Category Archives: Arts and Culture

Moving To The Beat with Payless Shoesource and American Ballet Theater

By | Arts and Culture, Fashion, What's New at Rustan's | No Comments

Sharing the passion for the art of dance has been American Ballet Theatre’s drive over the years.  American Ballet Theatre is a collaboration of dedicated and passionate dancers who are committed to upholding the best in dance, making sure it is available for everyone.

With this fervor, Payless Shoe Source and American Ballet Theatre have teamed up to democratize dance across America – and now in the Philippines by making authentic dance footwear affordable. Both labels are proud to introduce their collaborative collection American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Spotlights.

This new line is made-up of quality styles for Ballet, Tap and Jazz, as well as accessories such as bags and tights made for the enthusiastic dancer. This will be available in 3 Payless Shoesource stores in the Philippines – Shangrila, Trinoma & Rockwell.

Ballet- The Heart and Sole

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Designed to form to a child’s feet and keep them aligned for proper muscle control, ABT Spotlights’ Ballet Shoes feature a quality leather upper material, sock and outsole, canvas lining and an elastic band for a secure fit. The elastic vamp bow adds a pretty touch and it is made of leather and canvas.

Tap the rhythm

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ABT Spotlights’ Tap Shoes feature an elegant patent upper material with cloth piping, a soft, cushioned insole for comfort and quality taps. The ribbon bow or strap provides a secure fit. Made of fabric and manmade materials, each pair brings out the talent of every dancer tapping to the beat.

Jazz: The Art and Form

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These quality ABT Spotlights’ Jazz Shoes are made of leather, fabric and manmade materials. Each pair features a supple leather upper material with stretchy twin gores for a good fit together with a leather insole and a flexible split outsole.

Payless Shoesource’s ABT Spotlights collection has also designed bags and tights with the dancer in mind! A quality pair of dancing shoes is just the beginning. Every true dancer also needs a chic bag to tote around all her gear. The tights made for the collection are also specialized for the use of dancers.   Comfortable and resilient, these tights put every dancer at ease.

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In the Philippines, Payless is managed by Footwear Specialty Retailers, Inc., a division of Stores Specialists, Inc. Payless Shoesource currently has 17 stores in the following locations: Festival Mall in Alabang, SM Megamall, Ali Mall, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Shoppesville Greenhills, Power Plant Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Market! Market!, Marquee Mall in Pampanga, Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna, Trinoma, SM Manila, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Masinag, Abreeza in Davao, SM Southmall and Nuvali Solenad 2. More stores are set to open this year in Metro Manila, as well as in Cebu.

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By Jia Estrella

By | Arts and Culture, Homes and Interiors | No Comments

Jia and I used to work together in Rustan’s and she was handling the high end fashion brands as she loved fashion!

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 And only recently I found out she is very artistic

Previous entry:  Shifting Scenes by Jia Estrella March 5, 2012

and is also very creative and has a talent for interior design.  I told her that she should have also handled the home department!  🙂

Thanks Jia and Gabby for letting me share the photos of your new home!  I love it and your collection of art is beautiful!

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Jia has an extensive collection, I cannot remember all the names of all the works.  I am sure many of you can spot the artist just by looking at the works.

Garibay

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Geraldine Javier

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A special cabinet made by John Santos with a chess board for kids to play

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John Santos

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Lorenzana

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Love the Morroccan tables

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Jon Jaylo

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I like this artwork make of religious stampitas and medals

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Beautiful altar

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All Peruvian art in the dining room

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Love the Ferragamo scarves made into pillows.  We used to handle the brand together many years ago

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Shrine 🙂

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Jia’s workspace

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Shoes of the kids and Gabby’s shoes

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Gabby’s tools!! I love it!  he used the plastic bottles of the Mandarin Oranges ( Del Monte ) he eats 🙂  He is so organized!!

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Guest room – Jia seems to like blue and white

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Wow!! Photos of Miguel Fabie!!!!!

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Diamond Jubilee

By | Arts and Culture, Celebrations | One Comment

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In honor of the 60th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Diageo Philippines celebrates and unveils the Diamond Jubilee by John Walker and Sons. Through an exclusive and prestigious gathering, dubbed as Manila’s Royal Affair, the Philippines’ most elite joined Diageo Philippines and Johnnie Walker Global Brand Ambassador Jonathan Driver, as they revealed the blueprint and craftsmanship of this exquisite blended Scotch whisky.

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 Sharing the same vision and commitment to the preservation of art and craftsmanship, Diageo Philippines celebrated the occasion with a special exhibit, comprising of rare and invaluable pieces from world-renowned Filipino artists and designers. Some of the pieces, together with one of the first bottled Johnnie Walker Blue Label with the signature of Master Blender Jim Beveridge, will be auctioned off for the benefit of the Asian Cultural Council Philippines (ACCP)- a foundation that provides individual fellowship grants to Filipino artists, scholars, and specialists to achieve prominent leadership positions in their respective fields.

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Jonathan Driver kicked off the night with the reveal of the Diamond Jubilee – a diamond shaped Baccarat crystal decanter, standing on a crystal base with six radial legs to reflect the decades of The Queen’s enduring reign. Leading Scottish silversmiths Hamilton & Inches has fashioned the collars set with a half-carat diamond, the Royal Arms, John Walker & Sons monogram and individually numbered seals.

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The edition included a pair of lead Cumbria Crystal glasses engraved by Philip Lawson Johnston and a commemorative artefact book, hand bound by Laura West at her Isle of Skye bindery. All the elements were housed in a chest made by the cabinet makers at N.E.J. Stevenson, incorporating oak from Sandringham to echo the whisky marrying casks and Caledonian pine from The Queen’s Balmoral Estate.

“Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons is a remarkable achievement, a work of art created by the hands of more than 60 craftsmen and women, which will continue to support the development of many more through the contribution to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Fund from sales of the 60 editions,” said Jonathan Driver.

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Diamond Jubilee was created by John Walker and Sons, Scotch Whisky Distillers by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, to celebrate 60 years of the Queen’s accession to the throne. The blend is crafted from rare malt and grain Scotch Whiskies distilled in and maturing since 1952, the year The Queen acceded to the throne.

Sixty editions, one for each year of The Queen’s reign, will be offered for individual sale around the world at £100,000 each. John Walker & Sons has pledged its profits from the sale of these editions to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), with a guaranteed donation of at least £1million that will support the excellence of traditional craftsmanship as symbolised by the Royal Warrant of Appointment.

“Master Blender Jim Beveridge and his apprentice Matthew Crow explored vast stocks of Scotch whisky to seek out some of the most exceptional casks of whiskies distilled in 1952 to craft the exquisite liquid,” Jonathan Driver explained.  “Jim Beveridge drew on expertise gained over more than 30 years and inspiration from the Walker family blending notes to create this peerless blend with a unique sense of provenance.”

John Walker & Sons has also harnessed the skills of more than 60 fine artisans, including fellow Royal Warrant Holders and QEST Scholars, who have created bespoke pieces to present and accompany the whisky.

To provide a rare opportunity to present this stunning showcase of master craftsmanship, John Walker and Sons has created two editions that will be made available for exhibit in selected locations around the world, one of which has made its way to the Philippines.

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That same night, for every single bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label sold, 50% of proceeds will be pledged by Diageo Philippines to the ACCP.

“We are privileged to be able to celebrate The Queen’s remarkable achievement with this fitting tribute, Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons, the sales of which will help create an enduring legacy for the supreme craftsmanship that it represents, shares Diageo Philippines Managing Director Arif Esenc. “And in our own way, we are glad that we are able to mirror the same commitment here in the Philippines by supporting the growth and development of Filipino artists through the Asian Cultural Council Philippines.”

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Aries Caces and Minette Padilla

By | Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Proud to be Pinoy! | 2 Comments

Thank you to my bestfriend, Eds, for organizing a beautiful night of music!  I love these things and she loves them too which is why we get along 🙂 We sometimes go to the CCP or go together for concerts,

Previous entry:  Encantada Gala Night August 27, 2011 

but this time, she brought the CCP to me! and to her other friends!! 🙂

I used to play the piano when I was a kid and I remember the numerous hours and days I had to practice for a piece so i could memorize it and play it the proper way.  It’s very hard and it takes a lot of patience and a lot of practice!  That’s why i really admire pianists 

Previous entry:  Carlos Ibay March 12, 2011 

To Aries and Minette, YOU MAKE US PROUD TO BE FILIPINO!  What an honor to witness your performance and a priveledge to watch you in a private home, I feel so lucky and blessed 🙂 

I took video clips of the performance that evening and put them together quickly so I could share it with everyone at Heart2Heart.  They are truly so talented and amazing!  Watch for yourselves 

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Eds set up her house with the help of good friend, Anton Barreto 🙂

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If you want to listen more to Aries playing the piano, visit his soundcloud page, click below

 

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It was also the birthday of Eds’ sister in law, Camille ( notice her two kids who are very cultured too watching Minette and Aries perform )

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Happy Birthday Camille!!

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And we even had Cocktails to go with the show 🙂  I am telling you, this beats going to the CCP! 🙂  Thanks to my dear best friend for organizing this!

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Shifting Scenes by Jia Estrella

By | Arts and Culture | 4 Comments

Last year, I spotted Jia at Art in the Park selling her chairs  

Previous entry:  Art in the Park 2011 March 2, 2011

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And last Saturday, she had her first exhibit at Art Informal!  CONGRATULATIONS JIA!!  

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Jia with the owner of Art Informal, Tina Fernandez 

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I was maybe the first if not the third guest to arrive and by that time, 90% of the items were already sold!  They were beautiful!  It’s so nice to deviate a bit from all the artworks on canvas or paper and see this kind of art!  Heart2Heart loves it! 

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The two chairs from Art in the Park last year – not for sale! 

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Chairs are now priced P 10,000 and up versus last year of P 4,000 at Art in the Park! 

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What a cute shoe cabinet! Jia loves shoes!  I remember when we used to work together in Rustan’s as the Merchandise Manager of Ferragamo.  She fit the job so well as she loves shoes and bags and maybe anything Italian 🙂 

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Open the cabinet and it’s all her shoes which she painted in front – Gucci, Christian Laboutin etc etc

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I was surprised to see this ( Christian Laboutin ) as I had this shoe before – we probably bought it at the same time! 🙂  and she still has hers til now 

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here it is on the bottom of the cabinet 

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All the red dots are sold already when I arrived and I heard that when I left, everything was sold already 

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And I saw Jia bringing this in with her and she said it was not for sale!  It is adorable!  Those are the initials of her daughters 

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A chair which was commissioned 

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I heard a rumor that Dr. Cuanang asked Jia to exhibit at Pinto Gallery!! I’m looking forward to that!  

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by Noey and Krie

By | Arts and Culture, Homes and Interiors | One Comment

Five years ago I featured photos from the place of M. Noey and Krie.  You will see quite a number of changes from that time 

Previous entry:  Mother’s Day May 13, 2007 

Like Dr. Cuanang, my brother saw the talent of the Saling Pusa artists and also invested on them early on.  There are really some people who have the “eye”

Love their home which they designed together with Leo Espinosa 

Wow! I like this beautiful painting by Tony Leaño 

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I wish I had so many paintings i could put them in the restrooms 🙂 

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More works of art in the master bathroom 🙂 

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Portraits by Winner Jumalon, same artist I featured who made the portrait of Dr. Cuanang!

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The Nursery!!

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I told you so, more paintings in the guest bathroom 

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