Ms. Earth 2013 Preliminaries - Batangas City

It was a morning of gorgeous girls, those with a passion for Mother Earth and how to take care of her. This pageant promoting environmental awareness didn't come much perfect time than this. Showcasing their cause and their countries in the 7,120 islands of the Philippines. It's one of the worlds largest publicized pageants aimed to find the lone candidate to fulfill duties to help causes for the environment through various activities. We've met part of the candidates who went to Batangas City a few days ago, mind you in the history of the Ms. Earth pageant the candidate who goes to this city ends up winning the competition. We met them at the Batangas City hall. Judging from the looks of it, Filipino culture just started to show itself the minute they stepped on the streets of this glorious city.

They built the facade of the City Hall to look like actual scenes in a normal Filipino native town, like a big diorama.Then the ladies stepped out of the bus one by one. All so gorgeous!

Now isn't that a sight for sore eyes? These ladies also went inside City Hall to have a courtesy call with the Mayor of Batangas City, the Honorable Eduardo B. Dimacuha. The ladies got welcomed with native fans and coconut juice for refreshments which they enjoyed quite obviously.

They were all smiles. They were also briefed a bit about what Batangas City is and how they've worked hard to build their city. Their 105 Barangays, of strong resilient people welcomed the candidates with open arms. Then they proceeded to a government building a couple of meters away from the city hall.

These ladies also went ahead and put their markings on a commemorative rock that has been done by other batches of contestants from Ms. Earth in the past. Aside from that, they were shown the green building that is running on Solar Power via the panels on the top floor of the building. The low carbon footprint and the waste management efforts of the local government has definitely paid off. They are planning to do this on every government building in the city, this shows how much they want to fully grasp the idea on how to take care of the environment, hook line and sinker.

They walked to a nearby museum to see Batangas City's history and how the place came about. The word "Batang" came from huge logs that was abundant in this area during the Spanish colonial period hence the name of the province. Ahmm.. okay, I'd be straight with you guys... I do adore Ms. Spain. I was able to talk to her a bit during this museum visit. She was so beautiful without that much makeup. I love her. We also went to this gorgeous Basilica of the Immaculate Concepcion and toured around the church grounds plus its museums. Really good, and you can really feel the history there.

Ms. Earth 2013 will be broadcasted on ABS-CBN, cable channels STAR World, Velvet, The Filipino Channel, streamed on Ustream and Venevisión on December 7, 2013. It will be hosted by popular guy Oli Pettigrew and Ms. Linda Black. It will happen in Versailles Palace Alabang, Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila, The Philippines.

Stay tuned for more of Ms. Earth 2013 and a short tour of PonteFino on my next posts! Thank you so much to the kind people of the City of Batangas and the awesome ones in PonteFino!

For more information about Ms. Earth and PonteFino

Please visit their official website

http://www.missearth.tv/
http://www.pontefinohotel.com/

Like their official Facebook Page

Miss Earth Pageant

Pontefino Hotel

The Shop Guam Taste Guam Festival!

The lively and wonderful island of Guam celebrates yet another milestone as they launch the 6th Year of SHOP GUAM, TASTE GUAM FESTIVAL this November 29, 2013. Aimed to further promote this paradise as a mecca for fashion, food, fun and diverse destinations, the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) together with the Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association (GHRA) and its partners will take over Pleasure Island starting December 1, 2013 from 4PM to 10PM!

International celebrities will also be seen in Guam on these dates. Famed image model of San-ai Swimwear Ikumi Hisamatsu will also join 20 beautiful local models in five live fashion shows throughout the duration of this event. They will showcase designs and clothing from leading establishments/brands such as DFS Galleria, DNA Evolution, San-ai, GAP and Macy’s. Taiwanese pop rock group F.I.R. will also grace the festivities along with some charity work to help the less fortunate children in their country plus Guam's own local DJ's and EDM wonders will showcase great tunes all day long.

GHRA President Ms. Mary P. Rhodes also says that "Everyone is invited to enjoy the tastes, sights and sounds of Shop Guam, Taste Guam. In its 6th year, Taste Guam will feature a good cross section of island cuisine from hotels, restaurants and smaller vendors representing businesses throughout the island." This will surely be a huge party to serve and entertain not only tourists, but the locals and military personnel stationed there as well.

This will be absolutely FREE to the public. They will be selling off $20 coupon booklets though for the benefit of the Micronesian Chefs Association, Guam Community College’s Culinary Arts Program and GHRA's own scholarships. You're not only having fun, but also helping quite a number of charities and scholarship programs through this event.

If you don't want to miss any of the festivities, they have also launched a new app available in the Apple Store and Google Play Store so you can get more deals and thrills in this celebration. 

You can download them on these URL's for your convenience, plus it's totally FREE!

APPLE
https://itunes.apple.com/app/shop-guam-festival/id743999884?ls=1&mt=8

ANDROID
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobimanage.shopguam

It's easy, it's fun and so interactive! If you wish to make your day a blast, download them now and get the schedules right in the palm of your hand!

For more information about SHOP GUAM, TASTE GUAM Festival

Like them on Facebook!

Visit Guam, USA

Guam Visitors Bureau

Or visit their official website

http://www.visitguam.org

NOT "Just a Shoe": The 2013 CONVERSE Weatherized Collection

Clothing is restricted to human beings. At first, it was merely intended for protection. It was intended to battle every force of nature your body won't be able to handle. This remains so true. Today more than ever, in every pair of shoe - you try to find your own IDENTITY; this is the same feeling of finding that certain "STYLE" that would best represent you. It's that moment when you would be able to make them see your taste, your hunger to appreciate things - and how you would like to be perceived by the world. All THAT just for a shoe - but THIS unfortunately... is not just a bloody shoe for me. 

This awesome Black Stitched Leather Shoes by CONVERSE is part of the 2013 Chuck Taylor Weatherized Collection. For most people, they are probably just seeing these as plain Chucks. For me, it's quite different. I'll tell you why.

I'm John. I live in a small town in Quezon City all my life. I couldn't say I'm rich, I couldn't say I'm poor but my life is just about... right. I have no qualms with people. I live with memories of my childhood that would gladly pay a pretty normal upbringing, but really no.

I've been bullied a lot. I was too thin and dark as a kid that others used to call me palito or negro. With a Spanish lineage spanning decades of naturally good looks and machismo, you were bound to be ridiculed because of what you look and what you wear. Some people in my community including my childhood friends did the same - because Filipinos generally have a template for what looks good in their dictionary. Yet I never took anything against them, or anybody. It's a cultural thing I guess. 

After the ill fated puberty, I grew up pretty fast. With a sculptured German physique + six pack abs (of course that's a joke!), became bigger, taller than the average Filipino, I loathed myself in getting better at EVERYTHING I do. With good folks at home, better friends and a promising career in view... I always wanted to keep my style in check so I get the confidence I needed to get there.

When I saw these Black Stitched Leather Shoes on the catalog, I immediately grabbed it. It's non conventional exterior, strong stitched construction, tough and sturdy sole just spelled ME all over it. What I like about this is that it can pass for a more "casual look" since it's leather but still make you a bit edgy since it doesn't look like usual ones from the factory. The shoes DEFINITELY made me more confident, like a security blanket. THIS is also the reason why I never treat my shoes as "just a shoe". When I wear them, they make me proud. I become confident and get that needed boost because I know I look good with these weatherized Chucks all day long.

On a regular day, my essentials are NOT just plain essentials. I've been blogging since 2003. I carry around a DSLR camera, a Laptop computer, a shirt and a few things for personal "look" maintenance. Ladies call them "Kikay Kit", I call them "Macho Kit" why not LOL.

I found this bag off the shelf in a Grape Leaf color (consequently this is also a part of the 2013 Weatherized Collection). It's big enough to fit those items I mentioned and size wise, something that I can carry. I'm not a fan of small ones since I find it more of an accessory rather than a REAL bag. This one was really comfortable, and yes this is pretty much FUNCTIONAL. It's what people like me need to get that exuding confidence I was telling you about earlier. Add this bag to the overall look and I'm GOOD.

Aside from that, this might prove the fact that BIG boys like me need BIG Pitch Black bags like these. Whether going to the gym or just hitting the road for a few days, this is PERFECT.

It even matches my shoes - it felt like serendipity. I am happy. I feel like the universe is coming together. With the unmatched quality and fare for things that look good, comfortable and functional CONVERSE has gone the extra mile to make you and I be the best version of ourselves with the 2013 Weatherized Collection. I've already decided to add this shoe (and the other caps, jackets and bags) to my still growing collection of Chucks at home. Now it's your turn and make that decision. Who knows?! The change you've been longing for all these years might start with "just a shoe".

For more information about the CONVERSE 2013 Weatherized Collection

Like them on Facebook

Converse Philippines

 Or visit their official website

http://www.converse.com.ph

Note: Am NOT a model, just a good lookin' CONVERSE owner. :)