Wouldn't have recognized her in one glance if not for the her name in bold on the cover of this month's Asian Dragon magazine!

Never have I seen her in this kind of make up. She usually goes neutral and pink.

I love this look on her!

She carries it well.

Kudos, Jinkee Pacquiao!!!

I buy magazines for specific reasons:

The cover and photography of the main features.

These two should be present otherwise I wouldn't buy any mag just for the cover alone.

But then again...

There is THIS cover.

Divine Lee, on the cover, I didn't have to scan the insides. The cover did it for me.

You've gotta have the copy to divulge on the cool photography by BJ Pascual (and the Kermit Tesoro shoes-es...)

Must it really come down to this?

Diana, Princess of the people, will be turning 50 soon and Newsweek comes out with this Little Photoshop of Horror of a cover to commemorate the occasion.

Don't get me wrong. I am a big big big fan of British royalty. But must we subject them to this? Especially Diana. And now Kate. Must be weird looking at herself on a widely respected magazine cover looking at a non-existent mother-in-law. Hey, clearly she adores her, but wouldn't it more proper if let her publicly adore her in her own terms? And not throw her into some kind of... THIS?

"Diana at 50: If She Were Here Now", by, ehem, who else, Tina Brown (journalist, magazine editor, columnist, talk-show host and author of the biography The Diana Chronicles).

So ok, let's just look past the ridiculous-ness of this circus and stick with the facts here. Hmm...would that be how Diana dress these days? With her sons grown up now she would not have been more hesitant to spend more time abroad, thereby, even more "experimental" and less conservative with her wardrobe. In these modern changing times where celebrity-designer collaboration has taken a very interesting route, the Lady wouldn't been stuck with J.Crew and Galliano alone, altho, with their cool designs, she would, no doubt be a big fan of theirs. Ahihi, Im no fashion expert, but that's how I feel. Contrary to what Tina Brown has written, no, I don't believe she would have taken the Michelle Obama route in terms of fashion. I think.

But definitely she wouldn't have worn that hat. Her hair would have been a little more stylishly elegant. Before her death her hair went thru a more modern change, inspite of it still being short.

Anyhow...if you really want to celebrate Diana being 50, give her the cover to herself. Get those beautiful photos from the archives. Let me help you:

(photos by Mario Testino not so long before her death)

There is such a saying as 'too much photoshopping is a bad thing.' I believe we just should curb our enthusiasm just a little with this one regardless of how big a fan we are. Ahihihi

Here's hoping for other publications to commemorate her life and beauty with style, respect and simple elegance.

A bittersweet read this week. Our second to the last issue of Time Magazine.

After papa's passing 2 months ago, my mother decides not to continue the "life-long" subscription of Time Magazine. (Right now, I couldn't afford to pay for it also...not yet.)

Subscription ends June 16. Days from now. I have just read about half of current issue. Will put off finishing it...maybe next month.One day from now, years years and years of "free flowing" Time magazines will cease to come to our doorstep. It is bittersweet. Afterall this has become one of the more significant moments my father and I share. Reading our mags together silent for hours whenever I visit. It all ends tomorrow.

Guess I'll be picking up my TM's from the newstands starting next week, selectively. And the Reader's Digest, next year. (Papa had been able to renew weeks before his attack).

I miss my papa.

60 days. 60 nights of tears since.

May the Lord bless his soul forever.

I miss you. Terribly.

I'm very picky of the magazines I buy. Give me the flack if you must but I usually judge the magazine by it's cover. Ahihihi... And the May 2011 Preview issue was definitely no exception. With the beautiful and visibly transformed Shalani Soledad (tv host and politician) was staring at me with her burnt berry lips I took home the magazine in a heartbeat. (I just usually borrow from a friend who subscribes, hehehe).

I buy fashion magazines for the photographs actually. And the featured celebrity.

Surprise surprise, a lovely feature on Cebu's Philip Rodriguez was on it too! That was enough to make my day.

Then a friend posts this on his Facebook wall:

The same Philip Rodriguez photo on Preview!

JOSEPH ONG!

I love it! Totally!

Here are some more of his takes which I took from his Facebook, hehehe, sorry Joseph! I did send you a message. hahahaha! Say it's ok?

Met Joseph way back 2005, I think. But not on the photography field. On the cycling circuit! I was just getting back on the saddle after giving birth to my first kid when a girlfriend told me we were hitting up the hills with a newbie cyclist. Great, I love newbies. They allow me to beat them. hahahahaha! Who else could it be but a cool guy named Joseph Ong. He disappeared from the cycling scene a little after that ride. Just like that I started finding beautiful...BEAUTIFUL fashion photos on Flickr by a newbie photographer.

Yes, Joseph Ong.

Just like that! Bang! He burst into the world of photography armed with talent and inspirations!

I was hooked. A colleague once asked him why he wouldnt pack his bag up and go to Manila where he would surely have more opportunities. Cool dude just smiled and said he'd love to be stay in Cebu. Well...Manila came to him. He had been commissioned by the likes of Vicky Belo, Jericho Rosales, Heart Evangelista and many many others. Yes, Joseph, I had been keeping track. hahahaha

The minute he got hold of his first dslr camera from the shop, there was no turning back for him. He got me moving too, yes. Had me googling everything about modern photography. Had me texting him what I need, where to get them and why. (Thank you Seph for replying) I'd also shamlessly "disturb" him whenever I see him on shoots. hahahahaha! Please don't kill me.

With his unique sense of vision, he creates the loveliest of pre-nup and wedding photos.

Dude, you're it!

MELAI?

hmmm...

IT IS YOU!!!

I love it I love it I love YOU!!!

MEGA magazine is the one mag I google a month early just to see the cover. I have to admit I was dishearted with this month's cover. Not giving any justice to dark skin (morena Filipino skin). Oh well, MEGA always does that actually. But ALAS!!! I have certainly no complaints about this cover!!!

It's MELAI CANTIVEROS, Pinoy Big Brother Double Up winner!

And a WINNER she definitely is!

Way to go Melai!

(I love it that you have not changed drastically in character. You deserved your 2010. Go get your 2011 on now! Shine like the bright star you are!)

A bubbly for the holidays...

A Tina Campos Magistrado creation.

Lovely, isn't it?

Just as lovely as the talented Tina herself.

Antique chaine with glass beads

Yes, I shall be wearing it often... could be day...

Could be night.

Whatever the mood.

I love it!

Thank you Tina!

I discovered Tina's flair months ago and you could too. Go ahead and check her out on FaceBook.

Biggest biggest hug of congratulations to you Tina for being featured in the December 2010 MEGA Magazine Gift Ideas!!! Now, that's a real biggie!

What is National Geographic to me?
Piles and piles and piles of approximately 6.8" x 10" yellow bordered magazine neatly stacked by my papa's table.




My father and I would get lost for hours in its pages which took us on a joy ride from Tibet to Chicago, Istanbul to the deep forest of Indonesia. It terrified me with photos of side winding snakes crossing a lonely desert. Haunted me with the blue-green eyes of a girl with red scarf on her head. It was our haven.
Afternoons sitting together feasting over our fresh copies we just got from the post office.
Even when I went off to college in another city, my father would still send me his copies when he's done. I could remember as early as 1975 I used to attempt to cut the yellow borders from the cover much to the horror of my papa. hehehe...
Sadly everything went gone in the great flood in 1991.
My father still buys his copies once in awhile. Sometimes he forgets. But everytime I go home we still sit for hours pouring over our one copy. hehehe. The magic is still there.




And thanks to modern technology I now share the magic with my own little girls, on tv. They are curious alright. As Alyssa put it,"Mommy, this is very interesting..."

So here I am with my photographer friends. After we covered another event situated at the side we did some fun shots by the Live Curious stall.

I am glad they are now even more passionate at reaching people with all their interesting information.

(Thank you Robo F. for the very nice photos!)