A million thanks to Asian film tastemakers Mell Navarro, Nikki Loke and the rest of the Viddsee team for inviting and encouraging me to put up my most important passion project to date, Padulong sa Pinuy-Anan (or Going Home, in English)! To sum it up, PSP tells the tale of a man duped and out of his luck in a foreign country, and how he finds spirituality and the true meaning of home and family with strangers he just met. I think it perfectly captures the kindness, hospitality and the generosity of the people of Cebu, and how you'll immediately feel at home even if you're there for just a brief period. I do miss the Philippines with a passion, and I feel like I get to save a slice of it through this film.
This project was very important to me because aside from the fact that this was the second festival film I directed, I made this film with a tight knit cast and crew that I consider family. This also happens to be the last film that me and my husband would create before leaving for the United States, so it definitely holds a special significance for us. And yes, we have an IMDB page here!
If you're looking to perk up your day with some visual inspiration, or just on the hunt for some incredible filmmaking talent, make sure to check out Viddsee-- they are currently the online home of some of the finest award-winning and critically-acclaimed shorts all over Asia.
Hope you guys enjoy it! :)
If you were to ask me, I've spent the last five or so years being relatively happy with the style choices I've made for the big, sweeping events and moments in my life. I almost always prefer simple yet structured pieces, things I've probably had sitting in my closet for awhile, which I could easily accentuate with some statement shoes and accessory pieces. However, if there's one past occasion that I wish I could do a well-deserved do-over, I would probably choose my high school senior prom. Granted, this was over a decade ago (pre-Instagram and before the days of really trendy teenagers!), and it's waaaay past regrets, but still, I would've liked to have worn something different that day. I wore a nondescript, corseted turquoise blue column rental that had absolutely no flair or personality. And while I am absolutely okay with the fact that I was a plus-sized kid all throughout high school, this gown literally did nothing to flatter my teenage shape in any way. I mean, it's just one of those things that you know you could've chosen better.
Girls these days are EXTREMELY lucky when it comes to options, options, options - back then, it definitely was slim pickings where special occasion dresses are concerned. If my high school senior prom happened now, I would probably go for royal or midnight blue with impeccable tailoring, choice embellishments, and just the right amount of skin. I partnered with PICKEDRESSES to check out some options I loved on their website. Here are a few favorites:
I'm not really all about tube dresses, but the gorgeous geometric beadwork and that gorgeous fabric speaks to me!
I'm a sucker for midnight blue-- and that lace detailing, though!
I probably won't get past the school board and their strict prom gown rules, but hey, if the night calls for a full-on Beyonce, I would so do this number!
Taylor Swift vibes aside, I'm feeling this simple, vibrant blue structured piece.
Feeling these blue dresses? Check out Pickedresses.com for a wide array of designer-inspired blue prom dresses that fit your budget and personal style! Just in time for the holiday or 2016 prom season!
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DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post.
DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post.
In case that you haven't personally heard of Rocksbox before, it works a little something like this: every month, for a minimum price of $19, you get three pieces of high-quality designer accessories sent to your doorstep. You're free to swap out your pieces and have three new accessories sent to you for as often as you feel like (jaw drops)! Feel like keeping any (or two, or all) of your pieces? Send back the others, and you can keep your item of choice for a smaller rate available for all Rocksbox subscribers. Nifty, right?
Not sure whether it's worth the commitment just yet? Try your first month absolutely free with my personal code CHICINTHETROPICSBLOGXOXO upon checkout! I'll be sure to get some wear from my first three pieces-- keep you posted!
Thank you to Paige and the rest of the Rocksbox team for my goodies!:)
DISCLAIMER: I received this complimentary subscription box for my own unbiased review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for said review.
While uprooting your whole life to move to a completely different country seems like a romantic, idealistic adventure for some people, it was something I was really not ready for. Although I already knew that my husband intended to bring me to the US sometime in the future, dealing with it as it was happening was a completely different thing. It hurt having to say goodbye to so many things: a career I toiled really hard for the past few years, cheaper everything, a city I never really left for longer than two weeks, our dog which we had to leave behind, my family, and friends that were practically family to me. Ah, the friends. That was very tough (although I don't really show it, old friends!) for me, as I've become increasingly insular lately and struggled to meet new people.
Well,thank my lucky stars for social media then, because after more than a year of being here, I finally found some new kindred spirits in the area!
Can't wait to stop by Gold Cash Gold sometime!
My gorgeous and talented boos Madinah Muhammad and Leah Rashad of Beauty and the Muse
Jordan is as smart as she is stylishly beautiful. Check her out over at Lil Miss JB Style !
Leah is fierce and unapologetic about it. Instant attraction to this awesome gal!
The boo Leah V and I
You're missing out on a lot if you haven't met these two!
After several exchanged Instagram posts and a fashion show, I finally got the chance to meet these three ladies in person and found out just how much we all shared in common. Leah, Jordan and Madinah are kindred spirits in terms of our mutual love for fashion, beauty, and the desire to get out there and create amazing things. These three are also some of the most genuine, passionate and driven individuals I've met in my life, which made me naturally gravitate to them. It takes awhile for me to warm up to people usually, but these three are the bee's knees.
Can't wait to explore this newfound friendship with these amazing stylistas-- we have a lot of things planned for the Detroit fashion scene for sure!
