CandyMag.com

Although summer lives and reigns in my heart, the holidays are like the most important part of my year. A lot of good things usually happen to me this time of year—a lot of family birthdays and anniversaries, including my own! I’m usually a bit frazzled during the holiday rush (have a big family—can you say loooong Christmas shopping list?) but for some reason, this year, I’m terribly excited and not at all in a bah-humbug-Scrooge phase. In fact, my holiday season is off to a great start…

I attended a product launch on my birthday, and they styled my hair, giving me what they call “Tokyo waves.” My guy calls it my Bella hair, haha! Either way, I looove it! (I just wish it were permanent though. It was just a blowout, not a perm.)

My parents were out of town on my birthday (they visited my sis—it was her birthday too!), but the Candy team made sure I didn’t feel one bit kawawa. They surprised me with the yummiest (and big!) cake, and serenaded me here in my cube. They even got me the DVD of Gossip Girl I’ve been wanting! Afterwards, I had dinner with my guy in a little Italian resto. I loved that he showed up at my door wearing a blue shirt, holding 3 dozen red roses I’m a tulip fan, but roses are way more festive

The day after my birthday, I got another surprise—from Jollibee! It sounds so random, I know, but I’ve wanted a Jollibee birthday cake for years—ever since a co-worker shared some of hers. I have a thing for kiddie cakes, and this one’s extra special since it’s off the menu. It was a (babaw) dream come true!

The other day I woke up to find this elegant invite on my dining table. I flipped it over and read…

Mia and Patrick! I’m a total mushball, I know, I just get so kilig when I see our names together like that, especially in fancy writing. It’s an invite for my bro’s wedding in Ilocos this month and I’m super excited! I’m praying my guy will get to join me (he has work 7 days a week, so pulling this off will be a feat). We both fell in love with Ilocos when we got to visit during a trip with my fam. And like me, he’s a mushball too. This is what I caught him doodling when we went out for ice cream once:

As if I didn’t already love ice cream! Haha!

Lastly, just this weekend, my bro finally came home after months of being away for work. I’m so happy to have a next-room neighbor again…and a new stash of pasalubong! What I’m using now:


It really smells like peppermint, and it tingles too! I’ll be wearing it this holiday season. Hope you’re having a fab December so far, Candy Girls! Happy holidays!

Posted in Candy | 10 Comments »

The blood-sucking undead have always fascinated me, even before the Twilight pandemonium struck. Here are my favorite vamps and why I think they rock!

Dracula of Bram Stoker’s Dracula
I’ll admit the reason I initially wanted to watch this flick was because of Keanu Reeves, but I was deeply moved by how Gary Oldman portrayed Dracula—a tortured soldier of God who just wanted to be with the woman he loved. He was so efficient at enthralling Winona Ryder’s character that by the end of the movie, I was rooting for him instead of Keanu!

Louis de Pointe du Lac of Interview with a Vampire
Brad Pitt once played a vampire with a soul. He was the original vegan vamp who chose not to feast on humans (or at least tried not to!). I loved his chemistry with the sly Lestat (Tom Cruise) and the doll-like Claudia (Kirsten Dunst), Plus, I was absolutely impressed with his luminescent skin! Sorry, Twilighters, but this movie had a waaay better makeup crew!

Spike of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Loved his wickedness, his accent, his wiry frame, and even his slicked-back platinum blond hair. I admit I enjoyed watching the love story of Angel (David Boreanaz) and Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) unfold onscreen, but when she hooked up with Spike, my TV screen literally fogged up because of their explosive chemistry!

Bill of True Blood
When I first read about the plot, I thought, “This sounds like a more mature Twilight.” It’s set in a small town where the characters have powers (in this case, it’s the mortal girl who can read minds, but the guy she’s in love with is a vampire), and chaos ensues when people are found dead in almost each episode. There are magical creatures as well as shape-shifters, and wouldn’t you know, the TV show is based on a bunch of books too!

James of Twilight
Marla, scream it with me: “TEAM JAMES FOREVER!!!” I’m sorry but I just had to include Cam Gigandet because he’s too hot for shirts. HAHA! See the photo above? That’s what you call total eye candy. I felt terrible when the Cullen brothers ripped his gorge body apart because that meant James was never ever going to appear in the next three movies. Waaah! ;_;

All in all, I think I love vampires because of their confidence and the way they can charm people into doing what they want. It’s such an awesome but scary power! What about you? Who are your favorites (yes, you can say you like Edward Cullen) and what do you love most about them? Share your thoughts.

If you still haven’t gotten a copy of our December issue with Twilight’s Kristen Stewart on the cover, there’s still time to rush out and do so!

A fang girl through and through,
Mimi

Posted in Candy | 16 Comments »

Last December 7, the day I’ve been sweating, working, and training hard the past few months for finally arrived—the Standard Chartered Marathon in Singapore! I ran 21-km in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 21 seconds. It was a grueling yet awesome experience. And if I can do it, you can do it too!

1. Carboload, carboload, carboload! You’ll need to eat these with lots of rice for maximum energy during race day.

Cereal Prawns and Hainanese Chicken from Wee Nam Kee; Chili Crabs from Chen Fu Ji

2. Don’t forget to have dessert—preferably from a Turkish ice cream man!

3. Claim your race packs before race day so you can study the route map and read the instructions carefully.

4. Do something fun to relieve your stress and forget your anxieties.

Up, up, and away!

5. Meet up with good friends who can boost your morale and give words of encouragement.

With SIF-ASEAN friends at Bugis Junction and AMCI friends at No Signboard

6. Sleep early so you can wake up early and make it in time for the race!

7. When the going gets tough, don’t give up. Hydrate regularly and just keep running!

8. Smile and raise your arms as you cross the finish line!

9. Show off your medal—you earned it.

10. Reward yourself and replenish the nutrients you lost by eating a hearty meal after the race.

Mos Burger for lunch; Kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and iced horlicks for merienda; Iced Kachang for after-dinner dessert. Yum!

11. Your muscles will be sore after the race and you’ll be tempted to just lie down the rest of the day. Instead, walk it off!

Shopping and sightseeing along Orchard Road.

12. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done, and as night falls, pray and thank God for guiding you through the race.

View of Marina Bay from atop the Singapore Flier

Care to share your tips too? I’d love to hear ‘em!

Raring to run again,
Angel

Posted in Candy | 5 Comments »

Just a few days ago, we were talking about this old show Captain Planet in the car on our way back from a shoot. It was a really old cartoon series. I would be surprised if you knew about it. But it was about a group of kids from all over the world who represented the four elements (fire, water, earth, wind) plus one special element (heart). And with their powers combined, Captain Planet, the environmental superhero, appears.

Last night, some of the Candy Girls trooped to the cinema to watch the premiere of Keanu Reeves latest flick, The Day the Earth Stood Still. It’s a remake of 1951 movie, which was based on a short story (Farewell to the Master) written by Harry Bates. Basically, it’s about an alien and a robot who come to the Earth to warn people that the Earth is dying—and that if people don’t change their ways… Well, Keanu’s character Klaatu says it best: “If the Earth dies, you die. If you die, the Earth survives.” Let it not come to this. Instead of slowly killing our planet, we should be taking steps to save it!

Mimi already shared a few tips on how you can help save the planet before, but it won’t hurt to remind you some more:

1. Turn off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth. Use a glass instead. Running water is a waste of resources!
2. Unplug your computer after shutting down. Don’t keep it running overnight!
3. When taking out food, politely refuse the plastic bag for your cup if you can very well carry it with your hand. In the same way, if you buy something and it fits in your bag, ask the salesperson or cashier at the grocery if you can just put the item in your bag instead of having them place it in a plastic bag.
4. Walk when you can. If you’re just going a few blocks away, forget about taking the car!
   Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Reality Bytes | 4 Comments »

Okay, I know absolutely nothing about skateboarding, except maybe for the few things I picked up from reading Nick Hornby’s Slam, which is a story about a boy who can talk to a poster of skating legend Tony Hawk. But last Saturday, my cousin Ali and I met up at The Fort for the Volcom Philippine Skate Tour, where world-renowned skaters and Volcom Teamriders David Gravette, Chima Ferguson, Chris Pfanner, and Brandon Westgate were starring in a demo. From December 1-8, the four riders toured Manila and initiated skateboarding exhibitions. They were joined by a crew of international videographers, photographers, and a writer who will promote the tour in globally-released publications and feature the riders in an upcoming film.

Their team manager, Steve, explains why these four are the chosen ones: “We pick riders with an image kids can look up to. Of course, talent is also a factor. We look for interesting personalities, people who are well-rounded and fun to be with. In skating, you don’t talk about what tricks you’re good at; your popularity is based on the inspiration you bring to people.”

Check out their photos, plus some quotes from the press con:

“How do you become a pro? You just put yourself out there. When you’re ready to sprout, you’ll sprout.” —Chima
“There are so many possibilities for skating. All you need is concrete!” —Chris
“I don’t really know what goes on in my head before I skate. I just try to picture the trick, I guess.” —Brandon
“We’re here to skate, see the city, and have a good time!” —David

Would like to try skating but is the world’s biggest klutz so never mind,
Marla
:penguin:

Posted in Bond, Girl!, Candy | 4 Comments »