I must admit, I’m not much of a fan of watches – maybe because I grew up in an average income family and because receiving and giving gifts especially expensive watches is considered quite a luxury. I think I only had one or two “real” watches when I was younger. Real meaning it was either given as a gift or that I saved my allowance for. Most of the other watches I had were “hand me downs” from my parents.
And so I grew up not really seeing the need of having a funky watch. I guess I managed to just really be time conscious and prompt at almost everything that I felt a watch would just be an accessory and nothing else.
Fast forward many years — here I am earning my own keep and finally having extra money to spend on things that I like, want and need.
One of the things that I bought during my Cebu trip last weekend was this pretty new Vancouver 2010 Swatch watch:
Don’t you think it’s a beauty? More photos of my new purchase after the jump!
LikeWant to buy furniture or jewelry this holiday season? Thinking of Christmas gift ideas? Why not buy furniture or jewelry pieces from Mindanaoan Ann Tiukinhoy Pamintuan? Because if I only could, I definitely would!
This Filipino-Chinese Dabawenya, who’s part of the prominent Pamintuan clan in Davao City, is part of the Movement 8 alliance composed of various Filipino designers. Ann’s works have invaded New York, Moscow, London and Sweden.
Ann Tiu Pamintuan holds the distinction of being the very first female Asian designer to be featured in the International Design Yearbook. Not bad for someone who actually doesn’t have any formal training in design. In fact, this passion for design started out as a hobby of hers. Amazing, eh?
So far, this gold mango bangle by Ann T. Pamintuan is one of my favorites:
I just love the craftsmanship! I want, I want, I want one for Christmas!
I also love these furniture pieces:
Thanks to SPRUCE Designer Network, Inc., to its owners Trisha and Vanessa Tamparong and to its very amiable marketing officer Cristina Maagad (Hello, Miss Tiny!), I had a blast at the recently concluded Make Your Own Havaianas 2009 Cagayan de Oro leg event. The MYOH 2009 Northern Mindanao event was held last October 23 to 25, 2009 at the Atrium, Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City and it was my very first Make Your Own Havaianas experience!
Armed with my VIP invitation, I went to the Atrium and left with a huge smile on my face! It was fun “creating” my own special pair. No wonder Havaianaticos look forward to this special event!
The whole process was not only fun but pretty fast, too. I was given a brochure where I was to write my contact information and for me to choose my preferred sole color, size and style (there were adult slim and top styles available), preferred strap color and style as well as my preferred Havaianas Lifestyle Pins.
It was easy to choose since there were specially designed “wheels” which you can use to compare colors, style and to mix and match straps with soles.
Since this year’s theme is “Put some local soul into your step,” I chose four Culture Pins that depicted Filipino pride — the vinta, jeepney, sorbetero and Philippine map pins.
There are also other available designs such as a lomo cam and Swarovski crystals.
As soon as I made up my mind on how my masterpiece should look like, I approached a member of the Havaianas team and she assembled my special pair for me…on the spot! That was a first for me, too, by the way…it was the first time for me to witness firsthand how a pair of Havaianas was assembled!
All you Havaianas fans listen up! 
There will be a special Make Your Own Havaianas 2009 event on October 23 to 25, 2009 at the Atrium of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao. The MYOH event this year will be spearheaded by SPRUCE Designer Network, which owns the Spruce store at the second floor of Lim Ket Kai.
Make Your Own Havaianas 2009 this year banners the theme “Put Some Local Soul Into Your Step!” Visit the event center during mall hours and choose your own Havaianas slippers, pins and other accessories.
For more information, visit the website indicated on the poster.
Have fun, Mindanaoan!
Havaianas, by the way, is a proud sponsor of the upcoming Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3.
One of Mindanaoan’s good investments last year was to buy a pair of Fitflops. Widely known as one of broadcasting mogul Oprah Winfrey’s “favorite things,” FitFlop makes it possible for the wearer to “get a workout while you walk.” Fitflop is that fun flip flop with a gym built in! My flair for unusual things that offer more value and my curiosity as to why Oprah endorsed this brand compelled me to finally buy a pair (despite the pretty hefty price tag) last year…and I must say, it was money well-spent!
I bought a pair of bronze Electra Fitflops and I just love using them. Admittedly, my feet and legs got sore the first few times I wore my pair of Fitflops but I took it as a positive sign — at least the product worked! I could feel the tension along my calves, knees, shins, soles and even thighs! I learned that the innovative Fitflop sandals make use of the groundbreaking microwobbleboard mid-sole which engages the lower body muscles more as one walks. These groundbreaking materials make it possible for the wearer to have shapely legs and thighs. Not bad, di ba? I mean, kung lalakad at susuot ka na lang din ng sandals, why not wear a pair that can produce benefits, right? The soreness eventually wore off and now I wear my Fitflop with so much ease. I wear it as often as I can — when I do groceries, go to the mall and even when I play badminton or try the longest speed zip line in all of Asia! My trusty pair of Fitflop is now really one indispensable part of my wardrobe.
Anyways, as I was contemplating on buying a new pair, I learned of Fitflop Philippines‘ “Tag A Photo” contest. Joining it was so easy — all I had to do was add Fitflop Philippines on Facebook, take a photo of myself wearing Fitflop, tag Fitflop Philippines and then let them know why I love wearing my Fitflops!
Here was my entry:
My Fitflops are stylish, comfortable to wear and part of my favorite tools as a photographer. I can wear them wherever, whenever. My feet never get sore and even if I bend, lie down, crouch or crawl (!) just to get that perfect shot, I know that my back is supported because of my ever trusty pair of Fitflops! This photo was taken last July 16, 2009 when I served as a back-up photographer. I helped cover a special surprise 50th birthday party thrown by three daughters for their parents.
My entry won me a new pair of Fitflops! I won a pair of Fitflop Walkstar 1, to be exact. Boy was I so ecstatic! I was later told that I could get my prize last August 1, 2009. Eh I was in Cebu City that time so I decided to redeem my prize from the Ayala Cebu City branch of Res|Toe|Run
Check out the prize I chose (it’s the gold version of Walkstar 1):
Of course, I immediately wore them around Cebu City! I took my new babies for a run at Ayala Mall Cebu’s The Terraces, Waterfront Hotel Lahug, PAGCOR Cebu and I also wore them during my flight back home. I just love, love, love my new pair!
Thank you Fitflop Philippines!
So if you’re thinking of buying a new pair of flipflops, do consider buying a pair of Fitflop! It’s value for your money You can buy from these stores:
Level R-1, Powerplant Mall
Robinson’s Place, Midtown Wing
Res|Toe|Run (Glorietta4, Ayala Cebu, TriNoma, Gateway and Galleria)
R.O.X
Shoe Salon
Bratpack
Juego (Greenbelt 4)
Bikram Yoga (Makati)
The Travel Club (Rockwell)
Felcis (Davao)
Mian’s Closet (Ilo-ilo)
Bettina’s Boutique (Cagayan de Oro)
Signature Brands Lifestyle (Subic)
City Beach Lifestyle (Subic)
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