Relic of St. Clare

I am so lucky to have seen and kissed the relic of St. Clare of Assisi. The relic (part of her cranium) has been in the Philippines for a three-month pilgrimage. It was actually the first time it left Italy in 800 years so the Philippines is really blessed. 

Last April 26, I went to the Ali Mall Chapel to hear mass in honor of St. Clare and I saw the relic for the first time. However, I was not able to touch it because there were a lot of people. I called up the Monastery of St. Clare in Katipunan (where Nikko and I used to pray when we were in college) to ask where the relic would go next. They told me that it will be with them today and that it will be leaving for Italy the same day.

And so today, we (My mom, Nikko and I) went to St. Clare's but when we got there, they told us that the relic is at the Orthopedic Center (Banawe, QC). We wasted no time and went to the Orthopedic Center. Luckily, we were just in time for the public veneration.

Relic of St. Clare of Assisi

St. Clare is the patron of navigators, of childless couples who want to have children, of life, of families, of television.

I pray to her with the other Saints and she's always there to help me.

Fr. Jess (the official guardian of the Relic) and my Mom

That's Nikko, in the light green shirt, reaching for the relic.

St. Clare, pray for us!

Marilyn

This photo is from 2009. My cousin, Jerriel took it. I don't know why but it reminds me of Marilyn Monroe (even though I'm not blonde and I'm not wearing a white haltered dress).

Romper worn as a tube top
Fascinator - UK (gift from my grandma)
White Hat - A textile shop
Black tutu skirt - Hot Topic, CA
Shoes - Syrup

Sometimes, I do miss my short hair.

Photo by: Jerriel Gutierrez

Pastel Colors

Nikko and I just had dinner and we're going to a friend's (Jeff) house tonight. I wore this pastel colored dress to dinner and a pair of pink pumps that's part of our shoe line.

Dress from a boutique in Alabang Town Center;Pink Carrie Pumps from Sophisticat Shoes

I can't remember where I got the necklace from. Prolly from some bazaar

Hello from the parking area of our condo!

Pink Carrie Pumps from Sophisticat Shoes

Photos by: Nikko Santos, my patient boyfriend

FCUK Avengers!

I went to Ali Mall (which is just across) with my mom and Nikko to watch The Avengers tonight. I wore this FCUK top, which is one of my favorite simple shirts because it's comfy and matched it with these flowy elephant pants.

Shirt from FCUK (French Connection United Kingdom); Elephant Pants from the US; Belt from SM Department Store; Shoes from VNC, Kuala Lumpur

I'm really excited to watch The Avengers!

I got this necklace from a bazaar years ago.

Ring from a Bazaar; Bangle from Coach; Other charms from bazaars too; Nail Polish -- Revlon's Garden Shade; Bag from Michael Kors

Bag from Michael Kors

Shoes from VNC, Kuala Lumpur

Photos by: Nikko Santos

Queen of the Jungle

Last month, in one of my posts, I talked about how I went out with my boyfriend wearing the same dress that I'm wearing in these photos and I mentioned that I wore it to a photo shoot a few years ago.

These photos are from 2010 and they are taken by the great Seven Barretto.

Dress from Undernourished Manila; Shoes from Janylin

 

That fresh, no make-up look

I was invited by make-up artist Micah Castro, late last year to do a shoot with her for her portfolio. The photographer, JR Velasquez, is also a chef. I love how she did that fresh, no make-up look.

"Elegance is the only beauty that never fades." -- Audrey Hepburn

It has always been a dream to have a photograph of me taken by one of the greatest fashion photographers in the country. This one's taken in July of 2011.

Photo by the one and only Seven Barretto

Little Black Dress

The following photos are from my shoot with talented fashion photographer Geo Esguerra, last year. He's one of the nicest I've worked with and I hope I can work with him again.

The dress is a gift from my mom (she bought it in Rockwell), while those Marks and Spencer shoes are from my Tita Angel, who is based in UK.

"One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress." -- Karl Lagerfeld

 

And the 60-year old Dress

The other day, I posted photos of me wearing my paternal grandmother's 55-year old gown and I mentioned that there were two dresses that caught my eye. This is the other one and it's even older; it's 60 years old!

My grandmother wore it to an event when she was a teenager. She was chosen as muse for that event.

This dress, unlike the other one, fits me perfectly!

Love the color and the design!

Pardon the shoes. I didn't really plan on modelling my grandma's gowns that day.

Good as new!

Love the gloves and I love how you can do a lot of things with that train/tail.

That's my grandmother wearing the dress when she was young.

Photos by Des Diamante

94th

 It's our 94th month as a couple today and we (Nikko and I) basically celebrated it by being together the whole day (we were looking for accessories for the shoe biz) and by having dinner at Dampa, Farmer's Market again. Haha. I love seafood and so does he! :)

Ensaladang Mangga (costs around P110)

Garlic Buttered Shrimps (PHP 160 per half-kilo + PHP 100 Paluto charge)

Fried Pampano in Oyster Sauce (PHP 150 per half kilo + PHP 100 Paluto charge)

We concentrated on the food that we forgot to take photos of ourselves. I think what we ate could have fed four people. Haha.

For paluto, you can try:

Aling Cadiang
Dampa, Farmer's Market

Photos by: Janna

That 55-year old Gown

 When I went to my paternal grandmother's last Holy Week, I found myself looking through her old gowns that she wore when she was my age. There were two meticulously-crafted dresses that caught my attention and I decided to play dress up using them. (She has a way of preserving them well and it's as if the dresses were new!)

She wore this dress when she had her piano recital, 55 years ago. Apparently, she was already pregnant with my dad when she wore this so it's really special to me.

It was really loose so I had to do this.

Isn't it lovely?

Good as new! :) Those butterfly sleeves were added but the original form of the dress, as worn by my grandma, is below.

My grandmother, Lola Fe, during her piano recital (1958)

Will be posting the other equally pretty gown next time.

First three photos by: Des Diamante

April 19

 I went to the cemetery today with Nikko to visit his dad. It's his dad's birth anniversary today and he would've been 52 if he hadn't passed away in 2005.

We miss you!

Love you, Nikko!