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

***

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

Eat!

This, any day. Everyday.
From Pinterest

I remember seeing a photo of Marlon Brando (post-accident Brando), on set, eating a slice of watermelon with a cigarette in hand and immediately craving a cool slice of my own. Then there's the constant dilemma between buying Bon Apetite magazine or saving up those extra hundreds for something more "useful" and "necessary". Then there's that memory of how at Draft, their burger takes me away everytime to some happy place, something that possibly narcotics could bring you. And then also how that pinch of salt  makes miles of a difference on anything. That's how food is. Even mere photos of it elicit drive or a want to do something, to eat, to enjoy with friends and to remember how things have looked, smelled, sounded and tasted while we were at it. 

Moving ROGUE

moving and sexy as it is, you have GOT to see this really move and really go sexy
ROGUE April 2012

As always, ROGUE magazine gives you something to talk about, buy and definitely get all giddy for. When I saw this cover at the Magnum launch days ago, I said to myself out loud "Oh wow, galing talaga ng ROGUE..." Gladly, it was too loud for anyone to hear my little appreciation for the magazine I love. I always assumed it'll be their sports issue, cause last year was a successful sports issue they had launched and I also loved, loved, loved my work for that one. 

But I'm also as happy that they're going for an issue that highlights---taking from the blurbs, things literary. I've been hunting for good local publications that celebrate writing and literature and the people who make it possible and here comes ROGUE, easing all that searching away...I hope they make it happen that they have a sports AND literary issue (if that is what you should call it).

But anyway, back to the cover. Flashed on a wide wall of a screen back at the launch, you see Solenn Heussaff coming alive from the cover and that flowing chocolate-colored cloth, eventually comes down and slides off the Goddess' body and you're left with your imagination. Plus of course the Magnum bar makes it more sweet. I stepped outside and bumped into one of my bosses (outside of W), LA and congratulated him for the cover. He's the genius behind the styling of it and I was happy the ROGUE team did a splendid job. People are definitely talking about it in varied lights but it only proves how successful ROGUE, Magnum and Solenn are. They're true magnanimous names coming together and showing everybody how it's done.

Of course, I feel awfully happier to know that for this issue, LA had me write one of my favorite style subjects to date: Clyde Barrow of Bonnie & Clyde and also the real 007, Ian Fleming. They're such exciting people to do a style profile of and I hope you'll enjoy my work, with LA's polishing for this issue. 

Judging from the issue's headlines, I'm definitely in for a treat. Grab your copies and indulge in all of ROGUE's moving visuals and moving stories...

Congratulations to ROGUE, ROGUE's first and, possibly the magazine's face and body, Solenn and to the brilliant people behind Magnum...This is PR, fashion, advertising, marketing, entertainment, food, business, publishing and journalism at its best. 

- Gerard

W is for Wishes

Patti Grandidge. ETCETERA host, Cupcake Queen, Beyonce fan and most of all, a class act!
Love this girl. I especially love it when she says "Bet"!
And while you're reading this, love her too, here!

It's about time I show you a real deal, beautiful, great-looking weekend that features people who are actual people (cause really, sometimes they feel like they're beyond us).

To celebrate 11-11-11 (for wishes granted and because "W" actually stands for "Wishes", no, not really) and also to finally let all my bottled-up fanaticism out, I present to you the talents I handle and have met for work. God truly loves me cause he knows that his handsome and beautiful creations are my drugs and for a job, he gave me W Talent Management. Always so thankful for this.

Like I always say, it's all stress and pressure, but when you see these people in person and they're incredibly nice and genuine and just too great-looking to comprehend, you just want to climb and move mountains to give them the best careers and jobs the world has to offer.

And yes, it's about damn time I show you a great-looking weekend of models and personalities that are from the Philippines and most of all, from W Talent Management. (Yeheeesss, major promotion).

Welcome to your great-looking Friday, courtesy of (my) WORK! Happy 11-11-11 too...Cause when all I ever asked for was to meet a great-looking famous someone, God gave me all of them. 

Magazine Mondays: Food

I'm not quite sure what this is, but it looks yummy anyway.

12:35 in the morning, and I'm hungry (in case time has passed, this fact will never change hahaha).
I don't know what it is, but I'm always, always hungry. I'm praying it's a sign of a faster metabolism, but I doubt it. Haven't been exercising for a while now cause of, well, something. Anyway, NAS CAPAS, the blog I've been telling you about is now my big, big, big source of inspiration.

And since I'm hungry, why not marry the two? The cure to a midnight hunger pang and an uninspired hour, is a collection of NAS CAPAS coolest FOOD MAGAZINE COVERS!
Prepare to salivate, cause these covers would make you want to munch on your computer screen.
All photos from NAS CAPAS

Jesus, save me!

- Gerard

Art Issues

Sting Caused by the Flight of a bee by Salvador Dali

The Kiss by Pablo Picasso, 1969

(Really) Excited to get my hands on the latest issue of ROGUE magazine November 2011. I was glad that LA gave me an assignment for this issue cause I'm still deeply in love with the magazine as I have always been. It's ROGUE's annual Art Issue, featuring a short-haired, Louis Vuitton-clad Vanessa Matsunaga on a gray and yellow cover. Stunning, I tell you.

For this issue, my pieces were about two legendary artists, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. My art training came in handy. Suddenly I could smell my classroom back in college, the scent of newly copied readings that eat up so much of my room space and my lunch money, and all those sorta-rushed papers for all my Wednesday Art classes (Art Theory and Visual Arts). During these times, I feel incredibly thankful for great education. Cause honestly, great education affords you a say on something...And it's not just mindless gab or making a sound just for the sake of it. With great education, you could say something worth everyone's time.  And while personal style (how people dress up) may not have been offered as a major subject back in college, with education I've learned to write about this topic with (great difficulty still) a little more science to it.

Where I am Now

The most memorable documentary I've seen.
AND the documentary that reminds me of my work...
Must watch

Today wasn't my best. It could've been the Monday drinking (which I genuinely loved, thanks Louisa) or there was just something about today that didn't work out for me. I know we should be masters of our moods, but, then again, it's just one of those days. Still, I have one great reason to celebrate.

I'm officially three months at W and so far, so great. It is tiring and I'm still getting used to being more "social" cause it's part of the job, but everytime I give myself minutes to really look at myself and look at the job I have, I'm a million times thankful that this is where I am. I've learned a few of its pains, a few of its perks but have completely seen the influence and effect one could possibly achieve after all such hard work. 

I have been privileged to meet people who are industry movers and shakers and up-and-coming influencers who have been characters in my wildest of dreams. I knew they existed. I knew that they were somewhere out there, far from where I stand and definitely unreachable. But after this job, I've been having meetings with them, presenting them (in my opinion) crappy presentations, shaking their hands, gladly pocketing their neat business cards and happily being on the receiving end of a smile. This isn't a post that just talks about how wonderful and special and cool my job is, cause it's really not all glamour and prestige. It's mostly about hardwork and dedication and discipline and knowledge and foresight (all of such I'm praying I master real soon). But this is a post that showcases how it is and how incredibly happy I am about it.

I'm thankful, really, to be able to do such things and meet such fantastic people who have this much impact on culture and society, that it shrinks me even smaller, putting me in my place and finally helping me understand where I'm supposed to be in the very near future.

And of course, it also helps a lot that the people I do work with and the people I call my "kids" are all so cool and talented and funny and smart and driven (not to mention, splendidly great looking). The moment I realized how promising the job is, I understood how the universe works for us, more specifically, how God works it all out. It's just plain great. 

I know three months doesn't hold anything relevant, but there's just something about the fact that I've actually been working for three, whole, months that deserves some blog space. It seems crazy cause I still feel like I'm in school. But anyway...To more months of work and hardships and happiness...

-Gerard

The Anniversary

Photographed by Mark Nicdao
Styled by LA Consing Lopez

ROGUE's Style & Design issue marks my first year as a writer. And that's sealed with an official seal. Whenever a cover of ROGUE comes out, I usually get too excited just because ROGUE has given me a start at my dreams. Had I not been approached to do a piece for September 2010, I wouldn't know if I'd be able to really write for anyone in this country. After that break, I got lots of other writing gigs and I always, always credit ROGUE for it.

So imagine just how happy I am, that even when I basically butchered my piece for this one (cause it was a hard piece and at the same time, I was finding it a little hard to adjust with the work load and all, etc.) LA just whipped it into great shape and I had a glimpse of the page and it's beautiful. Despite detractors, you know that when ROGUE does it, it's a perfect job. I am really happy to have my name under the masthead along with other amazing and talented people and I do hope that I get to write better stuff for them soon. Besides, I believe so much in ROGUE, it's turned into something beyond a bias actually. But yeah...

Thanks ROGUE for the initiation. It's done me incredibly well and I'd love to do incredibly well for you too.

Grab your copy and check out our (with my editor, LA) ROGUE Clothing Care Guide. Also, figure out who Janet Emmrich looks like..The babe on the cover. She's so beautiful and this cover is just so decadent but at the same time, stripped down to a feel of something basic and bare. And for some reason, it's like you could smell something old from the cover, like an old mansion or how patchouli smells or a rose too... Wonderful job as always...

(Praying that this'd be real thick and packed)

- Gerard

Buy Me (cause I'm thirsty)

I'm killing for that maroon-blue striped sweater...Mark my words. Thanks Hypebeast

I swear, I went thirsty after checking Hypebeast out. I'm at the office right now, blogging, surfing and waiting for assignments to come, when Dries Van Noten's waterworld-ready Spring 2012 clothes slapped me on the face (TWICE) thanks to Hypebeast.

I could kill a cat for these sweaters. And I could already imagine my unguilty staring at my closet once these start hanging in there. (Of course, you know very well I'm not the violent kind, and I won't really kill a cat, but for effect and to prove I love it that much, I wrote that). What's also bothering me straight to the soul would be that striped wallet. But I think it'd be roadkill if I wore the maroon-blue striped sweater with the wallet. Too much. Too tacky. Too gaudy. 

And those sandals and shoes...Jesus Christ, I am palpitating in some fit of envy, hunger, greed... Well, my boss is here.

I promise you, I need these goodies soon.

How much would these cost? I want to go hungry for it.

Mandals! Gorgeous

- Gerard

Pitti So Far

Day 2, Pitti Uomo. Smoke it baby!
photographed by Nam STREET FSN

So I'm a homebody this weekend, all cause I'm sick and it's really hard for me to breathe. 

But what's making it worse is how Pitti's turning out. I'm consumed by envy at all those photos Tommy Ton, Nam, ACL, Guerreisms have been showing. Everybody in blazers, going sockless and smoking reds with their sunglasses on, I mean, cast judgment on my inclinations, but this is their world and for me, it's a handsome world. 

What G dreams of now.

The very first model I've actually interviewed.
Jules "Super Cool" Schratter.
BAYM!

Jules Schratter, the man I consider a fairy Godfather (it was the first thing that came to mind) is responsible for making one of my many dreams come true (like posting on his Tumblr a Garrett Neff photo and dedicating it to me, and allowing me a very candid interview, both of which has humbled me beyond words).
But everything would really come true if I see, in my mail, one day, someday, photos of Garrett Neff, Sean O'pry and the wish-granting, super cool Jules Schratter holding up signs of "Big Up G" soon.
Y'all know it's almost Milan Fashion Week right and y'all know all the best stuff happens during those times...For me at least. So yeah, I am praying to God that at least he'd grant me this one.
I've been feeling down lately for reasons I'd be happy to share, but aren't necessary and I'd probably live ten years happier if I saw those photos.
Anyway, that's actually one of the best and simplest things a person who blogs about models could ever ask for.
Jules, I hope you read this...
You're my Saint, remember?

(NOTE: Sleepblogging, reason why it sorta reads like a drunkard typing away...But, still, this is what I dream of happening)

- Gerard

The Exit: An Open Letter to Batch 2011

So true. 

I'm skipping the awful sentiments, about how it felt like only yesterday and all that crap...

...Actually, it does feel like it was all yesterday. It's cliche, but it always feels like the first day of college. You barely know anybody and you think everybody's wayyy better than you (or if you're suffering superiority complex, everyone's not worth your time) when in fact, you're probably all just the same: kinda ugly, soon-to-be real great-looking kids who'll be shuffling through carpeted hallways to the next class, all for the sake of becoming who we're supposed to be.

So, for the record, I really didn't expect my college life to be such an amazing journey. I was set on being alone and just dedicating four years of my life to never having fun and just burying my face in books and readings (cause I always thought high school was where fun ended). But then I met lots of amazing people, professors included, who've been nothing but the most brilliant people you could ever meet in college. Surprisingly, even those people you think you'd never like you end up praising simply because they're not at all bad people.

What I'll be cherishing the most about college is definitely the school. They tell you that what you love about the school is actually the people, and had you been placed somewhere else with the same people, the setting wouldn't have mattered. In my case, I owe all of the greatness to my school. The University of Asia & the Pacific has opened me up to a culture I'd gladly carry around with me even to my last breath. This institution has taught me how to speak, write, listen, learn, create, appreciate, educate, understand and most of all, leave the mind, heart and soul open for just about everything. Four years has definitely whipped me into great shape in all aspects of life and credit goes to UA&P. Here, I have come to learn that we write our own stories, weave our own destinies and most definitely change the face of life itself for my own and for others. Here, I have come to learn that you could be as limitless as you want yourself to be. And here I have come to learn that the only thing you could do is be your best for yourself and for others.

Li De Torres, editor in chief of our superb yearbook, mentioned how the design of our book was inspired by matches (or something like that) and that they believed---my talented friends who have worked day and night to publish something all of us will be keeping forever, all of us were made to be great people someday soon. The whole "trailblazing" idea is great, really and that's how I feel after having completed education and my short life in UA&P. I am definitely one of the many trailblazers this university has groomed and I'm beyond glad to have shared it with fellow trailblazers, whom I believe, will be exceeding expectations in the future.

Of course, college would never be a four-chapter ride if it weren't for all the people involved: my family, my college and high school friends, my professors and just simply everyone behind it. Sartre tells you Hell is other people. And somebody else says man can never stand alone...Maybe they're both right and maybe what they're trying to say is that you just simply couldn't live without hell. I'm kidding. No, really, university life would have been a long, snail kind of travel if it weren't for these people. College wouldn't matter if it weren't for these people and I thank them for everything, for the best and worst of times and for the love they have shared with me. 

And the most important one of all, God...All of this would never be if it weren't for Him. Thank you and I love you.

Upon our exit of collegiate life, sometime after the amazing post-grad party, you'll wake up and say it's all back to normal. Then we complain that we're bored. Then we start enjoying the bum life. Then we complain about the first day of work or not having the best boss in the world. Then we tweet about the greatest love we've found. Then we get married. Then we have kids. Then we become parents. Then we become grandparents. Then we perish, like candles long standing and burning...

...Somewhere in between, we've become what our dreams have whispered us to be: writers, models, engineers, professors, government officials, public servants, artists, poets, celebrities, race car drivers, athletes, musicians, designers, business tycoons, personalities, idols, legends... 

And while we're never sure of tomorrow, what we could reach is the fact that before all of this happens, we were once mere promises and potentials waiting for this exact exit...

To the fulfillment of promises, to putting an end to potentialities, to changing the world and to being the best we could ever be...

Congratulations my friends, for this exit we shall never forget.

See you around kids.

- Gerard

Pages

The stunning Teresa Herrera shot by Mark Nicdao and styled by Pam Quinones

This morning it finally arrived: my copy of the latest issue of ROGUE.

I always tell people that--whenever I contribute to them, it's my favorite work to date and stuff like that. This month, isn't really my favorite, but I'm really happy about it. To LA my editor, who always does a great job at keeping my posts tight and better, thanks for the new page you assigned me.

I've been doing Get The Look for 8 months, I think and Retrospect for some months. This month he gave me a Radar assignment which he called "The Summer Check-List". 

This was really one of those assignments that got me thinking, since it involved more of the trends than an all-around, all-year round style point of view. What was difficult was keeping it true to ROGUE fashion and at the same time marrying what's good now with it.

Thankfully, the turnout was great and the page, I really, really, really love. It's visually one of my most pleasing pages of the magazine (of course, not ignoring my last month's really relatively BIG page). 

So here it is! I am so proud of it, I had to take pictures. hahaha

My George Clooney page. Styling & captions by LA Consing Lopez

The Mark Ronson Get The Look. Title-wise, this is one of my favorites. Along with last September's Grant State of Mind

Such a beautiful page. I really love it. The Summer Check-List

It's not just cause my work is here that it matters. You will find yourself stuck on pages after pages of interesting and smart pieces, all theories and opinions and facts about the future...SINCE, the issue is all about the future, this issue will raise a LOT of interest especially when it comes to Teddy Boy Locsin's 2021 prediction about our country's government...You will be surprised at what they have to say about the future.

- Gerard

The Heat List

David Foster Wallace & his late greatness @ GQ

Summer starts today, for me. Why? Wala lang. Grades are out (and final), and yes, I've done well. All of my hard work has finally paid off.
I'm waiting for my last one subject---that one subject I have been nervous about for probably a month now, and this is exactly how summer has felt for me for ages. 

A lazy, waiting that could stretch for forever. And while I'm (hopefully) finally done with school, I decided it's time for a summer lifestyle change. 

Here is a compilation of great things I've been interested in for a while. From David Foster Wallace's intriguing GQ story (not to mention his much-talked about novel The Pale King) to Laureen Uy's super style to our photoshoot, to Goodies magazine to Perry Como and more.

Let's quit the yapping and get it on with the Heat List.

WHO THE HELL IS DAVID FOSTER WALLACE?

David Foster Wallace's story on GQ is very interesting so far. For me, the great thing about it is how fellow writer and author of this article, John Jeremiah Sullivan writes about the controversial and contemporary literature icon. Read more about it and answer the question, why the hell should we care about David Foster Wallace, here. 

GOODIES COMING

THE EDGE column @ Goodies mag

When a certain Kelvin Zlochevsky e-mailed me sometime ago, I had no idea what Goodies Mag was. The invitation to become a columnist for the New York-based online magazine was more than humbling. One of my dreams has always been to write as a columnist for a newspaper. That was when the internet wasn't the internet. Goodies magazine, in a nutshell is a guy's magazine. From all those babes you'd want to be with to the music you ought to listen to to the latest eateries 'round the world and to more masculine concerns you should be concerned with, Goodies has got it figured well. Make sure you check out soon what I'm writing for Goodies. I've been thinking about Star Trek lately and its odd connection to Prada...Why? How? Well, better read it when it's done. 

THE DELHOMME TOUCH

Jean-Philippe Delhomme for Kitsune's Spring 2011 campaign @ HighSnobiety

A GQ reader would know JP Delhomme, for his languid, super chic and cool illustrations are regulars at the Style Guy section. This Spring 2011, Delhomme lends his awesome touch to Maison Kitsune's for handsome illustrations that tell a fantastic story. If only clothes really looked that cool, I'd spend a leg over them. Great work Delhomme...Now if only I could have these framed.

SUMMER DRESSING

My favorite summer lady look @ BreakMyStyle

Undeniably one of the most fashionable personalities I've seen, Laureen Uy shows ladies how a dressed-up summer looks like. She's always turned out, no doubts about that, but this super chic ensemble is my favorite. What I love about it is how it's all so summery, what with that almost sheer top lined with pink, buttoned-up to perfection and paired down with a beautifully-printed skirt. At first I thought it was a dress, but her credits prove that with the right pieces combined, you could create a look that's all your own. I'd be Tommy Ton to whoever could dress this elegantly. People just don't dress this clean and polished these days. We're too casual a generation, I'm guilty, and this is an example that dressing up sometimes does you great things. Follow Laureen's blog and keep track of her stylish adventures....

PERRY & PAUL

Papa Loves Mambo by Perry Como

Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman

Knowing this blog (and me), old school tribute and reference is a must! I'm giving my usuals the break (Dean, Clift, Brando, E & F Fitzgerald, Shearing, Holiday, etc.) for two P's: Perry Como and Paul Newman. Since I've been hooked on old school songs sometime now, I listen to my grandmother's station of choice after lunch...Dr. Love on Radio DZMM plays you all these old-timey tunes and when you're young, you'll think it's cheap, old, korny and what have you, but for those of us who have a classic bone, this is a pretty fun station to tune into. Perry Como is a playback king in Dr. Love's station and it doesn't hurt that he's pretty stylish and one of the great-looking men I've seen. 

Paul Newman is another stylish inspiration. After seeing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with the late Elizabeth Taylor, I started to like Paul Newman a lot. He and McQueen, I believe are more of the same calibre, than the Holy Trinity. Anyway, Paul Newman is a stunner for sure stylewise and as an actor. I'm downloading more of his movies and I'm excited to watch them all.

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

Hey doll. Jessica Stam and loads more of today's most beautiul people @ICanTeachYouHowToDoIt

Great-looking people, you could say, is my drug of choice. There is no other experience out there for me that could take you on a high than seeing and oggling at handsome ladies and beautiful men. I Can Teach You How To Do It by fellow Gerard, Gerard Estadella is an amazing blog (and why I found it just now, I have no idea). This is definitely one of the blogs I'll be frequenting this summer, just so I have inspiration when it comes to taking pictures and being taken. Just always remember to put your best face on and you'll surely get photos as great as Estadella's.

BACK TO SCHOOL

The most beautiful rucksack I've seen @ Selectism

The first ever rucksack I had was from my mom's, a black bag printed with Mickey Mouse's profile all over in different colors. Then I have my Forever 21 one which is really the biggest bag I have and I've used it way too often. This Bill Amberg Hunter Rucksack though is definitely an art. The delicious leather, the color, the tiny gold accents, not to mention the deep sea green inner lining of this bag that makes it extra charming for me, has got me begging for money in the streets. Maybe going back to school is a great idea, I mean, I could pursue my master's degree AND carry this around, now that's an amazing deal right there.


FALLING IN LOVE WITH SASHA 





I still can't believe she has kids and she's not in her teens. Sasha Pivovarova, otherwise known a just plain Sasha, is a mad presence on the runway. And by mad I mean that in the best, most casual way. Top model---and not just a title you throw around, Sasha's awfully beautiful here for Free People and she's looking radiant, young and oh so fragile, it kills me. I'm having this video on my iPod soon. And I can't hold myself from tearing up when she's doing that two-tooth model smile, it's beautiful.

I'll be coming up with more of these while summer's here. Enjoy you guys!

- Gerard

Printed Matters

In the dry afternoons of summer, what we're planning to do is to walk around, talk about whatever's worth talking about and while we're at it, take to the streets printed shirts that are as easy, cool and light as any ideal summer look ought to be. 

Welcome to a Salt exclusive shoot, featuring SM Boys' Teens Wear Department's affordable and neat summer offerings for basically everyone. Photographed by super photographer/friend Lesley Choa, one of my best friends, Tj Estrada and I have gone 'round to test the afternoon in SMBTW's printed matters.

on Tj left: Undefeated shirt,
on me right: Mickey Mouse Spray painted shirt

You might not see it, but Tj's Undefeated shirt is the perfect counterpoint to my Mickey Mouse shirt. On Tj's is a photo of a man, wearing blinders and on his head Mickey's ears, the photo rendered dark and a little moody. Hence the story of him being the bad Mickey (what with all his dark, sober colors) and I being the good Mickey (thanks to so much perked up hues).

Tj: Team Manila Klasik shirt
Me: the Daily Grind shirt

Summer's one of the best reasons to wear some shorts and to pair these basic shorts with, we chose shirts that'll draw attention, like my Daily Grind "Gai Jin" shirt and Tj's Team Manila Klasik "Salisalita sakalye ngManila TeamManila Klasik".

Me: "Teenage Stray" James Dean shirt
Tj: Charlie Chaplin shirt both by Undefeated

My idea was to give tribute to Old Hollywood icons, my idol James Dean and the ultra talented, legendary Mr. Charlie Chaplin. Tj's idea was to shoot this inspired by those models off duty and how they look like on JakandJil photos. The first one, I say is a success. The second one, is quite alright... And yes, we smoke and I drank way too much Coke for my own good. But that was the inspiration. (Tj pointed out that I should've had Coke Zero or Light but the regular one popped best on photos).

Me: "Bossing Para!" shirt by Team Manila Klasik
Tj: "A Mouthful O' Knowledge" shirt by Daily Grind

I badly wanted to play tennis that afternoon but I couldn't find a tennis ball (hahaha) and we only had one racket. As you might've guessed it, yes, the styling's intention was to sort of match things up but at the same time made sure it had contrasts. This last look both had statements on them and speech bubbles. Seeing them on their hangers didn't really make much sense other than those two similarities, but it turns out they looked so great together on photos. The colors, especially.

Visit SM Boys' Teens Wear Department's Facebook page for more information on their collections, status-as-advice posts AND most of all a chance to win 5,000 pesos weekly from SM as prize from their contest. What contest? First off, like their Facebook page. Second, check out the details on the page itself for SM's lookbook contest and search for the application. Once the dirty work's done, go ahead and get your own talented photographer or if you are one, take a photo of your self sporting at least (2) of SMBTW's pieces purchased during the promo period. Got it? Then, once you're done, upload it on SMBTW's Facebook page and make sure to gather all your friends to have them vote for your photo. If you're photo is that good and you manage to beat everyone else with the number of votes/likes you get, then you're definitely going shopping in SM and you could forget about your wallet.

Go be creative and celebrate your own style!

Thanks to Lesley Choa, Tj Estrada and SM Boy's Teens Department for the amazing clothes you've got on your shelves. Keep them coming SM. You've found new customers in us.

PEACE!

- Gerard

How's it looking (so far)

Doing the "model-off-duty" photos.
"Teenage Stray"/James Dean shirt left, Tj Estrada in Charlie Chaplin shirt all by SM Boys' Teens Wear Department
Photo by Lesley Choa

The shoot is done.

Our Salt exclusive, mini-project took place yesterday, under a pretty dizzying after lunch sun. Photographer, friend and all-round whitest girl in the world, Lesley Choa took some real great photos, most of which I never expected to look so brilliant. I was too preoccupied with sweating and making sure that we got our shots than looking at the pictures.

So, when I got them just minutes ago on my e-mail I was pretty pleased with the outcome. It was fun shopping around SM yesterday, looking for great shirts that Tj could wear along with what I've already bought. And even Tj was amazed at just how much you could find at SM Boys' Teens Wear Department. 

The photos will be up tomorrow night and all the final photos will be there. As you know, it's a shirt story and you're going to see lots of sunglasses as well since it is summer. If you haven't heard and if you haven't liked SM Boys' Teens Wear Department's Facebook page, SM is holding a contest. 

For all teenage boys out there the contest is all about you wearing at least 2 items purchased during the promotion period (which is on now) from the SM Boys' Teens Wear Department. Whatever style you swear by, it's perfectly fine. Applications will be sent soon, I believe so you could have your photos uploaded on their Facebook page and when it's that good, voters could put you on top of the entire contest. If you're the highest, you definitely win a prize (trust me, I'd want to win that prize). And the prize is no joke. It's some serious prize they're offering, so better do good. I'll be posting more details by tomorrow, so you could start your own shoot. 

As for Tj and I, well, we're pretty satisfied with what we've got, shopping from SM Boys' Teens Wear Deparment. Those shirts we bought will be on heavy rotation I tell you, during these scorching days of summer. And the photos are proof that you'd want to pile up on them for sure.

Here are more news: ROGUE has finally granted me headline space. Though I haven't got my name on it, my Chuck Taylor piece (thank you LA) made it the headlines and that's been on my wishlist for a long time, so thank you ROGUE. PLEASE grab yourselves a copy, not just cause I wrote for this issue, but because it'll blow your sucks off. It's an AMAZING cover, I promise you. Probably their best.

GOODIES magazine, the online magazine that got me as a columnist (thank you Kelvin) finally published my review of Patrik Ervell's aerial collection. Check out what GOODIES has got for you from hot ladies to music news to people worth reading about. GOODIES is all about every man's interest, trust me, it's a cool new avenue for what's great now. 

And before I bid goodnight, here are more of the outtakes from our shoot yesterday. ALL PHOTO credit goes to Lesley "Le Sizzle" Choa. Thank you Lesley, thank you Tj and thank you to SM Boys' Teens Wear Department for all the great clothing options you NOW offer everyone.

The Bad Mickey Good Mickey look.
Tj in an Undefeated shirt, TOPMAN button down, Me in a Mickey Mouse Disney shirt and H&M Button down
T-shirts from SM Boys' Teens Wear Deparment
Take note of my face. ahahahah

The sportiest we could do:
Bossing Para! shirt by Team Manila Klassik and Mouth Full O' Knowledge shirt by the Daily Grind
from SM Boys' Teens Wear Deparment
I look damn pregnant here. Tsk. hahaha...

P.S. I just might be pregnant. :))

- Gerard