COLORFUL TAKE
FREEZE FRAME: Tessa Prieto Valdes strikes a pose in a French Rococo-themed attire made of newspaper in a photo taken by talented photographer Francesca Balaguer-Mercado.
The Sea PrinceSS’ Fab new Year’S wiSh LiST TESSA PRIETO-VALDES ticks off her wish list for the Year of the Water Snake. he Year of the Water Snake arrives with a bang on Feb. 10, 2013 and here’s wishing that a good year lies ahead for all of us, especially when one’s fortunes are aligned with the stars. With a little help from feng shui, a form of Chinese geomancy aimed at creating harmonious surroundings based on energy patterns (or qi), we can look forward to a year of auspicious beginnings. Energies change directions and locations annually, so we must start the year right by identifying the locations of the major afflictions in our home for the year. According to feng shui practitioners, natural or man-made disasters and hostilities will be reduced considerably. Diplomatic ties among countries will be 34 I Mabuhay Magazine I January 2013
strengthened, with more friendly coalitions and cooperation taking place. Goodwill is abundant and resources will be sufficient. I have used feng shui’s fortune enhancers for decades to boost my life aspirations. Feng shui has also been very much a part of my interior design practice. FENG SHUI FASHION UK-based Filipino feng shui expert Marites Allen is my friendly consultant. We have an annual Chinese New Year party at my home to attract positive energies. She has just launched Frigga, a fashion brand by the House of Allen Ltd. Named after the Norse goddess of prophecy and destiny, Frigga incorporates feng shui principles into fashion designs,
with each item rooted in the concepts of prosperity and luck. Allen has collaborated with feng shui master Lillian Too to come up with clothes and accessories for Frigga. One of her favorite designs are those of soaring birds to enhance health or give an extra dose of luck. See more Frigga designs at www. maritesallen.com. As the Chinese New Year approaches, expect Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world, to be a beehive of activity. The center of the busyness is definitely the new Ramada Manila Central hotel. TRAVEL I hope to have more travels this year, including a trip to Bhutan, which is on top of my bucket list. Right after Chinese New Year, my girlfriends and I plan to hit the streets of Bangkok and do some serious shopping. The last time I spent “one night in Bangkok” was in late November, to watch