Meeting Gibo

While in Manila, I was lucky to meet my jetsetting friend, G, fresh from his trip in San Francisco and Hong Kong. Let's just say it's hard to fit in my schedule with his schedule. Alam naman natin ang buhay socialite (sya), book opening here, feeding program there, circumcision of indigenous kids now, wine&dine tonight. Mabuti na lang at pinaunlakan nya na kitain ako. Add to that his obsession now with his apartment. He recently moved to a new one and once the decorating bug hits you, hay naku, it's hard to stop nesting. Actually, after our meeting he's going to the grocery to stock up on some important stuff like gerber, cerelac, diapers, tiki-tiki etc. I presume he's got a baby hidden somewhere, non?

Let me just say the Starbucks chocolate cake (Faith's favorite) tasted sinful as it looked. Thank goodness, I shared a slice with Bo and Jerson. Anyway, the first pic is of G wearing the DP shirt I named for him. I also named a tee for Kiks, a cardigan for Kawadjan, a shorts for Khaz and a deep V-neck tee for Lyka. The hoodie top of the G shirt features an extended collar so when not worn as a hoddie it sits on the neck like a regular collar. I'm really glad G loves my design for him. I really thought it's very him.

When he passed by HK, he had the heart to bring the stuff I've been dying to get from my HK BFF, Kiks. The first issue of Vogue Hommes Japan with Ash Stymest on the cover...

and the 3rd issue, all hand carried from Japan. That completes the 3 issues of Vogue Hommes Japan that's published so far. I plan to collect.

Add to that Kiks also got me this red Muji sneaker when he was there a couple of months ago. He totally enjoyed Japan so much that he plans to go back again. I haven't been there but I hope someday I get the chance to see it.

G didn't come empty handed. He hand carried this Marc by Marc Jacobs rain boots for moi from San Francisco! It's mental, right? I'll wade in flood water in style, non? Love, love, love the stuff guys!

To G and Kiks, I really appreciate all the gifts and that you really know what I like.

Bleach Catastrophe G5

At Bleach. I'm wearing this black dotted top and tee from Bangkok. I got it from a street vendor outside Central World. The pants are mine from the fall/winter 09 collection. My shoes are from Muji and the bag, a Le Pliage Jeremy Scott for Longchamp. I think the print is called the 'stomp'.

You should check out this store. I visited their Cebu store before and really liked their whole style. I wouldn't buy all the stuff but there's at least something quite interesting about the pieces they make.

These series of fake and real doors remind me of Maison Martin Margiela.

I wanted to buy a piece of Heather Miss Grey, designed by Cecile Van Straten, and it was my lucky day because the style I wanted was available, and only one left. Grabbed it and left the store really happy.

At Puey's show and other stuff

While in Manille, I had the chance to go around the malls. Greenbelt seems to be a sensible area to hang around if you've got nothing to do.

We checked out the different stores there like Myth, which sells RTW pieces by Jojie Lloren, Louis Claparols, Joey Samson, Ivarluski Aseron, etc. There weren't many styles, though, which defeats the purpose of venturing into ready-to-wear, non? I also liked Adora with a more eclectic and international offering like Dior Homme, Comme des Garcons perfume (!), Missoni, etc. At least meron ng ganun sa Manila. The picture above was taken at Firma's window display. Cute, isn't it?

Greenbelt 5 is nice in the evening. We passed by a Paul Smith event but we're too shy to crash.

This latest Philippine fashion week saw the appearance of many celebrities on the runway. That's actually Robin Padilla for Lee. We also saw the runway of Bench with a bunch of stars from ABS-CBN and GMA 7. Penshoppe had Victor Basa and Akihiro Sato. There was another brand that had other action stars, basketball players and the requisite teen stars. Even M Baretto had Jake Cuenca and other male heartthrobs. I don't know if it's good although it brings in the crowd. It rather distracts from the clothes, I think.

Bumped into designer Ralph Ng outside Puey Q.'s show.

Also, Angel Buenaventura...

Stylish sisters Kimi and Boop Yap...

and sat front row with Philip Tampus, Yasmin Kurdi and her really nice friend.

See the collection of Puey's collection here.

One of my newest is Lucille Dizon who wore my hoodie/cape and tank from spring/summer 2010. She wore the cape inverted and I just love it!

I always find it interesting to see my clothes being incorporated into individual styles by those who buy it.

Bo Parcon and Eric de los Santos, Ilonggo designers par excellance.

Stylist Shahani Gania.

Stylist RXCY Bautista with Bo.

Oh, and what a perfect way to cap the day than by devouring a box of Royce*, di bala?

Veejay Floresca's Design Class

Fashion designer Veejay Floresca teaches garment construction in a design class in St. Benilde. The Ed Calma designed building of the school looks amazing. Just goggle it. In the chaos that is Manila urban planning it actually juts out like a sore thumb. Anyway, Veejay invited moi and Bo to critic the works of his students. In an earlier class Philip Tampus was the guest critic.

I love the challenge of mentoring young designers. I'm a self-taught designer and I really valued the lessons I learned from senior designers like Frederick Peralta who give nuggets of wisdom culled from his experience. I have mentored some of the more exciting young designers in Iloilo and I'm happy that most of them are doing great in designing.

Project Runway Philippines season 1 Bo Parcon and Veejay Floresca.

I truly felt Veeejay's passion to teach. Baka sya na ang susunod na Dean of Philippine Fashion ala Mang Ben Farrales?

It's so funny how the students feel so nervous presenting their designs that they made themeselves. It has to represent their own style, also. It's really obvious though who has a grasp of 'fashion' versus those who are not sure of their own style. But it's expected that young designers should experiment and explore at an early stage. That way they'd be able to discover what style they have an affinity with. One lesson that helped me greatly is to learn fashion history. It's also important to discover how garments are constructed so you can develop your own technique later on. I enjoy the process of creation when I'm designing more than the presentation and actual product, actually.

One designer that stood out for us was this student who did a feathered skirt. She needs to polish more of her construction technique but it's unmistakable that the skirt she made has potential, non?

It was indeed an enriching afternoon sharing our thoughts to Veejay's student and I hope we were effective in communicating some lessons that they can apply in their quest for greater fashion design. Hope to be invited again.

DP at Style Anywhere

I would like to thank Onin of Style Anywhere for supporting me this latest Philippine Fashion Week. He posted a preview (was his idea actually) and my collection (photographed by the generous Mr. Bruce Cassanova). Salamat po! ;)

Going to that charming resto

Bangkok - After boarding a taxi on one end of Central World and, thirty minutes after, just right in front on another end of the same mall, Kawadjan and moi decided to get off our taxi (nice guy because he initially didnt charge us full for the fare but Kawadjan insisted) and took the BTS. I honestly didn't know where we are going except to this special restaurant owned by K's friend.

Fashion Diary commercial first: my fave Maison Margiela AIDS tee, DP pants, Longchamp bag, Giordano Concepts sneakers from Kiks, Wonder Anatomie pin from K and Marc by Marc Jacobs snake bracelet from Liz. See, I really use the stuff my friends gave me.

After going to the last BTS station, we had to ride a taxi for about 30 minutes more before arriving to this little labyrinth street where at the end of waits a tuktuk. By that time I had to check my bag for my passport just in case we had to go through immigration. Medyo, it felt very close to the border na, actually.

We passed by rows of shanty houses and other clusttered buildings, to finally arrive at Baan Rabiang Nam, which roughly translates to River Restaurant (yata?). Anyway, the resto is beside the river. And no, don't ask me what river it was. I do remember K telling me we could have taken the riverboat cruise going there but then again he knows I'd have to change outfit for that, non? Prada Cruise 2009, perhaps?

For my Ilonggo friends, daw Villa Beach or Roxas Beach lang kami. It reminds me of Mang Inasal, actually. Hehehe!

Except there's little cute touches like that banca effect tableu.

Here's K with his good friend Fred who owns the place. Such a charming and generous guy. He totally gave us the best area and lots of freebies. The service was prompt and efficient. Not to mention we had a wonderful chat with Fred. Was that Germany that they're opening a branch with his partners?

The food was typical Thai but not overly spicy. I guess they know we couldn't take too much heat. The thing about the resto and what most gourmands and foodies recommend is to go to places where the locals frequent. It is such a place, fully packed with locals, when we arrived around 10pm. We started with pomelo salad loaded with dried chillies (!) and garlic. Sharap!

For soup we had this coconut seafood medley, winning the best in presentation award.

Now this fried fish coated with garlic was such a revelation for moi. I could have eaten only that. This sealed the deal for moi and I wouldn't mind the epic trek just to taste it again.

And K's fave, Somtam, a papaya shrimp salad. I initially resisted eating the raw string beans because I hated the sulfuric aftertaste but was pleasantly surprised that it's different. More like singkamas or guava, honest!

This is their kitchen area. Looks like a set in some cultural village, non?

Do check out their site and please try it sometime when you are in Bangkok. It's an adventure you shouldn't miss.