MEGA August 2021

No matter how many times we’ve shot Anne Curtis, the actress never ceases to amaze. She didn’t just capture imagination a generation—dominated it—and continues to dazzle and reign over the competition. For this month’s cover shoot, Curts is clad in head-to-toe Louis Vuitton, wearing both signature pieces and selects from the current collection. Her hair is a cascade of mermaid waves, her sultry, dark lips highlight her perfect, radiant skin. Decades after she burst into the scene a sweet-faced cherub of a tween, her beauty continues to stun and mesmerize. Witness how she literally lit up (with a little help from the bright lights set up by photographer Shaira Luna) the lobby of The Peninsula Manila on a very dark and stormy afternoon. When Luna zooms in for a closeup,…

I’ve always believed in the notion that as you get older, you get to know yourself better. I also believe that apart from age, your experiences, mistakes and learnings also shape you as a person. Every life stage has its own set of lessons and challenges. When you’re young, you tend to focus on yourself and you are more carefree. In your twenties, you’re out to prove yourself in the work place. In your thirties, you are probably juggling a career with family life, your priorities shifting constantly. Each stage allows you to discover a little bit more about yourself. There are probably people for whom self-discovery has been a relatively easy process, but for others—like me—well, let’s just say it’s an ongoing process. Ultimately the journey to self-discovery is…

“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.” - T.S. Eliot The journey to one’s self can be arduous, at times painful, but always rewarding. This month, our thoughts and emotions are far-reaching, with some of us reaching for color, warmth and positivity, while others embraced the darkness, uncertainty and freedom of the unknown. It’s heady stuff, but none headier than the idea that we’re at the cusp of something great. Listen, it could just be the vaccine talking, but we’re ready to leap. Leading the charge is our cover star, the incomparable Anne Curtis. She’s never been shy about her ambitious, her audacity to follow her dreams. Star as…

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 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 are all highly coveted, as seen on many stylish influencers on social media. The brand aims to have physical locations soon but for now their cool pieces are…

The woman has always been defined in the eyes of a man. From what she is expected to do, to what she is expected to look like, the man has always been in control of what she can become. But in recent years, women have been taking these standards back into their hands to mold a new future of fashion that is inclusive and very much voiced by and for women. One of the voices who continue to push for this in the local fashion scene is designer Andrea Tetangco. “Im always inspired by empowered women, creating something for these women and making a statement that will give them confidence,” Tetangco shares as she creates pieces that women truly adore. One of the first women she looked up to was her…

The halcyon days of spending hours pampering one’s self inside a salon, chatting with favored technicians and artists are long gone. Today, it’s all hazmat suits, temperature checks and the pervasive smell of disinfectant. While salons typically employ the strictest hygiene practices, they were no match for the government’s even more stringent health guidelines. Tokyo GLAM, a luxury lash and nail salon, experienced the full brunt of the COVID-19 catastrophe, having opened just before the lockdown began. It faced months of limbo waiting for the signal to open again and for jittery customers to venture out. But instead of simply weathering it out, Tokyo GLAM founder Michelle Takijima, went full speed ahead—albeit in a slightly different direction. “Since the pandemic has started, a lot of changes had to be made because…