Salt Bites into...Giordano Concepts

Korean superstars: Shin Min Ah and So Ji-Sub for Giordano's 2014 campaign

Growing up and learning to dress smarter, it dawned on me that it actually takes a lot of deconstructing and returning-to-basics that makes better dressing quite the study. I could only speak for myself, though. When I grew more conscious of the way I look, I took out all the bad and traded my clothes in for the good, Giordano being one of those brands that made its way into my wardrobe and have stylishly taught me lessons about the basics of looking better.

Until this very day, I still go in Giordano, give it a round about and always find myself liking their most basic and essential of items--chic rain-proof jackets that're perfect for Manila weather (which they almost, always seem to have), jeans that always fit well, t-shirts and polo shirts that could go from office to night outs. They just understand the way clothes should be, no non-sense, straight-forward but still a pleasure to wear and a pleasure to look at.

An Open Letter (on) Miley Cyrus

Slutty because she's naked? A mess because she licks a sledge hammer?

Not really.

Dear 2013 and all that could see this video,

I don't know if you saw it coming, but I did. When Miley Cyrus was no longer Hannah Montana I knew that this would happen. It's not like ex-Disney stars have it in their contract or that they follow a formula, but if you've lived long enough-say at least 16 years, to see pop stars past their teens or at least verging on the end of their bubblegum days, you'll know that this is the route called "Growing Up", as in Pop Culture "Growing Up".

Ask me some years ago, maybe I'll find Miley Cyrus bothering. But I'm glad it's happening now, because I could speak better of the whole "situation". This is all opinion, okay, don't take this to heart.  Here it goes. If you grow up under the spotlight and most especially if you've been suited with such a massive franchise like Hannah Montana, you know it'll be difficult to escape it. Miley, will probably never be seen apart from Hannah. And that's just how it is. I was never a fan of the show. I never thought she was funny or that she was adorable. And that's because I'm not the market.

Miley however, I like a lot. She's got guts to go this far. She's got a vision for herself, a sure sound for her music and most definitely an expectation of the many things to come after this incredible repackaging. That's what I like about her. She is fully aware of the billions of parents and now teenage girls who looked up to her huge mouth, sinister bright pink jackets and annoyingly stiff long wig, who are far from pleased at all her tongue action, twerking and dressing down instances and she still pursued this new path. While this is true and it will pain old fans, Miley is an adult now and is opening herself up-quite literally, to a new crowd, an older set of listeners and viewers who may not always look like her or act like her, but enjoy and appreciate the shows and songs she puts on.


Wrecking Ball is trending online and has hit close to 20 million views in a span of less than 24 hours mainly because of two things. She's Miley Cyrus and she's naked. That's it. Those 20 million views, you could only account for a small percentage of people who actually care about the song. A chunk of that cares about her ass, her breasts, her licking a sledge hammer. And maybe it makes others feel better that they're not like her, I don't know. But am I the only person able to go past the sex and the video's implications of it? I don't know.

I like the song cause she sounds amazing. The lyrics are well-written. Her voice is rough and tender at the same time and she hits high notes like you're spreading butter on hot toast. She's that good a singer, if you think about it. And must we overlook how maturely she sings about heartbreak and how love, often times is a true losing game-thanks Amy Winehouse? I tweeted about this video saying something like, I honestly do not give a shit if Miley does full-on porn for this video, not because I don't mind or that for me it's right, but because her talent is way bigger than the antics she does. Period.

People see the dirty videos, the naked bodies, the boy-cut hair, the endless licking because it's all they want to see. Nothing else. They label her slut and other things, but I'm better off with all this out-in-the-openness than girls who act like ladies but are far from lady-like when no one's watching.

So when I finally finished the music video, I thought to myself, while Miley may not be leading the crusade for good morals and whatever, she never actually set out to head down that road anyway. Right? Maybe her Hannah Montana days were all about that. But Hannah Montana is long gone. While the shadow casts dark and looms large over her, it's quite stylish, honestly for people to move on and realize that, well, they can't have Hannah Montana forever (thankfully).

And the same goes for this new Miley. I'm sure when she grows older, she'll drop the twerking, let go of her tight white tops and bottoms and change into something more appropriate her age. That's the hope anyway. What I believe in in Miley is her talent, that voice and that youth that grants her many, many more years to come of experimenting, shocking and pleasing and most definitely music. Like one teen on YouTube's Teens React To episode for Miley, I too have a good feeling about this one.

While you can't stop haters from hating-it's their job, you can take note of the fact that it takes more for a woman (or man) to be slutty and qualify as a mess, that music is still about the music and that finally, this is all entertainment. Call the police on Miley, not when she's swinging on a wrecking ball in her undies, but when she does all the real slutty things to you-steals your husband, sells you drugs, you know, those biases you have.

But I do have to agree with the naysayers: lessen the tongue action. For the next video at least, don't lick anything edible or inedible. Thanks.

Won't Stop and Can't Stop,
Gerard

Season Premiere

A.P.C. Fall 2013
Simple, cool, straight-forward.
C/o: models.com

Early on, I picked up seasonal cues from the magazines I bought and the colors that marched down the runways. When campaigns change and magazine covers signal the kinds of clothes that you should be wearing, you know it's game time. And this is most evident and possibly more special during the Fall season. Obviously as the temperature drops, more clothes are needed, hence the extra effort in making beautiful items of clothing. What better way to bring out fashion's best than to showcase all of that on glossies and their campaigns. Check out some of the best campaigns, covers and pages from our favorite fashion sources. PLUS, a look at a movie/documentary that'll give The September Issue some chic competition. Welcome to a season premiere!

Midspiration

Nike fan for life. This video is genius, but probably could've been better with less talk.

Songs could definitely perk you up the same way coffee does for people like myself who swear the world by it. Other times, when you slide straight to the middle of the week, you search for other things to keep you motivated--and not just cause you want to head straight to Friday night. Here are some cool videos I've gathered from around the web that'll give you that extra inspiration and also keep you looking forward to, well, more inspiring days.

The Spectacular Now is a book. And it's one those book-to-silver screen cases where you learn of the film first before the book (for me). Believe me when I say, I haven't, in the 23 years I've been alive, have felt this "melty" and fuzzy over these two pairing up. Kilig is the Tagalog term for it, that probably won't ever find its counterpart in the English language. Miles Teller (one of the cool kids on Project X) reminds me of Shia LaBeouf-spell check, and Shailene Woodley, I've loved since The Descendants. When Miles tells Shailene she's "absolutely beautiful" and she just erupts in this candid laughter, it feels like they're not in a movie at all. It's actually like watching classmates fall in love. And that's adorable. It's reminiscent of many t-shirt-wearing, simple-town America love stories that just stay with you until you're spent. It also helps that it's a coming-of-age tale that runs the whole spectrum of life experiences from falling in love to finding ones identity, to enjoying youth, the works. I bet my non-existent ass on it, that this soundtrack will be good. If not, that's a shame. Watch this and watch these two rocket to the skies faster than you'd expect. PAY ATTENTION!



I haven't seen anything as flawlessly edited a YouTube series as Jacks Gap's. Had they been Filipinos, I'll be rallying outside their doors to sign exclusive to W, then again...But yes. It helps that the two-twins Jack and Finn Harries look boy band-ready, but they also have substance. They're funny and they edit their videos the way YouTube videos should be edited. They've got their young girls screaming for them and their early 20s as a market and when you have a platform such as Jacks Gap-which is basically a video blog of their life and things they're interested in, you could start competing with celebrities. At least, that's how we do it here in Manila. I'm not yet sure if there are Filipino YouTubers out there who could produce something as clean, as consistent and as focused as these guys.

In The Mood for Gosling

That face means business. From Esquire UK

Not surprising that after Drive's success-that moody, 80s fueled,Ryan Gosling movie, the same people who made it happen are the same names giving Only God Forgives the hot flesh and bone that it proudly has. Soul, is via Ryan Gosling who means business whether it'd be in style or in film, and the first time you catch the trailer you know it's bound to be good, downloaded a lot of times, preciously kept in your hard drive for viewing pleasure even past the film's glory days. Couldn't say it's a classic in the making, but it has all those elements that will be terribly difficult to brush off from memory.

Once the awesome music starts-how can you make such good music, the rarely and scarcely lit scenes are edited together and the two-three Ryan Gosling lines that make the cut for the trailer are already on its way to immortalization, Only God Forgives promises lots of Gosling-esque mood and feels. Trademarks of our modern day James Dean (yup, we're not yet tired from pulling out the references to the) that have given him that smarter, more grown-up edge over his pretty boy contemporaries. Exciting actually. And I'd pay to see that ALL those fighting, action scenes. 

Check it! Trailers should be good, all the time. Only God Forgives is of no exception. I just hope that the movie'll be as handsome as its star. Which reminds me, I need to catch two of his films, Drive and A Place Beyond The Pines... In for some serious Gosling treatment!

- Gerard

The Review: Givenchy Spring 2014

The Tribe of Choice: Givenchy Spring 2014 by Kevin Tachman The New York Times

While today’s glossies are celebrating cleanliness and straight-to-the-point style (white well-made blazers on top black, loose tees, etc.) fashion is already heading elsewhere, in less stringent and more hyper territory. If you take your cue from GIVENCHY Spring 2014 for what’s about to come next year, you know it’s all printed matter, musical and African-inspired.

Graphic Return

After months on hiatus, I believe it's about damn time I start flexing the blogging muscle again. I'm doing another major revamp on my blog and this time approaching a familiar way of writing for it. Reviewing Fashion Week again and I think Spring 2014's reviving my love and faith for menswear (Raf Simons, Dries Van Noten, Givenchy is crazeeee). All graphic, exciting and-well, super skinny, I'm dishing out reviews and thoughts the way I used to-without much authority BUT fueled by the desire to hopefully one day gain just that. PLUS I'll be bringing back to life Salt's Interviews, which I am too excited to do. For people who've been wondering, well, I'm back. This time around, Salt's older and hopefully, more substantial than it was. 

Writing's back!

The order of things...Dries Van Noten Spring 2014 from models.com

- Gerard

The Great Gatsby

The opening of the trailer, I could still remember in the book.

See, even cool Mr. Gatsby goes crazy when it's hot...

By now you, dear reader, should have some restraining order ready for me whenever there is anything F. Scott Fitzgerald present anywhere it is that I am. But just let me kill myself over how excited I am that Warner Bros. released a new trailer AND a damn handsome soundtrack for The Great Gatsby. This book is the reason I write and read and search. So just imagine my face when I heard they turned it into a movie. And imagine my face when I found out about the cast, Callan McAuliffe (terribly good-looking and promising child), Leonardo Di Caprio (definitely a God now), Carey Mulligan (diamond, for sure) and Tobey Maguire (my all-time favorite Spider-Man...), I mean it felt like Christmas and my birthday rolled in one day.

Come May, you'll be flooded with Great Gatsby shit, you won't like me anymore. But please, even if you're not a fan, spare some time to appreciate the beauty of Fitzgerald's work. While maybe the unsung hero is Tender Is The Night, and I'm obsessed with how intelligently scary This Side of Paradise turned out to be, The Great Gatsby just did it for Fitzgerald. I just can't explain how much I love the book. Seriously. It's a story, so beautiful, so grandiose yet human and real...Definitely thestandard for stories.

But if you're the kind who would never flip a page of a book, give yourself this experience. The movie. The trailer alone almost had me in tears. But yes, you must catch this. You know how other trailers promise you the film will be an experience of a "insert season here", this will surely fit the bill.

And who could ignore the cast, the cinematography, those amazing sweeping shots? I smell resurrection for Tobey Maguire. Beyonce and Andre 3000 doing Amy Winehouse' s Back To Black, Florence & the Machine on the soundtrack and Lana Del Ray too, I mean, come on...Do I even have to?
Or maybe that's just me. I'm fanning.

Jokes aside, this is one piece of art we're lucky to be experiencing, so whether you'll like it or not, it'll be worth it, somehow.

-Gerard

So Swim

So Swim by Gerard Gotladera
Photo credit

There was always something beyond the pool. And the tall, tall trees that stood guard around it. And beyond it, deep past the darkness I've known and somewhere farther than what I've explored. And it stares right back at you, that something, comfortably darker than the dark itself yet oddly bright that it stands out, impossible to miss...Eyes...Cold. White. Eyes, with only a drop of what once was some hue. It disappears when you've stared too long, like a blink or a flash of light or an idea so good, so quickly conceived it leaves the moment it comes to life. Too fast it disappears that you'd ask yourself if you've truly seen something, anything...

...I swam through the lunar blue of our pool, feeling my beating heart nestled safe and warm deep in the recesses of muscle, bone and skin. As I rolled through the surface, looking up and stabling myself on the water, I could still feel it and hear it. It had calmed me, this kind of stillness all over, except for the heart. It reminded me, for 17 years, that despite what could've been-should've been, I still am alive.

The moon was watching me, her stars once and a while showing off some glitter as choreographed as most of nature was. And it was beautiful. I was falling asleep, counting stars and proud that I had floated on in such still, unmoved fashion when little waves slowly woke me up. The stars were still there in their stationary dance, the moon mum and watching. Nothing's changed, but there obviously was something different. Some foreign object had disturbed the peace of the waters and it was growing harder. Little waves like ripples were now strong enough to tip my float and force me to get up and check what it was that has disturbed my peace. I swing my legs down and feel my stomach crunch under the weightless water and immediately check around. There was nothing here. And the water too had calmed down. 

"Dad?" I called, now suddenly familiar with my own voice. The house was approximately ten long steps from the pool and it was still lit. Dad didn't answer, he wasn't here. Something wasn't right anymore. The top of my ears felt cold and my nape grew tingly. I looked around again, in search for something, anything just to satisfy my curiosity. When I turned to the little woods that framed the back part of our house, I caught a glimpse of an incredibly white object, slicing through a tree and ruffling some plants that lay on the ground. I moved back, feeling my once calm heart race madly inside my chest. 

"Who's there?!" The water just rippled, a reaction from my sudden movement and the plants that it had disturbed were slowly heading back to their upright positions. The moon watched on, her stars still glowing and everything else looking at me as if they knew what it was while I feared for my life.

"Hello?" I called, one last time, my voice dying in the open space. I kept my eyes on the tree where the flash of white disappeared and waited long until I memorized how it looked in the dark. I was slowly walking back to the pool's edge to where my towel was and had planned to head back inside as fast as I could. And just as I was about to head up, there it was again, a fast flash of white letting itself in plain sight, like catching a glimpse of a pale, pale foot stepping off past a wall. I think I might've screamed too loud for my own good that  in such short notice everyone was outside, my parents, Frank and Polly and our three maids.

"What happened Greg?" My dad asked.

"There's something there-" I pointed and stumbled on my way up the slippery steps of our pool. My mom looked at the tree I was pointing at, gave it a thought and a smile cracked her beautiful 40 year old face. 

"Hijo, don't tell me you still believe in that story...Come on...Let's get inside. Jesus Christ, I can't believe my 17 year old Greg is scared of that childhood horror story he used to love..."

"But there really was something there. Do I look like I'm shitting you?" 

"Mom he's shaking." Polly felt my shoulders and put on the thick orange towel I kept by me for my swim. My mom went off to frown at my language and gave a short speech about respect. Frank meanwhile, walked to the other side of the pool, looked into that eternal darkness and turned to us, confused.

"Nothing there bud. Maybe it's just your imagination..." Frank said, yawning and bracing his waist. I looked behind Frank and saw nothing but a tree. When we've all decided I was on drugs and that I was crazy, we all headed back inside. By the door I gave the night one last look and saw the pool in ripples and waves dashing towards where the trees were, as if someone had raced through the pool, got up and just disappeared. --- Gerard Gotladera

***

Homebound

Everyone's here!
Photo by Felix Octa

21613 Teaser from Dem San on Vimeo.

To my dear batchmates and to all the guys who've graduated from Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, we will see you all there, at school, on Saturday, February 16, 2013. In behalf of team 07 (batch 2007), I'm personally inviting everyone to drop by and celebrate with us. Just give us a minute of your time and we'll be happy to see you. Besides, it's rare for us to come back home anyway, might as well make it worth the while right? We present to you, Team 07's little teaser. See you all there! 

P.S. Ignore my face please, thanks. AND, I'll be saving the huge post for when everything we've done is with me. Cause Shane is slacking off...I'm kidding...

Team 07 Credits:

The Boss, Mikey Mendoza. Thanks for bringing us ALL together. Good job!

To the 07 core group, y'all are handsome and great men, see you Saturday and BIG thanks for the support and time and help: Lawrence Santos, Keane Landoy, Dean Africa & Miko Abrina

Creative Director, yours truly with the amazing help from my very talented brothers and sisters: Shane Marante, TJ Estrada, Jojo Galan, Dean Africa, Jan Jan Lisondra, Miko Abrina & Jerich Eusebio.

Video by Shane Marante, Dean Africa and Jan Jan Lisondra.

Photographers Miko Abrina and Felix Octa

Music, Marvin Gaye "Sunny" Mercury Edit II from YouTube

And to everyone who made the video possible, thank you, thank you and we will see you on Saturday!

- Gerard

Pull(ing) Me Down

Couldn't get enough of Mikky Ekko's Pull Me Down. Literally pulling me down here Mikky, you sound amazing it hurts. But really, I'm glad he has an official music video for this. Some of us mainstreamers have spotted the talent through Rihanna, which might be quite a long shot for other listeners--because you'll really find it hard to connect the two if you don't know what Rihanna's capable of aside from the party hits, but they sound well together AND have pulled out from each other, probably plenty of good thanks to their song Stay.

While you're figuring out who to listen to now if you're just like me, floating on a musical limbo, fill up your library with some Mikky Ekko (rhyming unintended). Personally this is a diamond. Like I've said before, it takes you somewhere, into some deep place and that sort of cross between the song's drag and beat does give off that impression of water, as if someone really is pulling you down. The lyrics is genius, I'll probably never get over I want you to know that I've got your back, Even when the whole foundation seems cracked just because it's so honest and candid and believable. And while it may sound like a truly sexy song--cause it is, there's a catch to it that there is always that chance that while he's offering herself to her completely, there's not one bit of assurance that she will pull him down. Hurts, I know, I know. But like most painful, beautiful songs, you'd just might want to take the risk cause if it sounds this delicious, I'm all in.

Check out Stay with Rihanna. Also Feels Like the End for something pretty (and) tragic. Sedated is more upbeat and could verge on some rocky vibe, but then it gets all cool and mellow, I couldn't even describe it properly anymore! He sounds like he could do a great bluesy record one day, I don't know. Just because I always like the challenge and the effect when singers get out of their element. I'm having my eyes on Mikky. While he sounds very familiar (Ryan Tedder), the overall feel to his songs combined with his high, soothing voice creates an atmospheric sound, like we're all always in slow motion, running through woods or swimming off in too far...And it's alll good. You'd like your music to take you away somewhere else, right?

- Gerard

Weekend Hits: Darker Now

Falling into the dark side...
Diego Fragoso for Slurp magazine @ models.com

Embrace the dark side...That's what I'll suggest to you right now. And no, we're not turning all evil and demonic here. It's just one of those phases you slip into when the things you've been liking fall under a certain mold or category and they all just work! For my Weekend Hits post I'm bringing together sight, sound and loads of sense on some things pretty sinister and while it's ironic, please enjoy!

>>> MIKKY EKKO's PULL ME DOWN

The video is like a spell, really. Keep watching.

My encounter with Mikky Ekko is thanks to Rihanna's new album, Unapologetic. Stay is my favorite track on her album and she sings it (pretty well) with Mikky Ekko. At first I thought it was Ryan Tedder, but then the song's credits obviously mentioned someone else. Then I went searching all over YouTube and landed possibly one of the coolest songs I've heard this month (definitely for the year too). Pull Me Down sounds like a long, night swim, the moon watching, stars hiding, and it's just you and this vast body of water. The video helps a lot with the song. The song itself is quite simple (he basically wants you to be his girl but sings it so damn good, you'd want to be a girl for him...) and it meets your expectations somehow, especially come chorus time, you'll find yourself smiling at how liquid and right it sounds. Mikky Ekko's songs all share that same, bittersweet quality about them, when you know love's not always loads of sparkles and sprinkles. He definitely puts you on that dark sink-and-swim feel you'll never want to rise from.

>>>> JERICH EUSEBIO DRAWS

Honoring & Overcoming by Jerich Eusebio
from his Facebook page

One of my best friends (since 5th grade) has been dabbling in the arts since I've known him: literature, theater, music, film, the fine arts, he's had some happy experience with. But as we've all grown old, it seems his forte lies heavily on the basic pen-and-paper, not as a writer yet, but as an illustrator. As a registered nurse, he's not 24-7 exposed to art and knowing him, he pretty much needs his dose of it at least once and a while. His solution? Draw with his trusty pens and pour it all out there. What he lacks in color, he makes up for in texture and detail, giving his images weight, depth and a sense that what he does, he wants to do well in his own terms. Honoring & Overcoming is my favorite. I'll have to talk to him first to know what it really means and who the image is, I'm thinking Jesus, but who knows...And what's most fascinating about his works, aside from his signature strokes and well-improved style, is his reference to so much of these dark elements and arts. The stories told behind the images, the references pulled out from the very best and cool of arts and fashion and literature and film, I mean, what he does has great potential. If only he had a space to share these images to others with...I'm quite lucky I have him on Facebook. So consider this, dear best friend, a baptism into the other side of the world. 

The Year of Smiles

Keep smiling!!!
(some of my favorite 2012 smiles. My photo)

There's always a take away from every year we've lived. True story. And while 2012 wasn't as splendid as I had expected it to be, the fall to be exact, there's pretty much a saving grace to both the good and the bad that have passed.

Imagine going through life without a good sense of humor, of spirit, of sport. Imagine going through every single bad year-to make it worse, diminish it to "every single bad day" not knowing once to smile or laugh at something, even at the most trivial of things. Life wouldn't be much of a joy, wouldn't it? It wouldn't be life, really. 2012, of all the years I've lived, has taught me well the importance of humor and striving for--if you aren't blessed yet with it, good spirit. And this has saved me from going all serious loony. 

Couldn't say I've had the roughest year, but I have in fact, labeled 2012 as one of my downer years, when just everything you've set yourself to achieve, things you've believed in, people you've invested in or have expected something from just all turned out to be ideas or hopes. You're 23 years old, looking at life through an Instagram photo you've taken and that photo just isn't worthy of even a like. It was a pretty mediocre year. Somethings special, lots of days spent angry or tired or sleepless or uninspired or doubtful. This year proved zero points to any of those big, sweeping quotes from famous authors some of us turn to (at times abuse). And to be honest, this year, I've wagged a tongue at those tired quotes....

This year has taught me that why Filipinos are happy isn't because they're all achievers or "big quoters" or rich men and women who get to bathe in a tub of milk every night they wish to. I think we, as a people, have grown up to really face life not like it's a joke, but as something worth a grin, a joke, a laugh, a smile. In the news we see people who are stricken by catastrophes and despite the emotional, at times unnecessary emotional journalism, they smile and tell you that they're happy still cause at least they get to save something. This year, I've believed in the power of humor and good spirit. 

While I'm not achieving as much as I hope to or have been glowing during those 365 days  in unbridled joy, I've topped everything with a huge helping of frosting. Sometimes the sweetest frostings could save a hard-to-swallow, I-can't-believe-I've-wasted-my-money-on-this-kind-of-cupcake cupcake. You know what I mean? Frosting's all humor, good spirit, great people who not always inspire you to be better, but allow you to be your least attractive self and laugh at you not cause you're pathetic, but cause you're worth the smile, the laugh. This frosting has made the dull, lifeless cake, an actual pleasure to eat and savor!

2012 has helped me understand humor better, appreciate the joy in laughter and the simplicity of just being able to have fun and not think too much or be incredibly so hard on myself. And this I credit to the millions of amazing people I've kept, met and have met again this year.

Of course, I am always grateful. Great years or alright years, I have billions of things to be thankful for. Besides, what's the point of living if you're not even thankful for at least one thing in this life? There's still beauty and joy and greatness to all life.

While we're savoring the last few minutes of 2012, whether or not we've had a great year, it's just about right to keep believing that there's always something better out there for us. And whatever 2013 brings, good or bad, remember that when you roll with the punches, believe in yourself and still keep your hopes up, life's still all good and worth that toothy grin.

Stay awesome everyone. I still haven't cleaned and organized my things, haven't lost weight since that massive weight gain and still haven't fixed my life, but whatever right? I'm honestly happy and I'm honestly incredibly excited to get 2013 started (first time in years actually, that I've been this excited).

Happy, happy new year kids! Stay in good spirits and always, always smile!

-Gerard

The Year in Songs

A year wouldn't be ending without the mandatory countdown/list of songs, books, people, etc. that have mattered during 2012, right? For one of my year enders I'll be writing about 12 songs I've discovered this year, arranged in no particular order. Some of them have been playing for years, some of them only released this year and after reviewing my ever trusty iTunes, I've listed down 12 of the most played songs in 2012.  This serves as a sort of soundtrack to my 2012 and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Gary Clark Jr. was one of the best new artists I've learned of online.

He sounds soulful and is also capable of sounding all gritty and rock n' roll.

Kind of our new Lenny Kravitz.

Things Are Changing is all cool and not one bit affected and it's a great song 

cause it's an honest yet classy way of saying "I want you, but not want you enough to keep you".

Meaning not to commit has never sounded this,well, lovable.

Still couldn't remember how I stumbled upon Mayer Hawthorne, but however it was I'm super happy I did.

Mayer Hawthorne's EP, Impressions covered some of the best old school songs and

You've Got The Makings of a Lover is possibly his catchiest cover.

From The Festivals, Hawthorne makes his cover sound smoother and in my ears, more like liquid, than

the original. It's just me. This one too has been around since May or June of 2011, but it still sounds golden today.

Frank Ocean was such a ground-breaking discovery that he managed to marry the hipsters and the mains into a happy marriage, which is quite impossible to achieve. We All Try is from Nostalgia, Ultra. 

The magic of this song for me is how it sounds. I remember downloading this the day I landed back in Manila after our summer US trip and having this as a cool-down after a run was perfect. It's Ocean's sweet voice, his accompaniment and that optimistic message it's all about that makes We All Try this feel-good, easy song. 

Whenever this comes on the radio, I can't help but sing along to it. Overcovered for sure, but it's cause
it's such a refreshing song. Rarely will you pay this much attention to a singer and a song and actually
want to keep on caring after the hype. Thinking About You is equal parts emotional and cool.
Plus this one really tugs at the heart.

An Open Letter to the World

Too beautiful to end

Dear World,

Just a speck of a letter from the billions (and more) of living things that inhabit you today. Heard you were ending in a few minutes, but I still have a lot of questions. One being, if it ends on December 21, 2012, does that mean that those who get to Friday first will end first? What about the other half of the world that are still sometime on December 20, 2012? Or will you wait for that perfect time, when all of you's got a taste of Friday? And then what about the other planets? What'll happen to your neighbors if you start ending? Sure you wouldn't know cause, well, you've already gone...

But most importantly, I keep forgetting why you're supposed to end...Mayans? That NASA hoax? The bible and its plenty of signs? The star beings and the promise of aliens helping us out to usher in the new age of man? I'm so confused right now. It doesn't help though that I'm seeing the moon on our kitchen window when it's usually on the other end of our house...hmmm...It also doesn't help that recently, what's shown on the news is alarming, scary and incredibly depressing...What is happening to us? Maybe our seniors are right. We're bringing this end upon ourselves, upon you...

Well, whatever is going to happen, truth is, I know you're not ending. And it's not just cause I believe in God or that I'm selfish and have the future to look forward to. It's more of that hopeful bone in me that believes in things called, happiness, something called completion, fulfillment, peace, justice. Those things that seem small and personal in a bigger picture, but is, in fact the bigger picture. 

Had I a say in how time and you would come to an end, I'd make sure that it comes far in the future, when all of us have been granted that moment when we could truly embrace the end, whatever kind of end it'll be and when it's right for each and everyone one of us to admit and say, "Okay. I'm ready for this." When things have fallen into their right places. And I'd like to believe that not everyone has had, even a slice of that acceptance and that much mileage in life to fully embrace life like a lover, all perfect and right round the arms. I know you're a good guy, World and I know that despite your many sicknesses that your inhabitants have caused you, I still feel that you're capable of resilience-always, and that you can still see a farther, better future ahead.

It's now 12:03 am on my laptop. I haven't even prepared to go to bed yet cause I'm digesting and recovering from a great dinner. It's quiet and I'm sleepy. I know you're not ending and I'm looking forward to a complete day tomorrow, not only for our Christmas party, not only to wake up and see the smile on some people's faces after opening their gifts, but cause I know-along with your billions of inhabitants, that there's still many of tomorrows to wake up to. You're too good to end...and maybe, just maybe, not all good things ought to come to an end. At least, not today. 

See you!

Your 1 out of a billion inhabitants,

Gerard

Nathan Adrian

Olympian from Team America
Swimmer Nathan Adrian for AUGUST Man Malaysia
@ models.com

One of the more interesting covers I've come across this week. I never knew of Adrian until this cover. Seems like athletes/Olympians are having a ball this year, gliding by and through the fashion world like they own it. I must say, athletes do make great models too. Congratulations to both Nathan and AUGUST Man. This is a great pair-up. The candid black and white photo, medals round his neck, the glasses, the classic look and of course, Adrian's charm, this just does it for me. Well done.

P.S. AUGUST Man Malaysia, you have been churning out the best covers and cover stars. You are a smart magazine!

- Gerard

Weekend Hits

I have to admit, I miss writing magazine-style updates on my blogs. It's the thrill of collating things, seeing them together and being able to tell a story that has gotten me interested and excited for years since I learned that I was capable of doing it. And while I rarely make the rounds these days, I've made sure to spare time  to write tonight about the things that I'm obsessing over and of course, give you a few cool things to keep you inspired and in the know during the weekend. WEEKEND HITS, coming your way!

Frank Ocean in the season's coolest sports coats with Odd Future.
Story by Amy Wallace & Photographed by Peggy Sirota
GQ December 2012

>>> OF COURSE I'll be obsessing over Frank Ocean appearing on GQ, why wouldn't I? This is like two of my favorite things coming together, like peanut butter and jelly or a cigarette and an ice cold mojito. The feature on Ocean is pretty packed, Wallace covers much of the artist's plans for his career (third album coming soon, I believe and will definitely wait for), that controversial letter on Tumblr of course and it gives you a glimpse into Ocean himself. You combine that story with Sirota's humorous, light photography and GQ's no-fail styling and you get yourself a good, good deal. Grab your copies, read the story and if your weather permits, plug into lots of Ocean and sport those damn good-looking coats...

The ML574 Mojito: mita sneakers X OSHMAN's X New Balance
High Snobiety

>>> I'VE WORN THE HELL out of my New Balance sneakers and have since been my go to shoe for dressed-down days. New Balance just is a trusty brand. When I saw the Mojito (my favorite drink too), I felt that hard beating in the chest and I know I've found a great purchase. Three brands come together, marking the collaboration with tons of those super cool "X"s for the Mojito: mita sneakers, OSHAMAN's and New Balance. The color way, materials and that leaf lock present a sure hit pair of sneakers that's bound to go massive and viral in no time. Imagine a slim black jacket, buttoned-up white shirt, lean black jeans and these? I just collapsed. It's that cool.

CHALKed

Shameless self-promotion right here.
Thank you to Toff for the space, trust and for the wonderful title. "Supernovas"
The very first page I've written with a layout this colorful!

To write for one of the magazines I grew up reading is a pleasure. But to see it on print, awesome layout and all is MAJOR! I finally got around to blogging after a while and I'm happy to share with you my very first article for CHALK. 

CHALK has been one of the titles I've turned to when I was younger. Kept a close eye on what they do and feature, who lands the cover and have seen some of today's brightest stars grow up along with the magazine. Doing an amazing job at keeping the young informed, entertained and in the know, CHALK is the poster kid for every Filipino youth and I'm honored to be part of this month's issue.

Credits go to my editors and friends over at CHALK, Elaine Carag and Toff De Venecia for trusting me with a page and of course, for always considering us (W) for their pages as well. Toff helped me a lot, putting this article on the right track and whipping it into smart, readable shape. I've been pretty used to writing for an older reader and have somehow lost the young touch, but thanks to Toff, I was able to pull it off.

This month, I've tapped into my very first job (out of college) as a talent agent and took from it what I could as I gave my opinion on what makes or breaks a young, soon-to-be superstar. With the help of some of W's very own, Patti Grandidge, Cheska Garcia-Kramer and Andie Manzano. And yes, it made me grin to see that intro: "There's one that emerges in every constellation of aspirants and wannabes-talent agent Gerard Gotladera finds out what it takes to be a true star". For the year and some months I've been in the industry I've picked out some outstanding traits and qualities from the people I work with and will give them credit for showing me what makes them relevant for long in an industry that's obsessed with the new.

Please grab your copies of this month's issue. They've made such an amazing revamp of the magazine, it's insane. Pages are so coolly designed, the people they feature now are more interesting and the topics they cover are still standard but have more humor and depth to them. 

Baby girl Jasmine Curtis-Smith is still a columnist for the title and it makes me smile that our pages are right next to each other! Again, thank you to Toff and Elaine for this, I pray this wouldn't be the last I work with you as a contributor. 

CHALK is the third title I've worked with and I'm hoping this opens up doors for more titles in the future.

-Gerard

Latch

When Joanne at the office played this, my bosses were having a meeting and even when the volume was turned down, barely audible, I felt that click, how great songs make you just feel a moment the second you hear it. And you know what got us all hooked on this track aside from an already cool start and verse, is how it gets better. The build-up to the chorus just kills you, until all you'll ever want is to have the biggest party in the world with this on repeat. 

So I've ran to this song, walked far to this song, slept to this song, smoked to this song, you name it. It's that good. By now it's already one of the best tunes I've heard for 2012 and I have to salute Disclosure and Sam Smith for such a beautiful song. I've envisioned a music video to this one, ads even for probably perfumes, watches, hair products even toothpastes. And what I see is a shower, it's probably dark and really sexy with all those beautiful people you'd expect to star in videos. But the official music video is more quiet. I've always seen this song as intimate (cause it is about an intimate moment) but a bit grander than what the music video shows. But anyway, it still rocks. 

I'm not surprised Latch keeps going up the charts. It's heart-racing, puts you in a trance like you'd want to drown in this song forever and awfully too cool not to abuse the repeat button for. Someone on YouTube said the songs makes you want to have a relationship. I agree. Imagine if your first encounter with love sounded like this...Dear Jesus. Who wants to get it on?

If Disclosure goes here, I'll definitely get tickets. 

- Gerard

Envy

Years and years of fanning...I'll probably never stop. My all-time number one.

Imagine Saskia de Brauw and Garrett Neff on a cover? That's art! Someone make it happen please

I'm supposed to be working now, on something important, but since my brain does not permit that to happen, I'll relax and ogle at these faces that are inspiring the evil, jealous devil in me. One day I tell you, I'll be on the cover of a magazine...when what is handsome/beautiful has nothing to do with these species (which'll never happen). And when that day comes, I'll be happy, at peace, knowing that I too have a face deserving of a magazine cover. I kid. Appreciation folks, for the beautiful and the handsome on some of this month's finest glossies. Enjoy!