Capitol Girl for a Night

In the media industry, the annual media appreciation and costume party hosted by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Group is one of the most anticipated events. 

For one, it is the only few times that the usually casual and laid-back media folks are given the chance to dress up and even look differently--whether glamorous, extravagant or just out-of-the-ordinary!

And another, it gives practitioners of the industry--new or established--the chance to get together with colleague friends, whether they were just together at a recent press event, or more so if they have not seen each other for a long time. 

Lastly, as thanksgiving to their supportive media friends, the hotel group raffles amazing accommodation prizes in its local and international properties. 

I debuted (artista? haha!) at the annual gathering in 2012 when the theme was the 1920s. With little budget and less skills, I must say I was successful and became a legit-looking flapper girl! Hihi! Sadly, I don't have a decent photo . But what made my first time more memorable was that I won a two-night stay at Shangri-La Boracay. Amazing!

This year, the theme was Hunger Games! It's so exciting! 

My colleague at The Manila Times, Sheila, became my partner in crime all throughout the planning up until the execution of our looks. (Our editor was greatly missed btw).

The two of us decided to pull out a "Capitol People" look, not particularly Effie Trinket, who was the most prominent Capitol person in the film. But the vibe and the garb they exuded during the Hunger Games opening or the Victors Party inspired us. 

On the red carpet! :) (PHOTO BY RAFAEL ZULUETA)

With only a week of planning, we began by scouring the best store one could get unusual clothes fit for a costume--the ukay ukay! Believe me, this is effective for those who doesn't want to spend so much for something they would wear only once. 

Sheila and I were successful to get weird looking garments each for P35!!! Woot woot! Her's was the super cool, reversible coat she was wearing. Mine was a magenta dress with Avant-Garde sleeves. 

Yes, that doesn't look like the one I was wearing coz it wasn't. Right after I bought the dress (from HK), I remembered the baby violet chiffon skirt of my prom dress, worn only once almost 10 years ago! 

Remember, bright colors were very prominent at the Capitol. So having a pop of violet in my entire attire was crucial in achieving the Capitol look. 

However, the original skirt reaches up to my ankle, so I sent it over to my seamstress aunt, Tita Amy, for rush repair! 

She did an amazing job, thus the below-the-knee length, and the semi-billowy effect. It was perfect! 

And then for the top, I was so lucky to have in my closet a Pat Santos cropped blouse with over-sized sleeves and geometric prints. The way it was in black and white also complemented the colorful skirt. So it was statement on top, and color at the bottom. 

To complete my ensemble, I bought a bonggang headdress from my trusted specialty store in Market! Market! Taguig. It's where I brought my nice floral accent at the 2012 Shang party. 

This time, I got a big, magenta headpiece with feathers and a big stone in the middle! This was to make up for the lack of wild and colored wig because my hair now is short and jet black. It was the same shade as my peep toe wedge to make a match. 

Finally, I wore my ever-favorite Leg Love leggings for more drama, plus a black gloves to a formal touch. 

For accessories, I borrowed Mama's beaded dangling earrings with the same colors of my entire account, lots of rings, and a golden-studded black clutch by SM. 

Here's my final attire: 

What do you think?! :)

The make-up was another thing! But as I always do, I just watch plenty of tutorials in YouTube and then choose something that will best represent the theme. This time I chose two because I did not just mine but also Sheila's. 

For our Hunger Games Victors Party, I learned from Google pics that there was a lot of colors also! But one YouTube video pointed out that there was a lot of blending out of eyeshadow, which I successfully did on mine. For Sheila, I opted to give her a wild and bright blush on. Also, that one make-up artist said that Capitol People also loved blending. So the colors of our make-up reflected our clothes. 

This is our most decent shot after the make-up session: 

Smile!

I hope you all enjoy reading this, the way I enjoyed the process of dressing and doing make-up. Because, allow me to reveal, that it's my wildest dream to be a stylist and make-up artist! 

Gray skies

"You are an artist if you see the beauty in things"--read one post I randomly encountered in Facebook. 

I am not saying that that basis is enough to determine one as an artist. But what is true is that I am one to always see the beauty in the simplest and most ignored things. I just do. 

One day last week, I was on a cab on my way to another coverage for the lifestyle pages of our newspaper. I was going to one of Makati City's five-star hotels. 

As customary, the route I asked the cab to take was the one passing by Bonifacio Global City (BGC). The way that connected to the McKinley Road, which passed by the heritage Forbes (taxi drivers pronounce this as For-bes) Village, and exited straight to EDSA and Makati Ave. intersection. 

Anyways, road directions bores me. Haha!

What actually amused me was how it was a gloomy day, the skies were cast gray, and the rising BGC skyline stood still in time. 

The towering babels, no matter how proud they looked, could not overcome the rawness of the moment. It was nature having a hand on things, on me. 

Though it didn't seem that it was about to rain hard, few trickles softly touched the glass window. How I wanted those to feel those trickles touch my face. 

***

And just when I thought my reverie was over, here came the acacia trees-line McKinley Road inside the Forbes. 

And by gods, I believe mystery itself came down to cease the hundred-year-old trees. The canopy of the majestic trees hover above the car, and there was mist forming. The ancient mansions loom on both sides of the road. And again, time stood still. It was history right there and then. Just surreal. 

***

The world indeed, is beautiful.