THE BEST MAN

I am not talking about the person beside the groom in a wedding scenario. I am talking about who is the best man in an adult woman's life. 

Often times, women (especially when we hit our 30's), we ponder and dream as to who will be, what type of a man he will be, how will we meet the man, where and will we ever meet the man of our dreams. We often set a certain  "standard / qualifications" among ourselves about men. These "standards / qualifications" really apply that when we meet men, we tend to be cautious. Despite of modern times and despite of desperation for some women, we still go on lengthy scales of trial and error period... you know... the speculating, the "test drive", observing behaviors till they make us laugh, make us giddy... enough to make our heart beats fast somehow.

But who is really the best man for us? There is a best man for each of us... whether we end up with them or not. It is always a special man that becomes the best man in our lives... that man we can't seem to live without especially when he is far away or when he's gone. To begin with, he is that man that came into your life when you least expect it!  He's even not your type. He is not even in your "standard / qualifications" for a dream boat. In the beginning, you don't even have a damn clue why you are attracted to him but love is like that... Love has no reason and that reason is still unknown till you get to experience the things I will talk about more...

The best man is that "just a friend" type but you are at your happiest with him even when he is grumpy, when he's not in the mood and when he is at his worst. He is that man who you want to cheer up, amuse and entertain all the time. He is that man whom you want to dream and do all sorts of things with... like watching movies, going to the beach or just about anywhere, eating food you both like, drinking anything, watching tv shows, listening to music, have a conversation about anything under the sky from dusk till dawn, etc. He makes you laugh for no reason. You like watching him play his instruments and sing with him (not referring to his instrument) but yeah... in your mind too, he is that man you want to have sex with all the time (admit it... there is that man).  

He is that best man you just want be in beautiful, dreamy places with. He is that type of man where you see the world and life itself in his eyes just by gazing at anything. He is that man you rarely or don't have fights and arguments with. He is that man who bears with you... women dramas, problems and all... because he understands you. He is that man who becomes the soul mate. He is that man who eventually be the last one in your mind before you sleep and the first one when you wake up. He is that man who can make you cry for no reason and also the same one who can make you stop crying. He is that man who makes you realize that one word that doesn't exist... "forever"... truly exists. He is that man who can make you feel your worst but also he is the one who could make the best of you come out. 

He is that best man who will always be in your heart... someone you never knew you could love before yourself... before your pride, frustrations and anger. He would even be that man you would be jealous of and be possessive of... but it's okay... possessiveness is just a scale of love. There is no true love without possessiveness. Lastly, in time, he is that best man whom you will learn to love unconditionally... for the rest of your life.

Love comes again and again for those who know what life is. But true love and true living comes only once for those who know what unconditional love is. There is no such thing as an ideal or perfect man because he just exists in our mind. However, there is that best man.  

Image Credits:
Photography by Vincent Garrucho
Hair and Make-Up by Rose Stein
Gown by Morlie Allure

To my best man... you taught me how to love, how to cry, but when you have put this great distance between us, you forgot to teach me how to forget you.


When I talked to God and asked him why I can't forget you, He told me He is busy writing the best love story for me with you. Someday then...

Kasbah Manila Calling @ Time In Manila

A taste of Morroco from Kasbah Boracay at Time in Manila... through the lens of Vincent Garrucho!

 

Who would have thought that Manila's premier underground club, Time... would be totally  transformed when Kasbah Boracay came to Manila for an evening of Moroccan magic last August 20, 2011!

 

The night was filled with a luscious buffet and an evening of seductive music and electrifying performances by Noli Aurillo, Nyko Maca, Marcus Maguigad, Marshall White and Cy Wasu. For only P1500/head, the beautiful people of Manila were treated to exquisite food... enchanting rhythms... Manila was simply immersed into the world of exquisite Moroccan delights! 

 

Kasbah Boracay is one of the top restaurants on Boracay Island. Its' authentic Morrocan cuisine has put itself on the map of the Philippines. One has to simply "Google it".

Watch out when Time and Kasbah makes a calling once again for a Kasbah Experience soon so you can have your fill of an exquisite Moroccan evening!


Thanks Vincent... for the great photos!

PHIL YOUNGHUSBAND... THE MANIA LIVES ON!

Yes... woot! woot!... the mania lives on for my friend, Phil Younghusband thus; me releasing these latest photos of him.  

Phil! I'm waiting for when you're gonna find time to take your heli ride! :P

I don't think I should talk more about Phil... everyone can simply "Google" him and his impact in the country and so for the first time, I release a post that is like my mini skirts and dǝʞdǝʞ shorts... long enough to cover private parts but short enough to keep things interesting solely because of these two snap shots of Phil Younghusband here taken at the Kenny Rogers Roasters Hainanese Chicken blogger's conference. Yes, a new TVC will feature Phil and James Younghusband of the Philippine Football Team Azkals together with surfer Lorraine Lapus and professional triathlete Mica Tantuico. 

See you around, Phil! :P

My super-talented relative, Vincent V. Garrucho who evolved from being an FM radio jock to a lot of things in life and who developed this penchant for photography in late November 2009 took these photos of Phil Younghusband.  


Props to you, Vinky and thanks for getting me these photos of Phil!  

BOB SINCLAR LIVE IN MANILA: THE AFTERMATH

It was a huge success! Bob Sinclar didn't just prove that he's one of the top most recognized names in dance music anywhere in the world, he also proved to people in the Philippines that indeed, he is one amazing, prolific artist and a dj! He shook the World Trade Center of the Philippines with his love for music!

Bob Sinclar... oftenly mistaken as "Sinclair" is actually Christophe Le Friant born May 10, 1969 in Douarnenez, France. He is a Grammy Award-nominated French record producer, House Music Dj, remixer and owner of the label, Yellow Productions.

In 2005 he scored a hit with the single "Love Generation", that reached #1 on the Australian ARIA Singles Charts and the German Media Control Single Charts in 2006. The song was a huge success throughout Europe, also peaking at no. 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and it stood 39 weeks in the Ultratop 50 in Belgium. It became one of the official anthems for the World Cup 2006 held in Germany. 

The follow-up hit was "World, Hold On", that features Steve Edwards and also managed to chart in the top ten in most of the European countries. "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)" followed on 22 August 2006. The remix of "World, Hold on" by E-Smoove was nominated for a Grammy in 2007 in the category of Remixed Recording. Also, "World, Hold On" topped in Billboard Magazine as Number One Hot Dance Club Play Single of 2006, beating Madonna and Christina Aguilera. Since then, he became a global household name in the dance music industry!



Bob Sinclar was brought to Manila last January 15, 2011 by the Ambassador of Cheers and Good Vibes in Manila... dance party producer Domini Primero of  Driven Manila and Avant Artists. The prolific dj performed at the World Trade Center in Manila in front of thousands of beautiful thumping party animals and boy, it was just way too great to describe!

 
When Bob Sinclar played, he became my guilty pleasure. I am not overweight and I don't hate exercising but this was one big party that really kept my feet jumping around from the start till the end of his set except for moments that I had to catch my breath! I also had the privilege of being there onstage with him together with my photography partner, Vincent Garrucho thus; these images you see here are from our lenses. 

The whole time I was beside him or behind him on stage, there were times that I carefully sized-up Bob Sinclar as I peer through the lens of my Canon EOS 450D. He is indeed very unpredictable and most prolific! I look at the crowd below us... jumping non-stop, ladies screaming non-stop, men kept their hands on air non-stop as they move to every single rhythmic track Bob Sinclar unleashed! I have never before seen in Manila a huge dancing crowd moving in consistency!

I'd like to talk now about how Bob Sinclar is in person. Meeting Bob Sinclar and having the great  privilege to talk to him as he relaxes while awaiting for his set is just awesome experience.  I sat beside him... tried to be cool (even though i felt like wanting to ask him a thousand questions) but I refrained. He's a smiling person but a man of very few words... very mysterious to me. 

 
When he listens to people talking, his eyes have this seemingly relaxed but piercing look. I think it's the artist in him. Then he suddenly asked, "How's the crowd outside?" and I replied nervously, "Bob, the world trade center is really jam-packed... they are waiting for you." then he nodded, smiled and said "That is good". He then noticed my production ID and asked, "Can I have one of that for souvenir later?" and I said, "Yes of course, Bob... will give it to you later". With a nod and  his simple smile at me, it meant "thank you". He then went back to his quiet moments.


Then, it was time for him to go up on the stage...and he transformed! From a simple, sweet-smiling, quiet, mysterious man he was back stage, he became a major flirt...like a playboy...like a high class gigolo... like a hardcore porn star! He was onstage, a world-class rock star and boy!... did he rock World Trade Center! 

I was there... I've witnessed how this man transformed himself from a man battling fatigue and jet lag to his greatness... a very energetic and playful person! On the wheels of steel, he got himself at the peak of his power! 

Listening, dancing, singing, taking his up close and personal photos, I keep on telling myself.... Bob Sinclar is legendary!

This is all for you, Bob! It was a great pleasure meeting you and thank you for giving us Filipinos an awesome party here in Manila, Philippines!


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Watch out for Avant Artists and Driven Manila's next parties in 2011... Bob Sinclar was just a starter!!! ;))

Thanks Vincent Garrucho for contributing your shots here! For more photos of  The First Big Party in 2011: Bob Sinclar Live in Manila, go to www.drivenmanila.com

The Social Media Chameleon would like thank Domini Primero (Driven Manila and TIME www.timeinmanila.com), Al Mojica and Sunny Ku (Avant Artists), May Abigael Legaspi (Driven Manila), Pav Parrotte and Jay Server (TIME www.timeinmanila.com)! Congratulations for the great First Big Party in 2011! You guys rock!!!

ON WITCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES

I grew up in the Philippines fascinated with stories about witches. I remember my yaya (nanny) would often fright me with various stories about witches so that I'd be a good girl and get myself home before dusk.



In my country, the witch is locally called "aswang". It's also known as "bruha", "mangkukulam", "boroka", "mangalok", "tik-tik", "wak-wak", "wuk-wuk", "manananggal" and so many more depending on which part of the Philippines we are in. I'm used to the word "aswang" though... which refers to it being the one that cast spells, one that shifts into various forms, a monster, a ghoul and a flesh-eating creature.

The flesh-eating version is more common in Philippine folklore. They say that it takes various human forms that may appear as a beautiful woman or an ugly old woman who carries a job...usually as a butcher.



My yaya would tell me stories that the "aswang" is shape-shifter...having the ability to transform from human to animals and to inanimate objects. Yaya said that when darkness sets in, the "aswangs" begin to hunt for their prey and that the prime targets are the sick, the children, the corpses and pregnant women. In Philippine horror movies, they would often show pregnant women as victims. I've watched the "aswang" so many times flying over house roofs and look for holes to peer on and to look for helpless pregnant women. When finding one, the "aswang" extends its tongue into the pregnant woman's womb, draining the fetus of its' blood and eventually killing both the mother and the fetus. The clicking sound it makes... "kikik" .... comes out as it draws blood.



The "aswang" stories are still very much believed all over the Philippines. Although these stories are generally ignored and dismissed as a mere folklore, many still adorn their houses with garlic, salt, ginger and holy water to keep the "aswang" away.

I practically grew up in Negros Occidental having little pieces of garlic safely pinned on hemlines of my clothes. Yes, my yaya firmly believes about "aswangs" that she would really go out of her way to look for me at neighbors' houses when the sun is about to set in.



There were some local news in my province that I remember having surfaced... talking about "aswang stories" in this decade!

August 2003 - A man from Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental hacked and shot his aunt and cousin because he believed they were "aswangs"... having cast a curse on his wife who died 3 days after child birth the year before.

September 2005 - A husband and wife were hacked to death and decapitated in Sitio Inapugan, Barangay Santol, Binalbagan. Ugh... Binalbagan was my hometown...where I actually grew up as a kid.

My yaya had a personal experience of her getting sick when she crossed paths with an "aswang" on her way to their home. Apparently, the witch disliked my yaya and yaya said she had the "aswang" frequently visiting her at nights while she was burning up with fever. The smell of a pungent insect (I forgot what it was called) was said to come before the aswang would actually announce it's arrival with that same tongue-clicking sound "kikik". That announcement was said to have caused her parents to shut doors and windows and scatter garlic and salt all over the house.



If you ask me If I believe in witches or the "aswangs", I'd say, "I don't know" because seriously, half of me does and half of me doesn't. Maybe it's because I am somehow a witch ha ha ha as my lover told me last year that I bewitched him. Ah well! I hope I won't ever see the day or night encountering a real "aswang" though.

Photos by: Mark Longos, Vincent Garrucho and Aries Alvarez
Location: Port St. Michel (Thanks to Allan Tom)
Model: Xhialey De Guzman
Hair and Make Up: Edz Diomampo
Concept and Style: Jodge Ledesma