Enjoy Music with Open & Lock!!!

November 2nd starts a brand new, and awfully awesome, Premium Program from 7-11....  this time around, Open, Lock and the rest of the Open Plaza gang with let you enjoy MUSIC like never before....  yep, they will all be available as Music Earphones... and just from the Adverts and posters up so far - I already know I want to collect them all!!!  HELP!!!

Peanuts Gang's All Here!!!

The traveling exhibition: "Inside Peanuts: The Life and Art of Charles M. Schulz" has hit the Taipei shore and will be thrilling youngsters and (a few) young at hearts through the 4th of March. 

The exhibition itself, is OK, in my opinion... nothing too great as the venue was quite small.... and the goods displayed were not even that much.....   though it was great to see a few pieces from 1958...  still after being wowed by the recent ASTROBOY Exhibition, and remembering the SNOOPYLAND in Japan, this one left a lot to be desired for me....    Am sure though that kiddies and Teenage girls will be happy enough with the exhibition...  and yes, it was GREAT to see the Peanuts Gang in many different forms... like seeing old friends once again....

<>

 

CORE PACIFIC CITY LIVING MALL (Taipei, Taiwan)

TEL: 866-2-3762-1888
FAX: 866-2-3762-1981
E-mail: service@cpcity.com.tw

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL!!!

Wishing you all a SAFE, EXCITING, & Fun Filled Halloween Weekend Guys!  Can't believe a couple of years had passed since I took this shot....   and I have yet to really celebrate Halloween again...

BOO HOO!!!

and SUDDENLY AM MISSING:
-Halloween in the Castro..
-Just Desserts Pumpkin Cookies...
-Dia De Los Muertos in the Mission District...
-the Cool Autumn Breeze of San Francisco
-and all my friends in the Bay Area!!!!
:( :( :(

COACH Celebrates 70th Anniversay

Last Saturday, Oct 22nd, I had the pleasure of attending the 70th Anniversary Celebration of the COACH brand - Taipei Style!!!

Thanks to my friend Sue (one of COACH Taiwan's VIP customers *WINKS*) and to some sort of  circumstances - I lucked out and both Cecilia and Juliana could not attend the event with her...  so it was my turn!!!!

I expected a fashion show, as seen from Previous years' coverage of the Annual Event - but since this was the brand's 70th BDay - they decided to treat their VIPs to, not just a fashion show, but to a mini - concert...  3 mini concerts really as three different acts did their thing:  Black Pearl & White Diamonds, A JAZZ BAND ACT that wowed the crowds with their songs Jazzy Grooves...  *****, whose name escapes me now as she has not been seen for quite some time but has a very nice voice that I like - even bought her DEBUT CD when it came out years ago....  and the STAR ATTRACTION for the nite, Vanness Wu - from F4 and Meteor Garden fame....   not really a Great singer but dances really well, and an excellent muscle flexer....   of late he is known for his Sexy MVs and Earl Jean  Sexy Ad campaign.....  and yes, there were still a couple of segments - in between acts - of Fashion Show....  pretty models strutting in their COACH clothing, promoting the new line of Men's & Women's Bags - what the Brand is more known for....

After it all...  on our way out... we happen upon Vanness Wu taking a few PRESS SHOT with COACH Taiwan's Higher Ups....  they were also joined by "Da Swei Ba" (Big Mouth) - another popular band - who was also in attendance but did not perform....  Star gazing was in full force for me that nite as saw a host of other familiar Fashion Models, TV and Music personalities....   Over all it was a Great Nite for  people and Star Gazing!!!  

The event was held in one of Taiwan's newest mall, ATT 4 Fun....  right on the top floor where the events room is used mainly for mini concerts of Taiwan's more popular acts...

 (Thanks Again, Sue!!!)

MORE PHOTOS HERE!

let the HOWLING Begin!!!!

...was just blogging about local Pinoy brands going International - now comes another surprise...  but this time around, am not complaining.....  

BENCH, the Philippine's #1 local brand, goes Hollywood with their latest Ad Campaign for their Globally Popular underwear label, Bench Body...  Always a front runner in cladding, or disrobing I should say, famous hot bodies - Bench Body did it again!!!  This time in the form of The Vampire Diaries' resident wolfman:  Michael Trevino aka Tyler Lockwood....  and these shots will surely give everyone something to HOWL about - even before HALLOWEEN!!!

HAPPY HUMP DAY ALL!!!

...lightening up the load....

Sad to report, yesterday, I posted my last photo for 365 project...  not because I am tired of the project - I LOVE 365!  the year and some days I spent were, for the most part: fun, challenging, and enjoyable.  As  I always enjoy toting the camera around, it was a great release, great place, to POST and SHARE some of my shots....  what I find interesting, different, beautiful - and in my very own perspective....  it has been great getting feedback from other snappers around the world - both professionals and amateurs, like me....  Over the period, I have met quite a few WONDERFUL PEOPLE - whose TALENTS and PHOTOS INSPIRED ME and put me in AWE....  made me do more, experiment more, and see more things differently.....  These people will be SURELY MISSED!

But true to the saying, all good things must come to an end....  permanently or temporarily, the end for 365 project and I have come....  with all that has been going on with my life, it has become too much to keep up with the project.... I always find myself lagging, frustrated and trying to catch up...  not just with my own photo entries each and every day - but with catching up on other people's work...  I have less and less time looking and admiring their work - much more commenting on most....  and this makes me SAD... and yes, the person that I am, GUILTY....   Guilty of not doing my share, my part....  so for this, I must make the hard choice of leaving the community - till I find my time permits me to do so once more....  more freely and can stay current with all....  with less pressures and less frustrations - as I must TRULY SAVE MY ENERGY....  and STOP FEELING LIKE AM RUNNING ON EMPTY - which I have been the last few months....   

I am NO SUPERMAN, or SUPER RUDI, AFTER ALL.... :(

and NEEDLESS to say, I would have HATED ENDING UP FEELING SOUR with the whole project....  it is BEST to leave when am HAPPY and with HAPPY THOUGHTS for the community....

So with 365 Project, I start my journey into streamlining my life... lightening up my load...  and hopefully, finding my way back to a more relaxed...   less stressful daily life....

Last Entry for 365: Dated Oct 25th, 2011

PENSHOPPE Goes Inter, Again!!!

Earlier this year, Penshoppe - one of the Philippines leading clothing brand - completely stunned me when they unveiled their latest ad campaign....  though am not much a FAN of their clothing (too young, too trendy, not too hip), I have always admired their advertising... and their choice of endorsers....   from Jericho Rosales.. to Victor Basa... to Matteo Gudecelli...  local actor/ models and certified hunks...  but this Springtime,  out went the local hotties - and instead, they unveiled a slew of print ads and billboards with Hollywood Star, Ed Westwick...  Chuck Bass of the popular Gossip Girl....   I suppose this is a BIIG COUP for the local brand...  delighted the masses who frequents their shops....  but alienated me a bit more....   Have nothing against Mr. Westwick - I can even say that some of the ads I have seen with him in, I actually like....  he looked better that I remember him in the show....  though I have only caught the first season... hahahahahaha...

Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick

Now, word is that a slew of new Ad Campaigns will be hitting the market for Penshoppe before the Holidays... this time around using Thai Actor/Model/Superstar Mario Mauer...  once again... not a local hottie but at least, coming from the same continent....  and with half an Asian blood infuse in him....  I believe he has a Thai mother and a European father...  and though I have never seen him in anything he has acted in (Love of Siam being his biggest HIT!) - I have seen him magazines and local entertainment news...  and he is a certified hottie...  so am looking forward to his shots up in biiig billboards, as well as, print ads in local Philippine Fashion Mags....  BTW, Mario will make a Personal Appearance in Manila on Oct 29th - he will be one of the main attraction for Penshoppe's Fashion Show for Philippine Fashion Week.

Thai Actor/Model mario Mauer - Soon to WOW Penshoppe Lovers!!!

So this is a TREND the Philippine fashion houses are going for it seems....  Bench's underwear ads with the Philippine Ruby Team (though playing for the Philippines - each but one of them look Filipino!); OXYGEN using none but Caucasian Models...  and now, Penshoppe with their "one-two" use of foreign talents... 

So what's the deal???   Why replace the locals with International stars, athletes and/or models?   In fairness, Philippine Houses uses foreign talents both in print and media ads... and Philippine runways also boasts foreign talents... still, the locals always gets top billing and are the main focus.... until now....  as EXCITING as it is that the Philippine brands seemed geared to go Global - it is saddening to think that they will NOT BE REPRESENTED by Local Bloods.... seems a bit of a shame...  especially now that the Filipino Pride and Community seems to be everywhere - in sports, in Music, on TV, etc....

Victor Basa - Boy I do miss seeing his face in Penshoppe's Advertising....  Still, my FAVE Penshoppe Endorser Ever!

Be@rbrick Series 23

well, no real photos yet but just from the newest announcement regarding the lines for Series 23 - coming out Dec of this year - I am pretty sure am IN TROUBLE once more.... Real Steel, RUNE, Andy Warhol, - just to name a few..... they all spell EXCITING to me....

and I sure could use a bit of excitement today as most of the day was spent sleeping from this terrible cold am having now....  once again Fatigue, Frustrations and everything else has caught up with me....   and with the spirits really low, a cold has struck me...

From the photo on the left, you can see that Series 23 will include the following:

-Andy Warhol

-FRINGE (from the TV SERIES, am sure!)

-Real Steel (the Hugh Jackman movie...)

-RUNE

-Rilakkuma (Newest Cutie that's taken Asia by storm..)

-SONIC The Hedgehog

-Miweil

Happy Friday All!!!

just another rainy day in Taipei for me....  working... working... and working....  Still am SMILING as life is still good - for the most part....   hardships come and go... truly part of life....  but really, anywhere you turn to - if you look hard enough - you will see something to SMILE about... like this:

...saw this at a craft studio I always walk by....

HARDSHIP

Hardship may dishearten at first,
but every hardship passes away.
All despair is followed by hope;
all darkness is followed by sunshine.
-Rumi ♥================
Mom was rushed to the hospital early Wed morning.... found out about it a little after 12PM via PM form my niece, Nicole, on Facebook: "Your Mom was rushed to the hospital this morning. She could not breathe..." That was it... nothing more........

Needless to say I tried to call right away but to no avail... was at a lost all afternoon - going crazy with worries....  I even contemplated on getting an airline TIX and flying out to see her at once.... Good thing I was finally able to get a hold of my half brother (in Manila at the moment... on leave from his work in the Middle East) and found out how Mom is... 

Indeed, she was rushed early morning Wednesday, as she was having a hard time breathing since Tues nite.... somehow her lungs got clogged up from the cold she is having. which the doctors drained out of her... and was prescribed antibiotics.... the sad thing is that, though she was already feeling this - she did not say a thing as she didn't want to trouble anyone... :(  (Oh Mom!)

Thank God, she is now back at home, and her breathing is getting better and better....   

Real Steel. Real Tears

Boy, am really not one for BOXING but am such a HUGE Hugh Jackman fan, I had to go see Real Steel...  I mean when I first saw the Previews for it - I was not really impressed... was actually saying why is Hugh doing this movie?  The just seeing his smile, and throw in Evangeline Lilly as the love interest - I WAS SOLD!

Now, am glad I did go see it.... and can even TRULY HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!   It was great that the characters did not take a back seat from Special Effects or the Transformer Type Robot Fighters, though Adam (Hugh's son's robot) will surely make you smile and move you, too...   Story was well rounded enough, even with the predictability and the actors are all WINSOME....  they will tug at your heart and really rally to root for them all the way....   I mean I almost got up my seat and started shouting at the last fight, too....

Hugh Jackman is still as charming as ever... and all he does in a very manly way...   He is a Man's man...  and the fact that this actor can sing (can't wait to see him in the film version of Les Miserables) and dance makes me appreciate him more in these type of movies....   The young boy who plays his son, Dakota Goyo, is a cutie but not in a kiddie way... he still showed depth and maturity for his age...  wise beyond his years.....  and Evangeline Lilly....  wow, so happy to see her...   and her teary eyed scene at the end - without having to say anything - makes me miss her more now that LOST is off the air....  I do hope she gets her chance in Hollywood and go on to make even bigger movies that showcases her dramatic flair...  They were such screen presence I even forgot that i do not like movies with BOXING subtext (men or steel alike)....  :)

TRAILER LINK HERE: http://youtu.be/ei5l3r1dV4I

Rudi: *SWOON*

Zachary Quinto: A True Hero!

More on Zachary Quinto:

I cannot even say how much I admire him...  not just as an actor, but the person that he is...  most especially now after reading his own BLOGPOST in his OFFICIAL WEBSITE...   Truly a remarkable human being....

Here is his POST - Dated Oct 16th, 2011 :

"when i found out that jamey rodemeyer killed himself - i felt deeply troubled. but when i found out that jamey rodemeyer had made an it gets better video only months before taking his own life - i felt indescribable despair. i also made an it gets better video last year - in the wake of the senseless and tragic gay teen suicides that were sweeping the nation at the time. but in light of jamey's death - it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it - is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality. our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country. gay kids need to stop killing themselves because they are made to feel worthless by cruel and relentless bullying. parents need to teach their children principles of respect and acceptance. we are witnessing an enormous shift of collective consciousness throughout the world. we are at the precipice of great transformation within our culture and government. i believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society - and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action. jamey rodemeyer's life changed mine. and while his death only makes me wish that i had done this sooner - i am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me. now i can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world. that - i believe - is all that we can ask of ourselves and of each other."

and this is Zachary Quinto's TREVOR PROJECT PA.

Zachary Quinto is Out - Count him in!!!

Yes, Yes!!!   Zach Quinto aka Evil Sylar of Cult Fave Series "Heroes" and Star Trek's Mr Spock (see photos below) has come out...  the NET is BUZZING with the news and am sure this will be TRENDING on Yahoo for quite some time....

Story comes from a TWEET by Mark Harris, an editor for the NY TIMES, whom Mr Quinto recently did a profile interview with.  Mark Harris went on to say that Mr Quinto married to playwright Tony Kushner, whose Angels in America Quinto starred in during its recent Broadway revival.

You can read the rest of the article here:

Zachary Quinto Comes Out

Lunch with DR Q!!!

well....  let me set things straight right off the bat - we did not actually have lunch together....  we were in the same restaurant, Wood Stone, @ 98 Bistro Building....  separate tables and different companions....  I was with Juliana having our regular get-together.... so Close Enough to having lunch with him, right?  hahahahahahahahaha

DR Q, for those of you not familiar with him, burst into the scene via One Million Star - Taiwan;'s Premiere Singing Contest...   his Season was a few years back...  as far back as 2007 (am not too sure on this...)....   anyway, I have liked him ever since....  he sings pretty well, dances well, and has such a lively personality....  sometimes, you forget the talent as you are just amused by the personality....

Since then, he has been a permanent fixture on Taiwan Television...  variety shows, Idol Soap Operas and of course, he returns to One Million Star frequently....  I know that he has been making the rounds at local Pubs Island-wide....  sadly, I have not been able to catch him in person yet...  due to Timing mostly....   for the most part, I learn about the gig too late, or am out of the country - which you know is once a month....  Now he is making the rounds even more, as his CD will be coming out this month....  and the lead song is already making regular rotations on both MTV and VH1...  Catchy song... and FUN video - just right up his personality...

MV LINK: http://youtu.be/kA0b-c70DZg

So needless to say, I did not miss the chance when I saw him walk past us a couple of times....  the third time - he was actually leaving already - just had to get up, walk over and talk to him...  and of course, snap a shot....  to all these, he graciously accommodated me....   and I must say, I was not disappointed.... he was as charming, lively, outgoing, and friendly as he seems to be on TV....  now am even more of a FAN!!!!

BIG SMILES ALL AROUND!

Just a biiig Jason Wu Fan, I Guess!!!

First Lady of Taiwan wears JASON WU - AGAIN!!!

Would have been a Great Call except it was the same Fashion she wore already!!!
 =========================

 

At the recent Double Ten Celebration, Taiwan's First Lady took a lot of hits for wearing the same Jason Wu dress she wore last year..... so many reasons as to why this could be so:

-She is really not one to be known as a Fashionista.

-She is one No -None sense/No Frills Lady.
-She has no Stylist/Fashion Consultant/Adviser
-Recession

-Busy Schedule made her forget of this Important Event.

-but I really, would rather just say, she is a BIG Jason Wu (Designs) fan - like most of us!!!

GLOOMINESS

Okay, so I pretty much expected this weather as I saw it in the news yesterday.... albeit, the Heavy Rain and Thunder came a bit earlier than predicted, it was still expected....

Along with the Typhoon weather came so much more unpleasantness in the form of other things, other people....  Frustrations from not being able to do enough....  feeling helpless for the ones I cannot help.... and hurt from bitter words thrown my way, when all I was doing was caring...

I have always been told that my CURSE is that I am TOO SENSITIVE and that I CARE TOO MUCH....  MORE THAN I SHOULD....  and today, SADLY, I realise it more than ever...   Twice, with Great Intentions of reaching out and making family know that I CARE and MISS THEM resulted in getting my feelings hurt....   First, with every Great Intention and Genuine Feelings of Caring and Missing a family member, I reached out when I saw her on YM....   all was going GREAT till I offered a single advice regarding her future - a productive one  And I thought I was giving it  not in a  nagging way, but out of  a real genuine concern....   She has so MUCH HATRED in her life - that this one thing led her to BLOW OFF STEAM at me....   made me remember, all the other times I have been hurt by her careless words...  And, even sadder, I ended up yelling at my Mom... well, not directly at her - but to her over someone else.....  of course, I HATED myself in the process...  

Aaaaaah, I should know better....   I know my family for the most part... I know how they are... their good points and bad points.....   but why is it that I still let them get to me after all these years and everything else that has gone on in the family.....  after all these, I just had to drop everything and go out for a bit....  rain and all....  wanted to get some fresh air....   see something pretty - which is these blooms found by a school near the house....  then I felt better... and just had to remind myself that....

 I REALLY MUST LEARN TO CARE LESS....

FALL comes to SOGO...

Had to make a delivery on Chung Hsiao East Road....  since it is close by to SOGO Department Store, I decided to walk over there and had a quick lung in the food court.... glad I did as I was treated to a couple of things:

Firstly, I happen upon a Press Conference happening in front of ROSE RECORDS....  fans and press alike surrounded this band members - with tons of microphones shoved in front of their faces....  guess lots of media were covering the event....  the funny thing is that I am not familiar with them....  actually had to ask one of the spectator who they were... LOL....  They are called D.C.W., a quasi- popular Taiwan Rock Band..

Then as my stomach was already growling from hunger, I headed on to SOGO....   Hunger was completely forgotten as I admired the front of the Department  Store - red and orange cherry blossoms on display...  very Fall, very Japan....   totally made me forget about food and miss Japan so very much....

FnH's MARVEL-ous Offerings!!!

Yep, that's right....  one of the Philippine's leading clothing retailer, Folded N Hung,  has jumped on the SUPERHERO bandwagons and collaborated with MARVEL for their newest T-SHIRT Offerings....   and from what am seeing so far on the net, their designs are FUNKY, COOL, and SUPERHERO WORTHY!!!

So far the TEEs  highlights MARVEL's finest and more popular Superheroes:  Thor, Captain America, IRONMAN, The Hulk, Spiderman, Storm, Silver Surfer, and WOLVERINE....  the designs/graphics seems to me, nice and not too kiddie - so even Adult fans will surely not shy away from wearing these Tees....  Now I can only hope, some will still be around (my size!) the next time am in Manila.....

One of Folded N Hung's current AD for the line of MARVEL Tees!

and women are not neglected... some goodies for them, too!!!

Sweet Saturday

Unplanned, Unexpected Outings are ALWAYS BEST!!  Such was how Saturday was spent....   with such a gloomy day and nothing really much to do, as work was all done, went along with Jewel and family to Yilan for an afternoon/evening outing....

First stop was Mr Brown's Castle....  yes, Mr Brown Coffee - is BIIIIG in Yilan... this is actually the 2nd BIIIIIIG Coffee shop they have in this town....  you already saw the other one which I blogged about previously.....   This one, though not as biiiiig - is actually even cooler as the building facade is that of a castle.....  and the view - oh what a view.....   as it is located way up in the mountains - one gets a great view of the city and ocean.....  almost like being in one of the Castle's in Northern Europe....

In the evening, we went to the actual Tourist town of Yilan....  closed to the Train Station....   always bustling with tourists...  parades of Tour buses are parked, neon signs for various Hot Springs. Spas, Hotels blinds....  and rows and rows of restaurants lines the streets....  Here, we had dinner and took a bit of a Hot Springs dip in one of the public ones....  well, just the feet but still soothingly pleasing....

Someone's had a looooong nite....  hahahahahaha.....

THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE

The Sorcerer and the White Snake is another retelling of an old popular Chinese film - updated, infused with so much CGI that thrills and sadly, overwhelms the poignant love stories....  just as it did the retelling of A Chinese Ghost Story - shown a few months earlier....

This visual delight of a movie is a Chinese tale about the romance between a human, herbalist XuXian (Raymond Lam), and a demon in the form of a white snake which can take human form (Eva Huang). Between them comes a crusading monk and sorcerer Fa Hai (Jet Li) whose mission it is to fight demons, and of course, to his sensibilities, this liaison is not acceptable.

Overwhelming the love story are the elaborate fight sequences, amazing to watch but it did get tiring after a while as one would like to see more of the main characters' emotional story. And as an added bonus, familiar faces decorates the film throughout: Miriam Yeoung, Vivian Hsu & Charlene Tsoi as the Green Snake.   Nonetheless, it is an entertaining film under the direction of famous action choreographer turned director, Tony Ching.

I totally recommend this film - the younger generations would not be disappointed by the colorful & amazing graphics and the older ones will be touched, even just a bit, by this modern take...  

but of course, for me, the one I saw many years back, White Snake/Green Snake, is still a better film - after all, who can forget and resists the charms of both Maggie Cheung & Joey Wong as the snake sisters..... and the super Hottie Hunk, Wu Shing Kuo as the Sorcerer Monk...  and as a TREAT for you all - here's the trailer for the Original with Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong...

Happy Birthday, Jewel!

Yesterday, we celebrated Jewel's first birthday....  we were out for most of the day....  from 12Noon till 7PM really.....   went to SOGO for a BDAY Lunch... then walked around the mall and checked out the newest UNIQLO inside this SOGO.....

 

Right after we stopped by the Martyr's Shrine to watch the 5PM changing of the guards - a popular attraction for both locals and tourists alike....

Then we went on to the Temple so Jewel, as well as, all of us can pay respects and give Thanks to the Gods....

Ended the nite back at Juju's home - for dinner and top of the nite with a BDAY cake....  overall, I think Jewel had a Great Day - as she loves being out.... people watching....  and crawling in wide open spaces - which she sure did a lot of at SOGO....

Happy BDay, Jewel... here's to many more to come!!!!