Tag Archives: fashion

When They Say Glam Up

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Here’s a little throwback to those days when we were advised to glam up and dress to impress when meeting and interviewing business owners for our articles (one of my career highlights). These were also the days when I was chasing a lot of things, but ironically, I just didn’t know what I was really chasing. 😃

Circa 2014 taken at UP Diliman for a fashion review. These are the days when I weighed 10 kgs less than I weigh now. 😀
2014
2014
2014

I became a “jack of all trades, master of none,” and yet back then, I felt like none of what I was doing made sense. I was trying different paths because I wanted to challenge myself, and I was constantly looking for the next challenge to conquer. Until came the time when I asked myself what my purpose really is, what I am doing all of these things for, and is this all there is to life? In the Bible, King Solomon also had a similar realization at one point in his life.

Circa 2013: Photo taken during my graduation pictorial’s creative shot (master’s degree in Special Education @ UP Diliman) na hindi ko natapos ang thesis because married life chose me. 😀
2013
2013

It was when I realized that it is part of human nature to always chase something and that the chase becomes meaningless when you lack the purpose for doing it that I went down the wrong path. Nope, I did not do drugs, just in case you’re wondering. But it was on this wrong path that I found God.

Circa 2010 taken in Boracay.
This will be the first and last photo of me wearing something like this that I’ll be posting here because I am now living out Romans 12:2. Even if it’s summer, you won’t see me wearing something like this in public. If God says my body is holy and sacred, then I have to treat it as such. There’s no need to flaunt to the world that God has given me a beautiful body and try to earn the world’s approval. I can still wear thongs if I want to, but only my spouse can see it.

When I was saved and became a born-again Christian in 2013, I started immersing myself in Bible reading. I was so hungry to learn more about the Bible, and then everything just made sense. Now I know why I had to meet a whole lot of different people and experience a lot of things, which I am all grateful for now. This Bible verse, in particular, changed my perspective on what a life’s purpose should be:

“Seek God’s will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:6

In the past, I was looking for a specific purpose in life, like I wanted to do this and be that. It was only when I became a born-again Christian that God made me realize I got it all wrong. Because the truth is that we only have one purpose in this world – to honor and glorify God.

Everything that we do and whatever we may go through, whether it’s good or bad, is always for the purpose of glorifying God and testifying to the world that He is real and He is the one and only true God. Seeking what God wants us to do every single day from the moment we wake up and following Him where He leads us is what gives our lives meaning and purpose.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” – Proverbs 19:21

Circa 2010: I look more like a 38-year-old woman here than Sisa Girl (2024). So, maybe I really am aging backwards. I hope that doesn’t apply to my cognitive abilities. lol 😂

Only God knows His purpose for us, and it is not for us to know beforehand. Our only duty is to wait until He finally discloses to us what He wants us to do and instructs us on the way we should go. Because this is how God teaches us to have faith in Him. This is how God tests us: how far are we willing to trust Him? And this is why we have to have a deep relationship with Him.

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” – Hebrews 11:1-2

We just have to constantly communicate with God when it comes to what He wants us to do. Thus, prayers must be a constant in a Christian’s life. We can’t be Christians and never pray a single prayer in a day. This is how we communicate with God, and this is how we resist temptations when they start to distract our minds. Prayers help us focus on God’s tasks for us and realign them when we’re led astray.

I know some of you will be asking, “But how secure is our future with God?” I will answer this question with these Bible verses because I have proven them so many times in my life since the day I got saved:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

“LORD, You give me stability and prosperity; You make my future secure.” – Psalms 16:5

So now, I would like to dare you to dare God to prove to you that He is God. Are you up to the challenge? 😉 Because that’s what I did, and I can say that it was the best outcome – more than what I expected. Ah, the love of the Lord is just incomparable. 🥰

P.S. Salvation isn’t an overnight process where, after you surrender your life to Jesus, your life will be free from any troubles. It is a lifetime of sanctification – a grueling transformation where every day you subject yourself to constant discipline and self-control by saying “no” to the things that no longer honor God.

I am still struggling with a couple of weaknesses now, and I can’t claim that I have mastered controlling them. But I am glad that by God’s grace, I am no longer doing most of the bad things that I did before. Even though the enemy will remind me of my past, I can now confidently say that it is no longer my present and my future. Then, I let my mind shift its focus to the beautiful promises of God waiting for me when I obey Him and only Him. 🙏

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Liliw Tsinelas Store: Sole-ly Fit for Your Feet

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“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” – Proverbs 16:3

Hi, everyone! 🙂 It’s been a while since I’ve written here (details why will be shared in the next article) and good thing I still have some remaining time (before prepping dinner) to compose a “quick” article.

A brother in Christ/friend of mine and I had this business collaboration and I was more than glad to help and do a review of their products. Well, when it comes to shoes and sandals, no girl can ever resist, right? 😉

Liliw Tsinelas Store

So he asked me to do an OOTD-sort-of-theme for the sandals and all I promised was photos of the shoes and no whole-body shots (except for one). lol Well, I am getting older and let’s just say the fashionista in me has shifted too to more simple outfits peg. Being a remote worker has a say in it too. This will be explained more in my next article. 🙂

Anyway, I’ll keep this short so you can go ahead and read more about what Liliw Tsinelas Store has in store for you by clicking the link below. ❤

http://www.wheninmanila.com/love-local-with-liliw-tsinelas-comfort-and-style-for-an-affordable-price/

Liliw Tsinelas Store

P.S.

Thanks to my awesome hubby for being my photographer and thank you, When in Manila, for the feature in your Fb page! ❤

Liliw Tsinelas Store

My Kind of Summer Swimwear: Nonconformist

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So, you must be wondering why I am oh-so-fueled with energy to write more than 1 post for this month. 😀

Answer: I am making the most of my idle and waiting time lest I become busy the following months – again. We can never tell, so I am letting those ideas out in the open. Oh, and yes, before I forget them.

Anyway, this is a late post since summer is already over and the rainy season has welcomed its way already here in the metro and in some provinces. Last summer getaway, I was undecided what to wear for my swimwear. I do have a lot of two-piece swimsuits, but I am not sure if I could wear them and swim without a cover-up.

While the rest of the world during summer is revealing too much skin with its very daring two-piece swimsuits (praying for a change), I can only be grateful to God for fashion designers who opted to create swimwear that will preserve the dignity of women and not be treated as sex objects with their skimpy outfits. These outfits aren’t only comfortable, but are fashionably elegant, too.

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I personally LOVED these swimsuits because they easily dry up, are lightweight, securely padded, have an undershorts/bikini attached underneath, and they’re made of silky fabric that glides and never sticks on the skin, even when sweating.

Of course, who likes to change outfits often right after swimming if you don’t like to walk around in your two-piece swimsuit?

I can wear this around comfortably, no cover-up needed. You can also wear this swimsuit as a dress for your lunch date at the resort without the whistles, the catcalls, and the “heavy” stares. If you know what I mean. Oh, and yes, it’s very convenient, too, if you want to travel light for your summer getaway – a swimsuit and a dress in one, no shorts and no cover-up as added extras in your baggage. 🙂

P.S.

I purchased these swimsuits at SM Department Store and Farmer’s Plaza (Cubao) flea market at almost the same price (a reasonable one) – 500 PHP. I saw similar swimsuits being sold online, and they tag them as three-piece swimsuits.

[Paul said,] “I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” – 1 Timothy 2:9

“Eureka!” Moment

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If you have read my previous posts, this article will prove that my dreams have a different meaning. 😉

BUT it is such a big relief on my part and I am extremely grateful we have a God who saves. After I got back from the trip, I went inside the house overwhelmingly relieved and found a surprise waiting. Our God is not just a God who saves, but He is also full of surprises.

I found two miniature bicycles that my brother purchased as a memorabilia from his Vietnam trip just last week. And these bicycles were “parked” prettily on our center table. Then, there went my “Eureka!” moment – alas, it is perfect for my Barbie doll. 😀

Tin Ginete

Red tricycle rickshaw from Vietnam.

Please don’t get me wrong, I am no longer playing with them. I now use them as models for my fashion styling from anything I could recycle. Like for the outfit below, I used an old hankie for the top which I just folded and Barbie’s hair accessory used to be an origami rose given by one of my students during my practicum.

Tin Ginete

Barbie and the black tricycle rickshaw.

Barbie girls are always as pretty as ever and it is by dressing her up where I find ideas for my own fashion statement too. Not that I don’t have a mirror. *wink* I just look for clothing patterns and textures that combine well and when I already have the perfect outfit combination, that’s when I go out on a “fashion hunt.”

But I think my brother will not be too proud of this – that is, using his memorabilia as my photo shoot props. 😀

SEVEN WEEKENDS MNL: Bringing Out The Fashion Versatility In You

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Tin Ginete

Me wearing SevenWeekendsMNL red loafers from the Adrienne collection.

Loafers and sandals, you say?  Seven Weekends MNL got all your OOTD covered for you in style and in comfort. 🙂

Check out this article to find out more and don’t forget to turn to page 2 for more fashion ideas and fab finds:

SEVEN WEEKENDS MNL: Fashion Versatility Achieved!

THE Hat Fan

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Tin Ginete

The Lady and The Hat

I seldom post articles that are fashion related here in my blog, but what I am about to feature today is something extraordinaire. 🙂

My brother bought these lovely fans for me, my sisters, and Mom as souvenirs. At first glance you will think it is just an ordinary fan. But if you are to look closely, they are not like regular fans with its curved shape when folded.

Tin Ginete

Zambo Fans for The Ladies

When I opened it, voila! It is also bigger than the regular fans. I bet this fan is twice as big as the ordinary fans sold at the market.

Tin Ginete

Zambo Fan

Then my brother showed me why the fan was made with a curved form. It is for this: tadaaaa…..A HAT! Sorry, I oftentimes have the curiosity and enthusiasm similar to that of a kid. 😀

Tin Ginete

Zambo Hat (Photo courtesy: Abe Ginete)

I was totally amused and amazed at the same time how one simple item can be used for two purposes – a huge fan and a fashionable hat. If only I have an idea who invented this first. This might influence a new revolution in today’s fashion industry.

If you are wondering where to buy one, these are locally made and sold in Zamboanga City here in the Philippines.

Indeed, they are Fashionable Fans – simple treasures, rare finds. 😉

Cine Europa 16: “A Royal Affair”

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I was checking Facebook’s news feed when I came across an advertisement regarding the annual Cine Europa Festival here in the Philippines which showcases international films from participating European countries.

Being an Anglo-American Literature major back in college, I was of course thrilled I will get to see European films again – for FREE. 🙂

One movie caught my interest and of course it has to be set in 18th Century Denmark, the period of Enlightenment and a historical drama wherein most details in the movie are based on historical facts – A ROYAL AFFAIR.

"A Royal Affair" (2012)

“A Royal Affair” (2012)

It has received several awards – Satellite Award for Best Costume Design and Robert Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Perfect choice as this movie had its free screening in my university’s film center which is synonymous to this – I don’t have to travel far to be able to watch it. I have God to thank for that. 🙂

Cine Europa 16 @ UP Film Institute

Cine Europa 16 @ UP Film Institute

GENERAL CRITIQUES

The movie indeed is deserving of its Best Costume Design award. Costumes are not too lavishly done and yet nothing too dull either. Details of 18th Century costumes were particularly followed and it did not rob the classical essence of the designs with gaudy styles or excessively vibrant colors. I have always been fascinated by the fashion of the early century Europe. The evolution of the dresses clearly depicted the changes in society’s standards as well as with the political reformation. A particular dress will tell a lot about the history of a nation.

There are limited instances of a landscape scenery which is in accordance to the movie’s plot as most of the scenes are set and captured inside the castle. The sequencing of the events are carefully delivered which is what I admire about the movie. It doesn’t set the audience in that moment wherein a particular scene will make you recall the previous scene in order to connect the current scene and limit the “WH” questions. I must admit that when I have those questions in mind while watching the movie, it only means that there is a scene that I am baffled about, I am assessing the relevance of it to the entire movie and how it is connected from the preceding scenes. 

In other words, every scene in the movie is crystal clear. 🙂

As for the acting, the actors perfectly fit in the roles that they portrayed – appearance, aura as well as delivery of the lines. I must say the actors were indeed successful in internalizing their character roles in the movie. The age of Enlightenment has been one of my favorite eras in our study of European and American literature, political and social history. It deals with idealism, reformation towards a positive change, among many others. Although this is also the time wherein a lot of revolution took place, terror and violence erupted, conflicts arose wherein majority are unresolved but I may say, that still, the events are exemplary of a society being changed from a state of dystopia to almost utopia.

Ahhh yes, now maybe this is the reason why I became an idealist. 😉

I was greatly influenced by my long years and extensive study on Anglo-American Literature which would usually be associated to the social and political history of Europe and America. I have always been fascinated by Kings, Princesses and knights not because I love fairy tales but because it is just interesting to learn the origins of a foreign culture, most especially that of Europe and look into the totality of the transformation of a certain period/era in connection to the people and society in general.

After watching the movie, I rated it 4 out of 5 stars, 5 being the highest. If I would be given the chance to be transported back in time and be an onlooker while events are happening for real, I definitely would choose the early centuries. Suppose there is a parallel universe for that, it would be this – incredibly awesome. 

Well, what we need now is a “time machine” by H. G. Wells where we can teleport and time travel. 😀

And speaking of time traveling, because I love anything antique and vintage, and being a fashion lover, I wore something from the past when I watched the movie – a vintage dress that belonged to my Mom designed by her. If you want to know how old it is, it was worn by my mom when she was in her 20s, exactly 4 decades ago.

I hope I did give justice to my “hippie” look with matching fuchsia pink nail polish . 😉

Up Close

Full Body

Pink Feet

Pink Feet

“F” for Food & Fashion Fusion

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A workshop that inspired me even more to create another fashion design creation like the one below:

Pink and Blue Dots and Circles

Pink and Blue Dots and Circles

“Fashionably fun.”  

That would definitely describe the experience I had during the Fashion Illustration workshop of Ms. Tin Iglesias sponsored by Rio Mints at Thaipan Restaurant last November 24, 2012. It was a spectacular afternoon of colors, lines, food and lots of fun. This was the first fashion illustration workshop I have attended and I must say that never have I enjoyed an occasion as much as I have enjoyed this workshop wherein I barely know the attendees.

Thaipan Restaurant

Thaipan Restaurant

The workshop was even made more fun by the perfect ambiance of the restaurant which is located at Tomas Morato in Quezon City. The interiors are just so cozy with all the soft, mellow light from the hanging lamps and of course, how could I forget the delicious Thai meals served while we were drawing. Although it was not my first time to taste Thai cuisine, I must say that it never fails to please my appetite. Thus, if I am to rank the ambiance and the food, I must say that I will give it a perfect score of 5, 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. The place is just suitable for any small group meetings as the limited space makes it more convenient and cozy for the attendees to socialize and acquaint with one another.

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Thaipan’s Hanging Lamp

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Thaipan’s Cuisine
(www.facebook.com/riomints)

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Thaipan’s Dessert
(www.facebook.com/riomints)

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The workshop started with a short introduction of the speaker and host, Ms. Tin Iglesias. She is a graduating BS Clothing Industry student at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. But she has already been invited to numerous fashion events and been featured in several fashion magazines both local and abroad. She has also received several fashion awards and been making a lot of fashion designs for clothing companies here and internationally.

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(www.facebook.com/riomints)

tiniglesias.com

tiniglesias.com

Tin Iglesias

Tin Iglesias

After the introduction, Ms. Tin showed us a selected few of her art works. And here they are, lifted from her website (tiniglesias.com):

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tiniglesias.com

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tiniglesias.com

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tiniglesias.com

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tiniglesias.com

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tiniglesias.com

Truly talented – I know that is what you are going to say upon seeing her art works. And at such a young age, I could not help but admire her and admit that she is going to make a big name and be among the best in the fashion industry. Afterwards, we were then given the chance to create our own fashion illustration after learning the basics of figure drawing and portrait sketching.

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Fashion Illustrators

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basic figure drawing

my output during the workshop

my output during the workshop

All I can say afterwards is this – SUPERB! I am looking forward to yet another Fashion Illustration/Fashion Designing workshop with her. Never thought that fashion can be made as exciting as this. And the best part is, I got to meet other fashion enthusiasts who are passionate in bringing today’s fashion to a whole new different level. 😀

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Me and my friend, Jeai

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Me, Ms. Tin Iglesias and Jeai

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Fellow fashion aficionados with Ms. Tin

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Fashion Illustrators

Thank you Rio Mints, Ms. Tin Iglesias, to my fellow fashion aficionados/artists and of course, to my ever beautiful friend and herself a fashion icon, Jeai, for this wonderful opportunity. Thanks to Thaipan Restaurant for the delicious Thai cuisine as well. 🙂

Until the next fabulous fashion event my fellow fashionistas!

P.S.

We got freebies too! 😉

Rio Mints

Rio Mints

How My Passion For Art and Fashion Came To Be

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It all started with having Barbie dolls to play around with. Yes, as simple as that. I learned the first lesson in mixing and matching clothes coming up with different styles that suit my mood as early as 8 years old. It was a typical childhood past time for me back then and when I was in high school and I could not play with the dolls anymore, I started drawing and sketching from clothes to portraits. I never took these hobbies seriously.

One summer, when I was back home in Bicol for the sem break, I scavenged closets out of boredom. I came across really fascinating old clothes with designs that could be dated back to the 70’s or the 60’s even. Vintage dresses so to speak.

I asked my mom who owned the clothes, and voila, they were all hers. She wore the clothes when she was my age, early 20’s. I asked her about the history of the clothes i.e. where she bought it, how much, etc. and was amazed to find out that she designed the dresses herself as that time, shopping malls and boutiques are scarce in far-flung areas or in the provinces. So my mom decided to just design her own clothes, choose the cloth for each dress and have them made through a seamstress or a dressmaker.

So maybe being a fashion designer is in the genes after all. *wink*

The photo below is a picture of some of the dresses that my mom made and next to it is a photo of her in her early 20’s.

It was only recently that I made my own fashion design sketches too. Like the ones below.

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And of course, my first model would be none other than the ever lovely Barbie. Yes, I still have a use for them. Not for playing, though. But for something far greater than that.

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As for charcoal sketching, it became my stress reliever lately. And the sketch below is one of my first sketches on a bigger canvas. This was also the first time I tried experimenting with the shadings using a charcoal pencil.

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I never took them seriously before. Not until now when I had this sudden realization that not only are they my outlets for relieving stress and for spending my free time but I really should make good use of these God-given talents.

It is time I recognize them as blessings and for me to be able to share these blessings too.