Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2019 i Lifestyle Asia

You have more power than you think. Though no one has absolute control over anything, so much so how others would think, feel, and act, our ability to influence becomes much more critical. We influence by being real, saying what we think, and doing what we want to do. But what really is influence? How do we influence others? In this age of social media, it gave birth to the concept of “influencers”. But who truly are the individuals who we can call influencers? We often confuse power with influence. They may be synonymous but power is driven by your current state in life, whether you are wealthy or in a position. While influence is derived from inspiring and encouraging others to create change, make a positive impact, and contribute…

Chris Tiu knows the importance of international sports tournaments to the development of the country. The former basketball player has represented teams at the university, professional and international level, and this year is undertaking the daunting task as Organizing Committee Deputy Director for Volunteers Program of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. “I want to give back to the country in a different capacity. I know how important these international competitions are for athletes, coaches, and the country as a whole,” he says. “And I want to make sure that our country will be able to host a successful and organized SEA Games. The hosting of the games reflects significantly on the ability of a country.” When looking for volunteers, the criteria were that they be competent, responsible, committed, and passionate…

Being in the FMCG industry for 10 long, fun, and worthwhile years, I was trained to be a ‘nose’. A ‘nose’ is someone who can understand and determine the notes in scents and discern what best fits our product concepts. Notes are basically the layers of scents in a fragrance. It is like a symphony of music that works together in harmony, evoking emotions and tell stories. It is a very interesting and exciting subject. Selecting scents is driven most often by our moods, which is why some have different fragrances depending on their mood, or some just simply want a fragrance that describes who they are. As I have learned along the years and also with my love of fragrances, certain scents are proven to make you feel happier,…

1 This multi-use and multi-purpose dry oil is suitable for face, body, and hair in a single step. Containing 96.9 % ingredients of natural origin, it mixes seven different botanical oils to nourish repair and beautify the skin and hair: Tsubaki (moisturizing), Argan (repairing), Macadamia (nourishing), Borage (smoothing), Camelia (hydrating), Hazlenut (protecting) and Sweet Almond Oil (softening). Skin is left feeling silky and non-oily. 2 An icon in skincare, the original Huile Prodigieuse is updated with notes of blossoming magnolia, enveloping white musks, and a zesty citrus combination of grapefruit with lemon, orange, Calabrian bergamot, and orange blossom that reveals a sweet, velvety, and sensual base. 3 This eight-hour moisturizing, anti-oxidant and repairing product left 97% of women feeling as if their skin was nourished and repaired, while 100% found…

‟In the center of every awe-inspiring social event, one puts in careful consideration the balanced interplay of tasteful banquet appointments, personalized service, and uniquely served delectable food offerings.” These are the principles Carlo Castillo, the Marquis Executive Chef, abides by with every spectacular experience at the Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City. Such experience was captured in the recent Marquis Ice-capade Pre-Christmas Chef’s Table. The Yuletide spirit lived freely in the Sarus Grand Ballroom where six crane-like ice sculptures greeted guests as they were ushered to a banquet set-up styled with giant vase centerpieces taking inspiration from snow, frost, and ice. Various live-kitchen stations served distinctive food creations, such as Angus Beef, savory pastas, fresh salads, and rich soups. The Marquis signature dessert art station captured the sweet cravings…

Fine jeweler Paul Syjuco’s latest collection, Cristal, is inspired by the gemstone in its natural state. With 80 pieces on offer, this paean to the jeweled ornament features unique, contemporary pieces with a focus on minimalist design and striking detail. The more delicate aesthetic in Cristal is a marked difference to Syjuco’s latest offerings, which displayed bold statement pieces that highlighted art movements through pieces of jewelry. This new collection shines with a clean and minimalist aesthetic, incorporating everyday wearability, remaining no less luxurious. Dainty, stackable bracelets, stone-studded earrings, rings and statement necklaces in uniquely proportioned shapes and off-kilter looks displayed through mineral elements and crystalline structure. A self-described “technical nerd for gems,” Syjuco, who trained at the Gemo-logical Institute of America (GIA), says the imperfections are what make the…

A unique play of proportions where form is both championed and eschewed, characterizes the elegance of the Clash de Cartier jewelry collection. Shaking up the luxury line’s aesthetic heritage of studs, beads and clous carrés, the collection puts all these elements together to form a singular, ribbed mesh—making it the new jewelry signature of Cartier. The stylish opposition of feminine curves and soft contours with the nervous tension of a fixed structure draws on pure Cartier style. Neo-classical, singular, unisex, and whimsical. Crafted in 4N pink gold, the rings can be stacked and layered in all versions. The buff-top domed clous carrés are finished with a bright polish that is produced over a series of operations. In a final sophisticated Cartier jewelry touch, the inside of each piece is delicately…

CCP’s Tanghalang Pilipino Actor’s Company returns with “Katsuri,” an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” “Katsuri,” an adaptation in Filipino of the John Steinbeck work “Of Mice and Men,” will run from October 4-27 at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna and written by Bibeth Orteza, this production will be performed by the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company. Starring Jonathan Tadioan as Toto and Marco Viaña as George, the play is set in the sugar plantations of Negros and focuses on the importance and dangers of human relationships, injustice in the farming class, and the fragility of hopes and dreams. “This is an important piece of theater,” says Tanghalang Pilipino Artistic Director Nanding Josef. “‘Katsuri’ is relevant and a good…

“Guess what—I won't take you directly to the Acropolis as I used to do. Let’s make a detour,” announced our same Greek tour guide for years, with a caring smile. “Our first stop shall be the Acropolis Museum, for better appreciation of your favorite destination,” she said with utmost gusto—it was nice to see her again, even more passionate than ever before. Founded in 2003 and launched in 2009, with an area of over 14,000 square meters, it hosts 4,000 different artifacts. The venue sits on the slopes of the Acropolis and thus has adopted to the local terrain—gradually tilting upwards. “Since the Acropolis, perched over the ruins of the district, always has a magnet to be visited despite seeing it before, we will incorporate new experiences into the mix.”…

Walk into any of the major Bangkok shopping malls, and amongst all the Western designer brands stands Jaspal. In the forefront of the Thai fashion retail business since it first opened its doors in 1972, Jaspal Company Limited now owns 466 stores across Thailand and a fair number overseas in Southeast Asia. Educated at Thailand’s Thammasat University and holding a graduate degree at the Gemological Institute of America, Suvita Chansrichavala joined her husband Yosathep Singhsachathet at the Lyn brand under the company and together launched Lyn Around in 2010, Jelly Bunny in 2011, and Quinn in 2017. “My main role is to set up and manage the Lyn Around brand, as well as overlooking and making strategic decisions on our other brands,” she says. With her years of experience, Suvita…

Since his youth, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa’s General Manager Dave Junker has already laid down his gameplan of going to hotel school and working in the hospitality industry. The Luxembourg national got his first work experience helping out restaurants while he was still in school. He shares, “As I got introduced to larger hotels and operations, I witnessed and enjoyed the camaraderie between the various teams. Being exposed to various roles in different hotels made me realize and appreciate the many elements that needed to fall into place for a hotel to be successful. It was during these moments that I knew I had found my place. So here I am, years later, with the same excitement as my very first day in hotel school.” With around two decades…

It would be easy to categorize current Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso as another celebrity who joined the political bandwagon and entered public service. But his story is is far from that narrative. The man who beat the previous mayor by an overwhelming margin of nearly 150,000 votes is clearly a champion of his people. What others simply saw as a man of good looks, the city of Manila saw as one of their own—and the entire nation is starting to take notice. Spirited in speech and sincere in meaning, our thirty-minute conversation was enlightening, riveting, and truly inspiring. It is no secret that Isko comes from poverty. So much has been said about his life’s travails, from growing up in the slums of Tondo to his work in…

Norby Geraldez and Jackie Anzures met at law school but because they had different schedules, never really saw each other. They only started seeing the other when they ended up in the same summer internship. “But it would take a year, a few drunk friends, and a lot of alcohol-induced courage, to finally bring us together,” says Jackie. “On the last day of exam week, walking alone in the streets of BGC, he finally had the courage to ask me out to dinner.” They were together for five and a half years when they were engaged in Hong Kong. Norby had wanted to propose on Independence Day, as he thought “giving up his independence” by proposing would be quite funny, but ended up proposing a few days before. “Before proposing,…

The most popular scent in the famed English Fields collection, Poppy & Barley is released as a stand-alone, permanent scent. JO MALONE LONDON Head of Fragrance Development Celine Roux says that the heart of the English countryside inspired the scent. “I loved that there are these rippling fields of golden grains and out of them burst rebellious poppies—they seem to pop up out of the middle of nowhere,” she says. “I like the contrast of the colorful red against the smooth gold and wanted to find a way to represent that in scent.” In conversations with Master Perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui, Roux mentioned the olfactive brief was to explore the contrast of the vibrant red poppy standing out in a field of grains. “When I was a child I used to…

revolutionary formula is the next step in MAC’s iconic of matte lipstick, where the product is innovated in sensation, application, and wear. With an airy texture that envelopes the lips in comfort, Love Me Lipstick knocks it out the park with intense color and whole-day moisture in one swipe. MAC COSMETICS is available in Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza, Greenbelt 5, SM Aura, SM Makati, and SM Megamall…

A game-changing pioneer in the premium automotive industry, Lexus has continued to lead the pack since it launched its flagship sedan in 1989 and brought a one-of-a-kind guest experience that initiated a movement in the luxury SUV segment. With the launch of the Lexus RX over two decades ago, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category. Unwavering in its commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, Lexus unveiled the 2020 RX luxury SUV in the Philippines last September 17, 2019. Revolutionary in innovation, the latest iteration continues the brand’s legacy as the pioneering spirit in the premium SUV segment. With powerful and sporty exteriors and versatile high-functioning interiors, the latest model is quite a masterful feat in automobile engineering. The signature ride comfort of the RX further enhances…

For fashion illustrator Casey Marciano, each piece is inspired by her East Meets West sensibility. A graduate of Wales Trinity Saint David with a BA Degree in Surface Pattern Design with Focus on Textiles for Fashion, she found that her vibrant upbringing influenced the work she produced. “An Art lecturer once told me that I’m ‘infinite’ and I stuck to this principle ever since. I like observing silhouettes and sketching from live drawings,” she says. “My strengths are designing lively prints and mixed-media inspired fashion illustrations.” One of the biggest highlights in Casey’s art career was having three of her fashion illustrations featured by Vogue, which she says was an unexpected surprise. “It is not that funny but I was giggling all day, definitely a career highlight,” she says, proudly.…

Patrick Grove, co-founder and CEO of the Catcha Group, admits that having started in 1999, he is considered old as a techpreneur. But with this is the priceless knowledge gained through the years that has clearly paved the way to much success at present. As one of the leading entrepreneurs in the region, Patrick has grown the Catcha Group to one of the largest investors in the digital sector in emerging markets, specifically in the ASEAN region. He explains, “We build, launch and invest in internet companies. We have always had this belief that Southeast Asia has so much tech potential, even though most of the tech glory has been going to the US and China. Our vision is to keep building great disruptive companies with great partners.” So far,…

Toppling a five-decade dynasty reign is not something anyone can claim to have done. But for San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, it is an incredible feat that he was able to achieve, thanks to the citizens of his beloved city. To him, it signifies the clamor for change. And regardless of his crushing defeat in the 2016 elections, his genuine concern for the people’s welfare only further fueled his campaign for the seat and solidified his dreams of progress for the city. He says of the experience, “The entire 2016 experience really motivated me to continue with the fight. And even after losing, half of San Juan that voted for me considered me their de facto mayor. So for 2016 all the way to 2019, it’s like I was…

Chris Imperial and Isa Palabyab met at a debutante ball in 2008. “I was 17 and he was 19,” says Isa. “We were together for 11 years.” Chris proposed when they were both in the US for Isa’s birthday. “After lunch with his family and mine, we walked around a vineyard in Napa Valley, and he got down on one knee,” she says. The celebration was a three-day affair in Malaga, Spain. “We started off the festivities with a hike to Caminito Del Rey in the afternoon, the despedida de soltera/welcome dinner in the evening, a white sunset dinner party at the Real Club Mediterraneo on the second day and the wedding at Castillo de Santa Catalina on the 3rd day,” says Isa. Isa was remarkably relaxed as a bride…

1 Launched in 1997, the V Shaping Facial Lift is continuously updated by the team at Clarins Research to give women what they want. After reading about Agropyron, a plant with an extensive underground network that stabilizes and supports soil levels, they theorized that its extracts could be applied to skin, to help it resist gravity’s downward motion. 2 The team discovered that organic Agropyron is suited to help skin contours resist gravity, and in testing, was responsible for an impressive 158% increase in collagen XVIII (a protein that is part of the skin’s support network that is responsible for tightening fibers that hold fat cells in place to retain a lifted and contoured look). 3 The combination of Agropyron with other ingredients like organic oat sugars (which form a…

“As the first indoor cycling studio in the Philippines, we are constantly looking for ways to innovate and provide the best experience to our riders,” says CEO and Co-Founder of Electric Studio Kristina Sy. Since opening in 2015, Electric Studio has risen above the pack as the workout place to visit, with its combination of blood-pumping cardio fitness and friendly instructor and front desk staff. With three locations in operation, the sky is the limit. This year, the brand improved on their online experience for customers by launching their very own mobile app to make booking as easy as possible. The next step was investing in new bikes for the Bonifacio Global City location. “Because we strive to make every customer’s touchpoint with our brand as smooth and seamless as…

Big talks have surrounded Metronome even long before it opened its doors, from the buzz of Elbert Cuenca's new French concept opening in Legazpi Village to when Chef Miko Calo will make her full restaurant debut in the Philippines. This French bistro along Bolanos Street has had many in the local dining world talking long before they even started operations back in August of this year. Why? You may ask yourself, is the craze all about. Well, one simply needs to know who the people are behind this new modern Makati spot. We start with Elbert Cuenca, renowned restaurateur, easily recognizable from his restaurants' names from Elbert's Steak House to Elbert's Upstairs Bar—adding his name to his establishments as a sign of consistent quality. He is also one of the…

Once again, Bvlgari presents an incarnation of one of their most recognizable cult watches: Serpenti. The exquisite horological piece was crafted as an ode to the most precious element of all time. Capturing the shine and shimmer of the golden sands of time, it is a masterpiece that adds a classic and elegant resplendence to its wearer. The collection is composed of three new Serpenti Seduttori timepieces each possessing a unique sense of style—stainless steel, or stainless steel and rose gold with or without diamonds, distinctively Italian and unquestionably Bvlgari. BVLGARI is located at The Shoppes at Solaire, Solaire Manila Resort & Casino, Aseana Avenue Entertainment City, Parañaque City…

What I remember the most about the first time I drove a Mercedes was its rounded air conditioning vents that gave a vintage yet unique vibe to its leather-trimmed dashboard. That was in the late nineties, where the luxury cars were limited, and most of them sourced in the grey market. Choices were limited, and options were almost nonexistent. Fast forward to now, Manila has become a mecca for luxury cars. Any car enthusiast has his pick from different car brands originating from parts of Europe, the Americas, and Japan. But still, the iconic marquee from Stuttgart, Germany has become one of the market leaders and innovators, especially with their ever-evolving look and trailblazing design cues. How successful is Mercedes as a brand? For me, the testament is how they…

The final musical showing of Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment group will be the Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler masterpiece “Sweeney Todd,” directed by Bobby Garcia and starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga in the role of Mrs. Lovett and Jett Pangan as Sweeney Todd. Featuring set design by Tony Award winner David Gallo, musical direction by Gerard Salonga accompanied by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, and costume design by Rajo Laurel. “We have gathered quite the cast for this retelling of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical thriller. I think we will be bringing to the stage a unique version of SWEENEY TODD, as told by some of the best musical theatre storytellers in the country, led by Lea Salonga and Jett Pangan,” says Bobby Garcia. “I am also so excited to…

Planning a family vacation is always a challenge considering everybody’s conflicting schedules. An opportunity presented itself when the dates of my sisters’ summer break were released. A family of three industrious entrepreneurs, two college students, and an eighth-grader could now come together for an incredible European adventure. We were quite thrilled for our layover in Singapore because of everything we’ve seen about it on social media. Upon arriving in Changi Airport, the amenities exceeded our expectations. Our parents relaxed in Silk Air’s First and Business Class Lounges while us four children spent the three-hour layover glaring through the windows of the countless shops we wanted to splurge on. However, our personal favorite was Changi’s Butterfly Garden located in Terminal 3, featuring a six-meter tall grotto waterfall and unique butterfly species.…

“Our mission is to invite and enable people to have an amazing time every day, and leave the world better, which is what this generation is after,” says Ronald Akili, CEO of Potato Head. “We do this through immersive experiences spanning music events, cultural excursions, and sustainability workshops, as well as by being transparent about where our food comes from and where our waste goes, and finally the fact that we understand life is a balance.” After 10 years of hard work, Potato Head is set to open Desa Potato Head, the first creative village in Bali designed by famed architecture firm OMA. “[This is] a destination that will offer guests and visitors a multidimensional experience,” he says. When looking at prospective hires, Ronald likes staff with traits of humility…

No matter the distance, there is only one thing that I, and a lot of weary, worn-out travelers look forward to when flying out: plopping down on the seat, settling with any personal pre-flight rituals and requirements, and finally, bidding the world adieu from up in the air in what will hopefully be an uninterrupted sleep in a considerable amount of time. Most of the time, this fraction in transit will stretch on for a good hour, waiting for the in-flight meal to be served, which accords you time for some form of entertainment, perhaps reading a book or sifting through the selection of movies on the airline’s system. There is nothing highly unusual about this scene, even if you are just barely recovering from the blur of preparations—from finding…

The media landscape in the Philippines 28 years ago was very different. The digital landscape was a mere seed in the brains of a few forward-thinking people, and at the time, the idea of a glossy magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle was near unheard of. Not so in the mind of Sari Yap, who passed last month, leaving behind One Mega Group, Inc. (OMG), a company that for the last three decades under her guidance has influenced the world of publishing in the Philippines. Sari took her masters in the University of Navarre, where her thesis on entrepreneurship combined with her fondness for the Spanish fashion magazine Telva led her to explore the idea of forming a glossy, fashion-based publication in the Philippines. In 1991, she created MEGA Magazine.…