FASHION EDITORIAL: FORM X FUNCTION

Sense & Style
August 2014

images ADVAN RAMIREZ
concept HECTOR M. REYES
styling IETH INOLINO
makeup BYRON VASQUEZ at MAC
hair KRISTINE RAMOS
model EMERALD VILLAHERMOSA at CALCARRIE'S

CELEBRITY PROFILE STYLING: SAM AJDANI

Sense & Style
August 2014

interview MARGAUX SALAZAR
images GEE PLAMENCO
styling IETH INOLINO
grooming LEI PONCE at MAKE UP STORE
shot on location at MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL MANILA

FASHION EDITORIAL: HARDER IS BETTER

Sense & Style
August 2014

images PIA PUNO
styling IETH INOLINO
makeup BYRON VELASQUEZ at MAC COSMETICS
hair DONALD LAPEZ
model SAMANTHA GOMEZ at CALCARRIE'S
concept HECTOR M. REYES

FEATURE WRITING: LOVESTORY

Manila Bulletin
http://www.mb.com.ph/lovestory/

Lovestory

Why Heart and Chiz are meant for each other. No haters allowed. Just love, love, love.

by Ieth Inolino
August 31, 2014

She’s outgoing, he’s serious—but it’s true what they say, stay long enough and you pick up your partner’s habits. They can finish each other’s sentences. He’s learned to be more carefree, she’s learned to be more profound. The newly-engaged couple recounts their love story—and that ring everyone’s ogling at—in a fun and funny conversation.

THE PROPOSAL Sen. Chiz Escudero chose his venue well: His late father’s house in Sorsogon, which ‘made it feel like he (his late father) was part of the celebration.’ Plus, he said, ‘That’s where I came from and where I started.’
Portraits Keith Dador

THE LOVE STORY

Tell us about how you met.

Heart: The moment really started when I saw him at a restaurant at The Fort some time in 2007. I instantly became a fan. Super crush ko siya. The song ‘Lady in Red’ was playing and I downloaded it on the same day. And I would think of him whenever I heard the song. Super crush talaga.

Chiz: You should have tweeted me.

Heart: I tweeted you. I said something like, ‘I’m a fan.’

Chiz: I don’t think I had Twitter then.

Heart: You already had Twitter. I saw your tweet before, saying something like, ‘I saw Heart Evangelista at the airport.’

Chiz: Really? But I didn’t tag you. I don’t think I knew how to tag then.

Heart: Anyway, that was the first time I saw him. Super crush ko siya. But that time, we didn’t meet. He was just at the same restaurant. But when we met for the first time…

Chiz: She was wearing red. Laughs.

Heart: I just had to make the fantasy real. Just for me. I didn’t think that I’d end up with him. But I just had to make it real so I had to wear something red. So, in my mind, ‘Lady In Red.’ We were introduced by Tita Miriam Defensor by phone. She gave me a list of guys that she wanted me to date after my breakup. I told her before, in passing, that I had a crush on him. She said, well, I heard that he’s annulled. Let’s set a dinner. Then there was a number two on the list but I never got to number two because I ended up staying with him.

Chiz: When I first saw her, I was starstruck. She was removing her jacket in slow motion.

Portraits Keith Dador

Heart: Maybe that’s just how you saw it. I wore a red jacket to make sure that I was wearing something red. We were in the terrace and it was so hot.

How did you know that he was the one and she was the one?

Heart: When he proposed to me. Laughs. Why don’t you answer that?

Chiz: It’s about getting to know each other, really. In my point of view, you don’t enter a relationship just for the heck of it. When you meet someone, when you ask someone out, when you marry someone, you discuss it and if you’re on the same page, that’s it. And it’s just a matter of talking about the whole shebang (for the wedding).

Heart: It’s true what he said that you don’t enter a relationship without thinking [about marriage]. But at that point, I wasn’t ready yet. When we were together, I wanted to end up with him. But I was still open to the chance that it might not work. I didn’t want to hope so much because of everything I’d been through. He ended up being better than I imagined him to be. He was fun. He made me feel like a princess. He introduced me to a lot of new things. He makes me a better person.

THE RELATIONSHIP

What’s your favorite thing about each other?

Heart: He’s supportive of my work, everything that I’m passionate about, like my painting and my work.

Chiz: Her sweetness, because I’m not like that.

How did you deal with him not being sweet?

Portraits Keith Dador

Heart: I was complaining a lot. Laughs. I really dealt with it. I’m so passionate and malambing. I’m used to someone holding my hand in public. He was strange in the beginning. I didn’t know if he was shy or conscious. I couldn’t understand it. It was hard for me. But he got over it and became sweet.

Chiz: A thousand times. And remember we really started with a low number.

Heart: But there’s still space for development. Laughs.

What do you like most about your relationship?

Heart: The independence. It’s him not telling me what to do. I don’t like [being controlled] because it makes me feel suffocated. I’m a very expressive person. Before I would complain, now, I appreciate that he didn’t hinder my growth.

Chiz: It’s everything. The opportunity to establish a family—make my family whole again. Basically, the chance to make things better.

What is it about your relationship that makes it work despite the challenges?

Heart: I think if you really genuinely love each other, you also accept the bad side with the good. And also the fact that he’s older than me. So, when I’m agitated, he’s relaxed. Or when I’m being immature, he’s the matured one. He lets me understand the situation. We communicate really well. He knows how to talk to me. Because when you really want a relationship, you have to make an effort. And he really makes an effort.

Chiz: And the fact that we don’t have the same line of work, that makes the relationship exciting. Not like if one is a congresswoman and the other is a senator. When you go home, what do you talk about? The bills that you pass?

What lesson has your relationship taught you?

Chiz: As Og Magdino would say, this, too, shall come to pass. Even if it gets hard, it will pass. The sun will still shine the next day.

Heart: It’s the same for me. With him around, I would feel calm. I overthink. I worry. What he said is true. This, too, shall pass.

THE PROPOSAL

Tell us about how the proposal went.

Chiz: The challenge was actually preparing for it and hiding it from her. She had so many questions that I couldn’t answer. I proposed in my dad’s house in Sorsogon. There was a scheduled trip with some friends. For me, the timing was right. It was the perfect time. Sorsogon is meaningful for me because that’s where I came from and that’s where I started. Plus, because my dad has already passed away, doing it in his house made it feel like he was part of the occasion.

Heart: I had no idea what was happening. In fact, I was getting annoyed with him because he was always gone. It was supposed to be a vacation with friends then he would leave us and come back after three hours. I thought he was going to propose in Paris because that’s what everyone was saying. When this happened, I was really surprised because I didn’t think it would happen there. It wasn’t something I imagined it to be. It was such a new feeling! Parang it’s a new app. I’ve never experienced anything like that. It was like a new color. It was so different. I actually blacked out. I don’t remember him kneeling down. I just remember telling him that he was putting the ring on the wrong finger.

Chiz: At least I have a witness. Alex (Alessandra de Rossi) was interviewed. She gave an account of the proposal. She said, ‘What I remember is that Chiz hasn’t finished asking the question yet and Heart is saying yes already.’ Laughs.

A SYMBOL OF FOREVER The engagement ring is a family heirloom that Chiz got from his mom.
Portraits Keith Dador

THE RING

What’s the story of the engagement ring?

Chiz: It’s from my mom. She got it from her mom and I guess she got it from her mom. She had it reshaped into a heart long before then I asked her for it.

Heart: It’s a family heirloom.

THE WEDDING

What are your plans for the big day?

Heart: We still have to talk about it. We have to consider his work. For the theme, we definitely want something private, intimate, with just a few people, somewhere far away so that we can feel as though we could really stop time. Then maybe go back and have a party here with everyone. For us, it would be meaningful and more special, because I’m in showbiz and he’s in politics, to just really get away from all of that and enjoy what we have.

Chiz: Solemn and intimate, not a circus. You want me to take care of everything. Surprise na lang ulit. Last time I surprised you, it worked! Laughs.

THE MARRIAGE

What’s your plan after the wedding?

Chiz: Eight kids in the next eight years. Laughs.

Heart: I want a baby three or four years from now. I want to enjoy finally being married. Just the two of us. I’m still going to work, maybe not so much on soap operas. But I’ll be doing my hosting and my painting.

What do you look forward to in being a married couple?

Heart: It’s really having the blessing of God. It wouldn’t change naman anything. Our relationship is pretty much it. It’s going to stay the same. It’s going to get better.

Chiz: I look forward to the daily grind. It’s how you live that side of your life that matters. It’s not the life that’s seen in front of the camera, the life that other people see. It’s the life outside that. Yung hindi pa siya naliligo, kung anong itsura nya.

Heart: Uy, nakita mo na akong nagpa-paint ng hindi naliligo.

Chiz: Yung wala pang makeup na hindi pa naliligo.

Heart: Nakita mo na yun.

Chiz: Yung hindi pa naliligo at gamit pa yung makeup nung nakaraang araw.

Heart: Hindi mangyayari yun.

FEATURE WRITING: LOVE

Manila Bulletin
http://www.mb.com.ph/love/

Love
Top Philippine wedding gown designers create the ultimate wedding gown for newly engaged actress Heart Evangelista.
August 31, 2014

It’s a magical moment when the bride walks down the aisle in her wedding dress. And if the country’s top fashion designers were to sprinkle pixie dust on Heart Evangelista’s special day, they’d make her their muse, garbed in elaborate lace, exquisite tulle, and breathtaking embellishments. Watch these designers wave their magic wands, creating stunning sketches for a special day of love.

My design for Heart would be a fully embellished top, sweetheart sheer top neckline, and layers of soft tulle.
—Eric Delos Santos

The wedding dress of Heart Evangelista should be elegant and best-remembered, and, since she is marrying a political figure, should also be a major influence on women, elevating matrimonial fashion, not to mention her celebrity status as well. I imagine her wearing a high-necked, long-sleeved gown with a fitted torso and a billowing skirt. The materials include French lace, illusion tulle, lace-and-seed-pearl encrusted skirt. Her wedding ensemble is simple and exquisitely detailed. —Avel Bacudio

It is a white tulle serpentine gown with intricate baroque, callado, and linear embroidery with white sequined lining beneath the embroidered overlay. —Randy Ortiz

If I were to create a wedding gown for Heart Evangelista’s very special day, I will make a fully embroidered serpentina gown in white soft tulle fabric. Heart is known for her beauty, sexiness, and allure. The serpentina cut of the gown, which will have a deep back cut, will highlight her voluptuous figure. The gown will be intricately embroidered, which will also emphasize her enviable curves. The intricacy continues smoothly to the back of the gown down to the skirt with a perfect depth, which will give the classic look a hint of sexiness. —Francis Libiran

I imagine a gown that’s beautiful, romantic, elegant, modern and not too fussy—one that enhances Heart’s natural beauty and doesn’t try to take attention away from it. Thus, this French lace and silk Duchesse satin bridal gown with crystal beadwork. —Tippi Ocampo

Heart has a beautiful body: a full bosom and is small boned. So, I gave her this fitted bodice and semi-mermaid cut. Done in laser cut lace, individuallay appliqued for that 3D effect. Her neck and arms are covered with a detachable yoke fashioned from stretch tulle. The hemline is yards and yards of illusion tulle to complete her dreamy look.” —Michi Calica Sotto

TRAVEL WRITING: HAZEL ORENCIO AT THE LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL

Manila Bulletin
August 31, 2014

http://www.mb.com.ph/hazel-orencio/

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL.

I think, by far, with the awards and the people we met, the friends we gained, the films we watched, the places we’ve been, overall, this is my most unforgettable festival experience. I think it’s also because we got to stay for the whole duration of the festival, which ran for more than a week, whereas in Cannes, I only got to stay for four days and only got to watch two films.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO ACTING?

I’ve been acting since I was a kid. In grade school, I regularly joined the oration contest. When I transferred to a new school in high school, I decided to momentarily forget about acting. But then in my senior year, we had to do a monologue in class. I had to do that or else I would fail. It had been my saving grace. In college, I took up Theater Arts at PUP. That’s when I felt I wanted to do this (theater and acting) forever. Then I went on to become a stage actress for Gantimpala Theater Foundation and Tanghalang Pilipino.

HOW DID YOU AND YOUR MOVIES MAKE IT TO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS?

Lav Diaz has a huge following abroad. They just know it when he has a new film or if he’s finishing a new one. They ask for a screener and then they invite him to their festivals. But it’s not always a guarantee that they invite him, contrary to what other filmmakers think. Lav experiences rejection as well, but it’s not his concern. His concern is always the work—how can he make it better.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ITINERARY WHEN YOU GO TO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS. HOW DO YOU PREPARE?

Whenever we’re headed to a film festival, the first thing we do is to get the catalogue and program of the films we need to watch. We’re always on the lookout for new works as well as special screenings of restored films. In Locarno, we had a blast with the Titanus retrospective featuring old Italian films.

HER PERSONAL FILM FAVES

• Roman Diary by Michael Pilz

• Cavalero Dinheiro by Pedro Costa

• Like Father, Like Son by Kore-eda

• The Spirit of the Beehive and El Sur both by Victor Erice

• Le Havre by Aki Karusmaki

• The Day He Arrives by Hong Sang Soo

As the first Filipina to win the Locarno International Film Festival’s Boccalini D’Oro Best Actress Award this August, Hazel Orencio has brought unimaginable pride to the country. Lav Diaz’s obra maestra Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon also swept five awards, the most the country got from any film festival in the world.

SUITCASE ESSENTIALS

1. Catalogues - This is where you choose the films to watch.

2. Map - A catalogue usually comes with a festival map.

3. Camera - You never know who you’re going to bump into! In Locarno, we saw Agnes Varda, Mia Farrow, Alice Braga, and Rutger Hauer!

4. Canvas bag - Usually, festival accommodations give you only free breakfast provided by the hotel. So during breakfast, you can have fruits and yogurt with you and put them in the bag just in case you get hungry.

5. Scarf - I rarely leave the hotel without a scarf. You never know when it’s going to be cold whether inside or outside the movie house. The weather, especially in Cannes and in Locarno, can be so unpredictable. Sometimes it just drops and gets really, really cold. Or if it gets hot, you can just use it as a bandana.

TOP FOUR FILM FESTIVAL DESTINATIONS

1. Festival del Film Locarno

Even if we didn’t bring home an award (but thank God, we did!), this tops my list. I love their culture of viewing. People there watch serious cinema, not only the professionals but also the young ones. They take time off their work to watch. I also like how organized this festival is and the film selection as well.

2. International Film Festival Rotterdam

Again, what I love most here is the culture of viewing. People of all ages watch, no excuses and definitely not forced by their school curriculum. I also love the selection of films. On a side note, I love this festival because this is usually held in January when it’s winter in Rotterdam. Hello, snow!

3. Cannes Film Festival

Cannes is a lovely place! More than the red carpet glamor, you look forward to the film selections. Also, if you cannot get a seat, you can simply take a stroll on the beach or go to the flea market.

4. Hong Kong International Film Festival

Hong Kong is a lovely city with lovely food! You get to travel and have a great view of Hong Kong when going to and from different venues. I think that this is the best part of being in this festival.

CULTURE VULTURE

1. Locarno International Film Festival is one of the prestigious film festivals in the world held every August.

2. Rivellino Art Gallery, where the award was given to me, is where Leonardo da Vinci used to live.

3. Visconteo Castle is not a fully built castle. It’s a castle ruin but still lovely.

Around it is where they hold the tiangge part of the film festival. There are old, medieval castles all over Locarno—just pick one to fall in love with!

WHERE TO GO IN LOCARNO

1. Piazza Grande is the main attraction of Locarno Film Festival. It is three-storey-high and can hold up to 8,000 viewers every night during festivals. You haven’t been to Locarno if you haven’t watched a film at the Piazza Grande.

2. The pizza in Hotel Dell’Angelo is definitely the best and the cheapest in Locarno. People who troop there actually eat one whole pizza while we Filipinos can only eat two to three slices.

3. Lake Maggiore is the majestic lake in Locarno. It is absolutely serene, clean, and breathtaking. You can have a clear view of Italy from a distance as well.

4. Viso Di Dentro is quite far and unpopular among tourists, but it’s a haven for artists and nature lovers! And the best way to get there? A super picturesque cable car!

5. Rotonda del Festival has the best food! It’s the best tiangge during the festival.