CandyMag.Com

On Wednesday nights, I always stay up late to watch Project Runway Philippines on ETC. I’ve been a fan since the pilot episode, and the show gets more exciting every week (nine episodes so far, and the competition has been narrowed down to five designers). Like most reality shows, pure talent will only get you so far—you need an interesting personality to make you stand out, and you need to be able to get along with your fellow contestants while staying true to yourself. And like most reality shows, half the fun of being a viewer lies in rooting for your favorites. Here are my top three picks:

3) Mara Reyes. I liked her from the start because she’s young, quirky, and unique. She’s a visual artist, and it really shows in her creations. Her perspective is fresh and fun, and her outfits are the only ones I can imagine fitting into the fashion pages of Candy. I particularly liked what she did for the third episode, when she created a hip-hop inspired purple evening gown with a hood for model and former VJ Sarah Meier. She remains in my number three spot, though, because she pales in comparison to everyone else in terms of technical skill (she’s been reprimanded by judge Rajo Laurel for using glue on her work twice!).

2) Aries Lagat. His tailored pieces are amazing (I loved the denim jacket he created for the first episode), and his work is always classy and tasteful. I was impressed when he managed to come up with a pretty, playful jumpsuit for the Nesvita challenge, despite the fact that the color scheme required (neon green and golden yellow) was, uh, not so flattering. He pays attention to detail and takes each task very seriously, and among all the contestants, seems to have the most focus and the clearest understanding of the local fashion industry.

1) Jaz Cerezo. I want her to win because she is the most consistent, and she never gets distracted by the other designers’ petty squabbles. She strikes the right balance between “getting along with everyone” and “looking out for herself,” and she seems very mature and professional compared to everybody else. I like the fact that her creations are wearable but original, and that she always listens to—and learns from—the judges’ feedback. For the Vision challenge, she made a gorgeous rust-colored cocktail dress inspired by a photo of a bamboo lamp in a vintage shop in Cubao Expo, and she totally won me over. I think Jaz has grown the most over the course of this entire competition (which is the whole point of being in one), and because of this, deserves to be the first ever PRP winner.

I WANT THIS DRESS! Haha.
Screencap from kikay.exchange.ph.

If you’re also a fan of the show, who are your PRP picks? Did we choose the same top three? I’d love to know who you’re betting on!

Big hugs,
Marla

PS: Urbandub, Sandwich, Sponge Cola, Chicosci, Hansom, Hale, Miguel Escueta, and many more awesome musical acts will be playing at the Candy Fair! Plus, there’ll be a very special appearance from this year’s Candy Cutie Issue’s Cover Boy! You wouldn’t want to miss that, would you? We’ll see you at A.Venue along Makati Ave. on Saturday—bring your September or October issue, a camera to capture those celeb encounters, and all your friends! Yay!

My dog Mickey turned three last Saturday, and to celebrate, we took him and my mom’s dog, Bugsy, on a day out. But before we even stepped out of the house, I made sure he knew it was his special day, by giving him his cake and presents. He really is an incredibly loyal dog, and he’s always there for me—when I’m happy, he’s happy; when I cry, he comes up to me and kisses me on the cheek; when I’m sick, he stays beside me on my bed (even though he normally prefers his bed to mine) and watches over me.

This year, I decided not to go completely overboard, so I just got him one present (a pink plush donut squeak toy) and a bunch of hair accessories (my fave is the crown hair clip). My sis Celine also sent an orange hippo squeak toy. Mick went crazy over the toys and refused to let go of them, placing one paw on each toy. Bugsy was uncharacteristically good that day and didn’t attempt to steal Mick’s toys while we were taking photos. As soon as I turned my back to grab his leash though, Bugsy made a grab for the hippo! Check out some of my pics…
(more…)

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I planned on hanging out with my high school buddies to usher in my upcoming birthday. However, what you don’t know is that I was fortunate enough to celebrate my special day three more times with my other favorite sets of people! Here’s what transpired through photos:

KTV Party
My favorite moment: All-out crooning of songs like “Apologize,” “Complicated,” and “I’m A Slave 4 U” with my kenkoy barkada.
My least favorite moment: Snagging my brand-new red tights. Waaah!

Surprise Bash
My favorite moment: When everyone—as in the entire Candy family—came in to surprise me from behind. I was totally clueless! No wonder Angel and Marla were insistent on sitting on the couch (which faced the entrance).
My least favorite moment: Not getting to eat dinner. I only ate yummy yogurt and nachos because I thought we’d make it in time for another dinner event.

Mooncake Festival Dinner Party
My favorite moment: Eating the yummy food we worked so hard to cook during the day. Technically, I didn’t cook anything. But I chopped, grated, and stirred so I think that counts as cooking. Right?
My least favorite moment: Not winning any of the major prizes. Maybe fate didn’t want me to win because I sponsored the game?

Game Night
My favorite moment: Answering one question correctly. Haha!
My least favorite moment: Finding out some of the answers I suggested were actually correct. Darn it!

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m currently obsessed with plaid prints. Last week, I was surfing for Gossip Girl photos, and I came across a lil’ J outfit that looks just like mine. UGH! Why couldn’t it have been Queen Bee Blair Waldorf’s instead?

It may not be my birthday anymore, but someone else from Candy celebrated her birthday yesterday: that’s our resident art director, Steph!!! Here’s a special message for my fellow September celebrant: Stephieah, I want you to know that if you need to rant, if you need to hitch a ride (even if you’re dyahe, haha!), or if you just want to talk about random stuff (like Tokidoki), I’m totally here for you. In fact, I’m willing to be Simone’s girl if it means getting freebies for you. That’s how much I love you. Haha!

Still on a birthday high,
Mimi

PS: Please vote for our friend Macky Escalona who’s currently part of the MYX VJ Hunt this year. Type in MYXVJ 5 and send it to 2366! He told me the real reason why he tried out for it: he doesn’t want to limit himself as a person and be just a basketball player. He’s really passionate about music, and has grand plans to empower the youth, so why not vote for him?

PPS: Will you be at Sponge Cola’s album launch tonight at Eastwood, Libis? If yes, Marla, Macy, and I will see you there!

Just because we like sweets, doesn’t mean we have to load up on chocolate and sugar all the time. Here are some of my favorite healthy desserts!

Banana Caramel Crunch (From the Ice Cream Bar in Rockwell)

Okay, so it’s loaded with caramel and three scoops of ice cream. But it does have bananas! Just shave off the whipped cream and share it with a friend for a satisfyingly sweet, healthy treat.

Korean Yogurt Ice Cream Bar (From my neighbor’s house!)

Whenever I’m craving for something sweet and healthy, I just knock on my neighbor’s door to get a yummy strawberry-flavored yogurt bar for only P35 pesos. (I’m sorry I don’t know what it’s called and where else you can buy it. The print is in Korean! Haha!) Yesterday, we had brainstorming at my house so Mimi and I got to eat some.

Italian Frozen Yogurt (From The White Hat, SM Mall of Asia)

Frozen Yogurt is an awesome, healthy alternative to ice cream. In The White Hat, you can choose what toppings you want to put such as fruits, nuts, candies, and more! But what really makes it stand out? You can meet your fave celebs AND make a difference! Last month, Miguel Escueta served customers and the proceeds went to his favorite charity, “I AM STRONG.”

This Saturday, catch Reema Chanco at The White Hat! Proceeds of the sale will go to PAWS. For more info, click on the thumbnails below or log on to thewhitehat.com.ph.

What are your favorite healthy desserts? Let me know!

Health Buff Wannabe,
Angel

The Candy Fair is fast approaching and there’s only one word that best describes our aura at the office: STRESSED! We’ve been busy preparing for the event to give you one exciting Fair this year. With all the stress I’ve been feeling right now, I thought of making a list of things I should do to regain my strength, pamper myself, and do some relaxation on the side.

1.    1-hour full body massage
I’m a Spa addict! I’d go to the spa every weekend if I could. I just love hard massages that really crack my bones and press all my sore muscles. I usually have a masseuse visit our house to have my home service massage or I head off to a spa near our village. It’s the best relaxation in the world! d:

2.    Shopping!
It’s not a secret that my stress reliever is shopping (the Candy team can attest to that).  When our office was still located in Galleria, there was never a week that I didn’t buy anything for myself!

3.    A day at the Salon
I go to the salon at least 3 times a month and I think I’ve only gone once this month! I always get my nails done and have hair treatment every time I take a visit. And as an added bonus, my stylist always gives me shoulder and back massage before she steams my hair. What a treat!

4.    Weekend in Tagaytay
Whenever I feel stressed, I’d always want to head up to Tagaytay at our rest house in Canyon Woods. The air is so relaxing and the ambiance is so peaceful. It feels nice being away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. There are times I’d wish to go alone but I end up going with my friends instead.

And the last but definitely not the least…

5.    SLEEP!
I really lack some sleep. I sometimes hit the sacks at around 2 to 3AM even though there’s work the next day. Even though I’d say I’d sleep early (early meaning 11 or 12mn), I still end up sleeping so late. ☹

So, what do you do to relieve stress? I’ll be waiting for your answers.

Needs to take a break,
Roch <3