Feed My Vanity

FeedMyVanity. Yes. In this particular entry, I am asking you to feed my vanity by reading about ME!

I worked in the media for a long time as a lifestyle writer, covering topics from travel, sports, business, even PARENTHOOD (I don’t have kids, take note). I have so far avoided talking about my life in this blog, preferring to share my finds and travels instead. However, when I turned 26, I somehow felt something was lacking so I went corporate… and I LOVE IT. Sure I had my misgivings, but my life in the media enriched my current work, a Public Relations professional for a multinational hotel and lifestyle group.

Boredom is a very real fear for me, second only to mediocrity. Call it arrogance, but for me it is the simple need for variety. It’s the thrill of working in a highly-competitive, fast-paced environment where you need to be steps ahead of everybody, not to mention the constant excuse to dress up. Hahaha.

An example: tomorrow’s itinerary is composed of one photoshoot, one taping, a meeting with one of the largest networks in the country, and a magazine launch at night.

How’s that for a fast-paced lifestyle?

Having said that, I’ve since then learned the trick of getting all dressed up and made up when signs of getting burnt out creeps up on me. Projecting a certain amount of glamour day in and out is tiring, especially when funds are lacking. Hahaha!

Not exactly having been gifted with mile-long legs meant I have to take extra care to stand out when the occasion calls for it. It’s fun to dress up, but there are days when no outfit feels right or I’m PMS-ing and everything I wear makes me feel fat, signifying the need to go back to the basics.

So when the going gets tough, it’s time to go black.

Black apparel is the universal staple, saver, and canvass that will ensure that flaws are smoothened out to the best of its abilities. A pound or two vanishes practically without a trace. And accessories can be ostentatious or simple, and you can still WERK it. It’s the weapon that will make sure you get the work done.

I’ve only realized now how black makes everything better for women. The LBD, the black eyeshadow for instant cat-eyes, black stilettos (I very much believe black stilettos can bring a man down, literally and figuratively speaking), black lingerie… the list goes on.

So it’s only fair that this time men get their own weapon right? Specifically, the L’OREAL Men Expert Pure &Matte. It’s not surprising that only a cosmetics and beauty giant loved by women all over the world can come up with a weapon for men.

Aside from the L’Oreal Men Expert. L’Oreal has recently unveiled White Perfect for Women which I will share in my next post.

I’ve always viewed HBO’s Entourage as the male counterpart of Sex & The City. My favorite character is Ari Gold, but I wouldn’t want to deal with him as a client! I will probably kill him. An encounter between him and me will end up pretty badly.

Well, the boys are back on its new season of Entourage!

The boys of Entourage are back

The Emmy®-winning HBO Original comedy series ENTOURAGE kicks off its 10-episode seventh season with two back-to-back episodes on Monday, November 8 weekly at 9pm on HBO and in high definition on HBO HD as well as daily from Thursday, December 9 at 9pm on HBO SIGNATURE.

After an accident during the filming of his latest action flick, Vince has developed a new lease on life that makes him even more difficult to manage. Meanwhile, the rest of the guys face the challenge of mapping out their own futures, both personally and professionally.

From executive producer and creator Doug Ellin, and executive producers Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Rob Weiss, Denis Biggs and Ally Musika, ENTOURAGE draws on the experiences of industry insiders, and stars Adrian Grenier as Vince, who is enjoying life in the limelight as a hot young actor; Kevin Connolly as Eric, Vince’s manager; Kevin Dillon as Vince’s half-brother Drama, whose own career has been eclipsed by Vince’s success; Jerry Ferrara as his pal Turtle; and Golden Globe® and three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven as Ari, now heading an entertainment-industry behemoth.

Apologies for the lack of updates. I’ll explain in my next post. Last month was hectic, and this month we’re launching a lot of stuff, as well as holding a lot of events. To top it off, I’m running out of shoes and clothes! Good luck to me!

It seems wrong to post anything lately what with all the tragedy that Ondoy caused. I have to admit that anything I do feels superficial lately. So, I’m going on hiatus for a while. I’m starting a new job on Monday and I’m gearing up for it, which includes putting together more formal and businesslike pieces in my wardrobe. I also bought a new LBD which I’ll share to you once I manage to make a sense out of all my business affairs that I neglected while rushing to and fro for medical check-ups, rakets, and events.

Also, in the coming posts I’ll probably share more travel posts and exotic buys. Gawd, I was supposed to go to Guam (told you writing is a poor man’s job, but it sure as hell can take you places!) but my US Visa already expired, which only adds another must-do in my list. Must. Get. U.S. Visa.

I hope all of you are safe and warm in your homes. Let’s all pray for those who weren’t so lucky to have the comforts that we have always taken for granted. Our country may be riddled with problems, but Filipinos have always been made of stronger stuff. Where else do you see people waving gaily at a tv camera even with waste and tragedy as a backdrop? It’s mind-boggling how the public sector reacted so quickly, and as efficiently as they could to assist Ondoy’s victims, unlike SOME people we know *wink*.

I have never complainedof being Filipino no matter how many racial epithets are hurled at us, but I can’t say I’m exactly patriotic either. I curse and rail against injustice like any educated girl in her comfy home, but I have never been particularly brave or outspoken to take it to the streets. But my point is, to see how my fellowmen reacted to this tragedy… I am PROUD to be a Pinay.

PARTING SHOT:

Boracay vendor and granddaughter

The picture above is prolly one of my favorite pics of all the pictures I have ever taken. It never fails to make me smile. Here’s hoping for sunnier days.

I know I’ve yet to build up a bigger following, but for my pinoy readers, I know you’ve already heard of the devastation wrought by the Typhoon Ondoy (International name, Ketsana). The Philippines needs all the help it can get. Just to give an idea, here’s our house when it wasn’t that flooded YET, srsly.

Our living room last Saturday

Believe me, we were lucky! So lucky! My family is alive and well. But the others were not so lucky. More than 80 have already been declared dead, some people are still missing, some people are still on rooftops with no food and water for 48 hours. Wrecked cars scatter the streets. And the cars are the least of our problems! It pains me to think of all those people, those children, babies, even animals! struggling to get home or find safety. I’m so lucky… and thankful. It’s a month’s worth of rain that fell in one day! So imagine the damage!

Here’s a couple of links in YouTube t0 give you an idea of the magnitude of the damage:

Typhoon Ondoy

Typhoon Ondoy

Here’s a photo:

Great thing is, we can help!

Click this link for the list of verified bank accounts for cash donations. This way you can help through the medium of your choice and verify the account’s authenticity.

This is one of those moments when nothing, NOTHING, not a TV footage, a photo, or a blog entry will be able to capture the magnitude of such a tragedy. I have friends who are awaiting news of their loved ones, and even friends who lost a loved one(s!). I am lucky indeed, to know that those dear to my heart are home, safe and sound.

I know with the global recession, we are all tightening our belts (which is ironic to say in this blog), but as one FB post put it “Prayers are the best ‘donation’”