Posts

Showing posts from 2017

LOOKBOOK | A touch of holiday color and a lot of reindeer

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Christmas caroling with some reindeer in scarves. Nothing much going on with my outfit really; just maroon shorts (which, being close to red, evokes some connection to the holidays--or at least I think it does), an old white tee with a graphic pixelated print, and some gray sneakers. It's a getup that's very relaxed and fit for some malling. And oh, what fun did I have at the mall! The kid in me was unleashed yet again, thanks to Shangri-la Plaza's reindeer-themed Christmas decor . I went a little crazy as it was reindeer everywhere.

LOOKBOOK | Jingle bells, jingle bells

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What a sad expression for a sweater so festive, don't you think? But wait, because...

LIFESTYLE | Spend New Year's at the Manila Pavilion Hotel

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The Manila Pavilion Hotel's coconut panna cotta with red beans and gula melaka. Still undecided on how to spend New Year's Eve? How about welcoming 2018 with a bang at the Manila Pavilion Hotel ? For just Php 1,200 per person, you get to enjoy a night of dance, song, food, and drinks with Sparkle On! The Manila Pavilion's New Year's Eve Buffet and Countdown .

LOOKBOOK | Christmas with on oversize croc

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Christmas installations and decor never fail to bring out the kid in me. So while waiting for a table at the Manila Pen lobby on Christmas Day itself, I just had to have a couple of photos taken. Of me, of course. I wore another one of Lacoste's polo shirts with an oversize croc logo . It was as if Hermione flicked her wand and muttered "Engorgio!" at the embroidered reptile. I thought it was cute, complemented by contrasting details on the collar and sleeves. Paired it with much cheaper joggers and black sneakers for something comfy and casual.

LOOKBOOK | Let's go plaid for the holidays

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Invading Andy's room (of Toy Story). Red and green, ugly Christmas sweaters   (which I find cute actually)--now let's add plaid into the mix of holiday outfits, shall we?

LIFESTYLE | Create a 21st century home with Taiwan Excellence products

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A smart household provides a comfortable and secure environment for the family, achieved by using intelligent appliances to make chores easier and more enjoyable. Smart devices and spaces allow even the busiest people to achieve balance and peace of mind. Ride the wave of technological innovation and enjoy a state-of-the-art household with Taiwan Excellence products. With their seal of excellence, a mark accorded to the highest quality brands and products only, these products change the way we live.

LOOKBOOK | A green, white, and gray kind of day

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I was giddy when I first saw this sweatshirt in a tweet from  Penshoppe last month. Apart from being a really nice-looking piece, what struck me was the brand's old logo from the 90s embroidered across the front--plus that cute little pen logo applique on one of the sleeves. Apparently it's part of  Penshoppe's Old School collection , which I really like, probably due to nostalgia as well. I'm old after all.

LOOKBOOK | Patches united for Coachella in December

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All sorts of parties and celebrations are of course commonplace this time of year, and we just had our share with office colleagues last Friday where we went for a Coachella-themed Christmas party . While the popular festival is currently held in April each year, nothing could stop us from going all Coachella in of all months December. Talk about the benefits of living in a tropical country where we can afford to dress up like it's forever spring and summer! Because it is.

FRAGRANCE | Lacoste Booster: An old favorite

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Among Lacoste's range of fragrances, Lacoste Booster so far is the only one that seems to agree with my body chemistry, at least among the ones I've tried. I've sampled a few at stores and actually like some of them--until the drydown when I get that familiar metallic, bug spray-like smell that I also get from a slew of other brands. It might not be the case with others, of course. Anyway, Lacoste Booster is a light and refreshing fragrance that starts off with a citrus note tempered by mint and eucalyptus. It gradually mellows down with faint hints of wood yet still retaining its freshness. To me it remains a citrusy and minty green scent all throughout.

LOOKBOOK | Fisherman's pants for the non-fisherman

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It's almost always shorts that we wear to the beach, sometimes loose-fitting pants in a lightweight fabric . But how about we throw in fisherman's pants into the mix, even if we're not in Thailand?

LOOKBOOK | A touch of ethnic

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Bright colors, florals and tropical prints , and nautical style outfits are the usual suspects when going on trips that involve the sea, be it a beach getaway, a sailing expedition, or a fancy cruise. How about we add a touch of ethnic  into the mix?

LOOKBOOK | Urban safari

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So I thought of wearing this multi-pocketed shirt--or should I say safari style shirt --while going around Hanoi's Old Quarter on a not-so-recent vacation. Because why not? Let's just say that instead of an African safari, I was on an urban safari.

LOOKBOOK | A non-surfer in surf town

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So you're in a surf town like La Union and you don't surf, nor do you have any intention of trying it out. What do you wear when you just want to go around and check what else the place has to offer on dry land?

TRAVEL | Our Ha Long Bay cruise experience (Part 3 of 3)

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Continued from: Our Ha Long Bay cruise experience (Part 2 of 3) Thien Canh Son Cave all lit up. Thien Canh Son Beach and Cave We approached an island with a small patch of white sand, one of the very few throughout the bay. This was Thien Canh Son Beach and here we were treated to a barbecue lunch by the beach. It was another great multi-course meal with turnip salad, a host of different grilled stuff, some rice dish wrapped and cooked in tin foil, and fruit.

TRAVEL | Our Ha Long Bay cruise experience (Part 2 of 3)

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Continued from: Our Ha Long Bay cruise experience (Part 1 of 3) Endless variations of these limestone rock islets along Ha Long Bay. Bai Tu Long Bay And so it began: the seemingly endless sight of limestone islets jutting out of Ha Long 's placid, emerald green waters. Yes, it was surreal and I couldn't stop myself from snapping photos, like I had this urge to immortalize them in pictures I most likely would rarely look at again. Eventually I grew tired but every now and then there's an outcrop or formation that I found intriguing enough to photograph.

TRAVEL | Our Ha Long Bay cruise experience (Part 1 of 3)

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Though of course different, somehow this reminds me of that vantage point going to Kayangan Lake in Coron, Palawan . It was an unplanned trip but in less than a week we found ourselves aboard a Chinese junk-style boat, cruising along Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay . With 2,000 or so mostly limestone islets spread across more than 1,500 square kilometers, Ha Long is a surreal experience. Yet with such a vast number of islets there is hardly any beach here and the best way to explore the bay is aboard a cruise. The sheer number of cruise options alone can be overwhelming, with each operator offering something different. Your choice depends on what you want. Is it comfort and luxury or are you on a budget? Do you want a bigger boat with more amenities, but which means you'll have to share it with more guests, or do prefer something more intimate with fewer people aboard? Are you in for a lesser known route or are you more comfortable with what's tried and tested, but which

FRAGRANCE | Vial trial: Boss Bottled Night by Hugo Boss

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I recently went through one of our drawers at home and realized I have quite a few unused fragrance samples--you know, those little vials in tiny packaging handed out by department store sales people whenever you buy fragrances from them. I thought I should use them. And review them perhaps. After all, my fragrance reviews on this blog tend to be generally positive because they're mostly fragrances that I bought, that I picked after several rounds of sniffing and trying stuff on at stores. These samples, on the other hand, were merely given to me. I didn't choose them, so I think it would be a little fun to review stuff with which I don't have any biases to start with. Hence, my " vial trials !" First off is Boss Bottled Night  by Hugo Boss.

LOOKBOOK | 'Plaidly' buttoned up

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It's probably easier to wear a plaid shirt than plaid pants . Maybe it's because most pants are plain, so wearing a printed or patterned top doesn't really become a problem at all--unless matching colors already is a challenge for you to begin with. But wearing plaid pants shouldn't be hard if we go by that logic on wearing a plaid shirt with plain pants. Just do it in reverse.

LOOKBOOK | Gray day

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Rainy day today--with occasional wind gusts and flooding in areas to boot. While a pop of color would be nice to cheer things up a bit, I shunned all thoughts of wearing something colorful on a gloomy day . Instead I embraced the gloom and wore gray.

LOOKBOOK | Teddy bear fluffy

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Dark skies and rain have once again held court after a very summer-like hot and sunny few days. Time to enjoy this really soft and supple fleece jacket from my favorite store Uniqlo. T'was another unplanned purchase but how can I resist its softness? It's so fluffy!

LOOKBOOK | Vacay mode in floral and teal

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I know it's cliché but where else is it best to wear florals but to the beach? For weekend getaways and other short vacations, sneak in a collared floral shirt or two into your bag to break the monotony of your t-shirt and tank top-dominated wardrobe.

FRAGRANCE | Penhaligon's English Fern: Classic and dependable

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English Fern is my first bottle of Penhaligon's. Despite my penchant for fragrances, I still know very little about them, brands included. Case in point: my discovery of  Penhaligon's , which I've never heard of prior to that time I walked into Adora in Greenbelt 5 and caught a few sniffs. I guess the fact that their fragrances are not as ubiquitous as the likes of Ralph Lauren, Davidoff, or Bvlgari explains my ignorance. But just a couple of spritzes and I already fell in love. Penhaligon's is a very old brand, dating back to 1870. It's also been awarded two Royal Warrants that they proudly display on their fragrances's packaging. With such a wide selection available, it was hard to pick my first bottle. Eventually, though, I settled for English Fern .

LOOKBOOK | Brown and cerulean blue

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We probably all know that  brown and blue are perfect together. This mix, however, is often associated with navy or dark blue clothing and brown leather. It's a classic. But how about other shades? Here I tried brown with a light cerulean blue shade . I probably wouldn't have thought of it if not for the shirt's print. It was an aha moment for me and I immediately remembered I had pants in almost the exact same hue. Perfect, I thought.

TRAVEL | The once famed Hinulugang Taktak of Antipolo: There's hope

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Still beautiful in its own right. I first learned of Hinulugang Taktak from Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) textbooks back in grade school. From what I remember it was a popular place where people can actually bathe and swim. There's even a folk song called Tayo na sa Antipolo (Let's Go to Antipolo) where this waterfall is prominently featured in its lyrics. Too bad I've never seen Hinulugang Taktak during its glory days because as urbanization spread, houses and establishments gradually inched closer towards the waterfall and the waterways that feed it, dumping sewage and garbage in the process. Sad, I know, considering the place is declared a national park.

LOOKBOOK | Camo coordinated redux

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It's been a while since I last sported a camo on camo ensemble , more so this matching camo shirt and joggers set  that's been hiding in my closet for some time now. Wearing a camo piece is fun, so why not double the fun by going all camo? To avoid looking awkward I guess you just have to exude confidence and own it. Yeah!

TRAVEL | St Moritz Swiss Inn: A small and homey B&B in Antipolo

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Our bedroom during our stay at St Moritz Swiss Inn. When I think of bed and breakfasts, it's Tagaytay and Laguna that usually come to mind. Personally I wouldn't think of Antipolo at all. I know the place has pool resorts the likes of Pansol and Los Baños in Laguna but a B&B would never cross my mind. However, when we chanced upon Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant , we learned that they have a B&B. Perfect, I thought, because Antipolo is an out of town destination for me and I've long wanted to visit Pinto Art Museum and Hinulugang Taktak . St Mortiz Swiss Inn is a small 3-bedroom B&B right next to Vieux Chalet. Here's a rundown of our experience.

LOOKBOOK | Barong Tagalog and sneakers for 'Buwan ng Wika'

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Looking oh, so dignified here. Although the celebrations are normally concentrated in elementary schools, August is Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) in the Philippines. Along with dressing up in various traditional Filipino costumes, schools usually hold programs and contests showcasing the national language and traditional Filipino songs and dances. Our department decided to join in the fun by designating a special day yesterday where everyone was required to wear a traditional Filipino costume reinterpreted for modern times. Two years ago when we first held this event, I found myself wearing an ethnic-designed shirt with a malong . This year I decided on a Barong Tagalog , considered our national formal wear for men. But no one wants to go all formal on a Friday, so I wore my Barong Tagalog with sneakers . I thought, if a full-on suit works just fine with sneakers, a barong would be just as perfect with this type of footwear.

DINING | Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant: Serving good food atop the hills of Antipolo since 1984

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Vieux Chalet's festive but homey interiors. It's been around since 1984 but I honestly have never heard of this restaurant before. Nonetheless I'm thankful that Kwittiegirl stumbled upon it while searching for a place to eat on our way back to Manila one night. Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant in Antipolo, Rizal proved to be an awesome discovery that we immediately went back the following week. Here's a rundown of our experience, a review, if you may. Design and ambiance With an unmistakable homey feel to it, Vieux Chalet was a house after all, a rustic cabin-type abode surrounded by trees and all sorts of ornamental plants. The colorfully painted concrete flooring that greets guests upon entering the gate immediately lends some cheer. There's outdoor seating but which don't serve any dining purpose at all. There are a couple of rabbits on one side and a pair of hamsters right by the short staircase. And oh, they have a chow-chow who just wants to be le

LOOKBOOK | Denim on denim

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For years menswear bibles often wrote against  wearing denim on denim , and wanted you to cringe by flashing photos of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears clad in matching head-to-toe denim back in 2001. Later, though, these menswear authorities softened their stance and even offered advice on how to pull it off, like the jeans should be darker than the denim jacket and all that. Today, denim on denim is commonplace, and the hues couldn't be any lighter. What their position is now, I don't know.

LOOKBOOK | Denim but not jeans

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Denim and jeans are often used interchangeably. But what if we wear pants that are not jeans but are in a denim fabric ?

ART | Appreciating contemporary art at Pinto Art Museum

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One of the galleries at Pinto Art Museum. Taking selfies and photos for their OOTDs and Instagram accounts is arguably on a lot of the minds of people who flock to Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, Rizal . Yup, and that includes me. After all, Pinto Art Museum is perfect for OOTDs and Instagram shots . I hope, however, that people don't forget something that makes Pinto so important in the first place-- the art . The museum houses an extensive collection of contemporary art, mostly from up-and-coming artists. Let's take a look at some of them.

TRAVEL | Pinto Art Museum: For art, food, OOTDs, and selfies

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The roof deck of one of Pinto Art Museum's several buildings. Everyone's probably been to Pinto Art Museum already, or heard of it at least. But because I'm such a lazy driver and I dread the traffic going to Antipolo, it took me forever to finally decide on making that trip. Pinto , (pronounced pin-TÔ , as in door) of course, is primarily intended to be a venue for showcasing art. But its idyllic setting along an expansive, tree-covered, hilly terrain, coupled with its white arched buildings, landscaping, and layout in general, has made it more than just about art. It has now become a destination for the Instagram and selfie-loving lot.

LOOKBOOK | Oversized shirt and joggers

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Hello, weekend! Now wouldn't you want to feel comfortable as you go about these two most precious days of the week? Wear something loose, like a blousy shirt or an oversized shirt . By loose, however, I don't mean lousy. Loose-fitting pieces are specifically tailored that way but somehow the proportions still conform to your body's measurements. So if you're a size medium, it doesn't mean wearing large or XL because the overall fit would simply be off. You still wear medium.

LOOKBOOK | Dressing up a t-shirt for work

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Uniqlo is one of my favorite brands. Every time I go in any of their stores, chances are I leave with a paper bag of stuff. They always seem to have something that I like--and can afford--there, this Super Mario tee being but one example.

TRAVEL | Pililia Wind Farm: A closer alternative to Bangui

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So close to Metro Manila, this wind farm. Everybody knows about the coastal wind farm of Bangui, Ilocos Norte , which through the years has turned into a tourist attraction and is now practically a requisite stop for anyone traveling to Laoag or Pagudpud. But did you know that there's now such a wind farm that's so close to Metro Manila? Although it's really no secret, a lot of people probably still haven't heard of the Pililia Wind Farm . Located on the hills of Brgy. Halayhayin in the town of Pililia, Rizal, the place is steadily becoming a tourist attraction of sorts, though most likely as a brief stopover on the way back to Metro Manila.

LOOKBOOK | Lousy blousy

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They say fit is everything and oft we've been told by many a menswear bible to wear shirts that stay close enough to the body but not too much that the buttons are pulling at the fabric. But what a boring world it would be if everyone wore form-fitting shirts all the time! After all, loose is also a type of fit, right? Yes, I perfectly understand the concept of wearing the right fit, and in fact I abhor shirts with too much excess fabric around the waist when you tuck them in. But there are shirts that are intentionally tailored to be loose-fitting in the first place, like this blousy pastel checkered long-sleeved shirt I'm wearing here.

DINING | Aleng Taleng's Halo-Halo in Pagsanjan, Laguna

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Tempting, isn't it? It was my first time trying the famous Aleng Taleng's Halo-Halo in the town of Pagsanjan, Laguna but apparently I had no idea just how popular it is. To say that the place was packed when we arrived at half past three in the afternoon is probably an understatement. It was chaotic! Normally I would have bailed out when faced with a long wait at a restaurant but we thought, since we were already there and it's not everyday that we get to drive to Pagsanjan, we might as well brave the storm.

LOOKBOOK | Dialed-down nautical for cloudy and rainy days

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Summer may have officially left this part of the world but it's still hot AF despite the rains. Besides, the sun still makes a frequent appearance in between. So might a little touch of nautical in your weekend outfit still do? Hell yeah!

DINING | Ted's Kitchen in Sta. Cruz, Laguna

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Countryside feels with Ted's Kitchen in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. So we spent two nights at Ted's Bed and Breakfast in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, which we called our base as we ventured out into nearby towns like Pagsanjan for food and Luisiana for its waterfalls . The B&B, however, is just an expanded venture as Ted's is, first and foremost, a restaurant. Design and ambiance Ted's Kitchen evokes some countryside feels with its design--from its signage, to the wall shingles, and down to the distressed door and furniture. Inside, the shabby chic aesthetic is also carried out in its walls, which are lovingly decorated with all sorts of random paraphernalia.

TRAVEL | Ted's Bed and Breakfast (Sta. Cruz, Laguna)

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Bonfire pit, cottages in the background. When we called Sta. Cruz our base for a not-so-recent getaway to Laguna, we were met with questions like: "why Sta. Cruz?" "what's in Sta. Cruz?" or "what are you gonna do in Sta. Cruz?" Admittedly the town has little to offer--at least that I know of--but we just needed a place to stay from where we could drive to other places of interest like the Hulugan Falls in Luisiana, Laguna . Suffice it to say that we found in Sta. Cruz a bed and breakfast that looks just like our kind of place: small, nice, and quiet. Here's a rundown of our experience at Ted's Bed and Breakfast in Sta. Cruz, Laguna .

TRAVEL | It comes in threes: The waterfalls of San Salvador, Luisiana, Laguna (Part 2: Hulugan Falls)

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Read:  [Part 1: Talay Falls and Hidden Falls] This is the last of two parts. A closeup of the upper part of Hulugan Falls. After sweating it out to get to Talay Falls and Hidden Falls , we were ready to see the pride of San Salvador, Luisiana--the more than 200-foot high Hulugan Falls . The trek We traced our way back to about a quarter of the trail to the first two waterfalls and came back to a clearing before diverting to a different route. The clearing is said to be a camping ground for those who wish to stay overnight. According to the barangay captain, they purposely designated a campsite that was far enough from the falls to prevent littering as well as for safety reasons. The trail took us through gigantic pandan  (screwpine) plants that are several feet tall. Or should I call them trees already because of their height? The pandan I know are much smaller, so seeing this variety was a pleasant surprise. Pandan, by the way, is one of Luisiana's agricultural pro

TRAVEL | It comes in threes: The waterfalls of San Salvador, Luisiana, Laguna (Part 1: Talay Falls and Hidden Falls)

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The beauteous Hidden Falls in San Salvador, Luisiana, Laguna. I've been to at least two waterfalls in South Cebu this summer: the crowded but really beautiful Kawasan Falls in Badian and the super fun, multi-tier Aguinid Falls in Samboan . Those two trips were really calculated for fear that I might end up with another "episode" as a result of too much physical activity and dehydration. But after making it through with no fever at all, we geared up for yet another waterfall trip, this time in nearby Laguna. The more than 200-feet high  Hulugan Falls was our prime target, which was, based on what we've read, accessible via a relatively short (around 30 minutes) but very steep and difficult downhill trek. And then you have to go back up. But there was another option, a longer but supposedly much easier trail that will take you through two more waterfalls-- Talay Falls and Hidden Falls --before getting to the big one. Banking on "easier," we chose t

LIFESTYLE | Dad's Day at Manila Pavilion Hotel

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Last month it was all about the mothers of the world. Now it's Daddy's turn to get some love and affection because it's Father's Day on Sunday, June 18. Don't have any plans yet? The Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino can help you with that.

LOOKBOOK | Trekking in orange and ombre

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Instead of beaches, this summer saw me visiting a couple of waterfalls. Outfit-wise, it was mostly blue for my first two waterfall trips, both in South Cebu. There's the blue shirt and swim shorts combo I wore to Kawasan Falls in Badian , and the multicolored pastel shirt and cerulean blue shorts I donned for our trek through the five-tier Aguinid Falls in Samboan . Though multicolored, the latter was still heavily anchored on blue. This time around I consciously picked a different color, orange . As plain as this V-neck tee is, I thought it just pops, so I went for it and paired it with ombre printed swim shorts . I can't explain how the colors complement each other but for me it simply works. I subscribe to the thought that if it feels right, then it must be right.

LOOKBOOK | Not quite a Minion

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I don't get to wear it often but I sure am glad to own dungarees . Also called overalls , it's something I've wanted for years but never found one until early last year. For me they've always been around although they've never made it to becoming a mainstream fad. Or have I missed a trend here?

LOOKBOOK | Linen and denim

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A number of people are usually averse to long sleeves during summer for obvious reasons. But given the right fabric, we still can wear long sleeves and be just as comfortable. Because they're very breathable, linen and lightweight cotton are the usual suspects and are probably your best bet in beating the heat.

LOOKBOOK | Color to the world

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With the midday sun casting harsh shadows, I look like I'm wearing shades. 😎 After getting ourselves all soaked at Aguinid Falls in Samboan , I had a change of outfit and carry on with our little town-hopping in South Cebu. It's summer and wearing color is definitely in this season.

TRAVEL | Samboan's Aguinid Falls: A fun experience in 5 levels

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Frosty hand. Samboan in South Cebu is blessed with a number of waterfalls. I wanted to see them all, or two of them at least, but concerns over my medical condition forced us to pick just one. And we ended up with the town's most popular and most accessible, Aguinid Falls .

LOOKBOOK | Wet and not wild

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Goofing just a bit by the waterfall. Another day, another waterfall. Another outfit, of course. And because I was trying to veer away from my default t-shirt or tank top when going on trips like this, it was another buttoned shirt and swim shorts combo for me then.

TRAVEL | Samboan's trio of heritage sites (South Cebu)

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The Samboan church facade. Samboan is arguably known best for its multiple waterfalls but this small town in South Cebu also has its share of well-preserved heritage structures  from the Spanish colonial era. Three of them are clustered within short walking distance from each other, with the parish church as focal point. St Michael the Archangel Church Made primarily of coral stone, this 19th century church saw some restoration efforts in recent years after it was partially damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the provinces of Cebu and Bohol back in October 2013. As a result, the stones look new although it's encouraging to see moss growth in some spots already. This, along with the ferns and other plants sprouting from crevices in the church's facade, should help bring back the structure's old, weathered look soon. Just a few years ago, even the walls inside the church have moss growing on them . Now they're squeaky clean.