mikkomahinay-blog

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Mr. West

I never liked Kanye West up until I understood his artistry and astonished at how he gets inspiration from the most odd sources- such as a lamp in Paris.

Fine. You guys got me. I haven’t done a straight-up, non-travel, non-editorial or non-work related personal get-up of mine for a few weeks now. Or a month ago. Where did the year go? I recall the very first week of my first job in 2010 in concrete Manila and it then sank on me that the idea of bright and sunny summer escapes were limited to tenured supervisor approved vacation leaves. But thank God for jobs that don’t limit you to desktops but then there’s that love-hate relationship with traveling and that anxiety to simply get yourself off the plane, get on a cab and get back to sleep after taking a ridiculously early morning flight only to avoid traffic. And not to mention, it is the election season in the Philippines and the entire nation has been nothing more than a circus of social media frenzy as it is that time of every Filipinos lives they instantly become political analysts and the awkward campaign jingles, often interpolations of what was on Spotify’s top 40 hits playlist and how you tap along as it gets stuck inside of your head.

Back to business: which at this time of year, is loosely translated to wading my way through the last of Summer ; recovering from the terrifying jetlag of covering Boracay’s infamous spring break counterpart called LaBoracay and basically spending the weekend, struggling to take photos and videos for the ‘gram and the good old blog despite current level of alcohol consumption; convincing myself that since it is over, I can now have an excuse for the ridiculous amount of food I’ve consumed in the past few days, stress eating over The Nest preparations; and deciding whether or not to grow my hair out now that it has started working that less of a bear fur re-growth after an expensive haircut matched with matcha 抹茶 green tea (but for real, what do you guys think?). In my survival of all of these trivial problems, various incarnations of this look have basically been my staple set since summer started a few weeks ago in lieu of the usual dapper, or corporate suits:

Hair down, no product to avoid that pee-like smell when hair promade and scalp sweat from the ridiculous heat wave combine (and probable admonishment at the state of my scalp given that I keep forgetting to pack shampoo and conditioner on work trips, so end up relying on atrociously packaged and gloriously dehydrating hotel bathroom kits). Also, #asianhairproblems.

Some variety of a basic, well-fit but permits you to become slouchy, t-shirt

A wide brimmed hat to originally keep your head out of the heat but ends up actually times 10 hotter, but you wear it because it is cool and it is on almost every ‘grammer’s gram feed with hash tag #VSCO and #OOTD. Also, to give an illusion of some degree of sophistication and distraction from the purple bruises forming under your eyes from a bloody long year.

The world’s most comfortable instant outfit changer disguised as a button down: preferably in a nude palette- olive in my case, tolook as cool as Kylie Jenner.

Tattered jeans in a lightweight material for total ventilation and to freak people out just enough that they won’t want to make small talk, and you can bust out your Hugh Grant dance moves in peace.

Adidas NMD PrimeKnit in Camo – now, I am definitely not usually a sporty shoe person at all. I didn’t think I’d be ready for them until I hit 30 – I’m much more of a fine leather, dress shoes vibe. I like to keep my extensor tendons (and toe cleavage) covered. That, and there are very few ‘shoes’ on the market; especially for the individuals with fat feet such as myself. But these ones are pretty close to bang-on in terms of shape and have guaranteed recommendations of comfort and mobility, almost felt like stepping on soft, duck feather pillows.  And the fact that these are rare, expensive shoes designed by Kanye West. Yet another reference to Social Media’s royal family.

Serious business sunglasses to hide said eye bags and lack of knowledge on how to apply concealer, and support an awesome cause at the same.

The illusion of havingyour life together (underlined by comfort) is key.

Carry on soldier. And no, I still do not know how to drive.

Get only the original Adidas NMD PrieKnit Camo and other rare shoes only at Kicks Philippines. Click here.

[mikkomahinay-blog]

White

On a previous post, I spoke about how visual masterpieces are manifested when the creative team behind any output already has an existing type of bond; or when everyone on board is willing to adhere to each other’s personality in order to create breathtaking results. This one is no stranger as Mags, the super power homegrown design label, and the creative force behind this masterpiece, has always had a remarkable history together- providing result beyond expectation.

The prefix “super-” demands a degree of credibility. “Superfood”, for instance, harbours an assumption that a team of scientists spent years verifying that kale could solve all of your life problems, when in reality; you would have to eat at least a kilogram of malunggay leaves before you reap its vitamin C benefits, which would subsequently send your blood sugar through the roof. While cacao powder’s “super-” status can be blamed on marketing smarts, “supermodels” are a bit of a different story. A self-proclaimed supermodel has absolutely no PR value, aside from the fact that one would dare knighting themselves before any designer, or even a local or national print magazine ever did. Granted, the term itself has evolved significantly since The Trinity – most likely a byproduct of the rise of social media stars and the dive in the quality of journalism in the digital age (whether or not these are correlated is yet to be determined).

Today, one might say that models are categorized (in some loose hierarchy) as social media models, e-commerce models, show circuit models, Sports Illustrated and/or Victoria’s Secret models, and supermodels.

Tina Mende is a supermodel. This is not just about the number of famous friends you have, the number of adoring fans who trail you on the street or on Instagram, the number of photographers falling over themselves to shoot you. I’ve said a thousand times that great models are difficult to come by – girls who know how to move, girls who know about the technicalities of the lighting and set constructions that go on around them, girls who know the difference between fabrics and the target audience of the brands and clothes they’re working with, girls who check their look before walking in front of the lens to calculate  poses that will best flatter the garments without forgoing their own character, girls who respect the work of the team around them. Not just a pretty face, and essentially, any photographer and stylist’s dream girl to work with.

Tina and I met over one sunny afternoon in April 2010 as we both took the same basic sociology summer class during university. Although I was quite impressed with the discussions over Marxism and gender equality in class, it was quite difficult not to be distracted by Tina’s stunning features and already imagining how I’d photograph them; and the fact, too, that the class was on the crucial 1-3pm schedule a.k.a. Filipino’s siesta time.  

Fast forward, Tina and I busted out these shots in the space of two hours, over more than a dozen garments, amongst the western side of town, nestled farther than the airport. Most of the industry wouldn’t expect to be able to work with a model of Tina’s stature at the lightning speed we flew through our looks.  She just came back from a recent trip to Siquijor a day before the shoot, and immediately had to smash out after our session. And yet, she could not have been more professional and down to earth about it.

Needless to say, we’re super proud of the finished product.

All through-out:

Photography & Styling // Mikko Mahinay

Shoot Assistant // AJ Dayata

Model // Tina Mende

Hair and Make-up // Hale Demetrio

Coordination // Sydney Streegan

Wardrobe, jewelry and shoes // Mags. Click here and here to shop online.

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Paper Flowers and Spruce

In periods of supreme stress, it’s the hair-rising moments of great art or the personal milestones that remind you why you spend half your time dragging yourself across broken glass to goddamn finish line after finish line.

For those of you looking to get into the fashion game, it may be one of the most creatively fulfilling industries to boot, but I’ll tell you now that you have to deal with just as many (if not more) outstanding assholes, bruised egos, unnecessary social politics and complete lack of logic, as you would in any other industry. Or perhaps, just life in general. Am I right?

But in periods of supreme stress and a culminating activity after 10 days of under 5 hours of sleep (attributed by table flipping levels of preparation, almost call center agent type of queue phone calls for coordination- all for Missy Bon Bon’s anniversary. Add in business meetings in between for both my own brand and for the company I am working for, events to attend and being so hands on during ingress that I’d wear a suit tying drapes from one high pole into another, under a scorching 35 degree Celsius, humid weather), it’s the cherry on top during the culminating of all your effort that pays everything off.

This is one of those moments.

Mafie and Isabella are no strangers to both myself, being real life, almost at a Taylor Swift Squad On Fleek situation, and to my camera, having them as subjects for shoots for, again, any of the brands I work for. Spruce, on the other hand, is another familiar force I am already accustomed with, having their managing director, Ms, Trish, as my high school’s annual class photographer- she has seen, met and shot a post-puberty, geeky, scrawny and undeniably socially awkward Mikko Mahinay. I have also done shoots for them, and for their catalogs, even for their very first one published last year, so I couldn’t say no when they asked me to shoot their catalog for Summer. Hair and make-up was done too much on point, to a team I had to work with for the first time but leaving nothing more than impressing me beyond measure and even already wanting to do another shoot with them on a different campaign- again, on any of the multitude of brands I work for. The backdrop was set at Missy Bon Bon, of course, where I work at, during its 6th year anniversary so we need to credit Mafie and Isabella for bearing the crowd watching and the 12 noon heat stroke- but given all of this familiarity and already established relationships with each other, results in masterpieces that blatantly reflect the harmony on set. In other words, commercial and marketing gold.

All that said, the process can also be such a refresher to the transient nature of what we do. You learn pretty quickly that people who are as passionate about their job as you are, and who aren’t afraid to break a sweat and put in the hard yards, are actually quite difficult to come by.

Excuse me while I go and fuel up to spend a sexy Sunday night in.

Busting pixels and prose

 Do grab a copy of this Spruce at any Spruce store catalog once it’s out!

PHOTOGRAPHY // MIKKO MAHINAY

HAIR // MARICEL SALISE

MAKE-UP // LEN ANAYA

MODELS // MAFIE GALLEGO & ISABELLA WEITH

Items from SPRUCE. Shop here, here and here.

[mikkomahinay-blog]

Send Me The Nudes

In the beautifully sedative dry heat of this summer season, I found a momentary appreciation to incorporate a ventilation system into the wardrobe- 

And, most shockingly, a substitute for the finer suits for work (those of you who have been reading for a while will know how absolutely outrageous this is). The latter came only after an evening of indignant allegiance to my newfound blue suede love of a jacket in the face of a solid 35 degrees Celsius, and hundreds of bodies packed into malls, further increasing the lack of oxygen. While it was not a disastrous degree of perspiration on a scale of dewy to extreme embarrassment, I was defeated enough to strip down the following morning while exploring the area on foot. I’ll admit I only got halfway there – a crisp suit, or any full amount of clothing, in this kind of heatwave doesn't bode so well – but you know… we’re learning.

Back to business.

I have found myself growing a strong affinity with a nude palette, contrary to the all-black-even-under-the-excruciating-heat trend surfaced into mainstream continuity when Swedish minimalist houses came about; although black has and will always remain a perpetual necessity in our closets and a quick fix to sudden fashion rundowns. However, an earthy selection does provide a greater substitute for people like myself who can bear layering clothes, over attracting heat by colour- neutrals have become a dress code of choice for exercising restraint. Or a reference to good ol’ Yeezy himself (and several other influencers suddenly bursting their social networks with nude colored apparel, to help promote Paradise IMF and the much awaited Kanye West performance in Manila. And how I missed out and had a delayed post, such as this, all thanks to a masochist relationship with work and having 3 major events for my company in a span of 45 days)

In my choice of outfit, as an alternative to suits- cardigans, in soft cotton rather than knits, may be an ideal cover-up to conceal how much you take pleasure in your crisp white button downs. Admittedly, I have a grown number of this staple amongst all other things as it is the most flattering and polished. For easier mobility, I opted for drawstring joggers rather than my usual trousers. The spectrum for neutrals can range from camel, to tan, and even to army green and Pantone’s color of the year, rose quartz. 

Again, refer to Yeezy for inspiration. God damn West and his influence.

All Through-out:

Nude cardigan // Forever21 Men

Pewter joggers // Forever21 Men

Planner // Blogberry By Stradmore

Photos by Isabella Weith

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Urban Life

In being behind the lens for a spread for the local newspaper- it was both awkward and eye opening. One, I was shooting my very own cousin who has had her own share of success creating saccharine treats as a pastry chef & dessert connoisseur. Second, because it made me lament about the career paths the millennial has versus the kind baby boomers prefer.

I'm not going to lie: the process of shooting these frames one hot summer afternoon in the Philippines was definitely something not so comfortable, but it involved family and these things I try to squeeze in between during intermissions of being both physically and mentally, and often resulting with my self becoming unstable however presentable, preoccupied.

“Temperatures to reach as close as 35 this summer, we have an El Nino season, after all. 35 degrees Fahrenheit, that is.”

current news reports would say, adding more heat to the already heated presidential elections.

Meanwhile, back at the shoot, I found myself prying the newspaper editorial team sent over as Keith did his magic with the brushes and palettes on Camille, as he always does. I’ve always had a close friendship with Goldstar, however, was surprised to meet new faces for this particular shoot. “Where did you work before Goldstar?” I asked one of the newbies over a tall, 3 later green matcha 抹茶  cake with gold brushed pretzels. “Globe Telecom- as a customer service representative” she surprisingly replies, with the thought in my head how different it is from journalism. Although much to my realization as Keith also asked me what college bachelor’s degree Camille had, which was Food Technology, and not culinary, or neither was his- it was nursing and not hair & make-up artistry. Then there’s mine- Oh good old Mikko Mahinay who initially took up a course in commerce, later shifted to international studies, in order to pursue law but ended up being a multi-hyphenate of all things in aesthetics all involving style and culture because I am an artist by birth, with the soul of an annoying and arrogant lawyer with a background in accounting.

Perhaps, the millennial generation ought to understand that their college bachelor’s degree is to simply harness their skills, but not determine their career. Unless of course if your aspiration circulated around medicine, engineering or something as complexed as speech pathology, then you don’t need to blindly follow the paths and pressures laid out by generations beforehand. Be the one in control. Contrary to what your career adviser at high school preaches, you are not limited to one skill set. No given human is capable to being good at just the one thing. Particularly in creative industries where it actually makes sense for one of diversify (and today, it’s entirely necessary to in order to maintain any kind of competitive edge), you can forge multiple career trajectories in multiple directions without any risk of each cannibalizing the other so long as they’re complementary, and you’re open to working with and constantly learning from other people.

I, for one, find it so bemusing when brands and publications credit their lack of progression to “not having enough resources”. Of course, this stems from HR laziness – it takes just a little more digging, researching and interviewing to find someone who has cultivated two or three or four skills, rather than settling for your Jane Doe who looks perfect on paper, but in reality, can action less than a quarter of the role you should be filling. But let’s not focus on that for the time being – you’ll just end up trying to channel an disproportionate rage against The Status Quo and The System which you can only really pity and get back to work, if you want to see any real change over the lifetime of your career.

No, no. None of that for a Sunday night.

Back to my hectic, multi-faceted career, at that matter.

Hair and Make-up // Keith Asok

Photography // Yours Truly

Camille Montesines for Mindanao Gold Star Daily’s Urban Life. Catch the full spread on newsstands or up on their website. Click here.

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Squad Goals On Fleek

My dearest friends are pretty radical human beings. 

Contrary to the presumed illusion of over-sharing online, not a whole lot of my actual personal life ends up on social media (unless it’s hysterical). There’s always a line. To stay sane, you need the separation of your emotional perspective and the outward facing persona you present to the world. That is not to say that your character is to be completely split – the thought processes are still exactly the same. Some things are more exciting if they’re all yours, undiluted by millions of faceless opinions hiding behind phone and computer screens.

All that said, my dearest friends are pretty radical human beings, and I’m so very proud to know them. They’re the real deal: I could sit and talk to any of them for hours on end over toast, and still have more to say and learn when we’re half asleep and incoherent. They’re wildly intelligent, kind, and tolerate my dad jokes. The best part is that this is not some squealing and exclusionary girl squad. We’re all in different fields, at different stages of their lives, and scattered across every corner of the globe.

For a new campaign for the Bigby’s PERKS card, the card I had designed and created to fit the needs & wants of the modern day millennials, I personally handpicked the team to get behind the campaign, including the models who are, at the same time, my best friends #squadgoalsonfleek. No, it’s not nepotism but to exude modern swag, I just couldn’t afford not to have epitomes what the PERKS card represents. 

Unofficial, Behind the scenes from my camera, stay tuned in for the brand new Bigby’s PERKS card and the countless improvements and new merchants that we have in store to keep everyone feeling pampered. And who we’re bringing in soon (Remember our time with David Guison and Laureen Uy?)

Official Photographer: Jacob Castille

Styling: Kevin Abdala

Video: Florence Velasco

Hair and Make-up: Keith Bryan Asok

Models: Alanna Sambaan, Maristella Baang, Alexa Llacuna, Robbie Carpio and Chuck Alic

All Through-Out: 

Wardrobe from Mags

Shoes and bags from Spruce

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Are Hue Ready for Summer?

At the height of the white washed SE3 VSCO filtered portraits and almost every critter around social media in the age bracket falling under millennial, it made me ask “what would be the sensationalized filter for Summer?”

Given that the white wash doesn’t really provide much justice to the vibrant, albeit humid and almost like a desert for this year, summer air. Contrary to other people in my field & industry, I’ve never been so quick to adapt to trends, both in apparel and in the digital field of art- often trying to avoid a mind of regret in regard to a would have been spectacular portrait if it weren’t for a dated type of processing. Although I do admit, I often feel like that aged-old uncle who never agrees with the kids and what they is cool, but I have always been open to new ideas and aesthetics, after all, we don’t want to be the Nokia’s of the world and get so left behind & file for bankruptcy just because we fail to notice innovation. My most despised line from pioneers in my field is “We’ve been in this industry for years, almost a decade or more” as if tenure alone justifies credibility, or even caliber and quality. The trick is, to always be updated to what might be temporary but (in today’s urban slang) #trending and to adapt it with your aesthetic, brand, business or whatever keeps the bills paid and the fried chicken on the table, but always infuse it with your own signature or traditions that you know works well with you.

Going back to filters- SE3 and the white wash has been swapped with M5 and the low contrast, haze-y and full of color but in a more pastel, earth tone hue (assuming this trend is in connection with how pantone’s colors of the year, Rose Quartz and Serenity have been highly celebrated) often reminiscent of earlier artwork from one pioneer of the fashion blog stratosphere, Tricia Gosingtian (click here to view that) and was well quite the (then) signature style which made her an internet sensation (in the hey days of the now defunct Multiply website, and DeviantArt)

For this particular campaign shoot I did for Missy Bon Bon, I just went out of my usual aesthetic of the retired Bond girl or messy haired, third world attempt to do an Annie Leibovitz and try to infuse more of the pastel hues without compromising my own preference of contrast tones. Again, as I mentioned earlier, it’s always best to appreciate & understand trends and adjusting it to your taste. Take it to fashion, you could wear head to toe Gucci Spring/Summer 2016 and indulge yourself in Alessandro Michele’s take on 60’s globe trotter but you can also take out just the beautiful (& highly photographed worn by some of the world’s most stylish women) emerald green satin bomber and pair it with your years old blue denim jeans rather than the fluid gold electro-pleated skirt that dominated social media during Milan Fashion Week.

In other news, Missy Bon Bon is finally open at the Mactan International Airport- specifically at the pre-departure area and with some branch exclusive meals. Following Missy Bon Bon’s branch opening in Davao in March of 2015, an Iligan kiosk and a Laguindingan International Airport branch around August last year and a spin-off, Frozen Factory at the 3rd floor of Ayala Centrio Cagayan de Oro; it seems that Missy Bon Bon is conquering the country in just a span of 6 years since its humble beginnings as just a kiosk, one scoop of gelato at a time.

P.S. They’ve also launched a new website, with some artwork by yours truly. Hook, line and bait, click here for their website.

 Shot at Missy Bon Bon, Lim Ket Kai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City

Models:

Isabella Weith

Mafie Gallego

Prim Legaspi

YY Zaragoza

Styling & Photography by yours truly

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Golden Hour

Weather Report: versatile garments required when multi-tasking during the Summer. (And it has been excrutiatingly hot even when it’s still March) 

Around this time of year, the thing I struggle with the most when getting dressed for early meetings &  how chilly it can still be before 7am, and how unbearably sweaty it gets by the time lunch comes around. Too often, I’ve found myself sweating in my suit and sprinting breathlessly between appointments, in which case I’m definitely the corporate entertainment – and not in a good way.

And then, in a bout of dapper inspiration, I conquered transeasonal dressing, and attempted to document my success at 5pm after work when the light is precisely gold and flattering- commonly called the Golden Hour.

I guess nobody tells you what to do when conditions aren’t perfect.

Anyway.

Unfortunately, the front end of our Philippine Summer season didn’t fare the best skies, which I’m secretly a fan of for its softer, filtered light and less strip-off-inducing heat – as someone once exclaimed, I’m Spring person- if Spring did ever occur in the Philippines. So of course, harsh golden skies mean clothing with the best ventilation. The key is to find fabrics that are only just genetically related to each other by the skin of their teeth – in this case, the perfect relaxed fit outer shell, your everyday button-down that you can pair off with trousers for work and slip out and into jersey-cotton shorts that is water repellent. The trick is to bring only one piece of extra item you can change into from work to play. Include how versatile these fringed leather slip-ons can take me from a meeting and the running in between, to the beach or any place else that you can consider as a form recreation.

To that, I’m going to say that Blackbeard Shoes is the New damn Shoe. Currently one of the biggest online shoe retailer, based in Manila; it has found its way to the top from its fallen furry glories in the previous Spring season to the next. Consumers (save Asia) are able to still associate Blackbeard Shoes with a wide variety available for selection- for both genders,

How did I do?

All Through-out:

Green Button-down and khaki shorts with red drawstring / Oliver’s Apparel

Black loafers “Bootstrap” / Blackbeard Shoes

Stone bracelets / Wander Jewelry (A tree gets planted with every purchase!)

Dapper St. Mawes Watch / Daniel Wellington. Get 15% off by using promo code : MikkoMahinay here

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Flawless Summer Fun

With time off the clock already evolving into being a privilege and with the irrefutable 40-degree temperature, have you asked yourself- am I really ready for summer 2016? (And all the accompanying over-sexualized, closer to western spring break type of mischiefs)

I’ve never really grown accustomed trying to decipher an affinity for Summer when I was younger, crediting my lack of confidence with being partially naked and the fact I was the chubby kid during 3rd grade and being bullied about it (screw you, Gerald who was the star athlete during elementary but disappeared on the face of this planet by high school after an attempt on becoming a local rapper). But when I did start to lose weight during my days at university and the over-sexualized generation all thanks to MTV, reality shows and social media, I grew a rather intense fascination with the beach.  Post-university and this almost ridiculous although capable occupation of my personal brand with traveling, shooting portraits, & rubbing elbows, with a day job, has resulted of my lack of time to continue the personal work-out I have been doing over the past years. Although I myself totally dislike the use of the word busy as an excuse to become productive, I have spent my vacant time either doing or finishing one load of work from another, or simply nightmaring over double bookings & missed meetings.

In my case, when time has become a privilege and working-out is an even greater opportunity- I’ve come to discover a secret to getting my body in shape in no time & less effort. Flawless facial & body clinic offers Body Sculpting & Shaping- it’s a painless, non-surgical procedure to burn all that unwanted fat and in good preparation for the summer. 

As evidence below, the steps in the procedure simply involve the same type of gel that is applied to anyone who undergoes an ultrasound, they then massage your problematic areas with a sponge-like laser that burns the unwanted body fat. The gel is applied again and accompanied with a massage to really get the abs in shape; to be followed by a belt that electronically massages your abdominal areas and ultimately, finishing the procedure by attaching cables, to further trim down the waistline. All of these are done by state of the art equipment and done by just the friendliest staff (I swear, I have tried Flawless in MOA, SM Makati, SM Cebu and Ayala Centrio Cagayan de Oro & always end up becoming good friends with whoever is assigned to me) making all the manageable stings from the procedure even more tolerable.

I managed to instantly lose 3 cm off of my waistline! Imagine how much more if I did this on a daily basis? (Which btw, some people I know do have Body Shaping & Sculpting, everyday!)

Also, it doesn’t take a scientist, a news report from Rappler, or even a lengthy documentary by Al Gore to confirm that we are at the peak of global warming and being in this tropical country right smack in the middle of the equator; skin protection shouldn’t even be questioned. Available is the Flawless Skin Protect Mist with SPF 70. Although some people find the ritual of protecting their skin as a bit of a challenge, I always see to it that I spoil my skin the most- add up a Flawless moisturizer, Iskin New York’s Ultimate Sunshield SPF 40 and Flawless SkinLite Cream/

With all of this being said, you are not well-equipped, for summer. A chiseled bodice you can confidently flaunt from the shores of Boracay, El Nido, Mactan, Samal or even overseas such as Ibiza or the Maldives- without having to experience a perpetually damaged skin from having too much fun under the sun.

Check for your nearest Flawless Clinic here!

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Onward | StraightForward.Ph

In the age where mass marketing makes anything inviting enough just to create a sale, most especially in retail, it’s significant for a consumer to identify between the investment pieces, where you can have the liberty of mixing & matching each piece- from the disposable trends.

I always say to clients that this is not about dumbing down a luxury product to street-level for the short-term revenue gratification of reaching the masses. Rather, it’s educating a prospective luxury consumer – making the brand message comprehensible to a consumer who has so much access to information, that their perception of quality and value is deafened by mass marketing. To build brand loyalty, the brand must interact with the consumer’s interpretation of their product, rather than projecting imaginations of yesteryear’s perfect private clients onto over-stimulated and subjectively uncouth youth. That is, resolving the brand’s true social perception with its long-term brand strategy and ideology. This is precisely what Straightforward.Ph is doing and set out to do. Having so clearly established their baseline new-world collection of staples ideal for a globetrotter to save luggage space without compromising style and withstanding the test of trends by focusing on timeless pieces, StraightForward.Ph has gained a huge public following, almost a cult if I may say so myself, and identify itself as a true homegrown retail authority.

Nobody can deny that basic pieces of excellent quality has experienced periods of peak cultural impact. In today’s digital landscape, where the boundaries of intellectual property and ownership of brand identity is so controversially unregulated and fluid, marketing has evolved into social discourse through the new wave of creative who would rather comment on the status and lifestyle constructed around fashion and the industry, than pretend to buy into it with fake goods and air kisses. Traditional brands, publications and retailers can either remain bitter about the looming paradigm shift, or they congruently, and unlike the rest in the ring of greats (Zara, for instance) where our StraightForward.Ph is slated to play- is not a calculated ready to wear brand: StraightForward.Ph designs stories from instinct and the heart, not without direction, but certainly not linearly. StraightForward.Ph’s inspiration alluded to Sylvano Bussoti’s rhizomatic scores – wildly expanding graphical notations of sound for the performer to stamp as their own. Such was the rich progression of texture, colour and layering in the looks  as if striding through the MRT Station from Taft to Ortigas, the pulsing acoustics that shook the back of your eyeballs more than the stormy light show and projections of black, raging waves on screens encompassing the runway, or the electricity of a hundred people on the edge of their seats. This makes StraightForward.Ph talk to their consumers of various social classes, geographical situations and most importantly, as aforementioned, withstand time in both quality and design. Lesser “I regret wearing this” moments- thank you TimeHop.

Shop these pieces from their #WanderLustEssentials here & here.

Photography by Che Roa

Stop motion video by yours truly

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Pigeon Hole

There aren’t many things that give me quite as much simultaneous joy and heartbreak as stumbling on memory cards of holiday images that escaped me as soon as the real life hit back with work and even more work.

Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon is one of those places as a quick destination closest to Cagayan de Oro, and that urge to be away from the city & an instant change of environment at just 30 minutes away; even accessible by commuters. The Sarraga Family, one of the proud native Kagay-anons, decided to open their shooting range to the public & transform it into an ideal function venue where you can opt to just dine in during weekends or have your meetings, reunions, gathering, weddings or any other once-in-a-lifetime moments book the venue- then you know there’s an additional charm that draws you to escape the urban life once in a while.

As to our little blossoming photo series here, these were shot during their opening, days just after I flew home from these series of events in Cebu for a week and just how fortunate were we to manage to get to Manolo Fortich in one piece and in picture perfect lighting amidst our lack of navigation skills- further proving that anyone can really get to Pigeon Hole, even those who do not have a personal vehicle. Manolo Fortich light is not dissimilar to Cagayan de Oro – harsh as hell in the middle of the day, with beautiful shadows, incredible sunsets, and dusty mornings-after. I’ve already made it my mission to find another few weeks in my schedule to get myself back over there, perhaps on a photo job, to create as much characterising imagery as possible – I’m certainly of the belief that Google images does Manolo Fortich absolutely no justice at this point in time, while travel magazine editorials alway find derelict forests synonymous to any place in Bukidnon.

Watch this space. (P.S. they specialize in TexMex food, although it was definitely delicious to the extent the dishes never saw the opportunity to be photographed as they were devoured within minutes after being served- THAT GOOD.)

You can learn more about how to get to Pigeon Hole, make your reservations & basically any other information at their website here. Follow them on Instagram here.

[mikkomahinay-blog]

This Summer

Havaianas, and not just the Postos line, contrary to widespread belief, are not for the manicured, prim and pretty, conservative and middle-aged. They’re for the loose cannons with beaten up kicks or none at all – the people who yell “HEY!” instead of “Excuse me”.

Olá from Cagayan de Oro City – intermittent weather, but content in my home away from home, wrapped in naught but a faux fur and my underwear, keyboard bashing to the likes of you and unsubscribing from strange newsletters and mailing lists that have wormed their way into my miserably obese inbox.

Fear not – you’ll get your whiteout snaps by the beach in good time. I just thought that before we get ourselves too far in to the show circuit abroad and all too hot, we ought to take a bloody breather and rewind to the hours my friend Rachelle and I spend wilting at the nearest beach, pumped only on that embarrassing photographer’s glee that comes with receiving a fresh new pair of flip-flops in the charming shade of ‘Goldenrod’.

In that barefoot moment of carefree, I found myself ensconced in a lavish beach. Not of the emerald, El Nido variety, but rather of the vibrant beach power print species in rich turquoise – beautiful on exotic blondes traveling to various islands, and not very much up for debate on any other line of human being. On a tanned Asian with a baby face, for instance, a beach affair does not necessarily speak to the impeccable tastes of Tommy Hilfiger and his garments drawing inspiration from coconuts and the tropics, as one would hope.

If I’m honest, it’s difficult to remember the last time I wore anything beach print at all, where one might argue that beach print and all-white are the only fabrications acceptable in the vacational circumstance. Indeed, on the whole, I’ve come to avoid the Spring/Summer staple over the past few years, and further, to realize that designers’ readaptations year to year only succeed when in celebration of the season.

I’m not terribly interested in the cute printed shift dresses or the blooming happy pants or the “statement” cotton tees for ironic skater boy factor. I want to know more about this pair of Havaianas Postos situation  that in fact resembles a normal day at Rio de Janeiro’s jubilant scenes by the shore and matched with palm leaves & mojitos. The new Havaianas Postos 8 is reminiscent of road-tripping down the coast with sticky hands from excessive roadside fruit stall produce consumption and the Best Spotify Playlist Ever. Or waking up in perfect make-up from the night before, in a perfect fluffy white hotel bed.  Or  long hot days spent surfing and inhaling coconuts, followed by cicada-serenaded late nights discussing burning life questions with the squad with social media posts hash tagged #blessed and #squadgoalsonfleek, under a canopy of bedsheets and fairy lights, sworn to secrecy from prying eyes. 

Of course, this won’t happen. Tumblr isn’t real life. 

And that is why the Havaianas Postos collection exists; so we could remind ourselves that in spite of the work load to be finished, we often need a break out of reality and that the beach, whether it is in town or needs a long ride by land or by flight, is enough to tranquil any ounce of anxiety.

Havaianas, and not just the Postos line, contrary to widespread belief, are not for the manicured, prim and pretty, conservative and middle-aged. They’re for the loose cannons with beaten up kicks or none at all – the people who yell “HEY!” instead of “Excuse me”.

All Through-Out:

Havaianas Postos / Available at all Spruce branches nationwide and All Flip-Flop branches nationwide. Click either one to see the branch nearest you.

Asus Transformer Book T300FA  / Asus

Shorts / StraightForward.Ph

Journal / The Daykeeper

Watch / Shore Project

Wear your Havaianas flip-flops on National Flip-Flops day this March 11, 2016. 20% off on Havaianas items at the stores listed above.

[mikkomahinay-blog]

Rehash

An attempt to transcribe my recent talk about personal & commercial branding at Ateneo de Cagayan University.

In the saturation of the content around the internet these days, perhaps the question at large isn’t how to get brands to contact you but rather, how can anyone develop their own personal digital brand?

The three questions I’ve been asked the most over the past few weeks go something like this: What filter or apps do you use for Instagram? Depends on the base photo but one should understand the appropriate use for each app (might as well do a post about that soon!) How many times in a day should you post on Instagram? Not if there’s nothing substantial with a corresponding or relevant pleasing aesthetic to accompany it. Don’t force yourself if it’s irrelevant content.

The third, and most shocking, is: how do I get (insert retail brand here) to notice my posts? I’ve been tagging them on all my posts. Now hold it right there, bruh.

My immediate answer to this question, and on the most real human level I reflexively (and probably defensively) spit out, is you know: have you actually built yourself a portfolio? In this age, having a digital portfolio is not impossible and it takes more than just having a carefully curated Instagram account full of desaturated photographs with hash tags #VSCO, #LikeForLikes among others- you actually need a blog or a website with your professional content. Instagram, after all, like all other social media networks, is merely another platform for sharing what I do, to supplement the finished work that ends up on Nine Lives, or whatever publication or brand has booked me to do a job – here’s the lighting set-up for this editorial I shot, here’s the mood board in my office for a collection I worked on, here’s the jacaranda I walked past this morning on my way to work. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: If your goal in a creative field is looking to be solely commercial, you need to step back and reassess. Do you want to build a powerful digital brand, with credibility, long-term influence, and promote good values to a loyal audience, or do you just want to fly around the world, look pretty and have nice designer bags? If you’re after the latter, then just sell out like crazy, and the money will come. If you want to be a fashion writer, start a website with properly structured opinion posts about events in the fashion industry. It’s very straightforward stuff. Creatives don’t want to guess what you’re capable of – they want it in black and white in front of them.

This space has remained (with the exception of a few wrong turns), and will always remain my personal space for my inspiration and my work where there is no daily struggle to come up with click-bait headlines of dreadfully riveting life questions like how one might wear leggings in ten completely different ways or worst, full of unoriginal images- simply stealing the authencity of your experience away. This is not a cash cow as my income comes from my work shooting, styling, writing, and consulting, like any other freelancer. This is my space to be honest and be inspired by the interaction I’m able to generate with every one of you, regardless of your background, geographical location, and to an extent, interests.

                     With all of this in mind, and allow me this slice of cheese in the grand scheme of our conversation, you can’t force inspiration and you can’t be inspired or creative all of the time. How many times can you photograph the same subject in the same wardrobe of clothing? How many times can you say an item of clothing is amazing or effortless or perfect or so hot right now or amazing again? How much more is to be said for one’s outfit of the day except that it’s what you put on that morning? Not much. There comes a tipping point both internally and in the context of an oversaturated and homogenized field (or more accurately, an economy), coupled with seven days a week planned hour to hour from 6AM – 11PM, where you become disillusioned and the ideas stop flowing. The extent of this cynicism depends wholly on what makes you tick. If it’s any kind of cognitive and professional learning, yoga is probably not going to help you.

Upon reassessment of where you individually stand in this expansive environment, though, it’s fairly evident that one’s lack of inspiration can’t be held entirely responsible. The digital content space has evolved so dramatically as to call into question the inherent characteristic relevance of its initiating platforms. Now, this is not even about the tension between print and digital (that isn’t doing anybody any favors, but that’s another conversation). Rather, that even our most established digital media brands and authorities should evolve at the same speed at which they emerged. When blogging began, smartphones were not as terrifyingly imprisoning in our day to day and blogs were undoubtedly the most immediate means of projecting opinions, news, imagery and profiles into the Universe. As Instagram and Twitter emerged from the shadows of San Francisco, they became the reinforcing tools that made editorial profiles (like bloggers, like celebrities, like magazines) more accessible – gave them a reality and personality, you might say. As these platforms have become increasingly conducive to external user content (and high quality content as a result), more platforms have sprung up to take their place in sharing the unfiltered, unedited version of life as VOGUE or Lena Dunham– Snapchat or Periscope, for instance (the latter of which I find a little too close for comfort), and Vine to a point, though that too has been repurposed for the comedic brand extension of YouTubers. 

                    The rise and rise of Instagram ‘stars’ in particular has called into question the content relevance of Ye Olde Blog – at least, for some. What more is there to share of your opinion, your food, your outfit, your humour, your boyfriend, your puppy, your kids, your road rage, if all of the above have already been exhausted on alternate and (now) far more immediate content sharing platforms? Although there is a case to be made for audience and attention span variation between different platforms, the more than likely crossover requires a reconfiguration of content. To circumnavigate a time and space where people’s discomfort at self-made individuals whose range of work cannot be categorized drives them to create new and arbitrary boxes to downplay the variability of what youth and individuals can achieve without the help of “The Establishment” per se, it is even more important to carve out, refine, and clearly communicate a sustainable skill set. Take Emily Ratajkowski’s GQ UK cover that has just surfaced. “Instagram’s It-Girl takes on Hollywood”, the subtitle decrees. Never mind the years Ratajkowski has spent working as a model up to this point, the events of which have pointed her career in the direction of the big screen just as Cameron Diaz or Uma Thurman had. Rather, it’s easier to attribute her success to having a lot of Instagram followers. Whether @emrata or her publicist have an opinion on the matter is a separate question. Whether this instance is even the most illustrative of the point at hand is also unclear. But, I’m sure we can all agree that boiling an individual down to an “Instagirl” is probably not the takeaway most would choose to emanate from their line of work, and something to steer clear of. Trust me, I’ve rolled my eyes several times and a sudden desire to hide under a rock each time a client introduces me at a launching party with “here’s Mikko Mahinay, this guy has this huge amount of followers” which often can become a soft insult on the extensive body of work I have and could produce & the credibility I have earned over the years- simply being credited by just someone with a huge following. All the more, although not applicable to everyone, a following isn’t earned or shouldn’t even be legitimate if the individual doesn’t even have a concrete body of work or certain accomplishment to support it.

Again, success, especially if it’s in this millennial polluted environment, requires more writing, more imagery, more high quality stories not instantaneous updates.

Success takes time and effort. Thank you always for standing by me.

All Through-out:

Thrift Find Navy Blue Suit // PhP 10 at an Ukay-Ukay (or Thrift Shop)

Asus Transformer Book // PhP 32, 599 (Click here to shop, click here on how it helped me on a busy day in Manila during my career talk at the University of Sto. Tomas!)

Classic St. Mawes // PhP 14,500 at Daniel Wellington. Get 15% off by using my promo code MikkoMahinay over here

[mikkomahinay-blog]

Manila. Oh, Manila.

I like the idea of Manila. I mean, I used to live and work here for years. I like the promise of cinematic white washed business districts and dry heat and driving on the other side of the street. I like daydreams of its Golden Age, where the beginnings of Philippines modern pop culture and star hysteria drew hybrid crowds of screen sirens, old world royalty, anguished musicians, and nouveau riche into the same rooms and circles of dysfunctional friendships and torrid love affairs. 

To be exact, Manila does refer to the 16 cities and 1 single municipality that does heavily contribute to the gross domestic product of the Philippines although each city has its own distinct flavor unique on its own that I find it unfair and my eyes would roll each time I hear people generalize everything in the National Capital Region simply as Manila. Makati and its pseudo-portrayal of Wall Street or Manhattan with its long history as a key player in commerce. Then there’s the heavily disputed territory of Fort Bonifacio, with its rapid economic growth and becoming the new nest for the nouveau riche, expats and old socialites who have gotten bored of the same routines around the same old districts- for those who want a new taste of elitism at its finest. Then there’s Pasay and Paranaque & how it strikingly resembles Las Vegas and all its grand casinos that make you ask “ is this country really poor as how mass media portrays it?” Quezon City is too massive a of city but it’s a more laid back, with an indie twist. But there’s Manila, ah Manila. The centuries old and understated, under appreciated city by the bay with its restored or maintained dramatic architecture and infrastructure that go way back during the Spanish colonial era that is just a breath of fresh air from the usual concrete glamor other cities has to offer. The sight of baroque pillars, gargoyles and marble floors can feel quite regal- add a Filipino twist with abundant sidewalk vendors selling street food and hordes of students during their after class hours in the uniforms. Old Manila never lost its charm, in fact, it grows more beautiful as it gets even older, like wine. The entirety of Manila is a piece of art in its own- shrouded in centuries long manipulation of Spanish domination, religious manipulation and modern development- you can still feel the drama until this day.

After all, Manila is where life’s greatest ironies go to breed. The Fountain of Youth that ages its Botox babes with cynicism and insecurity. Pretending not to play The Game when you’re playing it so damn hard. Justifying excess and morally questionable pastimes because Julia Barretto or James Reid did the same. And yet, its vanity makes for the most excellent gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan menus. And its terrifying levels of pollution makes for the most incredible sunrises, sunsets and Golden Hours in between.

 In that sense, there’s something comforting about having to frequent a city where you’d never (ever) want to live. I like the idea and daydreams of Manila, but it’s the kind of romance that I wouldn’t want to live in- again.

All through-out- click to shop:

Intramuros, City of Dreams and McKinley Hill; The Palace, BGC

Gray Sweater // Andre by Mags

Red Shorts // Kamayo Clothing

Precious Stone Bracelets // Wander Jewelry (10 trees are planted for each purchase!)

Leather Jacket, Brown Wingtip Shoes & Gray Trousers // H & M

[mikkomahinay-blog]

#MyIncredibleStory

“Manila will always contribute a huge chunk of who I am today, most especially in staying in style despite the intense corporate world. My first day at work made me cling on to the back of a jeepney in a suit & tie, just to avoid getting late. But I did arrive early, without having one strand of hair out of place.”

When the University of Sto Tomas, a prestigious and the oldest academic institute in the Philippines invited me over to be a speaker for their commerce & business administration students and share with them my incredible story of balancing the rough corporate world & the just as self-devouring fashion industry world- I couldn't afford to decline and immediately accepted an unprecedented opportunity to create an influence & leave a legacy. After all, that is and should be the pedestal of any one in my industry (click here to know more about my 2 cents on online influence) and to show more of Manila that Kagay-anons are just as efficient, successful and modern, even with style; remembering my first ever job interview in Makati years go and a co-applicant asked me “you’re from Cagayan de Oro? Do you guys have Jollibee?” and I blurted “in fact, we had Starbucks first before Davao City.”

Face palm on that nostalgic rendezvous, but moving on. 

Then it struck me; that I have lived and worked in Manila for years that I have grown familiar with Manila and its several hours wasted on the road being stuck in traffic or how one important destination could be far from the next, could leave me unproductive. Sure we have our smartphones and tablets but they are limited to the wonders of social media & e-mails- you can't really create memos, organize schedules, write articulately without the aid of artificial intelligence to correct frequent run-ons; I've been so glued to my pc every late night, usually I unload all my creativity in a day on a desktop but these aren’t portable & I can’t do everything I need to do (which is a million things a day) during the lengthy taxi rides or being stuck in traffic and that’s why the laptop was invented.

Then there’s the option of getting a new laptop but the next question is which one?  

In the grand scheme of portable productivity, the Asus Transformer Book T300FA  is a new kid on the block. And being new does not reduce the strength of the quality this baby has to offer, add to the fact that Asus has already been a key player in the world of electronic gadgets- and laptops are no stranger. The Transformer Book T300FA ideally defines how my life is: recklessly busy but calm & collected on the façade. Packed with a total of 564 GB internal memory but at just 12 inches wide & seamlessly detaches from the keyboard and into a tablet with high definition IPS display with a 178-degree view. It’s also sophisticatedly designed with a premium, sleek finish that just does excellent on the inside as how it looks on the outside with its Intel Core m 5y-10a processor- the latest, making the Transformer a total beast for people (such as myself) who need gadgets with the swiftest response time.

It would be unfair not to credit the Asus Transformer Book  T300FA for aiding my rigid mental portrait based on experience of unproductive minutes, hours or even days in Manila and most of all, for my career & inspirational talk at the University of Sto. Tomas. Creating powerpoints, financial reviews, short films, processing photos and curating content for MikkoMahinay.com in between taxi rides from point A to point B, which is in Manila, a minimum of an hour’s ride and even quickly reply to each and every e-mail including the frequent “what filter do you use?” which still leaves my head scratching. Add the (almost) nerve-wracking instance when your 2 mobile phones and with your (supposedly for emergencies only) power bank runs out of battery but the Asus Transformer Book T300FA and its durable battery that survives 8 hours of usage assists in charging these drained gadgets or helps kill the boredom as another vehicle for social media access or even, games.

In this sense, if I already am loaded with seemingly endless although fulfilling work to do- I don’t have a single excuse not to do & finish even more with how the Asus Transformer Book T300FA .  Hook, line and bait.

All through-out:

Plaid blazer // Andre by Mags

Fringed loafers // BlackBeard Shoes

Co-Speaker // Alyssa Lapid of  AlyssaLapid.com

Asus Transformer Book // Asus, click here & here for more details and to purchase

A huge thanks to the folks at the University of Sto. Tomas and JFINEX for having me over!

[mikkomahinay-blog]

Staycation On Fleek

For somebody whose everyday is militantly dictated by a mission for productivity and progress, a vacation within the vicinity you are most familiar with can become a quick departure from cognitive skepticism.

I spend roughly around 2 weeks every month at my hometown of Cagayan de Oro down south Mindanao in the Philippines and my office sees to it that they optimize my presence when I’m not in one of my frequent quick escapes; which are, most of the time, involves work but more on my personal brand and content for MikkoMahinay.com. Days spent working in my hometown tend to become more pressured with work, although most of the time it is pressure from the standards I myself created in order to be constantly competitive; loads of work, bridging the connection between marketing & accounting departments, shoots that are often scheduled on the eleventh hour- it’s the kind of rush I do find fulfillment drenched in sepia tones and somnolent haze, unwittingly living by an unwritten manual how life is in Cagayan de Oro (traffic excluded.) But excessive tenacity does often lead to burnt outs and having myself yell at almost anyone (but reflexively, smile minutes after. It’s a kind of bipolar condition most artists can relate to) and I see to it that I get to at least have a staycation at a decent, cost-appropriate space while waiting for my next flight out and hotels (& resorts) are some of the  things that I have always grown a fascination for.

Fortunate enough, literally right across my office was Pacifico Boutique Hotel and I decided to check-in for a weekend-to have a swift change of environment; but not absorbing, and working on things so absolutely surreal to the point of having to mentally recalibrate what is normal – or at least, trying not to be so judgmental and/or so horrified by other people’s far-flung standards of normalcy.

Things You Can Do At The Pacifico Hotel

Enjoy a pillow fight with your #bestieonfleek

Prim and I aren’t exactly Taylor Swift “Bad Blood” level of #SquadGoalsOnFleek but we do have our decent share of late afternoons over coffee and croissants- seemingly phubbing each other as we’re too preoccupied post-processing smart phone captures of the meals we ordered right before we actually devour them. Pillow fights are fun, but the excitement doubles at the Pacifico Hotel because the beds bounce back better, contributed by its multi-hundred thread count beds- the only hotel in Cagayan de Oro to have such a facility.

Indulge In A Bubble Bath

Bath tubs seduce me as fast as they do sedate me. Just the very sight of a hotel having a bath tub available already excites me of the endless possibilities; both in tranquilizing a rather overworked body and taking countless images in it. Order champagne, wine or a bucket of ice cold beer at the hotel’s resident roof deck bar, E-Bar, while soaking in the warm, vanilla-scented foam water and hit on your Spotify’s “best of Michael Buble’ album”while reminiscing all your past romances and seemingly laugh all the unsolicited heartbreaks away. Don’t worry if you sing along, too- the hotel walls are made of volcanic ash and 3 layers of glass for the windows- making each room soundproof from even the noisiest ruckus from the outside.

Do A Quick Photo Shoot

My own residence is beautiful- decent, to most: A 4-story residential building with commercial spaces on the first 2 floors that my parents designed- in the 90’s. My parents would have never predicted the importance or then appreciated intricate or periodic architecture- they simply had commerce in mind and to get that damn residential building up as we simply earn by taking in the rent from tenants below when they would eventually retire. In this situation, I was left with no real space in my household that I would deem as photogenic or adequate for my OOTDs as I am never in favor of anything that looks like mainstream industrial (as I often would prefer ones that Anne Liebovitz would prefer) or at least for my taste and this is one of the reasons why I always look forward on checking-in at hotels & resorts: an unprecedented opportunity to take OOTDs of myself in a space that justifies my wardrobe of choice.

Enjoy A Saturday Night (or any night)  at the E-Bar

Including a breathtaking view of Cagayan de Oro City, as Pacifico Hotel’s resident bar, E-Bar, is located at the topmost floor of the establishment and offers food & drinks to compliment the already chic ambiance (almost) reminiscent of rather chill nights in New York. Crema, the resident café & restaurant located at the ground floor of the hotel (giving you options if you prefer a more quiet environment), offers fusion (although mostly European) cuisine to compliment the wide selection of drinks E-Bar has to offer. Now if you happen to have spoiled yourself too much of the European liquor at affordable prices and too wasted to drive yourself home- well, you can check-in to a room just a floor below E-Bar.

 In this sense, there’s something comforting about having to frequent Pacifico Hotel, local or tourist- something’s in store for you. You can check-in in and out and there’s no need to save some of the city’s charm for later, or get used to its frustrating shortcomings, or spend any time expanding your networks of people. You can take what you want and to hell with practicality and reason, even if the subsequent lifestyle for a few short days is completely fantastical. For somebody whose everyday is militantly dictated by a mission for productivity and progress, a vacation within the vicinity you are most familiar with can become a quick departure from cognitive skepticism.

You certainly don’t feel rested at the end of the line, but you had a break. Right?

Room rates start as low as PhP 2,159 a night. for standard deluxe bedroom with breakfast. Like Pacifico Boutique Hotel here and here for more information, too.

[mikkomahinay-blog]

To Gratify Is Italian

I have always loved the idea of Italy. Perhaps, an adequate prequel to a potential destination you might have been fascinated with would be to take a bite of its cuisine- done authentically.

But which artist, in any given field, would not have grown an affinity with the idea of Italy? Rome always resembled a portrait of romantic sepia bubbles, in all its quixotic history dating back while Tuscany always gave everyone that idea of a cinematic sunset get-away to the countryside in your Lexus with a generously proportioned sunroof. Fashion has always been associated with Milan, other than Paris, being home to several couture houses- needless to say, I have always admired how Italian couture houses portrayed women’s fashion: that long-limbed individual with a proportioned, almost ebony tan and golden waves, who knows what she wants while sporting a thousand dollar handbag and turtle shell sunglasses. Think Versace and Gucci, among others.  I am also partial to plummeting down Wikipedia rabbitholes of the rise and tragic falls of old Italian starlets and the dramatic deaths surrounded by excess and steeped in loneliness, became so heavily romanticized to the point of a sick, twisted beauty, is itself fascinating.

Given all of that, a recent Italian buffet dinner at Seda Hotels proved to be rather sufficient in making my total admiration for Italy more concrete. Perhaps, an adequate prequel to a potential destination you might have been fascinated with would be to take a bite of its cuisine- done authentically. Seda Hotel’s Misto Bar & Restaurant flew in multi-awarded Italian chef Salvatore de Vicentis, to give Cagayan de Oro, and the rest of the Philippines, a taste of Italy’s diverse cuisine from several of the country’s culinary capitals in a buffet spread simply irresistible that are both satisfactory in sight, as well as in taste; definitely giving everyone a chance to immerse themselves in pure Italian indulgence.

La Buono Cucina Italiana begins on the10th February to the 20th only at Seda Hotel Cagayan de Oro, at PhP 750 per person. Chef Salvatore de Vicentis will design a special Valentine weekend menu on the 13th and 14th , still at Seda Hotel, Cagayan de Oro. La Buono Cucina will then follow at Seda Nuvali, Laguna from the 23rd to the 29th of February, then in Seda Abreeza, Davao from the 4th of March to the 12th. Seda Atria, Iloilo will hold the final leg on the 14th to the 19th of March.

For details and reservations, please call (088) 3238888 or (0917) 5775910 or e-mail at centrio@sedahotels.com.

Like Seda here and here. Learn more about Chef Salvitore de Vicenti’s impressive experience, here!