A tradditional Japanese wedding.

I came across a feature on Steve and Takako’s traditional Japanese wedding and was mesmerized by the photos. Photos by Samm Blake.



I loved the fact that they took the subway home. :)

GLOW: STEPHANIE COO

I doubt if there’s ever a dull moment in Stephanie Coo’s life. Her passion for art, history and culture reflects so much in her photos from all over the world. I got so used to addressing her “Miss Coo” as she was my Asian history professor back in Ateneo. She made history so fun and interesting, she inspired her students to stage the battle scene from 300 at the Ateneo University’s Bellarmine field. See photos:



Stephanie or Typ, to her friends, is currently based in France. She shares with me her wonderful finds at French pharmacies. Her skincare/makeup regimen is probably the most informative I’ve encountered so far. :)

Her makeup regimen:

It all starts with a practical makeup brush holder. I could not quite find the right case for my makeup brushes. Nothing seemed right for my needs, so I had one custom-made from my “sastre”. After giving her the specifications, she made it for me for less than 100 Pesos (less than $3.00). We just used some leftover denim and red cloth (for piping) and she just bought the black garter to hold the brushes in place. Just roll the whole thing and voila!



I use Laura Mercier Starlight Mineral Illuminating Powder BEFORE the Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in Natural Beige. It gives a natural radiance as compared to using the illuminating powder ON TOP of the mineral powder, which i think appears rather shimmery. For powdering the T-zone, I just use a 5-Euro Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder. It is specifically labelled Shine Control, just blend it properly.



I use Urban Decay Naked II palette now, but I honestly think many of the colors are too shimmery. Matte would have been better, which is why I bought their (Urban Decay) Smoked palette. Another favorite of mine is Sleek Makeup i-Divine palettes,which costs only 9.99 Euros. They’re 1/4 the price of Urban Decay palettes. My favorite color palettes are Bad Girl, Au Naturel and Oh so special.



For Philippine-made products, hands-down Fanny Serrano two-way cake Rajah,highly recommended to me by model Girlie Benitez. She says a lot of models and makeup artists swear by it. It’s perfect because it’s matte. Available at Watson’s Philippines. Sleek Makeup Face Form for medium skin is a palette of 3: contouring powder, blush and highlighter. Fanny Serrano Powder Blush in Cinnamon Stick, wonderful product, warm tone perfect for Asian skin.


I put Homeoplasmine on my lips 5 mins before putting lipstick as I have dry chappy lips. It’s just the French version of another favorite of mine, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. I usually have a hard time finding lipstick shades that suit my skin tone but here are my 2 favorites: For daily wear: my absolute favorite is Fanny Serrano lipstick in Dark Rhum. For dark lips: MAC cremesheen in Hang-up For brushes, Real Techniques Core Collection (set of 4) is a good selection because all 4 brushes are really useful for daily makeup. I really use the buffing brush, contour brush, the pointed foundation brush and the detailer brush almost everyday. Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush, really densed brush perfect for mineral powder foundation. Perfect for night-outs because of the “air-brushed” effect it creates. I love Dior Safari Duo . Considering the danger of croc designs looking gaudy, this set of two, limited edition nail polish looks very elegant and subdued.

For her skincare regimen:

When i first moved to France, my skin started to break out. Since I discovered the wonderful products of French pharmacies, my spots and pores have been visibly under control. I started a no-tap-water-on-the-face regimen: First, I apply Avene Cleansing Water (for oily and blemish-prone skin)using cotton; then, spray Avene thermal spring water all over my face and pat dry after 2 minutes. Uriage Lip Balm just feels so nice on the lips. It’s moisturizing without being sticky. I alternate this with my all-time favorite Vaseline petroleum jelly. Claudalie Vinoperfect Serum: this is swear by. You put this on every morning and evening BEFORE putting on your moisturizer.

Vichy Normaderm Anti-Imperfection (moisturizer): hydrates at the same time minimizes pores, controls redness and spots and the best part is, it mattifies! This I use as my morning moisturizer, 5 minutes before applying pressed powder or liquid foundation. What I love about this is it doesn’t feel sticky! I really swear by this…really food for the skin :)

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentré: the moisturizer that Gwyneth Paltrow swears by. This 13 euros tube lasts for,at least, 6 months! It moisturizes but does NOT mattify so i use this in the evenings before going to bed. I love its light formula but better to use this in cold, dry climates as it can make your skin look oily. Bioderma Sebium Global: patented formula to control acne, spots and blackheads. I apply this after the moisturizer

Bioderma Crealine H20: eye and facial makeup remover. It absolutely lives up to its reputation as a cult product. It removes water-proof eye makeup. To completely remove makeup, it is best to use 2-3 times.

Bioderma Hydrabio Lait No-Rinse: alternative to Avene Cleansing Water on days when skin feels dry. I normally use this in the evenings. Another no-rinse firmula so spray Avene Thermal Water after then pat dry. La Roche Posay Lipikar (Soapless Body Wash) in a wonderful lavender scent. A soapless, paraben-free formula really feels different. This leaves the skin feeling hydrated, you feel clean without your skin feeling stripped of natural moisture. I love this!

Lipikar Lait (Body Lotion): best body lotion EVER,your skin stays hydrated even until the next day

Avene Cold Cream (Body Lotion): best during winter, too heavy for spring/summer

Avene Eau Thermale (Facial Spray): spray this on your face instead of washing with tap water Klorane Dry Shampoo – “spray” the powder on your scalp, wait 2 minutes and voila – no more greasy hair!

Redken (for fine hair) – “the Rolls Royce of hair products,” according to some reviews. Quite pricey but I love this, your hair feels really clean and bouncy. I bought the matching conditioner. I have yet to try their All Soft shampoo & conditioner. My friend tried it and as the name suggests, it leaves your hair really soft!

Vichy Mineral Soft shampoo – for daily use, lovely scent, smells like peach…another shampoo i like for daily use is Franck Provost. Inexpensive for such a HUGE bottle and readily available at Monoprix.

Vichy Dercros Hair masque – perfect for winter when my hair dries up…just use twice a week, leave on for at least 2 minutes and rinse!

Braun Satin Hair Brush with IONTEC: a must-have, keeps the hair shiny and static-free

Mason Pearson handmade brush – another cult product..quite pricey but definitely worth it!

Babyliss Paris Pro IONIC hairdryers leaves hair static-free..it comes with a diffuser to create volume. It’s not too noisy too!

My favorite perfume is Tom Ford Black Orchid. Its dark and sultry scent is unlike any other perfumes.

Agent Provocateur Petale Noir ..such a sexy scent — one can be associated with elegant historical brothels…Both are eau de parfum as they last longer :)

GLOW: Japs Medina

Miguel and I had a week in Manila to be with family and friends and to finish a long list of things to do for wedding preps. That, and other things at work left me almost in hiatus for the month of April. But I’m back with a new feature: meet Japs Medina.


Japs and I trained together in Blue Babble Battalion, our university pep squad. She was younger than me by a year or two but she was the easiest one to get along with.

Japs comes from a family of actors — her father Pen Medina and her three brothers, Ping, Alex and Victor. Instead of joining the rest of her family in showbiz, Japs is working her way into shoebiz!

She shares her skincare:

I usually cleanse my face in the morning and before going to bed using the Oil of Olay Regenerist Cream Cleanser, followed by Human Nature’s Balancing Face Toner in Elemi & Orange.

During the day, I pat on an adequate amount of Oil of Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting Cream on my face. I use Vaseline Aloe Fresh Hydrating Lotion for my body since it absorbs really quickly and doesn’t become sticky despite very warm weather.

During the day, I make sure to get a good dose of vegetables, fresh fruits and water. I also take Puritan’s Pride Natural Vitamin E daily. After cleansing my face, I lather on some Oil of Olay Regenerist Night Cream before going to bed. I use Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lotion at night since I want my skin to absorb optimal moisture because that’s usually the time when cells regenerate at a greater rate.

For daytime makeup, I use Missha MISA Cho Bo Yang BB Cream with SPF30, Benefit Brows On-The-Go, Etude House Color My Brows, Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Maybelline’s The Falsies Waterproof Mascara and Revlon Balm Stains.

At night, I use Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer and Silk Creme Foundation, Estee Lauder and Laura Mercier eyeshadow palettes, Laura Mercier Eyebrow Gel, NARS blush in Deep Throat and MAC lipsticks (Morange being the current shade I’m obsessed with). I remove eye and lip makeup using Estee Lauder’s Take It Away Eye and Lip LongWear Makeup Remover and use L’oreal Gentle Makeup Remover for the rest of my face.

the transient and the eternal

Orpheus and Eurydice

a drawing of Pina’s interpretation of Orpheus and Eurydice.

One of the most popular Greek myths (and my husband’s favorite) is Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus went to the Underworld to reclaim his dead wife, Eurydice from Hades, the Greek god of death. He got past a number of obstacles and creatures before reaching Hades. When he finally did, Orpheus convinced Hades though a song on his lyre. But there was a catch.. he should travel back to the Upper World without looking back and trust that his wife was following behind him. If he even dared a glance, he would lose his wife forever. Orpheus agreed and the two began their journey back to the world of the living. When they finally reached the opening, Orpheus, excited and anxious to see his wife, turned his head and in a blink of an eye, his wife disappeared, gone forever.

GLOW: RHIANNON LAMBERT

Organic is becoming a popular marketing tool these days. When I hear the word organic, I instantly think of fresh produce. So what is with the word organic aside from the steep price tag that comes along with it?

Organic isn’t limited to food. You can find products like clothing even skin care labeled as such. Organic products are produced without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides or genetic engineering. Going organic also means being concerned with the long term impact in our environment and minimizing its negative effects.

Rhiannon Lambert, a former colleague, promotes organic skin care and using all natural products. But before I go into sharing her skincare, let me introduce you to this beauty.

I’ve always admired Rhiannon’s androgynous beauty. Her alabaster skin compliments this unique charm.

Rhi started very early working as a professional dancer in cruise line. She was already sailing around Europe during her teen years, while doing what she loved most and getting paid for it.


She is probably one of the strongest dancers I’ve worked with. She is most excellent doing contemporary dance, but she is quite flexible doing other genres too.



Her skincare:

My number one beauty product is actually coconut oil! I use the stuff for everything— the night before I wash my hair, I slather it all over my head and sleep on it, then I wash it out the next day with two shampoo rinses and a good conditioner. I also use it as a body and face moisturizer. I put it in my baths while I’m having a soak, and best of all, I use it as my make up remover. Just rub it all over your face and wipe it off with a warm wet towel. (A cheap dark colored towel is best to avoid make up stains showing up.)

When I don’t use coconut oil on my face I use the natural organic brand UlittleBeauty. They leave your skin feeling wonderful. I use their eye cream, night cream and vitamin C serum.

For body wash I use Dr Bronner’s Castile soap (lavender is my favorite)
Another oil that is great is Moroccan Oil. As someone who bleaches her hair, I can honestly say that it helps avoid split ends and really gives your hair a soft and silky look without coating it with silicone and other harsh chemicals.


I try really hard to keep my beauty regime as natural as possible. Unfortunately being a performer you can’t avoid it completely as you need the harder “war paint” like cosmetics for stage shows. In this case the three brands that I use for my make up are MAC, Cover Girl for mascara and Urban Decay is my favorite for eye shadows.




*portraits taken by Ben Rosagazo

The Invitation

There is something about dance that makes me want to keep on making art out of it. This one is a dance by Pina Bausch.

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, ‘Yes.’

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.