The Best Celebrity Halloween Costumes In the Recent Years (Hollywood edition)

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Drop-dead gorgeous!

Spooky season is upon us and though we may not be able to don our best costumes outside, our Instagram feeds will most likely be blessed by drop-dead looks. Scroll down for some of the best halloween looks by these celebs in the recent years.

RELATED: The Best Celebrity Halloween Costumes In the Recent Years (Local Edition!)

  1. LADY GAGA AS A GHOST

2. KATY PERRY AS A CHEETO

3. GIGI HADID AS THE MASK

4. BELLA HADID AS FRED FLINTSTONE

5. HARRY STYLES AS ELTON JOHN

6. KIM KARDASHIAN-WEST AS ELLE WOODS

7. RIHANNA AS A NINJA TURTLE

8. CARDI B AS POISON IVY

9. ARIANA GRANDE AS ONE OF THE PIG FACES IN TWILIGHT ZONE

10. NINA DOBREV AS BILLIE EILISH

11. JOE JONAS AND SOPHIE TURNER AS GOMEZ AND MORTICIA ADDAMS

12. LUPITA NYONG’O AS DIONNE FROM CLUELESS

13. BEYONCE AS LIL KIM

14. LIZZO AS URSULA FROM THE LITTLE MERMAID

15. LASTLY, ALL OF HEIDE KLUM’S HALLOWEEN LOOKS

The Best Celebrity Halloween Costumes In the Recent Years (Local Edition)

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Spotted anyone dressed as a mananaggal yet?

Horror has been one of the most well-loved movie genres by Filipinos. We have iconic films such as Sukob, Feng Shui, Shake Rattle and Roll along with mythological creatures like the Aswang, Mananaggal, and Tiyanak, and we’re surprised not a lot of local celebrities have done it yet. But who knows? Someone might surprise us tonight. Here are some of the best local celebrity costumes along the years.

RELATED: The Best Celebrity Halloween Costumes In the Recent Years (Hollywood edition!)

  1. NADINE LUSTRE AS HIM FROM THE POWERPUFF GIRLS

2. BJ PASCUAL AS TROYE SIVAN

3. LIZA SOBERANO AND ENRIQUE GIL AS THE WILSON SISTERS FROM WHITE CHICKS

4. PIA WURTZBACH AS WONDER WOMAN

5. ANNE CURTIS AS HARLEY QUINN

6. ZIA DANTES AS THE JOKER

7. MAYMAY ENTRATA AND EDWARD BARBER AS ANNABELLE AND CHUCKY

8. KATHRYN BERNARDO AS POISON IVY

9. MAINE MENDOZA AS SELENA QUINTANILLA

10. GABBI GARCIA AS PRINCESS JASMINE

(All photos courtesy of Instagram)

5 Brilliant Filipino Songs ‘Inspired’ By Unforgettable Tragic Events

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Art imitates life.

Whether it’s rooted in corruption or oppression, these masterpieces remind us why life itself is a never-ending protest.

These songs performed by Celeste Legaspi, Eraserheads, Gazera, Bandido, and UNIQUE gave beauty, rhythm, and melody to pills that are hard to swallow––enough to not romanticize tragedy but to fearlessly confront it.

To induce chill down your political consciousness back to your spine, here is a list of Filipino songs with either subtle or vivid real-life imageries; referential to the Philippine history that is artistically executed through sound and self-expression.

1. ‘Sarangola ni Pepe’ by Celeste Legaspi (The Martial Law)

Lyrics Excerpt:

Matayog ang lipad ng saranggola ni Pepe
Matayog ang pangarap ng matandang bingi
Umihip ang hangin, nawala sa paningin
Sigaw ng kahapon, nilamon na ng alon
Malabo ang tunog ng kampanilya ni Padre
Maingay ang taginting, rosaryo ng babae
Nay…nay…nay…nay…

Behind the cheerful tone of ‘Sarangola ni Pepe’ played with a ukulele is a serious topic. The song has, in fact, attracted the attention of scholars for its complexity in meaning. Among the many analyses of this, we’ll be steering our wheel towards its depiction of Martial Law. Although written in the era of the Marcos regime that suppressed every pint of freedom of speech and censors any type of criticism against the dictatorial government, Celeste Legaspi’s husband, Nonoy Gallardo used the rhetorical power of subtlety to condemn human right abuses and the economic downturn during that time. But the most beautiful part is the song’s uncomplicated message of hope for peace.

2. ‘Spoliarium’ by Eraserheads (The 1982 Pepsi Paloma Rape Case)

Lyrics Excerpt:

Umiyak ang umaga
Anong sinulat ni enteng at joey diyan
Sa pintong salamin
Di ko na mabasa
Pagkat merong nagbura
Ewan ko at ewan natin
Sinong nagpakana?
At bakit ba tumilapon ang spoliarium
Diyan sa paligid mo?

As the song progresses with its painfully chaotic melody, you are left to question its lyrics as much as how the mysterious case of 80’s ‘soft drink beauty’ starlet, Pepsi Paloma still leaves us puzzled after more than three decades. What torment must have had really occurred that prompt her to commit suicide in 1985? According to the old article, ‘It hurts only when they laugh,’ Pepsi Paloma claims she was raped in the evening of June 21, 1982, by television hosts; Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and the late Richie d’ Horsie while they also took photographs of the cruel act. After a formal complaint was issued with the then-Defense Minister, Juan Ponce Enrile, Paloma stated that Joey de Leon wanted to teach her the art of kissing. There is much more to the story but today, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and the alleged involvement of Senator Tito Sotto has accumulated more power and success after the tragic rape and death of a young star. Furthermore, Eraserheads’ lead vocalist Ely Buendia perpetuates the public’s interest in the enigma that is Pepsi Paloma by saying in 2011, “I will take this secret to the grave.”

3. ‘OZONE (Itulak ang Pinto)’ by UNIQUE (The 1996 Ozone Disco Fire)

Lyrics Excerpt:

Tinulak ang pinto ng iilang kaibigan
May kumalat sa loob
Lahat ay nagsitakbuhan
Isang daan kami lumalayo
Mula sa kamatayan
Mabubura ang ala ala
Mapapaso ang kaluluwa
Basang basang ng pawis ang
Pagitan ng aking mata

As written by an 18-year-old musical genius, ‘Ozone (Itulak ang Pinto)’ eerily references the disaster that killed 162 people on March 18, 1996. It was an unusual night of partying that turned into a tragedy that went on to change the lives of the families that were affected. Despite the limited capacity of Ozone Disco Club that could only accommodate about a hundred people, there were more than 300 people that occupied the room including students. Before midnight, there was circuit damage that sparked at the booth. Some party-goers thought it was one of the club’s “special effects.” It was then and there, when a fire broke and spread through the ceiling of the place. According to Rappler’s 2015 interview with one of the 93 survivors, Jhunie Mallari; he said, “Nakikipagsiksikan ako. Hanggang sa hindi ko na kaya, huminto na kami kasi hindi na… trapped na kami,” (I pushed myself through the thick crowd until I couldn’t anymore. We stopped because we were already trapped.) However, what really killed almost 200 hundred people is the lack of safety in the way the disco was built. The door that trapped individuals to burn to death could only be opened inward. There were no other doors for an exit. But the hardest hurdle to escape is the trauma that will forever rack in the memories of the survivors, families, and anyone who has had their eyes witness the tragic event.

4. ‘Nanlaban’ by Bandido (The ‘Nanlaban’ Victims of President Duterte’s War on Drugs)

Lyrics Excerpt:

Mahal kita 
Pero ako’y nangangamba 
Mahaba kasi ang buhok ko 
Malalim ang mga mata 
May tattoo ako sa braso 
Hikaw sa kaliwang tenga 
Madaling mapagbintangan 
Pwedeng sabihing nanlaban 

Alam mo naman ang nilalaman ng balita 
Sabi ni tatay maraming biktima ng tamang hinala 
Payo niya sa ‘kin kung maari umuwi ng maaga 
Kahit ‘di gumagamit mukha raw akong nagdodroga 

Bandido poetically veils this song of protest as a love song. With the band’s sense of lyricism that uses imagery to show what a ‘Nanlaban’ stereotypically looks like, it depicts the dark side of President Duterte’s war on drugs. To recapitulate the tragic story that presumably prompt Bandido to create such definitive anthem for the innocent victims of Extrajudicial killing, let’s retell the story of a young boy named Kian Loyd delos Santos. In August 16 of 2017, prior to the song’s release, the killing of 17-year-old Kian broke the news and got the country in tears. Based on a CCTV footage and eyewitnesses, he was dragged from one alley to another into a dead-end corner of a street where he was forced to run with a gun – and when he did, was shot. The family of the Kian Loyd delos Santos did not live in luxury just like the other victims. He was merely a student with a dream for a better future but was cut short by an anti-poor system.

5. ‘Kung Puntod Na Ang Bukirin’ by Gazera (The 2004 Hacienda Luisita Massacre)

Lyrics Excerpt:

Kung pa-purgatoryo na yaring bagnos

At pyudalismo’y hila ang paragos

Na karga’y bangkay ng mga hikahos

Na magsasakang sa dusa ay lipos;

Mga naulila na ang lulubos

Sa lupa’y babawi, sa laya’y tutubos!

“Kung Puntod na ang Bukirin” by Gazera is based on Axel Pinpin’s poem of the same title. The music video is produced by Luisita Watch and Molotov as a tribute to seven farmworkers who were murdered along with the hundred other martyrs who were badly injured in the infamous Hacienda Luisita massacre on November 16, 2004. Hacienda Luisita is a 6,453-hectare sugar estate located in Tarlac province under the jurisdiction of the Cojuangco-Aquinos, “one of the most powerful landlord families to ever hold state power in the Philippines.” 14 years later, political killings and human rights violations still exist today.

This is dedicated to all the victims whose lives were cut short too soon. We are fighting for justice by never forgetting. 

5 Reasons Why Fanfiction Writers Should Be Given More Appreciation

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Isn't fanfiction just as good as the book you pick up in your local bookstore?

Nothing beats the agony of waiting for your favorite fanfiction writer to update a chapter. But why is it that when people think of fanfiction, they immediately grimace as if the word is something looked down upon?

In fact, fanfiction brings your favorite characters to a bigger world that’s entirely your own. More often than not, it gives the fans the spotlight on their favorite ships to have a story that was never mentioned in the book or the movie. Sure, there are outrageous fanfics on the internet, but there are good ones, too.

The best fanfics are the ones that were well thought of; the one that makes you feel as if it were real. So, let’s give props to the fanfic writers out there that religiously give us content when we need it. Here are 5 reasons why these authors should be given more credit:

1. They’re just as great as your favorite author

Fanfic writers bring your favorite characters to life. In fact, they even write just as long and detailed as your favorite author—perhaps just as canon, too. It could be a series of one-shots or a 10-chapter fanfic that you wait for every week. And because they’re in the same fandom, they would know exactly how to tug at your heartstrings.

2. Their stories are FREE

Fanfiction is accessible on the internet, but the best thing about it is that fanfic writers don’t charge you just to read the story they have worked hard for. The number of times you have asked your fave writer to update and they don’t ask for anything in return is just charity work as it is. Let’s appreciate them for that.

3. They give more depth to the characters

And there are also times when our favorite characters weren’t given enough attention in the book or the movie. Let’s say: Draco Malfoy. He’s the villain archetype in the Harry Potter series, but he could have been a redeemable character. Fanfiction gives him more depth and a character redemption that we never got to see in the series.

4. Fanfic writers are natural multi-taskers

These authors don’t dedicate their whole day just to write fanfics on the internet. Some of these people have school or work five days a week, and yet they see to it that their readers are kept updated as much as they can. These authors don’t get paid—just the fact that their readers enjoy their writing is enough.

5. They keep the ships sailing

Let’s be real: most fanfictions are made for shipping your favorite characters together. When the shows, movies, books (and even celebrities) don’t give the fans enough content, the fanfic writers are the ones who keep the shippers happy and excited. The AUs that these writers come up with are just so creative, we wish it were actually true.

Who are your favorite fanfic writers? Share this post and let them know you appreciate them! 

Normalize Cutting Ties With People When You’re In Your 20s

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People grow apart. It's just the way of life.

When we were kids, we used to plan what we wanted to be, the places we want to visit, and the goals we want to achieve. But as we grow up, uncertainty grows in our hearts too, confusing us about whether we should carry on with our chosen plans or not.

20 is an age when you are in constant search for yourselves.

Seeking identity, goals, and paths are all part of being in your 20s. But one thing we all know for sure is we are just simply frightened about making the wrong choices and regretting it for a lifetime.

In the journey of finding yourself, there will be people you will lose along the way. Sure, you used to believe that these people would help you be the best version of yourself, but sometimes, you’ll turn out to be wrong. There are times when your friends no longer connect with you—some of them are even the ones you consider your best friend.

It’s hard to cut ties with those people, especially when you’ve been through so much with them. Just remember that you’re still young and losing a few people who no longer help you grow is okay.

That doesn’t mean you have to downright say that you’re cutting ties with them. Sometimes, just letting yourselves grow apart is okay.

Nonetheless, you are young and yet to commit more mistakes.

If the people around you don’t make you feel supported and loved, then please do yourself a favor and don’t waste your time proving them of your worth. So, live your best life, meet new people along the way. Don’t let other people’s journey stop you from growing and reaching your dreams.

Focus on yourself

Being in your 20s is the most confusing stage of your life. Some of your friends could be having their first baby, moving into their own place, getting promoted, or getting married. But you don’t have to be pacing the same way as them. Remember that you have your own journey and you’re not riding in anyone else’s. This your prime year. Live it.

Let’s Stop Shaming Women For Things We Applaud Men For

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Come on, guys. It's 2020.

As a religious country, we Filipinos have grown accustomed to being told how to act based on what the adults read in the Bible. Afraid of being branded as “disrespectful,” we try our best to follow.

Women are supposed to dress conservatively, stick to household chores, and submit to our male partners, because if we don’t, our parents would say, “what will other people think?” These norms are very harmful because they perpetuate the idea that women are inferior, weak, and accountable for anything that happens to them.

One would think that in this day and age, Filipinos would be more open-minded and accepting. And yet, when we see a woman on reality TV, consentingly kissing a boy, she is suddenly branded as a “slut” with no morals. On the other hand, when a celebrity couple admits to living together, people bring up the importance of marriage and purity. But it all seems to be targeted to one gender. None of them have anything to say to the men involved.

It’s evident that up to this day, whenever Filipinas do something that strays away from tradition, the first thing people say is, “why aren’t Filipina nowadays more Maria Clara?” This response goes for anything that doesn’t fit with her typical image; like dressing however they want to, making the first move, and engaging in premarital sex.

Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere gave us Maria Clara; an archetype of a Filipino woman, but it is one that has wrongly been put on a pedestal. People’s reaction tells us two things:

1. That they seem to forget that Maria Clara, despite her feminine and conservative demeanor, still got molested by Padre Salvi.

2. That they should be minding their own lives instead of judging how others live theirs.

There are many aspects of life with which women are expected to blindly follow what society tells them to do.

Rules of demeanor

When it comes to how Filipinas should act when it comes to other people, we are always expected to be shy and demure. There is always the expectation that under no circumstances can women be loud, boisterous, and rude to anyone. When we are offended or judged, we are supposed to let it go.

When we are harassed, we are advised to let it pass because it is “just a joke.” This expectation to stay decorous puts Filipinas in a very unfair position. This tells us we cannot defend ourselves at the risk of being rude and dictates that we cannot challenge authority even if we are right. Choosing to not live by these expectations doesn’t mean we can be violent towards other people. It just means we can raise our voice when we must, fight back when we should, and speak for ourselves when needed because these don’t make us any less of a woman.

Clothing guidelines

Filipinas are always told to dress modestly. No sleeveless tops, no shorts or skirts above the knee, and no showing of skin. People say that if a woman can’t respect herself, how will other people respect her too? The problem is, society puts such a heavy meaning to clothes as if these dictate a woman’s honor. Newsflash: a woman can wear tank tops with shorts and still be respecting herself. The problem is not with her, it is with the person who refuses to respect her.

They also say this is the reason why women get harassed or raped—because of what they were wearing. However, believing this puts all of the blame on women and none of the blame on men. We keep telling women to not get raped but not enough men get told not to rape. Victim-blaming is still  a rampant issue in the Philippines.

Relationship principles

When it comes to relationships, people still have a lot of backward beliefs. Many still think that men should make the first move, pay on dates, and women shouldn’t want to engage in sexual activities. Relationships are a two-way street. First off, it’s unfair to men if we always expect them to make the first move, pay for dates, and prepare surprises all the time. Women can also ask guys out, pay for their own meal (or for the whole date), or go all-out for birthdays or anniversaries. Why should we rely on men to drive where the relationship can be going? Why should women be the only ones on the receiving side of kilig?

Aside from that, women are also frowned upon when they are seen kissing, making out, or having sex with their partners. Men are praised for getting laid while women are being shamed for the exact same act. We shouldn’t judge anyone based on what they choose to do with their life if it doesn’t affect ours. If they personally choose to wait until marriage, that’s fine. If they choose not to, that’s also okay. There’s no need to force your beliefs down other people’s throats.

As women of the 21st century, we should not let tradition or norms dictate how we should dress or act. The Maria Clara archetype manifests in harmful societal pressures that stop us from being who we are, but we shouldn’t give in or conform to these sexist expectations.

This does not mean we should have complete disregard of rules. It simply means that we should unapologetically be ourselves in the face of criticism—we’re the only ones who could be ourselves.

Frankie Pangilinan Is Speaking Up For What She Believes Is Right—Perhaps It’s Time You Do, Too

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Breaking down the notions of predisposition and privilege, Frankie Pangilinan is proving to be the voice of reason we all need to listen to, especially at a time like this.

“What book are you reading now?” I ask Frankie Pangilinan, primarily to deflate our usually kilometric Instagram correspondence. “I’m re-reading The Life And Struggle Of Edgar Jopson,” she promptly replies, followed by a trail of the internet equivalent of syllabicated crying. “Indeed very apt for now. Stole it from Dad again. I’m counting the days ‘til he notices.”

Photo via @kakiep83 on Twitter

It is a little bit of a known fact that she likes to run her fingers through the spines of her father’s library of literature, sometimes even taking a special penchant for some by borrowing it even if she’s read it twice. However, unlike that scene in Beauty and the Beast where the bookseller gifts her the title because she liked it all that much, this one had no far off places, daring sword fights, a prince in disguise. Instead, it traces the life and times of Edgar Jopson, a man of considerable privilege who gave it all up to join the underground movement during Martial Law, where the eventual martyr of the regime already earned the ire for being a student and political activist, turned intriguing figure of the First Quarter Storm. To some, it might seem like a lofty title to take a liking to, but for Frankie Pangilinan, it is but a manifestation of her many human interests, one that she shares with her father, Senator Francis Pangilinan. And in a time unprecedented, it appears to be the one that precisely matters the most.

You see, while the Pangilinan household may seem unattainable for some, Frankie maintains that despite whatever they are predisposed to, they will always be a normal family, one that enjoys the luxury of sharing meals at one table where discussion and discourse is very much encouraged. “The regular routine would be to sit with him at the dinner table and grill him with questions. It’s been this way since I was little,” she shares. “He has a habit of explaining decisions and choices to the very last detail so that it’s easier for us to understand why they’re made. But as I got older, I found myself asking for more, especially when it came to his work. I tend to borrow his books (more like momentarily steal), his documents, his minutes. I’ve always had an obsession with reading those because I figure few people have that kind of access, and it would be foolish to deny oneself an entire education, just sitting there, hidden between scrap paper and muddy pages.”

However, due to what was then the relatively early lashes of the coronavirus, they both had to be quarantined—him due to exposure at work, and for Frankie’s potential exposure at the airport on the way home. This was the point when the highly contested and hotly discussed Bayanihan We Heal As One Act was in its early stages, and just like the rest of the country, she had questions. “I’m usually awake anyway, perpetually awake. But what kept me awake that particular evening was not the usual creative overflow or intense writing, which tends to keep me up most days. It was fear, a kind of terror which I’ve only ever heard about in history books—the kind which is usually taught to have been overcome,” she recalls of what urged her to text her father with what we all wanted to know then. “I realize that that sounds incredibly fantastic and might be worth mocking to some, but I’ve chosen these words with care and I’m being honest. It was strange to feel already so unsettled and anxious about this unprecedented global pandemic, but to also come to terms with the realization that the establishment, which fundamentally exists for the protection and guidance of our countrymen’s best interests may have been intentionally operating against them.”

The information she had then could have easily ended between the father and daughter, chalked up to their usual back-and-forths, but nudged by a bigger responsibility, one that she holds a firm grip on through having her ears pressed to the ground of social media, she shared the exchange on Twitter to primarily deflate the cloud of uncertainty keeping everyone with even an ounce of concern up that particular night. “I saw that Twitter was stirring with rightful rage and so, as my Dad informed me that the bill was redrafted, I felt the push to inform others, because it had significantly eased my worries. It was a kind of minimal peace I could offer in these troubling times. It felt selfish to keep it to myself, then. So, there was a sort of responsibility to put it out there,” she says.

Aside from being compelled to function as a liaison between the public and political, this circumstance was an exercise in sculpting an opinion in a time where it is so easily peddled just because, with nary a consideration for thought and information. “It was important for me to understand, to have this conversation in order to fully comprehend the value of such decisions before formulating my own opinions or thoughts,” she explains. “To blatantly accept things as they are, without context nor provision, is unacceptable in this ever changing socio-political landscape. People my age truly need to fully wake up and gain the awareness that just because things may not affect us personally does not mean they are not of worth. In fact, I believe that from my position of privilege, things that don’t affect me tend to be worth a whole lot more than the things that do. Transparency and accountability is what the Filipinos deserve, most especially at this time of severe unrest where people aren’t experiencing the safety and security they should have.”

When all that was put to bed very early in the morning, how did she finally settle with the rabid ringing of responsibility and recourse? “I slept relatively soundly,” she says.

ON HER OWN

Now, this isn’t the first time Frankie Pangilinan is speaking up. While she has maintained a relatively low profile over the years despite her pedigree and predisposition for the spotlight, she was never one to stay silent, especially when it comes to things that matter to her, family ranking high up that list, of course. Remember when the President himself insinuated that her parents were embroiled in marital trouble, and that he would resign if proven otherwise? Well, the outspoken young’un didn’t hold back, quickly displacing a sense of anonymity doing what was just right, defending the honor of her family.

Photo via @kakiep83 on Twitter

Or how about the time when enraged by the arrest of 21 Sitio San Roque residents who were protesting for the lack of food, she was quick to swoop in and sponsor bail for one while her parents covered the other 20? “I’m sorry really sorry, I don’t normally put that stuff out here, but nanginginig ako sa galit, and they need to be set free and the faster we can get this done the better,” she writes on Twitter.

While operating on a completely personal space, eloquently articulating convictions with an emotional depth and brevity that is infinitely admirable, Frankie Pangilinan has been inadvertently thrust into a landscape where worlds and opinions collide on exponential, by-the-second increments. It isn’t exactly uncharted territory, but for someone who not only constantly owns up to the liberties accorded to her, consistently defraying it with a currency of apology, she is merely doing what is not only right, but human. “I’m a whole woman with a brain, okay?” she tweets following the response to the Sitio San Roque incident. “Like, still growing up and def still learning, but don’t come for my parents or my family if you disagree with me, because I’m the one who would be held accountable for my own choices and actions, and I am committed to growth.”

We’ve said this before and we will say it again and again: Frankie Pangilinan may be young, but she is wise well beyond her years, putting to shame even those twice and thrice her age. Where there exists an enviable sense of idealism akin to an untainted youth, she is impressively anchored to the realities of our times, perhaps even more so than those who aren’t as privileged as her. Chalking up to the way she was raised by her parents, as well as of her own acute understanding of the inequalities and imbalance to the societal equilibrium, her point-of-view is not only educated, but also empathetic.

“I’m my own person now. I figure, at some point, our views will intensely diverge in the future. I guess, in simplest terms, I’m not opposed to fighting for what I believe is inherently right, even if that means opposing my Dad. I don’t have political loyalties. It just so happens my Dad’s ideals tend to align with my own,” she explains. “I think at the end of the day, that’s what politics is—its when people seek to achieve the same ends, albeit through different means. As you mentioned, a lot of families, I think in the Philippine especially, may already struggle with opposing or non-correlating beliefs, but as with anything to do with human nature, those well-intentioned can always get involved in healthy discourse, fuelled by intention to communicate, and not by selfish agenda. It’s about putting aside pride and being open-minded to the extent that we can truly listen to each other without simply waiting to respond.”

THE BRAVE

Just the like the rest of us, Frankie Pangilinan is taking matters into her own hands, when and where necessary. But most importantly, it is something that is completely of her own making, even the so-called burden heaved on her shoulders by a world before her. “I think that my privilege is precisely that—my responsibility. To have these opportunities, like being able to speak up, I think that’s exactly what privilege is. My parents raised us in such a way that always reminds us why we’re here and how we can do better for others,” she affirms. “I don’t know how to explain it—the culture at home, I feel, is very different from what people perceive it to be. We never ask for things we don’t need. If there are any wants, we have to save up for ourselves or wait for birthdays and Christmas. And there are consistent reminders from our parents that not everybody can afford this phone or those school supplies or even that blanket. We get in trouble when we keep the lights or air-condition on in the room because we need to save energy and keep the energy bill low. When I was younger, it felt annoying almost, how everything I did or used began to be stained with a certain level of guilt because of those constant reminders. But now, I find it’s kept me grounded in a way I can’t thank my parents enough for. Everything is a privilege if you can take it for granted. They taught me to never take those things for granted, ever and this platform is one of those things. I didn’t ask for it, it’s a great blessing. Now, I feel it’s simply my turn to make use of it, to not be a waste of such opportunities that are so rare in this third world country.”

Photo via @kakiep83 on Twitter

There is a lesson to learn here, and while the older folk would furrow their brows and maybe even roll their eyes, it is something that everyone should start taking to heart, especially in this unprecedented upheaval. Now isn’t the time to sit still in comfort and convenience knowing that the rest of the world gets pummelled by the great inequalities that gnaw at the very foundation we stand on. It is very easy to just watch with hands held up as if to signal no accountability, but make no mistake about it, all our actions and inactions contribute to where the compass of our lives will point to next. Look, mountains being moved did not build glorious civilizations of a bygone era, but rather a cumulative stacking of rocks to form the groundwork of significant shift in history.

Piecing her own fragments and casting it to the grander design of what is bound to be, Frankie Pangilinan is taking bigger, bolder strides in getting the message of the youth across to where it needs to be. She has raised her voice along with ours, and now, it is time we make that change happen, according to how we want it, and not the other way around, because our future is at stake here, too.

“To be honest, I can’t ever see myself formally entering the political sphere, which may come as a surprise to some, for precisely the reason that I see what it does to my Dad. I don’t think I’m brave enough. And there are people much better suited, much more educated in experience, particularly to do with the masa. It’s such a privilege and an honor to be able to look up to my Dad and his strength and integrity in such a time when so many public figures are unraveling and coming to terms with their own misguided values,” she elucidates as we round the corner of this deep and critical context of concern. “While, in a third world country, we may be somewhat accustomed to operating under a system which does not always work for us, we should never settle. There is always betterment there for those who wish to seek it, in any aspects of life. This is the purpose of governance, to change lives for the better, never to threaten them.”

It doesn’t need to be necessary political, as she ascertains, but this is profoundly personal for Frankie Pangilinan, who is by all means and accounts necessary, braver than she can ever imagine.

In Its Sustainable Efforts, Is Fashion Really Changing The Alarmingly Wasteful Ways Of The Past?

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More than just a trendy buzzword to hop on, sustainable fashion is taking a serious turn in consideration as Filipino menswear designers take on a no-waste challenge.

It is no longer just a matter of fact, but rather a gospel truth that fashion is one of the world’s largest contributor to pollution. With the timeline and need that the industry operates yearly, it comes to no shock that our consumption has gone up since the advent of the new millennium. If we were to run on the numbers along, it is enough to choke one up faster than the reality of Australian bushfires asphyxiating the ecosystem with its fumes. With a 60% increase in the purchasing of garments in 2014 from 2000, fashion has since accounted for at least 10% of the global carbon emissions, singularly known as a key greenhouse gas that has been speeding up climate change at a worrying exponential rate. Further more, this hawking and hoarding of fashion only means a racking up of dump every year, which roughly stands at 85% that goes to waste.

If that isn’t worrying, then in the process of stylish creation, the multi-billion dollar industry consumes water to a dried up aftermath, polluting its streams with micro-fibers, plastic, and chemicals, as well as it razing rainforests to little to no mercy. Taking a heavy toll on the environment, it has proven more and more difficult to keep up, despite the most valiant efforts in saving and sustaining.

While there has been more of a shift to be more eco-ethical, sustainable, and conscious, the threats to the environment are proving to be veritably irreversible at this point. Some fashion figures have taken stricter measures to save the world, so to speak, with rigors being rewritten and re-calibrated to dial down on the offshoot of waste. With brands such as H&M, Adidas, Guess, Herbal Essences, and Lush, among others pledging tangible efforts by working towards being plastic-free, incorporating a reuse and recycle mindset, and using more natural and less damaging to the Earth materials. This movement isn’t just exclusive to the fast fashion as designers such as Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, and Rag & Bone are really moving mountains to strike a stronger sense of consciousness from within their ranks. Making no compromises, Stella McCartney in particular stresses that the word ‘eco’ shouldn’t be a term “that immediately conjures up images of oatmeal-colored fashion or garments that are oversized or lacking in any sort of luxury or beauty, detailing or desirability.” With a more mindful approach to creation, the business imperative should be more tangible and social, challenging and pushing boundaries to make things happen, crafting products that is fit for the world today and in the future. “From never using leather or fur and pioneering new alternative materials to utilizing cutting edge technologies, pushing towards circularity, protecting ancient and endangered forests and measuring our impact with ground-breaking tools,” a sustainable lifestyle in equilibrium is hopefully achieved.

Yes, bigger and bolder efforts must be undertaken, especially in the face of great and grave threat as of late, but it is understood that smaller, realistic steps in one’s every day is enough to stack up to results that will affect the shift in the order of nature. Whether it be as simple as cutting down on the spending and purchasing, or adapting a more serious effort of considering eco-friendly, all-natural, and ethically created fashion, something can and has to be done—and there is no other one else to look to than yourself.

Let’s face the aggressive truth: The world we live in has not only taken a new turn, but it has ratified a new reality for us to exist in. Heeding a responsibility to actively take part in the resuscitation of our planet, we challenged menswear designers to create an original encompassing their aesthetic and point-of-view, and most importantly, it being sustainable.

RUSSELL VILLAFUERTE

No stranger to sustainability, Russell Villafuerte has always held the lifestyle at the core of his design sensibilities. While some would look back to his finale collection in Project Runway, as he well as his debut collection for Philippine Fashion Week, his relationship with eco-consciousness traces back to his Interior Design degree, where the focus was really to design sustainably, ensuring the health of our planet.

An offshoot of his namesake brand, Strong Village is Russell Villafuerte’s more personal and sustainable approach to fashion. “It’s a brand where all the clothes I make are very personal,” he says, emphasizing his bid to do his fair share of helping the environment. For this look, he used only deadstock and used fabrics, piecing them together to become a realization of sustainablitiy, without losing that signature nonchalant, don’t-mess-with-me energy. “With this effort, I hope that awareness will eventually turn into practice. So, I hope sustainable fashion will stay for good and not just become a trend that will be forgotten a few seasons from now.”

White deconstructed trench jacket, deconstructed low-crotch onesie, and white deconstructed canvas shorts all by STRONG VILLAGE

MARK TAMAYO

“Sustainability in the fashion industry is rather challenging, particularly for young designers like me,” admits Mark Tamayo. “Usually, cost constraints and sourcing issues would limit our ability to use sustainable fabrics. Nevertheless, I try to use sustainable materials whenever possible by using locally made fabric dyed using organic dyes.” In this undertaking, he crafted a tailored piece that marries precision and whimsy rendered in katsa (muslin cloth) and Piña.

Beyond the actual garment, Mark Tamayo also believes in ethical practices for his pool of artisans and employees. “I believe that sustainability and ethical considerations in fashion must be observed as far as it is practical, including the fair labor treatment and payment of proper wages to our workers and employees.”

Muslin and Piña blazer, cream trousers, and pleated apron all by Mark Tamayo, and black sneakers by SKECHERS

SANTI OBCENA

“Fashion is one of the primary producers of waste in the world, as designers it is our duty to find ways to minimize wastage in our own little studios by reducing the excess we put out in the world,” says Santi Obcena, before detailing his work, aptly entitled, Tagpi (lit. patch). “It is in the little things, like laying out fabrics smarter or repurposing the pieces. It doesn’t have to be a big gesture. In the conscious efforts of not throwing out every fabric, or developing designs that cater to the scraps we have in the studio.” A jacket made entirely out of scrap fabrics from 8 previous projects, this is quite literally a sewn up narrative of different stories coming together as one impressive narrative.

Inspired primarily by wise words of How To Make An American Quilt, which elucidates: “Young lovers seek perfection. Old lovers learn the art of sewing shreds together. And of seeing beauty in a multiplicity of patches.” Therein lies a conversation of Santi Obcena that hop is sewn between the strips of fabric and threaded through the seams that encloses it.

Denim, printed twill, nylon, and woven metallic fabric-patched jacket by SANTI OBCENA

EMIR YAMAMOTO

Skewing from the tried and tested path of menswear, Emir Yamamoto fashions a statement with pieces of sheer, bridal, and cocktail fabrics. This has always been the premise of how the designer works, coalescing two ends of a spectrum in a cohesive whole. Fusing an aesthetic that is confident in its ease and grace, there now exists an entirely new proposition for the future of fashion in a more sustainable and boundary-shattering trajectory.

Pleated sheer dress with bridal and cocktail fabric scraps by EMIR YAMAMOTO

JEFFREY ROGADOR

Realizing a responsibility far beyond the reaches of making fashion, Jeffrey Rogador has long asserted his subscription to sustainability through upcycling. “Designers, brands, and retailers should take action on the global issue of apparel waste and consumption. With every small step and contribution, we can help solve the problem,” he says. Never one to let fashion go to waste, he patched 50 pairs of old and unused jeans from Girbaud Philippines to create new and relevant pieces. “We designers should take the responsibility to lessen global fashion waste. If we try to make fashion more mindful and organic, it will be very helpful,” he concludes.

Patched denim jacket, patched denim top, and patched denim jeans all by JEFFREY ROGADOR

NERIC BELTRAN

Sustainability is not just limited to fashion and reducing waste for Neric Beltran. With the people who work for and with him in mind, he really sees to it that his production is well taken care of, exercising utmost safety and fair pay for all. Ensuring that this means of livelihood carries over to their personal welfare, in this point-of-view, no efforts and hard work are wasted. Whether it’s piecing together scraps of excess fabrics and broken zippers, it is all about a coming together of vision, mission, and a distinct execution that are a product of his and his team’s rigor and attention to detail.

Black patched shirt and black pullover with zipper-detailed sleeves both by NERIC BELTRAN

Photography JONES PALTENG

Creative Direction and Styling ANGELO RAMIREZ DE CARTAGENA

Grooming VICTOR LOONG

Model MIHA (NEW MONARQ MANILA)

Shot on location at VC Trading, Farmer’s Plaza

Special thanks to BYRON VILLEGAS

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Losing My Salon Virginity

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Oh, the nightmares of being a salon virgin.

Change is one of the hardest things to grasp for anyone who wants to become better.

In fact, with change comes new adjustments in everyday routines. We’ve experienced it when we move to a new house, or transfer to a new school, or even when we get exposed to a new work environment. When we become so used to the things that we do and see every day, change feels a little bit…overwhelming. The thought of having to adapt to new things is scary, which is why people don’t like change.

While change can be in many forms, the simplest, but probably the most terrifying form of change is a physical change.

I am one of those people who is scared of physical change. I don’t like discomfort and it makes me anxious knowing one wrong move could change my appearance for the next few months, which is why I haven’t done anything drastic to my face, skin, or hair. But all of my worries were put aside this week when I decided that it was time for me to take risks.

I tried three things: eyelash extensions, Brazilian wax, mani-pedi, and hair color. After trying these services, there are five things I wish I knew before I tried them all.

5. Do not shave prior to waxing

Brazilian wax was by far the most painful thing I had to tolerate in the name of vanity. Before coming to the salon, I asked my friends if it was worth it to try a Brazilian wax. They said that it was worth the first try. What they didn’t tell me was that it was better to have a full bush to make it quicker. I expected the pain, but the girl who waxed me from Hey Sugar told me that it would have been easier to take all the hair off if I didn’t shave. 

To be fair though, my last shave was three weeks before going to Hey Sugar, so if you plan on trying Brazilian wax, it’s best to leave your pubes alone for at least a month.

4. If it’s your first time trying eyelash extensions, start simple

Glueing eyelash extensions on your real ones is a real commitment, so make sure you’re ready for it. Having eyelash extensions for the first few days isn’t a problem until the glue starts to become weak. The lashes are still holding on to your real ones, so if you decide that it’s bothering you, plucking it off is a huge mistake. When you pluck lash extensions, your real hair could come with it too. Luckily, you won’t have that problem in NEW Lounge.

3. Cheap salons won’t get your desired hair-spiration right

The first time I lightened my hair, I regretted it immediately. I wanted my hair done ash blonde before, but I wanted it to be affordable. It did not look anywhere near ash blonde when it was done.

Listen: your hair is an investment. Do not risk your hair’s health for a cheap price, especially if you already have bushy, puffy hair like me. You’re not doing yourself a favor by damaging your hair even more. Before making major changes to your hair, trust the salon first.

As for me, I’ve avoided dye-ing my hair for five years since my ash blonde mishap. I let it grow back healthily and promised myself never to dye my hair again. But recently, Vivere Salon convinced me to change my naturally dark hair to something lighter. They put a natural brown base to my hair and gave me light brown highlights for a better effect. I’m still getting used to it, but my officemates seem to like it.

2. The base they put on your hair is itchy

If you’re a hair dye virgin, expect the chemical to be itchy. It’s not the kind of pain that’s intolerable, but it gets super itchy. The discomfort only lasts for a few minutes though. It’s also important to have good communication with your hair stylist. They have to know which color best suits your complexion and if your hair is ready for a bleach. Don’t dive into a bold hair color without consulting a professional.

1. Don’t get your nails done every week

Once you try getting manicured and pedicured, you’ll realize that it’s actually quite satisfying. I had mine at Nail-a-holics and they give the best hand and foot massages, too. It’s hard not to get lured into the nail craze once you start, but remember to let your nails rest for two weeks before getting your nails done again if you don’t want to damage it. Give your nails a break and make sure that the polishes you pick aren’t too heavy on the chemicals, otherwise, you’ll get yellow nails. As for me, I tried Solique’s holiday collection for my nails and it goes down as one of my favorite nail polish brands.

In conclusion, change isn’t too scary once you give it a try. As the saying goes, if you want something in your life you’ve never had, then you have to do something you’ve never done. 

Bad Filipino Habits That Today’s Generation Need To Let Go Of

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Are you guilty of any of these Filipino traits?

Filipinos have been living in the same traditional thinking for centuries, following our ancestors’ tradition, attitude, and even behavior without second thoughts. Why? Because it’s ingrained in our culture. But in this modern generation, the old and misaligned thinking can’t be ignored anymore.

Filipinos have been living and complaining about the same old toxic Filipino culture for years, yet we shrug it off just because it was deemed as acceptable in our families. Still, every day we ask ourselves, “why is the Philippines still in the same place as it is 30, 50, 80 or 100 years ago?” Perhaps the answers are within ourselves.

We listed down toxic Filipino attitudes that today’s generation cannot ignore.

1. Considering Mental illness as ‘kaartehan

Some Filipinos are still close-minded about mental illness and think it is just millennials being dramatic. According to a report from Rappler, the suicide rate in the Philippines has risen drastically in the last two years with at least one suicide referral made each day. One plausible reason is Filipinos misunderstanding mental illness. Instead of understanding mentally unstable people, we shut them down and think it is some sort of kaartehan.

2. Filipino Time

Filipino time is inevitable for some Filipinos. But sometimes, we use “Filipino time” to excuse ourselves for being inconsiderate or not caring about wasting other people’s time. Now, you’ll notice that people set the time at least an hour early because they expect Filipinos to be late.

3. Crab mentality

Filipinos tend to possess this mentality especially when they’re insecure. Instead of supporting one’s success, we nitpick the bad things to pull them down. Remember when Kelsey Merritt got into the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and instead of supporting her, people bashed her for not looking Filipino enough?

4. Parents seeing children as trust funds

One old belief Filipinos hold up to now is that parents think that their children are the ones who will help them rise above poverty and corruption. When in fact, before starting a family, parents should have been financially stable beforehand.

Yes, we understand that there could have been more reasons as to why this happens, but in the modern day, family planning is not impossible. In fact, it is a necessity. Unfortunately, some Filipinos are close-minded with family planning.

5. Lack of self-discipline

Lack of discipline is a common toxic Filipino culture because obviously, everyone wants convenience. Thus, Filipinos break laws to save time. Therefore, Filipinos choose to turn a blind eye and disobey ordinances or laws protecting us from danger.

For example, even when a signage clearly says, No Jaywalking, Filipinos will still choose to cross the fatal road because it’s more convenient to cross there than use the stairs.

6. Procrastination

Also considered as Mañana Habit in the Filipino culture, most Filipinos are guilty of the mamaya na habit, because they think they can finish things last minute.

7. Judging everyone’s opinion or lifestyle

Filipinos tend to judge people’s lifestyle based on their social media postings. On the other hand, people post on social media for validation. For example, when someone posts a photo of their Starbucks drink, people would assume they’re a social climber, when someone can’t speak fluent English, people would assume they’re dumb, or when they have their own opinion and it contradicts the majority’s opinion, people would think they’re pabida.

8. Hypocrisy

One perfect example is when they hate people who stan international artists instead of supporting their own. And yet, those people who hate are the same ones who ridicule Filipino artists for their songs. Supporting other countries’ artists won’t make you a less of a Filipino. If you prefer K-Pop because of their entertaining music, then go ahead and admire them. If you prefer OPM, then go and support our very own culture. It’s all about preference.

Judging other people without giving yourself a hard look is hypocritical.

Which Toxic Filipino Culture do you hate the most? Let us know by sharing this post!