Filipino Designer – Insanity: A Look into the Madness of Rocky Gathercole

Filipino Designer – Insanity: A Look into the Madness of Rocky Gathercole (Illustrado)

They say there’s a very thin line that separates genius from insanity. And nowhere is the thinness of that line even more pronounced than in the case of FIlipino designer Rocky Gathercole.

During a virtual tête-à-tête with the avant gardiste, we unearthed not only the method in his madness, but also the proverbial can of worms… or two.

Story By Lalaine Chu-Benitez
Photo by Filbert Kung
Styling, Hair and Make-Up by: Ginno Alducente
Model: Jasmine Maierhofer

Experimental, unpredictable, explosive and quite simply – mad.   He, of the fantastical creations, whose muses include insect women, gaudy showgirls, and phantasmagoric goddesses who all exist in a warped intersection between total fantasy and hyper reality.   Rocky says on his take on style as-a-matter-of-factly, “My designs are, to put it simply, from my weirdest, wildest, wonderful world (www.rg) where I am the ultimate dictator of fashion. I have a gazillion idea in my mind and fantastical is probably the simplest adjective we can associate them with. The real word to appropriately describe them has yet to come from another universe!”  He adds, “More than anything, my primary concern, most often than not, is the availability of materials to be able to realize my vision.”

Read full article: http://goo.gl/7HtZIg

10 Ways to Enjoy Honda Bay, Palawan

10 Ways to Enjoy Honda Bay, Palawan from Illustrado

By Niña Terol-Zialcita and Toni Alvarez



It was the late great French explorer and author Jacques Cousteau who labeled Palawan “the last refuge.” Indeed, this group of islands in the southwestern part of the Philippines presents Mother Nature in her purest and most unbridled: deep-blue waters teeming with rich biodiversity; virginal islands with lush green forests and powder-fine sand sans the bars and drunken crowds; fresh, succulent seafood worthy of a Michelin restaurant; and gentle people with a deep love for their culture and environment.


It would take weeks — even months — of intrepid exploring to fully suck the marrow out of Palawan. For those with limited time and just the right amount of resources, the best place to start is Honda Bay.


Located 45 minutes away by boat from Palawan’s capital city of Puerto Princesa, Honda Bay is a modest body of water surrounded by several islands and islets. Some of these islands are named matter-of-factly: Snake Island (for the shape of its sandbar), Starfish Island (for the abundance of starfishes on its shore), or Isla ng Puting Buhangin (for a sample of the whitest sand you will see on the planet). Others have names of foreign origin: Cowrie/Cannon Island, Señorita Island, and Arreceffi Island. One, in particular, is named for its unique feature — “Lu-li”, or “lulubog-lilitaw” — denoting how the island seems to sink and float, or appear and disappear, with the tides.

Photos by Toni Alvarez

Its names notwithstanding, the islands along Honda Bay offer traveler a unique combination of leisure, adventure, and indulgence. Here, we present our 10 favorite ideas to make the most of a Honda Bay holiday.

Read full article "10 Ways to Enjoy Honda Bay, Palawan"

Source: http://www.illustradolife.com/10-ways-to-enjoy-honda-bay-palawan/

Filipino Designer: Ezra Santos at Fashion Forward Season 2

Filipino Designer: Ezra Santos at Fashion Forward Season 2

Source: Illustrado

 

After being spoilt for choice year after year viewing the luxuriously elegant and sometimes out-of-this-world creations from what the local press calls Dubai’s couture kings – Cinco-One-Santos – one wonders what else is there within the context of the region’s own brand of decadently detailed couture. Enter Filipino designer Ezra Santos, at the “definitive opening show” at Fashion Forward’s second season’s first day, with a collection replete with clean details, and pure silhouettes, one could almost hear Dubai’s fashion world giving out a much needed long and cleansing elegant exhale.



Entitled Divine Romanticism – Ezra’s new offering inspired by the Art Deco and Art Nouveau movements pays homage to the 1920s golden era where glamour, beauty and art reigned supreme.




The collection had three highlights allowing the designer to delve into a braver more contemporary and fashion forward category, whilst at the same time providing his loyal following the rich, elegant and classic couture staples Ezra’s designs have always been known for.


See more designs by a Filipino Designer: Ezra Santos http://goo.gl/xGSweP

 

Relationships: Internet Dating

Relationships: Internet Dating (Illustrado)

  

Dear Dr. Holmes and Mr. Baer:

I joined an online dating site a month ago.  Since then I have met 17 women, all of whom described themselves as younger than they really were and weighing less than they really did.  Is it just my bad luck or are all women really liars?

 ~Jimmy

Dear Jimmy:

Thank you for your letter, despite its false dichotomy.  A false dichotomy, also known as either-or fallacy or as black and white thinking, is when a situation is presented as having only two alternatives, when that is not so.  Other options include a position that is between the two extremes; in other words, when there are shades of grey though, alas, not quite the same 50 shades that EL James describes in her trilogy (long live suburban porn!).

See full messages from Dr. Holmes and Mr. Baer about "Internet Dating" http://goo.gl/3BHSCx

Filipino in Japan: My Pinoy Life In Kobe

Filipino in Japan: My Pinoy Life In Kobe from Illustrado

Photo credits:  stock images from Dreamstime.com unless mentioned otherwise

ERNIESON GANADORES

Since when have you been staying there? Can you recount briefly why you moved there?

I’ve been travelling repeatedly here for short term business trips since 2006. But since May 2010, my employer (Fujitsu Ten) sent me to our head office as an intra-company transferee. Being able to stay here in Kobe for quite a long time, I have learned to embrace the Japanese way of living.

Tell us something about your place?

Kobe, Japan is a beautiful city. I think it is the perfect combination of city and nature. I can be in the middle of the city and then hiking in the mountain trails in no time. Living here, I feel like I’m on a tour every day. Having photography as my hobby, I never run out of subjects.

If anyone is looking for a different level of experience, this place is a “must” visit with its diverse culture, superb food, endless beauty and its great people.

Here is some trivia about Kobe city:

Kobe City was completely destroyed in 1995 after an earthquake that shook the whole area.  But now, the city has been completely transformed into a beautiful tourist destination.

Cherry blossoms

The longest suspension bridge in the world, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge can be found here...

See full content about a "Filipino in Japan: My Pinoy Life In Kobe" http://goo.gl/PcF5d8
 

Summer Tropical Getaways - Off the Beaten Track!

Summer Tropical Getaways – Off the Beaten Track from Illustrado!

Tired of the usual tourist haunts?  Check out paradise in the Philippines in these amazing destinations where the waters are pristine, the views simply breathtaking and the smiles are warm and inviting.

Get away this summer in Beautiful Philippines.

Check out what the locals say about these holiday spot:



BORACAY

Off the coast of Panay in Western Visayas, Boracay is world famous for its white sand and clear blue waters. Starting its relatively young tourism history in the ’70s, this holiday hotspot has come a long way from its undeveloped state – an island originally inhabited by the indigenous Aki tribe. Its tourism is built on two islands. The more popular White Beach is a four-kilometer area with dozens of hotels, resorts, spas and other establishments dotting its shores. On the opposite end lies Bulabog Beach – the part of Boracay patronized by windsurfers and kiteboarders. Boracay holds a copious amount of recreational activities for its visitors. Some of the favorites are snorkeling, diving, banana boat riding and windsurfing. If you’re already impressed, wait ’til the sunset – Boracay is teeming with energy even when the lights are out.


See full article about "Summer Tropical Getaways" http://goo.gl/Z1ivTT

Top Five Things to Do in Baguio

Top Five Things to Do in Baguio from Illustrado

Story by Nikka Sarthou-Lainez

Baguio by Knap James – Dreamstime.com

Baguio has always been the original “Summer Capital of the Philippines”—especially in the 1980s when metro denizens would almost always schedule an annual trip to this northern mountain city. Its popularity declined after the big quake in the `90s, but the destination has become attractive again since the infrastructure has been improved and it is now easier and quicker to do a road trip up north.

Though summertime is the best time to escape the heat from the metro, it is also nice to visit Baguio from December to February to experience maximum coolness. On a good day, it could get as cold as 8 degrees Celsius—a good excuse to pack your sweaters and boots and head off to cooler pastures.

A trip to Baguio would not be complete without doing the following.

See the Top 5 Things to Do in Baguio: http://goo.gl/TZRzfL