The Philippine Blog Awards '09 Mindanao

The 2009 Philippine Blog Awards Mindanao leg was held shortly after the 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit on the same venue- at the Pearlmont Hotel, Cagayan de Oro.

It was a long day. I had only 2 hours of sleep the night prior because of some deadlines I had to work on. I could easily opt to curl up in bed right after the summit but I just couldn't afford to miss the PBA Night. It was a rare opportunity to accept the trophy for the Best Beauty Blog Award which was announced in Manila 2 weeks before the Mindanao leg. All along, I was thinking that claiming my precious trophy would take place off the stage. When CDO Bloggers President Chiq Montes came up to me, she said that winners of the nationwide categories had to prepare an acceptance speech. Like an ice cold water that was suddenly poured over my head, it snapped me out of lethargy. I could only blurt out to myself "Crap... But I don't do speeches?!?"

The spotlight-loving theater artist in me stopped adoring the stage after high school. Speaking in public has been a tummy-somersaulting activity for me afterwards. It probably had to do with endorsements, grand rounds and (tor)mentors scaring the hell out of us during med school. I stutter when nervous and puke before a presentation I haven't studied for.

What was more panic-inducing was my look for the occasion. I was dressed casually for the summit without considering my outfit for the awards night.

After all, I was expecting to be in the audience all throughout. I couldn't climb up the stage looking like the beauty blogger who doesn't practice what she preaches. Good thing I had extra clothes and shoes in the car. Putting out the NARS makeup palette from the bag, I worked some magic in an effort to restore some freshness into my exhausted, dried tuna look. With no makeup brushes, I used my hands in applying makeup. No breathtaking eye designs, no mascara, no "donyatic" hairstyle. Just the basics to help me pull through the night.

The dinner that was sponsored by the PBA have been sumptuous but my taste buds weren't working due to my perceived impending doom. The announcements of winners from Mindanao were even a blur until after I delivered the speech. It was a brief one, just a quick thank you speech to let them know I could talk. For the record, I didn't pass out on stage, slipped on stainless steel tiles nor puke before everyone. My blog title would have immediately changed to "The Doctor is Gross" had I lost my composure. My husband was my steady support throughout the day.

Thanks to the Philippine Blog Awards website, I could now share with you the list of the winners even if my memory was hazy that night:

WINNERS OF THE 2009 PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS – Mindanao

I. MAIN AWARDS (Nationwide Categories)
Best Business Blog – Negosyo Ideas
Mike Abonitalla

Best Beauty Blog – The Doctor Is vain
The Sissy Blogger With A Bad Case of Stage Fright

II. SPECIAL AWARDS

Mindanao Bloggers’ Choice
DavaoBase

Mindanao Advocacy Blog
Peace Initiatives in SOCSARGEN

Mindanao Destination Blog -
GenSan News Online Mag

Uniquely Mindanao Blog –
Hola Zamboanga

Globe Digital Tribe – Mindanao
angdabawenyo.com
mindanao.com
alleba.com/blog
riajose.com
migsmobile.net
gensantos.com
katherinevlara.com
lylesantos.com
ptlavina.wordpress.com
chiqmontes.com

Chikka Readers’ Choice

Gensan News Online Mag

Congratulations to all the winners and the people behind the Philippine Blog Awards, especially to the President, Mr. Juned Sonido for a job well done. May your efforts inspire more bloggers to raise the standards of blogging in this country. To Chiq Montes of the CDO Bloggers and Bloggie Robillo  of Mindanao Bloggers, congratulations for bringing the PBA '09 here in Cagayan de Oro. To all bloggers who attended the event, it was nice meeting all of you and I look forward to seeing you win the awards next year!

Here are some of the highlights captured through video by Zamboanga's Ryann Elumba:

$49 Smashbox Makeup Brush Set

When speaking of Smashbox Brushes, the quality is assured but the cost can be limiting. I'd rather look for a nameless brush that has the same quality yet is sold at a much cheaper price. But if you want to try for once how it would feel to own a Smashbox brush set without skipping your meals for a week to afford it, this is your chance!

[caption id="attachment_1411" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Image from Smashbox.com"][/caption]

The $134 value Smashbox 5-piece brush kit is now only $49! It contains 5 exclusive travel-size brushes, protected in a shiny raspberry case. The Perfect Tools Set is just one of the WISH Holiday 2009 collections. With every purchase of the WISH kit, Smashbox donates $1 to the Children's Miracle Network for sick and injured kids.

The set includes:
TRAVEL ANGLED BLUSH BRUSH
TRAVEL BLENDING BRUSH
TRAVEL CREASE BRUSH
TRAVEL SHADOW LINER BRUSH
TRAVEL ANGLED PRECISION LINER BRUSH

Among the 5, what grabs my attention is the blending brush. I've always wanted to have one because the ELF blending brush I got is a little too abrasive for the sensitive eye area. I hope this one's different. The Smashbox website doesn't say what the handles are made of, which is an important factor when deciding to purchase makeup brushes.

The size may not be for professional use but it serves the same purpose and it makes a handy yet elegant companion for your purse. My ultimate WISH for Smashbox, however,  is that they start shipping to the Philippines so I wouldn't have to wait for a relative or friend to come home before I could purchase their products.

Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3

Last Saturday, October 24, 2009, bloggers from Mindanao  convened at Pearlmont Hotel here in Cagayan de Oro City. It was the 3^rd Mindanao Bloggers’ Summit, a yearly event which was spearheaded by Bloggie Robillo in 2007.

[caption id="attachment_1378" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="CDO Mayor Tinnex Jaraula"][/caption]

The gathering was attended  by bloggers mostly from various parts of Mindanao, while some flew in all the way from Luzon.  The summit  instilled the responsibilities that come along with the power of blogging.  Our websites may not be the mainstream source of information but its influences cannot be understated. The occasion called for ways to change the way people view Mindanao, hence the theme: “ Mindanao, Bag-uhon and Panan-aw." Beyond the insurgencies regularly featured on national TV, we hope to unravel the other side of Mindanao, its beauty that is oftentimes tainted with the ugly circumstances in certain areas. What people don’t know is that in most parts of Mindanao, we live quite normal lives.

[caption id="attachment_1379" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="US Embassy Chief of Mission, Leslie Bassett"][/caption]

Pearlmont Inn's Bayanihan Ballroom was perfect for the event. Its design furnitures in the hallway are consistent with the hotel's Filipino-Spanish interiors. However, the downside of this convention place is its limited parking space.

The summit was graced by key speakers like Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino "Tinnex" Jaraula  who welcomed the delegates to the summit, US Embassy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett who represented the US Ambassador to the Philippines, Kristie Kenney (who sent her greetings through a video),  Atty. Adel Tamano, and Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza.

[caption id="attachment_1380" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Atty. Adel Tamano"][/caption]

Atty. Adel Tamano won the attendees’ hearts with his enigmatic presence, engaging talk on leadership and palpable sincerity as he reached out to each one in the room. For the showbiz-inclined, you may know him as Dr. Vicky Belo’s lawyer and the face on Belo’s Ads along EDSA that say “Smart is the New Sexy.” The first Filipino-Muslim scholar of Harvard Law School who gave the validectory address during graduation certainly has a lot more going than good looks. His anti- corruption leadership model as President of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) won me over more than his enviably clear skin ,which was the first thing I noticed (pardon the beauty blogger in me speaking).

[caption id="attachment_1381" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza"][/caption]

Through videos, Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Liberal Party Senatorial Candidate Neric Acosta extended their inspirational messages to all bloggers and expressed their regrets for not making it to event personally.

Victor Sapar encouraged us to join  Iblog for Peace, a site that aggregates blogs, videos and podcasts of anyone's view on peace.

The afternoon session started with Google’s Philippine Representative, Ms. Aileen Apolo giving the talk on “Blogging for Beginners.” It amazed us to know that she only spends 5-10 minutes each day updating her various blogs. Digital Filipino’s Ms. Janette Toral spoke on blog marketing techniques, an area which I admittedly suck at.  Lyle Santos sparked interests on bloggers who wanted to make money online with his google adsense expertise.

Updates from Mindanao bloggers were given by representatives of each city: Avel "Sexy Bariles" Manansala of Gen San,  Jaime Haw, Jr. of Davao City, Edward Ragpala of CDO, and Ryan Elumba of Zamboanga, where the 2010 Mindanao Bloggers' Summit will be held.  Interestingly, Davao’s Jim Haw is likewise a doctor who trained in Radiology before he decided to quit residency, which leaves me wondering what’s in Radiology that prompts its ex-residents to pursue blogging. Uh, radioactive ideas, perhaps?

[caption id="attachment_1382" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="My Husband and His Lucky Phone"][/caption]

Migs Hipolito was the emcee who kept the atmosphere fun and lively. In between breaks, prizes were given out. I got a cool SMART Communications Netbook bag for publishing the press release of MBS3 on this blog. Alvin Tan from Manila won a 1st Rafting Adventures freebie. Other giveaways were convention shirts, Wordpress and Firefox buttons, Make Your Own Havaianas cellphone pendants and the most coveted Nokia  Ovi cellphones, one of which my husband luckily snagged during the raffle. Other sponsors who made the event possible were: UltraCraft, Syntactics, Majesty Sales Center, Clara's Shoppe, MakatiAve.com, Asterisk Event and Communications and Loreto's Bar and Grill.

Congratulations to the hosts of this year's MBS- the CDO Bloggers, headed by Chiq Montes,  and Bloggie Robillo for uniting bloggers from Mindanao and everyone behind the success of the event.

After capping off the summit, we were set to attend the Philippine Blog Awards 2009 Mindanao leg an hour after. Who were the most influential Mindanao Bloggers and how did it feel accepting the trophy for the 1^st best beauty blog award? Find out on my next post.

Multiply Gives In

Multiply announced that they are changing their policy which technically prohibited the selling of goods through the site. The rule created a scare among sellers a year ago or so, but Multiply, realizing that the bulk of its users are entrepreneurs, brushed aside the violations issue and gave the users a leeway so long as they don't spam. Recently, they decided to give the sellers some peace of mind by revising the terms of service, finally making online selling at Multiply legit.

While Multiply is a good site for building portfolios whether as a photographer, makeup artist, etc, the features also provide a convenient set up for a free online store. Had multiply insisted on its previous rule, they are sure to lose thousands of users who can always turn to Sulit, Ebay and other online marketplaces.

I am happy about the news because I am a regular shopper myself at various multiply stores that sell makeups and accessories, fashion items and skin care products. Among my favorite shops are the following:

• Suesh - supplier of affordable yet excellent quality makeup brushes, traincases and other makeup artist accessories.


• Nui Clothing- although they have their own site where they sell their up-to- date fashion pieces, the multiply site gives a preview of their collections every month.


• Kimi's Drawer- a Cagayan de Oro- based online boutique. Stylish yet affordable merchandises that are easily sold out.


• Beauty and Wellness 22- Derma soaps and formulations that work.  Quick shipping.


• Stellar Closet- GMA talent Chynna Ortaleza  sells fabulous fashion finds at low prices through this shop. Her Celebrity closet raids are worth checking out!

The list is endless. There are just too many multiply shops you can indulge on. If you're on the hunt for great bargains without leaving your home, you may want to try out shopping at the "Multiply mall." If you have stuffs to unload, you can open a store as well, now that Multiply has fully given its nod to enterprising netizens.

CDO Bloggers Group Hosts Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3

The Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) group is set to play host to the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, which will be held on October 24, 2009. With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” the MBS 3 aims to uphold the beauty and strength of the island and to expunge the negative notions the world has about it.

(Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines – October 21, 2009) – It’s all systems go for the Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) as they play host to the much-awaited Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, an annual gathering of Mindanao-based bloggers, IT industry experts, community leaders and new media advocates, on October 24, 2009 at Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City. Roughly 300 bloggers are expected to attend this year’s summit.

With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” (Changing The Way People See Mindanao) the event aims to uphold the beauty and strength of Mindanao, to highlight the diverse cultures and fascinating tourist spots that are uniquely Mindanao and to provide a platform where bloggers and other new media practitioners can discuss concerns related to Mindanao – all with the help of new and emerging technologies.

“Mindanao is the home of everything fascinating or in bloggers’ lingo – bloggable. Through the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, it is the hope of the CDO Bloggers, along with our partners and generous sponsors, that we listen to knowledgeable resource persons, meet other Mindanaoan bloggers, share and maximize all of our skills and resources and adopt tried and tested practices that can help us to fully promote Mindanao and for us to become better bloggers as well,” emphasized Chiq Montes, president of CDO Bloggers.

“Of course, we also want all of the participants to have a good time and experience the sights and sounds of Cagayan de Oro,” Montes added.

Montes said that apart from Mindanaoan bloggers, the summit will also see the participation of some bloggers from Luzon and Visayas.

Expected to grace the summit is United States Embassy’s new Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett, Atty. Adel Tamano, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula.

Considered unprecedented in the Philippine blogosphere, a top ranking United States Embassy dignitary is set to deliver the keynote address. Bassett’s trip to CDO will be her first trip to Mindanao since assuming office in June. She previously served as DCM in Mexico.

“We are deeply honored. We’re certain that the summit participants will be delighted to meet her and we can’t wait for her to see our beautiful city,” Montes said.

Other speakers during the whole-day affair include Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Atty. Adel Tamano.

Google’s Philippine representative Aileen Apolo, whose talk will focus on beginners, Digital Filipino’s Janette Toral, who will discuss blog advertising and Lyle Santos, who will talk about making money online will also be present. Representatives of other blogger groups including those in Davao City, General Santos City and Zamboanga will also give updates.

After the summit proper, participants have the choice of joining either the city tour (Xavier University Museum, Cathedral, Divine Mercy Shrine, Opol Aviary, Limketkai Mall) or the whitewater rafting adventure.

Also happening on October 24, right after the MBS 3, is the Philippine Blog Awards – Mindanao awarding ceremonies.

CDO Bloggers, Inc., a group duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is the lead organizer of this year’s Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3. Previous summits took place in Davao City and General Santos City.

The Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 is generously supported by SMART Telecommunications, Nokia, Syntactics, Inc., STI, Rafting Adventure Philippines, MakatiAve.com, Majesty Sales Center, Havaianas Philippines, OLX Philippines Free Classifieds, Clara Shoppe, ASTERISK Events and Communications, RG & K Construction, Paguia’s Cottages, The Pacifica.com Companies, The Site, Spruce, The City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Office of CDO First District Rep. Rolando “Klarex” Uy, SM City Cagayan de Oro, Ultra Craft Advertising Corporation, Magnet Advertising, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental and the Mindanao Bloggers community. Media partners include Papa Ardie’s Concepz, STI, ABS CBN, MOR 91.9 and HOT FM 106.3.

For more information about the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, log on to http://www.mbscdo.com

About CDO Bloggers

CDOBloggers or Cagayan de Oro Bloggers, Inc. is a duly SEC-registered organization that promotes Cagayan de Oro through blogging. Among the group’s goals are to create impact in society through blogging, to help promote Mindanao to the world as a bustling and peaceful land, to promote Cagayan De Oro City and Kagay-anons around the world with a sense of pride and to use blogging as a media platform.

The CDO Bloggers group is the main organizer of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 (MBS 3). For more information about MBS 3, log on to http://www.mbscdo.com

For more information about CDO Bloggers, visit http://www.cdobloggers.com or send email to cdobloggersinc@gmail.com

About Mindanao Bloggers

Mindanao Bloggers aims to unify the island through this exciting new medium — the way of the blog — thereby promoting deeper understanding of our different cultures and beliefs. Thus, it is hoped that this community blog will help in presenting to the world at large the true beauty of the Philippine South, as well as the marvelous diversity of the peoples of Mindanao. For more information about Mindanao Bloggers, visit http://www.mindanaobloggers.com

A Press Release From CDO Bloggers Thru:

ASTERISK Events and Communications
http://www.asteriskeventsandcommunications.com
Mobile number: (+63) 919 238 6575 / (+63) 922 478 5218
Email address: asteriskEC@gmail.com

Makeup For Prominent Eyes

As much as women with small eyes would try every technique to achieve bigger, brighter-looking eyes, those on the opposite end would search for ways to make their big eyes more subtle. If you see someone whose eyes remind you of headlights, you just got yourself a model  of "Prominent Eyes."

The walking headlight is an exaggerated example, just so you could  get the picture. When you see the headlights coming out  of the socket, that's a prominent-protruding variety just like this man on the left. Don't confuse prominent with protruding eyes, which will be discussed separately. As mentioned on our post on the "Different Eye Shapes," a particular shape can overlap with another and produce a combined effect such as the "heavy duty" prominent-protruding type. The anime or doll eyes would more likely illustrate the prominent eyes type alone.

Let us get enlightened on how prominent eyes are subdued through makeup techniques.

Our example, Anne Hathaway, is more of a living doll than a walking headlamp. Big eyes convey emotions without the need for words, but when the emotions get overwhelming,  Doll Eyes can be understated with the following tips:

• Apply a matte dark shade to the eyelid blending upwards to the crease. The dark shade will shrink the  huge appearance of the eyes.


• From the crease, blend  upwards and outwards toward the brow bone with a medium-colored shade.


• Use a highlighter just beneath the brow bone


• Shrink the lids further by darkening the upper lash line using a fluid, pencil or gel eyeliner (observe Anne's pic above).


• Apply black pencil eyeliner to the lower waterline. Line all the way from the outer to the inner corner but stay on the waterline. Lining thickly below will broaden the already huge eyes.


• Curl lashes, apply mascara.


• Groom eyebrows. Avoid thin eyebrows as this has the tendency to widen your eyes even more.

Til the next  makeup tip!

Shop & Share Celebrity Auction

While our country is still recovering from the damages caused by  back to back typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma), celebrities have innovated a way to generate more funds by donating their goods. Actress Angel Locsin lives up to her name and spearheads this noble project.

Don't be jealous of the beneficiaries, though. Authentic Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Burberry items will not be directly given to the victims, as fashion is not among the priorities of Mang Juan and Aling Nena for now. Instead, the expensive and fashionable bags and shoes will  be auctioned online through  the Shop & Share websitewhich opened yesterday. The revenues will go straight into the Philippine National Red Cross' Disaster Relief Efforts.

Joining forces with  Angel Locsin are Anne Curtis, Kris Aquino, Dimples Romana, Jake Cuenca, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Luis Manzano, Marian Rivera and couple more. Yes Papa P (Piolo Pascual) is showing his support as well. But sorry girls, a date with him isn't up for auction.

If you want to walk in the shoes of Pokwang (LV size 6)  or fill the bigger shoes of Ruffa Gutierrez ( Tory Burch Heels size 10) and you have the money for it, go and start bidding now at http://shopandshare.ph! The LV monogram tote of Kris Aquino is waiting for its new owner and Heart Evangelista's pretty face might just rub off on you when you wear her Fendi shades (but don't blame me if it doesn't).

[caption id="attachment_1274" align="alignright" width="300"] Image from Shop & Share[/caption]

If you are a true-blue fashionista and are finding ways to reach out to the typhoon victims, bidding at the site is a win-win situation. But do hurry. As of writing, the $399 starting bid of Anne Curtis' LV backpack has escalated to $900, with 23 rabid bidders. International buyers are more than welcome to join because the auction process is made possible through ebay.com.

This early, I'm congratulating the organizers of this project! We're starting to see the other side of these celebrities beyond the superficial facets of their showbiz lives. May God bless their beautiful souls.

Booty Call

Cosmetics companies are now leaning towards the formulation of more effective anti-aging products. Miracle serums are the hottest thing in the beauty industry but the question remains, " which one really works?" Does a resonating rave from users validate the effectiveness of a product? When the reviews are as convincing as those of Boots No. 7 products, you can't help but be lured into its promises.

My friend Isobelle, who now lives in Denver, Colorado, asked for my opinion on the apparently "miraculous" product originating from UK which is now creating a buzz in the US.  Unfortunately, I haven't used one but it did trigger my curiosity. Here is the info I gathered on Boots No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Serum, making me wish we had it here in the Philippines as well.

What is Boots No. 7?

Boots is a known pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer in the UK, named after John Boot, an agricultural worker who opened a herbalist store in 1849. Eventually, the  No. 7 brand was launched in 1935.  Boots No. 7  is said to be Britain's number 1 make up and skin care brand that has an extensive array of scientifically-proven products. Tinted moisturizers, eyeshadows and lipsticks from this brand are impressively earning the thumbs up of beauty aficionados. What's even more buzz-worthy is its anti-wrinkle skin care line.

Boots no. 7 Protect and Perfect Serum

Boots product—No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty serum (previously known as Refine & Rewind Beauty Serum), was  formulated by a team of scientists lead by Dr. Steve Barton in 2003. The BBC Science show featured this product as having underwent a 12-month independent clinical trial drawing the conclusion that this was the real deal, the only product they tested which worked. The stampede-inducing feature prompted the product to be sold out almost instantaneously. The studies were later backed up by a new study published at the British Journal of Dermatology, confirming its effect on improving the appearance of wrinkles and additionally, proving its repair properties on sun-damaged skin, broadening its market range from the old to the younger ones who show premature signs of aging. Even those with allergy issues can benefit from its hypoallergenic formulation.

[caption id="attachment_1310" align="alignright" width="188" caption="Image from Boots"][/caption]

It is a beauty serum which promises to deliver a younger-looking skin within 4 weeks. If you look into consumer reviews online, you will notice how it garners raves more than rants.  I'd like to believe that it does hold the key to that evasive fountain of youth. Dr. Steve Barton, however, counters this "miracle product" claim but affirms that it does reduce lines and reveal younger looking skin. After its launch in 2004, it easily became the front-liner of the Boots No. 7 brand.

Ingredients

The serum is  a unique compound of silicone, anti-oxidants, lipo pentapeptides and an extract of white lupin flower.

Price

A 1 oz  bottle ranges from $19.99 to $22.99.

Availability

It is frequently sold out but you can check it out on Target or Drugstore.com in the US. Its online store in the UK does not sell it internationally and neither do the US-based stores so it may take a while before we consumers in the Philippines can try it out. Hopefully, not long enough for us in the thirties to start manifesting visible signs of aging.
cupless shelf bra

Rebond at Tony and Jackey CDO

I was long overdue for a rebond. After raving about the affordable home service that I availed last year, the months that followed after that rebond left me with a dry, tangled, and damaged hair, not to mention to unusual amount of falling hair that almost clogged our bathroom. I have all praises for how the stylist did the ironing and how courteous she was but I figured it must be the product she used that caused the marked damage. Like what I always say, you get what you pay for.

This year, I had to make sure that I go to a reputable salon to prevent the same thing from happening. I asked around and one of my models, Kristine, recommended that I go to Cebu or Manila at a certain Korean salon. Unfortunately, like me, she is frustrated about the lack of salons here that are known for their rebond services. The best rebond I have tried were in Hairbytes Shangrila in Mandaluyong and Ricky Reyes in Megamalll.

Tony and Jackey was the salon that Kristine suggested. I made a mental note to squeeze in a rebond session when I visit Cebu or Manila. With the law of attraction working on my favor, I later found out that a Tony and Jackey branch has just opened at SM-CDO! Whoah! That was real quick. I lost no time in scheduling an appointment before a Cyber Monday. The front desk personnel was pleasant to talk to and sounded really professional over the phone.

There are 3 Korean stylists working at the CDO branch. The one who attended to me was Nick. Despite the language barrier, he courteously explained that the status of my hair needed the L'Oreal formula instead of the Korean preparation which may be harsh for my already damaged hair. In fact, he warned me that another rebond may aggravate the condition of my poor hair. But my thought bubble went: "what could be worse than this fluffy, witchy hair I'm sporting?"

They have a 5000 package using L'oreal for rebond on any length of hair plus additional services like hair manicure, hair cut and something else which escapes me at the moment. The 3000 package uses the Korean medicine, inclusive of the other hair treatment services. For rebond alone, it is P300O using L'Oreal and P1,500 for the Korean formula. It would be easy to fall for the cheaper package but as I understand it, it would be an option only for those with "virgin" hair. For the uninitiated, it refers to hair which hasn't been ravaged by a previous treatment such as rebond, relax or perm. It doesn't have anything to do with one's purity or experiences in intimate matters. Ack! That leaves my hair under the slut category.

I figured it may take forever if I choose the whole package. Besides, I wanted to get the feel of paying for a not more than P4000 for a rebond at a famous salon. I usually pay P7000 for my rebond sessions before and I do realize now what that amount could buy me. I opted for the L'Oreal Rebond for P3000 plus haircut for P300. It took around 5 hours to finish.

After the routine shampoo and blowdry, Nick cut my hair, following the style I pointed on their catalog. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to cut before rebonding but after the whole process, there were damaged ends that he had to cut once again, making my hair a lot shorter than it's supposed to be. His assistant Cacay did the blowdrying and most of the ironing process, but Nick was constantly checking out her work and did some ironing too even if the salon was getting packed with clients.

My assessment? Except for the occasional instances when the iron would bump into my scalp, the shorter-than expected hair and the deafening voices that greet a new customer entering the premises, the experience was a fine one. They offered free coffee, and their staff members were trained to treat their clients right.  Generally, the results are good. A few days after, I did notice some frizzy strands near the nape but then I also encountered that after my rebond in Hairbytes so I guess it's a complication I have to deal with afterwards. Regular hot oil will handle this.

The haircut rates of Tony and Jackey is something that may be intimidating for CDO residents because we are used to low prices (one of the reasons why I don't push my makeup artistry). You can enjoy a P120 haircut at some posh salon here which serves Iced Tea for free. But then with reputation of Tony and Jackey's excellent Korean hairstyling, it is certainly worth a try. Both male and female clients kept the stylists busy when I was having the rebond. The regular rates are P500 for women's haircut and P300 for men. Currently, they are on promo: P300 for women and P150 for men. If you guys in CDO want to score Korean hair-do a-la Lee Min Ho, do check the place out. It is located the the 2nd floor of SM CDO , or you may contact them at 859-3022.

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

[caption id="attachment_1190" align="aligncenter" width="444" caption="Image from Smashbox.com"][/caption]

When it comes to primers, Smashbox is a sure winner. With its Photo Finish foundation being a multi-awarded breakthrough product, we expect nothing less from its eye primer version.

Smashbox recently came out with the  Photo Finish lid Primer which aims to make the eye makeup adhere better and last longer. From the way it looks, it appears creamier than the eye primers I've gotten used to (Urban Decay Primer Potion and the Artdeco Eye Primer). It claims to have moisturizing properties owing to its Phytomoist formula, a plant based hyaluronic acid with skin perfecting amino acids. What's interesting about this is that it can be used as an under eye brightener and concealer for dark eye circles! I'm guessing the formula glides more easily than other eye primers that tend to clump due to its glue-like properties.

Will it be at par with the cult favorite UDPP? Or will it just be a mini version of the Smashbox foundation primer ?  That we'll have to find out. The ingredients are different so I'm expecting it to be be on a league of its own. Smashbox ships for free in the US so get it while it's hot.

Watch Emily Noel's review of the product:

The Doctor is vaIN Wins at the Philippine Blog Awards 09

"The Doctor is vaIN" has been awarded the best beauty blog at the Philippine Blog Awards last night held at the PETA Theater in Manila. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to come to the prestigious event, not because I feared a Kanye West act happening, but because I live down south, in Cagayan de Oro.  When "The Doctor is vaIN" was called,  the doctor was out of sight.

I was totally unaware that my blog scored victory until I remembered that the PBA 09 Manila leg (no, not the basketball league) was taking place and people started tweeting  the winners. Being an apathetic blogger who hardly has friends in the blogosphere, no one told me about the results.  It was not until I read the tweet of tonyocruz mentioning this blog as the winner in the beauty category. Not to discredit the report or anything, it was too surreal to assume that it was indeed my blog that won. Then I stumbled upon the post of Doc Gelo, who was nice enough to inform me that it was indeed  true.  To these kind- hearted bloggers, even if they are not in any way blogging about beauty, thank you so much!

Big thanks are in order for the people behind the Philippine Blog Awards! Thank you for considering the efforts I put into this relatively young blog. Being the first beauty blog awardee is not only a milestone but a privilege I will take responsibly. The blogging world may not be familiar with this domain but thanks for this grand introduction! Rest assured that I will work harder to polish the articles that I post to make them worthy of your recognition.

Contrary to what people might think that it was me in a man's clothes who accepted the award, no, it was somebody from the PBA staff. I sincerely thank him for receiving it on my behalf.

Thank you to the cdo bloggers for supporting the finalists from Cagayan de Oro, to my friends in facebook for their greetings,  and to my husband who's proudest of my latest achievement.

To you, who is reading this: whether you're a regular reader, a supporter, a lurker, or even a hater, it doesn't matter as long as you are getting prettier with each visit to this blog, it is good enough for me. Thank you!

If you want to view the full coverage of the event, please head to Flippish, the first online Pinoy  video channel where the screencaps appearing on this post were taken from. To know the complete list of winners,  Tonyocruz has it. Congratulations to fellow beauty bloggers Shen, Candy Blush,  all the nominees, finalists, and winners for a job well done!

Makeup For Small Eyes

You have been introduced to the different eye shapes and the examples for each on the previous post. In case you're clueless about it, please click this link to the Different Eye Shapes.

We used Toni Gonzaga as an example for small eyes and this is a picture of her with makeup which should work for women with small eyes. There was no info on who did her makeup but I give kudos to the MUA who made her look extra fabulous:

Most women with small eyes want to achieve a bigger and more opened eyes, although I know some who would rather keep it that way.  These tips, however,  should yield a more awakened look:

• Use undereye brighteners like YSL Touche Eclat or light concealers because dark undereye circles will recede the size of the eyes further.


• Apply light colored eye shadows on the lids. Dark ones will make the eyes shrink even more.


• When applying color to the lid, gradually increase height of the colored area as you move outwards or laterally.


• Pick a medium colored eye shadow for the crease


• Highlight the area beneath the browbone and along the inner corner of the eye


• Line the upper lashline with a black eyeliner, extending slightly beyond the lash line


• Line the lower waterline with white eyeliner to create the illusion of bigger white area of the eye


• Line the outer 1/3 of the lower lashline with the black eyeliner, gradually thinning as you move inwards


• Curl lashes and apply mascara. Don't skip this important step. If your lashes are short, consider applying false eyelashes.


• Check the eye brows and  shape them in a way that they are are not droopy

Different Eye Shapes

The eyes are the most exciting part to enhance with make-ups. The right strokes can improve your appearance dramatically or alter a character. An innocent looking lead actress can instantly transform into a mean villain after applying the tricks in eye make-up application.

Let us first get oriented  with the different eye shapes. Examples of each type will be those of local and foreign celebrities whose pictures were gathered from the net. Credits go to the respective owners of each photo. The ways to approach each with the proper makeup application will be discussed in a follow-up article.

I. Common Shapes/ Sizes

1. Small Eyes

Oriental eyes may fall under this category, but in general, this type refers to those peepers which are proportionately smaller than the rest of the face.  Example is TV Host Toni Gonzaga. She first striked me as one with closed-set eyes but upon re-examining her face, I decided she fits this description instead.

2. Prominent Eyes

This group is opposite to the first type, in which the eyes are prominent and tend to dominate the facial features. Think round, anime eyes but in human form. These types sometimes convey a surprised look that needs some toning down but can also be expressive and doll-like similar to Anne Hathaway's.

3. Almond Eyes

Having this shape may cause you to be subject of envy at some point because  although almond eyes are common, they considered to be the perfect shape which any eye color or makeup design will work on. See the picture of an almond below for your reference. Notice that it is pointy medially and gradually rounded laterally. Primetime TV's Darna, Marian Rivera, comes to mind when speaking of Almond-shaped eyes.

4. Protruding Eyes

Goiter probably pops into your mind when you hear protruding eyes but it isn’t limited among patients with thyroid disorders. Eyes like these don't have to be huge in proportion to the rest of the face but they do have an exaggerated bulge from the socket which can be more obvious when the eyes look down or are closed. Penelope Cruz and Angelina Jolie both have these and they don't look anywhere close to being a case of Grave’s Disease. Locally, there are a lot- from Concert Queen Pops Fernandez to Megastar Sharon Cuneta but we'll pick the award-winning Cherry Pie Picache who first starred in an Eskinol Commercial with Vilma Santos and is now one of the most in demand actresses effectively essaying her roles whether as a clever villain or a devoted mom.

5. Hooded Eyes

These are commonly seen in aging eyes which lost its elasticity, thereby causing the droop. These can also be found on young people with folds of skin hanging over the socket line just because they are born that way. Asian eyes can sometimes have a hooded effect, making the eyes look closed even when they are not. Grey's Anatomy’s Dr. Cristina Yang played by Sandra Oh enters the picture as an example for this eye shape.

6. Deep Set Eyes

Sunken eyeballs due to severe dehydration may illustrate an extreme case of deep set eyes but we are rather dealing with the eyes that lie deep into the socket commonly seen among Bollywood actresses. Women with these eyes are often considered a symbol of beauty such as Aishwarya Rai.

II. Distance

These categories are not descriptions of an eye shape but the distance between them which will likewise have an impact on your makeup application .

1. Closed- Set Eyes

When the eyes have a narrow space between them, this means you have closed-set eyes. Internationally, Jennifer Aniston was cited as an example but we'll choose the fabulous actress Cherrie Gil to represent our local scene. Between her small eyes is a thin,aquiline nose making the space appear narrower.

2. Wide Set Eyes

When the eyes are spaced farther apart than the length of the eye, where you can put more than one extra imaginary eye in between, they are said to be wide-set. TV host Pia Guanio has small eyes accentuating the distance between them, making her a perfect example for this category.

Now look at yourself in the mirror and examine the shape of your eyes. Note that each type may not be exclusive from one another. Yours may be a combination of two or more categories. You can have small but protruding eyes or huge and deep set eyes. Uh… having a combination of a small, hooded eye on the right and a huge almond eye on the left is an entirely different case in which a trip to an ophthalmologist may be warranted. Otherwise, we can always put out our eye shadows and brushes and begin the magic. Hang on for the tips on how to apply makeup for each eye shape in the upcoming posts.

The Doctor is (va)IN The Finals

I'm ecstatic to share that this blog has been chosen as one of the finalists of the Philippine Blog Awards, beauty blog category! Gaaahh!I didn't realize it would feel like entering the finals of Miss Universe.  Not that I've attempted in the past to join a beauty contest but somehow I get that it would just be as exciting.

I have been blogging for the past four years in my personal journals at Xanga and Blogspot, which accompanied me through several milestones and dramas of my life, including my battle with the big C.  For the most part, I got hooked into blogging for the emotional catharsis it provided. I didn't care if nobody read my entries, just as long as I got to unload the bottled up feelings which were about to explode in ugly proportions anytime.

From being the whiny blogger, I decided to divert my energy into something that would be less melodramatic and useful for others. Armed with the passion for beauty, writing in this niche was the most logical thing to do; hence, the birth of vanityclinic.com. I may not keep this updated as often as I wanted to because of work,  but I hope that my posts here would inspire others to realize that beauty is inherent in them-it just has to be unleashed with the right techniques. With the humble knowledge I gathered from attending makeup school and from personal research and experiences, I wish that through this blog, I will be an instrument to their beautiful transformation.

Being placed alongside the best bloggers in the country is an honor itself. Upon entering the contest, I was giddy about the idea but I knew it would be a long shot. There was no way I could compete with other  blogs in terms of popularity but I am truly grateful for making it to the Philippine Bloggers' Awards' finalists  based on quality content and design. This recognition pushes me to do better. I am a work in progress but with an encouragement coming in this form, I know I'll get there someday. Thank you to the readers who appreciate what I have to offer and congratulations to the other finalists!