Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2022 i VOGUE PHILIPPINES

We come together at the closing of this monumental year. 2023 cradles the promise of profound change, a slipstream in the wake of a global pandemic. The alleviation of restrictions has held us all awash in personal rediscoveries and savoring newly appreciated freedoms. We take pause and reflect that in September of this year, we made a promise in our maiden issue. We aspired to be led by global values of inclusion, that we would continuously strive for diverse storytelling, and that our efforts would showcase our local identity and honor our kinship with the natural environment. We would endeavor to continue the narrative of craft and to always champion the Filipino creative. I believe that these first few issues of the 28th global edition have honored these promises. We…

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JEWELRY TO WANDER AROUND THE HALLOWED HALLS OF VILLA ALBANI-TORLONIA IN ROME, being surrounded by its vast collection of art and antiquities numbering to the hundreds—a collection that includes masterpieces even top museums would be grateful to possess—was a privilege that one will remember for as long as time allows. Lauded as the cradle of neoclassicism, this villa has survived 275 years of history under the auspices of Fondazione Torlonia, its sprawling grounds of towering pine woods and oak-lined avenues leading to an exquisite parterre. Commissioned in 1747 by Cardinal Alessandro Albani, who had an impressive collection of classical art, the villa’s interiors are frescoed in marble. Desiring to stay true to French philosopher René Descartes’ maxim of never leaving any space empty, the cardinal also had it filled to…

FEATURE If patriotism and fashion now seem likely bedfellows, one could credit this subtle and sustained current to the efforts of Ben Chan. He is now at the forefront of reviving Filipiniana—particularly the terno—and creating platforms for our very own creatives. “I think my sense of nationalism and interest in Filipiniana can be traced back to the influence of my parents,” Chan, the founder and chairman of retail and food giant Suyen Corporation, says. “It is part of my family’s history and now, a personal advocacy.” His parents, Lib Chan and Yin See, established Liwayway Gawgaw, a company that produced starch right after World War II. “This was a time of independence and a period of strong nationalist sentiment,” Chan recalls. Their brand of starch was used mainly for keeping…

On a Friday evening, the dining room at Abacá Filipino Restaurant is bustling. Music from the resident DJ at the Kimpton Alton Hotel Fisherman’s Wharf's lobby—the retro-chic, rock-and-roll boutique hotel where the restaurant is located—pulsates through the semi-open space. “If you don’t have a reservation, it would be difficult [to get a table,]” the front desk offers when I ask if it is this busy on any other given day. Husband and wife tandem Francis and Dian Ang zip through the bright, airy dining room which features prominent skylights and hanging plants. The former, while mostly in the kitchen, comes out to explain the main courses to different tables. Meanwhile, the latter, who handles front of house, ensures that every guest feels at home. Apart from transitions from one party…

THE POPULARITY OF LIP FILLERS AND INJECTIONS has grown exponentially becoming a beauty zeitgeist in the last decade. When it was first introduced more than a century ago, the procedure was used to correct asymmetry in the face with riskier techniques and formulation. In recent times, what was once elusive to many has become an alluring mainstay due to its accessibility and minimal downtime—a feat that has also become a signature treatment at The Aivee Clinic. ALL IN THE POUT From the time Dr. Aivee Teo founded her flagship brand with her husband Dr. Z Teo in 2009, the Aivee Luscious Lips has been a staple non-surgical treatment to enhance the texture, volume, and softness of the lips through a minimally invasive procedure with instant results. FDA-approved fillers use Restylane…

Bianca Carague Landscape Designer, PARAISO “To celebrate is a verb. It’s better to participate than to observe from afar. I like to think that celebrations are one of those times filled with such joy that everyone is invited. We celebrate for and we celebrate with.” Ivan Medrano Avatar Designer, PARAISO “To celebrate is to be at peace; to enjoy the company you’re blessed with and to reflect on everything the year has given you. It means being thankful for all you’ve done and looking forward to what’s to come. I have a lot to celebrate this New Year and I can’t wait to see what next year has in store.” Alex Quicho Writer, PARAISO “The best celebrations both demand and disrupt elegance. They make a commotion: of popped bottles, voluptuous…

WHEN BROWSING THROUGH CASTRO SMITH'S SELECTION OF RINGS, the viewer is confronted with skulls, snakes, menacing green-eyed ravens with sharp knife-like beaks, and veiny anatomical hearts overgrown with slightly dubious flowers. It’s a universe that registers as somber. Baudelairian. Couple this with the mythic lineage of seal engraving—his technique of choice, tracing as far back as ancient Egypt—and the harrowing physical charge sometimes demanded by this craft, and you get a mental portrait of Castro’s personality. One imagines a brooding artist: silent and mysterious, hunched over his work desk for hours on end. It takes one look at Castro’s smiling face and warm, welcoming energy to dispel such presumptions. He is in Vicenza, Italy, waving at me through his phone camera. Spending a few days at Scuola d’Arte e Mestieri,…

GROWING UP IN ANTIQUE, far from the busy streets of Metro Manila, Russell Villafuerte’s introduction to design was watching his mother create quilted bedding and crocheted furniture covers in her spare time. One could surmise that seeing his mother decorate their home with her own handiwork is what motivated Villafuerte to pursue interior design. However, Villafuerte’s career took an unexpected turn when he decided to audition for the second season of Project Runway Philippines, not thinking that he would actually get in. By June 2009, just a month after earning his degree in interior design, Villafuerte found himself among the reality TV competition’s contestants, without even knowing how to sew. “Project Runway became my fashion school,” he says. “My mindset was, ‘I want to do everything, I want to try…

DOLLY DE LEON ISN'T A HOUSEHOLD NAME. Yet. Ever since Triangle of Sadness triumphed at the Cannes Film Festival, with director Ruben Östlund winning his second Palme d’Or, only one name has been on the lips of Hollywood’s Oscar whisperers, talent agents, and actors. Featured among an international ensemble headlined by Woody Harrelson, de Leon’s breakout role as Abigail has placed her in the race to become the Philippines’ first actor to ever receive an Oscar nomination in its 93-year history. Her path to the brink of Oscar stardom hasn’t come easily or quickly. For over 30 years, she’s maintained a career in the Philippines, acting in commercials, stage plays, soap operas, and local films, honing her craft while never achieving the success she so obviously warranted. But as is…

FEATURE SPEND A FEW MOMENTS WITH KEN PAVES AND YOU CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF. One of his many talents is immediately finding beauty in someone. Then, amplifying it. Understanding the power that appearances held over people came to Pavés early on. He grew up observing his Filipina mother, Helen, while she was getting ready. Fondly called “Cookie,” it is through her spirit that Ken began to define the meaning of beauty. He would sit and watch, suggesting to add a little bit of product here and there, then complimenting her. “She was already a superhero to me because she could do anything. But when she looked in the mirror and found herself, when I tell her she’s beautiful, her posture would change,” he recounts. Growing up in…

VANIA ROMOFF Vania Romoff's selection is a balance between sartorial musthaves and luxe home objects. For the family’s shared enjoyment are a shearling accent chair, oak wood floor lamp, and a set of blush pink candle holders. CHAI FONACIER For actress Chai Fonacier, who recently made her international debut with Nocebo, old and new hobbies are essential holiday investments. Her playthings of choice? An acoustic guitar, electronic drums, and a glass pen set complete with bottles of ink. STANLEY RUIZ Stanley Ruiz’s list is one for the road with selections catering to a leisurely work-life balance. What he fancies this holiday season? Pieces that range from a Caballero motorcycle to books, vinyl players and records, and a designer's staples: a mechanical pencil and an espresso machine. VITO PUYAT From Vito…

SHOPPING…

“I’M A GEEK AT HEART,” says Marjorie Hernandez, a declaration more than a confession. The entrepreneur utters this at 11 AM her local time, bare-faced and clad in a psychedelic Marine Serre ensemble, salamanders printed all over her turtleneck and skirt. She’s in Berlin, from where she usually manages her digital companies, LUKSO and The Dematerialised. Her keen interest in fashion is unmistakable at first glance, but once we speak, her expertise in architecture, strategy, innovation, and design emerges. She can’t stop talking about technology. This attraction eventually manifested in the form of two companies she co-founded, each acting as a complement to the other. LUKSO, which she founded with her husband Fabian Vogelsteller, is a next generation EVM blockchain. It’s a back-end system; infrastructure that’s beautiful, but designed to…

FORCES for CHANGE Ramona Diaz has just started editing her latest documentary and admits she’s not sure yet what is going to emerge from the nearly 70 terabytes of footage she shot in the Philippines. “I know the beginning and the end, but the road to get there—I don’t know,” she tells Vogue Philippines on a Zoom call from her home in Baltimore, “but it’s pretty exciting.” What she does know is that it’s not a campaign film, even though it would seem so as she followed the presidential candidate Leni Robredo around the country late last year and into the early months of 2022. The impetus for starting this project, which Diaz describes as “not necessarily a sequel, but connected theme-wise” was the startling impact of A Thousand Cuts,…

IT’S OFFICIALLY THE JOY-GIVING SEASON and what’s better than one gift? Several gifts, including ones that give back. Share the spirit of the season with gift boxes filled with curated treats from Hermès, Estée Lauder, Clé de Peau Beauté, Jo Malone London, M.A.C Cosmetics, Shiseido, Drunk Elephant, Laura Mercier, Laneige, and Make Up For Ever. Your favorite brands are ready to gift with their limited-edition collections set in fancy and festive packaging. Fill the Christmas stocking with sparkling makeup shades, holiday-exclusive lippies, luxurious skincare sets, mood setting fragrances, room scents, and candles. This season, commit to thoughtful presents—from keepsake kits that benefit advocacies to brands that make efforts to create their products sustainably and ethically.…

IT TAKES A STRONG VILLAGE Photographs by KIERAN PUNAY PAGE 68 TEAM CREDITS: Art Director: Jann Pascua. Producer: Adam Pereyra. Multimedia Artist: Gabbi Constantino. Additional photographs: StrongVillage HELLO, DOLLY Photographs by RAEN BADUA Features Editor AUDREY CARPIO PAGE 90 TEAM CREDITS: Stylist: Tor Matthey. Hair & Makeup: Carolina Yasukawa. Producer: Anz Hizon. Talent PR: Claire Timmons, Bianca Parkes, Adam Kersh. Photographer’s Assistant: Miles Caliboso. Shot on location at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills FOLLOW THE LITAS Photographs by ARTU NEPOMUCENO Fashion Editor DARYL CHANG PAGE 94 TEAM CREDITS: Makeup: Gery Penaso, Japeth Purog of Estee Lauder. Hair: Melen Guiritan, Noel Sesbreno of Jing Monis Salon. Producer: Anz Hizon. Production Assistant: Bianca Zaragoza. Photographer’s Assistants: Aaron Carlos, Choi Narciso. Stylist’s Assistant: Ticia Almazan. Shot on location at Porac, Pampanga.…