Happy Easter!

Peace be with you.

With all due respect and veneration

In every parish all over the Philippines (I'm freely generalizing here), it has become a Catholic tradition on Holy Wednesday and Good Friday -- even on the dawn of Easter Sunday -- to do the prusisyon (procession) of Santo's and Santa's and revered images of Mama Mary and of Jesus Christ in various of the stations of the cross. around town.

For me who's got a fervor for fashion, it's unmistakable not to notice the dresses the Santa's.

So I've figured out that if only I were Zara's Amancio Ortega's trustafarian bastard (hi, half-sis Marta!), I'd dress Saints Mary Magdelene, Martha,Veronica and Mary Salome, and Mary Mother of Jesus Christ in Couture: Valentino, for one.

Or if I were family with Lolo Henry Sy, I'd go local and vocal and have the ladies in Jesus' passion in a collection of couture-worthy creations by the likes of Cary Santiago and Jojie Lloren.

March 28-29

For lack of a better title. Hmmm, Or I'm Like Half-asleep While I Write This

Alay Lakad 2013

With less fanfare than before (due to the youthful folly we *still* got) in my 6 consecutive years of participation, this was our group's most solemn over-night Way of the Cross to date! The unusual traffic jam (a great number of the walking crowd + lots of jeepneys, motorcycles, other vehicles, and even a bus doing their Alay Gulong version + only one officer in sight managing everything and resolving the cray cray incident) we met in Bombon (the third town -- east of Naga -- which the annual Way runs) was but a challenge (A was the first the point it) to 'keep the faith' (a mantra I then suggested) and reach the goal -- to visit and pray to Amang Hinulid (Father laid to rest). 

© Aphet R.

Alay Lakad Year 6 is a success. 

Hashtag Shallow

Part of the Walk was the usual time for good conversations from Station to Station with some friends I haven't seen/talked with intently in a year -- the Alay Lakad is also a reunion/face time of some sort with some high-school and college friends who have since become busy professionally. Very personal highlight of the night: I got compliments (not one but two jeje) from my walking companions about me looking like I've gained weight. Cannot tell because I haven’t weighed myself since January. But that made my day.. night.

Oh, just say it with me: tumaba ako!

From two separate posts in my Fezbook which was then edited for clarity.

Lenten reflection song

Bastille is a British band and possibly my newest favourite band. 

Oh where do we begin? / The rubble or our sins? which the lead vocals guy soothingly asks and which he then repeats with background singing can potentially stick to one's reflective mind.

KJMS

KJMS stands for Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, a GMA-& weekly magazine-format show hosted by Jessica Soho.  runs a gamut of features which appeals to the Filipinos' tastes.

Last Sunday, they showcased a themed special report: SUMMER -- to officially welcome this exciting time. Segments ranged from hit Pinoy games played during vacation time, like sipa and patintero, kids these no longer play (sadly) to international vacation destinations local celebrities have visited and, of course, our very own must-visit hotspots.

A couple of DYK's I collected from their fruit basket segment:

1. Did you know that the popular milk tea flavor Winter melon is in the Bahay-Kubo song?

via

Its local name: Kundol/Kondol.

2. Did you know that I didn't know that fruit fellow Bicolanos in Sorsogon call hagis. Is it the same with duhat? What is hagis called in English?

Oh, I'm bummed I'm nowhere near a tea shop. On my mind: Winter melon.

I dreamed a dream

Sometimes we remember our Adventure Time-like twisted dreams. But most of time, they get lost in our subconscious. 

There was one morning when I woke up and remembered a pretty interesting moment I dreamed. Lo and behold: I was fitting a Valentino-red strapless ball gown not on me (frankly, I don't recall a dream where I'm wearing women's clothes) but to, no less than thinspo 5va, Kim Chiu. It was, I believe, around the time in my life when I'm thinking a lot about parlaying my bookish (or shall I say magazine-ish) fashion knowledge into the fashion styling/editorial realm. Circa 2012.

Wouldn't it be nice, nay, feelz so good to help in dressing a celebrity -- plus points if he/she is someone you really adore, or, which is something I like better, to create an fashionistic (that's fashionably-fantastic) editorial in an awesome location, say in Croatia, or to be vocally local, in Batanes?

Recently, Philippine Daily Inquirer's Cheche V. Moral did a two-parts feature about the "new “It” career for many ambitious young things," likely to not only give words of wisdom to the hopefuls, but also to honor our very own a la THR's list of Top 25 Power Stylists and share their fascinating stories.

(1/2 1.1 1.2)

(2/2)

Life is exciting (Also: I am an overthinker)

I think I'm being held to give Naga another chance. There is actually an ongoing war on my mind whether or not I should stage a coup with my easy life here -- near my parents and basically my family.

When I have been entertaining the thoughts of getting another education (more on life frankly) but this time in Manila, I suspect the universe is holding me just so I can stay and do what has come my way: worthwhile and exciting local projects/collaborations, which spells my lips are sealed for this subject.

Anyhow, with my 100% commitment to Mr. Kengkoy, I got some things up my rolled-up sleeves -- and would still be coming up with more -- so we at Mr. Kengkoy can move forward and up. I really think that being  involved with social change is oh so totes amazing, I'm learning a lot and doing something that breeds creativity and the passion I get from people I work with.

Lulundagin ko to, you guys!