With Love, My Sinta.

Blazer: H&M Top: H&M Shorts: INDIE-GO Shoes: Sinta Shoes Accessories: H&M and Blings&Jewel

Photography by Kit de Silva

I have this habit of going on a constant hiatus instead of going on a constant blogging spree. But to explain, I've been caught up in so much design work and then, I immediately jumped into a 2-week vacation getaway and then right after, I jumped right into a new job. My fast-paced way of running around through time and space has been zapping my strength so quickly I can barely blink. Hence, it's been so hard to blog. Though time to time again, I've been tempted to just post a bunch of photos on an entry space, publish that and proclaim it to be a 'blog post'. Thank goodness reason stops me from doing something as preposterous and ridiculous as that. 

So now I live a life of office life - wherein I wake up at specific time in the morning and then, leave the house at a specific hour and then the hours just go on by. A very routine life. As a freelancer, I had a semblance of freedom of my hours, at least and now that's taken away from me a little. But I'm not complaining. But I'm not sure how I feel about this newly-acquired routine life. All I know is that my brain cells and energy gets zapped out a lot and I am becoming fond of my really funky, creative, funny and witty officemates. I like how we're all stressed together as a team - you don't get that when you're an independent freelancer. All in all, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at being a new girl in an actual advertising corporation.

Anyway, today holds an ostentatious day for my country - the 2013 General Elections that would bring in the new batch of Senators and district officials. Honestly, I don't know what to feel about this season's elections. Probably because I've been out of the loop with what's happening (I don't have television nor WiFi at my current residence and all I do is work and design) around the world as of late. I do, however, the campaigns of those candidates who seem like they're running a show and parading all over town, but anything more, I have no clue. 

Because of work, I had to re-activate my Facebook after 5 months of being out of it. Right now, my news feed is filled of people with heated status messages about their thoughts and feelings regarding elections and society in general. On a normal basis, I'd post as well, but as someone who is currently entirely lacking in a lot of knowledge, I do not feel the like I have the right to speak in this season's electoral activities. 

Still, I did take the time to go around and ask about people's views about this season's elections - whether they're guards or waiters or street vendors.. I think that even if they are under the blue-class workers, their thoughts and opinions matter as well since they do make up the most part of the population. I was a bit affected by their sentiments (and lack of knowledge as well) - that some didn't know where to vote and that they didn't believe in the difference their vote could make; how politicians just parade around a good sense of moral faith and concern to their countrymen only during their election season but, when they've risen to position, they just get richer and richer, the poor remains poor. 

Honestly, I do not know how to feel about this resigned decision to be apathetic towards social welfare in general. At one point, I understand their sentiments and complaints but at the same time, I feel a bit sad that people (especially the ones who do make the bulk of the overall population) just either gave up or continue to not receive proper information regarding this whole thing. And then there's this ridiculous case of vote buying. Honestly... What. the. fuck. 

But if there's anything I wish politicians had the power to do (aside from making the streets a cleaner and safer place or promulgating rules and regulations), it's that they have the ability to remove apathy and invoke social involvement among each and every countrymen. But even the lowest of the social ladder continues to sees the wrong and then, we just have to wonder... why isn't anything happening in that particular regard? (though hands down, we are prospering economically, still, we have to consider this other matter).  

Well, what's done (and what's not been done) is done and results come out in a couple more hours. I suppose we can only hope and try in whatever way we can and overall, just watch how things fall in to place (or don't). I'm hoping to those who were able to vote that they knew who they were voting for and why they were voting for that candidate. Fingers crossed on the welfare of my country.

The following remains the rest of my outfit post. Something summery and something for this new office girl.  Tell me your thoughts about it and overall, just enjoy the rest of this post.

Till the next time!

yours truly,

Searching.

Jacket: INDIE-GO; Top: H&M; Shorts: INDIE-GO; Accessories: KG StyleHub and Forever21;
Shoes: SOULE Phenomenon

Photography by Kit de Silva

These days, my spirits have been inexorably up in the air. So much so, that no matter how the intense heat literally burns my brain cells or no matter how much design work has been stressing me out as of late, my face, my heart, my soul is smiling all ears from top to bottom. 

Call me crazy, but I don't mind. 

I like how, no matter how much shit's been hitting the fan on all ends for me, I can still find a positive loophole out of it and deftly move past the shit. So I suppose, I owe it all to this human being I lately call 'Coffee Prince' (as in like, the Korean dramas), who probably barely even knows just how much his mere existence can literally light up an entire room or how his super kind smile can just erase whatever annoyance the day incurred or problem that's been heavily weighing on my shoulders. So I guess this little paragraph on a blog post is my token of thanks to this stranger who has unknowingly been an enigmatic catalyst of all things positive in my life right now. And while I have no serious intentions of actually pursuing this person (due to personal and realistic reasons), I'm just happy for the constant happiness and inspirations that's been lighting my spirits on a constant and daily basis. 

So, thank you.

They say life is series of constant searching for hope and direction; love and happiness; meaning and acceptance; for constant people and interesting people. Lately, I've been coming across extremely exceptional and genuine kinds of people and it surprises me each day that certain kinds of people exist (probably because I've encountered so much betrayal and so many two-faced people over the last year that it surprises me today that actual kindness and genuinely interesting people exist)- who live simple-mindedly but enigmatically charging through life like fire -- and they don't even realize it. I'm so happy to have come across such people. And the search goes on.. for more and for new things to come. 

Amazing. 

One of the great perks of being an art director for an online brand is that you get first glimpses (and dibs) on new collections that have yet to make its debut to the wider market. 

I wanted to try out something a little bolder than my usual. Crop tops have always frightened me because I'm not exactly as skinny as I look and I'm not skinny in part where I'm supposed to be. Got the riddle? Haha. Maybe it was the heat or maybe it was Coffee Prince but, it never hurt to step out of one's comfort zone.  Walking around in a crop top during this time, I didn't feel insecure nor embarrassed and the whole thing managed to work and has become a lovely and torn mix between the floral romantic style and denim street style. 

My guest photographer also deemed me of channeling a Demi Lovato peg. I did not realize. I give that credit to my new black and choppy layered hairdo.

Another short post, but I'm tired and this is a bit overdue. Today marks the birth of dearest mother and the day has been nothing short of surprises that the family all worked up just to make this day a whole lot more special for her. Below enlists a short bookspread-message I made out for her. Unfortunately, it's not my best work because its crammed and I've been getting burned out as of late. But she loved it and I'm just so happy she was happy today. 

Enjoy the rest of the photos!

Till the next post.

yours truly,

Intensity.

DRESS: INDIE-GO HAT: H&M BAG: Bench (China) Shoes: from Singapore

Photography by Monica Villarica

I realize it's been almost a week since my last post and I hate that I've been away from this haven for quite awhile. I've been racking myself over designing and redesigning the INDIE-GO website this past week (thanks to the latest Multiply changes-slash-hassles, we've decided to take the harder road regarding this endeavor) and that's why I haven't found the time nor strength to post as much. Well, here's to the little breather I get to have from designing.

This week, I have also realized that I unexpectedly have some lamentations when it comes to being a supposed "creative" person who offers creative services. Don't get me wrong, I love designing and I desire to do nothing but improve in the craft whilst helping small-time brands advocate high-quality packaging, advertising and overall branding. However, because people have already seen high-quality work, they expect nothing less and done always at the speediest rate. And sometimes, while I super love what I do, I can't help but also be human and run out of creative juices or how I term it, "design-spiration fuel". It's so frustrating when I sit all day in my lovely workspace, completely drained and still staring at blank canvases with the clock ticking, hands shaking and no idea running. Its draining and beyond annoying, to say the least. So that's been me for the past 4 days. I do not know how I manage to pull through. It just happens. 

I wish I could engage in conversations with excellent and well-acclaimed graphic designers around the worldwide and attend design conventions just to satisfy the question running in my head - how do you do it? And what do you do when you run out of the design-spiration fuel? Things like that. 

Anyway, I do hope to become like one of those amazing artists I see in my art and design books. Hopefully, with more practice, more brands to experiment and play on, more perseverance, I'll get there.   

This week has also been an onslaught of troubling news around the world. Bombings, earthquakes, threats of war. Honestly, its crazy and extremely alarming. So now, I would like to take a little time now to just simply extend my lamentations and concerns to Afghanistan because I believe that was a news that didn't seem to get around as much as it should have (what with the whole world talking about and praying for Boston). It's quite alarming to realize just how one incident outweighs the other and only because media - old and new - made it to be so. I'm not sure why this isn't as trending a topic as it should it be, but I just think both traumatic incidents should be given of equal importance and conversation worldwide. Still, my heart aches for everyone to have been involved in such incidents. It makes me feel blessed still, that no matter how seemingly "scary" this country might be or how many things this country still lacks in or how this country just honestly reeks of overwhelming social sicknesses, we're still the lucky ones compared to our neighbors and allies on the other side of the world. It's ironic how it has always been a common thing for schools and malls to have shootouts and for cities to have bombings on a random basis in a country that is supposedly the most prosperous among us all. The world never runs out of flaws and scary things. 

And meanwhile, amidst all this, things heat up in Korea with the strained North-South relations. Honestly, this issue has been irritating me for the past month. I really don't understand North Korea's deal and why they just have to find this incessant need to show off what power they have by threatening to kill and bomb half the world off. I'm annoyed and scared - but most rightly, just annoyed. How do you make them stop? No one knows. It's like me racking my brains over for a design idea... everyone's stressed and.. no one knows. Annoying.  

So.. that's me this week. I must seem to pass as such an intense and serious person talking about these things. Hence, the running around photos. I decided to revisit my special park and just run around like an idiot as a destressor. The summer heat is not such a welcome anymore and is becoming more of an infuriating pain in the head and on the skin. 

Take care everyone and don't fall into a heat spell! Pack up with cold liquids and stacks of vitamins to fight of the dangerous and powerful rays of the sun!

Till my next post.

Enjoy the rest of the photos! 

yours truly,

A Mysterious Case of Walking Around the World.

DRESS: Peanut Butter and Jeri SHADES: Blings&Jewel Shoes: from Singapore Accessories: Forever21

Photography by Kit de Silva

I don't know when it started but I've always had this incessant urge to travel around, whether it's jet-setting outside the country or just simply walking around within in the city. I love the act of just walking around and exploring and discovering new things. There's always this element of surprise and adventure that leaves me feeling invigorated with life and wonder.

I love how this city is rapidly developing and the changes are evident in the new establishments that rise up, the new leeways that suddenly turn up and the quirky surprises that make you retake the way you see familiar spaces. So while these photos look as if they were taken in another country - say downtown LA, for example -, they weren't. In fact, they were taken at little alley on the outskirts of Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City. In these photos, I'm currently situated beside a soon-to-open Japanese restaurant. It's name - still unknown to the public's eye. But it's outer interior is what makes the head turner. So matter how hidden this new restaurant may be, its design flourishes inside and out pique any by-passer's curiousity. Oh. Plus I got a glimpse of the owner (I will assume his role as the owner because he looked Japanese)... and he seemed cute. 

See? Lovely surprises. 

As for a little tidbit on this outfit: Honestly, one of my more favorite pieces that I don't get to wear as often as I originally wanted to. But one extremely hot day, it all just clicked. Do visit Peanut Butter and Jeri at their store in Eastwood, as they offer one-of-kind pieces that you'll never regret purchasing! 

And speaking of surprises, once again, fate has managed to play its lovely hand on me based on a few recent events. I won't elaborate on these events on a detailed scale, but I just wanted to reflect upon how things can unexpectedly turn out to be - some for better and some for worse. Either or, the world spins madly on and paves way for more and more unexpected twists and turns along the way. So I suppose, feeling lost will always be a fleeting moment, no matter the ironic everlasting feeling. There's always a way out the rabbit hole and a new wonderland to explore. 

Either, never think about it or simply never give up on anything. 

So cosmic forces, thank you for endlessly throwing me offhand with your surprises. We get by. And I simply couldn't help but fall in love with life more and more. 

I leave this post with a short feature on restaurant beside the trippy Japanese-soon-to-open one. It's called, Tapeo, located at the Fort Strip (along 7th Ave, cor. 28th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Tagiug, Manila) which has a very cozy and earthy interior; intimate for small gatherings and quiet but hearty conversations. Specializing in the Spanish entrees namely the tapas, they also have a wide selection of appetizers and pastries; the delectable raciones and this Spanish-dish made of potatoes - I forgot the name of the exact dish. They have a nice selection of winery as well. Unfortunate, I wasn't able to try it because at the time, I was more adept on getting my hand on their fresh shakes and juices. Overall, if you need a place to have an intimate dinner date, I suggest Tapeo at the Fort Strip. 

Oh, though I must say what really got me going was the music. I always appreciate it when establishments play music that is according to their overall ambiance, and Tapeo did it. They played a lot of jazzy tunes, some Indian, some Spanish  - you name it, they've got it. Anyway, loved every selection they played while I was there. Great job on that!

My guest photographer and forever lovely friend, Kit de Silva

Hope you enjoyed! Till next time!

yours truly,