METRO MAGAZINE JUNE ISSUE

Hi guys!

Just sharing with you some photos from the most recent shoot I had with Metro Magazine, featuring PBB Big Winner SLATER YOUNG.

It was such a breeze and delight styling Slater on the shoot (as always). And it was a blast working with the Metro team. Special thanks to Caress for booking me for the gig and to Kat Angco for the opportunity of working with them. :) The feature was for their June Anniversary Issue.

Enjoy the photos. pardon some which may not have the best quality for I only used my phone to capture them. :p

Oh diba, parang That's My Boy lang... :P

Behind the "Behind the Lens"

OHA! :p

SCRAAAAATCH!!!!!! :)))

Oh parang tambay lang...

Slater to chair: "Sinong BOSS mo?' :p

Model na model oh!!!

In action...

White shirt lang, PANALO na!

DESTINY!

Move over SlaVine, SlaTin, SlaNeisse, SlaMu... eto  na ang "SlaRJ"..

Go large, Go SLARJ!!! <3

Hahaha...

Taguan...

GWAPO!!!!!

My Lovies! <3

Destiny's Child lang ang PEG! charot!!!

Isang wacky shot! Syempre di pwede mawala yan! hahaha

Till next shoot!!! :)

THE SAVE

Just a tad too many boo-boos for today. Oh well, it's Friday the 13th anyway. Apart from the failure of North Korea's rocket satellite launch, America also failed by voting off one of American Idol's best contestants ever!

Jessica Sanchez, 16-year old Filipino-Mexican singer, got eliminated on tonight's results show, having garnered the lowest number of votes from the viewers. 

ARE YOU GUYS KIDDING ME????

SERIOUSLY????

I mean, it is obvious, she is one of the best singers (if not the BEST) among this season's contestants! Are you guys kidding me that she got the lowest no. of votes considering she has the most solid fanbase and most number of supporters online not just in America but all over the world?!? I mean, that can be at least bear something, right?

On this case, it is really hard for me to believe that it was really about the votes this time. For me, it seems to be a way too perfect well-orchestrated TV Drama for ratings' sake---getting the perfect subject (Jessica) and the perfect moment (her being the best singer of the batch, she gets the boot, sings for her survival and the heroic judges came into her rescue, and urging the audience to vote more ~insert producers happy smile~). *clap clap clap* Unfortunately, I do not totally buy the scene, but it was good though. Thank God for they used the save on Jessica, she truly deserved to stay. 

Here is the video of the result show. Watch it for yourself.

(After watching the video a couple of times, I can only feel that Phillip was the only one who was genuinely happy that Jessica was saved. I mean, look at the fake smiles from Hollie, Skyler and Elise. And with what Randy has said, that has got to be the biggest slap on the face to the other contestants. LOL)

Feeling deja vu? Oh yes, who can forget last season's save moment with Casey Abrams. Almost the same scene, Casey got eliminated, sings for his life and the judges cut him in the middle of the song declaring they will save him. *clap clap clap* (But that was a sad case though, because when America voted off Pia Toscano, the judges and all of us AI die-hards were all so helpless.

They always say that the best singers in American Idol competition NEVER win. Does Tamyra Gray, Jennifer Hudson, Melinda Doolittle and Pia Toscano ring a bell? I just hope that this time, Jessica Sanchez will be a different case. 

Anyway, I am closing this post with an ode to all great talents killed on the arena called American Idol. (well, at least not J-Hud where all odds went to her favor and eventually rose all the way to the top with an Academy and Grammy award under her belt).

You watch this and you realize that this is the FIRST ever live performance in American Idol history. *chills*



J-Hud belting out Whitney---that's how it is done!!!



Probably one of the most likeable and powerful singers who ever graced the Idol stage.



She was just so perfect! Her getting eliminated too early was a major disappointment on the show.

I am not putting a video of Jessica Sanchez in here for it may set a bad luck. I am totally praying that her fate on Idol will be different from these lovely amazing ladies I posted above.

For me, it is not about Pinoy pride anymore. It was totally okay for me when CamilleVelasco, Jasmine Trias, Ramielle Malubay and Thia Megia were eliminated. It just doesn't feel right if Jessica leaves at this moment of the competition. She definitely deserves to be at the finals.

Well, we can only do so much here in the Philippines. So to all my lovely readers from the US, vote Jessica Sanchez and help make her dreams come true.

WHEN IS RACISM NOT RACISM?

This may be a little late of a post, as everyone already has said their point of view about the much talked about cover photo of actress Bela Padilla for FHM Philippine's March issue. Even CNN, Reuters, BBC, The Telegraph UK, and other news organizations around the globe has also had their own share of opinions about the said controversial magazine cover. 

The covers shows Bela Padilla wearing a skimpy pink bikini which perfectly contrasts her fair white skin, being surrounded by sexy gorgeous black female models. With this alone, I do not find anything wrong, but what sparked the racism controversy is the caption at the bottom of the cover which says"Bela Padilla: Stepping Out of the Shadows". 

*image courtesy of Google Images*

Is this racism? Or just another blown-up petty debate about artistic expression over color/race discrimination?

Here are just few of my humble opinions, as I try to balance out every possible points about the issue:

RACISM is such a sensitive issue. Though here in the country, we do not have a significant black and white community like in the US, we Filipinos still act and react as if we are highly affected by racism issues.

Personally, I do not have a problem with the cover photo. (read: Talking about the PHOTO alone) I do not see anything racially offensive about it. Let me just show you this sexy photo of supermodel Daria Werbowy entitled "Let's Get Lost", where she is surrounded by black models, shot by Mikael Jansson. 

*image courtesy of Google Images*

This photo was rather touted as artistic and high fashion, and not as racist and discriminating. I DO NOT FIND ANY DIFFERENCE from this photo with that of Bela's. It is very evident that the main focus of the photo is the "white" girl. She is the subject and she is the star. The black models are the supporting cast. They give the highlight needed for the main subject. Just like when you add on the perfect jewelries to your outfit to make your dress or clothes stand-out.

Now, having said that, this is where the"sensitivity" issue comes in. A lot may say that using the black models in the background (as props) is highly derogatory and discriminating. 

Now what if the photo was presented the other way around? A black model is front and center and surrounded by equally gorgeous white models? I bet it will be praised to being bold and brave and artistic. In reality, the equation is simple: 

A WHITE SURROUNDED BY BLACKS = RACIST

A BLACK SURROUNDED BY WHITES = PROGRESSIVE

As much as I do not want to say this, but I would like to believe the saying that "Black people can NEVER be racist".

Second point, now this one I have to agree that there has been a naive, if not insensitive move on the part of the editors of the magazine. Having a provocative photo used for cover, the editors should actually have chosen a less condescending title and caption. I do not believe that "Stepping out of the Shadows" is the best title they can come up with.

Though I would like to understand that the title is a representation of the gist of the entire feature story about the actress, you could not really deny the fact that the title will be associated first with the cover photo before they can say that it talks about the story inside the magazine.

I agree, that the use of the word "shadows" while someone is pictured being surrounded by dark-skinned people, is a bit of inconsiderate. But then again, in an artistic point of view, I understand the use of the word. It is a metaphor.

To cut the my opinions short, I would like to say that the photo itself is not racist, though the caption was not intentionally racist at all, the combination of the two is a bit too provocative. Nonetheless, I DO NOT FIND THE ENTIRE COVER RACIST or in any way projects a message about RACIAL INFERIORITY.

I still find the photo as brilliant, both in conception and execution.

And knowing the very opinionated  Filipino public, we all react way too much on certain things. Even on issues of racism between black and whites where we Filipinos are not even directly affected, we always tend to cause too much uproar.

I guess we Filipinos should take our democracy of expressing our opinions into reasonable level. What I see about this whole racism issue is a negative effect of the Filipino crab mentality and over-sensitive views about everything. We have this sort of attitude that we always want to blow everything out of proportions.

Because of the fiasco, FHM Philippines has released an apology to the public and decided to replace the cover and title of their March issue into this: 

*image courtesy of Google Images*

And it makes me cringe. The first photo is waaaaay better. 

People have different opinions and views about things. Obviously, what is racist to one may be not to others. 

But when is Racism really Racism? And when is it not?

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! :)

GRAMMY AWARDS 2012: Red Carpet Watch

Dubbed as the most prestigious awards ceremony for music artists, the Grammy Awards 2012 did not fall short in attendance. Big stars and starlets arrived at the awards show rewarding us with fashion hits and misses when can all talk about. But aside from that, there were a lot of memorable things that happened during the night. I still can't get over the fact that Adele won 6 Grammys (winning all categorires she was nominated for). I am very happy that she was able to get her singing voice back after being sick for a long time. Her performance was amazing! I am a fan, and she is just an inspiration. Her songs, and she herself is a winning testament that heartbreaks and sorrow can be turned into treasured gold. If you can't win in love, that doesn't mean you can't also win in life.


And who can forget the heartfelt rendition of Jennifer Hudson of "I Will Always Love You", as a tribute to Whitney Houston who recently passed away? Lovely! I also loved Rihanna's performance as well as Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt's. 

Anyway, here is my short review on the red carpet fashion at the recently concluded Grammy's. Enjoy!

ADELE looked super gorgeous in her sparkly Giorgio Armani dress. The make-up, the hair and the aura, everything about her that evening is just glowing and so beautiful. She to me has one of the prettiest face ever. Ganda ng lola nyo! Winner!

Adele may have been the biggest winner, but the best dressed for me is RIHANNA. Her Giorgio Armani black low-V dress just spells sexy, chic and classy in all levels. (Fact: you cannot easily have both 'sexy' and 'classy' together in one sentence). I love her hair and the gold accessories. BONGGA!!!

I rarely like Paris Hilton on red carpet events. But I must say that she totally nailed this Basil Soda embellished white chiffon gown. She looks very well kept, classy and very sophisticated. Dyosa lang ang peg! Good Job!

Alicia Keys in Alexandre Vauthier. Black and Gold always looks great together. She looks so polished in this look. Bet! 

Yet another stunning black and gold look. Giuliana Rancic, despite her current battle against cancer, looks very chic and glowing with this Gerges Chakra ensemble. Cancer Warrior, bongga ka teh!

Lubusin na natin ang black and gold combination. Gwyneth Paltrow looks very sexy in this Stella McCartney dress. I personally think she's like wine, she just gets better in time. 

Isa pa to, kung kelan tumatanda, tsaka nagmumukhang Dyosa. Kate Beckinsale in Zuhair Murad looked fresh and very young. Although she could have changed her hair do into a more kept and in-place style, it will look a lot better.

Speaking of hairstyle, spell BLUE?!?! Katy Perry's Elie Saab ensemble could have been a major hit if not for her blue do. Although I do not totally hate it, but should she have had a more normal and classy do, her sophisticated couture gown could have made her look like a royalty. 

Itodo na din natin ang chikahan aabout hair. Kelly Osbourne in a light purple hair (or what seems like it). Pero achieve na din because I totally love her sequined Tony Ward couture gown. I love the make-up too. very shiny shimmering splendid lang ang peg.

Taylor Swift, in a hair do like we have never seen before, looked like a million bucks in her Zuhair Murad couture gown. This look really reminds me of Nicole Kidman. Is it just me, or is really just me? LOL

Shinning Shimmering Splendid din ang peg ni ate Carrie Underwood in her Gomez-Garcia gown. Looks great, but I knida feel that the look has some sort  of an old spirit kind of vibe. She looks glowing but she doesn't quite look young and fresh. 

Speaking of young and fresh, take it from lola Cindy Lauper in a very chic and playful take on a tuxedo dress. Her Cruela Devil hair makes me wanna sing "Ooohh, girls just wanna have fuuuuunnnn....."

Now this is how you will look like when you had way too much fun. Corrine Bailey Rae in Christian Siriano. Witch in the City ang peg. Though the dress looks very nice, the messy hair messed up this very messy look. What a mess! choss! 

Kung sa taas may witch, si lola Fergie naman ang Jack o' lantern. HAPPY HALLOWEEN! While I commend her bold choice of color, this lace-y Jean Paul Gaultier gown with her peeking black underwear looks very tacky and cheap than bold and fashion forward. Que horror!!!

Hillary Scott of the band Lady Antebellum looked vampy and sexy in this ombre tigh-high slit gown by Filipino designer Monique Lhuillier. Full figured women who knows how to embrace their body and look beautiful are always admirable. Slit kung slit lang ang labanan! PAK!!!

Jessie J in a disco mirror ball inspired Julien MacDonald dress complete with the paparty ako hanggang umaga bangs. Yun na!

Bangs lang ba ang labanan? Ansaveh ng golden bangs ni kumareng Kathy Griffins? In her Michael Kors dress, bet nang pang aura sa isang dinner party sa US Embassy ang outfit. KERE!

Isama na si mareng Kelly Rowland in her very outdated Alberta Ferretti gown. Lakas maka-ninang!!! And the hair! I would like to think her hair is only just a tribute to lola Whitney RIP.

Anong sinabi ni Little Red Riding Hood kay Nicki Minaj? Her Versace gown complete with hood and gloves looked like a twilight fan church nun gone mad. Di ko to kinaya! Promise!

Snooki in BB Addictive dress. Wala akong masabi. NEXT!!!

Allisson Krauss in her Mumu sa Baul outfit. Awaaaaard!!!

Bonnie McKee in her sarimanok inspired outfit, complete with yellow abaca fiber for added vitamin A. Sakit sa bangs!!!

Esperanza Spalding in her fabric shop inspired outfit. Mukhang pinagtatali at tagpi-tagping kumot, bed sheet, punda at kurtina. Pili na!!

Robyn in... nevermind.

It kinda sucks not seeing the likes of Beyonce or Lady Gaga down the red carpet. Although Lady Gaga did attend the awards show, for some uncanny unknown reasons, she kept her presence kind of on a low key at thie year's Grammys. Well, I kinda get it. And I respect that. She knew very well that it was Adele's night and moment and she keeping it low key during the night is some sort of admirable, for me.

Anyway, too much fashion and boo boos and music and stuff. It's past midnight and it's Feb 14 already. Happy Valentines day everyone!!!! Wish you all love and great romantic stuff today. :)

Will sleep now, and will leave you with this....

Lady Gaga in custom Versace. AWAAAAAARD!!!!!