SHOW ME YOUR LOOK TODAY

Friend, Fashion, Photoshoot, and Intramuros

2013-04-29T20:03:00.001+08:00

A New Friend

Kevin Jeffrey Dorongon called me up a few weeks ago for a favor -- if I can publish photos from a shoot which he directed. Of course I said yes. Kev is a new friend and I say that my blogs will always have space for friends who are both nice and talented. ☺

No, that's not Kevin. LOL! That's Jho Ann Sotelo, one of the models for this
Classic-Gothic inspired photoshoot. Scroll down for more of the photos...

Fashion Concept

Kev's idea for the photoshoot was something like "Lost in Manila" -- when he was telling me about the concept, I imagined movement, outdoors and street style fashion. When I finally saw the output a few days ago, it was not what I expected but I was delighted nonetheless. The photos look great and the classic-gothic inspired theme in an old setting like Intramuros presented quite a statement. Kev further explained that he took inspiration from the Secret Garden ad of Dior in Versailles with additional intent to promote the rich history and heritage of Manila. Kev's work is a reflection of good taste and potential.

The Photoshoot

Some of the photos from the shoot (click the image to view a larger version):

Intramuros

Kev's team was granted permission to hold the shoot inside Intramuros but due to some complication on the schedule that day, they ended up having limited access to the place. Despite the limitations, they were able to pull through successfully.

Intramuros, also known as the Walled City of Manila, was the seat of Spanish Government during the Spanish colonial period^[1] and showcases some of the remarkable historical sites and structures in the country. Being the core of Manila, abundant both in history and culture, Intramuros is indeed the perfect place to be "lost" in. I think Kev and his models definitely got "Lost in Manila."

Thank you Kev for sharing your photos with me and my readers. Thank you readers for dropping by. If you have something to say, talk to me on the comments' section below. See you on the next post!

For more of the photos on this shoot, visit this article on The Pinoy Wanderer.

Credits

Directed by: Kevin Jeffrey Dorongon
~k.dorongon@yahoo.com

First Assistant: Cara Aglipay

Wardrobe: Ruby Tuesday Ubales
~facebook.com/rubytuesdayubales

Make-Up: Bhabie Mingi
~facebook.com/bhabiekriz

Models: Vanessa Rose Dominguez
~facebook.com/vanidominguez

Jho Ann Sotelo
~facebook.com/zsuchiia29

Khaled Moradi
~facebook.com/moradi.xavi

Roxanne Jean Ricohermoso
~facebook.com/anne.hermoso1

Yana Torres
~facebook.com/torresariane

Jadee Dafielmoto
~facebook.com/jadee.dafielmotoii

Assistants: Wilfred Arrobang

Freddie Malinao

*Images on this post are all courtesy of Kevin Dorongon and may not be used without permission.
*[1] - Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intramuros

tags: photoshoot in Intramuros, photo hoot in Fort Santiago, entrance to Fort Santiago, Kevin Jeffrey Dorongon, Kevin Dorongon Photography, classic-gothic fashion in Manila, classy-gothic photography

We Got Bored, We Started Designing Our Own Boardshorts

2013-01-21T05:00:00.000+08:00

That's it -- everything you need to know about this post is on the title, LOL! And yes, the photos that you see on here are just some of our work. We have been designing and making board shorts for myself, my brother, and for some of our friends. If you're interested to get our services, read on.

One of our latest design which is part of the Summer 2013 Collection.

I grew up with a mother who knows how to make her own clothes and a father, though carefree as he was, still looked good with his style. I'd like to think that their legacy, apart from genes and values in life, is the right judgment when it comes to what looks good and what doesn't.

A close up of one of our designs. Our board shorts use the usual microfiber polyester fabric

that's quick drying, lightweight, soft to touch, and most importantly, comfortable to wear.

The closure is a combination of velcro and drawstrings. Some designs have side pockets and if there's a back pocket, we don't put a drain hole anymore. But if you're a surfer and wants to have a drain hole, we'll put it there for you.

I'm not saying that I don't commit fashion errors, in fact I do. What I'm saying, if in fact I'm saying something, is that I recognize my weaknesses and learn to work around it so I can always be at my best. I may not know everything about fashion but I try to learn those that concerns me or my brother. Somehow, that has become one of my principles in life that I try to extend outside myself so I can positively influence those that needs mentoring. It is also the kind of principle that I adhere to now that my brother and I have started designing and making board shorts for our friends.

We usually design for friends. They give us their measurements and when they can't pick a style from the
available choices then we make a new design. This is the first for the Summer 2013 Collection.

This is one of my favorites from our first batch that I wear even when I'm just hanging out

with friends. You can check some of our previous work from our facebook page.

Folks, this is what my brother and I have been doing since October last year (about the time that I took time off from blogging). We've been designing board shorts and so far, have been hearing positive feedback from our relatively small group of clients. We're not going big on this, we just wanna try to make some people happy if they wear the right kind of board shorts when going swimming, wake boarding or surfing. We don't charge much either, just enough to return the investment that we pay for the materials and the manpower. If you want to learn more, just send me an email or message me on ym: yourlook2day@yahoo.com.

For some more of our designs, visit and like our facebook page. Enjoy the photos and let us know if you see anything you like. Hope to hear from you soon!
tags: cheap custom-built board shorts in the Philippines, online store for custom-built board shorts, board short designs in the Philippines, latest custom-built board short designs, cheap and affordable boardshorts, affordable online store for boardshorts, custom built boardshorts

Why Choose the Right Shoes?

2012-11-23T16:00:00.000+08:00

Part of getting your look right is having the right shoes. You can ruin a seriously fly style by wearing a beaten up pair of shoes. You might be surprised at how many people will judge you on what you have on your feet. Not that you mind what they say, but shouldn't you be mindful of what you wear?

Finding the perfect footwear can be a bit challenging. But if you buy the right pair, the classic ones can last for ages and will not go out of fashion for a long time. Proof of that is how it is very trendy to have leather shoes, at any point in time.

Leather shoes are considered to be a timeless fashion necessity. Trainers are well and good but they simply do not say style like leather or even suede! Check out Rieker Shoes - from Edward Meeks which is a good stockist to go to as they have a wide collection and they do free delivery too. All of their shoes are designed to look good and feel good. The photos on this post are just some of what's in their collection. And because they have a mix of high tops, laced brogues and slippers, you can be flexible with your style as they can be paired with almost anything on your wardrobe.

Footwear should be the last part of an outfit but this does not mean you can wear just any old thing. A really nice pair of shoes is not just a good investment, but it also defines who you are. With proper care, your shoes can be worn in style for quite a long time. And yeah, having comfortable shoes is just as important as getting the style right. So, take the time to choose the best walkers, look around, do some test drive and strut your stuff in style. Because you just never know where your pair of shoes will lead you. Have fun!

Notes:
*This is a guest post from Francis Gabriel, a freelance fashion journalist working in the UK.
*Co-written by yourlooktoday.com
*Images were provided by the guest writer.
tags: why choosing the right shoes is important to your style as a guy, what shoes can do to your style, shoes as an important element of fashion

Hip, Not Hipster

2012-11-22T18:57:00.000+08:00

Geek chic and scruffy look, revisited...

Hipster can sometimes be a bit much, right? It is a mish-mash of so many things that the eyes may not even know where to look at. Hipster wear is cool though because it is all about geek chic, which many of us love. Here are some tips on how to be hip with this kind of look.

David Beckham is known to constantly sport the geek chic look

►TIP: The right way to accessorize any hipster outfit is with a pair of chunky glasses and a vintage laptop bag or satchel. These things are perfect for the office but perhaps it’s best to tone down the clothes if you’re going to an important meeting! Yeah, it is possible to be hipster but still look professional. All you gotta do is create a blend of smart and street that you can wear anywhere.

Accessorize! That's the key to the geek chic look

►TIP: Slim jeans work very well with a fitted shirt or slogan t-shirt. This kind of outfit will be perfect for any occasion, as you can make it look fashionably scruffy when you go out in the evening by adding some cool layers and accessories like a scarf, waistcoat or pair of trainers.

The Jonas brothers always looked cool with their geek chic style

Geek chic also works very well with the scruffy look. Scruffy is very in right now for men! A lot of celebrities have been seen sporting the scruffy look and hipsters are no exception. But the hip look is all about sculpting your scruffiness and keeping it under control.

Chris Hemsworth, Justin Timberlake and Adam Levine -- all scruffy!

►TIP: A lot of offices now let men express themselves by wearing jeans at work so finding the right pair of jeans is essential, like the Stone Island Jeans from Robert Fuller which are cool without being too casual. And because they are smart enough already, you won’t need to iron them!

There's a lot of ways to express your style so you can look cool. Be creative, be smart, and most importantly -- be yourself. Hope you enjoyed this post!

Notes:
*This is a guest post from Francis Gabriel, a freelance fashion journalist working in the UK.
*Co-written by yourlooktoday.com
*Images were all taken from Google Image Search.

Tags: tips on how to be a geek chic, tips on how to get the scruffy look, how to get the geek chic look, how to get the scruffy look

The Right Hairstyle To Hide Your Flaws

2012-08-17T09:47:00.000+08:00

Here's another "GUY STUFF" feature dedicated to all my awesome male readers. This is in fact just a continuation of "The Right Hairstyle For Your Face Shape" article which I wrote almost five months ago. There were some important issues which weren't covered by that post that will be discussed on this one.

And so gentlemen, better pay attention. Here are some tips on what hair style to get that will minimize your flaws so you can look better -- or at least tone down your weak areas so they won't overpower your other great features. I've put together some common problem categories (hair cut for receding hairline, big forehead, etc) and the most popular solutions I've learned from the experts all over the Internet and from magazines. The post also contains some hair style to avoid so you can always look your best.

The Right Haircut For Men With Big Ears

If you have big ears, not choosing the appropriate hairstyle might make your ears stick out more. Surgery is maybe an option, but perhaps you can just get some smart haircut to hide your big ears. Get a haircut with short, graduated layers with hair slightly covering at least 25% of your ears. Leave the top of the ears covered so they will become less noticeable^[1].

On picture: Douglas Booth, Orlando Bloom
*They don't necessarily have prominent ears but the hairstyle they're sporting is perfect for men who have big ears.

The Right Haircut For Men With Short, Thick Or No Necks

To create an illusion of a longer neck, guys with short necks can opt for a haircut with a bit of spike on top^[2]. Short styles that leave the neck exposed is the general idea for men with short or thick necks^[3]. Ask your stylist to give you a tapered neck (see image further below) because it can make your short neck appear longer. The sides should be clean too. Bangs should be avoided as it will make the face even smaller, thus emphasize the short neck.

On picture: Kellan Lutz, Nick Lachey
*Nothing wrong with their necks, but you can sport their hairstyle if you wanna camouflage your thick or short neck.

*Blocked nape for men with thin or long necks
*Tapered nape for men with shorter or thick necks.

The Right Haircut For Men With Long Necks

For men with long necks, a textured crop with layers framing the face will draw attention away from the neck^[2]. Your cut should be of medium length and thickness. A slightly long hair with layers at the nape^[2] is also good specially for those with wavy hair. A fuller hair on the neck can minimize the appearance of a thin neck. Also, a long neck can look better with a blocked nape (refer to the image above), as that can give the illusion of width^[3].

On picture: Shia Labeouf, Gaspard Ulliel

The Right Haircut For Men With Big Heads

My mom said that people with big heads are really smart people. I'm not sure if that's really true but if you have a big head, don't get a haircut that's too short because that can make the size of your head pop out even more. Instead, get a haircut with the right amount of thickness to balance the shape of the head. A larger, fuller style^[4] or a close crop that's slightly spiky on top might just do the trick^[2].

On picture: Jack Black, Elijah Wood

The Right Haircut For Men With Long Chins

For guys with long chin, your hair shouldn't be too short. Long hair should be avoided too as that can further emphasize the length of the face. Opt for a medium length haircut which don't have too much volume on top. A style with side part moving slightly forward^[2] is recommended. You can also tell your stylist, if it suits you, to make your sideburns longer^[3]. Wearing a beard and mustache that's cropped short can also minimize a protruding chin. Wearing your beard fuller at the sides and shorter at the chin can add width to the sides and make your face appear less long^[5].

On picture: Michael Phelps

The Right Haircut For Men With Weak Chins

Chin length haircuts should be avoided because that will just emphasize your weak chin. Curly or layered hair is advisable for guys with weak chin as the volume will redirect focus[6]. A long haircut is also suggested because that sort of lengthens the face^[2] thus minimizing attention to your problem area. You can also grow a beard, a goatee or a mustache to strengthen your weak chin and create a more symmetrical balance and length^[7]. The length and style varies depending on your personality and your other facial features.

On picture: Joshua Jackson, Seth Rogen

The Right Haircut For Men With Wide Foreheads

For guys with wide forehead, try having a hairstyle with mid-length side bangs, and you can grow your hair mid-length or longer^[2]. Short, military haircuts should be avoided because that can further emphasize your prominent forehead. Back in college, I used to wear my hair upwards, brushed up or when it was long enough, in a pony. But since that accident which left a huge scar on my forehead (ala Harry Potter but without the curse of course), I've been wearing my haircut with bangs. So whether you have a wide forehead or trying to hide a scar like me, you can wear your bangs in many ways.

Long styles should be softly layered around the front.^[8]
Medium cut that's layered can soften the appearance of a wide forehead (shag, curly styles or retro cuts.^[9]
Short hairstyles with side-part bangs^[10] can also do the trick.

On picture: Diego Luna, Keith Urban

The Right Haircut For Men With Very High Or Receding Hairlines

There are several hairstyle suited for men with very high hairlines: traditional crew cut, buzz cut, flat top, and Caesar^[11]. Men with very high hairlines can have their hair cut in layers. Ask your stylist to start with a shortcut on the sides and back, layering into a longer length at the top^[11].

On picture: Channing Tatum, Jason Statham
*Channing's forehead is just right but his crew cut is also ideal for men with high hairlines. Jason Statham is known to have constantly sported the buzz cut hairstyle.

On picture: George Clooney, Ed Westwick

*Caesar cut is inspired by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and is said to have been made famous by George Clooney. Caesar cut is a stylish way to conceal a receding hairline and a thinning top, where the bangs are cut with a horizontal fringe and styled forward^[12].

If you're a bit adventurous, you can try spiky and the faux hawk. Faux hawk hairstyle is short on the sides with a strip of longer hair in the center at the top. Faux hawk is perfect for men with receding temples.

On picture: Sting, Jude Law

     If your hairline have receded, rule of thumb is get a short hair cut. Short hair can minimize the appearance of balding and can give you the appearance of volume, thus you seem to have more hair^[12]. If the baldness is severe, you can shave it all off. Specially if your head is nicely shaped, a shaved head will definitely look good. If that's too much, just opt for a close hair cut, making sure that the hair's density and thickness is the same on all areas of the head^[2]. If you aren’t ready to have a short hair cut and just starting to thin, you can go for some light, shaggy layers. Tell your stylist to cut the top of your hair in uneven layers. When styling, just sort of tussle your hair around to give you a sort of disheveled look that hides your thinning hair^[12].

     Your hairstyle can help you balance your physical features to draw less attention on your weak areas. Although your stylist or barber are aware of these things, it wouldn't hurt for you to learn about them so you can help decide the style which can bring out the best in you. If you smartly choose your haircut, you can make your flaws less noticeable and you can strut your stuff with even more confidence.

     Hope you guys learned something from this post. Talk to me on the comments' section below. See ya!

See more posts on this category: GUY STUFF

*Photos were all taken from Google Image search
*References:
[1] - http://m.askmen.com/grooming/appearance/top-10-proven-ways-to-flatter-your-face.html#10
[2] - Metro Him Magazine Vol. 5 No. 3, July-Aug 2008 issue, p48
[3] - http://www.ftmguide.org/haircuts.html
[4] - http://www.parentsafrica.com/beta/mens-haircuts-what-suits-your-features/
[5] - http://menshair.about.com/od/facialhair/a/beardshapes.htm
[6] - http://www.ehow.com/how_4864377_emphasize-weak-chin.html

[7] - http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/05/14/weak-chin-toughen-it-up.html

[8] - http://www.ehow.com/about_5619287_haircuts-men-big-foreheads.html#page=1
[9] - http://www.ehow.com/about_5619287_haircuts-men-big-foreheads.html#page=2
[10] - http://www.ehow.com/about_5619287_haircuts-men-big-foreheads.html#page=3
[11] - http://coolmenshair.com/2010/02/hairstyles-for-men-with-very-high-or.html
[12] - http://artofmanliness.com/2010/07/14/balding-gracefully-tips-and-hairstyles-for-balding-men/
tags: the right hairstyle for men to hide imperfections, the right hairstyle for men to hide flaws, the right hairstyle or haircut for men with big ears, the right hairstyle or haircut for men with short necks, thick necks or no necks, the right hairstyle or haircute for men with long necks, the right hairstyle or haircut for men with big heads, the right hairstyle or haircut for men with long chins or long faces, the right hairstyle or haircut for men with weak chins, the right hairstyle or haircut for men with wide foreheads, the right hairstyle or haircut for men with high or receding hairlines, appropriate suitable hairstyle or haircut for guys to hide flaws

Floods, Heroes, Memories

2012-08-08T10:46:00.002+08:00

The Floods

It was September 26, 2009 when a flood of this magnitude has visited Manila and people blamed typhoon Ondoy for the properties and lives that were lost. Almost three years later and several days of non-stop raining, Metro Manila is once again submerged in dirty, garbage-infested flood water.

The street right outside our apartment in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City
Second day of southwest monsoon flood / August 8, 2012, 8AM

My brother Jeb and our dog Yassu on the neighbor's roof / Our old address
in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City / 3rd day after typhoon Ondoy / September 28, 2009

Typhoon "Gener" (international name: "Saola") barely missed landfall when a Shallow Low Pressure Area (SLPA) was seen approaching the country last Monday, August 6, 2012. The southwest monsoon (enhanced by tropical storm "Haikui") started its heavy downpour and after more than 20 hours of rain, has surpassed the rainfall recorded by typhoon Ondoy back in 2009^[1].

Still raining and the flood water is crawling up our gate / 8:30AM August 8, 2012

Garage is slightly lower than the rest of the compound but don't worry,

the car is safe. / 8:30AM August 8, 2012

The Heroes

Yes, Philippines is again under siege from nature, the effects of which made even worse by human blunder and irresponsibility. But while the country's spirit is yet again being tested, we all seem to remain strong and resilient. And as old heroes respond on these critical times, new heroes are also born and with their help, the country survives and prevails.

Here are some photos from the President's website^[2] showcasing the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan. Proof that amidst despair and disaster, there will be those who will give hope, reach out and become heroes.

Photo from here.

The Memories

Remembering Ondoy...

It's almost 11AM, August 8, 2012 and since I can't sleep, I checked some of our photos during the Ondoy flood and realized that the memories of that depressing day is still fresh on my mind. It was September 26, 2009 and we were sleeping through the day to get ready for the night's work when we woke up at around 4PM to find flood water slowly creeping inside the apartment.

This is where our dog sleeps. In about two hours, flood water got knee high.

Water inside the apartment is a bit above the ankle.

Yassu, 8 months old at that time, was very patient and surprisingly cooperative. He was toilet trained and held in for as long as he can until the first ray of daylight when he was able to unload somewhere dry and appropriate.

Jeb, Yassu and myself. Stranded last Ondoy flood, September 2009.

     We thought it was fun at first, fully expecting the flood water to subside the next day. But it did not, so we left three days later. And so for three days, we were trapped on the muddy, dirty water while we cook and move around. The neighbors who don't even talk to us offered us their homes so we can sleep somewhere dry. Our land lord who's living a floor above us refused to take us in because they were afraid of the large dog. I actually wrote about how Yassu helped us get to know who our friends are and those who just pretends to be. Here's the LINK to that post. Do check that out. ☺

= = =

     My friends, it's funny how life finds a way to teach us our ideals and the things we need to know. And when we refuse to learn its lessons, nature finds a way to teach us until we're educated. I cannot emphasize enough how strongly we need to do our part in making all these go away. Proper garbage disposal, waste recycling and all that boring but relevant stuff. Unless we start doing them and we start influencing others to do the same -- we'll find ourselves in this situation time and again. Let's all work together, because heroes aren't just needed during disasters or bad times. Why don't we be heroes everyday? Let's start by throwing our thrash properly.

     Thank you all for reading. You can talk to me on the comments' section below. Be safe!

References:
[1] - http://www.rappler.com/nation/10004-rainfall-over-metro-surpasses-ondoy-record
[2] - http://president.gov.ph/daang_matuwid/ibat-ibang-mukha-ng-bayanihan/
MS6EDXEW287M

Happy Blog Anniversary Show Me Your Look Today!

2012-07-26T05:00:00.000+08:00

Hi! Today is my blog's SECOND BIRTHDAY. ☺

I still remember my first post published exactly two years ago from today -- and how it's been such a ride since then. My brother's initial concept for this blog was to feature friends, showcase their style, and to make more friends as a consequence. Over time, the blog's vision has taken several new directions but it was, nonetheless, a journey that's been both educational and adventurous. And during the blog's quest for new territories, sometimes ideas would just pour in -- other times it would be scarce like the desert. But even the desert hold possibilities and treasures that one can see if they would just really look. And so, the journey treads on...

I owe all of YOU guys a huge "THANK YOU." The reason why this blog has made it this far is because of friends (like you) who were nice enough to visit, read my posts, leave comments and even share my links on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook. Thank you for your continued support and friendship. Let's keep that going, shall we?

Furthermore, to celebrate my blog's second anniversary, I also switched from my old blogspot address to a custom domain name. Show Me Your Look Today is no longer a blogspot sub-domain and on this very special day, I officially welcome you all to:

Awesome, right? It is a bit tricky transferring to a custom domain and to those who are planning to follow suit, I suggest you do it EARLY ON in your blog's life. Otherwise, you'll also have to suffer these things:

My social counters (Twitter button, Facebook likes/shares, Google+, etc) all went back to ZERO.
My Google Page Rank went from 2 to ZERO.
My Alexa Rank, though not that impressive, also went back to ZERO.

OK, so basically most of the blog stats have been wiped clean. Any proof that my posts have been liked and shared -- poof! GONE. But that's alright with me because I know I got you my friend! Go ahead and check my previous articles and watch out for my future posts. If you see anything that you like, go on and SHARE it. You have my permission to spread the word to your friends and people. Thank you in advance for clicking like, sharing the links and even tweeting or re-tweeting my posts. That will be much appreciated. ☺

Happy birthday Show Me Your Look Today! Once again, I welcome you all to:

Yeah, I just needed to do that. Still can't believe this blog is a dot com and no stats. LOL! Anyway, thank you guys for visiting. Leave your comments below, and will absolutely appreciate the greetings. See you all on my next post. You ROCK! Peace out.

Show Me Your Look Today's NEW LOOK

2012-07-23T18:38:00.003+08:00

Hey guys, what's up?

Finally, after three days of HTML coding, arranging layout, fixing borders, and reading and implementing codes I don't even understand -- my blog renovation is DONE! Yeah, nothing extraordinary -- but as simple as how the blog looks now, I want you to know that I kinda toiled for all that you see on here. Those little borders around photos with the slightest bit of a shadow, those are a few lines of code. That semi-transparent part of the blog which allows you to see the blog background, that's another few lines of code. The dashes on the post title, a few additional lines still. Categories on the left side for easy accessing of previous posts, that's the result of reading tutorials over the Internet for almost a day. Whew! HARD WORK my friend! And I don't even know how I did all them, putting codes where they needed to be.

Show Me Your Look Today's NEW LOOK

Anyway, I originally used the Simple Template and just made tons of modification. I initially liked the white and gray scheme -- then worked my way from there. And being the neat freak that I am, I also made sure that stuff are where they're supposed to be -- nothing too small or too big for the space where they're at, if I can help it. Hah! And yeah, feels good after seeing the outcome. I just want my readers to find what they need at a glance. In short, I want my blog to be organized and user friendly. Ehrr, that is, if I have readers who do bother to read what I post in here. LOL!

There are a few ideas that didn't work though. If you see that guy's picture on the right side of the page (that's me by the way, so please -- no hating, haha). That's supposed to look like this:

The "PEACE, LOVE, HOPE" mural is an idea that I asked my good friend Ai (@aitanos on Twitter) to make for my blog. I gave him the concept and this is what he came up with:

I added something at the back to give it a lively mural design. I used the same image in front as overlay to get a textured effect. Here's the result:

Not bad eh? Haha! Anyway, though the idea rocked, it looked kinda messed up when implemented so I took it down and you ended up with just my photo. How unfortunate -- I know, right? Pffft!

Anyway, thanks Ai for the effort and for patiently listening to my ideas. I appreciate that a lot bro! I will be featuring Ai and some of his artworks on a future post -- as part of my blog's second birthday. Hope you can watch out for that.

So, what do you think of my blog's new look? Let me know your thoughts on the comments' section below -- which, of course, has been customized a bit. Haha, yeah, whatever. If you have additional ideas or tips on how I can further improve this site, let me know. Just leave me the code and the instructions, yeah?? Arf arf!

See you guys on my next post! Thank you for dropping by.

Show Me Your Look Today is UNDER RENOVATION

2012-07-20T10:37:00.001+08:00

Hey loyal friends and readers!

Show Me Your Look Today will be undergoing some renovation over the weekend and so -- don't be shocked if you see a misplaced blog gadget, a missing post or a crooked layout. Hopefully, I make up my mind on what template to use and that the changes I put in won't affect the overall content so much. I'm kinda worried how it will affect the layout of my previous posts.

Why you might ask? Well, the old theme bored me a bit and my brother suggested that I need to change the look because this blog is turning two years old. Can you believe that? Two years old, wow! Yeah, that's two fingers on the hand my friend -- and the blog lasted that long because of YOU. So -- THANK YOU!

Hope you guys will visit the site when I'm finished with the changes and whatnot. See you on my next post!

What Is An Online Survey?

2012-07-14T07:26:00.003+08:00

Brands, businesses, and organizations care about how their clients feel and what they think of their products and services. And one effective and cost-friendly way to get the feedback that they want is through online surveys.

What Is An Online Survey?

An ONLINE SURVEY is a data collection method where the questionnaire reaches the target audience through the world wide web. Online surveys are usually presented as web forms^[1] and responses are stored in a database which utilizes a statistical software (also known as enterprise feedback management) to provide analytics and interpretation to the administrator of the online survey.

Why Do They Care For Our Opinion?

Companies and organizations conduct online surveys to get a deeper understanding of their customers’ tastes and opinions. Here are a few more of the reasons:

Online surveys are basically their way of knowing what their target market want so they can better address their needs and thus, improve on their products and services.
To create a survey about an existing product, service or brand in order to find out how consumers are reacting to it. Apart from people recognizing their product, some brands wants to know the psychological impact and the perception their product receives.
Aside from product reviews, some online surveys are also designed for product awareness, or a way to introduce a product to the consumers. In some instances, online surveys are also implemented to know what people want so they can develop a commodity based on their suggestions.
To get more data about customers, from basic demographic information (age, gender, educational level, and so on) to social data (clubs, activities, online accounts like Twitter or Facebook, and so on).

Why Should We Give Our Opinion?

What does a minute or two of our precious time spent to fill out an online survey do to us? Well, our honest assessment and opinion:

Can suggest desired improvement on our favorite brands and preferred services.
May lead to further innovations, research and new product development initiatives. Something that's tailor made to the majority of people who have requested for such a product. New needs, new products.
Improved products and services that we, the consumers, can continuously enjoy.

But let's face it, most of us wouldn't really spare that time. That's why some brands provide incentives (such as discounts, freebies, or points that can be accumulated to purchase a product) to engage people in filling out their survey forms. But no matter what, never pay someone so you can take online surveys. Some website will ask you to pay (a bond or a certain processing fee) claiming that you can make money online taking surveys.

In a Nutshell

As consumers, we can tell our favorite brand what we want, what we need more, or perhaps suggest improvements on those that we find insufficient. Some of us may find the time to take online surveys, and perhaps we should. And if brands, businesses and organizations will design their online surveys carefully and ask the right questions, they will gain as much and we, the consumers will continuously enjoy what they have to offer.

Hope you all enjoyed this post and though a little out of my blog's theme, hope it will encourage you to fill out a form the next time your favorite brand of shoes or clothes asks you to tell them what you think of that merchandise you've just bought. Until my next post everybody!

Tags: definition of online survey, advantages of online survey, uses of online survey

[1] - A web form allows a user to enter data in a paper or database form because internet users fill out the forms using checkboxes, radio buttons, or text fields (from Wikipedia).

All About Health, Fitness and Weight Loss

2012-07-01T23:07:00.006+08:00

Health and fitness is a recurring struggle for many of us and at times, it is also a major frustration. What we need to understand, before engaging in a full-time health and fitness plan, is that there are no short term solutions. And to succeed, we need to focus, be committed, and stay motivated -- and we need to keep all those in check even after we've reached our goals so we can enjoy being healthy and fit permanently.

Getting the body we want is a tough task (I think this is an understatement). But to put it simply, the keys to getting that hot bod we always wanted are just these two:

A. Decide to eat right and healthy

Eating right means feeding yourself with the required nutrients so you accomplish the day's tasks as well as fuel yourself to do your exercises. Eating right further means getting rid of food that your body don't need such as sodas and junk food. Specially if you have weight issues, do not eat more than what your body needs for the day and incorporate food in your diet that has nutrients which can help you with your weight loss goals. Some of Hollywood's weight loss success is attributed to some dieting programs that's been proven to produce results.

Freshology - program focuses on lean meats, fresh fruits, seasonal vegetables, water and protein. Calories are counted according to the client's needs. Some celebrity fans of this program includes Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Lopez, and Hillary Duff.

Sunfare - with consultation from diet counselors, the client can personalize their meals and snacks which follows the 30/40/30 formula: 30% lean protein, 40% whole wheat, low carb or fresh low-glycemic carbohyrdrates, and 30% healthy fat. Celebrity fans of this program includes Robert Pattinson, Eva Longoria, and Britney Spears.

7-Day Eliminating Detox - this diet style is extremely criticized where one lives for a week with nothing but fruits and vegetable juices. Gwyneth Paltrow developed a diet program of this principle and posted on her website GOOP her 7-day journey and the recipes which helped her achieve her weight goals. She says that what she developed called the Master Cleanse can be extremely dangerous to the liver that's why before undergoing a detox, you need to consult with your doctor. And drink a lot of water.

B. Choose a fitness program and do it

Choosing the correct fitness program is something you need to plan with your fitness instructor. The professionals can determine what type of workout you need for the kind of body you have, of course taking in consideration your fitness goals and your present health status. You have to engage in a workout program that will fit your needs, your resources and needless to say, which you will like and enjoy. If you enjoy what you do, then it will be easier to commit to your program and sustain it. The Internet is also full of tutorials which can help you determine your fitness plan on your own. And while following your workout regime, do not forget to energize and fuel your body with the proper food and nutrients for maximum results. Janet Jackson, on her book True You, admitted that she loses weight effectively only when she complements her rigorous workout with a healthy diet. That goes without saying that eating right and the right fitness program goes together so you can achieve your health and fitness goals.

What I said on the opening paragraph -- yes we hear that a lot and many of us may have been at that point when we've finally decided to do something with our being unhealthy. And then it stopped there -- we never went on to get what we want. Guys, being healthy and fit is a choice, it needs an overall lifestyle change, your commitment to a chosen program and a great deal of discipline. And most importantly, it needs to find a reason -- because that reason will motivate you to keep going.

Hope you all learned something from this post. Thanks for reading! And yep, you can talk to me on the comments' section below.

Note:

*This is a sponsored post for Xango, but the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

*Photos were all taken from Google Image search.

The Sweetest Thing

2012-06-25T15:38:00.001+08:00

Hello beautiful people, what's up? Sorry for not updating this blog lately but don't think even for a minute that I've forgotten about you, my awesome and most loyal readers. Anyway, I've talked about friendship on this blog several times in the past, particularly on these posts: (Go ahead, read them if you haven't yet).

[L-R]: Bespren Kent, bestest JayB, MPC Yvette, Me, best friend Tokzzz and sexy AJ

And so, please allow me to write about the topic once more...

On my twitter account I sometimes talk about friendship, how friends are abundant everywhere, and that real friends are God's blessing to those who deserve them. Just what do we do to make ourselves worthy to have friends? Be a friend! ("The only way to be a friend is to be one." - Ralph Waldo Emerson) If you want people to be interested in you, you have to be interested in them. And since many of us are attention seekers and narcissists -- finding a real friend will prove to be a tough task. We will need someone, a special person, who will make us feel that there's someone more important apart from ourselves. And though everybody can have a chance to become a friend, I've also mentioned on this post that it is our choice who among the people around us will be allowed to become part of our lives and who will have the chance to know us beyond the superficial. ("The soul selects her own society then shuts the door" - Emily Dickinson)

[L-R]: Marygie, Me, and Precious

Friendship is such a big idea, it cannot be contained with words nor be defined by a set of rules or norms. However, since we know who we want in our lives, then we can try to outline the type of people who we want in our circle of friends. So we try to build a wall and only those who qualify can go through that wall. But at one point, we should be prepared to tear down these barriers and give room for people who, though they don't answer to the standards we've defined yet we still want them to become our friends for reasons that only our hearts can explain.

No words will ever be enough to describe how we can truly be a friend to our friends. What I do is just care for them as much as I can, as the laws of man would allow. And if it feels good, then I know that I'm doing something right to deserve that sense of peace.

[L-R]: Me, Madam President Neriz Gabelo, BesButch

Let me share with you an email from a friend, one of the sweetest and kindest someone has ever said to me. This is actually part of our crazy conversation on facebook. We type in shorthand so I modified the spelling a little bit, but not the grammar and structure. Here goes:

"LOL. You know I love you beyond these mortal heavens mike...

For some reason, I treasure you like an old man's best-friend. But I've never even met you yet. But I have this feeling that we've been friends forever. That's why I keep holding on to that thought of 'forever' -- like never letting go, LOL! I may sound super corny right now but it's true and what I feel right now is genuine love, although love has different meanings. Remember when I confessed that I never believed in a deity, you never changed your perception of me. You never judged me by my beliefs -- how outrageous it may seem. You never belittled my wildest dreams, goals and achievements. You listened to everything, took time to reply and pass wisdom even though you're not in the mood whatsoever. I think you're the most perfect thing in the world second to me of course LOL. A little bit of perfect somehow, but one thing I'm wondering about is why do you ever DON'T get tired of caring when everybody (even me) got tired of doing so? I don't know I think that's a mystery I want to ask myself forever. I never expected anything from you, but I do hope about one thing: NEVER CHANGE. Because if you do, I think I'll be the saddest person in this world [:(] Pinky promise me that because I want to hug you in person already!!! Gnitey dear mike!!"

     Such sweet words coming from a big guy whom I treat as my little brother. In my heart, I know I'm doing that pinky promise that he asked me to make. Bro, you just don't know how much this inspired me to become a better friend to you and to all the people I keep close with me. Thank you far more than words can express.

     Indeed, friends are everywhere. It's a blessing to find the ones who stays true despite being in a superficial world. And if you are blessed with real friends, treasure them and tell them how much you value them. As I've said before, you guys are all welcome to be my friend. And though I may have my standards, I might just defy those standards if I see that the friendship is worth the trouble.

     Thank you all for reading, until my next post!

*Photos were used WITHOUT permission but they saw this post and thanked me anyway. LOL!
Tags: how do you define friendship, meaning of friendship, how to be a real friend

8 Ways To Lose Beer Belly

2012-06-09T07:42:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, I'm back! How are you all doing today? Anyway, here's another post dedicated once again to all my awesome male readers. This time, I'll help you find out how to lose that bulging beer belly and keep it off for sure.

Just to clarify, beer bellies aren't always caused by swigging too much beer. Beer is around 140 calories per 12 ounce bottle and contains a lot of calories thus frequent indulging can indeed extend your waistline. But fat in all areas of the body develops when calories that are taken in are not burned through regular exercise or physical activities. The body won't know the difference whether the calories are from beer or from the food you eat. So yeah, beer belly is caused by having too much beer or just having too much unburned calories.

So, what are the things you can do to get rid of your beer belly? Go ahead, read on!

How To Lose Your Beer Gut

EXERCISE Exercising is the best way to lose a beer belly. According to experts, cardio is the best exercise to lose weight from every part of the body. Cardio exercises like running and swimming are high calorie burning workouts that will increase your heart rate and your metabolism, thus burning your fat.

Here is a simple cardio workout from BeerBelly.co that you can try:

Start by squatting one time then do 10 pushups, and rest for 30 seconds. Do 2 squats followed by 9 pushups then take a 30-second break again. Follow this with 3 squats and 8 pushups, then the 30-second break. Keep doing this until you reach 10 squats and 1 push up.

WALK, BRISK WALK AND JOG Jogging or brisk walking was found to be more effective than resistance or weight training in losing belly fat according to this article which was based from a study published on American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism. Additionally, this study from Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that men who were asked to reduce their daily steps from 10,000 to about less than 1,500 had gained 7% increase on their visceral or belly fat after just two weeks. So aim for 10,000 steps a day and lose those extra inches around your waist.

WEIGHTS According to an old issue of FHM magazine^[1], a study at the university of Maryland found that men shed an average of 4 lbs of fat from the the abdomen and added the same amount of muscle doing nothing but weight training. The results however became visitble three to four months after starting training.

Confirming this is an article from About.com which says that high intensity weight training is one good way to burn abdominal fat. High intensity training basically means that you need to do weight training at a higher heart rate -- brief, infrequent and intense. Consult your gym instructor for a weight training program that's suitable for you.

EAT RIGHT Wikihow says that in order to lose your beer belly you need to:

Reduce your calorie consumption.

Choose whole grains over refined grains. Whole grains (i.e. wheat, oat, and brown rice) have more fiber, iron and vitamins compared to refined grains (i.e. white rice, white flour, and white bread) whose fiber and nutrient content have been stripped off after being processed.

Eat the better fats. Which means -- NO to trans fat and YES to mono-unsaturated fats (MUFAs) that come from foods such as avocados, nuts, seeds, soybeans, and chocolates. Trans fats are usually found in margarines, crackers, cookies -- anything that's made with partially hydrogenated oils. You gotta avoid those.

Get more fiber into your diet. Soluble fiber lowers insulin levels which can speed up the burning of your belly fat. Good sources of soluble fiber are barley, nuts, oats, seeds, beans, apple, citrus fruits, cherries and other fruits and vegetables. Leave the skin on you fruits and vegetables because that's where most of the fiber is. However, it is suggested that you add fiber to your diet gradually so the natural bacteria in your digestive system will have sufficient time to adapt to your new fiber intake.

VACUUMS Here's a technique you can do even while just waiting in line at the bank or queuing to get your coffee. Expel all the air in your lungs, then suck your gut in as far as you can go. Repeat this five or six times a day for a visible result after a month.^[1]

STAND-UPS Here's another technique which can help you to get rid of that beer belly: pull your belly inward like you're putting on a seatbelt and don't relax. Doing this regularly will tighten up your deep abs and support your back.^[1]

MOTIVATE YOURSELF Belly fat is closely linked with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Understanding these health risks can motivate you to get rid of your belly fat. These "visceral" or belly fat cells actually produce hormones and other substances that can affect your health (e.g. increased insulin resistance and/or breast cancer risk). The fact that they're located right next to and in between organs in your abdominal cavity doesn't help either. For example, fat next to the liver drains into it, causing a fatty liver, which is a risk factor for insulin resistance, setting the stage for Type 2 diabetes. And if you must know, according to researchers from Germany on this article, fat accumulated in the abdomen can be far more dangerous to your health than fat on other parts of the body. Knowing these risks can definitely give you that push to do something about your beer belly.

CUT-DOWN Well you need to stop the culprit from giving you that extra flab in your tummy so you definitely need to cut back on the booze. Alcohol contains tons of calories so if you can trim down your usual dosage, over time you'll certainly notice a big difference on your beer belly.

And yeah, I found a very good tutorial if you wanna extend your quest from losing your beer belly into having that desired 6-pack abs. Here's the LINK.

There you go, hope you found this post useful. See ya!

See more posts on this category: GUY STUFF

[1] - FHM Philippines Issue #53, November 2004, p112

*Photo taken from Google Image search.

*Facts were gathered from the Internet with a link back to the source within the article.
Tags: how to lose fat belly for men and women, lose fat belly fast, steps on how to lose your beer belly, how to make your tummy smaller, tips for a smaller belly, how to have a flat stomach, how to get rid of beer belly

Phillip Phillips, American Idol Season 11

2012-05-24T10:49:00.001+08:00

Folks, America have decided and their new American Idol is -- (dim the lights, here we go!) -- Phillip Phillips! It's absolutely and without a doubt official: American Idol Season 11 winner is Phillip Phillips. And while Phillip Phillips fans from around the world are still celebrating this victory, the rest of us are on the edge of our seats anticipating what's gonna be next for this 21 year old laid-back cool dude from Leesburg, Georgia.

Phillip Phillips takes home American Idol crown for Season 11.

Phillip Phillips (born Phillip La Don Phillips, Jr. on September 20, 1990) grew up in Leesburg, Georgia, and attended Lee County High School. He graduated from Albany Technical College with a major in Industrial Systems Technology but missed the graduation ceremonies because of his obligations to American Idol. Phillip says his musical influence is his brother-in-law, Ben Neil.

Phillip Phillips with his parents

It was a tight competition between Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips though many had predicted early that Phillip Phillips will be the runaway winner. Phillip's finale performance of "Home" got positive feedback and a standing ovation from the judges while Jessica's "Change Nothing" was just "OK" and it was a pop ballad that undermines Jessica's style and potential.

Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips during the Finale Night.

Here's Phillip performing his coronation song "Home" after being announced the winner of American Idol Season 11. "Home" will become his first single after being crowned the winner. For the record, Phillip Phillips is the 7th male American Idol since Ruben Studdard won on the Idol's second season in 2003 and the 5th consecutive male Idol since a female last won (Jordin Sparks) on Idol's 6th season in 2007.

Once again, congratulations Phillip! Continue to inspire and entertain us with your music and personality. The world is excited to hear you sing your own songs and we're all hoping to see more great things from you. And to Jessica Sanchez, you should know that in my heart, you are the winner. You have shown the world how truly talented you are and with your stay on Idol, you have proven to everyone that you are an elite, top-notch performer. I'm sure the world is raring to embrace you and your music. Keep being the humble young woman that you are.

That's all for now folks! Thank you for reading and see you all on my next post. If you've got something to say, talk to me on the comments' section below. Peace out!

*Information about Phillip Phillips taken from Wikipedia.

*Photos of Jessica and Phillip during finale night taken from American Idol official website.
*Photo of Phillip with his parents taken from Google Image search.

*Video taken from American Idol Official YouTube Channel.

American Idol Season 11 Top 2

2012-05-18T19:43:00.000+08:00

Oh yes, it's down to these two amazing voices. America have reached a decision and they have voted for Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez. Phillip and Jessica are officially the TOP 2 American Idols for Season 11. And next week, the whole world shall find out who will be the 11th American Idol. I'm actually pretty cool with whoever wins this thing.

Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips for the Finale Night of American Idol Season 11.

I have not closely followed the show since it premiered on June 11, 2002 but I do remember having favorites like Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin, Fantasia Barrino, and David Cook. Season 11, however, is of particular interest so I made extra effort to get updates on Twitter and if I fail to catch the performance night on TV, I watch re-runs or I visit American Idol's official YouTube channel.

My personal top three for Season 11: Colton Dixon, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips.

At the start of the Top 13, my three favorites were Colton Dixon, Phillip Phillips, and Jessica Sanchez. The first two I picked for their personality and for their talent. I see them as cool guys, the sort of lads you wanna hang out with. Plus, they make really good music -- the sort that I listen to. On Jessica, I was a bit biased. I picked her because she's half Filipino and I certainly would love to see someone who shares my ethnic blood make it through to Hollywood. But that's just me being naive. I realized afterwards that her talent has got NOTHING TO DO with race and as I continue to listen to her, I got aware how she has proven herself so much. She's definitely a topnotch artist, and she's just impressive in every performance. Now, she's on my top three list because of her talent, above all else. Too bad for Colton though, he got booted out early in the competition. But I'm quite certain we'll hear more from this guy in the days to come.

Whoever wins on the finale next week, whether it be Jessica or Phillip, will be part of the elite group of American Idol winners. Previous winners include:

Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol (2002)

Ruben Studdard, American Idol winner Season 2 (2003)

Fantasia Barrino, American Idol winner Season 3 (2004)

Carrie Underwood, American Idol winner Season 4 (2005)

Taylor Hicks, American Idol winner Season 5 (2006)

Jordin Sparks, American Idol winner Season 6 (2007)

David Cook, American Idol winner Season 7 (2008)

Kris Allen, American Idol winner Season 8 (2009)

Lee DeWyze, American Idol winner Season 9 (2010)

Scotty McCreery, American Idol winner Season 10 (2011)

I shall leave you guys with videos of my favorite performances from Phillip and Jessica. This is Phillip's "We've Got Tonight" during their Top 3 Performance Night last May 17.

This is Jessica's controversial "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" during their Top 4 Performance Night last May 10.

Before I conclude this post, I would like to share an opinion. When I watch videos on American Idol's YouTube Channel, I can't help but notice the comments coming from the idols' respective fans. I think it's really UNCOOL to compare who is better than who. No-one is better than anybody else because we are all unique. If you don't like what you hear, then don't listen. If you don't like what you see, then don't watch. If you see it's someone's turn coming up and you don't like his/her kind of music, then turn off the TV or switch the channel. Just don't put them down with harsh words specially if it's not gonna help them in any way to improve their craft. What are you to gain by putting down other people? I really don't understand how this FAN thingy works. I am a fan too, but I just don't see myself reacting that way. ☺

Well anyway, as I've said on the opening paragraph, whatever result comes out on next week's finale, I'm cool with it. I'm slightly kinda hoping it's gonna be Jessica though, LOL! How about you, who is your American Idol? Talk to me on the comments' section below.

Thank you so much for your visit and see you all on my next post!

UPDATE, May 24, 2012: After a record-breaking 132 million votes, Phillip Phillips was crowned as American Idol for season 11 and Jessica Sanchez as the runner up. Read more from HERE.

*Photos of Jessica, Phillip and Colton were taken from American Idol official website.
*Videos were taken from American Idol Official YouTube Channel.
*Photos of previous American Idol winners were taken from Google Image search.
*Information about past winners were taken from Wikipedia.

5 Shoe-Care Tips

2012-05-06T11:06:00.000+08:00

Hey folks, how are you all doing? I'm back for some really quick GUY STUFF post. Though if this applies to the female population as well, go ahead and read on. ☺

Shoes are the last thing I put on when going out. You might look so fly with your clothes, but a beaten pair of shoes can definitely hurt your style. I'm here to give you some practical tips on how to care for your walkers so you can strut with confidence wherever your feet (or fate) might lead you.

Patent leather shoes are made from superior grade of fine grain leather that goes through a process to achieve that classic glossy look. Use petroleum jelly to clean your patent leather shoes. Rub sufficient amount of petroleum jelly onto them, let it stand for a while, then buff with a soft cloth. Petroleum jelly will also prevents the leather from cracking.

Suede shoes are made from a type of leather that uses the underside of the skin. Due to its textured nature and open pores, suede shoes easily gets dirty and may absorb liquids quickly. Use masking tape or clear tape to clean dirt off them. Press it on the affected area and gently take it off. If you have a suede cleaning brush, you can use it too to dust off your suedes but be gentle because the wire brush might take off the top layer of the leather. Also make sure that you brush in just one direction, not back and forth. For heavy stains and scuff, do further reading here.

Nubuck leather shoes is made from top-grain cattle leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side (or the outer side) to produce a velvet-like surface. If suede leather is created from the inner side of a hide, nubuck is created from the outer side of a hide, giving it more strength and thickness along with a fine grain. Use pencil eraser to clean scuffs or dirt spots off your nubuck leather shoes. And to make them look good as new, use very fine sandpaper and gently rub the shoe.

     Applying a little castor oil on your leather shoes can keep them soft and supple. Let it dry first then go on with your usual cleaning and polishing. It somehow makes the leather soles waterproof too, so go ahead and put some on the soles as well.

     A pencil eraser can also work wonders on dirty spots and scuffs on your suede shoes, nubuck leather shoes and even your light colored sneakers. So keep a pencil eraser handy.

     There you go. Hope you find this article useful. See you all on my next post!

See more posts on this category: GUY STUFF

*Photos were taken from Google Image search.
Tags: how to care for your leather shoes, how to properly care for your shoes, smart tips on how to clean and care for your shoes

Jessica Sanchez, MY American Idol

2012-04-27T21:35:00.001+08:00

I was thinking of stuff to write about this sixteen year old girl from San Diego, California -- yet I'm at a loss for words to describe how talented she is. I'm listening to her video in the background as I type and all I can say is -- this girl can really sing! (Sorry, needed to borrow this line from Randy Jackson). While enjoying her music, I turned to Wikipedia for some quick facts about Jessica Sanchez.

Name: Jessica Elizabeth Sanchez
Birthday: August 4, 1995
Dad: Gilbert Sanchez, Mexican-American from Texas
Mom: Editha Bugay Sanchez, Filipino from Bataan, Philippines

Career Highlights:

At age 10, a standing ovation performance of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" on the Showtime at the Apollo where host Whoopi Goldberg called her back again on stage for another round of applause.

At age 11, competed on the first season of America's Got Talent though she didn't make it to the semi-finals.

On September 22, 2008, sang The Star-Spangled Banner on NFL and once again on September 27, 2009.

In 2009, released on iTunes her cover of Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" and the following spring, another single, this time a cover of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind."

In 2010, Jessica was one of the singers in "We Are the World 25 for Haiti (YouTube Edition)."

     Jessica Sanchez, as of writing this post, is currently on the top 5 of American Idol Season 11. It can be noted that on the Top 7 performance week, Jessica got the lowest number of votes and was in danger of being eliminated though however was dramatically saved by the judges. Since season 8 of this talent search, the judges have been given the power to save an idol from being kicked out of the competition. The save can only be used once and only before top five. Jessica is officially the first female and the fourth finalist to be saved from elimination in all of American Idol history.

     In my opinion, Jessica is growing tremendously as an artist -- and with the support she's getting from around the world, she will definitely become a superstar. Her mentors are quick enough to point out the stuff that she needs to work on, and she gets right into it while maintaining who she is as an artist. As I review her videos, I was quick to notice that Jessica Sanchez is a becoming a better version of herself in every performance. I can't wait as she sings her own songs and records her own albums. For the meantime, let's enjoy her covers of some of the greatest songs and relive their meaning through Jessica's awesome interpretation.

     I will end this post with her Top 6 Performance on American Idol. Listen closely and be touched by a voice that can be as soft as heaven or as fierce as a tiger's growl. Jessica is a PRO at such a young age and it's amazing how she has control over her voice even if the notes are as high as the ceiling -- heck, even her low registers are spot on.

I do hope that America will vote for her. And whether or not she makes it, Jessica Sanchez IS my American Idol. It doesn't really matter where she comes from, what matters more is the talent that she's willing to share with us. Besides, this world is big enough to make room for a Jessica Sanchez who will inspire us through her music, her soul, and her voice.

Thank you guys for visiting my blog. See you all on my next post!

UPDATE, May 17, 2012: Jessica Sanchez is Top 2 American Idol and she will be battling for the title against Phillip Phillips. Read more HERE.

UPDATE, May 24, 2012: Phillip Phillips was crowned American Idol for season 11 and Jessica Sanchez landed the runner up. Read more HERE.

*Information about Jessica Sanchez taken from Wikipedia.
*Photo taken from American Idol official website.
*Video taken from American Idol Official YouTube Channel.

The Official New 7 Wonders of Nature

2012-04-22T17:53:00.002+08:00

Folks, it's OFFICIAL! After being announced last November 11, 2011 as one of the Provisional New 7 Wonders of Nature, Puerto Princesa Underground River is now confirmed and verified as one of the world's New 7 Wonders of Nature. Yeah, a little out of my blog's theme but I remember mentioning Puerto Princesa Underground River when I wrote about Jeb's trip to Palawan last year -- and now, I just wanna share with you guys this absolutely wonderful news.

On picture: President Benigno S. Aquino III receiving the plaque from
Dr. Bernard Weber recognizing Puerto Princesa Underground River as
one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River is considered to be the world's longest navigable underground river which winds through a cave before opening up to the South China Sea. And yesterday, April 21, 2011, this amazing work of nature was inaugurated as one of the world's New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN) at the One Esplanade, Open Grounds, Pasay City with the presence of the N7WN President and Founder Dr. Bernard Weber and the President of the Philippines Benigno Simeon Aquino III. Also present during the inauguration was Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Task Force PPUR Chairman and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. and Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim, among others.

Here's the video of President Aquino's speech during the inauguration:

According to the president: "This honor reminds us of how truly blessed our country is -- and of how it is our task as Filipinos not to take these blessings for granted. We have to act as responsible stewards. And this means valuing our natural resources, and ensuring the environmental sustainability of all our development efforts."

The verified members of the NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE are:

The Amazon from South America

The Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle or the Amazon Basin is located within the nine nations of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela -- and encompasses seven million km² (1.7 billion acres) while the forest itself occupies some 5.5 million km² (1.4 billion acres). The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforests in the world. The Amazon River is also the largest river in the world by volume with a total flow greater than the top ten rivers in the world combined. The river accounts for approximately one-fifth of the total world river flow and has the biggest drainage basin in the planet. One other interesting fact: not one bridge crosses the Amazon.

Halong Bay of Vietnam

Halong Bay is located in Quáng Ninh province, Vietnam. It features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. The bay has a 120-km long coastline and is approximately 1,553 km² in size containng 1,969 islets. Many of its islands are found to be hollow with enormous caves in them, while other islands support floating villages of fishermen who ply the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Another distinct feature of Halong Bay is the abundance of lakes inside the limestone islands, Dau Be island for instance has six enclosed lakes.

Iguazo Falls in Argentina, Brazil

Iguazu Falls in Iguazu River is one of the world's largest waterfalls. It extends over 2,700 m (nearly 2 miles) in a semi-circular shape. Of the 275 falls that collectively make up Iguazu Falls, the "Devil's Throat" is said to be the tallest which is at 80 m in height. Iguazu Falls is on the border between the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones, and is surrounded by two National Parks (BR/ARG). Both parks are subtropical rainforests that are host to hundreds of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

Jeju Island from South Kore

Also known as Jejudo, Jeju Island is a volcanic island located 130 km from the southern coast of Korea. Both the largest island and the smallest province in Korea, Jejudo has a surface area of 1,846 km². The island's main feature is Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea and a dormant volcano which rises 1,950 m above sea level. Amazingly, 360 satellite volcanoes surrounds the main volcano.

Komodo from Indonesia

Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as other smaller ones, comprising a total area of 1,817 km² (603 km² of it is land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon which later was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals. The islands of this national park are of volcanic origin.

Puerto Princesa Underground River from the Philippines

The Puerto Princesa Underground River, reputed to be the world's longest underground river, is located about 50 km north of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km navigable underground river. The river winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. At the mouth of the cave, a lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

Table Mountain of South Africa

     Table Mountain is a South African icon and the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it - Mensa, meaning “the table.” The flat-topped mountain has withstood six million years of erosion and is home to the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species. Table Mountain is also a sanctuary for various rare and endangered species. It is the most recognized site in Cape Town, the gateway to Africa, because of its unique flat-topped peaks which reaches 1,086 m above sea level.

     Nature's beauty and grace is truly beyond words to describe. Congratulations to the Official New 7 Wonders of Nature and the countries where they're from. We are all tremendously fortunate to have been blessed with the opportunity and the privilege to enjoy and experience all these amazing wonders of nature. As such, the calling is upon all of us to be responsible stewards of all these beauty so that the future may enjoy and experience them too. It is our duty therefore, to take care of these blessings, protect and preserve them for the many more generations who will inherit the earth.

     Thank you guys for dropping by. See you on my next post!

*Photo during the inauguration was taken from P-Noy's facebook page.
*Photos and descriptions of the New 7 Wonders of Nature were taken from N7WN's website.
*Video of P-Noy's speech taken from YouTube

7 Steps To A Great Shave

2012-04-16T08:00:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, what's up? Enjoying your summer? Don't forget to read my previous post so you can make the most out of the hottest yet coolest time of the year. Anyway, I'm back yet again for another article that's dedicated to all my awesome male readers.

     Shaving is a common ritual for many guys. Let's face it, we shave our facial hair whenever we wanna look exceptionally nice. Though I look wayyy better with my facial hair on, I still shave my face to start over with my scruffy look or if I wanted to look extra neat and fresh for some special occasion.

     With a trusted razor and a steady hand, most men definitely know how to shave like we know the back of our hand. What I'm here for, however, is to give additional pointers so we can achieve that perfect shave every time.

Pointers For A Close Shave

Keep it Sharp To lessen the risk of razor cuts, NEVER shave with a dull blade. Choose a trusted brand for your blades too. I've been using Gillette since I started shaving at the age of 16, and right now I'm using Gillette Mach3 Turbo. Also remember that those plastic, disposable shavers are only good for one or two usage -- but if you clean their blades after using them, you can extend it for another 2 or 3 uses. But still, they are disposables, so that's not really advisable.

Prepare Your Skin Before you run the blade over your gorgeous face, wash with a facial scrub to get rid of dead skin cells, open your pores and soften the skin. The key to an effective shave is prepping your skin before you do it. It actually is advisable to shave after a (hot) shower. By the way, if you're like me who don't really have a facial wash all the time, you can use your regular soap or shampoo.

Hot Towel Lay a hot towel on your face for about a minute, this will soften the hair thus prevent cuts.

Moisturize and Shaving Cream Gently massage moisturizer in circular motion into your skin then lather on your shaving cream with the moisturizer underneath. Use high quality shaving cream (choose the ones which are glycerine based) and avoid those that contains menthol as they can cause your pores to close and stiffen your facial hair.

Shave Using your free hand, taut the area of skin to be shaved and gently glide the razor over your face. Avoid applying pressure, rinse your blade frequently, and shave with the grain.

Don't Go Against The Grain Shaving against the direction of your hair growth may allow for a closer shave but that can definitely cause cuts, irritation, rashes and the worst -- ingrown hair. I sometimes shave against the grain but I make sure that I apply moisturizer and shave lightly. Otherwise, you can end up looking really red because of cuts and irritation.

Repair and Protect Rinse your face with cold water and apply moisturizer to relieve the skin of any sore. Place hot towel for half a minute, then a cold towel afterwards to remove the itchy feeling and close the pores. It's not really recommended to use products that contain alcohol like aftershave colognes as they can cause dry skin. But if you're numb to this, go ahead. Mentholated products can make you feel cool and fresh but be aware that they may cause irritation. An effective alternative is to use a good aftershave balm to help you heal and moisturize.

In case you cut yourself:

Grab an ice cube -- the cold will cause the tiny blood vessels to constrict, slowing the blood and allowing a clot to form.

Use your Chapstick or dab a thin coat Vaseline jelly -- this will seal the tiny nick and provide a surface for a blood clot to form.

Use your deodorant -- most deodorants have aluminum chloride or a derivative of it (i.e aluminium chlorohydrate) which acts as a hemostatic agent, allowing a blood clot to form quickly.

If you got none of the above (which is very unlikely), don't panic and just apply pressure. All bleeding stops eventually.

     There you go, hope you learned something from this post. Stay cool everybody!

See more posts on this category: GUY STUFF

*Picture taken from Google Image search.
Tags: how to shave properly, shaving tips for men, how to get salon-quality shave, how to get a perfect shave, the best way to shave

5 Ways To Beat The Summer Heat

2012-04-06T15:09:00.000+08:00

It's summer! -- and to those who love the sun and the beach, here's a short list of summer essentials to keep your cool under the warm sunny weather.

BLOCK THE SUN!

The exceptionally hotter sun needs to be shut out so use sunblock and reapply as needed to keep your skin protected. Reapplying sunblock should be done every hour says Dra. Vicky Belo on this article. A thing of note about skin care: even if it's not summer, the skin needs protection from the sun as UV rays can damage the skin causing darkening and premature aging.

Photo taken from here.

A good sunscreen should have both UVA and UVB protection. Higher SPF can protect you from UVB rays: SPF15 is good for daily use, while SPF30 or higher for prolonged sun exposure. For the more destructive UVA rays (think wrinkles and leathery skin, that's what they do), check your brand for ingredients like titanium oxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (Parsol 1789), Mexoryl SX and Tinosorband as these are the stuff effective in blocking them. Plus, no sunscreen is truly waterproof -- they usually adhere to the skin from 40 minutes to 80 at most -- so reapply every hour.

Read more about sunblocks from this LINK.
Know the difference between UVA and UVB rays HERE.

EAT COOL FOODS

Pile up your diet with fruits like apples, bananas, grapes, pears, peaches, watermelon, and oranges because they have high water content and will help cool down your body says this old article from ABS-CBNnews.com.

Photo taken from here.

Cool foods (which includes fruits, vegetables and fish) only takes around 15 to 60 minutes to digest, as compared to warm foods (those that have more carbs and probably fatty, baked, or deep-fried) that takes longer time to be digested. The longer time it takes for the food to digest, the more energy it needs thus making the body expend more heat and water. So stay cool by eating right!

DRINK UP!

Our body is 2/3 water, and from head to toe, we need water to function properly. Water is still the best way to keep our sanity, to be healthy and to keep it cool this hot hot summer. Regulate your body temperature, drink water fellas!

Photo taken from here.

Read more on the health benefits of water on this LINK.

PROTECT YOUR EYES

The eyes are the windows to the soul, yeah whatever, and so they need to be protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Too much sun exposure can cause cataracts and other eye problems so bling it on with your UV protected sunglasses. Invest on a good pair of sunglasses that blocks 99-100% of the sun's UVA and UVB rays and look cool too.

Photo taken from here.

Read more about caring for your eyes from this LINK.

WEAR SUMMER FRIENDLY CLOTHES

It's hot, and it's not just you by the way. Let the skin breathe by choosing lighter fabrics such as cotton which is made of natural fiber that's breathable and allows air circulation in the body.

Cotton absorbs and lets sweat evaporate better. Choose the right colors too! Though white is still the best for summer, other pastel colors like blue, light green, and pink are also great colors for the warm summer sun. Stay away from black or dark colors as they absorb light and heat.

Get some more tips from this LINK.

With this check list and your hot bod, I hope you guys are ready for the summer! Thanks for reading and see you all on my next post!

See more posts on this category: GUY STUFF

*All photos except for the first one were all taken from Google Image search.
*Facts were gathered from the Internet with a link back to the source within the article.
Tags: how to protect yourself from the sun, summer essentials, how to enjoy summer, the right food to eat during summer, why water is important especially during summer, how to protect the eyes from the sun, what clothes to wear during summer, how to enjoy summer, the right way to enjoy summer, how to get the best out of the warm summer season

Home Remedies For Common Face Problems

2012-03-29T01:24:00.001+08:00

Hey guys, how are you all doing today?

They say to overcome our problems we must face them, but as goes the joke -- what if the problem is our face? Getting a new face is quite expensive -- so that's not really an alternative for me. Lol! Anyway, here are some skin treatments I learned from the Internet (and from an old issue of metro him magazine) to relieve some of the most common face problems using stuff we already have at home.

For Deep Cleansing

Steaming the face is a great way to flush out toxins from the skin while hydrating and promoting skin turnover. Steaming cleanses the skin of dirt that's deeply embedded in the pores thus a big help to prevent acne, pimples and blackheads. However, this is not advisable for those with severe acne as this can trigger more acne breakout -- better consult with your dermatologist first. But for those with mild acne cases, steaming your face can help clear up your skin.

If there's no facial steamer, you can replicate with a basin, steaming water and towel.

Wash your face so that your pores are free to release any impurities without dirt blocking the way.

Boil the water and add the optional lemon slices in a large bowl. Make sure to place the bowl in a flat surface like a counter top or table.

Stand carefully over the bowl of hot water with the towel draped around your head to trap the steam. Keep your face at a comfortable distance from the bowl but not too far that nothing happens nor too close that you hurt from the heat. Keep your eyes closed too.

Steam no more than once a week and for 4 to 10 minutes maximum. Excessive steaming can dry out the skin causing it to produce more oil and eventually lead to more breakouts. (source: mail online)

*Read more on the benefits of face steaming here.
*How-to courtesy of e-how.com.
*More tips on how to steam you face on this link.

Home Remedy for Overly Dry Skin

Dry skin can be very uncomfortable and unpleasant. Fight it off with something sweet -- honey. Simply apply a smooth coat of honey to your face and wash it off with warm water after 15 minutes. You'll be amazed how much softer and smoother you skin will become.

*Learn more about dry skin and how to take care of it from this link.
*Some more natural remedies for dry skin can be found here.

Home Remedy For Eye-bags

Dark circles under the eyes are sometimes a concern for some of us specially if we don't get enough sleep. Not everyone can have a good under-eye cream handy but you can always use the alternative that's found right inside your fridge. Cucumber! Lie down with cooled and thinly sliced cucumber on your eyelids for at least 30 minutes. The water from the cucumber can help moisturize and rehydrate the skin under your eyes thus reducing dark circles and puffiness. Another alternative are soaked teabags.

*Read more on the causes and simple remedies for eye-bags on this link.

Home Remedy for Oily Face

Specially at the time when I was not as conscious with the food I eat, my face was really oily. Oily skin is mostly hereditary but my parents didn't have the same problem as I did. And since I'm not adopted -- I was kinda hoping to be the son of a king from a faraway land ツ -- it probably was my diet. What I did back then was wash my face as often as I could, drink lots of water and I eventually changed my diet.

One simple home remedy to get rid of your oily face is cucumber pulp and lemon juice. Simply mix these two and apply mixture to face. Cucumber and lemon are nature's astringent and will cleanse as it will flush out excess oil off your face. Wash thoroughly after and pat your face dry.

*Click here for some more home remedies for oily skin.
*Check out some more home-made face masks and scrubs for different skin types.

Hope you guys learned something from this post. If you have anything to share, talk to me on the comments' section below. Thanks for reading!

See more posts on this category: GUY STUFF

*Photos were all taken from Google Image search.
*Links to the sources can be found within the article.
tags: practical home solution for common face problems, tips on how to have clear skin using stuff found at home, tips to solve pimples, oily skin, blackheads, pimples and other face problems

The Right Hairstyle for Your Face Shape

2012-03-21T07:21:00.001+08:00

Judging a book by its cover is simply not cool but nobody can deny the truth that looking good or presentable DOES affect other people's perception of who you are. They won't exactly know your thoughts, your ideas, what you've accomplished or what you stand for, but the way you present yourself can either draw them near so they can get to know you more, or might just -- drive them away. That is why, we should always make the conscious effort to take care of ourselves and make sure that we put our best foot forward every-time.

I have started a series of posts tagged as "GUY STUFF" dedicated to all my male readers who, like me, are passionate enough to become the best of who they can be. I'm not a style guru but I wanna share what I know to help out other guys like me. We can learn from each other's experiences, right? So, let's get it on!

How To Choose The Right Hairstyle
For Your Face Shape

Choosing the right hairstyle is more difficult for men than for women. Women have longer hair and can have the flexibility while men with our shorter hair can only do a few adjustments. But overall, the correct cut and styling can enhance a person's facial features, even hide the flaws and just influence the overall image.

David Beckham is one of the few men I look up to when it comes to style. This guy is awesome.

Here's a research I made on the different face shapes and collated the recommendations on what hairstyle works best for each type. In deciding which haircut is right, find out which face shape category you belong to and discuss with your stylist the options you have. You then can decide on which hairstyle is fit for you which will highlight and compliment your features.

Round Face

Characteristics: Jawline is round, face almost as wide as tall, round cheekbones.
Suggestion: A cut that's thin on the sides and with volume on top to provide balance. The cut shouldn't be too round but rather more squarish on the side. To create an illusion of length, men with round face can spike up a bit or part your hair two inches to either side of center and angle your bangs to cut off the roundness of your forehead.
On picture: Elijah Wood, Jack Black

Square Face

Characteristics: Square jawline, almost as wide as long, straight sides, jaw and cheekbones are of the same width.
Suggestion: Just like guys with round face, men on this category should keep the sides leaner and short while keeping the top longer and with volume to lessen the angular shape. Guys with this type of face can also have a side-swept bangs that will create diagonal lines to minimize and soften the squarish corners.
On picture: Tom Welling, Nick Lachey

Oval Face

Characteristics: Considered as the ideal shape, proportioned, slightly rounded jaw, face shape resembles the shape of an egg.
Suggestion: Men on this category can practically get away with any hairstyle. So if you have an oval-shaped face, consider yourself lucky -- you can try on any hairstyle to fit your mood, personality, and lifestyle. You may also try the pompadour cut since it's ideal for egg-shaped faces. Here's a video tutorial I found on YouTube.

Oblong Face

Characteristics: Face is longer than it is wide, often rounded jawline, cheekbones and jaw are the same width.
Suggestion: Get a style which will create the illusion of a shorter, fuller face. Add fullness at the temples and sides, and keep it longer around the ears. A long layered cut provides fullness especially if hair is blow-dried. Keep it short at the back so the hairline won’t drag the eye downwards. A neatly groomed beard can also give a little balance to your features but don't allow the facial hair to grow too long as it can elongate your face even more. Glasses can also provide a little balance because it will divide your face and draw attention away from its shape.
On picture: Tom Ford, Kiefer Sutherland

Rectangle Face

Characteristics: Face is longer than it is wide, square-jawed, and an angular forehead. Sides of the face are straight, and the forehead, cheekbones and jaw-line are the same width.
Suggestion: A rectangular face can be shortened by adding fullness to the sides and softening the hairline. You can also have off-center bangs to shorten the face and soften the angular forehead. A layered cut can add width and helps create roundness at the sides of the face. Blow-dry the hair to add fullness and avoid long hair in the back.
On picture: Zac Efron

Triangle Face

Characteristics: Face is longer than wide, jaws are broad, jaw is the widest part of the face and forehead is narrow.
Suggestion: Styles that add width at the forehead and temples, and those that adds volume on top usually works best for this face shape. Request for a layered hairstyles that will help balance and soften the prominent jaw line. Short hairstyle with heavy layers on the top and sides allows hair to be rounder, fuller, and will create more volume above the ears. Medium hair that taper to the jaw line with side swept bangs and shags style may also work for this category.
On picture: Keith Urban

Heart Face or Inverted Triangle

Characteristics: Longer than wide, wide cheekbones and forehead, pointed chin.
Suggestion: Hairstyles for this shape are usually longer. Balance the face by choosing a style that will narrow your forehead area and widen your chin. Soften your features with a classic schoolboy cut, brushed forward, fuller on the sides with long bangs swept across the forehead. A beard can also create an illusion of a wider chin.
On picture: Ryan Gosling, Xian Lim

Diamond Face

Characteristics: Cheekbones are the widest part of the face, forehead and jawline are narrow, with long pointed jawline.
Suggestions: For this shape, the goal is to minimize the wide cheekbones and balance out the narrow chin and forehead. Get a hairstyle with bangs so it covers your forehead thus your face seems wider. Fullness of the hair just below the back of the ears (in the back of your head) gives weight to the chin so you balance out the narrow chin. Long shag hairstyles works well for this type of face.
On picture: Dane Cook, Pete Wentz

Getting a haircut is more than just the trend. You have to consider your face shape, your personality, and whether it's timely on not, you also have to consider if it looks good on you. I've seen cuts from yester-years and they seem to look good even to this day. Now, that's true style that have stood the test of time.

Hope you guys learned from this post as much as I did. More of this in the coming days, so yeah, hope you can come back. Leave your thoughts on the comments' section below. See ya!

See more posts on this category: GUY STUFFtags: the right hairstyle for men according to his face shape, the suitable haircut or hairstyle for men according to his face shape, suggestions on what hairstyle to get for men specific for the shape of the face, the right hairstyle for men
*Photos of celebrities were all taken from Google Image search.
*Video is taken from YouTube.
*I did this post with a little help from:
About.com, CoolMensHair.com, Style Makeover HQ,
Style Angel, Kinowear, and Esquire
tags: right haircut for men with round face, right haircut for men with square face, suitable haircut for guys with oval face, correct haircut for guys with oblong face, right hairstyle for men with rectangle face, hairstyle for men with triangle face, hairstyle for men with heart or inverted triangle face, haircut for men with diamond face

Angels Brought Me Here

2012-03-11T11:09:00.002+08:00

     They say music is the language of the soul. It is a universal force that celebrates with our joy, laments with our sadness, calms our anger and sometimes, it gives us wisdom when we need it. It's amazing how music can explain and relate to what we feel when nobody else can. It is music which keeps us company when everything in this world seems most unbearable and when life feels just so hard to live. Indeed -- music is life's gift to us all.

     The song 'Angels Brought Me Here' by Guy Sebastian was once someone's song for me. Well, that was actually years ago. I got attached to the song because it's just a wonderful feeling when someone tells you that you are an answer to their prayers -- that you are a miracle in their life. Well, life isn't perfect and even the most beautiful relationship can crumble. Even so, the past still holds beautiful memories and it deserves to be remembered even if it's just to learn and gain wisdom from it.

     Here's the video I made and I dedicate this to the person who told me once that I am her life's greatest miracle. And perhaps, you can also dedicate this to someone whom you feel is life's miracle to you. Enjoy!

Angels Brought Me Here
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Album: Just As I Am

It's been a long and winding journey
But I'm finally here tonight
Picking up the pieces
And walking back into the light

Into the sunset of your glory
Where my heart and future lies
There's nothing like that feeling
When I look into your eyes

Bridge:
My dreams came true, when I found you
I found you, my miracle

Chorus:
If you could see, what I see
That you're the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel, the tenderness I feel
You would know, it would be clear
That angels brought me here

Standing here before you
Feels like I've been born again
Every breath is your love
Every heartbeat speaks your name...

Bridge 2:
My dreams came true, right here in front of you
My miracle

Chorus:
If you could see, what i see
You're the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel, the tenderness I feel
You would know, it would be clear
That angels brought me here

Bridge 3:
Brought me here to be with you,
I'll be forever grateful (oh forever faithful)

My dreams came true when I found you
My miracle

Chorus:
If you could see, what I see
You're the answer to my prayers
If you could feel, the tenderness i feel
You would know, it would be clear
That angels brought me here

Yes they brought me here
And if you could feel, the tenderness I feel
You would know, it would be clear
That angels brought me here

P.S. Don't mind the photos so much, I tried my very best to choose the ones that don't fully show my face. Wherever she is -- the one who dedicated this song for me -- I hope she's happy. This video is for you!

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the song featured in this video.

Jeb's Hong Kong and Macau Look

2012-03-01T12:52:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, what's up? This is my brother Jeb...

My brother and I, we sort of influence each other's style. And though we are a lot different in many ways, we somehow agree on what looks good on one another. We share things from the clothes we wear to the accessories we use -- but even if we use each other's stuff, we still manage to put out our own individual personalities whenever we present ourselves to the world.

(L-R) Jeb and myself, year 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Jeb was recently in Hong Kong and Macau for a short vacation. Before his flight, he asked me to plan what he'll wear for the entire trip. Truth is, for most of his important events, he usually turn to me to plan his wardrobe and he oftentimes agree to whatever I come up with.

And so, let's check out what he wore during his vacation as well as some of the places he visited.

In San Malo, Macau's shopping district.

How I miss San Malo! When I visited Macau years ago, this is where I usually meet my friends to have coffee or be introduced to new friends.

Inside Galaxy Macau Hotel in Cotai Strip, Macau.

With Antinen, still inside Galaxy Macau Hotel.

Galaxy Hotel was still being constructed when I was in Macau. This destination resort officially opened last May 15, 2011.

The Venetian Macao, one of the more famous destinations in Cotai Strip, Macau.

The Venetian Macao is modeled after its sister casino resort, The Venetian in
Las Vegas.

The Venetian Macao is home to the second largest Venice in the world, the first being the city of Venice in Italy and the third, The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tagged as the largest single structure hotel building in Asia, The Venetian Macao also boasts of the largest number of Filipino gondoliers in the world.

At Macau Fisherman's Wharf, Macau's first theme park.

Macau Fisherman's Wharf and their 40m tall artificial volcano in the background.

Macau Fisherman's Wharf took five years to finish. They started trial operation on December 31, 2005 and opened officially to the public a year later on December 31, 2006.

At the Avenue of Stars with Ate Imes, our cousin.

Just gotten off the ferry and on their way to Central District, Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Disneyland! I'm jealous, hmppp!

I bet it was fun watching the 'Flights of Fantasy' Parade despite the rain that day.

Do I have something from those bags? Yeah, a Mickey pen. Thanks bro!

I had a hard time choosing from his tons of photos and too bad I can't show you guys all the places they've been to. Nevertheless, I hope you had fun looking at the pictures like I did. Looking at them kinda made me miss Macau a bit.

So, what do you think, did I plan his wardrobe appropriately? Talk to me on the comments' section below. See you guy on my next post!

Tribute to A Great Woman

2012-02-27T15:07:00.000+08:00

I wanna share with you this video that my brother and I made as tribute to a woman who, for most of her life, made sure that she lived not for herself but for other people. Losing someone we love is never easy and remembering the beautiful memories makes it even harder. What can we do to move on? The lyrics of the song featured in this video somehow helped us express what our hearts long to say. And if you're someone who have lost someone in the past, may you also find meaning and peace in this song like we did.

I'll See You Again
Artist: Westlife
Album: Where We Are

Always you will be part of me
And I will forever feel your strength
When I need it most
You’re gone now, gone but not forgotten
I can’t say this to your face
But I know you hear

Chorus:
I’ll see you again
You never really left
I feel you walk beside me
I know I’ll see you again
When I’m lost, when I’m missing you like crazy
I tell myself I’m so blessed
To have had you in my life, my life

Chorus

When I had the time to tell you
Never thought I’d live to see the day
When the words I should have said
Would come to haunt me
In my darkest hour I tell myself
I’ll see you again

Chorus 2x

I will see you again
I’ll see you again
I miss you like crazy
You’re gone but not forgotten
I’ll never forget you

Someday I’ll see you again
I feel you walk beside me
Never leave you, yeah
Gone but not forgotten
I feel you by my side

No this is not goodbye
No this is not goodbye
No this is not goodbye

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the song featured in this video.

Directed by:	Kevin Jeffrey Dorongon ~k.dorongon@yahoo.com

First Assistant:	Cara Aglipay

Wardrobe:	Ruby Tuesday Ubales ~facebook.com/rubytuesdayubales

Make-Up:	Bhabie Mingi ~facebook.com/bhabiekriz

Models:	Vanessa Rose Dominguez ~facebook.com/vanidominguez
	Jho Ann Sotelo ~facebook.com/zsuchiia29
	Khaled Moradi ~facebook.com/moradi.xavi
	Roxanne Jean Ricohermoso ~facebook.com/anne.hermoso1
	Yana Torres ~facebook.com/torresariane
	Jadee Dafielmoto ~facebook.com/jadee.dafielmotoii

Assistants:	Wilfred Arrobang
	Freddie Malinao