Villa Bridgerton Manila is an Instagram-Worthy Place to Visit

 Dear lords and ladies of the ton,

Villa Bridgerton is opening in Manila soon and I was fortunate enough to be able to get an early glimpse at its beauty today.

I have always been a lover of period pieces and while I was late to the party when it came to the Bridgerton hype during season 1, I made sure I wouldn't be late to the Villa Bridgerton party.

In fact, I prepared for it even before I was invited by ordering dresses on Shein. When I finally got the esteemed invite, I then panic-bought heels and gloves to complete my ensemble. Having been stuck at home during the pandemic for more than two years, I was more than ready to "cosplay" again and this was the perfect event to start.

And while I always saw myself as Siena, I thought I'd surprise everyone by channeling my inner Daphne Bridgerton for a change. I'm happy to say I didn't disappoint and I was oh-so-happy to see the Netflix team and some old friends from the media again.

Photo by Azrael Coladilla

As for Villa Bridgerton, there was a string quartet that beautifully performed the same songs heard in Bridgerton itself, a remarkable ballroom performance, delicious food fit for a duke, maids and coachmen with an actual horse and carriage, a garden set up for promenades and croquet, and ladies and gents who dressed the part.

@lilmisswonderwoman Ganito ako ka-awkward pag may gwapo. 🥲 #memeph #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ original sound - Anj Rodriguez

The best part? The event was hosted by Justine Luzares, famous for being our very own Bridgerton Marites on TikTok. (Di naman ako nag-fangirl. Medyo lang.)

If you want to get dolled up and experience the British Regency Era yourself, the mansion in Quezon City will be open to the public from March 25 to April 3 - just in time for Season 2. You may book a visit to the villa here. Each reservation is good for two fully vaccinated guests so you can bring a guest and have a ball together as you get a glimpse of the grand and elegant world of the series.

Bridgerton Season 2 premieres on Netflix on March 25, 2022.

The UNIQLO and JW ANDERSON Fall/Winter 2019 Collection is Inspired by Modern and Open British Outdoor Style

If you've ever gone on vacation to a colder-than-the-Philippines country, then you'll know the struggle of finding good fall and winter wear in Manila. I don't know about you, but my number one ultimate go-to for fall and winter wear has always been UNIQLO.

Because of this, hearing about the UNIQLO and JW ANDERSON Fall/Winter 2019 collection has gotten me super excited for my next out-of-the-country trip. The fourth collaboration line with the London-based JW ANDERSON brand is out now with the theme the Great British Outdoors.

Drawing inspiration from the town of St. Ives in Cornwall, England (which is known for its seamless blend of art and nature), this new LifeWear offering fuses traditional British elements with the modern designs of JW ANDERSON.

Inspired from his childhood memories, traditional British patterns such as tartans and warm Nordic designs are the main patterns for outerwear, skirts, innerwear, and accessories.

Once again, this collaboration also includes reversible items that have become a collaboration standard.New this season are down jackets and coats with splashes of vivid yellows and greens over an earthy base. Down jackets for both men and women feature neutral and classic tones on the outside with contrasting colors on the inside.

And my ultimate UNIQLO lifesaver: the HEATTECH line. The HEATTECH Warm Easy Pants of this collection are lined with HEATTECH fleece, and come with exceedingly practical features including a webbing belt that can be easily adjusted with one hand and side pockets accented with colorful bungee cords.

The women’s AIRism leggings and half-zip tees, on the other hand, prevent stuffiness and maintain comfort even in winter with striking triple color borderline designs that give edgy accents to traditional collection items. To check out the rest of the collection, visit the UNIQLO website today. :)

You're hot then you're cold.

Found this note that I apparently wrote on Valentine's Day on my phone. I am proud to say I no longer feel this way; but these are the types of emotions that I think some people might be able to relate to, so I decided to publish it anyway. (Photos are old, too... obviously. Payat ko pa dito. Huhu.)

Do you ever feel like you're putting so much effort into something and not getting anything in return? Do you ever feel like you're putting yourself out there too much? Have you ever liked someone and felt like they liked you back, only to be taken aback moments later because suddenly you're really not that sure anymore? Have you ever liked someone who played you hot and cold at the same time? Because that's how I feel right now.

There are days when I feel like you like me, but then there are days when I feel like you're not sure. It would be nice to have some sort consistency, you know?

I'm not the type of person who likes to play games. I'm pretty straightforward. It's either I like you or I don't, so you should know whether you like me or you don't. And if you don't, don't treat me like I matter to you when you don't really even care.

It's Valentine's Day today and normally, I wouldn't really care. But today, I feel like utter shit just because this guy that I like has been playing me hot and cold. Some days, when we talk, it feels like nothing else matters in the world. But then there are days like today when I dropped all the hints in the world and he still didn't do or say anything to make me feel at least a little better.

When you like someone, you say it. You show it. You let the other person feel it. Life's too short to play games and waste other people's time. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't waste mine.

So today - on Valentine's Day of all days - I'm saying goodbye to whatever it is that I thought we had. If you wake up in the morning and realize that you miss me, it's your turn to do something about it. Because I'm tired trying to figure you out and running after you and trying to make things happen. And if this is all just a game to you, at least man up, admit it and say so. Don't get my hopes up. Please lang.

These Stranger Things Clothes are Absolute Must-Haves!

I've been a HUGE Stranger Things fan since season one, but I am an even bigger one now, thanks to the awesomeness of Season 2 (read my review of it here - I also have an ongoing giveaway, peeps!). So, when I heard that Globe and Netflix were releasing a line of Stranger Things apparel and merchandise, I'm pretty sure I was one of the first few people to order a whole bunch of items from them online.

As always, my orders arrived in just a few days and MY GOODNESS, THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT. My geeky heart is very, very happy.

If you are a Stranger Things fan, it's time to string up those Joyce Byer-inspired Christmas lights onto your walls, break out those Eggos, and don these bad-ass clothes from Globe and Netflix.

The best part? This 0917 Lifestyle apparel pushes for Filipino pride as it is the only official licensee in Asia to carry Stranger Things apparel so far.

The 0917 Lifestyle Stranger Things collection features a limited edition collection of graphic tees, ringer shirts, sweaters, a letterman jacket, a shirt dress, and bags that do Stranger Things real justice.

Some of the references that fans will appreciate include images related to the Stranger Things kids, as well as my favorites: the items with famous likes on them, like “Friends Don’t Lie”. A lot of the items also offer visual homages to Hawkins and the Upside Down world, complete with that irresistible retro 80’s feel.

Watch my noob unboxing video here:

To see the entire 0917 Lifestyle Stranger Things collection visit shop.globe.com.ph or visit selected Globe stores. You may also follow @0917 on Instagram. I may just have another giveaway for this one, too, though. ;) Who wants?

Geekiness makes me ultra giddy.

As a geek, anything related to comic books gets me ultra giddy. As such, when I was told that there would be a gathering of statue collectors in Timog yesterday, it didn't take much convincing to get me to travel all the way over there to experience the world of statue collectors.

black shirt from Fairview Terraces / Loki necklace from Fandom Trinkets / hope bracelet from Quirkypedia / grey skirt from TOPS / stripy socks from Proppy Socks / black leather shoes from Chloe Edit for Zalora

I was first introduced to the world of statue collecting back in the 90s. My dad had quite a stunning collection of statues on display at our apartment in Germany. He had Lady Death, The Crypt Keeper, The Crow, Wolverine, and Batman and Robin (to name a few) displayed on our shelves and while he still has them to this day, they sadly aren't on display anymore.

Still, that collection of my dad's was my first taste of real geekery. I found such immense joy staring at those things on lazy days and memorising every crevice and detail of them.

I would also accompany him to Comic Book Laden every weekend to get my fill of Archie comics and to get some Crash Bandicoot statues of my own. (I know, right? What a choice. If I had known then what I know now, I would've grabbed more epic characters off of the shelves.) Little did I know how expensive those statues actually are. In Timog, all of that came to light.

The meeting we were at had everything a geek like me dreams of: stunning statues, geeky giveaways, awesome auctions and a freaking unboxing of the Iron Studios Captain America 1/4 Legacy Replica, which is, by the way, pretty bad-ass.

Despite it being two hours away from where we live and lasting for four hours or so, I had an awesome time, mostly because I felt at home. I don't really know how else to put it.

See, I don't have a lot of geeky friends, so being surrounded by a whole room of people who understand how I feel… well, that made me feel pretty normal. Just knowing that I'm not the only person who goes crazy over geeky things on a daily basis was really enough to make me feel at home, even if I was the only girl there to begin with. Haha. <3

I'm so grateful to be dating a guy right now who gets my geekiness (and may actually even be geekier than me). I'm also super grateful to the SCAPH group for welcoming this newbie collector with open arms. While I don't think I'll be collecting statues on my daddy's level anytime soon, I still thoroughly enjoy ogling them as much as I did as a kid.

Cheers to these South boys for letting me tag along and for not-judging me when I asked for my photos to be taken. (Sorry for using this photo, though… It's the only decent one of me. :p)

Where Has the Time Gone?

It seems like just yesterday that I gave birth to a lil princess and now here I am with a not-so-lil princess in my midst. Believe it or not, my baby is about to graduate from Kindergarten on Monday and step into the world of elementary school.

sleeveless butterfly top from Guess / grey leggings from H&M / blue sandals from Ichigo Shoes / fuzzy backpack courtesy of TJ Leonardo

Our journey definitely hasn't been an easy one - that's for sure. As such, I just want to take this milestone as a chance to thank everyone who has been by our side every step of the way: my parents who took me back in with open arms when I left the babydaddy; my friends who double as babysitters and shoulders to cry on when the tutoring gets tough; and Darth Vader for being Syrena's father since her actual father has not been around. :p

Of course, I would also like to thank the big guy up high for blessing me with such a patient, low-maintenance, kind, malambing and stunningly gorgeous human being as my daughter.

You know, there are days when I feel absolutely empty and broken and this girl just comes into my room, gives me the biggest hug and comforts me like the mother I am supposed to be, and I have no idea why I deserved to give birth to someone so utterly perfect.

This miracle has saved me so many times in my life, it feels like she was a guardian angel sent to Earth to keep me sane. When I lost baby J, for example, it felt like the end of the world for me… but there she was with comforting words and hugs, and she just literally generally lights up my life in the most ineffable ways.

Yes, she can be an annoying pain in the butt and sometimes, I feel so trapped for having such a huge responsibility in my midst - one that I was by far not ready for when the time came - and yes, it hurt like a bitch to give birth to her… but Syrena is and will always be the biggest accomplishment of my life. I definitely have no regrets, no matter what we had to go through and experience to get here.

You are an absolute joy, my little munchkin. And even though you will probably be taller than me by next year and you hate it when I call you 'baby' (coz according to you, you're no longer a baby); you will always be my baby. And it will forever be me and you against the world. Forever and always. To infinity and beyond. I love you. Kick butt in Manresa, sweetie. :*

adidas Originals' Tubular Viral Geometric is Next on My Want List!

I've always been an adidas girl… Can you really blame me, though, if they keep coming up with stunning footwear that isn't just easy on the eyes, but is also functional at the same time?

adidas Originals has introduced yet another new gorgeous silhouette, the Tubular Viral, which features a low-cut, balanced design, and a refined, proportional shape.

It is available in two minimalist colourways, too, just the way I like it:

The core black...

…and the chalk white, which is currently on my want list.

I especially love that they have an elastic strap in the middle for a more snug fit. <3

If you love the Tubular Viral Geometric, too, it is currently available at Php4,995. :)

The Blessings in a Breakup

My last relationship was a failure. It was filled with anger, jealousy, lies, infidelity, and oh-so-much drama. I wasn't allowed to go out drinking, hang out with my friends or even go anywhere without asking permission first.

black shirt from Giordano / silver skirt from ASOS / black studded gladiator sandals from Zalora / Evenstar necklace from Fandom Trinkets / floral ring from Pandora

And even if I did, heck, most of the time, he'd say no anyway. So I lost touch with all of my friends, missed out on a lot of events and pretty much devoted all of my time to that little cheater.

And man, when I failed to reply to a text within a minute, he'd bombard me with angry texts or calls. Coz of One. Minute.

Why did I stay in the relationship? As I said, I lost touch with all of my friends and I felt like I had no one left but him.

Whenever I'd call someone or text someone to cry about my ex cheating on me or just being an asshole, in general, a friend would reply sometimes, but no one was really physically there to slap me back into my senses. As such, I stayed in the relationship for four months longer than I should have.

The breakup was a blessing, really. Yes, it hurt. Yes, it was full of hate and rage. But in the end, the best things happened.

I've been bonding with my friends again, all of which welcomed me back into their worlds with open arms as if I hadn't just ditched them all for a midget for almost a year. I've met and I've gotten close to so many new amazing people that I now cannot imagine my life without. And I've devoted more of my time to growing at work, as a family, and in spiritual and physical health.

Family is great. Money is good. Friendship is amazing. Lovelife has potential. I lost weight. I feel good. I couldn't ask for more.

So I guess the lesson here is not to be afraid of letting go when things aren't working out. If a job is stressing you out more than anything, resign. If a friend isn't treating you well, say goodbye. If a lover is disrespecting you, learn to let go.

Above all things, though, learn to forgive. Yes, I raged. Yes, I wanted to ruin lives. But after a while, I learned to let that rage go and forgive. I forgave him for doing me wrong and I forgave myself for having been so stupid to stick through all of the bullshit.

Eventually, all of the rage just floated into nothingness. It's true what they say about time healing all wounds. Also, focusing on the people who actually love and respect you will help you love and respect yourself - and that is the most important thing of all.

Back from the Dead

It's annoying how I start off every year sick.

In 2015, after telling myself, "This is my year!", I ended up spending the first two months in the hospital and in utter pain, with everything culminating in the loss of what would have been my second child.

And now, in 2016, after once again telling myself, "This is my year!", I ended up spending half a month sick and in utter pain. And now I'm here with a horrible cough, unable to walk or shower without feeling dizzy, and wishing there were some way to get my half-a-month back.

Anyway, I'm clearing out my laptop and found these year-old photos that I never got to post. Please do forgive my utter disregard for makeup during the time that these photos were taken. Gross.

Beatles shirt (gift from J) / black shorts from Gold Dot / denim jacket (ukay) / R2-D2 pin from Popjunklove / white and orange sneakers from Stampede

On the plus side, I haven't had coffee or cigarettes in half a month and I think it's doing wonders for my complexion. I lost a ton of weight, too, though my boyfriend says I look sickly.

Still, it's sad that everyone is already in the groove of 2016 and I haven't even started my year yet. I didn't even get to make New Year's resolutions… are those still a thing?

Identity Crisis

I've had this blog for a few years now, but have never really thought about the content of it too much. Yes, I wrote in it every now and then, filling it up with things that I love along with a few sponsored posts here and there, but I just realised it has never had any direction or real purpose. It's just a place for me to write and to vent.

Well, now, I kind of want it to be more than just that. I want it to embody who I am as a person and, more importantly, as a geek.

white shirt from RRJ / faux denim cover-up from Folded and Hung / black shorts from Dorothy Perkins / awesome kicks from Nike / white watch from Tomato Time

Let's face it: while I post photos of me and my clothes in here, I'm not really the typical fashown fashion blogger who super dresses up and looks perfect from head to toe.

As such, I don't even claim to be a fashion blogger to begin with. In fact, I'm fine with not standing out when I go to different places because, well, that's just who I am and I don't want to pretend otherwise.

While I do love clothes, nothing makes me go crazier than geeky finds. I'm a casual and comfy dresser and I love injecting geekiness into the mix whenever I can because it's those lil geeky things that really make me go nuts when I'm out shopping somewhere.

Also, I like wearing things that people in the South (where I'm from) would actually be able to wear without being looked at or judged. Coz let's face it: the South is a judge-y place.

So, this 2016, I vow to blog about nothing but geeky things. True to my blog name Wonder Woman Rises, I vow to always have something geeky in every single post. I know I'm starting this off with a post that has nothing remotely geeky in it, but that's going to change from now on.

It may not be what everyone wants nor is it something that everyone will be able to relate to, but I want this blog to be a true representation of who I am and I think that's the best way to do it.

While you will still see the same posts about movies, my daughter, my life and my clothes, expect to see much more geekiness, as well. :D I'll also be blogging more often. :) Hoping for your continued support!

Also, please do leave your blog links in the comments section. I miss reading other people's blogs. :)

Pony Get Scouted: Pony Footwear Introduces Its Campus Ambassadors

Pony Footwear has just embarked on a nationwide search dubbed “Get Scouted” to find youngsters who embody the brand’s unique, independent spirit and its “Let’s get it on” attitude.

Scouring the campuses in Metro Manila and in some parts of the country, Pony has handpicked the crazies and the misfits, the artists and the dreamers, whose personal style fits the brand’s own image.

As Campus ambassadors, the handful of youngsters chosen embody what it means to be a style-setter and a role model to their peers. At an age where fitting in is imperative, these style ambassadors not only possess an independent sense of fashion, but they’ve also shown that one can do away with peer pressure, and being one’s self and being different isn’t bad. One does not have to sacrifice personal style and their own pursuits and interests to be “one with the crowd.”

Last week, the Manila-bound half met for the first time at Taste of Capitol located in Tomas Morato. As with every epic Friday night, it started out nice and normal, but turned out pretty crazy. Filled with awesome bands, singers and sick beats, and with Smirnoff Mule and Monster Energy Drink as drink sponsors, you could tell that this was one of those nights you’ll never forget.

Meet some of Pony's stylish group of brand ambassadors who were at the event:

Bianca Reyes

This 20-year-old from Manila is a Mapua Institute of Technology student taking up IT. She is a beauty queen and a varsity player for volleyball.

Andrea Tuason

This 18-year-old National University student is a thrill-seeker and an outdoor enthusiast. She loves classic rock music, playing instruments, and curling up in bed with a good book.

Julz Aquino

This 20-year-old University of the Philippines student grew up in the US. He likes to play all kinds of sports and he is also into modelling  He is the type of guy who is not afraid of trying new things.

Frank Romuar

Only 17 years old, this freshman from San Beda College is taking up MB Marketing. He is a dancing enthusiast who describes himself as fun and joyful - surely a lovable addition to the group.

Jandall Go, Maria Gigante, Ara Licayen and Patrick Lutz sadly couldn't make it to the event.

Pony’s campus ambassadors embody the spirit of youth that is fun and exciting. They will be featured in fashion spreads in local magazines where readers can get to know them better. Outgoing and adventurous with various interests in life, these kids are stylish, but they will also show the world what it means to be so much more than meets the eye.

To check out Pony’s latest styles, visit them at SM Department Stores. You may also visit Pony Philippines on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @pony_ph :)