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Being part of the Candy COC is a privilege in itself, but it doesn’t stop there. I’m most grateful for the fun learning experiences I’ve gotten, the most recent one being invited to watch Rivalry: Ateneo-La Salle the Musical last Thursday.

I headed to the Meralco Theater in Pasig to watch the highly anticipated musical. I’ve read about it before and I knew that it would be interesting because it’s the first musical to be made about such a recurring and relatable topic. Unlike most musicals staged in the country, this one is original.

When I got there, I watched as family and friends of the cast lined up with members of the press. People were mostly clad in blue or green to show their support.

Between the two options, I wanted to be where the grass was greener.

The musical started with a powerful song-and-dance number that immediately guaranteed a dynamic performance. The sound system was loud but clear, which would make you appreciate the original lyrics and powerful voices.

Set in 1968, the story revolves around a family divided into Ateneans and Lasallites. The competition was intensified by the NCAA, when what should have been left on the court affected family relations and love triangles as well.

You’ll appreciate the small details as you watch the musical, like how even the people in the background remained in character, or how changes in the scenes proceeded smoothly because of precise transitions and good stage management.

I was also glad to see familiar faces like Athena Tibi from A Journey Home and MYX VJ Nel Gomez, both of whom I’ve already seen perform.

Even if you’re not part of both schools, it is still highly relatable because of the underlying themes covered like love, family, friendship, and loyalty. If you decide to watch this musical, you can definitely look forward to witty inside jokes, original compositions, and cuties (from both the green and blue teams).

Credit goes to Joel Trinidad, lyricist; Jaime del Mundo, book and director; and Ed Gatchalian, executive producer, composer, and arranger.

Tickets can be purchased in advance via TicketWorld or at the Meralco Theater itself just before the show. Catch the musical from January 27 to 29, February 5 to 12, and February 15 to 19.

Additional photos courtesy of Ateneo-La Salle the Musical

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It’s February at last which means we’re THIS much closer to the ever-so-far away dream that is summer vacation. By now, I’m pretty sure that we’re all just experiencing this general slump as we wait for the final two months of school to pass us by and set us all free. And though school events are beginning to wind down as we make way for the impending prospect of final exams, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have a bit of fun now and then!

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway that isn’t so far flung but still promises a spectacular amount of fun, I suggest you and the family venture out to Clark, Pampanga for the 17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. An annually anticipated colorful event, the Fiesta starts on February 9 (Thursday) and culminates on the 12th (Sunday).

There you can enjoy an impressive show of hot air balloon flights, kite flying, sky diving exhibitions, and many more aerodynamic exhibitions. For a certain fee, you can also ride inside one of the hot air balloons that are anchored to the ground—but still go up to an impressive height!

I, myself, enjoyed this pleasure last year. Though the 5 a.m. wake-up call my dad imposed wasn’t the greatest thing in the world for me and my brothers, it was well worth it!

A flurry of balloons ushering in the rising sun. What a view!

And after the launch of the balloons, we got to go around and enjoy the display of fighter jets and old air planes set up. Very Tom Cruise circa Top Gun!

So grab your fave pair of aviator shades, pile into the car with your family and get lost in the sky for a while!

See the website for the complete line-up of events for the four-day fiesta.

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About You:

• A bargain hunter
• A shopaholic with an eye for the latest fashion trends
• A self-proclaimed foodie!
• A fearless gal who always makes sure to rock something that will definitely cause a major stir
• A quirky bella who always adds some sparkle in very surprising ways

If you ticked off at least three out of the five statements above then MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the first ever Immaculate Conception Academy’s Entrepreneur Bazaar.

And just to give you Candy Girls a peek at what’s in store for all bargain hunters, here are some of the booths that will surely leave you on the edge of your seats.

Potterheads and Jabberjays rejoice! You’ll surely be the talk of the town with the unique Harry Potter house shirts (love the blue one!) and the Hunger Games shirt.

The name pretty much sums it up; all their products are either filled or laced with cheese. Watch for stuff like Cheese Pancakes, Fried Oreos with Cream Cheese, and the Jell-O Surprise.

Attention to all fierce fashionistas out there! Fab Lab’s here and they’re taking the world by storm. With chic crop tops and a huge army of rings and bangles, you’ll surely be the center of attention of any occasion. And get this: there are only a limited number of stocks per design.

With the whole country going loco over P120 milk tea, Everything @ 50 offers you the same milk tea goodness at half the price! And while you’re gushing over their delish tea, don’t forget to check out their affordable rice meals as well.

Now on to the best booth of them all (alright, I may be a li’l bit biased). With super cute and affordable backpacks and carry-ons, you’ll surely cause a major stir by carrying a piece from Bag It Up’s luxe collection!

Head on over to Immaculate Conception Academy on February 11, 8 to 6 p.m., and knock yourselves out with these super fab finds you won’t get anywhere else.

Xx,
Janelle:-*

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Style has never been easy. It’s one of the few things we don’t learn from school, so we have to figure out fashion and styling on our own. Our relatives, bloggers, and fashion icons can help inspire our outfits but sometimes, it isn’t enough. We want tips, we want ideas, and most importantly, we want it to be our own style.

There are many fashion books out there that can help us find our personal style but let’s face it—they’re very pricey. Buying one book could eat up one week’s allowance! Because of this, I’ve narrowed it down to FOUR books that you won’t regret buying.

Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Style by Ann Shoket and the editors of Seventeen
P790 at National Bookstore

Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Style specifies the essential pieces for different fashion vibes. It teaches the reader how to wear the essentials and gives tips on how to add personal touches to your outfits. This book was designed for teens and twentysomethings so it’s a guarantee these outfits won’t make you look old!

The Candy Style Guide
P175 at National Bookstore

The Candy Style Guide highlights the most common individual styles and helps you determine which one is yours. Like Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Style, it points out the different essential pieces that will help you work your style. They even give tips from various fashion bloggers and icons!

Style by Lauren Conrad
P655 at National Bookstore

Fashion icon Lauren Conrad gives tips on fashion and beauty in her book, Style. She points out her wardrobe essentials, shares her sources of inspiration, and provides the best tips on shopping, cleaning out your wardrobe, packing for trips, make-up, and so much more. If you love Lauren Conrad’s style, this book will really help you out!

What to Wear Where by Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power
P795 at National Bookstore

What to Wear Where, as you can see from the title itself, answers all your questions on what to wear to different occasions. It provides you with outfit ideas, style suggestions, do’s and don’ts, and, and how-to tips. This book also tells you what you should avoid and what you should try to incorporate into your outfits for various fashion situations. This book is a treasure trove of answers and ideas for those days when you can’t figure out what to wear!

These books have helped me many, many times and I don’t regret buying them at all! I hope these books help you as much as they helped me and that you get to add these four in your own collection of books!

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All genuine foodies love Maginhawa Street! Since the early 2000’s, it has been home of the coolest restaurants (not to mention the most delicious food) and up to now it still remains as one of the most laidback food havens one can ever find. If you’ve never been to Maginhawa before, here is a guide to some of the coolest places you can try:

Photo courtesy of Moonleaf Tea Shop

Moonleaf Tea Shop

It was late last year when milk tea chains started to prop up at almost every corner, but the milk tea experience will never be complete if you’ve never been to the huge Moonleaf on Maginhawa Street. Certainly one of the most laidback places around the block, this is a perfect chill-out place for barkadas young and old! Try their most popular drink, Wintermelon Milk Tea, or get yourself a Vanilla Milk Tea + Pudding. I guarantee you’ll be coming back for more in no time!

Good Burgers

Trying to watch your weight? Good Burgers offers the most delicious burgers with grilled chicken or veggie patties that will definitely make your tummy happy without the excessive calories! For first timers, order the mouth-watering Cheesy Mushroom burger.

These are just two of the most loved restaurants on the street that I call home. Watch for the continuation of my food love affair with Maginhawa’s finest in my next entries!

Much love,

Anna

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