2008 December | Rajo's Blog

Archive for December, 2008

Brunch at Antonio’s

Monday, December 29th, 2008

I received the best Christmas present ever! Ever since I started blogging, my friends have commented that my photos are kinda bad, LOL! I attributed this to my idiotproof point and shoot camera. I then wished for a new camera and asked around what I should get. Everyone said that getting a Canon G10 would be my best bet! I thought about it and said to myself will get one in Hong Kong as I would be going there soon.

I did not have to wait any longer as Nix surprised me with one! I was jumping up and down like a 5-year old! I was so happy! I am still learning how to use it but instantly, my photos are turning out to be so much better! I mean, come on, this camera has like a whopping 14.7 MEGA PIXELS! LOL!

I visited my good friend Joey Campillio who is holing up in Tagaytay. When I got to Tagaytay I was so surprised at how cool the temperature was, I mean wow, it felt really good! We decided to have brunch in Antonio’s Breakfast and it was GOOD!

Joey had eggs benedict and I had chorizo and fried eggs with garlic rice! COMFORT FOOD! I can never get tired of going up to Antonio’s as it’s probably the best restaurant in the land! We had a lovely table facing the fish pond and had a 3-hour brunch!

I shot this fruit stand while in traffic!

Everyone has to have lots of round fruit on their NewYear's table! Check out how lovely our local fruits are! The mangosteens look fabulous!

Antonio's is looking more elegant than ever, love the black and white scheme! It looks like a Cecil Beaton stage set!

Joey relaxed and enjoying the cool air in Tagaytay.

My dessert: a trio of guava, watermelon and calamansi sorbet! This was really refreshing!

Loving the foyer! It's so old world rich!

I want this foo dog sculpture!

Our table was the one with the umbrella! It was such a lovely afternoon!

Now that is what I call decadence! I am leaving for Thailand in the morning, as I decided to spend my New Year there! Wishing you all the best that this new year has to offer!

See you soon!
HUGS!
RAJO!

Tags: christmas, Fashion Insider, food, friends, gifts, photography, photos, rajo laurel, tagaytay
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Dinner at Chris’s

Monday, December 29th, 2008

This super long break is giving me so much time on my hands that I really do not know what to do with myself. I am so used to my days being filled to the brink that now that I have the opportunity to do nothing, I feel anxious! LOL! Good thing I get invited over to people’s houses for dinner to meet up with old friends and balikbayans! (Love that term! Balikbayans!)

Recently one of my dear cousins came home for Christmas and had the chance to catch up. Isa and I have been friends for more than 25 years and I was so happy to hear that she was back. I am even more happy that I finally had the chance to visit my very good friend/cousin Chris Lopez, as I have not seen her for such a long time. Chris and I used to be neighbors in Rockwell and I depended on her for so many things – think free meals and TV! LOL! I did not have a TV set for a really long time, I only watch TV on 2 occasions, the Oscars and Ms. Universe! LOL!

When I visited Chris I was so happy to see that she had a really beautiful home! I admired the relaxed elegance of the home and a feeling of real warmth. The color scheme was very neutral yet you could see that she used lots of textures and tonal gestures to keep the house very interesting! The meal was also very comforting as we had pizza with chicken and arugula and these lovely two bite burgers!

The dramatic staircase as you enter the house!

The living room done in shades of cream. It is so deliciously done!

I love this chair!

I adore the relaxed elegance of this room as it's really inviting!

Subtle touches of green make it festive without feeling overdone!

Dear Friends Anton Barretto and Chris Lopez

Anton, Chris and Isabella Nieto, who just flew in from Washington DC!

I really grew up with these guys! Glad to see you all! Goodness, we are aging wel,llaren't we?

I really grew up with these guys! Glad to see you all! Goodness, we are aging well, aren't we?

I had so much fun catching up as I really grew up with these people. I am happy that we will be in Boracay in January and will have more time to talk and bond! Hope you’re all gearing up for the New Year’s festivities!

See you soon!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: family, Fashion Insider, friends, home, home decor, houses, interior design, rajo laurel
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Finally It is Here!

Monday, December 29th, 2008

A lot of you might not know this: I love Giordano! I practically wear their clothes everyday. I probably have around 40 navy polo shirts from them and I think I need more! LOL! What I love about their clothes is that it’s subtle (no logo), comfortable (dry-fit technology), it has a nice fit and it is well-proportioned to my uh…ample frame, and it is well-priced.

About a year and half ago they introduced another brand to their family called Giordano Concepts! I first saw this in Hong Kong and I flipped out! I LOOOOOOOOOOVE the store and the clothes that they sell! One time I went nuts and I had to buy another suit case as I could not stop buying. I shopped for my sisters, my Mom, my brother and for Nix! I was so happy!

What makes Giordano Concepts so great is that it is well-designed – the design aesthetic reminds me of early Jill Sander and the clothes are really well-made! The fabric they use is really good, plus the price is really amazing! NOW TELL ME WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE!?!!

When I heard that they were coming to Manila I was in Nirvana! I visited the store on Christmas Eve and I was really happy! The selection is tight and there is something for everyone! The best thing is that it is in the Rockwell Mall (2nd level) which is a hop, skip and a jump away from where I live. A huge bonus is that the Manager Kris is so darn cute! LOL! He was really helpful and my discount card from HK works here! AYLAHVET! I get a 20% discount from what I buy!

They have a tight collection of the Men's line! I heard that they are bringing in more in January!

Each time I come and visit the store I want to replace my wardrobe. At their price points, you surely can!

Nix was actually wearing Giordano concepts when we visited the store.

I suggest all of you get check it out and have some fantastic retail therapy! They also have the Giordano Ladies line which my sister Venisse lives in! I am just over the moon with joy with the coming of this store!

They also had the Giordano Ladies line, which is more streamlined and has a minimal hand in it's design vocabulary!

This is Kris - I think he was the manager - he was really helpful and cute as a button!

See you soon!
HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: clothing, Fashion Insider, giordano, rajo laurel, shopping, stores, wardrobe
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My Lola’s 90th Birthday!

Sunday, December 28th, 2008

I know I am blessed because I have a wonderful relationship with my grandmother. My Lola Betty has always been a huge supporter of my career and has always been there since the start. I remember very well how she even gave me money to buy me my first secondhand sewing machines. She even went as far as ordering three dresses a month just so that I would have work. I love my Lola very much!

My Lola Betty in her favorite color! VIOLET!

On December 26th she turned 90! A major milestone! We celebrated mass and had lunch with around 200 of her friends and relatives! I was so happy for her as 2 of her classmates since kindergarten were there. My brother created a video presentation of her life and it was filled with beautiful photos that would make anyone inspired!

3 of the 11 Castillo sisters. Lola Betty, Lola Bird (Yvonne), and Lola Lydia!

Family and friends throughout the years came to celebrate with us.

We had a really cool cupcake birthday cake courtesy of Sonja! Thanks sweets! You saved the day! (We assumed that the cake would be arranged by the caterer but no! So we had to find a cake by lunch time and we found out at like 10am that there was no cake! Panic level 98 right!? Thank God for Sonja!

Lola's nutritionist was there too! Dr. Sunny Rose Orbeta! She really makes sure that my Lola eats well! Even me, except I always eat too well! LOL

My Beautiful Lola Betty!

My Lola is really Beautiful! She is my beacon and I am so happy that she is strong and healthy! Happy birthday Lola!
See you soon!
HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: birthdays, family, Fashion Insider, rajo laurel
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Christmas Day!

Saturday, December 27th, 2008

For the last 35 years, we have always spent Christmas day at the house of my Lola! I look forward to this tradition annually as it really makes me feel what Christmas is all about. My Lola loves to cook, even to this day, at the fabulous age of 90! She still hovers around her kitchen, trying new things that she learned from her cooking class.

This portrait of my Lola Betty was done by Fernando Amorsolo. I love this painting so very much! She is just the most elegant woman I know.

This year is very special as she turned 90! Her birthday falls on the 26th and we had a grand celebration for her. I really enjoyed the food she and my Tita Ditas prepared. It was a lunch filled with nostalgia, from the Paella, in which the recipe has been handed down from generations, to the Lentejas (lentil soup), to the white fish with caper sauce, it really was nothing short of wonderful!

At 90, my lola is stunning!

Nix with my Lola Betty.

My Lola's Paella! This got consumed in 5 minutes flat.

White fish with caper sauce and Chicken Galantina!

The festive table setting!

Tita Ditas prepared some food for the gods and it was so good that my Lola Lydia went nuts trying to eat them all! LOL!

Lola with me and Nix for a quick portrait!

I assume all of us did their own share of feeding this season! LOL! No worries! It’s Christmas and we can now begin to think of ways on how to lose all those extra pounds! Any suggestions? Mine will be simple! Not to eat so much and get thee to the Bikram Yoga studio! See you soon!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: christmas, dinner, family, food, holiday, parties
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An ACC Party!

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

For over a year now I have been part of this organization called the Asian Cultural Council. It is a council that raises money to give grants to artists from all fields and give them the opportunity to further enhance their art. Recently one of my personal idols who is a trustee for the ACC was in town. Her name is Josie Natori. I have always admired this woman as she was really one of the first Filipinos to put the Philippines in the international fashion scene. I love her strength and her personal style is flawless!

Me and one of my idols!

Josie Natori with Marbel Ongpin and Ernest Escaler

The host of the evening was Patrick Reyno, he is also on the board of the ACC. He prepared such a wonderful evening filled with bright conversation and good food. My highlight of the evening was when we moved to the living room for dessert and experienced the voice of the tenor Ramon! I was enthralled! He was AMAZING! For the first time this season I really felt the spirit of Christmas!

Malu, Nix, Tess Rances and Isa Lorenzo.

Louie Locsin and a sleepy Jon-Jon Rufino (Sorry) with our host for the evening, Mrs. Yoly Reyno.

The living room tableau filled with Asian art and dreamy paintings!

NIx with Josie

Malu with some of the grantees for the year 2008!

Loved this dish, as it was so fresh!

The chef of the evening, Chef Laudico, with Malu!

Josie, an accomplished pianist, gave us a taste of her other talent.

Don Ramon (as I call him) was just spectacular!

Merry Christmas everyone!
See you soon!
HUGS!
RAJO!

Tags: art, artists, asian cultural council, culture, Fashion Insider, friends, idols, rajo laurel
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Christmas Wish!

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

Interior design really inspires me! I actually buy more interior magazines than fashion magazines! I recently saw the studio of Alexander Wang and I am in LOOOOOVE with it! Love the space and love the heavy furniture amidst the delicate mouldings! I love the ceiling height! Now this is my Christmas wish! I want a studio like that to work in! LOL!

Hey, wishes are free! I suggest everyone make your wish list! Visualize it, as in my case, many have come true!

HUGS!
RAJO!

Tags: christmas, Fashion Insider, Inspiration, interior design, rajo laurel, studio, wishes
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The Divine Ms. Lee!

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

From the moment that we received the invitation to the Christmas party of Divine Lee, I knew that it would be a blast! The theme of her Christmas party was the ’50s! That is actually my most favorite decade of all time! I love the big full skirts and tiny waists and this has always been a focal point when I design. I wanted to be the cool ’50s nerd as I always found the Gerry Lewis look fantastic!

Nix and I had so much fun planning our outfit, I had plaid flood trousers matched with a button-down shirt, a black bow tie, a purple cardigan, and hot pink patent Chuck Taylors from Comme. I wanted to wear my new Wayfarers, fake glasses that were given to me by my Tita Baby Perez! So far it’s my favorite gift! Nix wore his H&M/Comme dotted shirt with a dotted tie and his playground flood pants with a kangol-type hat and white lace-up oxfords! We were the nerd couple! LOL! I LOVE NERDS!

When we got to the party Divine was a hot Vargas pinup girl! She was perfect, complete with the booty pose and all! Everyone was in costume and came in various incarnations of ’50s icons. There were the James Deans (but in my eyes they kinda reminded me more of Vic Vargas or Jun Aristorenas LOL!), the Grease girls, the Soda Fountain chicks, and the Stepford Wives!

The Divine Ms. Lee!

Our very own Vargas pinup girl come to life!

Nix and Divine!

The cast of Grease! Florence, Em, Eboy and Bambi!

Eric Matic as James Dean.

The Plaid Posse! Love Nelson Cruz's look!

The cutest couple of the evening!

AY!!! Its Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa! LOL!

Martin and Nix!

It was a super fun evening as there were so many fun games like Bingo! Goodness, I can’t remember the last time I played this but it was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time! The grand prize was almost like 60,000 pesos so it was really exciting! I was really happy that I went as it was one of those parties were everyone was game!

Bambi strikes a '50s pose!

SAGA's Bambi Hernandez and Me! PA-CUTE MUCH!

Guess who? Let me introduce you to Vina! As in Veeena Floresca! LOL!

Five more days till Christmas! Have fun and be safe!

HUGS!
RAJO!

Tags: 50s, christmas, costumes, Divine Lee, Fashion Insider, friends, parties, rajo laurel
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Taking Barbie to the Next Level!

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

I love Barbie! She is perhaps one of the reasons why I became a fashion designer. I remember stealing my sister’s Barbies and giving them a makeover.

While I was in the house of Tessa I noticed that her angels were actually Barbies! I was shaking with delight! LOL! I do not know were she got them but it was really a sight to see! Trust Tessa to take Barbie and bring it to her world!

I call this the Santacruzan Barbie! LOL!

This is the Queen Elizabeth Barbie! She is so regal! Love the collar!

See you soon!
HUGS!
RAJO!

Tags: barbie, Fashion Insider, friends, rajo laurel, toys
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Christmas at Tessa’s!

Friday, December 19th, 2008

One of the highlights of my Christmas calendar is Tessa’s Christmas party! Every year she comes up with the most fun concepts and everyone ends up with an abundance of Christmas spirit! Last year she had a white Christmas theme and she even had a snow machine installed in her living room so everyone experienced snow inside Tessa’s house! CRACK!

This year her theme was GREEN! She transformed her entire house into an enchanted forest! She had trees and shrubs and fairies all over the house, it was magical! The woman is a testament to fantasy coming to life! The party had actually a circus quite feel to it as there were so many things happening at the same time that you end up having a bit of sensory overload! It did not help that there were several Tessa’s that evening as her staff from her show “House Life” came to the party dressed as her! She even had a contest as who was the most like her!

Tessa and I! In the evening's color!

There were so many Tessa's that evening!

An army of Tessa's ready to party!

The princesses Athena and Anika!

Tessa's tree was an abundance in gold!

Tessa and Jon Jon Rufino who wore a beautiful Vacul from Batanes.

The fairest fairy of them all! Teresa Hererra. See people, she eats! LOVE YOU!

Philip, Tessa, Marissa and Anton having a grand time!

The foyer of the house was filled with trees and shrubs!

Tessa rendering a song! You do remember that she is the Celebrity Duet

Getting into the groove! Karen dancing with her cute son with Leah and Angellete!

Chito with this loot! Tessa has the best exchange gifts!

My highlights for the evening were the photo booth, for it was a fun way to capture the spirit of the moment. I also loved the yogurt dessert station with several fruit toppings. It was so yummy and the big bonus was it was sugar free, fat-free, and well….Free! A party at Tessa’s is not complete without games and this year she really brought it to another level. She had arranged a family feud game with live feed from none other than Richard Gomez! It was so hilarious! Then Tessa arranged for a pole dancer to perform! It was incredible! There in the middle of her living room was a pole attached to live wires. My heart could not stop thumping as the dancer went up so high as I thought that it might collapse! A few people tried it out, including myself, and let me tell you, it was very difficult!

This booth was a major hit! It was so yummy and honestly a healthy dessert. You just have to stop yourself at the 4th serving! I had six! Jesus help me!