Índex per July 2021 a MEGA

Part of the beauty of working for the publishing industry is the sheer chaos that surrounds it. It is creation after all, so we can only expect the kind of frenzied activity associated with the Big Bang. No matter if MEGA’s been in existence for 29 years now (can you believe?) and we’ve been doing these shoots on a regular basis—we’re always keenly aware of Murphy’s Law. With so many moving parts involved in a shoot, there’s always something bound to go awry. Which is how we ended up on our hands and knees, cutting up paper backdrops to create the technicolor dreamland you’re seeing right now. Our production design plans fell through so we took matters in our hands. Utility knives were out, shoes were off (to keep the…

www.mazee.co MAZEE Entrepreneur Maikkie See started Mazee because of her love for arts, crafts and jewelry. What started out as admiration became a full-on business that aims to be a worldwide brand. “The vision has always been to go Global and even though we’re not yet entirely there, we have already reached other parts of the world through our clientele from Europe, USA, Japan and Singapore. The brand is is sticking to that goal with the hopes to reach more countries in the coming months,” See shares. With pieces that range from of-the-moment gold chain jewelry to statement signet rings and initial namesake pendants, her pieces have been seen on many stylish influencers on social media. The brand aims to have physical locations soon but for now their cool pieces…

Famed author and theologian, C.S. Lewis once said “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” This rings true to many as seemingly insurmountable challenges always come to those who have the potential to be great. At the end of the day, it is up to her to harness this and use these learnings to build on herself. For Glenda Victorio and her now mega brand, Brilliant Skin, this was the true foundation of their success. At a very young age, Victorio was already faced with much misfortune. At thirteen she shares how growing up in a broken family caused great challenges. Add to that money problems that didn’t allow her family to eat three times a day. One would think that it would break her spirit. But Victorio…

Rainy days always invite some reflection. Which is why, as the monsoon season descends, we’re slowing things down a notch and re-examining things that we thought we once knew. Take for example dating. In Relationship, one writer asks how it can be done sober—and more importantly—if it should be done without the social lubrication of alcohol. After all, falling in love is dizzying enough; do we really need more to get us there? Forvm posits a on getting there,” towards the ideal situation. Pronouns have been with us since elementary, so why is it such a contentious subject nowadays? Our stand is, if eight-year-olds can learn them, why can’t we? Lastly, in Home, we talk about an obsession that many of us have had since we began spending so much…

Hi, I’m Aby and I’m not an alcoholic. However, by the time this article gets published it will be more than six months since I decided to get sober. I had my last sip of alcohol on New Year’s Eve--a full 15 minutes before the clock turned twelve. The idea to stop drinking came to me the moment I decided to move back permanently to Manila from Madrid in November of 2020. The clean slate in Manila and the beginning of a new year offered an opportunity to cultivate fresh habits and quit old ones—including the dreadful drinking habit I picked up in Spain. You see, I had been living in Madrid for the last couple of years. In Spain, I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful selection of fine but affordable…

Filipinos have always been known for a lot of traits, and our resiliency is one of them. However, just because we have all this positivity within us, that doesn’t mean we must continue living as if we’re blind to the type of devastation we’re in. There must come a time when we should demand for something better–and that time is now. Insisting on better results should not only be done on a national scale, but on a personal level as well. Today, skincare is one of the most personal activities done to sit back and take a breather. Being assured that the products we use provide better payoff than others will make us even more trusting than we already are, and Skin Need’s extensive range of 100% vegan, paraben and…

Traveling all over the world, attending photo shoots, and getting to personally handle celebrities and more is only one side of the coin when it comes to being a professional makeup artist. Unknown to many, beneath all the glitter and shades of lipstick, reveals an artist who holds the responsibility to match the look to the identity of each client they handle. May it be a brand or celebrity, a makeup artist who does this well and embodies the talent of understanding the face is Jelly Eugenio. Famous for Nadine Lustre’s “drunk blush” and Catriona Gray’s Miss Universe-worthy brows that trended all over the beauty community, his name now carries prestige within the industry. As any true artist, he’s someone who appreciates quality control and prioritizes adding his signature touch…

In Baz Luhrmann’s 1999 hit “Everybody’s Free,” he starts his song with the indispensable advice to “Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.” He then digs deeper on values you would embody to live a full life. The important part is to start with this mindset while young. In we power beauty” of our youth, which is tethered to consciousness and awareness of the world. Who better to pioneer this issue than Milka Romero and Bella Ysmael, both of whome who have achieved so much in their young age? Romero started in the food business at the fresh age of nineteen and is now a successful restaurateur with thriving businesses all over the country. Meanwhile, Ysmael is a trained ballerina and a much celebrated beauty queen. Together with the…

Have you ever met individuals who seem to radiate? And I don’t mean the obvious—they are already physically attractive, but apart from that they emanate a glow that makes people drawn to them. Whether it’s a beauty ritual, diet, mindfulness or just a happy disposition in life—it’s something I know many of us aim for. While we can go on an endless pursuit for the “secret stuff” that will make us better versions of ourselves, I realize that people who glow naturally are the ones that live their truth. These are the ones who are confident, happy with themselves, and have purpose. Every time I come across one of them I cant help but observe and try to pick up a lesson or two that hopefully I can apply in…

A passion project turned fully-fledged business, PIOPIO is a key player in the movement to make traditional Philippine textiles more relatable and fun. Weaving has a long history in the Philippines, but for generations it was deemed stodgy and donned only during Independence Day celebrations. Paloma Urquijo-Zobel and her team saw the richness of these traditions and the a way to make them more appealing to a modern market. They collaborated with over 20 artisan communities around the country to make these textiles less intimidating, beginning in 2015. “Back then, weaving was a dying art and was no longer relevant to younger generations,” says the PIOPIO team. They wanted to get things right and consulted with a historian to avoid any cultural appropriation as she personally respected the stories and…

" My collection BALIKBAYAN was inspired by a literal Balikbayan Box,” says Pamela Madlangbayan, a fresh graduate from DLSCSB. That brown box has symbolized countless stories of struggles, love, sweat and manyFilipinos over .ToMadlangbayan, it became the perfect concept for her first collection. “I came from a long line of balikbayans and I wanted to push the limits of my imagination by thinking how I can make a brown box interesting to look at,” she says. Hence, the packing tape, bubble wrap, and beige tones in the collection that she created. Beautiful as it is, there’s a deeper meaning behind it. One of the silhouettes that Madlangbayan chose was her version of the terno—but this time, her muse wears trousers and a corset (once seen as a restrictive garment). “The…

For most of us, pronouns are just another topic in English class. A quick back-to-school lesson will tell you that pronouns replace a noun and are mainly used when referring to another without using their name repeatedly. “He” or “she” are the most used when addressing a person’s gender, especially for men and women. But as our generation progresses with seeing the world far from solely being black or white, the proper use of pronouns now holds greater importance. It validates and protects the queer, non-binary, non-conforming, and transgender community of their identities. According to research at the University of Austin at Texas, proper use of chosen pronouns and names to refer to transgender youths decreases stress, anxiety, suicide, and depression. This is because misgendering can cause psychological damage and…

This month, we’re obsessed with color. Despite the skin minimalism trend, we can’t help but slick on a bright pop of color on our perfectly moisturized faces. This is most apparent in Tried & Tested, where colors, well, color our favorite beauty things—from scents to lipstick to eye shadow. Bold hues also feature prominently in our Beauty Blog, featuring designer Patricia Santos, and Artist Confidential with nail artist Mimi Qui Reyes and her muse, the red hot Ellen Adarna. Our main editorial is also saturated with eye-catching shades, courtesy of makeup artist extraordinaire Jelly Eugenio. From the dreamiest pastels to the moodiest blues and grays or the juiciest hues, color brings life and emotion to our everyday. No matter the mood, the feeling or the thought, we’re determined to feel…

Even if I was a meek and shy kid who was too insecure to talk to anyone and could barely smile without being ashamed of my teeth, I found myself growing up as a competitive cheerleader. My routine was set: weekends were spent at the gym; after school, I went straight to training; each day, I had to keep raising the bar. Perfection was the goal, and you trained hard, not to get it right, but until you couldn’t get it wrong. There I gained the confidence to perform in huge arenas, hitting each stunt with a full smile, and with the family I call my teammates. There wasn’t any insecurity that couldn’t be solved through a good “mat talk.” My identity was formed through the sport, and it continues…

YOU WERE ONE OF THE WINNERS ON THE MEGA FASHION CREW. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM THE CHALLENGES, SHOOTING IN PARIS AND STUDYING IN INSTITUTO MARANGONI IN CHINA? I loved my whole experience in MFC (Mega Fashion Crew) and I can still remember it like it was yesterday. My favorite part is when my team, the Varsity Crew, won the avant-garde makeup challenge which I felt was one of my defining moments in the competition. The show gave me my first flight in my entire life, and it was en route to the fashion capital of the world, Paris, where we shot a fashion and beauty editorial. I was so young and was puzzled the whole time I couldn’t believe I wasn’t in Manila anymore. Also, as part of…

Art direction and makeup BRYAN CUIZON. Hair DALEWIN MALLARI. STYLING CARL ALBERTO. Photography assistant YRRAL JAI MANANQUIL…

Has beauty been truly subjective in 2021? Or are we still conforming and scratching the surface? Beneath the words “body positivity,” “diversity” and “inclusivity,” there’s still an obvious struggle in the beauty industry to normalize what is indeed normal. For MEGA’s July issue, we’re talking beauty in all forms, starting with empowered cover stars Bella Ysmael and Milka Romero. There’s also designer Cheetah Rivera, who is continually breaking boundaries, young designer Pam Madlangbayan who pays homage to modern Filipino heroes, balikbayans, with her latest collection, Kim Cruz on the female body as an art form and PIOPIO on preserving Filipino textiles. More than the buzzwords thrown at us, beauty is ever-evolving, and so have the times. At this point, we’re all just trying to break the mold.…

Alot of things have been keeping Kim Cruz on the grind. People think she’s just cruising around, taking pictures for the ‘Gram and going on beach trips, but she keeps on surprising us. The TV host, painter and content creator for lifestyle was the busiest in quarantine. Mentored by no less than the national artist Ben Cabrera and having taken up multiple art courses in notable institutions, Cruz was well prepared for her first solo show. But Cruz doesn’t just do this for herself—she’s participated in auctions for the benefit of local artists. She’s also a volunteer for Pawssion Project, an organization dedicated to providing a safe sanctuary for rescued cats and dogs. Being independent for most of her life, Cruz understands well how fortunate it is that she’s able…

1 fine gold “Can be applied not only on the face and cheeks but for the eyes and lips as well, the CHANEL Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick (P2972) with its smooth silky formula feels like you’re indulging your face to luxurious skincare rather than applying makeup. The moisturizing balm leaves with you and others with a lasting impression that you’ve got incredible skin, one that glows from within.” Peewee Reyes-Isidro, Editor-in-Chief 2 sweet ecastacy “The moment I got a whiff of BVLGARI Dolce Estasi (P10350/50mL) I was hooked. Part of the Allegra collection, this delicate, patisserie-inspired gourmand scent is sweet and powdery, an olfactory confection that evokes a bright and carefree picnic in a park. It’s full of innocent, youthful energy. The scent opens with notes of citrus, then…

When you think of Patricia Santos, you think of delicate lace, intricate embroidery, and layers of tulle on a gown the exudes feminine truth and beauty for her special day. While her creations have been worn by Megan Young, Jessy Mendiola, Dani Barretto on their wedding days and even Liza Soberano and Kathryn Bernardo on the red-carpet, when it came to the day that the bridal designer had to plan her own dream wedding, it was nothing short of a surprise. Whether it be venue changes due to sudden rain or the entourage getting stuck in traffic, no wedding is perfect; but in Santos’ case, her wedding dream in Paris ended because of an unwelcome guest–a global pandemic. Normally, this kind of situation is a valid “bridezilla” moment, but with…

Mimi Qiu Reyes adorns your nails with sparkling diamonds, Swarovski crystals, and other eye-catching 3-D embellishments. Her salon Mi & Me Luxury Nails was once a secret gem in Malate, Manila with most of its clients being Koreans and Japanese. Seeing that only 5% of her market were Filipinos, the female entrepreneur sought out to introduce her art to Filipinos who are used to regular nail services. Soon enough celebrities like Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Bea Alonzo, Ellen Adarna, and Liza Soberano, all of whom she now considers friends, donned her opulent and dreamy designs. In the fashion world, her portfolio includes countless editorials and red-carpet looks where her out-of-this-world works alone are enough to make a statement. Reyes’ nail art is much like herself: a self-made creation. In…

Creative direction and production styling JANN PASCUA. Makeup NICOLE CEBALLOS. Hair BRYAN RESURRECION. Model VIVIANE N. A couture label so discreet, Septième Rebelle continues to become a go-to for Manila’s most elite. With a man like Robert Bjorn O. Santos at the helm, it is not difficult to see why. Santos trained around the world—Istituto Marangoni in Paris, London College of Fashion, and Central Saint Martins in the UK. Now, as the designer and director of Septième Rebelle, he is launching the luxury label s newest collection in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Inspired by the LGBTQ+ community, Septième Rebelle’s newest collection came just in time for Pride Month. While previous collections showcased more vibrant hues and playful prints, this new collection offers silhouettes, cuts, and colors—black, navy, and white—that…