A Beautiful Escape

ZALORA

I was recently invited to the Grand Launch of Zalora PH, the first of its kind shopping website truly made for the discerning filipino virtual shopper, in Skye Lounge at Bonifacio High Street.

I honestly never expected to be invited to such an event, so I made it a point that I go. I mean, this could be a one time big time thing! 

It was my first time to go to Skye Lounge, and I had a little trouble finding the place. Luckily, W building (where Skye is) was easy to spot, mainly because of the huge W insignia.

I was a bit early for the 8PM launch, and I had time to pick a nice spot in Skye.

I was woozy after a bottle of wine! My alcohol tolerance is too low!

Food! I didn’t have dinner prior to the event, so I was too hungry! I was tempted to ask for rice! Hahaha!

Magsosorry ako sa ganda ng damit ni ate! Backless! Love it!

They projected our tweets onto the huge screen! There I am!

The place was jampacked with guests!

Of course, it’s not a grand launch without the internet’s hottest fashion bloggers gracing the event!

Here’s Laureen Uy!

Vern Enciso and Lissa Kahayon! It must have been 3 years since I last saw Lissa. I still remember her in the Summit Office during our internship there in college.

Skye Lounge is a place where you can chill with a glass of wine, or party with hard liquor! Check out their bar!

I super love this dress! It has that cape detail that I’ve always loved! It brings the outfit so much class and edge at the same time!

The three men behind Zalora! We know who to thank for bringing a whole new online shopping experience!

A mini fashion show to showcase some of Zalora’s brands.

Co-founder and Managing Director Paulo Campos urging us to party til the sun comes up!

I love that arm tattoo! I want one, but with a snake as the design!

This metallic Balenciaga caught my eye! Love!

A very chic Lady Dior is versatile enough for a party or a special dinner in an exclusive restaurant.

Here’s a very special lady who is a big contributor to my love for bags, Ms. Ingrid Chua - Go! Her blog, BAGHAGDIARIES, was the first blog I ever read, even before the others! I remember joining her contests and tweeting her. I cannot begin to explain how ecstatic I was when I saw her at the event! She even remembers me from Twitter! Ego boost ito!

Ugh gold Doc Martens! Super nice!

Sheer! It takes a certain panache to pull this off!

Givenchy!

Chanel! Love this bag! It’s so classic! 

Thank you so much to Zalora for inviting me (through Nuffnang, thanks to you Nuffnang as well!) I had so much fun!

I can’t wait to try out the site and order something! For all you people, go try out Zalora PH and get to experience a whole new online shopping experience!

SUMMER ROMANCE

The heat has driven everyone crazy.

For one thing, here I am, with three of my officemates under the hot morning sun, prepping up for this shoot. It was for nothing actually, I really just wanted to try out my new lens.

We could have spent the day in our own homes, idly letting time slip by, enjoying the tranquil side of a weekday. But this holiday beckons us to push ourselves to new heights. I travelled from my house to the location and was an hour or so late, but at least I made it.

I am happy that my officemates, who care for nothing glamorous, (to which I think they will agree) decided to push their comfort zones and pose in front of the camera.

As a lover of photography and fashion, I am repulsed by a pose that looks too posed. Which is why I click away whenever my friends would laugh, or be in a totally candid moment. The feeling of naturality (is there even such a word?) is something that’s very hard to achieve.

MIDNIGHT FROLICS

Had a sudden trip to Cavite for a night of swimming with some of my officemates. It was so much fun! It was the first time I got to splash and frolic (heh) in the water since summer started.

I love these photos because there’s absolutely no pressure in trying to keep my camera safe from the water. The waterproof feature is really a godsend during these kinds of events.

EARLY MORNING CRAZY

I must have been crazy to wake up at 6:00AM on a Saturday, to go to U.P. and jog!

Everyone who knows me can attest that I don’t like exerting too much effort on everything. If there’s an easy way to do things, then that’s for me.

So when my friends asked if I wanted to go to U.P. to jog, I don’t know what came over me that I said yes. Maybe it’s the Sagada aftershock?

You can accomplish so much when you wake up early. We did so much and it was only lunch time. Maybe I’ll a habit of waking up early on a Saturday.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

I went to Sagada last weekend, on a whim. I can’t believe I said yes, especially since it was so far, and I’m with friends.

We rode the bus to Bontoc, I didn’t even have time to change from the clothes I wore to work!

We arrived at around 10:00am in Sagada, and the first thing we did was eat!

They had delicious food! This is roast chicken with rosemary.

I had sizzling steak with salt and pepper. Their rice is super yummy, and the best part is, it’s unlimited! Eat ALL the rice!

After eating, we went to our guesthouse to freshen up, and began to head out to the caves.

Inside the cave, I had to keep my camera safe, since it’s too big to allow me to maneuver properly. I took photos from my friend’s camera, with our guide taking photos of us while traversing the rocks and underground rivers.

How I ever managed to fit in that hole, I don’t know!

And how I managed to do this, too!

It was a long way back from the cave to the house, and all I could think of was lay in bed and chugging a lot of alaxan and advil. I was that tired.

The next morning we woke up to beat the sun, and watch it rise!

After seeing the sun rise, we headed out for breakfast. After that a quick rest and then off to see Pongas Falls.

On the way there, I had thought that once I get off the van, I would immediately see the falls, but no! It entailed walking through a mountain. For 7 kilometers.

Finally, we arrived! I had to go for a swim, after all, sayang ang nilakad ko!

After swimming for a bit, we headed back… another 7 kilometers, but I guess it could be longer.

We headed out for our lunch, and then a quick rinse (I was so muddy) and then off to Mount Ampacao, where we will see the entirety of Sagada, and the sunset.

By this time, my entire body hurt, at nahulog na din ang matres ko dun habang papunta at pabalik galing sa falls. I had to use a walking stick, hermit lang ang peg!

When we reached the top, it was WOW! I felt I was in New Zealand (weh).

On our last day, we took a chance with the bus ride home, our schedule was thrown off course, since the bus we were supposed to get was overloaded already. We left Sagada at around 3PM.

While waiting for the bus, we took a short stroll around the town, and looked at some souvenirs.

I tasted the best blueberry wine from Gabay.

I think congratulations are in order, for myself. After all I managed to survive this adventure trip. I am thankful for my friends/officemates who wisely hid the fact that I need to exert effort to see the beauty of Sagada, since if I had known, I would never have joined.

Here’s to me, and the beauty of the Philippines. Can I go to Batanes next?

Childhood memories.

I absolutely love reading Archie comics. I was so thankful that during my high school years in UST, the overpass sellers have Archie digests for 40 and 80 pesos! Imagine my delight that I could buy 4 at a time, while I could only get one when I buy at National Bookstore.

These digests kept me entertained all through out my high school, when everything was falling apart (arte ko lang! pero seriously speaking), I had Archie and the gang to help me smile.

My comics were buried under boxes and boxes of books that were kept when we were renovating the house, and recently my sister decided (or had the patience) to unearth them.

I’m thankful she did. I think I need Archie and the gang again.

SAY GOODBYE TO THE YEAR THAT WAS

Spent the New Year in Tagaytay. I love it here, so peaceful. There’s no smell of gunpowder and deafening noises courtesy of five stars and triangles.

I walked around the front and back yards to take photos of the surroundings. I’ve taken so many photos of the same plants and flowers, but they always come out different every time. Nature is amazing.

I also bought some bubbles at a bazaar. I don’t know why, but I had an urge to play with bubbles. Hahaha!

Enjoy the new year guys! 2012 will be the year of awesome!