Effortless strength. Understated cool. These artful juxtapositions reflect Banana Republic’s Fall 2010 collection. Personifying these traits are 5 of the most successful career men and women in their respective industries: President of GMA Films Annette Gozon-Abrogar, Interior Design Consultant Marilen Faustino-Montenegro, Photographer Philip Sison, and Doctors Arnel and Ome Nuguid.

Beautiful, intelligent and well-established as career women, Annette Gozon-Abrogar and Marilen Faustino-Montenegro take on their big responsibilities in effortless grace and style emanating a refined impression as women of stature.

As a top honcho of the film arm of the GMA network station, Annette Gozon-Abrogar also manages to fulfill more roles for the network. Aside from being a program consultant to the President and CEO lawyer – and her father – Felipe Gozon, she is also involved in the drama sub-committee that conceptualizes dramas aired, and heads GMA Worldwide Inc., the subsidiary that purchases canned programs and sells GMA programs to countries abroad. Annette always strives for excellence and performs all her duties with ease and finesse. That probably comes from being a top caliber lawyer before embarking on the entertainment industry which she shares an equal passion for.

Even with her hands full, Annette manages to balance her time and fulfill the most important role for her – being a wife and a mother of two kids. Annette and her kids enjoy simple things like going to malls and playing tennis together. She shares that planning her schedule well and technology has helped her a lot in being able to spend time with her family. “I can be connected to work via cell phones and through the internet.. I try to also not schedule meetings after 6 so I can be home for dinner and have time to teach my kids their homework before they go to bed.”

First time mom, Interior Design Consultant, host, and model Marilen Faustino-Montegro has the same take on prioritizing family. Having given birth 2 months ago to a baby boy, Marilen is more focused and hands on as she enthusiastically takes on the role of being a mother. Marilen has managed to still do the things she loves and be a mom to her little boy, “Now I have to cut down on the amount of projects I take on but I don’t consider it a loss. I try to always schedule my day to do things when the baby is asleep, or I bring my baby boy with me as I work with the help of our nanny.”

Marilen used to have a hectic schedule handling several projects her profession requires all at the same time. She takes on residential, resort and occasionally commercial projects meeting clients, planning, and shopping for accessories or furniture which she enjoys a lot. On top of all that, she also hosts a weekly ultimate home improvement TV show and models on the side as part of the Board of Members of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines. But now, “I’m really focused on my baby, changing diapers and doing activities with him.” she eagerly shares.

As professionals and icons in their own fields these two women share the same fashion sense: classic and simple sophistication that works best for their lifestyle and personalities. “I’m a bit conservative with what I wear, I like comfortable clothes. I don’t like itchy fabrics and too tight-fitting clothes.” During more casual days Annette goes to work in a pair of jeans and a basic top which she considers essential to her wardrobe aside from a carry-all bag. Marilen also prefers to stick to the basics like neutral colors, classic cuts instead of bright colors and prints as it gives a more classy and sophisticated look. In line with her profession, her essential wardrobe pieces are, “A good pair of jeans, a crisp white polo, a black dress, shawls or cardigans I can throw over a top and leggings” she shares that’s practical for work and as a mother.

Just as passionate and dedicated as Annette and Marilen are three well-respected and established gentlemen in the fields of art and medicine: Photographer Philip Sison and Pediatricians Dr. Arnel and Ome Nuguid.

There’s no ordinary day for professional photographer Philip Sison. Having worked as an investment banker before pursuing his love for photography Philip enjoys the beauty of an unpredictable day of work that comes with his present career. “I can start my day at 6 in the evening and it ends by midnight if I’m lucky, each day is different. You don’t know who you’ll meet and there’s something new you learn everyday.” He shares.

Starting out as a hobbyist when he was in grade school and doing photography on the side while working in a bank for 16 years, Philip decided to go full-time taking photographs in 2005. Since then, things have changed – but only positively for Philip, even if at times it gets difficult. He has learned to master the art of balancing time and being professional. “In photography the demands are very personal. Sometimes my personal time becomes secondary after my commitments are fulfilled.” But he shares he is able to manage his time well and rest from work to spend time with his wife and three children. They enjoy traveling together as a family and make it a point to go out of town or the country couple of times in a year.

Travel is even more a luxury for Doctors Arnel and Ome Nuguid who are identical twins and both pediatricians. Their responsibility as doctors to their patients is 24/7 as they are one of the few doctors who also take on house calls aside from working in a hospital. They rarely get to travel together wanting to make sure “there’s always a Dr. Nuguid in town.”

As identical twins in the same profession, they have been discouraged by some friends and family to take on the same career path that might lead them into conflict. But they think otherwise, “We proved them wrong, this is a healthy competition if there is any, and it’s really working well for both of us, one covers for the other, and we always learn from each other.” Dr. Arnel shares. They have also established themselves individually even as identical twins and they have learned to deal with criticisms with a positive outlook. “We have different set of patients and we tend to get compared with one another, but it never got in the way of our relationship as brothers and to do well in our profession.” Dr. Ome expounds.

Sharing three clinics in different hospitals in the metro the Nuguid brothers attend to their patients, do their rounds, and are always ready when duty calls. Leisure comes secondary for them and their patient’s well-being is always top priority. However, they both manage to squeeze in work-out everyday to stay fit and as well as find time to spend with family and relatives.

For these revered men, they believe that what you wear is an extension of your lifestyle and most importantly of your self. Philip always thinks first what his job is for the day before deciding what to wear. As a photographer, the color black has been a staple, “We should be invisible. We’re not supposed to be interacting too much with our subject, but that has changed today.” So he tries to put on more color, experiments more with his style, but keeps on a pair of jeans and sneakers that works best for him. For doctors Arnel and Ome Nuguid, facing patients well-groomed and dressed decently makes all the difference. “We don’t go in front of patients looking so sloppy.” Aside from doing their job well, they make sure they put on a smile and look best for their patients to feel at ease and confident with their doctor. Being identical in their white suits, their fashion sense tells them apart. Dr. Arnel is more adventurous and experiments more in dressing up choosing a bow tie as one of his essential wardrobe pieces as Dr. Ome chooses to stick to the basic long sleeves he’s comfortable wearing.

Individuality. Versatility. Freedom. It’s about what works for your life. This season Banana Republic’s latest collection revolves around contrasting textures, thoughtful tailoring and effortless modernity. With each piece possessing enduring versatility and limitless opportunities for mixing, the line creates the perfect canvas to display one’s own individual style. “Today there‘s no separation between what we wear to work, to play, to unwind,” notes Creative Director and EVP of Design, Simon Kneen. “For fall, a series of opposing pairings—masculine shapes with feminine details, utilitarian essentials with tailored finery, romantic touches with military classics—creates a modern energy that suits every time and place.”

Banana Republic is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Casual Clothing Specialists, Inc. (CCSI), a subsidiary of Stores Specialists, Inc., and is available at Greenbelt 5 and Rustan’s Department Store Makati.

CREDITS:

Photography by Aldwin Aspillera

Styling by Sidney Yap

Make-Up by John Pagaduan

Hair Styling by Bea Misa

Special thanks to Annette Gozon-Abrogar, Marilen Faustino-Montenegro, Philip Sison, Dr. Arnel and Ome Nuguid

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