Eggs Benedict at Apartment 1B Makati

It’s very rare for me to get out of the house at inhumane hours of the day (think 7AM) but I had a very important business meeting yesterday morning. After my meeting, I rang my friend TheBaghag who’s having yoga right around the corner so I invited her to a quick brunch.

Click click click!

CONTINUE READING

Nikki Teodoro in Comme des Garcons Play?

I think it’s disappointing that Philippine presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro lost the election but the question on my mind right now is…. is that a Comme des Garcons Play t-shirt on his wife, Nikki Teodoro? I can’t tell from this photo.

UPDATE from DaphneOP: Yes, it is!

vs…

Thoughts?

photo credit: Joel Lacsamana via DaphneOP’s blog.

Who's The Next Philippine First Lady?

It's election day in the Philippines. I thought about making a blog entry about the wives of male presidential candidates (potential first ladies) and then I realized, none of them are stylish. Some are pretty, yes, but pretty doesn't cut it. Pretty is too easy. 

Can you imagine Nikki Teodoro in Peter Pilotto? Cynthia Villar in Alaia? Loi Estrada in Christian Dior Haute Couture?

Who do you see competing being photographed side-by-side along the likes of the iconic Michelle Obama and the stunning Carla Bruni?

All I can say is, win or lose, them politican wives will shop. See you at Gucci! See you at Hermes! See you at Louis Vuitton!

The burning question of the moment perhaps is, who did you vote for today?

photos via: nydailynews

Election Season

It's election season here in the third world.

Over the past few weeks, I've been approached by people on behalf of several politicians running for seats. Most want me to write about them, some want my endorsement while some wanted to advertise on my site. I've refused ALL of these requests.

I find it comical how some of these candidates have budgets to advertise online (and on my humble web site) DURING election season but once they're elected, they suddenly "do not have funds" to give out to serve their constituents…

I may be broke but there's no way I'm touching their tainted money,
thanks very much. I couldn't help but wonder where that money came from. Donations from supporters? Public funds that should've gone to civil projects? Taxes that I and other taxpayers have paid? Hmmm… although I like the idea of the taxes I've paid being (indirectly)
returned to me, there's something not right. Give it to the (even lesser) unfortunate, please.

I just don't like the idea of me endorsing political candidates, you know?

I'd be extremely wary of people publicly endorsing  politicians. I'm sure many out there endorse someone due to vested PERSONAL interests. For instance, ask yourself this — do you really want to vote for someone who PAID people like celebrities to encourage YOU to vote?

Vote for policies people, not personality!

Also, nothing irks me more than people who ask who I'm voting for. Instead of giving an answer, I always challenge them — why do you
want to know? The usual response I get is a pathetic "because I'm voting for who you're voting for."

If only it weren't a crime to wring someone's neck until they choke…I swear to god, some should reaaallly be stripped off with their voting powers…

I simply cannot tolerate stupid idiots who cannot think for themselves, you know? Why would you vote for someone just because another person is voting for them?

Anyway, voting is a personal choice and a personal decision. Vote the candidate that you and nothing but you believe in.

Vote wisely.

Adam Carolla vs Manny Pacquiao

Oh dear. Here we go again. I’m gonna get myself some popcorn, sit back and watch Filipinos retaliate in droves. Radio comedian Adam Carolla is under fire for making these comments about boxer Manny Pacquiao.

Some of Adam Carolla’s choice comments:

• Here’s how you know when your country doesn’t have a lot going for it: When everything is about Manny Pacquiao.
• All you fucking got is just an illiterate guy who happens to smash other guys in the head better than other people? And that’s all you have as Philippines? Oh they are so proud of their native son. He’s gonna run for congress in the Philippines.
• It’s fine to be proud of your countrymen and that’s it? That’s all you got?

I thought the whole thing is hilarious if you ask me. Some of the things he said are utterly, utterly crap while some do have home truths to it.

What do you think? Is he really, genuinely racist?

Brian Leyva, RIP

Filipino designer Brian Leyva passed away this morning.

According a mutual friend, he was mugged on Monday night after going to the gym and his
attacker shot him in the head.

For an iPhone.

Brian (along with other Filipino designers)  was commissioned by Ballet Philippines to dress Barbie for an auction benefit recently.

This isn't the first time a Filipino fashion designer suffered a tragic, violent death. Some of you might remember what happened to Ernest Santiago, Mel Vergel de Dios and Caloy Badidoy. 

RIP, Brian Leyva.

photos via: google images, facebook

Upper East Restaurant

There's quite a bit of internet buzz surrounding Upper East, a new restaurant in Manila.

Check out their website. For curiosity's sake, I'd like to know who's responsible for the incredibly hilarious write up. 

"A word to the wise: UPPER EAST is not for those sans chutzpah and those unwilling to pay for the price for a taste of New York style."

"Just don't expect to dine whenever you want to."

"After all, UPPER EAST is not always open for business. We close our doors when we want to, and we certainly won't wait around for guests who, frankly, need to get a move on. No lunch is served after 1 p.m. and no dinner after 9 p.m."

"UPPER EAST is not for the weak of heart. Expect to be serenaded, as you sip your wine and savor every bite of your meal, by the screaming and ranting of our compulsive Executive Chef for whom incompetence is a crime, set against a sonic backdrop of AHA students sobbing and scrambling to do his bidding."

"UPPER EAST is not for scrooges and stiffs. We tolerate sharing, although it's not exactly de rigeur, is it? As for splitting? The fine is set at P250, not including our wait staff looking down their noses at you."

"This is the UPPER EAST experience. And this is the price you pay… if you can get in."

I bet this is a pisstake. I'm no internet marketing novice (in other words, I'm not new to attention whoring) and this smells like a viral marketing campaign to me.

Whoever made that write-up deserves an award. Hysterical!

A friend said it best on twitter: "I don't think we could have written anything more pretentious if we tried. Really hard. And were draped in fur while doing it."

photo credit: daphne osena-paez

Collezione C2 and Philippine Map

I came across THIS article on the Philippine Daily Inquirer about Filipino mass-chain label "Collezione C2" and designer Rhett Eala. It's a fairly successful brand here in the Philippines known for the use of the Philippine map on its clothes. 

Upon reading the article further, this struck a nerve:

Qua did the unprecedented by having the Philippine map patented a few years ago, giving C2 exclusive legal rights to put the map on articles of clothing.

But this hasn’t stopped copycats from following their lead. Rather
than test the law by hailing wannabes to court, Qua, for now, at least,
would rather let C2’s quality and range of offerings do the talking.

My first reaction was: ARE THEY SERIOUS?

Now I'm all for patriotism, and promoting the Philippines, nationalism chuchubells but I feel uneasy knowing a private individual or company get EXCLUSIVE rights to use the national flag, country outline or map on clothes or any merchandise for that matter. The design is universally used by others as part of a national identity. 

If they modified the design of the map, added unique characteristics to it, then yes, why not? Because the new design is a variation…

Now I'm no expert in copyright, trademark or patent issues but to my knowledge, you cannot patent a design. You may patent inventions, yes, but design marks, no. You may only copyright it or trademark it. There's a difference between patents and trademarks.

I did a very quick search at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines website where I found a pending TRADEMARK application by a certain "Ramesh Mirpuri" about the use of the Philippine map on apparel and garments.

The application was filed on June 19, 2009. The image you see on the right is what they've applied for. There's nothing unique to it. It's not even a variation of the Philippine map. It is what it is!

You may search using this page. You'll see there are 16 applications under the search term "Philippine Map". Most of the results have modified version of the map or the map itself is part of something else.

It would be interesting to see what happens to this application. Patented a few years ago? O RLY?

According to the IPO website, Rule 101 of the Rules& Regulations

RULE
101.           
Registrability. — A
mark cannot be registered if it: 

(a)
Consists of immoral, deceptive or scandalous matter, or matter
which may disparage or falsely suggest a connection with persons, living
or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into
contempt or disrepute;

(b)
Consists of the flag or coat of arms or other insignia of the
Philippines or any of its political subdivisions, or of any foreign
nation, or any simulation thereof;

Now I'm not sure whether Ramesh Mirpuri is related to Collezione C2 or
Henry Qua but that's the first thing I found. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong or if I'm missing out on anything. I can't be bothered
spending more time on this.

I dunno. What do you all think? I'm not hatin'. Personally I like the idea of using national symbols to promote patriotism but to try to get exclusivity on something that belongs to the public? Hmm…

Just wondering.

screenshot via: collezione c2

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Yves Saint Laurent Shoes

Shock horror! Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the last person in the world I'd associate with Yves Saint Laurent. GMA? YSL? It's the end of the world as we know it!

Here's a file (November 14) photo of her sporting a pair of last season YSL Cage 110 booties.

You may now buy them on sale at My Theresa for €625 (original retail price of 890 euros).

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Yves Saint Laurent?

Hilarious. Good on GMA though.

photo credits: twitpic & mytheresa

Philippine Fashion Week

Saw this HYSTERICAL screenshot from someone's twitpic account.

;

TAMBLING. ANG TARAY NG LOLA MO HINDI KO SHA KINAYA! Hoy mga bakla ano ang Louis Vuitton fashion week? Sama naman ako jan.

On a different note, I *still* don't understand this whole obsession with social status. I've always thought the class system is obsolete especially in this day and age of individuality, you can be wherever you want to be on your own merit or personal capacity.

Is there anything wrong with wanting something SO bad? I don't see anything wrong for anyone to be crazy about joining the PFW festivities. Heck, I wouldn't be wherever I'm at now if I didn't (desperately if I may add) want to be in NY/Milan/Paris/Timbuktu/Whathaveyou.

Ah well, that's the third world for you.

Perhaps they should all go to Couture Fashion Week in New York?

(yes it's true, there's a Couture Fashion Week in NYC!!!!)

Thank you for the laughs!

screenshot via lotho