BORACAY PRE-SUMMER FASHION WATCH

I love my work!

I love it even more when we get to shoot in far-flung, awe-inspiring locations with captivating sceneries. I love it most when it almost feels like a vacation... In short, I soooo love work with little play that we now simply call it workwatsa!

Together with an awesome team of creative, sunny-sunshine and adorably energetic people, SM Department Store's Shoes and Bags Group (LTBG) headed to Boracay for its summer ad campaign shoot. The white sugar-powdery-like sand, the sparkling turquiose water (thank God, there weren't slimy lumot yet this time around), and the blue yet cloudy skies provided the set for this whole series of pictorials that's all worth the wait.

THE ROCK FORMATION. Top row, L-R: Henry Vergara, Luis Espiritu, Ricci del Rosario, Lora Gabuba-Antenor, Anna May Sta.Ana, Anderson, Nonoy Arizala, Neslyn Diaz, me and Reg Rodriguez. Front row, L-R: Donna Gonzales-Lim, Belle Camarsi, LTBG's Rina Lacia-Bugayong, George Palmiano, Bobby Carlos, Pat Dy, Ria Aquino and Rudolph Leonor.

SHADES OF SUMMER. Top row, L-R: Kuya Jerry, Nonoy Arizala, Neslyn Diaz, Bobby Carlos, Pat Dy, Ria Aquino, Anderson, and Ricci del Rosario. Front row, L-R: Rina Lacia-Bugayong, George Palmiano, Lora Gabuba-Antenor, me, Peter Nordell and Anna May Sta. Ana.

THE COCONUT NUTS. L-R: Ricci Del Rosario, Rina Lacia-Bugayong, Edwin Calingasan, George Palmiano, Felipe Otto Izing, Kuya Arnold, Anna May Sta.Ana, Nonoy Arizala, Neslyn Diaz, Kuya Jerry, me and Lora Gabuna-Antenor.


During those days, Boracay's weather was intense cold, windy with lots of hovering clouds. That would mean less sun = less sunstroke. Taking the opportunity to go around without the searing heat, I grabbed my digicam and shot pictures of different people wearing their own statement clothes while basking and enjoying the beach. Let's see how various trends kicked their way under the sun and make Boracay a regular top fashionable summer destination.


TREND: ANIMAL PRINTS

Into the wild: Stunning model Jasmine Maierhoffer shows her love for spots in a leopard-printed droppped-crotch pants and lizard-printed tee. On the other hand, makeup artist Bobby Carlos unleashes his wild side in a pair of zebra-striped shorts that matches his white and gray layered top.


TREND: SHORT SHORTS

Leg show: Spanish model/mom Fatima Rabago (center) and other unnamed women are proofs that revealing sexy, long legs are enough to grab attention while on the beach, or at the sidewalks, especially when you pair casual short shorts with comfy tank tops.


TREND: FLORALS

Flower Power: These attractive foreigners surely know how to work floral prints - from dresses to swimsuits. Even men are wearing them in shorts!


TREND: STRIPES
Full Stripes Ahead : Associate stylist and fashion blogger Reg Rodriguez (center-left) chillaxes in a cool-to-the eyes striped tank top. A Korean woman (left) goes nautical in her beige and black striped dress, while an Asian young girl (center-right) stuns while playing with bright colors in a sporty get-up. On the rightmost side, this pretty foreign lass is oh-la-la in a striped bikini paired with white polo.


TREND: SHEER

Seeing through: SM's Ruth Galvez (center) teases in a cream see-thru drop-shoulder tunic, revealing small amounts of skin. The other girls also know how to leave something to the imagination by layering their bikini tops underneath a sheer garment.


TREND: PRINTED BOARD SHORTS

Now boarding: These men scour the beach in eye-popping printed board shorts made cooler with a pair of sunglasses. Hunky Brazilian model Felipe Otto Izing (right) meanwhile gives a thumb up while exposing his washboard abs and unleashing his beachboy charm.


TREND: BANDEAU

Band aid: Hoping to get a tan, these ladies put on a brave show with a sweetheart bandeau top and skimpy bikini bottom that reveal feminine curves and attract lingering eyes.


TREND: TRUNKS

Trunkshow: These men refuse to be left far behind in terms of exposing their bodies (and more) as they lay on the powdery white sand.


TREND: SARONG

Feelin' Rasta: Mau de Leon of Mercator (left) is easy-breezy by the beach in a printed sarong that he wrapped around like a halter dress. Out to challenge is the cute little girl on the right in a fringed psychedelic tie-dyed sarong.


TREND: HIPPIE CHIC

It's hip to be a chick: Seventies hippie fashion makes a stunning revival in printed dresses worn by these hippie-happy chicks.


TREND: RASH GUARDS

Surfs up!: When waves are high, the Hawaiian surfer fashion looks cool with rash guards over board shorts. Even girls who wish not to flaunt are loving it!


TREND: NATIVE FEDORAS

Hats on!: Handsome model Peter Nordell (left), associate stylist Rudolph Leonor (center) and SM's Ricci del Rosario (right) are all heads up in very summery and chic fedora hats made from native woven straw materials.


TREND: BOHO CHARM

Bohemian Rhapsody: Adfolio's Anna May Sta.Ana (left) exudes Boho charm in a long multi-printed peasant skirt matched with a basic top and purple fringed shawl. The woman on the right exemplifies the same trend in a liberty-printed folkloric dress, a matching cardigan and cutesy native bag.


TREND: EARTH TONES

Neutralization: Shades of browns, beige and other neutrals that mimic the sand and the earth also make their way into the top Bora trends. Brazilian model Anderson (center) does holiday resort look in a cream linen top paired with brown shirt and grayish pants. On the left shows a Korean woman working her neutrals with a bright orange coverup. In conrats, the lovely foreigner on the right opts for an African Safari look in a beige and brown camisole and airy choco pair of pants finished with a woven native belt and opaque tote.


TREND: INTO THE BLUES

Blues Clues: These ladies reflect the azure skies and turquiose waters of Boracay in different shades of blue - in a sexy maillot, sporty top and shorts, polka-dotted bikini or even a short dress for coverup.


TREND: WHITE HOT

All white splendor: Associate stylist and fashion blogger Donna Gonzales-Lim demonstrates effortless chic in an oversized white top finished off with a fedora, dark rounded shades and a pair of white floral shorts. The girl on the left radiates feminine charm in a peasant white dress made cutesy with a pink tropical hat. Conversely, the foreign woman on the right goes ultra daring in a wet, sexy, revealing string bikini.


TREND: CRAYOLA COLORS

Color me crazy: It's a bright, bright world for these people! My partner George Palmiano (leftmost pic) exhibits color blocking in shocking yellow and bright blue shorts. Baby Daniella (daughter of models Fatima Rabago and Hideo Muraoka), center-left pic, shows signs of a bright modelling future, also in screaming yellow.

TREND: SUNGLASSES

Eye candies: SM-LTBG's Rina Lacia-Bugayong, hair and makeup artist Edwin Calingasan and Adfolio's head honcho Lora Gabuna-Antenor, all illustrate that sunglasses and a cheerful disposition are the best accessories to simple get-ups.


As I close this article, I still crave for Jonah's super famous fruit shakes, sumptuous seafoods, buffet breakfasts and nightly massages. Our heartful thanks especially to Rina Lacia-Bugayong of SM-LTBG and her gang, and to Lora Gabuna-Antenor of Adofolio and her team. We miss you already Luis Espiritu and his fashionable kids, Bobby Carlos and apprentice Ria Aquino, Pat Dy with my college classmate Henry Vergara, Bug Nieva and his Shutterbug assistants, Mama Edwin Calingasan and the models. See yah all soon!


NOTE: Also check out behind-the-scene blog articles by Luis Espiritu (stylenarratives.blogspot.com) and Reg Rodriguez (heyrocketgirl.com)