Going Cookoo over this watch

Posted on February 2, 2014
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I’ve had my Cookoo watch for awhile now, and so far its become one of my favorite everyday watches. Not only because it looks good, and it wears so comfortably, but it connects to my phone and does really cool things like alert me when I have a new message or missed call, or if I’ve left my phone behind. This feature has been especially useful for me as I am constantly looking for my phone and worry that I’ve left it behind. Usually I find it in the deepest recesses of my bag, but its really great that I know its just within my reach because my watch doesn’t go off. No more, “OMG, I’ve left my phone!” haha. And other things like alerts in my calendar can link to my watch too so I won’t forget to text/call people. But my favorite feature has got to be the camera link. Get this: you can actually use the watch to control when your phone’s camera goes off. This means you can take far photos without asking someone to do it. Just click on the button on your watch and your phone takes a picture! Pretty cool, right? Also, its water and shock proof, so you can wear it ANYWHERE without having to worry about it breaking or conking out. Like I said, its an awesome everyday watch!

You can order your own in http://www.pormada.com! These come in black, white, pink and blue.

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Categories: Fresh Merch, Kelly

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Write Off: A Notebook Thing

Posted on January 30, 2014

Interestingly, in this day and age when leaving the house with less than 100% battery life causes mild panic attacks to some, I still seem to have surrounded myself with the few people who enjoy the comforts of a good notebook. While our minutes may be spent on Instagram, our lives are still penned and planned on notebooks.

There are different types of notebook users with each of their different ‘why’s. Some get new notebooks for the New Year as a sort of figurative cleansing: a visual reminder of fresh starts and clean slates in the form of untouched blank pages.

Some, like myself, like new notebooks in general, no matter the season, as a therapeutic ritual of dream-plotting and goal-listing.

Others enjoy notebooks simply because they need a release – creatives need to draw and doodle, writers need to jot ideas down before their creative genius flies off, and most of us take down notes, write quotes, and pen thoughts like a modern-day diary without having to sign it off.

See, no matter the purpose and no matter the type of things you “write” – scribbles, paragraphs, even stick figures – most of the people I know find notebooks therapeutic one way or another. Now, I’m not necessarily trying to convince you to drop your iCals and tablets and trade them off for paper and a pen. But we did come across this cute little video that may do the convincing for you.

So in case you were wondering, Moleskine notebooks are available at Pormada. Pens, stickers and other enticing video paraphernalia, however, are not.

But hey, our notebooks come in Star Wars covers and I personally think a Yoda proverb on the cover is 100x more inspiring than any iPhone wallpaper you can find.

– Alyssa

Categories: All, Pormada Culture

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#WheresYourNixtape?

Posted on January 29, 2014
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One of our favorite DJs in the metro, DJ Nix Damn P, has recently done a collab mix tape with us called Shampoo: Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Since we want to give you the gift of music just like he did us, we’re giving you a chance to own this exclusive, limited edition mix with your Pormada.com purchase.

And, well, because we know the Nixtape will take you places (trust us, it’s been on loop for a while now and has gone with us on dates, road trips and much, much more), we’ve decided to throw in a fun little game called #WheresYourNixtape. We’ve been lugging ours around, including that mini 3D paper doll DJ with us everywhere and have, innocently at first, turned it into a whatsapp/snapchat party where we take photos of where our mini DJ is playing for us. Coolest area obviously gets the best vote. Anyway, we’ve gotten a tad bit competitive and decided to take the game away from just the confines of our whatsapp groups and slowly let it seep onto our Instagram feeds. (We felt we could show-off more there.) So if you want to join the newest doll craze, here’s how:

Step 1: Shop Php2,500 worth of items at Pormada.com to get the Nixtape for FREE.

Step 2: Cut out the illustrated doll on the CD cover.

Step 3: Assemble the 3D paper doll based on the instructions on the cover.

Step 4: Bring your very own mini paper DJ around town and upload a photo of the cool places he’s been with the hasthag #WheresYourNixtape.

Very easy. Very fun.

So…Where’s YOUR Nixtape?

Categories: All

Cater 2 U

Posted on January 17, 2014

If you haven’t seen our latest lookbook, Blues Traveller, yet, you should get right to it here.

Done? Okay.

If you were wondering where that was taken, let me tell you the photos were shot all the way in Tali. The lookbook before that? Quezon City (a universe away from our actual office). The rest before? Far-flung places too.

Driving hours all the way to the beaches of Tali, while sounding exciting, was really more for you guys than for us. (No, it wasn’t just an excuse to get out of the office nor was it an excuse to have a beach trip in the middle of chilly November.)

The honest reason behind location shoots (despite them being far locations) is because creating lookbooks is dear to us. #Truth. Lookbook making is one of those rare processes where our resident geniuses from different departments plot, plan and execute a shared vision, doing whatever it takes to have that vision actualized. Would we go out of our way to purchase crazy Halloween masks for it? Yes. Would we get boxes upon boxes of cupcakes just to be used as props? Yes. (Would we eat them after? That’s also a yes but beside the point, really.)

The point is that each one of us contributes to give you a visually captivating shoot that tries to give you a different perspective on creating and dressing up. We wish you take each one not just as eye candy, but also as inspiration to create better – take better shots, put more into each look, dress better and essentially up the ante in every single thing you.

With that said, expect a bunch of changes to this blog this 2014. We can’t wait to share them with you and all the content we’re cooking up but for now I would like to introduce to you Team Pormada. Meet our favorite bunch of crazy talented individuals in their natural habitat: behind the scenes, creating.

Yes, in our case it takes a whole slew of people to shoot, edit, style and produce photos in the most digestible way. And it sounds like a lot of work and at times it is, but really, all we wanna do, as Yoncé and the gang once sang, is #Cater2U.

Categories: All

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Sinulog: The Essentials

Posted on January 16, 2014

Sinulog is in a few days and I can’t wait to visit Cebu and experience this much awaited festival. I’ve never been to Cebu and I’ve never been to Sinulog so I am ecstatic. So to show you exactly just how much, I didn’t just list down the festival essentials for you – I drew them, penned them and painted them for your pleasure – and I haven’t used watercolor in more than a year. That is how much.

So here are some things that I think would help out fellow Sinulog newbies in not making fatal wardrobe errors:

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1. A big bag to house ALL your stuff that by day 2 you would probably realize you terribly overpacked. That’s fine. Don’t fret. We all do. 

2. Closed shoes. Preferably a pair you don’t mind getting ruined. 

3. A white t-shirt that would serve as a perfect canvas for paint. And to put it bluntly, yes, it’ll be the sacrificial lamb.

4. My iPhone 5c for proper documentation. Along with a zip-lock bag that is. Unlike the shirt, I can’t afford to make this sacrificial. 

6.  A bikini to wear under that white t-shirt that will inevitably get massacred. Also, why not?

7. A saddle bag to sling over your body for easier party going. (You’re welcome.)

8. A plethora of sunglasses.

9. A watergun. (This was actually suggested by a friend and for that I am thankful.) We both/all need to get one. 

And, if you were wondering where number 5 went, well, it’s actually the white space symbolizing free stomach space to fit all that Cebu Lechon in. I haven’t packed a thing yet but this I will not forget (unlike how I forgot to include a number 5…)

This list, specifically the water gun, was inspired by our resident Merchandising Guru, Kaye Pernia. I think the water gun addition was an ode to our Christmas party where everyone ended up wet and sticky. (Fun times.)

Pormada is also a partner for a bunch of the events so expect to see some of us there. Can’t wait! I realize my essentials don’t include any alcohol related necessities/remedies. But we all deal with that differently and I trust you already know what to expect (and therefore, how big a first aid kit you’d need.)

See you in Cebu!

-Alyssa

Categories: Pormada Culture

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The Cream Factory

Posted on January 9, 2014
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I don’t know about you, but for me, bath time equates to fun time. I have this thing about being clean, so this is one ritual I definitely enjoy. More so when I discovered THE CREAM FACTORY. This luxurious bath cream not only smells wonderful (with 12 amazing flavors to choose from), it is made from goat’s milk, which has all kinds of skin benefits. It has great things like vitamins and minerals in there, as well as probiotics and essential fatty acids–these help moisturize skin and allow all the good stuff to be easily absorbed. Not only that, it offers collagen growth, exfoliating properties, healing benefits, all while maintaining skin’s natural PH level. Plus, it contains 100% active botanical extracts that levels up potency levels of the 12 delicious concoctions of The Cream Factory–really, its a win-win situation!

I got to sample some of the yummy flavors TCF has to offer, and so far, my favorites are Almond, Acai Berry, Cinnamon, and Chamomile. But more than the scent, each flavor actually caters to a specific skin condition, which I thought was the cleverest thing because each of us has our own skin care issues that needs to be addressed (and oh yes, TCF pretty much has everything covered). Here are the different flavors and its corresponding skin care attributes:

For AGE DEFYING, use Acai Berry.

DETOXIFYING–Almond, as it it known to have anti-bacterial properties.

For RADIANT SKIN, Avocado, as it contains anti-oxidants and Vitamin E.

For PURIFYING properties, its Cinnamon, as it is a known antiseptic.

CLARIFYING–Jojoba. This has been known to clear acne.

For GERM KILLING qualities, its anti-bacterial Honey.

As for REVITALIZING, choose Seaweed.

And for skin REJUVENATING, its Witch Hazel.

For SOOTHING, its Yogurt, as it has lactic acid that soothes skin.

To RELAX, its Camomile.

To BRIGHTEN, its Mulberry–this removes dark spots.

And to CALM, use Lavender.

The Cream Factory also has a line of delish scrubs that I cannot get enough of! They’re called Scrub-in-a-Tub, and what makes these different are the gradation of scrubs that range from gentle, to medium and deep exfoliation that really gives skin a noticeable glow. TCF Scrub-in-a-Tub consist of: Salty, which uses rock salt crystals to deeply exfoliate skin (this comes in Seaweed and Witch Hazel flavors), Yummy, made of real cocoa bean bits to reawaken skin in a seriously delicious way (available in Almond and Cinnamon), and Creamy, which contains walnut sprinkles to gently buff away skin impurities (in Honey and Jojoba).

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Order THE CREAM FACTORY on http://www.pormada.com: Bath Creams (768ml) go for only P699, The Bundle Pack of 3 (221ml each) is only P799. Scrub-in-a-tubs are P599.

Categories: Fresh Merch, Kelly, News

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Style Hunt

Posted on January 4, 2014

Happy 2014! Its a brand new year, and I am all about getting inspired, as I am sure you are too. That’s why I wanted to share this series called STYLE HUNT, produced by Pharrell Williams. The show explores street style around the world and presents it in a different way–more real, I guess. Its pretty cool, check it out.

Categories: Kelly, Street Style

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Sneaker Appreciation

Posted on December 17, 2013
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We spotted cool snaps of cool kicks and knew we just had to share them with you. Self-proclaimed sneaker fan, Glenn Lynard Damole, went to Hong Kong to visit the infamous sneaker area and left with a slew of photos to ogle at.

Glenn shares his experience saying, “Street fashion is huge in this place. I noticed a number of shoppers wearing dope kicks ranging from Doernbechers to Ewings and even Rbk Pumps. You can wear your best urban gear to feel the street scene. I was lucky to witness street performances like dub step and break dancing. It was indeed a great experience.”

He also shares a very important tip – ask for a discount. At any Nike store, you can get 10% off on any item that isn’t limited edition – the catch is it isn’t advertised so you really need to ask. The rest of the stores just need your bargaining prowess – a skill we all have.

Here’s to wishing we could fly straight to HK and indulge in what we will most likely dub as “Christmas presents to self.”

Maybe after the holidays. Bump into you then?

Categories: Pormada Culture

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#SoulSurf2013

Posted on December 5, 2013
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A few weeks back I took a break and headed off to the beautiful beaches of La Union for the music festival that is SoulSurf.

While I would like to go on about life realizations brought about by the waves and the beautiful surroundings, let me instead take you on the journey that is #SoulSurf and what music festival noobs like myself do on occasions as such.

1. Eat. There are relatively few places to pig out in La Union so when you find one you like (like Kahuna), you eat there twice a day. No kidding. There are also some occasions you’d try other places out and maybe order a buko juice or a buko halo-halo which is 10,000x better than the aforementioned plain buko juice. It also has an umbrella that the plain buko does not. 10,000x better, I said. There are also a bunch of food stalls and brands from Manila just tempting you on the beach for when you get too hungry from partying (which is always). There’s this sausage burger brand that serves reaaally good sausage burgers. (I have yet to track them down here in the city but once I do I’ll let you know.) There’s also Jamba Juice. Or a local barbeque stall with the best variations of vinegar sawsawan.

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2. Walk. There really is no other way. Oh wait, there’s a trike that I used numerous times especially this one time when the waves swept away my slippers and I had to be carried from the shores to the roads. I didn’t know piggy-back rides could be so painful especially when you’re trying to hold tight onto someone who so desperately wants to let you go. With slippers though, walking’s kind of fun – especially when you get to stop to take scenic outfit shots.

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3. Play games like beer pong. My friends and I are an extra competitive bunch. For some reason though, we were also an old bunch competing with college kids on ingesting ridiculous amounts of Red Horse. We lost. Not letting anything go, we booked a game the following day, strategized like the competitive bunch that we are and won. Burn, college kids. Burn. Lesson 1: never compete with the young whose Red Horse threshold is sky high. Lesson 2: Never compete with the young at beer pong. Just don’t. Lesson 3: It doesn’t matter if the reason is a really bad aim or just plain old Emily Thorne-Revenge, stop hitting people on the face. (See moment of apology caught on camera below.)

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4. Surf. Or pretend surf. Or pretend to want to surf. Guess which one I did. Although in my defense, I really did want to try. It just didn’t seem to happen. I have a way of willing my wants (or non-wants?) onto others.

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la_union_soul_surf55. Get a tan. We especially wanted the elusive Golden Glow that one supposedly gets by lathering on Pale Pilsen (yes, it’s that specific). I think it worked. My basis was comparing my dark, dirty-looking, sandal-tan lines from a recent trip to my yellow-y color from La Union. I don’t know how golden it was but at least it didn’t look dirty. Also, it was fun.

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6. Did I mention it was a music festival? Go to the concert grounds, nod your head and pretend to know what the international acts are playing even if it’s essentially not your music (it wasn’t Katy Perry) and cheer when everybody else is. A tip I found to be useful: cheer even when no one else is. It makes you look like you’re really enjoying and happy and fun to be around. For the record, I like songs that I can 1) sing to or 2) dance to. This middle ground area that only lets me sway my head for lack of decent bass and a key too weird to sound beautiful to is just strange to me. In my defense, I did recognize that one Ellie Goulding song they played.

7. Have fun. The beautiful thing about #SoulSurf was that it was so unlike Boracay on Labor Day where everyone is sweaty and gross and forced to be cramped in such a small space. In La Union, people weren’t sweaty and there was decent amount of personal space. Or maybe that’s why I couldn’t tell if they were. It was like Boracay in a sense that you kept bumping into people you knew from Manila which was fun. Other things you can do to have fun aside from socialize with people you see weekly at Aracama: get a massage, swim, sleep and other things you can do at a beach.

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All in all, I loved the quick break. If you did better, more amazing things there, please do share. Otherwise, I think my trip was pretty solid especially since I actually got to sleep. and rejuvenate. Beautiful.

– Alyssa

ph by Paul Mendoza

Categories: All

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How We Wore It: N/TICE

Posted on December 3, 2013
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Quick background. I love Naya Rivera. She plays Santana on Glee and now has her own album. Also, as you’ve probably already guessed, in a really dorky way, I love Glee too. Maybe not the storyline 100% of the time but I wouldn’t be lying if I told you half of what’s on my iTunes are covers from Glee. But I especially love Naya. Everytime she has a solo part on the show I look to my mom, whom, btw, is also a big glee fan, and affirm how much we both love her voice in equal parts awe and envy. Remember that Cory Monteith tribute? Amazing.

So what has Naya Rivera got to do with a photo that obviously isn’t Naya? (For the record, that’s me). Enter Pormada’s newest brand partner, N/TICE.

Spotting the brand on the racks of our studio demanded immediate grabbing of the pieces in admiration and a consequent desperate excuse to wear them. The resulting look – a turtleneck crop top and a high-waist maxi with an Angelina Jolie side-slit. The conditions to wear such an outfit may not have been ideal (read: assisting a shoot), but the outfit was and therefore compensates for more unconventional circumstances.

A literal pat on the back was administered to self come the next day when I saw Naya Rivera (via Sarah) in the exact same outfit for a stint at E! Fashion Police. Now, while I’d ordinarily ask who wore it better, I’d gladly give the title to her and her rock hard abs.

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 RG from @nticeclothing

Fortunately, she was sitting in the photo which rendered my handicapped non-rock hard abs a more level playing field.

No? Okay. Love her anyway.

-Alyssa

ph by Mike Gella

Categories: How I Wore It, Pormada Culture

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