Innehållsförteckning för December 2023 / January 2024 från VOGUE PHILIPPINES

In these times of ubiquitous selfies and surface-skimming digital discourse, perhaps art still provides a sacred platform to explore profound ideas on identity. In this month's issue, we zoom in on intersection points, hoping to discover what lies between allegory and algorithm. The crossroads between art, fashion, and identity are mapped out as a series of profiles; portraits of Filipinos, as artists, designers, muses, all explorers of sound and fury. For artist and creative collaborator Anthea Hamilton, the process of connecting multiple interests is akin to “this collision of ideas.” Vogue Philippines speaks with her about giant pumpkins, her past and present connections with Loewe and art in fashion's fast lane in “Stranger Things” (page 34). Halo-Halo, literally “mix-mix,” is a familiar Filipino concept, whether referring to our beloved dessert…

HŌNE NAERA-SCOTT IS STUCK IN TAHITI. Intending to return to New Zealand after catching up with his brother in Paris, he stopped over first in Los Angeles, then in the French Polynesian island. As luck would have it, some of the staff and cabin crew of his airline, Air Tahiti Nui, have gone on strike. Yet the photographer seems unfazed by the situation, being away from home with no definite means to his destination. Dwelling in foreign territory is something Hōne is used to. “Up until my early 20s, I was always just trying to be a chameleon, trying to mirror whatever people wanted to see out of me,” the New Zealand-born Filipino-American reflects. Even his accent is one you can't quite place: a predominantly Kiwi inflection tinged with hints…

FEATURE GROWING UP IN A MUSICALLY INCLINED FAMILY, Anjeline de Dios recalls a distinct opportunity where her voice felt like a true privilege and gift. She would be called to the hospital to sing at the bedside of those who were ill. “There's something in the way a sick person listens: their hearing is more sensitive, and it makes a different sound come out of you as a singer,” she says. “A sacred service,” a kind of higher calling, is how she considers it. She had joined liturgical choirs and glee clubs, including the Ateneo Chamber Singers, but found that conforming to the conventions of classical vocal technique would not always make her feel at ease. “When you're a girl in the Philippines who loves to sing, you're put on…

FOOD ARTICHOKES, MUSHROOMS, MARIGOLDS, AND LEEKS. Strung up and suspended artfully in the air. Clues into what awaits inside. Walk through this doorway of ingredients into a place like no other. We are led to our table for two, next to sliding doors that open to the garden. With the freshness of a gentle breeze and a view of wild grass, blue sky, and wilderness. We meet Ming. She is from Sweden and will be one of our guides, explaining ingredients and pairings. “This sake is made from barley because we don't grow rice here,” she says. “And it is flavored with jasmine.” A sip has us charmed. Noma founder Rene Redzepi closed the first Noma and re-opened in a warehouse district of Copenhagen in 2018. In between the closing…

LIVING FORMAL STUDIES WORK IN PROGRESS Michele in front of a cabinet filled with some of his collected objets, including old pharmacy bottles and antique Italian porcelain. Opposite: A late 18th-century portrait and two late-19th-century chairs in petit point. Alessandro Michele looks for a home in every city he visits, entertaining romantic visions for himself, and often following up on them. He has a particular love for faded beauties, run-down places brimming with history and lost grandeur— and this is why he has embarked on the quixotic endeavor of renovating one of the most iconic and mysterious buildings in Rome: Palazzo Scapucci. As a teenager in the early '90s, Alessandro strolled the Eternal City with a solitary, focused look. Bright green hair held up in a mohawk, he was the…

Karla P. Delgado Writer, LIKE A GARDEN IN SUMMER “Art is a physical and spiritual experience. It can trigger all sorts of emotion across time and space.” JV Rabano Photographer, FROM HEAD TO HANDS “Art serves as a lens that offers a glimpse into life as perceived, felt, and lived by the artist. It takes diverse forms, evoking emotions and responses from its audience.” Phillip Papadis Photographer, DREAMWEAVER “Art to me is the reflection of humanity. Our desires, our fears, our love, our hate, all the complexities of being human, we express and explore in art. In my own practice it's very much an amalgamation of working together with other talented artists in the pursuit of beauty. We all work together searching and striving to create, and capture a perceived…

CARA MIA LIMJAP STEPS OUT OF THE PANTRY, her mischievous eyes and cheeky smile nearly distracting us from what's in her hands. Once she reaches our team on the other end of the room, she proudly propositions: “Guys, may I offer you some halo-halo?” In hindsight, the referential dessert shouldn't have come as a surprise. After all, we were in halohalo's studio, an enclave that houses the fashion and lifestyle brand Cara built with her brother Rocco Sumabat. Known for their contemporary interpretations of banig (traditional Filipino handwoven mat), halohalo offers bags, homeware, and accessories in festive candy-colored weaves. With air conditioners, light fixtures, and the entire comfort room wrapped in the material, the studio is a world of its own. The chilled dessert, random as it seemed, was not…

ANCIENT HISTORY At the Museo Anahuacalli— conceived by artist Diego Rivera as a temple to both pre-Hispanic and modern art—model Aneken Zaldivar shows off her wingspan in a dramatically layered Balenciaga dress and pantaleggings; balenciaga.com. Fashion Editor: Max Ortega. RIVER WILD Aboard a trajinera, used to navigate the famous (and rather surreal-looking) canals of Xochimilco, models Celeste Romero and Zaldivar cut through the mist in vibrantly patterned Rabanne dresses; pacorabanne.com for information. FLOWER GIRL In a lace blouse from Dior (Dior boutiques) and a glorious floral headdress, model Tindi Mar calls to mind the great Frida Kahlo. Beauty Note: Plucked, but from the garden: The red clover and mung bean sprouts powering Vegamour's Gro Brow Serum help promote visibly fuller arches. FLYING HIGH Inside the Museo Anahuacalli— for which Rivera and…

Gemma Cruz Araneta is still turning heads in her eighth decade. Standing 5'10” with a coiffed silver mane, she is easily the tallest, and most striking person in the room. Her very presence commands respect, emanating a knowing dignity distilled from years of living a life that can be described as wide-ranging and far-reaching, even colorful. She grew up with the greats looking over her shoulders: Filiomena Francisco, the first Filipina pharmacist, her mother the writer Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, and her uncle the diplomat-historian Leon Maria Guerrero. She calls Jose Rizal her great grand uncle. Hailing from a distinguished family of letters, it must have come as a surprise that Gemma Guerrero Cruz would make a name for herself as a beauty queen—a move that behooved her uncle Leon to…

IN THE REALM OF DESIGN, lighting is an important aspect that adds to a room's atmosphere. For The Velaris Residences North Tower, the manipulation of this element had been one of the central facets to its interior. With units designed to resemble modern sky villas, The Velaris Residences North Tower has brought to light beautiful spaces filtered by the glint of glass fixtures, golden hues, and a relaxing atmosphere. Designed to integrate with modern sensibilities, units are also secured with smart locks on the main door, smart lights, smart aircon control, and smart mirrors for the larger units. Adding to these elements are the large windows which can be seen throughout the property. Due to their size, they add to the expanse of the room as they constantly bask in…

An ode to #FashioningChange, this holiday collection explores how clothes can be more than just wearable pieces, but rather canvases for a life well-lived. From flowing dresses and elegant skirts to tailored vests and timeless outerwear, the Bayo x Ella collection offers something for all of life's precious moments. Shop the Bayo x Ella collection in select stores nationwide and online at styleshops.com.ph. Follow @bayoclothing on Instagram and Facebook to learn more.…

ACCESSORIES BULGARI NECKLACES This clay bust doesn't know how lucky it is—draped around its neck are two beguiling necklaces: On top, a Cuban-style chain adorned with diamonds and cabochon-cut rubellite and amethyst stones; on the bottom, another diamond-encrusted chain—but this time, branching off into pear-shaped stones that make quite the impression.…

MODELED AFTER THE SLEEKNESS OF THE GRAND TOURER (GT) SUPERCAR, Huawei unveiled the WATCH GT 4. The brand experiments with a style that incorporates elements from classic watches into its design, featuring digitized versions of watch hands, dials, and a bezel throughout its screen. With its shape mirroring that of a traditional timepiece, their newest device marks a pivot toward a more visuals-led approach to their technology. The WATCH GT 4 emphasizes its adaptive capabilities through the lens of fashion. With an ability to match any kind of style, the watch comes in a wide selection of available watch faces, all encased in stainless steel. Huawei releases the watch in two variations, with a larger 46mm model in an octagonal shape, and a slimmer 41mm model both available in multiple…

OF ALL OUR SENSES, SMELL MAY WELL BE THE MOST INTIMATE. A whiff of jasmine, the lingering aroma of a lover's fragrance, or the sweet scent of cinnamon during the holidays—these olfactory experiences can evoke nostalgic memories and powerful emotions, and even draw individuals closer together. The beauty of scent lies in its power to house memories as well as in its ability to transform. Whether you desire to command more attention or to be more approachable to those around you, all that can't be said in words can be expressed through the art of scents. It is a form of communication, a silent language, an unspoken introduction. Just as individual scent preferences vary from person to person, fragrances also undergo a subtle metamorphosis when they interact with the unique…

Within the space of hair and makeup artistry, Henri Calayag is regarded as a legend. But years before opening his own salon, the Midas of Manila beauty was first, a Paper Doll in the 1970s. Along with Fanny Serrano, Angel Bautista, Benny Gamboa, Biba Varona, Boots Babushka, Edcel Reyes, Klakling, Mari Boquer, Micky Tanaka, Peter Estocado, and Xaviera Petelle, Henri ignited the drag culture movement in the Philippines, decades before Ru Paul's rise to global fame. It was a natural progression for Henri to dive into the world of fashion and beauty by the early '80s. “Everything that I know about creative direction, styling, and beauty, stems from my experience in theater,” he says. “In performance art, every detail counts from the tops of your head to the tips of…

To see more of Geraldine's works, scan the code BEFORE VENTURING INTO THE REALM OF FABRICS, FOOTWEAR AND PRÊT-À-PORTER, Louis Vuitton had established a heritage of housing the articles of journeymen. At a time where horse-drawn carriages and trains were the main modes of transportation, the maison mastered the art of trunk-making to protect the items of travelers throughout their journey. The French luxury house had then produced the Bed Trunk in 1874, marking the beginning of their history of mending leather into furniture for its globetrotting clientele. Until now, this connection to travel had integrated itself deep into each of the maison's codes. Drawing breath from the life of a wayfarer, Louis Vuitton developed a collection of furniture fit for motion, whether in feel or function. Titled Objets Nomades,…

IN THIS ISSUE Being a designer “always felt so far flung,” especially since her idea of a fashion designer was someone who liked to sketch. She felt it was disconnected from who she was: someone who preferred to write and gather tangible objects and imagery from magazines, and put them together like a collage or scrapbook. It's still how she works these days as halohalo's creative director and principal designer. Her right hand is her brother Rocco, who handles overall business oversight. Cara first enlisted his help at bazaars, until his involvement evolved into more administrative work that she couldn't handle on her own. “It just felt like it was so easy for him to answer all these things and do all the other processes that, for me, could not…

It's just a little more complicated because he lives in a crowded neighborhood and people recognize him constantly. So he puts on a baseball cap and sunglasses as we go for a coffee at the iconic bar Sant'Eustachio, serving what is widely known as the best espresso in the world, and talk about his love of film and theater. Alessandro watches only a few films a year, “but they are all extremely meaningful to me,” he says. We stroll at a slow pace, zoning out in front of bookshops and old theaters. “Look at this,” he says, pointing to the Mannerist façade of the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle. “Rome is a city of safe little pockets right in the middle of chaos.” As we cross the Corso Vittorio, a…