Wedding Gown by Puey Quinones

 Images courtesy of John Mateos Ong

My client, Mrs. Rachel Valerie Go-Chua, was terrified when she came across the Fashion Scam article involving her wedding gown designer, Puey Quinones. After reading the story, she made it a point to check on the development of her wedding gown week after week. Yesterday, she finally marched down the aisle looking radiant in her wedding gown by Puey Quinones. Apart from the unavoidable zipper malfunction, she was totally satisfied with the final product. 

Richard, the groom, wore a beige tuxedo by the same designer. This time I assure you that the tuxedo did not have a Danzen tag in the inner pocket. 

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Rachel Chua! Best Wishes!

The Singer's Diva Manager

Image courtesy of www.thefreeman.net

A few months ago, a mall's marketing manager booked this female singer for a show in his mall. Upon going through the singer's contract, he discovered an absurd clause that states that the client has to provide the artist with "Class A Food". In his years of booking celebrities, it was the first time that he had encountered such a clause in a contract. Based on his previous experiences, the mall's celebrity guest is always given the best possible treatment even without being told. It has been the mall's practice that when a celebrity is still waiting for his/her turn to go on stage, he/she is invited to a nearby cafe or restaurant and is served with anything that he/she wants to order. It is common sense that the guest artist is never given lunch boxes just like the rest of the production crew.

On the day of the show, it started to rain cats and dogs. The heavy rain made the marketing manager decide to cancel the show that was supposed to take place in an open area. Upon making this decision, he immediately rang the manager of this singer informing him not to proceed to the mall anymore. When the manager heard this, he started yelling at the marketing manager and insisted that he should still pay for the singer's talent fee.

It has always been a practice of this mall to just reschedule a celebrity's performance in the event of a show cancellation due to acts of God. This was the very first time that the he had to pay an artist in spite of her inability to perform because of a fortuitous event. After this untoward incident, the marketing manager has vowed that he will never ever deal with the diva manager of this singer. It is just too bad for them because this marketing manager is in charge of several malls all over the city.

Do you know who this singer with the diva manager is? If I am not mistaken, she performs rather regularly on a variety show every Sunday. If you still do not have an idea, I suggest that you follow micsylim on Twitter to get extra clues. Keep emailing your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The Juicy Chika Behind the 1st Belo Blogger's Night

DJ Angelicopter sharing her breast enhancement experience

Dr. Vicki Belo explaning the best technique 

for breast implant placements

Last night, I was invited by the Belo Medical Group to attend its first ever Belo Blogger's Night. It was held at Myron's Place in Greenbelt 5. The food was good but the company was even better. 

I was seated across Belo Medical Group's latest endorser for breast enhancement, Angelika "Angleicopter" Cruz. Have you seen her giant billboard along Edsa? I was very flattered when she told me that she and her friends are avid readers of  Fashion PULIS. 

During dinner, I asked Angelicopter as to what was her ultimate worry prior to having her breast enhancement procedure. She told me that she was scared that she might end up with breasts that are too round and too unnatural. She said, "I don't want to have duckpin bowling ball breast like those of __________."

I could not control my laughter when I heard Angelicopter's statement. I had to turn to Dr. Caparas, the breast expert of the Belo Medical Group, and asked him if the young actress that Angelicopter was referring to really had her breast enhancement. He told me that it would be impossible for someone as skinny as she is to have breast as full as hers. He even shared that he strongly believes that the young actress also had parts of her face fixed. 

Do you know who the young actress that Dr. Caparas and Angelicopter was referring to? She has repeatedly denied on the family network TV interviews that she had her breast and face done. I guess she can not fool an expert board certified plastic surgeon and someone who has actually had her breast enhancement.

If you do not have any idea, I suggest you follow micsylim on Twitter. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

Please Spare Me

Image courtesy of www.amazingeventsmadeeasy.blogspot.com

This veteran action star would always wait for this congressman from the south to arrive in the casino. Every time he sees him there, he would stick to him like a leech and sweet talk his way into asking him for a few pieces of casino chips. Being the generous high roller, this congressman would always hand him a few pieces and wish him good luck. Instead of gambling all of the casino chips away, he would wait for the congressman to leave the gambling area, exchange the chips for cash, before disappearing from the casino.

The bodyguards of this congressman hate the guts of this action star because he treats them lowly and yet he only begs for chips from their boss. This is why whenever the bodyguards see him winning, they would do what he does to their boss, suck up to him and ask for “balato”. Left with no other choice, the action star would unwillingly hand them a 1,000 PhP bill for them to share.

Do you know who this veteran action star is? He is the father of the son of a very talkative TV personality. If you are still clueless, look at the title or follow micsylim on Twitter. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

Mr. and Mrs. Really Just 12 hrs

Image courtesy of www.themarketguardian.com

The contract of this female celebrity endorser strictly states that she can only work for 12 hours in a day, from 10 am to 10 pm. For the shooting of TV commercials, this time frame is unrealistic because unlike TV series, commercials require better quality and therefore need more takes. She usually comes to the set late in the morning and spends between two to three hours for her hair and make-up to be done. During the day, she is normally pleasant to everyone but when the clock strikes 10pm, the director, the producer, the crew and even the clients see her sudden mood change. She becomes grouchy and makes it clear to everyone that her husband has been calling her and insisting that she goes home as soon as possible.

Her husband is no different. He comes to the set late and when the 12 hours have been consumed, he tunes out without providing any leeway. It seems like the couple has this drama of calling each other on the final hour so that everyone on the set is aware that they have one last work hour remaining for the day. A veteran production guy noted that this male celebrity endorser was very easy to work with prior to him marrying the female celebrity endorser.

This husband and wife pair has signed numerous endorsement contracts lately. It is obvious that they are doing it for the money. I do not see anything wrong with that, but at least they have to feel for the brand. One time during a commercial shoot, a brand manager was on the set sharing his sentiments about this male celebrity endorser with the production team. He mentioned that the past celebrity endorsers of his brands were warm, easy to talk to, and would always project their affinity for the product. Without being told, they would mention the brand that they are endorsing when they appear on TV shows and would even offer to attend  promotional events. This male celebrity endorser is nothing like that. He is distant, cold and appears to be uninterested in the products that he is endorsing. The client feels that it is just pure business for him and his wife.

Some production people have professed that the two of them are two of the most difficult celebrities that they have ever worked with. If you do not know who they are, follow micsylim on twitter to get more clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

My Favorite Restaurant in HK: Peking Garden - Alexandra House, Central

Peking Garden - Alexandra House, Central, Hong Kong

Last night, we had dinner in Peking Garden - Alexandra House. This is our favorite restaurant in Hong Kong so whenever we are here, we try our best to drop by this place. Look at the menu and you will know why. It is a bit pricey but it is all worth it. 

Peking Garden's Foyer Area

Peking Garden's Main Dining Room

Set Menu = 1,280 HKD per person

Pickles with Beancurd

Smoked Vegetable Roll with Sliced Pork 

in Garlic and Chili Sauce

Braised Supreme Shark's Fin Soup with Crabmeat

Braised Whole Yoshihama Abalone and Sea Cucumber

in Oyster Sauce

Deep Fried Prawn in Chili Sauce

(instead of Barbecued Peking Duck)

"Tan Tan" Noodles

Sweetened Bird's Nest in Almond Juice

The Time Giver

Image courtesy of www.blogs.jovempan.uol.com.br

I will be in Hong Kong for the next few days so expect my stories to be brief in the meantime. Despite being tired from all the walking and shopping, I just could not go to bed without writing a blind item for you guys. I hope you can be more understanding. =)

Do not even dare to ask this actress/TV host about the call time because she is bound to give you the wrong information. She does this on purpose so that she will be the only one in the group who will come to the shoot on time. She wants to make the others look unprofessional so that she will be favorite of the of the production team. Now I know why  is the favorite girl of this certain director.

Do you know who this dubious actress/TV host is? She projects a sweet and sincere image on TV but in real life she is the exact opposite. Her fellow celebrities are all very wary of her after discovering her true color.

I will give you two clues since I will not be able to tweet because the internet connection in our hotel room is very slow. The first clue is she hosts not just one show in the family network. For the second clue, you have to look closer at the title for you to find it. Happy guess guys!

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

Located at the Arrival Area of the

Hong Kong International Airport

My aunt and I arrived in Hong Kong yesterday around one in the afternoon. Before heading to our hotel, we stopped by Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao for lunch. 

Beancurd with Preserved Egg = 40 HKD

This is the favorite dish of my aunt. She loves the soft texture of the beancurd topped with pork floss and century egg.

  

Steamed Pork Dumplings "Shanghai" Style = 30 HKD

For me, this is one of the best xiao long paos in Hong Kong. It has a richer flavor compared to the version of Ding Tai Fung. The xiao long paos that they serve in the Greenhills branch is nothing compared to the ones they serve in Hong Kong. If you are craving for xiao long paos in Manila, I suggest you go to Peking Garden in Greenbelt 3 instead.  

Wanton in Chili Oil = 38 HKD

If you like your dumplings spicy, then I suggest this over xiao long pao. It also has a stronger flavor because of the chili oil. 

Assorted Vegetable Wrapped in Deep-Fried

Beancurd Sheets = 48 HKD

I personally love crispy beancurd skin so this is a dish that I always order every time I visit this restaurant. 

Taro Pastry = 28 HKD

If you like desserts that are not too sweet then I recommend these pastries with taro filling.

Sesame Cream = 22 HKD



I am not a fan of black sesame but my aunt loves it very much. I guess it is an acquired taste.

Letter from a Reader: Abusive Police Officer

Image courtesy of http://www.news.change.org/

Dear Fashion PULIS,

I have been a follower of your blogsite, FashionPulis.com ever since your first article came out in February. I find your blogsite both entertaining and informative. My family would truly appreciate it if you can publish this story to expose the abusive use of power by some policce officers.

Let me share with you a very unfortunate incident that happened recently to my cousin, Bert James Millendez, who was a victim of the abusive behavior of Police Officer Michael Dubria. 

The tragic incident took place in a commercial area near the entrance of Central Park Village in Bangkal, Davao City last June 10, 2011. That evening, a group of young professionals, students from UP Mindanao and Ateneo de Davao University together with some of their parents parents were having a send off party  for my cousin Bert James who was departing for the United States the following day.

When Dubria came out of a massage parlor that was located near the bar where the party was happening, he spotted  my cousin, Bert James, standing beside his Toyata Fortuner conversing on the cellphone. For some reason, Dubria got irritated with what he saw and instantaneously in public view assaulted and kicked Bert James who was then prompted to defend himself. Right there and then, Dubria brought out his gun and pointed it on my cousin's face which scared the hell out of everyone present at the scene.

Luckily, Bert James' dad, Atty. Millendez, was present at the party and his friends rushed to him to inform him of the commotion that was happening outisde. Atty. Millendez came to the rescue, spoke calmly to Dubria and was able to avert the tragic incident. Everyone at the party admired James’ Dad who prudently came into the scene with a cool head to prevent any shed of blood and merely accepted Dubria’s apologies.

For the Beta Sigma group and comrades of Bert James from UP Mindnao and Ateneo de Davao, the behavior of Dubria was unforgiveable. His unruly behavior is offensive to human intelligence and civil society. As a police officer, it is expected of him to respect basic human rights. What will happen to ordinary citizens who would not speak out and simply condone Dubria’s impulsive character? If the higher authority will not be informed of his wrong doings, then the entire community will be forever at his mercy.

Thank you so much for your attention to my letter. I look forward to your favorable response.

Estrella Melliza
twitter.com/starfishnet

P.S. Fashion PULIS is open to hear the side of Mr. Dubria. Please get in touch with me through michaelsylim@gmail.com.

Don't Grab His Private Parts!

Image courtesy of www.dnmirror.blogspot.com

This multi-awarded actor had a show in Iloilo with other celebrities from different networks last March. The show was held in a gymnasium and the crowd was very rowdy. The managers could not stop the persistent fans from sneaking in the dressing room to have their photos taken with the stars. According to some of the actor's fellow celebrities who were sharing the same dressing room with him, they noticed that he was rather irritated with the uncontrollable situation.

The celebrities who were in the holding area waiting for their turn to go on stage were terrified when they saw this actor forcefully dragging a gay fan while walking towards them. He was cursing the fan and shouting “sumosobra ka na ha!” The girls who witnessed the incident were in panic while the boys tried to stop him. He just walked passed all of them and continued dragging the poor fan to the nearby toilet. He locked the toilet door and beat him up black and blue.

When the police officer finally arrived, they used a device to force open the door. The observers saw the gay fan running out of the toilet crying and bleeding. While the police officers were having a private discussion with the actor and his manager, they did not notice that the gay fan already disappeared. No one knew what they talked about but the police officers just left after their long conversation. Later that night, the actor narrated to his fellow male celebrities as to how the gay fan grabbed his private parts after his performance on stage.

Amazingly, this violent incident involving this actor with an angelic face never made it to the media. I guess his family network was just trying to protect his image. Do you think it was justifiable for the actor to beat up the fan because he made a pass at him? Please share your thoughts.

If you still can not identify who this actor is, I suggest that you follow micsylim on twitter to get more clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The Secret Romance

Image courtesy of www.dramastyle.com

This actor in his late 20’s met this wealthy beautiful middle aged businesswoman when he was looking at one of the houses that she was selling. In the process, he got attracted to this single mother of three and did everything possible to woo her. He called her regularly and sent her sweet SMS and BBM messages. On his way to his location shoots, he would even pass by her house just to personally hand her fresh flowers.

His persistence finally paid off when she eventually fell for him. She showered him occasionally with expensive gifts. Every month, she would even instruct one of her nephews to buy her actor boyfriend more than twenty thousand peso worth of new clothes.

The two of them have been secretly seeing each other for quite some time now. More than just to avoid media attention, this actor kept their romance secret because he has to make sure that his benefactor does not find out about this. If this happens, his flourishing TV career will definitely be jeopardized.

Do you know who this talented actor is? If you can not identity him, I suggest you follow micsylim on twitter to get more clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The Shoe that Did Not Quite Fit

Image courtesy of www.flickr.com

This story happened in the shoe section of a major department store. When this veteran singer was about to try on some shoes, her mother noticed that there were several people seated on the couch. So she decided to approach a pleasant looking lady who was waiting for her orders to be brought to her and told her "Excuse me, my daughter ______ (name of the veteran singer) needs to sit down to try on some shoes." The lady, offended with what she heard, vehemently replied, "I pay the right amount of income tax to our government. Does your daughter do that?" Shocked with what she heard, she hurriedly left the shoe section with her celebrity daughter.

Do you know who this veteran singer actress is? If you can not guess her identity, I suggest you follow micsylim on twitter to get more clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The List

Image courtesy of www.mmorpg.com

If you were following micsylim on Twitter, I mentioned that I was going to publish a list. If you do not have an idea as to what this list is for, let me tell you that it is related to a previous story. Allow me now enumerate the six beautiful women in alphabetical order (based on last names):

The first is an actress host who moved from one network to another. She was one of the hosts of a controversial noontime show before it got cancelled. This girl enjoys watching basketball very much.

The second is a TV personality who is good at sports. She has the gift of gab and she enjoys being with men of color.

The third and the easiest to guess is the talented actress who was linked to him. According to him, she is the only who can match up to his strength and stamina.

The fourth is someone that I have never heard of. I did my own research and found out that this sexy actress started as a model. She also made headlines a few years ago when her ex-boyfriend turned her into a punching bag.

The fifth is an actress known for her ginormous assets that were gifts from a popular cosmetic surgeon. I personally admire her taste when it comes to luxury hand bags.

The sixth and the least expected is an actress model who is no longer active in the industry. More than her acting, she was known for her dancing prowess on TV.

I am sure that this is not the complete list but this is what I have so far. Do you have anyone to add to the list? Can you enumerate all six of them?

Due to the sensitivity of the topic, I will only post comments containing the first letter of their last names. Please remember that initials and the first letter of their first names will not be entertained. I suggest you follow micsylim on twitter to get additional information. Kindly email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com, I will be waiting.

xoxo
Fashion PULIS

Havaianas Filipinas Collection Perfect for Independence Day

Fashion has become an avenue to express love for one’s country. As nationalism meets style, the Philippine archipelago, faces of former presidents, heroes, and other national icons are now widely used as designs to convey patriotic statements. And with more Filipinos around the world giving us reason to banner national pride, Havaianas is giving Havaianaticos another trendy option to showcase Philippine pride.

Since 2006, Havaianas has honored the Philippines’ rich and colorful culture with designs that embody the spirit of Filipino pride. This June, Havaianas joins the country as it celebrates its 113th year of independence with the release of this year’s Limited Edition Havaianas Filipinas Collection.

“This year’s Limited Edition Havaianas Filipinas Collection hopes to reflect happiness, carefree fashion, and good memories with the playful use of color and inventive patterns. These attitudes truly match the Filipino culture and even the brand’s cheery personality,” says Anne Gonzalez, Managing Director of Havaianas Philippines.

The Limited Edition 2011 Havaianas Filipinas Collection chose to play with the colors of the national flag. With the dazzling shades of blue, red, yellow, and white, fused with contemporary, street-graffiti prints, the result is a modern yet decidedly nationalistic fashion statement, letting all fashionable Havaianaticos walk as one.

Filipinos from Luzon can literally wear their heritage at their feet with Havaianas Filipinas Yellow, with the name “Luz” imprinted on its soles amid artistic splashes of red and blue. Meanwhile, Visayans can flaunt their nationalism loud and proud with Havaianas Filipinas Red. With intense red straps adorned with the same engraved flag and Havaianas logo, the name “Vis” is printed across its red soles, complemented with vibrant shades of blue and yellow. Those hailing from Mindanao can walk patriotically in Havaianas Filipinas Blue, with lively cobalt soles that feature the name “Min” accented with bright colors of red and yellow.

Each pair’s well-crafted strap carries a unique rendition of the Philippine flag engraved with “Pinas” next to the distinctive Havaianas logo.

Refreshing, stylish, and artistically crafted for all proud and fashionable Filipino Havaianaticos, this year’s Limited Edition 2011 Havaianas Filipinas Collection will arrive in stores on June 12, 2011.

Get your hands on all 3 designs of the Limited Edition 2011 Havaianas Filipinas Collection, available in All Flip-Flops, Celio, Complex, Duty Free Philippines Fiesta Mall, Gas, KidSports, Manila Polo Club, Moana, ROX, Rustan's, Stoked, Tick Tock Flip Flop NAIA Terminal 3, and Urban Athletics. For provincial outlets, visit www.havaianas.com

Empty Promises

Image courtesy of www.crosspoint.tv

Before you read this story, I must warn you that I only used the pronouns “he” and “she” to refer to the two main characters in this highly controversial story. It might be confusing for some of you but I could not think of a better way to refer to them. Please bear with me.

When she started hanging out with him, he told her that he has been physically separated from his wife for nearly four months. According to him, his wife left him to be with someone else in another city. The only reason why she agreed to continue seeing him was because he repeatedly assured her that his marriage was over. He even told her that while his wife was far away from him, he would only receive SMS messages from her asking about the details for the legal separation.

One day while he was spending some time in the North, the wife arrived to hand him the separation papers for him to sign. When the wife left, he showed the documents to her and told her to be patient because rather than focusing on the separation, he had to set his mind on a very important upcoming event. She did not want to get in his way so she told him that it was best that they stop seeing each other. He refused and told her that she did not care enough for him. He wanted her present wherever he went and when she mentioned that she was not comfortable being seen with him, he would question her love for him.

He was a very possessive lover and that's why he instructed her to quit show business. He would send text messages to guys who are interested with her telling them to back off. He wanted their relationship to be out in the open but she protested.

He promised her everything. He told her that as soon as the separation has been finalized, he would eventually marry her. He would even tell her not to feel guilty because that it was his wife who initiated the separation to begin with.

The day when event was over, he went to her very upset telling her that his wife was crying because the cameras were all over. He also told her that his wife’s confidants have been advising his wife to stay in marriage to get more money out of him. In so doing the wife will be able to prevent him from legally being with her. The whole thing took a different turn when the media noticed her presence in his life. After the news exploded, she asked him again about the separation and he told her that he will just attend to the matter after the election.

After the election was over, she finally accepted that no separation was going to happen between him and his wife. He was shocked when she decided to stop seeing him. He tried asking her back but there was nothing that he could have done. She could no longer take all his empty promises. To add insult to injury, she later found out that he was also dating a Mexican girl from the USA while they were still together.

Since she is completely out of the picture, he and his wife continued to paint a picture perfect family to the public. What the public does not know is that he recently got another young mestiza girl pregnant. She is expected to have his baby in the next few months. He also has another son that is currently residing in the USA with his mother who used to be a hotel receptionist.

Do you know who are the characters involved in this story? Follow micsylim on twitter to get additional clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The Twitter Revelation

Image courtesy of blog.umass.edu

They fell in love with each other on the set of a reality singing competition of a major network that was hosted by a veteran singer. Since the network was grooming her to become the next big singing star, she was advised by the network not to enter into any serious relationship. She keept her relationship with this male singer as a secret. They were not allowed to be seen in public so the guy would just visit her in their house.

One day, the male singer was devastated when he read a tweet from a Filipino-Canadian guy who informed him that the female singer was two-timing them. According to his tweets, she has the same term of endearment for the two of them and even sends them identical BBM messages and photos. When the male singer found out about this, he immediately broke up with her and twitted her “I hope you are happy with what you did!” Since then, they stopped seeing each other and “unfollowed” each other on twitter.

Do you know who these two new singers are? The male singer already moved to a competing network and appeared in the Pinoy version of a Korean telenovela. Follow micsylim on twitter to get additional clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

Letter from a Reader: The Swatch Complaint

Image courtesy of www.topnews.in

Dear Fashion PULIS,

I thought of sending you this story while I was reading your blog. The post where you showed the SM price tag scam inspired me to write my frustration regarding the customer service of Swatch.

It has been a week of feeling frustrated over the after-sales service of Swatch for me. I am from Iloilo, a province from the Visayas. I bought a Swatch March of last year when I went to Cebu. After a few months of use, I observed that gave me the wrong time from time to time.

When I went back to Cebu October last year, I had the watch check by the store. The lady checked the battery and it was fine. She advised me to leave it for 3 weeks for observation. I did not agree because I had to go back to Iloilo and they refused send the watch via LBC after the 3 week observation period.

The watch got permanently busted last February 2011. By busted I mean no movement for the second’s hand. I called the Manila Swatch service center about it. They said they will check the watch provided that the three conditions will be met:

1. Hand in the watch personally or through someone I know.
2. Leave the watch for 2-3 weeks for "proper" observation.
3. Pick up the watch from them after the 2-3 week "proper" observation period.

Since I had no way of going to Manila and I do not know of someone I could ask to help me fulfill the 3 condition, I felt no reason to despair because I had another full year left of warranty.

The lady who took my call also gave me hope when she told me that she understood that I could stay longer than 3-5 days if ever I go to Manila. I believe she said that she could bypass the rules and give me special consideration. After the phone call, I was still hopeful and decided that I would just wait for the time when I have a scheduled trip to Manila.

I was happy when I heard that my tita was scheduled to fly to Manila on May 28, but she will just stay there for just 3 days. Before she flew to Manila and go to Swatch, I made sure to call the service center. I informed them about my situation and the fact that I can't leave my watch for 2-3 weeks. I just did not want to leave the Swatch there in Manila and get it from them after a year or so.

After the phone call, I got the impression that Swatch will accommodate my request. So when May 28 came, my tita personally hand in my Swatch to the Glorietta store. They discovered that the battery was busted but since they ran out of battery that morning, my Tita had to leave the watch. They also told her that after they replace the battery, they need to observe it for 3 days, in time for my tita's flight to Iloilo.

Three days later at 5 PM, my Swatch was released. They told my tita that just by replacing the battery my Swatch will now work fine. The Swatch was set at 5:15 pm. It was placed inside a case before it was handed to my Tita.

Believe it or not, I got the watch at 5:15 PM the following day. I was thrilled because it gave me the correct time after months of frustration! However, I noticed that although the time was right, the seconds hand did not move one nanometer. What are the chances that the watch was ok the 3 days while it was under the custody of Swatch and it just got busted again when it was handed to me?

Once again I called the Glorietta branch and they did not know how it could happen. As far as they know, it was working perfectly when they gave it back to my tita. They spent the whole 30 minutes of NDD call explaining the policies of Swatch to me. The lady I was speaking to asked their head office if they could offer a solution. She told me minutes later that there was nothing they could do unless the 3 conditions they told me before were met.

I let the weekend pass, and decided to spend another NDD call to their head office. The Swatch guy (I know his name, but I doubt if it's important to refer to it) told me that they couldn't do anything unless I complied with their policy. As far as he is concerned, I am no longer entitled to feel frustrated or think of them as anti-consumer since necessity left me with no choice but to pull out the unit only after 3 days. Also, as per policy and SOP, they have fulfilled the correct after sales support. He did give me an email address though where I can send my letter of complaint. I have sent the letter for quite some time but I have received no reply from Swatch.

It's just so frustrating and this is why I decided to write to you, hoping to get my story published and circulated online. The Swatch that I bought might not be expensive, I may not have connections. I have no value to them, so I do not matter? I know that they have all the money to get celebrity endorsers, do some CSR and charity works to show an image of an upright, credible, community-oriented company, but they have forgotten to offer good after sales service to a loyal customer.

I had my first Swatch 18 years ago when I was in grade 1. When it got busted, I bought a different brand of watch since Swatch was not available in Iloilo. I wore the watch from Grade 6 till last year when I finally bought my first Swatch using my own money. When it was still working properly last year, I couldn't think of buying any other brand of watch but Swatch. I have a total of 4 Swatch (only one left working properly), and each has a sentimental value to me. I never buy anything if it does not have value to me. This is why I going through great lengths to voice my frustrations.

I know I am just one person. And my cause is hardly anything significant or controversial. But here I am, attempting to help improve the quality of customer service we have here in the Philippines.

Yours truly,
Maria Frances Anne Lorena

P.S. Calling on Swatch, please feel free to email your side of the story to michaelsylim@gmail.com. I will publish it as soon as I receive it.

Commercial Liaison

Image courtesy of www.annaghabane.com

A friend of mine tweeted a few days ago, "Believe what you would like to believe and you will never succeed. If you want to succeed then do not believe."

By now, many of you are aware of the highly controversial romance between this actress and this model who blossomed from a one-liner pick up line on Twitter. The whole nation has already been captivated by the romantic bravado of this model declaring his undying affection for this actress.

However, all is not what it seems. Showbiz insiders report that the two are set to launch an endorsement soon and their contract requires them to have a very public affair to generate buzz and word-of-mouth promotion for the brand. This is after all similar to a closet actor and his heiress actress girlfriend.

Apparently this actress is also just using the model for her own personal vendetta. This is no validation that the two are really together as she is not over the heartbreak caused by her equally popular former boyfriend who is the son of a veteran actress. Add to that, she has her eyes set on someone else who does not belong to the business.

The actress is also very much wary of the model as she has heard rumors about his past. After all, she is surrounded by dear friends who are looking after her welfare and giving her notes about this model's history. 

Do you need additional clues to identify the characters in this story? Follow micsylim on twitter to get the latest update on Fashion PULIS. Please remember the guidelines before posting your comments. Kindly email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

Letter from a Reader: The Missing Hermes Herbag

Photo of RDV that appeared on Look Magazine

carrying the missing Hermes Herbag 

Dear Fashion PULIS,

This unfortunate incident took place more than a year ago but I was waiting for this fashion stylist and host of a lifestyle show, RDV, to settle amicably before spreading this story. Since I see that he shows no effort to settle, I have decided to share the blow by blow account of what he did to me with your many avid readers.

RDV was introduced to me and my friends three years ago by a friend of mine, RC, who was his officemate at that time. RDV started hanging out with us since then we liked him instantly because of his wit and humor. He told us many cool stories about him and his family which we later found out to be all lies.

Sometime in mid 2009, he told me that he was interested to buy my used Louis Vuitton Keepall that I was selling at that time. Since we have been friends for quite some time, I sold the LV bag to him on a 6 month installment basis. There were times that the payments were delayed but never the less, he was able to finish the payments.

In early 2010, he fell in love with this Hermes Herbag that I was selling for 75,000 Php. Since he has once shared with us that he was earning 120,000 Php a month, I told myself that I will not have any problem with this guy for sure. Months passed and I have not received any payments. All I got from him were apologies and excuses for his inability to pay. Wanting to save our friendship, I patiently waited but his excuses became more and more illogical each time. It was also around that time, when me my friends and I began to discovered his web of lies. His friends in Facebook were also witnesses to his lies. We thought that more than an Hermes Herbag, what he needed was professional psychological help.

Months later in September 2010, I asked him nicely if he could just return the bag to me if he could not pay for it. He told me to give him a few days to look for it because they were moving houses during that time. After a few days later, I was shocked to receive a message from him informing me that he misplaced the bag. I asked myself “How the hell could he have lost such a huge bag?” I told him to just pay for it since he lost it. He asked for more time but when I got no word from him, I decided to request my lawyer to take care of it.

It is now June 2011 and I have not been able to collect the 75,000 PhP he owes me. My question is “Isn't RDV supposed to pay for the item because he lost it while it was in his possession?” If he were a dignified person with good morals as he claims, he should have at least showed his willingness to pay for it even if it will take some time.

Thank you very much Fashion PULIS for posting my story. I hope he reads this story and gets in touch with me. More power to your blog.

Yours truly,
Denis Robles

P.S. Fashion PULIS has agreed to post the initials of the person involved in the story because the letter sender has allowed his real name to be published. Calling on Mr. RDV, Fashion PULIS will be waiting for your side of the story. Please send it to through michaelsylim@gmail.com.

A Workplace Romance

Image courtesy of www.hubpages.com

Romance in the workplace is inevitable because when you are spending too much time with someone, you tend to develop a physically and emotionally attraction to each other. This happens because you are spending more and more time at work and you do not have the time to socialize with other people outside of work. It is also possible that you are attracted to people you work with because you can easily relate with each other's situations.

While filming for a television series, this actor who was still single at that time, developed a physical and emotional connection to his married co star. Since they practically saw each other every day because of their shooting schedule, this actress felt very comfortable around his company. She started opening up to him, sharing her marital problems concerning her husband who is a singer. He, on the other hand, was always very willing to lend an ear. The level of connection that they had for each other eventually led to a secret affair.

Employees of a hotel situated near the network have seen this actor getting a room with this actress. Some even shared stories about overhearing the actress passionately screaming the name of the actor repeatedly from the hallway. When the employees learned that the actor was finally settling down, they thought that they will never see the two of them together again. Apparently, this did not happen. Despite the fact that the actor was married earlier this year, he still visits this hotel with this actress from time to time.

Do you need additional clues to know who they are? Follow micsylim on twitter to get the latest update on Fashion PULIS. Please remember the guidelines before posting your comments. Kindly email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

I am very excited that we are reaching 2M pageviews very soon. Thank you very much for loving Fashion PULIS! 

Spotted: Holding Hands While Walking

Can you guess who is this actor and this actress? They were spotted at the Big Dome attending a concert a few nights ago.

Behind the Scenes: Ed Westwick aka Chuck Bass in Manila Exclusive Press Conference

Golden ABC President Bernie Liu and VP Alice Liu gave

Ed Westwick a custom made Penshoppe jacket as a thank you gift

Publicist vs. Eventologist

Tongues are wagging as to who should really be credited for assisting Penshoppe in bringing the Gossip Girl star to Manila? While the deal was being negotiated by the Publicist overseas, one Eventologist kept on bragging in his twitter account that he is the one who will be bringing the star to Manila. When the Publicist tweeted photos of her at the NAIA with the Gossip Girl star in her arm, the Eventologist had to explain to his legions of followers as to what the chuck happened? Despite the fact that the Eventologist was not invited to the press conference because of what he did, he still came.

The Snub of the Year 

Twitterverse (Twitter Universe) is full of revelations as the private party hosted for Mr. Bass by Penshoppe invited top tier media personalities only and perhaps creating the biggest snob ever by not inviting some of Manila's top party people and socialites. The security was so tight that even mobile phones and personal cameras were not allowed in the posh Salon De Ning of The Peninsula Manila and security IDs and stickers were required for identification.

As If

Apparently one model/socialite who was not even in the guest list tweeted that she could not come because of "conflicting endorsements" leaving the organizers to comment: "What the...? She's not even invited!" A few days prior to the exclusive event, the same girl tried to contact the Australian fashion photographer who shot the campaign but he ignored her thinking "As If!"

Too Hungry 

When the wanna be Queen writer spotted this tall, handsome, Caucasian cameraman of CNN positioned near his/her where he/she was seated, he/she started chatting with him and tried asking him out after the press conference. I supposed he/she was just too hungry for white meat because only finger foods and cocktails were served at the party.

Anyway, thank you Penshoppe and Publicity Asia for bringing Mr. Bass to the Philippines. We hope to see him again soon!

You know you love me.....

xoxo 

FP

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The Recurring Love Triangle

Image courtesy of www.crettica.com

This actor was the apple of this network executive’s eye when he moved from the competing network. His career in his network jump started thanks to the unwavering backing of his powerful benefactor. As time went by, the actor got himself romantically involved with a reality star. I am not sure though if he was really in love with her or he just used her to cover up the rumors about him and his benefactor. Based on what I know, the relationship was short-lived and was culminated by a rumored violent confrontation overseas where the reality star brought up the issues about the benefactor.

Sadly, at the time when he broke up with the reality star, he was dumbfounded when he discovered that he was no longer the flavor of the month of the network executive. He eventually lost his benefactor to a multi-awarded actor which led to the slowdown of his showbiz career. This is also the reason behind the bountiful projects of this multi-awarded actor in this network.

The slipped opportunity the actor had with the network executive has always haunted him. To this day, he regrets that he did not do enough to win back his benefactor from the multi-awarded actor. This recurring issue is also the apparent reason why his relationship with this other reality star girlfriend had to end. The news recently made mention about a third party being the reason for their break up. What it failed to mention is that while the actor was dating the reality star, he continued to woo his former benefactor.

I had a difficult time writing this blind item due to the number of characters involved in the story.  Do you know who they are? Follow micsylim on twitter to get the latest on update Fashion PULIS. If you do not have an account, I suggest you create one very soon. Please remember the guidelines before posting your comments. You may reach me through michaelsylim@gmail.com if you have any stories to share.

Thank you all for your continuous support. Please help Fashion PULIS reach its 2M pageviews before the end of June. Love you all!

The Most Eligible Bachelor of Philippine Politics?

Image courtesy of www.bookreaderslounge.blogspot.com

After the rumored separation of this politician and his wife, many women have been linked to him for unknown reasons. I can easily enumerate three personalities from different fields who have been rumored to be romantically involved with him.

First on my list is this actress/television personality who filed an annulment from her husband. Although she has denied the issue many times, she was still interviewed on her network’s news program a few days ago about her involvement with this politician. Of course, she denied the rumor again.

Second is this singer who came out of a nasty relationship with a younger actor. If you remember, I named her as The Fictional Star because the people from her camp were the ones who invented the rumor and spread it via text messages to the showbiz reporters. Just like the first girl, she also appeared on TV and denied the rumor.

Unlike the previous two who denied the rumors, the third one did just the opposite. One day, she even invited a few showbiz reporters for food and drinks and announced to them that she is the new girlfriend of this politician. She is not an actress nor a singer, but a public servant whose husband passed away a year or so ago.

Let me assure the readers of Fashion PULIS that all these three women were never romantically involved with this politician. I happen to personally know his non-showbiz girlfriend who is beautiful, sexy, intelligent, charming and vivacious (said like a true friend)! He may seemed to be the most eligible bachelor in Philippine politics but let me tell you that he is not so available after all.

Do you know the interesting characters involved in this story? Follow micsylim on twitter to get the latest on update Fashion PULIS. If you do not have an account, I suggest you create one for Fashion PULIS purposes. Please remember the guidelines before posting your comments. You may reach me through michaelsylim@gmail.com if you have any stories to share. 

Thank you all for your continuous support. Please help Fashion PULIS reach its 2M pageviews before the end of June. Love you all!

Penshoppe's Shoot with Ed Westwick

Guess where FP was this afternoon? I was invited to Penshoppe's exclusive photo shoot with Ed Westwick in a hotel in Makati. Thank you very much to Alex Mendoza and his Penshoppe team.

Letter from a Reader: Steam Room Action with a Guest Celebrity

Image courtesy of www.hedonism.wordpress.com

Dear Fashion PULIS,

Ever since I discovered this gym close to where I live in Timog opened last year, I started going there more often. I'm no stranger to the cruising hanky panky scene in the gym’s locker room and I won’t deny that I have participated in some of them. Since this gym is close to the big networks, I often see actors in the locker room. They're pretty careful not to get themselves in any tabloid headlines so at most, I just get to see them change their shirts in the locker room (Masaya pa rin!).

One weekend, when I was at this gym, I was seated in the cramped steam room with two other guys. The guy in the middle was really cute, a teenager under 20, with puppy-dog eyes, weird sideburns and a light coat of hair on his chest. I recognized the other guy as a frequent cruiser in the gym and I knew he was looking for fun too. After a couple of playful glances later from the regular cruiser, the cute teenager in the middle was tenting in his towel (you know what I mean)! To cut the long story short, the regular cruiser and I ended up doing the act in the steam room, with the teenager in the middle watching us with his undivided attention.

I was supposed to leave it to dumb luck that a hot teenager was willing to play dirty with two normal-looking guys, but I saw him again after taking a shower so I tried asking for his number but he politely declined. Every now and then, I would see him alone at the gym working out. One day, he started going to the gym with another hot teenager who looked about his age. I do not mean to be judgemental but it seemed to me that something was going on between the two of them.

Just two days ago, I was watching TV and behold, I was shocked to see the cute teenager playing the support role in a telecommunications commercial. I did my research and found out that he is not just an unknown commercial model but he is an up and coming talent of a major network! He has a couple of soaps, an indie film, an apparel endorsement and other teenybopper gigs. I Goggled further and saw photos of him with the other hot teenager he went to the gym with. Apparently, he is a student of UP Diliman with a private school education and comes from a well-off family

Side note: How I wish he would come out in the open. After all, there are really many good looking gay men who are confident about their sexuality. He could really become a good role model for younger gay kids. (Am I being a Anti-P?)

That's pretty much it, I just needed to share this story with you. Love the blog, entertaining as hell!

XOXO
Gold Jimboy