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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

Why is the state so afraid of a grieving mother?

A mix of outrage and disbelief was how we felt upon reading a statement from KAPATID, a support group for families and friends of political prisoners, about how the remains of Baby River were snatched by police officers during the funeral procession on the way to the Manila North Cemetery. River is the three-month old daughter of political detainee Reina Mae Nasino, whose furlough was reduced to three hours for two days due to lack of jail personnel despite being cordoned by guards and handcuffed every time she was temporarily released.

BREAKING: Nasa Manila North Cemetery na ang kabaong ni River matapos itakbo ng mga pulis mula sa isinasagawang martsa ng pagluluksa. Ibig sabihin, hindi na matutulog ang nakatakdang pagdaan sa SC at CA. #JusticeForBabyRiver #FreeReinaMaeNasino pic.twitter.com/E3LY4UXgab

— KAPATID (@kapatidPP) October 16, 2020

KAPATID also stated that around 20 policemen from Manila Police District (MPD) station 10 were deployed at the La Funeraria Rey in Pandacan this morning, allegedly “barring people from entering and they are depriving people from seeing Baby River one last time.” MPD director Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda told Inquirer that personnel from Pandacan police were only implementing social distancing rules. Nasino’s mother Marites Asis begged officers to allow family and supporters to pay their respects.

KAPATID shared in another tweet that since River’s remains were taken from the funeral procession, the march was unable to pass by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals buildings in Ermita as originally planned.

Footages of the funeral rites and Nasino’s final goodbye are heartbreaking with the mother still heavily guarded and handcuffed until the end. Many Twitter users noted the stark difference between her case and those of politicians who were allowed temporary release when they were serving time in jail.

WATCH: Reina Mae Nasino bids goodbye to her three month old child. | @T2TupasINQ pic.twitter.com/y0zK1vaeQn

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 16, 2020

Human rights lawyer Maria Sol Taule wrote in a tweet, “Hanggang sa huli, hindi siya kinalagan ng posas para mayakap ang kabaong ng anak niya sa huling pagkakataon. Ganito kalupit kapag hindi Arroyo, Enrile o Revilla ang apelyido mo.”

Reina Mae lays her baby to rest at Manila North Cemetery. Hanggang sa huli, hindi siya kinalagan ng posas para mayakap ang kabaong ng anak niya sa huling pagkakataon. Ganito kalupit kapag hindi Arroyo, Enrile o Revilla ang apelyido mo. pic.twitter.com/ygcT71G0Ah

— Maria Sol Taule (@soltaule) October 16, 2020

Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party said in a statement, “Sa mga huling sandali ng pagluluksa ni Ina sa harap ng kabaong ni Baby River, nakaposas pa rin siya at napapalibutan ng mga pulis na walang pusong binaboy ang libing ng kanyang anak. Hindi pwedeng walang managot sa hanay ng mga pasistang kapulisan.”

We vehemently condemn the PNP's heartless & brutal takeover of baby River's burial at the Manila North Cemetery. The remains of River, the 3-month old daughter of political detainee Ina Mae, were snatched by police officers during the funeral procession. #JusticeForBabyRiver pic.twitter.com/7jjCKjVCrE

— Gabriela Women's Party (@GabrielaWomenPL) October 16, 2020

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also expressed concern over the government’s handling of Nasino’s case and are “also considering that there are allegations that her detention is a form of harassment due to her human rights work.” CHR spokeswoman Atty. Jacqueline De Guia stated, “Even in detention, persons deprived of liberty should not be subjected to any cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and that it remains to be a State obligation to respect their inherent dignity and value as human beings, in line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners or the Nelson Mandela Rules.”

In response to public backlash, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya claimed that it was “leftist groups who caused the tension during the wake when they suddenly vented their ire on the BJMP officers who were just doing their jobs” and accused these groups of “hogging the headlines.”

While we grieve for Baby River, we extend our support for the investigations on the handling of her case. We demand that the state treat persons deprived of liberty with respect and dignity. We urge the Duterte administration to focus their resources and energy on more important matters such as resolving corruption allegations and improving our pandemic response.

Photo courtesy of Maria Sol Taule

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These days, it’s inevitable to reminisce about “normal” days off. Pre-quarantine, I could be out karaoking with friends on a Saturday or eating lunch in Tagaytay with family on a Sunday, but now I’ve restricted myself from doing the activities I love that take all my stress away. I don’t even know how to spend a weekend anymore.

So on my last day off, I had Preen readers decide for me how I should spend it. Here’s how it went down.

Starting the day right with a K-workout

I usually wake up around 6 a.m. and work out with the help of YouTube fitness tutorials. But today, our readers picked K-pop dancing as my WOD. Knowing I’m not the most flexible person on Earth, I knew I needed to warm up first—so I started up my new Huawei Watch Fit and let their 12 quick workout animations guide me through it. This feature demonstrates how you perform stretches on its 1.64 inch AMOLED display screen so you don’t have to keep searching on the net. (For those who aren’t really athletic like me, you can thank me later.)

Please don’t mind my stomach. It’s a work in progress.

While I was learning the moves of MAMAMOO’s “Egotistic,” I realized how much work goes into performing. I was already out of breath just five minutes in, a far cry from K-pop idols who sing, rap, dance, act and…well, you know the drill. They’re superhumans, I tell ya.

Compared to doing YouTube workouts, this was more enjoyable since (no surprise) I’m also a huge K-pop fan. It doesn’t hurt that MAMAMOO is my current obsession. (Solar-unnie, please notice me.)

As my dad would say, “Chow, Philippines!”

I asked the readers whether I should cook or order food today. Thankfully, they read my mind and voted for me to cook my meals. My wallet would have cried if I had to get takeout for the entire day.

I was curious to see if I could cook my bacon in five minutes.

So what did I end up having? For breakfast, I had my go-to oatmeal. Nothing like some oats to start the day and get those digestive enzymes going, right? Lunch and dinner were a bit more challenging since I don’t normally cook, but following Mano Lotho and Daryl Chang’s penne carbonara recipe for lunch and Kitty Bunag’s berry immunity smoothie bowl recipe for dinner was a breeze.

You might be thinking, “This looks so unappetizing!” But let me tell you, it tastes better than it looks.

We all need some down time

An hour after lunch, I took an energizing afternoon siesta. (Thanks for picking that time, our lovely readers.) I was out for nearly 40 minutes, which, according to my smartwatch, is a decent amount to recharge myself for the rest of the day. What I love about my Huawei Watch Fit is that it provides insights on my sleeping habits, tracking the kind of sleep whether deep, light or REM sleep, and how long I was conked out. It’s like a mom that tells you you’ve been staying up for too long or sleeping too much sans screaming.

After my nap, I also noticed how my watch keeps track of my heart rate throughout the day—even while sleeping. Does it give away the fact that I’ve been dreaming of my crush? Maybe.

Dressed up like InternetGirl and just wow

Honestly, I didn’t expect that y’all would vote for an edgy outfit, especially since I’m not even an e-girl by a mile. So I enlisted the help of the Preen team who suggested I look through InternetGirl’s IG feed. I was kinda intimidated at first because she looked amazing in all her outfits. I did however manage to pull off a similar look and let’s just say it made me feel like a total badass.

“It still fits after that pasta I ate?”

To make things more fun, I tried timing how long it would take to get ready since I’m used to just putting on whatever I see first in my closet. An hour and a half later, with most of the time spent trying to pull off a perfect winged liner look, I was finally ready to put myself in InternetGirl’s shoes for a day.

Capping the night off with Edward Cullen

I would’ve preferred to wind down playing Genshin Impact on my phone (and gush about the fact that my childhood crush plays it too), but I’m glad the readers wanted me to read a book instead. It gave me time to finish “Midnight Sun.” It was long overdue since my friend gave me a copy of the “Twilight” spin-off almost a month ago. (Sorry, Liz.)

Yes, I have a date: my bear named Philip.

Normally, I would’ve just sprawled on the couch until I finished the book, but my smartwatch wasn’t having it. About 30 minutes into the book, I heard a beep. “You’ve been sitting for too long,” the watch read. (Jokes on it, I was in a bad lying position.) It then asked if I was ready for some stretching. If it weren’t for the fact that I needed it, I would’ve been hella mad.

And just when I thought I was about to get some peace and quiet, my watch alerted me that someone texted. It was my mom telling me to go down since she bought frozen pizza. (Okay, mom, you win.) The Huawei Watch Fit also alerts you when someone emails you, which is perfect for those urgent matters that need to be dealt with ASAP.

The verdict

My day off was pleasantly unusual since I rarely dedicate time for myself. It was a great experience to have other people decide for me (just this time!) because I’m not one to plan my days off. And with a little help from my Huawei Watch Fit, my day wasn’t as unorganized and lazy as it usually is (as my mom would always say). I was able to squeeze in all of your suggestions in a day!

If you’re looking for a smartwatch that can help you manage your lifestyle better, you’re in for a treat. The Huawei Watch Fit retails for P4,999 (check out the Huawei store!). Not bad for a momager, fitness guru and alert system in one.

And to the lazy girls out there, don’t worry—its 10-day battery life makes all the difference. Why? Imagine being able to do so much with just your watch but have it last longer than your phone. Even if your phone dies and you don’t get call, text and email notifications, the Huawei Watch Fit can still be used to monitor your vitals or set alarms.

But it’s not just for people with active lifestyles, you can even give it to your fashionista friend, too. (The strap comes in different colors to match your style.) It’s almost the holidays anyway. Just remember that it’s not a bad idea to treat yourself every now and then, too. *wink*

Photos by Lia delos Reyes and Dana Calvo

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Yesterday, designer CJ Cruz celebrated the launch of his latest additions to his pambahay collection, a series of matcha, tablea, dove and Tonio (green and pale gray stripes) pique pieces for Carljancrewz.com, with a collab with Panaderya Toyo.

The designer sent out food, wrapped in green fabric, his signature white seams criss-crossing the material, to friends of the brand. Inside the furoshiki wrapped package, Toyo Panederya’s egg sandwich was dotted with malunggay, a reference to the grassy hues of the collection. Cloudy green icing topped the panaderya’s malunggay bicho bicho, a fried rice flour pastry (otherwise known as the Filipino donut), another ode to the color and the brand’s local flavor.

CJ accompanied the present with a note, inscribed with “Food is the mood.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carl Jan Cruz (@carljancruz)

Pambahay mode

This is an extension of his “aparador” collection, “created as an expression of what Filipinos commonly refer to as pambahay or house clothes.”

On the site, the brand defines their quarantine-ideal clothing: “CarlJanCrewz (the CJC Team) hopes to innovate and embrace the concept of house clothes that can be celebrated together. Made of specially designed CJC fine jersey pique fabric, this ‘aparador’ collection of articles is an intimate take on the contemporary Filipino aesthetic.”

Friends and fans went on social media to share their food presents.

If everyone celebrated milestone moments with food, the world would be a better, more satisfied, slightly sleepier place. We’re here for it!

Header photo courtesy of Bea Ledesma

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It’s not unheard of for K-pop idols to venture into acting but a K-drama with a cast jam-packed with our fave musicians is still a novelty, a treat meant to be savored. Today, news of an upcoming series shook the K-pop world. KBS 2TV confirmed that ‘Imitation’ has casted ATEEZ members Yunho, Seonghwa, Jongho and San as well as Chani of SF9.

The drama is an adaptation of a webtoon about the lives of idols in the entertainment industry. It follows the stories of fictional idol groups Sharks, the top boy group, T-Party, a rookie girl group, and Sparkling, an enthusiastic boy group on the rise. “The drama features the meeting of hot rookies of the present with first- and second-generation idols. Please look forward to their synergy as they bring their unique characters to life. Through ‘Imitation,’ which brings to life the serious and dramatic world of idols, we will deliver a drama with various charms like a special gift set,” shared its showrunners.

It stars Jung Ji-so, known for her role in “Parasite,” as the center of girl group Tea Party. Joining her in the group are former I.O.I and PRISTIN member Nayoung and soloist Minseo.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 임나영 (@nayoung_lim95)

Playing Sharks’ members are U-KISS’s Jun, SF9’s Chani and Hwiyoung, ATEEZ’s Jongho, soloist Yuri and Ahn Jung Hoon, who you might remember from “A-Teen.” We’re excited to see Chani as Jun’s rival and Jongho as the cute maknae.

On the other hand, Sparkling will have ATEEZ members Yunho, Seonghwa, and San along with former Boys Republic member Suwoong in its ranks. Yunho and Suwoong will also play rivals and we can’t wait to watch it unfold.

Adding star power to the already loaded cast, is T-ara’s Jiyeon as top solo artist Larima, g.o.d’s Danny Ahn as an entertainment company CEO and former Baby V.O.X member Shim Eun Jin as an unrelenting reporter.

“Imitation” is slated to air in 2021—that’s enough time for you to read the webtoon. Fans are already sharing their excitement on Twitter and raving about the possible love teams on the show. Who are you looking forward to seeing on the small screen the most?

[Source: Newsen]

Photo screengrabbed from the “Wave” music video

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Guess what I was up to last Friday. I (virtually!) hung out with Janina Vela and we watched live performances while sippin’ on our free mojito cocktails. I’m not just saying this to brag. I’m telling you this because you too can join in on the fun.

If cabin fever has been hitting you harder as of late, let the exclusive Globe Prepaid Virtual Hangouts help you push away the bad vibes. It’s a series of virtual events that brings together local and international artists, competitive esport athletes and other personalities to empower you to pursue your passions and have a good time while you’re at it. If your barkada has run out of ideas for your next online get-together, this might be what you’ve been waiting for.

As everyone knows, there’s been a number of postponed and canceled tours this year. To cheer up (like the Twice song) Hallyu fans, Globe is bringing exclusive fan experiences like fan meets with your fave idols.

Don’t believe us? On Oct. 17, they’re kicking things off with a meet and greet with Stray Kids on the Kmmunity PH VLive channel. Will we get a shoutout from our hyungs? Our fingers are crossed. Don’t miss other K-culture related activities by joining the Kmmunity PH group on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/globeph/videos/777679433087620/

If K-pop isn’t on your Spotify’s heavy rotation, maybe Globe’s Go JAM concerts are more your style. On Oct. 24, the first in the series will be headlined Wanderland Music Fest 2020. While we’re waiting for the lineup, we suggest that you hold a little virtual dance party with your pals (if you’re feeling like a rusty concertgoer) and start preparing your festival attire.

For all the gamers out there, Globe is holding a Super Gamer Fest this December where you can take part in online tournaments and esports classes. Whether you’re planning on turning pro and more of a fan, their watch parties and meet and greets are events you won’t want to miss. To top it all off, you might even win prizes and bragging rights on the Super Gamer Fest Awards.

Just because we’re having fun, doesn’t mean we’re neglecting our studies and jobs. Keep your eyes peeled for more details on the upcoming “Future Forward: A Virtual Youth Summit” where you can learn from about topics such as post-college choices, raketeer hacks and technology from young industry leaders. Another cool thing you can get in on? Regional virtual campus tours.

https://www.facebook.com/globeph/videos/970648823410844/

Open the GlobeOne app, click on the Discover tab and click “View All” to choose a Virtual Hangout that you want to join. You can subscribe to Globe Prepaid’s new Go and Go+ promos and GoBOOSTERS to fully enjoy the experience. See you there!

Photo screengrabbed from the “Mixtape : Gone Days” music video

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After seven months into lockdown, we bet a lot of you have already been feeling stuck. The adjustments to the new normal have been overwhelming for most and our time in isolation may also be contributing to feelings that have been difficult to process. If you’ve been struggling to make sense of your emotions, you might appreciate a little introspection with this workshop.

Local menstrual cup brand Sinaya Cup is teaming up with DOx Manila to host “Meet Yourself: An Emotional Awareness Workshop” on Oct. 17 via Zoom and Facebook live. The sessions aims to educate people about emotional intelligence and how they can build emotional awareness to get through these difficult times with registered psychologist Karen Ann Macalinao and certified life coach Trinidad Isabel O’leary.

https://www.facebook.com/sinayacup/photos/gm.1612043822289545/2857829711208127

This event is going to be held in celebration of The DO School’s “DO Day” a.k.a. the annual International Day of DOing on Oct. 18. Being a global organization that “enables a purposeful economy that is sustainable and innovative,” The DO School aims to address the mental health crisis brought by the pandemic by showing “self-compassion and working on ourselves.”

https://www.facebook.com/sinayacup/photos/gm.1612028518957742/2857827824541649

“In this workshop, we’ll learn about developing emotional awareness, one of the steps towards maintaining our mental health. In seeking to understand our emotions, we will also take a look at the different challenges women may face in the modern world and how these relate to their emotions,” they wrote on their event invite.

Tune in to their Facebook live from 6PM to 9PM on Oct. 17. If you want to participate via Zoom, you can sign up here.

Art by Dana Calvo

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On Oct. 14, Xyriel Manabat talked about the sexual harassment she faced over an Instagram photo on the morning talk show “Magandang Buhay.” The 16-year-old actress denounced the rude and sexual comments she received after she posted a photo of herself on Instagram on Sept. 19.

Karla Estrada, one of the hosts of the program, responded, “Wala namang may karapatan na magsabi ng ‘di maganda, but nandiyan talaga sila. Ang daming vultures na nakaabang sa social media so be very careful din…kasi kahit naman balot yan, basta’t kung gusto mambastos ng lalaki na yan diba? So sabi ko, kung gusto niyo magpost, just be responsible also doon sa post niyo parang huwag ka nang mag-initiate…” Her co-hosts Melai Cantiveros and Jolina Magdangal, then, commended Manabat for speaking up about the issue and taking legal action “in silence” against the lewd comments.

With UNICEF reporting that two out of 10 kids are vulnerable to online sexual exploitation in the Philippines, we understand Estrada’s concern over the dangers of sexual harassers going after minors on social media, but it’s never the survivor’s fault, regardless of what they’re wearing or what they want to post online. Netizens reacted to her statement and described it as victim-blaming Manabat.

Hi Magandang Buhay! Can you educate Karla Estrada, na kaya may bastos kasi may taong bastos at hindi dahil sa pananamit ng isang babae.

Nanonood ako sa interview nila with Xyriel Manabat. @AltABSCBN
— Jover Laurio (@PinoyAkoBlog) October 14, 2020

Manabat did not have to justify the amount of skin she was showing in her photo to explain that the comments she received were not OK. It’s high time we change the mindset of telling women to be “responsible” with what they post when it comes to stopping people from harassing and sexualizing women and minors.

Sunshine Cruz and her daughters faced a similar situation back in July when men posted disturbing memes of their photos online. While her daughters called them out for sexualizing minors, the actress wrote on her Facebook account, “Do not blame women for the choice of clothes they wear. Believe me kahit nakabalot o gown pa kami sa beach may mga bastos pa din. Never blame women, rather blame yourself dahil kahit pinag-aral kayo ng mga magulang mo, lumaki parin kayong bastos at manyak.”

The Preen Team has reached out to both Estrada and Manabat for their statements on this. As of Oct. 15, both have yet to reply.

Art by Dana Calvo

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Whoever said animated films are only for kids was clearly lying or gravely mistaken. In fact, I find that the older I get, the more I turn to an animated film to help me feel through the weird phases life seems to put me through. Existential crisis? Loneliness? Lovesickness? There’s one for every phase.

And because of this, I’ve started to believe in the magic in film-making, as cliché as that may sound. There has to be. With all of the feelings, stories, and wisdom it imparts in 2 hours or less, there’s no other reason. Film sorcerers aren’t born, however, they’re made. And the magic comes from rigorous training, burning passion—and help from established sorcerers. With a bit of sparkle, hard work (and luck!), “Rebelde” brings us all three in their upcoming class session.

“Rebelde Ph” is a diverse community of aspiring filmmakers based in the Philippines who gather to share their love and passion for film. Founded by Filipino filmmaker J.E. Tiglao, the community hopes to continue to create impactful movies and host events for aspiring filmmakers and lovers of the craft. They’re known for their award-winning coming-of-age film “Metamorphosis,” which is about a young intersex person, and their “Rebelde Film Camp” which gathered film lovers in a secluded area (think Camp Rock) to learn from mentors like Ricky Lee all about the magic of cinema. And just like all great communities, they adapted to the pandemic this year by bringing us “Rebelde Class.”

“Rebelde Class” is an online filmmaking workshop with an exclusive panel. For its upcoming session this Oct. 17, they upped their magic and invited Academy Awards nominee Ronnie Del Carmen, a Filipino writer, story artist, story supervisor and production designer for Pixar. Yes, you heard ALL of that right.

You may know Del Carmen from beloved films like “Inside Out,” which he both co-directed and co-wrote (wild, I know!), as well as being the story supervisor for the iconic movie “Up.” Yes, he helped turn all of our tears into reality.

The best part is that you can experience this magic, too. The online event will take place this Saturday, Oct. 17. You can signup here and pay the P1000 fee (hurry, though, because they’re limited!). The event will be hosted by Pamela Reyes, the producer of “Birdshot,” and actor Mikoy Morales (talk about star-studded).

If you find yourself encapsulated by their magic after the session—or maybe you got curious after reading me gushing throughout this article—you can join the Rebelde community by visiting their Facebook page or shooting them an email. I hope, whatever way you choose, you find that magic too.

Featured photo screengrabbed from the “Inside Out” trailer

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It’s been two days since we’ve heard about the passing of Senate Bill 1373, also known as the ‘Girls not Brides’ act authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, for its second reading. Under this bill, child marriages will now be considered illegal—as it should have always been.

Should it be fully passed as law, anyone who is involved in a child marriage would be penalized with prision mayor, which means they would be imprisoned for about 6-12 years and could be fined no less than P40,000. The same goes for whoever officiated the union.

What if the perpetrator is related to the child, be it their legal guardian or blood relative? They’d be sentenced to 12 years of jail time and fined P50,000. Aside from that, they’ll also be losing their legal rights over the child.

https://www.facebook.com/hontiverosrisa/photos/a.10153527894430657/10164799698235657/

You may be asking, “Why bother passing this bill?” According to the Girls Not Brides website, about 15% of Filipino girls are wed before the age of 18 and 2% of them are wed before they’re 15. This amounts to over 726,000 child marriages—giving Philippines the 12th spot in countries with the highest number of child brides. The main factors to the rising number of child brides are trafficking and religion, with the latter heavily reliant on the fact that our country has been vehemently opposed to divorce. According to the source, the lack of divorce puts child brides at risk.

“The trafficking of women and girls from rural regions of Visayas and Mindanao to urban cities such as Cebu City, Manila and Quezon City is common. Trafficking also occurs in tourist destinations such as Boracay, Angeles City and Surigao where there is a high demand for commercial sex from women and girls. Some girls are forced into marriage. The Philippines’ popular mail-order bride industry also places girls at risk of being subject to forced marriage.” — Girls Not Brides

The passing of the “Girls Not Brides” act for its second reading comes a day after the International Day of the Girl Child. It was co-authored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Sonny Angara, Imee Marcos, Francis Pangilinan and Joel Villanueva.

“It’s a very happy bill. It coincides with our move to curb child pregnancies and to bring up the age of consent to 16,” Zubiri said. “This is good for our children.”

Photo by Sergio Capuzzimati on Unsplash

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Courtesy of NETFLIX/Netflix © 2020

The K-pop world really knows how to spoil the average stan. After countless online concerts and comebacks this year, the universe is treating us yet again with Blackpink’s documentary under Netflix called “BLACKPINK: Light Up The Sky.”

The members revealed during a press conference held yesterday that Blinks are in for a treat since the documentary will feature so much unreleased footage. And if you haven’t already seen the trailer, it’s pretty obvious that we’re going to see the raw side of our faves Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa.

Still not convinced? Here are some of the reasons why “BLACKPINK: Light Up The Sky” should be on your watch list:

They have an amazing relationship with director Caroline Suh

It’s no secret that everyone wants to be in Blackpink’s inner circle, but there’s one person we’ll all be thankful to be in it and that’s director Caroline Suh.

In yesterday’s press conference, Suh revealed that she wasn’t really a fan of K-pop when she was first told she’ll be directing the documentary. She really had to take notes from her nephew and watch Korean variety shows that Blackpink guested in. She even watched “Blackpink House,” the YG-produced show which housed them in a pink house situated in the middle of Hongdae.

But the most important step she took was making the girls comfortable with her. Even Jennie and Lisa shared the bond they shared with Suh as a group. The girls revealed that the documentary wouldn’t be as personal if they didn’t build a relationship with its director. Makes you wonder how personal it got, huh?

We’re getting Blackpink Netflix profile photos?

I mean, I’ve always wanted to be Rosé. But yeah, aside from the documentary we’re getting from the ladies, we’ll also be getting the chance to use their photos as our profile pictures on Netflix. And while we’re not sure how many options we’ll be presented with, we’re pretty excited since it’s been a while since Netflix updated their library. Maybe we can even get some BTS ones in the future, right? (Jin-oppa please.)

Teddy Park in the house, y’all

Courtesy of NETFLIX/Netflix © 2020

Even Blackpink admitted during yesterday’s press con that music producer Teddy Park is actually their fifth member. He’s been there for the girls’ entire discography. And yes, we did get snippets of his interviews on the trailer, but Blackpink reveals that there’s more than just that. They shared that Park was always listening to them about what they wanted, and they believe it contributed to their success.

They got to relax in front of the camera

Courtesy of NETFLIX/Netflix © 2020

You’ll get to hear the girls speak in the language they’re most comfortable with. This is part of the reason why they’re able to relax in front of the camera. And while they did bring in Caroline Suh in their inner circle, they also made sure the camera won’t be a stranger. The girls revealed that they were very comfortable sharing their lives because they treated the camera as their other member. (Sorry, Teddy Park.)

Photo courtesy of Netflix

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Oct. 13 will be remembered in 2020’s history as the birthday of a Libra legend. No, we’re not talking about BTS’ Jimin (although we absolutely adore him). The Libra who grabbed our attention today is the yet to be identified queen who tweeted a pre-birthday notice on the House of Representatives Twitter account.

Before Mercury retrograde even started (yes, that’s also today), someone posted a selfie of a young girl with the text “Only 6 hours until my birthday!” and paired it with the simple caption, “Almost my bday!!” It’s a work of art that had a number of netizens cheering her on.

pic.twitter.com/jssIDlsk0Y

— House of Representatives of the Philippines (@HouseofRepsPH) October 13, 2020

Hours after the now-deleted tweet was published, the House of Representatives wrote in a statement that it was unauthorized and that they were investigating the incident. In a follow-up post, the office announced that they have “taken action” and put into place “appropriate measures” to ensure the security of the account. In the comments section, netizens joked that they should have just greeted the original poster a happy birthday.

Like a cheeky omen, the post seemed to herald Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano Allan Peter Cayetano’s “irrevocable resignation” as House Speaker which he announced while Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco’s speakership election was already being ratified. Today, lawmakers ousted Cayetano on the basis of the “gentleman’s agreement” on sharing the House leadership that was arranged by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.

Under the agreement, Cayetano was supposed to lead for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress while Velasco was supposed to serve for its last 21 months. At least 167 lawmakers signed a manifesto seeking to have the Speaker post declared vacant on Oct. 12. In his public announcement, Cayetano alleged that there were “acts of violence” when Velasco’s camp tried to enter the plenary session earlier than expected. “Sinira ang mga pinto sa Kongreso, sinabihan ko ang Secretary General, ayokong may masaktan. Pabayaan mo sila kung gusto nila mag-takeover,” he claimed.

Explaining his side of the fight for the speakership, Cayetano said, “Ang pagkakaalam ko talaga, I was to handle the budget and I was told until matapos ‘yung budget para walang disruption and I invited Congressman Velasco to join me.”

During a meeting with Pres. Duterte, the two were able to settle their differences. “Kami po ay nagkasundo at nagkabati na po and I am extending that healing hand for all those na hindi tayo masyado nagkaintindihan” Velasco said.

It sure looks like Mercury retrograde hit the House of Representatives hard. Is this a prelude to a tumultuous term for Velasco?

Art by Tricia Guevara

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UPDATE: Progressive media network Altermidya has shared a statement from Atty. Josa Deinla of the NUPL with Team Preen. The group shares that they received a call from a sheriff who informed them that Manila City Jail has challenged the Regional Trial Court decision and recommended a one-day furlough for Nasino instead of three days, citing lack of jail personnel. There will be another hearing scheduled on Oct. 14.

As we continue to mourn the death of Baby River, we now receive news of a small reprieve granted to activist Reina Mae Nasino. Manila Regional Trial Court branch 47 Judge Paulino Gallegos has allowed the political detainee to attend the wake and burial of her three-month-old daughter. Separated on Aug. 13 upon an order by the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 20, Nasino was denied the chance to visit her unwell baby before she died on Oct. 9.

Dalamhati ng isang pamilya – pagluluksa sa pagkawala ni River at pangungulila kay Reina Mae, isang bilanggong pulitikal.

Sa isang video call kasama ang pamilya, muling nasilayan ni Reina Mae ang labi ng kaniyang anak ngayong araw. #JusticeForBabyRiver #FreeReinaMaeNasino pic.twitter.com/LGewQMsfbC

— KAPATID (@kapatidPP) October 12, 2020

The 3-day furlough was granted in open court during the hearing for the urgent motion filed by Nasino’s legal representative, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL). Nasino and her baby were kept in an enclosed area of the Manila City Jail assigned to “pregnant persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), senior citizen PDLs with hypertension, and female PDLs suffering from epilepsy, asthma and congestive heart diseases.” Baby River was admitted to the Philippine General after showing symptoms of COVID-19 but the initial plea to have her mother take care of her was dismissed.

“The baby is gone. No words could ever capture this human tragedy. Heartbreaking does not even come close to it. What kind of justice system, nay, society, do we have to let this inhumanity and injustice to mother and child happen,” said Atty. Edre Olalia of NUPL.

Vice President Leni Robredo has offered her condolences to the family and affirmed her support for Nasino’s temporary release. “As Filipinos, as human beings, we know how intimate and important the relationship between a mother and child is—from the first embrace up until the last breath. I hope we respect and uphold this relationship. We urge the court to choose compassion and empathy,” she wrote in her official statement on Baby River’s passing.

How hard is it really for the courts to show compassion towards those unjustly detained and those who have less in life? There is a huge divide between the treatment of Pemberton, Revilla, Arroyo, Estrada, Marcos and other VIPs and the treatment given the poor and powerless. pic.twitter.com/GIhBFR6Qtv

— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) October 10, 2020

Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) wrote in a series of tweets, “How hard is it really for the courts to show compassion towards those unjustly detained and those who have less in life? There is a huge divide between the treatment of Pemberton, Revilla, Arroyo, Estrada, Marcos and other VIPs and the treatment given the poor and powerless.”

Nasino, who was one month pregnant at the time, was arrested together with her two colleagues in November 2019 during a raid conducted by officers from the Manila Police District at the BAYAN-Manila office. According to Karapatan, Nasino asserts that charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against them were trumped up and that “evidence” found were planted by police. It was part of coordinated operations by the Philippine National Police in “several offices and homes of members of non-governmental organizations in Manila and Negros Occidental.”

We are one with the call for Nasino’s release. We urge the Philippine courts to reassess so that the tragic case of Baby River won’t happen again. We must treat PDLs with dignity and value the bond between a mother and her child.

Photo courtesy of KAPATID

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Here’s a collab we never knew we needed until now: Liza Soberano teaming up with Gabriela Youth, the youth arm of national women’s alliance GABRIELA. The organization revealed in a tweet that the actress is one of the guest speakers for the webinar called “Mga Tinig ni Nene: Reclaiming Our Voice on the International Day of the Child.” On Oct. 13 (that’s today, in case you’ve lost track of the days), she will be joining acclaimed women activists in discussing issues faced by girls and young women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guess who's our mysterious special guest for "Mga Tinig ni Nene: Reclaiming Our Voice on the International Day of the Child" tomorrow!

It's none other than Ms. Liza Soberano! 💜🥳🤙#InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild #AbanteBabae pic.twitter.com/IGLOyN2iuS

— Gabriela Youth (@gabrielayouthph) October 12, 2020

Register to join the free Zoom event at 6 p.m. so you can chime in on the conversation. Gabriela Youth secretary-general Clarice Palce will tackle the general situation of young women in the country. Andria Vera of Alyansa ng mga Residente sa Katuparan Youth will share her struggle for decent housing and quality education in Tondo. Atty. Minnie Lopez of Gabriela Services and Executive Director of Children’s Rehabilitation Center Nikki Aserios will talk about their experiences in providing legal and psychosocial services for young women.

On Sept. 24, Soberano spoke up against rape threats and shared how perpetrators must meet consequences when she filed a criminal complaint against a netizen who made a rape remark about her. Her legal counsel said in a statement regarding the move, “Ms. Soberano reminds us once again that women must be treated with respect and dignity regardless of their status in life.”

Soberano is one of the Filipino celebs who’ve been increasingly outspoken about their stand on national and women’s issues in recent months. We’re looking forward to more from her in the future.

Photo screengrab from the “Alone/Together” trailer

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For newbie moms, discovering the things that your and your baby’s bodies are going through before, during and after pregnancy can become overwhelming. Aside from what your OB-GYNs and pediatricians say, you can come across a lot of hard-to-believe claims from fellow parents offline or online regarding what you can do to soothe your woes. Cases in point are the several parents attesting to the many ingenious and unusual uses for breast milk, or as they call it—“liquid gold,” for both themselves and their babies.

While the internet has become a great source of entertainment and helpful tips for almost anything, we still need to be critical of what we read online. Since some of the breast milk claims we read have not yet been backed by scientific evidence, we asked board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist Tanya Perez-Chua for her perspective on these.

Breast milk facials

Some salons abroad offer breast milk facials for adults because people claim that it contains lauric acid, a component of coconut oil, which was said to clear up acne. Other reported skincare benefits include smoothing wrinkles and stretch marks, soothing puffy eyes and reducing redness and itchiness for conditions like eczema. However, before you say goodbye to your ol’ reliable sheet masks, serums and creams, Dr. Tanya says that the nutrients in breast milk are proven to work only when ingested and may not be absorbed once applied on the skin.

“The skin has a barrier that is meant to protect us from the environment [so] not everything applied on the skin will be absorbed. This holds true for the nutrients found in breast milk,” she explained. “The bioactive proteins in breast milk provide protection from microbial insults and immune protection, aid in digestive functions, help gut development and functions as a carrier of other nutrients when ingested. None of these [are proven to] happen when you apply them on the skin.”

Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels

Baby’s new diaper rash butt cream

Usually caused by skin sensitivity or diapers long overdue for a change, diaper rash or diaper dermatitis is a common condition that can stress parents and annoy babies. Many parents tried applying breast milk on their babies’ bums to treat the rash and this study claimed that it was just as effective as using hydrocortisone 1% ointment. However, Dr. Tanya advises against this and says that barrier creams still prove to show better results than breast milk in treating diaper dermatitis. It’s best to stick to proven medications and to immediately change your baby’s diapers once it’s soiled to avoid complications.

“Cradle Cap Be Gone” moisturizer

Babies sometimes develop “cradle cap”—crusty or oily patches on their scalps—and mothers have claimed that applying breast milk helps treat this as a moisturizer. Although this may be effective for some, breast milk is primarily needed for the baby’s nutrition and it could be unnecessary and wasteful if used to soothe their scalps. According to Dr. Tanya, cradle caps can be remedied through simple shampooing or using oil and water instead.

“The crusty patches on the scalp may be loosened by the use of oil and water—it doesn’t have to be breastmilk. I hope they wouldn’t waste the precious breast milk for things that do not need it to be used. A lot of patients do not shampoo their infants and this causes seborrheic dermatitis or cradle cap. Simple shampooing can usually remedy this. Again, do not waste breast milk,” she warned.

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels

Clearing your baby’s blocked tear ducts

A lot of newborn babies experience blocked tear ducts. Residue from tear drops may develop around the babies’ eyes that can leave them shut closed simply because their tear ducts are too narrow or they did not develop properly in the womb. While this is fairly common, some studies warn that the condition could be caused by an infection and that it’s best to consult a pediatrician if the condition persists past the baby’s first year. It’s completely normal for parents to worry about the slightest conditions that their babies will face, but some parents may go overboard with the home remedies. Since breast milk is filled with antibodies, vitamins and minerals, some tried applying it and admitted that it did clear up their baby’s blocked tear ducts. However, Dr. Tanya says that this might be pure coincidence.

“Congenital blocked tear ducts resolve or open before [the baby turns] one year old. Since this condition can [be] resolved on its own, it could have been coincidental that the blocked tear ducts really improved with the application of the breast milk. If this doesn’t happen, procedures by ophthalmologists [should be] done,” she explained. “Human breast milk has been found to help heal the corneal epithelium [or the outermost layer of the eye] in mice, but no tests on humans have been done. When you see advice and tips online, please make sure that what you are reading has the correct diagnosis, of similar severity and the test subjects are humans too.”

Breast milk as your new booboo ointment

Aside from using it on a baby’s skin, some people claim that applying breast milk is an effective treatment for cuts, burns and skin irritations from plants like poison ivy since it was also reported to have antimicrobial properties. While it’s true that breast milk has these properties, Dr. Tanya warns that this can be a coincidence again as these nutrients may not be absorbed by the skin.

“It is true that breast milk has nutrients and biologically active substances like immunoglobulins, growth factors, cytokines, antimicrobial and antiviral protein. However, these do not penetrate the skin to actually cause healing,” she said. “Sometimes wounds are superficial and may heal by themselves even without doing anything. The healing that supposedly happened with the application of breastmilk might be a coincidence again.”

Photo by Jens Johnsson on Unsplash

Your next sexy (and organic) lubricant

Yes, you read that right. Some reports claim that breast milk can be used as a lubricant for sex. However, some also warn that its natural sugar may cause yeast infections. Dr. Tanya once again emphasizes that breast milk should not be wasted and agrees that using it as a lube could make women more prone to infections.

“Human milk is a source of bacteria to the infant gut, where they may play a variety of anti-infectious, immunomodulatory, and metabolic roles. In fact, recent studies indicate that the mammary gland contains its own microbiota during late pregnancy and lactation. The quality of the milk also depends on the individual and the health status of the lactating women. All of these benefits are attained by ingesting [breast] milk,” she said.

Remember, most of these claims are just testimonies from curious parents online. So before you make breast milk your next overnight mask or push it in your cooch, think first if it’s really worth it—your baby highkey needs it more than you do. As much as it’s tempting to try applying the liquid gold to your babies or your skin to treat skin irritations too, it’s best to consult a physician and to seek help from reliable sources regarding any complication instead.

Art by Dana Calvo

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