It took me a while to figure this one out.
Look closely to find out why this scene had to be cut from the movie.

Source

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

After 1,940 entries to last week’s promo, five winners chosen via electronic lottery.
They will each get a package just like this:

Inside are random swag from Goody, Burlington, Freeway, and a Globe Tattoo Lifestyle stick.

They will also get a Belle du Jour campus planner

And the winners are:
Maria Catrina Zosa of San Mateo, Rizal
Carina Samaniego of Quezon City
Kelvin Tan of Quezon City
Astra Alegre of Quezon City
and Rhaikalyn Hadjinoor of Parañaque

I’ll be contacting each one how they’ll receive their prizes.
Watch out for my next giveaway

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

“In college almost everyone had a crush on Curt Smith,” said Dinna Vasquez, as we talked about Tears For Fears over the phone. “But the cool girls, they liked Roland Orzabal.”
That would be me, hehe.

Lots of ’80s bands defined our generation: Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, The Lotus Eaters, Spandau Ballet, Thompson Twins, The Cure, New Order. But surely, one of the most significant and universally binding would be Tears For Fears—a.k.a. Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal—whose unique sound brings us back to an ’80s time warp, complete with all the angst and emotions of our growing up years.

I love the ’80s so much I still dress like it. You could not impress me with your Adeles and Lady Gagas.
I feel privileged to have lived and experienced an era where music and fashion are often copied but never equaled.
Tears for Fears captured our imagination with their hairstyles, the fashion, the music and the dance moves.
Curt Smith (who looks like a spawn of Albert and Liezl Martinez) had the curly bangs and braided tails.

Roland Orzabal, of Spanish-Basque descent, had the puffy lips, the drooping eyes, and prominent teeth.

Never mind that my friend Jude says Roland looks like Jon Cryer

I am dying as I write this when I think about the high-waist pants and the double belt

The fact that he can make espadrilles look cool

His dummy and the Beatles moptop

and most of all his intense Mad World dance.

That’s why I prefer him to Curt Smith. I am a sucker for the dance moves. Plus @curtsmith is a snubero on Twitter.
I am dying just thinking about it. More on the Tears For Fears concert later, while I get a hold of myself.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

I remember my Samsung DualView when it first came out in 2009.
Because it had two LCD screens—one in front and one in the back—you can see what you look like before taking a shot.

At that time it was quite a gadget. It wasn’t as clear as my Canon—but I’m a fan of such cameras when taking photos of myself. The less clarity, the better. As my friend says, lower-res cameras take more flattering self-portraits.
Unfortunately that camera didn’t last long as it got “lost” inside the Rockwell Mall. It was a sad day and for the longest time I thought about getting a replacement.
Three years later, here’s a special offer from Ayala Malls’ A-Deals.

Get a black Samsung PL120 DualView 14.2-Megapixel Digital Camera for only Php 6990, complete with camera case, USB charger and extra battery.

The prices of Samsung DualView cameras have dropped significantly since they were launched three years.
Not bad if you ask me.
If you haven’t yet, sign up now at A-Deals to get first dibs on special offers, only at Ayala Malls.
To know more about this deal, click HERE.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

OMG. I find traffic enforcers a hassle too (especially the ones that pull you over for bribes). But this one’s a bit much for me.
“TV5 producers chanced upon a motorist—identified as Robert Blair Carabuena, a resourcing supervisor at Philip Morris International—manhandling an on-duty MMDA traffic enforcer. The incident took place at Capitol Hills Drive corner Tandang Sora in Quezon City on Saturday.
In his LinkedIN profile, Carabuena is listed as an alumnus of Ateneo de Manila University and an “experienced recruitment executive.”
As of this posting, Carabuena has refused to talk to TV5 regarding the incident.”
(He needs to talk to a lawyer.)

Source

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

After Tears For Fears’ hugely successful concert in Manila last May 2010, it was inevitable that they would come back for more—and I knew I wanted to be there again.
As soon as they sold tickets online, I was there with my credit card. I bought 5 patron tickets and printed them out at home. Yes, we are high-tech now. No need to deal with SM ticket sellers equipped with MS-DOS.

On August 10, our group left Pasig at 6:30 PM and arrived at Araneta at 7:15 with lots of time to eat. I was starving.
All the restaurants were full. I had forgotten to make a reservation of Café Bola where we normally hang out before concerts.
We ended up at the food court of Gateway Mall. Then at 8 PM we made our way slowly and carefully to the Smart Araneta Coliseum as it started raining cats and dogs.
I have never been a fan of Fra Lippo Lippi but I really enjoyed Per Sorensen’s set that night. He sounds amazing live and exactly like the ’80s.

Jeroen and I were delighted to see Per Sorensen’s son on keyboards—simply adorable. I love that this young man can appreciate his father’s music and hopefully share it with younger generations.

Fra Lippo Lippi back in the day. You can see where the son gets the hair

They were warmly received, followed by another front act we didn’t know about. It gave us time to go to the loo, before Tears For Fears finally came onstage at 9:45 PM.
This was the full-house crowd on the first night, as captured by photographer Magic Liwanag.

And this is what greeted Tears For Fears back in Manila. WILD!

So sorry I had to stop the video because it’s hard to enjoy what’s live in front of you when you’re minding a tiny camera. Here’s another point of view from the second night, and it is just as insane!

Curt Smith looked well-preserved

While Roland Orzabal and I need to see Dr. Belo for ulthera

That does not change the fact that I adore him.
And I love that he had this big ass fan right in front of him, for that windblown effect

Watch this

The second time around was not as phenomenal as their concert last May 10.
Just the same, Tears For Fears, minamahal ka namin.

But if you do come back, please don’t start at 9:45 because we are all getting old.
After 30 minutes I started to feel low batt and sat through half of the songs. I felt like a grandma. I could just close my eyes, feel the shivers and go back the ’80s.

Like I said, I’m so grateful to God for having me live through the ’80s. They were the best times, and no one can take that away from us.
Thank you Ovation Productions for bringing them here. And thank you Magic Liwanag for sharing the pics.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

So I almost got into a Robert Blair Carabuena kind of scuffle today at Trinoma.
Keri and I were invited to see Korean pop stars Siwon and Dong Hae of Super Junior, who are the newest BENCH endorsers.
Traffic was insane going to Trinoma. You know what they say about Manila traffic—it’s instant. Just add water.

Keri and I arrived shortly after 4. We were rushing in our heels (Keri) and wooden platforms (me).
The crowd was so thick at the activity center, it was hard to tell where we could squeeze in to enter.
Keri said last time, she passed through the side when Kim Hyun Joong was here also for BENCH, so we ran to the left side and found an opening.

But then a bouncer stopped us. I started out friendly but the bouncer would not budge. To make a long story short it could’ve turned into a Robert Blair scene, except I don’t hit people on the face.
I was trying to tell him we are guests of Bench, and he kept pushing me with his tummy and saying “trabaho lang po” and exagg things like “wag mong hawakan yan, baka ma-electrocute ka.”
I was frustrated because he was insisting we go around to the main entrance, which was thick with fans, it would be impossible to see anyone from BENCH.

Good thing Keri spotted Bryan Lim of BENCH. I called him up and he brought us in.
After all that stress, Keri and I got the best seats in the house—right in front of the stage.

Good thing we were early. We sat with the lovely BENCH family.

Behind us were thousands of excited fans. They were rather loud, I had to make earplugs out of Kleenex.
Next time I will bring real earplugs. (These people are louder than Tears For Fears fans!)

There was even a lola fan on the upper floor, whom they showed on the TV screens. Adorable.

High-tech si Lola

Finally, Siwon and Dong Hae came out. Watch them cover their ears.

For those who don’t know, Siwon and Donghae are two members of the phenomenal Super Junior band of South Korea

From what I gathered, BENCH picked the cutest ones
Siwon was recently photographed by Karl Lagerfeld for V Man magazine, so you know he’s hot property

And here he is in BENCH

Between the two, I find Dong Hae cuter in person

Sharing my photos from the Trinoma event. I know the fans would love these.

I love the hair. Filipino boys need to realize hair is so important. You don’t have to be handsome, sometimes hair makes all the difference.

They gave signed T-shirts and posters to lucky fans

So adorable

I wonder what happened to that water bottle

They were awfully sweet to the fans. What I loved was when Dong Hae told them not to love any other boy band, which made the fans scream.
Actually the fans scream at anything. If one of the boys sneezed, that would make the fans would scream too.
Finally, it was over. Dong Hae and Siwon posed for a parting shot

They exited, and then they came back to take a souvenir photo, which Dong Hae tweeted

필리핀Bench 광고 팬미팅에 와주셨던 2만명 ELF 감사합니다 !!^^ 오랜만에 봤는데 더 이뻐졌던데요 ^^ I  so much !! With 시원 twitter.com/donghae861015/…
— Super Junior 이동해 (@donghae861015) August 15, 2012

Guess who’s in the picture?

It was great to be part of the K-Pop scene for an afternoon. The fans are amazing.
Thank you BENCH for having us!

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

I don’t know what is wrong with me. Part of this short film made me cry a little.
A terminally ill young boy is confined in the four walls of his hospital room. He imagines playing outside with some kids and meets a girl at the playground. He imagines being well, growing up, and then we see what kind of life he would have if only he recovers—a life most of us will have.
We’ve seen our grandparents go through it, our parents, us, and then our kids.
Since I became a mom ten years ago, it feels like my life zoomed so fast and all of a sudden I am dealing with white hair, weight gain, tiredness.
Written and directed by commercial director Jolly Feliciano, A Life in a Day is one of five digital short films or “sunshorts” commissioned by Sun Life Financial to interpret the brand’s promise that life is brighter under the Sun.

Sunshorts are all about the slices of life that makes us cherish every moment and asks the questions: Why wait to do the things you want/need to do? How do you know you’ll have time to do all of it? And how much time is enough?
I was 21 years old when I first bought life insurance from a co-worker at the Daily Globe (my first job).
I took a second policy a few years later, which I’m still paying for now. I know it’s not a pleasant thought but have you ever thought about what will happen to your loved ones if you go first?
Something to think about if you’re a parent.

Sun Life invites you to know how life can be brighter and see the rest of the Sunshorts at http://www.experiencethesun.com.ph.

To know about Sun Life’s flyaway promo to San Francisco, USA, click HERE.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

I can still remember the first time I experienced Cibo at its very first location—near the future Landmark walkway in Glorietta 2.
Our friend was raving about Margarita Fores’ sandwiches and her price points. I ordered the chicken sandwich, which I still enjoy today. 15 years later, my kids love Cibo. It’s always Tagliata di Manzo, Aglio Rosmarino for the boys.
As for me, I’ll have a red grape shake, spinach dip, mushroom rice, four-cheese pizza, or Farfalle alla Genovese.
This August 15-21, 2012, Cibo invites you to celebrate its 15th anniversary by offering popular items at 1997 prices:

August 15: “Te Freddo at P40!”

August 16: “Spinaci Zola at P85!”

August 17: “Uva Nera at P50!”

August 18: “Crema di Zucca at P95!”

August 19: “Insalata di Mare at P150!”

August 20: “Penne al Telefono at P175!”

August 21: “Tagliata di Manzo, Aglio Rosmarino at P195!”

Mechanics:

1. Promo duration: 15-21 August 2012.
2. A chosen item from the Cibo menu will be selling at its price in 1997 for a specific day.
3. The “1997 price” is valid only on the date indicated, and for dine-in transactions only.
4. Other choices of food and/or beverages ordered, except the featured product of the day, will be sold at regular prices. A maximum of three (3) orders per transaction for Spinaci Zola, Crema di Zucca, Insalata di Mare, Penne al Telefono, and Tagliata di Manzo will be allowed.
5. No minimum purchase is required; and no bill-sharing will be allowed.
6. This promotion is available at all Cibo outlets except Cibo at the Mind Museum.
7. Prices are inclusive of 12% VAT.
8. This promotion is not valid in conjunction with any other promotions. It is also not valid for use with senior citizens’ discounts and the Magna Carta for the disabled.
Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 5367 Series 2012

http://www.cibo.ph/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

And help me win $1,000 from H&M!!

To like, just log in with your Instagram account HERE.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

It’s been 17 years since I last saw New York.
I’ve dreamt of this moment for years. I’ve been wanting to come back but scared.
Mostly I was scared of the the 14-hour flight, but I got over my fear of flying recently when I flew Cathay Pacific with the kids to Amsterdam.
Going back to New York is like seeing an ex-boyfriend I haven’t seen in 17 years.
This was me in 1995.

I’m happy my mom invited me, my sister and SIL, to New York.
The flight to Hong Kong was a breeze. I took a nap.
Then a three-hour layover in the airport. I had Saboten for lunch, and shopping at the Disney store before boarding again.

To knock myself out, I wore the earplugs, took 1/2 Rivotril + 1 Stilnox, and prayed the Rosary.
The flight started out noisy and bumpy. I was really scared and held hands with my sister-in-law across the aisle.
Finally the turbulence calmed down and I had a light lunch before falling asleep.

I slept like a baby. When I woke up, there were four hours to go.

Then I did something I rarely do on planes. I ate food, starting with pineapple slices

Cornflakes

and a dimsum breakfast

One hour to go

I treated myself to some in-flight shopping. I’m a sucker for L’Occitane shea butter

Bobbi Brown ink pots

and this agnés b. kikay kit

Listen, don’t try to open any sealed makeup products in the plane because they will explode and spill out due to air pressure.
Oh, and it’s a good thing I noticed the guy seated behind my sister-in-law, only when we were nearly in New York

because he looks like the Unabomber.

So yes, I’m still a paranoid flyer. But I think I’m getting the hang of it.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

If I were paying I would probably stay at the Andaz or Chambers.
But Mom likes the Peninsula, so here we are today.
We arrived at 8:30 PM or so

My sister checked us in two rooms

This is my room (shared with my SIL)

I love these chairs

Someone please explain the useless placemat

The bathroom is perfect, with shower stall

Counter sink and bath

Separate toilet with door

Luggage room and closets

The minibar I will not touch. Ever.

Plus a view of Fifth Avenue

Next, I’ll show you round the ‘hood.

http://www.peninsula.com/New_York/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

From 1991-1995 I lived in midtown Manhattan, starting at my tita’s place on 333 East 55th.

Right next to this is the church I used to visit daily—St. John the Evangelist.

It is known for its pipe organs.

and cute Catholic boys.
(Note: Church-going boys are a huge turn on, especially if they’re cute and not with their girlfriends. Even more cute if you see them in deep prayer. +1000 pogi points)

Grace likes the green one

During the ’90s I considered this a very modern-looking church, that’s why I loved this place.

It is very near the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Diagnostic Imaging Center

Lily van der Woodsen’s apartment

And Bernie Madoff’s old office building.

This is where I used to buy groceries. It used to be called The Associated. Memories of buying roast chicken with Chelo and yogurt for my dad here.

After two years, my dad got me my own place at 100 United Nations Plaza

You will recognize it because of its iconic pyramid-like top.

When I graduated, my dad had it rented out before finally selling it at a good price.
I honestly didn’t know if and when I would ever see this place again. I’m just happy to be here right now, but I don’t think I want to live here again.
More on the ‘hood later.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

AVA presents its first one-day members-only Private Designer Sale this August 26, 2012 at the Rockwell Tent Extension.
Enjoy discounts of up to 70% off creations by designers Dennis Lustico, James Reyes, Ivar Aseron, Joey Samson, Tippi Ocampo, Amina Aranaz and Louis Claparols, plus exquisite pieces from Cura-V and a11.
Register now and get a free entrance pass at http://www.ava.ph/designersale.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

When I was a kid in the ’70s, I thought Kowloon House had the best siomai ever.
I remember the rather crude cardboard takeaway box lined with wax paper, with the piping hot siomai that was so magical.
I stopped eating it in high school after I saw some rats running out of its Park Square store back in the ’80s.

I don’t know exactly who introduced me to Golden Unicorn in New York back in the ’90s. All I remember was you had to wait in line and the food was really good. It was such a treat to take a bus there and eat with my friends.
Seventeen years later, I wondered if it would be as magical for me. Luckily I was able to drag Grace and Alexei to Chinatown last Sunday.
We had a kind taxi driver who had no idea how to get to 18 East Broadway.

Spotted a couple of hipsters in the area

And then that magical building

We were lucky the line wasn’t bad when we got there around 11:30 AM

I had to look for the mirrored hall of rave reviews, and there it was (kabrokot ang mga utao)

After a 15-minute wait, we got a go signal to go up to the 3rd floor.
Inside looks a bit gaudy/creepy with all the drapery, mirrors and funky tiles

We managed to call a few dimsum carts to our table and got the piping hot siopao, which was perfect

I didn’t try this one. It was “bola-bolish”

The best pork siomai in the world!! Exactly how I remembered it 17 years ago

This one paled in comparison

The perfect hakaw

and golden-fried shrimp balls. No idea why it’s served with Pringles. It was good though

Our bill was only $40. We had no soy sauce, no calamansi, no rice. If you want soy sauce and calamansi, you might have to bring your own. LOL. But seriously, it didn’t need anything else because it was perfect. Except maybe a glass of ice-cold Coke.

http://www.goldenunicornrestaurant.com/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

I’m not really one to jump in the bandwagon whenever everyone raves about certain foods, but Shake Shack I had to try because I kept seeing it on Instagram.
Grace suggested we go to the Upper East Side branch because it has a shorter queue than Madison Square Park.

Shake Shack began in 2001 as a seasonal hot dog cart in Madison Square Park. It became popular with fans who lined up daily for three summers. Then in 2004, they won a bid to open a permanent kiosk in the park.
Sixteen stores later, Shake Shack is known for delicious burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, shakes, beer, wine and more.
Grace and I took a cab to 154 East 86th Street and found a reasonable queue

I ordered the simplest burger and grabbed a table. Grace followed with this beeper and we waited.

As usual Grace and I were giggling because right next to us were four cute Catholic school boys about 1/3 my age.
Well that’s New York for you—cute boys are everywhere.
Minutes later the line turned to this. Our timing was lucky.

The beeper lit up and Grace picked up our order

The fries were hot and crispy—not bad—and I say this because I’m partial to hot, soggy fries.
I had very high expectations, so I thought I would be disappointed. But my burger was perfect. Probably the best burger I’ve ever had. The bread is soft and simple. The burger, crisp on the outside; tender, juicy inside. I like that they understand the meaning of a plain burger.
Perfect with ketchup and Coke

Grace prefers her burgers normal

A couple of nights later I was back with my mom, sister, and SIL. This time I ordered a strawberry shake because my sister said, what’s the use of going to Shake Shack if you’re not gonna try the shake.
The shake was thick and perfect. I couldn’t finish it though because each sip felt like 3,000 calories.
I also ordered a double burger because I thought double just meant bigger. Turns out it means two patties, which is much too much for me.
Oh and there were cute boys again. No longer 1/3 my age. Maybe half?

Aside from the US, Shake Shack has two locations in the Middle East.
So I heard they partnered with a really huge F&B group in the Middle East (read: pera), so I wonder if they will ever open in Asia? If so, which country first?

http://www.shakeshack.com/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

One of the things I deeply regret is not being in New York when Grace opens on Broadway.
I really, really wish Grace and I could’ve seen this

Paul Rudd in the flesh. I regret.

Stars Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon, Kate Arrington, and Ed Asne, Grace follows a wide-eyed young couple (Rudd and Arrington) who start a new life in Florida, with big plans to open a chain of Gospel motels.
Shannon co-stars as the agitated neighbor, and Ed Asner, a caustic exterminator.
The cast held a press conference last August 21 at the Room Mate Grace on 125 West 45th Street.

No mono-blocks allowed obviously

Paul Rudd being interviewed

I wish New York weren’t so far away and expensive so I could come more often.
Grace runs from September 13, 2012 to January 6, 2013 at the Cort Theatre on 138 West 48th Steet (between 6th & 7th Avenues).
To know more, go to http://www.graceonbroadway.com/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Filipino illustrator Feanne and prolific T-shirt designer AJ Dimarucot have collaborated on a T-shirt, proceeds of which will benefit flood victims in the Philippines.
The Bayanihan T-shirt features different aspects of our culture—from the three stars and the sun, the Philippine eagle and carabao, the sampaguita, and the smallest fish in the world.
The tees are available at Threadless for $19.50.

Buy them at http://www.threadless.com/product/4023/Bayanihan

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Yikes. John Lloyd looks like a scary stalker/douche bag in this trailer.
But hey Keri, let’s watch!!

Stars Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, Ronaldo Valdez, Hilda Koronel
Anita Linda, Carmi Martin, K Brosas, Tony Mabesa, Gabe Mercado, Minne Aguilar, Nor Domingo, Clarence Delgado
Directed by Olivia Lamasan

In theaters September 12, 2012.
Please invite us to the premiere!!

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

The e-mook is a great Japanese invention to encourage (mostly) women to purchase a magazine by including a premium gift inside the package.
A “mook” is a cross between a magazine and a book, and the e-mook is published by Takarajimasha.
E-mooks are typically brand-specific and focused on a single trendy fashion label, which offers a catalog of its latest collection.
I usually buy my e-mooks at Kinokuniya in Singapore or the Hong Kong airport when I want to give myself an inexpensive present.
This time around I bought the Kitson e-mook because of the cute little cube bag.

I used it immediately on the plane from Hong Kong to Manila.

It surprisingly packs a lot.

Inside:
1. wet tissues
2. kitson mirror (free)
3. Samsung Galaxy Note
4. book
5. eco-bag
6. wallet
7. BlackBerry Bold
8-9. Mophie charger from JFK airport
10. medicine
11. Divine Mercy chaplet
12. tissue

Cheap bags give me as much joy an an inexpensive bag. And e-mooks provide that instant pickmeup whenever I’m in the airport waiting for my flight.
To see the latest e-mooks, click HERE.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.