StyleBible.ph

I recently got invited to spend 10,000 pesos at WATSONS!!!  I mean how cool is that right?  My only specification is that I was going to make someone beautiful and happy!  My immediate thoughts were gifts for my employees!   I work with the most hard working and talented people and they mean so much to me so I wanted to really share this blessing.

I arrived at around 1130am. I hear the the best time to go to Megamall is on a weekday before lunch!

I set myself with some parameters!  The goal was to fit the 10,000 peso budget to the first 100+ employees who came early to work!  Those who were late were not included!  LOL  My second parameter was I only had my lunch break to do it.  This means if you take out the travel time to go to MegaMall and back to my office I would only have 30 minutes to do shop!  LOL!

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When I arrived at Watsons I was met by 2 lovely women Ems & Berna.  I think they run the joint! LOL!  I told them about my personal challenge and they zipped me through the entire store!  I wanted great gifts that were useful and price friendly!    I was so amazed by the different merchandise in Watsons, they practically have everything!  Medicines, beauty products galore, umbrellas, snacks, magazines, girdles all the way to wheelchairs!  LOL!

The ladies of Watsons, Berna & Ems! Thank you for helping me that day!

So many items on sale! I got a few of those grape lip balms! They are top sellers!

I love this designer bag promotion!

The helpful saleslady was telling me how the promo worked!

Got some of these cool combs!

Had a blast in the shampoo and soap section!

I loved the colors of these tooth brushes!

I love these efficascent oils! I think packaging has not changed since the the 50's! They are a classic!

I swear by SALONPAS! They ease my pains when I over exert myself.

Watsons for men!

Picked up a little something for me! LOL!

Gosh! Was surprised that they even had wheelchairs!

Love the freebies that I got when i picked up couple of these hair creams!

About to total my purchases!

Had some more money left so I picked up these cute umbrellas!

Then checked out these girdles! Hmmm...Wish they had for men! LOL!

Everyone was really helpful and I really did well!  I was able to buy more than 150 items plus lots of freebies like bags and shirts!  I over shot by 90 pesos but I think I had it all covered!

My grand total! Just overshot it by a teeny weeny bit! LOL!

My receipt and my Watsons loot!

When I went back to my office I neatly arranged them and started to call all the employees who came on time that day!  I started with the early birds all the way to the ones who clocked in before the “late” period!  Those who were late did not get a prize!  It really felt so good to be able to see their smiles!  With that I would like to extend my huge gratitude to Watsons!  You made my day and you made my “angels” so happy!

Neatly arranged them in my office steps!

Group one!

Group two!

Group three!

Group four!

Group five!

Group six!

Group Seven!

HUGS!

I LOVE RAMON VALERA!!!!!   He was my Lola Betty’s fashion designer!  They were like really close friends! They would travel together, go to parties together and just have the most fun times.  In college I wrote a thesis about his work and began to understand his work further.

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I was one of the lobbyist’s when they were considering fashion design as a category for the National Artist recognition. I remember speaking twice in front of a whole group of what seemed to be septagenarians as to why fashion is indeed art! LOL!  I was so nervous that I remember my voice quivering!  I was so happy when the National Artist award was given to Ramon Valera!

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Now more women will be able to experience his genius!  Freeway is coming out with a collection that celebrates the life and work of this visionary designer!  I, for one, am very very excited to see how a Valera will be translated to t-shirts!  From the looks of the invitation I think this is going to be super  COOL!
Hope to see you there!

HUGS!
RAJO!

I just want to share with you some good news!  One of my most favorite restaurants was featured in Travel& Leisure magazine!  Milky way is where I go to for comfort food!  Just thinking of their fried hito ( catfish) with mustard leaves make me quiver all over in delight!  I actually have to eat there once a week or else I end up in a slight depression!  LOL!  I just want to shout a huge congratulations to my dear friends Malu & J Gamboa!  BRAVO!!!!

http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/marketman-in-travelleisure-southeast-asia

HUGS!
RAJO!

It was one of those whirlwind kind of a trip where everything felt like one big blur!  LOL!  Good thing I had photos or else I would not have been able to remember anything!  Just a few random shots from my camera that paraphrased my recent Shanghai visit.  In many ways, it’s as if  I am almost an insider already, as I bypass the basic tourist areas and zero in where the locals/expats go.  Here are some random shots.  Enjoy!

We visited the home of the Canadian Consul General and I was impressed by his home. I love the light and the art.

He had a really wonderful Canadian art collection.

Plus a few Chinese contemporary paintings.

The formal living room had a "mad men" quality to it. LOL!

Had breakfast Szechuan style!

Kelvin & Bob! Kelvin is going to kill me! He rarely has his photo taken without fixing his hair! Sorry Kelvin!

Love the local cuisine!

Prawns in a super chili bath

The flavors were very interesting and it takes some time to really get the hang of it.

I just got this in my mail and wanted to share!  Sharing is caring right!? His name is Mark Whittington and he is a model!  He just asked me if I have any projects for him and since I don’t  have any at the moment, I want to pass his images on line so that if anyone has a project you can think of him!  I think he definitely has a certain look that will work in some editorial campaigns!  His ‘INK” is beautiful and his meztiso features can be very commercial!  I know that the photos will make my readers smile!
HUGS
RAJO!

HUGS
RAJO!

Part 2…

The sky was an incredible shade of blue! Happy that the pollution is getting less in Shanghai.

NIx and I enjoying the sights.

The China Pavilion.

Nix, VIctor, Kelvin & Jean. We tried to get in but since we did not have an appointment, we did not want to fall in line for 4 hours! I heard that the China Pavillion will be one of the few pavilions that will not be turned down so we can visit this next year.

SIngapore!

Philippines! I would have visited, but at this point I got lazy! Know I am really regretting this.

Australia!

Went to visit the SIngapore pavilion as we had an appointment.

There was a cool garden on top of the Singapore pavilion.

They had Singaporean orchids growing all over the place.

This is Norway's Pavillion.

Denmark.

Floating apartments!

I had to visit the British Pavilion, but since we did not have an appointment I had to content myself with a picture from the outside! I thought that the concept was genius!

I really love it!

Detail shot I heard that inside this space were all several seeds of plants and fruits indigenous to Great Britain. I just think it was the CHICEST PAVILLION there!!!!

Photo op!

One more shot of this beautiful structure!

How safe can this be? Hmmmm.....

Beautiful!

Romania!

Russia!

Canada! I also loved the Canadian Pavilion! Love the use of wood!

Catherine and Nix survey the joint.

The world famous Cirque de Soleil conceptualized the whole experience. Here is one of the public performers entertaining the crowds as they visit.

NIx inside the Canadian Pavilion.

I like what was happening in the ceiling.

A pool of water reflecting several images of Canada.

The people were really enjoying the video presentations.

An inside tree of sorts.

There was an art film in the end which made me a bit sad.

Canada Pavilion detail.

Me and Victor!

Portugal!

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I was quite determined to visit the World Expo in Shanghai when I visited!  I mean when will I ever get the opportunity to do it again right?  I thought to myself that I should visit later in the year as the summer in Shanghai is quite challenging. LOL!  The World Expo will be closing next month so I really had to visit!   I asked my best friend Bob to arrange the visit for me. Bob is a diplomat for Canada in China and he was kind enough to get me VIP passes and appointments to several pavilions.

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I was all psyched and ready to be enthralled!  Joining me on the trip were Nix and a whole lot of Canadians – Victor, Gary and Catherine.  We were also joined by Bob’s boyfriend Kelvin and his friends Jean and Ken.   When we arrived, we saw the most incredible sight.  It was as if all the tourist buses in China were heading towards the expo!  I was not prepared to experience the crowds!

My gang manages a smile while on line! Victor, Nix, Gary & Catherine.

It was as if half the population of China was going to enter the World Expo!  This was really not a fun sight!  The heat of the sun was blazing and although there were gusts of cool wind every now and then, it was still uncomfortable.  We waited for about 45 minutes before we could enter the expo and the whole time I was looking at the incredible lines entering almost like cattle.

The people being herded like cattle.

When we went in the expo, I felt a bit better and tried my best to remain calm and collected and just really enjoy the moment!  We had appointments to around 7 pavilions but only had the energy to visit 3.  I would have really enjoyed it more if it wasn’t so hot!  I mean, because to the crowds and the heat, I felt like it was one of the most exhausting days ever!

I loved the fact that we could come and take a look at so many architectural styles in one place, too bad, in a month or so all of these will be gone.

Nice wall detail.

Spain! This reminded me of Frank Gehry's Gugenheim museum in Bilbao.

France! Wish I was able to come and take a look inside.

I think this was Switzerland or Sweden? I am not so sure now.

Spain! I love the use of natural materials!

Beautiful lines!

Latvia!

Detail shot!

Me inside the Spanish Pavilion.

When we entered the first area of the Spanish pavilion, there was a flameco dancer dancing inside a cave-like area.

It was a total experience, with images being reflected 360 degrees around the wall, music seemed to come out from the floors! It was inspiring!

I love the fact that I could use all these in how I can present my collections in the future.

Amazing images!

Picasso!

Pamplona's running of the bulls! The sound of the runners could be felt on the floor! It gave me goose bumps!

Moved towards the next exhibition area.

They had 6 horizontal screens in this giant room with a video montage of Spanish life and culture.

I loved how the images came with the most haunting music.

Gorgeous images!

Images shown on a screen made from string.

At the end of the exhibit hall was a giant baby!

Bubbles were being blown all over the place!

I found it strange but I get the message.

I just want to show you all this giant baby for scale.

I still think everyone should try and visit the World Expo.  It was a fantastic experience, although it really tests your stamina, patience and overall determination!  I mean, if we did not have the appointments, we would be on the line for an average of 4 hours and that in anyone’s book is NOT FUN!   We were able to visit.  Spain, Canada and Singapore.  I would have really liked to have visited more but I was just too spent.  Anyway I am sharing with all of you my photos.  Happy that my camera got fixed in the nick of time!

HUGS!

RAJO!

I really love the entrance to Spa! I felt like royalty!

They even had an area for foot massages, this I need to try out when I come back.

The receptionists had ready smiles and a genuine willingness to make anyone happy. This I really appreciated.

http://www.dusit.com/hotels/philippines/manila/dusit_thani/index.html

http://www.devaranaspa.com/spa

RAJO!