PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR FASHIONISTAS

In the Philippines, a “fashionista” is not only a person who works in the fashion industry like designers, models, fashionable celebrities and the likes. It is also commonly used now for ordinary people who love to follow the latest trends in fashion, as seen in their clothing, shoes, hairstyle and accessories. Some pinoys now use the word “fashionista” to describe a person who is not only confident but also bold to express herself or himself through the clothes and accessories she/he wears. There are also fashionistas who are sort of risk takers, because they couldn’t care less if their fashion statements are likeable or not.

Having read so many articles about fashion from the time I started to know what it means, I want to share with you more or less the most basic guide for “fashionistas” which I found of great value. These are the timeless dos and don’ts in fashion. They are practical steps that even a fashionista wannabe will find them easy to follow. I personally feel that fashion shouldn't be taken too seriously because after all great style should look effortless.

Fashionistas get inspired usually by Hollywood celebrities whose style they love and want to imitate. There is nothing really wrong with this although you should learn and observe how these celebrities put pieces together and why these work for them. Consider their shape, height even the season of the year they are wearing those wardrobes. You don’t want to be seen wearing something for winter while it’s simmering hot in your place. Common sense is really the key here.

It is practical to do a closet check at least twice a year. It will save you a lot if you know what to keep and what to toss before shopping. It is smart to learn also how to care for your clothes and how to properly store them in your closets. Try to group tops separately from the bottoms as these will give you hints for possible combinations just by looking at them. Avoid ramming clothes at the back of your drawer; not seeing them will surely make you forget them. As much as possible, do not use wire hangers as they deform the shape of the clothes.

Fashionistas love to show their best and dressing up for a night out. Avoid wearing flats, instead opt for high heeled shoes or stilettos as they make you look taller and more confident. When going to clubs, wear something sparkly or if you’re not into glitzy top, wear a dressy top and pair it with rockin’ accessories. This is the perfect time to reveal some skin but choose just one feature to show off. And when dressing for a date, don’t overdress and over-accessorize. Wear a statement ring, necklace or anything vintage which could be a good conversation piece. Don’t forget to wear a sweet or subtle scent. If you want to achieve a sexy look, make sure to have a good posture, wear a low-key make-up, slip a pair of stilettos. Don’t miss your pedicure. Don’t reveal too much and do get a tan and moisturize.

In as much as I would like to share some more, the list could be endless. Never the less I’m sharing some fashionista must haves from head to toe:

1. Shirts - Crisp white shirt/ white tank top. Buy more than one piece in other colors and learn to layer.

2. Jeans – Buy those that are perfect fit for your body. Go for tighter fit jeans and invest in raw blue or black shades as they never go out of style.

3. Dress – Invest in a “little black dress” (LBD) which never gets old.

4. Jackets –Do own a nicely cut jacket. Do look for tailoring features.

5. Bags – Invest in a statement bag, also do own an evening bag and weekend bag.

6. Shoes – Invest in classic pointy pumps and reliable stilettos. Get embellished sandals and ballet flats.

7. Accessories– Invest in authentic pearl or diamond stud earrings and buy trendy belts and accessories. Own big, dark sunglasses for travel.

With the present economic crisis, a fashionista can also do good being a "recessionista". I must say that one can still look great and in style given the present situation. Economics shouldn’t be a nuisance at all. If you’re a pinoy living in the Philippines, ukay-ukays or surplus stores can be your good option. Seek inspiration from magazines and fashion websites.

photo credit: Stylefinder / Alice McCall (chain LBD)

SAFETY TIPS WHEN GOING TO THE BEACH

photo by Jonah-Che : Camiguin Beach, Philippines

The most attractive activity during summer is going to the beach. And everyone looks forward to a fun filled and memorable stay in the beach of their choice. Even so like any travel activity, there has to be preparation we must do to prevent accidents and unpleasant experience from happening. I have listed 7 tips that are easy and yet important things to consider before heading to the beach.

1. Do a checklist. Make a checklist and ensure that everyone has all they need. It’s important to bring sunscreen and apply it every 45 minutes to avoid getting sunburned. It is also advisable to bring insect repellant lotions and small medical kit.

2. Drive safely. This is a must. Make certain that the vehicle to be used for trip is checked and conditioned to avoid road accidents. Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and prohibited substance.

3. Extra pre-caution if you plan to bring kids. Drowning of children usually happen because they are left unattended while frolicking in the beach. The kids should always have a chaperone that will be there at all times to over see them.

4. Stay hydrated. Bring plenty of drinks as the heat of the sun will surely make you feel thirsty most of the time. Eat fruits and avoid swimming just right after your meal as this will really make you sick.

5. Safety first. Be careful not to step on harmful litters, broken glass / bottles in the sand. Protect your feet by wearing sandals. Take precaution when swimming and be watchful for stray sharks, sting-rays and poisonous jellyfishes. Be aware of the rip tides which are dangerous when swimming, these are the hidden current below the surface of the water. If possible, never swim alone.

6. Dress for the occasion. This the perfect time to wear light clothing, swimsuits sunglasses, visors and hats. It advisable also to bring umbrellas and extra towels.

7. Have fun. Plan exciting activities other than swimming for you and your family to enjoy.

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10 BLOG TRAFFIC TIPS

In every bloggers life comes a special day - the day they first launch a new blog. Now unless you went out and purchased someone else''s blog chances are your blog launched with only one very loyal reader - you. Maybe a few days later you received a few hits when you told your sister, father, girlfriend and best friend about your new blog but that''s about as far you went when it comes to finding readers.Here are the top 10 techniques new bloggers can use to find readers.

These are tips specifically for new bloggers, those people who have next-to-no audience at the moment and want to get the ball rolling.

It helps if you work on this list from top to bottom as each technique builds on the previous step to help you create momentum. Eventually once you establish enough momentum you gain what is called "traction", which is a large enough audience base (about 500 readers a day is good) that you no longer have to work too hard on finding new readers. Instead your current loyal readers do the work for you through word of mouth.

Top 10 Tips

10. Write at least five major "pillar" articles. A pillar article is usually a tutorial style article aimed to teach your audience something. Generally they are longer than 500 words and have lots of very practical tips or advice. This article you are currently reading could be considered a pillar article since it is very practical and a good "how-to" lesson. This style of article has long term appeal, stays current (it isn''t news or time dependent) and offers real value and insight. The more pillars you have on your blog the better.

9. Write one new blog post per day minimum. Not every post has to be a pillar, but you should work on getting those five pillars done at the same time as you keep your blog fresh with a daily news or short article style post. The important thing here is to demonstrate to first time visitors that your blog is updated all the time so they feel that if they come back tomorrow they will likely find something new. This causes them to bookmark your site or subscribe to your blog feed. You don''t have to produce one post per day all the time but it is important you do when your blog is brand new. Once you get traction you still need to keep the fresh content coming but your loyal audience will be more forgiving if you slow down to a few per week instead. The first few months are critical so the more content you can produce at this time the better.

8. Use a proper domain name. If you are serious about blogging be serious about what you call your blog. In order for people to easily spread the word about your blog you need an easily rememberable domain name. People often talk about blogs they like when they are speaking to friends in the real world (that''s the offline world, you remember that place right?) so you need to make it easy for them to spread the word and pass on your URL. Try and get a .com if you can and focus on small easy to remember domains rather than worry about having the correct keywords (of course if you can get great keywords and easy to remember then you''ve done a good job!).

7. Start commenting on other blogs. Once you have your pillar articles and your daily fresh smaller articles your blog is ready to be exposed to the world. One of the best ways to find the right type of reader for your blog is to comment on other people''s blogs. You should aim to comment on blogs focused on a similar niche topic to yours since the readers there will be more likely to be interested in your blog. Most blog commenting systems allow you to have your name/title linked to your blog when you leave a comment. This is how people find your blog. If you are a prolific commentor and always have something valuable to say then people will be interested to read more of your work and hence click through to visit your blog.

6. Trackback and link to other blogs in your blog posts. A trackback is sort of like a blog conversation. When you write a new article to your blog and it links or references another blogger''s article you can do a trackback to their entry. What this does is leave a truncated summary of your blog post on their blog entry - it''s sort of like your blog telling someone else''s blog that you wrote an article mentioning them. Trackbacks often appear like comments. This is a good technique because like leaving comments a trackback leaves a link from another blog back to yours for readers to follow, but it also does something very important - it gets the attention of another blogger. The other blogger will come and read your post eager to see what you wrote about them. They may then become a loyal reader of yours or at least monitor you and if you are lucky some time down the road they may do a post linking to your blog bringing in more new readers.

5. Encourage comments on your own blog. One of the most powerful ways to convince someone to become a loyal reader is to show there are other loyal readers already following your work. If they see people commenting on your blog then they infer that your content must be good since you have readers so they should stick around and see what all the fuss is about. To encourage comments you can simply pose a question in a blog post. Be sure to always respond to comments as well so you can keep the conversation going.

4. Submit your latest pillar article to a blog carnival. A blog carnival is a post in a blog that summarizes a collection of articles from many different blogs on a specific topic. The idea is to collect some of the best content on a topic in a given week. Often many other blogs link back to a carnival host and as such the people that have articles featured in the carnival enjoy a spike in new readers. To find the right blog carnival for your blog, do a search at http://blogcarnival.com/.

3. Submit your blog to blogtopsites.com. To be honest this tip is not going to bring in a flood of new readers but it''s so easy to do and only takes five minutes so it''s worth the effort. Go to Blog Top Sites, find the appropriate category for your blog and submit it. You have to copy and paste a couple of lines of code on to your blog so you can rank and then sit back and watch the traffic come in. You will probably only get 1-10 incoming readers per day with this technique but over time it can build up as you climb the rankings. It all helps!

2. Submit your articles to EzineArticles.com. This is another tip that doesn''t bring in hundreds of new visitors immediately (although it can if you keep doing it) but it''s worthwhile because you simply leverage what you already have - your pillar articles. Once a week or so take one of your pillar articles and submit it to Ezine Articles. Your article then becomes available to other people who can republish your article on their website or in their newsletter. How you benefit is through what is called your "Resource Box". You create your own resource box which is like a signature file where you include one to two sentences and link back to your website (or blog in this case). Anyone who publishes your article has to include your resource box so you get incoming links. If someone with a large newsletter publishes your article you can get a lot of new readers at once.

1. Write more pillar articles. Everything you do above will help you to find blog readers however all of the techniques I''ve listed only work when you have strong pillars in place. Without them if you do everything above you may bring in readers but they won''t stay or bother to come back. Aim for one solid pillar article per week and by the end of the year you will have a database of over 50 fantastic feature articles that will work hard for you to bring in more and more readers.

This article was by Yaro Starak, a professional blogger and my blog mentor. He is the leader of the Blog Mastermind mentoring program designed to teach bloggers how to earn a full time income blogging part time.To get more information about Blog Mastermind click this link:
http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/go.php?offer=pinoys&pid=1

BILLBOARD SUPERSTARS

I found a very interesting poll happening in STYLEBIBLE, a great site for fashion trends and latest news in beauty and wellness. The poll is called “BATTLE OF THE BILLBOARDS”, befitting the gigantic billboard display along EDSA.

What is more exciting about this poll is that people will vote and choose among the seven gorgeous and sexy celebrities who reign on their respective spots of the historical EDSA. They are Angel Locsin for Folded and Hung, Lucy Torres-Gomez for Kashieca, Gretchen Barreto for Plains & Prints, Carmina Villaroel for Ensembles, Kristine Hermosa for Cinderella, Anne Curtis for Freeway and Melissa Ricks for Penshoppe.

Seeing these lovely women endorsing their brand of clothing through these colossal billboards may actually be a welcome respite when you are stuck in traffic. I’m sure some commuters will disagree with me on this but let’s face it; those billboards are very hard to ignore. So why not just appreciate them and if you want to be pro-active about this, then cast your votes now at Starbible-Star Style Poll. I am guessing that there will be a close fight between Angel and Anne for some very obvious reasons... and who wouldn’t be captivated by these ladies in swimwear outfits?

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE

Hers was one of the most celebrated and controversial cases in 2005, to many it was known as the Subic Rape Case. Suzette Nicolas then known only as “Nicole” has charged Lance Corporal Daniel Smith and three other US marines of rape in Subic Bay Freeport on November 1, 2005. Only Smith was found guilty of rape and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Though convicted, Smith was detained and is still in the custody of the US Embassy which has put the Philippine government under fire for its failure to transfer him in a Philippine jail. This also made the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) under much scrutiny.

Nicole with her legal counsel continues their appeal and is waiting for full justice to be served. She really wanted to see Smith inside a Philippine jail, until the latest “twist” happened.

The shocking news jolted the people who are following the case of Nicole. To much disbelief of the nation, Nicole issued a "sworn statement" in which she recanted and effectively cleared Smith of raping her, before leaving for the United States. She also terminated the service of her legal counsel who fought with her all through out her rape case.

Mix reaction spewed surrounding this development. What could have made her do this incredible move? Most of the people who earlier sympathized with her are very angry and disgusted by her sudden recantation. But some government officials and non-government organizations believed that extreme pressure may have been applied on her for her to retract her previous statements against Smith thus putting herself at risk of possible charges like perjury.

In my opinion, she may have her reasons and she's got a right to privacy, but for whatever its worth she undeniably has put the country and the Filipinas in a bad light. Some Pinoys don’t even want to mention her name or see her face on TV now. Because much has been wasted during her rape trial. I was adamant at first if I will post something about her, if this is really worth my time but I can’t help myself and so a space was provided. Nicole, if you think that you finally found your peace, I really hope so but it is only you who can convince yourself of that. But never the less, I truly believe that in life, “the truth will set you free”. It is very early to tell if there will be more statements that would be coming from her in the future but I doubt if many will still believe her, the least listen to her.

PHILIPPINES IN THE GOOGLE MAP

After the successful launching of Google Map Maker in the country in October of last year, Google Map has finally released an updated map for the Philippines. Google map Maker is the tool which allows hundreds of users and contributors bring in important and credible information in updating the still uncharted areas of the country. Through this powerful application by Google, one can contribute in doing cartography of an area or location, edit or add pertinent information such as street names, house numbers, photos, parks and other geographical features.

As a Filipino, I believed that this project by Google will benefit the Philippines in so many ways. Google Map Maker will be the tool to map the very challenging topography of the Philippines, with its diverse landscape and still unexplored regions. With the Philippines in the Google Map, we can expect a boom on the areas of Tourism and Commerce. I see this as an opportunity for more business to thrive in the country and to promote the country as a great travel destination.

I found this video in You Tube posted by aileenapolo with Jason Chuck of Google Inc. during the launch of Google Maker last year.

Nine Words Women Use Men Should Know About

Men are often confused with women especially when they enter into an argument or confrontation. They do not understand what woman "really mean" when she says a word or two. A couple of weeks ago I learned from a friend that there are nine words that most women often use which men should know about to avoid possible dispute. I found it worth sharing and hopefully it could help improve relationships.

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying F-- YOU!

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

OFW DIARIES with KARA DAVID

This is surely a good news to share with the millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through out the world. On March 13, GMA News and Public Affairs will air a new program called “OFW Diaries”. The show is devoted to the Philippines' modern day heroes and it will be hosted by no less than Ms. Kara David, a multi awarded journalist and TOYM awardee.

The program recognizes the many challenges the OFW and their families face. Through the video diaries the OFW themselves have created and submitted to the show, their own personal stories, struggles and success will be shown to the world. This will be a great opportunity for them to let the world know their difficulties, triumphs and the challenges their facing being away from home and trying to make their dreams come true apart from their families and loved ones.

I believe that this program will give many revelations as to the real status of the Pinoys OFWs in every corner of the globe. On its very first episode on Friday, “OFW Diaries” will feature the stories of three Filipino domestic helpers from the Middle East. As there is an estimated 11 millions of OFWs working in different parts of the world, I think that this program will definitely go a long way.

Surviving The Summer

Summer is definitely here and this time of the year is really meant for fun for most of us. Almost everyone is planning for their great summer vacation. And here in the Philippines, summer means white sand beaches, swimming pools and out of town picnics. On the other hand, the scorching heat of the sun may spoil our summer merriment. Thus, I want to share some tips on how you can be safe and beat the summer heat.

STAY HYDRATED! Keep a cold drink on hand. Keep cool by drinking lots of water. Lemonade and iced teas are the classic summertime drink. Do not drink too much of the sugary soft drinks as it will just make you thirstier and fills you with empty calories.

DRESS FOR THE SUMMER! This is the time to wear your most comfortable clothes. Wear light clothing like tank tops, shorts, capris and flip-flops.

SAVE YOUR SKIN! Use sunblock as often as possible. Recommended is SPF15 or higher. Moisturize your body and face with lotion and cream with sunscreen in them. This is the time to wear visors or hats which are lightweight to keep the sun off the face and neck. Stay out of the sun from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to avoid sunburns as the sun rays are strongest at this time. Use umbrellas and seek natural source of shades like trees if you have to spend long time outdoors.

PROTECT YOUR EYES FROM THE HARMFUL UV RAYS! Our eyes are susceptible to sun damage especially during summer. The UV rays of the can cause eye ailments like cataracts, eyelid cancer and macular degeneration. Wear dark eyeglasses and choose those that can block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Try also UV protected contact lenses to add an additional layer of protection but sunglasses are still needed to protect the area of the eye that is not covered by lens.

DON’T BURN YOUR WALLET! As we experience global economic crisis, plan your summer vacation on a budget. You don’t want to end up broke after enjoying the summer. Plan well, create a budget and look for creative ways to save money. Keep your travel costs down. Look for discounted resort packages online and make early reservations to qualify for discounted fares.

Goodbye FRANCIS M (1964-2009)

It was past noon yesterday when the sad news was announced by Vic Sotto on the no.1 noon-time show Eat Bulaga. The Philippine’s “Master Rapper” and “The Man from Manila” – FRANCIS “kiko” MAGALONA have passed away. It was such a heartbreaking news for all of us in the family and for his millions of followings.

Kiko as he is fondly called, have imprinted his own kind of image and legacy in the heart of Filipinos. Having been a co-host in Eat Bulaga, he was known as the goodlooking teener in the movie Bagets and reached stardom in the early 90s with his excellent pinoy rapping style in his popular songs Mga Kababayan ko and Kaleidescope World. He is a gifted artist who has found the love for photography just recently.

At a relatively young age of 44, Kiko succumbed to death yesterday at the Medical City after having been diagnosed with Leukemia just 7 months earlier. He was set to undergo a bone marrow transplant when he took his last breath just before his planned surgery in the US.

Though stricken with a very life threatening illness, Kiko have shown strength and impeccable will power to fight his battle with Leukemia. He remained to be an inspiration not only to his throng of fans but to the people afflicted with the same illness. His patriotic idealism was imbedded in his very own T-Shirt designs (3 stars and a sun) and in many songs he wrote like the infamous “Mga kababayan ko”.

Francis M’s demise is truly a big loss to the music industry and the entertainment world. Pinoys will surely miss him but one thing is definite, Francis M’s memories and music will stay forever in every Filipino’s hearts.

TOTOY BATO - Kapuso's finest primetime show

I must say that GMA Kapuso has nailed it again. On February 23, the network have launched the pilot episode of their newest primetime teleserye -" TOTOY BATO ". This is a Carlo J. Caparas original and once portrayed by the king of Philippine Cinema the late Fernando Poe Jr. and now for the tv production by Robin Padilla. The show also includes the Asia’s songbird, Regine Velasquez who plays Anna, Totoy’s childhood best friend and first love. Other casts include the legendry actor Mr. Eddie Garcia, theater greats Joonie Gamboa and Ronnie Lazaro, Caridad Sanchez, Ian Veneracion, Ara Mina and for the very fist time in a teleserye , Pambansang Kamao- Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao.

As I write this post, the show is running only on its second week but it’s undeniably showing a movie-like production and excellent performance so far by the casts. I appreciate the depth of the story and intense acting by Robin Padilla. He effectively illustrates the pain of being unjustly oppressed by his rich and cruel landlord or I would say land grabber. Having said this, the show has succeeded in capturing the hearts of pinoy viewers and has topped the ratings in prime time TV. The show has yet to surprise the viewers of the story’s twist on how Totoy transform from farmer to boxer.
Until then, could Totoy Bato manage to hold the top spot in the rating game? I would love to believe so…

Getting A Piece Of The Pie

After much deliberation in the US Congress and opposition from the Republicans, US President Barack Obama signed into law the $787 billion stimulus package, the biggest ever in American history known now as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 (ARRA). While some Americans continue to have doubts about it's positive effect in their failing economy, Filipino war veterans focus now on the $198 million Compensation Package. The benefit package is part of the $787 billion stimulus which recognizes the military service rendered by the Filipino veterans. Pinoy war vets will be getting a one time payment of $15,000 (US based) and $9,000 for those living in the Philippines.

I initially felt victorious for the brave Filipinos who have fought side by side the Americans during the war. They truly deserve to get what was promised to them by the US government. But I must say that it breaks my heart to see them every night in the news, at their old age lining up just to get application forms. Most of these veterans are sick and weak considering their age. There was even one who have died right after his application was submitted. Could this really be a victory for them? Why can't they be given lifetime pensions ?

While thousands of Pinoy vets streak the Philippine Veterans Office (PVAO) in Camp Aguinaldo to get the "compensation benefit" applications forms, the US Embassy in Manila have recently announced that there are 13 more sites to serve veterans for this purpose and that the application process no longer requires personal appearance of the veterans.

As the global economic crisis looms and the US economy dwindles, I guess our Pinoy vets will be forced to be contented and make do of what was given to them. And be thankful that they will be able to partake in the largest pie ever baked in the US financial budget so to speak. I just want to say to all Pinoy vets that though you are half victorious in this fight, I salute you for the valor and candor you have shown the world not only during war but most importantly in your daily struggles in life.