Reality Check

Here are some of the things that keep me busy in the evening. I used to allocate at least two hours reading each night and lately I tried learning Thai (thirty minutes). However, there are more tempting things that keep me occupied these days, thus reducing my reading and study time considerably.

And that is nothing but reality shows. I’ve long been crazy about them. We all know there’s nothing real about these shows, but still I’m addicted. There are lots of them around but I can only manage to squeeze in a few, right? So let’s start this long list, shall we?

I’ve seen the first, third, and fourth seasons of Project Runway US and now I’m following the latest season. I think the show’s on its last five contestants now. It’s quite difficult to choose favourites among the five coz they are all amazing and each have an individual style. No single challenge stands out for this season though, except perhaps for the last one in which they designed looks for each other. Anyway, the contestants of this season are pretty tamed. It has hardly any of the obnoxious characters that marked the previous seasons. And I like it this way coz I want to focus on the clothes rather than the designers’ personalities.

I also watched Project Runway Australia, which had its season finale a couple of weeks ago. A Filipino was one of the contestants by the way, and he was booted out in fifth challenge (if I remember this correctly). The final three had very different aesthetics and this contrast showed well during the final show. The winner obviously gained points for the commercial viability of her clothes rather than her creative vision, which the first runner-up had more of (and I was rooting for the latter).

And of course, I have to watch the first season of Project Runway Philippines. Oh dear, where do I start? Hmmm... some designers come out with really good, tasteful pieces, but in general, the creativity is lacking, or inconsistent at best. One contestant even remarked that his fellow designers seem to be stuck with making gay beauty pageant gowns. So true!

Also, I’m surprised at the complacency of the contestants who would say something like, “I’m already happy to be safe for this challenge. I don’t have to win.” This sharply contrasts with the contestants of PR US and Aus, who would always strive to win. I wonder why the Pinoy contestants simply lack the drive for excellence. I want to see the remaining designers pushing the envelope further and really represent what Filipino design can come up with.

Moving along, America’s Next Top Model recently commenced its eleventh season. I have seen all seasons except the ninth one. I’m not really excited with ANTM anymore coz, let’s face it, this show did not produce any top model at all. Well, ok, Tocara (from season five I think) had a spread on Vogue Italia’s all-black edition, which is no simple feat. But aside from that, does anyone know if any of the ex-ANTM girls achieved top model status? I don’t think so. Most girls never went near the modelling radar. ANTM will never produce a Jessica Stam, not even a Bruna Tenorio.

Still, I like watching ANTM coz the show has become more absurd! For example, this season has a transgendered contestant. Gasp! I think Tyra has stopped looking for top models, and is instead trying to save her show from oblivion, hence, she has to make the crop of contestants more controversial. And yes, people are still talking about them girls, in such case, Tyra is successful in retaining viewers. Well, whatever, ANTM still is one of my guilty pleasures. I pretty much learned everything about modelling from the show, which completely explains why I’m not a top model, no?

Moving along... so Survivor is on its seventeenth season. They’re shooting it in Gabon this time. I missed quite a number of previous seasons coz the show has become arduously monotonous. However, I read in some blog that there are gay contestants this season and so I’m including the show in my must-watch on top of the fashion-related reality shows.

Ok, last na to... I caught the opening episode of The Amazing Race last night (is this their twelfth season?). TAR is my most favourite reality show evahhh. Before the age of Youtube, I go to the office late just to watch its 9:00 am broadcast. If I remember it correctly, I watched every bloody season of the show. I still never get bored of it.

With this season, it’s still too early to tell which of the teams are going to excel but I hardly pay attention to that than the places that they visit. Now who do I need to blow around here so I can be a contestant of TAR? I would not even mind being a part of the insipid Asian version.

So those are shows on my watch list. I hardly watch any other TV shows these days. In fact, I don’t watch TV at all. Thanks to Youtube these are all available on my computer screen.

Did I Miss Anything?

Whoa, where do I start... lots of things happened during the past days so I might as well dump all of them here.

First, the office had some symposium on heritage tourism last week and obviously I was away from my desk for a few days (arrrghhhh... soooo missed reading blogs and checking Milan fashion week!).

I met my good friend Heidi who spoke at the conference. I'm talking about the real Heidi from Cagayan de Oro (see her blog here) and we used to work in the same circle in Mindanao three years ago.

The symposium went quite well and now that it's over I wonder what I'm doing at the office for the coming weeks. How about checking more blogs?

Despite the tight schedule, I still managed to squeeze a few films in the ongoing Bangkok International Film Festival.

Bitch here got lucky to get a guest pass, using my charms and my sexual prowess (I wish!), so I had two free tickets each day. Friday afternoon, I watched three films, one after another, until my eyes bled!

I caught a Singaporean film, Money No Enough 2, which is a satire of present-day life in the island state. The obsessive control of the government over the people's lives was obviously one of the main themes of the films, together with how the citizens are grappling with making more money and meeting family obligations. However, the script was a very cheesy and obvious, it ended up looking like a messy soap opera.

I also caught Elite Squad from Brazil. I can only describe it as City of God from the police's perspective. And just like City of God, this movie about Rio's slums and its drug trade is very violent and raw.

One of the best films I saw lately is this documentary called Up the Yangtze about the impact of the Three Gorges Dam on the ordinary Chinese. The last minutes of the film shows the river slowly swallowing the house and farm of a poor family. The story is so engaging and heart-wrenching that after the screening I wished I had someone to discuss the film with.

A number of Filipino films, I'm happy to report, are in the film festival as well. I think there should be at least five of them. Even Lav Diaz, who I saw a couple of times inside the cinema, is one of the jurors this year. I managed to catch a couple of Pinoy films.

First is Tirador by Brillante Mendoza, who shows two films in this festival, the other being Serbis.

Tirador is about the inter-connected lives of the slum dwellers near Quiapo. The film opens with an earsplitting night-time raid of the slum. This gritty and chaotic opening sequence is pretty much carried throughout the movie. People screaming, fighting, crying, laughing, arguing... this cacophony of emotions was the single element that tied the numerous characters together.

Of course, the hardship of poverty, and the odds one has to take because of it, is presented with amazing sensitivity, without justifying any of the crimes many of the characters participate in. The film does succeed in giving us a good sense of what Manila is all about.

I also caught Jay by Francis Xavier Pasion (who was present for a Q&A during the screening yesterday). Basically, the movie is a satirical presentation of "journalism" back in Las Islas Filipinas.

Despite the technical problems during the screening (there was no sound for minutes on end in some sections of the film), the audience, which has a sizeable Filipino composition, was still laughing on the right spots.

The film, by the way, is in competition for this festival. I wish the it gets some credit somehow coz it's honestly one of the best Filipino films I've seen recently.

I wish I can still catch a few films until the festival closes on Tuesday. My goal really is to watch as much Southeast Asian Films as I could but there were just too many good films for such a short festival.

Ok, on with the hedonistic pursuits this week... oh dear, where do I start? Last Thursday, I dragged Bubbles to Club Culture for the Donna Summer night. I was expecting lots of gay men in the club but it turned out rather empty, except for my friend Martha Graham, who is in every BKK party anyway.

Bubbles and I decided to head over to Silom, which I haven't visited in probably three months already. I thought I'd miss the place as Bubbles and I used to go there every weekend. But then I was honestly indifferent to the club already. It's the same bloody music and same sleazy crowd.

The next evening, Bubbles and I went to the party of Martha Graham's friend near Khao San Road. There we met a few gay men who then dragged Bubbles and me back to Silom (ugh).

Well, things went to a naughty direction with this guy who calls me moi cheri (the bayot from Surigao pukes) and one thing led to another... and I will stop right here.

My Saturday schedule was ruined when it was not until one in the afternoon when my "guest" decided he should leave already (is it not a rule that you should leave as soon as you can?).

I rushed to Central World to catch Jay, after which I had to attend the Thailand Tourism Awards (zzzzz...). I sneaked out of it after a few minutes and had a haircut.

Dead tired, I went home early only to be invited by Bubbles to a party in Central World (again!). We met up with his yoga instructor and rushed to some Heineken party. Some free beer and lots of gorgeous people.

Bubbles then dragged me to faraway Otokor, that popular strip of gay bars near Chatuchak market to meet yet one of his friends (the bitch has lots!). The last time I was in Otokor was a year ago and I thought it was a good time to once again visit this all-Thai gay hang out.

Fuck, I felt so old in the company of them young, stunning kids.

I wish the social welfare department would not arrest me for doing some quick, naughty stuff in the toilet with this kid who practically looked fourteen!

Today, Bubbles and I went to Chatuchak to do some shopping. I got three shirts, a pair of trousers, second-hand jeans, and a vest.

Will werk them in the streets of BKK soon.

I was hoping I still had energy to catch a few films at the film festival after Chatuchak but I was seriously exhausted from this weekend of debauchery so I decided to have a quiet evening at home.

Tangkilikin ang Sariling Atin

I miss Pinoy guys. I blurted this out while on a YM conference with several overseas-based baklang Pinays yesterday afternoon (you know who you are, bitches). It seems the other bayots agreed that after living abroad for some time we all yearn (as in yearn!) for the familiar Pinoy touch.

Fine, let’s start with the obvious: sex. The way I see it, Pinoys have always considered sex as a performance art: it is something that you have to excel in. Basta, it’s always some big production number for us, a la GMA Supershow with Bell Star Dancers and all.

Whereas, in my on-going research on the mating rites of local boys in the Land of Smiles, sex has always been lacklustre with them. That’s a sweeping generalization of course given that my sample size is not as large as I want to. Choz.

But in the interviews and focused-group discussions I conducted with select representatives of the Bangkok gay scene (I swear formal research ito!), the consensus is that local boys lack amor in both sex and relationships (and I will not elaborate or else I’d be deported from this country).

The Pinoys’ edge I guess is carino. You have to agree with me that Pinoy men are more malambing, passionate, and romantic. I don’t know, mas mahaba ang hair mo if you’re with a Pinoy. I’ve talked with a couple of Europeans who previously had Pinoy BFs and they seem to agree with this. Add to that, Pinoy men are more committed, although loyalty is another discussion altogether (the bayot rolls eyes here).

Now that we’re at it, let’s talk about the downside of Pinoy men. I have one word: drama. Growing up bombarded by soap operas and cheesy ballads, Las Islas Filipinas is spewing hordes of drama queens (including me, unfortunately). Isn’t there some Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, and Sharon Cuneta in all of us? Moreover, as Catholics we grew up devoted to the Virgin Mary, the Reyna Dolorosa herself.

The biggest question for me though is: when are Pinoy homosexual men going to get over their guilt of being gay? Talk about self-denial! Just consider the prevalent, not to mention cringe-worthy, misunderstanding of the term bi-sexual back home (a lot of things have been written about it, so I will not expound). Basically, it’s like saying: I’m not gay but I just happen to like sucking dick. Ugh, c’mon people!

In the Land of Smiles all that pretence is not even in the mainstream. Gay men here are pretty much guilt-free and issue-free in expressing who they are. I always admire how Thai gay men are so confident of their sexuality and can even flaunt it with flair.

Still, the bottomline is, I miss Pinoy men. But in the City of Angels I have a feeling that dating a Pinoy is tantamount to incest.

Let's Burn the Bridge When We Get There

The line above was supposedly uttered by some Pinay starlet who seems to possess some gift of profound metaphor.

I was walking towards the Rama IX bridge with Heidi yesterday afternoon just as the sun was slowly sliding in the horizon. The mood was pretty melancholic, probably because heavy clouds hovered over the city the entire day. When we reached the bridge we found the swollen river tossed by the chilly breeze and a few men were fishing by the bank.

In the way that most conversations wander, we ended up talking about blogging. I mentioned how my blog does not accurately reflect my feelings any longer. If I look at my entries for the past few months, I could not match my emotional status during that period with the actual mood of my posts. The latter seems whimsical and lighthearted when in fact I went through some major emotional upheavals like I've never experienced in recent years. (I have to mention that I also had a similar conversation with Don and Gibo a few weeks back.)

Some blog authors are very raw and honest about their feelings and experiences whereas some choose to carefully edit their blog content so they only come out with things that they want to "release". At least for me, I only publish the things that I want others to know. I cannot reveal too much coz it's like disrobing in front a crowd of strangers, di va? I suppose that many bloggers would agree that we all project a certain facet of who we are in our blogs but certainly our blogs are not who we entirely are.

Meanwhile, I have attempted several times before to write "emo" posts but I always fail. I'm simply not the type of person who can write my feelings well enough, unlike so many bloggers I know who can do it with amazing precision and poetry. After completing a supposedly emo post, I always find them a bit winding and meaningless, so instead I completely delete the post. Still, if people would read my entries carefully, they would spot a sprinkling of emo revelations between the lines of seeminly innocuous posts. Yes, my blog is still personal, but it cannot be too personal either. Hopefully, I can bring it to that direction when I'm brave enough.

So where does this post lead? I will lead you to the bridge that Heidi and I crossed yesterday. The same bridge is visible from my bedroom window so I pretty much see it every day and in all seasons. We crossed the bridge. Camwhored. Sat in the beautiful park. Had dinner. And crossed back to the other side.

Now that we are talking about emo posts and bridges, I'm reminded that I made bridges with many people as well. Worth mentioning are the ones I built and crossed recently. Some bridges are worth keeping. Some are worth burning because cowardice and pride have weakened them. Some were burned by the other party without any clear explanation given. And some bridges are not built as vanity gets in the way.

So where does this all lead? Nothing in particular in most cases. But sometimes I convince my self to keep trying coz maybe, just maybe, someone worth crossing for is waiting on the other side.

Sometimes I feel like I dont have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in, the city of angel
Lonely as I am, together we cry

I drive on her streets, cause she's my companion
I walk through her hills, cause she knows who I am
She sees my good deeds, and she kisses me windy
I never worry,now that is a lie

I don't ever want to feel, like I did that day
Take me to the place I love, take me all the way

-- Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Bangkok Streetsyle

I've repeatedly gushed how stunning fashion is in the City of Angels. Since day one I've been mesmerized by the flair of BangCock's denizens. I suspect that they all spend two hours (at least) in front of the mirror everyday just trying to perfect their style... big hair, flawless make up, cute color combination, shiny accessories, etc. With the impeccability of their look, complemented by their natural cool attitude, walking in the streets of BangCock is a fashion fantasy indeed.

I think there is no better place to watch the city's most hip people but in Siam Square (as I mentioned so many times before). Every weekend I see to it that I drop by the maze-like shopping complex only to act as spectator of this virtual parade of what's hip and cool among the young people of the city. It seems that BKK's kids look up to their Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese counterparts (well, they watch these countries' TV series anyway) and somehow they pretty much pull it off in their own way.

A lot of times I was tempted to stop a kid in the street to request for a photograph or simply ask him/her where he bought the items he/she is wearing. Or, I don't know, they might appreciate a compliment from some old queen like me. But simply, (1) I don't have the courage to talk to strangers, (2) I don't speak the language, and (3) I don't have a good camera.

Anyway, I thought someone should monitor streetstyle (when did this become a one-word term?) in BKK coz the scene here is truly quirky and does deserve attention. However, I'm not aware of any particular website that does that. There is Cheeze Magazine, which compiles both streetstyle and club wear, and a few other magazines, but then we don't have time to wait for them to come out every month, no? With my language limitations, I suspect that there is some Thai-language streetstyle site out there that I just don't have access to.

I was checking some streetstyle blogs earlier today and lo and behold someone posted streetstyle photos of BKK. Easy Fashion is a Paris-based streetsyle blogger who came to the City of Angels last August (I think) and has snapped some photos of the sometimes colorful, sometimes outlandish, and sometimes purely cute looks in Siam Square.

See his other posts here, here, here, here, here. Now you have an idea of what I'm talking about. Now you probably understand why BKK's street scene never fails to captivate me. And yes, I'm very much inspired by them.

Speaking of inspiration, for a long time now I've been following other streetstyle blogs which has opened my eyes to the various looks in the major cities of the world. Some of these websites are on my links. I strongly recommend you check the legendary The Sartorialist, for some elegant street wear, and Facehunter, for some bold looks. Feedshion is also a good repository/database of streetstyle blogs all over the world.

If only I have the panache to go out in the streets with something as fanciful and whimsical...

Photo Credit: Easy Fashion

Overcast Weekend

I've been loving the rainy weather of the Big Mango lately. It's been cloudy since Thursday and rain comes in torrents on different periods of the day. I've always been a big fan of rain coz it reminds me of Surigao's weather. 

It's also nice to cuddle during these times, don't you think? But alas, I have no one to cuddle with at the moment so I chose to distract my self from that awful reality during the weekend. 

Heidi and I planned to bike around Rattanakosin, the old district of BangCock where the Grand Palace is, last Saturday afternoon. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration just came out with this program that provides free bicycle rides around that section of the city. Isn’t that just neat? 

However, Heidi and I were too engrossed on camwhoring around the old fort of Phra Arthit, a small but fabulous park along the river (one of my favourite parks in the city), that we lost track of time. Soon enough, dark clouds loomed in the horizon and eventually rain pelted the city. The cycling plan was of course scratched from the itinerary. 

Bubbles, Heidi, and I found ourselves in the river-side house of Miss E for dinner last night. It was the birthday of one of her friends and for some reason we were invited. We realized that it was an all-Filipino party, and we all know how noisy and fun that can be.

Sunday, Heidi and I found ourselves in Chatuchak again. That’s two weekends in a row now. While we were there last week, we were not in shopping mode and we pretty much left the market empty handed. This time around our shopping hormones were on full blast. 

I found some colourful (yet cheap) shirts. I’m currently working on plain basics now coz I plan to focus on accessories in the coming months. I have to get hold of some blazers and scarves soon enough. But for now I have these four pieces I’m adding to my wardrobe. 

I really wanted to grab more stuff from Chatuchak but I'm honestly as poor as a rat right now. Now who do I need to blow around here...?

Somebody please remind me that I’m still on a shopping moratorium! Oh dear, I’m not eating in the coming days. Which is not bad really coz I noticed I’ve been gaining weight lately. 

Photo Credit: (1) and (2) by Heidi

Tell Me Something New

RP lags Asia in ease of doing business -- World Bank

Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines lags most of Asia for ease of doing business, according to the results of a World Bank study released here Wednesday.

The study put the Philippines at 140th place out of 181 countries, one of the lowest in Asia, officials of the World Bank and the International Finance Corp. (IFC) said.

Singapore was ranked number one, making it the easiest place in the world to do business, the "Doing Business 2009" report said.

Hong Kong was fourth, Thailand was at 13 and Malaysia at 20, the officials told reporters.

Among Asia-Pacific countries, the Philippines was behind Cambodia at 135 and only ahead of Laos at 165 and East Timor at 170. The average ranking for East Asia is 83.

Economist Rita Ramahalo, one of those who prepared the survey, said it measured how long it took to start a business, obtain construction permits, employ workers, register property and obtain credit.

In Singapore, it takes four days to start a business while in the Philippines, it takes 52 days, the study said.

Also measured were protection of investors, enforcement of contracts, trade across borders and payment of taxes.

Issues of macroeconomic policy, infrastructure, businessmen's perceptions and law and order were not considered as part of the annual survey.

Trade undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said that the Philippines had actually fallen from its old ranking of 133 last year as more countries joined the study while others moved up in the rankings.

"Other economies took the doing of business much more seriously and they have done reforms," she said.

Bert Hofman, the country director of the World Bank, said that while the Philippines had taken steps to cut red tape and make it easier for business to operate, other countries were doing more.

"You have to keep running just to stay in the same place. You have stiff competition to live up to," he warned.

Source: Inquirer.net (see original post here)

Model Watch

You know they say that exercising our brains regularly is as good as working out in the gym and stuff? I strongly adhere to that.

In fact, I don't bother exercising my body at all, instead, I exercise my brain as much as I can.

Tanong ng mg Khmer (according to Fuschsiaboy): And den haw?

I watch Fashion TV (or that crappy local Chic Channel, which is always TWO seasons late!). We all know that I'm totally engrossed with runway shows.

Aside from the designs, I closely watch the models. I memorize their names. I note every girl who comes out on the runway.

A few days ago, our Japanese intern and I were watching Chic Chanel and she noticed how I was uttering the models' names to my self. And then she asked me what I was doing; I retorted I'm exercising my brain.

Sometimes I cannot catch up with all the new girls spewed by the runways every season. I had to print the faces of the fresh models, I stick them on my bedroom wall, and try as hard as I can to match the face with the name.

I am not joking.

With my familiarity with some of the models, I would immediately recognize who is coming out of the runway just based on their walk.

In the present crop of models, there are some notable runway divas who have a signature walk. The really good ones stand out.

For me, I love them as fierce as they can get. I want them stomping down the catwalk like crazy. I want their personalities to come out.

Of course, an important part of the model's job is also to bring out the best of the clothes they're wearing. They have to embody the mood of the dress: flirty, morose, urban, carefree, etc. A model has only a few seconds to walk down the runway. With that given time, she has to tell a story about the clothes, the way she sees them. It's like acting in many ways.

And like actors, there are mediocre ones and there are those who stand out (not everybody can be Meryl Streep, you know).

Below is a compilation of the Top 10: Best Catwalkers/Models by Zacatecas570. It's his list of course. I agree with most of the models he included in the video though.

Please take time to watch this so you'd understand what it takes to be a top runway diva.

I totally like this list.

Karmen and Mariacarla are runway legends. But both of them are not regularly on the runways anymore.

Coco and Vlada are some of the stronger walkers in the current crop of models.

Natasha is of course the queen of the runway these days. She is simply sensational. I couldn't think of anyone else on the top spot.

I wonder why Snejana and Caroline (she of jumping-in-every-Vogue-issue fame) are in this list though. They almost always appear dead on the catwalk anyway. I couldn't care so much for Gisele, Isabeli, and Irina either.

I would've wanted to see Sasha Pivavorova, Tanya Dziahileva, Viviane Orth, Alyona Osmanova, and the mesmerizing Anja Rubrik on the list as well.

So why the interest in fashion, you may ask. A lot of people do not understand this because they think it is a shallow pursuit, instead of say, politics, economics, or who knows what else.

But really, fashion is fantasy. It does not pretend to be profound or that it can solve some of the deepest philosophical conundrums in life.

Instead, fashion simply magnifies luxury and opulence and the beauty of creativity. It may be frivolous to some, but it inspires millions of people as well.

Every time I open a magazine or watch fashion shows, it brings me to another world. I froth in the mouth. My heart beats faster. My imagination runs wild.

It's like reading a novel or watching movies in which for a moment we are transported to a different experience.

We each have our own way of escaping this grim world. For me, monitoring fashion does it. Besides, I need it to exercise my brain, right?

Photo Credit: Style.com

Fashion Fantasy for S/S 2009

Whoa, it's that time of the year again! I'm so excited.

I'm talking about Fashion Week for S/S 2009, which started in NYC last week (was it?). I'm constantly watching Style.com for updates of the latest runway shows. After NYC, it'd be time for London, Milan, and Paris to showcase their designs.

I'm checking the collections of the American menswear designers for now. I'm not really a big fan of American design coz they're very casual and lacks oomph. Honey, everybody needs some oomph once in a while, right? But then, I still found some interesting ensembles that I would wear my self and are suitable to BKK's weather.

From Robert Geller. Vests are all the rage in BKK these days and paired with skinny pants, this look is very very current.

From Mulberry. Although jackets are not very practical in BKK, I like this look coz it seems light enough for evening. Notice the colorful layers under the jacket.

From Trovata. No matter how hot it is in this city, some folks still manage to wear scarves. I don't have the flair for them scarves but soon enough I would. I like how casual this look is, especially the tattered seams of those short pants.

The next three ensembles are from Lacoste. I love the first piece coz it's monochromatic and I have yet to try going mono but would love to do so. I wonder if rolled pants is such a good idea, although they look good on the runway. The orange ensemble is also monochromatic, in shocking color that is. I cannot wear it that way (otherwise I would look like a monk!) but separately these pieces would be ferosh. I adore the third piece because of the stripes. Me and stripes are best friends. I also adore the short pants, which I'm wearing often lately, and those sandals.

The next four ensembles are from Perry Ellis. First, those shoes and sandals drive me bloody crazy. Absolutey crazy! I love the blue cardigan of the first piece and hopefully I can also pull off those pekpek shorts. I posted the second picture only for the sandals. The third piece is yet another cardigan and them shoes. And the fourth piece I would totally wear the whole look... those short pants are to die for.

The last four looks are from Band of Outsiders. I love how casual these ensembles are. I worship the trousers of the first two pictures. Plaid pants are so current, at least in BKK. The third and fourth look, oh, I would wear them as they come in these pictures.

The question now is: Who do I need to blow around here so that I would have these bloody expensive clothes in my closet? Where is my Tony Boy? Where is my Ylmaz? Where is my Donald Trump?

I'd post more pictures of the latest in Spring Summer 2009 in the coming days. Hopefully I can also collect some of my fave looks from the women's wear collections.

Meanwhile, my Don Protasio gladiator chuchubells made their debut yesterday. I was with Heidi in Chatuchak/JJ in the afternoon and the sandals got more than a dozen stares! I swear, if all of them curious onlookers paid me everytime they took furtive glances on my Don Protasio, I would be freaking rich by now. Hahahahaha. We then headed over to Paragon, where the sandals received a standing ovation (choz!), and ended up in Scala to watch Mama Mia, which I truly truly love (what is not to love in a movie that has Meryl Streep in it, aber?).

Heidi and Bubbles are also working it (and I hate competition. Those bitches! LOL.). Heidi bought a fab jacket from a Thai label and Bubbles came in a virginal white shirt (it's not just white dahling, it's VIRGINAL white, right Gibo?) draped with a purple scarf.