FINALLY GETTING NEAR A DOG

Never in my life did I imagine getting near a huge dog--until that fateful Doggies Choice presscon :p

Doggies Choice, a leading brand of pet care products recently hosted an intimate mini-press and bloggers conference at Dolce Latté resto, headed by Doggies Choice Brand Marketing Head Kirk Chester Dy.

Well, we've had dogs but I was never close to any one of 'em so imagine my surprise when their mascot, Diku, stood behind me for kamote-knows how many minutes :p I was shaking and I even held on to Shen because one, I'm scared of mascots, and two, I've had a pretty scary experience with dogs.

So combine the two and watch me die :)

As Kirk Chester Dy explained:

“Our main weapon against ticks and fleas is an ingredient called FENOBUCARB BPMC that is safe for dogs and humans as well. It is very effective in killing these terrible pests which can cause more serious skin infections if left unchecked. The best thing is it shields and protects your dog’s skin from these parasites long after applying."

...I was shaking in fear and humiliation. Heehee :p

And as he continued to explain:

“In curing this dreaded dog disease, many bizarre and unfounded remedies have sprung up such as application of cooking oil and worse engine oil! The latter can be very harmful not only to dogs but us humans as well since it contains a lot of toxic substances. However, with all these weird claims, one herbal treatment was scientifically proven effective as a "Mange-Buster." This natural, environmentally-friendly and non-toxic pesticide came from the Madre De Cacao plant which is the active ingredient in our Anti-Mange line. Once applied, Madre De Cacao acts as an effective anti-parasitic, safely eliminating mange causing fleas. The only downside to Madre De Cacao is that the extraction of the needed component can be slow and messy. We also added sulfur to the Anti-Mange line to complement Madre De Cacao. This also makes it an effective anti-fungal product line.”

...I was still drenched with trauma and fear. Bwahahahaha :p


Anyhow, I went home with a bag of Doggies Choice goodies for our new Labrador we named Jag. (Originally I called him Aso :p) We tried the products on him and I think he loved eeet!!! :)

WHEN BORED, I PAINT...MY FACE

Let's just say, I'm a struggling makeup artist. An orphan, simply put. I've always loved colors and how the hands can transform a blah-looking thing or a blank page into a marvelous creation, of course with splashes of colors and splotches of neon brights.

For years, I have not paid attention to the art and craft of makeup artistry until my friend, Ching Dorado, who once hosted a cable tv show asked me to do her makeup. Then my love for this kind of art sparked, evolved into a huge flame and never stopped burning ever since.

Thank heavens and the good Lord because months after, I got the chance to dip my shaky toes into the world of professional makeup artistry through the kindness and support (...and adoption) of Jim Ryan Ross, Senior Color Artist of Maybelline, and Lourd Ramos, Ambassador and Chief Makeup Artist of Smashbox Philippines.

I guess they saw my potential and invited (more on adopted :p) me to join their team. My first ever "PRO" gig was during Mutya ng Pilipinas 2010 at the Resorts World Manila.

WHOA. and WHOA. and WHOA some more. MNP!? You gotta be kidding me :p

But then again, my masters, Lourd and Jim, together with my supportive team mates (Verna, Ria, Yrynn, Donald, Apriel, Claire, Camille, Tin, and others who I might have forgotten to add :p), simply told me to do my thing and make my imagination run wild. Also, as a makeup artist, it's important, they said, to OWN IT. Yeah. OWN IT. Meaning you have to walk the walk and talk the talk and should there be any instance when I don't know what to do, their only advice is: "DON'T SHOW YOUR FEAR AND BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING EVEN IF YOU DON'T."

Makes sense right? It's a matter of attitude and belief in your craft, in your team mates, and most especially in yourself.

Ooookay. Back to regular programming :)

Few weeks ago, I felt bored. As in bored to bits. So what's a bored makeup artist got to do? Grab that trunk and scour through it for the brightest and wildest colors for quickie inspiration. But since I just finished watching (for nth time) Edward Scissorhands, I decided to whip up a girly version of Eddie.

Here goes...




Bwahahaha. Kaloka lang. :p

ZEN Health Jan-Feb 2011 Featuring Bea Alonzo

ZEN Health Jan-Feb 2011 issue featuring Bea Alonzo!!! Woohoo!!! :)

WRITE IT DOWN, MAKE IT HAPPEN

I am going to be an EIC

a pro makeup artist

and a 5-goals-per-game striker by 24!

-- inspired by Henriette Anne Klauser's Write it Down, Make it Happen :)

BTS: KRISTINE HERMOSA COVER SHOOT FOR ZEN HEALTH MAY-JUNE 2010

Among the many photo shoot's I've managed to organize is Kristine Hermosa's for ZEN Health Magazine May-June 2010 issue :)


Photos by Ria Regino
Makeup by Mickey See for Shu Uemura
Hairstying by John Valle for L'Oreal Professionnel
Styling by Miko Calma
Clothes by Cinderella
Shot on Location at Dusit Thani Manila
Special thanks to Ms. Danelle Ruth Palang


BTS shots taken by V. Glenn Orion

ALL PHOTOS ARE OWNED BY ZEN HEALTH MAGAZINE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

ENJOY!!!

WATER COLOR PALETTE? LIPSTICK PALETTE? C'MOWN!

One of the perks of working for a magazine, a lifestyle magazine at that, is getting to have first-hand info and yeah, latest scoops on everything under the sun. Each time we get to have a photoshoot, I always find myself standing near the makeup artist; observing each stroke of the brush and how colors or unimaginable combination meld into one awesomely beautiful piece of art.

Stupid and non-stupid (:p) questions spurt outta my mouth whenever I get near our guest makeup artist. And it always amazes me that I leave the shoot venue with a handful of tips for me to bring home. One such tip is if you got lotsa lipsticks and you've got lotsa clients to do makeup on, MAC's Owen Sarmiento let me on in a secret. He showed me his trolley and there I saw, palettes and palettes of lipsticks housing various shades of MACs...and then the secret spilled:

"I just emptied and thoroughly washed water color palettes then turned it into lipstick palettes. Cheap yet functional," Owen said.


Woohoo! So months after the revelation, I immediately headed out to my fave bookstore and bought a clear, plastic water color palette; emptied and thoroughly washed it like Owen instructed and scooped some from the tubes and into their new home! :p

Here's my own:




Kayoooot right? :p

CALIFORNIA BERRY: Cup o' Goodness Sans the Guilt

Ice cream or yogurt?

Two options. One critical decision you’d have to think of before indulging yourself to yumminess. For those natural dessert lovers, the former would definitely be their major choice. Health-conscious dessert-lovers, however, would probably opt for the latter as it has been well known to be healthy and good for the body.

How about mixing the great qualities of these two equally delicious desserts into one product that is sure to melt your heart of cravings?

People nowadays are getting more health-conscious; the growing popularity of healthy foods being offered in the market is really inevitable. Yogurt, for one, has been experiencing warm and favorable reception since it’s been introduced in the market. In the Philippines, yogurt is being enjoyed more when it’s frozen or ice cream-like, thus, the bloom of the frozen yogurt business in the country.

Yogurt’s rich, creamy texture is the result of milk fermentation and coagulation—adding a tangy, slightly astringent characteristic with unique zest in its flavor. Aside from its undeniable addicting taste, yogurt is loaded with calcium, phosphorus, Vitamin B, riboflavin, protein, lactic acid while helping you to lose weight as well.

The presence of live cultures or bacteria in yogurt helps to restore the intestinal tract to normal after antibiotic intake, at the same time help reduce the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines. Also known as probiotics, it also helps in prevention of constipation and eases diarrhea.

The name CaliforniaBerry was derived from a simple reason that it

originated in California with assorted berries as a favorite pair of most consumers of the product. Undeniably, the brand has established a real asset of its own and has gained product patronage many years ago, reflecting the amazing benefits and cutting edge features of authentic yogurt in each cup.

Enjoy the plain, fat-free CaliforniaBerry yogurt starting at an affordable price of Php60 for small, Php85 for medium, and Php115 for large. Order a medium or large size and add pizzazz to its unique flavor by adding your favorite three topping combinations for a price of only Php30. Toppings available are from candies, cereal, chocolates, to syrup—with fresh fruits and nuts as constant favorite varieties. Chocoholics and candy lovers will surely go crazy with chocolate chip, white chocolate chip, M&M’s, cookies and cream, rainbow sprinkles, and marshmallow. While rice crispies, almond clusters, blueberry, cherry, strawberry, green apple, peach, pineapple, mango, kiwi, and banana double up the health benefits and taste of CaliforniaBerry’s silky smooth, natural yogurt. Customers can also try CaliforniaBerry’s Signature® Flavors.

So, the next time you feel like satiating for a cold ice cream but wary of its horrifying calorific contents, switch to CaliforniaBerry and indulge your senses in their nutritious yogurt selections. After all, enjoying a dessert doesn’t always have to be guilt-ridden.

MUTYA NG PILIPINAS 2010 BEAUTIES

Did makeup for these Mutya ng Pilipinas 2010 beauties! Many thanks to Mama Lourd, Master Jim and the rest of the team for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime! :D

BEA'S WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENT

Another WEEEEE moment! Just saw this in Bea Alonzo's official website! Wahoo!!! Many many thanks to Monch Navales, Nina Ferrer, and ofkors, Bea Alonzo for the opportunity and for gracing ZEN Health's cover!







Oh, crap! I still have to finish the cover story...Almost forgot! :p


Later! :)

BTS: BEA ALNOZO COVER SHOOT FOR ZEN HEALTH MAGAZINE'S JAN-FEB 2011 ISSUE

One helluva afternoon cover shoot with Bea Alonzo at The Bellevue Manila just happened yesterday. Woohoo!!! Of course, it won't be possible without the supah supportive ZH staff and THE DREAM TEAM namely Doc Marlon Pecjo, Brent Sales, Christine Duque, and Patrick Galang.

Quick quick but fab shoot. Great food. Great and hilarious staff and company, I must say. Non-stop kwento and chikahan from aftie til night. Hands down to the ZH Staff and The Dream Team :)

(Lay-out 1)

(Doc Marlon, Brent Sales, and Silver)

(Mastah MUA Ms. Christine Duque and Bea Alonzo)

(Zas me, doing ze interbyuuuu)

(Ze mastah stylist Patrick Galang and Red)

ALL PHOTOS ARE OWNED BY ZEN HEALTH MAGAZINE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.