It’s almost been a year now when one of my best girl friends got married and started her new life away from the Philippines. Although we are constantly in touch and get to see each other every now and then, I miss her terribly.
I miss going to her house and picking her up and helping her dress up when we go out to events or just have dinner. I always remind her to take off one thing just as we head out the door. I miss how I can just call her and fit a new dress that I am working on and having to hear her comments and suggestions. I miss her when I prepare a collection and I need a real woman’s point of view. I miss her boundless energy in between her marathons, badminton, yoga and what other sports that she is into.
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I miss our long conversations over dinner about everything and nothing. I just miss her! I know that she is happy now and I love her husband tremendously but I just can’t help but miss Leica. For years, we spent the New Year together and she sent me a photo of one of our New Year adventures and it just brought back so many memories. I can’t wait to see her again! I LOVE YOU SWEETIE!
I had to pass by San Francisco before heading home because it’s now home to 2 of my best friends in the entire universe! My muse Leica now lives there with her husband Martin and my childhood bestie Ton-Ton lives there as well. In fact, when I introduced them to each other a couple of years ago, I knew that they would totally get it on! Now I am happy to announce that they are inseparable! Like peas in a pod!
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My travel look that day! Thank God for my Rimowa! LOL!
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They picked me and Nix up at the airport and our first stop was to get supplies at Safeway! LOL! Then we proceeded for drinks in this lovely place called 25LUSK – http://www.25lusk.com/. It’s a beautifully designed restaurant that just lifted up my senses. I love the fact that San francisco has a consistent sweater weather temperature. It was a really nice break from NY. We all had a few drinks at the bar which was already pretty rocking by the time we left. I loved 25LUSK and I cannot wait to come back and try it! From my first experience, I think I will really love it!
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My best gal pal Leica in her signature P-P shorts! LOL!
Leica and Martin’s wedding is in the new Philippine Tatler! I just have to share this with all of you because there is this photo inside that is just too precious! It is the one where the flower girls are all looking in one direction. I think it is just really heartwarming. I miss my dear friend Leica and I cannot wait to see her again. So having this come out is timely because it brings back so many memories. Enjoy the pics!
If you have been following my blog for a few days now, you know that the reason I am in France right now is for the wedding of my dearest friend and muse Leica Carpo. Since friends and family flew in from all over the world to be here, Leica and her fiance’ Martin Argosino, hosted a welcome dinner in one of the most cinematic restaurants I have ever been to!
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This is the restaurant! I mean can you believe it? This could be a set from Harry Potter! LOL!
The fountain outside the restaurant.
Leica was outside guiding guests to the restaurant. It was not the easiest thing to find.
The restaurant is called Auberge de Presbytere, located in the super small village of Saginon. www.auberge-presbytere.com. Here, they prepared some of the best of examples of degustatory delights of Provence. The dinner signaled the start of the 3-day wedding. It could not have began any better as her friends and family joined together to celebrate love!
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Guests enjoying the fine cuisine in Provence.
The warm cocoon like surroundings.
Tita Pixie with the chef.
Dessert!
The view of our table!
Bea with "husband", Jon- Jon!
These are real leaves!
NIx and I with the groom, Martin Argosino!
The view from where I sat.
Leica with Margaret with one of the coolest couple I have ever met! PH & Constance!
The chef with his famous Lamb stew!
Raymond drove all the way from Italy with his wife Anna, coming back alive but with some seriously scary getting lost stories. Here he is with me and Amanda!
Chesca and Patric with Mireya who hails from Ecuador and is the best friend of Leica.
Manda cozying up with the Dj who flew in form Rhode Island!
Tessa, Constance and Malu.
Nix found a new BFF! OLA! ANA P. RUFINO!
Paging Rhett! Check out our dresses in the PROVENCE! ANG GANDA!
Dancing started to happen!
Raymond and Ana!
We went back to the hotel and started the floral committee ! This was more or less of a do it yourself wedding and we actually did most of the stuff ourselves! Ana was amazing as she did the best floral bouquets!
The crew happily working way past midnight!
This was the cake committee! Mind you Joey and Malu hand carried this cake to France! LOL! I was amazed that it survived!
I did these boutonnieres! LOL Pwede na ba?!!! LOL!
I have a confession to make! I failed on my goal to not consume any alcohol for a week! You would think that I could go with out drink for 7 days but on the the 5th day I gave in! LOL! I was doing already so well and then my dear friend from Canada was visiting and I hosted a dinner for him! I felt guilty for a like a few hours and then decided to give it another go this week! Anyway let me tell you what I did over the weekend.
Leica Carpo came in my office for a final meeting on her wedding gown and entourage before I start production! My muse and dearest friend will be getting married in 4 months and I need to start on this ASAP! After our productive meeting she invited me to a furniture store opening in Greenbelt 5. The store is simply called INTERIORS! I really think my Mom would love this store, it was filled with all the things that she would love! Perhaps if and when she decides to renovate I will take her here.
This Chandelier is from the store called INTERIORS! It just opened and It is located in Greenbelt 5. Come check it out!
The store has a lot of really elegant things!
Bumped into my Fitness guru Wawa Feliciano her husband and the lady who owns the store Mrs. Sally Navarro.
Saw this cute little budha!
Then we went to have dinner in our “club house” other wise known as CIRCULO! I love it here as it is really like home to me and my friends! What started out as a dinner for six ended to be a full on party for 12! LOL! After dinner and a whole lot of drinks we all decided to head out to REPUBLIQ! Things were seriously happening in the club that night as it was the USHER concert after party! It was a really super fun night that ended up pretty early in the morning! LOL! I promised myself that I really have to lessen my going out and concentrate on a healthier lifestyle and this is my ultimate goal! I know I can do this! Anyhoo here are pictures from my weekend!
Stacy and Nix were bonding that night!
Moved to Circulo for Dinner! Joey Carpo and Malu Gamboa
I have not been able to go to the Philippine Fashion Week shows for what seems like forever!I have been so busy with work and all that, I just cant seem to find the time!I wanted this to change as I would really like to support my industry more and to be there for my Project Runway kids who are all showing at PFW!The energy of the shows were AMAZING!So many young people interested in fashion and this made me so happy!
That is Kinny, killing me with his killer POSE! To my right is his beautiful mother Joanne.
My dear friend/muse Leica Carpo is getting married this year and I, for one, am so excited for this! We recently had our first “bridal”meeting in my studio and had so much fun in choosing her colors and theme.
Nix joined our meeting and all of them tried on some hats that we will be giving out to the guests. Just the ladies of course! LOL!
This weekend was really all about enriching myself with the arts! After our super successful ACCP Art Auction, I went to see and experience the PASINAYA!
The PASINAYA is the open house festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). It is a one day full affair that celebrates and opens the cultural calendar for the year. It is open to the public and you can make a donation to the CCP.
The weather that day was wonderful! The sun was out and the breeze was strong; a really excellent way to spend a Sunday!
Bright colorful ribbons decorated the entrance of the CCP; it lent a fiesta feel to the event.
I loved their slogan that day. ”SEE ALL YOU CAN PAY WHAT YOU CAN!
Loving this slogan! I wish the CCP could have the PASINAYA twice a year!
Leica came with me and I had to make her pose with the streamers! She is such an AMAZON I tell you as earlier that day she ran a 42K marathon! Jeesh! I was like you can still come out after that? I would have DIED!
It was a really special experience. I tried to see as much as I can but I highlighted what I wanted to see. Like the Madrigal singers, the BAKAS exhibit, and the Virgin Labfest excerpt from Ang huling lektyur ni Misis Reyes.
Outside the Nicanor Abelardo lobby you could watch several dance troupes perform. I believe this one was the Lahing Kayumanggi Laguna dance troupe.
I could not dare miss the Madrigal Singers perform that day. They performed song numbers requested on their website. It was RIOT, I tell you! I could not imagine how they could sing "Noboby-Nobody But You" with such elan and elegance! I detest that song but the Madz made it passable! LOL! They are the best chamber singers we have in the land!
The main lobby also had dancers performing the whole day from 8am to closing time! The whole CCP was alive that day and it felt so wonderful just being there.
The PASINAYA is on its 10th year and I try not to miss it each year, as the energy you experience is really invigorating! I love the fact that there were so many young people present making me feel that the arts is really appreciated by the youth!
A full house indeed!
Costumes were on display. This one I believe is from the Ramon Obusan collection.
We then proceeded to the Bulwagang Juan Luna where they had the BAKAS exhibit. An exhibition showing 40 years of work by the Print-makers Association of the Philippines!
I loved this! Mona Lisa with the Panuelo and Kamisa!
This one really moved me! I want to make this into a print for my clothes.
A close up of an Olazo print that moved me.
The BAKAS exhibit is still ongoing till a few more days so please come and catch it.
An early print by JOYA. The date says 1958, which was the year he was a grantee of the ACCP! He was one of the first grantees from the Philippines!
Then we went to see some student art projects from the 2009 PAEA children's exhibit.
I want this one really bad! I am reserving this na! It is made by the students of Xavier. They were all done by 8-year olds!
Close up shots! It is so inspiring!
I took a person beside it for scale!
I really really really really really want this one!
More student art work! Impressive, no?
More work from the students! This is so cool!
Then we went to see the Labfest excerpt at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute. An excerpt from the play "Ang Huling Lektyur ni Misis Reyes."
The character Misis Reyes was so good. I had a teacher like her in High School! I mean she got it down 100%, from the hair-do all the way to the pant suit! The excerpt was really amusing!
Do come and visit the CCP when you have the chance. It will not only open your mind but your heart and sould as well!
My girls Leica, Kitty and Amanda decided to have a long Sunday brunch. I took this opportunity to finally try out LU at Rockwell! I was so excited because a couple of my readers (NAKS!) wrote me their suggestions on what to order.
When I walked in, I saw that the place was abuzz with customers and we were led to our table. The owner Luis Terry was there to greet us and gave us a big hug! I really appreciate it when the owners of restaurants are their because this really makes a huge difference. After Luis explained the menu, we decided to have a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the holidays! (As if we needed any other reason?! LOL!)
The menu was well conceived and very tempting! It's all like foreplay!
We started wit this yummy appetizer sampler plate which was really good! The hummus with the eggplant was divine!
One of my best girl friends Leica Carpo was going to be with me in NYC ,but it was just for the day. I had to fly out to California first thing in the morning so we only had one day to bond. I love traveling with Leica and have done so for the last 5 or 6 years. She has so much energy and she simply inspires me. We started out in the meat packing district to meet up in one of our favorite stores, Jeffrey. We both love this store as the merchandising is really excellent, one just has to scan the racks and you can really feel the best of the season is right there for the taking. LOL! We then headed to the Martin Margiela store which is always so inspiring. I love the way this brand thinks, it’s one of the most intelligent designer brands out there, bar none.
After that we took a cab to Soho to check on more stores and have a cocktail at the Mercer Hotel. I have so many sweet memories of this hotel as I stayed there once. My super highlight of the trip was taking a photo of Leica and Nix with none other than… JOHN GALLIANO!!!! OMG!! He was having cocktails there too and Nix ran to me and nervously said, “It’s John Paul Gaultier!” John heard him and he said, “Actually, it’s Mr. Galliano!” LOL! Jahe level 98! Good thing Mr. Galliano was in a good mood and he gamely posed for a photo with them.
I really love the Mercer hotel, you see so many wonderful people there! If you’re here in the city, have a meal or a drink at this hotel. I guarantee a celebrity sighting! PROMISE!
I love this shot! Here we are around the west village.
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