ditched the weave and wig. Beautiful!


One thing I am very sure of about Michelle Williams is that she never disapoints on the red carpet. And she did it once again with this lovely Louis Vuitton dress. She is a breath of effortless sophistication amidst a sea of stars in full force effort to look all glitzy and glamorous. Good job, Michelle. (PS. I love your hair so much, please don't grow it long ever again!)


Last year's best actress winner Natalie Portman looked like a prim-proper sweet ladybug princess in this 50's  Vintage Dior dress (read: WOW! VINTAGE DIOR). Though a dressier locks could have served her dress better, she still looked beautiful and radiating. 


Out of the sea of white dresses ont he red carpet, Milla Jovovich shone like a supernova in this embellished white Ellie Saab dress. I love everything about her look. The drama, the glamour and the effortless beauty. Done, done and done!



Now let me know who were on your best dressed list. Until next year's Oscars! :)

Saturday, February 25, 2012

SOMEONE LIKE YOU

Just sharing with you one of the greatest concerts ever staged on Earth: ADELE Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

Like many others in all parts of the world, I am a HUGE HUGE fan of Adele. I have started to love her music since she first released her single "Chasing Pavements" few years back.

It completely amazes me how talented this woman is, and you can just feel how genuine she is.

The whole concert has a lot of spectacular moments: one of my faves is when she acknowledged her bestfriend, whom she have had a falling-off with and had rekindled their friendship after. I have the very same story with the person whom I consider the bestest bestfriend I ever had in my life. We have had a falling off and a big fight last year but we were able to ask and give each other forgiveness and rekindled our friendship after almost half-a-year of not seeing and talking to each other. And our friendship got a lot stronger and deeper. We again got a misunderstanding late last year (because of some issues we were not able to really sat down and talk over) but we are okay now. We talk, though we do not go out like we used to before (we are together almost everyday). Like Adele, I would really like to acknowledge my bestfriend, Mac, that I (still) love you and truly trust you and I still consider you as my bestfriend. Thank you for making such a big impact in my life, which until now helps me to grow and be a better person. I would like to acknowledge the friendship we have, despite all the bumps, the crazy rumors and stories, the hearsays that were never really proven true, I still owe to you the huge part of what I am today. I really really miss you... I really do :")

Anyway, watch the entire how, and witness how amazing Adele is.

PS: I cried three times on the entire duration of the show, especially after she sang Someone Like You. :')



Youtube video courtesy of: BlUeEyEs 44575

Friday, February 24, 2012

HAPPY!

Hey guys!!! I may be one of the happiest people on earth right now!!!

Photo credit: Google Images

Iam very happy ti share to all of you guys (finally) that I am now the new Product Development Manager - Head Designer for Menswear of top local fashion brand Folded & Hung. I am very excited with this new challenge and journey I will be taking, and I really feel so grateful and blessed to be given this opportunity. With my heart full of joy and appreciation, I am thankful to all who have supported me and still continue to support me in my fashion career, even though my fashion styling job must take the backseat for the meantime for me to be able to concentrate fully on my designing.


Photo credit: Folded & Hung website


Another thing to be happy about is that I share this special day with one of the most talented and sweetest and prettiest girls I know, EMMANUELLE VERA, as her self titled debut album goes out in selected music retail stores today. I have been given the privilege of knowing this very very talented girl, and I would really like to support her in her first album. (And you guys should, too!)

Photo Credit: Cornerstone Talent Management


I first met her February last year during the Sessionista concert, as I was styling for my dear friend Markki Stroem at that time, they both were guest performers for the concert. I got to talk to her and her lovely and very kind mom, and from then on, I just fell in love the girl's talent and personality. And since then, we had few occasions of bumping into each other around ABS-CBN during ASAP or around Greenhills, and she always is very friendly and sweet.

Anyway, here's her carrier single, first song out from her album entitled "HAPPY", which she wrote/composed herself, (read: TALENT) which is so easy on the ears and on the heart. It's the type of song that you want to be playing on the background while you and your crush, or maybe bestfriend ^_^ are sharing a snack or cup coffee together. It's a sweet sugary feel-good song. Here's a sample audio clip of the song:


video credit: UniversalRecPH (youtube)

I am very happy for Emman, and I would like to say congratulations and keep up the great job you are doing. I am a fan, and I will be following you as you grow and blossom in your career.

One more happy news today: My sister just told me about her graduation date and her being a contender for latin honors. It really feels great and it warms my heart tenfolds, having been working hard to help with her college education, she is now finally graduating. I am very proud of her and I totally admire my sister for working so hard in her studies despite some family problems and bumps within the family that we had to go through these past few years. I love you sis, and for sure, I will be making your graduation dress. :)

Photo credit: Google Images


I hope everyone is having a great day today, if not then maybe tomorrow.

Spreading love and happiness to all!

Catch y'all later!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

MARNI x H&M Menswear

Here's the menswear collection of the much anticipated collaboration of Italian Fashion House MARNI and Swedish Retail Giant H&M (Hennes & Mauritz), to be released this March 7.

One word: BANANAS!!! I can definitely see myself wearing everything!











Please give me that printed jumpsuit and the black with yellow combi overlayer coat, and I am good to die. :))

Visit www.hm.com for more details. :)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

MARNI x H&M

After a very successful collaboration with Versace most recently, (and all of the other fashion designers and houses in the past years), the Swedish fast fashion retail giant H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) is at it again, launching another exclusive collection, now in collaboration with Italian fashion house Marni.

Here are some of the looks from the collection, which I personally LOVE. Marni's signature prints and vintage chic vibe + H&M's comfy and affordable price = FASHION HEAVEN.














I just love the styling and the composition of patterns and textures in every look.

All items will be available on March 8, 2012. Visit www.hm.com for more info.

Monday, February 20, 2012

WHY DOESN'T MONIQUE LHUILLER BOOK FILIPINA MODELS?

This is a question I have had in my mind for quite some time now. Given that Monique Lhuiller (a New York-based and Hollywood famous Filipino-American Fashion Designer), does shows during New York Fashion Week twice every year, I do not get the point why she does not book Filipina Models who are based in New York.



With the likes of Charo Ronquillo, Sharina Gutierrez, Charlene Almarvez, or Danica Magpantaydoing rounds on different shows during New York fashion week, I have yet to see any one of them walk for Ms. Lhuillier. But I guess this is far from happening.

Now I just think that given that she is Filipino, it could have been great if she books Filipina models on her shows, as a support to them being equally hard working in the fashion industry. She could have very well been an instrument in promoting the Filipina models trying their very best to make it big in the industry. I would, definitely, if I were on her place. She books Chinese models and other models of other Asian ethnicity but she never booked a Filipino. And do not get me wrong, coz for sure, a designer has a say on the models she gets to walk for her show.




Well, this post is not really to put Monique in a bad light or anything, I am just wondering and asking. I am just expressing an opinion, which may sound too much of country patronizing to some, but really feels right for me to be given a chance to consider at the least.

Now why doesn't Monique book Filipina models?



I DO NOT KNOW. I WANNA KNOW.

Friday, February 17, 2012

MY AMERICAN IDOL 2012

I AM ROOTING FOR YOU all the way to the top. ^_^

Image from Heejun's FB.

CHARLENE ALMARVEZ: NYFW REVIEW

k,l; Here are the list of shows FORD Filipina international top model CHARLENE "CHAT" ALMARVEZ did during the recently concluded New York Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (Fall 2012). Though we have missed fellow Filipina, Ford Supermodel of the World Danica Magpantay in New York this season, Chat did a great job for walking a total of 13 shows this season which includes her opening for A Detacher, and her impressive 5th consecutive season for Nanette Lepore.

(backstage at kimberly orvitz show)


Continuing the winning streak of Asian models on runway shows lately, Chat surely did represent Filipina beauty on the international scene, once again.

Miguel Adrover F/W 2012


The Blonds F/W 2012


Katya Leonovich F/W 2012


Nanette Lepore F/W 2012


Veda F/W 2012


Geoffrey Mac F/W 2012


RuffianF/W 2012


Costello Tagliapietra F/W 2012


Kimberly Orvitz F/W 2012


Bibhu Mohapatra F/W 2012


Mara Hoffman F/W 2012


Corey Lynn Calter F/W 2012


A Detacher F/W 2012 (Open)

This has been a great season for Chat, her best so far. With her visa issues last year resulting for her not being able to do shows in Europe, I hope this time, she and her representing agency (Elite Milan and Elite Paris) will be able to fix things out. I can't wait to see her doing shows in Milan and Paris. Milan Fashion week will commence in a few days, I am stoked. Hope she makes it.

Her walk has improved a lot from her previous seasons, it comes off stronger and more controlled (but in a good way) this year. And I totally love that she adds a very different dimension and fresh dynamics to the concept of "asian look" in runway. And I truly love her facial expression on the runway. If Sasha Pivovarova has her famous "death stare" on runways, Chat has what I call the "ninja stare". ^_^ That certain look in her eyes which spells fierce and deadly but in a concealed way. That type of stare which looks lonely and sad but at the same time you can feel that it is fighting from within---and it is just waiting to strike in a blink of an eye. (Gah, It's just so hard to explain it. 0_0)

You're on your way to the top, Chat. And a hardworking model like you will surely make it there, sooner than we all know. :)

Hugs and kisses! xxx 

image credits: style.com