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Erica Concepcion-Reyes

Talks Travel

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3/14/16 5:00 PM

EDITOR'S NOTE

Quick Escape Travel plays such a big part of lifestyle. For me, since we live in a tropical country and beaches are just a couple of hours away, I prefer leaving the city for a cooler destination. More than getting away, I love what a new country offers: learning about different cultures, trying different cuisines, and just seeing something out of the ordinary. It taught me not only to use my eyes, but to be open to new experiences. More than anything it has taught me to let it all in, even when I just do a quick escape from the city. It can be as simple as visiting A11 in Pasay, or going to Tagaytay. Truth is, we can’t always plan a far trip but we can always approach things with curious, eager eyes and see things we haven’t noticed before.

A little sense of wonder does go a long way.

@riarecommends

CONTENTS

ERICA CONCEPCION-REYES 12

THOUGHT PIECE 17

Photography Cyrus Panganiban

The pitfalls of traveling in style

Styling Ria Prieto

Creative direction Edric dela Rosa

EXPLORED 20

Makeup Cats del Rosario

Mapping Brazil: from the sunny beaches to

Hair Jan Edrosolan

the roaring wild

On the cover: Betina Oman embroidered chiffon sweatshirt

ART 26

BARED 18

Reflection and commentary are the local

The scents and shades that herald summer

Group Publisher Bea Ledesma Editor in Chief Ria Prieto Creative Director Nimu Muallam Art Director Edric dela Rosa Copy Editor September Grace Mahino Editorial Assistants Pristine de Leon, Loren Dimaano Staff Photographer Patrick Segovia External Relations Officer Liza Jison

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Contributing Writers Tracie Anglo-Dizon, Chryssa Celestino, Angelo Comsti, Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, Denise Fernandez, Angela Manuel Go, Bambina Olivares Wise Contributing Photographers Jar Concengco, Cyrus Panganiban Contributing Illustrator Lee Caces, Danica Condez , Reese Lansangan

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Board Chairperson Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez SVP and Group Sales Head, Inquirer Group of Companies Pepito Olarte Sales Director Ma. Katrina Mae Garcia-Dalusong Business and Distribution Manager Rina Lareza Sales Inquiries Email: sales@hip.ph Telephone No: +63 (2) 403 8825 local 239

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Want to see the other issues of Inquirer RED Magazine? Check out inquirer.net/red

ON THE RADAR

Fine Tune

Luxury watches innovate their designs with intricate details this 2016 WORDS AN GE L A M A NUE L G O

Watch collectors and aficionados alike have the first quarter of the year to look forward to. At international watch shows, the industry’s key players present their newest offerings. This time around, the forecast names skeleton watches, classic techniques made modern, the integration of lightweight alternatives, and reissues of vintage favorites as some of the things that are most awaited in the scene of luxury timepieces.

AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK CONCEPT SUPERSONNERIE

HUBLOT BIG BANG UNICO SAPPHIRE

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The Royal Oak collection is known for its bulky, solid frame, often crafted from very heavy metals. This time around, Audemars Piguet presents a model with an ultra-light titanium case, but what truly makes it a standout piece is its emphasis on sound quality and clarity. It’s considered a groundbreaking minute repeater, sustained by a mechanism called the governor that has a built-in shock absorber made to eliminate most other noise from various parts.

With only 500 units available worldwide, this unique-looking watch uses sapphire for its middle, bezel, and back portions. The result: the whole watch becomes as see-through as the dial made of transparent resin, with only the screws and the buckles made of titanium. It uses the same Unico HUB1242 flyback chronograph movement that was unveiled by the company at last year’s Baselworld show.

JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE GYROTOURBILLON

The Reverso celebrates its 85th birthday this year, and with this, Jaeger-LeCoultre released a special edition of the rectangular-shaped, double-faced watch. Despite being one of the larger, more complicated styles available in the market, it features a composition so light and airy. With a multi-tourbillon axis set within a spherical cage, it looks as if it’s suspended in thin air. The catch? Only 75 units are available.

RICHARD MILLE RMS05 MECHANICAL FOUNTAIN PEN

Thinking off-the-wrist, Richard Mille released this $105,000 fountain pen made of NTPT carbon—a strong, lightweight composite reminiscent of Damascus steel. The movements inside are mostly enabled by titanium and rhodium-plated gears. It’s covered by sapphire glass and has a white gold nib that gets retracted then winds the movement whenever the pen is placed in its cap.

PANERAI LO SCIENZIATO LUMINOR 1950 TOURBILLON GMT TITANIO

Both skeletonized and made of titanium, the Lo Scienziato’s wealth of features includes a tourbillon escapement, hours, minutes, small seconds, GMT AM/PM indication, and a power reserve of six days that can be monitored through the power indication on the back. The technology used in creating a light but intricate design is called Direct Metal Laser Sintering, which allows layers and layers of 3D objects to be built up by means of a fiber optic laser.

CARTIER ROTONDE DE CARTIER ASTROMYSTÉRIEUX

Considered one of the most elegant and beautiful releases of SIHH 2016, it is powered by a series of delicate mechanics and 188 ball bearings inside its 43.5mm-wide, 950 palladium Rotonde case. The body of the watch is transparent, and one can clearly see the entire escapement, balance-wheel, gear train, and barrel inside, centralized under the hands so they move in sync. Similar to a tourbillon, it is suspended and is supported by cage-like, rotating sapphire crystals.

EMPOWERED

A David and His Two Goliaths Lawyer Albert Arcilla talks about taking the helm at both Chevrolet and Volvo WORDS DE N IS E FE RN AN DE Z IL LUS T RAT ION L E E CACE S

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You were originally a lawyer. What made you want to try out other opportunities and venture into the automotive industry?

I started in the automotive industry as a lawyer. I was the one who negotiated with the Volvo brand to come here, so technically, I was the corporate lawyer of the company.

However, because we were dealing with premium brands, it was part of the corporate philosophy to have strong relationships with our clients. Since we were a very small group, it was inevitable for every officer to interact with the clients, and I think that experience led me to appreciate marketing and sales. The company saw that I was liking that particular role, so they gave me an opportunity to participate in the service group.

From being the lawyer of the company to eventually becoming its CEO, how has the transition been for you?

My role as its corporate lawyer was to make all third parties and clients happy with the way we serve them. It’s my role to resolve a problem— that’s my perspective. Talking to clients is always about trying to find a win-win situation.

My training as a lawyer made it easier for me to progress into sales and marketing. I did a lot of negotiations as a corporate lawyer and that is what I continue to do in sales: Always trying to negotiate and resolve both sides’ expectations.

What is the difference between the gratification you get as a lawyer versus as a CEO? I’m a people person. That’s why I think I enjoy being a lawyer. The satisfaction comes from seeing what we’ve tried to resolve, whatever we tried to conceive or create, turn into reality.

Seeing both the parties—the company and my client—happy with the work I’ve done is really the best satisfaction.

How do you handle running two giant companies in the automotive industry?

It helps that I’ve been working with both companies for the past 21 years. The number

around [all the time]; it’s just that I still have to see something nice about the whole situation. It normally works because a happy atmosphere creates better work. Stress is stress, work is work.

Being a seasoned name in the industry, do you still get to learn something new while handling your profession?

Yes, every day! The automotive industry right now is one of the most dynamic. In the past 10 years, I think we’ve doubled in the number of brands in the market. We’ve doubled or tripled the number of models available. When we were starting 23 years ago, it was a very small market; now, it’s very diverse, with more players.

We need to understand even more market niches, so every day we’re learning, even with technology and the way we talk to the market and communicate with them.

of years is enough for me to have prepared for the next role, because while I was taking charge of a certain role, I was also learning more about what I was doing from my colleagues. People tend to learn during the time frame given for them to understand and it’s easier for them to transfer to another department.

How do you cope with the stress?

I try not to lose my sense of humor. I always say if I can’t crack a joke at the end of the day, then I’m out (chuckles). Not that I joke

Do you have a certain work philosophy you abide by?

I have some basic tenets [I follow when running] things: It is better to be kind than right, better to be generous, fair, and forgiving than just. In anything I do, I try to make sure that people leave the room thinking they learned something. I don’t like ending the day with unresolved issues. As much as possible, I don’t like anyone to leave with a heavy feeling.

Of course, sometimes that can’t be avoided because of the pressure at work, but generally, if a person has that in mind, then the next day, there’s less chance of doing the same thing again. This is a service-oriented industry. How can you deliver something you don’t personally believe in? How can I tell you to deal with your customer really well when deep inside, you don’t feel good? How can you express with your hand what your heart doesn’t feel?

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3/15/16 6:37 PM

INSPIRED

House Warming Playful strokes that add some rawness to pure refinement W ORDS P RIS T IN E DE LE ON PH OT OGRAP H Y J AR C ON CE N GC O

Top: Pieces in the living room are mostly culled from the couple’s travels. The owners similarly cite W17, Cura V, and Blue Carreon Home as local favorites.

If there’s anything that the first attempts at modern architecture deeply lacked, it’s the need for mess and a little movement. In the ’20s, it was as if design had come to a deliberate standstill. Homes rose tall, proud, and frigid with their starkly clean lines and white bare-bones space—a glaring mirror-image of the science of the times, as impressive and practical as they were bland.

“Some modern homes [tend to be] very clinical, really bare,” says the owner of nearly a year-old condo in Bonifacio Global City. “I wanted [this home] to be modern, but at the same time, I wanted it to be warm,” like a place rife with signs of people actually living there. Graphic paintings, wrinkled chevron pillows, and swiveling marble-like patterns on the floor contribute to the quiet motions and whimsies of the place. With the floor somewhat like the sea’s surface in its reflection of light, it’s almost as if you were stepping on something that shifts and stirs.

Architect and interior designer Gil Coscolluela lent his hand in incarnating the family’s dream abode with furniture from Nix Alanon. The couple—one partner is involved in the food industry and the other, a luxury resortwear entrepreneur—had moved in last year with their two kids. “Right now, we’re also building a house. We’re going to move there in 2017, and we’re going to rent this space out.”

Seemingly taking its cue from the owners, the apartment itself insinuates transition, as though the paintings, the walls, and the floors similarly couldn’t keep still.

Near the window, there’s a painting of a horse trotting forward with a rider on its back, their bodies as graphically fluid as the colored background they’re set in. Dubbed “Courage,” the painting is part of a four-piece series created

by James Jean solely for this apartment. Near the children’s room, the other James Jean pieces line Below: One of the most well-thought-out spaces in the home, the whitethemed kitchen is designed in collaboration with Moduclasse.

Right: The dining table and chairs are designed by Nix Alanon.

the hallway, displaying what seem to be innocent cartoons set in a world of surrealistic bric-a-brac.

Some commissioned artworks are more abstract, like the circular pops of colors by Pacita Abad or a colossal granite-like painting—“like a cement wall with lots of algae”—giving the new, polished apartment something that had seemingly aged throughout the years.

While the owners are avid art collectors, the home doesn’t exactly assume the look of a gallery, one that’s always visited yet never lived in. If rigidity is often associated with refinement, here, the enchantment comes with a dose of play.

The owners hold gatherings that involve a great measure of spontaneity; you can just imagine the scenario of guests sitting on the fuzzy carpet and the children’s friends going round and round about. “I enjoy hearing the laughter, hearing the noise,” says the owner. “Some people, they like it quiet; here, we like seeing the mess.”

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From left to right: Carlo e Camilla, Opera Kitchen, Cirkulo de Bellas Artes and Mr. and Mrs. Bund

DEVOURED

Dinner with a View Dining destinations all over the world WORDS AN GE LO COM S T I

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Cafe du Tukon (Basco, Batanes) First of all, it’s in beautiful Batanes, within the compound of the famed Fundacion Pacita.

That alone already merits the restaurant some pogi points, as the sculpted mountains, green rolling fields, and dark-hued waters make for an incomparable backdrop. And since the restaurant is encased with glass walls, guests can fully enjoy what nature has to offer. The same goes with their food: the dishes celebrate the bounty of the land and sea, relying mostly on locally and organically produced vegetables, beef, and pork. Best of all, Café du Tukon helps preserve Ivatan cuisine by filling its menu with some of the townsfolk’s home-cooked favorites.

Carlo e Camilla (Milan, Italy) No trip to Milan will be complete without a visit to this humble restaurant. It is just as breathtaking as the Duomo, but while the Cathedral boasts a Lombard Gothic style, Carlo e Camilla stands out for the absence of a concrete design. The place seems ruggedly rundown and naked: a single long table in the form of a cross requires guests to share space, and the chandeliers don’t even help remedy the dim lighting. But it is these very components

from which the place gets its undeniable charm.

Well, those, and the short and tight food and wine menus crafted by chef Carlo Cracco.

Opera Kitchen (Sydney, Australia) There’s the famed Bennelong restaurant located inside the iconic Sydney Opera House, with Australian culinary stalwart Peter Gilmore at the kitchen’s helm. However, I prefer sitting at the lower concourse of the building and watch the ferries sail by as I enjoy my burger and glass of sauvignon blanc. Tagged as the “fantasy food court,” the Opera Kitchen brings together a selection of food brands set in an al fresco area that offers an undisturbed view of the harbor bridge. There’s Vietnamese fare, a sushi bar, pastries from Becasse Bakery, Wagyu burger from Charlie & Co., and seafood offerings from Cloudy Bay Fish Co. By day, birds keeping a watchful eye over your food provide company; by happy hour, night owls join in on the drinking sprees. There are definitely a lot of things happening in this open area—about as many as those going on inside the house.

Mr. and Mrs. Bund (Shanghai, China) The place initially gives off a nightclub-y vibe,

but the bewilderingly long menu will prove otherwise. A constant fixture in the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants roster, Mr. And Mrs. Bund showcases French dishes as interpreted by the playful mind of Paul Pairet. There’s the popular Meunière Truffle Bread, a square toast crowned with thinly sliced truffles and truffle foam, and for dessert, the creative and complex Lemon and Lemon Tart, candied peel stuffed with tangy sorbet, curd, and cream. Just as refreshing as the dishes is the stunning view of the Huangpu River, which can be enjoyed from inside the restaurant as well as from the outdoor terrace.

Tartan Roof and Azotea (Madrid, Spain) Perhaps the best piece of art inside the Círculo de Bellas Artes Building is located on the topmost floor and not within its walls. Offering a stunning view of the city, both the Tartan Roof and Azotea make for one of the most hip and happening places in the city—and that’s saying a lot, given that Madrid is bursting to the seams with bars and restaurants. Indulge on croquettes, a duo of tartare, fried apple pie, and porkribs as you take in the dramatic skyline.

TROPICAL TREND Fashion favors the bold this season Whatever the trends may forecast this year, one certain philosophy becomes predictable through and through: It’s better when it’s bold and bright. Color has always been the trademark of summer. As the heat blazes, loud colors, prints, and patterns reclaim the spotlight.

The SM Store Makati channels the same summer flair with its range of tote bags, sleek mandals, and tailored blouses and skirts. The stores implore you to create your own ensemble without skipping trendy pieces—just add a dash of sparkle with sunglasses and layered bracelets.

While the season easily conjures up beach water slapping on sandy shores and summer anthems resounding, consequentially, it coaxes sartorialists everywhere to play it even louder.

Red bucket bag, blue strappy heels, blue wedge, all from Parisian; floral one piece, printed dress shirt, all from Coco Cabaña; yellow printed men’s polo, printed bomber jacket, Coco Republic; black and white top, SM Woman; earrings, SM Accessories; white printed floral skirt, GTW, The SM Store Makati

Dress, Calvin Klein, Power Plant Mall; belt, Hermes Paris, Greenbelt 3; heels, Hermes Paris, Greenbelt 3

ADMIRED

WANDERING JEWELER ERICA CONCEPCION-REYES FINDS HER MUSE IN UNKNOWN LANDS WORDS CHRYSSA CELESTINO P H O T O G R A P H Y C Y R U S PA N G A N I B A N STYLING RIA PRIETO ILLUSTRATION REESE LANSANGAN

Yellow top, Jaspal; neck piece, Ken Samudio

This June, Manila will miss the presence of Erica Concepcion-Reyes. Europe and its cold countries Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands, in turn, will welcome her. But she always leaves a part of her back home, tucked in the nicks and curves of cameos and necklaces she designs for Riqueza—her six-year-old jewelry line—and worn by the elites of Manila.

Now if jewelry could talk, we should listen; whatever Concepcion-Reyes finds in the lands she visits—whether that may be baroque cathedrals or

inspiring frescoes—she immortalizes it in her pieces like a tactile album devoid of photos. What we get instead are storied jewelry, a crafted translation of her many grand, global tours.

The West has been her favored destination, and it seems like the bias can be traced to older generations.

History runs deep in both her interests and designs, the most accessible piece of her past being the legacy of her great-grandmother Victoria Lopez Araneta.

Concepcion-Reyes recalls her European habits—an

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outlandish gesture of both culture and fun that was made known to the grandkids thanks to Araneta’s diary.

“Lola Vic was known to throw some of the grandest parties in her home, popularly known as Victoneta. She had a beautiful collection of ternos, some of which were by the national artist Ramon Valera. She was always ‘dressed up to the nines,’” she says.

“Whenever she and my great-grandfather, Salvador Araneta, would travel to Europe, they enjoyed visiting the flea market Marche aux Puces.

They went regularly because they loved all the beautiful things that could be seen and bought there. She would purchase statues and clean them up. Their hosts would be surprised to come home to see the bathtub full of statues!”

Concepcion-Reyes takes after this tradition albeit in a more modest manner. While I’m not certain if she has ever purchased gargoyles from Scotland, she has inherited her great-grandmother’s love for Europe and the lavish. Citing the ’60s and the ’70s as tasteful eras, she goes for big things and never settles for little. “I’ve always been drawn to big pieces [of jewelry], and piling it on. I like using cabochons and a lot of bold colors: emerald green, blue sapphire, ruby red… I like using materials, colors, cuts and shapes of stones that are unique and uncommon,” she elaborates.

Her label, of course, echoes her taste, but it also reflects the European cities she’s visited—the culture, the art, the feeling—in more ways than one.

“I enjoy antique jewelry shops during my travels,” Concepcion-Reyes says, mentioning that all her trips to Europe have been nothing but memorable.

Though her most notable times are visiting Carlo Eleuteri’s jewelry shop near the Spanish steps—“He has one of the most amazing collections of estate pieces!”—and walking along Via dei Coronari and discovering the little antique shops and treasures that lined its aisles.

Concepcion-Reyes is a self-confessed city girl through and through, but when she travels, she yearns for places—within the city or not—that are rich in art, culture, and history. “Regardless of where I am, I enjoy visiting the museums, flea markets, and the little antique jewelry and furniture shops in that particular area. Some of my all-time favorite cities to do this are Stockholm, Madrid, Salzburg, Rome, Florence, and Paris,” she says.

With a giddy tone, she remembers seeing 16th century art in the Treasury Museum of San Francisco Basilica in Assisi, where crosses, chalices, and other religious objects embellished with red corals and gold were up for display. “Traveling broadens the mind… It breaks the monotony of my normal day-to-day routine and makes me feel alive. It never ceases to inspire me!” she exclaims. And really, all that—plus the fashion books and her opera work music—never will.

When Concepcion-Reyes returns after her trip, expect new life in her jewelry. (Not yet in this year’s MaARTE fair, unfortunately, but perhaps next season.) Whatever Norway or Belgium have in store for her and her pieces, it will be a patient waiting game. Who wouldn’t anticipate to get glimpses of old, charming Europe in this age of modern metropoles?

None? I don’t think so, too.

Yellow Jumpsuit, Jaspal; heels, Hermes Paris, Greenbelt 3

M AK EU P CAT S DE L R OS A R I O OF S HU U EM U R A H A I R J A N E D R OS O L A N

Skirt and top, Alice McCall, LCP

Come Fly with Me

The privileges and comedic hassles of traveling with your LVs and Diors W OR DS BAM BIN A OL I VARE S W IS E IL LUS T RAT ION DAN ICA C ON DE Z

I once knew a French woman in Hong Kong with a penchant for spectacle and sparkle who would travel back to Paris often, her several LV trunks in tow.

With haughty assurance, she would breeze through customs, outwardly oblivious but secretly aware of the open-mouthed effect— bouche-bée, the French call it—she had on all those who chanced upon her.

She was quite a sight to behold as she strode inside the Charles de Gaulle airport: tall, slim, imperious, dressed in couture Leonard or Dior, with platinum blond hair, tanned skin, and collagen-enhanced lips. She was somewhere between caricature and legend, one of those European socialites who had married into fabulous wealth in Hong Kong.

One time, an astonished but wary customs officer stopped her to ask what she had in her several pieces of luggage, which most definitely weighed beyond the 40kg allowance for First Class passengers.

“It’s my wardrobe. For the season,” she replied, somewhat bemused but the tiniest bit annoyed.

“The season? It’s spring now.”

“Alors, the racing season.” Madame’s husband was, after all, a prominent racehorse owner.

The customs officer wondered if he had a smuggler before him, albeit quite a stylish one. He made her open her trunks to inspect the contents.

Noticing the carefully wrapped jewelry in pouches marked Cartier, Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet, etc., not to mention the many couture outfits separated from each other by sheets of tissue paper, he asked, “Why do you need so much jewelry?”

“Because I must be dressed properly for the

season. I have a full calendar and my wardrobe has been planned. There are the races, the dinners, the balls… I cannot wear n’importe quoi to these events, especially if my husband’s horses win.”

Madame never once raised her voice, her tone merely matter-of-fact, as if flying First Class with 12 pieces of luggage were the most natural thing in the world. I think she laughed, however, at the preposterousness of the officer’s suggestion that she post a bond for her jewelry.

He wasn’t totally convinced she wasn’t a smuggler, because he didn’t think people still traveled that way.

Actually, people still do, but they’re more likely to fly private. Or FedEx most of their luggage to their destination ahead of time. For the plebs back in cattle class, straitjacketed into the increasingly tight spaces that pass for airline seats, it perhaps doesn’t make sense to get all dressed up in the hopes of looking like they belong in Business or First but, by some ticketing misfortune, ended up in Coach. Airlines used to reward the attractive and elegantly dressed with upgrades when the flights were full. Nowadays, it depends on your frequent flyer status; shabby clothing is immaterial.

But airport security is the great equalizer.

Whether you’re wearing your Valentino Rockstud sandals or the Parisian copy, you’ll still have to take them off and toss them into a grubby little plastic tray to be X-rayed as you cross the metal detector in bare feet.

If you’re wearing a turban in an attempt to channel Elizabeth Taylor in the South of France, you’ll have to remove that, too—unless you’re Waris Ahluwalia.

As for Madame, she ended up having a brilliant season.

BARED

Golden Hour

Nars founder Francois Nars unravels the story behind this season’s latest shades WORDS RIA P RIE T O

“It’s a bit like a souvenir of the island, or my version of an homage,” says makeup artist and photographer Francisco Nars of the brand’s latest collection.

Culling inspiration from his travels, the line of bronzers, oils, and candles brandishes nature’s range of colors. Whoever wears it would have a token of the founder’s favorite escapades.

How has the island of Motu Tane influenced you?

Motu Tane inspires me all the time when it comes to the creation of color. I come up with so many ideas when I am there. The colors there are extremely strong: the blue lagoons, the green foliage, the pink sunsets… I can see a flower and say, “I want exactly this pale green color for an eye shadow.” When I’m there, I keep myself open to that process. I never force myself to create. There, my mind is very, very open to anything.

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What inspired you to create this collection?

I first fell in love with French Polynesia and Bora Bora in 1999 when I was traveling there with family and friends. I’m really inspired by the natural beauty of the islands and also of the people and their customs. Over the years, products inspired by my time there have made their way into various NARS

Follow Your Nose

collections: eyeshadows, lip colors, bronzers, body oils…suddenly, it just seemed natural to create a collection of everyone’s favorites.

What are your favorite products in the collection?

I love the new Laguna Liquid Bronzer because it can be used in many different ways: to contour the face, as a bronzer, mixed with makeup to make a glowing foundation. It’s versatile and easy to apply.

You can use it on the face or the body I also love the oils, especially Body Glow II. It’s lightweight but really soothing and moisturizing and it gives skin a beautiful radiance.

What is the best technique for applying bronzer?

The best thing about the Laguna Bronzer is that the color looks great on virtually everyone. For the liquid bronzer, I would use fingertips to blend it over those areas the sun hits naturally, like the tops of the cheekbones, the forehead and the bridge of the nose.

The powder bronzer comes with its own Kabuki Ita Brush, which the best tool for applying it because the hairs pick up just a bit of pigment at a time. I would brush it on the high points of the face and also on the chest and shoulders, where people find their skin tans first.

Scents and shades announcing summer’s early coming

Details of the interiors include chained-swing chairs

Eau des Sens by Diptyque

Fragrances of orange blossom and bitter orange create gender-neutral scents.

The Herb Garden by Jo Malone

Jo Malone has whipped up a flurry of fragrances reminiscent of Eden: Lavender and Coriander, Sorrel and Lemon Thyme, Wild Strawberry and Parsley, Nasturtium and Clover, Carrot Blossom and Fennel.

Rose Pompon

The collaboration of Camille Goutal and Philippine Courtiere birthed the Rose Pompon, playing with notes of floral and fruits.

La Prairie

The sleek and minimalist gold design of La Prairie flaunts elegance.

Formulated to highlight their gold science, brighten and revitalize, their cellular radiance perfecting fluide pure gold is a lightweight and gold-infused fluid that allows users to exude a natural glow while helping the skin regenerate and rejuvenate.

The Nars Tahiti Bronze Collection consists of Mono誰 Body Glow and Mono誰 Body Glow II, the Liquid Laguna Bronzer, Laguna Tiara Bronzer, and Mono誰 Scented Candle

EXPLORED

En Route to Brazil Beyond the Internet meme, discover the unique wonders of this Latin American destination WORDS T RAC I E AN GLO - DIZ ON IL LUS T RAT ION DAN ICA CON DE Z

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Brazil is a hot destination every year, but 2016 makes it extra special due to the upcoming summer Olympics that has brought a lot of improvements to Rio de Janeiro: great new restaurants, bars, and hotels, a new subway line, better security and order, and new attractions such as the recently inaugurated Museu do Amanhã and the city aquarium, currently under construction.

BEST TIME TO GO Travelers visit Brazil all year round, but the country has different seasons for different interests. For visitors looking for wildlife, the best destination would be Pantanal and the best season would be from June to September. For those looking to experience the famous Amazon forest, a good time would be from August to December. If you are looking for the sun and the beach, the best time would be between October and March, but Brazil being a huge country on the equator line, it will always be a hot, sunny destination at any time of the year.

RIO: BEYOND OLYMPICS Rio is a very special Brazilian destination where you can find a great mix of culture, nature, and gastronomy. Explore the quiet beaches of Prainha and Grumari, hike to the top of two brother hills to have amazing views of Rio’s beaches, challenge

yourself to do stand-up paddling on the famous Copacabana beach, have the opportunity to visit Christ the Redeemer, one of the new seven wonders of the world, explore a different social aspect of the city with a walk through the favelas or shanty towns, or get aboard a cable car headed to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain so you can sip a caipirinha by the glow of the sunset as you watch the lights of the city come to life.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ZIKA VIRUS It is true that there is a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil, especially in the northeast. But many travelers may be unaware that for years now, Brazil has also had huge problems with dengue fever whose symptoms are far worse than Zika’s. Some articles have been comparing Zika with Ebola, but this is an inaccurate comparison because the Zika virus does not kill.

The main concern about the Zika virus relates to pregnant women as there have been many cases of Zika-infected women who gave birth to babies suffering from microcephaly. However, it has not been scientifically proven that the Zika virus is the cause of this condition.

If you’re neither pregnant nor planning to have a baby soon, the threat of the Zika virus should not be any reason for canceling your trip here.

Opposite page: Brazil’s sites range from abundant wildlife, the Sugar Loaf Mountain, breathtaking falls and great beaches.

WHERE TO DINE

Sao Paulo: DOM, Mani, Fasano Rio: Roberta Sudbbrack, Olympe, Lassai, Sushi Leblon

GETTING THERE FROM ASIA

Direct flights from Asia to Brazil are offered by Singapore Airlines, Air China, Emirates Qatar, and Etihad.

WHERE ELSE TO GO IN BRAZIL

For cultural experiences: Salvador For the breathtaking falls: Iguaxú For exploring the wildlife of the country: Pantanal For great beaches: Búzios For an experience that’s out of the ordinary: Lençóis Maranheses

EXPLORED

Hot Pursuit Private paradise and rural retreats in the middle of nowhere WORDS AN GE L A M A NUE L G O

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Finding comfort in the familiar makes for an easy-peasy, keepeveryone-happy type of vacation. But for the times when you feel it’s time for more of a trulyge t - a w ay - f rom - i t - a l l journey, allow yourself the chance to venture to a completely different end of the earth. Whatever adventure you’re seeking, get set for some summer stopovers not found in your average travel guide.

Relish in unique cultures, find beachside bliss, and mingle with the locals— human or otherwise.

VILLA ORSULA

SECRET BAY

Dominica, West Indies Dominica—not to be mistaken for the Dominican Republic—is known as the Nature Island for its abundance of lush greenery and unspoilt land. Secret Bay is just one of the hidden splendors this Caribbean destination has to offer. This secluded villa complex has just six villas available, but despite the hotel’s small size, it operates as well as a full-sized resort, offering a variety of recreational activities and wellness retreats for its guests to enjoy.

Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a World Heritage site that was once home to the local noble family, and still remains one of the most architecturally grandiose places in the world. Within short distance is Villa Orsula, a 1930s villa completely restored and refurbished and now has luxuriously appointed accommodations of 11 rooms and two suites. Located by the water’s edge, it is surrounded by picturesque seafront gardens with breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea and nearby island Lokrum.

RIAD DAR L’OUSSIA

Essaouira, Morocco Essaouira is a Moroccan port town on the Atlantic coast known for its fortified walls, bustling marketplaces, and fish harbors. Riad Dar L’Oussia gives travelers a taste of the country’s extensive culture by marrying the beauty of historic opulence and modern comfort. It features classic Moroccan style in its rooms and courtyards, and boasts a panoramic view of the town’s main square, beaches, and fishing ports, thanks to its central location.

NAYARA SPRINGS

RAFFLES PRASLIN

La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica Thermal springs, exotic wildlife, and dense tropical landscapes are typical to the rainforests of Costa Rica, but this particular attraction sits right in the Arenal Volcano National Park, one of the world’s most pristine and concentrated natural sites. Nayara Springs is designed to be a natural getaway that provides both relaxation and adventure by allowing guests to enjoy the wonders of the environment around it. It sits on an unspoiled mountain and gives its guests a firsthand experience of the region’s colorful avifauna and flora, and the neighboring 5,358foot volcano.

Praslin Island, Seychelles Praslin is the second largest granite island in the Seychelles and is accessible only by plane or helicopter from Mahé Island. Located in the Indian Ocean, this resort sits surrounded by deep blue waters, thick foliage, and some of the most well-preserved and pristine beaches in the world. While you’re in the area, try your luck at visiting the Aldabra Atoll, a heavily monitored and uninhabited island with the largest population of giant tortoises in the world—only about 1,000 people are allowed in annually.

ONGUMA THE FORT

Etosha National Park, Namibia Etosha National Park is hailed as Namibia’s greatest wildlife sanctuary, and Oguma Game Reserve is only a small part of it with its 34,000 hectares of protected land and wildlife. The Fort is one of many of Onguma’s options for accommodation and it features a huge tower built around the raw, stone-clad walls that surround this luxury lodge. Be it the local rhinos, birds, zebra, or giraffes, the chance of spotting or hearing the abundant wildlife of Etosha from your window is highly likely. To make things more exciting, the abundance of nearby watering holes and feeding grounds are ideal for those willing to wait to witness them firsthand.

BUSINESS

Cheap Oil: So What?

W O RDS DORIS DUM L AO - A B ADIL L A C OL L AG E RE E S E L ANS AN GA N

We’ve never seen global oil prices this low in over a decade. Back in June of 2014, when the headlines were all about the “pork barrel” scam, oil was at $110 per barrel. In recent months, we’ve seen a price free fall down to $28 to $35 per barrel.

In a nutshell, the dramatic decline was partly due to the US’ reduced reliance on imported crude. As Americans extracted more natural gas from local shale rocks—known as the “fracking” boom—oil-exporting Middle East had to sell crude elsewhere. To protect their market share, the region did not reduce output. All this against a backdrop of slower global economy, and the result is a supply glut. And whether we like it or not, this is one commodity that greatly affects our increasingly mobile lifestyle.

The robust Philippine economy has empowered more Pinoys to own a car or two (for number-coding) and satiate their wanderlust.

As we see on Facebook and Instagram, more people are taking long road trips on weekends these days, headed to Clark for the hot air balloon festival, Tagaytay or Baguio to chill out.

There are now 300,000 cars plying South Luzon Expressway every day, exceeding expectations of toll road operator San Miguel Group.

It’s indeed a great time to go on long drives, with local gas prices now only at P29 to P35 per liter, compared to P50 to P54 per liter back in June of 2014. Thanks to the oil deregulation law of 1998, local petroleum prices adjust to global oil prices. When oil prices were skyrocketing, we all had to bite the bullet. These days, the trend is the motorist’s friend.

However, there’s no manna from heaven for consumers when it comes to air travel. My husband Robert, a lawyer, flies round-trip from Manila to Laoag for work almost every week; he says ticket prices haven’t gotten any cheaper.

A poll among travel industry veterans and other frequent flyers only reaffirms that the decline in oil prices have not lowered ticket prices. Even among budget carriers in the region, only a few carry eye-popping seat offerings.

At the very least, the government has ordered airlines operating domestic and international flights in the Philippines to scrap fuel surcharge.

Cebu Pacific vice president Paterno Mantaring Jr. said the removal of such fuel surcharges since January had resulted in “more affordable” fares for passengers, with the airline’s trademark “Piso Fares” promo offering up to 99 percent in savings for domestic and international routes.

“We continuously aim to pass on these savings to our customers, as we launch seat sales more frequently now than five years ago. The recent decline in fuel prices improved Cebu Pacific’s bottomline, paving the way for the introduction of more new routes in 2015 and the successful expansion of flight operations outside Manila.

This allowed Cebu Pacific to maximize its conservative fleet optimization program, and to further develop the country’s primary hubs for air travel,” Mantaring said.

Indeed, low global oil prices and the healthy demand for travel are expected to boost the profitability of airlines across the globe this year.

Next to overhead costs, aviation fuel is typically the sector’s biggest operating expense, at around 40 to 45 percent in total. Considering the huge fuel savings they enjoy these days, how come consumers don’t feel enough of the windfall?

“Unfortunately, travel products and majority of owners and operators do not adjust rates due to oil prices,” explained one hotel and travel veteran. Given the fixed costs incurred by the industry against the volatility of oil prices, price rollbacks won’t come voluntarily. “For most hotels and airlines, pricing depends on the business forecast. If there are rooms or seats in abundant availability, rates remain low. If occupancy or threshold reaches a certain level, prices go up. This is dynamic pricing.” Because of this dynamic pricing, the veteran explained, “I can’t even keep my airfares for Berlin and Dubai fixed at a rate because they increase every bloody day.”

For those looking for cheap flights to the likes of Busuanga (Coron) or Batanes, it’s next

to impossible. There are destinations with much greater demand than flights available, sometimes due to lack of airport capacity. For the few carriers deploying small aircrafts to such underserved destinations, why would they bring down their prices?

It’s no wonder that many upscale islandresort developers buy their own aircraft and offer bundled services for guests. Recently, upscale Balesin Club bought its fifth aircraft: a new 68-seater ATR 72-500. Ayala Land also recently purchased a new 50-seater aircraft ATR 42-600 to fly more people to El Nido.

“Lowering of large ticket expenses does not come often. Normally, aviation corporations who had worked out the savings often opt of capital investments,” said Zosimo Jimeno, general manager of Kok Thai Travel, a travel agency operating out of Vietnam. Jimeno took note of Philippine Airlines’ recent $1.85 billion deal to buy six A350-900s from Airbus (with an option to buy six more). The flag carrier plans to use these new planes to fly nonstop from Manila to the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Awash with fuel savings, budget carrier Cebu Pacific also mounted new flights between Manila and Doha, Manila and Fukuoka, Cebu and Narita, Cebu and Taipei, and Davao and Singapore—all in 2015. By March 15, 2016, it will start flying from Manila to Guam, its first U.S. destination.

In a bigger picture, we have 2.5 million overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) in the Middle East, the source of over a fifth of the overseas remittances that support many households and perk up the local economy.

With depressed oil prices, we’re starting to hear about lay-offs in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Gulf. Bank of the Philippine Islands economist Jun Neri has estimated that the Philippines is a net beneficiary of cheap oil for as long as global price stays within $40 to $50 per barrel, but with such a double-edged sword looming over us, I’d rather pay a bit more for gas than risk more OFW jobs getting cut.

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ART

Rabbit Holes

Delving into this month’s roster of arresting exhibitions WORDS CH RYS S A CE L E S T IN O

WHAT’S SO WRONG IF YOU’RE WRONG

ANG KIUKOK: THE GOLDEN YEARS

Runs until Apr. 23 at Silverlens Galleries, 2/F YMC Bldg. 2, 2320 Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati City

Runs until June 26 at the G/F Galleries of the Ayala Museum, Makati Ave., cor. dela Rosa St., Greenbelt Park, Makati City

Artist Gene Paul Martin fashions whims, commentary, and cynicism into seemingly simple and overtly playful imagery. In his ongoing exhibition at Silverlens Gallery, getting lost in Martin’s dripping paints, swelling heads, and pastel strokes is one way to find worlds and realities less known.

Reliving the lost age in National Artist Ang Kiukok’s revered repertoire is Ayala Museum’s objective in its latest installament of “Images of the Nation.” Works personally selected by the modernist’s son Andrew Ang offer glimpses of the master’s psyche during the early, middle, and late period of his vibrant career.

PLACES

Runs until Apr. 10 at the Bulwagang Fernando Amorsolo, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Pasay City

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Reflections and personal epiphanies take form in Alfred Marasigan’s first solo show. In here lie painted portraits of sceneries lacking charm but loaded with memory. This is his attempt to implore the audience to re-evaluate spaces and find value in their presence.

Word Art

The visual books that could save you numerous gallery trips All available at artbooks.ph

Geraldine Javier: Fictions A dark, brooding narrative tainted by death, decay, and violence fills 74 pages of Geraldine Javier’s accompanying material to her solo Singapore exhibition of the same name.

Rodel Tapaya Myths and legends are imagined in contrasting colors, sharp lines, and rich textures, thanks to Rodel Tapaya’s articulate fancy. His train of thought is immortalized in this hardbound publication of 156 pages.

Inscapes: The Art of Agnes Arellano Agnes Arellano’s sculptures find meaning in its settings, whether they be dark rooms or grassy lawns. Here’s a comprehensive introduction to the effigies that spoke of her stories in silence.

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