Ensembles is kicking this off by giving away an All Expense Paid BORACAY TRIP for TWO! Now that’s a chill way to plan out your summer getaway, sans the breakdown service you’re gonna have to consider when you go on a road trip. Join Ensembles Facebook Photo Contest this January 16 and reach for 20,000 Facebook likes. Once Ensembles reach this number, a lucky fan will be basking with her companion under the sun! Just upload a photo of you wearing your fave Ensembles outfit, tell us why you chose this photo and ask your friends to like it. The entry with the best answer and most number of likes wins!

To join the contest, visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/EnsemblesOnline and www.ensembles.com.ph for the full mechanics.

With the leadership of the ABS-CBN Foundation, the event promoted a safe and clean Pasig River and aims to bring back its former glory. The goal of this public-spirited undertaking is to raise funds, and to create awareness about what needs to be done until the river is clean. Here are some photos from the event.

Spotted: Job Gayta. The live mannequin we dressed during Boardwalk’s Eat.Play.Blog event.

More than a fashion/clothing company, Boardwalk presses on as it goes beyond this run and continue helping ABS-CBN Foundation in its quest to revitalize the Pasig River.  Wouldn’t it be fad if other brands follow suit?

As consumers who actually need to shop especially this gift giving season, I’d say it is always best to patronize those who are into this kinds of advocacy. It does not just make shopping guilt free but we are actually, in essence supporting the cause of the brand. Sure, there are a handful of choices out there. I actually have my eye on a variety stackable mothers rings I’m looking to giving my mommy friends. Yes, gift shopping is far from over yet.

Boardwalk His & Hers Timepieces

To give you a glimpse at how pretty they are, we just got to try them on.

Incidentally, here’s a lovely his and hers watch I recently received from Boardwalk. I love it! I’m still deliberating if I’d keep this or raffle it off. I’d say, raffle it off as a Christmas present over at our marriage, parenting and family blog, MarriageandBeyond.com to one of our dear readers. Stay tuned.

With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give  pair of new shoes to a child in need.  One for One.  —-> www.TOMS.com

I am beyond impressed. While I know that a lot of brands are tapping into different advocacies, this One for One is something else entirely. Most brands will just give a minute amount of their sales. But TOMS is at it One for One. That’s more than just zero guilt when buying their product. I love, love, love it! I haven’t bought a pair of TOMS yet. But this is definitely giving me the go signal. Especially after seeing the wedges in TOMS Holiday Collection.

TOMS has given away 1,000,000 pairs of shoes as of September 2011! This is with the help of TOMS NGO partners which are quite a few. This is understandable for the company to sustain their advocacy.

Above are TOMS NGO Partners in the Philippines. It is lovely to see familiar Christian organizations in the list like GCF and YWAM.

As I was downloading videos from youtube, here is what I saw –> a sneak peek on how TOMS go about their task.

TOMS currently give to the following countries:

1. Philippines
2. United States
3. El Salvador
4. Guatemala
5. Nicaragua
6. Haiti
7. Honduras
8. Peru
9. Argentina
10. Mali
11. Niger
12. Uganda
13. Rwanda
14. Burundi
15. Zambia
16. Swaziland
17. Lesotho
18. Ethiopia
19. South Africa
20. Malawi
21. Armenia
22. Mongolia
23. China
24. Cambodia

Another thing that sets TOMS One for One Advocacy is that they don’t give and leave. They keep giving the kids as they grow out their shoes. This is why TOMS strive to set up sustainable giving partnerships that will allow them to give repeatedly as children grow. Sweet!

Incidentally, TOMS is inviting everyone for their Give Fair happening on December 4, 2011 at the Trinoma Park, 4th Level Trinoma Mall, North Avenue Corner Edsa, Quezon City. With Christmas shopping people are onto these days, TOMS is a wonderful choice we can give our loved ones. We are essentially not just shopping for our loved ones and friends, we are also giving a needy child a pair of TOMS shoes for every pair that we buy. Now Christmas shopping can’t be more cool than that.

Boardwalk Business Ventures, Inc. supports 11.20.2011 A Run For The Pasig River. This is spearheaded by the ABS-CBN Foundation, an event that promotes a safe and clean Pasig River and aims to bring back its former glory. You might want to register for the upcoming event – Run for the Pasig River.

Last week, held at Ming’s Restaurant in Ortigas was Boardwalk’s First Blogger’s Forum and Kikay Corner was one of the few bloggers who were invited. Aside from learning about Boardwalk’s advocacy run for Pasig River, they also discussed how the business works and the fun of being a personal shopper.

We were divided into groups and each were given real life models for mannequins to dress up. It was fun!

Our group was tasked to dress up model Job Gayta.

Good job, Group 2! Job looked really hip without trying too hard.

It was impressive how fellow bloggers worked on their respective live mannequins. Much as we were given liberty to even make use of a pair of scissors and be creative. Would you believe one of those skirts worn by a model was originally a blouse and the lovely white floral belt was made from a blouse trimming? How cool is that!

We also got dimsum samplings for dinner that were pretty much best sellers for all of us. Ming’s restaurant probably has one of the best siomais in town, methinks.

What’s an event without photo op with buddies – with PinayAds, Earthlingorgeous and Teacher Jo.

Just when we thought the event was coming to a close, we were tasked to pick out a whole ensemble, this time, for ourselves. This, in my opinion, was pretty effective in getting the message across how beneficial personal shoppers are. It took quite a while for me to dig through tops, jeans and shoes. But I’m sure loving what I brought home with me.

The  Boardwalk’s Eat.Play.Blog. Bloggers’ Forum sure was a lot of fun!

Boardwalk Business Ventures, Inc.
Unit 1508-1509 West Tower PSE Center
Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Tel. 631-9999
Website: www.boardwalk.com.ph
Twitter: twitter.com/boardwalkph

Freeway has by far featured National Artists Nick Joaquin (Literature), Ang KiuKok (Visual Arts), Jose Garcia Villa (Literature), Ramon Valera (Fashion Design) and the first living NA in the series, F. Sionil Jose (Literature).

I came in a wee bit early, so I was able to have a look see on Freeway’s Manansala Collection. I got my eyes on a few pieces and decided right on that I’d have to take home at least a couple. This is by far, my favorite of all the NACS features.

The details of the work of art on the clothing pieces are pretty impressive.

I also got to take home a little something

Vicente Manansala, National Artist for Visual Arts

Here’s a little something about Vicente Manansala:

Manansala consistently worked in the figurative mode, with the exception of a few abstract works. Shunning Amorsolo’s rural idylls, he developed a new imagery based on the postwar urban experience. The city of Manila, through the vision of the artist, assumed a strong folk character. He painted an innovative mother and child, Madonna of the Slums, 1950, which reflected the poverty in postwar Manila. Besides the mother-and child, his subjects included jeepnevs, barong-barong, cockfighters, families gathering for a modest meal, and Quiapo women vendors of various goods.

The cubist aspect of Manansala’s work rests largely on the geometric facetting of forms and in the shifting and overlapping of planes. But his facets and planes are broader than in original cubism as they bring out larger rhythms. Here and there, he incorporates linear decorative patterns, as in the ironwork curlicues of gates and windows. In his work, he developed the style of transparent cubism which was generally shared by his fellow neo-realists Cesar Legaspi and Romeo Tabuena.

Online Istariray, Kikay Corner and Badudets (while waiting for the launch to start)

Tim Yap and Divine Lee hosted the launch

These lovely Brazilian models ramped away clothed in Freeway X Manansala NACS. A few of which are a little similar with my favorites in Omnia. The cut, not the designs though. The Manansala collection is class of its own. Here are a few of my favorites.

Also present during the launch were Ronna Manansala, granddaughter of Vicente Manansala, Cedie Lopez-Vargas of the The Lopez Museum and Maritess Mendoza-Pineda, President of Friends of Manansala Foundation. These ladies shared interesting stories about Vicente Manansala.

Here’s what I got to take home with me. To be safe, I bought the medium size. Turned out small should have fit me better.  I was told I can have it exchanged within 7 days. But I thought I’d keep the medium just in case all the calories that I’ve been devouring on get back at me.

Wearing art rocks! A little too big but clearly a size I can get away with.

This, I think, is a very versatile top I can mix and match with a handful of clothing pieces I have. I got the XS size, just because I thought it was already loose to begin with. Yes, it fits me just right.

Freeway Loves Art: National Artist Collectors’ Series is timeless fashion. Head over to Freeway on Facebook to check out their latest.

Religioso’s signature designs are pleats and bows: classic pieces that offer a dash of style in creative details. “Every piece is stylish, but not faddish!”,Yvette exclaims when asked to described the collection they did for Ensembles. Their secret formula? Pieces that adhere to style that transcends. You will see subtle yet impactful structured treatments using color blocking and pleated textures. “It was a wonderful experience collaborating with top retail brand Ensembles since it developed and opened more doors to develop our creative network.” The collection is available in Ensembles stores since September 16.

Here are few of my favorites from Ensembles by Choc & Yvette Religioso Holiday 2011 Designer Series Collection:

Ensembles by Relgioso embodies the stylish empowered woman of the new millennium, inspired by the well-dressed women of the past. Each collection originates from the classic button down shirt, given a dash of drama that is the signature of the line’s designers, Yvette Religioso-Ilagan and Choc Religioso-Dayrit.

Ensembles Stores:

GREENBELT 5
Level 2, Greenbelt 5
Makati City
Tel +632.729.9061
www.religioso.ph

ATELIER
8 San Manuel St. Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Tel +632 631.4200

Website: http://ensembles.com.ph/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EnsemblesOnline
Twitter: twitter.com/EnsemblesOnline

Solo is at it again! The second installment of the well-loved Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia series features the greatest work of the Father of Philippine Cartoons, Tony Velasquez’s KENKOY.

About KENKOY:

Antonio “Tony” Velasquez, the Father of Philippine Cartoons, created Kenkoy way back in 1929. Long before the era of the movie stars and showbiz celebrities, there already was a Philippine pop icon named Francisco Harabas, more popularly known as Kenkoy. As Tony Velasquez described him, “He is always pusturyoso”. He was a debonair and his trademark fashion sense was Western influenced: decked in suspenders, charol shoes, double breasted suit, baggy pants, a sailor hat, and a slicked back hairstyle.

Solo Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia features the timeless Kenkoy comic strips and incorporates the new with the old by hemming in some trendy silhouettes and fabrics with different treatments such as foil printing, embroidery, embossed printing, flocking, high density printing and washed effect.

Here are Solo’s His&Hers Kenkoy Collection that will hit the stores this coming September:

His&Hers black striped graphic tees (Men’s -P695, Ladies’ – P595)

His&Hers Johnny collared tee (Men’s -P795, Ladies’ – P745)

His&Hers white striped graphic tees (Men’s -P695, Ladies’ – P595)

Necklace Pendants:

Solo Kenkoy Collection Necklace Pendants (ranging from P445 to P645)

To celebrate Father of Philippine Cartoon Tony Velasquez’s Kenkoy, Solo brings you the much anticipated and bigger Online Model Search 2011, now on its third year! (first photo above) Check out www.solo.com.ph/modelsearch2011 for contest details.

For updates “like” Solo on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Nivea Hydration Express Product Description:

The new ultra-light body lotion with sea minerals contains the innovative Hydra IQ active ingredient that has been developed specifically for the needs of normal to dry skin. It keeps the skin soft and supple, envelops it in the subtle scent of blue lotus and leaves a refreshed feeling.

The one-of-a-kind formula with Hydra IQ makes body care a long-lasting intense experience. It provides a non-stop supply of moisture to the skin – longer than ever before. This is based on the worldwide exclusive Nobel Prize technology, which promotes optimum moisture supply and distribution from within – for over 24 hours. NIVEA Express Hydration Body Lotion is not only effective for an extra-long time, but is also absorbed by the skin extraordinarily quickly and thus helps repair the eight signs of dry skin: dry, redness, rough, tight, flaky, dull, itchy and peeling.

NIVEA Express Hydration Body Lotion has been developed with dermatologists and skin compatibility is clinically and dermatologically proven.

The collaboration of Nivea and Mango for this event can’t be more thought of. Because the ideal canvas, really, to a good get up is smooth skin. Mango, is the perfect avenue for Nivea Express Hydration to be introduced to some members of online and print media. Those who arrived early were asked to form a group of three, mix and match Mango’s latest collection in the fastest possible time. Two of the three were to be the ones picking the clothing pieces and the other one will be the model. The group who finished the fastest won and went home with fab goodies from Nivea and Mango.  Here are the winners:

lovely monogram multicolore purse (can’t help but notice)

Rowena, Marj and Martha were the grand winners. They finished the task in 4 minutes! Woot! Martha’s candy bag sure looks yummy!

Nivea and Mango also collaborated in developing  the Glam Board Express Facebook Application. It will be launched this coming Thursday, August 18, 2011. Kikay Corner is also giving away Nivea goodies including this newly introduced fab of  a lotion — Hydration Express by Nivea, to at least three of its readers.  A lot of other beauty bloggers have the same Nivea giveaways, so I’m holding the raffle off until most of them are done.

Left: Nivea Extra Whitening Inner Cell Repair Body Milk w/ Advanced UV Protection (I use this during daytime)
Right: Express Hydration Body Lotion(night time)

As for Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion, I am one satisfied user since May.  It has been three months and I haven’t gone back to using Victoria Secret and Bath and Body Works. I actually gave both tubes away since. Even the VS body butter is left untouched, stashed away in one of my drawers. I received the Nivea Sparkling White Range in May before our family left for Bohol and I don’t think I know of another brand that will better address my body’s moisturization requirements. Thanks to Nivea Philippines for introducing me to your fab products!

Held at The Row, Glorietta 5, last May 31, 2011 was Freeway’s paid tribute to a living legend – Philippine National Artist F. Sionil Jose. It was a night of celebration of F.Sionil Jose’s life. The event was hosted by Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, no less.

Freeway’s tribute to  F. Sionil Jose started off with a video presentation of the artist’s life followed by a very entertaining series of Tertulia chosen from the well known works of the celebrated artist.  Freeway could not have chosen a better interpreter for the night. In my humble opinion, I think dramatic actress Cherie Gil gave justice to F. Sionil Jose’s works as she read through the excerpts of the works of this literary genius and so did the talented musician/poet, journalist and artist, Lourd Ernest De Veyra.

Cherie Gil read from “The Pretenders” and the famous “Ermita”, while Lourd De Veyra read from “Tree” and “The God Stealer”.  Both beautifully brought the words from literature into life.

About Francisco Sionil José:

• F. Sionil José is one of the most widely-read Filipino writers whose work is now translated into 28 languages including his native Ilokano. His novels and short stories depict the social underpinnings of class struggles and colonialism in Filipino society.

• F. Sionil José was born on December 3, 1924 in Rosales, Pangasinan, the setting of many of his stories.  He was introduced to literature in public school and later attended the University of Santo Tomas after World War II, but dropped out and plunged into writing and journalism in Manila. He started journalism in the forties and was for ten years a staff of the old Manila Times ‘til 1960.  His essays on agrarian reform and on social issues won him numerous awards.

• Jose Rizal’s life and writings profoundly influenced José’s work. The five volume Rosales Saga, in particular, employs and interrogates themes and characters from Rizal’s work.

• Sionil José also owns Solidaridad Bookshop, which is on Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila. The bookshop offers mostly hard-to-find books and Filipiniana reading materials. It is said to be one of the favorite haunts of many local writers.

• In 1980, Sionil José received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature and Journalism.  In 2001, he was names National Artist for Literature and in 2004, he received the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award.



The collection is now available in all Freeway stores. Too bad, I was not able to avail of the discount extended to the guests during the launch. Not that Freeway store assistants weren’t doing their sales jobs. I was just too busy chatting away with fellow bloggers who I only got to see during the launch after a long while. But will sure check the collection out soon.



Earth, moi and Bea waiting for the program to start (taken by Juan Manila Express)

I have a few favorites from the bunch. Here are some:



"Manila Seven Decades Ago"

Knit Jersey Dress with print and foil accent



"What Filipino Architecture"

Midwaist Pencil Skirt with pocket and all over print



"The Writer as Historian"

Sublimation Print Tee

You  might want to go visit www.freeway.net.ph and have a look see on the entire collection. Meanwhile, here’s a peek of what I got home with after the launch – my very own autographed book by F. Sionil Jose himself, entitled, “To the Young Writer and Other Essays.”



Don’t forget to check the Freeway out yourselves. You sure will love Freeway Art NACS No. 5 – The F. Sionil Jose Collection, like I so do.

My Storm8 ID is jenaspacio. Add me up!

There are also available xbox games especially created for girls. Want to reunite with dear old Barbie once again? Reminisce your moments with her online and sharpen your fashion skills. Fantasize how you would enhance this pretty doll by changing her fabulous outfits to gowns and flashy shoes. Also available dress up girls is Goth, if you want to show your dark side but still look amazing.

If you feel that the above mentioned are not for you, that you want the real thing with lots of movements, then try Dance Central. This I have yet to try. I totally dropped Dance Dance Revolution on my second try. Haha! Dance Central is said to surely hype you out. Pooled with current hip-hop and pop sounds, it will keep your body tracking to the beat. This game will beyond a doubt make you feel good about yourself because in a way, you got your exercise, which without a doubt makes you feel good and beautiful inside and out.