I was surprised to stumble into the new Our Very Own boutique by Rustan’s at Resorts World! They had just opened late December 2011. BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I’m in the lookout now for home stores and home stuff!
Love the Stingray trays!!!
I was so happy to receive a copy of Planet Philippines from my best friend, Rina.
Around 7 years ago she had told me about this new business venture she went into…… and now her monthly publication is bursting with many many pages!!!! She has a very good distribution among the overseas Filipino market in London who really appreciate and love the free publication. It’s a way of keeping in touch with what’s happening back home for them. Congratulations Planet Philippines!! Click below to go to their website and see some articles online
If you have a product or service geared towards the Overseas Filipino worker in the UK, this is a very very good publication to reach them. Get in touch with my friend
This is the fifth year of Belenismo! Thank you Tita Isabel and Isa for making me a part of this Christmas tradition. I am truly honored and blessed. Belenismo is a project that is born out of your love for Jesus and the Holy Family.
There were 148 Entries this year among the 3 categories - Monumental, Grand Monumental and Parish. Then there are the dioramas with 50 entries.
Previous Entries: Belenismo sa Tarlac December 12, 2007
Belenismo sa Tarlac 2008 December 31, 2008
Belenismo sa Tarlac 2010 December 27, 2o10
The 4th Belenismo sa Tarlac 2010 January 23, 2011
Congratulations Tita Isabel and Isa for al your effort in making this an annual tradition. As always your Belen is so beautiful, thank you to Ding Mercado, who tells me that whenever he is working on his design and the Belen that he does it with much love.
I will never be tired seeing all the beautiful Belens the people of Tarlac work so hard to put up during Christmas. I feel their energy, spirit and love when they proudly present their labor of love. Thank you Tita Isabel and Isa for bringing that spirit to the hearts of everyone who come to see all the belens. I wish more people could come and see them live and not only in photos.
San Clemente Municipal -This was the first Belen we visited and it was really really beautiful!
Our Lady of Remedies Parish Belen - Noah’s Ark Belen with the ark that was actually moving and swaying
Señor Sto. Niño Hospital
Moncada Municipal
Anao Municipal - One of my favorite Belens which is like Fabergé eggs. The hanging chandeliers looking like stars are made out of recycled soda plastic litro bottles. How creative! It’s even much better in person
Ramos Municipal - Wow! This was a humongous Belen!! Super bright and beautiful!
Jeffrey Valencie Residence - This was a treehouse belen. We were all amazed at the simplicity of it and yet how beautiful it still was. This was displayed in the front of the house of the owner who designed and made the Belen
Pura Municipal - Another major production with dancers and singers
Women actually making the flowers
St. Isidore Parish
A beautiful altar made out of bamboo inside the church
Expiatory
SM Prime Holdings
San Sebastian Cathedral
Rotary Club
Azaya Garden
GR8 Multi-Purpose Coop
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
Ves Foodhouse
Concepcion Municipal
This is the first time I went to Belenismo as a judge. All the other four years I came as a guest since it always coincides with my Mom’s birthday. But this year since Mom celebrated elsewhere, I was able to go!
I joined the bus with all the other judges - Johnny, Ding, Carlo, Mike, Isa, and the three Dayrit sisters - Christine, Michelle and my friend Yvonne with her daughter Carin. This group has been doing it every year for the past 5 years and I was happy to join them. My friend Yvonne put it so well, she said it was not only a judging or to see the belens but a pilgrimage as well in honor of Baby Jesus
The Judges - Cito Beltran, Ces Drilon, Yvonne and Christine Dayrit, Rica de Jesus and Johnny Go
Ding Mercado, Michelle Dayrit and Jiji Sanares
with Tita Isabel Cojuangco and Isa
We left Manila at 230pm and arrived at around 5pm at the Museo for the Belen Dioramas. As everyone said, it gets better every year. The Belens are beautiful works of art. Even if they are small, a lot of hardwork and thought is put into each and every Belen. It’s a tribute to Jesus in celebration of his birth
This is my favorite which is made out of 3,000 pcs. of toothpicks!
Previous Entries: Belenismo sa Tarlac December 12, 2007
Belenismo sa Tarlac 2008 December 31, 2008
Belenismo sa Tarlac 2010 December 27, 2o10
Congratulations Josie Natori and Rustan’s! Heart2Heart is inspired by another Filipino woman - strong, courageous, independent, hardworking - who makes us proud! Josie said that she went into business because she believes that it is important for a woman to be independent and not rely on their husband to support her. Never depend on a man. She said that you should never apologize for spending because you work hard to earn for yourself. Spend for yourself. I value that because that was what my grandmother, Gliceria Tantoco, told me
“What I have tried to do is listen closely to the music of women as I can. I respond to it by instinct. I play by ear. I see by feeling. Both the strength and the vulnerability of Natori draw on the source of my upbringing. East meets West.” – Josie Natori
Exemplifying her mantra that there are no boundaries, Josie Cruz Natori, founder and CEO of the Natori Company has crossed continents, navigated varying careers and surmounted countless obstacles to create a global brand, Natori.
With a keen eye for art, she has brought her namesake label to the international market – bringing forth an established Natori lifestyle from couture, ready-to-wear collection, lingerie, loungewear, sleepwear, swimwear, home, fragrance, and eyewear.
Josie was proud to say that she has never had a facelift in 64 years! Wow! She looks the same when I met her almost 20 years ago
Josie and Tita Nedy’s goal is to dress up the Philippines and dress up more Filipino women. Prices are 10% lower than USA prices so that is an additional incentive to shop here
Josie is expanding her line to many other things other than fashion ready to wear. She will also have home items. She said that she wants to offer things that make a woman feel good!
With a multitude of exclusive international brands under their wing, Rustan’s welcomes Natori to Manila with its first ever boutique to open outside of the United States. Natori finally comes home bringing with her the signature Asian aesthetic that has made the brand distinct, melding the visual appeals of both the East and the West. “Rustan’s mission is to continue to bring home world-class labels to the Filipinos, and with a brand like Natori pioneered by a homegrown talent, this gives us pride to announce its opening” shares Rustan Commercial Corporation President Zenaida Tantoco.
Rustan’s open’s Natori’s door to Filipino Style savants with its latest Fall 2011 collection. These new designs focus on the Bushido: The Way of the Warrior and explores the art and spirit of the Samurai. It is shown through her reworked traditional kimonos and origami shapes and sensual fabrics and textures. Vivid colors, bold prints and intricate embroideries adorn the collection reminiscent of an honored culture and are also a celebration of the spiritual discipline of the samurai and the ceremony of Japanese heritage.
With their continued expansion, Natori continues to share her creations that carry her signature prints and timeless sensual silhouettes. Setting new standards in color, fabric and silhouette, her collections remain glamorous and at the same time comfortable.
Armed with the challenge to innovate constantly, Josie Natori has taken her talent to the next level and carries on the challenge of producing designs that cater to different women worldwide.
Evoking an East meets West sensibility and a contemporary point of view, Natori brings art into life.
The new Natori boutique is now open and is located at 2nd floor Ladies section Rustan’s Makati and in Rustan’s Shangri-La Mall. For more information, you may call Rustan’s Makati at 813-3739 or Rustan’s Shangri-La at 633-4636 or 50.
I have been seeing Leyende in many bazaars for quite some time now but only got to know about their products recently. Thank you Claude Santos, Pioneer for Marketing Projects, for introducing me to the brand to me.
I sampled their basic facial products and their massage oils. They have shampoo, cologne and lip balms.
Another person behind Leyende is Angelica Cruz, Managing consultant for corporate and spa accounts
Heart2Heart loves products that are locally made ( our very own Filipino products ), environment friendly and natural products and Leyende is all that plus they are ECOCERT-certified.
I was able to try their new facial scrub which is made out of our very own muscovado sugar and calamansi. It’s good to know that what you are putting on your skin /face is natural and does not have harsh ingredients.
I love the bag it came in which they gave to me
I have not yet met the owner, Neva, who is the President and founder and is a friend of my sister in law, Krie of Messy Bessy. The two of them have similar ways and we are fortunate to have them as they inspire us to do business not just to make money but to be able to help others ( social aspect ), help our environment and save the earth and use natural and local ingredients.
Visit their website for more information:
This is Heart2Heart’s second time to attend Tessa’s Red Cross Ball. I remember the first one
Previous entry: Lustico October 29, 2009
And I missed last year because I was out of town but I am so glad I did not miss this one, it was truly a beautiful collection by Michael Cinco!! Thank you to Tessa and Kaye for a great event - being able to help the Red Cross at the same time showcasing Filipino talent
Thank you to Queenmelo, Jun Jun and Czarina Ablaza and Stenie for the people photos
Heart2Heart is always amazed at the scale of work that Gawad Kalinga undertakes. They have grown and penetrated already many parts of our country! Truly a worthy foundation that is really making a difference for our country! Thank you Mr. Tony Meloto and to the whole Gawad Kalinga team!! More power and may God continue to give you the strength to pursue this great endeavor!
Our table guests, Lauro and Grace Baja, Steve and Lindy Theodoropoulous and Jigger and May Antonio
My active GK cousin, Dino Pineda, with his Gawad Kalinga friends
It was fun being with Steve and Lindy who were bidding the whole night 
Steve actually won the bamboo bike
And Lindy got herself a beautiful work of Art
In Mothers Club, Mimie introduced us to Maligaya Institute. What a great service for our country! Our countrymen never ceases to amaze Heart2Heart. Right and left, many individuals, many organizations helping out our fellow countrymen.
An amazing institution that helps young women from less privileged sectors by giving them free education and training so they can eventually find jobs to earn a living
If you want to support Maligaya Institute
Click here to go to the website for more information: Foundation for Professional Training Inc.
