Innehållsförteckning för July 2024 från VOGUE PHILIPPINES

Milk teeth and grit are strange bedfellows. For most athletes, childhood is the season when love of game deep-roots into one's soul. What often begins as play, transforms into devotional after school training, advances into constant competition, then becomes the significant momentum in their life. Young athletes are placed under the pressures of elite performance, revealing the diamonds in the rough, those who crystallize the pursuit of excellence. The July issue, spearheaded by our beauty editor Joyce Oreña, pays tribute to the Filipina athlete. Featured are but a few of the countless wonder women and prodigies who continue to shatter the glass ceiling of sports. We share the story of Mazel Paris, who, as a five year old, watched as an older brother practiced skateboarding, and asked if she could…

DESIGNER PROFILE THE COUNTDOWN TO THE PARIS SUMMER GAMES is marked by the passing of a torch. Earlier in May, the Olympic flame had reached the ports of Marseille from Greece, where it was lit by the sun's rays in a ceremony held in Olympia, just as it's been done for centuries. Since then, it has been passed hand-in-hand in relay all through France over the past two months, and by now, it should have reached the town of Reims before crossing over to Lille. The route will culminate in Paris on July 26, igniting the start of the 2024 Olympics. The opening parade will cruise along the Seine, with at least 80 boats assigned to each national delegation. These boats will wind slowly down the river on a six-kilometer…

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The sound of the buzzer was deafening as the words “No Lift” came on screen. It's a sound Hidilyn Diaz has heard many times before and while it was normally followed by deafening cheers, it was different this time. With much dignity, Diaz smiled and gave a small wave and a bow to the crowd as she left the platform. It was that moment that signaled the end and, somehow, the beginning of something new. “I could give a lot of excuses, but Paris just wasn't for me,” Hidilyn says with a smile that was both sure and serene. The weightlifter, who won Gold in the 55-kilogram weight class in Tokyo in 2020, missed her chance to qualify for her fifth consecutive Olympics at the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)…

LUCA KINGSTON Stylist, SHOOTING HIS SHOT “A champion is anyone who persists despite the challenges and odds stacked against them. We can each be a champion in our own lives by making the simple choice each day to keep moving toward the things which bring us life.” RJ SANTOS Designer, PLAYTIME WILL TELL “I love how we can all look at the same object or listen to the same song yet have our own interpretations. This diversity of perspective underscores the richness of individual perception, affirming my dedication to celebrating individuality in all aspects of life.” BORGY ANGELES Photographer, TEE TIME “A true champion goes beyond the typical qualities of excellence. It is someone who is authentic, exceptional, and resilient.” KARL KING AGUÑA Photographer, PLAYTIME WILL TELL “One thing I…

This 2024 marks a century of Philippine participation in the Olympic Games. Ironically, the first time the country sent athletes to the Olympiad in 1924, Paris, France was also the host city. It took almost a month for that first contingent of Filipino athletes to travel from Manila to Paris a century ago. It would take 97 years before a Filipino would finally win Olympic gold. In the century since that first Paris Olympiad, a new generation of Filipinos has been training and preparing their minds and bodies in the hopes of repeating what weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz accomplished at the Tokyo Olympics. Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, boxer Eumir Marcial, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and weightlifter John Ceniza are some of the athletes who will carry the Philippine colors in hopes of…

Carol RH Malasig Writer, FLAG RAISER “I champion the empowerment of women to make their own choices in all aspects of life. Whether it's in career, personal relationships, or lifestyle, I believe every woman should have the autonomy and support to define her own path and pursue her aspirations without constraints.” Mark Nicdao Photographer, BODY LANGUAGE “I would like to champion full access for artists who don't have a chance to study art history because of financial problems and other barriers. Sustainable resources for art and artists would be a dream to champion.” Nana Caragay Writer, GAME ON “Mindfulness, movement, dressing for yourself, and wearing color.” Nicola Sebastian Writer, KING'S TIDE “I champion the things that are unseen and unheard, because they are no longer remembered; all that this world…

Shot using the HUAWEI PURA 70 PRO “This is our battle, this is our war,” exclaims Filipina volleyball player, Majoy Baron. For Majoy, the hardwood courts, clay-paved track courses, and the many settings for competition are the battlefields that test an athlete's mental and physical prowess. “We all love what we do, so even if the struggles we face day-to-day during training and during competition leave us with scars and injuries, [they] are what build both our bodies and our mental toughness,” she says. These spaces are not just the sanctuaries where athletes put their devotions into practice, but are also crucibles that temper their skill and experience, riddling their bodies with manifestations of their sacrifice through sharply honed muscles and calluses. Apart from the bodily stress, the battles that…

The heat from the track shimmers the air as 16 identical Tatuus cars line up on the grid. It's race day for the F1 Academy in Miami, and Bianca Bustamante is tucked inside her McLaren-orange car and her tropical themed Google AI-designed helmet, well positioned in P4. But when the red lights blink out, only 15 cars pull away. Bianca's car sputters then stalls. For Filipino viewers, it's a nail-biting moment watching the last car weave past her. Coverage pans to the pack of cars as they chase their way around the circuit. Many long seconds pass until we finally see the papaya emerge from the haze, coming in like a rocket. Bianca is back in the race. Steadily she gains pace, overtaking one, two, then the next several cars.…

IN THE STORIES OF OLD, THINGS ALWAYS SEEM TO TAKE PLACE IN THE FOREST. Folk tales and fables from across the Philippines tell of creatures that roam the jungle and spirits that protect the mountains. It was on the slopes of Mt. Banahaw where the lay priest and mystic Hermano Puli led pilgrimages as the leader of the Cofradia de San Jose, and where he sought refuge as Spanish troops hunted him and his followers down in 1841. Puli, more than just a folk hero in the annals of Philippine history, is also credited as being an early source of inspiration for the events that led to the Cavite Revolt of 1872, a link that the movie GomBurZa clearly makes. In April 2024, the magic of Mt. Banahaw was transported…

BY THE TAIL END OF THE 19TH CENTURY, ships and railways had become widely accessible to the public, and with it, the rise in trunks to store baggage throughout a passenger's journey. They were largely composed of wood and leather, which were materials that added to the clunkiness of its dimensions. The concept of travel always fascinated Paul Morszeck, and as an avid journeyman himself, he wanted to create a form of luggage that was sleek and compact, while also being durable enough to last lifetimes. For the next century, Paul set into motion a series of events that would lead to the creation of the modern suitcase, bringing together teams of engineers and designers under one roof through RIMOWA. Currently, the German Maison specializes in crafting aluminum-encased luggage that…

THE HUB…

FEATURE “I'm 28-years-old now, and I've been playing for 27 years,” Cole Micek shares about his passion on the basketball court. “It's a beautiful sport. I just enjoy it so much.” Crediting his dad as his life-long trainer, his history included him playing in the 3×3 basketball division as part of Team Los Angeles. With an impressive 94 percent Excellent Synergy Ranking in Overall Offense, a Top 10 in the USF Program History for 3-Point Field Goals Made, and training alongside the Olympic Team, his achievements are the stellar stuff that hoop dreams are made of. Born in Los Angeles, the Filipino-American's journey in basketball was also marked by relentless trial and error in training, immersing himself in scrimmages and playing extensively to refine his skills. “It's really exciting and…

Time is of the essence in any race, and it's a principle that Omega understands as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932. Ahead of this year's games in Paris, the Swiss watchmaker introduces their Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024 collection, featuring the new 43mm series in four models, each presented in the colors of the competition: gold, black, and white. Opposite the silver-white opaline dial that fronts each watch is a commemorative caseback; a medallion stamped with the Paris 2024 logo, Olympic Rings, and the words “Paris 2024.” OMEGA Speedmaster Chronoscope 43mm…

TO CELEBRATE SUMMER 2024, Louis Vuitton is adding a new special edition to its City Guide collection, a volume devoted to sports activities and sports culture in Paris. The 2024 edition of the City Guide Paris was gone over with a fine-tooth comb and the keen critical eyes of its authors and photographers to ensure this summer's version was more prescriptive than in the past. It invites a special guest to its pages: multi-medallist fencer and Olympic hopeful Enzo Lefort gives the capital's topography a dynamic energy reflecting his generational bent. This City Guide Paris is joined by a new publication being released for Summer 2024: the City Guide Paris Sport, devoted entirely to the culture and practice of sports in Paris. This special edition is filled with carefully curated…

SOFIA FRANK Figure Skating Sofia Frank is an unabashed girl's girl. “I hang out with my friends. I love shopping. I'm really into fashion. I love online shopping. Just looking at clothes is a hobby,” she gushes. In fact, she was happy to interrupt her schedule just to fly in for this photo shoot. “I've done shoots before but like, for fun, not for something like this… it's crazy. I'm really excited!” On camera, she's a natural, which comes as no surprise since figure skating is one of the most performative and expressive sports. She found her way into it when her parents took her to a skating rink at the age of three “to cool off from the California heat,” but one look and she discovered her calling: “As…

PAGE 32 A WATERY STAGE He became the artistic director of a theater in the West and took productions to the South. His job with the Olympics is the first time he has spent an extended period in Paris. Perhaps because of this—or perhaps, he thinks, because of the internet—his interests have no hierarchy. He can read an article about Plato while listening to Beyoncé. He loves it when he finds, buried in a Baroque opera, musical phrases he recognizes from Madonna. Ordinarily, Jolly would be out at night much more often. Given the chance of a chic occasion, he likes to wear tightly tailored suits and smart shoes. For now, though, his life is “quite austere.” “I don't go to bed too late, I don't go out much, I'm very…

The pre-colonial Filipinos honed their physical skills through daily activities essential for survival, such as hunting, fishing, farming, climbing, and crafting tools and shelters. The agility, strength, and endurance were developed through necessity, as they mastered the use of weapons and carried heavy loads. In modern times, sports have become an integral part of the Filipino culture. Traditional street games like Patintero, Luksong Baka, Chinese Garter, and Langit-Lupa provide children with physical and mental training, laying the groundwork for future professional sports. Basketball courts line the streets, makeshift volleyball nets span open spaces, and hanging punching bags are common sights. Even lacking access to proper equipment, these elements highlight a deep-rooted love for sports, showcasing how Filipinos continuously find resolutions. Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxer Eumir Marcial,…

DESIGNER PROFILE ESTABLISHED A LITTLE OVER A DECADE AGO, Randolf is designer RJ Santos' brainchild, a space for the 34-year-old designer to pour out his whims and turn them into clothing. Affectionately referring to his design process as “playtime,” each collection is infused with this sense of exploration and freedom. His Spring/Summer 2018 collection, for instance, was inspired by a song almost everyone knows. “When ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA played, an image popped into my head—a teal room with a girl dancing in a pink dress. That became the starting point for the collection,” the designer shares. True to this vision, the line, revealed at Tokyo Fashion Week in 2017, featured a whimsical pink dress crafted from tulle, complemented by a mesh sleeve with motifs that mimicked tattoos. In his…

FOR THOSE THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE PHILIPPINES' DENSE CONCRETE JUNGLES or its open grasslands, you will notice streets are lined with basketball courts and makeshift volleyball nets. Bakal [iron] gyms with aged weight plates strewn across padded flooring or punching bags hanging from garages all serve as athletes' common homeroom. The message is clear, regardless of place or circumstance, Filipinos find a way to exercise their love for the game. This same message has been ingrained in Camryn Bynum's subconscious ever since he was a child, having dabbled in multiple sports growing up in Corona, California. At five years old, he had found his love for American football, and has since then made a career out of the sport as a professional athlete. Despite his position playing for the Minnesota…