Franco and our Lola Betty after the show!

Another shot with me in it! Isn't our Lola Beautiful?

I then had brunch at the Manila Peninsula. Ooooh GInger bread houses! I really like the decor at the Pen it is always so tasteful.

Check out the gigantic tree in the lobby!

The Christmas decor at Escolta.

The Buffet brunch was great! I really appreciated the sushi and sea food portion, really fresh!

YUMMERS!

The meat section was also quite impressive! Although the meats could be seasoned better as I found them under seasoned. This photo is like a lechon style lamb. ANG LAKI NO?

The highlight for me was the dessert station! 5 stars all around!

I wonder where they got this? These would make great Christmas presents!

My first plate! I had like 2 more plates after! JAHE na to show you guys! LOL!

This is my Nephew Santino! He recently turned 7. I am his Ninong and I took him birthday shopping! All he wanted were these game discs for his PS3, I thought OK sure! No worries! Then I found out that they cost an average of 3,000 pesos a game! I was like! HUWAAT?!!! But since I promised him the games I had to get it for him! It's cool though, I love spoiling my Nieces and Nephews! Happy birthday SANTINO!

Ever since I was like 16 I have loved architecture, I am a frustrated architect and I have just as much Architecture and Interior design books as that of Fashion. I spotted this handsome looking home in front of my Lola's house, I hope that the owners do not mind me posting this? I just loved the lines and I like the modernity of the design! It's a beautiful home!

It reminds me of the "mies" barcelona pavillion! I love that house and I love this house too! I was like drooling outside! Using the SECRET now big time!

The exhibit showcased more than 100 items of clothing and artifacts that showcases what Philippine Haute Couture looked like from 1947 to 1990. The exhibit showcased more than 100 items of clothing and artifacts that showcases what Philippine Haute Couture looked like from 1947 to 1990.

The lady on the right is SLIM! She is Salvacion Lim- Higgins. I stayed up all night trying to read her book. She is a fascinating lady!

The entrance of her exhibition.

An early creation worn by Ms. Jojie Felix. I had the pleasure of meeting this lady. I could never forget her distinct voice as it was like sandpaper and foie gras combined. To quote a phrase from the book "Not many remember it, even fewer can imagine it, but in the late 1940s and the 1950s, the Philippines was at the center of the Asian Universe." WOW! This was the feeling of the show!

The first part of the exhibition was that of the LINE series, showing SLIM's technique in draping.

The show was really beautiful, the room was just breathtaking, I wanted to jump up and down with absolute JOY!

SLIM's designs are at once universal and Filipino. Here she shows us her sense of humor with a peek-a-boo detail.

This is one her most iconic gowns which starts the "SHAPE" series, this gown was worn by the late Mrs. Edith Nakpil Rabat. This for me is so thoroughly modern.

A selection of SLIM ternos lining up one wall. It was just mesmerizing, I felt I was sleepwalking.

A selection of the most exquisitely draped gowns.

This Terno was created for Mrs. Linda Garcia Campos in 1958. The gown showcases the genius of SLIM.

This is one of my absolute favorite piece in the show. It was also created for Mrs. Linda Garcia Campos in 1957. The gown is made from finely embroidered Jusi and it shows you how slims fused the dramatic but feminine duality that resides in her design philosophy.

This Terno courtesy of Dolores Panlilio was worn during the Pampanguena ball in 1952. I love the coloring of the chestnut brown with platinum, the surprise here is the cobalt blue lining which peeks out, I would imagine as the wearer would walk or dance the rigodon de honor.

A close up of the beadwork detail.

More draped evening gowns.

I love this dress created for one the muses of SLIM in 1968, her name is Ms. Carlyn Manning. I thought that this was dress was just beautiful the colors of the smoke and citron was just GENIUS! This dress can be worn now! That is just brilliant!

Draped detail and beadwork detail of the gown.

The photo is that of my Grand Aunt Mrs. Celia Diaz Laurel. I love the gown that she is wearing, I could see how this would move as she walked or danced. On display was the last collection that was designed by SLIM is 1990 before she died.

This was one of the last dresses that SLIM created.

This is from the shape series, they remind me of Tulips. In the book this dress is shown inside out and it is so well made that you can actually wear it inverted.

More tulip dresses from the late 1950's

This dress from the 1950's was created for Mrs. Nelly Lovina. Using Chinese gold brocade and features a fichu neckline.

I love how this Terno was cut.

This is from the INFLUENCE section showcasing how SLIM uses various items inspire her. This collection was inspired by Israeli costume and was entitle SHALOM. I love the movement of the pants. This was part of her Haute Couture show in 1970.

This section is from her BAL MASQUE collection from 1967. I love the patterns and beautiful treatments of the embellishments.

A selection of Muslim inspired gowns.

This gown had the most beautiful bead work, in the book this was worn by Ms. Chona Kasten.

Ahh....The wedding gowns! They were all so dreamy and gorgeous! For those seeking a vintage inspiration for their weddings look no further! Come to the National Museum.

SLIM's illustrations were blown up on the wall. This also featured her beautiful brides.

A collage of Terno sleeves.

A detail of one of the longest trains I have ever ever seen, it could not even fit in my camera! LOL!

I love this futuristic dress that was the rage in the '60s

This is dress is from the '80s. I am sure of it, my Mom had something like it.

A shot of how the room was laid out.

A couple of dresses from the SURFACE series which shows us how SLIM would create experiments with beads, ribbons, crystals and the like, creating dreams from needle and thread. Behind the mannequins are several films of the shows of SLIM. One of which was her very first show.

A gown from her last show on November 1990.

I saw a book of illustrations with the students of SLIM paying homage to her style. SLIM had the ONLY school of fashion during that time producing the most illustrious fashion designers of our generation. The great Joe Salazar was a student and so was the super talented Cesar Gaupo.

More illustrations from her students.

This fully beaded gown must have taken months to create! OMG!

I just wanted to stay in that room forever and dream!

Samples of her beadwork studies.

A collection of her early news clippings, tear sheets and articles. Note to self, I must keep all of mine safely.

More bead work samples and studies. I love the fact that all of this will help so many young fashion designers in the future.

The VICEROY is located at 415 South Belardo Road, Palm Springs Ca. www.viceroypalmsprings.com

The entrance - bold yellow as you enter! I think it's the hotels signature color.

Special touches like this water dispenser with lemons make the VICEROY hotel really unique.

The front desk, The front desk officer has visited Manila and he shared with us how much fun Manila is, this made me smile.

Cedric and NIx had a drink at the long bar.

The small dining area of the hotel. I like how clean and simple it looks.

The pool area. Is it not so old world Hollywood?

So many interesting ideas abound.

This is the lobby area! Can you not just die! It's GORGEOUS!

I love how the landscaping is so very mid century!

The outdoor facade, the small dog details gave me a chuckle

The outdoor seating. I really want the mirror sculpture on the wall!

Another pool among the small villas.

The door of the rooms were this carmine/crimson color that is just so cheerful.

I fell in LOVE with this wall sculpture mirror! I WANT IT! LOL!

Bathroom shot of the rooms.

The bed! I just love an all-white bed!

One more shot of the lobby!

The PS1 Facade.

I call this the Cousin It Pavilion. LOL!

The museum's menu for the season.

The entrance.

Stolen shots inside the museum.

My cousins Tata, Iben, and my sister Ven with Nix joined me for the experience.

Me with the art installation in the back.

That's made from human hair! Ang daming parlor na kinausap ng artist ano?

Stolen shots inside the museum.

The lobby!

The hallway with the institutional green colors of the public school system of NYC! It's quite authentic.

Even the stairs leading to the exhibits had art. No space was left untouched!

The hallway going up.

More art on the walls!

I loved this pool installation that lets people go inside a pool like room with water on top.

Taking it all in!

Queens!

The graphic landscape.

Art lives and breathes in Queens!

Graffiti art alive!

These are all mini Arturo Luz sculptures averaging not more that 8 inches high.

I can imagine how difficult it is to make these metal art objects. Take note that he signed them all!

Another view of the tiny masterpieces!

Mr Luz telling me that this sculpture called FIGURA takes 3 people to lift it up to the table. He has a virtual army of engineers and silversmiths under his command.

I thought that the veining was part of the piece. However, Mr. Luz quickly told his men that this will not do and to do the piece once over.

When I saw this...I fell in love! It is called the SHAFT. I saw six men carry it to the table and prop it up for me! I am still dreaming about it!

Mr. Lor Calma surprised us! Check out what he is holding in his right hand!

A tiny piece of paper as a prototype for his next sculpture.

Two great artists sharing a good laugh!

A group shot before we left!

Thank you Mr. Luz, Tina Bonoan and Mr. Calma! You are all inspiring!

Mr. Luz told me that his "bush shirt" is all he wears! He has more than a dozen of these cotton shirts, all the same, from the fabric down to the coconut buttons. He wears this uniform daily and wears barongs for special occasions.

As we drove in the studio, a gravel lined lot was beside it, and within the lot were the most monumental structures created by Mr. Luz. I had asked him previously where he gets his ideas and he told me that it is ingrained in him, as when he was in art school, it was as if it was pounded in his head to create. Now, creativity is part of him.

The studio was filled with the works of Mr. Luz from various time periods. This piece is one of his latest creations.

This is from his circulo series. When asked why he chose this color, which many fans have called the "luz-yellow," he just shrugged and said, "I wanted the yellow of the caterpillar." I thought it was the bug, then someone cleared it up - it was the Caterpillar of the construction machines. It was that simple!

As we moved around, we had the esteemed honor of Mr. Luz explaining most of the pieces.

These are from the Acrobat group.

Hovering over the studio was a tarpaulin of Mr. Luz.

This was a small version of his very famous Paper Clip series.

A closeup of the signature of Mr. Luz

The vast studio really complemented the art works.

There were some pieces of his burlap pieces done in the '60s.

I am so inspired by his work!

This piece was very strong!

CLASSIC LUZ!

I LOVE THIS! This is one of the pieces that I have my heart set on! I am using the "secret" to acquire it! LOL!

This is also so beautiful! It's actually not that big, but it's made from solid steel! I tried to pick it up and had a really hard time doing so.

Even if it was raining we had to head out and get some photos of the sculptures.

Malu set her eyes on this piece!

Here I am with Tina Bonoan and Sari Ortiga, who is the managing director of the Crucible Gallery, the exclusive dealer of the art works of Mr. Arturo Luz.

While we were outside, Mr. Luz was very busy coordinating his men to arrange one of his recent works.

His exacting nature set in, as he pointed out how his work was supposed to be set up.

The center of the living room had these beautiful orchids.

My date for the evening was Josephine del Gallego, one of my favorite travel companions. Here she is in black with my Aunt Ditas.

Group shot! My Tita Lorna, My Aunt Sally, me, Lolo Teroy, my Ninang Marilen, my Aunt Ditas and my Lola Betty. We had a really fantastic time!

The dining area and the piano filled with beautiful photos.

My beautiful Lola Betty.

My Tita Lorna. Her favorite accessory in hand. A tall flute of very cold champagne!

Here we are being seated. We dined on the very first set of china that My Lolo Teroy ever gave Tita Lorna. He bought the set because they had a Laurel leaf design. I love stories like that.

This is Cirillo, he has been in the family since 1954! OMG! I remember him fondly as he is very first Butler that I ever met in my life!

The living room set up, so perfect for long conversations.