There’s no doubt that the pandemic is changing the fashion industry. From nearly eliminating all the conventional reasons to dress up to compelling brands to manufacture PPEs for survival, the pandemic has driven designers to pivot over lockdown. What used to be a race to create pieces based on seasons became a challenge to adjust to the change in consumer habits.

During his time in isolation after the hectic schedule of his mentorship at TernoCon, Manila’s Prince of Fashion Inno Sotto takes a step back and opens up to buzzworthy designer Carl Jan Cruz, an admirer of Sotto’s, about a newfound calmness in the current industry. 

Like sitting through a podcast, we got to listen to the two catch up and drop hot takes via Zoom about the countless lists of “Best Dressed Women,” designing the terno and whether fashion schools are still relevant.

Purging of the fashion scene

Carl Jan Cruz: Hi, Inno.

Inno Sotto: Hey, CJ. How’ve you been? 

CJ: I’ve been OK. I mean, we were messaging—I forget when, time is a social construct now. How about you? How have you been?

Inno: It’s been quiet. It’s a learning experience for me. I mostly read, play with fabrics—I’ve been actually happy. There’s this, what I call purging. All of a sudden, it’s like everything’s going to start on a clean slate and fashion will probably have to reinvent itself. I’ve been trying to figure out what the scene’s going to be like after the pandemic, and I’ve been spending more time thinking and really analyzing things. 

CJ: What about in terms of work, how has it been?

Inno: I have a lot of unfinished work. [But] I like where I am now. I don’t necessarily get people talking to me about the next order [for] the next event they’d like to go to and [asking] if I could possibly make something for them. There’s a calmness now in the whole scene.

Prior to the pandemic, there was TernoCon, there were some orders I had to finish and a wedding I did during the weekend before we were all asked to stay home. And then it [was] like somebody just switched off the light without telling me and I was really surprised by all of that. I didn’t like the way that happened. When my clients came around and ordered things for their wedding anniversary [in July], it felt good and it sort of woke me up. 

I think it’s going to be up to me and, perhaps for most of us designers, to actually sort of decide what we want to do after the pandemic. I don’t think I’d sit and wait to be told that this is what’s going to happen.

CJ: Yeah, I really, really agree with that. I was certainly in shock when March happened. We also [had a client] who wanted to get married at their house. But in our case, they wanted to get married in jeans in April. It was exactly the same feeling that yung energy mo, it doesn’t feel kalat. I realized that this is how I want it to be every time I kind of take on a project or make clothes. 

The countless lists of “Best Dressed Women”

Inno: One of the funny things I realized, and this was way before the pandemic, was the countless, countless, countless lists of “Best Dressed Women.” Why do best dressed women, who are known for their taste and having the knack for fashion or putting things together, actually need a stylist? Will you let me know, CJ? I don’t think Marie-Chantal had one, I don’t think Jackie Onassis had one, I don’t think Audrey Hepburn had one. 

CJ: Right.

Inno: But some women were so dependent on somebody to actually make them look good. I don’t know if being on that list reflects the tastes and the ability of a stylist [more] or the innate taste of that woman [on that list] to actually express herself in a choice of clothing and in the way she entertains. You know, for the major editorials abroad or the editorial sections, there is a stylist for that because they’re working on a concept.

CJ: I get what you mean. On a lifestyle basis, right? My logic is that style really was able to define power. But because of how society or the world has evolved, unfortunately, power [now] defines style—and usually with power, you can afford certain things. That would suggest that these people can shop at certain places, but you miss the chance of finding out what these people could do with what they [already] have. For personal style, it’s nice to look at what’s going on, but it’s really different when you stumble upon it yourself and you have a response to it. To be honest, in the past six months, I don’t know about you, but I have this deep, deep fear of not really liking fashion anymore. But I mean, I realized that it wasn’t just fashion. I guess I’m finding more bliss now that I just love creating things.

Has the terno been tampered with too much?

Inno: I think everybody got a little too excited about fashion. When I was designing [for TernoCon], I would often say, “You know, guys, if there’s anything you should stop doing as designers, stop designing anything that’s supposed to be ‘bongga.’” I also realized that if it’s a terno, it’s worn on special occasions. But the word “special” is taken totally, totally out of…

CJ: Right. Was it like a constant fine line with costume and the terno?

Inno: It is a costume. It is a national costume.

CJ: Yeah, it is a national costume. I guess what I mean, in a sense, is that it doesn’t feel like the national costume anymore.

Inno: I think it’s been tampered too much. Everybody just started to do things with it. Unless you can make it really better and still manage to identify yourself as a Filipino wearing a national costume, I don’t think you should really change too much about the terno. Ang nangyayari kasi, the terno is worn by women who actually play a role. You have to be a Reyna Elena, a Hermana Mayor in a fiesta or a town fiesta queen.

Fashion is more than just the designer

CJ: On a local scale, I hope people get to see the value of fashion. Yes, it is classist, it’s elitist, it is defined by social class. But at the end of the day, I hope people see it as something that can be a vessel or like an engine that could cultivate culture that has defined part of history. I get that the fashion industry has evolved into something very problematic and that could be addressed. We have to be accountable for things and improve them.

To isolate it and not to be as vague, people have always asked, “Why is being a fashion designer all about you?” And it’s not just an external conversation, but an internal one, too, for me as a designer or a company owner now. Hopefully, I can take in some of those structures from people before who tried to create something really good—you can’t take much of it or make it so big that it’s possible for everyone to have it. I’m making peace with that because I also came from an educational system where there was a lot of pressure that you have to be at a certain scale already.

Inno: But I think in whatever kind of school, there will always be that pressure to have to excel. Otherwise, you miss the opportunity to be challenged and to be, how do I say, creative or more skillful in whatever you’re doing. But you know, I understand it when you say that a lot of people actually think that fashion is about the fashion designer. I, on the other hand, have always thought that it’s about the woman who comes to me. I realized, even having gone to school and all of that, the bulk of the things I know now really more have to do with all of the women who have come through that door to actually ask for an appointment to sit down with me. I think going to a fashion school helps, but I also think it’s important to actually allow your mind to wonder and to be very curious about many things.

WATCH: Inno Sotto and Carl Jan Cruz dish on style, power and terno

CJ: I guess it’s something also in the relevance of fashion schools now. As a business owner or brand owner in RTW, I keep getting asked, actually, what I look for in a resume. I do get a lot of proud submissions that they may have attended this or that and it’s good. But again, from experience too, nothing beats just what they bring to the table. It’s more about the synergy of what they can do. I get rin kasi messages or emails sometimes that say, “Sana you can consider it, wala akong diploma,” or “I didn’t really do fashion.” I don’t want people [to bring themselves down] before they [even] get started. If you think you have something, go for it.

Writer’s note: This conversation has been edited for brevity

Written by Nadine Halili
Produced by Nadine Halili
Creative direction by Nimu Muallam
Art direction by Tricia Guevara and Dana Calvo
Layout and design by Tricia Guevara
Video by Michael Yabut
Assisted by Neal Alday and Lia delos Reyes

 

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A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian)

You heard that title right and we’re just as surprised as you are. Several media outlets reported that reality TV star Kim Kardashian-West and rapper Kanye West, who tied the know in 2014, may be calling it quits.

Earlier today, Page Six reported that “divorce is imminent” for the A-list couple and that the two haven’t been living together in the past few months—the source said that Kanye spent the holidays away from the Kardashian family. 

“They are keeping it lowkey, but they are done,” the source told Page Six. “Kim has hired [divorce attorney] Laura Wasser and they are in settlement talks.”

“Now this divorce is happening because Kim has grown up a lot. She is serious about taking the bar exam and becoming a lawyer, she is serious about her prison reform campaign. Meanwhile, Kanye is talking about running for president and saying other crazy s–t, and she’s just had enough of it,” the source added.

A separate source also told Page Six that Kanye was fed up with the Kardashian family’s extravagant lifestyle and eventually found their reality show “unbearable.” He even ranted on a now-deleted tweet that he’s been trying to divorce Kim since she met with rapper Meek Mill for “prison reform,” referencing a criminal justice summit in 2018.

 

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A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian)

On the other hand, TMZ reported that it heard about talks of a divorce, but claim that Kim and Kanye “haven’t given up.” According to the media outlet, multiple sources confirmed that the West marriage has been in rough waters for the latter half of 2020 and that Kim almost called it quits before she realized that it may not have been the best time due to Kanye’s mental health condition. TMZ clarified that no final decision has been made and that despite the couple’s differences coming into light, the two are still hellbent on parenting their four children North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.

What do you think? Could this really be the end of Kimye?

I don’t know about you, but this could be a striking final season premiere for Keeping Up With the Kardashians airing early this year. The internet is already joking about an “808s and heartbreaks” or “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” part 2.

 

Photo courtesy of Kim Kardashian-West’s Instagram account

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Warm up those vocal cords and bring out your audio recorders, Joseph Gordon-Levitt wants you to speak in your native language for his next project.

On July 29, the Hollywood actor wrote that he’s looking for Filipinos “interested in trying voice acting” on his Facebook. “All I need you to do is read one word out loud in Filipino/Tagalog,” he added. 

The “Inception” actor, then, shared a link to the hitRECord site, an open collaborative production company he founded. Through this community, different creators could collaborate on multiple projects such as videos, music, photography and so on. “Rather than just exhibiting and admiring each other’s work as isolated individuals, we gather here to collectively work on projects together,” he wrote on the site.

Gordon-Levitt is currently compiling voice recordings of the word “poetry” said in different languages and he wants aspiring Filipino voice actors to join in. This is part of his “Poetry Around The World” project that aims to “collect poetry written in many different languages and see what larger projects they might spark.” Scrolling through his Facebook, we saw that he also invited Spanish and Arabic speakers to submit their voice recordings.

Several Filipinos have already sent in their entries and if you think you have what it takes, go here.

 

Screengrab from the “Premium Rush” official trailer

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They say good things come in threes. And for surprise weddings, these are three experts. Coming from the makers of “Queer Eye,” “Say I Do” throws interior designer Jeremiah Brent, fashion designer Thai Nguyen and chef Gabriele Bertaccini into the lives of eight deserving couples to give them the wedding of their dreams in just a week. 

The new reality show dropped on Netflix earlier today to grace us, emotional single adults (or is this just me?), with tear-jerking episodes featuring celebrations of love. Attending a wedding single (or not) is already emotional enough, but watching couples who always intended to marry get the surprise wedding of their dreams? It’s just a treat if you’re like me—sentimental, spontaneous and a sucker for people getting what they deserve. 

Each episode features a couple who either never got their big day or needed a wedding re-do for one reason or another. This is where the wedding experts come in. As mentioned by the Netflix press release, “the three experts will help the groom with a plan to surprise their ‘spouse to be’ with a personalized proposal, followed by their dream wedding… this weekend!” 

I may not be having (as if I’m ready for it yet) or attending a wedding any time soon in this pandemic, but I’m so ready to cheers to the happy couple at every episode.

 

Photo courtesy of Netflix

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On Jun. 1, Sen. Risa Hontiveros tweeted her support for Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s bill to increase gender quotas in the Philippine National Police. Dela Rosa sponsored the bill to debunk the idea that law enforcement is a task only meant for “cold-calculating men.” 

“In countless times and cases, women have shown the country their kind of bravery. The kind that listens and understands. The kind that steps back from judgment and moves forward in empathy (…) Through the years, women have held their own in restoring law and order in our communities. This, they have done despite the discrimination and biases against them,” Dela Rosa said in his sponsorship speech.

Hontiveros supported this and reasoned that the implementation Violence Against Women and Their Children Law and Safe Spaces Act revealed that many women are afraid to report abuse to male police officers. 

I am particularly happy to support Sen dela Rosa’s bill increasing gender quotas in the Philippine National Police.

Women in spaces & spheres of law enforcement create a counterculture of human rights, restorative justice & healing. The PNP can always do w/ more of these.

— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) June 1, 2020

However, people have reacted to the senator’s statement online and voiced their distrust of the PNP and adding more women to the institution will not change the way victims of abuse will see the police. Moreover, some have reached out to the senator saying that Republic Act. No. 9710 already existed to address gender balances and discrimination in employment.

Sen @risahontiveros as much as this is a welcomed initiative, we already have RA 9710 or the Magna Carta for Women of 2009 which provided that 3rd level govt should achieve a 50-50 gender balance in employment. The quota should’ve been achieved by 2014 yet here we are in 2020 https://t.co/zc961vr3MR

— Chesca Persia (@chescapersia) June 1, 2020

As a response, Sen. Hontiveros sent another tweet agreeing that there is much more to be done than installing gender quotas in the institutions. She assured everyone that feminism should always be intersectional and thanked those that reached out for keeping her in check.

Dear all, more than reading the room, I‘ve read & listened to your sentiments.

Tama kayo: we have to do more than install gender quotas in our institutions. We have to look at systems that enable the oppression of women & marginalized peoples.https://t.co/mjcA31PVJC

— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) June 1, 2020

 

Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net

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Trigger warning: death threats, stalking

On July 1, a Facebook page allegedly sent death threats to Nayeon of K-pop group TWICE. It was a verified page with over 20,000 likes that posted photos of the K-pop singer with captions containing plans to kill her. The page has already been deleted, but fans continue to urge JYP Entertainment (JYPE), TWICE’s entertainment company, to increase Nayeon’s security. #ProtectNayeon trended on Twitter shortly after.

Not the best thing to see whn u wake up. This recurring issue has been torturing us for months, I can’t imagine how Nayeon feels.

Please continuously send emails to [email protected]

It sucks that this is the most we can do for now bt please make time ?#ProtectNayeon @JYPETWICE pic.twitter.com/453aGr7F91

— zeedaine (@zeedaine) July 2, 2020

honestly?! why are you doing shits about this precious woman? she didn’t train for so many years just to receive shits. if you all are just bored in your life, DON’T harm someone who DIDN’T do anything wrong to you, be mature enough and mind your own business!#ProtectNayeon pic.twitter.com/KuRAatBlBr

— aly|| (@forwiggroup) July 2, 2020

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time that Nayeon received death threats. Back in April, Koreaboo reported that a stalker followed Nayeon during TWICE’s flight to South Korea from Japan and later on also leaked TWICE member Chaeyoung’s personal phone number. JYPE filed a restraining order against him but it was withdrawn due to delivery problems when the stalker flew home to Germany. However, fans still urged JYPE to heighten TWICE’s security since he allegedly wrote several text messages threatening to kill Nayeon if she “dates secretly.” 

K-pop idols are known to have the biggest and most dedicated fanbases in the entertainment industry. These fans are known to exert so much effort to promote their idols throughout their careers by bringing millions of streams to their music and videos, paying advertisers to promote their music and even donating to charities in their idols’ names. However, this dedication has led some fans to become extremely obsessed with their idols to the point of invading their private lives. This has become so common in the industry that people call them “sasaengs” which means private life in Korean but, for this case, obsessive fans. Sasaengs are known to invade their idols’ privacy by stalking or even attempting to kidnap them.

Jenna Gibson, a Korea specialist at the University of Chicago, explained this phenomenon to CNN Entertainment saying “because fans put in so much effort to promote and publicize a good image of their idol, some of them get the idea that they should have some say over the idol’s actions and personal life.” This has led some entertainment companies to include dating bans in the contracts of their artists to avoid backlash from their fans.

While fans trended #ProtectNayeon to bring awareness to the threats against Nayeon, many are still urging more to email JYPE at [email protected] to protect TWICE and their other artists.

 

Photo screengrabbed from the “More & More” music video

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Every day is a good day to celebrate Pride and just 15 days after Pride Month, K Brosas decided to celebrate her daughter’s coming out as a cute “reverse birthday gift.”

“I’m super proud and supportive,” said a tearful K Brosas right beside her daughter Crystal in a heartwarming video posted on Jul. 14.

The actor posted the video on her YouTube channel to celebrate her 45th birthday, but decided to include a special announcement from her daughter. Joined by Crystal, K explained that Crystal told her that “it was about time” so she offered if she wanted to come out on her Youtube channel “para walang echos.” After Crystal said “ako po si Crystal and I am a lesbian. I’m gay” in the video, K shared that she knew about it since Crystal was in high school and expressed “kahit halamang dagat ka pa, mamahalin kita.”

“Ang sexuality o sexual preference ng anak ko [ay] walang kinalaman sa pagmamahal ko sa kanya at dapat sa mga…sinusumpa yung mga anak nila na ganyan blah blah religious blah blah sorry peace. Hindi. Kung anak mo yan, unconditional yan and I’m very proud sa anak ko,” she continued.

Crystal opened up about how she had the “unexpected chance” to come out to her mom in 2017 during an “unfortunate event” which she explained turned out to be “one of the best days of my life.” 

And now, I can proudly say that I’m a LESBIAN. Thank you and happy birthday, Mommy. For giving this gift instead of you receiving a gift.

Love is love. Hands up, my fellow androgynous lesbians! ?️‍??

For the full video, click here: https://t.co/vRG6j8g0Yh pic.twitter.com/TI0iPMq1EP

— Crystal Brosas (@crystalbrosas) July 14, 2020

She tweeted in response to the video thanking her mom for “for giving this gift to me—while it should be you receiving it” and saying that she will use her voice “for the unheard in the LGBT community.”

“Ito yung birthday gift ko sa kanya. Nakakatawa diba?” K said. 

K decided to invite Crystal to come out as a “birthday gift” to her daughter whose actual birthday is coming up in August. She ended the video by embracing her daughter and saying, “hindi ito for clout ah.”

 

Screengrab from the “Natatawa Ako” music video

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The biggest K-pop girl groups did not come to play. Red Velvet, MAMAMOO and TWICE released teasers for their new albums which trended alongside #GAGAPINK on twitter. We just heard Lady Gaga and Blackpink’s “Sour Candy” and we can’t get enough of it.

Meanwhile, Red Velvet will be debuting their first unit with Irene and Seulgi, who will be releasing a mini album on Jun. 15. The group’s social media accounts released a photo on May 27 that includes a logo of the members’ initials teasing the album’s concept. The album was reported to have six new songs of different genres.

Red Velvet – IRENE & SEULGI 레드벨벳-아이린&슬기
The 1st Mini Album [‘Monster’]

?https://t.co/GWofO7cVAp#RedVelvet_IRENE_SEULGI #레드벨벳_아이린_슬기 #IRENE #아이린 #SEULGI #슬기 #RedVelvet #레드벨벳 #Monster pic.twitter.com/1ggCxh3Sfi

— Red Velvet (@RVsmtown) May 26, 2020

MAMAMOO also has a member releasing a solo album very soon. Moonbyul is dropping “MOON: Repackage” on May 29 which is a repackaged version of her second album titled “Dark Side of the Moon.” A repackaged album is a new release of a previous album with more songs or a new concept. The rapper released a teaser of the title track called “Absence” on MAMAMOO’S YouTube channel on May 27.

Speaking of a new album, TWICE is finally making a comeback with their upcoming album “MORE & MORE” after nine months. The group teased a new music video by posting a 24 second clip on May 27 which now has a total of 4 million views. On the same day, stock pre-orders for their album reached a total of 500, 000 which is a new record for the group. “MORE & MORE,” TWICE’s ninth mini album, is dropping on Jun.1.  

ONCE! Unlock unseen photos from the #MOREandMORE photo shoot by following the TWICE Complete Collection playlist on Spotify!

Click Here!
?https://t.co/fjrZ7PBnV0#TWICE #트와이스 #MOREandMORE pic.twitter.com/LB0VajfLy5

— TWICE (@JYPETWICE) May 27, 2020

 

Screengrab from TWICE’s “MORE & MORE” M/V Teaser

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Kathryn Bernardo trended on Twitter over the weekend for finally speaking up against hate comments on her, with her releasing a vlog titled “Finally Reacting to Your Mean Comments!” days after she posted an eight-minute video about  the ABS-CBN shutdown.  The 24-year-old actress took to her Everyday Kath Youtube channel and responded to harsh comments about her acting and her nasal voice. The video also includes that petty slam about her legs, to which Bernardo clapped back with: “Kiss my f*cking legs!” 

Sitting on a fluffy white chair, the Kapamilya star admitted that her “sakang” legs were one of the insecurities she’s learned to accept.

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A post shared by Kathryn Bernardo 🐘 (@bernardokath)

“Yes, it’s not straight. It’s kinda ganyan parang parenthesis yung sinasabi nila, but wala eh parte siya ng pagkatao ko. Before, sobrang insecurity ko ‘to pero alam niyo kung sino ‘yung nagpa-realize na huwag maging insecure? Si DJ!” she opened up.

She went on to say that she loves her “sakang” legs and that she refuses to be held back by them: “Lahat tayo mayroong imperfections. So siguro nagkataon sa akin binigay ni God ‘yung legs ko. And anong gagawin ko? Edi nagwo-work out ako para ma-exercise siya and tatanggapin ko siya kasi hello, hindi naman ako makukulong sa pagka-sakang ko so I love my legs.”

Bernardo also explained that all this negative energy from people who seem to have all the time in the world to shower her with insults was the reason she turned off the comments on her Instagram. She kept it real and responded to these hate comments in her vlog, even the pettiest ones involving her mom’s attitude and the celebrities she idolizes. (People have even dragged her mom and Taylor Swift into this! I mean, really?). 

“Actually in-expect ko kasi yung worst so akala ko as in mahu-hurt talaga ako pero sa mga mean comments niyo in fairness ah ‘di ako masyadong nahurt. So sa mga bashers natin, sa mga nagdi-dislike, sa lahat ng mga haters, lahat, I’m sorry if napipikon kayo sa mga ibang artista or wala kung nabobother kayo sa existence namin. I’m sorry so gawin nalang natin i-mute niyo kami sa buhay niyo. We can’t please everybody and sa lahat ng nagmamahal, mahal ko kayo,” she concludes. We stan a fierce and unbothered queen.

Featured photo screengrabbed from “Hello, Love, Goodbye” trailer

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Trans beauty queen Kevin Balot issued a statement last night that earned mixed reactions from many pageant fans and the LGBTQ community. 

In a pageant themed online show on June 23, the Miss International Queen 2012 spoke with Mutya ng Pilipinas Intercontinental 2010 Carla Lizardo, Binibining Pilipinas International 2014 Bianca Guidotti and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach about standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in this year’s Pride Month.

However, viewers did not expect Balot to say that trans women joining “traditional” beauty pageants is “not equality anymore.”

“We trans women always ask for equality,” she said in the video. “And I believe us transgender women joining sa mga Miss Universe is not equality anymore eh. Hindi lang ako sang-ayon sa mga ganoong bagay kasi we have our own pageant. We have the Miss International Queen pageant which is the most prestigious transgender beauty pageant. So if us joining pageant ng mga babae hindi na siya equality parang we’re asking too much na.”

Balot added that she’s not against trans women joining pageants like the Miss Universe, but wants people to treat transgender pageants at the same level “to respect each other.” The three other beauty queens agreed and proceeded to talk about their perspectives on trans women joining beauty pageants. 

While some viewers expressed on social media that they share Balot’s sentiments, some found it a product of self-internalized transphobia for labeling the fight for equality and trans representation as “too much.” Many people were disappointed with the beauty queen for invalidating the struggle of her trans sisters. Many also noted that her statement could be used by non-trans people to step in and reinforce the transphobic idea that trans women aren’t women.

Kevin Balot, as a cis-passing trans woman can always talk about how she has been accustomed to almost fair treatment. But allowing that experience to be the template for all trans women is turning a blind eye to the systemic violence faced by trans people as a whole.

— Amber | #JunkTerrorBill #OUSTDuterte (@GeeYanii) June 23, 2020

Girl i really looked up to queen Kevin Balot cause her presence as an openly proud trans woman really helped our community. So disappointed to hear na we’re apparently “asking for too much” when we fight to get represented in beauty pageants. Hay lungkot pic.twitter.com/LXpXbfJXOK

— Gigi on YouTube (@gigiesguerra) June 23, 2020

The beauty queen, then, clarified in a Tweet that her intention was to give more recognition to pageants designed for trans women like the Miss International Queen and that “I know na mali ako for saying na ‘too much’ na or ‘hindi na equality’ yun pero just know na hinding hindi po ayun ang paniniwala ko. I just used the wrong terms dahil hindi po ako ganun kagaling at expressing myself in English.”

 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

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After her “Bawal Lumabas” statement turned to a viral remix (and then an official single), Kim Chiu announced on her YouTube channel on May 25 that she will be selling #BawalLumabas merchandise to raise funds for coronavirus relief efforts in the Philippines. 

While still on a trial phase at the moment, Chiu and her team released a limited stock of T-shirts which will be sold at P295 each. The funds raised will go to food packages for families in need during quarantine. But if the project is successful, Chiu intends to donate the proceeds to Angel Locsin and Anne Curtis’ “Shop and Share” project to support mass testing.

 

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CLASSMATES!!!!???. Here it is!!! Part ng open letter ni @hoybekind ang #BawalLumabasMerch hindi para pagkakitaan ko kundi para sa mga kababayan natin na #BawalLumabas prin. Proceeds of this limited edition merch will be donated for charity (food packages) and hopefully sana makapag donate din tayo sa project ni @therealangellocsin na mass testing project. ?? sana masabi na natin na one day pwede na tayong lumabas na LIGTAS.??❤️ . . Follow @bawallumabas_merch and message to order. Bulk order minimum of 5 will be free of delivery charge around metro manila area?. We ship also nationwide thru LBC. thanks classmates!!? hope you can support me in this project❤️ #bawallumabas

A post shared by Kim Chiu ? (@chinitaprincess) on

Chiu thanked those who made fun of her statement and commended the different renditions of “Bawal Lumabas.” 

“Hindi sa pagkakitaan ko pero marami sa ating mga kababayan ngayon na hindi pa talaga pwede lumabas at ilang buwan na silang di lumalabas so I’ve decided na gumawa ng merchandise (…) so sumisilip ako ng pag-asa na one day pwede na tayong lumabas. This is a very hard moment na mayroon tayo ngayon kaya magtulungan tayo,” Chiu said in her YouTube video.

The video also featured DJ Loonyo who the actress asked to create dance moves for the track. So if you want to support her project aside from buying the merchandise, you can dance along to the song to raise awareness.

 

Photo screengrabbed from “One Great Love”  trailer

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While the world patiently waits for Lady Gaga to drop “Chromatica” on May 29, Little Monsters can jam to a new Gaga track coming out this Friday, May 22. In an Instagram post, Ariana Grande joined the electro pop superstar to tease their much awaited collaboration, “Rain On Me.” 

http://www.instagram.com/p/CAVcsDBlsH4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

In the post, the two stars don a machine-like ensemble with Gaga wearing a spike-covered latex bodysuit and Grande sporting a latex dress with a skater skirt. Could this be a glimpse of a possible music video coming soon? We can already tell that the single is going to be another fan favorite, with Gaga revealing that it’s about “how to keep going and being grateful for what you do.”

Gaga told Paper Magazine that the track will be a “celebration of tears” and will be about allowing yourself to “submit to devastation.” She also shared that the album will be an invitation to a new realm where more people are invited. “It’s saying there are more colors and more kinds than we could possibly fathom. We’re all so different and that’s the perspective,” said Gaga.

Gaga has been giving her fans a taste of the new “Chromatica” era by releasing the single “Stupid Love” and the official album art and tracklist. Fans have since speculated whether Gaga will be going for an experimental electropop direction like “ARTPOP” or for a more folk-infused sound like “Joanne.” Based on “Stupid Love,” it seems that Chromatica will be new territory for Gaga.

 

Photo screengrabbed from Lady Gaga’s Stupid Love music video

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Content warning: The following story mentions predatory behavior, grooming and sexual abuse

Grooming and predatory behavior will always be wrong no matter how we look at it and, sadly, our country has a child sex abuse problem. It was only this year that the House Committees on Revision of Laws and Welfare of Children approved a bill raising the age of consent and the age for statutory rape from 12 years old to 16 years old. While several reported cases involve grown men preying on young girls, we need to talk about how it’s just as detestable the other way around. Women can be predatory groomers too. Yes, I said what I said. 

To those who are still unfamiliar with the term, grooming is “the act of training, preparing, or conditioning someone for a long period of time.” It’s a common tactic used by pedophiles and ephebophiles—sexual predators who target teenagers. It’s also recognized as a power play since the younger person usually isn’t aware of the sexual predator’s intentions who uses their status to get in their favor.

It often starts where we least expect it

Being a form of manipulation, grooming is not a clear cut technique. It can take the form of groomers sending gifts and building a friendship before committing any form of sexual or romantic act. 

In June, several survivors from Miriam College spoke up on how their teachers have been sexually harassing and grooming on their students for years.

“I know I even asked at first if it was ok [for him to text me] because I wasn’t used to a teacher regarding me very casually and he said, ‘Graduate ka naman na ng grade school.’ … At first, it wasn’t anything discomforting, just him asking about my day, getting to know me more, asking about my preferences. I wasn’t used to stuff like that and I think he knew. It was easy for him to establish a connection with me because I didn’t have many friends and I was really a low-key student. I know he began being very sweet, making me feel special…I was 12. I didn’t know better talaga,” one of them said.

Grooming often starts with building a friendship or a relationship that establishes a connection between the sexual predator and their target. According to the Department of Education of the State Government of Victoria, Australia, grooming is a form of sexual abuse that manipulates people into “thinking they are in a safe and normal relationship so they may not know it’s happening or may feel they have no choice but to be abused.” 

The dangerous part of grooming is that ephebophiles could argue that they got the consent of the person they groomed. As compared to pedophiles who prey on children, ephebophiles target teenagers, “appealing to their need to feel cool, attractive, mature, and accepted,” thus making it harder to detect. This could also happen with celebrities who use their star status to prey on young fans and even younger celebrities such as the alleged cases of R. Kelly and the questionable friendship between Drake and Millie Bobbie Brown. 

Groomers can be anyone

That being said, we also need to talk about how men are not the only predatory groomers. Studies show that women commit these offenses with a rough estimate “rate of pedophilic attraction at one to four percent in both men and women.”

Back in July, Ghislaine Maxwell, British socialite and alleged accomplice to accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested and charged on “the indictment include enticement and conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transportation and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury.” 

According to a CNN report, Maxwell, along with Epstein, was accused by prosecutors of grooming young girls by “inquiring about their schools and families, taking them to the movies or shopping.” This goes to show that predatory behavior looks beyond the sex and gender of the groomer and focuses more on the power relations between them and the person vulnerable.

A VICE report in 2015 compiled several cases of female educators having sexual relations with their male students. Like most survivors of sexual abuse, a lot of these students reportedly didn’t see it as sexual abuse or morally wrong at first, but some saw it as “a rite of passage into his manhood.” Not only this, the report also expressed how sexual abuse by women towards young men often goes under the radar because “women rarely stalk or attack random children or adolescents; furthermore, they often develop or, in the case of family or an institution, feed off of a so-called relationship to their victim and consider it love.”

Survivors can be anyone, too

Aside from the fact that anyone can be groomers, survivors can be anyone, too. This may come off as new knowledge to some since several cases remain unreported due to the difficulty for survivors (including men) to come forward. Moreover, toxic gender stereotypes could also play a part in discouraging men from speaking up.

According to psychotherapist Beverly Engel, a lot of the sexual abuse experienced by young men goes unnoticed because of their denial of the fact that they’ve been abused. She cited Michel Dorais’ book “Don’t Tell: The Sexual Abuse of Boys” and said that “some boys were particularly vulnerable because they were interested in exploring a situation that presented itself to them, whether it was getting closer to someone they were fond of, satisfying their sexual curiosity or simply not displeasing their aggressor. 

What characterizes the abuse in such cases is that the experience goes far beyond what the child anticipated, and, more importantly, beyond what he was ready to agree to or go through.” The survivor was, then, manipulated into believing that he participated willingly and only realized that he was abused “when time has provided perspective and [he] has had time to develop more emotionally that what was once considered to be a voluntary act comes to be recognized as being abusive.”

Back in 2018, our justice system considered rape committed against boys as sexual assault which carries a lesser penalty than if it happened to a girl. Reports say that one in six boys experience sexual abuse during their childhood and refuse to seek treatment because “acknowledging feelings and disclosing vulnerabilities are in some ways antithetical to traditional masculine roles.” And when they did speak up, they were met with responses such as “That’s impossible. A man can’t be raped.” Or victim-blaming like, “How could you let that happen?”

Just as how much of the conversations denouncing sexual abuse and rape culture empowers women, we must also seek the same for male survivors. Hopefully, in the future, all justice systems would focus less on gender stereotypes and charge those accused of sexual abuse and predatory behavior fairly. But for now, we should start by listening to all survivors and looking at sexual predators for who they are—criminals.

 

Photo by Zhu Liang on Unsplash

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A post shared by halohalo (@halohalostoreph)

While it may not be safe yet to hit the beaches and go for a much-needed R&R by the ocean, you can recreate that chill island vibe through fashion. 

On Sept. 30, lifestyle brand HALOHALO dropped their latest collection halohaloworld that brings the island living feel to the city. Known for their banig totes and homeware together with their casual island-chic apparel under halohalo souvenirs, their newest drop features lightweight pieces and accessories that you can wear comfortably on a warm day out. And if you’re a big fan of coconuts, you’re in luck.

Souvenir scarf

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFv3Hf0DtF_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Coming in their first “banig not banig” print, this multipurpose accessory is not only stylish, but also functional. You can use this silky chiffon piece to accessorize your halohalo bags, a cover-up over your bikini after you take a dip in the pool, a bandana to hold your hair back or as a scarf to wrap around your neck or layer over your mask. It comes in two prints—coconut and santan—which you can wear together and tie into different looks. The souvenir scarf retails for P2,000.

Wrap top in Rosas

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDqZxOnjEdO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Serving us another wrap-up moment, halohalo released this cream cotton jersey top that can be worn in multiple ways. With roses embroidered all over, you can tie this top however you want it—wrapped all over, worn backward or just tied once. Match this top over your fave bikinis or tanks or wear it with a pair of jeans. There’s a simple elegance to this top that suits both the island life and the city buzz. It retails for P3,000.

Cabana shirt

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A post shared by halohalo (@halohalostoreph)

Layer it on top of a sports tank or wear it alone, this loose-fitting button-up goes well for both cool and sunny days. The cabana shirt comes in two versions—in avocado rayon with a bulsa bag embroidered and in ube cotton jersey with a cute lil coconut tree. Match this tee with a presko pair of lounge or cycling shorts for a fresh walk under the sun. The cabana shirt retails for P2,200.

Souvenir accessories

To add to the two pieces serving us a coconut moment, halohaloworld also comes with cute accessories that complete the beach babe look. Cop their souvenir coconut anklet barefoot or with a trusty pair of sandals and pair it with their souvenir coconut necklace. The anklet retails for P2,400 while the necklace retails for P1,800.

If you’re not the type to go nuts over coconuts (but why though?), you can also clasp on their rosas necklace and match it with the rosas wrap top. Inspired by their rosas banig weave, the necklace retails for P1,800.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFvrKI2DVJC/

What are you waiting for? Get into the island vibe and cop these pieces on their website now.

 

Photo courtesy of HALOHALO’s Instagram account

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Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana not only defended the government’s termination of its agreement with the University of the Philippines, he also referenced “Crash Landing On You” (CLOY) and likened the agreement to the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Is this a joke?

Last night, news broke out that Lorenzana had written UP authorities to say that the government was terminating the 1989 agreement between the state university and the Department of National Defense (DND), that prohibits police and military forces from operating in UP campuses without notifying the university’s officials. Without citing sources or particular instances, the defense secretary said that “there is indeed an ongoing clandestine recruitment inside UP campuses nationwide” by the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army. 

Lorenzana bolstered his defense of the DND’s move by referencing the hit K-drama series “Crash Landing On You (CLOY)” on Twitter.

'CLOY IS LIFE NA BA?'

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana used the K-drama TV series 'Crash Landing on You' as a reference in defending DND's move to scrap an agreement that bars any military and police presence inside UP campuses. https://t.co/dfgnG9Lrjr pic.twitter.com/3gPFGqlyld

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) January 19, 2021

“Sa UP mayroon silang ala-Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Military can’t enter without coordination. What makes UP so special? Nasa Korean border ba kayo? CLOY is life na ba? We are not your enemies. We are here to protect our people, especially our youth,” he posted in a Tweet.

The requirement for state forces to inform UP officials prior to operating in UP campuses doesn’t make UP “special” nor does it mean that the university has a “Demilitarized Zone.” The Korean Demilitarized Zone demarcates South Korea from North Korea. In CLOY, the DMZ is the frustrating border that kept star-crossed lovers Captain Ri Jeong-Hyuk and Yoon Se-ri apart from each other (it arguably also kept Gu Seung-jun away from Seo Dan, but that’s another conversation). 

Unlike the DMZ, which is a physical barrier that separates two warring military armies apart, the accord protects a peaceful school campus from being intruded on by military forces. According to UP professor, journalist and former news writer for the Philippine Collegian Danilo Arao, the accord was written days after Donato Continete, former staff of the campus publication, was abducted and forced to confess to the killing of an American soldier. The signing of the accord was meant to protect its students’ freedom of expression and their right to criticize the government, which is part of their education.

First, ousted House speaker Alan Cayetano planning to start a “BTS” in Congress, now Lorenzana comparing the UP-DND Accord to CLOY? It looks like these government officials are binging too much South Korean media.

Do not worsen the situation by comparing our concern to a K-drama, Mr. Lorenzana. Several students have been put at risk because of the police and military red-tagging them, including those who held a donation drive for healthcare workers in the Philippine General Hospital last year. 

Several personalities and political figures objected to the termination of the UP-DND Accord and considered the move as an attempt to threaten students and suppress dissent and freedom of speech. The UP Office of the Student Regent described it as an “attempt to encroach on (the students’)  academic freedoms and remove safe spaces from our campuses.” UP President Danilo Concepcion responded to Lorenzana’s letter and said that the unilateral termination of the accord was “totally unnecessary and unwarranted, and may result in worsening rather than improving relations between our institutions.”

Vice President Leni Robredo also objected to the abrogation of the accord and said that scrapping the agreement was meant to “sow fear” and “silence criticism.”

“[The UP-DND Accord’s] aim was not to exempt UP or its community from any law, but to send the clear message that in a democracy, even a fledgling one, law enforcement was conducted following clear rules, within defined limits. That in a democracy, there was no place for relentless war waged across all borders, without oversight or accountability, against any person those in power had decided to brand ‘an enemy.’ The unilateral scrapping of the decades-old Accord sends the opposite message: That under this administration, anyone, anywhere, at any time, is fair game,” Robredo wrote in a statement. 

Even before the agreement was terminated, there have been instances when officials and students have expressed concern over it being breached by state forces. Back in 2015, the UP police apprehended six military officials for allegedly doing surveillance during a solidarity camp with the lumads during Manilakbayan. In June 2020, police arrested seven protesters during an indignation rally against the anti-terror law inside UP Cebu, supposedly for breach of social distancing protocols despite the police later transporting the protesters in a cramped vehicle to the police station. 

We stand in solidarity with student activists and continue to affirm our support in the fight for democracy and academic freedom. State universities should be free from militarization and should remain as a safe space for learning and critical expression.

 

Art by Jan Cardasto

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