quirky.

So, I was late for Fast Forward today. My mom can’t still absorb why I had to go to UP even if my summer classes are already over. Enrollment starts next week, then I’m off to Debsoc sem planning next weekend (hopefully), then come Tuesday, my days as a senior student will start.

***

Trix had to go to Math building to appeal the final grade that she got. And since me and Tina weren’t really doing anything earlier, we came with her. We took the old Toki route because we thought it would be faster. We went past the old Registrar, the then called Teletubby Land, and saw the abandoned construction site. And because we’re bibo and all, we chose to climb the steep slope instead of taking the long road that goes around. I slipped from the first slope I tried to climb and got my left hand peeled a bit. The next slope was kinder. I took pictures of Tina and Trix from the top.

***

I don’t know if my mind is too polluted. But, these pictures found at the back of Milo sure looks…weird.

me, first day, phil fashion week 09.

Last night I was at SMX for the first day of Philippine Fashion Week Holiday ‘09. I wouldn’t be there if not for Pom who gave the invites for Marlon Rivera’s show. Invites, which by the way, are scarce. So I really, really have to thank Pom for this one.

Going there was an event in itself. Especially when you have Mahon being in MRT when Karmina already passed 9 stations and me, being able to catch up when she already reached Taft. We didn’t know what happened to her. Maybe she mistook a PNR station as a MRT station. Trivia: Mahon arrived last at SMX. So, my theory has potential. Joking.

I felt bad for Mahon and Karmina too. They were both wearing yellow dresses. Karmina’s had prints, Mahon’s was plain. I was wearing green. Together, we looked like mangoes, or bananas, or even bamboos! So we had to spread out a bit.

I think Pom went out twice. She looked like a different person altogether. She was more of Andromeda, less as Pom. You can see that she really like love what she’s doing.

I also saw Sarah Myers last night. She was freakin’ tall, as in freakin’ tall. Mahon even said, “mahihirapan s’ya maghanap ng partner dito, kailangan pa n’ya manigbangbansa.” Ganun siya katangkad, friend! Gina de Venecia was sitting on the first row. I wasn’t really expecting her to be there, much more to be on the first row.

It was a quick show. But it was good. There were clothes that I wanted to have, but I wished there were more for guys. Charcoal and black were dominant. Some were in plum, some in silver, while some in a shade of blue that I don’t really like. For me, the strength of the collection is its wearability.

Fashion Week continues up until June 3. Again, don’t forget to watch Philippine Fashion Week TV at ETC, 9pm if you want to see the collections without leaving your homes. I just learned that they were showing last year's collection. But you can still watch for the sheer delight of it.

hours before phil fashion week 09.

I’m really excited for Philippine Fashion Week. It’s going to open today with SM Department Store, Marlon Rivera’s Collection, and Premier Collection A featuring Angelo Estera, Jerome Salaya Ang, Joel Escober, Randall Solomon, Raoul Ramizrez, and Yako Reyes.

I think this year they’ll be broadcasting the shows via ETC. So don’t forget to tune in every 9 pm. Sarah Myers will be hosting it. It’s like getting invites for each and every show.

But I do have one major problem: I don’t have a camera for tonight. Boo.

***

By the way, meet Jack Brennan. His recent projects include Dior Homme and Moschino. He looks thinner than me. See! I have potential.

Photographer: Txema Yeste

i wanna be a supermodel.

Once upon a time, ‘male model’ is synonymous solely to tall, buff men, with rock hard abs complimented with a well chiseled face. We envy them because they cross borders – walking runways and posing for magazines. Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, and such became so trivial for them.

But meet the new breed of male models rocking the international scene. Meet Ash Stymest. I think he’s just 17. He is said to be a favorite of Vogue Hommes Japan. Also appearing in other magazines like Electric Youth, Rodeo Magazine Italy, Dazed and Confused, and many more. He’s ranked 13th internationally.

There’s also Josh Beech. Aside from modeling, he’s also the lead singer of the rock back Snish. Find him gracing the pages of magazines like Vogue International, Vogue Italia, and Arena Homme +. Ranked 11th.

Included in this list is 17 year old Luke Worral. He stands 6’ flat and his waist measures 28”! He already appeared in Teen Vogue, Dazed and Confused (Japan), V Man, Arena Homme +, etc. Ranked 19th.

Then there’s Cole Mohr. He already graced the covers of Sportswear International and Arena Homme +. His recent advertisings include Costume National and Marc by Marc Jacobs. Ranked 14th.

In the future, there will be a Marc Siapno, ranked nth internationally. I just need to put on more weight and grow more to reach at least 5’9. But let’s scratch that shiz. I'm kidding. I have a different plan altogether.

***

Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2009 starts tomorrow! Hoorah!

new one.

Some friends really do that. They call me in the middle of the night to talk about things, or to just wake me up for nothing. I don’t know have problems with that. To some extent, I find it sweet.

Last night, someone was calling me persistently because I wasn’t picking up. When I aswered it, she won’t talk. And when I checked my phone, I realized that I don’t recognize the number. So first thing in the morning, I texted, “Who’s this? Do I know you? You were waking me up last night.” And the reply was, “Ha? Your number is in my BF’s name. Who are you?”

Surprise, surprise. I have a new one (and I don't even know when and how I got her!).

restraint.

Hawak mo na yung sigarilyo, yung lighter nasa lamesa lang. Kapag pinili mong sindihan yan, hindi malabong kasunod na ang isang malalim na hininga at ang paulit-ulit na paghithit. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, upos nalang ang matitira. Bigla mong maaalala ang pangako mo sa sarili na titigil ka na. Sasabihin mo sa sarili mo, “promise, yun na yung last.”

Kinabukasan magsisindi ka ulit ng isang stick, tapos sa susunod ulit na araw, tapos sunod-sunod na. Gagawa ka ng mga imbentong dahilan para hindi ka masyadong ma-guilty. Tapos mapapagod ka, sususko, kakalimutan ang lahat.

Kalimitan ganyan din ang nangyayari sa mga New Year’s resolutions, mga diet plans, mga gawa-gawang schedule ng pag-aaral ilang araw bago mag-exam, at marami pang iba. Mahirap ibahin ang nakagawian. Mahirap sumunod. At mas pipiliin mong ituloy-tuloy ang isang bagay na nakasanayan dahil, aminin mo, mas madali kasi.

Sino ba nagsabing hindi mahirap magpigil?

Mas madali manuntok, mas madali magmura, mas madali manakit ng tao. Siguro kung ‘yan pinili ko, iba problema ko ngayon – kung paano ipapaliwanag yung ginawa ko para magtunog na katanggap-tanggap at kung paano hihingi ng paumanhin para ibalik ang lahat na parang walang naganap.

Pero, hindi. Pinipilit kong magpigil kasi ‘di bale na yung mukha kang tanga dahil walang nakaiintindi sa mga kinikilos mo, ‘di bale na ang sakit na ng ulo mo sa higpit ng pagkakakagat mo h’wag lang magsalita, ‘di bale nang kunwari wala pero meron, kaysa gumawa ng mga bagay na pagsisisihan sa huli.

Lahat ng tao maghihintay ng paliwanag. Magmumukha kang masama kung hahayaan mo nalang yung ibang tao na bumuo ng mga posibleng dahilan. Pero kung tutuusin, minsan mas mabuti na yun. Dahil minsan, mas magmumukha kang masama kung magpapaliwanag ka, tapos hindi naman nila maintindihan kung bakit ganun. Tumahimik ka nalang.

Tatahimik nalang ako kasi hindi mo rin naman maiintindihan. Maiinis ka sa akin, pero isipin mo rin na hindi naman aabot sa ganito kung hindi ako unang nainis sa’yo. Ayoko nalang ng gulo. Mas masakit yun sa ulo.

Mahirap magpigil. Kaya sana kayanin kong magtimpi. Hindi ako sisigaw, hindi ako magagalit, hindi ako mananakit, hindi ako makikipag-away. Mag-iiba muna ang lahat. Pupulutin yung lighter na nasa lamesa, magsisindi ng sigarilyo, bibira ng isang malalim na hininga, pagkatapos bubuga.

alfha.

Yesterday, Typhoon Emong passed through land – causing hard rain that betrayed the season of summer. My sneakers got soaked, my jeans were dripping, and my cardigan was damp. I hated my hair. My umbrella was leaking. And when I thought I was already running late, my professor didn’t come to class. Great.

Apparently, my other professor said in advance that we won’t meet that day. He has to fulfill department responsibilities among other things. I remember him saying, with a hint of apology, “I don’t have any problems, other people do.” That left me with nothing to do for the whole day.

The rain made my blockmates disappear, including some friends that I was expecting to be around. I had to thank Trixia for staying for as long as she can. I didn’t want to go home yet, especially when I just arrived at school.

Thanks also to Sir Wendell Capili for allowing me to stay in his class. Never mind that it was already around 6 pm and the class started at 5. That’s also where I found most of my blockmates.

After class, it was time to celebrate – Alfha style. It was her birthday. We had pancit canton. In other words, nagcantunan kami. Nagcantunan kami nung gabi kila Kuya Narry, kung kailan malakas ang ulan, kung kailan basang-basa ang paligid, nagcantunan kami. Masarap siya at nakakabusog, may tinapay pa. Bawal ang malisya.

It was one of those times that everyone was one and as one we had fun. We got wet, but didn’t mind. Everything was conjugal and the threat of H1N1 wasn’t in mind. We laughed, and laughed harder as the rain did. And made flashes from the camera more than the sky could. It was our kind of fun.

We shall party somewhere formally. They promised. Then, we went home high, happy. I was freakin’ happy.