Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Lifestyle Asia

In the 20 months since we relaunched Lifestyle Asia, our driving force has been two things: purpose and relevance. These two ideals have guided us well — we are thriving, and we can confidently claim that print is still very much alive. Lifestyle Asia has shaken the industry; we’ve gone so far and achieved many milestones. And for this, I'm very grateful for the overwhelming support of our President and CEO, Archie Carrasco, Suki Salvador, our sales team, digital team, photographers; and of course, the amazing LA team — Pipo, Sara, Marc, Izzie, Kei, Aly, Faith and Rochelle and all of our contributors. Lifestyle Asia has not been unscathed by the pandemic, but we will not allow it to deter us from our vision. We will strive to forge on…

Iñigo Taojo and Mika Magat have known each other since they were children. “Our grandparents are the best of friends. Eventually during our high school and college days, we lost contact but reconnected last 2017 after seeing each other again during a dinner hosted by Iñigo's family," says Mika. When Iñigo decided to court Mika, he asked for the blessing of her father. Several months later, they were an official couple. “I knew in my heart, he was the one for me,” says Mika. Seven months into the relationship, Batso proposed during a vacation with friends in Siargao. “He carved a space in a book where he put the ring, on the first page he wrote, “Empires rise empires fall, will you be my constant through it all?” A line…

Anton Medalla and Daniela Gamboa met when they were 5th graders, at her younger brother's birthday party. Anton chaperoned his younger brother and Daniela was in charge of giving out name tags, and she gave him his. Anton attended Southridge while Daniela was at Woodrose, and their group of friends got close through grade school, high school, and college. Together for 12 years, Anton proposed on their 11th anniversary on a trip at Tagaytay Highlands. “We ate at Highlands Steakhouse and he reserved the area by the balcony. He wanted to "take a photo" which wasn't unusual for him to ask, so we positioned ourselves in front of the camera, and he proposed. I didn't know he was taking a video,” says Daniela. Originally planning to wed on July 31,…

There are those who are born to dream–who see themselves thriving in success and imagine a world blooming with full prosperity. But, there are also those who are born to dare–who take action and place these lingering thoughts into concrete goals to achieve through dedicated work. More than just having an idea, these daring spirits strive to perform and excel. Since its creation in 1926, Tudor has endeavoured to produce the best possible watches, and they dared to put it into practice. A result of this is the Tudor Royal range, offering automatic sport-chic watches with integrated bracelets that are as affordable as they are uncompromising. With four sizes and nine possible dial configurations, the Tudor Royal range carries balance, elegance, and versatility. Every tick is the result of the…

When Roxanne Farillas was a Senior in High School, her English teacher asked the class to write a paper on how she and her classmates saw themselves in ten years. “I remembered answering that I envisioned myself opening my retail boutique shop, because even when I was a student, I started selling clothes to my classmates, and I was enjoying it,” she says. After five years, her aspirations from that piece of writing came true. Today, Roxanne is the founder and creative director of Plains and Prints, and its sister brand RAF. “I have been in the retail business for more than 25 years,” says Roxanne. Growing up, she had been exposed to the world of business and commerce at a very young age. Fond memories include trips to Divisoria…

Known for her strong physique, Felicia’s strength also goes deeper than just muscle. She shares that her determined perspective comes from early teachings that held her to a certain standard. “My conservative upbringing and ingrained expectation to study hard and excel in academics shaped a lot of who I am today.” This focus on high accomplishment is apparent with her founding and heading two prestigious educational institutions in the country as well as being a leading voice in conservation, but if you peel back the layers of tough exterior and stern work ethic, the true heart of Felicia is that of perseverance and humility. “Nothing is more important than loving yourself. Although it may sound selfish, self-awareness, self commitment, self-fulfillment allows you to ripple love and abundance.” “Today, those values…

New York City in the 70s and 80s was a melting pot of young, vibrant cultures coming together. It was during this time that Margarita ‘Gaita’ Forés, Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016 and flag bearer of the Philippine culinary scene, first moved there to fall in love with food. She begins, “I was there because my family was on self exile. At that time, it was a city you would visit to see what the rest of the world is doing in food. It was a good time to be there. I was in my late teens—an impressionable age. That’s where my culinary journey began.” IT WAS FASHION FIRST Gaita always thought that she would be working in fashion. Growing up with a legendary style icon for a mother,…

Driving up to Quezon City for an interview and photoshoot with Senator Risa Hontiveros, I was not sure what it would be like talking to the public servant. On an early Saturday, I worried about taking up a busy woman’s time, especially during a weekend, knowing that if it were me, I would still be sleeping. Once we got there, we set up on the ground floor before she walked down the stairs in an all-red dress and matching bolero. Bright and inviting, with a welcoming smile, we got the shoot going. Being one of only 24 senators in the country and with a firm and progressive voice in the political arena, one would think it takes a stern demeanor to thrive in the Senate. Yet here she was, a…

Matt Que’s and Hanna Miranda’s mothers had been friends for a long time, but their children had never met. At a gathering hosted by Matt’s mother, she invited her friends and their children, and Matt, who arrived late, was initially overwhelmed with all the new faces. “As I was introduced by my mom to the group, I can recall being mesmerized by one particular lady," he says. That lady was, of course, Hanna. Matt wasn't sure if Hanna was initially interested in getting to know him because she hadn't accepted his friend request on social media, but he took another shot and greeted her on her birthday. "We have not stopped talking to each other since then. Fast forward to two years after that, I now call her my wife,”…

It is no big secret: wearing makeup can make us feel powerful. We've all felt the transformative power of makeup at least once before, and it is addicting. It is what brings us to the makeup counters, what pushes us to create swatches of eye shadow, blusher, or lipstick shades on the back of our hands, and what brings us to our dressers and inspires us to create new looks. Even during this quarantine, we feel the difference when we add a bit of lip and cheek tint and draw on our eyebrows. We cannot deny the fact that makeup has the power to make us look beautiful, which makes us feel great inside, too. As simple as swiping a gorgeous blue-toned red lipstick on our lips or applying the…

With all that we've gone through this year alone, a weekend getaway is the perfect remedy. Don't get me wrong — the pandemic is still out there, and we must take extra precautions when getting out of town. While attending parties and going to events is still a no-no, I recently took a short, socially-distanced trip with friends to the south — to Batangas — to recharge and recoup myself at The Farm at San Benito. It was the most magical and relaxing weekend I've had in a while. After being cooped up for months in Manila just working out and working, a weekend of treatments, good healthy food, and a calm environment, have rejuvenated me more than ever. I was confident to spend a good three days there because…

“Ever since I was 5 years old, I wanted to be a chemist,” Pinky Tobiano shares on how she already had a good sense of ambition growing up. As a daughter in a traditional Chinese family, hard work was very much ingrained as a key tenet in her life. “I grew up admiring the hard work of my parents and how they innovated and instilled the value of integrity and honesty in our family. My parents and my sibling[s] have always been my pillar of strength.” This is how Pinky reminisces her formative years, with sentimental appreciation. To an extent, she can understand that sometimes her upbringing was too strict at times. "I did not have the luxury of going out or going to the mall on weekends. Being in…

“The past is like a teacher. You learn from experience," says Connie Haw, Chairwoman and CEO of Advance Paper Corp. “I do not dwell on it but I do look forward to the future and with the present, we can create tomorrow." As a child, the young Connie had a simpler vision for herself—a peaceful and happy life where she is content with what she has. Never did she imagine that she would eventually run her own company, calling the shots and managing the company's day-to-day operations. The last decade has seen a more accepting world with more women CEOs and industry leaders proving that gender is not a determining factor of excellence in our workspaces. Connie agrees, “I never felt that my gender as a woman was a limitation…

When Cris Albert was a teenager, she remembers that she wanted to be a doctor, a newscaster, and a lawyer. "I am someone who wants to be in public service just like my great grandfather. I like to love, to share and give back," she says. Watching her grandmother and mother work while also care for the family had a huge impact on her, and today, the current President and CEO of Fila Philippines believe that managing a healthy work and family balance is paramount to success in both the personal and the private life. As an entrepreneur, Cris candidly mentions that there were times that her gender has felt like a limitation, especially when she was working with international partners. “I have sometimes been seen more as a socialite…

Miguel Montelibano and Pamela Carunungan met at a soiree during their first year of high school. Together for 11 years, Miguel proposed during the last day of Pamela's family vacation trip to San Francisco, CA. "While we were packing for our flight back to Manila," remembers Pamela. The wedding took place at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish in Makati, with the reception in the groom’s home, located just beside the church. The original date was on March 27, but like all weddings due to take during the early months of ECQ, had to be pushed back. This one took place finally on July 18. “Given the p a n d e m i c ’s restrictions, we tried to make the most of our special day by intimately celebrating…

KNOW MY NAME BY CHANEL MILLER In 2015, Stanford University athlete Brock Turner sexually assaulted “Emily Doe” on campus. In the resulting court case, Turner was sentenced to only six months in jail (of which he served only three before being released). The ensuing controversy set off discussions on privilege and the impact of the legal system in sexual assault. In 2019, Chanel Miller revealed that she was “Emily Doe” and released Know My Name, her memoir describing the event, the aftermath, the media attention and the issues that she continues to deal with. It is a story of survival and the power of one woman’s bravery in the face of insurmountable odds. EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE BY DOLLY ALDERTON From Former Sunday Times columnist and co-host of weekly…

Managing the business of a luxury retail space like Furnitalia may seem daunting, but for an industry leader like Florence Ko, all it takes is perseverance and faith to overcome any challenge that comes along the way. She shares, “I always remember the 3 G’s in my life: I move forward in all steps with grit, anchored in God’s grace, and grateful for all that I have regardless of what it is and which circumstances I am in." And while she was lucky to have been given the privilege by her family to do whatever she loved to do at every stage in her life, learning from the tremendous amount of experiences gradually shaped her to the woman that she is. She feels incredibly blessed by the journey. With much…

As a third-generation jeweler, Suzette Ayson fully understands the value of upholding a legacy. Although the term itself comes as a daunting task, she is assured by the wisdom imparted on her by her mother. “My mom was the driving force in our family. It was her influence that led me into this business. Good business ethics are a primary influence which translated to a very good name in the jewelry industry.” As the founder and president of JMA Jewelry, she shares that character and values are what guided her to success. “I believe that a person's jeweler should be someone he or she can trust.” This belief stems from watching her mother at work and hopes that through her work she inspires her daughters as well. “I believe that…

For some people, the knowledge of what they want to be when they grow up is learned over time: after all, we only truly know our capabilities and ourselves as we start experiencing more of the world. For others, however, that calling is instantaneous. One moment you are an innocent child, the very next; you suddenly realize what you want out of the world. Some kids want to be astronauts, while some want their names in flashing lights. For Victoria Belo, it was to be a dermatologist. The dream began at the age of five years old, brought on by formative experiences that would only serve to toughen her up. “I was bullied because I was fat and ugly, and I was adopted. So I would hear my classmates say…