Today's Dispatch: Hello, World at Large

This post is brought to you by Patrick Stump and his highly convincing Rick Astley makeover.



So, how's everybody holding up?

It's been a tough week for me; lots of problems on the job and writing front, a little drama on the family front... and then this storm happens. Don't worry, we're safe, but I'm also praying for the folks that barely made it through the typhoon, especially the evacuees. 

By the way, I've already made my Twitter account (@stella_meimei) public, so feel free to follow me and say hi whenever you can!

Today's Dispatch: Literal Crushing

Today's post is brought to you by the Philippine Volcanoes (Men's 7s) Rugby Team.



(...But seriously: How many times have I actually run that scenario in my mind where I'm at a bar in Makati with these guys, and The Hotness just happens to walk in and introduce himself to me? "Oh, hello, you must be The Hotness. I'm Meimei, and these are my friends Justin Coveney and Gaz Holgate. Yeah, I've heard people say that Gaz looks like your friend Colin Farrell...")

- I've been listening to Coldplay's unreleased cover of "You Only Live Twice" - yes, the James Bond theme song, originally sung by Nancy Sinatra - and the best way for me to describe it is that it's so Coldplay that it goes from being epic to terrible and looping right back into awesome. This isn't the song you would want to hear while Daniel Craig is driving off into the sunset, but you could totally imagine this playing in the background as, say, Tom Hardy - or Michael Fassbender, or Richard Armitage, or (what the hell) The Hotness - has a moment of silence before jumping off a bridge to get out of the game. 

- Status check on the writing: Yes, I am way too obsessed with my characters' outfits and natural pigmentation, which explains my renewed interest in color analysis and classifying certain characteristics as warm/cool, winter/summer, etc. This site has been quite helpful to me on that matter, because it just takes the guesswork out of the way. (For the record, I'm a Dark Autumn, which explains why periwinkle looks like crap on me.) 

- Also worth obsessing over: Wikipedia's list of Crayola colors. Seriously, I don't remember seeing a Brink Pink anywhere when I was growing up. 

Randomesticity: Things on My Mind Right Now

Above: I wholeheartedly agree with Coco Martin. Brown sugar in your coffee = yummy! 

- The Manila-based Female Network wants to know: Which celebrity would be your perfect Valentine? This explains why I have that Nescafe ad in this entry... but it's not limited to Filipino celebrities, either! (Hee.)

- Some good news: The stye that I wrote about in this entry turned out to be an eyelid zit that finally - FINALLY - went away this week. Good thing it did, too, because it looks like I should start playing around with eye makeup again to go with the Glosswatch entries.

- More quick updates. Work: not driving me nuts any more. Diet: doing great. Exercise: still getting there, but at least I've started with my walks around the neighborhood again. Hair: finally growing out; got a trim to get the split ends out of the way; had to use dandruff shampoo the other day to tamp down the scalp itch.

- Right now, I'm in the middle of planning a major trip for my upcoming school break... and as much as I don't want to jinx it by giving away too many details, I will go ahead and say that, if all plans push through, I will be spending autumn in the Southern Hemisphere! That's a lot of excitement to deal with here. Wondering what the rest of this madness will bring? Hmmm...

- I am also haunted by these shoes. I can't explain it; all I know is that I spotted their doppelgangers at the Payless Shoe Store (yes, we now have Payless) in Festival Supermall, and the only thing that stood between me and them was my lack of cash. Oh, sweet perfection! Maybe I'll write about them, too!

The Case Against Lipstick

Anne Curtis, original flavor:

Anne Curtis, at the recent Star Magic ball:

Okay, Anne - I know that you don't always have good taste, and sometimes you just don't get the "dressy" thing right all of the time. But... well, you don't look like yourself here. It's as if you've decided to dress up as Lea Michele playing the Bride of Frankenstein in a very special Goth-themed episode of Glee.

This, my dear, is a fine example of how even a gorgeous ball gown can be ruined by less-than-perfect styling from the clavicle upwards.

Maybe it would be a good idea for you (and your stylists in charge) to step away from the full-coverage lipstick once in a while? I'd suggest starting here and here.

Short Note

...There's a reason for this picture. 

Just wanted to check in with everyone since I've been away from this blog for a week (blame my kids). The semester's coming to an end, which means that I might not be able to follow the usual M-W-F posting schedule for this blog.

What I can say now, though, is this:

- While I am inching pretty close to my original goal of looking like Christina Hendricks (without the flaming red hair and mind-boggling cup size), my weight loss has reached the inevitable plateau due to lack of exercise and sleep these last two weeks. Still annoyed by the loss of muscle tone, though I will admit that I'm now more convinced than ever to step up those workouts. (Which begs the question: Would now be a good time for me to jump on the Jillian Michaels bandwagon? I know that everyone's into 30 Day Shred right now, but I just saw an excerpt from No More Trouble Zones, and I think I prefer the workouts in that video more.)

- There's another trip to Manila coming up in a few - which means that there might be some decent clothes shopping on the way, too. I am certainly thinking about purchasing some nice polo shirts for myself (o hai, Rhett) to give myself a break from the camp shirt-and-khakis ensembles that I've been rocking at work all semester.

- I actually had another fun post planned for this week, but I could really use more sleep right now.

Will check back with you as soon as things have cleared up. Ta for now!

Pump and Lift, Episode 17: I Will Rise Up and Crush You*

...Yes, kids, that's what Sharon Cuneta looks like now. 

I mention Sharon here - and I say this as one who's equally enamored of all the Great Actresses in the Filipino movie industry - because I just found out that she will be hosting the Philippine edition of The Biggest Loser. At first I thought it was a joke - considering that a lot of people have been making fun of her weight lately, and especially since she's supposed to host her own cooking show - but it's a good thing that she herself didn't take it as an insult. 

Which brings us to where I am right now. 

Unlike Sharon Cuneta, I do not have other bloggers making passive-aggressive comments about how "believable" my weight loss really is in real life. Nor do I have actual real-life people making the same kinds of comments as well. Thank goodness for that. 

What is disheartening, however, is the fact that I had actually spent an entire week without doing a single exercise of note... which only meant that I've lost my muscle tone, my mojo, and my hard-won discipline over everything else I've worked on these last few months. 

Sure, I didn't end up going back to my old size, but I really felt like giving up on everything else, because I just felt defeated all around. 

And it took me a while... but there I was the other day, using my newly-purchased 2.5 lb weights to get through a workout and fighting for the burn that I've always missed this whole entire time. And I felt so much better, to the point where I did go back to checking those test papers, all psyched up and ready to unleash some major pwnage on it all. 

It took me a while, but I finally did find my own Sharon Moment. And this time, I'm going to make sure that it all sticks. 

*For the Tagalog-speaking readers out there, it's definitely Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita. You're welcome, repapips. 

The Case for the Basics: Soap and Other Cleansing Bars (Now with 100% More Dingdong!)

Before I begin this entry, here's one major reason why I can't stand Dingdong Dantes:

I kid you not - you are looking at a grown man who models underwear and still calls himself DINGDONG. That's all I'm going to say on the matter.

Anyway, one of the few things that made Mr. Jose Sixto Dantes III less annoying for me came from a recent interview where he said that his biggest pet peeve was going into a public restroom and finding - gack - an empty soap dispenser. As someone for whom restroom soap is a major deal-breaker, I can say that I totally sympathized with him, right then and there.

But it did get me thinking about my feelings on soap, cleansing bars, and body washes in general.

Pretty Persuasion: A Polyvore Set

WARNING: The following entry contains a significant amount of political satire and idle speculation masquerading as fashion commentary. Reader discretion is advised.

Let's just pretend, for a moment, that you are Shalani Soledad.

This week is supposed to be your week. Not only did you recently get re-elected as a city councilwoman, but your long-time boyfriend is literally minutes away from being declared President-Elect of the Philippines. By now you are at home, taking in the relaxing drink of your choice as your mind continues to buzz with all the great ideas that you can bring to City Hall as soon as you get back to work.

Then you start reading the newspapers. (More, after the jump.)

Shut Up, Preview

Speaking of election madness, here's the May 2010 issue of Preview magazine.

-

I already have enough problems with Preview as it is, what with the bad copy-editing and the faux-British fashionista parlance (seriously, people, it would be a happy day in the Hacienda if I never see the words body-con and sunnies in my magazines ever again... and the less said about ferosh, the better)... but this - THIS! - is just plain horrifying enough to stop me from buying this issue altogether. 

- The hat. THE HAT. There are a few people in the Philippines who can pull off that hat; KC Concepcion, unfortunately, is not one of them. Paired with the plain white background and the awkward pose, this whole thing takes the whole "homage to Isabella Blow" thing way too far. So unoriginal.

- Speaking of old hat: I am so over Sex and the City that it's not funny anymore... unless you count the inevitability that Scribey and I (and possibly our moms) will be watching SATC2 - in separate theaters - just so we could point and laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Does no one even realize that the whole thing is actually a cartoon?

- I dread the contents of "Fashion and the First Lady" for two reasons: Either they're repeating their fashion-workshop homages to Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni, or it's going to be yet another article heaping deserved but awkwardly ill-timed praise on The Imeldific. (There is, after all, a reason why the David Byrne/ Fatboy Slim collab Here Lies Love was not received warmly.) The only way I could find this entertaining is if they'd Photoshopped the heads of Shalani Soledad, Cynthia Villar, and Nikki Prieto-Teodoro over the bodies of fashion models wearing clothes we wish they'd wear. Heeee.

- A few months ago, Preview did a fashion spread that was supposed to be inspired by sci-fi, which turned out to be very disturbing. (Folks, I did not need to see a model done up as a Vulcan just so I could get a glimpse of her thong. Highly illogical, indeed.) The same issue also featured a cool-looking pictorial about military style, which got ruined by one picture showing the model straddling a cannon quite overtly - such a horribly cheap and cliched move, if you ask me. So you can imagine the kind of apprehension I now have after seeing the words "Navajo style" on the cover... either that, or I've probably lived in the United States for far too long.

- Um, yet another article on lingerie dressing? Are we running out of ideas now?

Okay, Preview folks, I've already said my piece here. Now get back to work!

Dear Rhett...

Above: Rhett Eala with fellow designer Patrice Ramos-Diaz.
(Credit: Rajo's Blog, Stylebible.ph)

Sir, after looking at this picture, I am fairly certain that it was you - as in, talagang YOU - helping out the sales staff at the Collezione C2 store at Power Plant Mall.

I did not expect to see you there, really... in fact, I wasn't even counting on seeing a Collezione C2 store at PowerPlant, either, because we were actually looking for the Team Manila store, and neither website for Collezione or Power Plant mentioned anything about this particular branch. (Can I also say that I didn't remember until that very moment that Team Manila moved to another wing? Ngeh!)

I was there with my parents because we were shopping for Christmas gifts and my Dad wanted to get the My Pilipinas polo shirts which you designed for C2. I was about to tell my Dad a story that I read somewhere that - as far as I can recall - involved you and Rajo at a fashion trade show where somebody asked you about a "stain" that turned out to be a print of the Philippine map. But then, as soon as I said your name, a husky guy with thick glasses and a Pilipinas shirt showed up right in front of me to fix a knit minidress on a mannequin.

First thought: OMG it's Rhett! STARSTRUCK! Second thought: Wait, there's a good chance it's not... OMG, he's still fixing the store! Might as well shut it before he gives me the stink-eye!

And, really, I had to think long and hard about saying another word in the store while you were fixing the displays. It was already providential enough that we found the C2 store at Power Plant at a moment when my Dad really needed to get a shirt... but to show up at C2 and see the Rhett in there? Frankly, it has been a while since my last visit to Makati, so all of this was unexpected for me. You could even call it... serendipitous.

I can't tell you which or how many shirts we bought today, because there's a high chance that somebody in my reading audience is going to get a Pilipinas shirt for Christmas. I can say, though, that my Dad bought one for himself, which he plans to wear out and about as proudly as he can... because that's how much he likes your shirts.

Long story short: Thanks, Rhett, for designing the shirts, and thanks to your staff at C2 for helping us pick our gifts! We are so glad we found your store... and so happy with our shirts!

Love,

Meimei

ps. Tiny nitpick - as much as I loved those Herve Leger-ish little minidresses at the store, I didn't buy one because neither I nor the other ladies on my gift list would be able to wear it confidently in real life. Which is a pity, because I thought that the construction was gorgeous. :(

The Case for the Model

Yep, that's the new ad campaign for the D&G Perfume Anthology, and the short version is running on Philippine television. Using "Freedom '90" as a soundtrack only makes this ad sweeter.

*****

I'm not gonna lie to you: I've been following the brewing crapstorm at Chuvaness over the use of foreign celebrities and models by the Filipino clothing brand Kamiseta. On the one hand, I get why a lot of folks are confused about a Filipino brand spending scads of money on New York shoots with top global celebrities, including current Kamiseta endorser Natalia Vodianova; it brings up all the unspoken anger about race and colonial mentality. Yes, it would be nice to have a Filipino brand using Filipino models as part of a global push. Yes, it would be nice to use Filipino talent behind the camera. Yes, it would be nice if the clothes themselves were, well, nicer.

But you know what? It is a global market - and whether you like it or not, "nice" doesn't cut it in a global market that demands more from every brand, even the established ones. We can argue till the cows come home about what Kamiseta could've done differently, but it's still not going to change the fact - as Cecile put it quite succinctly - that the final decision comes from the brand itself.

I'll also be blunt here: If the ad agency for Kamiseta only wanted a foreign face for their clothes, it would've been so, so easy to pluck out an expat kid or two out of nowhere, hook 'em up with a stylist, and let things go from there. As a former international-school kid, I've seen how these things work... not first hand, mind you, but I've lived in the Philippines long enough during the '80s and '90s to see how a well-orchestrated ad campaign can turn, say, that baggy-pantsed jock in your Algebra class into an Armani-clad "businessman" toting the benefits of coffee creamer, or a gawky 8th grader into a super-cool skater boy promoting boxed juice to Filipino kids. Nowadays, the Philippines is a different market for foreign models, and the influx of (affordable) new talent from South America and Eastern Europe has made Caucasian-featured models more easily available to local advertising agencies.

So what does a Filipino brand have to do to stand out in a global market like the one we have now? Easy: Skip the regular models and go for the big guns. San Miguel Beer has already blazed trails in the last three years by pairing Manny Pacquiao with Erik Morales and Jet Li (and note to San Mig: I can has Ricky Hatton commercial plz?), and Bench has started making inroads into the greater Asian market with ad campaigns featuring Jerry Yan of F4.

Kamiseta isn't even the first Filipino fashion retailer to use a non-Asian (read: white) global celebrity, either; for that, you need to go way back to Mandy Moore's earlier ad campaigns for Penshoppe.

(Screencap taken from MandyMoore.org)

Compare Mandy's ads for Penshoppe to the Kamiseta campaigns with the likes of Petra Nemcova, Alicia Silverstone, and Kate Hudson. Notice the quality of the photography, the poses, the whole feel... then tell me if all the money Kamiseta poured into getting all those big-ticket models and stylists have not paid off handsomely.

Personally, I think that Kamiseta's taking a big risk by following the Mango playbook of featuring models outside of their nationality (see also: MNG's campaigns with Karolina Kurkova and Milla Jovovich); it's a way of establishing brand-name association, in terms of both product quality and mystique. I wouldn't be surprised if this risk pays off so well that Kamiseta ends up breaking into the major fashion markets in Japan, Europe, or even the USA... but until then, all this debate has done is make Kamiseta even more buzz-worthy, and might even make the bottom line more profitable for the company.

****

And while we're on the subject of putting the Philippines squarely on the fashion map, I have a bold proposition to make here.

You know how Target gets people like Devi Kroell and Alexander McQueen to design stuff for their stores? Or how Payless usually gets a line from, say, Abaete or Lela Rose?

...Okay, so we already got a Pinoy designer into Target already, and that would be our boy Rafe Totengco. (Side note: Those bags that Rah-FAY just did for Tar-JAY? Lurve.) But stick with me here: What about a global designer collaborating with a Filipino retail brand?

You say it's been done before? Sure - Lesley Mobo (a UK-based Pinoy, as a matter of fact) just did a very cute lingerie (and, um, boxer/brief) line for Bench, which I adore. And the Mobo for Bench line, come to think of it, is the best example of what I have in mind for a major collaboration anyway: not too high-falutin' that it's out of reach, but not too far down the bracket that the quality might come into question.

Try to picture this: Monique Lhuillier designing limited-edition capsule lines for Rustan's, featuring resort-inspired clothes and/or linens that capture the old-meets-new vibe of her native Cebu. Or Rafe Totengco going back to his old retail roots by designing an affordable (leather!) line of shoes and bags for SM. And, since we've already made such a big deal about Steve Aoki helping to establish a hipster boutique in Manila, let's start bringing in more boldface names in here too... Gwen Stefani working with Cinderella, perhaps? Or a cross-collab between Tracy Feith and Kamiseta? Or Mossimo serving as a creative consultant for Bench?

Wild, I know. But if I can only dream, why not go all-out and start dreaming big, right? The only thing more scandalous than all of this is not pushing the envelope far enough.

Calling All Angels, Part 3: Entrance With Donation

Before I get back on the horn about Ondoy/Ketsana again, I just want to mention that we, too, have not forgotten the other Ketsana victims in Vietnam, and the survivors of the recent tsunami in American Samoa. The same Red Cross links from the last entry (except for the Philippine Red Cross) can also be used to give aid for Vietnam and Samoa, so please feel free to contact them if you would like to contribute.

This entry is dedicated to those who are holding concerts and other creative benefits for victims of the recent storm in the Philippines. Like yesterday's entry, this will be updated for as long as we can get more news updates regarding these events; if you want to add your event to this list, leave a comment or click on "Email The Author" at the bottom of this page. Maraming salamat po!

Note: This blog entry serves as a Public Service Announcement to create awareness for the ongoing situation in the Philippines. Neither Domesticity nor any member of the Meimei household is directly affiliated with the organizations mentioned below, and will claim no responsibility whatsoever for any incidents resulting from transactions conducted with said organizations. Any and all fradulent information posted in this entry, however, will result in its immediate removal.

• Quezon City, Philippines: More information on the (ongoing as of this writing) Driven For Life concert at Route 196 in Quezon City can be found in this entry from the Lilystars Records blog page. Bring your donations to the gig if you can; the PhP100 cover charge will also go towards fundraising for the victims of Ondoy. Plus: The Camerawalls! And the foxy Sarah Gaugler!
• Pasig City, Philippines: The Fully Booked fansite on Facebook has posted a poster for Raise the Roof - A Benefit Concert: For the Victims of Typhoon Ondoy, scheduled for October 21 at the Megatent. Event begins at 2:00 PM and continues all day and night. Scheduled to play: Tropical Depression (yay!), Taken By Cars (holla!), Pedicab (eeeee!), and Imago (EEEEEEE!!)
• Quezon City, Philippines: If your taste in music does not run towards indie OPM rock, take note: Ricky Lo reports that Air Supply will donate proceeds from their October 3 concert at the Araneta Coliseum to typhoon victims.
  
• Metro Manila, Philippines (UPDATED 10/03/2009): By now you may have seen the ads for the Katy Perry concert, originally scheduled for today at SM Mall of Asia, being postponed to "a later date," and not October 16 as previously reported. Tim Yap now reports that KP's concert is now being planned as a fundraiser for the Red Cross, and that David Archuleta will be part of the concert as well. (Source: Philippine Star)
  
• Taguig, Manila, Philippines: Also from Tim Yap, a fundraising concert titled Hoy, Hoy Ondoy! has been scheduled for October 7, 8:00 pm at the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio. The Camerawalls and Imago are among the bands scheduled to play, along with Hale, Sponge Cola, Hilera, and others. (Source: Philippine Star)

(Aside: Is it me, or is Mr. Eventologist becoming a much better writer these days? I mean, I used to think that Tim Yap was an elitist snob - and there might be some times when I'm right on that - but I'm getting addicted to his Saturday columns now. I also think that getting a Twitter account has been very, very good for him. Cool.)

• New York City, NY/ Hoboken, NJ: Reposting from a friend's blog entry (thanks, Marc!) - a list of NYC/Tri-State fundraisers, including concerts and band gigs. Of particular interest to readers of this blog: Warhol Soup's gig at Bar Saints n Sinners in Hoboken (linked from FB) and Imelda: A New Musical.
• New York City, NY: Reposting details from the Bayanihan4Ondoy blog: Cabaret performance for Typhoon Relief @ Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street.
  
• San Francisco, CA: The Band Aid Pilipinas Benefit Concert be held at The Intramuros on October 1 @ 6:00 pm. All donations will be taken at the gate and given directly to typhoon and flood victims. (Source: Mixsterious)
  
• San Jose, CA: Give: A Charity Event will be held at Sabor Tapas Bar & Lounge on October 1. All proceeds will go directly to typhoon and flood victims. Please note that this is a 21-and-over event; a "stylish" dress code is also enforced. (Source: Mixsterious)
• Austria (not Belgium, as previously reported): Online sources have been reporting on a benefit concert scheduled for October 22; only contact information is given, but no venue has been finalized.
  

Calling All Angels, Part 2: More Ways to Help

I'm sorry to keep nagging you about the whole deal with Ondoy/Ketsana, but: seriously, people, if we do get another storm by the end of THIS WEEK, there's a good chance that it's going to mess with the ongoing relief efforts. So, pray for the weather to stay clear, for our countrymen to stay warm and dry, and, please, for the love of sweet mangoes, save up all your energy towards helping out and keeping safe.

As it stands, I've decided to keep blogging about ongoing relief efforts for typhoon victims for the rest of the week. Remember, just because people like you and me can't brave the floodwaters (like hunky actors Gerald Anderson and Jericho Rosales) doesn't mean that we can't help. Now's as good as a time as any to save up the shopping and bar tab money, and get ready for the storms ahead.

The following partial list of resources has been aggregated from Google Spreadsheets (http://tr.im/zOqX and http://bit.ly/donate2ondoy), Facebook, and other online sources. Contact information for other organizations looking for volunteers and relief goods can also be found at the above-mentioned spreadsheets.

Special thanks in advance to Manuel Quezon III and the admins of the Definitely Filipino fanpage on Facebook, for stepping up and providing constant updates on all relief efforts - thus giving the Pinoy blogverse a better reason to band together and Get Things Done during this time. MARAMING SALAMAT PO!

METRO MANILA
Update: A link to the spreadsheet is now posted at ondoyrelief.org; more aggregated info can be found at typhoonondoy.org.

Volunteer Activities and Other News:

• Have you checked on those close to you? Even if you don't have a relative or friend in the flooded areas, you may already know one - through your maids, drivers, security guards, laundresses, and other household staff. You may also want to check with those who work closely with you, especially people like clerks, dry-cleaners, and hairdressers. If you trust them like family, help them out now; you might even end up doing away with the middleman and "adopting" your own community!
  
• Also, check with your nearest college or university - or alumni associations for your college/ university - to see if they can use more manpower for their relief efforts.
• Philippine National Red Cross needs volunteer workers, especially doctors and divers, and vehicles for the ongoing rescue effort. Contact your local PNRC chapter for details.
• Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS): The Philippine Animal Rehabilitation Center now accepts animal evacuees from all affected areas, especially dogs and cats. Donations are needed for supplies such as covered cages, covered carriers, and dog/cat kibble, as well as "human supplies" like canned people-food and drinking water.
• Confirming a post from the Lola Techie group on Facebook: The Ortigas Megatent (beside Renaissance Condo along Meralco Ave.) is now a relief hub for donations of food, meds, and water, but needs more volunteers!

Retailer Drop-Off Points for Relief Goods (in-kind donations of food and clothing preferred; please note that some of these outlets will take NO CASH)

• All branches for Aboitiz 2Go
• All 7-Eleven Branches
• All branches for Mail and More (covering FedEx and Air21; call 632-879-4789 for more details)
  
• Gas stations: Total, Shell, Petron
• Amber Ultralounge - The Fort, Taguig. (**UPDATE: All donations taken at Amber will be distributed by the Philippine National Red Cross. Preferred donations include ready-to-eat food, drinking water, clean water bottles, medicine, and first-aid supplies.)
  
• ARANAZ - Rockwell, Greenbelt, PowerPlant Mall
  
• Trilogy - PowerPlant Mall
  
• Alabang Town Center - Concierge Desk
• Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - all branches
  
• Fully Booked - Bonifacio High Street
  
• Greyone Social - Greenbelt 5 and PowerPlant Mall
  
• Moonshine Boutique - PowerPlant Mall
  
• Team Manila - Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Street Bel-Air and Rockwell
• McDonald's - all branches
  
• Jollibee - all branches
  
• Luca - Rockwell, PowerPlant Mall, Shangri-La, Eastwood, GA Towers (UPDATE: Divine Lee has brought goods donated at Luca stores directly to the folks in Payatas!)
  
• Papemelroti - 91 Roces Ave., Ali Mall Cubao, SM City North EDSA, SM Fairview, SM Megamall, Glorietta 3 in Makati, SM Centerpoint SM Southmall
• SMART Wireless Centers - SM Fairview, SM North EDSA, Gateway Mall Cubao, AliMall Cubao, SM Megamall, SM Muntinlupa, SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, Festival Mall Alabang, Alabang Town Center and SM Southmall
• Globe stores - Alabang Town Center, Festival Supermall, SM SouthMall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Bicutan, SM Fairview, Trinoma, SM North, Greenbelt 4, Park Square (Makati)
  
• Red Kimono Restaurants- all branches
• Second Wind Running Store - Teachers Village, Quezon City
  
• Embassy Superclub - The Fort
• Manor Superclub - Eastwood Citywalk 1
  
• Recreation Outdoor Xchange - Bonifacio High Street
• Vivere Suites - Alabang
  
• Repost from the FB fangroup for Pinoy indie-pop group The Camerawalls: LILYSTARS RECORDS and JORGE'S PORTRAIT STUDIO are accepting donations in kind (clothes, food, water) in support for Jam 88.3 's Project Ondoy - relief operations for the victims of the devastating typhoon. Contact: 09054441229/09164004343, ......7233586/4114512. Drop center at 35 P. Tuazon St. Cubao Q.C. (Jorge's Portrait Studio across LVN).
• And speaking of The Camerawalls: The band, and their labelmates, will be playing at Route 196 on Katipunan Extension, Quezon City as part of Driven for Life, a benefit concert on September 30, 2006. The entrance fee (PhP100) will go directly towards relief efforts; donations will also be taken at the gig itself.
  

Donations via Mobile Phone

• Philippine National Red Cross, via SMS: Text RED [numerical] AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart).
  
• TXTPower.org - accepts donations for the Philippine National Red Cross through SmartMoney, Globe Telecom GCash, and PayPal (under magbayanihan@yahoo.com.ph)

Hot Meals for the Needy

• Enderun Colleges: Students at Enderun Colleges have been making hot meals for those in need from donations of canned goods, rice, and other edibles. Drop off food and clothing donations at 1100 Campus Avenue, McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio @ Taguig City.***UPDATE: Enderun also needs extra can openers to go with your food donations! Call (632) 856-5000 for more information!***

INTERNATIONAL

For all international readers of this blog, please check with your nearest Philippine Embassies and Consulates for information on local Filipino organizations and other ways to help!

***UPDATE: Go here for more information on how to donate overseas!***

Online Donations (Credit Card and PayPal)

• Bayanihan4Ondoy (affiliated with NAFCON and SanDiwa)
  
• Philippine National Red Cross ***UPDATE, 10/02/2009: Now with Paypal link!**
  
• Xoom.com: The company will process all money transfers to the Philippine National Red Cross without any additional fees. Click here for step-by-step instructions!
• American Red Cross (USA) - please specify donations to the Philippines
  
• Australian Red Cross
• Canadian Red Cross
  
• Red Cross Germany - Deutsches Rotes Kreuz
  
• Ayala Foundation (UPDATED: Link now goes to the US website; all donations to AF USA are tax-deductible)
  
• MyFlowerDepot.com: Donations go to the Philippine National Red Cross
  
• PhilippineAid.com
• Student Calamity Fund
  
• World Food Programme (United Nations)
  
• Oxfam UK
• Oxfam Australia
  
• Caritas Australia
• TEAR Fund (NZ)
  
• Kerygma
  
• PinoyPinayAmerica.org
• TxtPower (Paypal)
• Gawad Kalinga/ GK1World (credit card only)

Restaurants, Retailers, and Other Businesses (US and Canada only)

• Honolulu, HI: No stores - yet - but the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu will take checks and cash donations. Call (808) 680-0451 for details.
  
• California: Alas Cargo will send all relief goods for free, and will also carry goods donated at all Island Pacific Supermarkets
• Fullerton, CA: The Gift Bag Project is collecting donations for typhoon victims in the Philippines at Starbucks on Gilbert & Malvern.
  
• Bay Area, CA: Gerry's Grill (click here for drop-off information in Union City; donations will also be taken at the Daly City branch), Intramuros (South San Francisco - benefit concert information here), Erly's Shear Beauty (South SF)
  
• Southern California: Forex Cargo (Los Angeles and West Covina) and LBC (West Covina and San Diego) accepting clothing donations for shipping to the Philippines
  
• Jersey City, NJ: Donations currently taken at Sinugba Cafe (561 Westside Ave.) and Casa Victoria (691 Newark Ave.)
• Vancouver, CA: Goldilocks Bakery (Main Street Branch)
  

Note: This blog entry serves as a Public Service Announcement to create awareness for the ongoing situation in the Philippines. Neither Domesticity nor any member of the Meimei household is directly affiliated with the organizations mentioned above, and will claim no responsibility whatsoever for any incidents resulting from transactions conducted with said organizations. Any and all fradulent information posted in this entry, however, will result in its immediate removal.

Calling All Angels: An Update on the Whole Typhoon Situation

Dear blog-reading folks: I just want to let you all know that we at Hacienda de Meimei are actually safe from harm. We have not been evacuated, our house has not been devoured by flood waters, and my family and I - including my parents, nephew, cousin, household help, and DogMei - were able to weather out the storm together over the weekend. Thanks be to God.

However, a great big chunk of Metro Manila is still underwater, and badly damaged from the storm. And I, for one, am having flashbacks to the worst disasters of the decade: Hurricane Katrina. Indian Ocean tsunamis. The Hawaii earthquake of 2006.* Watching the news doesn't help - less so when a government representative comes on to say something, anything - and I've already stopped reading my Facebook news feed to avoid getting too emotional.

Our family continues to pray for those who are still searching for their loved ones, still waiting for good news, still processing their losses.





View Ondoy situation map for Metro Manila in a larger map

Just a reminder: There is no school tomorrow - I repeat, No School Tomorrow, and that includes everyone from elementary to college - but relief efforts are still ongoing at schools and major universities. I've also heard - through Manuel Quezon III's blog - that Team Manila stores are currently taking in-kind donations for food and other supplies.

A comprehensive list of organizations currently receiving donations - including bank transfers for relief services - can be found here. Although some organizations are currently taking transfers via Paypal, a great majority of relief efforts are concentrated on in-kind donations of blankets, canned goods, and clothes, which are needed immediately.

Thank you all for reading this blog entry. Remember: stay safe and warm, don't forget to hug your loved ones, and - most of all, if you are so inclined - keep on praying.

*Edited, 9/28: I understand that this earthquake wasn't as bad as what just happened, but just to clarify: I was in Honolulu when it happened, and it did freak me out - I had never seen HNL so desolate as it was during that time. My hometown back home had just endured the worst of a Super Typhoon that left a lot of unevacuated folks dead some days before the earthquake hit, so that was not a pleasant experience for me. But let's move on, move forward... and reach out to those in need. Thank you.

Sometimes a Bag is Just a Bag...

...but sometimes a bag needs an explanation.

Hi, my name is Meimei, and I own a bag from Secosana.


Let's face it: I can't really defend myself here. Longtime readers will point out that I don't always carry nice bags around, for security reasons, and no matter how many times I write about the Fendi Zucca or the Louis Vuitton Mahina, I will always end up buying whatever it is that happens to be on sale. The bag that you see above, which cost me all of P650 (US$13), is no exception... because it was on sale at Robinsons.

But: It's a Secosana.

A great majority of fashion bloggers from Manila will tell you that Secosana is the red-headed stepchild of the Philippine fashion scene. Secosana bags may be cheap, they will say, but they are also the knockoff bags that you buy for your maids as a Christmas present, or the bags you take to the places where you're most likely to get ripped off by a purse snatcher. Secosana bags will break your heart when they start falling apart on your after several months, no matter how well you take care of them. Add to this the fact that Secosana has allegedly started increasing their prices, and we're looking at a resentment so deep-seated that it would take a PhD in social anthropology to explain the whole thing in a dispassionate, unbiased manner.

In the meantime, look at this bag:


Repeat after me: Again with the cheap "leather." Look closely at the bottom detail, too, and you could see that those swirls are actually "S"-es. And can we talk about that color? Because, really, this bag would have been so much better if it came in a creamier beige hue... which it didn't, because the other color in the store was bright fuschia.

That said, I stand by my line of reasoning for getting this bag. Yes, it was on sale. Yes, I need a second purse for the days when I have to go to Mass, which is very often. (This explains the frequent presence of reading glasses and a hand fan in this bag.) And even if I didn't have to deal with the security issues of purse-snatching, I know that I've done my best to de-cheezify this bag by reducing the number of decorative charms to the lone pair of tassels that you see here. Not that hard, really.

As for the fasyonista credibility problem... well, I have seen more horrific bags in the same price range as Secosanas (four words: Baby Phat knock-offs) and better-quality bags for less cash... but it's not like the brand itself hasn't tried hard enough to make a better product. I know that they've made cuter bags in their past collections, and it's not like anyone else is expecting them to use real leather, so it's obviously a question of addressing the construction quality at this point.

Let me also add, however, that I've actually carried this bag to a formal event last weekend in Manila, and nobody cared enough to notice. So THERE.

This may be a Secosana, but it's still my Secosana, and I'm sticking with it. That is, until I can scrounge up enough money to spring for real, honest-to-goodness leather... labels be damned.

From the Vaults of Hacienda de Meimei: I Love the Nineties!!!

For all intents and purposes, this post is best enjoyed with an accompanying soundtrack:



Believe it or not, these pictures are actually from my happier days in high school, when my hair wasn't permed and my angst was at bay. No wonder I kept them all.

1994: Forgive the uneven reproduction quality of this shot for a moment, and ignore the baggy green Mom Jeans. This picture has the hallmarks of the Meimei style: side-swept bangs, red lipstick, and a fitted, solid-color top with sleeves. In this case, said top was a black mock turtleneck, which I was able to pull off for as long as my chest remained, shall we say, in development. (Damn you, college weight gain!) If I were to restyle this picture, I would've chosen a long-line T with a more flattering neckline - say, a V-neck - and better-fitting low rise jeans, to avoid the sagging-butt effect shown here.

Also, I should mention that the cool watch I'm wearing here is, believe it or not, a Swatch. I remember this because I had to swap out the cheesy, worn-out plastic strap for a classier one in green croc leather.

1995: All I can remember from this shot is that this was taken during one of the happiest moments of my life - happy because I was hard at work covering an event for the school paper (ask Scribey - she was there), and I was definitely in love with... um, where was I? Now, I like to joke that this picture is proof that my ego is definitely bigger than my actual hair - as you can see, the shadow behind me makes me look like I got myself a full-blown wig, when in fact I'm actually sporting a plain, one-length bob. And I like how my makeup has all but worn off here, too. What I don't like: the jacket, and the overdone eyebrows. Which reminds me...


Senior year photo: This was taken within a day or two of the last one, but GOOD GRAVY where was Kevyn Aucoin when I really needed him? Ten years ago, I posted a Photoshopped version of this one, where I tried to alter everything from the foundation line on the forehead to the toothy Joker grin... it just didn't work. If anything, though, I think this is actually a great example of a pattern I've found in my pictures from the last decade: the more makeup I wear in the picture, the more insecurities I actually have to hide from the camera. The worst pictures I've taken during my teens, in fact, can be attributed to a combination of too much makeup - dark lips, heavy brows, pasty foundation - and not enough spark behind the eyes. In retrospect, though, I really had no reason to be insecure at all; the old rivalries were beginning to fade away, the studying wasn't going to be so bad, and it wasn't going to take long before puppy love gave way to deeper and truer passions for life and love itself. Oh, well... at least we've come a long way from all of that, and it's all good from here. :)

Publication Watch: Preview, July 2009

credit: stylebible.ph

Longtime readers of this blog would know that Preview is my favorite fashion magazine from the Philippines; like Allure, I practically fell in love with Preview at first read - and possibly from the first issue. Any new issue of Preview that comes my way is still a must-read for me, even if I inevitably end up getting annoyed with the articles/ fashion spreads/ skin-whitener ads/ whoever they end up putting on the front cover.

I take it as a good omen that the July 2009 issue of Preview has Maricel Soriano on the cover. Say what you want about the Balmain-ish jacket she's rocking here, but I think this picture captures my favorite things about the Diamond Star herself - it's practically a homage to the roles that have made her an icon in Philippine cinema, from the ice-queen hair and makeup (taray!) to the ripped tomboy jeans. She's also surprisingly at ease with the avant-garde Balenciaga and Jil Sander dresses that she poses with in the accompanying fashion spread, too.

The list of "Best Dressed" women they have inside the magazine is nothing to sneeze at, either - although I'll be the first to admit that I barely even recognize half of the folks they've featured for this list. It's an interesting and eclectic mix of models, socialites, balikbayan hipsters, and fashion-industry insiders - some of whom may not be easily recognizable to regular folk like you and I, and some (like current It Girl Divine Lee, who's basically Manila's answer to Ivanka Trump) may be deemed more quirky than pretty - but totally memorable and stylish all the same. Not to mention the spread devoted to the plain white T-shirt, styled and modeled to the hilt by all ten ladies on the list. My only quibble with this list, however, is that there's not enough attention paid to local retail; name-checks for Topshop and Target may be fine, but I'd think that, in tough times like these, at least somebody on that list would have bought or worn something from a locally grown brand or store, let alone Divisoria or Marikina. I'm sorry, but there's got to be something wrong with the picture if the HK-based boutique franchise On Pedder gets more mentions than Shoemart and Rustan's combined.

That said:

- I have Preview to thank for my current girlcrush on Paula Taylor, who is obviously not Filipino (she's English and Thai) but has that certain breezy quality about her, which is a throwback to the socialite-bred mestiza models that used to populate Filipino print ads and magazine covers back in the '70s and '80s.

I hope BroMei and his friends from high school are reading this, because Paula really looks like the kind of girl they would've crushed on twenty years ago.

- Recurring theme #1: Fil-Am hipsters. Scribey and I spent the good part of 2008 making fun of their American Apparel-shopping, shutter-shade-wearing counterparts in the United States. Now it's 2009, and the Pinoy hipsters who have shown up in this month's Preview... do not annoy me, surprisingly enough. True, they're still singing the praises of neon-colored hightops and granny glasses, but at least our Pinoy hipsters look like they're really having fun - with their clothes and their lives. No wonder hipster icons like Steve Aoki and The Cobrasnake lurve Manila right back.

-Recurring theme #2: So much avant-garde, so little closet space. We're looking at scarves attached to shirts, jumpsuits cut like onesies, deconstructed everything, and the return of Hammer Pants... nice if you're into that sort of thing, but: again, not exactly something you'd wear to a job interview in the middle of a recession, you know?

-Recurring theme #3: Fierce shoes. If I told you that these Givenchy sandal-boots were butt-ugly, I would be lying to your face right now. (Though, after seeing Mary-Kate Olsen's cankles in these boots, I'd have every right to be hesitant about this.) And even if I don't get a hold of these right away, who's to say that I won't be scouring the shoe stores of Manila in search of bondage-inspired sandals and safe-for-work "promote me" pumps any time soon? You just watch, folks. You just watch.

- And in the category of "Preview Recommends, Meimei Approves": LUSH Squeaky Green Solid Shampoo, which I purchased in Honolulu but am currently using at Hacienda de Meimei. Believe me when I say that this shampoo has not only kept my hair clean, but has also given my flat hair amazing Farrah Fawcett-y volume. Just plain gorgeous.

Hometown Glory

Hometown Glory by meimei96

What you are looking at here, right now, is a close approximation of the trends I've been seeing out and about since I came home from the Philippines. Again, let us not mind the price tags or sizing schemes; let's talk about the components.

- I've always found that Manila girls are totally into their shoes and bags, but not in an "OMG DESIGNER!!!111!!!!" kind of way. Since we do have a lot of talented artisans working with high quality materials in this country, it's pretty normal out here to get yourself all kitted out with both a nice bag and a hot pair of shoes for as low as US$30. (Just make sure they're not scuffed, though - maintenance is definitely key!) That said, the town where Hacienda de Meimei is located has a more laid-back aesthetic than Metro Manila, so a bohemian approach to accessories is in order - thus, the Rafe New York bag with the rattan frame and woven-leather detail (designed by former Manila boy Rafe Totengco - yep, that's Rah-fay to you, and not to be confused with this guy), and the brown Aldo slides for showing off a well-done pedicure.

- Over the last two weeks that I've been here, I've noticed a lot of girls wearing tiny, tiny bolero jackets with sleek, streamlined tops in bright colors - which I can't exactly explain, other than to assume that this must be something that got picked up from haute couture in Japan or Korea. Some of these tiny, shrug-like jackets have ruffles and embellished details that would look cute on most petite Asian women, but I chose the H&M bolero for its airy feel and clean lines - perfect for playing down wide shoulders and heavy arms. The yellow T-shirt is definitely a statement - political, of course (in honor of Corazon Aquino, who's still battling cancer), and fashion-wise, as a way of fighting off the rainy-season blahs. This jacket-and-tee combination can practically go anywhere... though, if I was wearing this to work or to church, I'd look for a similar top that shows enough skin around the neck and clavicle area, without going for full-on deep cleavage.

- The girls I've seen rocking the above tiny jacket/sleek top combo tend to pair their outfits with skinny jeans or pencil skirts. In this case, however, I decided to go with basic dark brown khakis instead, to go with the warm neutral palette we've established with the bag, shoes, and jacket. Black would've made this whole look too severe and bumblebee-ish.

- Since we're working with a Pacific Rim-inspired look, I thought I'd keep the makeup as simple as possible; thus, the pink Sephora gloss. Depending on how formal we're going with this look, I'd also go with some mascara, black (or brown) eyeliner paired with a metallic-gold wash over the lid, a warm bronzer or highlighter to bring color to the cheeks, and tousled waves or a low ponytail; anything that's too "styled" would only look way too severe.

The Blogging Goddesses of Manila

A recent conversation with a friend of mine back home turned towards the question about whether or not a blog like this one will ever survive in a crowded blog-market like the one we have in Manila. While I never really claimed to blog for the money (...sorry, corporate sponsors-to-be), I will admit that a shopping-and-chismis blog like mine may not stand out, at first. This is, after all, the country that also spawned Bryanboy.

And while this not-too-humble probinsyana is committed - and content - to continue blogging about drugstore mascaras, I would be more than happy to concede my usual showbiz-and-glamour beat to the real experts.

First and foremost: Chuvaness.com.

Mind, this is a stylist-assisted Chuva you're seeing in this picture, but I was already a fan of Cecile Zamora-Van Straten from her columns for the Philippine Star, before Scribey tipped me off to her blog. Stylish, yes, but whip-smart and witty, and quite unpretentious when it comes to her love of fashion and design. Anyone who can write about Louis Vuitton and still have no shame about buying housewares at SM has my undying love and respect.

Also in the category of "undying love and respect": Jessica Zafra.

In the early part of the decade, I was more than ready to write her off as a relic of the grunge era - too artsy for her own good - but all that changed when she also started writing for (again, no surprise here) the Philippine Star three years ago. Now she has her own blog, and I can't let a day pass any more without her piercing insight and unrelenting sense of humor. Also, if you can find them, Scribey and I both heartily recommend her old column, Twisted - several compilations of which are now available on paperback.

(Disclaimer: I have no connections to the Philippine Star, other than the fact that my parents are faithful subscribers to the paper, and a passing acquaintance of mine and Scribey's from high school is now an editor in the same section of the paper where La Cecile and La Jessica publish their columns. Those of you who do, however, should feel free to bombard the editors of the Star with recommendation letters on my behalf. Heheh.)

Randomesticity: It's Cranktastic!

It's no joke to be a moving gal: I just got my apartment clean, my suitcases half-packed, and plans for a goodbye party under way... and yet, I've also become deeply cranky, to the point where I'm tempted to get all up in somebody's business if I ever so much hear somebody ask me why I'm moving, let alone why I should even think about trading in this lovely, lovely Hawaiian paradise for the creature comforts of the Southern Tagalog Region.

So let's all go to the happy place together, shall we?

- I actually think that the new, celebrity-studded Drive Safe PSAs sponsored by E! and Ciroc Vodka are pretty cute... and not just because Dave Annable and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are en fuego, and Tom Green naming Kathy Griffin as part of his "list" just makes me giggle. But if you like your anti-drunk-driving PSAs without the bar-hopping celebrities - but with a touch more Biz Markie - here's the soon-to-be-classic Let a Stranger Drive You Home from Heineken.


- Here's what the cashier at the Walgreens on Keeaumoku Street has to say about my most recent purchase: "I see this everywhere! Everybody, always buying this! My co-worker, she got the Colossal! My manager, Colossal! Everyone, they like the Colossal!" (To be fair, however, I also bought Define-a-Lash Volume as well. What can I say, I love BOGO days at Walgreens... and yes, it has been *that* long since I got a new mascara.)

- Speaking of purchases: It's no secret that I am deeply in lurve with Marks and Spencer, especially now that they have branches in the Philippines. I especially love the fact that I have no problem finding stuff in my size at their Manila stores, even if it's just for basics like T-shirts and bras. That being said, the only way I could love their Philippine stores even more than I do is if they constantly keep these chocolate-covered digestive biscuits in stock. Yes, you heard me - and don't let the "digestive" moniker fool you, because it's just there to remind you that they're chock-full of whole grains. Dee-lish.

- And because I can't let this pass without any comment...

Sevin Nyne, besides the fact that it's nothing more than celebrity-endorsed self tanner: a) industrial-strength pesticide, or b) pornographic Star Trek-themed fan fiction?