Original Penguin x Pepsi: Live for Now

In a global first, Original Penguin and Pepsi have collaborated in creating a capsule collection, Live for Now. 

For the Manila launch, Original Penguin has put together today’s local talents, who are the movers and shakers of the generation, to bring to life the design and character of the collection. 

Gathering some of today’s most renowned and admired personalities in their respective fields, the event was graced by Tweetie De Leon, Cheska Garcia-Kramer, Maxene Magalona, Maggie Wilson, Kelly Misa, JM Rodriquez, Victor Basa, RJ Ledesma, PBA Players Christ Tiu and Gabe Norwood, and Team Azkal’s Simon Greatwich, Carlie de Murga and Antonio de Murga. 

The festive affair showcased the exhibit of the eclectic designs of the six street artists who evidently did not hold back in making the collection lively, youthful and nonetheless original. The collection is a party all on its own, guests were enveloped in decorative colors and playful thematic set up, in which showcased how every piece in the collection is truly a work of art. 

It was an awesome night to say the least, the fashion show being the highlight of the event, captured everyone’s attention with the parade of colorful fashion pieces on your not-so typical set up of a ramp. 

Between breaks during the fashion show were the breathtaking stunts of the “Futkaleros".

For sure, there was no dull moment, no corner unturned and all were enjoying the energy emanating from the collection that is truly a breath of fresh air from today’s common trends. 

The Original Penguin x Pepsi Collection is available at the following stores: Glorietta 2, Greenbelt 5, Bonifacio High Street, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center, MarQuee Mall and Ayala Center Cebu

Discovering the New ESSENCE of PANDORA

Last week, I attended the launch of the PANDORA ESSENCE Collection, and I loved how PANDORA has again given new meaning to jewelry, which is something often associated with indulgence or ostentation.

Because let's face it, more often than not, jewelry is not only associated with memories, but also with price or value. Or is it just me? Ahihi.

But really, they are not just pretty things that express our/the giver's tastes and preferences. The fact of the matter is, more than accessories, they can also be seen as status symbols. Our jewelry collection is somehow an indication of what our ancestors were worth if we have heirloom pieces in our safe, or what we can afford, if we are investing on our own.

PANDORA's newest line, the ESSENCE Collection, deviates from that line of thinking and is meant to be "an embodiment and emotional expression of our inner values."

More than just a pretty trinket, it takes on a deeper meaning and represents the values that we hold close to our heart, and remind us of what is important to us - be it health, prosperity, strength or joy, or all four, or more.

The collection features a slender sterling silver bracelet with an accompanying assortment of 24 delicate hand-finished sterling charms, each representing a personal value

According to PANDORA’s Chief Creative Officer, Stephen Fairchild, the “ESSENCE Collection is defined by women to inspire women”. In fact, in coming up with this product line, he challenged the Design Team to create a new concept that has a different overlying theme – something that depicts not of moments but of meanings.

These meanings are depicted by charms which represent passion, freedom, hope, happiness, confidence, faith, health, peace, compassion, trust, stability, energy, love, courage, wisdom, wellness, prosperity, loyalty, positivity, balance, respect, joy, honesty and strength.

The charms slide effortlessly onto the special Essence Collection bracelet, and are secured in place with the innovative patent pending flexible silicone grip built inside the sterling silver core of each charm.

Because the ESSENCE Collection hopes to inspire women to express their true selves, for the Philippine launch, PANDORA has chosen four inspiring women who are the embodiment of the values of prosperity, wisdom, love and passion.

For Amina Aranaz-Alunan, social entrepreneur/designer and co-founder of School of Fashion and the Arts (SOFA), “Prosperity is having a dream, a goal, a vision, and being joyful while working to achieve it”.

Harvard-educated lawyer, Atty. Karen Jimeno-McBride defines wisdom as “acknowledging that you don’t know everything. It means you are always open to learning and continually growing”. Karen believes that in order to gain wisdom, one should be open to learn from others and their experiences.

Model/Host/Fashion blogger and the recently engaged Kim Jones, enthuses,  “For me, love is eternal. It is a universal language, and nurtures us and allows us to grow by doing things that we are passionate about”. Kim also puts equal importance to faith as part of her life. For her, faith is the firm foundation under everything worth living, and without it, she wouldn't be the woman she is today. “I believe that love and faith work hand in hand. These values influence me in making decisions,” she says. 

"Passion is dance, it's my commitment and my intense love for classical ballet which is the strictest form of dance," shares prima ballerina and nominee for National Artist for Dance Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. 

Her passion continues to spark hope for the young generation through Project Future Ballet, a scholarship program founded to make ballet an option for a way of life and a profession for talented young people who do not have the means to learn ballet. The foundation aims to provide bright futures and breadwinners for families, starting with training in classical ballet supplemented with equipment and nutrition assistance for the students. 

I think PANDORA has chosen their ambassadors in a very inspired manner, because all four women are truly the embodiment of their personal values.

Rochelle Romero-Mangila – Publicist, Pandora Philippines, Kim Jones, Atty. Karen Jimeno-Mc Bride, Emerson Yao – Managing Director for the Lucerne Group of Companies, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Tricie Legarda – Sales & Marketing Head, Pandora Philippines & Riza Torres – Head of Marketing, Lucerne 

I have always looked up to Lisa Macuja as a young girl, because I am a frustrated ballerina and for her to use her passion for dance to benefit the less fortunate makes her a hero in my book.

Dada knows Karen through the Harvard Law Club, and I have met Karen once, and while she is known for her beauty and brains, she has no yabang or airs at all. She is soft-spoken and charming, it's no wonder she has become such a sensation even outside the law profession.

I have had the pleasure of sitting next to Amina and Kim at separate occasions and apart from being gorgeous and awe-inspiring in real life, they are just so nice and fun to talk to. The kind where I felt like we ended the evening as friends, because they are just so gracious and genuinely kind. I mean really, Amina & I exchanged cellphone numbers and Kim & I followed each other on Instagram levels! Diba, how can you not love them? They're seriously beautiful inside & out!

I really have to say a huge thanks to my Instagram friend Angel Jacob, who hosted and invited me to the media launch and serendipitously re-connected me to my childhood friend Rochelle Romero who happened to be the publicist for PANDORA.

I have always been a huge fan of Angel, way back when I was in grade school (we were school mates for a time and yes, she's been a cool girl ever since she was 12) and being with all these inspiring women in one place for the PANDORA ESSENCE Collection was an experience like no other. Thank you Angel, my Positivity twin!

Yes, Angel & I both chose the Positivity charm, which is the first ESSENCE charm I picked for myself. Because I am positive that I will be adding more to my bracelet! I want to embody Joy, Wisdom, Respect and Health too, heeheehee.

The PANDORA ESSENCE Collection will be available in PANDORA stores this March 2014.

PANDORA is available at Greenbelt 5, Glorietta 4, Bonifacio High Street Central, Newport Mall (Resorts World Manila), Shangri-la Mall East Wing, The Podium, Elemento in Aura Mall, Megamall Expansion, and Century City Mall. 

Which values are you going to be wearing?

About PANDORA

PANDORA designs, manufactures and markets hand-finished and modern jewellery made from genuine materials at affordable prices. PANDORA jewellery is sold in more than 70 countries in six continents with over 10,300 points of sale, including 900 Concept Stores. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, PANDORA employs over 6,000 people worldwide. PANDORA is publicly listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen stock exchange in Denmark. In 2012, PANDORA’s total revenue was DKK 6.7 billion (approximately EUR 893 million). For more information, please visit http://www.pandora.net. 

Photos courtesy of Ramon Tan Mangila of Pix Republik Studios.

MANGO Rocks it Up! The Fall/Winter 2013 Fashion Show at MOA

When I was fresh out of college during the late 90s, I can clearly remember the first MANGO store here in the Philippines which opened at Robinson’s Ermita on 1999. All the girls who cared about fashion were crazy about MANGO. Even the boys seemed to enjoy hanging out there, even if they pretended hating to be dragged there by their moms, girlfriends or sisters, because let’s face it, a lot of pretty, stylish girls made MANGO their de facto shopping place. 

With the fun, trendy clothes, the upbeat Spanish music playing in the background like it was the soundtrack of our lives, and the gorgeous girls milling about, MANGO is seriously the place to be. 

Fast-forward to today, and MANGO has not only grown with us girls, it has happily embraced the guys as well, with the line H.E. by MANGO, probably realizing that they had a captured market in store anyway. 

Not only that, those same couples who sauntered arm in arm into MANGO in Robinson’s Ermita 14 years ago? Well they have kids now, et voila, MANGO Kids for the kiddos. No kidding! 

So, it was simultaneously a walk down memory lane and a revelation of how big MANGO has grown, watching the MANGO Rock It Up Fall/Winter 2013 Fashion Show at the Main Mall Atrium of SM Mall of Asia last October 28, 2013. 

The fashion show served as a sort of ceremonial kick off to the opening of the MANGO flagship store at MOA, with a presentation of the current Fall/Winter lines for women composed of Suit, Casual-Sport, and Jeans collections, H.E. by MANGO, MANGO Touch as well as MANGO Kids and MANGO Sport&Intimates. 

Hosted by Borgy Manotoc and Nicole Andersson,

Guests were treated to a run through of the best looks for Fall/Winter 2013 for women:

Inspiring workout looks from the MANGO Sport&Intimates collection, which made me want to ditch my ratty old gym clothes:

MANGO Sport&Intimates is all about premium active wear and undergarments suitable for any fitness regimen 

Great layering ideas for when we travel to cooler climes:

As well as the cutest kids clothes, both for boys and girls alike:

Berry was thrilled to discover that her classmate Hunter walked the runway with his parents Aubrey Miles & Troy Montero

As if the cute little kids clothes, which were adaptations of pieces from the main lines, weren’t enough to make parents want to make the trek to Mall of Asia, 

MANGO Kids offers fun, fashionable choices for children from 3 to 12

MANGO has artfully, or shall I say slyly, come up with a “Mini Me” line, which are actual miniature versions of pieces from the women’s line. With this, moms & their daughters can totally dress up in matchymatchy outfits.

It’s like the MANGO designers dug deep into the psyche of a mom, knowing how we would just love to make our little girls wear something we would love to wear ourselves. Ugh, too cute. 

“Our flagship store showcases a lot more than women’s fashion,” says Kelly Santos, country supervisor of MANGO. “With the arrival of the much-anticipated MANGO Kids and Sport&Intimates, it emerges as the perfect fashion destination for people of all ages and lifestyles.” 

Honestly? I cannot agree more.

The MANGO Fall/Winter ’13 collection is currently available at all MANGO stores nationwide.

In the Philippines, MANGO is available in 25 stores in Metro Manila and key provincial cities. H.E. by MANGO and MANGO TOUCH have four and six stores, respectively. Meanwhile, Kids and Sport&Intimates are housed in the flagship store in SM Mall of Asia.

Follow MANGO! 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/mango.com 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Mango
YouTube: http://youtube.com/mangofashion
Instagram: @Mango
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mangofashion

Xavi the SM Baby + SM Babies Special Moments

Yes! That's our very own Xavi in the photo above for SM Babies! Please indulge this proud and beaming stage mom haha.

Ok background story:

Karrots: ARC PR asking for your cell num, for an SM Babies photoshoot daw, may I give?

Tin: Sure, hehehe

Karrots: Ahihihi oki!

That afternoon, Jenny Yrasuegi of ARC PR got in touch with me. She asked how old Xavi was, and then invited us to be part of the SM Babies exhibit. She said Pilar Tuason was going to be shooting our photo in her studio, etc. etc. I was kilig of course, and thrilled to bits! 

On the day of the shoot, Xavi and I went to Pilar's studio. As soon as we stepped in, that was the only time I realized, OMG, this is serious stuff. What are we doing here? 

The makeup artist proceeded to put on makeup and then, Lourd Ramos arrived with his hair guys. Lourd had cut my hair before, when I was still pregnant with Xavi, so we were so happy when we saw each other after so long! As soon as we were ready, we changed into our shoot clothes, Xavi in his dapper SM Babies party clothes (outfit 1: khaki vest, long sleeved shirt and trousers, outfit 2: plaid pants with suspenders, long sleeved shirts and the cutest bow tie) and me in a lace dress borrowed from the gracious Marta Araneta.

Here's the behind the scenes, it was so fun!!!

Although between you and me, Xavi, who was 4 months old at the time of the shoot, was a little bit of an Il Divo at times. Haha! We had to stop because he wanted milk. He wanted to nap. There were times he refused to smile. Hayayay! We were there from 9 to 2 pm. The moms and kids who went after us were done na! Xavi talaga! But the SM Babies team was so encouraging and so understanding. Thankfully, whole team at the shoot was a joy to work with, even if Xavi was Little Mr. Divo.

While Xavi was napping, I saw their lineup of moms on the wall and I was like, "OMG, how did Xavi and I become part of this?" Hahaha! Here are the rest of the gorgeous moms and their cute babies, as seen during the SM Babies Special Moments launch in Manila Peninsula, last January 28:

Juana & Rosanna

Marta & Tristan

Isabel & Brooke

Maia & Matt

Andi & Elle

Rosanna & Alejandro

 

Delamar & Cooper

Rose & Manu

Nicole & Jaime

Angela & Helena

Georgia & Katia

Grace & Alessi

Emillie & Emilia

Kalurks diba? Ibang levelz! Society moms, celebrities, models. Thank you SM Babies and ARC for just thinking of having us! It was such a wonderful experience. Something I would enjoy telling Xavi over and over again!

Thanks for this photo Jenny aka @jenyrasuegui :)

Ok, back to my background story: 

Xavi and I stayed at the studio long enough to chat with Leslie of SM Babies, who was so sweet and so savvy with carrying Xavi that he didn't mind being with her.  I asked her about the clothes on the racks - a lot of the pieces reminded me of J.Crew crew cuts, Petit Bateau and Bonpoint. She told me that they really have a great selection for kids now, all at affordable, really good price points, which should be available this month.

We left the shoot tired but excited about Xavi's mowdeling stint, haha. Plus, I was really impressed with the selection at SM Babies now, from christening gowns to sleepwear, from play clothes to party clothes - they've really got it all for us!

For more about SM Babies, like the SM Babies Facebook page.

Fashion Forum at SM Megamall

Fashion Forum at SM Megamall has been open for a few months now, but the formal launch happened last October 11. I swear, right about now is the time to go, especially now that it's party season and we'll all need something nice to wear that won't break the bank. 

Like I always say here in the blog, Fashion Forum has a great selection of dresses and tops, all the time. Apart from Jeffrey Campbell shoes that is, and you all know about that ;). I have this sleeveless BB Dakota top with a long back that is very "Equipment-esque" and I love how simple yet different it is.

Oh! And there was this pretty shift dress from Max & Cleo that I cannot forget to this day, and I often remember it when I have an occasion to go to and that dress would have been perfect, tsk. Sometimes, you really just have to buy the dress and then wait for the party to happen. 

Before I ramble on, let me share with you some of the dresses you'll find at SM Fashion Forum. If you need a responsible looking shift dress for work, a cocktail dress or a long gown for an important occasion, or just a pretty printed dress to wear to weekend brunches, Fashion Forum's got it all!

Not a print person, but Oooh! I love that dress in the middle!

Again, dress in the middle! I'll totally wear that with tan sandals or nude pumps and a long gold chain

Office appropriate, and yet can totally go from day to night, right?

This one too! Just wear with pumps for day, and strappy sandals by night.

As with these three in shades of grey.

Ok, this is definitely for night! Love the fun layers of scalloped fabric.

This is quite elegant, and wedding guest appropriate

Another fun evening dress with a dramatic flair.

A great mix of pretty dresses right? SM Fashion Forum carries sizes 0 to 16, and prices hover at around Php5000 for a dress. Affordable really, considering you can wear these over and over, because the dresses truly are classic. If you're gasping for time, and need a dress stat, Fashion Forum is simply the way to go!

Fashion Forum's Carissa Chan with Amina Aranaz-Alunan

Daphne Osena-Paez, the host for the day, with Fashion Forum's CarRet Lindayag

(They are both wearing dresses from Fashion Forum)

(Photos taken by Tammy David)