Oceana Contest Winners!

Thank you all very much for joining my Oceana GC contest. To recap, I am giving five Oceana gift certificates each to three people who commented on my Oceana post about what their favorite cuisine is. Now since there were duplicate entries, the real total number of people who joined the contest is 78. I used Random.org‘s list randomizer three times; the people whose names appeared first each time I randomized the list of names are the winners.

So, with no further ado, congratulations go to the following people:

  • Kate: “My fave cuisine would have to be Thai 🙂 I love how each dish is a blend of so many flavors. I also like the spices that they use.”
  • Arthur: “I love Mexican cuisine! The spicy food really sticks to my palate and makes me dance salsa all the time!”
  • Jayson R. Biadog: “I like Filipino, Western, Chinese, Italian and Japanese Cuisine!”

To you three, please leave a comment in this post with your email address so I can get in touch with you about mailing your GCs.

Thanks again!

Trippin’: Surfing CME

Every so often, my friends from the Philippine Surfing Academy text me about their packages for surf trips (“surfari”) to Quezon or Zambales. I’m always very tempted to go, but their schedules never quite fit with my free time. So, last Saturday I moved heaven and earth just so I could surf at Club Manila East’s wave pool, where the PSA hold surfing lessons.

Surfing CME: waiting for the next set

waiting for the “surf treadmill”

I first visited this wave pool last June during a shoot for a (now-defunct) web TV show. A few weeks later I took some friends there. Unfortunately, that was the last time I was there. But you know what? Surfing is just like riding a bicycle. You never forget.

Since this was my third time there and I already knew how to get up on my board and ride a wave, coach Ejay Ventura began teaching me how to catch my own wave. Beginners get their boards pushed by the coach. I had to learn when to begin paddling hard so I could pick up enough speed to be in front of a wave when it breaks. Oh wow, was it hard on the arms! But the rush I got from catching my own wave was so worth it.

Surfing CME: stoked!

catching a wave

My appetite has been whetted. Next time, I’m going on surfari!

Surfing lessons at CME by the Philippine Surfing Academy are P1,500 for a 2-hour lesson, board rental, and whole-day use of other CME facilities.

Oceana: A World of Flavors

I have to admit, I’m not particularly adventurous when it comes to cuisine — my palate reacts too strongly to spices, and if I’m hungry I’d rather eat something I’m familiar with. Still, from time to time I can be persuaded to try something new.

Last Friday my family and I were invited to Oceana’s first anniversary-slash-restaurant launch at San Miguel by the Bay, Mall of Asia complex. Although Oceana itself has been there for a while now (it occupies one whole building near MOA’s IMAX wing), it was primarily a school kitchen for the Center for Culinary Arts, and an events place. This year, they decided to go full steam ahead with the restaurant, offering plated selections from around the world.

Oceana Anniversary: Tasting Manila

a dish called “Tasting Manila”

The CCA is also behind restaurant concepts such as Cravings and C2 Classic Cuisine. However, Oceana restaurant’s focus is on offering tastes from cities ranging from Sao Paolo to Hanoi. It’s world cuisine with a twist, just like the bibingka souffle we ordered to cap off our dinner. Wait, a bibingka souffle?!

Oceana Anniversary: Bibingka Souffle

cheesy, salted-eggy, custardy goodness topped with a fluffy souffle

Although the plated dishes range around 500 pesos or more each, the servings are for sharing. There are also some more affordable selections on the menu. I would actually want to be taken to Oceana on a date; but of course, the gentleman always pays. *wink*

I have a number of gift certificates from Oceana I’d like to give away, but of course I’d rather have a contest. So, here are the rules. Leave a comment below answering the following question: “What is your favorite cuisine and why?” I will use a randomizer to pick three winners, who will get a bundle of five (5) gift certificates each from Oceana. I will shoulder postage, so all you have to do is comment away!

Oceana Anniversary: Taste the World

Taste the World

UPDATE (05/17/10): Contest winners!

Where Did April Go?

Summer is usually a whirlwind season for me. What with Marielle and Michael’s wedding, two trips to Boracay (you might have read about it on KIKAYRUNNER), and trying to catch up with work in between, I haven’t been able to update here as much as I want to. But that doesn’t mean I no longer have stories to tell.

What’s up for this month? Well, I’m going to begin the process of re-merging Trippin’ with Noelle De Guzman back into this blog. I’ve realized I don’t travel as much as I should to maintain a separate travel blog. The old site will still be up, but no longer updated. I’d love to consolidate everything I write that’s lifestyle-related into one place. Besides, Blogger is far easier to work with than the blog engine on i.ph (sorry Ade).

I’ll be writing about my TV and modeling work here, as well as restaurants I’ve been to and new things I’ve tried. I’ve got a huge blogging backlog and now’s as good a time as any to start chipping away at it.

I’m simplifying a lot of things not just here on this blog, but in my life as well. I’m juggling a lot of things and until it’s all settled down into a routine I’m comfortable with. Whew! April’s gone by in a blur; I hope May will be time well-spent.

O hai. Im in ur TV, guesting ur shows.

For the past month or two, people watching a certain cable TV shopping network at odd hours of the night have caught me demonstrating how to use exercise gadgets. (I might say “hawking wacky machines”.) I take it in stride but find it totally funny how people just have to mention, “Hey I saw you on TV!” But hey, I love the attention, right? Otherwise I wouldn’t even be putting myself out there.

I don’t know if you all realize how easy it is to get on TV. You just have to grab any opportunity that presents itself, whether it’s filing a VTR with an agency, attending castings and auditions for television shows, or simply making friends with segment producers. (It’s much, much harder getting into commercials, which are a completely different animal.)

Lately, I’ve been in much more than infomercials (hooray for busting stereotypes!) and hopefully am being seen as much more than just a gym instructor. My good friend Katrina Vinluan is the PR and marketing manager for a fashion brand, ilana, and she tapped me to model their clotheing on not just one, but two mainstream television features about their clothing. It’s kind of insane and hilarious to think I’ve taken on the capacity of professional model, considering my lack of height and abundance of curves — but I guess that’s exactly what the clothes need to come to life off the hanger.

We shot the segment for QTV’s “The Beat” about a week earlier than our live guesting on “Shoptalk @ ANC”, which I can’t find a video of. Here’s an edited version of our segment on “The Beat”.

It’s an exciting time for me, and there’s so much more in the pipeline. After about a year of waiting, I’m thanking God for these opportunities he’s sending my way. Ü

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Michael and Marielle’s Prenup

(Subtitle: Why I Went “Clubbing” on a Sunday)

Many of you may not know my sister Marielle is getting married in about a month’s time. She and her fiance Michael have taken care of almost all the major details, so I haven’t been doing much as a maid of honor. There was one thing she specifically asked me to do for her: makeup for her prenup pictorial two Sundays ago.

As much as I’d like to take credit for how flawless her skin is in her photos, I didn’t really have to do much work. A little foundation, a little concealer, and a little eyeshadow was all she needed for the daytime set we shot at Eastwood Mall and La Mesa Ecopark.

M&M Prenup: Doggy!
M&M Prenup: The Happy Couple

When it came to the nighttime set, we changed location to Manor Superclub in Eastwood. Michael’s cousin co-owns it, so we were able to shoot the first ever prenup pictorial within its walls. (Usually Metro Magazine and FHM use it for their magazine layouts.)

M&M Prenup: Manor
M&M Prenup: Manor

I had to say, it felt weird being inside Manor in my baggy Levi’s jeans and Converse sneakers. I always dress up to go clubbing (Manor is one of my favorite places to go). And it was strange seeing it empty. But the photos came out great!

M&M Prenup: Setting Up
M&M Prenup: Eastwood Rooftop

For this set I needed to make Marielle’s makeup more dramatic, so out came the black eyeliner and the blended eyeshadows. She’s not used to the relatively heavier stuff for evening, so I had to cajole her into letting me line her lids and pump up the black in her shadow.

M&M Prenup: Dramatic Eye Makeup

Of course, I’m not a photographer, so check out photos of the happy couple from Wella Fan Photography (the pictorial spans several albums).

My little sister’s all grown up! *sob*

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This Month in Action&Fitness Magazine

It’s turning out to be quite a humid summer, and this month’s Action&Fitness; Magazine is steaming it up with actress Erich Gonzales on the cover.

Action&Fitness Magazine March issue
Action&Fitness; March issue

I really enjoyed researching and writing these articles appearing in this month’s issue:

  • Grace and Power through Piloxing (p. 66) A new fitness craze that incorporates the fundamentals of boxing and Pilates
  • What’s Your Yoga Style? (p. 72) We help you identify which yoga type is for you
  • Thigh High (p. 75) Achieve firm, shapely thighs with these easy-to-follow toning exercises
  • WORKOUT: Laterally Speaking (p. 76) Bare your midriff this summer!

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This Month in Action&Fitness Magazine

It’s turning out to be quite a humid summer, and this month’s Action&Fitness; Magazine is steaming it up with actress Erich Gonzales on the cover.

Action&Fitness Magazine March issue
Action&Fitness; March issue

I really enjoyed researching and writing these articles appearing in this month’s issue:

  • Grace and Power through Piloxing (p. 66) A new fitness craze that incorporates the fundamentals of boxing and Pilates
  • What’s Your Yoga Style? (p. 72) We help you identify which yoga type is for you
  • Thigh High (p. 75) Achieve firm, shapely thighs with these easy-to-follow toning exercises
  • WORKOUT: Laterally Speaking (p. 76) Bare your midriff this summer!

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Oh, Make Me Over!

Lately, I haven’t had the chance to look and feel glamorous; between running, writing, guesting on ShopTV and teaching exercise classes, I simply have been too lazy and tired to get all dolled up. So when Vince and Kring scheduled a fun shoot, I decided to join in the fun.

Miserable with No Makeup

Not my best look.

Enter Jaclyn Go. Trained at Maquillage Professionel (Make-Up For Ever), Jac arrived armed with a caseful of makeup and an assistant who quickly went to work on my hair. Jac took a moment to assess what to do about my haggard face, then quickly laid out her brushes.

Makeover with Jaclyn Go 1

Jac vs. my sleepy face

I’ve noticed that people trained under Maquillage usually spend a lot of time on eye makeup, and Jac was no different. I really appreciated how the blend of colors she used on my lids made me look vibrant and alive.

Of course, all that attention to my face meant Jac and I were in close quarters. It gave me a chance to notice her long beautiful eyelashes!

Makeover with Jaclyn Go 2

When I grow up, I want lashes like hers.

Aside from being a professional makeup artist, Jac runs an eyelash extension salon called i-Lash. I’ve had experience using false eyelashes for a dramatic effect, but they were always obviously false. These eyelash extensions, in contrast, look very natural. (Maybe I’ll get my eyelashes done in time for my sister’s wedding in April…)

By the time Jac was done with me, I was a changed woman. I felt energized, awake, beautiful, and powerful. (Hrhrhr.) The makeup lasted through hours of posing and some costume changes, and I was even able to go to a high school friend’s baby shower looking none the worse for wear. Thanks, Jac!

(No More 365) Legs for Miles

Face by Jac. Legs by genetics and hard running.

You can contact Jaclyn Go for makeup services at 0917-7947178 / 0922-8265406.

i-Lash Extensions Salon is located at 3rd floor Starbucks Bldg. Retiro (Amoranto) St., Quezon City (beside Asian Twist, across McDonald’s D. Tuazon, near Banawe Area). Call 399-1272 or 964-8968 for more info.

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Staying Young with Clinique Youth Surge

Last Thursday, I woke up with light crease lines on my forehead. I was surprised — and horrified. I always moisturize after every bath, but maybe that wasn’t enough. So, it was a good thing on that same day Clinique held their press launch for their newest product, Youth Surge.

Clinique Youth Surge
Freezing and Turning Back Time

There are so many competing anti-aging products on the market, increasingly targeted toward women of all ages who want to keep the signs of time at bay. Clinique Youth Surge does this by working at the cellular level. It helps cells replicate themselves exactly and repairs cell damage, which causes the signs of aging like wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging.

Youth Surge is offered in two versions: the day cream has SPF 15 to protect skin against incidental sun exposure, which is a main cause of skin aging. The night cream is fortified with vitamins and more moisture because skin tends to dry out more at night.

Clinique’s marketing department gave us a sample of the night cream, which gave me a chance to try it out. I may be young(-ish), but prevention is always better than cure. I’ve been using the night cream for a week now, and the crease lines on my forehead have disppeared. Whew! Additionally, my skin’s texture feels more even, and it always looks in the pink of health when I wake up in the mornings, rather than ashy like it used to look.

Clinique Youth Surge Night
Small but Terrific

This small pot of moisturizer is brimming with a very rich cream; a little goes a long way, which makes me happy because I won’t have to run out and buy moisturizer any time soon. But when I do, I’ll make it Youth Surge again.

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