2015 New Years Resolution Review

This time last year I set out 5 goals that I wanted to achieve in 2015…

1. Use My Twitter
I think that at the start of the year I was not really using it as much as I would have liked, but during the past few months I have really tried to update it more. I think Twitter is finally growing on me and I am definitely going to keep up with tweeting!
My Twitter Account

2. Learn Tagalog
At the start of the year, I really thought that I might not be able to keep this one going but after signing up to Memrise, I have been able to learn a new word every day. I must admit that I am still no where near understanding the language verbally, but I think that I have made great progress in my overall vocabulary.

3. Sort Out My Fashion
There is always that one resolution that you do not keep and this was my one. I guess this one is going on my next New Years Resolutions!

4. Get Creative!
Similar to my Twitter resolution, I have only really started to do this one towards the end of the year. I have made a few things on Illustrator but have yet to put them up somewhere so hopefully by the start of next year I will have figured out where I want to put them all.

5. Keep Going With My Blog
YES! I am so happy that I started this blog a year ago and that I am still going with it. Now that I am no longer Miss Philippines UK, I need to find something else to write about but I am sure I will find something; any suggestions would be helpful. Here’s to another year of blogging!

Parol Workshop

A paról is an ornamental, star-shaped Christmas lantern from the Philippines. It is traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and comes in various sizes and shapes, but generally the basic star pattern remains dominant.

The Philippine Generation teamed up with the Museum of London Docklands this weekend to host their annual parol-making event. I found out about the event through Facebook and since I had never seen (or heard of) a parol before, I really wanted to attend and see what they were all about. There were two types of parols on offer that you could make, one with a bamboo frame or a paper one and of course, we had to try both ways!

When we arrived, we were given the bamboo frames and lots of different coloured tissue paper to choose from for the decorations. Even though the bamboo ones looked so pretty once they were done, they are actually super fiddly to make (especially when you have to cut the paper to the right size and stick them on!) So we decided to try the simpler version: the paper parol! We were also allowed to take these homes with us – mine is now beautifully set on my door. They were much easier to make but they still look really fancy and festive.

On display, they also had more professional looking ones that looked spectacular (only if I was that good!) I cannot wait to do it again next year!

Philippine Generations
Museum of London Docklands

LIKHA Magazine Photoshoot

Read More: LIKHA Magazine Blog Post

LIKHA Website

A Peso X A Dream

When Typhoon Haiyan hit in late 2013, I saw a brand named ‘Flipcore’ were selling t-shirts to help the cause – I had to get one to support the relief efforts and because they were designed very nicely! It was not until competing for Miss Philippines UK that I was able to meet Jonny who runs Flipcore. Now, through crowdsourcing on Kickstarter, he is following his dreams of making Flipcore bigger and better than ever.

Could you introduce yourself, where are you from and what are you doing at the moment?

I go by the name of Jxhnny Esta, but my friends know me as Cras. I am based in London and I am an Entrepreneur, currently working on a project for my brand, Flipcore.

What is Flipcore all about? When did you start it and what makes it important to you or different from other brands?

The name Flipcore originated from the term “Filipino to the core”, which spoke for every person proud of their heritage. I started this brand in 2007, when I got inspired to create something that portrayed the culture. As an artist I knew that seeing my artwork being worn by people was a special feeling. It was not until later in 2009 I came up with the name and established the name. Flipcore has now developed into a Lifestyle brand, which represents a movement to inspire people in achieving their goals and staying true to the heart. Unlike other companies, Flipcore is not just a clothing line with a logo, but it is a part of our daily lives.

What has been your favourite/most memorable project that you have worked on at Flipcore?

Hmm, I have quite a few favourites. Back in November 2013, we launched a fundraiser for the Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines, which really meant a lot to me. It was the only way I could think of to get funding from a crowd and donate back home. Like most people, I wasn’t in the position to donate but I did everything I could to make sure I made a difference. With the help of many supporters, we were able to raise some money by selling fundraiser shirts.

This project “A PESO X A DREAM” is the currently the biggest project I’ve done as it is real personal to me. It is the first time I am sacrificing everything I have into the brand and releasing a full complete collection (I have never put out more than one clothing design at a time). I recently visited the motherland, and during my stay, it made me learn a lot about myself and my life. Just like some people, I feel lost at times. I just can’t stick to one thing, like I am still trying to figure out what to do with my life. I’ve been through so much struggle in the past, and one day, God spoke to me. I realized I needed to make a change, because life is too short, and nobody wants to live with regret. If I didn’t have this project, this brand, I wouldn’t know what I’d be doing right now. This is my passion, this is what I love to do. I’m going for my dreams and trying to be the man God wants me to be.

What gave you the inspiration for the “A Peso X A Dream” project? And what is the meaning behind the name?

“A Peso X A Dream” basically represents anybody who ever started from the bottom. It speaks for every person who understands what it’s like to go through pain & struggle. Whether you come from a broken home, living without a job, living with addiction, money problems or even poverty. Throughout it all, you just want to change all that. I know this doesn’t relate to everybody, but it does for me. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but just know that I am not proud of my past as it left me facing lot of problems, spiritually and financially. I don’t really have much right now, but this dream. A dream that I believe will turn my life around and inspire people in the process if I really work hard for it. We all want to be happy, and we know that success brings happiness. I believe anyone can be successful, you just gotta be passionate about what you love to do.

And what makes you proud to be a Filipino?

I’m proud to be Filipino because lumpia… Hahaha! Seriously… besides the corruption and poverty, you can’t take away the fact that The Philippines is one of the happiest countries in the world. Oh, and the hospitality! I’ve learned that even with no money, Filipinos know how to be happy. We often laugh during difficult situations, bringing light into the darkness. Like even if we are struck by typhoons, we don’t stop trying and we can still put the smiles on our faces which makes us stronger through the trials and tribulations. That’s the true Filipino spirit. Dreams don’t easily come true for everyone in The Philippines, but the Filipino is one of the happiest, creative, passionate and hard working people you can ever meet. That’s what makes me proud.

His Kickstarter is live and there are some amazing rewards up for grabs. Jonny has also made a documentary that is on the Kickstarter page (we did a photoshoot together in Manila so try and spot me in the film!) I would personally recommend any of the t-shirts because they are amazing quality (the t-shirt I bought in 2013 is still in good condition after a million washes!) and their grey sweatshirt is going on my Christmas list. Any pledge would mean so much and I can not wait to see what is next for Flipcore!

Flipcore Kickstarter

Sea Life Aquarium

Even though the London Sea Life Aquarium has been open since 1997, I can never remember visiting it when I was younger. But during the summer holidays my little sister and I visited it and we had lots of fun! It is right by the River Thames, next to the London Eye and Southbank, so it is really easy to get to. We saw clown fish, jellyfish, sharks and other species that I have never seen before or heard of! My favourite part of the aquarium is the little turtle tanks they have; I could just sit and watch them swim around all day.

If you are ever thinking about coming to the London Aquarium (or any aquarium) I would recommend coming early; there are less people in the way of the tanks and you can avoid the queues. Also, take your time around the tanks! There is a lot to see and read so do not just rush through it, learn a little bit about our oceans and enjoy looking at some spectacular animals!

And from my little sister:

I thought the London aquarium was amazing! All the sharks, and the different things we saw was great. If I could, I’d definitely go there again. One of the main highlights of the London aquarium was the penguins! When we saw them dive under the sea, it was awesome. It also had a great layout, we really felt cold and it looked like real ice and another thing I found cool was the ‘Nemo’s Kingdom’ part. It had clownfish, and all the characters from Finding Nemo! It was a great experience before going back to school, and now I know lots and lots about fishes. (:

Sea Life – London

Christa’s MPUK Experience | Part 2

The Night

This was it. All the hard work counts down to one night. The pressure was kicking in. I remember not getting enough sleep with all the anxiety I was feeling the night before. My mum and my sister kept insisting that all I needed to do was to ‘enjoy’ the moment but it was impossible! I knew I had all these expectations to live up to and I didn’t want to disappoint. I kept reminding myself: ‘Eyes on the prize, you always wanted to be a great role model? This is your chance’. Luckily my very close friend, Tosca Cabatana, was there to support me backstage. She gave me pep talks, helped me out with my hair and coordinated my outfits. She even brought a box of Lola’s cupcakes, which cheered me up instantly.

I was a complete nervous wreck at the dressing room. I was anxious that I might trip, say the wrong words or embarrass myself. But surprisingly, as soon as I got on stage, another persona takes over – a cool, calm and collected Christa. Of course my confidence also came from the loud cheering of my friends and family. Pictures of myself and banners were being waved around. Loud screams of: ‘We love you Christa!’ or ‘Namber Pibe!’ whilst I strut along the stage made me feel so reassured and blessed. Knowing that I had that much support, it was impossible not to smile naturally.

More Than a Beauty Pageant

The experience has taught me more than just holding a smile on stage, walking on heels, fixing my hair & make-up. Through the pageant, I also had the pleasure of meeting a lot of talented individuals. From the singers & dancers; the event organisers; alumni beauty queens and of course the gorgeous/handsome candidates. Furthermore, having spent countless hours of learning the dance routine; I re-discovered my passion for dancing again.

This journey has also been an eye-opening experience. For me, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a positive difference. It helped me discover so many things about myself that I didn’t even knew existed. I learned to be more disciplined and ambitious towards my goals. I realised my self-value and purpose. I learned the importance of taking risks and being able to demonstrate confidence despite of what others may say. I learned that reaching your dreams are always possible especially when you’ve got great support from your family and friends.

Christa’s MPUK Experience | Part 1

Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Christa Borja, and I have been given the privilege to be crowned as Miss Philippines UK 2015. For the last couple of months, it has been one of the most unforgettable and truly humbling experience that I will forever cherish. Who knew what I initially thought was a ‘silly’ idea turned out to be one of the greatest journey of my life.

Unexpected Entry

It was my older sister, Chriszelle who pushed me to join the competition. In fact, I actually missed the audition and few scheduled rehearsals that made me believe I’ve dodged the pressure bullet. But thanks to sister’s persistence, she was able to get in touch with Yulee Foster, last year’s Miss Philippines UK Winner, and persuade the event organisers to take me in last minute – then boom. Out of nowhere, I received a random text message from sissy confirming: ‘Yahoo! Pasok ka na! Rehearsals starts this Saturday’.

First Day

My first day is a summary of sweaty palms and pits (yes I said it), Not only I made bad impression to Yulee for being 1 hour and 30 minutes late (which btw, I had a valid reason for), but I also sucked at following all choreos for Latin, Hip-Hop and Ethnic. It was interesting to say the least. I’ve always loved dancing since I was a kid, however, the problem lies to the fact that I haven’t danced in a very long time. I haven’t moved a single (dancing) muscle since my cheering days at university. And 2 years worth of unmoved body, I felt stiff, rusty and awkward throughout the practice.

After my torturous first day, I went straight home and asked myself whether I was wasting my time. Contemplations re-occurred and I started to have second thoughts. My schedule was already swamped with 9-5 working hours on weekdays and if I was to join the competition it would mean that my weekends would be filled with rehearsals too, therefore, leaving me no time to rest. I felt stuck so I began to seek advice from other people. While many of my friends/family supported the harmless idea of joining, one opinion struck me the most: ‘Pano kung di ka naman manalo? Edi nasayang lang yung oras mo?’ The doubtful remark fuelled more fire in me. From that moment, I decided to use the negative judgment to pursue the crown and show everyone that I was worthy to be called Miss Philippines UK.

The Journey

One word: Exhausting! I believe most of the candidates (even the previous ones) can agree with me on this. Rehearsals can be draining whether it might be the length of travel that some candidates have to go through; balancing either part-time/full-time work with weekend practices or the endless hours of catwalks and dance routines. Indeed it was exhausting however, the experience was also fun. Never in my life I imagined that pageants could be this tough! And it didn’t take too long until I started to rely on energy drinks and skinny latte’s as if I was back at uni on my last year preparing for exams.

Knowing that I had quite a lot to catch up on, I started my weekend routine strictly at 6:00 am. No excuses. Tired or not, I knew I had to push myself. I practiced the choreos early before the actual rehearsal at 12:30 pm. I even practised the Hip Hop on my head whilst on the way to work and on the way back home.

For a first timer like me, I had no clue on what to wear, how to prepare for Q&As or how to walk on pageant shows. I realised that if I wanted to win this competition, it requires more than just memorising the dance steps. It also involves embodying a mind-set of what a true beauty queen should be. So I researched some of the most iconic Filipino Beauty Queens from the past. From Melanie Marquez, Gloria Diaz, Shamcey Supsup to Megan Young. Believe it or not, I sat in front of my computer for hours! I studied different commentaries about how each stood out from the competition, how they presented themselves and how they delivered their answers effectively. I also took inspiration from MPUK’s beautiful winners: Jacqueline Llaneza (2012), Kallula Dixon (2013) and of course, Yulee Foster (2014). I took notes of what they wore, how they walked, smile and pose. It was all about preparations! As soon as I finished work, I’d go straight home and practice my walk on heels, smiling and posing in front of the mirror while my cat watched me with embarrassment.

The most fun part of this journey (apart from winning the title) was shopping for my outfits and deciding my hair & make-up, after all, it is called a ‘beauty’ pageant for a reason. Luckily, I had great tips from my best friend, Crescent Samaco, who btw has the fiercest catwalk ever. She gave me advice that if you want to stand out, you’ve got to sparkle like a diamond on stage. Not only she taught me how to walk with attitude but she also gave me insights of the ‘pageant must-haves’. For instance, nails must only be red or french tips; dresses has to be sparkly –gold, silver or nude; and accessories have to be bold – the bigger it is, the better. It was like entering a new world and oddly enough, I enjoyed learning these things.

Makeup Photoshoot

Makeup and Photos by Cindy Purezka Maya
Her makeup skills are just simply amazing

Miss & Mr Philippines UK 2015

Prior to the big night, I was able to meet all of the candidates during rehearsals. I helped out with their pageant walks and tried to calm their nerves down. Since I knew how they must be feeling during this time, I really wanted them to relax and have a great night, just like I had!

The Miss and Mr Philippines UK 2015 competition was held at the same location as last year, Camden Centre on Saturday the 12th of September. I was lucky enough to have a spot on the VIP table with my mum and dad, which meant amazing Filipino food and a front row seat. Before the competition started, I went backstage to check up on the candidates and give them my last pieces of advice. Everyone seemed quite relaxed (unlike last year!) so I had a lot of faith in them for an amazing show.

The first time you are on stage is always the most difficult. You are trying to remember all of your steps to the dance and trying to look out for your supporters at the same time, but all of the contestants kept their focus and started the night off with a bang. They also had a casual, swim and formal wear and everyone’s style and confidence was shining throughout.

Since I was the Miss Philippines UK 2014, I was able to do my last walk with the title and also give a little speech towards the end of the night (Charlene, I am sorry I missed your shoutout!) I hope that my words were felt amongst the audience and that some of them are here reading my blog.

At the end of the night, John Paulo Bendana was crowned Mr Philippines UK 2015 and I had the honour of crowning Christa Borja as Miss Philippines UK 2015. I am sure that all of the contestants had a great time on the night and it is an event that will stay with them forever. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the amazing team behind Miss and Mr Philippines UK every year. It continues to get better and better every time, I cannot wait until next year!

OOTN

12th of September
Miss Philippines UK 2015

Dress – ASOS – Not available anymore
Shoulders – Kultura – Bought in the Philippines
Makeup by Chloe

One Lovely Blog Award

Yay =) I can not believe it but this is my 100th blog post and I have received another blog award! Hopefully there are still another 100 more posts to come. Thank you so much Elina for the nomination. I love knowing that someone out there is actually reading my blog and (hopefully) enjoying it. This award’s rules are very similar to another one that I have already done, so I shall keep my answers short and sweet!

Rules:
1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and include a link to their blog.
2. List the rules and display the Award on your post.
3. Add 7 facts about yourself.
4. Nominate other Bloggers and comment on one of their recent posts to let them know they have been nominated.

My 7 Facts:

1. I am strongly against Volvic water, it just does not taste right to me (similar to Pepsi and Coke for some people.)
2. Currently, I stand at 5’7 but sadly I do not think I am going to grow anytime soon.
3. I FINALLY own a bike! Nothing fancy, but I love it.
4. Cold drinks over hot drinks any day.
5. I love to take pictures but I am pretty sure everyone knows that.
6. Non fiction over fiction (when I am listening to audiobooks!)
7. 70s and 80s music is golden.

My Nominees:
1. No Juan Is An Island
2. Gail
3. Bong Bong Books
4. Alyssa
5. khayceelyncordovilla

Sept. 30 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Wednesday, Sept. 30: A farewell coffee date. Take some time to breath, sip a warm drink, and share with your new blogging buddies. If you’d like a prompt: how did the Blog-tember Challenge go for you? Any surprises? What was your favourite prompt, or what would you like to see included next time?

WOOO! September is over! I must admit, it was really hard to post something every day and considering that I only missed two days: “Saturday, Sept. 19: Tell us about one of the best days of your life” and “Wednesday, Sept. 23: Grab a guest post. Recruit a friend or fellow blogger to share on your space for the day”, I think I did pretty good! My favourite posts were the creative ones so look out for more of them on my blog, what posts were your favourite?

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 29 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Tuesday, Sept. 29: Write your own list of 10 blog topics to inspire us next month.

1. Events
Try and go to different events in your area and write about your experiences. It could be anything from a food pop up to a pottery class.

2. Story
Tell us a story either from your own past experiences or write one just for your followers (it can be about anything!)

3. Review
With so many new things to try out these days from apps to makeup, let us know what you have been trying out and whether you love it or hate it.

4. Characters
Who is your favourite Disney (or anything else you like) character? If you were a 90’s cartoon character, who would it be?

5. Fear
What is the one thing you are really afraid to do? Why are you so afraid of it? What could you do to get over this fear?

6. Letter
Write a letter to yourself that you can read a year from now. (I did something similar during the Blog-Tember challenge and it was really fun!)

7. Advice
Give one piece of advice that you wish someone had given you five years ago.

8. Earth
Where is your favourite place on Earth? Snuggled up in your bed? Exploring ancient Egypt? Tell us why this place is so special to you.

9. Hidden Gems
Name five hidden gems in the town that you live in. Maybe it is the perfect place to take a scenic view picture or the best place to get a burger.

10. Language
Can you speak a second language? What inspired you to learn? Any advice for people wanting to learn another language?

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 28 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Monday, Sept. 28: A day in the life. Take us through it with you.

Since I did not do the challenge on the 18th (Friday, Sept. 18: Record a VLOG! It can be about anything you’d like!), I decided to do two in one. Hope you enjoy my little vlog.

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 27 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Sunday, Sept. 27: What’s on your wish list? Be sure to include links so we can shop too 😉

1. Kate Spade 12-Month 2016 Agenda
2. Shell Pink Faux Fur Box Clutch from New Look
3. Funky iPhone 5 cases from Electric Melon
4. Landscape Print Umbrella from Topshop
5. Home Bed Throws from Debenhams
6. Wacom Standard Pen Nibs
7. Cushions from John Lewis
8. DK20 Eyecup Eyepiece (because I lost the one on my camera)

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 26 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Saturday, Sept. 26: What’s on your to-reading list, and what have you recently read?

Right now, I do not have much on my ‘to-read’ list. I came across this article and of the 3 books that I have read on the list, I absolutely loved them, so the other 7 books are now on my ‘to-read’ list.

Recently, I have been trying to read more fiction books. ‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir caught my attention after I saw the trailer for the movie adaptation. I love anything to do with space/astronomy, from movies like Gravity and Interstellar to books like ‘An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth’ by Chris Hadfield so, I decided to listen to the audio book and it was amazing! Mark Watney (the astronaut who is left on Mars) is such a funny and loveable character and I can not wait to see the movie.

I have also been meaning to read ‘Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage’ by Haruki Murakami for such a long time now and I finally got round to it last month. The book is about Tsukuru Tazaki and his journey to discover why his friends cut him from their group. I would not say I get overly emotional about books or movies but reading this, it made me tear up a few times. Definitely recommend these two books!!!

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 25 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Friday, Sept. 25: Three songs you are connecting with right now.

Alessia Cara – Here (Vincent Remix)

I have decided to only mention one because I have never found a song I so deeply connect with. The first time I heard this song was on SoundCloud, so hence why I have the remixed version up. My favourite part of the song is right at the beginning where the lyrics go:

“Truly I ain’t got no business here
But since my friends are here, I just came to kick it
But really I would rather be at home all by myself
Not in this room with people who don’t even care about my well being…”

I have an introverted personality so whenever I go to a big party with tonnes of people that I do not know I can find it difficult to enjoy myself. I much prefer more intimate settings or as it says in the song, I would rather be at home. Since I have never heard lyrics of a song like this (talking about being by yourself at a party), I love its different angle and I am really connecting with this song right now. Please let me know if there is a whole collection of music like this that I am missing out on!

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 24 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Thursday, Sept. 24: Shout out five of your favorite bloggers. Who are your regular reads?

Girl, Unspotted
I have been loving Erica’s blog since day one! Her travels are so interesting to read about and her pictures are amazing as well. She also has a lot of love for the Philippines and it is making me miss it even more *sad face!*

The Chriselle Factor
Ever since she was mentioned on Michelle Phan’s YouTube page, I have been following Chriselle on Instagram and her blog as they are both stunning. From her family to her fashion, this woman is beyond chic.

Food & Baker
I know Jessica from Miss Philippines UK and she now has a blog! As a fellow food lover, I appreciate all of the delicious food pictures that she puts up and I love learning about new places to eat.

Yours Truly, Micah
Micah was a former candidate for Miss Philippines UK and she has also written a post on my blog (you can read it here.) Her fashion and beauty blog has had a recent makeover (which I loveee) so I can not wait for more posts!

Hapa Voice
Being half Filipino half British, I can relate to being asked “what are you?” Hapa Voice is a collection of posts by mixed raced people who want to share their experiences growing up in a mix of cultures.

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 22 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Tuesday, Sept. 22: Get creative! Sketch, paint, dance, play music, whatever then give us a glimpse.

I love making collages and I would probably make loads more if I could put them all somewhere. The first one I made is a cover for my desk (there are ink marks etc. that I had to hide!) The second one has no home right now but I would love some suggestions of where I could put it!

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 21 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Monday, Sept. 21: A favorite quote/expression and how it has impacted you.

Would you prefer to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?

When I first heard this in ‘David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants’ by Malcolm Gladwell, I was in University. So, for me, it translated to: would you rather be the best at a mediocre school or be mediocre at the best school? This question has stuck me with me because I was the small fish lost in a big pond and I could not raise myself to the standards that were around me. If I could go back in time, I would definitely change my University choice to one where I could have comfortably aimed for the very top grades. Obviously, not everyone works better in the small pond; a lot of people strive in high pressure areas and achieve their goals much better than if they were the big fish. I think the most important thing to take away from this phrase is to take a step back and realising what situation you are in. As long as you are aware of your surroundings and can understand the necessary steps to rise to the standards of the pond then you can achieve anything.

#blogtemberchallenge