The Philippines is known for having the world’s longest Christmas season. It starts as early as September till early January. Instead of going to the mall like usual, we went to the Liwanag Park at the Meralco Compound in Ortigas! Nothing like spending Christmas with your family and friends—we’re always busy with school/work and a walk in the park is just what we needed! Seeing all those Christmas lights got us more excited for the holidays!
Simbang gabi is a novena of dawn masses from December 16 to Christmas eve. Vendors outside the church offer many native delicacies such as bibingka and puto bumbong! Sarap!
Caroling is a part of the Filipino Christmas tradition. Carolers will go from house to house to sing Christmas carols. They usually have makeshift instruments made from cans, jars and bottles!
To start the Christmas rush, a lot of stores in the malls will be on sale (with Christmas songs playing in the background). There would also be tons of Christmas bazaars everywhere! Hello traffic!
Every Christmas, a lot of Filipino homes and buildings are filled with parols—a star shaped Christmas lantern made of bamboo strips and colored Japanese paper/cellophane. You’ll see a lot of them at the Meralco Liwanag Park!
Christmas parties happen 1-3 weeks before Christmas. Usually students and office workers would hold ‘Monito Monitas’ or Kris Kringles—a Filipino version of Secret Santa!
On Christmas eve, families would stay up all night into Christmas Day to pig out and open presents!
The best part of Christmas Eve? Noche Buena!!! Families would dine together around midnight for some delicious Christmas ham, queso de bola, lechon, pasta, relleno, fruit salad, wine, etc! Mmmm…
On Christmas day, Filipinos (in their best outfits haha) typically visit members of the extended family! The parents/grandparents give out presents or aguinaldo to their inaanak! Mmm I can smell the fresh and crispy bills from my grandparents! Haha just kidding!
Meralco together with the Department of Tourism is making Christmas brighter and more fun this year by energizing island schools, creating more Liwanag Parks, and giving out Php5,000 cash daily to customers!
How? Just visit any of the Meralco liwanag parks (they have 31 all over the country), like Meralco on Facebook and upload the photo on the Meralco Maliwanag Ang Pasko app! You have until December 22 to submit your entries!
To know more about Meralco’s Maliwanag ang Pasko 2012 campaign, click HERE. Only 7 days to go till Christmas! Happy holidays!
Love Chic x DG MNL
Our first collaboration with David Guison, who did an amazing job. Outfit posts here and here. Shot on location in Space Encounters and Subspace Coffee along Emerald Avenue in Ortigas. And the story goes:
A post-script:
To you who made it worth the wait
Who makes cliches and corny lines ring truest
And turns dreams and fairy tales into everyday life
Seph, Happy birthday and I love you. ♥
—Shai
Featured Blogger: David Guison
Its a fact that David Guison isn’t your typical average college kid for four reasons: First, he is ranked #13 on international site, Lookbook.nu out of over 19,947++ users in the Philippines. Second, at the age of 19, he has been featured in over sixty blogs in the country(not counting magazine features). Third, his own personal blog, DG MNL, has over-flowing followers many bloggers can only afford to dream about and has around 315,250 hits. And oh, did we mention he is the one and only male brand ambassador of the international clothing line, FOREVER 21? Yes he is, along with other world-famous bloggers such as Tricia Gosingtian & Patricia Prieto. His Twitter Account sky rockets to a number of 3,341 followers. That’s quite a feat of miles for a boy his age.
The 108, ABMMA Student started blogging about a year ago his parents got him a camera that inspired him to take photographs, he was pleased enough with his works that it fueled him enough to share it to the world. Lookbook was introduced to him by his friend and it is through it that he got noticed as his popularity soared to the point where Forever21 called him up and wanted him to be one of their ambassadors! That’s truly spectacular. Just like any of us, he has tried dancing & even modeling which didn’t work out and he can’t sing as well. Despite the failed attempt, David does prove to us that there is always other brighter opportunities out there when we keep pushing.
In spite the fame, David Guison remains down to earth, warm and welcoming that we found it very delightful when we sat down and had the interview with him. Despite his hectic schedule between school and work(he also works as a Photographer for the Lifestyle Section of Inquirer Newspaper and STATUS Magazine), he still managed to have a little chat with us as he talked about his favorite, The Crispy Chicken Fillet from McDonalds. This interview video is a must see! David Guison is definitely one person you should meet.
Quick Fact: David was the first person who got the SDA Talent Tag Line(“…and you are watching The SDA Talent, Real Art by Real Artists) at the end of every video correct and perfect with all the swag on the first take! Unfortunately, file crashed. :| we apologize guys.. Anyway, this is also the first time we are including behind the scene footage and bloopers of our interviews! It is such an honor to have him featured.
Photo Courtesy of David Guison; http://lookbook.nu/davidguison
Follow his blog: http://davidguison.tumblr.com
—-END OF ARTICLE—-
With the two beautiful ladies, Lissa and Patricia!
At last omg! With my idol and favorite fashion blogger, David!!
With Nicole and with Kryz, my number one blogger crush! :”>
Smile!!
December 15, 2012. I saw them finally!! Nakakainis lang kasi hindi ko naabutan sila Laureen and Camille :( I guess natraffic sila. Ugh. It’s too crowded lang talaga kaya super wasted din ako that time. Haha. ‘Til next bloggers united!
Leopards can't change their spots
Animal print on animal print, plus that peek-a-boo paw print.
On Shai: Top, Divisoria. Cover-up, SM Department Store. Shorts, Terranova. Socks, SM Accessories. Boots, Forever21. Necklace and bird ring from Bangkok. Studded bag, Susto. Hype this on Lookbook.
On Seph: Shirt and shoes, Adidas. Blazer and bag, Human. Jeans, Mossimo. Socks, Mossimo. Scarf, Terranova. Hype this on Lookbook.
Just thought we’d go for a “wild” look for the opening of Privado, the luxury sale by SM Accessories. Details here.
We went crazy over the watches at Timex. Some were on sale for more than half the original price! We just had to get these cute pairs.
Another cute pair we “spotted” (ooh pun, heh) was David Guison and Lissa Kahayon.
Tracy Ayson of Fashion Fangirl and Tin Iglesias of Fashion Ate the World. Seems everyone grabbed themselves some Timex watches!
With June, Noy and Diane of SM Accessories. Thanks for having us! We had a great “time” (heh, another pun). Privado is until this Sunday, so scoot over to the SMDC showroom in Mall of Asia and shop your heart out!
Oh, and speaking of shopping, tomorrow is the much-awaited Bloggers United Bazaar and we’ve got a booth. Details here. We’ll be selling not just accessories, but some of the clothes you see us wearing in our previous posts. See you there!
I'm Wearing David!
Just something casual. This look sort of reminds me of Style Scrapbook’s Andy. I think it’s because of our shared love for androgynous flats and jackets.
(Pardon my photos. The sun was already setting when I took them.)
All the clothes I’m wearing here, you’ve already seen me wear before. Once again, and Kate Middleton agrees with me, there’s nothing wrong with repeating clothes! I wore this shirt before here, these pants here and this jacket in another color here.
So why is my title “I’m Wearing David”? The necklace I have on here is actually a David Guison collaboration with Crave More. Naks naman, David! So in line with this, I decided to dress a little bit masculine.
The Closet Goddess jacket | Rockn’ Soule shirt | Tout A Coup jeans | YSL bag
Crave More necklace | Crave More connector ring | SM Accessories stacked rings | Gothic Princess (SIngapore) black bangle
ZARA shoes
So what do you think? :) Hype this look on Lookbook.nu here.
DAVID
It’s David Guison. Need I say more?
I remember the story about David and Goliath. That David was small, and Goliath was incredibly big. But the small David got big Goliath down with a stone.
We are all small Davids, in whatever sense. And there are Goliaths everywhere. But the world is good, and it gave us rocks… Everywhere.
I don’t know what I’m saying… Go figure that shit out.
Anyway, thanks David Guison! You’re the best. All the photos were taken at Rockwell, in a short time. I hope to see you again, soon! Haha.
X,
TheAidxParedes
David Guison
What can I say about this guy? Aside from the fact that he’s a Brand Ambassador for 21Men, a Lookbook personality, has 10-inch hair, could start a war with the number of his Twitter and Tumblr followers, and has been featured in numerous magazines and blogs; David, or Dave as he’s known, is one of the nicest and most down-to-earth people you can ever meet in your life. Unlike other personalities who gained fame, he talks to his readers and makes them feel as an equal to him.
I first came to know THE David Guison (Sorry Dave, can’t help putting THE! Haha) when I searched for 21Men. I saw his photos and went to his blog. I can’t help to be awed by his photographs, sense of style, and personality. Reading his blog, you can’t help realize that if he can do it, you can as well. David Guison inspires everyone to aim for the moon.. with style.
What makes his blog tick is that it’s not only about fashion or events, it’s about his life. Be it a Forever 21 event, a lunch-out with family, or a plate of tocino he tried to burn cook; it’s on his blog. After reading all 126 pages, you feel like you know David Guison personally.
For those who met him, David is one warm and welcoming guy. A humble dude as well. I met him personally in an event last May 27. It was Bloggers United and he was invited to participate. The minute I entered the room, I saw Dave eating McDo on the floor with other fashion bloggers. That’s an image of him that I’ll never forget. You’d think that someone like David who achieved feats that are extraordinary for his age wouldn’t do that. But he does and that’s what makes him a hit. I commuted all the way from Katipunan to Ortigas (not an easy thing I tell you) but seeing that, it made all those walks worth it.
Dave’s a pretty funny guy as well. Anyone who bought from him in Bloggers United would know this. Along with the things you got, you get Status stickers and McDo ketchup. Yes, McDo ketchup. His blog is full of funny captions (one about panties. Haha) and posts. His replies to those who tweet him are usually witty and it’s fun to read those.
Once we exchanged tweets about the most random of things. His favorite body part (Haha!), Toy Story, mochi ice cream, kadiring flavor ng ice cream, Thor.. you can’t help but feel that he’s already a good friend of yours. And you already are. He doesn’t forget the people who tweet him and those who come up to him and have their picture taken. That’s a true person.
I could go on and on about Dave. There’s so much I can tell you about him.. I tweet him on a regular basis and he wrote in my slambook. I know I’m only one of those people who he inspired without even trying to. But if I could describe him the way I wanted to; he would always be the famous blogger who I saw eating McDo on the floor.
SDA Featured Blogger: David Guison
Check out his blog here.
*All photos are either from his blog or his Lookbook account.
Thanks Dave. :D There are so many reasons why I want to be like you. But I realized that shouldn’t be it. I should not try to be like someone but I need to be myself. To be an original. Thank you man, for making me realize that.
Topshopping
If you don’t know yet or incase you haven’t noticed, I am a cheapster. I splurge only once in a while like when I feel I haven’t been spending or I feel I won’t be spending. More than anything else, I like to make the most out of the money I have. I honestly love sales and promos because I get to make my money more sulit. That’s why when Jason told me that Topshop and Topman were going to hold a grand re-opening in Galleria and they were going to have so many kinds of promos I had to make sure I’d be there!
The early bird gets the worm. TRUE THAT! I always wake up extra early just to go to sales because that’s the only way you can get the ~good stuff~ that is why I really am not surprised that Jason and I were part of the first 15 to line up for Topshop/Topman. Yes we waited a few hours, but everything was worth the wait I tell you.
There were games to keep us entertained. Jason and his cousin Ron, along with another friend our ours Matias, won Topman wallets for joining the games while the girls behind us won Shu Uemura make up kits!
Jason’s cousin ron was styled by photographer BJ Pascual, and he got free GC’s from him too! (Hi ron, thanks stole the photo from your iphone!)
…But goodness didn’t end there. The first 50 people in line received coupons discounting 50% off for the first 5 items you buy. If you’re not part of the first 50 people in line its still okay because everything was 20% off for that day only.
My extreme highlight of the day though is when the announced that they were going to pick 3 best dressed girls from the audience and reward them with P10,000 worth of gc’s from Topshop! …And I was one of them. KUHHHHRAZAAAAAAAY.
Yes I had a little medal, how cute.
Sorry I was busy shopping. hahaha. Imagine, 10k worth of gc’s 50% off on my first 5 items, 20% regular items! Plus, some items were only available for the opening, after that they’d only appear again in other branches and racks later in the year!
(hi lady. hihi)
But here is a Photo from David
and another one from Adrian Guadalupe!
hahaha
But Jason held my camera, so he took a picture with David!
Lining up
~dream team~ LR: Matias, Jason, Leika, Ron
Onga pala. There were food drinks and dessert being served!
Thank you Topshop and Ms. Nikki Santiago of StyleBible.ph for choosing meeee!
We went home with like 5 canvas shopping bags that were given away, and 2 Topman straw Trilby hats. I swear, soooo many freebies! We were such happy campers.
And here is how I looked before I left my house.
Dress random | cardigan: herbench | wedges: Julian Louie x Aldo
I’ve had this dress for a REALLY long time now! Since third year high school, I’ve been using it for “open parties” hahahahaha so long that by the time I got to Galleria i noticed this
A HOLE!!! HUHU :( But dear dress, you still didn’t let me down. I remember wearing this dress one of the first time Jason did some da’moves on me. Yes I have good cheesy memory.. like that.
It was raining hard outside so I had to stay inside my room to take my pictures. That’s my sister Tobi behind me.
If you haven’t noticed, I had a REALLY good day! Thank you so much Topshop for your generous ways and …free food. hihi. Galleria Topshop/Topman is the new flagship of all the Topshopsss in the Philippines! Its bigger and better than it used to be so be sure to check it out! I shall post more photos when I find them!
