Before Sunrise @ Kiltepan

The much talked about Viewpoint has been getting a handful of attention. Thanks to Angelica's emotional scene, screaming at the top of her lungs hoping in doing so, it will take the pain away ( That Thing Called Tadhana ). But let's not get overly dramatic. Kiltepan Viewpoint is actually a perfect spot to watch the sun rise on the east. It's a place to gather your thoughts, commune with nature, find serenity and just be content at the stillness of surrounding. Now, there's a disclaimer to this - Should you attempt to go there at 5:00 am during peak season, then tough luck. Chances are, you'll only being seeing heads, tripods and iphones up in the air, blocking the majestic sight of sunrise.


It was our last stop in Sagada before we head off to Baguio. Our Van pulled in at around 05:00 am and much to our surprise, the place was already jammed with tourists with their hi tech gadgets in tow,  trying to secure this spot to capture the perfect photograph of the Sunrise. I felt discouraged as I tried to squeeze myself in the crowd. It was hopeless to even raise my camera up to get a good glance of what about to transpire. We saw people going in a different direction and so we decided to follow them as they climbed to what seemed like a hill. There were already a group of people in the forefront but fortunately, we found a spot enough to see the sun as it breaks the dawn. We stood there, waiting patiently as more and more people gathered at the point. After a few more minutes, the fog cleared up and soon it was bright, golden and warm. Sunrise will always be one of the most beautiful showcase of God's magnificent creation. It was beautiful and no filter can ever do justice to the magical experience you'll have as you watch the sun comes out and breaks the darkness.



After 15 minutes or so, we decided to wander around and saw these giant pine trees - light bulb comes on. Backdrop! It felt like Autumn in NYC with all the browns, rust and vermillion colors around us. The sun streaks were peeping its way in through the branches of the trees, touching the amples of our cheeks. It was certainly a good, reassuring morning. We event witnessed a proposal which I found to be slightly cliche considering Kiltepan Viewpoint was considered the Brokenhearted's Solace. I lost count at the number of photos we took with us leaning on the trunk of the tree. A cameraman passed by and asked if he can take the photo of our friend. He asked him to move away from the trees a bit and angle himself partly facing the sun and the camera. The photo came out excellent and one thing we learned that day was, subjects should move away from the background as they will appear as false attachments resulting to a confusing photograph. Thank you Mr Cameraman! Photography 101.





As we make our descent to Baguio which was a sign that it's indeed the end of our Sagada stint, I felt a sense of unexplained happiness and peace. Yes, it was a series of sleep-deprived and exhausting itinerary but the adventures, memories and bond we created during this strip will be the stories we would tell to our children and grandchildren. It was one of those precious things you will save to your core memory and one that you'll unlock whenever the itch of wanderlust kicks in. Sagada was one of the first few places I had a chance of visiting when it was still unknown to many and it has been kind enough to still offer the same sense of serenity and beauty as it did back then.

Xo,

Jhesy 

Sagada's Bomod-Ok Falls

Hidden behind rice paddies and mountain villages is a well-kept tourist destination of Sagada. Bomod-ok or Big Falls soars some 200 feet high in the air and the path leading to this nature's creation is both an exciting and knee jerking experience that will leave you astounded and amazed.

The jump off point starts at the Information center where all the groups gathered for briefing and to meet the tour guides. Here you'll get to choose your trekking stick which certainly is my priced possession throughout the hike as it saved me from countless slips and pitfalls.

The hike starts with narrow but well-maintained cemented pathway and stone stairs which serves as the hiking trail.Extra caution is advised as the steps tend to be slippery and steep that a misstep could lead to several meters fall.

After a series of narrowed pathways, the scenery changed to vast and verdant rice paddies overlooking the village of Fidelisan. Walking in Cordillera's rice paddies was more than just an experience, it was a dream come true. I remember flipping through pages or flow charts with pictures of this man-made terraces and have always thought of how it would feel like to actually walk on them. And this trip to Sagada paved way to turn those into reality.

The view starts to get scenic as we inch closer to the falls. Though the trail is descending, expect some knee-jerking and more than an hour long walk to reach the spot. Sunblock, shawl, hats, trail mix and water would be your best buds throughout the entire hike.

Countless stops for photos and a couple more breaks to catch our breathe, we finally reached Bomod-Ok Falls. It's everything I remember sans the crowd. The big rock facing the falls which I effortlessly climbed 10 years ago firmly hold its ground. I did attempt to climb up but failed miserably. Why can't I be as brawny and fit as I was back then. Sigh. SOA.

The water is inviting, freezing but everyone's almost thrilled to jump in. It's tempting and the cold splashes were enough to rejuvenate our tired, sore muscles. There are no changing quarters or restrooms in the area but you can always improvised by using shawl or sarong. If you're not adept at swimming, you can always lounge at the side of the falls where the water is shallow. If you are brave enough to climb an almost vertical rock and you're confident that you won't slip or fall, then go ahead and dare yourself to an epic adventure. Again caution is important as your neck is sure to break should you happen to slip.

This spot has also served as a source of livelihood for the locals. Here you can buy swimwear, drinks, banana-q, chips and more. It would be good to grab a bite before you head back as you need to fuel up as the ascent is certainly not an easy feat.

We took the same trail back and it was far more challenging. It takes patience and a lot of pit stops but our appreciation for this beautiful landscape is endless. As we traverse the upward path, we saw how Sagada and its local ingenuity are able to preserve its culture by working hand in hand with nature. We saw hard working elders plucking and sowing earth oblivious of the heat and pain of bending ( insert : Magtanim ay di biro... ).  It's a humbling experience that made us realize the value of work and effort they put in for us to have grains on our plate each meal. And it was also heartbreaking to realize that their role in our society is often given the least priority.

Walking back to the jump off point offered some thoughts for me to ponder on. They say that it is the journey that matters and not the destination. But Bomod-Ok is a case of both. The trek to this hidden spot is must do activity as the view is nothing short of spectacular. Worth every muscle pains and gasps. It is best enjoyed with people you value most and even with strangers you'll get to spend a few hours with. In any type of journey, hike or adventure, it is imperative that you approach it with an open mind and sheer optimism because every experience you set yourself to embark on will always be a rewarding one. And in the case of Bomod-Ok Falls, every strenuous step is worth it and you'll be surprised at the many things you'll discover along the way.

Xo,

Jhesy 

Flapper Girl - Dazzling 20's

Time-traveled for a night back to the Twenties, Known as the "Roaring 20s" or Jazz Era. It was the age of dramatic social and political change. People were speaking in the same slang, doing the same dance moves and listening to the same type of music. It was referred to as " roaring" as the society is more exuberant and a lot of people defied prohibition and indulged themselves to new styles of dancing and dressing, rejecting many traditional moral standards. It was considered the freewheeling popular culture of the decade.


With dramatic change in fashion came the "new woman" or the flapper. This is considered the symbol of this era referring to young women with bobbed hair and flashy outfits doing unladylike things. Corsets came off, skirts were shorter and style loosened up. Women dress more comfortably but put an added effort in embellishment. Pearls, sequins, tulle, lace and trousers for women were in for the first time ( Thanks Coco Chanel )

I absolutely adore the fashion in the Twenties. One because it is more relaxed yet flamboyant. It has a distinct style and everyone seems to be party-ready yet exudes dainty, lady-like style in embellished head dress, fur and satin gloves.

When our company announced that our Year End Party is all about Haute Couture collaboration; my mind spinned and I became giddy thinking about the runway and the look I would put together. We were given the freedom to choose the style theme for the event and I thought that Gatsby would be nothing short of perfect!

Pulling the Gatsby look was not an easy feat.I didn't realize the limited resources I would have. There isn't a lot of flapper or sequined dresses to choose from in Singapore. I decided to consult the internet and checked for options online. I did find several dress styles which fit perfectly to my preference however, it would take them two weeks to deliver and we're talking about shipping outside of SG. Thanks to some fashion enthusiasts online and to Carousell, I found the "dress". It's copper and gold in color with sequins and beads intricately hand sewn ( see below ). I tried to veer away from wearing black for a change and wanted to experiment with a different shade this time. I fell in love with the dress the moment I saw it online. I figured that with the right accessories, I should be able to pull off the 1920s look. 

How to dress like a flapper girl :

Dresses : 

Shapeless dresses with beads, sequins, lace, fringes, satin and chiffon. Anything that has v-shaped front and back will surely define the flapper look.  Rummage through your closet and look for dresses with knee length, dropped waist-line and has v-shape front and back. This is a good shape to start your 1920s look. Concern about your body shape? 1920's dresses meant to hide the curves. The straight-waisted dress will you give you the figure you need to pull off for the Gatsby look. Show off your decolletage and hide those curves instead. 

Tip : You can also create the illusion of a dropped waist by tying a scarf around your hips. 

Shoes : 

If you intend to go all out and complete the look with the 1920's shoe then I would suggest to exclude stilettos. They were not invented in this era yet. Choose shoes with round closed toe adorned with a t-bar strap and buckles. Opt for chunky heels with medium heel. Another option is to wear Mary Jane Shoes or a tap shoe instead. 

Hats and headbands

You can play around with anything you want to put on your head. Hat or headband is one way to recreate the 1920s look. You can use a satin belt or thin scarf and tied it on to your end. Or bejewelled your hair with beaded accents and sparkly headbands. The goal is to accentuate your hair and it will surely look good on any 1920s outfit.

1920s flapper hairstyle

Bob hairstyle was big in the twenties. One thing I've noticed is that women in this era tend to sport short curly hair or the classic bob cut. Those with long hair pulled theirs altogether in a low bun or chignon. Alternatively, you can also create the kiss-curles hairline using gel or hairspray. This may take a bit of work but definitely possible for those with short hair. 

Tip : Here, I'm wearing a gold necklace which I practically used as a headband. Pinned it using bobby pins and voila! A headpiece. DIY is again so much better. #resourceful

Final Touches : 

Stockings: 1920s flapper girl ensemble will not be complete without these. You can pull them right below the knee. Just make sure they're not thick enough that you'll be mistaken sporting a preppy look

Scarf: Long feather boa or fringes and even fur  are quintessential 1920s flapper style.

Gloves: This will add the classic vibe to the entire 1920s look. Be it in Satin black or gold,  wrap your arms in them and you'd be rocking the flapper look in no time.

String of pearls: Anything shiny, long and beaded. Pile them altogether or layer them around your neck. And remember, the longer the better.

Make-up: If you've seen Gatsby ( the movie ) they altered the look a bit. Daisy was rather looking pale in a fresh -faced make up mostly in flush of pink and pastels. However, if you do want to be the utlimate flapper girl then you need to have your eyebrows defined and your eyes in smokey shade. Red, dark lipstick is a must. You can even emphasize it by drawing a cupid's bow to create the silent movie star look. 

So there you have it, if you're planning to host a party or attend one with Gatsb-esque theme, then you're in for a treat. It is a fun, fashionable era and you can go all out with accessories and embellishments. Dress up and don yourself with shiny beads and pearls, travel back memory lane and relieve the roaring 20s. Dance the night away in jazz and party in glitz n' glamour ( just take it easy on the alcohol I must say ). Oh and don't forget to take a snap of your #ootds. I bet they will be instragram-worthy! 

♥♥,

Jhesy

Bare Minimalist

" I enjoy long romantic walks to the fridge"

No, I was definitely not walking towards a refrigerator but rather to an empty swimming pool. Though if you know me well enough, you would certainly debate on this one because you would rather see me walking to towards it to scrabble around for food. Yes, I have developed this close relationship with food and it's starting to take a toll on me. Read: gaining weight. Alright, back on this #ootd look, this was taken during a shoot we did for our brand " Aldrin & Laura last June. If you're bored and looking for some time to kill, you can drop by our website to browse through our collection. We are also in Zalora Philippines. I guarantee it'll be worth your time. You can choose from a range of dresses, bottoms and outdoor wear. All of these items were specifically designed to cater to any fashionista's gusto. Oh and did I mention how affordable our items are. Talk about shameless plugging here. But seriously, Aldrin & Laura aims to help every modern Filipina to be confident in whatever she wears. It's about knowing what suits you,what makes you feel good and owning it.

It is a fashion sort of rule that less is always more. Echoing that thought to this ensemble. The whole look features a crop top with a bow tied at the back and a white laced pair of shorts. This can go from day wear with a coat on top to even a night out.These white shorts features white lace overlay and stretch waistband. Fully lined.We love it on sheer off shoulder top and wide brim hat. Oomp your ensemble with lace up sandals and you’d be turning heads and lights in no time. For the shoot, I paired the them with silver metallic heels to make it a bit edgy.Wondering how accessories come into play? I only had big reverted pearl earrings to complete the outfit. You can play around with accessories and shoes to change the overall feel. Go casual in sneakers or slips ons or add a moto jacket and pair with biker boots if rocker chic is what you're gearing for. There's just so many look ideas I can think of but bottom line is to keep it within the same color range. Minimalism is a classic aesthetics in fashion world which is adapted by some of the most distinguished fashion houses as : Calvin Klein, Balenciaga and Jil Sander.

Dressing up can be a lot of fun but quite exhausting too if you're like me who could spent hours in front of my closet figuring out what to wear. But I find it rather easy at times if I'll go for minimalist look. Keeping everything low key, bare minimum and go for plain colors and cuts.Keeping things clean and simple can be rewarding I'd say. If it means saving a bit more during morning rush prep time, then this fashion philosophy is absolutely something I'd incorporate in my daily style.

♥♥,
Jhesy