Not often would I share my personal side on my blog but lucky for  my good friend Ralph Mendoza of Philippine Star and I, we took  the opportunity to capture the moment on film.

It all started via text when I messaged Ralph about meeting up to take some photos for my blog as I really admire his photography. So to be honest, we hadn't even met prior to shooting, upon meeting Ralph for the first time we both decided to eat at Rustan's in Katipunan as it was the most convenient location. We realised we are sharing the same interests and creativity. It was merely a coincidence that we came up with the idea of shooting in the grocery store because everybody knows food and fashion is a great combination. 

A big thank you to my newest sponsors Original Penguin. Throughout my life I have been wearing Original Penguin clothes, simply because they never fail with quality and consistency. Literally not only were these clothes designed for the fashion trends but from personal experience my Original Penguin polos have lasted for years!

SM Accessories backpack worth only Php899.00 - Get in quick because I know they're selling fast.

Some of you may wonder, how was I able to get away with shooting in the mall?. Well the trick is easy, either be a foreigner like me and smile and pretend like you have no idea what's going on in life or carry a film camera with you so it doesn't look like a legitimate photo shoot is occurring. The thing with security guards in the Philippines these days is that they think that even if you carry a DSLR camera around, we are automatically dubbed as professional photographers taking advantage of a location without permission. I understand that they are doing their jobs, but sometimes I feel that security guards escalate situations unnecessarily because really we are not threatening anyone with our cameras or doing reconnaissance, we're just trying to be creative.

Shirt and hat from Original Penguin, Zara pants, Ray Ban wafers, Sm Accessories backpack, Converse All-Star shoes. 

Haha I find it quite entertaining the fact that the title of my blog post states that I'm on duty, whereas the content of my pictures clearly state that the otherwise. After changing into my second outfit, I was given the opportunity to meet the marketing team of RWM as they were so kind enough to treat me merienda at Republiq Cafe. They were really down to earth and hospitable people, so we all got along really well which made the shoot feel a lot more relaxing and less tense. Seeing as the shoot was going to take another hour or so, it was nice and convenient to just easily find a restaurant to dine in on such short notice.

For my second outfit wearing Original Penguin as collaborating clothing apparel for RWM, I manage put together this dope khaki/green ensamble in a span of 5 minutes when I was picking out clothes from the Original Penguin clothing store. Not often would I wear khaki pants, but in this case, it really blends well when mixing and matching shades of green. Be sure to add some accessories like the cap I'm wearing just to take away the commando vibe, otherwise you're gonna look like you just came back from a Desert Storm operation in Afganistan haha.

Original Penguin fitted from top to bottom

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to team-up with Resorts World Manila in collaboration with clothing label Original Penguin. I have to be honest with you, it was the best tie-up ever. From what originally started as a simple outfit shot for RWM’s social feed, turned out to be an adventure exploring unforeseen areas of the mall itself, plus I had the opportunity to pick out anything from the Original Penguin store so I can show off my true sense of style.

Taking the liberty to finally discover Resorts World first hand with a guide, I was really overwhelmed to see what RWM had to offer.  You see, the majority of the times I’d only ever go to Resorts World would be late at night around midnight when I’d be fully intoxicated and stumbling into Opus or Republiq haha. So the only ever time I would actually arrive to the mall, would be when everything’s already closed and transformed into a designated night venue… Haha so now I think about it, I’m sure many people could relate to me on same subject.

So honestly, don’t be mistaken when you think of Resorts World Manila next time. It’s not just a well put together casino and night club venue, it’s actually an immaculate shopping mall for everyone and I’d highly recommend it to all families who are looking to try something different. Definitely an idea mall to spend the family with on a Sunday!

Stay tuned for part II

Original Penguin: A Ferris Wheel of Fun & Style

Contributing photography thanks to Ces Olondriz

Its was an amusing night full of fun and style as Original Penguin took the crowd on a fashion ferris wheel, filled with pastel tops, chalk-striped tanks and plaid button downs. With an inspired Coney Island feel, the stage design effortlessly grabbed everyone's attention within the vicinity of Greenbelt 5. Not only was I was lucky enough to be part of the fashion show, but I was also noted as one of the few personalities along with Xian Lim, Slater Young, Liz Uy & Raymond Gutierrez who were present. Aside from the signature penguin-labeled polo, Original Penguin have always had a strong reputation when it comes laidback smart-casual wear as their collections have been easy to mix and match. Now that seasons have changed, the new collection not only brings new flavor, but add more variety for this year's spring/summer.