A Rose for Julia

THE MOMENT I stepped into the newsroom this hot Wednesday afternoon, my heart skipped a beat over the breaking news. Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro was announcing in a live media briefing that the missing U.S. Peace Corps volunteer has been found.
The downer was that her body was found in a shallow grave with an appendage sticking out.

I never knew Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, but I know foreigners like her who go out on a limb to help improve the lot of this God forsaken country, and appreciate its innate beauty. For Julia, the cost wasn't just a limb but her life.

She reminded me of a good friend, a Princeton-in-Asia fellow and a writer, who wanted to do exactly what Julia did: hike at the Banaue rice terraces. But my friend did not have the time to do that before leaving for an English teaching stint in rural China. Like Ms. Campbell, my friend is brave and full of vitality. She's a moving spirit who scoffs at risks.

Same thing with an Australian hiker, Daniel, who I met after he scoured Palawan on his own. He was working for the International Labor Organization to improve worker standards in the Philippines. He fearlessly hiked the devastation left by Mt. Pinatubo in Pampanga.

Ms. Campbell possessed the same drive. Her decision "to step out of the rat race of New York, join the Peace Corps and board a plane for Manila" commands respect. (Quote from Ms. Campbell's blog)

After the initial breaking news, ANC ran this sort of tribute to Campbell.

JULIA CAMPBELL KEPT an online journal of her experiences as a United States Peace Corps volunteer, a blog with the simple title, “Julia in the Philippines” (http://juliainthephilippines.blogspot.com/).

It was a humorous record of her adjustment to Philippine life and the hardships that came with working in poor provincial communities.

In her very first blog entry dated April 12, 2005, Julia wrote

"Today is the fourth day of living with my host family, the Alcasids. After the initial shock, we are getting along fine. They are happy to have me and to cook for me -- even though i'm a vegetarian! (Filipinos don't like to eat vegetables!!) I've learned all over again how to take a bath and go to the bathroom, Filipino-style. Bathing consists of cold water, a big dipper and a bar of soap and squatting. And let's just say the toilet doesn't flush by itself. It needs a little help from a bucket of water! :) oh, and did i mention, no toilet paper?”

Back in 2005, Julia wrote about her host brother, Jason, then seventeen years old.
Julia narrated how Jason's hopes of being the first in his family to attend college were ruined when the company managing his college savings fund went bankrupt.

"This somehow seems so unfair. A right of passage many Americans take for granted is so elusive to kids like Jason. Yet, it was within his grasp and a government plagued by corruption and debt snatched it away. And yet i'm sure i will encounter many more stories like Jason's along my way here, each one as heartbreaking as the other. Perhaps someday it will make some sense."

In what may have been her last blog entry, on January 2007, Julia wrote from Legazpi, Albay about the aftermath of typhoon Reming. It was Julia's first brush with death. After surviving it, all Julia could say at the beginning of her blog entry was:

“Buhay pa tayo (we're still alive)”

Living in Black and White

He is a celebrated interior designer who has been tapped for the interiors of popular high-rise condominiums, hotels, restaurants and residences.

Anton Mendoza is known for his faithfulness to black and white and painstaking detail to lighting. He is also a devotee of Filipino antiques.

Those are reflected in his own personal space at a plush condominium building in Makati’s central district. An intricate wood carving taken from an old Jesuit church adorns the foyer.

Anton is focused on his work. So focused, in fact, that he refused to appear on television so he will not take away the attention from the design of his place.

Anton himself designed a lot of pieces at his pad. He made sure all the wires and other electrical clutter are out of sight for that clean and streamlined look.

A big sofa dominates his living room, but it’s his choice antiques that give a sense of religious history to the place.

His design philosophy is reflected in his most private quarter – the bedroom.

Black and white Zobel paintings add to the aura of an eleagant light and dark.

Unique, low hanging lamps; a huge crucifix; and an indigenous leather rug are some of the best highlights of Anton’s sleeping quarters.

His bath and vanity area also tend to be monochromatic and so does his mess quarters.

His use of eye-catching and uncommon technological pieces like his Bang and Olufsen phone, study light,and wall-mounted flat television,all come together for a modern chic vibe.

Looking back, to get the look of Anton Mendoza’s place: consistently stick to black and white; use religious antiques with intricate wood carving; get contemporary designer pieces; and use acrylic stands for accents.

Check out the full story on Urban Zone, Sunday 12 MN, ABS-CBN Channel 2 =)

Butch In The Sky

Typhoon Milenyo’s fury left critic and television host Butch Francisco’s penthouse home in Greenhills in tatters. The roof dropped and a third of the ceiling in the living room collapsed.

He saw a silver lining from all the damage. Though his insurer won’t cover it, Butch thought he might as well work on the interiors he wants. He immediately started work on repairs and asked an old friend to help him draw up a “pure” traditional Filipino interior to his pad.

Butch said he started work on his place a day after the storm. In three days, after the damage, he had Tats Manahan, Johnny Manahan’s wife, come in for the interiors.

From the doors, a long walkway with a spectacular view of the city, leads to the rest of the unit.

He describes his interiors as that of typical Filipino home in Vigan, Ilocos Sur in the 1950’s. He used broad hardwood floors, old glass chandeliers, wood mesh balustrades and he had contractors build a higher ceiling.

Butch made sure the details are right and that cost him three months of stress. He said he had to move everything to make way for the changes.

Today, the elegant, calm interiors are a stark contrast to his penthouse view of the city’s hustle and bustle. His place lined with books and work from gifted artists and friends,and it is full of gifts from family and friends that fit his interiors.

The bell at the entrance is a gift from Rosa Rosal. The “Joker” painting is from Joey de Leon and one other item is from Sharon Cuneta.

Butch’s love affair with antiques started with a mirror which he bartered from his aunt. He hid all hints of modern-day conveniences like the TV and roll-down blinds from view. He used capri windows to hide his air-conditioning unit.

All-glass walls give the viewer the feeling of floating above the city.

Hanging above his couch are several paintings of nude women, one of them a Manansala work of art.

An antique-looking wall phone hangs by the wall beside his bedroom door.

Inside Butch’s bedroom, the first thing you’ll notice about it is a dominant statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He has a leather couch beside his old wood bed with a wooden coffee table.

It’s a place that is a blast from the past at the top of the city.

For more home design stories, catch Urban Zone on Channel 2 every Sundays, right after the Sunday movie =)

Celestial Selections from Celestina

From the foyer alone, the mistress of the house comes across as a sophisticated, creative lady. This is the home of former fashion model and style icon, TINA MARISTELA OCAMPO.

It’s an old house that was renovated to look retro-modern, but it’s not her chic home that has everyone talking lately.

Check out Charlie’s Angel gal, Drew Barrymore at the recent Golden Globe Awards. She’s holding one of Tina’s now trendsetting Celestina bag.

Here’s Oscar-winning actress Halley Berry at the People’s Choice Awards, holding a Celestina.

Tina and her husband Ricco Ocampo are Manila'smost successful fashion entrepreneurs. They’ve established brands like sari sari, i2i, black shop and mix.

They made world-class design and service available to the average Pinoy.

Now with Celestina, they’re bringing the finest Philippine products to the world.

Tina got idea from home accessories that Ricco was designing.

When Tina had 25 prototype bags, she went to New York . RafeTotengco, the established Filipino bag designer, introduced her to the accessories editor of Vogue magazine.

The Barney’s CEO personally chose the Celestina bags. The Vogue article came out in December and the rest as they say is history. Celestina is now being sold in luxury boutiques around the world.

Celestina is sold in Barneys across the USA, Jeffrey in New York, Joyce in Hong Kong, Browns in London and in Paris. Also available in luxury online shop www.vivre.com.

This is the bag that the Vogue editors went crazy over. It’s also similar to what Halley Berry used. It is made of handwoven silver, inspired by the humble coin purse.

It’s the combination of traditional materials and modern styling that makes the Celestina more than just the usual Filipino handicraft.

This is the Maricel Soriano bag, made of abalone shell.

Tina says it is more chic to have the luxury inside. so she keeps her shell bags un lined and un embellished.

The most popular one is the Paqcquiao. It’s the bag that every store abroad has ordered.

Tina’s personal favorite is the Masbate,named after her parents’ hometown. It is made of penshell, but resembles tortoise shell.

Then there's the bag called Emilio Aguilar Cruz. It is made of shagreen, the skin of a sting ray.

Tina’s bags are priced from six hundred dollars up and up can mean six thousand dollars for a crocodile skin bag.

Celestina’s next line is jewelry made of ivory, jade, and gold with Tina’s modern aesthetic.

All of this happened in less than a year. In that short span of time she made it to Vogue Magazine; she made it to Barneys, and to Hollywood.

Check out Urban Zone for more details, airing Sundays, 12 MN, over ABS-CBN Channel 2 =)