Visit Philippines 2015

 A great way to start the year in style is to plan things ahead.  The modern lifestyle is all about living in the now and making the most of what you have. Travel has become an essential luxury to most whether work or play and high or low.  More importantly, it's the enriching experience that makes everyone cherish and remember these lifetime moments.

Proud to be Filipino, the beauty of our homeland is one of the best in the world.  The Philippines is a treasure trove of captivating endless wonder. This year, this author invites everyone to immerse into this amazing diversity of culture rich in heritage and blessed with the bounty of nature at its finest.  Check out what the country has in store for you in 2015!  Mabuhay!

http://www.ourtraveldates.com/2014/12/new-visit-philippines-2015-video-will-make-you-feel-proud/

Asian Dragon Weddings 2014 in Thailand

Bangkok Thailand is the international backdrop to one of the biggest editorials in the latest issue of Asian Dragon Weddings.  Set among  the country's  famous tourist sights, both nature and industrial unify in a captivating visual exposition of Filipino bridal wear.   Thematically showcasing modern wedding gowns, the concept featured incantations of the sexy bride of the times .  Yes, the lady who walk down the isle exudes confidence and sexiness in elegance with the finest fabrics, details and jewelry.  

Asian Dragon Weddings 2014

Asian Dragon Weddings is one of the top bridal magazines in the Philippines.  With its editor Liza Ilarde at the helm, it has successfully created a style imprint of its own in the publishing industry.  Through the years, the annual magazine presents a plethora of style-setting ideas for the modern bride.  Forefronting trends and forecasts, the bridal bible unfolds an astounding display of dramatic, panoramic and breathtaking destinations that are a must on everyone's list.  It is a showcase of the the best designers, makeup artist, stylists and photographers that come together to produce excellent visual narratives of masterpieces.  More than just an eye candy, Asian Dragon Weddings is a premier collective and guide for the modern bride and is available in leading bookstores nationwide.  Below is bridal editorial from the latest issue featuring Manila's top designers and globally renowned jewelry brand Jewelmer and shot in the breathtaking Flower island located in Taytay, Palawan.

Asian Dragon Dec 2014-Jan 2015

Fashion and travel together is amazing work and fun experience.  Exploring new places is fascinating and stretches the imagination to produce larger than life images that are meant to be relevantly inspiring.  The author and the Asian Dragon magazine team shot in Thailand a few months back and was challenged by a theme for editorial fashion.  Loads of boxes of Filipino designer wear were transported to Bangkok to be shot at heritage sights that have become the backdrop to forefronting fashion.  Despite the extreme heat where we constantly bathed in sweat, the fun never stops as we laughed our way throughout the shoot.  The result, are picture perfect images that not only displayed the best of Philippine fashion but also the passion of the team that had a memorable and experience to last forever.

A toast to Oro

Filipino designer Rosanna Ocampo Rodriguez recently celebrated her 7th years in the industry by unveiling her latest collection entitled "Gold Rush" by Oro. Due to the increasing clientele and demand for made to order pieces, Oro is the designer's premium label of bespoke creations that display high quality materials and are mostly sewn by hand. These beautiful and modern interpretations showcase a design perspective reflective of European sensibilities and a distinct taste channeling the now lifestyle.  The designer isn't all about making a statement as her pieces echo the essence of making and undestanding the beauty of clothes. Oro's empowering collection is of current style relevance as it celebrates the nowness of femininity. Form and function goes beyond the surface in a presentation of chicness of individuality. The ultimate key is quality and a fusion of style between designer and client to create a  masterpiece that's distinctly special.  All in a matter of discerning taste and aesthetics, Oro is a contemporary reflection of what women want and wear in these modern times.

Project Runway Philippines Season 4 auditions

The last leg of auditions for Project Runway Philippines Season 4 was truly a showcase of local design.  The two day Manila event was held at H2O hotel where's my hopefuls took a shot at potential stardom.  Young designers queued for hours as they await their turn in front of the panel.  The good and bad braved their interviews as they presented their creations. Both fantasy and reality battled for the spotlight from the minimal to theatrically outlandish. Creativity is alive as each piece had a story to tell. Designers who didn't make it at the previous auditions in the provinces such as Baguio, Davao and Cebu flew in to the capital to attend the final screening. The task wasn't that easy knpwing that each applicant had the hope of becoming a finalist.  At the end, the conclusion isn't really on who makes it or not but the reality that the Philippines is a treasure trove of diamonds in the rough.  An optimistic insight on the great potential of fashion design in the local and hopefully international scene.  The following are a glimpse of the pieces at the auditions.

Day 1: The author(third from left) with Georgette Tengco, Jojie Lloren and Katrina Holigores.

All smiles.  The author with Georgette Tengco, Jojie Lloren, Katrina Holigores and a designer applicant.

The whole experience of being a guest mentor was an eye opener.  A realization that there is a thriving fashion community where seeds of creative artistry need assistance for talents to be cultivated and developed to their potential.  Evidently, their is a silent cry for government support, demand for education and work experience.  Project Runway Philippines is one of the local platforms to expose an industry that has been taken for granted and hopefully awaken the powerful eyes that have long been asleep.

Project Runway Season 4 Davao Auditions

The search is on for Project Runway Season 4 which is going to be aired early next year. The author has been lucky to be guest mentor/judge of the auditions screening committee which will be held in key cities in the Philippines.  Recently concluded the second leg which was held at the Abreeza Mall in Davao. More than a handful aspiring designers came to present their creations as they dream of becoming one of the final 15.  The finalists will then be housed in Manila for 3-4 months and will face challenges for the competition until a winner is proclaimed.  Not an easy task to judge the applicants for all of them are brilliantly talented, creative and passionate artists.  From on the spot illustration, interviews, portfolios and masterpieces, it is no doubt that the Philippines is a treasure trove of amazing designers. Each has a distinct point of view, aesthetic and  vision as they showcase their design perspective. Here are some of the pieces at the auditions and hopefully some of them make the cut.  

The venue at Abreeza.

The set up.

The form.

Gilded hoodie.

Middle East inspiration.

Texturize.

Cohesive direction.

Clearly sheer.

Shuttle cock reworked.

I want some more!

It's a wrap! The author with ETC's Georgette Tengco, Saling and Katrina Holigores.